# US 2014/0150722 A1 · Coating machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150722 A1 - Document ID: US20140150722A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/080,198 - Filed: 2013-11-14 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-04 - Assignees: Tecnologic 3 S.R.L. - Applicants: Tecnologic 3 S.R.L. - Inventors: Antonio CALASSO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150722A1 ## CPC - F16B 35/00: Screw-bolts; Stay-bolts; Screw-threaded studs; Screws; Set screws ({F16B33/008 takes precedence; joining sheets or plates using screws with two separate threads F16B5/0275; using screws with adjustment sleeves F16B5/0283}; thread cutting screws F16B25/00) - B05B 13/0228: {the movement of the objects being rotative (B05B13/0242 takes precedence)} - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) ## Abstract A coating machine for applying a coating to screws is described. The coating machine has an operating space along which the screws to be coated are fed. A fixed surface is defined, which is fixed relative to the frame of the machine and is designed for abutment and positioning of the screws in the section upstream from said operating space and in said operating space. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A machine for applying a coating product to screws, particularly the threaded shaft of a screw, with a coating product, comprising: a support frame in reference to which an operating space through which the screws are advanced along a preset path of travel extending from one inlet end to one outlet end of said operating space is identifiable; a feed ramp unit for feeding said screws into said operating space, said feed ramp unit being located at said one inlet end upstream from said operating space, as viewed in a forward direction of travel of said screws, along said preset path of travel, said feed ramp unit having support points defined therein for supporting said screws with the shaft extending in a first direction perpendicular to said path of travel; dispensing/spreading means supported in said operating space and extending along said preset path of travel between said one inlet end and said one outlet end, for applying a coating product to the shafts of the screws traveling through said operating space; advancing means supported in said operating space and operating along said preset path of travel between said one inlet end and said one outlet end, for driving the screws in said operating space, and abutment means supported in said operating space for defining an abutment and positioning plane for said screws along said path of travel as said screws are advanced from said one inlet end to said one outlet end, wherein: said abutment means are supported by said support frame and include a bearing blade longitudinally extending from said one inlet end to said one outlet end parallel to the path of travel to support a portion of the shaft of the screws that travel through said operating space along said path of travel; said bearing blade defines an abutment and positioning surface for abutment of the underhead region of the screws traveling through said operating space along said path of travel; said feed ramp unit comprises a stationary portion longitudinally extending along said feed ramp unit and supported by said support frame in joined relationship with said bearing blade; said stationary portion of said feed ramp unit is an extension of said bearing blade and said path of travel for supporting a portion of the shaft of the screws traveling through said feed ramp unit; said stationary portion of said feed ramp unit defines an abutment and positioning surface for abutment of the underhead region of the screws traveling through said feed ramp unit, the adjacent facing end portions of said bearing blade and said stationary portion of said feed ramp unit extending coplanar with each other, said bearing blade and said stationary portion of said feed ramp unit defining, in said machine, a fixed surface relative to said support frame, for abutment and positioning of the screws in the section upstream from said operating space, and in said operating space, said dispensing/spreading means are supported by said support frame through first adjustment means suitable to allow mutual position adjustment of said dispensing/spreading means relative to said bearing blade in said first direction perpendicular to said path of travel; and said advancing means are supported by said support frame through second adjustment means suitable to allow mutual position adjustment of said advancing means relative to said bearing blade in said first direction perpendicular to said path of travel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing/spreading means are supported by said bearing blade through said first adjustment means. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, wherein: said second adjustment means include a slide running along two rails which extend in said first direction perpendicular to said path of travel, and said advancing means are mounted aboard said slide through third adjustment means which are adapted to allow mutual position adjustment of said advancing means relative to said slide in a second direction substantially perpendicular both to said path of travel and to said first direction perpendicular to said path of travel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, further comprising a head abutment unit comprising an abutment wall extending parallel to said bearing blade and said stationary portion of said feed ramp unit, substantially along their entire longitudinal dimension, to define an abutment and guide surface for the head surfaces of said screws, wherein said head abutment unit is supported by said support frame through fourth adjustment means which are adapted to allow mutual position