Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7294206?dq=inventor:%22Arthur+R.+Hair%22&ei=VAy0Tsa4NYTl0QGQiqWiBA
Timestamp: 2016-10-22 23:38:49
Document Index: 65083271

Matched Legal Cases: ['art.\n2', 'art.\n15', 'art.\n19', 'art.\n20', 'art.\n21', 'art.\n25', 'art.\n32', 'art.\n33', 'art.\n34', 'art.\n36']

Patent US7294206 - Apparatus and method for simultaneously coating and measuring parts - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsAn apparatus and method for simultaneously coating and measuring a part including a part support, a sprayer, a part measurer including a digital camera and a display device, all of which are positioned adjacent to the part support. The sprayer applies a coating to a section of the part while the part...http://www.google.com/patents/US7294206?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7294206 - Apparatus and method for simultaneously coating and measuring partsAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS7294206 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/014,558Publication dateNov 13, 2007Filing dateDec 15, 2004Priority dateJul 8, 2002Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS6832577, US7455878, US7645477, US20040005403, US20050098104, US20050110198, US20090041927Publication number014558, 11014558, US 7294206 B2, US 7294206B2, US-B2-7294206, US7294206 B2, US7294206B2InventorsBruce M. NesbittOriginal AssigneeDimension Bond CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (38), Non-Patent Citations (3), Referenced by (2), Classifications (28), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetApparatus and method for simultaneously coating and measuring parts
US 7294206 B2Abstract
a sprayer positioned adjacent to the part support; and
a part measurer including at least one digital camera positioned adjacent to the part support such that the at least one digital camera is external to a part supported by the part support, wherein the at least one digital camera is operable with a processor to take at least one dimension measurement of a section of the part supported by the part support and coated by the sprayer while the sprayer applies an amount of coating to the section of the part based on said at least one dimension measurement of the section and a desired dimension of the section of the part.
2. The coating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the part measurer includes a plurality of digital cameras.
3. The coating apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least two of the digital cameras are operable to take digital pictures of the section being coated.
4. The coating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the digital cameras are operable to take at least one digital picture of different planes of the section being coated.
5. The coating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one digital camera is operable to take digital pictures of different planes of the section of the part being coated.
6. The coating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the part measurer includes a laser generator and a laser receiver.
7. The coating apparatus of claim 6, wherein the laser generator is positioned adjacent to one side of the part support and said laser receiver is positioned adjacent to an opposing side of the part support.
8. The coating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one digital camera is selected from the group consisting of: a digital motion picture camera, a digital television camera and a DVT camera.
9. The coating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one digital camera is mounted on a movable support.
10. The coating apparatus of claim 9, wherein the movable support is rotatable.
11. The coating apparatus of claim 1, which includes at least one shield connected to the part support.
12. The coating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the part support includes a conveyor.
13. The coating apparatus of claim 1, which includes a plurality of sprayers.
14. The coating apparatus of claim 1, which includes a display device operable to display at least one of said measurements of the section of the part.
15. The coating apparatus of claim 14, wherein the display device is operable to display a digital motion picture of the section of the part as the section of the part is being coated by the sprayer.
16. The coating apparatus of claim 14, wherein the display device is operable to display a digital picture of the section of the part as the section of the part is being coated by the sprayer.
17. The coating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the part is selected from the group consisting of: round parts, tapered parts, beveled parts, threaded parts and angled parts.
18. The coating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sprayer includes at least one powder coating sprayer operable to apply a layer of powder coating to the section of the part.
19. The coating apparatus of claim 18, wherein the powder coating sprayer is operable to apply a plurality of layers of powder coating to the section of the part.
20. The coating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sprayer includes at least one electrostatic sprayer operable to electrostatically apply at least one layer of coating to the section of the part.
21. The coating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sprayer is operable to apply at least one of the coatings selected from the group consisting of: a liquid coating, a powder coating, a primer coating and a topcoat.
22. A coating apparatus comprising:
a part measurer including at least one digital camera positioned adjacent to the part support such that the at least one digital camera is external to a part supported by the part support, wherein the at least one digital camera is operable with a processor to take at least one dimension measurement of at least two different portions of a section of the part supported by the part support and coated by the sprayer while the sprayer applies an amount of coating to said section of the part based on said at least one dimension measurement of the section and a desired dimension of the section.
23. The coating apparatus of claim 22, wherein the part measurer includes a plurality of digital cameras.
24. The coating apparatus of claim 23, wherein at least two of the digital cameras are operable to take pictures of different portion of the section of the part.
25. The coating apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one digital camera is selected from the group consisting of: a digital motion picture camera, a digital television camera and a DVT camera.
26. The coating apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one digital camera is mounted on a movable support.
