The Boeing Company

Don David Trend

Martin Hanna Guirguis

Angelica Davancens

Jake Boyce Weinmann

Raul Tomuta

John Walter Pringle, Iv

Richard Philip Topf

Frederick B Frontiera

John Joseph Brown

Chris J Erickson

Branko Sarh

John W Pringle-Iv

Thomas C Hanson

Ted Khong

John W Pringle

Ilya Sedler

Cris Howard Garcia

John W Pringle Iv

John Josef Brown

Fred Frontiera

Thomas Carsten Hanson

John W Iv Pringle

A method of manipulating a brush relative to a brush-arm assembly of an end-effector comprises locating a carriage in one of a first position or a second position relative to a stationary component. The method also comprises, with the carriage in one of the first position or the second position, different from the first position, relative to the stationary component, locating the brush-arm assembly of the end-effector with respect to the stationary component so that the brush-arm assembly is in contact with the stationary component. The method further comprises moving the carriage in a second direction toward the stationary component, from the first position to a third position, to load the brush onto the brush-arm assembly, or moving the carriage in a first direction away from the stationary component from the second position to the first position to unload the brush from the brush-arm assembly.

Methods for loading and unloading brushes to and from end-effector

A method of delivering a glutinous substance from a cartridge to an applicator comprises receiving the cartridge inside a sleeve through an inlet of the sleeve when a pressure cap, coupled to the sleeve proximate the inlet, is in an open position. The method additionally comprises moving the pressure cap into a closed position to sealingly couple the pressure cap with a trailing end of the cartridge. The method also comprises selectively causing an automated coupler to automatically sealingly couple the applicator with a leading end of the cartridge when the cartridge is inside the sleeve and the pressure cap is in the closed position. The method further comprises applying pressure to the glutinous substance in the cartridge through a first pressure input of the pressure cap to urge the glutinous substance from the cartridge into the applicator.

methods for applying glutinous substances

A method of delivering a glutinous substance to a workpiece from an end-effector comprises using the end-effector to position an applicator relative to the workpiece. The method also comprises urging the glutinous substance from the end-effector through a first channel of a body of the applicator from an inlet of the first channel toward an outlet of the first channel. The method additionally comprises selectively operating an actuator of the applicator to regulate a rate, at which the glutinous substance flows through the first channel of the body of the applicator, responsive to, at least in part, output received from a sensor of the applicator.

Methods for delivering glutinous substance to workpiece from end-effector

A system for dispensing a substance in a form of a bead on a surface in a progression direction includes a dispenser having: a leading edge, a contact portion comprising two contact points with the surface, and a trailing edge that extends between the two contact points and terminates therein. The system is configured to move the dispenser along a virtual travel plane, which is parallel to the path and passes through the two contact points, while maintaining the contact portion in communication with the surface as the substance is being dispensed. The system is also configured to monitor a leading portion of the bead and to generate a signal responsive to at least one characteristic of the leading portion, wherein the leading portion is located ahead of a portion of the leading edge in the progression direction along the path. The system is further configured to control, responsive to the signal, at least one of a speed of the dispenser along the path or a flow rate of the substance to the dispenser to provide a substantially uniform cross-sectional shape of the bead along the path.

Systems for dispensing a substance on a surface

A method of delivering a glutinous substance from a cartridge to an applicator is disclosed. The method comprises receiving the cartridge inside a sleeve through an inlet of the sleeve while a pressure cap is in an open position. The method also comprises moving the pressure cap into a closed position to sealingly couple the pressure cap with a trailing end of the cartridge and to sealingly couple the applicator with a leading end of the cartridge. The method further comprises applying pressure to the glutinous substance in the cartridge through the pressure input of the pressure cap to urge the glutinous substance from the cartridge into the applicator. Additionally, the method comprises moving the pressure cap into the open position to provide sufficient clearance sufficient for removal of the cartridge from the sleeve through the inlet of the sleeve.

Methods for applying glutinous substances

A method of applying a sealant material to a corner joint, formed by a first planar surface and a second planar surface, comprises positioning a sealant-applicator tip relative to the corner joint such that a first planar face of the sealant-applicator tip is in flush surface contact with and parallel to one of the first planar surface or the second planar surface and a second planar face of the sealant-applicator tip is in flush contact with and parallel to another one of the first planar surface or the second planar surface. The method further comprises advancing the sealant-applicator tip in a first direction along the corner joint while supplying the sealant material to the corner joint through a channel of the sealant-applicator tip and shaping the sealant material, supplied to the corner joint, with a seventh edge of the sealant-applicator tip to form a first bead of the sealant material.

Methods for applying sealant

A method of removing a tip from a body of an applicator, fixed to an end- effector, wherein the applicator comprises a coupler, releasably engageable with the tip to interlock the tip with the body of the applicator, is disclosed. The method comprises, with the coupler of the applicator releasably engaged with the tip, locating the end-effector so that a pawl is engaged with a third tooth on the tip to prevent movement of the tip in a fifth direction away from the pawl, and a wedge disengages the coupler of the applicator from the tip. The method also comprises, with the pawl engaged with the third tooth on the tip and the coupler of the applicator disengaged from the tip by the wedge, using the end-effector to move the body of the applicator in the fifth direction to disengage the tip from the body of the applicator.

