US2215668A

US2215668A - Spraying machine

Info

Publication number: US2215668A
Application number: US153194A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph L Smith
Original assignee: Chrysler Corp
Current assignee: Old Carco LLC
Priority date: 1937-07-12
Filing date: 1937-07-12
Publication date: 1940-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 1957-09-24

Description

Sept. 24, 1940.

R. L. SMITH SPRAYING MACHINE Filed July 12, 1937 I, v I? f q V Jk I K 1 59 i I IN VE N TOR 72' RALPH L. cSM/TH. M t 47 BY m f pbz, W

A TTORNE Y5. 1 -5 Patented Sept. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRAYING MACHINE Application July 12, 1937, Serial No. 153,194

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improved surface coating material spraying apparatus.

More particularly, the invention relates to an automatic spraying machine of this character by which angularly disposed walls or side surfaces of an article may be simultaneously sprayed with coating material.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a spraying machine of this character by which angularly disposed surfaces of an object, such as an automobile body for example, may be evenly coated with surface coating material simultaneously.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved means in spraying apparatus of this kind for automatically starting and stopping the discharge of coating material as the article to be sprayed is moved into and out of spray-receiving positions respectively.

A further object of the invention is the provision of coating material spray-discharging devices which are adapted to oscillate throughout a substantially long path in order that one spray device may be used for applying coating material to a comparatively'wide, or extended surface.

Still further objects of the invention are the provision of apparatus for movably supporting and drivingly propelling articles to be sprayed throughout a predetermined course during os- 80 cillatory movement of the spraying device; to

provide mechanism in a machine of this character for drivingly oscillating the spray devices and propelling the article to be sprayed in timed relationship; to provide improved automatically 35} operable control mechanism for interrupting the discharge of sprayed coating material from the spraying devices during predetermined portions of their oscillatory strokes in order to prevent overlapping of the spray discharged from spray '40] devices operating upon adjacent surface portions.

Additional object of the invention are to provide improved control mechanism for controlling the discharge of surface coating material from each respective spray device; to provide control mechanism of this character which is operable by fiuid pressure and by which is facilitated the starting and stopping of the spray discharge operations of all of the spray devices, simultaneously; and to provide spray discharge control apparatus by which selected spray devices may be conditioned to operate throughout respectively difierent predetermined portions of their oscillatory stroke.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is 85 shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view of asurface coating material spraying machine embodying the invention and in which the application of surface coating material to a vehicle body, shown in dot and dash lines, is illustrated. 5

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 showing, somewhat in detail, the construction of spray devices employed in apparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the arm-swinging structure enclosed within the dotted circle in Fig. 1.

In the form of the invention shown in the drawing, the improved machine comprises a pair of channel-shaped tracks In on which a skid, generally designated by the numeral H, is movably mounted. The skid H comprises a substantially horizontal platform portion l2 and spaced runners I3, each of which are slidably received by the channel sides of the tracks H]. An endless 20 conveyor chain I4 is disposed between the track l0 and driven by a sprocket l6 mounted on a shaft ll extending transversely of the track- The shaft ll has a sprocket gear I8 on its left end, as viewed in Fig. l, which is drivingly connected 25 by a chain I9 with a socket pinion 20 mounted on a shaft 2| of a driving unit which is disposed within a casing 22 and which comprises a suitable prime mover, such as an electric motor (not shown) and speed reducing gearing (not shown). The conveyor chain I4 has upwardly extending lugs 23 which are engageable with the platform l2 and by which an article mounted thereon, such as the vehicle body generally designated by the numeral 24, may be propelled along the course predetermined by the track ID.

A generally rectangular frame structure, generally designated by the numeral 25, is disposed in vertically upright position in a plane substantially normal to the path of movement of the vehicle body 24. This frame structure includes a base portion 26, upright side members 21, and a horizontal top member 28. Mounted on each side member 21 of the frame structure 25 is a bracket 29 on which a bearing 30 is provided. The bearings 30 of the brackets 29 each oscillatively support an arm 3| comprising inner and outer sections which are pivotally attached together at 32. The inner end portions of the inner sections of the arm 3| are provided with blocks 33 having pivots 34 thereon which are journalled in the bearings 30. The arms 3| are thus mounted for oscillatory movement in substantially vertical planes and about substantially horizontal axes.

