Spraying apparatus

Apparatus for spraying at least one substance onto a material carried on a conveyor, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of spray booths spaced at intervals and in series along the length of the conveyor, each spray booth comprising at least one sprayer device and each sprayer device having a valve for selectively permitting or inhibiting the spraying of one substance therefrom;
• means for moving each sprayer device in each spray booth relative to the conveyor;
• a plurality of sensors, each sensor detecting when material on the conveyor is presented to each such sensor;
• means, receiving input from the moving means, for detecting the position of each sprayer device;
• means for detecting the movement of the conveyor;
• a single computer unit;
• a first means, including the means for detecting and the computer unit, for determining the speed of the conveyor;
• and
• a second means, including the plurality of sensor and the computer unit, for deriving information relating to the location of material on the conveyor and storing the material location information;
• the means for moving being responsive to information derived by the second means and including means for (a) positioning the sprayer devices at each spray booth at a reference position, (b) updating the position of the sprayer devices;
• and
• means for determining which, if any, sprayer devices are not properly positioned for spraying onto material on the conveyor;
• wherein the sprayer devices of at least one spray booth comprise a rotating sprayer arrangement each such rotating arrangement including a pipe having arms extending radially outward therefrom, the sprayer devices being attached to the arms, each sprayer device in the rotating sprayer arrangement being moved in a circular path by the moving means;
• and
• wherein the apparatus further comprises a rotary transformer coupling which comprises (a) a first circular coil connected to receive signals provided by the computer unit and (b) a second circular coil sharing a common axis with and being space apart from the first circular coil, the second circular coil receiving input from the first circular coil and carrying respective the input to each valve in the rotating sprayer arrangement, the second circular coil being rotatable relative to the first circular coil about the common axis.

Apparatus for spraying at least one substance onto a material carried on a conveyor, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of spray booths spaced at intervals and in series along the length of the conveyor, each spray booth comprising at least one sprayer device and each sprayer device having a valve for selectively permitting or inhibiting the spraying of one substance therefrom;
• means for moving each sprayer device in each spray booth relative to the conveyor;
• a plurality of sensors, each sensor detecting when material on the conveyor is presented to each such sensor;
• means, receiving input from the moving means, for detecting the position of each sprayer device;
• means for detecting the movement of the conveyor;
• a single computer unit;
• a first means, including the means for detecting and the computer unit, for determining the speed of the conveyor;
• and
• a second means, including the plurality of sensor and the computer means, for deriving information relating to the location of material on the conveyor and storing the material location information;
• the means for moving being responsive to information derived by the second means and including means for (a) positioning the sprayer devices at each spray booth at a reference position, (b) updating the position of the sprayer devices;
• and
• wherein the sprayer device of at least one spray booth comprise a one arm bandit arrangement each such one arm bandit arrangement comprising:
• an arm having a first end and a second end and a pivot therebetween, the sprayer devices being disposed along the arm between the pivot and and the second end;
• a cam wheel having (a) an axis about which the cam wheel rotates and (b) a plurality of flags disposed at a distance radially outward from the axis, one of the flags being a distinctive flag;
• a control rod (a) one end of which is rotatably coupled to a point to the cam wheel, the point being at a radial distance from the axis of the cam wheel and (b) the other end of the control rod is rotatably coupled to the first end of the arm;
• and
• means for detecting one flag after another as the cam wheel rotates, the flag detecting output being provided to the computer unit, the detection of the distinctive flag providing synchronization information relating to arm position.

A method for spraying at least one finishing substance onto a material carried on a conveyor along which at least one spray booth is positioned, each spray booth having at least one sprayer device associated therewith, each sprayer device being movable in cyclical fashion relative to the conveyor and having a valve for selectively permitting or inhibiting the dispensing of a substance therefrom, the method comprising:

• positioning sensors across the conveyor and before the first spray booth along the conveyor;
• detecting when material passes before each such sensor;
• detecting the respective position of each sprayer device;
• measuring the movement of the conveyor;
• and
• executing a spray control operation comprising the steps of:
• (a) determining the speed of the conveyor based on the conveyor movement measurements;
• (b) determining the location and size of material on the conveyor based on the detection of material by the sensors;
• (c) updating the position of each sprayer device;
• and
• (d) determining which, if any, sprayer device is not properly positioned for spraying a substance onto material on the conveyor;
• and
• maintaining each valve in a normally open state;
• and
• wherein the operation executing step further comprises the step of:
• (e) generating a valve close signal to a valve when the corresponding sprayer device is determined to be not properly positioned for spraying.

A method for spraying at least one substance onto a material carried on a conveyor, the method comprising the steps of:

• directing each of a plurality of sprayer devices toward the material-carrying surface of the conveyor;
• detecting the presence of material at each of a plurality of locations along the conveyor by respective sensors;
• detecting the position of each sprayer device;
• determining the speed of the conveyor;
• deriving information relating to the location of material on the conveyor, the position of each sprayer device, and the conveyor speed;
• determining in a computer from the derived information which sprayer devices are not properly positioned for spraying;
• and
• maintaining a spray valve for each sprayer device in a normally open condition to permit spraying, the spray valve for each sprayer device being closed in response to a signal from the computer indicating that said each sprayer device is not properly positioned for spraying.

A method for spraying at least one substance onto a material carried on a conveyor, the method comprising the steps of:

• directing each of a plurality of sprayer devices toward the material-carrying surface of the conveyor;
• detecting the presence of material at each of a plurality of locations along the conveyor by respective sensors;
• detecting the position of each sprayer device;
• determining the speed of the conveyor;
• deriving information relating to the location of material on the conveyor, the position of each sprayer device, and the conveyor speed;
• determining in a computer from the derived information which sprayer devices are not properly positioned for spraying;
• coupling a plurality of sprayer devices together at a sprayer booth and arranging the sprayer devices at said sprayer booth so that all coupled sprayer devices are spaced from and rotatable about a common axis;
• and
• spraying substance onto material from a sprayer device determined to be properly positioned for spraying onto the material and disabling the spraying of substance onto material from a sprayer device determined to be improperly positioned for spraying onto the material.

A method for spraying at least one substance onto a material carried on a conveyor, the method comprising the steps of:

• directing each of a plurality of sprayer devices toward the material-carrying surface of the conveyor and positioning at least some of the sprayer devices along a pivotable arm between one end of the arm and the pivot point thereof;
• detecting the presence of material at each of a plurality of locations along the conveyor by respective sensors;
• detecting the position of each sprayer device;
• determining the speed of the conveyor;
• deriving information relating to the locations of material on the conveyor the position of each sprayer device, and the conveyor;
• determining in a computer from the derived information which sprayer devices are not properly positioned for spraying;
• coupling the other end of the arm to a reciprocating device to effect motion of said other end of the arm transverse to the longitudinal axis of the arm and about the pivot point and
• maintaining the spray valve for each sprayer device in a normally open position to permit spraying, the spray valve for each sprayer device being closed in response to a signal from the computer that said each sprayer device is not properly positioned for spraying.