Abstract: Coating installation, specifically for painting motor vehicle body parts, having at least two application robots for applying a coating medium to an application target, at least two handling robots for handling the application target and two linear guides along which the handling robots and the application robots can be moved. Each of the two linear guides carries at least one of the application robots and at least one of the handling robots.

Abstract: Coating zones having guide elevated rails for coating and/or handling robots have walk-in control areas positioned one above the other on the outside of the side walls. In the upper control area, in which control and supply devices for the robots on the elevated guide rails, the side wall slants inward. The load-bearing structures for the elevated guide rails are braced by supporting members extending perpendicular to the line of conveyance of the application objects on or under the floor level or at the ceiling.

Abstract: A monitoring method for a drive system with a motor and a moving part driven by the motor. The movement of the driven part is monitored and the movement of the driving part is monitored and compared to recognize a collision between the driven part and another structure. Measurement of at least one drive-side motion quantity of the motor is taken and measurement of at least one driven-side motion quantity of the moving part is taken. The motion quantity can be a position, velocity or acceleration. A dynamic model is calculated based on predetermined or expected operational data and the drive side measured data. An error signal is generated when the motion quantity measured on the driven side varies from the dynamic model.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enhanced method and apparatus for locating a valve stem aperture in a wheel. The invention includes a locating station having an overhead camera to scan the wheel. The scanned image of the wheel is received by a controller and is divided into radial zones. The controller locates the radial zone that defines the valve stem aperture from the scanned image of the wheel. The wheel then moves along an assembly line to a stemming station. A robot is positioned at the stemming station. The robot supports a valve stem insertion tool and a valve stem aperture locating sensor. When the wheel reaches the stemming station, the robot moves the valve stem insertion tool and the valve stem aperture locating sensor to the radial zone that defines the valve stem aperture. The robot moves the valve stem aperture locating sensor along the radial zone that defines the valve stem aperture and locates the valve stem aperture.

Abstract: A robot wrist for a painting robot has several wrist sections that can be rotated relative to one another, an internal conduit that passes through the wrist sections, a flexible hose carried in the internal conduit and having a hose drive operating on the hose to achieve positive rotation of the hose in the internal conduit corresponding to the rotation of the wrist sections.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transporting paint powder between first and second locations with at least one positive pressure air flow. One or more positive pressure air flows can transfer paint powder from a tote to a first hopper, from a virgin hopper to one or more mix hoppers, from a reclaim hopper to one or more mix hoppers, from one of the mix hoppers through one or more multidirectional valves to one or more final feed hoppers and/or positive pressure air flow final feed powder pumps located in a first position, and from one of the mix hoppers through one or more multidirectional valves to one or more final feed hoppers and/or positive pressure air flow final feed powder pumps located in a second position.

Abstract: A method for conducting diagnostic tests of spray equipment in a hazardous environment. The method includes automatically gathering test data, comparing the automatically gathered test data to a database of baseline data, and providing a signal if the automatically gathered data differs from the baseline data by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A coating device for coating parts, in particular body components for automobiles, has at least one piece of application equipment for applying a coating to the components and has a feed device for feeding the components into a suitable coating position relative to the coating equipment. It is proposed that the feed device has at least one handling robot which brings the components into the coating position. Furthermore, a corresponding method is disclosed.

Abstract: A spray clean stage of a pretreatment system for treating a product surface having contaminants includes a tank for holding a cleaning solution to clean the product surface. A solution applicator is in fluid communication with the tank through an applicator inlet. The solution applicator is oriented to spray the solution onto the product surface thereby removing the contaminants from the product surface. A partition at least partially covers the tank and receives runoff of the solution from the product surface being sprayed with the solution. The partition is oriented to direct the runoff of solution from the product surface into the tank at a location spaced from the applicator inlet to distance the contaminants removed from the product surface from the applicator inlet.

Abstract: The invention relates to an atomizer and method of operation for an atomizer having an application element for applying a spray of coating medium on a component to be coated and at least one integrated shroud air nozzle for delivering conditioned shroud air which at least partially surrounds the spray of the coating medium.