Method of configuring applicators that deliver glutinous substances to workpiece from end-effector

A method of delivering a glutinous substance from a cartridge to a brush comprises receiving the cartridge inside a sleeve through an inlet of the sleeve while a pressure cap, located proximate the inlet of the sleeve, is in an open position. The method also comprises moving the pressure cap, located proximate the inlet of the sleeve, into a closed position to sealingly couple the pressure cap with a trailing end of the cartridge and to sealingly couple a valve with a leading end of the cartridge. The method further comprises applying pressure to the glutinous substance in the cartridge through a pressure input of the pressure cap to urge the glutinous substance from the cartridge to the valve. The method additionally comprises rotating the brush and opening the valve to enable the glutinous substance to flow from the valve to the brush at least when the brush is rotating.

Methods of applying glutinous substances

A method and apparatus for attaching a nozzle to a fluid dispensing system and a tip to the nozzle. In one illustrative example, the fluid dispensing system may be moved by a robotic device towards a nozzle retaining structure having nozzle retaining areas holding nozzles. A nozzle may be selected for use based on a nozzle identifier element corresponding to each of the nozzles. The robotic device may move the fluid dispensing system to the nozzle selected to attach the fluid dispensing system to the nozzle selected. Further, the fluid dispensing system may be moved by a robotic device towards a tip retaining structure having tip retaining areas holding tips. A tip may be selected for use based on a tip identifier element corresponding to each of the tips. The robotic device may move the fluid dispensing system to the tip selected to attach the nozzle to the tip selected.

Method and apparatus for exchanging nozzles and tips for a fluid dispensing system

An apparatus for delivering a glutinous substance from a cartridge to an applicator comprises a sleeve and a pressure-cap assembly. The pressure-cap assembly comprises a pressure cap, proximate an inlet of the sleeve. The pressure-cap assembly also comprises an actuator, coupled to the pressure cap and to the sleeve. The apparatus further comprises an automated coupler, configured to automatically reversibly sealingly couple the applicator with the leading end of the cartridge.

Apparatuses for applying glutinous substances

Systems and methods for applying sealant to a seam between a first work piece and a second work piece, including applying a fillet layer of the sealant to cover the seam, applying a first flaring layer of the sealant adjacent the fillet layer and contacting the fillet layer and the first work piece, applying a second flaring layer of the sealant that contacts the second work piece, and applying at least one filling layer of the sealant so that the filling layers of the sealant in combination contact each of the first flaring layer, the fillet layer, and the second flaring layer.

Systems and methods for sealant layering

An apparatus for loading and unloading a brush to and from a brush-arm assembly of an end-effector is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a base and a carriage, which is movable along an axis at least to a first position, a second position, or a third position relative to the base. The carriage comprises a brush receptacle, configured to prevent movement of the brush in a first direction, but not in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, when the brush is placed in the brush receptacle. The apparatus also comprises a stationary component, fixed relative to the base and configured to prevent movement of the brush-arm assembly in the second direction. Additionally, the apparatus comprises a linear actuator, configured to move the carriage.

Systems and apparatuses for loading and unloading brushes to and from end-effector

An applicator () for delivering a glutinous substance () to a workpiece () from an end-effector () is disclosed. The applicator () comprises a body () and a plunger (). The plunger () comprises a gate (), movable within an outlet portion () of a first channel () of the body () between, inclusively, an open position, allowing the glutinous substance () to flow from an inlet () of the first channel () to an outlet () of the first channel () and a closed position, preventing the glutinous substance () from flowing from the inlet () of the first channel () to the outlet () of the first channel (). The applicator () further comprises an actuator (), selectively operable to move the plunger () such that the gate () moves between, inclusively, the open position and the closed position.

Applicators and systems for delivering a glutinous substance to a workpiece from an end-effector

A sealant-applicator tip comprises a body, having a plane of symmetry and comprising an inlet opening. The sealant-applicator tip also comprises a head, extending from the body opposite the inlet opening. The head comprising a first planar face, comprising a first linear edge, a second planar face, comprising a second linear edge, a third face, comprising a third edge, a fourth face, comprising a fourth edge, a fifth edge, a sixth edge, a seventh edge, and an outlet opening, formed in the third face and in communication with the inlet opening of the body. The sealant-applicator tip further comprises a channel, extending from the inlet opening to the outlet opening.

Sealant-applicator tips

A method of dispensing a substance along a path is provided. The method includes supplying the substance to a dispenser. The method also includes moving the dispenser along a virtual travel plane parallel to the path and passing through two contact points of the dispenser, while maintaining a contact portion of the dispenser in communication with a surface. The method also includes monitoring a leading portion of the bead and generating a signal responsive to at least one characteristic of the leading portion. The method further includes controlling at least one of the speed of the dispenser along the path or the flow rate of the substance to the dispenser to provide a substantially uniform cross-sectional shape of the bead along the path.

Growing community of inventors

Huntington Beach, CA, United States of America

Don David Trend