Applicator head for coating application and associated system and method

A coating application system for applying a coating to an object, the coating application system comprising:

• an end effector removably attached to a robotic arm;
• an applicator head attached to a lower end of the end effector, the applicator head comprising:
• an elongated body comprising an external surface and an internal cavity extending along a body length of the elongated body;
• a coating inlet formed in an upper portion of the elongated body, and fluidically coupled with the internal cavity to enable a coating material to flow into the internal cavity from the coating inlet;
• a plurality of outlet ports positioned along a lower portion of the elongated body so that each one of the plurality of outlet ports is fluidically coupled with the internal cavity to enable the coating material to be dispensed from the internal cavity;
• and
• a plurality of external ribs disposed along the external surface of the elongated body, wherein each one of the plurality of external ribs extends at a rib height from the external surface of the elongated body, and wherein at least one outlet port of the plurality of outlet ports is positioned between adjacent ones of the plurality of external ribs;
• a coating reservoir removably attached to the end effector and fluidically coupled with the coating inlet of the applicator head, the coating reservoir configured to selectively supply the coating material to the applicator head;
• wherein:
• the end effector is configured to control movement of the applicator head relative to a coating-receiving surface of the object, such that the applicator head is movable along the coating-receiving surface;
• when the applicator head is moved along the coating-receiving surface, each one of the plurality of external ribs is in contact with the coating-receiving surface;
• and
• when the coating reservoir is supplying the coating material to the applicator head and the applicator head is moved along the coating-receiving surface, the coating material is dispensed from the plurality of outlet ports onto the coating-receiving surface to form the coating of the coating material having a coating thickness defined by the rib height of the plurality of external ribs.

A method of applying a coating to an object, the method comprising:

• supplying a coating material from a coating reservoir to an internal cavity of an applicator head, the coating reservoir fluidically coupled with the internal cavity of the applicator head;
• moving the applicator head along a coating-receiving surface of the object while maintaining a plurality of external ribs of the applicator head in contact with the coating-receiving surface;
• and
• dispensing the coating material from the internal cavity through a plurality of outlet ports of the applicator head onto the coating-receiving surface to form a coating of the coating material having a coating thickness defined by a rib height of the plurality of external ribs, wherein at least one outlet port of the plurality of outlet ports is positioned between adjacent ones of the plurality of external ribs.