Method for Painting an Object, and Corresponding Paint Plant
A method for painting an object using at least one robotized unit operatively associated to a control unit. The method comprises the following steps: (a) acquiring information regarding characteristics of said object; (b) according to said acquired information, generating directly in real time in processing means at least one sequence of instructions executable directly by said control unit; (c) transferring said sequence of instructions to said control unit; (d) executing said sequence of instructions, actuating said robotized unit for painting at least part of said object.
1 . A method for painting an object using at least one robotized unit operatively associated to a control unit, said method comprising the following steps: (a) acquiring information regarding characteristics of said object; (b) according to said acquired information, generating directly in real time in processing means at least one sequence of instructions executable directly by said control unit; (c) transferring said sequence of instructions to said control unit; (d) executing said sequence of instructions, actuating said robotized unit for painting at least part of said object.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step (b) comprises generating directly in said processing means a plurality of sequences of instructions executable directly by said control unit in any desired order.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step (a) comprises scanning said object to be painted using a laser scanner.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step (a) comprises the acquisition of a digital image of at least part of said object to be painted.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step (b) comprises the step (b 1 ) of deriving geometrical characteristics of said object on the basis of said information.
6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein said step (b 1 ) comprises deriving two-dimensional geometrical characteristics of said object.
7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein said step (b 1 ) comprises determining full areas and empty areas of said object.
8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein said step (b 1 ) is executed automatically in said processing means.
9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step (b) comprises associating said object to be painted to a predetermined family of objects.
10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step (b) comprises selecting specific painting parameters.
11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step (b) comprises generating said sequence of instructions so as to comprise parameters that are a function of the rate of movement of the paint line to which said object is associated.
12 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step (b) comprises generating said sequence of instructions so that this will be suited to controlling at least one robotized unit of an anthropomorphic type.
13 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein said step (b) further comprises:
associating said object to be painted to a predetermined family of objects;
selecting specific painting parameters; generating said sequence of instructions so as to comprise parameters that are a function of the rate of movement of the paint line to which said object is associated; generating said sequence of instructions so that this will be suited to controlling at least one robotized unit of an anthropomorphic type.
14 . A plant for painting an object, of the type comprising at least one robotized unit operatively associated to a control unit, said plant comprising:
an interface unit designed to acquire information regarding the object to be painted; and
processing means designed to generate in real time, on the basis of said acquired information, at least one sequence of instructions executable directly by said control unit so as to actuate said robotized unit for painting at least part of said object.
15 . The plant according to claim 14 , wherein said interface unit comprises at least one laser scanner.
16 . The plant according to claim 14 , wherein said interface unit comprises means for the acquisition of a digital image of at least part of said object to be painted.
17 . The plant according to claim 14 , wherein said interface unit comprises a laser-measuring scanning device and a scanning microcomputer.
18 . The plant according to claim 17 , comprising a bi-directional encoder operatively associated to said scanning microcomputer and designed to supply information regarding the movement of the paint line.
19 . The plant according to claim 14 , wherein said processing means comprise:
means for determining in real time, on the basis of said acquired information, geometrical characteristics of said object to be painted;
means for generating in real time, on the basis of said geometrical characteristics, at least one sequence of instructions executable directly by said control means.
20 . The plant according to claim 19 , wherein said means for determining in real time geometrical characteristics of the object to be painted comprise means for determining two-dimensional geometrical characteristics of said object.
21 . The plant according to to claim 14 , wherein said robotized unit comprises at least one robotized unit of an anthropomorphic type.