US4278046A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Paint spraying apparatus
Assignee: Carrier Drysys Ltd
•
Filing: 1978-06-30
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Granted: 1981-07-14
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Expires: 1998-06-30
Abstract
Abstract In an automatic paint spraying apparatus automatic control means comprises two parts, the first part providing programmable control means for determining a desired sequence of operations and the second part comprising position indicating means for generating an electrical digital signal representing the position of a spray gun and comparator means for comparing the signal from the position indicating means with reference signals determining the sequence of operation and providing an output for use in controlling the spray guns, the second part of the automatic control means being arranged for location within a paint spraying area having an hazardous atmosphere.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald M. Clarke
- 👤 Edward Johnston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:53
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05B; B05B13/00; B05B13/02; B05B13/04; B05B13/0447; B05B13/0452; B05B13/0405; B05B13/041; G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/07; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/20; G05B2219/25; G05B2219/25045; G05B2219/25197; G05B2219/25458
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
Apparatus for automatic paint spraying, comprising booth means to contain a hazardous atmosphere in which spraying is effected, said booth means being surrounded externally by a non-hazardous atmosphere, said apparatus further comprising a spray gun for directing paint onto an article to be coated, reciprocating means for effecting a reciprocating stroke of said spray gun, valve means operable to control discharge of paint through said spray gun, and automatic control means for controlling the operation of the valve means during the stroke of said spray gun; said automatic control means comprising: a first part providing programmable control means for determining a desired sequence of operations of said valve means, a second part comprising position indicating means for generating an electrical digital signal representing the position of the spray gun during its stroke, and comparator means for comparing the signal from the position indicating means with reference signals from said programmable control means determining the sequence of operation of said valve means during the stroke and providing an output for use in controlling said valve means in dependence on the position of said spray gun; wherein said reciprocating means, valve means and second part of said automatic control means are located within said booth means and the said first part of said automatic control means is located entirely outside said booth means and connected through a suitable interface to the said second part of the automatic control means, whereby said programmable control means is not exposed to said hazardous atmosphere.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
249 words
Apparatus for automatic paint spraying, comprising booth means to contain a hazardous atmosphere in which spraying is effected, said booth means being surrounded externally by a non-hazardous atmosphere, said apparatus further comprising a spray gun for directing paint onto an article to be coated, reciprocating means for effecting a reciprocating stroke of said spray gun, valve means operable to control discharge of paint through said spray gun, and automatic control means for controlling the operation of the valve means during the stroke of said spray gun; said automatic control means comprising: a first part providing programmable control means for determining a desired sequence of operations of said valve means, a second part comprising position indicating means for generating an electrical digital signal representing the position of the spray gun during its stroke, and comparator means for comparing the signal from the position indicating means with reference signals from said programmable control means determining the sequence of operation of said valve means during the stroke and providing an output for use in controlling said valve means in dependence on the position of said spray gun; wherein said reciprocating means, valve means and second part of said automatic control means are located within said booth means and the said first part of said automatic control means is located entirely outside said booth means and connected through a suitable interface to the said second part of the automatic control means, whereby said programmable control means is not exposed to said hazardous atmosphere.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said interface provides a power supply to said second part of said automatic control means, said power supply including an intrinsic safety barrier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said interface provides a plurality of input and output channels interconnecting said first and second parts of said automatic control means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which each channel includes optically coupled isolating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said first part of the said control means includes a programmable logic controller.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said position indicating means includes pulse generating means for generating pulses as said spray gun moves throughout its stroke and counting means for counting said pulses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said second part of said automatic control means includes a store for storing said reference signals, and said comparator is arranged to receive signals from said store as well as from said position indicating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said store is arranged to store reference signals corresponding to a plurality of possible paint stroke lengths for said spray gun and said first part of said automatic control means is arranged to select which stroke length reference signals are to be fed to said comparator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said comparator is a greater or less than comparator arranged to detect whether said signal from said position indicating means is greater or less than said reference signal value and provides an output signal accordingly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The automatic paint spraying apparatus of claim 1 further including a plurality of spray guns, each spray gun being provided with reciprocating means, valve means and automatic control means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which at least one of said spray guns is arranged to move vertically.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which at least one of said spray guns is arranged to move horizontally.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which path adjusting means is provided to move the path of the spray gun closer to or further from the article to be coated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 in which said path adjusting means includes electrical digital control means arranged for location within said hazardous atmosphere.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 in which said electrical digital control means is arranged to receive reference signals from the said first part of said automatic control means indicating a desired separation between the article and the path of said spray gun.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The automatic paint spraying apparatus of claim 1 further comprising conveyor means for conveying a succession of articles through the spray booth.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-07-13 | 1985-01-12 | 1985-07-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-07-13 | 1989-01-12 | 1989-07-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-07-13 | 1993-01-12 | 1993-07-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |