Spray tool system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016228901-A1
Application number	US-201615016671-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 5, 2016
Priority date	Feb 5, 2015
Publication date	Aug 11, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system includes a production process information system configured to be installed within a service shop, an air supply flow meter configured to detect air flow to a first manual sprayer and send the detected air flow to the production process information system, and a coating material flow meter configured to detect fluid flow to the first manual sprayer and send the detected fluid flow to the production process information system. The production process information system is configured to determine sprayer usage parameters based on the air flow and the fluid flow.

First claim

1 . A system, comprising:
an air supply flow meter configured to detect air flow to a first manual sprayer; a coating material flow meter configured to detect fluid flow of a coating material to the first manual sprayer, wherein the first manual sprayer is configured to coat a workpiece with the coating material; and a first production process information system configured to collect the detected air flow and detected fluid flow and to determine sprayer usage based on the detected air flow and the fluid flow, and wherein sprayer usage includes timing information to determine continuous and intermittent spraying.

2 . The system of claim 1 , comprising sensors configured to detect air flow or fluid flow electronically.

3 . The system of claim 1 , comprising a server, wherein the production process information system comprises a network interface configured to send the sprayer usage to the server, an internet location, or any combination thereof.

4 . The system of claim 3 , comprising a second production process information system coupled to the server and configured to determine sprayer usage for a second manual sprayer.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the air supply flow meter is configured to detect air flow to both the first manual sprayer and a second manual sprayer, and the production process information system is configured to determine sprayer usage for the first manual sprayer and the second manual sprayer individually.

6 . The system of claim 1 , comprising a compressor configured to dynamically pressurize the air flow based on a signal from the production process information system.

7 . The system of claim 1 , comprising a solvent flow meter configured to detect solvent flow to the first manual sprayer and send data relating to the detected solvent flow to the production process information system.

8 . The system of claim 7 , comprising a paint supply comprising the solvent flow meter and the coating material flow meter.

9 . A method, comprising:
detecting air flow to a manual sprayer, wherein the air flow is detected with an air flow meter; detecting fluid flow to the manual sprayer, wherein the fluid flow is detected with a coating material flow meter; determining a type of sprayer usage based on the detected air flow and the detected fluid flow.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the sprayer usage comprises continuous spray tool usage, intermittent spray tool usage, or any combination thereof.

11 . The method of claim 9 , comprising receiving a detected solvent flow, and determining a color change of a fluid in the fluid flow based on data relating to the air flow, fluid flow, solvent flow, or any combination thereof.

12 . The method of claim 11 , comprising:
determining a number of successful color changes based on data relating to the air flow, fluid flow, solvent flow, or any combination thereof; determining a number of unsuccessful color changes based on data relating to the air flow, fluid flow, solvent flow, or any combination thereof; and calculating an average color change time for multiple color changes.

13 . The method of claim 9 , comprising detecting receipt of a workpiece, wherein receipt of the workpiece comprises input by an operator, scanning the workpiece, triggering a sensor within a service shop, or any combination thereof.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein receipt of the workpiece comprises information about an operator, the manual sprayer, a booth in which the manual sprayer is being used, a shop where the manual sprayer and/or the booth are located, or any combination of these.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the type of sprayer usage comprises, trigger pulls of the manual sprayer by an operator, time of sprayer usage, amount of fluid used, or any combination thereof

16 . The method of claim 15 , comprising calculating averages for each type of sprayer usage for the manual sprayer.

17 . A system, comprising:
a production process information system comprising non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions configured to: receive a detected air flow to a manual sprayer, wherein the air flow is detected with an air flow meter; receive a detected fluid flow to the manual sprayer, wherein the fluid flow is detected with a coating material flow meter, and wherein the air flow and fluid flow are configured to spray a workpiece; and determine a type of sprayer usage based on the detected air flow and the detected fluid flow.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the production process information system is configured to calculate an average sprayer usage for the manual sprayer.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the production process information system is configured to adjust the air flow, adjust the fluid flow, trigger a notification, or any combination thereof, based on the average sprayer usage.

20 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the first production process information system comprises non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions configured to receive a second detected air flow to a second manual sprayer, wherein the second air flow is detected by a second flow meter.

21 . A system, comprising:
a production process information system configured to monitor one or more sensors associated with a spray coating system, wherein the production process information system is configured to analyze data acquired by the one or more sensors and generate one or more reports relating to operation of the spray coating system.

22 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the one or more sensors are configured to monitor flow rate, temperature, pressure, viscosity, material composition, or any combination thereof.

23 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the one or more reports include a fluid usage report relating to usage of one or more fluids by the spray coating system, an efficiency report relating to efficiency of one or more operators using one or more components of the spray coating system, a timing report relating to a time duration of one or more operators for completing one or more spray coating operations with the spray coating system, or any combination thereof.

24 . The system of claim 21 , comprising the spray coating system having one or more handheld spray tools.

25 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the production process information system is configured to monitor one or more sensors associated with one or more components of the spray coating system, and the one or more components comprise a spray tool, a compressor, a tank, a pump, a mixer, a valve, a conduit, or any combination thereof.

Assignees

• Carlisle Fluid Tech Inc

Inventors

• Hooper Justin Richard
• Guernsey Jonathan Jean

Classifications

• B05B12/14

  for supplying a selected one of a plurality of liquids or other fluent materials {or several in selected proportions} to a {spray apparatus, e.g. to a} single spray outlet · CPC title

• G05B2219/45013

  Spraying, coating, painting · CPC title

• B05B12/004

  comprising sensors for monitoring the delivery, e.g. by displaying the sensed value or generating an alarm (B05B12/08 takes precedence; registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus in general G07C3/00) · CPC title

• B05B12/1436

  the controlling condition of the first liquid or other fluent material in the first supply line being its flow rate or its pressure · CPC title

• B05B7/2489

  an atomising fluid, e.g. a gas, being supplied to the discharge device (B05B7/2402, B05B7/2483, B05B7/262 take precedence) · CPC title