27. The coating apparatus of claim 26, wherein the movable support is rotatable.
28. The coating apparatus of claim 22, which includes a display device operable to display a digital motion picture of the section of the part as the section of the part is being coated by the sprayer.
29. The coating apparatus of claim 22, which includes a display device operable to display a digital picture of the section of the part as the section of the part is being coated by the sprayer.
30. The coating apparatus of claim 22, wherein the part is selected from the group of parts consisting of: round parts, tapered parts, beveled parts, threaded parts and angled parts.
31. The coating apparatus of claim 22, wherein the sprayer includes at least one powder coating sprayer operable to apply a layer of powder coating to the section of the part.
32. The coating apparatus of claim 31, wherein the powder coating sprayer is operable to apply a plurality of layers of powder coating to the section of the part.
33. The coating apparatus of claim 22, wherein the sprayer includes at least one electrostatic sprayer operable to electrostatically apply at least one layer of coating to the section of the part.
34. The coating apparatus of claim 22, wherein the sprayer is operable to apply at least one of the coatings selected from the group consisting of: a liquid coating, a powder coating, a primer coating and a topcoat.
35. A coating apparatus comprising:
a part support configured to support a part;
a laser generator and a laser receiver positioned on opposing sides of the part support, the laser generator being operable to project a laser beam onto a section of the part supported by the part support, said laser receiver operable to receive the laser beam to take a dimension measurement of said section of the part;
a digital camera positioned adjacent to the part support such that the digital camera is external to the part supported by the part support, wherein the digital camera is operable with a processor to take at least one dimension measurement of the section of the part being coated; and
a sprayer positioned adjacent to the part support, said sprayer operable to apply an amount of coating to the section of the part based on said at least one dimension measurement of the section and a desired dimension of the section of the part.
36. The coating apparatus of claim 35, wherein the digital camera is selected from the group consisting of: a digital motion picture camera, digital television camera and a DVT camera.
37. The coating apparatus of claim 35, which includes at least one additional digital camera.
38. A coating apparatus comprising:
a part measurer including at least one digital camera, a laser generator and a laser receiver positioned adjacent to the part support, wherein the part measurer is operable to measure dimensions of at least two different portions of a section of a part which is supported by the part support and coated by the sprayer while the sprayer applies an amount of coating to said section of the part based on said dimension measurements of the section and a desired dimension of the section; and
said laser generator and laser receiver are each being mounted in a housing, each said housing including a protective device, at least one of the protective devices including a protective material provider and a protective material receiver, wherein a protective material is attached to the protective material provider and the protective material receiver.
39. The coating apparatus of claim 38, wherein the digital camera is one of the digital cameras selected from the group consisting of: a digital motion picture camera, a digital television camera and a DVT camera.
40. The coating apparatus of claim 38, wherein the digital camera includes a movable support.
41. The coating apparatus of claim 40, wherein the support is rotatable.
42. The coating apparatus of claim 38, which includes a display device operable to display a digital motion picture of the part as the part is being coated by the sprayer.
43. The coating apparatus of claim 38, which includes a display device operable to display a digital picture of the part as the part is being coated by the sprayer.
44. The coating apparatus of claim 38, wherein the protective material provider includes a first roller and the protective material receiver includes a second roller.
45. The coating apparatus of claim 38, wherein the protective material includes a transparent film.
46. The coating apparatus of claim 38, wherein the protective material receiver includes an actuator, wherein the protective material receiver is rotatably connected to the actuator.
47. A coating apparatus comprising:
a part measurer including a laser generator and a laser receiver positioned adjacent to the part support, wherein the part measurer is operable to measure dimensions of a section of a part which is supported by the part support and coated by the sprayer while the sprayer applies an amount of coating to said section of the part based on said dimension measurements of the section and a desired dimension of the section; and
48. The coating apparatus of claim 47, wherein the protective material provider includes a first roller and the protective material receiver includes a second roller.
49. The coating apparatus of claim 47, wherein the protective material includes a transparent film.
50. The coating apparatus of claim 47, wherein the protective material receiver includes an actuator, wherein the protective material receiver is rotatably connected to the actuator.
51. A coating apparatus comprising:
a part measurer including a laser generator and a laser receiver positioned adjacent to the part support, wherein the part measurer is operable to measure dimensions of a section of a part which is supported by the part support and coated by the sprayer, wherein the sprayer is operable to apply an amount of coating to said section of the part based on said dimension measurements of the section and a desired dimension of the section; and
52. The coating apparatus of claim 51, wherein the protective material provider includes a first roller and the protective material receiver includes a second roller.
53. The coating apparatus of claim 51, wherein the protective material includes a transparent film.
54. The coating apparatus of claim 51, wherein the protective material receiver includes an actuator, wherein the protective material receiver is rotatably connected to the actuator.
