Abstract: Method and apparatus for applying a sealing material to vehicle bodies which are arranged in series such that front and rear sections of the bodies face each other. A first and a second sealing robots are provided on transversely opposite sides of the vehicle bodies. The first sealing robot is operated to apply the sealing material to one of two areas in an engine room covered by an engine hood of one of the two successive bodies, and the second sealing robot is operated to apply the sealing material to the other area in the engine room, or to one of two areas in a luggage compartment covered by a luggage compartment door of the other of the two successive bodies. The two areas in each of the engine room and the luggage compartment are divided by longitudinal centerlines of the two successive bodies. The first and second sealing robots are further operated to apply the sealing material to the areas in the engine room and luggage compartment, respectively, which areas have not been sealed.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling a flow rate of viscous fluid for feeding the fluid under pressure from a pump through a hose to a spray gun with a control unit. A temperature and a pressure of the viscous fluid in the hose is detected. Based on the detected temperature and a temperature-supplying pressure characteristic data stored in the unit, viscous fluid supplying pressure for obtaining a desired set flow rate is calculated. Based on the detected pressure of the fluid and the calculated supplying pressure, a signal for obtaining a desired supplying pressure is obtained and outputted. The gun is switched on to operate the pump at a constant speed to provide the desired set flow rate. Alternatively, only the pressure is detected and a pressure which is obtained in a previous operation and stored in the unit is used.

Abstract: A highly-viscous material coating apparatus for use, e.g. in an automobile coating process, to coat a joint of a workpiece, may be mounted on a robot. It provides improved operation where the workpiece provides a reference surface parallel to the joint, where the workpiece provides a reference surface displaced from the joint at varying distances along the length of the joint, and where the workpiece provides no reference surface. Where a reference surface is available, an extendable spring-biased guide pin of the apparatus moves along the reference surface, and any positional errors are compensated-for by action of the spring. If the distance between the reference surface and the joint varies, the varying distance may be compensated for by various disclosed practices. The apparatus also can be used where no reference surface is provided by retracting the guide pin with respect to the nozzle and by controlling the robot so as to direct the nozzle to the joint.