University of Northern Iowa Research Foundation

Other

The Lasercan Company, LLC

Richard J Klein, Ii

Douglas L Sevey

Ricky Jay Bauer

Nicholas J Webb

Eric C Peterson

James Brian Fisher

Jason M Ebensberger

Chad Jason Zalkin

Michael J Bolick

Jeremiah G Treloar

Leslie C Hughes

Thomas J Giblin

John L Konefes

Stephen Orsatti

Alireza Badakhshan

Christopher A Lampe

An ergonomic adapter for an aerosol spray can. The ergonomic adapter has an elastomeric collar that fits around a body of an aerosol spray paint can such that a front portion of the collar is facing in front of the can just below the interface between the body and the domed top of the spray can. The front of the adapter includes a compartment that houses a polychromatic light source for lighting the surface and/or a light beam arrangement for targeting and positioning the spray can with respect to the surface.

Ergonomic spray can adapter and positioning apparatus

An ergonomic adapter for an aerosol spray can helps to reduce finger pain and hand fatigue. The ergonomic adapter has a collar that fits around a body of an aerosol spray paint can such that a front portion of the collar is facing in front of the can just below the interface between the body and the domed top of the spray can. An arcuate finger strip extends upward from the rear side of the collar and over the push-button nozzle on the spray can when the adapter is fitted onto the body of the spray can. The collar and the arcuate finger strip are made of a resilient, flexible material such as butyl rubber. The arcuate finger strip preferably has a concave upper surface. The collar has enlarged traction pads positioned to facilitate gripping by the user. When the user grips the ergonomic adapter, the user's index finger rests in the concave, arcuate finger strip. When the user presses down on the finger strip, the push-button nozzle is actuated to expel spray paint, but the pressure from the nozzle is distributed and cushioned so that it does not cause as much pain or stress in the user's index finger. In one embodiment, the front of the adapter includes a compartment that houses a polychromatic light source for lighting the surface and/or a laser guide for targeting and positioning the spray can with respect to the surface.

A virtual coatings application system has several features to enhance the realism of simulated spray painting. The system generally includes a display screen on which is defined a virtual surface (such as a truck door) that is intended to be virtually painted or coated by the user. The user operates an instrumented spray gun controller that outputs one or more signals representing data as to the status of the controls on the spray gun controller. The system also has a motion tracking system that tracks the position and orientation of the spray gun controller with respect to the virtual surface defined on the display screen. Simulation software generates virtual spray pattern data in response to at least the data from the spray gun controller and the position and orientation data received from the tracking system. Virtual spray pattern images are displayed in real time on the display screen in accordance with the accumulation of virtual spray pattern data at each location on the virtual surface.

Virtual coatings application system

A virtual coatings application system has several features to enhance the realism of simulated spray painting. The system generally includes a display screen on which is defined a virtual surface (such as a truck door) that is intended to be virtually painted or coated by the user. Alternatively, the system includes a head-mounted display unit that displays a virtual spray painting environment in which the virtual surface is defined. The user operates an instrumented spray gun controller that outputs one or more signals representing data as to the status of the controls on the spray gun controller. The system also has a motion tracking system that tracks the position and orientation of the spray gun controller with respect to the virtual surface. Simulation software generates virtual spray pattern data in response to at least the data from the spray gun controller and the position and orientation data received from the tracking system. Virtual spray pattern images are displayed in real time on the virtual surface in accordance with the accumulation of virtual spray pattern data at each location on the virtual surface.

A blasting system for the removal of coatings or paint from an underlying surface uses an optical device to position the blasting nozzle an appropriate stand-off distance from the surface. The blasting media can use a variety of blasting media including abrasives, water, and various specialty blasting media. The preferred optical system is mounted to or integral with the blasting nozzle, and uses a diode laser, a beam splitter and a reflecting mirror to generate a reference beam and a gauge beam. Alternatively, two diode lasers can be used to generate the reference beam and gauge beam respectively. The reference beam propagates in a fixed forward direction, but the direction of the gauge beam is adjustable. The user adjusts the orientation of the gauge beam so that the image of the beam on the surface aligns with the image of the reference beam on the surface when the blasting nozzle is positioned at the appropriate stand-off distance from the surface. Alternatively, the center of the blasting pattern o the surface can be used as a rough estimate for the reference beam, thereby avoiding the need to generate and align two non-parallel beams.

Light beam targeting and positioning system for a paint or coating removal blasting system

A support bracket for mounting a device such as a laser targeting and feedback system to a spray gun. The bracket includes a bolt having a threaded end, a first collar disposed on the bolt opposite the threaded end and a second collar threadably engaged with the threaded end of the bolt. A compressible member is disposed on the bolt between the collars. Opposite the compressible member, a support arm used to support the device is attached to the second collar. The bracket is engageable with a portion of the spray gun body and is engaged therewith by deflecting the compressible member between the collars such that the compressible member frictionally engages the spray gun. The use of the compressible member to secure the bracket to the hook allows the bracket to be utilized with spray guns having various configurations so long as the spray gun incorporates a portion on the spray gun body that is engageable by the compressible member.

Universal mounting bracket for laser targeting and feedback system

An optical spray painting practice gun emits a shaped optical beam onto a practice surface to simulate an actual paint spray on the surface. The gun preferably uses a class 2 diode laser to generate a laser beam which is reshaped by a collimating lens into a diverging beam that illuminates the practice surface. The collimating lens creates an elongated image on the practice surface having a length corresponding linearly to the distance of the practice gun nozzle to the practice surface as with a conventional spray gun. The illuminated image distorts when the practice gun is not perpendicular to the practice surface. The collimating lens is located in a rotatable collar so that the orientation of the elongated image on the practice surface can be adjusted. In other respects, the structure of the practice gun is preferably the same as a conventional spray gun. A DC battery is contained in the removable paint container for the practice gun and supplies power to the laser when a trigger-actuated electric switch is engaged. Placing the battery in the removable container helps to simulate proper spray gun weight and weight distribution.

Optical spray painting practice and training system

A spray gun for applying a liquid spray coating, such as paint, to a surface incorporates a light source and detection system for analyzing the position of the spray gun relative to a worksurface in order to optimize application of the coating to the surface. The light source is preferably in the form of a laser which emits a beam of light toward the worksurface. The laser is interconnected with the housing of the spray gun in a location over the spray gun handle so as not to effect the center of gravity of the spray gun. Optical sensors are mounted to the spray gun housing for receiving light reflected from the work-surface, and the sensors are interconnected with a processor for providing the operator with a real time visual indication as to compliance with predetermined paint application criteria. In addition, information can be stored to memory and downloaded for subsequent analysis.

Paint gun incorporating a laser device

A spray gun for applying a liquid spray coating, such as paint, to a surface incorporates a light source system for gauging the position of the spray gun relative to a worksurface in order to optimize application of the coating to the surface. The light source is preferably in the form of a laser which emits a pair of light beams toward the worksurface. The pair of light beams converge toward each other in a direction toward the surface, and the position of the beams on the surface is used by the operator to judge the distance of the spray gun from the surface. An adjustment mechanism is interconnected with one of the light beam sources, so as to adjust the point of convergence of the light beams. A closable door is associated with the spray gun housing at one of the light beam emitting locations, to selectively prevent emission of one of the light beams from the spray gun, such that a single light beam is emitted from the spray gun for use as a reference for spot application of the coating to the surface.

An optical spray coating monitoring system uses a laser displacement sensor and a data acquisition system to monitor a spray gun operator's technique, and display information relating to coating conditions and/or technique. The system includes a laser displacement sensor having a sensor head that is removably attached to a hand held spray gun. The laser displacement sensor measures the distance from the spray nozzle to the surface being coated. The laser displacement sensor also preferably measures the angle of orientation of the spray gun with respect to the surface being coated. The sensor head can also include an infrared temperature sensor. Another embodiment of the invention also uses a second laser displacement sensor. The first sensor measures the distance from the spray gun nozzle to the surface being coated before the coating has been applied to the surface and the second sensor measures the distance after the coating has been applied to the surface, thus allowing determination of the thickness of the wet film on the surface being coated. The measured information is transmitted to the data acquisition system. The data acquisition system provides low level calculations, displays raw data or statistical information, and stores data in memory so that the data can be later downloaded to a computer for further analysis at a later time.

Optical spray coating monitoring system and method

An optical spray paint optimization system can be removably mounted to a spray paint gun, thus enhancing the ability of the user to guide the direction of the spray and also locate the nozzle at an optimum spray distance from the surface being painted. The preferred apparatus uses a diode laser, a beam splitter and a reflecting mirror to generate a reference beam and a gauge beam. The reference beam propagates in a fixed forward direction, but the direction of the gauge beam is adjustable by adjusting the attitude of the reflecting mirror. The reference beam and the gauge beam intersect at a convergence point which can be repositioned to a selected distance from the nozzle of the spray painting system by adjusting the path of the gauge beam, thus allowing the user to spray at the optimum spray distance by locating the convergence point on the surface being painted. The beams also aid in aiming the spray.

Optical spray paint optimization system and method

A supplementary heat and air supply system for a building includes a solar panel mounted to the exterior of the building, and a solar panel duct extending between the solar panel and the return air manifold of the building's conventional heating system. A fan or blower is positioned within the solar panel duct. The solar panel has a fresh air intake to provide fresh outdoor air to the interior of the solar panel. During daytime hours, when the temperature of air within the solar panel attains a predetermined level, the blower is operated to supply the heated air to the interior of the structure through the solar panel duct, with the heated air being supplied through the return air manifold. When the building's furnace operates, it draws air from the return air manifold, which also acts to draw air from the solar panel through the solar panel duct. The system acts to pressurize the building's interior during operation of the blower, to deter seepage of gases, such as radon, into the building's interior. When the blower is not operating and the furnace is operating, the furnace draws air from the solar panel along with the indoor air. This additionally reduces the amount of pressure drop in the building interior, to again deter seepage of gases into the building.

Growing community of inventors

Waterloo, IA, United States of America

Richard J Klein, Ii