Shoe sole portion painting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9668546-B2
Application number	US-201615365151-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2016
Priority date	May 16, 2014
Publication date	Jun 6, 2017
Grant date	Jun 6, 2017

Abstract

Automated painting of a shoe sole portion is enhanced by use of a mask cover and an air knife with a paint assembly. The mask cover is positioned in front of a paint-emitting portion of a spray nozzle and is adapted to obstruct at least a portion of the paint intended to be emitted by the spray nozzle. The air knife is coupled to the mask cover and is adapted to emit a laminar fluid flow over the mask cover. The laminar fluid flow helps to limit unwanted diffusion of the paint as it passes along its intended spray path.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for painting a shoe sole portion, the method comprising:
positioning the shoe sole portion in a fixed position such that a side surface of the shoe sole portion is exposed;
identifying a paintable area on the side surface of the shoe sole portion;
initiating a shoe sole portion painting assembly comprising:
a spray nozzle coupled to at least a robotic arm and a liquid material source, the spray nozzle adapted to emit the liquid material from a front region of the spray nozzle, the robotic arm adapted to move the spray nozzle through a predetermined range of movement;
a mask cover coupled to the spray nozzle, the mask cover having a top region and a bottom region, the mask cover positioned at a predefined distance in front of the front region of the spray nozzle such that the bottom region of the mask cover is adapted to partially obstruct at least a portion of the liquid material emitted by the spray nozzle, the mask cover comprising an aperture that extends through the mask cover, the aperture axially aligned with the front region of the spray nozzle; and
an air knife coupled to the top region of the mask cover and adapted to direct a laminar fluid flow in a generally angled direction towards the bottom region of the mask cover; and

painting the paintable area on the side surface of the shoe sole portion using the shoe sole portion painting assembly.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the paintable area comprises a sub-portion of the side surface of the shoe sole portion.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the remaining portion of the side surface of the shoe sole portion is exposed.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mask cover is further coupled to an actuator that is adapted to actuate movement of the mask cover through a vertical range of motion relative to the spray nozzle such that the at least the portion of the paint partially obstructed by the bottom region of the mask cover is variable.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a flange extends outward from a perimeter of the aperture.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the air knife projects the laminar fluid flow such that the laminar fluid flow contacts at least the flange.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mask cover is positioned between 4 to 10 centimeters in front of the front region of the spray nozzle.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the aperture is in the shape of a semi-circle.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the laminar fluid flow is emitted at a fixed pressure by the air knife.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the laminar fluid flow is emitted at a variable pressure by the air knife.

11. A method for painting a shoe sole portion, the method comprising:
positioning the shoe sole portion in a fixed position such that a surface of the shoe sole portion is exposed;
identifying a paintable area on the surface of the shoe sole portion;
initiating a shoe sole portion painting assembly comprising:
a spray nozzle adapted to emit a liquid material from a front region of the spray nozzle;
a mask cover coupled to the spray nozzle, the mask cover positioned at a predefined distance in front of the front region of the spray nozzle such that it is configured to partially obstruct the liquid material emitted by the spray nozzle, the mask cover comprising an aperture that extends through the mask cover, the aperture axially aligned with the front region of the spray nozzle; and
an air knife coupled to a top region of the mask cover and adapted to direct a laminar fluid flow in a generally angled direction towards a bottom region of the mask cover; and

painting the paintable area on the surface of the shoe sole portion using the shoe sole portion painting assembly.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the surface of the shoe sole portion comprises a side surface of the shoe sole portion.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the spray nozzle is coupled to at least a robotic arm and a liquid material source.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the robotic arm is adapted to move the spray nozzle through a predetermined range of movement.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the bottom region of the mask cover is adapted to partially obstruct at least a portion of the liquid material emitted by the spray nozzle.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the mask cover is further coupled to an actuator adapted to actuate movement of the mask cover through a range of motion relative to the spray nozzle such that the liquid material partially obstructed by the bottom region of the mask cover is variable.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the range of motion comprises a vertical range of motion.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein painting the paintable area comprises at least in part initiating the actuator.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the paintable area comprises a sub-portion of the surface of the shoe sole portion.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the remaining portion of the surface of the shoe sole portion is exposed.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Lim Hyung
• Lee Dongwoo
• Lee Donghoon
• Jeon Sangwook

Classifications

• B05D1/32

  using means for protecting parts of a surface not to be coated, e.g. using stencils, resists · CPC title

• B05D1/02

  performed by spraying · CPC title

• A43D95/06 Primary

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

• B05D1/322

  Removable films used as masks · CPC title

• B25J11/0075

  Manipulators for painting or coating · CPC title