Abstract: Embodiments relate to a fine particle applicator including a loading vessel, a metering roller positioned adjacent the loading vessel, a first stippling roller in contact with the metering roller, a high speed roller, positioned adjacent the metering roller such that bristles of the metering roller and bristles of the high speed roller overlap sufficient to form an interference zone, a second stippling roller, in contact with the high speed roller, a stippling shoe positioned adjacent at least the metering roller and high speed roller and a housing. At least a portion of a surface of the stippling shoe closest to at least the metering roller and high speed roller includes substantially the same curvature as the roller nearest the surface.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a fine particle applicator including a loading vessel, a metering roller positioned adjacent the loading vessel, a first stippling roller in contact with the metering roller, a high speed roller, positioned adjacent the metering roller such that bristles of the metering roller and bristles of the high speed roller overlap sufficient to form an interference zone, a second stippling roller, in contact with the high speed roller, a stippling shoe positioned adjacent at least the metering roller and high speed roller and a housing. At least a portion of a surface of the stippling shoe closest to at least the metering roller and high speed roller includes substantially the same curvature as the roller nearest the surface.

Abstract: A powder atomizer comprises a pan, and an element journaled for rotation about an axis. The pan partially surrounds the element, and therewith defines a venturi into which powder is fed. The venturi has an inlet and a spaced outlet. A motor rotates the element within the pan in excess of the speed required to throw powder from the element by centrifugal force and draws gas through the venturi, so that powder fed into the element is atomized and produces a uniform cloud of particulate material. A nonconductive element minimizes the electrical charge on the pan, and thereby the resulting agglomerization of particulate material at the outlet.

Abstract: A method and system for maintaining a uniform volume of powder in a powder feeder provided. The system includes a supply hopper that is spared from a powder feeder. The powder includes a receiving opening and a discharge opening. A rotatable brush is in communication with the supply hopper for causing powder withdrawn from the supply hopper to be transported to the powder feeder and disposed uniformly across the receiving opening of the powder feeder. The brush is immersed within the powder and extends across the receiving opening of the powder feeder, and maintains a filled level powder feeder.

Abstract: An electrostatic powder coating apparatus comprising a powder reservoir, a gas flow injection chamber, a diffusion chamber and a coating chamber and method for coating a substrate or target objects. The injection chamber receives powder from the reservoir at a controlled rate. The powder particulates awe entrained by a gas flow within the injection chamber. The diffusion chamber receives the particulates from the injection chamber. The diffusion chamber deaccelerates the particulates and creates a particulate cloud. The coating chamber receives the particulate cloud. A housing encloses the coating chamber. The coating chamber is isolated from the ambient atmosphere. The coating chamber has a cloud inlet and a cloud outlet. The cloud flows through the coating chamber from the inlet to the outlet. One or more deflectors, within the chamber, define a passage and two or more pockets adjoining the substrate or target objects.

Abstract: An electrostatic powder coating apparatus comprising a powder reservoir, a gas flow injection chamber, a diffusion chamber and a coating chamber and method for coating a substrate or target objects. The injection chamber receives powder from the reservoir at a controlled rate. The powder particulates are entrained by a gas flow within the injection chamber. The diffusion chamber receives the particulates from the injection chamber. The diffusion chamber deaccelerates the particulates and creates a particulate cloud. The coating chamber receives the particulate cloud. A housing encloses the coating chamber. The coating chamber is isolated from the ambient atmosphere. The coating chamber has a cloud inlet and a cloud outlet. The cloud flows through the coating chamber from the inlet to the outlet. One or more deflectors, within the chamber, define a passage and two or more pockets adjoining the substrate or target objects.

Abstract: An improved nozzle modulator, an improved nozzle modulator assembly, and an improved coating method comprises a nozzle having a housing. A fluid reservoir communicates with the housing. The nozzle has a nozzle outlet about which a meniscus is formed. A high voltage source is connected to the nozzle. The fluid is dispensed as one or more charged fluid paths from the nozzle upon the actuation of the high voltage source. A plurality of repulsive and attractive electric fields are positioned to surround the fluid path. An electrical biasing means is connected to the electrical fields for biasing the fields and modulating the fluid path to form a homogeneous fog comprising uniformly disbursed droplets moving in a wide variety of directions.

