Abstract: A powder coating control system comprising a plurality of gun controls associated with a like plurality of powder spray guns. Each of the gun controls stores a plurality of presets spray parameters. Each of the gun controls responds to part identification signals and part position signals to select in real time one of the stored presets of spray parameters and trigger its respective powder spray gun ON and OFF to apply a powder coating to the moving part in accordance with the selected set of spray parameters. The control system further permits a gun purge cycle to be programmed either before or after the powder coating process is executed. The control system automatically initializes and brings each of the gun controls to an operable state on-line with the system control.

Abstract: A powder coating control system comprising a plurality of gun controls associated with a like plurality of powder spray guns. Each of the gun controls stores a plurality of presets spray parameters. Each of the gun controls responds to part identification signals and part position signals to select in real time one of the stored presets of spray parameters and trigger its respective powder spray gun ON and OFF to apply a powder coating to the moving part in accordance with the selected set of spray parameters. The control system further permits a gun purge cycle to be programmed either before or after the powder coating process is executed. The control system automatically initializes and brings each of the gun controls to an operable state on-line with the system control.

Abstract: A powder coating control system comprising a plurality of gun controls associated with a like plurality of powder spray guns. Each of the gun controls stores a plurality of presets spray parameters. Each of the gun controls responds to part identification signals and part position signals to select in real time one of the stored presets of spray parameters and trigger its respective powder spray gun ON and OFF to apply a powder coating to the moving part in accordance with the selected set of spray parameters. The control system further permits a gun purge cycle to be programmed either before or after the powder coating process is executed. The control system automatically initializes and brings each of the gun controls to an operable state on-line with the system control.

Abstract: A plurality of unconventional negative tribo-charging materials are described for use as the powder contact surfaces in tribocharging and corona powder spray guns, gun components, and powder delivery system components. The invention also provides a short barrel tribo-charging powder spray gun having an interchangeable powder contact insert and nozzle, with turbulence inducing air jets. The invention further provides novel tribocharging and corona gun designs. Improved powder coating systems are made possible wherein, for example, negative tribo guns can be utilized with negative corona guns to coat different parts of the same workpiece in a powder coating system.

Abstract: A powder coating control system comprising a plurality of gun controls associated with a like plurality of powder spray guns. Each of the gun controls stores a plurality of presets spray parameters. Each of the gun controls responds to part identification signals and part position signals to select in real time one of the stored presets of spray parameters and trigger its respective powder spray gun ON and OFF to apply a powder coating to the moving part in accordance with the selected set of spray parameters. The control system further permits a gun purge cycle to be programmed either before or after the powder coating process is executed. The control system automatically initializes and brings each of the gun controls to an operable state on-line with the system control.

Abstract: A powder coating control system comprising a plurality of gun controls associated with a like plurality of powder spray guns. Each of the gun controls stores a plurality of presets spray parameters. Each of the gun controls responds to part identification signals and part position signals to select in real time one of the stored presets of spray parameters and trigger its respective powder spray gun ON and OFF to apply a powder coating to the moving part in accordance with the selected set of spray parameters. The control system further permits a gun purge cycle to be programmed either before or after the powder coating process is executed. The control system automatically initializes and brings each of the gun controls to an operable state on-line with the system control.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for spraying powder into the interior of welded hollow can bodies from a spray gun mounted to the welding arm of a can forming machine. The spray gun can either apply a stripe of highly charged powder on the welded seam areas of hollow can bodies, or can simultaneously apply a coating of powder having a first thickness on the longitudinally welded seam areas and a second thickness less than the first thickness on the remainder of the interior surface. Air is vented off from the powder flow being transported through the welding arm so that the powder to air ratio is increased. Air is introduced at the downstream end of the welding arm to provide a suction force to help draw the powder flow through the welding arm and to increase the velocity of the powder flow for better tribo charging of the powder in the gun and to improve spray pattern stability.

Abstract: A powder coating control system comprising a plurality of gun controls associated with a like plurality of powder spray guns. Each of the gun controls stores a plurality of presets spray parameters. Each of the gun controls responds to part identification signals and part position signals to select in real time one of the stored presets of spray parameters and trigger its respective powder spray gun ON and OFF to apply a powder coating to the moving part in accordance with the selected set of spray parameters. The control system further permits a gun purge cycle to be programmed either before or after the powder coating process is executed. The control system automatically initializes and brings each of the gun controls to an operable state on-line with the system control.

