Electrostatic barrier for a robotic painting system for conductive materials
First Claim
1. A robotic painting apparatus including two adjacent paint reservoirs mounted side-by-side on a robot arm and adapted to operate as an electrostatic direct charge painting system, comprising:
- an electrostatic barrier formed from an electrical insulating material, the barrier being disposed on the robot arm between the two adjacent paint reservoirs wherein there is no straight line path between the paint reservoirs that does not pass through the barrier, the barrier electrostatically insulating the paint reservoirs from each other thereby preventing formation of a ground path or short circuit between the paint reservoirs.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A robotic electrostatic painting system includes a barrier formed from an electrical insulating material and disposed between adjacent reservoirs for holding a conductive paint used in an electrostatic painting operation. The barrier is shaped and dimensioned with a central plate and upper and lower flanges to block every straight line path between the reservoirs to electrostatically separate the reservoirs and prevent the formation of a ground path or short circuit when there is a voltage difference between the reservoirs. The electrostatic separation of the reservoirs further prevents deterioration of conductive components of the robotic electrostatic painting system.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A robotic painting apparatus including two adjacent paint reservoirs mounted side-by-side on a robot arm and adapted to operate as an electrostatic direct charge painting system, comprising:
an electrostatic barrier formed from an electrical insulating material, the barrier being disposed on the robot arm between the two adjacent paint reservoirs wherein there is no straight line path between the paint reservoirs that does not pass through the barrier, the barrier electrostatically insulating the paint reservoirs from each other thereby preventing formation of a ground path or short circuit between the paint reservoirs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A robotic painting apparatus for operation as an electrostatic direct charge painting system for conductive materials, comprising:
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a robot arm; a first paint reservoir and a second paint reservoir mounted side-by-side on the robot arm; and an electrostatic barrier formed from an electrical insulating material having a dielectric strength greater than 300 V/mil, the barrier being assembled from a plurality of components, the barrier being disposed on the robot arm between the first and second paint reservoirs wherein there is no straight line path between the paint reservoirs that does not pass through the barrier, the barrier electrostatically insulating the paint reservoirs from each other thereby preventing formation of a ground path or short circuit between the paint reservoirs. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for electrostatically insulating two adjacent paint reservoirs mounted on a robot arm of a robotic painting apparatus for conductive materials, comprising:
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a first paint reservoir mounted on the robot arm; a second paint reservoir mounted on the robot arm side-by-side with the first paint reservoir; and an electrostatic barrier formed from an electrical insulating material, the barrier including a central plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, an upper flange disposed on the top surface of the central plate, and a lower flange disposed on the bottom surface of the central plate and mounted to the robot arm, the barrier being disposed with the central plate between the paint reservoirs wherein there is no straight line path between the paint reservoirs that does not pass through the barrier thereby preventing formation of a ground path or short circuit between the paint reservoirs. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification