US3312567A

US3312567A - Automatic spray painter

Info

Publication number: US3312567A
Application number: US168776A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick P Sharpe
Original assignee: Kelsey Hayes Co
Current assignee: Kelsey Hayes Co
Priority date: 1962-01-25
Filing date: 1962-01-25
Publication date: 1967-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 1984-04-04

Description

April 4, 1967 F. P. SHARPE AUTOMATIC SPRAY PAINTER 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 25, 1962 April 4, 1967 F. P. SHARPE AUTOMATIC SPRAY PAINTER 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 25, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet I5 April 4, 1967 P. SHARPE AUTOMATIC SPRAY PAINTER Filed Jan. 25, 1962 llllll '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 F. P. SHA'RPE AUTQMATIC SPRAY PAINTER INVENTOR.

ar/vzwi April 4, 1967 Filed Jan. 25, 1962 H MGHHUH W April 4, 1967 F. P. SHARPE Aurm'r'w SPRAY PAINTER.

' I 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 25. 1962 INVENTOK 7 Sheets-Shei e April 4, 1967' F.'Pa SHARPE v AUTOMATIC span PAINTER Filed Jan. 25 1962 v FgP. SHARPE. 3,312,567 AUTOMATIC SPRAY PAINTER April 4,. 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Jan. 25. 1963 N NQ M W WSW a l/av A. A \N Q N1 MY NNW United States Patent 3,312,567 AUTOMATIC SPRAY PAINTER Frederick P. Sharpe, Dearborn, Mich., assignor to Kelsey-Hayes Company, Romulus, Mich. Filed Jan. 25, 1962, Ser. No. 168,776 13 Claims. (Cl. 117105.4)

This invention relates to automatic spray painting equipment and more particularly to a method and apparatus for spray painting annular articles such as vehicle wheels.

The painting of vehicle wheels during the manufacture thereof has previously been a time consuming operation which required several workmen to attend to the spray painting operation. The initial application of paint to a vehicle wheel is done for protective purposes and does not require as careful workmanship as subsequent painting by automobile manufacturers for decorative purposes. The primary requirement of the initial or base coating of paint is to cover all the outer surfaces of the wheel. The primary objective in the application of the base paint to wheels during the manufacture thereof, and prior to as sembly with a vehicle body, is to obtain complete uniform coverage as rapidly and economically as possible.

It is the primary purpose of the present invention to provide spray painting apparatus which increases the rate of production of Wheels.

Another object of the present invention is to provide paint spray apparatus which is automatic in operation and requires no manual manipulation of the parts by an operator or operators. In this respect, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the cost of painting annular objects such as vehicle wheels. Still another object of the present invention is,to provide a new and improved method and apparatus for applying a uniform coating to an object having annular surfaces. In this regard, it is an object of the present invention to provide novel means for moving an object having annular surfaces, such as a vehicle wheel, to and through coating apparatus by rolling movement along an inclined conveyor track.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means to convey annular objects such as vehicle Wheels to and from coating apparatus in a manner which reduces the time required for application of a coating thereto. To this end, it is a further object of the present invention to provide elevator means for removing annular articles, such as vehicle wheels, from a conveyor track and locating the articles in a paint spray bath.

It is a further object to provide rotation means to rotate wheels or the like in a fixed spray bath after removal from a conveyor track.

Another object is to provide means to return wheels or the like to a conveyor track immediately after completion of application of a coating thereto as soon as the surface of the articles have been completely coated and without the necessity of waiting for the coating to dry. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide means to convey annular articles, such as vehicle wheels, from a paint spray booth as soon as the paint spray application has been completed and before the paint has dried on the wheel. To this end, special wheel support means are provided on the conveyor track which permit transfer of the wheels from a paint spray booth without marring the paint coating applied thereto.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for controlling movement of annular objects along a conveyor track and through a coating operation.

Another object is to provide apparatus for removing an object from a conveyor in a new and improved manner and which is readily adaptable for use with annular objects of varying sizes and dimensions.

3,312,567 Patented Apr. 4, 1967 The above and other objects of the present invention are more fully discussed hereinafter by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of paint spray apparatus employing the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partial plan view showing the loading means and a portion of the inclined conveyor track means of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a partial plan view showing a portion of the inclined conveyor track of FIGURE 1 FIGURE 4 is a partial plan view showing a portion of the inclined conveyor track means of FIGURE 1 within the paint spray booth;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5--5 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a partial side elevational view of the loading means and conveyor track means shown in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a partial side elevational view of the portion of the conveyor track means shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 8 is a partial side elevational view of the portion of the conveyor track means shown in FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view, partially in section, taken along the line 99 in FIGURE 8 and showing apparatus for removing a wheel in the paint spray booth from the conveyor track means and rotating the Wheel through a spray paint zone.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the paint spray apparatus of the present invention comprises, in general, an article delivering conveyor mechanism 10 which delivers formed wheels 12 one at a time in predetermined time intervals into conveyor track loading means 14. The wheels12 are received in the loading means in an upright position, resting on the spaced annular flanges 16, 18, as shown at 20. An inclined conveyor track means 21 extends from the loading means 14 and passes through a paint spray booth 22, in which a plurality of paint spray nozzles 23, 24 are adjustably mounted on support bracket means 26, 28. The paint spray nozzles 23, 24 are located on both sides of and above and below the conveyor track 21 and are centrally directed to define a predetermined paint spray zone 29. A wheel elevating and rotating means 30 is mounted within the spray booth 22 above the track 21 and is centrally located within the spray zone 29. The wheel rotating and elevating means 30 is connected to actuating means 32 located outside the paint spray booth through a side wall thereof. The inclined conveyor track continues through the paint spray booth and extends on the other side thereof to an automatic unloading device 36. Control arm means 40, 42 are associated with the conveyor track. The control arm means 40 is adapted to feed wheels 43 into the paint spray booth at a controlled rate and at predetermined time intervals. The control arm means 42 is adapted to locate wheels 44 within the paint spray booth for association with the rotating and elevating means 30, and to release wheels 46 for rolling movement down the inclined track to the unloading means 36.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 6, the conveyor loading chute 14 is shown to comprise a receiving box portion formed by

side wall portions

52, 54, 56, and a bottom plate 58. The bottom plate 58 tapers downwardly from the end wall 52 toward the paint spray booth. The wheels 14 are delivered from the conveyor mechanism 10 into the receiving box portion. A locating and wheel positioning elbow 60 is provided within the loading chute to vertically position the wheelson the annular rim flanges .16, 18 for rolling movement down the conveyor track. The location of the box portion on the bottom plate 58 may be varied to accom- 3 modate varying sized wheels by the provision of adjustable support brackets 66, 68, 70, 72 which are provided with slots 74 in which fastening elements 76 are receivable. A pair of support beams 78, 79 extend longitudinally of the bottom plate 58.

The conveyor track and inlet box are supported in any suitable manner such as by a plurality of spaced structural members 80, 8 2 or by support legs which are suitably positioned along the conveyor track. The supporting structural members 80, 82 may be vertically extending I beams or the like. The conveyor track and loading chute means may be secured thereto by adjustable brackets so that the vertical position of the conveyor track may be varied and so that the desired amount of inclination of the conveyor track relative to horizontal may be obtained. It is to be understood that the conveyor track 21 is inclined relative to the vertical extending structural members 80, 82. For convenience of illustration, the conveyor track is shown in the drawing in what appears to be a horizontal position with the structural support members in a nonvertical inclined position. The center line 84, in FIGURE 6, shows that the conveyor track is inclined relative to the vertical support member 82 so that the wheels will roll down the conveyor track from the loading means to and through the paint spray booth to the unloading means.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 7, it will be seen that the top surface 86 of the bottom plate 58 is aligned with the top surface 88 of the wheel rim receiving portion of the conveyor track 21. A pair of guide plates 90, 92 extend from the end 93 of the box portion along the conveyor track to provide additional support for the wheels. In addition, a pair of guide rails 94 may be vertically'spaced above the conveyor track and extend between adjacent support members. Still referring to FIGURES 3 and 7, the portion of the conveyor track between the loading means and the spray paint booth i's shownto comprise a base portion formed by a pair of parallel longitudinally extending right angle structural members 100, 102which may be connected by spaced cross brace elements 104 at suitable intervals. Parallel rails 116, 118 having flat upper surfaces are fastened to the elements 104 and are adapted to rollably support the wheel rims.

