System for spraying a wall surface of a building and method therefor

{
  "publication_number": "US11135611B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "System for spraying a wall surface of a building and method therefor",
  "abstract": "The present invention provides an automated system for spraying an wall of a building. The automated system comprises a carrier; a robotic mechanism mounted on the carrier, the robotic mechanism further having an end effector adapted to support a spray nozzle thereon; a visual monitoring system configured to scan structural characteristics and profiles of the wall; a computing device disposed in communication with the visual monitoring system and the robotic mechanism, wherein the computing device is configured to receive the scanned structural characteristics and profile of the wall from the visual monitoring system; and a controller communicably coupled to the computing device, the controller configured to independently control operation of respective ones of the robotic mechanism, and the spray nozzle according to the scanned structural characteristics and profiles of the wall.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An automated system for spraying a wall of a building, the automated system comprising: a carrier comprises a gondola mounted on the building, the gondola having a plurality of suction cups diposed in an opposing relation to the wall, wherein the suction cups are configured to operationally adhere with the wall of the building for positioning the carrier; a robotic mechanism mounted on the carrier, the robotic mechanism further having an end effector adapted to support a spray nozzle thereon; a visual monitoring system configured to scan structural characteristics and profiles of the wall; a computing device disposed in communication with the visual monitoring system and the robotic mechanism, wherein the computing device is configured to receive the scanned structural characteristics and profile of the wall from the visual monitoring system; and a controller communicably coupled to the computing device, the controller configured to independently control operation of respective ones of the robotic mechanism, and the spray nozzle according to the scanned structural characteristics and profiles of the wall, wherein the automated system further comprising: a stabilizer platform disposed below the carrier, and moveably connecting to the carrier through a connecting bar, and a drive system adapted to operatively position the stabilizer platform relative to the carrier along the connecting bar; and a secondary suction mechanism installed on the stabilizer platform, wherein the secondary suction mechanism is separately controlled to adheres to the wall of the building, wherein operationally when the stabilizer platform is moving in relation to the carrier, at least either one of the suction cups or the secondary suction mechanism is adhered to the wall of the building.",
    "2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a linear track located on the carrier and disposed horizontally with respect to the heigh of the building, wherein the robotic mechanism is slidably mounted on the linear track.",
    "3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a two ways tracks disposed on the carrier, wherein the robotic mechanism is slidably mounted thereon, the two ways tracks comprises at least two axes movements allowing the robotic mechanism to slide over the two axes movements.",
    "4. The system of claim 1, wherein the suction cups located at a free end of each linear actuator."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates to a robotically-operated painting and cleaning system. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a robotically-operated spraying system that can be used for spraying wall surface of a building for purpose of painting and/or cleaning.\n\nIt is well known in the art to use a moveable carrier suspended by cables from atop a building for painting and cleaning an wall of the building. In some cases, these moveable carriers may be sized large enough to accommodate painters and/or cleaner therein who would then set up to manually paint the wall of the building. With use of such large-sized carriers, structures required to support the carriers would need to be sturdy enough to withstand the weight of the carrier in operation besides minimizing the tendency of the carrier to sway under the undesired effect of wind forces. An example of a sturdy mechanism for suspending such large sized carriers is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,347,339. Nevertheless, in recent times, a size of these moveable carriers has been reduced with implementation of automated robotic mechanisms that are capable of performing the painting and cleaning operations. However, with incorporation of such automated robotic mechanisms, it would only be prudent to additionally render these moveable carriers with enhanced structural and performance capabilities that would facilitate movement of the carriers and the automated robotic mechanisms disposed within to traverse the span of the wall surfaces in an optimal or efficient manner and carry out the operations synergistically.",
  "cpc": [
    "B05B 13/0431",
    "B05B 12/00",
    "B05B 12/004",
    "B05B 12/122",
    "B05B 13/005",
    "B05B 13/041",
    "B05B 15/68",
    "B05B 15/70",
    "B25J 11/0075",
    "B25J 11/0085",
    "B25J 19/021",
    "B25J 5/02",
    "B62D 57/024",
    "B66B 9/187",
    "B66F 11/042",
    "E04F 21/08",
    "E04G 23/002"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B05B 12/00",
    "B05B 13/00",
    "B05B 13/04",
    "B05B 15/68",
    "B05B 15/70",
    "B25J 11/00",
    "B25J 19/02",
    "B25J 5/02",
    "B62D 57/024"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "ELID TECH INTERNATIONAL PTE LTD"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "LIM HUI ENG"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-10-31",
  "publication_date": "2021-10-05",
  "grant_date": "2021-10-05",
  "priority_date": "2017-11-24",
  "application_number": "US-201816177326-A",
  "family_id": "65701519",
  "citations": [
    "CN106592953A",
    "CN204769318U",
    "JP2016211222A",
    "US10213801B2",
    "US10214926B2",
    "US2017080438A1",
    "US2017282202A1",
    "US2017284113A1",
    "US3347339A",
    "US3783819A",
    "US4424884A"
  ]
}