adjustment of said head abutment unit relative to said bearing blade and to said stationary portion of said feed ramp unit in said first direction perpendicular to said path of travel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The machine according to claim 4, wherein said head abutment head comprises a movable bar, and wherein: the movable bar extends parallel to said abutment wall substantially along the entire longitudinal dimension of said stationary portion of said feed ramp unit, and the moveable bar is supported by said abutment wall through fifth adjustment means which are adapted to allow mutual position adjustment of said movable bar relative to said abutment wall in said first direction perpendicular to said path of travel and through sixth adjustment means which are adapted to allow mutual position adjustment of said movable bar relative to said abutment wall in a second direction substantially perpendicular both to said path of travel and to said first direction perpendicular to said path of travel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The machine according to claim 4, wherein said dispensing/spreading means and said head abutment unit are located on opposite sides of said bearing blade, as viewed in said first direction perpendicular to said path of travel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, wherein: said feed ramp unit further comprises a moving portion extending parallel to said stationary portion along the entire longitudinal dimension thereof, said moving portion is supported by said stationary portion through seventh adjustment means which are adapted to allow mutual position adjustment of said moving portion relative to said stationary portion in said first direction perpendicular to said path of travel and through eighth adjustment means which are adapted to allow mutual position adjustment of said moving portion relative to said stationary portion in a second direction substantially perpendicular both to said path of travel and to said first direction perpendicular to said path of travel, and said stationary portion and said moving portion forming support points, in parallel and spaced relationship with each other in said first direction perpendicular to said path of travel, for the screws that travel through said feed ramp unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The machine according to claim 7, wherein said machine further comprises a selective feed unit for selectively feeding the screws, which is located near said one inlet end of said operating space, to cause the screws to be selectively advanced to said operating space, by means of said feed ramp unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The machine according to claim 8, wherein said selective feed unit comprises a feed gear configured, by its outer periphery upon a portion of a shank of the screws, to drive them into said operating space, where said advancing means are operative. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, further comprising a motorized conveyor belt unit located at said one outlet end of said operating space to receive the screws that exit said operating space, wherein: said motorized conveyor belt unit is mounted aboard a slide that can be moved and aligned long two rails integral with said support frame, the support frame extending in said first direction perpendicular to said path of travel to allow position adjustment of said motorized conveyor belt unit in said first direction, and said motorized conveyor belt is supported by said slide by way of linkage means, the linkage means being configured to allow said motorized conveyor belt unit to swing in a horizontal plane. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The machine according to claim 10, wherein said motorized conveyor belt unit comprises: a conveyor belt having an upper section designed to receive and support the screws that exit said operating space, and a facing lower section, a contra-rotating brush being associated with said lower section of the conveyor belt, for interfering with the outer surface of the conveyor belt and ensuring continuous cleaning thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, further comprising sensor means for detecting a presence of screws in said feed ramp unit, said sensor means being eccentrically mounted aboard a rotating support whose axis of rotation is parallel to said first direction perpendicular to said path of travel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, wherein said advancing means include drive belt advancing means, wherein a drive belt is rotatably supported by a plurality of rollers, said drive belt having a friction rolling drive action on the shaft of said screws to cause them to roll forward along said path of travel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The machine according to claim 13, wherein said drive belt advancing means are located above said dispensing/spreading means, the lower section of said drive belt having a friction rolling drive action on a portion of the shaft of said screws, which contact said dispensing/spreading means and said drive belt, and are interposed therebetween. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The machine according to claim 13, wherein said drive belt and said plurality of support rollers are supported in a support box, said support box being replaceable, in said advancing means with another support box comprising a corresponding drive belt supported by a corresponding plurality of support rollers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The machine according to any of claim 1, wherein said adjustment means can be accessed from the front side of the machine or the upper side, the lower side or one of the lateral sides of the machine, and no adjustment means are provided on the rear side of the machine.