# US 10,441,067 B2 · Brushes for delivering glutinous substance to workpiece from end-effector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,067 B2 - Document ID: US10441067B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/143,140 - Filed: 2016-04-29 - Published: 2017-04-20 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-15 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Raul Tomuta; Richard P. Topf; Martin Guirguis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441067B2 ## CPC - A46B 11/0072: {Details} - A46B 7/08: as a rotating disc - A46B 9/025: {the bristles or the tufts being arranged in an angled position relative to each other} - A46B 11/0006: {specially adapted to feed the bristle upper surface} - A46B 11/06: connected to supply pipe {or to other external supply means (A46B11/0003 and A46B11/0006 take precedence)} - A46B 11/063: {by means of a supply pipe} - A46B 13/001: {Cylindrical or annular brush bodies} - A46B 13/008: {Disc-shaped brush bodies} - A46B 13/04: with reservoir or other means for supplying substances - B05C 1/06: by rubbing contact, e.g. by brushes, by pads {(brushes in general A46B)} - B05C 1/16: only at particular parts of the work {(at particular parts of separate articles B05C1/027)} - B05D 1/28: performed by transfer from the surfaces of elements carrying the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. brushes, pads, rollers - A46B 2200/20: Brushes for applying products to surfaces in general (A46B2200/10 takes precedence) - A46B: BRUSHES (handles not integral with brushware B25G) - B05C: APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (spraying apparatus, atomising apparatus, nozzles B05B; plant for applying liquids or other fluent materials to objects by electrostatic spraying B05B5/08) - B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02) ## Abstract A brush for delivering a glutinous substance to a workpiece from an end-effector is disclosed. The brush comprises a body, having a rotational axis and comprising a first channel that comprises an inlet and a first outlet. The inlet is coaxial with the rotational axis and the first outlet is offset from the rotational axis. The brush also comprises tufts, extending from the body and each comprising at least one bristle and a tip. The brush further comprises a first tube, communicatively coupled with the first outlet of the first channel of the body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A brush for delivering a glutinous substance to a workpiece from an end-effector, the brush comprising: a body, having a rotational axis and comprising a first channel that comprises an inlet and a first outlet, wherein the inlet is coaxial with the rotational axis and the first outlet is offset from the rotational axis; tufts, extending from the body and each comprising a tip and bristles, wherein the tip of each one of the tufts is spaced apart from the tip of any other one of the tufts; and a first tube, communicatively coupled with the first outlet of the first channel of the body; and wherein: the tufts comprise a second plurality of tufts; the tufts of the second plurality of tufts extend from the body at locations on the body that lie along a curvilinear path about the rotational axis; two or more of the tufts of the second plurality of tufts are angled radially inwardly toward or radially outwardly away from the rotational axis; the second plurality of tufts comprises a first group of tufts and a second group of tufts; each of the tips of each of the tufts comprises an end face; the end faces of the first group of tufts are parallel to the rotational axis of the body; and the end faces of the second group of tufts are perpendicular to the rotational axis of the body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The brush according to claim 1, wherein: one of the tufts is oblique to the rotational axis of the body; and the tip of the one of the tufts is farther away from the rotational axis of the body than any other portion of the first one of the tufts. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The brush according to claim 2, wherein: a second one of the tufts is oblique to the rotational axis of the body; and the tip of the second one of the tufts is closer to the rotational axis of the body than any other portion of the second one of the tufts. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The brush according to claim 1, wherein the tips of the first group of tufts are equidistant from the rotational axis of the body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The brush according to claim 1, wherein the tip of each tuft of the first group of tufts is differently spaced from a virtual plane that is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the body than the tip of any other tuft of the first group of tufts. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The brush according to claim 1, wherein the tips of the second group of tufts are equidistant from a virtual plane that is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The brush according to claim 1, wherein the tip of each tuft of the second group of tufts is differently spaced from the rotational axis of the body than the tip of any other tuft of the second group of tufts. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The brush according to claim 1, wherein the curvilinear path, along which the second plurality of tufts extends from the body, is a radially non-overlapping spiral path. