Spray gun adjustment system
OwnerKevin Gillest, Michael Calahan +3inventors
InventorsKevin Gillest, Michael Calahan, Kalvis Jaunarajs, Christopher Goldsmith, Logan Ostrander
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved device for adjusting spray guns in an IC spray machine. Adjustments may be done using electro-mechanical or pneumatic actuators, and may rotate the nozzles toward an evacuation hood for cleaning, etc. Two actuators are used per spray gun, one mechanically engaged to a slide which moves the gun in translation (traversing in the X dimension), one which is mechanically engaged to a bracket which in turn is mechanically engaged to the gun mount, so the gun may be either moved or rotated. In addition, a Z-axis beam allows control in depth by an additional actuator/motor.
Claims14
An internal coating spray machine for use with cans and containers, the internal coating spray machine comprising:
- an exhaust hood;
- a star wheel having a plurality of pockets;
- a first spray gun having a nozzle, the first spray gun and first spray gun nozzle oriented so as to spray into a first one of the plurality of pockets and into one such can disposed in the pocket;
- a first spray gun mount, the first spray gun mounted thereon,
- a first rotation guide, the first spray gun mounted riding on the first rotation guide, whereby the first spray gun mount and the first spray gun may both rotate in a single dimension designated R;
- a first X-axis slide, the first X-axis slide having the first rotation guide;
- a first X-axis guide, the first X-axis slide mechanically engaged to the first X-axis slide;
- a first X-axis actuator motor mount, the first X-axis guide mounted to the first X-axis actuator motor mount, whereby the first X-axis slide, the first rotation guide, the first spray gun mount, and the first spray gun may all traverse in a single dimension designated X;
- a first X-axis actuator motor mounted on the first X-axis actuator motor mount, the first X-axis actuator motor mechanically engaged to the first X-axis slide so that the traverse in the single dimension X is both caused and controlled by the first X-axis actuator motor;
- a first X-axis rotation bracket mechanically engaged to the first spray gun mount;
- a first X-axis rotation motor mounted on the X-axis actuator motor mount, the first X-axis actuator motor mechanically engaged to the first X-axis rotation bracket, whereby the rotation in the single dimension R is both caused and controlled by the first X-axis rotation actuator motor;
- whereby when the first X-axis actuator motor and the first X-axis rotation actuator motor are energized in a first mode, the first spray gun will assume a first position and a first angle relative to the first one of the plurality of pockets, but when the first X-axis actuator motor and the first X-axis rotation actuator motor are energized in a second mode, the first spray gun will assume a second position and a second angle relative to the first one of the plurality of pockets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.