Abstract: Apparatus for applying a fusible granular precursor of a protective and/or decorative coating to the surface of an article. The apparatus includes a dispenser for dispensing a stream of the fusible granular precursor in a stream of a bearing fluid, a recovery mechanism for recovering fusible granular precursor that does not adhere to the surface of the article, and mounting hardware for mounting the dispenser within the recovery mechanism. The recovery mechanism is coupled to a reclaim facility for reclaiming fusible granular precursor recovered by the recovery mechanism. The recovery mechanism includes first and second manifolds, a blower for establishing subambient pressures in the first and second manifolds, a first series of inlets generally surrounding the dispenser and coupled to the first manifold, and a second series of inlets coupled to the second manifold.

Abstract: A coating material dispensing system includes an electrostatic high potential supply having an output terminal on which the supply maintains a high electrostatic potential, a source of coating material, a dispenser for dispensing the coating material, and appropriate fluid and electric circuits for coupling the dispenser to the source of coating material and the output terminal to the dispenser to supply potential to the coating material dispensed by the dispenser. The fluid circuit coupling the dispenser to the source of coating material includes a peristaltic voltage block having multiple coils of a resilient conduit and a rotor for supporting an element for contacting each coil at multiple contact points. The peristaltic voltage block substantially divides the flow of coating material to the dispenser into discrete slugs of coating material substantially to interrupt the electrical path through the coating material from the terminal to the coating material supply.

Abstract: A light source is responsive to an input electrical signal to increase or decrease its output depending upon whether the input electrical signal corresponds to a higher light output level than the source is currently providing or a lower light output level than the source is currently providing, respectively. The output control comprises a light detector for monitoring the light output and for producing a signal related thereto, a voltage source for establishing a maximum desired light output, a voltage source for establishing a minimum desired light output, and a window comparator for comparing the detected signal to the maximum and minimum desired light outputs. The light detector and voltage sources are coupled to the window comparator. A binary counter selectively generates a periodic signal. An OR gate couples the window comparator to the binary counter. A D/A converter and light source driver couple the binary counter to the light source.

Abstract: A method of coating articles comprises providing a plurality of coating dispensing devices at each station in a coating material application line, each device being connected to a common source of coating material. Coating material is dispensed fron only one device while measuring the flow rate of coating material therethrough. When the measured flow rate falls below a predetermined threshold, flow through the device is automatically terminated and switched to another device. Apparatus for practicing the method includes a plurality of dispensing devices connected to a common coating source through respective flow rate sensors. A programmable logic control station connected to the sensors and the devices is used to control the operation of the dispensing devices.

Abstract: A coating material dispensing system includes an electrostatic high potential supply having an output terminal on which the supply maintains a high electrostatic potential, a source of coating material, a dispenser for dispensing the coating material, and appropriate fluid and electric circuits for coupling the dispenser to the source of coating material and the output terminal to the dispenser to supply potential to the coating material dispensed by the dispenser. The fluid circuit coupling the dispenser to the source of coating material includes a peristaltic voltage block having multiple coils of a resilient conduit and a rotor for supporting means for contacting each coil at multiple contact points. The peristaltic voltage block substantially divides the flow of coating material to the dispenser into discrete slugs of coating material substantially to interrupt the electrical path through the coating material from the terminal to the coating material supply.

Abstract: An apparatus for recovering a grannular material which is dispensed onto articles to be coated by the grannular material in an enclosure but not all of which grannular material adheres to the articles. The apparatus includes a belt of a material which is essentially impermeable to the grannular material, and a pair of rolls about which the belt is trained. The rolls extend generally horizontally and generally parallel to each other. The belt has a vertically upper, generally horizontal run and a vertically lower, generally horizontal run. The vertically upper run of the belt is exposed to the interior of the enclosure. The non-adherent material is deposited onto the upper run. A hopper for recovering the non-adherent material deposited on the upper run is provided adjacent and vertically below the rolls. A prime mover is coupled to the rolls to cause non-adherent grannular material to be conveyed to the hopper.

Abstract: A system for controlling the rate of flow of a fluid dispensed in a fluid coating material dispensing circuit includes a source of a first fluid coating material to be dispensed from the coating material dispensing circuit, a source of a desired first fluid flow rate-related signal, a fluid utilization output, and a fluid flow rate regulator for controlling the flow rate of the first coating fluid at the fluid utilization output in response to the desired first fluid flow rate-related signal. The regulator includes a first fluid flow rate-related signal input port and a separate and distinct second flow rate-related signal input port, an input port for the first fluid, and an output port for the first fluid. The input port for the first fluid is coupled to the source of the first fluid. The output port for the first fluid is coupled to the fluid utilization output. The source of the first fluid flow rate-related signal is coupled to the first fluid flow rate-related signal input port.

Abstract: An electrostatically aided coating dispensing system in which the high distributed capacitance of a high voltage cable for connecting the high voltage supply to dispensing device is entirely eliminated.

Abstract: A drum- or barrel-unloader comprising a stand for supporting a drum or barrel in right side up and inverted orientations, and an elevator for engaging the stand. The stand includes a hopper for receiving the drum contents when the drum is inverted. The hopper is mounted for both gross and fine adjustment between a first position away from the top of the drum, and a second position in engagement with the top of the drum. Gross adjustment of the hopper is provided by inserting an apparatus into aligned holes in two slidably engaged channel sections. Fine adjustment of the hopper is provided by a threaded apparatus on each of two threaded studs, each of which extend from an end of a channel section and are inserted into an apparatus for providing holes on generally opposite sides of the hopper. For fine adjustment the threaded apparatus are loosened and tightened on the threaded studs against the apparatus for providing holes. The elevator comprises first and second frame portions.