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The brush according to claim 1, wherein the curvilinear path, along which the second plurality of tufts extends from the body, is a circular path. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The brush according to claim 9, wherein the locations on the body that lie along the circular path are equidistant from the rotational axis of the body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The brush according to claim 1, wherein: the tufts further comprise a first plurality of tufts, and the tufts of the first plurality of tufts extend from the body at locations on the body that lie along a linear path. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The brush according to claim 11, wherein the end face of at least one of the tips of the first plurality of tufts is oblique to the rotational axis of the body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The brush according to claim 12, wherein the end faces of at least two of the tips of the first plurality of tufts are oblique to each other. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The brush according to claim 1, wherein: the body further comprises a second channel, comprising the inlet and a second outlet; the second outlet is offset from the rotational axis; and the brush further comprises a second tube, communicatively coupled with the second outlet of the second channel of the body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The brush according to claim 14, wherein: the body further comprises a third channel, comprising the inlet and a third outlet; the third outlet is offset from the rotational axis; and the brush further comprises a third tube, communicatively coupled with the third outlet of the third channel of the body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The brush according to claim 15, wherein: the first tube extends along the rotational axis of the body a greater distance away from the body than the second tube; and the second tube extends along the rotational axis of the body a greater distance away from the body than the third tube. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The brush according to claim 15, wherein: the first tube is located on the body a greater distance away from the rotational axis than the second tube; and the second tube is located on the body a greater distance away from the rotational axis than the third tube. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The brush according to claim 1, wherein the first tube is more flexible than the body of the brush. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The brush according to claim 1, wherein the first channel is cross-sectionally circumferentially closed. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The brush according to claim 1, wherein the first tube extends from the body a shorter distance than at least one of the tufts along the rotational axis of the body. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The brush according to claim 1, wherein the first tube is parallel to the rotational axis of the body. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The brush according to claim 1, wherein the first tube is oblique to the rotational axis of the body. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The brush according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the tufts are oblique to each other. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The brush according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the tufts is parallel to the rotational axis of the body and at least another one of the tufts is oblique to the rotational axis of the body. ### Claim 25 (depends on 11) The brush according to claim 11, wherein the linear path does not intersect the rotational axis of the body. ### Claim 26 (depends on 11) The brush according to claim 11, wherein the linear path intersects the rotational axis of the body. ### Claim 27 (depends on 11) The brush according to claim 11, wherein each of the first plurality of tufts is oblique to the rotational axis of the body. ### Claim 28 (depends on 11) The brush according to claim 11, wherein each of the first plurality of tufts is parallel to the rotational axis of the body. ### Claim 29 (depends on 11) The brush according to claim 11, wherein at least two of the first plurality of tufts have different lengths. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The brush according to claim 1, wherein angular orientations of at least two of the tufts relative to a virtual plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the body are different. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The brush according to claim 1, wherein angular orientations of at least two of the tufts relative to a virtual plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the body are identical. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) The brush according to claim 1, wherein lengths of at least two of the tufts, extending from the body, are different. ### Claim 33 (depends on 14) The brush according to claim 14, wherein the second tube is more flexible than the body of the brush. ### Claim 34 (depends on 14) The brush according to claim 14, wherein the second channel is cross-sectionally circumferentially closed. ### Claim 35 (depends on 14) The brush according to claim 14, wherein the second tube extends from the body a shorter distance than at least one of the tufts along the rotational axis of the body. ### Claim 36 (depends on 14) The brush according to claim 14, wherein the second tube is parallel to the rotational axis of the body. ### Claim 37 (depends on 15) The brush according to claim 15, wherein the third tube is more flexible than the body of the brush. ### Claim 38 (depends on 15) The brush according to claim 15, wherein the third channel is cross-sectionally circumferentially closed. ### Claim 39 (depends on 15) The brush according to claim 15, wherein the third tube extends from the body a shorter distance than at least one of the tufts along the rotational axis of the body. ### Claim 40 (depends on 15) The brush according to claim 15, wherein the third tube is parallel to the rotational axis of the body. ### Claim 41 (depends on 15) The brush according to claim 15, wherein: the first tube comprises a first central axis and a fourth outlet; and the fourth outlet of the first tube is perpendicular to the first central axis of the first tube. ### Claim 42 (depends on 15) The brush according to claim 15, wherein: the second tube comprises a second central axis and a fifth outlet; and the fifth outlet of the second tube is oblique to the second central axis of the second tube. ### Claim 43 (depends on 15) The brush according to claim 15, wherein: the third tube comprises a third central axis and a sixth outlet; and the sixth outlet of the third tube is perpendicular to the third central axis of the third tube. ### Claim 44 (depends on 1) The brush according to claim 1, wherein each one of the tufts of the second plurality of tufts is angled radially inwardly or outwardly relative to an adjacent one of the tufts of the second plurality of tufts. ### Claim 45 (depends on 1) The brush according to claim 1, wherein an angle, defined radially between each one of the tufts of the second plurality of tufts and the rotational axis, changes, from one of the tufts to an adjacent one of the tufts along the curvilinear path, for all the tufts of the second plurality of tufts. ### Claim 46 (depends on 14) The brush according to claim 14, wherein: the first tube is parallel to the rotational axis; and the second tube is inclined relative to the rotational axis. ### Claim 47 (depends on 11) The brush according to claim 11, wherein: the linear path intersects the rotational axis of the body; all the tufts of the first plurality of tufts are not parallel to the rotational axis and are identically inclined relative to the rotational axis; and at least two of the tufts of the first plurality of tufts are inclined radially inwardly toward the rotational axis. ### Claim 48 A brush for delivering a glutinous substance to a workpiece from an end-effector, the brush comprising: a body, having a rotational axis and comprising a first channel that comprises an inlet and a first outlet, wherein the inlet is coaxial with the rotational axis and the first outlet is offset from the rotational axis; tufts, extending from the body and each comprising a tip and bristles, wherein the tip of each one of the tufts is spaced apart from the tip of any other one of the tufts; and a first tube, communicatively coupled with the first outlet of the first channel of the body; and wherein: the tufts comprise a second plurality of tufts; the tufts of the second plurality of tufts extend from the body at locations on the body that lie along a curvilinear path about the rotational axis; two or more of the tufts of the second plurality of tufts are angled radially inwardly toward or radially outwardly away from the rotational axis; a first one of the tufts is oblique to the rotational axis of the body; the tip of the first one of the tufts is farther away from the rotational axis of the body than any other portion of the first one of the tufts; a second one of the tufts is oblique to the rotational axis of the body; and the tip of the second one of the tufts is closer to the rotational axis of the body than any other portion of the second one of the tufts. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The brush according to claim 48, wherein: the body further comprises a second channel, comprising the inlet and a second outlet; the second outlet is offset from the rotational axis; and the brush further comprises a second tube, communicatively coupled with the second outlet of the second channel of the body. ### Claim 50 (depends on 49) The brush according to claim 49, wherein: the body further comprises a third channel, comprising the inlet and a third outlet; the third outlet is offset from the rotational axis; and the brush further comprises a third tube, communicatively coupled with the third outlet of the third channel of the body. ### Claim 51 (depends on 50) The brush according to claim 50, wherein: the first tube extends along the rotational axis of the body a greater distance away from the body than the second tube; and the second tube extends along the rotational axis of the body a greater distance away from the body than the third tube. ### Claim 52 (depends on 50) The brush according to claim 50, wherein: the first tube is located on the body a greater distance away from the rotational axis than the second tube; and the second tube is located on the body a greater distance away from the rotational axis than the third tube.