A bracket 35 is provided on the intermediate portion of the top member 28 of the frame structure 25 and provided with a bearing 38 similar to the bearings 38 in which a pivot 31 of an oscillatable arm 38 is journaled. The pivot 31 has a threaded upper end portion onwhich is secured a nut 39 and .washer 48 by which the arm 38 is held against displacement from the bracket 35. The arm 38 also includes inner and outer sections which are pivotally attached together at 4|. Mounted on the outer extremity of the outer sections of each of the arms 3| and 38 is a spray-discharge device, generally designated by the numeral 42, which is hereinafter more fully described.

The pivots 34 and 31 of the arms 3| and 38, respectively, are located intermediate the ends of the arms, each of which have the rearwardly extending end portion 43 of increased width in which a longitudinally extending slot 44 is provided. The rear end portions of the arms 3| and 38 are operatively connected with driving mechanism by which the arms may be drivingly simultaneously oscillated in their respective planes, the arm 3| being oscillatable in vertical planes while the arm 38 is oscillatable in a horizontal plane or in any selected plane which is suitably angularly disposed with respect to the planes in which the arms 3| oscillate as determined by the position of the pivot 31.

The mechanism for drivingly oscillating the arms 3| and 38 includes a shaft 45 extending transversely of the tracks |8 which is journaled in bearings 48 mounted on opposite end portions of the frame base member 28. A crank arm 41 is non-rotatabiy secured to each opposite end portion of the shaft 45 and operatively connected by a chain 48 and a resilient extensible coupling member 49 to a reciprocably mounted bar 58 which is slidably mounted in bearings secured to the internal sides of the side portions 21 of the frame structure 25. A similar bar 52 is reciprocably mounted in bearings 53 secured to the lower side of the top member 28 of the frame structure 25. Upper adjacent end portions of the bars 58 and 52 are operatively connected together by chains 54 which extend over pulleys 55 located at the junctions of the side members 21 and top member 28 of the frame structure. The resiliently extensible couplings 49 each comprise a piston-like portion 58 having its other end attached to a chain 48 and a cylinder-like portion 51 which is pivotally mounted on the outer end portion of the bell crank lever 41. The piston-like part 58 of each coupling member has a head portion disposed within the cylinder of the cooperating member which is provided with an end restriction 58. A coil spring 59 bears between the end restriction 58 and the head portion of the piston-like member in order to normally hold the parts of the coupling in contracted position.

The drive shaft 45 of the arm oscillating mechanism is provided with a sprocket gear 88 which is drivingly connected by a chain 8| with a sprocket gear 82 carried by the shaft 2| of the driving unit 22. Each of the arms 3| and 38 are operatively connected with the respective reciprocably mounted bars 58 and 5| by a pin 83 carried by a collar 84 secured to the reciprocably mounted bars, the pin 83 being engaged in the slot 44 of the rear end portions of the arms 3| and 38. During operation of the drive mechanism 22 the vehicle or other article upon which coating material is to be sprayed, is propelled along a predetermined course extending through the rectangular frame structure 25 and the arms 3| and 38 are simultaneously oscillated in timed relationship by the reciprocatory movement of the bars 58 and 52 which is produced by the crank arms 41 carried by the drive shaft 45.

