Spray machine alignment systems and methods

A system for repeatably aligning a spray gun of a lacquer spray machine in a can manufacturing line, comprising:

• a support structure fixed relative to a base of the lacquer spray machine, the support structure including a spray gun mount;
• a spray gun affixed to the spray gun mount;
• at least two linear alignment mechanisms adapted for moving the spray gun mount relative to a datum reference point associated with desired alignment of the spray gun;
• and
• an angular alignment mechanism adapted for moving the spray gun mount relative to a desired angular direction of the spray gun;
• wherein upon achieving alignment at the datum reference point via iterative operation of the linear alignment mechanisms and the angular alignment mechanism, coordinates of the datum zero point may be recorded to enable subsequent alignment of the spray gun by locating the spray gun mount based on the coordinates.

A system for aligning a spray gun of a lacquer spray machine in a can manufacturing line, comprising:

• a support structure fixed relative to a base of the lacquer spray machine, the support structure including a spray gun mount;
• a datum fixture coupled to the spray gun mount;
• a laser device affixed to the datum fixture;
• and
• a target device mounted to a predetermined position on the lacquer spray machine, the target device being positioned such that at least one laser line from the laser device impinges on the target device;
• whereby the datum fixture and target device are configured to be replaceable with a spray gun fixture and whereby, upon the laser device being aligned with the target device, replacing the datum device with the spray gun fixture and the spray gun positions the spray gun in a desired predetermined position.

A method for aligning a spray gun of a lacquer spray machine in a can manufacturing line, comprising:

• impinging at least one laser line from a laser device on a target device that is positioned to receive impingement of the at least one laser line;
• adjusting position of a support structure holding the laser device based on linearity of the at least one laser line, and/or based on deviation of a center of the laser line,
• determining a datum reference point and determining an angular direction of the spray gun such that desired alignment of the spray gun is achieved;
• and
• recording alignment coordinates of at least the datum reference point;
• wherein subsequent alignment of the spray gun is achieved by resetting the spray gun to the alignment coordinates associated with the datum reference point.