Apparatus for spray coating flat surfaces

Apparatus for coating workpieces comprising:

• conveyor means including drive means for conveying workpieces in a given direction;
• a spray assembly including a spray head for producing a liquid spray in a given pattern;
• means for delivering a spray liquid to said spray head;
• means for reciprocally mounting said spray assembly above said conveyor means to deliver a liquid spray from said spray head downwardly toward an upper surface of a workpiece arranged on the conveyor means, said spray assembly being movable in a reciprocating fashion along a path transverse to said given direction;
• means for reciprocating said spray assembly as said workpieces are moved along the conveyor means;
• microprocessor-based controller means including means for adjusting a moving speed of said conveyor means, means for adjusting a moving speed of said spray assembly, and means for adjusting outer limits of reciprocating movement of the spray assembly along said path according to size and/or arrangement of workpieces on the conveyor means to maximize efficient use of spray liquid and reduce waste thereof as well as facilitating setup changes of said apparatus to accommodate different coating thicknesses and workpieces of differing sizes.

Apparatus for coating at least one surface of workpieces comprising:

• conveyor means including motor means for conveying workpieces in a given direction;
• a spray assembly including a spray head for producing a liquid spray in a given pattern;
• means for delivering a spray liquid to said spray assembly;
• means for reciprocally mounting said first spray assembly to deliver a liquid spray from said spray head toward a surface of a workpiece arranged on the conveyor means, means for moving said first spray assembly in a reciprocating fashion along a path transverse to said given direction as spray liquid is being sprayed on moving workpieces by said spray assembly;
• and
• microprocessor-based controller means including means for adjusting a moving speed of said conveyor means, means for adjusting a moving speed of said spray assembly, and means for adjusting outer limits of reciprocating movement of the spray assembly along said path according to size and/or arrangement of workpieces on the conveyor means to maximize efficient use of spray liquid and reduce waste thereof as well as facilitating setup changes of said apparatus to accommodate different coating thicknesses and workpieces of differing sizes.