HIGH VOLTAGE MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SPRAY COATING SYSTEMS

• US 20100145516A1
• Filed: 09/01/2009
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Murray, Thomas F., Cedoz, Roger T.
• Application Number:
  US12/552,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20100145516A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/258
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/08 responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/0431 with spray heads moved by robots or articulated arms, e.g. for applying liquid or other fluent material to 3D-surfaces B05B13/0436, B05B13/0442, B05B13/0447, B05B13/0463 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/0457 specially designed for applying liquid or other fluent material to 3D-surfaces of the articles, e.g. by using several moving spray heads B05B13/0452 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/025 Discharge apparatus, e.g. electrostatic spray guns
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/0407 with a spraying edge, e.g. like a cup or a bell
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31038 Watchdog, timer to alert if operator does not executes operation within time
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32184 Compare time, quality, state of operators with threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50188 If operation, feed movement not done after maximum allowable time, emergency stop
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment, a system may include a high voltage coating applicator, a voltage sensor, and a coating system controller configured to automate a voltage measurement of the high voltage coating applicator by the voltage sensor. In another embodiment, a system may include a non-contact sensor and a controller coupled to the non-contact sensor, wherein the controller is configured to obtain a measurement indicative of voltage at a distance between an electrostatic spray device and the non-contact sensor. In the embodiment, the controller is also configured to adjust voltage, fluid flow, distance, or a combination thereof, of the electrostatic spray device in response to the measurement.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a high voltage coating applicator;

a voltage sensor; and

a coating system controller configured to automate a voltage measurement of the high voltage coating applicator by the voltage sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the voltage sensor comprises a contact voltage sensor configured to measure a voltage by contacting the high voltage coating applicator.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the voltage sensor comprises a non-contact sensor configured to measure a voltage without contacting the high voltage coating applicator.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the high voltage coating applicator comprises an electrostatic spray device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the electrostatic spray device comprises a bell cup.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the electrostatic spray device comprises a high voltage electrode.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the voltage sensor is mounted in a central location along a series of robotic arms, and each robotic arm comprises one of the high voltage coating applicators.

8. The system of claim 1, comprising a booth having the high voltage coating applicator and the voltage sensor, wherein the coating system controller is configured to obtain the voltage measurement and adjust voltage, distance, fluid flow, or a combination thereof, of the high voltage coating applicator without user entry into the booth.

9. A system, comprising:

a non-contact sensor; and

a controller coupled to the non-contact sensor, wherein the controller is configured to obtain a measurement indicative of voltage at a distance between an electrostatic spray device and the non-contact sensor, and the controller is configured to adjust voltage, fluid flow, distance, or a combination thereof, of the electrostatic spray device in response to the measurement.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the non-contact sensor comprises a test plate disposed at a known distance from the electrostatic spray device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the test plate has a disc shape with a radius, and the distance is at least equal to or greater than the radius.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the non-contact sensor has a non-linear relationship between voltage and distance from the electrostatic spray device.

13. The system of claim 9, comprising a ceiling mount coupled to the non-contact sensor.

14. The system of claim 9, comprising a wall mount coupled to the non-contact sensor.

15. The system of claim 9, comprising a plurality of robotic arms, wherein the non-contact sensor is accessible by the plurality of robotic arms.

16. A system, comprising:

a contact sensor;

a positioning device; and

a controller coupled to the contact sensor and the positioning device, wherein the controller is configured to obtain a contact measurement of voltage directly between the contact sensor and an electrostatic spray device via positional manipulation by the positioning device, and the controller is configured to adjust voltage, fluid flow, distance, or a combination thereof, of the electrostatic spray device in response to the contact measurement.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the contact sensor comprises a voltmeter.

18. The system of claim 16, comprising a ceiling mount coupled to the contact sensor.

19. The system of claim 16, comprising a wall mount coupled to the contact sensor.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the positioning device comprises a robotic arm, wherein the robotic arm comprises the electrostatic spray device.

21. (canceled)