US 2019/0337003 A1 · ROBOTIC PAINTING BOOTH AND OPERATING METHOD

Abstract

A next generation painting robot with advanced fluid delivery system, enhanced kinematics and a service airlock compartment. The painting robot includes a fluid delivery system which places color changing valves and pumping hardware on the back side of the robot's mounting pedestal, where it can be serviced without a technician having to enter the spray booth. Additionally, the robot enables routine cleaning and maintenance to be performed without personnel entering the spray booth and without stopping the vehicle conveyor, due to simplified outer arm design, improved home positioning and an airlock booth adjacent to the robot pedestal. Service personnel can clean and service the applicator and other components on the outer arm from the airlock booth, while other robots continue painting parts moving on the conveyor, without allowing fume-laden vapors into the operator aisle.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An automatic coating system for performing a coating process on a part conveyed through a painting cabin, said system comprising:

two or more painting robots each with at least five rotational axes, each of the robots having a robot base rotatable about a mounting stand, an inner arm rotatable about the robot base, an outer arm rotatable about the inner arm, a robot wrist attached to a free end of the outer arm, and a coating applicator coupled to the robot wrist;
an airlock booth positioned proximal to the mounting stand of at least one of the robots, said airlock booth having a first door opening to an operator aisle and a second door opening to the painting cabin,
where the airlock booth is configured such that certain components of the robot are accessible by the operator in the airlock booth when the robot is parked in a service position and the second door is open, where other robots in the painting cabin continue painting while the operator in the airlock booth services the robot, and where paint vapors from the painting cabin are prevented from entering the operator aisle.

A method for servicing a painting robot system, said method comprising:

providing a painting robot having a robot base rotatable about a mounting stand, said robot also having inner and outer arms connecting a robot wrist to the robot base, said robot further including a coating applicator coupled to the robot wrist;
providing an airlock booth positioned adjacent to the mounting stand of the painting robot, said airlock booth having a first door opening to an operator aisle and a second door opening to a painting cabin;
placing the painting robot in a standby mode, where the painting robot discontinues painting and returns the coating applicator to a service position, and other robots in the painting cabin continue painting including the other robots assuming painting responsibilities of the painting robot which is in standby mode;
entering the airlock booth from the operator aisle and closing the first door by an operator;
opening the second door to access the robot by the operator;
servicing certain components of the robot by operator;
closing the second door by the operator after completing servicing;
exiting the airlock booth to the operator aisle through the first door by the operator;
and
placing the painting robot in an operational mode and resuming painting operations by the painting robot.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Robotic painting booth and operating method

Life of this patent

Robotic painting booth and operating method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20