Abstract A conveyor extends into a spray station from an exterior loading station. At least one fixture for supporting a mask and work pieces is engageable with the conveyor for movement into the spray station. The conveyor preferably continues the movement on through the spray station, and out the opposite side, so that the enclosure forming the spray station can be shorter than the length of the fixture assembly in the direction of movement of the conveyor. Space under one side of the conveyor is utilized for mask-washing equipment. Lateral transfer means, together with an elevator system, moves the work support and mask from the conveyor to and through the washing station. A program controller determines the painting cycle according to easily preset adjustments, and spray gun assemblies can be lifted out and installed as a unit for each job set-up. A down-draft ventilation system in the work station accommodates the wide range of painting conditions the machine is capable of handling.
A spray-painting machine including a housing structure, ventilation means adapted to induce a flow of air through said housing, and spray means mounted to project spray within said housing, said housing having at least one side opening into the space normally containing spray from said spray means, wherein the improvement comprises: conveyor means traversing said side opening, and extending to a position laterally displaced from said side opening; work-supporting means engageable and disengageable from said conveyor means; transfer means, said transfer means being operative to transfer said work-supporting means selectively in opposite directions to and from said conveyor means in a direction transverse thereto; and solvent washing means disposed below said conveyor means, and also including elevator means operative to raise and lower said work-supporting means from said transfer means, said transfer means additionally including a lower portion adapted to move said work-supporting means to and from said solvent washing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
A spray-painting machine including a housing structure, ventilation means adapted to induce a flow of air through said housing, and spray means mounted to project spray within said housing, said housing having at least one side opening into the space normally containing spray from said spray means, wherein the improvement comprises: conveyor means traversing said side opening, and extending to a position laterally displaced from said side opening; work-supporting means engageable and disengageable from said conveyor means; transfer means, said transfer means being operative to transfer said work-supporting means selectively in opposite directions to and from said conveyor means in a direction transverse thereto; and solvent washing means disposed below said conveyor means, and also including elevator means operative to raise and lower said work-supporting means from said transfer means, said transfer means additionally including a lower portion adapted to move said work-supporting means to and from said solvent washing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said transfer means is operative to transfer said work-supporting means through said solvent washing means to a position on the opposite side of said conveyor, and said elevator means has a portion on each side of said conveyor operative to raise and lower said work-supporting means between the vertically spaced portions of said transfer means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A machine as defined in claim 2, wherein said elevator means includes a frame having a vertical guideway, said frame being pivotally mounted to provide swing-out freedom for clearing work-supporting means carried by said elevator means from adjacent structure of said machine.