Patent ID: 9656289
Date: 2017-05-23
CPC Classifications: B05B,B05C,B41F,D06B,Y02P

Claim:
1. A system for automated painting of pliable items comprising: a conveyance mechanism that conveys a pliable item through the system; a mask exchanger located on the conveyance mechanism that contains a plurality of masks, wherein each mask of the plurality of masks having a geometry that covers a first portion of the pliable item to avoid painting the first portion and exposes a second portion of the pliable item for painting, the plurality of masks of having similar geometries but covering and exposing different amounts of the pliable item; a first paint application device that receives a masked pliable item on the conveyance mechanism, wherein the masked pliable item has the first portion obscured by a mask and the second portion exposed by the mask for painting, the at least a first paint application device having at least one nozzle that dispenses a coat of paint over the masked pliable item, such that paint does not reach the first portion of the pliable item but does reach the second portion of the pliable item exposed by the mask; and a first infrared heating unit that receives the painted masked pliable item and the mask on the conveyance mechanism and, when activated, the at least a first infrared heating unit operable to emit infrared wavelength electromagnetic radiation upon the coat of paint on the second portion of the pliable item exposed by the mask, wherein the wavelength of the infrared wavelength electromagnetic radiation is selected to match absorption properties of the coat of paint; at least a second paint application device that receives the painted masked pliable item and the mask on the conveyance mechanism from the first infrared heating unit; and at least a second infrared heating unit that receives the painted masked pliable item and the mask on the conveyance mechanism from the at least second paint application device.