Apparatus and method for a painting machine are provided. The painting machine may include an end effector controlled by custom software. The custom control software may be capable of coordinated n-axis manipulation of an end. Illustrative end effectors may include an inkjet head, brush, air brush or any suitable tool for applying ink, paint, color and/or texture to a surface. For example an end effector may utilize oil-based ink or ultraviolet-cured ink. Illustrative surfaces may include canvas, paper, brick, glass etc. The custom control software may control manipulation of the end effector based on a variety of electronic inputs. The custom software may manipulate different end effectors in different ways depending on the input data, type of ink/paint being used, type of surface receiving the ink/paint or any other variable.

A machine tool has a cover that prevents chips generated by machining and cutting fluid from scattering around and a plurality of movable nozzles with liquid discharge directions thereof being movable so as to wash out chips that have adhered to or accumulated on an inner surface of the cover. The machine tool is capable of changing a discharge direction of each of the movable nozzles individually. The machine tool compares the state of the inside of the cover before start of machining with the state of the inside of the cover after chips are generated to determine an adhesion or accumulation state of chips. The machine tool thus calculates the liquid discharge direction to wash out chips from the movable nozzles based on a result of the determination.

An automated mobile paint robot, according to particular embodiments, comprises: (1) a wheeled base; (2) at least one paint sprayer; (3) at least one pump; (4) a vision system; (5) a GPS navigation system; and (5) a computer controller configured to: (A) generate a room painting plan using one or more inputs from the GPS navigation system, vision system, etc.; (B) control movement of the automated mobile paint robot across a support surface: (C) use the vision system to position the wheeled base in a suitable position from which to paint a desired area using the at least one paint sprayer; and (D) use the at least one pump to activate the at least one paint sprayer to paint a swath (e.g., swatch) of paint from the suitable position.

In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicle apparatuses are provided. A system provides a gravity drive to distribute coolant oil flow including a nozzle for directing a flow of coolant oil over a surface of an electric motor wherein the flow of the coolant oil is caused by a gravity drive; a connector that is coupled to the nozzle that enables the nozzle to sway in response to external forces encountered by a vehicle operation and to distribute coolant oil over the exterior surface of the electric motor; and a counterweight that is coupled to the nozzle that provides a countermeasure to the external forces encountered by the vehicle operation to cause the nozzle to sway in a manner that enables the coolant oil distributed evenly across the exterior surface of the electric motor.

An apparatus for working a wet coating, such as render material, applied to a surface, the apparatus comprising: an actuator arranged to move an arm across a surface having a wet coating applied thereon; a controller configured to move the arm across the surface along a tool path; and a tool head mounted to the arm, the tool head comprising a compliance module and a tool mounted to the compliance module such that the tool is movable in a stroke direction towards the surface relative to the arm. The compliance module comprises a biasing module arranged to urge the tool in the stroke direction to maintain contact between the tool and the wet coating such that the tool works the wet coating as the arm moves across the surface.

A sprayer system including a wand, a rotary arm, a motor, a housing, a support, and a controller or control panel. The wand has a nozzle at one end. The rotary arm rotates around a first axle, and is connected at a distal end through a bearing to an opposite end of the wand. The housing covers or encloses a part of the wand, the rotary arm, and a rotatable ring through which the wand passes. The motor drives rotation of the rotary arm. The support mechanically supports the housing. The controller/control panel controls rotation of the rotary arm. The wand, the rotary arm and the ring are configured so that rotation of the rotary arm causes the nozzle to move in a circular, elliptical and/or oval pattern. Methods of making and using the sprayer system and software for controlling the system are also disclosed.

Apparatus and method for a painting machine are provided. The painting machine may include an end effector controlled by custom software. The custom control software may be capable of coordinated n-axis manipulation of an end. Illustrative end effectors may include an inkjet head, brush, air brush or any suitable tool for applying ink, paint, color and/or texture to a surface. For example an end effector may utilize oil-based ink or ultraviolet-cured ink. Illustrative surfaces may include canvas, paper, brick, glass etc. The custom control software may control manipulation of the end effector based on a variety of electronic inputs. The custom software may manipulate different end effectors in different ways depending on the input data, type of ink/paint being used, type of surface receiving the ink/paint or any other variable.

A liquid is mixed with a pressurized air flow through an orifice which breaks it into particles. The liquid particles are entrained in the liquid flow and come into contact with an energized component in the form of a cone or frustum that is in contact with an electrode. The energized component defines a mixing chamber within a spray nozzle. As a result, while in the mixing chamber, the particles become electrostatically charged before exiting the spray nozzle. Embodiments also include a removable cap component within which the energized component nests. The cap component may include a pair of windows that cooperate with tabs on the body of the spray nozzle in order to mechanically engage the cap to the body such that the energized component is properly positioned to mate with the electrode and define the mixing chamber.

A liquid is mixed with a pressurized air flow through an orifice which breaks it into particles. The liquid particles are entrained in the liquid flow and come into contact with an energized component in the form of a cone or frustum that is in contact with an electrode. The energized component defines a mixing chamber within a spray nozzle. As a result, while in the mixing chamber, the particles become electrostatically charged before exiting the spray nozzle. Embodiments also include a removable cap component within which the energized component nests. The cap component may include a pair of windows that cooperate with tabs on the body of the spray nozzle in order to mechanically engage the cap to the body such that the energized component is properly positioned to mate with the electrode and define the mixing chamber.

Various embodiments include cleaning flat objects with pulsed jets, based on a principle of enhancing formation of droplets of a liquid cleaning-medium by increasing the boundary surface-area between spray jets emitted from nozzles of the cleaning unit and the surrounding atmosphere. In various embodiments, droplet-formation enhancement means are located inside and at or near outlets of nozzles and comprise, for example, a jet splitter, threaded grooves on an inner surface of the nozzle body, or a thin tube to supply gas into the flow of the liquid cleaning-medium to form gas bubbles in the medium. Other factors considered include a mass ratio between the droplets and the contaminant particles, a velocity of the droplets, organization and sequence of jets that impinges on various surfaces of the flat object, and flows that rinse separated particles and other contaminants. Other methods and apparatuses are disclosed.