Abstract: The method of conveying elements on a conveyor system of this invention includes conveying an element on a first continuously moving conveyor in a first direction at a first height, then lifting the element from the first conveyor upwardly to a second height and simultaneously moving the element in the first direction, reducing damage to the conveyor and the element. The element may be returned to the first conveyor by lowering the element and simultaneously accelerating the element to generally the velocity of the first conveyor or transferred to a second conveyor at the second height. The conveyor system of this invention includes spaced parallel plastic moving belts and the elements are conveyed on a pallet having a soft metal base. The lift tables include parallelogram lift and lowering linkages.

Abstract: The main needle valve of an electrostatic atomizer has an opto-electronic sensor device with optical waveguides whose faces are opposite a reflecting element of a component moveable with the valve needle for potential-free switch position interrogations.

Abstract: Electrostatic precipitators, including wet electrostatic precipitators, having a bank of conductive tubes which receive a gas stream having entrained particulates and an electrode connected to an electric current, wherein the tubes each include an internal restriction creating a hydrostatic pressure more evenly distributing the gas flow between the tubes eliminating the requirement for flow distribution devices, such as air straighteners and perforated plates.

Abstract: The invention concerns a coating plant for the coating of construction units with a coating medium, in particular a paint system for the lacquer finish of motor vehicle body parts, with a dosing pump, the coating medium supplied with a certain delivery (Fm) proportioned, and a pressure control valve arranged upstream before the dosing pump to adjust a coating medium pressure (p v) at the entrance of the dosing pump, as well as a control unit to adjust the pressure control valve a controlled variable of the pressure difference (?p) through the dosing pump independently of the delivery of the dosing pump and the changing viscosity of the lacquers to an essentially constant desired value (?pTARGET).

Abstract: An assembly includes a platform for supporting and moving a tire along therealong. A light emitter of a first detection assembly transmits a first signal from emitter around the tire in to determine the height of the tire. A light receiver of the first detection assembly receives the transmitted first signal passed around the tire and forwards the first signal to a controller for evaluating the first signal and for determining a first configuration of the tire. A light emitter of a second detection assembly transmits a second signal around the tire in the direction transverse to the direction of the first signal. A light receiver of the second detection assembly receives the transmitted second signal. The second detection assembly is operably connected to the controller. The controller integrates the first and second signals for determining a third configuration of the part thereby identifying the part being evaluated.

Abstract: The invention concerns a pig scraper for cleaning the inside wall of a coating agent conduit. The pig scraper includes a body insertable in the conduit and at least one sealing lip that seals against the inside wall of the conduit and extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body. A space is defined between the sealing lip and the body to form a pocket for enhancing the sealing of the sealing lip with respect to the conduit. The length of the sealing lip substantially prevents the lip from folding over on itself in response to a change in the direction of movement of the pig scraper in the conduit.

Abstract: The bell shaped plate of a rotary sprayer is attached to its drive shaft by means of a detachable device. An accidental self-release of the mounting device that would cause the rotating bell shaped plate to be flung off is avoided by measures that prevent at least accidental movements of the bell shaped plate radial to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: To clean an atomizer used for automatic series-production coating of work pieces in a cleaning device provided for this purpose, the outer housing of the atomizer is sprayed by nozzles of the cleaning device, while simultaneously painting and rinsing agents sprayed by the spray head of the atomizer in a short rinsing process are captured and discharged through a pipe section in the interior of the cleaning device. In electrostatic atomizers, voltage equalization between the atomizer and the cleaning device is performed beforehand. Through additional measures, the atomizer can be moved by the handling machine provided for this purpose only from one proper direction towards the cleaning device.

Abstract: A dual action piston type metering device is installed between the color changer of a coating system and its atomizer, the metering cylinder of which includes two input ports with the color changer output ports connected to the atomizer. The dual action piston type metering device enables the alternating operation of the cylinder ranges (A/B-operation) with only one single metering cylinder.

Abstract: A coating means supply device, in particular for a paint facility, having a coating means meter that meters coating means to be applied to application equipment. The coating means supply device includes a coating means reservoir for holding the coating means and for supplying the coating means meter with the coating means. During application of coating material to equipment, the coating means reservoir is at ground potential and is located upstream from the coating means meter, which is at high-voltage potential. The reservoir is connected via an insulating path to the coating means meter. The coating means meter is at ground potential when the coating means reservoir supplies coating means to the coating means meter. Before the coating means meter is returned to a high-voltage potential for continued application of coating material, the insulating path is emptied to again insulate the coating means meter from the coating means reservoir.