Patent ID: 6620246
Filing Date: 2003-09-16
Classification: B05B,B05C

Abstract:
An apparatus to monitor and control the process of applying at least one coating material onto the threads of a fastener comprising:a coating applicator adapted to apply at least one coating to a fastener; a process controller adapted to perform an initiation sequence by receiving at least one input confirming the operability of at least one subsystem from the group comprising: compressed air, process heat, parts feed, vacuum pressure for coating reclamation, and coating material feed; at least one control signal provide by said process controller to actuate operation of said at least one subsystem after said process controller confirms the operability of said at least one subsystem; said process controller monitors operation of said at least one subsystem during fastener processing and in the event of a failure of said operation, said process controller provides a signal halting fastener processing; said process controller monitors at least one run condition for conformance with at least one predetermined criteria, said run condition comprising at least one of the following: fastener speed, coating flow, and heating within a temperature range; said process controller adapted to provide a signal halting fastener processing upon detecting a run condition which does not meet said predetermined criteria; a machine vision system which is in communication with said process controller to monitor fasteners for conformance with a predetermined inspection criteria, said predetermined inspection criteria comprising at least one of the following: the number of threads on the fastener, the location of threads on the fastener, the orientation or pitch of the threads on the fastener, the amount of coating coverage on the fastener, and the location of coating on the fastener; and said process controller upon detecting a fastener which fails to meet said inspection criteria provides a signal which causes the detected fastener to be directed to a preselected location while allowing fastener processing to continue.