US4605569A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for panel wiping operation
Assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1983-11-21
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Granted: 1986-08-12
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Expires: 2003-11-21
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for performing repetitive cycles of panel coating operations using a programmable manipulator including a manipulator arm movable along a plurality of axes. The apparatus comprises a hand unit carried on the manipulator arm. The hand unit is movable so as to bring the brush held by it into resilient contact with an area of the panel to be coated. A coating material is injected into the brush at a predetermined rate while the brush is held in resilient sliding contact with the panel and while the manipulator arm moves about the panel to coat a preselected area of the panel. After the preselected area of the panel has been coated, the manipulator arm is moved to move the brush out of contact with the panel. Between coating cycles, the manipulator arm moves the brush into a storage chamber where it is treated to prevent the coating material from caking on the coating brush.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshitaka Shimada
- 👤 Kimihiro Kadowaki
- 👤 Teruo Inouchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:45
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25J; B25J9/00; B05; B05C; B05C1/00; B05C1/02; B05C1/027; B05C5/00; B05C5/02; B05C5/0204; B05C5/0208; B05C5/0212; B05C5/0216; B08; B08B; B08B1/00; B08B1/10; B08B1/14; B08B1/143; B08B1/30; B25J15/00; B25J15/02; B25J15/0206; B25J19/00; B25J19/0058; B25J9/0096; B05C1/04; B05C1/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of performing repetitive cycles of panel coating operation using a programmable manipulator including a manipulator arm movable along a plurality of axes, said manipulator arm carrying thereon a hand unit holding a coating brush, comprising the steps of: (a) moving said manipulator arm by means of a program into a position where said coating brush comes into resilient contact with an area of said panel to be coated; (b) injecting coating material into said brush at a predetermined rate; (c) holding said brush in resilient, sliding contact with said panel, while moving said manipulator arm by means of said program about said panel to coat a preselected area of said panel; and (d) moving said manipulator arm by means of said program to move said brush out of contact with said panel when said preselected area is coated.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of performing repetitive cycles of panel coating operation using a programmable manipulator including a manipulator arm movable along a plurality of axes, said manipulator arm carrying thereon a hand unit holding a coating brush, comprising the steps of: (a) moving said manipulator arm by means of a program into a position where said coating brush comes into resilient contact with an area of said panel to be coated; (b) injecting coating material into said brush at a predetermined rate; (c) holding said brush in resilient, sliding contact with said panel, while moving said manipulator arm by means of said program about said panel to coat a preselected area of said panel; and (d) moving said manipulator arm by means of said program to move said brush out of contact with said panel when said preselected area is coated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, which further comprises the step of preventing the coating material from caking on the surface of the coating brush after completion of one cycle of panel coating operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the anti-caking step includes the steps of; placing the coating brush into a vessel; closing the vessel; and applying an anti-caking agent to the coating brush placed in said vessel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said agent applying step is performed by charging an inert gas into said vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said agent applying step is performed by injecting a solvent for the coating material toward the coating brush.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for perfoming repetitive cycles of panel coating operation using a programmable manipulator including a manipulator arm movable along a plurality of axes and control means for controlling movement of said manipulator arm as programmed during an initial teaching operation, comprising: (a) a hand unit carried on said manipulator arm for movement in unison therewith, said hand unit holding a coating brush; (b) said control means including means for controlling movement of said manipulator arm to slide the coating brush on an area of a panel which requires coating; and (c) a coating supplier for supplying a coating material at a predetermined rate to the coating brush during the sliding movement of the coating brush on the panel.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for perfoming repetitive cycles of panel coating operation using a programmable manipulator including a manipulator arm movable along a plurality of axes and control means for controlling movement of said manipulator arm as programmed during an initial teaching operation, comprising: (a) a hand unit carried on said manipulator arm for movement in unison therewith, said hand unit holding a coating brush; (b) said control means including means for controlling movement of said manipulator arm to slide the coating brush on an area of a panel which requires coating; and (c) a coating supplier for supplying a coating material at a predetermined rate to the coating brush during the sliding movement of the coating brush on the panel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 6, which further comprises an anti-caking device for preventing the coating material from caking on the surface of the coating brush after completion of one cyle of panel coating operation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said anti-caking device comprises a vessel for reception of the coating brush, and a cover for closing said vessel upon reception of the coating brush within said vessel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said anti-caking device further comrises a sensor for detecting said cover closing said vessel, and means for applying an anti-caking agent to the coating brush during the reception of the coating brush within said vessel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said agent applying means including means for charging an inert gas into said vessel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said agent applying means including means for injecting a solvent for the coating material toward the coating brush.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said hand unit is movable between a brush retain position and a brush release position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 12, which further comprises means for moving said hand unit to the brush release position when replacement of the coating brush is required.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said hand unit comprises a pair of opposed grasping fingers arranged to hold the coating brush therebetween, said grasping fingers being movable between an open position and a closed position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said hand unit comprises support means connected between said grasping fingers and said manipulator arm for maintaining the coating brush in resilient contact with the panel during the sliding movement of the coating brush on the panel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 14, which further comprises means for moving said grasping fingers to the open position when replacement of the coating brush is required.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE2346582A1
Cited
US4378959A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-08-11 | 1990-02-10 | 1990-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-08-11 | 1994-02-10 | 1994-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-08-11 | 1998-02-10 | 1998-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |