Manufacturing system for coating an article

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11484902-B2
Application number	US-201916698598-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 27, 2019
Priority date	Nov 28, 2018
Publication date	Nov 1, 2022
Grant date	Nov 1, 2022

Abstract

A system is provided for selectively applying a coating to portions of an article having at least one area that is not be coated. The system comprises a jig, with a platform for supporting article. The jig also has a bar that is moveable with respect to the platform and at least one masking element that is coupled to the bar and is configured to cover the at least one surface of the article that is not to be coated. The jig also has a first connection mechanism that defines a first mating element. The system also comprises at least one carrier that comprises a base and at least one second connection mechanism that defines a second mating element. The second mating element is mateable with the first mating element such that the jig is releasably coupled to the carrier upon mating the first and second mating elements.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for selectively applying a coating to portions of an article having at least one area that is not be coated, the system comprising:
at least one jig, comprising:
a support tube having a first shape;
a platform for supporting at least one surface of the article, the platform coupled to the support tube and extending outwardly therefrom;
a bar pivotally coupled to the support tube and pivotally movable with respect to the platform;
at least one mask coupled to the bar and extending from the bar towards the platform, the mask having a shape and form that covers the at least one area of the article that is not to be coated when the mask is engaged with the article; and
at least one carrier comprising:
a base; and
at least one prong having a second shape, the second shape of the prong mateable with the first shape of the support tube such that the jig is releasably coupled to the carrier upon mating the support tube with the prong.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the support tube is non-rotatable with respect to the prong upon mating the support tube with the prong.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the support tube is a hollow square tube and the prong is a square prong extending upwardly from the base of the carrier.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the square prong has a tapered terminal end distal from the base.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the base of the carrier supports four of the prongs, each prong mateable with a support tube of a corresponding jig.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the bar is moveable between an open position allowing the article to be placed on the platform and a closed position where the bar maintains the article in place on the platform, and wherein the jig further comprises a closure mechanism releasably securing the bar in the closed position.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the closure mechanism has multiple closure settings varying a distance between the at least one mask and the platform.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the closure mechanism has at least three closure settings.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the platform has a longitudinal axis, and where the bar is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the platform.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one area not to be coated is a protrusion, having a top and at least one side, and wherein the at least one mask has a top and at least one side wall that cover at least a portion of the top and at least one side of the protrusion when the bar is in the closed position.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a transport system;
at least one spindle having first and second ends, the first end coupled to the transport system and the second end coupled to the base of the carrier; and
a coating chamber,
wherein the transport system moves the spindle through the coating chamber.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the transport system is a chain driven by a motor.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the coating chamber comprises:
at least one belt; and
at least one spray gun adapted to supply a coating material to the article,
wherein at least a portion of the spindle is brought into engagement with the belt as the transport system moves the spindle through the coating chamber, rotating the spindle with respect to the spray gun.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one spray gun is coupled to an x-y table and the position of the at least one spray gun is adjustable by the x-y table.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Ahn Hyun Tae
• Heo Tae Woong
• Jang Min Ho
• Park Ji Hoo

Classifications

• B05B13/02 Primary

  Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work (B05B13/06 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A43D95/06

  Machines for colouring or chemical treatment; Ornamenting the sole bottoms (burnishing A43D95/20) · CPC title

• B05B12/20 Primary

  Masking elements, i.e. elements defining uncoated areas on an object to be coated · CPC title

• B05B13/0235

  the movement of the objects being a combination of rotation and linear displacement (B05B13/0242 takes precedence) · CPC title