Patent ID: 6613150
Filing Date: 2003-09-02
Classification: B05C

Abstract:
A coating machine for applying a coating material to a stringer, the coating machine comprising:a conveyor comprising: conveyor surface that extends in a longitudinal direction from an upstream end of the conveyor to a downstream end of the conveyor, and a motor capable of driving the conveyor surface so that the conveyor surface defines a relatively wide travel path that extends in the longitudinal direction and the conveyor surface is capable of receiving and carrying the stringer toward the downstream end of the conveyor; a first alignment mechanism comprising a first alignment abutter capable of abutting a side of the stringer while the stringer is carried toward the downstream end of the conveyor by the conveyor surface; a second alignment mechanism comprising: a second alignment abutter capable of abutting a side of the stringer while the stringer is carried toward the downstream end of the conveyor by the conveyor surface, wherein the first and second alignment abutters are positioned on opposite sides of the wide travel path, and the second alignment abutter is movable between: a retracted configuration, and an extended configuration in which the second alignment abutter extends into the wide travel path so that a relatively narrow travel path is defined, wherein the narrow travel path has a width that is defined between the first and second alignment abutters while the second alignment abutter is in the extended configuration so that the narrow travel path is narrower than the wide travel path, the narrow travel path extends in the longitudinal direction, and the conveyor surface is capable of carrying the stringer downstream along the narrow travel path while the second alignment abutter is in its extended configuration, and an actuator operative for moving the second alignment abutter generally laterally between the second alignment abutter's retracted and extended configurations; and an applicator mechanism capable of applying the coating material to the stringer while the conveyor surface carries the stringer toward the downstream end of the conveyor along the narrow travel path.