The spray devices 42 carried by the oscillatory arms 3| and 38 are illustrated somewhat in detail in Fig. 2. Each spray device 42 includes a main body portion 85 in which are provided paint and air passages 88 and 81, respectively. The paint passage 88'of each spray device communicates with a paint supply conduit 88, preferably comprising a flexible hose, and leads to a central bore 89 in the main body portion 85 from which a paint discharging tube part 18 extends. The air passage 81 of the spray device 42 communicates with an air supply conduit 1|, preferably comprising a flexible hose, and leads to an annular groove 12 formed in the right hand face of the body portion 85, as viewed in Fig. 2. Detachably mounted by a threaded collar 13 on the right end portion of the main body part of "the spray device, is a nozzle member 14 having air passages 15 leading from the annular groove 12 and having a central opening 18 in which is receivable a reduced end portion 11 of the paint discharge tube 18. The precise structure of this portion of the automatic and mechanical paint spraying apparatus is immaterial, a conventional paint spraying, head being shown for the purposes of illustration.

The paint discharge tube 18 is provided with a valve member comprising a valve stem 18 having a valve seat 19 thereon by which the discharge orifice of the tube 18 may be tightly closed. A piston element 88 is provided on the left end portion of the valve stem 18 and disposed within a cylinder 8| carried by the left end part of the main body portion 85 of the spraying device, as viewed in Fig. 2. The piston 88 and valve stem 18 are normally urged rightwardly, as viewed in Fig. 2, in order to close the paint discharge orifice by a coil spring 82 which bears between the piston 88 and a plug 83 provided in the left extremity of the cylinder 8|. In the wall structure of the cylinder 8| is formed an air inlet passage 84 which communicates with a conduit 85, also preferably comprising a flexible hose. The passage 84 leads to the-right end portion of the cylinder 8| and is adapted to admit air under pressure thereto in order to move the piston 88 and valve stem 18 leftwardly so as to open the paint discharge orifice and to permit the discharge of surface coating material.

The paint and air supply conduits 88 and 1| are connected to sources of coating material and air supply respectively and the air pressure lines 85 of each of the spray devices 42 are operatively connected with valve mechanism, hereinafter more fully described, by which the control of the discharge of coating material is effected.

The supply of air under pressure, or other fluid pressure medium, to the cylinders of the valve control apparatus of each spray device 42 is controlled automatically in timed relationship with respect to movement of the vehicle body 24 and with respect to the positions of the spray devices in the course of their oscillatory movement. This control apparatus comprises a cam 86, non-rotatably mounted on the shaft 45 and which operates upon a cam follower 81 that in turn actuates a valve 88 in the fluid pressure control line 89 by which the conduits 85 of the respective spray devices are supplied with fluid pressure medium When the valve mechanism 90 aamaes in order to open the valves thereof and permit the discharge of coating material therefrom. The valve 88 assures that coating material will not be discharged from any of the spray devices 42 during selected predetermined portions of the oscillatory strokes thereof as established by the contour of the cam 86. This cam may be so constructed as to cause the discharge of coating material to be discontinued over a predetermined portion of the intermediate or end parts of the strokes of the devices. The fluid medium supply line 89 leads to a distributing valve structure 99 with which the conduits 85 of all of the spray devices 42 are connected. The valve mechanism 90 includes the valve stem 9| which is pivotally connected with a valve lever 92 which is in turn pivotally mounted on a support 93 carried by the top member 28 of the frame structure 25. Provided on the forward end portion of the lever 92, which is disposed downwardly and forwardly from the plane of the frame structure 25, is a rotatably mounted wheel 94 which is adapted to engage upon a part of the forward end portion of the vehicle body 24 as the latter is propelled forwardly along the tracks I. When the wheel 94 contacts with a selected portion of the vehicle body 24, the lever 92 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, and the valve stem 9! is moved upwardly substantially vertically to open the valve mechanism 99 and permit the flow of fluid medium under pressure through all of the conduits 86 and into the cylinders 8| of all of the spray devices, thereby urging the pistons 80 and the valve structure carried thereby against the action of the springs 82 to open the discharge ports of the spray devices.

