Patent ID: 6916379

Claim:
A coating device for selectively applying a coating to surfaces of an object, the device applying the coating based upon optical properties of the surfaces such that the coating is applied to surfaces of a first type and is not applied to surfaces of a second type, the first type of surface being optically distinguishable from the second type of surface, the coating device comprising: (a) at least one object-holding element configured to hold the object while a coating is applied; (b) at least one optical scanning device deployed so as to scan at least a portion of the object, said optical scanning device configured so as to produce output indicative of the types of surfaces of the object; (c) at least one coating applicator deployed so as to deposit a fluid so as to coat at least a portion of the object; (d) at least one fluid delivery system in fluid communication so as to supply said fluid to said coating applicator; (e) a processing unit being responsive at least to said output so as to selectively activate said coating applicator, thereby applying said coating substantially only to surfaces of the first type; and (f) a drive system configured so as to provide relative motion between the surface of the object and said coating applicator, and between the surface of the object and said optical scanning device, wherein said object-holding element, said coating applicator, said optical scanning device, said drive system and at least a portion of said fluid delivery system are deployed within a housing that includes an application compartment, wherein said housing includes a base housing section and a detachable housing section, wherein said application compartment is defined by portions of both said base housing section and said detachable housing section, and wherein said base housing section includes said coating applicator, at least a portion of said fluid delivery system, said optical scanning device and said processing unit at least a first portion of said drive system, and said detachable housing section includes said object-holding element and at least a second portion of said drive system.