Guide plates

120, 122 are secured to the outer side surfaces of the rails 116, 118 and extend thereabove to provide guides for the wheels. The

inner surfaces

124, 126 of the guide plates are beveled as shown in FIG. 5. The guide plates 90, 92 are secured to the

thc guide plates

120, 122 by

suitable brackets

130, 132.

The control means 40 which controls delivery of wheels to the paint spray booth comprises a triangularly shaped member 180 formed by three

arm portions

182, 184, 186=and .a central hub portion 188 which is centrally mounted between the support rails 116, 118 in front of the loading means 14. The control means is pivotally mounted on ashaft 189 which is supported by hearing blocks 190, 192. The arm portions are connected by curved surfaces 196, 198, 200.

Cylindrical pin elements

204, 206 are mounted on the ends of the

arm portions

182, 184 and extend transversely thereof for engagement with the wheels 12. The control means is movable between a wheel receiving position, shown in FIG. 7 and a wheel delivering position. In the wheel receiving position, the arm 182 has a substantially horizontal position extending substantially parallel to the support rails 116, 118, and the arm 184 extends vertically upwardly to provide a stop for wheels which are delivered from the loading means 14 and rolled down the conveyor track to engage the arm 184 and pin 206. The upper end 210 of the arm .182 extends above the upper surfaces 88 of the conveyor track rails in the wheel receiving position to provide, in cooperation with the curved surface 196, a seat for the wheel. Power means in the form of a power cylinder 230, shown in FIG. 6, are provided to actuate the control means 40 from the wheel receiving position to a wheel delivering position. The piston rod 232 of the power cylinder is connected by a connecting rod 234 to the arm 186 at 236 by any suitable pivotal connection. The power cylinder is pivotally supported at 237 to a bracket 238 which is fixed beneath the loading means. A conventional control switch 242 is centrally mounted between the sup port rails 116, 118 and located within the seat pocket formed by the curved surface 196. An actuating finger portion of the switch extends above the guide rails and is adapted to be engaged by a wheel and indicate the presence thereof and cause actuation of other mechanisms to be hereinafter described in a predetermined manner.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 8, the portion of the conveyor track extending from the spray booth to the unloading means comprises the

structural members

100, 102,

rails

246, 248, and additional cross braces 104. The

rails

246, 248 are connected to the rails 116, 118 at 253 and form a continuation thereof. The upper surfaces of

rails

246, 248 are serrated as indicated at 254 in FIG. 8 to provide a series of knife-edges 255 which are adapted to rollably support the wheel rims. In order to provide for adjustment of the spacing of the rails if desired, adjustment sleeves 256, 257 may be provided in association with cross braces .104. The

rails

116, 118 and 246, 248 are connected by brackets 258, 260 and pin means 262. The guide rail 120 is extended vertically by a plate 259.

The conrol means 42 in the spray booth comprises an arm 261 having a hub portion 262 which is pivoted on a shaft 263 extending between the support rails 246, 248 and rotatably supported by bearing means 264, 266. The end of the arm 261 is provided with a transversely extending cylindrical pin 267. A projection 268 extends downwardly beneath the hub 262 and is pivotally connected at 270 to end 272 of the connecting rod 234 so that actuation of the power cylinder 230 causes rotative movement of the arm 261 from the release position beneath the

rails

246, 248 to the stop position shown at 261 for engagement with a wheel 12. The control means further comprises a pair of

ramp plates

270, 272 having inclined approach surfaces 274, 216 and flat transverse top surfaces 278, 280 at the rear. A conventional control switch 282 having an actuating finger 284 is mounted on a support bracket 286 between the supports 102. The control switch may be adjustably mounted by means of a slide plate to position the switch for proper actuation as a wheel rolls down the conveyor track. The actuating finger is adapted to extend upwardly into the path of the rolling wheel to be actuated thereby for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

As shown in FIG. 8, the wheel 12 is provided with a conventional fastening boss 290 having a plurality of bolt receiving holes 292 and, as is conventional, a central bore 294. The center of the bore 294 is indicated at 302 and is located in a particular position by the control means 42 relative to wheel elevating and rotating means to be described. The wheel 12 in FIG. 8 is shown in an elevated position with the bottom of the wheel vertically spaced above the rails 246 248. In general, as shown in FIG. 4, the wheel elevating and rotating means comprises a gripping head 304, an extensible sleeve unit 306 which extends through an opening 308 in a side wall 310 of the spray booth 22, and an actuating unit 312.

