Method for applying paints and varnishes

• US 7,981,462 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2003
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Burkhard Bustgens
• Original Assignee: Burkhard Bustgens
• Inventors: Büstgens, Burkhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Meeks; Timothy H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Louie; Mandy C
• Application Number:
  US10/502,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20050100680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,100 Days
• Field of Search: 427/427.2, 427/136, 427/8, 427/256, 347/19, 118/668, 118/669, 118/675, 118/676, 118/679, 118/680, 118/323
• US Class Current: 427/8
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/169 having three or more selectively effective outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/00 Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/04 for sequential operation or multiple outlets
• 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 12/124 responsive to distance between spray apparatus and target
• 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: B05C 11/1013 responsive to flow or pressure of liquid or other fluent material B05C11/101 takes precedence; control of flow in general G05D7/00; control of fluid pressure in general G05D16/00
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 11/1018 responsive to distance of target
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 11/1023 responsive to velocity of target, e.g. to web advancement rate
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 5/027 Coating heads with several outlets, e.g. aligned transversally to the moving direction of a web to be coated B05C5/0254 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for applying paints or varnishes with the aid of an application device in order to apply a color design on surfaces of buildings or public or civil engineering works in accordance with a previously executed implementation of a digital image model in a previously recorded digital surface object that represents the surface of the object. According to the invention, the application device moves on the surface of the object while contacting the surface thereof, the position of the application device is continuously measured or calculated using motion sensors and paint is applied in accordance with said implementation depending on the position thus determined. Application of paint by the application device is automatically stopped if the position of the application device with respect to a predefined position error acceptance threshold cannot be determined in a sufficiently accurate manner or if the corresponding paint or varnish has been fully applied in the position of the paint applying elements.

Claims

1. A method for applying a color design to a surface of a wall around protrusions, balconies, doors, windows, sills, or cornices using a movable application device comprising a first position measurement system configured to measure a position of the movable application device relative to multiple stationary components, a computer control unit, multiple paint application elements, a second position measurement system configured to measure a motion of the movable application device, and at least one roller or sliding element, wherein the method comprises,

moving the movable application device on the surface;

measuring the position of the movable application device during the step of moving;

and controlling the paint application elements based upon the step of measuring;

which includes

a first step of

positioning multiple stationary components at fixed locations to define a reference coordinate system for the first position measurement system;

measuring geometric properties of the surface within the reference coordinate system to generate a first data set, which is a digital representation of the geometry of the surface;

generating a second dataset by assigning color data of the color design to the first data set;

a second, paint applying step of

applying paint to a portion of the surface alongside an area containing previously applied paint by moving the movable application device in a way, that the rollers or sliding elements do not contact the previously applied paint by configuring the movable application device to have the paint application elements protrude laterally beyond the rollers or sliding elements;

applying paint at a first position on the surface where valid position data is available by using the first measurement system;

applying paint at a second position on the surface by using the second measurement system wherein the first measurement system is unable to provide valid position data due to disturbed intervisibility between the movable application device and a minimum required number of stationary components by performing the steps of,

relocating the paint application device to a third position on the surface, where valid position data is available from the first measurement system;

and subsequently moving the application device from the third position to the second position on the surface, where the position data of the second position is calculated by the computer control unit based on the third position from the first measurement system, and movement data from second measurement system.