During operation of automatic painting apparatus embodying the invention, the discharge of coating material is prevented at all times during which an article is not in position to be sprayed by the valve mechanism 90. The valve 88 may be opened and closed without effecting the spray devices so long as the valve mechanism 90 is closed. is open, coating material is discharged from the spray devices 42, substantially in a conventional spray discharge pattern, while the spray devices are moving through their respective oscillatory strokes. The discharge of the coating material is discontinued as the spray devices reach predetermined portions of their oscillatory strokes, preferably the opposite end portions thereof, in order that the coating material will not be needlessly wasted and to prevent building up of excessive layers of coating material by overlapping of the sprays from the coating devices which operate upon adjacent angularly disposed surfaces of the article. The spray devices 42 of the oscillatory side arms 3| may be manually moved inwardly and outwardly to vary the distance of the discharge ends of the spray devices from the surfaces of the work operated upon, by turning the outer sections of the arm 3| inwardly about the pivot designated by the numeral 32. The distance of the top spray device 42, carried by the arm 38, may be similarly varied from the surface upon which the spray is discharged by turning the outer section of the arm 38 about the pivot 4| thereof.

As the article, such as a vehicle body 24, is propelled along the tracks l0, substantially all portions of the sides and top thereof are evenly sprayed throughout their entire lateral and longitudinal extent. The thickness of the coa ing material applied to the article may be controlled by predetermining the amount of discharge from the spray devices 42 and also by predetermining the rate of movement of the vehicle body with respect to the rate of movement of oscillation of the spray devices. This may be accomplished by a suitable selection of sprocket wheels 60 and 62, and gearing of the speed reduction mechanism 22.

Although but one specific embodiment of my invention is herein shown and described, it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

WhatI claim is:

1. An automatic spraying machine comprising means for movably supporting an article to be sprayed having angularly disposed surfaces, a frame structure located in close proximity to the path of said article, a plurality of arms mounted on said support, each arm being oscillatable about a pivotal axis extending transversely of the path of one of said surfaces respectively in a course corresponding to one of said surfaces of said article, a spray discharge device carried by each of said arms, means for simultaneously oscillating said arms and the spray devices carried thereby in order to simultaneously spray upon successively adjacent portions of said surfaces of said article during movement thereof relative to said support, and apparatus operable by said means and in timed relation with respect to the oscillatory movement of said spray devices for simultaneously interrupting the discharge of sprayed material therefrom during predetermined portions of the strokes thereof.

2. An automatic spraying machine comprising means for movably supporting an article to be sprayed having angularly disposed surfaces, a frame structure located in close proximity to the path of said article, a plurality of arms mounted on said support, each arm being oscillatable about a pivotal axis extending transversely of the path of one of said surfaces respectively in a course corresponding to one of said surfaces of said article, a spray discharge device carried by each of said arms, means for simultaneously oscillating said arms and the spray devices carried thereby in order to simultaneously spray upon successively adjacent portions of said surfaces of said article during movement thereof relative to said support, and apparatus responsive to movement of said article relative to said support for starting and discontinuing the discharge of sprayed material from said devices as said article is moved into and out of spray receiving positions, respectively.

3. An automatic spraying machine comprising means for movably supporting an article to be sprayed having angularly disposed surfaces, a frame structure located in close proximity to the path of said article, a on said support, each arm being oscillatable in a course corresponding to one of said surfaces of said article, a spray discharge device carried by each of said arms, means for simultaneously oscillating said arms and the spray devices carried thereby in order to simultaneously spray upon successively adjacent portions of said surfaces of said article during movement thereof relative to said support, apparatus operable in timed relation with respect to the oscillatory movement of at least one of said spray devices for interrupting the discharge of sprayed material therefrom during a predetermined portion of the stroke thereof, and apparatus responsive to movement of said article for starting and discontinuing the discharge of sprayed material from sa d devices as plurality of arms mounted said article is moved into and out of a spray receiving position respectively.

4. An automatic spraying machine comprising means for movably supporting an article to be sprayed having angularly disposed surfaces, a frame structure located in close proximity to the path of said article, a plurality of arms mounted on said support, each arm being oscillatable about a pivotal axis intersecting a plane corresponding generally to the plane of one of said surfaces respectively and in a course corresponding to one of said surfaces of said article, a spray discharge device carried by each of said arms and movable thereby in an arcuate course over successively arcuate adjacent portions of one of said surfaces respectively, means for simultaneously oscillating said arms and moving said article relative to said frame structure in timed relationship, and apparatus operable in timed relationship with respect to of said spray devices in courses generally parallel to the main portions of the surfaces with which they are respectively associated for interrupting the discharge of sprayed material therefrom when saidarms are at the adjacent end portions of the strokes thereof.

5. An automatic spraying machine comprising means for movably supporting an article to be sprayed having angularly disposed surfaces, a frame structure located in close proximity to the path of said article, a plurality of arms mounted on said support, each arm being oscillatable in a course corresponding to one of said surfaces of said article, a spray discharge device carried by each of said arms, means for simultaneously oscillating said arms and moving said article relative to said frame structure in timed relationship, apparatus operable in timed relationship with respect to the oscillatory movements of said spray devices for interrupting the discharge of sprayed material therefrom when said arms are at the adjacent end portions of the strokes thereof, and apparatus responsive to movement of said article for starting and discontinuing the discharge of sprayed material from said devices as said article is moved into and out of a spray receiving position respectively.

6. An automatic spraying machine comprising means for movably supporting an article to be sprayed having angularly disposed surfaces, a frame structure located in close proximity to the path of said article, a plurality of arms mounted on said support, each arm being oscillatable in a course corresponding to one of said surfaces of said article, a spray discharge device carried by each of said arms, means for simultaneously oscilliating said arms and the spray devices carried thereby in order to simultaneously spray upon successively adjacent portions of said surfaces of said article during movement thereof relative to said support, valve mechanism associated with each of said spray devices for starting and stopping spraying operation thereof, the valve mechanism of each spray device including a fluid pressure operable valve controlling member, and means responsive to movement of said article for simultaneously actuating said valve controlling members to start and stop spraying operations as said article is moved into and out of a spray receiving position.

7. An automatic spraying machine comprising means for bodily shiftably supporting an article having angularly disposed surfaces to be sprayed in a path extending generally in the same direction as portions of said surfaces, a

the oscillatory movements frame structure located in close proximity to the path of said article, a plurality of arms mounted on said support, each arm being oscillatable in a course corresponding to one of said surfaces of said article, a spray discharge device carried by each of said arms, means for simultaneously oscillating said arms and the spray devices carried thereby in order to simultaneously spray upon successively arcuately adjacent portions of said surfaces of said article during movement thereof relative to said support, valve mechanism associated with each of said spray devices for starting and stopping spraying operation thereof, the valve mechanism of each spray device including a fluid pressure operable valve controlling member, and means including a fluid pressure system having a fluid pressure supply control valve operating in timed relation to oscillatory movement of said spray devices for actuating a plurality of said fluid pressure operable valve controlling members simultaneously to discontinue spraying operation during selected portions of the oscillatory strokes of said spraying devices.

8. An automatic spraying machine comprising means for movably supporting an article to be sprayed having angularly disposed surfaces, a frame structure located in close proximity to the path of said article, a plurality of arms mounted on said support, each arm being oscillatable in a course corresponding to one of said surfaces of said article, a spray d scharge device carried by each of said arms, means for simultaneously oscillating said arms and the spray devices carried thereby in order to simultaneously spray upon successively adjacent portions of said surfaces of said article during movement thereof relative to said support, valve mechanism associated with each of said spray devices for starting and stopping spraying operation thereof, the valve mechanism of each spray device including a fluid pressure operable valve controlling member, means o erating in timed relation to oscillatory movement of said spray devices for actuating said fluid pressure operable valve controlling members simultaneously to discontinue spraying operation during selected portions of the oscillatory strokes of said spraying devices, and means responsive to movement of said article for simultaneously actuating said valve controlling members to start and stop spraying operations as said article is moved into and out of a spray receiving position.