Abstract: The improved deagglomerator and method of deagglomeration of the invention provides deagglomeration and/or attrition of particles within a cloud utilizing rapid particle acceleration and turbulent flow and sufficient resident time to assure deagglomeriation or attrition, and addition of a minimum of additional energy and in a manner to control bulk flow to minimize adverse effects on subsequent processes, and allowance for cloud diffusion as desired.

Abstract: An electrostatic filament coater comprising a plurality of coating chambers arranged coaxially in spaced apart serial relation. Each of the coating chambers has a base and an apex and being generally frusto-conical in shape with an exit opening at the apex and an entrance opening at the base. All of the coating chambers except the last one are positioned with the apex being within the base of the next adjacent coating chamber. The filament is trained through the coating chambers. A plurality of electrodes are positioned within the coating chambers so as to surround the filament. A near arc-over voltage is supplied to the electrodes and a fog of particulate coating material suspended in a gas is passed through the coating chambers and axially of the filament at a velocity which results in the electrostatic deposition of the particulate matter on the filament and the exhaust of the gas and excess particulate matter from between the coating chambers and the apex opening of the last coating chamber.

Abstract: A nozzle apparatus and method for electrically charging and dispensing fluids and other flowable materials, comprising a fluid reservoir and a housing. The housing includes walls which define a chamber having an elongated slot at the tip thereof. The slot is resiliently compressible. The reservoir communicates with the chamber such that the fluid is introduced into the chamber at a controlled rate and a low hydrostatic pressure. A shim is placed within the chamber slot partially occluding fluid flow through the slot. The shim and the amount of compression of the slot defines with precision the size and shape of the slot. The shim and fluid are electrically connected to a high voltage source through the housing. The fluid forms a meniscus about the housing slot whereby upon actuation of the high voltage source, the fluid is dispensed as one or more charged fluid paths or a plurality of charged droplets.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is detailed for the application of non-conductive material, generally of a powder or fine fiber form from bulk storage onto a conductive filament or plurality of filaments. A series of vibrating troughs are used to store, convey, unpack and load particulate material at a controllable rate into a gas stream traversing a converging-diverging nozzle. High aerodynamic shear in the nozzle reduces the material's size. Divergent nozzle exit geometry slows the material to speeds where electrostatic forces can predominate, as the material is injected upwardly into a chamber fitted with a cascade of conical forms. Each cone is electrified about its circumference in one or more locations, with respect to a centrally located upward moving filament. Conventional electrostatic charging and deposition on the filament is augmented by the convergent geometry of the cones. Excess material falls on the outside of the cones, and eventually downward to a recovery area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating a metal substrate with a finely divided powdered material, which method includes the steps of providing a supply of resin particles adjacent a coating zone, releasing a gentle flow of gas through the supply of resin particles to permit the particles to flow freely, delivering a uniform flow of particles to a comminuting site, releasing the fluid energy of a compressed gas to the flow of resin particles to impart sufficient momentum to said resin particles to reduce their average particle size to a very finely divided resin particle size of 10 microns or less, providing a flow of finely divided resin particles and diffusing the flowing gas to provide a substantially quiescent, slowly and upwardly moving gas stream to maintain the very finely divided resin particles segregated in a uniform cloud and to carry said cloud to the coating zone; confining said cloud of very finely divided resin particles in the coating zone, said particles having a diameter-to-weight ratio such that

Abstract: A method and apparatus for beading canbodies, or like hollow members having at least one terminal end edge, a first annular end portion adjacent said terminal end edge, a second annular end portion adjacent said first annular end portion and a third annular end portion adjacent said second annular end portion. An inner forming means is placed within the canbody, said inner forming means having an annular inner forming surface in juxtaposition to said first annular end portion, an arcuate concave inner forming surface extending from said annular inner forming surface and in juxtaposition to said second annular end portion and a cylindrical inner support surface extending axially inward from said arcuate concave inner forming surface and in juxtaposition to said third annular end portion. An outer forming means is placed around the canbody, said outer forming means having an annular outer forming surface compatibly shaped and in radial alignment with said arcuate concave inner forming surface.