This application is a continuation application of, claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/447,249 filed on May 28, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,832,577, which is a continuation-in-part of, claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/190,980, filed Jul. 8, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,947, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein.
This application relates to the following commonly owned patent applications: “Method for Simultaneously Coating and Measuring Parts,” Ser. No. 10/190,982, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,998,147; “Apparatus for Simultaneously Coating and Measuring Parts,” Ser. No. 10/190,980, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,947B1; “Apparatus For Simultaneously Coating And Measuring Parts,” Ser. No. 10/810,179, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,997,992; “Apparatus For Simultaneously Coating And Measuring Parts,” Ser. No. 10/828,694; now U.S. Pat. No. 6,991,683; “Apparatus And Method For Simultaneously Coating And Measuring Parts,” Ser. No. 11/014,557; “Method for Simultaneously Coating and Measuring Parts,” Ser. No. 11/288,875; “Method for Simultaneously Coating and Measuring Parts,” Ser. No. 11/270,205; and “Apparatus for Simultaneously Coating and Measuring Parts,” Ser. No. 11/301,489.
Air mover 122 b is positioned adjacent to a working surface of the laser generator 110 and is connected to the frame 101 by suitable fasteners. The air mover includes an air director or housing 151 and a valve 154. The air director housing 151 is secured to a bracket 148. A vertical support arm 124, which includes an integral support ring 152, is connected to the frame 101 on one end. The support ring 152 is adapted to receive a horizontal support arm 150. One end of the horizontal support arm 150 slides through the support ring 152 on vertical support arm 124. The slideable support arm 150 enables a user to adjust the position of the air mover 122 b in relation to the laser generator. Once the position of the air mover is set, suitable fasteners are used to secure the support arm in place within the support ring 152. The other end of the support arm 150 is connected to the mounting bracket 148, which is connected to the housing 151. An air communication line 126 is connected to the valve 154 of the air mover 122 b. The air communication line 126 is made of suitable tubing to withstand the air pressure within the tubing. The air is transported from an air generator such as the air compressor described above, to the valve 154. The valve 154 may be a solenoid or other actuator that opens and closes to regulate and control the amount of air that is directed from air mover 122 b. In another embodiment, the sprayer 120 applies a coating or coatings to a section of a part using a pulsing spray to prevent the coating or coatings from obstructing the laser beam emitted by the laser generator, which further enhances the accuracy of the dimension measurements taken by the part measurer. In this embodiment, the processor such as a computer controls the sprayer and causes the sprayer to generate the pulsing spray by activating the sprayer (i.e., turning the sprayer “on”) for a designated time interval and then de-activating the sprayer (i.e., turning the sprayer “off”) for a designated time interval. The processor also controls the laser generator and causes the laser generator to emit the laser beam as described above (i.e., activates the laser generator) when the sprayer is deactivated or off and deactivates the laser generator when the sprayer is activated or on. Therefore, the processor alternately, sequentially activates and deactivates the sprayer and the laser generator so that when the sprayer is applying a coating to the section of the part, the laser generator is not emitting a laser beam and taking a measurement, and when the laser generator is emitting a laser beam and taking a measurement, the sprayer is not applying a coating to the section of the part. In one embodiment, the alternate sequencing of the sprayer and the laser generator occurs in a short time interval or at least a substantially short time interval. In one example, the sprayer applies an amount of coating to the section of the part for two-tenths of a second and then deactivates. Next, the laser generator generates a laser beam and takes a measurement of the section being coated for two-tenths of a second and then deactivates. This sequence continues until the coating applied to the section of the part achieves a designated or desired coating thickness on the section of the part.
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No. 11/301,489).* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS20090101068 *Aug 11, 2008Apr 23, 2009Vmi Epe Holland BvRoll Coater Assembly SystemUS20090126630 *Mar 31, 2008May 21, 2009Boyd Thomas JSpindle Spray Coating System* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification118/713, 118/300, 118/712, 118/668International ClassificationB05B15/04, B05C11/00, G01B11/06, B05B12/12, B05D1/02, B05C5/00, G01B11/24, B05D1/00, B05B13/02Cooperative ClassificationB05B12/12, G01B11/0616, B05B13/0228, B05B15/0406, B05D1/002, G01B11/2433, G01B11/08, B05B13/0278, B05D1/02European ClassificationG01B11/08, B05B12/12, G01B11/06C, G01B11/24G, B05B13/02B1, B05D1/02Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionJan 17, 2005ASAssignmentOwner name: DIMENSION BOND CORPORATION, ILLINOISFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:NESBITT, BRUCE M.;REEL/FRAME:015599/0452Effective date: 20030527Mar 1, 2011FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Jan 13, 2015FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services