Patent ID: 7849812

Claim:
An apparatus for automatically coating an electrical insulator with a silicone elastomeric coating in a continuous inline operation the apparatus comprising: a cleaning station for cleaning surfaces of the electrical insulator; a drying and heating station to dry the surfaces of the electrical insulator and heat the surfaces of the electrical insulator to aid in adherence of a silicone elastomeric coating; a supply of a curable silicone elastomeric composition; a coating station to apply a coating of the curable silicone elastomeric composition on the exposed surfaces of the electrical insulator, wherein the coating station comprises a robotic apparatus with a spray nozzle programmed to spray the curable silicone composition onto exposed surfaces of the electrical insulator; a curing station to accelerate the curing of the curable silicone elastomeric composition, wherein the curing station comprises a chamber having an atmosphere of 70-80% relative humidity at about 60° C. to accelerate curing of the curable silicone elastomeric composition on the surfaces of the electrical insulator; and a conveying means for holding the electrical insulator and moving the electrical insulator through the automated apparatus, comprising a conveyor for conveying the electrical insulator through the stations, an electrical motor coupled to the conveyer, and a coupler for releasably coupling the electrical insulator to the electrical motor, wherein the electrical motor is configured to rotate the electrical insulator about a vertical axis as the electrical insulator passes through the stations.