9. A machine for spraying surface coating materials on automobile bodies including means for movably supporting an automobile body in upright position and for guiding the same throughout a predetermined course of travel, mechanism for drivingly propelling said body in the direction of its length, a frame structure having side portions on oppositesides of said course and transverse top portion connecting the upper ends of said side portions, an arm mounted on each side portion of said frame structure and oscillatable in a course adjacent the path of movement of one side wall of said body respectively, an arm pivotally mounted on said top portion of said frame structure and oscillatable about a substantially vertical axis in a course above the path of travel of the top wall of said body, a spray device carried by each arm and oscillatable thereby in a plane extending lengthwise of the course of travel of said body, and means for oscillating said arms and spray devices and moving said body in timed relationship.

10. A machine for spraying surface coating materials on automobile bodies including means for movably supporting an automobile body in upright position and for guiding the same throughout a predetermined course of travel,

mechanism for drivingly propelling said body in' the direction of its length, a frame structure having side portions on opposite sides of said course and transverse top portion connecting the upper ends of said side portions, an arm mounted on each side portion of said frame structure and oscillatable in a course adjacent the path of movement of one side wall of said body respectively, an arm pivotally mounted on said top portion of said frame structure and oscillatable about an axis intersecting the plane of the major portion of said top wall in a plane extending lengthwise of the path of travel of the top wall of said body, a spray device carried by each arm, means for oscillating said arms and spray devices and moving said body in timed relationship, and mechanism for starting and stopping the discharge of spray from said devices as said body moves into and out of spray receiving positions including a control trigger member engageable with leading and trailing end portions of said body respectively for actuating said mechanism.

11. An automatic spraying machine comprising means for bodily shiftably supporting an article having angularly disposed surfaces to be sprayed for movement in a predetermined path extending generally parallel to the planes of major portions of said surfaces, a frame structure located in close proximity to the path of said article, a plurality of arms each pivotally mounted on said support for oscillation about an axis extending transversely of the path of one of said surfaces respectively, each arm being oscillatable in a course generally parallel to the path of movement of the major portions of one of said surfaces of said article respectively, a spray discharge device mounted on each of said arms in spaced relation to the pivotal mounting thereof, and means for simultaneously oscillating each of said arms and the spray devices carried thereby in their respective courses in order to simultaneously apply successive substantially arcuate spray discharge patterns upon successively adjacent portions of said surfaces of said article during bodily shifting movement thereof relative to said support. 1

12. Automatic spraying apparatus comprising a support, means adjacent said support for supporting an article having a surface to be sprayed, said support and said means being relatively shiftably movable for progressively bringing successively adjacent portions of said surface into a predetermined location with respect to said support, an arm swingably mounted on said support oscillatable in a path adjacent said surface, a spray discharge device carried by said arm, means for simultaneously oscillating said arm and producing relative movement of said support and said article. supporting means in timed relationship, apparatus operable in timed relationship with respect to oscillation of said spray device for interrupting the discharge of sprayed material therefrom when said arm is at a predetermined position in its stroke of oscillative movement, and apparatus responsive to relative movement of said article and said support for starting and discontinuing the discharge of sprayed material from said device as said article is moved into and out of spray receiving positions respectively.

1 Automatic spraying apparatus comprising a support, means adjacent said support for supporting an article having a surface to be sprayed, said support and said means being relatively shiftably movable for progressively bringing successively adjacent portions of said surface into a predetermined location with respect to said support, an arm pivotally mounted on said support for oscillation about an axis extending transversely of the path of relative movement of said surface and said support, said arm being oscillatable in a course generally parallel to said latter path of movement, a spray discharge device mounted on said arm in spaced relation to the pivotal mounting thereof, means for oscillating said arm and the spray device carried thereby in said course-in order to apply successive substantially arcuate spray discharge patterns upon said successively adjacent portions of said surface during relative movement of said support and said article supporting-means, and apparatus operable by said oscillating means in timed relation to oscillatory movement of said spray device for interrupting the discharge of sprayed material therefrom during predetermined portions of the stroke thereof.

RALPH L. SMITH.