US3742901A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for applying coating material to a surface
Assignee: Haden Drysys International Ltd
•
Filing: 1971-11-05
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Granted: 1973-07-03
•
Expires: 1991-11-05
Abstract
Abstract Coating apparatus comprises a coating device for applying coating material to the surfaces to be coated, means for moving the coating device so that the coating material is applied in strokes extending across the direction of movement of the articles, a television camera arranged to form an image of the surface to be coated over the length of the coating strokes so that the image is scanned in the same direction as the coating strokes, synchronizing means for indicating when the part of the scanning path is synchronized with the position on the surface on which the coating device is operative at any instant, detector means responsive to electrical signals from the television camera to detect throughout the scanning sequence whether the image seen corresponds to surface to be coated or not, and control means responsive to the synchronizing means and detector means to control the operation of the coating device in dependence on the image seen by the television camera.
Inventors
- 👤 E Johnston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:38
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05B; B05B13/00; B05B13/02; B05B13/04; B05B13/0405; B05B12/00; B05B12/08; B05B12/12; B05B12/122; B05B13/0447; B05B13/0452; B05B13/0463; B05B13/0468; B05B13/0473
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
Apparatus for coating the surfaces of a succession of objects which are moved relative to a coating station, which apparatus comprises a coating device for applying coating material to the surfaces to be coated, means for moving the coating device so that the coating material is applied in strokes extending across the direction of movement of the articles, optical-electrical transducer means arranged to view the surface to be coated and scan in the same direction as the coating strokes so that electrical signals are formed representing a succession of regions of the image viewed along the scanning path, distinguishing means for distinguishing the region along the scanning path which corresponds to the electrical signal at any instant, detector means responsive to the said electrical signals to detect whether the region viewed by the optical electrical transducer at each part of the scanning path is an area of the surface to be coated and thereby indicate when the edges of the area to be coated have been reached, position indicating means for indicating the position of the coating device at any instant, and control means responsive to the output of the distinguishing means, position indicating means and detector means, for controlling the operation of the coating device so that coating material is applied only on the required area of surface to be coated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
222 words
Apparatus for coating the surfaces of a succession of objects which are moved relative to a coating station, which apparatus comprises a coating device for applying coating material to the surfaces to be coated, means for moving the coating device so that the coating material is applied in strokes extending across the direction of movement of the articles, optical-electrical transducer means arranged to view the surface to be coated and scan in the same direction as the coating strokes so that electrical signals are formed representing a succession of regions of the image viewed along the scanning path, distinguishing means for distinguishing the region along the scanning path which corresponds to the electrical signal at any instant, detector means responsive to the said electrical signals to detect whether the region viewed by the optical electrical transducer at each part of the scanning path is an area of the surface to be coated and thereby indicate when the edges of the area to be coated have been reached, position indicating means for indicating the position of the coating device at any instant, and control means responsive to the output of the distinguishing means, position indicating means and detector means, for controlling the operation of the coating device so that coating material is applied only on the required area of surface to be coated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the optical-electrical transducer forms an image of the surface which image is scanned to provide said electrical signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the field of view of the optical electrical transducer is as long as the length of the coating strokes and is wider in the direction of movement of the objects than the width of one coating stroke, means being provided to select a window of limited width in the field of view.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, in which means is provided for adjusting the position of the window in the field of view in a direction along the direction of travel of the objects.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, in which means is provided for adjusting the width of the window in said direction of travel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the optical-electrical transducer is a television camera.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the said distinguishing means includes counter means for counting horizontal synchronizing pulses for the horizontal scanning lines, the counter means being reset by each vertical synchronizing pulse.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 in which the said position indicating means includes an electrical digital indicator device coupled to the means for moving the coating device so as to produce a succession of pulses for each stroke of the coating device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 in which the control means includes a comparator for comparing the output of said counter means with the number of pulses from the electrical digital device so as to indicate when the horizontal scanning lines of the television camera coincide with the region covered by the coating device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
86 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the detector means includes a gating circuit connected to receive the video signal, the output of the detector gating circuit and the output of the comparator circuit being connected to a further gate which is arranged to permit operation of the coating device only when the detector circuit indicates that the video signal is of an acceptable level and the comparator indicates synchronism between the horizontal scanning lines of the television camera and the position of the coating device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, in which means is provided for grouping a number of horizontal scanning lines of the television camera so that each group of scanning lines is equivalent to a unit change in position of the coating device corresponding to one pulse from the electrical digital indicator device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the location of the said window in the field of view is determined by a delay device responsive to the horizontal synchronizing pulses and arranged to provide an adjustable delay signal after the occurrence of a horizontal synchronizing pulse.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the delay device is arranged to actuate a pulse generator to generate window pulses of variable width, the window pulses being fed to a gating circuit so that the time of occurrence and width of the window pulses coNtrols the position and width of the window in the field of view.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, in which the gating circuit receiving the window pulses is connected to receive the video signal from the television camera as an input and provide an output to the said detector means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which more than one coating device is provided and more than one optical-electrical transducer is provided.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the coating device comprises a spray gun.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
179 words
Apparatus for coating the surfaces of a succession of objects which are moved relative to a coating station, which apparatus comprises a coating device for applying coating material to the surfaces to be coated, means for moving the coating device so that the coating material is applied in strokes extending across the direction of movement of the articles, a television camera arranged to form an image of the surface to be coated over the length of the coating strokes so that the image is scanned in the same direction as the coating strokes, synchronizing means for indicating when the part of the scanning path is synchronized with the position on the surface on which the coating device is operative at any instant, detector means responsive to electrical signals from the television camera to detect throughout the scanning sequence whether the image seen corresponds to surface to be coated or not, and control means responsive to the synchronizing means and detector means to control the operation of the coating device in dependence on the image seen by the television camera.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
179 words
Apparatus for coating the surfaces of a succession of objects which are moved relative to a coating station, which apparatus comprises a coating device for applying coating material to the surfaces to be coated, means for moving the coating device so that the coating material is applied in strokes extending across the direction of movement of the articles, a television camera arranged to form an image of the surface to be coated over the length of the coating strokes so that the image is scanned in the same direction as the coating strokes, synchronizing means for indicating when the part of the scanning path is synchronized with the position on the surface on which the coating device is operative at any instant, detector means responsive to electrical signals from the television camera to detect throughout the scanning sequence whether the image seen corresponds to surface to be coated or not, and control means responsive to the synchronizing means and detector means to control the operation of the coating device in dependence on the image seen by the television camera.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of coating the surfaces of a succession of objects which comprises moving the objects in succession past a coating station at which a coating device and optical sensing device are located, moving the coating device across the direction of movement of the objects so that coating material is applied in strokes, forming an image by the optical sensing device of the surface to be coated, which image extends over the length of the coating strokes and is scanned in the same direction as the coating strokes to produce electrical signals corresponding to the image formed along the scanning path, sensing the level of the electrical signals to determine limits of the area of the surface to be coated and thereby control the emission of coating material from the coating device.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of coating the surfaces of a succession of objects which comprises moving the objects in succession past a coating station at which a coating device and optical sensing device are located, moving the coating device across the direction of movement of the objects so that coating material is applied in strokes, forming an image by the optical sensing device of the surface to be coated, which image extends over the length of the coating strokes and is scanned in the same direction as the coating strokes to produce electrical signals corresponding to the image formed along the scanning path, sensing the level of the electrical signals to determine limits of the area of the surface to be coated and thereby control the emission of coating material from the coating device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 18 including sensing the position of the coating device throughout the coating stroke and synchronizing the said electric signals with the position of the coating device.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
193 words
A system for coating the surfaces of objects, comprising in combination: coating means for selectively applying coating material; support means for successively presenting the surfaces of the objects to said coating means; traversing means for causing relative movement in one direction between said coating means and said support means whereby coating material is applied along a path in said one direction on the surfaces of the objects; optical-electrical transducer means for distinguishing between an uncoated and a coated condition of said surface of the object along said path of the coating material being applied; discharge control means connected to said coating means for selectively controlling discharge of coating material therefrom; position responsive means responsive to movement of said traversing means for periodically actuating said discharge control means to closed condition a great number of times during a traversing stroke whereby the coating material path is subdivided into a corresponding great number of potential control zones; and means responsive to said optical-electrical transducer means for overriding the effect of said position responsive means on said discharge control means in response to an uncoated condition remaining along the path of the coating material being applied.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
193 words
A system for coating the surfaces of objects, comprising in combination: coating means for selectively applying coating material; support means for successively presenting the surfaces of the objects to said coating means; traversing means for causing relative movement in one direction between said coating means and said support means whereby coating material is applied along a path in said one direction on the surfaces of the objects; optical-electrical transducer means for distinguishing between an uncoated and a coated condition of said surface of the object along said path of the coating material being applied; discharge control means connected to said coating means for selectively controlling discharge of coating material therefrom; position responsive means responsive to movement of said traversing means for periodically actuating said discharge control means to closed condition a great number of times during a traversing stroke whereby the coating material path is subdivided into a corresponding great number of potential control zones; and means responsive to said optical-electrical transducer means for overriding the effect of said position responsive means on said discharge control means in response to an uncoated condition remaining along the path of the coating material being applied.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
205 words
In a system for coating objects, which includes conveyor means for moving objects along one path, coating means for applying coating material to the objects and located at a coating station along said path, drive means connected to said coating means for traversing said coating means back and forth along a second path transverse to said one path, and valve means for controlling flow of coating material to said coating means as said coating means is moved in one direction along said second path, the improvement comprising: position responsive means responsive to movement of said coating means in said one direction for periodically actuating said valve means to closed condition a great number of times during movement of said coating means in said one direction whereby potentially to terminate application of coating material at each of a corresponding great number of incremental movements of said coating means; optical-electrical transducers means focused upon the surface of an object being coated for distinguishing between coated and uncoated condition of such surface; and means responsive to said optical-electrical transducer means for overriding the effect of said position responsive means on said valve means in response to uncoated condition remaining in said one direction along the surface being coated.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
205 words
In a system for coating objects, which includes conveyor means for moving objects along one path, coating means for applying coating material to the objects and located at a coating station along said path, drive means connected to said coating means for traversing said coating means back and forth along a second path transverse to said one path, and valve means for controlling flow of coating material to said coating means as said coating means is moved in one direction along said second path, the improvement comprising: position responsive means responsive to movement of said coating means in said one direction for periodically actuating said valve means to closed condition a great number of times during movement of said coating means in said one direction whereby potentially to terminate application of coating material at each of a corresponding great number of incremental movements of said coating means; optical-electrical transducers means focused upon the surface of an object being coated for distinguishing between coated and uncoated condition of such surface; and means responsive to said optical-electrical transducer means for overriding the effect of said position responsive means on said valve means in response to uncoated condition remaining in said one direction along the surface being coated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-02 | 1977-01-01 | 1977-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-02 | 1981-01-01 | 1981-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-02 | 1985-01-01 | 1985-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |