Modification unit and application device for applying flowable medium onto a substrate
An application device for applying a flowable medium onto a substrate, having a discharge valve having a closure member which, in its open position, releases a metering opening of the discharge valve, such that the flowable medium can flow through the metering opening in the direction of the substrate, wherein the closure member is movable by an electromagnet of the discharge valve from a closing position, in which it closes the metering opening, to an open position, and having a main control unit, which is connected to the discharge valve, and which delivers electrical output voltage signals which moves and maintains the closure member to the open position. A modification unit is arranged between the main control unit and the discharge valve, which is configured such it receives output voltage signals from the main control unit, modifies these signals and relays the latter in a modified form to the electromagnet.
1 . An application device for applying a flowable medium onto a substrate the device having a discharge valve ( 13 ) comprising a closure member which, in an open position, releases a metering opening of the discharge valve, such that the flowable medium is flowable through the metering opening in a direction of the substrate, wherein the closure member is movable by an electromagnet of the discharge valve ( 13 ) from a closing position, in which the discharge valve ( 13 ) closes the metering opening, to the open position, and comprising a main control unit ( 17 ), which is connected to the discharge valve ( 13 ), and which delivers output voltage signals for controlled voltage supply of the electromagnet, the output voltage signals move the closure member to the open position and maintain the closure member in the open position, further comprising a modification unit ( 19 ) arranged between the main control unit ( 17 ) and the discharge valve ( 13 ), the modification unit ( 19 ) configured such that the modification unit ( 19 ) receives the output voltage signals from the main control unit ( 17 ), modifies the output voltage signals, and relays the output voltage signals in a modified form to the electromagnet, wherein the main control unit ( 17 ) is configured such that, for each movement of the closure member from the closing position to the open position, the main control unit ( 17 ) respectively generates an output voltage signal which is sufficient to move the closure member, by action of the electromagnet, from the closing position to the open position, and wherein the modification unit ( 19 ) is configured such that the modification unit ( 19 ) modifies each respective output voltage signal during a modification time interval ( 22 ), such that a mean voltage amplitude of the respective output voltage signal over the modification time interval ( 22 ) is lower than a respective unmodified output voltage signal, and wherein a respective modification time interval ( 22 ), during which the respective output voltage signal is modified, respectively succeeds a time interval in which no modification of the respective output voltage signal is executed, and in which the voltage amplitude of the output voltage signal which is relayed to the electromagnet corresponds to a voltage amplitude of the respective unmodified output voltage signal which is generated by the main control unit ( 17 ).
2 . The application device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, for transmission of output voltage signals to the modification unit ( 19 ), a power cable is routed from the main control unit ( 17 ) to the modification unit ( 19 ) and wherein, for transmission of modified output voltage signals to the electromagnet, a power cable is routed from the modification unit ( 19 ) to the discharge valve ( 13 ).
3 . The application device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the modification unit ( 19 ) modifies each of these output voltage signals during a modification time interval ( 22 ) by the timing of the respective output voltage signal during the modification time interval ( 22 ).
4 . The application device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein a voltage amplitude of the respective output voltage signal, without modification by the modification unit ( 19 ), respectively assumes a constant value over the entire signal duration, and wherein, by the timing of the respective output voltage signal during the modification time interval ( 22 ), an r.m.s. value of the voltage amplitude during the modification time interval ( 22 ) is less than 50% of the constant value of the voltage amplitude of the output voltage signal.
5 . The application device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein a voltage amplitude of the respective output voltage signal, without modification by the modification unit ( 19 ), respectively assumes a constant value of 24 V over the entire signal duration, and wherein the respective output voltage signal during the modification time interval ( 22 ) is modified such that an r.m.s. value of the voltage amplitude during the modification time interval ( 22 ) is lower than 12 V.
6 . The application device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the timing of the respective output voltage signal is executed such that a periodic sequence of individual square-wave signal pulses with first voltage amplitudes is generated, namely of voltage amplitudes which correspond to a voltage amplitude of the respective unmodified output voltage signal, wherein, for an entire sequence of signal pulses, two sequential signal pulses are respectively separated from one another by a signal pause having a second voltage amplitude, which is lower in comparison with the first voltage amplitudes, namely a voltage amplitude having a magnitude of zero.
7 . The application device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the respective output voltage signal, during the time interval in which no modification occurs, generates an opening current in the electromagnet, as a result of which the closure member is moved from the closing position to the open position, and wherein the respective output voltage signal, during a subsequent modification time interval ( 22 ), generates a holding current which is lower, in relation to the opening current.
8 . The application device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the modification unit ( 19 ) is arranged remotely from the main control unit ( 17 ), external to a housing of the main control unit ( 17 ).
9 . The application device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the modification unit ( 19 ) comprises an electronic circuit for the execution of the modification of the output voltage signals, namely a driver.
10 . The application device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the modification unit ( 19 ) comprises an analyzer device, which is configured as a microcontroller, for the analysis of respective output voltage signals and/or a device for detecting operating states of the electromagnet of the discharge valve ( 13 ), or for detecting faults.
11 . The application device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the modification unit ( 19 ) comprises a display for representation of information and/or a transmitter unit, namely for wireless transmission of information to a remote receiver unit, the information being with respect to operating states of the discharge valve ( 13 ) or cable faults.
12 . The application device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the modification unit ( 19 ) comprises an electronic memory in which, by means of a microcontroller, information is savable and/or from which, by means of the microcontroller, information is retrievable, the information being information which is generated or delivered by the microcontroller with respect to operating states of the discharge valve, or with respect to faults on the power cable which is routed from the main control unit ( 17 ) to the modification unit ( 19 ), or on a power cable which is routed from the modification unit ( 19 ) to the discharge valve ( 13 ).
13 . The application device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the main control unit ( 17 ) is configured such that it energizes the output voltage signals with an additional minimum voltage, for supply of energy to the modification unit ( 19 ).
14 . A modification unit for an application device for applying a flowable medium onto a substrate, wherein the application device is provided with a discharge valve ( 13 ) comprising a closure member which, in an open position, releases a metering opening of the discharge valve ( 13 ), such that the flowable medium is flowable through the metering opening in a direction of the substrate, wherein the closure member is movable by an electromagnet of the discharge valve ( 13 ) from a closing position, in which the discharge valve ( 13 ) closes the metering opening, to the open position, and wherein the application device comprises a main control unit ( 17 ), which is connected to the discharge valve ( 13 ) and which delivers output voltage signals for controlled voltage supply of the electromagnet, the output voltage signals move the closure member to the open position and maintain the closure member in the open position, and wherein the modification unit ( 19 ) is configured such that the modification unit ( 19 ) is arrangeable between the main control unit ( 17 ) and the discharge valve ( 13 ), receives the output voltage signals from the main control unit ( 17 ), modifies the output voltage signals, and relays the output voltage signals in a modified form to the electromagnet, and wherein the modification unit ( 19 ) is configured such that the modification unit ( 19 ) modifies each respective output voltage signal generated by the main control unit ( 17 ) for a movement of the closure member from the closing position to the open position, which is sufficient to move the closure member, by the action of the electromagnets, from the closing position to the open position, during a modification time interval ( 22 ), such that a mean voltage amplitude of the respective output voltage signal over the modification time interval ( 22 ) is lower than a respective unmodified output voltage signal, and wherein the respective modification time interval ( 22 ), during which the respective output voltage signal is modified, respectively succeeds a time interval in which no modification of the respective output voltage signal is executed, and in which the voltage amplitude of the output voltage signal which is relayed to the electromagnet corresponds to a voltage amplitude of the respective unmodified output voltage signal which is generated by the main control unit ( 17 ).
15 . The modification unit as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the modification unit ( 19 ) is configured such that the modification unit ( 19 ) modifies each respective output voltage signal during a modification time interval ( 22 ) by a timing of the respective output voltage signal during the modification time interval ( 22 ).