Application robot

{
  "publication_number": "US11117152B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Application robot",
  "abstract": "An application robot applies a primer to a car body. The application robot includes an applicator for the primer, a camera, a controller, a cap for preventing dripping of the primer, a cap attaching/detaching unit for collecting the cap, and an arm. The camera is moved with the applicator to which the cap is attached, and detects the position of a specific part on the body, the camera being moved by activating the arm. The applicator applies the primer to a position to apply the primer on the body after the cap is detached, the position being specified by the controller. The cap attaching/detaching unit moves the cap holding part toward the body and collects the cap.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An application robot that applies fluid agents to a conveyed object conveyed by a conveyor, comprising: an applicator to apply the fluid agents to the conveyed object; a position sensor to detect a position of a specific part on the conveyed object; a controller to specify a position to apply the fluid agents based on a detection result of the position sensor; a dripping preventing member that is removably provided on the applicator and prevents dripping of the fluid agents when the fluid agents is not applied; a collector to collect the dripping preventing member detached from the applicator; and an arm that supports the applicator so as to move the applicator to the position to apply the fluid agents, wherein the position sensor is provided on the arm along with the applicator, so as to be moved by operation of the arm to detect the position of the specific part on the conveyed object while the dripping preventing member is attached to the applicator, wherein upon the position to apply the agents being specified by the controller and the dripping preventing member being detached, the applicator applies the agents onto the conveyed object, and wherein the collector includes a collection part to collect the dripping preventing member and an extending part to move and extend toward the conveyed object while supporting the collecting part, the collecting part being moved toward the conveyed object by the extension of the extending part so as to collect the dripping preventing member.",
    "2. The application robot according to claim 1, further comprising a receiver to receive the fluid agents dripping from the applicator, wherein the receiver is provided on the collector and is moved to the conveyed object by the extension and movement of the extending part.",
    "3. The application robot according to claim 1, wherein the position sensor includes: an imaging unit to capture an image of the conveyed object, and the position sensor detects the position of the specific part on the conveyed object and a state of application of the fluid agents by the applicator on the conveyed object based on the image of the conveyed object, the image being captured by the imaging unit.",
    "4. The application robot according to claim 1, wherein the conveyed object is a body, the position sensor detects, from above the body, a position of a specific part on the body, and the applicator applies the fluid agents from above the body."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to an application robot that applies fluid agents to a conveyed object conveyed by a conveyor.\n\nA conventional application robot that applies fluid agents to a conveyed object conveyed by a conveyor is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-97077.\n\nThe application robot of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-97077 is a robot for applying a primer to the attachment part of the windshield of a car body on an automobile assembly line. The application robot of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-97077 is installed in a primer coating station for applying a primer to the attachment part of a windshield at the front of a car body. The robot applies the primer to the attachment part of the windshield of the car body conveyed to a predetermined position in the primer coating station after being painted on a paint line.\n\nOn a conventional automobile assembly line, the attachment part of the windshield of the car body is coated with a primer after interior parts such as an instrument panel unit are attached to a car body. Thus, it is necessary to quite carefully perform a manual application operation of the primer so as to prevent the primer from dripping onto the interior parts. In an automobile assembly method described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-97077, a primer is applied before interior parts are attached to a car body. This can quickly apply the primer to the attachment part of the windshield of the car body without contaminating the interior parts with the primer. Moreover, the primer can be automatically applied.",
  "cpc": [
    "B05B 13/0431",
    "B05B 13/0452",
    "B05C 1/02",
    "B05C 11/00",
    "B05C 11/1015",
    "B05C 11/1039",
    "B25J 11/0075",
    "B25J 13/089",
    "B25J 19/023"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B05B 13/04",
    "B25J 11/00",
    "B25J 13/08",
    "B25J 19/02"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Daifuku Co Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Masahiro Ooe"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2020-05-06",
  "publication_date": "2021-09-14",
  "grant_date": "2021-09-14",
  "priority_date": "2019-05-21",
  "application_number": "US-202016867617-A",
  "family_id": "73441829",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "JPH0597077A",
    "US6458424B1",
    "US20060292308A1",
    "US20100047465A1",
    "US20110262622A1"
  ]
}