Referring now to FIG. 9, the center line 320 of the rotating means is spaced a distance above the center 302 of the central bore 294 of the wheel when the wheel is resting on the locating

plates

270, 272 of the trackway as shown at 321. Consequently, when the wheel 12 has been gripped by the head 304 and centered thereon so that the center lines 320 and 302 coincide, the wheel is raised above the conveyor track and is completely suspended thereabove as shown in FIG. 9.

The gripping means comprises a plurality of hell cranks.

322, 323, 324 which are spaced around the periphery of a support annulus 325. Each of the bell cranks is identical and therefore only the bell crank 324 is described in detail. The bell crank 324 is provided with an axially outwardly extending jaw portion 326 and a radially inwardly extending actuating portion 327. The bell crank is pivotally mounted in a slot 328 provided in the head 325 and is pivotally supported therein by pin means 329. In the preferred embodiment, three such bell cranks are provided at equally spaced locations around the periphery of the head 325 and are located at 120 degrees from one another. The jaw 326 is provided with wheel engaging surfaces 330 which are adapted to extend within the central bore of the wheel and be radially outwardly extended therein. The actuating portion 327 extends radially inwardly into a groove 332 provided in a slidable actuating head 334. The head 334 is slidably received in a cavity 336 in the support head 325 and is connected to a rod 340 which is axially reciprocable to move the actuator head 334 relative to the support head 325 and pivot the bell crank 324 about the pivotal connection 328. When the actuatinghead 334 is in its innermost position closely adjacent the rear wall 344 of the support head 325, the gripping jaws 326 of the bell crank are located in the radial inwardmost position and each of the jaws are located within a circle having a diameter less than the diameter of the central bore of the wheel and circumscribed thereby. When the actuating head 334 is fully extended, as shown in FIG. 9, the gripping jaws are radially extending into full surface engagement with the periphery of the central bore to rigidly support the wheel thereon. Since the central axis 320 of the jaws is originally offset above the center axis 302 of the central bore, the jaws are located at the innermost position in a manner to permit the jaws to be axially extended through the bore before being radially extended into engagement therewith. A cover sleeve 348 is provided around the support head 325 to retain the elements in position thereon.

The shaft 340 is slidably supported within a bearing sleeve 360 and is connected at its inner end to a connecting sleeve 362 which is threadably associated with a piston rod 364 of a power cylinder 366. The power cylinder 366 may be a conventional air operated device having air hose connections provided by

rotatable bushings

368, 370 which permit *rotation of the entire unit. A compression spring element 372 separates the bearing sleeve 360 and the connecting sleeve 362 and provides a lost motion mechanism to accommodate displacement of the actuating head 334 relative to the support head 325. The

shafts

340, 364 and bearing sleeves 360, 362 are slidably mounted in a rotatable support sleeve 400 which extends between pillow blocks 402, 404 and is rotatably supported therein. The pillow blocks 402, 404 are fixedly secured to a support plate 406 in any conventional manner. The sleeve 400 is drivingly connected to the sleeve 360 by a key element 406 which is secured to the sleeve 400 and has a portion 408 extending radially inwardly through a slot 410 into a keyway 412 in the sleeve 360. The keyway 412 extends axially a sufficient distance to permit axial sliding movement of the sleeve 360 relative to the sleeve 400 during positioning of the head 325 relative to the wheel. An abutment surface 414 is provided on the key element to engage the end 416 of the keyway 412 when the sleeve 360 has reached a predetermined maximum axial displacement. The sleeve 360 is drivingly keyed to shaft 340 by a key element 418 which secures the support head 325 to the sleeve 360 and is received within a keyway 420 in the shaft to permit axial displacement of the shaft 340 relative to the sleeve 360. The flexible bellows like sleeve 306 is connected at :one end to an annular extension 422 of the pillow block 404 and is connected at its other end to the support head 325. The connection between the bellows sleeve 306 and head 325 is accomplished by a conventional retaining spring or the like which permits relative rotation there? between. The other end of the sleeve 400 is threaded at 423 and receives a collar 424 to which the power cylinder 366 is connected by suitable bolt means 425. A stop collar 426 is mounted on the sleeve 400 and adapted to abut the side surface of the pillow block 402 to properly locate the apparatus.

