Painting robot with a paint supply system

• US 5,964,407 A
• Filed: 04/23/1998
• Issued: 10/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ABB Flexible Automation A/S
• Original Assignee: ABB Flexible Automation A/S
• Inventors: Sandkleiva, Are
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Application Number:
  US08/981,235
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 239/112, 239/302-305, 239/587.2, 239/588, 239/413, 239/416.1, 901/43
• US Class Current: 239/112
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/14 for supplying a selected one of a plurality of liquids or other fluent materials or several in selected proportions to a spray apparatus, e.g. to a single spray outlet
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/149 characterised by colour change manifolds or valves therefor B05B12/1409 takes precedence
• 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: Y10S 239/14 Paint sprayers

Abstract

A paint supply system for a painting robot, the system includes a paint spraying device mounted on a tool holder at the outer end of a robot arm and having an adapter unit for mounting on the robot arm close to or in direct contact with the paint spraying device, first and second supply lines for supplying first and second painting fluids to the adapter, and a third supply line for supplying a cleansing fluid to the adapter. The adapter includes a first inlet duct connected to the first supply line, a second inlet duct connected to the second supply line, a third inlet duct connected to the third supply line, an outlet duct connected to the paint spraying device, first valve means for connecting the first inlet duct to the outlet duct, second valve means for connecting the second inlet duct to the outlet duct, and third valve means for connecting the third inlet duct to the outlet duct.

Claims

1. A paint supply system for a painting robot, said system comprising a paint spraying device mounted on a tool holder on the outer end of a robot arm and including:

an adapter unit for mounting on the robot arm close to or in direct contact with the paint spraying device,

first and second supply lines for supplying first and second painting fluids to the adapter,

a third supply line for supplying a cleansing fluid to the adapter,

wherein the adapter includes

a first inlet duct connected to the first supply line,

a second inlet duct connected to the second supply line,

a third inlet duct connected to the third supply line,

an outlet duct connected to the paint spraying device,

first valve means for connecting the first inlet duct to the outlet duct,

second valve means for connecting the second inlet duct to the outlet duct,

third valve means for connecting the third inlet duct to the outlet duct.

2. A paint supply system according to claim 1 wherein the first and second painting fluids are components of a two-component paint, and the system comprises means for either

during a paint spraying operation, maintaining said third valve means closed and said first and second valve means open for supplying the two-paint components to the spray gun, or

for cleansing the adapter and spray gun, maintaining said first and second valve means closed and said third valve means open.

3. A paint supply system according to claim 2, wherein the adapter outlet duct comprises a mixing unit for mixing the two-paint components.

4. A paint supply system according to claim 1 wherein the first and second painting fluids are first and second single-component paints, and the system comprises means for either

during a paint spraying operation with said first paint, maintaining said second and third valve means closed and said first valve means open for supplying said first paint to the spray gun, or

during a paint spraying operation with said second paint, maintaining said first and third valve means closed and said second valve means open for supplying said second paint to the spray gun, or

for cleansing the adapter and spray gun maintaining said first and second valve means closed and said third valve means open.

5. A paint supply system according to claim 4, wherein said first and second valve means are double-acting valves for selectively connecting each of the first and second inlet ducts either to the outlet duct or to a dump line.

6. A paint supply system according to claim 4, further comprising it comprises a multi-color changer for supplying paint through said first and second supply lines to the adapter.

7. A paint supply system according to claim 1, wherein the adapter is a monolithic block of polymeric light matrial.

8. A paint supply system according to claim 1, wherein the adapter is a monolithic block of light metal.

9. A paint supply system according to claim 1, wherein said first, second and third valve are actuated by pressurized air.