METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING HORIZONTAL SURFACES

• US 20130122186A1
• Filed: 11/10/2011
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Steffon L. Hoppel
• Original Assignee: Hoppel Fabrication Specialties, Inc.
• Inventors: Hoppel, Steffon L.
• Application Number:
  US13/293,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20130122186A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 427/8
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/081 responsive to the weight of a reservoir or container for liquid or other fluent material; responsive to level or volume of liquid or other fluent material in a reservoir or container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/084 responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material already sprayed on the target, e.g. coating thickness, weight or pattern
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/085 responsive to flow or pressure of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged B05B1/3006, B05B1/323, B05B7/1254 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/10 responsive to temperature or viscosity of liquid or other fluent material discharged
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/12 responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus B05B12/082, B05B12/084 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/122 responsive to presence or shape of target B05B12/124 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/005 mounted on vehicles or designed to apply a liquid on a very large surface, e.g. on the road, on the surface of large containers
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/041 with spray heads reciprocating along a straight line
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 9/12 the auxiliary operation being performed after the application B05C9/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/00 Processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials B05D5/00, B05D7/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/22 by spraying E01C23/206 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/222 specially adapted for automatic spraying of interrupted, individual or variable markings

Abstract

A coating apparatus and method allow for precise control of the application of a coating material on a substrate and provides a data recording system which is useful for certifying a coating job and assessing when and where any abnormalities occur.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a frame;

a travel advancement mechanism mounted on the frame adapted to move the frame forward relative to a substrate;

a coating applicator which is mounted on the frame, movable relative to the frame laterally back and forth between left and right positions, and adapted to apply a coating material to the substrate; and

a data recording device operatively connected to the applicator for recording data concerning operation of the applicator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an operator input device of the apparatus in communication with the data recording device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a global positioning system receiver of the apparatus in communication with the data recording device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a forward travel distance meter of the apparatus in communication with the data recording device;

the forward travel distance meter configured to measure the forward travel distance of the apparatus relative to the substrate.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a forward travel rate meter of the apparatus in communication with the data recording device;

the forward travel rate meter configured to measure the forward travel rate of the apparatus relative to the substrate.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an applicator lateral travel rate meter of the apparatus in communication with the data recording device;

the lateral travel rate meter configured to measure the lateral travel rate of the coating applicator relative to the frame.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an applicator lateral travel distance meter of the apparatus in communication with the data recording device;

the lateral travel distance meter configured to measure the lateral travel distance of the coating applicator relative to the frame.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a flow meter in communication with the data recording device;

the flow meter positioned to measure a flow rate of the coating material during application of the coating material by the applicator.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pressure gauge in communication with the data recording device;

the pressure gauge positioned to measure a pressure of the coating material during application of the coating material by the applicator.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a timer of the apparatus in communication with the data recording device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a humidity sensor of the apparatus in communication with the data recording device.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor of the apparatus in communication with the data recording device.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the temperature sensor is positioned for sensing ambient temperature of atmosphere adjacent the apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the temperature sensor is positioned for sensing a temperature of the coating material.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the temperature sensor is adjacent the applicator.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a material supply container in fluid communication with the coating applicator;

wherein the temperature sensor is adjacent the supply container.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a feed line in fluid communication with the coating applicator;

the feed line comprising a heating element.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a material supply container in fluid communication with the coating applicator;

and a volume meter which is operatively connected to the container, capable of measuring a volume of material within the container and in communication with the data recording device.

19. A method comprising the steps of:

creating relative axial movement between a coating apparatus frame and a substrate;

driving a coating applicator longitudinally back and forth along the frame;

applying a coating material to the substrate with the applicator; and

recording with a recording device data concerning application of the coating material.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a frame;

a travel advancement mechanism mounted on the frame adapted to move the frame forward relative to a substrate;

a coating applicator which is mounted on the frame, movable relative to the frame laterally back and forth between left and right positions, and adapted to apply a coating material to the substrate;

a control device operatively connected to and configured to control the travel advancement mechanism to move the frame forward a predetermined distance (a) while the sprayer is adjacent the left position and (b) while the sprayer is adjacent the right position so that the coating applicator moves (i) along a first path from the left position to the right position and (ii) along a second path from the right position to the left position wherein the second path is forward of, adjacent and parallel to the first path.