WO1992008177B1 - Hybrid control method and system for controlling the flow of liquid coating material - Google Patents

Hybrid control method and system for controlling the flow of liquid coating material

Info

Publication number
WO1992008177B1
WO1992008177B1 PCT/US1991/007657 US9107657W WO9208177B1 WO 1992008177 B1 WO1992008177 B1 WO 1992008177B1 US 9107657 W US9107657 W US 9107657W WO 9208177 B1 WO9208177 B1 WO 9208177B1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
signal
flow
coating material
liquid coating
generating
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1991/007657
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO1992008177A1 (en
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed filed Critical
Priority to JP4500730A priority Critical patent/JPH06507336A/en
Publication of WO1992008177A1 publication Critical patent/WO1992008177A1/en
Publication of WO1992008177B1 publication Critical patent/WO1992008177B1/en

Links

Abstract

A hybrid control method and system are provided for controlling the flow of liquid coating material which is regulated by a flow regulator in response to a reference signal. The method and system have a closed loop mode and an open loop mode. A set of calibration data representing at least one expected flow rate for the liquid coating material is initially stored in a table in a calibration mode. In the open loop mode the reference signal is correlated with the calibration data to obtain a set signal which is utilized to generate a first electrical control signal so that the flow regulator regulates the flow of liquid coating material at an initial flow rate. The open loop mode is changed to the closed loop mode after the system operates in the open loop mode for a time determined during calibration. A feedback signal is generated as a function of the actual flow of the regulated liquid coating material. An error signal is generated as a function of the difference between the prior set signal and the feedback signal. A second electrical control signal is generated as a function of the error signal in the closed loop mode. The error signal is representative of the desired amount of liquid coating material flow change. The set of calibration data is modified when the actual flow rate is within a predetermined range of the flow rate represented by the second electrical control signal to obtain a modified set of calibration data representing a desired flow rate to compensate for varying system operating conditions, such as liquid temperature, liquid viscosity and mechanical/pneumatic system changes.

