Method and system for fluid transfer and non-contact sensor for use therein
First Claim
1. A system for robotically transferring fluid from a pressurized source of fluid, the system comprising:
- an outlet valve having self-closing means and adapted for fluid communication with the pressurized source of fluid;
a robot having a wrist;
a delivery device for the fluid mounted on the wrist to move therewith;
a reservoir including an inlet valve having self-closing means and a filling port for the fluid, the reservoir being supported on the robot for fluid communication with the delivery device; and
actuating means independent of the inlet and outlet valves for sealingly mating and then opening the inlet and outlet valves to fluidly communicate the filling port of the reservoir with the fluid outlet of the pressurized source of fluid to permit the reservoir to be filled with fluid from the pressurized source of fluid.
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Abstract
A method and system for transfer of fluids, such as paint, using a fluid canister carried by a transfer device, such as a robot, instead of having paint lines connected to a delivery device, such as a spray gun, carried by the robot. A novel mechanism for initially docking and then filling the canister from a fluid outlet of a pressurized source of fluid without straining the robot is provided. Also, a novel mechanism for cleaning the canister between canister fillings is provided so that paint colors can be changed without loss of productive robot time. In one embodiment, the canister is integrated with the robot. Also, a novel, non-contact sensor is provided for providing a signal to allow the metering of the paint entering or/and discharged from the canister.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for robotically transferring fluid from a pressurized source of fluid, the system comprising:
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an outlet valve having self-closing means and adapted for fluid communication with the pressurized source of fluid; a robot having a wrist; a delivery device for the fluid mounted on the wrist to move therewith; a reservoir including an inlet valve having self-closing means and a filling port for the fluid, the reservoir being supported on the robot for fluid communication with the delivery device; and actuating means independent of the inlet and outlet valves for sealingly mating and then opening the inlet and outlet valves to fluidly communicate the filling port of the reservoir with the fluid outlet of the pressurized source of fluid to permit the reservoir to be filled with fluid from the pressurized source of fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for robotically transferring fluid from a pressurized source of fluid, the system comprising:
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an outlet valve adapted for fluid communication with the pressurized source of fluid; a robot having a wrist; a delivery device for the fluid mounted on the wrist to move therewith; a reservoir including an inlet valve and a filling port for the fluid, the reservoir being supported on the robot for fluid communication with the delivery device; and actuating means for sealingly mating and then opening the inlet and outlet valves to fluidly communicate the filling port of the reservoir with the fluid outlet of the pressurized source of fluid to permit the reservoir to be filled with fluid from the pressurized source of fluid and wherein the wrist is hollow and has an output drive axis and wherein the reservoir is mounted on the wrist and has a longitudinal axis coincident with the output drive axis. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification