Paint flow monitoring method for robot systems in mixed explosion-safety zones

A method for operating a painting robot system, the painting robot system comprising:

• a paint supply source disposed in a first explosion-proof area;
• a sending-out device disposed in a second explosion-proof area;
• a painting robot disposed in the second explosion-proof area;
• a channel connecting the paint supply source to the painting robot through the sending- out device, and disposed so that a part thereof is located in a first explosion-proof area or a second explosion-proof area;
• and
• a noncontact flowmeter disposed in the part of the channel located in a-non-explosion-proof area, the non-explosion-proof area disposed between the first explosion-proof area and the second explosion-proof area;
• the noncontact flowmeter configured to detect a flow rate of a paint flowing through the channel, the method comprising the steps of:
• using a control device to measure a flow rate at the flowmeter;
• determining, by the control device, whether the flow rate exceeds a first threshold;
• responding to a determination that the flow rate exceeds the first threshold, the control device determines that a first abnormality has occurred and notifies the first abnormality of the robot system with display data, an audio signal, or a signal on a communication network;
• determining, by the control device, whether the flow rate is below a second threshold;
• responding to a determination that the flow rate is below the second threshold, the control device determines that a second abnormality has occurred and notifies the second abnormality of the robot system.