Thus the entire sleeve and shaft assembly is rotatable within the pillow blocks 402, 404 to obtain rotation of the head 304 by means of a gear element 440 which is keyed to the sleeve 400 by a key element 442 mounted in a keyway 443. A drive gear 444 is drivingly engaged within the gear element 440 and is drivingly connected to a shaft 446 which is rotatably mounted at its ends in bearing

blocks

448, 450. The bearing blocks 448, 450 may be fastened to the support bracket 406 in any conventional manner. A pinion 460 is drivingly engaged with the shaft 446 and is drivingly engaged by a rack element 462. One end of the rack element 462 is connected to a power cylinder 464 for reciprocable actuation thereof. A pair of guide blocks 466, 468 may be secured to a support bracket 470 and are cooperable with guide slots 472 provided in the rack element. Reciprocable movement of the rack element in the guideway formed by the guide blocks causes rotative movement of the sleeves 400, 360 and the shaft 340 through gears 440, 442 and 460.

The drive apparatus is all mounted externally of the spray booth and only the shaft 340 and the sleeve 360 extends through the side wall of the booth. In this man: ner, the Operating mechanism is protected from the paint spray in the spray booth.

In operation with wheels 12 being continuously fed from the conveyor 10 into the conveyor track loading means 14, each wheel is received in the loading box in an upright position supported by the annular flanges 16, 18. The bottom surface of the receiving box is downwardly inclined to cause the wheels to roll onto the rails 116, 118 of the conveyor track 21. The control means 40 receives one wheel at a time over the pocket defined by the curved surface 196 and abutting the pin 206 in arm 184. The switch 242 is actuated by the presence of the wheel over the pocket and actuates the power cylinder 230 through conventional control circuitry to cause retraction of the piston rod 232 and the connecting rod 234. Rearward movement of the connecting rod 234 causes rotation of the member on the shaft 189 to lower the arm 184 and raise the arm 182 which kicks or pushes the wheel 12 down the track toward the paint spray booth. The pin 204 prevents the next wheel from moving down the track until the member 180 isreturned to the original wheel receiving position. The control means 42 in the spray booth is simultaneously actuated by the connecting rod 234 to raise the arm 261 from its lower position to its upper position where the pin 267 will abut the wheel 12 and stop downward movement thereof along the inclined track at a predetermined position within the spray booth.

A wheel which is released by downward movement of the arm 184 rolls along the inclined track and into the spray booth where it passes over the control switch 282 and up onto the locating

plates

270, 272. The wheel moves into abutting engagement with the stop pin 267 on the arm 261 and is thereby located within the paint spray booth for gripping and removal by the elevating and rotating means. In the stopped position of the wheel in the spray booth, the center 302 of the central bore of the wheel is vertically offset below the central longitudinal axis 320 of the rotating apparatus. However, vertical axes passing through the center of the central bore and the central axis of the rotating apparatus are aligned.

Actuation of the switch means 282by movement of a wheel thereover actuates the power cylinder 366 through conventional circuitry to cause extension of the piston rod 364 toward the spray booth. The connecting sleeve 362, the Connecting rod 340, and the bearing sleeve 360 are similarly, equally, axially displaced. Consequently, the support head 325 and the actuating hea-d 334 are equally, axially displaced to locate the gripping jaws 330 of the bell cranks within the central bore of the wheel. As the support head 325 and the actuating head 334 approach the central bore of the hub, the abutment surface 416 of thebearing sleeve 360 engages the abutment 414 of the key element 380* and further axial displacement of the bearing sleeve 360 is prevented. Consequently, the support head 325 is fixedly positioned and has no further outward axial displacement. The compression spring 372 permits the piston rod 364, the connecting sleeve 362, and the actuating rod 340* to continue to be axially displaced in response to further actuation of the power cylinder 366. The spring 372 is compressed and the actuating rod 340 moves outwardly relative to the sleeve 360 and the actuating head 334 is moved outwardly relative to the support head 325 within the cavity 336. The relative movement is accommodated by slot 420 provided in the actuating rod 340. Relative displacement of the actuating head 334 moves the actuating arms 327 of the bell cranks in an arcuate path and radially outwardly displaces the gripping jaws 330 into gripping engagement with the inner surface of the bore 294 of the wheel. As the gripping jaws are moved radially outwardly the wheel is centered upwardly toward the center axis 320' until the axis 302 of the bore coincides therewith.

When the actuating mechanism has been fully extended and the wheel is properly gripped, a limit switch (not shown) is actuated to cause actuation of the power cylinder 464. The power cylinder 464 actuates the rack element 462 and imparts rotary motion to the shaft 466 and drive gear 444 through the pinion 460. The drive gear 444 meshes with and rotates the gear 440 which causes rotation of the sleeve 400, the bearing sleeve 360, and the actuating shaft 340 so that the gripping head and wheel are rotated therewith. The rack drive is designed to provide a measured degree of rotation of the wheel through at least 360 during the power stroke. The rate of rotation is always constant and may be accurately controlled so that an extremely uniform paint coating is obtained. Since the spray field is fixed and each wheel is rotated a precise number of revolutions at a precise speed, the uniformity of the paint spray coating on each wheel and between wheels is exceptionally uniform. When the rack reaches the end of its linear travel, a limit switch (not shown) is actuated to actuate the power cylinder 366 and retract the head unit 304 to release the wheel and return it to the conveyor track. When the head unit 304 has been fully retracteda limit switch (not shown) is actuated to actuate the power cylinder 230 and return the control means 40, 42 to the original positions with the arm 261 in its lower position and the arm 184 in its upper position providing a stop for wheels being delivered from the loading means. The arm 201 is lowered beneath the upper surface of the track 88 and the wheel drops onto the serrations 254 provided on the track rails 246, 248.. The wheel moves downwardly along the inclined track by gravity to the unloading means. The ends 278 of the locating

plates

270, 272 are olfset forwardly of the center of the wheel so that the wheel will move down onto the track when the arm 261 is lowered. The serrations on the track provide a knife-edge contact with the portions of the periphery of the wheel which will not mar the finish of the paint. The paint on the wheel flows over any markings caused by the knife-edges of the serrations and the paint is relatively quick drying so that the serrations will not aifect the paint surface at all after the wheel has rolled a short distance down the track and out of the spray booth.

The spray elements 23, 24 in the spray booth are controlled in a convention-a1 manner and spray paint in a predetermined pattern onto the rotating wheel. The

spray nozzles may be permanently fixed to provide a predetermined spray pattern or spray zone through which the wheel is rotated. Consequently, the subject apparatus has distinct advantages over paint spray equipment wherein the spray heads must be made movable to thoroughly coat interiorly curved surfaces. The spray heads may be made adjustable on the support brackets 26, 28 so that the spray pattern may be varied when necessary. The spray heads are completely enclosed within the spray booth and the gripping and elevating mechanism extends through a side wall of the booth and is protected from the spray paint by the flexible outer sleeve. The only portions of the actuating mechanism subject to the paint spray are the head and gripping jaws. The constant movement of the gripping jaws causes paint accumulating thereon to flake off and does not interfere in any manner with the operation of the apparatus.

It is intended that various modifications and changes in the arrangement of the various parts which utilize the principles herein disclosed are to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for applying a coating to an article having annular portions which may be used to rollably support said article and by which rolling movement of said article may be induced, and comprising: an inclined track means upon which said article is adapted to roll from one location to another, coating means mounted along said track means, control means to stop rolling movement of said article along said track means at a predetermined position thereon adjacent said coating means, separating means provided at said predetermined position to disengage said article from said track means prior to the application of a coating thereto and to replace said article on said track means after said coating has been applied thereto, serration means on the portion of said track means beyond said predetermined position upon which said article is replaced following the application of said coating thereto, and said serration means providing knife-edge contact with said article during rolling movement along said track means to prevent said coating from being marred.

2. Apparatus for positioning an article having a bore formed therein in a predetermined position for an operation thereon, and comprising: jaw means adapted to be received within said bore and to grippingly engage said article within said bore, support means locating said jaw means eccentrically relative to said bore whereby gripping engagement of said jaw means with said article causes radial displacement of said article a distance equal to the eccentricity of said jaw means relative to said bore, and rotation means associated with said jaw means to cause rotation of said article after gripping engagement of said jaw means therewith and radial displacement thereof.

3. Apparatus for removing an article having a bore formed therein from a support and comprising: jaw means adapted to be received within said bore, jaw actuating means to actuate said jaw means within said bore and to cause gripping engagement of said jaw means with said article within said bore, support means locating said jaw means eccentrically relative to said bore prior to gripping engagement of said jaw means with said article, and the eccentricity of said jaw means relative to said bore being sufficient to cause radial displacement of said article away from said support when said jaw means are actuated to thereby remove said article from said support.

4. The method of paint spraying wheels or the like, and comprising the steps of:

rolling said wheels into a paint spray booth on an inclined conveyor track,

stopping the rolling wheels on said conveyor track in said paint spray booth in a predetermined position therein,

automatically mechanically grasping and removing the wheels from said conveyor track in said paint spray booth and locating said wheels in a suspended position above said conveyor track in a fixed paint spray zone,

roating the suspended wheels in said paint spray zone above said conveyor track,

applying paint to the rotating wheels by fixedly positioned paint spray apparatus, and

returning said wheels to said conveyor track and releasing said wheels thereon for further rolling movement therealong.

5. The method of paint spraying wheels or the like as defined in claim 4 and including the additional steps of:

supporting said wheels on said conveyor track during rolling movement therealong from said paint spray booth on a plurality of knife-edges so that the paint coating is not marred during rolling movement along said conveyor track after the application of paint thereto.

6. Apparatus for applying a coating to an article having a bore formed therein and having annular portions which may be used to rollably support said article and by which rolling movement of said article may be induced, and comprising: an inclined track means upon which said article is adapted to roll from one location to another, coating means mounted along said track means, control means to stop rolling movement of said article along said track means at a predetermined position thereon adjacent said coating means, jaw means movable about a central axis located adjacent said track means at said predetermined position and adapted to be received within said bore and to grippingly engage said article within said bore, rotation means associated with said jaw means to cause rotation of said article about said central axis after gripping engagement of said jaw means therewith, support means locating said central axis eccentrically relative to the center of said bore whereby gripping engagement of said jaw means with said article causes displacement of said article above said track means a distance equal to the eccentricity of said central axis relative to the center of said bore to remove said article from said track means for suspended rotation thereabo-ve.

7. Apparatus for applying a spray coating to an article having a bore formed therein and having annular portions which may be used to rollably support said article and by which rolling movement of said article may be induced, and comprising: an inclined conveyor track, feed means to position said article on said track for rolling movement therealong, a paint spray booth enclosing a portion of said track, paint spray apparatus fixedly mounted in said booth adjacent said track and adapted to create a paint spray zone of predetermined size and location within said booth, control means associated with said track to stop rolling movement of said article therealong at a predetermined position within said booth, elevating means to engage said article when stopped at said predetermined position and to move sad article into said spray zone for application of said spray coating thereto and to replace said article on said track after the application of said spray coating thereto, and rotation means to rotate said article in said spray zone for the uniform and complete application of said coating to said article.

8. Apparatus for applying a spray coating to an article having a bore formed therein and having annular portions which may be used to rollably support said article and by which rolling movement of said article may be induced, and comprising: an inclined conveyor track, feed means to position said article on said track for rolling movement therealong, a paint spray booth enclosing a portion of said track, paint spray apparatus fixedly mounted in said booth adjacent said track and adapted to create a paint spray zone of predetermined size and location within said booth, control means associated with said track to stop rolling movement of said article therealong at a predetermined position within said booth, gripping jaw means axially movable between gripping and release positions and being rotatable about a central axis, said control means being adapted to stop article on said track with said bore in position to receive said gripping jaw means with the center of said bore eccentrically .positioned relative to said central axis of said gripping jaw means, actuating means for said gripping jaw means to effect extension of said jaw means into said bore and to radially displace said jaw means therein into gripping engagement with said article, said center of said bore being upwardly displaced by actuation of said jaw means to remove said article from said track, and rotation means connected to said jaw means for rotation of said article in said spray zone after removal from said track.

9. In coating apparatus for applying a coating to an article having annular portions which may be used to rollably support said article and by which rolling movement of said article may be induced, and comprising: a conveyor track for rollably transporting said article after application of a coating thereto, rail means provided on said track to rotatably support sai-d article by engagement with said annular portions, and serration means provided on said rail means to define knife-edge supports for said article during rolling movement therealong whereby said article may be moved along said track before said coating dries without deleterious marring thereof.

10. Paint spray apparatus for applying a paint spray coating to an article comprising: a paint spray booth, fixedly located paint spray means mounted within said spray booth to define a paint spray zone, conveyor means extending through said booth, head means for engaging and removing said article from said conveyor means and extending said spray booth adjacent said conveyor means through said spray zone, head actuating means located outside said booth, and connecting means extending between said head means and said head actuating means.

11. The paint spray apparatus as defined in claim 10 and wherein a protective extensible covering is mounted about said connecting means within said booth to prevent accumulation of paint spray thereon.

12. The paint spray apparatus as defined in claim 10 and wherein said head means comprises a support head, a plurality of jaw elements movably mounted on said support head, an actuating head mounted on said support head and being movable relative thereto, actuating linkage connecting said jaw elements and said actuating head whereby relative movement between said support head and said actuating head causes movement of said jaw elements between an article gripping position and a nongripping position.

l13. The paint spray apparatus as defined in claim 12 and wherein said connecting means comprises a rotatable support sleeve means, a rotatable and axially movable bearing sleeve connected to said support head and extending into said booth, an axially movable actuating shaft coaxially mounted in said bearing sleeve and being axially movable relative thereto, key means to rotatably connect said support sleeve means to said bearing sleeve and said actuating shaft, lost motion means permitting coextensive axial displacement of said bearing sleeve and said actuating shaft until said head means acquires a predetermined position relative to said article and thereafter permitting displacement of said actuating shaft relative to said bearing sleeve to displace said actuating head relative to said support head and move said jaw means from said non-gripping position to said gripping position, and power means to actuate said actuating shaft to said gripping position and to rotate said head means in said gripping position.

(References on following page) Rferences Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Ash 118-320 X Roles 118-102 Maynard 118-302 Willshaw 51-15 Maulding 214-1 Giordano 118-320 Anderson 118-320 X Dailey et a1. 29-81 McConnell 214-1 Jacobsen et a1. 118-6 Bosl et a1. 51-215 Chapellier 264-95 Riley 214-1 Ewing 214-1 ALFRED L. LEAVITT, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD D. NEVIUS, Examine-r. 10 M. KAPLAN, J. P. MCINTOSH, Assistant Examiners

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A COATING TO AN ARTICLE HAVING ANNULAR PORTIONS WHICH MAY BE USED TO ROLLABLY SUPPORT SAID ARTICLE AND BY WHICH ROLLING MOVEMENT OF SAID ARTICLE MAY BE INDUCED, AND COMPRISING: AN INCLINED TRACK MEANS UPON WHICH SAID ARTICLE IS ADAPTED TO ROLL FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER, COATING MEANS MOUNTED ALONG SAID TRACK MEANS, CONTROL MEANS TO STOP ROLLING MOVEMENT OF SAID ARTICLE ALONG SAID TRACK MEANS AT A PREDETERMINED POSITION THEREON ADJACENT SAID KCOATING MEANS, SEPARTING MEANS PROVIDED AT SAID PREDETERMINED POSITION TO DISENGAGE SAID ARTICLE FROM SAID TRACK MEANS PRIOR TO THE APPLICATION OF A COATING THERETO AND TO REPLACE SAID ARTICLE ON SAID TRACK MEANS AFTER SAID COATING HAS BEEN APPLIED THERETO, SERRATION MEANS ON THE PORTION OF SAID TRACK MEANS BEYOND SAID PREDETERMINED POSITION UPON WHICH SAID ARTICLE IS REPLACED FOLLOWING THE APPLICATION OF SAID COATING THERETO, AND SAID SERRATION MEANS PROVIDING KNIFE-EDGE CONTACT WITH SAID ARTICLE DURING ROLLING MOVEMENT ALONG SAID TRACK MEANS TO PREVENT SAID COATING FROM BEING MARRED.