Patent ID: 7770537

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 a first object-holding element configured to hold the object while a coating is applied, the first object holding element comprising: a rotatable base; a tube extending from the rotatable base; a disk having a hole for deployment on the tube; and gripping element connected to the object and at least partially inserted into the tube; (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.