Device and method for painting curved outer surfaces of an aircraft

US9446426B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED · DE

Inventors

• Dirk Bausen · Harsefeld, DE
• Birgit Kuhlenschmidt · Hamburg, DE
• Karl Hausmann · Hamburg, DE
• Rolf Bense · Jork, DE
• Rebecca Siewert · Hamburg, DE
• Daniel Lahidjanian · Hamburg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 17, 2010
• Grant date: Sep 20, 2016
• Expiry date: Sep 23, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05B2219/45013
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A device for painting a curved outer surface of an aircraft includes a paint applicator having a plurality of spray painting heads each assigned to one of a plurality of different base color supply units containing one of polyurethane aircraft paint and ink. The device further includes a spatially adjustable positioning device configured to move the paint applicator relative to the curved outer surface and at least one sensor device configured to determine a three-dimensional geometry of the curved outer surface. The device also includes a control unit configured to coordinate a movement of the positioning device with a paint output of the paint applicator, wherein the control unit is configured to alternately activate each of the plurality of spray painting heads so as to produce a picture motif so as to derive a two-dimensional driving geometry based on the three-dimensional geometry.