Fanuc Robotics North America, Inc.

James S Hager

Hadi A Akeel

Scott J Clifford

Stan Henry McClosky

Gary J Rutledge

Robert C Foti

Ernest M Otani

Richard A McCann

John C Reinicke

A waterborne paint bell applicator is movable to and from a docking position and includes a paint receptacle connected to a paint canister. A paint filling station has a plurality of paint injectors each connected to a different color paint supply and being movable to the docking position for engagement with the paint receptacle for filling the paint canister with paint. A servomotor drives a piston in the canister. A paint valve in each injector is prevented from opening when the bell applicator is not present at the docking position

Electrostatic painting apparatus with paint filling station and method for operating same

Method and system are provided wherein a process robot moves the door of a vehicle to an open position, performs a robotically controlled process within the vehicle and then moves the door back to a closed position. A separate, two-axis programmable arm holds the door in the open position. In particular, the process robot has attached thereto a tool extension whereby the process robot goes in through a window opening of the door of the vehicle, executes a door open path where the door contacts the inner panel of the door and opens the door over a magnetic holder positioned on the two-axis programmable arm below the bottom of the door. The magnet is of sufficient magnetic strength to accurately hold the door at the programmed holding position of the two-axis arm. The process robot then performs a production operation (i.e. painting, priming, sealing, etc.) within the vehicle. The process robot then inserts the tool extension into the window slot of the door and closes the door without touching the processed surfaces of the vehicle.

Method and system for constraining and for opening, holding and closing

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Troy, MI, United States of America

James S Hager