Abstract: Automatic finish coating equipment employs a selectively variable low-pressure or "soft" air or solvent signal to control pushing of coating material through a feed tube from a coating material source to a coating material atomizing and dispensing device. This "soft fluid push" method maximizes the finish quality which can be achieved with coating materials having different characteristics, such as viscosities, in any operation in which frequent changes in coating material characteristics are experienced, such as, when frequent changes of coating material color are employed. The disclosure also describes that the "soft push" through the delivery lines should be reduced as the length of the slug of coating material in the delivery lines decreases.

Abstract: A rotary atomizer includes a passageway extending between, and coupling, the coating material cup and the interior of the atomizer, from an edge of which atomization occurs. The passageway initiates in the paint cup at a selected non-zero radius and terminates in the interior radially inwardly from the preselected radius. The passageway is angled both in the radial direction and tangentially. The tangential inclination is in a direction opposite the direction of revolution of the rotary atomizer.

Abstract: A bi-directional system for ensuring that a ground connection is made in a three-wire conductor system including a line "hot" conductor, a line neutral conductor, and a ground conductor includes a circuit for generating direct current potential related to the potential difference between the line "hot" conductor and ground and a second circuit for generating a direct current potential related to the potential difference between the line "hot" conductor and ground. A circuit including a male plug for insertion into a female receptacle includes a first prong for coupling alternatively to the line "hot" conductor or the line neutral conductor, a second prong for coupling alternatively to the line "hot" conductor or the line neutral conductor, and a third prong for coupling to the line ground conductor.

Abstract: An electrostatic charging potential generator for a coating dispenser is useful with, for example, hand-held dispensers where the dispenser can be brought into closely spaced orientation with articles to be coated, or "targets." The generator of the disclosure incorporates a "fold-back" voltage-current characteristic including a reduced voltage-reduced current curve region in which the energy available at the dispenser is less than that necessary for spark ignition of solvents, atomized coating material particles, and the like suspended in the atmosphere around the dispenser.

Abstract: A system for controlling a high-voltage supply which is inhibited for a time after energization to prevent spurious deenergization. The high-voltage supply includes a source for generating a signal representative of the desired output high voltage. A feedback voltage control responds to this signal and controls the high-voltage supply. The system includes a source for developing a linear ramp signal which varies from an initial value at which the output of the high-voltage generator is under the control of the ramp signal source to a value at which the output of the high-voltage generator is under the control of the signal representative of the desired output high voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus for atomizing and dispensing a coating material includes a turbine having a housing and a shaft for rotatably supporting an atomizing device. The shaft includes an outer end extending from the housing for mounting the atomizing device. The atomizing device is mounted on the shaft outer end. The shaft includes a passageway extending between the shaft interior end on the low-pressure side of the turbine and the shaft outer end. Air is supplied through the passageway to reduce the partial vacuum caused by high-speed rotation of the atomizing device, and to reduce effects of the partial vacuum on atomized material pattern configuration.

Abstract: A recovery system for solvent used to clean coating material from a multiple-color coating material dispensing system which undergoes frequent color changes includes a vacuum source over the recovered solvent in a recovery tank. The system is switched during the color change cycle from a mode in which solvent is dispensed to clean a pre-change color from a dispensing device to a mode in which the vacuum withdraws solvent remaining in a solvent delivery line to the dispensing device into the recovery tank. Solvent usage, disposal of discarded solvent, and other environmental considerations are salutarily affected.

Abstract: An apparatus for atomizing and dispensing a coating material includes a turbine having a housing and a shaft for rotatably supporting an atomizing device. The shaft includes an outer end extending from the housing for mounting the atomizing device. The atomizing device is mounted on the shaft outer end. The shaft includes a passageway extending between the shaft interior end on the low-pressure side of the turbine and the shaft outer end. Air is supplied through the passageway to reduce the partial vacuum caused by high-speed rotation of the atomizing device, and to reduce effects of the partial vacuum on atomized material pattern configuration.

Abstract: A coating material quantity control system for the coating of articles in a production line operation having a plurality of coating material dispensing devices. Each device is connected to a plurality of coating material feed lines carrying various coating materials, each associated with a separate flow control device. A program control device, upon initiation of the selection of a new coating material type, assures the sequence of the necessary changeover operations. A common control is provided for the flow control devices associated with each coating material dispensing device. The program control device also controls control parameters in each such common control for the selected coating material type, and for variations in size of that portion of the article being coated which is before a particular coating material dispensing device.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining the amount and location of imbalance in an article which is to be balanced about its axis includes a table for receiving the article and for positioning its axis. The table is supported upon a base for substantially free tilting movement generally about a point on a vertically extending axis defined by the base. A number of proximity transducers for sensing the orientation of the table relative to the base are provided. A pair of force coils positioned in quadrature about the axis between the base and the table are responsive to the proximity transducers to apply forces between the table and the base to bring the table and the article which rests thereon into a substantially neutral orientation with respect to the base. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of placing the article on the table with the article axis at a predetermined position thereon.

Abstract: Automatic finish coating equipment employs a selectively variable low-pressure or "soft" air or solvent signal to control pushing of coating material through a feed tube from a coating material source to a coating material atomizing and dispensing device. This "soft fluid push" method maximizes the finish quality which can be achieved with coating materials having different characteristics, such as viscosities, in any operation in which frequent changes in coating material characteristics are experienced, such as, when frequent changes of coating material color are employed.