US 11,865,561 B1
Automated paint spray system
Richard Glassell, Dalton, GA (US); Roman Morris, Dalton, GA (US); Caleb Barton Everett, Dalton, GA (US); and Jason Shaw, Dalton, GA (US)
Assigned to COLUMBIA INSURANCE COMPANY, Omaha, NE (US)
Filed by COLUMBIA INSURANCE COMPANY, Omaha, NE (US)
Filed on Aug. 11, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/399,451.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/065,145, filed on Aug. 13, 2020.
Int. Cl. B05B 13/04 (2006.01); B05B 1/26 (2006.01); B05D 1/40 (2006.01); B05D 1/02 (2006.01); B05B 15/55 (2018.01)
CPC B05B 13/0447 (2013.01) [B05B 1/26 (2013.01); B05B 15/55 (2018.02); B05D 1/02 (2013.01); B05D 1/40 (2013.01)] 43 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A spray system for enabling selective application of fluids onto workpieces traveling on a conveyor, the system comprising:
a support frame disposed proximate the conveyor;
plural platforms supported by the support frame above and across a width of the conveyor;
plural carriers sequentially disposed on each of the plural platforms across the width of the conveyor;
a lateral drive, which is in communication with each carrier, the lateral drive enabling the selective bi-directional movement of the respective carrier along a lateral axis within the respective platform that is parallel to and above the conveyor and orthogonal to a direction of workpiece travel on the conveyor;
a nozzle module disposed within each of the plural carriers, each nozzle module comprising a fluid manifold in fluid communication with a nozzle body and associated nozzle jet;
a swing drive in communication with each nozzle module, the swing drive enabling the selective orientation of the respective nozzle module about a swing axis that is parallel to the lateral axis;
one or more laser or camera optical sensors disposed on the support frame enabling detection of a workpiece on the conveyor at a known position upstream of each carrier, enabling detection of conveyor speed and/or acceleration or deceleration, enabling detection of the workpiece arrival time at each carrier, and enabling detection of certain characteristic patterns of a workpiece; and
a controller in communication with the lateral drive, the nozzle body, and the swing drive in response to inputs from one or more laser or camera optical sensors;
wherein the operational characteristics of the spray system and/or spray pattern can be selectively adjusted or controlled.