Claims

-30-AMENDED CLAIMS[received by the International Bureau on 28 April 1992 (28.04.92); original claims 1, 4, 7 and 13 amended; remaining claims unchanged (9 pages)]
1. A method for controlling a flow regulator and a transducer for operating the flow regulator in response to electrical control signals to control the flow rate of liquid coating material regulated by the flow regulator in response to a reference signal, the method having a closed loop mode and an open loop mode, the method comprising the steps of: storing a set of calibration data representing at least one expected flow rate for the liquid coating material; correlating the reference signal with the calibration data to generate a set signal as a function of the reference signal; generating a first electrical control signal in accordance with the set signal in the open loop mode; generating a first pneumatic control signal based on the first electrical control signal; supplying the first pneumatic control signal to the flow regulator so that the flow regulator regulates the flow of liquid coating material at the expected flow rate; generating a feedback signal as a function of the actual flow of the regulated liquid coating material; generating an error signal as a function of the difference between the set signal and the feedback signal; generating a second electrical control signal as a function of the error signal in the closed loop mode, the error signal being representative of a desired amount of liquid coating material flow change; generating a second pneumatic control signal -31-
based on the second electrical control signal; supplying the second pneumatic control signal to the flow regulator; and changing from the open loop mode to the closed loop mode after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the step of generating the first electrical control signal.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of modifying the set of calibration data when the actual flow rate is within a predetermined range of the flow rate represented by the second electrical control signal to obtain a modified set of calibration data representing a desired flow rate to compensate for varying system operating conditions.
3. The method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising the step of generating a temperature signal as a function of the temperature of the regulated liquid coating material.
4. A method for spray-coating an article in a coating zone, the method utilizing a robot having an arm provided with a support head movable about a plurality of control axes, an atomizing device attached to the support head, a flow regulator for controlling the flow of liquid coating material from a source of liquid to the atomizing device and a transducer for operating the flow regulator in response to electrical control signals to control the flow rate of liquid coating material regulated by the flow regulator in response to a reference signal, the method having a closed loop mode and an open loop mode, the method comprising the steps of: storing a set of calibration data representing at least one expected flow rate for the liquid coating material; correlating the reference signal with the calibration data to generate a set signal as a function of the reference signal; generating a first electrical control signal in accordance with the set signal in the open loop mode; generating a first pneumatic control signal based on the first electrical control signal; supplying the first pneumatic control signal to the flow regulator so that the flow regulator regulates the flow of liquid coating material at the expected flow rate; generating a feedback signal as a function of the actual flow of the regulated liquid coating material; generating an error signal as a function of the difference between the set signal and the feedback signal; generating a second electrical control signal as a function of the error signal in the closed loop mode, the error signal being representative of a desired amount of liquid coating material flow change; generating a second pneumatic control signal based on the second electrical control signal; supplying the second pneumatic control signal to the flow regulator; changing from the open loop mode to the closed loop mode after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the step of generating the first electrical control signal; moving said atomizing device about said plurality of control axes to different positions along a programmed path at a predetermined distance from the article in the coating zone while coating the surface -33-
of the article with the atomized liquid coating material; and automatically coordinating operation of the flow regulator and the robot to control the spray- coating of the article in the coating zone.
5. The method as claimed in claim 4 further comprising the step of modifying the set of calibration data when the actual flow rate is within a predetermined range of the flow rate represented by the second electrical control signal to obtain a modified set of calibration data representing a desired flow rate to compensate for varying system operating conditions.
6. The method as claimed in claim 5 further comprising the steps of generating a temperature signal as a function of the temperature of the regulated liquid coating material.
7. In a system for spray-coating an article in a coating zone, the system including an atomizing device, a flow regulator for controlling the flow of liquid coating material from a source of liquid to the atomizing device, a control system having an open loop mode and a closed loop mode for controlling the flow regulator to control the flow of liquid coating material regulated by the flow regulator in response to a reference signal, the control system comprising: storage means for storing a set of calibration data representing at least one expected flow rate for the liquid coating material; means for correlating the reference signal with the calibration data to obtain a set signal as a function of the reference signal; first means for generating a first -34-
electrical control signal in accordance with the set signal in the open loop mode so that the flow regulator regulates the flow of liquid coating material from the source of liquid coating material to the atomizing device at the expected flow rate; generating a first pneumatic control signal based on the first electrical control signal; supplying the first pneumatic control signal to the flow regulator so that the flow regulator regulates the flow of liquid coating material at the expected flow rate; feedback means for generating a feedback signal as a function of the actual flow of the regulated liquid coating material; generating means for generating an error signal as a function of the difference between the set signal and the feedback signal; second means for generating a second electrical control signal as a function of the error signal in the closed loop mode, the error signal being representative of a desired amount of liquid coating material flow change; means for generating a second pneumatic control signal based on the second electrical control signal; means for supplying the second pneumatic control signal to the flow regulator; converter means adapted to be coupled to the flow regulator for converting the electrical control signals to regulator control signals for operating the flow regulator as a function of the electrical control signals; and mode control means for changing from the open loop mode to the closed loop mode after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the first electrical control signal is generated. -35-
8. The control system as claimed in claim
7 wherein the feedback means includes modifying means for modifying the set of calibration data when the actual flow rate is within a predetermined range of the flow rate represented by the second electrical control signal to obtain a modified set of calibration data representing a desired flow rate to compensate for varying system operating conditions.
9. The control system as claimed in claim
8 further comprising a temperature sensor for generating a temperature signal as a function of the temperature of the regulated liquid coating material.
10. The control system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the feedback means includes a flow transducer for measuring the actual flow of the regulated liquid coating material to obtain a flow signal.
11. The control system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the flow signal includes a number of pulses, the number of pulses being a function of the actual flow of the regulated liquid coating material and wherein the feedback means further includes a counter means for counting the number of pulses.
12. The control system as claimed in claim
7 wherein the generating means generates the error signal as a function of the type of liquid coating material and wherein the control system further comprises indicator means coupled to the generator means for indicating the type of liquid coating material to be spray-coated. -36-
13. In a robot spray coating system for spray-coating an article in a coating zone, the system including a program-controlled robot, the robot having an arm provided with a support head which is movable about a plurality of control axes, an atomizing device mounted on the support head of said arm, a flow regulator for controlling the flow of liquid coating material from a source of liquid to the atomizing device, a robot controller for causing the support head of the arm to move the device about the plurality of control axes to different positions along a programmed path; a control system having an open loop mode and a closed loop mode for controlling the flow regulator to control the flow of liquid coating material regulated by the flow regulator in response to a reference signal, the control system comprising: storage means for storing a set of calibration data representing at least one expected flow rate for the liquid coating material; means for correlating the reference signal with the calibration data to obtain a set signal as a function of the reference signal; first means for generating a first electrical control signal in accordance with the set signal in the open loop mode so that the flow regulator regulates the flow of liquid coating material from the source of liquid coating material to the atomizing device at the expected flow rate; means for' generating a first pneumatic control signal based on the first electrical control signal; means for supplying the first pneumatic control signal to the flow regulator so that the flow regulator regulates the flow of liquid coating material at the expected flow rate; feedback means for generating a feedback -37-
signal as a function of the actual flow of the regulated liquid coating material; generating means for generating an error signal as a function of the difference between the set signal and the feedback signal; second means for generating a second electrical control signal as a function of the error signal in the closed loop mode; the error signal being representative of a desired amount of liquid coating material flow change; generating a second pneumatic control signal based on the second electrical control signal; supplying the second pneumatic control signal to the flow regulator; converter means adapted to be coupled to the flow regulator for converting the electrical control signals to regulator control signals for operating the flow regulator as a function of the electrical control signals; and mode control means for changing from the open loop mode to the closed loop mode after a predetermined period of time had elapsed after the first electrical control signal is generated wherein the robot controller automatically coordinates operation of the flow regulator and the support head to control the spray coating of the article in the coating zone.
14. The control system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the feedback means includes modifying means for modifying the set of calibration data when the actual flow rate is within a predetermined range of the flow rate represented by the second electrical control signal to obtain a modified set of calibration data representing a desired flow rate to compensate for varying system operating conditions. -38-
15. The control system as claimed in claim 14 further comprising a temperature sensor for generating a temperature signal as a function of the temperature of the regulated liquid coating material.
16. The control system as claimed in claim
13 wherein the feedback means includes a flow transducer for measuring the actual flow of the regulated liquid coating material to obtain a flow signal.
17. The control system as claimed in claim
16 wherein the flow signal includes a number of pulses, the number of pulses being a function of the actual flow of the regulated liquid coating material and wherein the feedback means further includes a counter means for counting the number of pulses.
18. The control system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the generating means generates the error signal as a function of the type of liquid coating material and wherein the control system further comprises indicator means coupled to the generator means for indicating the type of liquid coating material to be spray-coated.
PCT/US1991/007657 1990-10-30 1991-10-18 Hybrid control method and system for controlling the flow of liquid coating material WO1992008177A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP4500730A JPH06507336A (en) 1990-10-30 1991-10-18 Hybrid control method and system for flow control of liquid coating materials

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US60573990A 1990-10-30 1990-10-30
US605,739 1990-10-30

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1992008177A1 WO1992008177A1 (en) 1992-05-14
WO1992008177B1 true WO1992008177B1 (en) 1994-05-11

Family

ID=24425013

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1991/007657 WO1992008177A1 (en) 1990-10-30 1991-10-18 Hybrid control method and system for controlling the flow of liquid coating material

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0555410A1 (en)
JP (1) JPH06507336A (en)
WO (1) WO1992008177A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3753422B2 (en) 2001-03-27 2006-03-08 日本パーカライジング株式会社 Powder coating material supply apparatus and method
EP1245293B1 (en) * 2001-03-27 2006-12-13 Nihon Parkerizing Co., Ltd. Apparatus and method of controlling and supplying powder coating material
DE102013015313A1 (en) 2013-09-16 2015-03-19 Dürr Systems GmbH Application system and corresponding application method
CN106393062A (en) * 2016-11-01 2017-02-15 河池学院 Micro robot automatically smearing B ultrasonic coupling agent
CN114798349B (en) * 2022-03-01 2023-11-10 刘鹏祥 Method and system for automatically calibrating flow of spraying water-based adhesive

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4288854A (en) * 1979-09-12 1981-09-08 Western Electric Co., Inc. Bi-modal temperature controller
US4547858A (en) * 1983-06-13 1985-10-15 Allied Corporation Dynamic control for manipulator
IT1186183B (en) * 1985-11-08 1987-11-18 Gaiotto Impianti Spa PRESSURE BALANCER FOR CERAMIC ENAMEL SUPPLIES OR PAINTS IN GENERAL FOR SPRAY GUNS IN GENERAL, AND IN PARTICULAR FOR AUTOMATIC SPRAY GUNS INSTALLED ON GLAZING OR PAINTING ROBOTS
US4787332A (en) * 1986-02-12 1988-11-29 Robotics, Inc. Adhesive dispensing pump control system
US4763055A (en) * 1986-11-20 1988-08-09 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Digital robot control having high performance servo control system
DE3714000A1 (en) * 1987-04-27 1988-11-10 Behr Industrieanlagen CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A PROGRAM-CONTROLLED SPRAYING DEVICE

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6149071A (en) Flow control system for spray applications
EP0403280B1 (en) Apparatus for controlling material flow in a fluid dispensing process
EP3165289B1 (en) Systems and methods for applying a liquid coating material to a substrate
US7482776B2 (en) Controlling relative movement between a workpiece and a tool of a machine tool
EP3471895B1 (en) Methods for applying a liquid coating to a substrate
EP0757232A3 (en) A method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling the dispensing of materials onto a substrate
RU2279970C2 (en) Robot controlled machine with step feed of powders
JPH08338409A (en) Compensating method for fluctuation of flowing characteristic of fluid distributed by throttle valve
US6296708B1 (en) Systems for setting automatic gun triggering parameters in automated spray coating systems
US4941265A (en) Apparatus for preventing changes of the positions of machines
WO1992008177B1 (en) Hybrid control method and system for controlling the flow of liquid coating material
CN111889251A (en) Spraying process parameter control system of high-speed railway automobile body
US6625502B2 (en) Automatic speed loop gain adjustment method and apparatus for a feedback control system
CA1225237A (en) Computerized spray machine
JPH06507336A (en) Hybrid control method and system for flow control of liquid coating materials
JP3124171B2 (en) Robot coating equipment and its operation method
EP0634713A2 (en) Improvements in and relating to air regulation control
JP2865885B2 (en) Painting robot equipment
JP3041427B2 (en) Painting robot
JPH08206554A (en) Method and equipment to spray coating material
JPH0655108A (en) Spraying out amount controlling method of coating robot
JP2000135458A (en) Robot device for coating
JPH04114756A (en) Coating device
JPS6148990B2 (en)
JPH0283054A (en) Industrial robot