Abstract: A powder coating control system comprising a plurality of gun controls associated with a like plurality of powder spray guns. Each of the gun controls stores a plurality of presets spray parameters. Each of the gun controls responds to part identification signals and part position signals to select in real time one of the stored presets of spray parameters and trigger its respective powder spray gun ON and OFF to apply a powder coating to the moving part in accordance with the selected set of spray parameters. The control system further permits a gun purge cycle to be programmed either before or after the powder coating process is executed. The control system automatically initializes and brings each of the gun controls to an operable state on-line with the system control.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for spraying powder into the interior of welded hollow can bodies from a spray gun mounted to the welding arm of a can forming machine. The spray gun can either apply a stripe of highly charged powder on the welded seam areas of hollow can bodies, or can simultaneously apply a coating of powder having a first thickness on the longitudinally welded seam areas and a second thickness less than the first thickness on the remainder of the interior surface. Air is vented off from the powder flow being transported through the welding arm so that the powder to air ratio is increased. Air is introduced at the downstream end of the welding arm to provide a suction force to help draw the powder flow through the welding arm and to increase the velocity of the powder flow for better tribo charging of the powder in the gun and to improve spray pattern stability.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for adjustably mounting a spray gun onto a mounting bar comprises a ball-and-socket joint attached at one end to the bar and attached at the other end to the gun, and an adjustment sleeve extending along the exterior of the bar. The sleeve is attached to the ball-and-socket joint and adapted to tighten the socket around the ball when the sleeve is turned to retain the gun securely in a desired position with respect to the bar. The mounting assembly allows for positioning the spray gun in an almost limitless range of possible orientations, and allows the securing mechanism to be easily tightened and loosened by the operator by turning the adjustment sleeve. An anti-back-ionization probe is attached to the gun and extends externally to the gun along the top or side of the gun. The probe comprising an elongated rod, which is easily removable and easily adjustable in length.

Abstract: A powder spray coating system includes a spray gun for spraying powder in a spray pattern onto a part. The spray gun includes an electrode connected to a power supply, the electrode charging powder as the powder is dispensed from the gun toward the part. A first current sensor measures gun current from the power supply to the electrode. An ABI probe or ion collector is mounted with the gun for collecting free ions produced by the electrode. The collector has a forward portion positioned near the spray pattern and spaced from the electrode. A second current sensor measures return current from the ion collector. A regulating assembly regulates the return current from the ion collecting device. A controller is connected to the first and second current sensors and to the regulating assembly for operating the regulating assembly in accordance with a predetermined setting representing the difference between the gun current and the return current.

Abstract: A powder coating control system comprising a plurality of gun controls associated with a like plurality of powder spray guns. Each of the gun controls stores a plurality of presets spray parameters. Each of the gun controls responds to part identification signals and part position signals to select in real time one of the stored presets of spray parameters and trigger its respective powder spray gun ON and OFF to apply a powder coating to the moving part in accordance with the selected set of spray parameters. The control system further permits a gun purge cycle to be programmed either before or after the powder coating process is executed. The control system automatically initializes and brings each of the gun controls to an operable state on-line with the system control.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for pumping a constant volume of powder to a powder spray gun includes a powder pump which meters the powder into a stream of air so that a constant volume of the air entrained powder is distributed to the spray gun. The invention also discloses a pressure equalizing system that prevents powder leakage across a powder metering system that meters powder from a reservoir into an outlet tube carrying the constant velocity stream of air. A control system is disclosed which adjusts the rate at which powder is metered into the outlet tube so that the mass flow of powder exiting the outlet tube remains constant.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for spraying powder into the interior of welded hollow can bodies from a spray gun mounted to the welding arm of a can forming machine. The spray gun can either apply a stripe of highly charged powder on the welded seam areas of hollow can bodies, or can simultaneously apply a coating of powder having a first thickness on the longitudinally welded seam areas and a second thickness less than the first thickness on the remainder of the interior surface. Air is vented off from the powder flow being transported through the welding arm so that the powder to air ratio is increased. Air is introduced at the downstream end of the welding arm to provide a suction force to help draw the powder flow through the welding arm and to increase the velocity of the powder flow for better tribo charging of the powder in the gun and to improve spray pattern stability.

Abstract: A powder coating control system comprising a plurality of gun controls associated with a like plurality of powder spray guns. Each of the gun controls stores a plurality of presets spray parameters. Each of the gun controls responds to part identification signals and part position signals to select in real time one of the stored presets of spray parameters and trigger its respective powder spray gun ON and OFF to apply a powder coating to the moving part in accordance with the selected set of spray parameters. The control system further permits a gun purge cycle to be programmed either before or after the powder coating process is executed. The control system automatically initializes and brings each of the gun controls to an operable state on-line with the system control.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for pumping a uniform flow of air entrained powder at low flow settings to a diffuser of an electrostatic spray gun which disperses the powder and cools the spray gun. A single or double stage pump with a bleed port design draws powder into the pump from a powder container when compressed air directed into the pump is above a predetermined pressure. In another embodiment, a pump delivers a constant velocity of air entrained powder to the spray gun.

Abstract: An improved power supply for an electrostatic spray gun device having a voltage multiplier circuit adjusts to variations in the output load conditions of the multiplier circuit and dynamically modifies the operational loadline of the multiplier circuit in order to maintain optimal operating conditions for the spray gun device notwithstanding output load variations. The power supply utilizes a loadline manipulation circuit coupled to a feedback circuit that monitors the output load, and the manipulation circuit, in response to a feedback signal from the feedback circuit that is proportional to the output load, varies the input voltage level to the multiplier circuit to modify the loadline of the power supply in response to varying load conditions. The manipulator means of the power supply has memory means to store a variety of external commands which will control the manipulation means and a user interface to enter the external commands into the memory.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for utilizing and controlling finer particles in a powder coating system returns the finer particles to the spraying apparatus to be sprayed on parts by the system. Finer particles are continuously removed from the system by application onto parts, and the accumulation of fines is thereby prevented. The finer particles may be sprayed through specially adapted spray guns, which also permits the utilization of the special advantages of spraying fine powder materials. By removing fine powder particles from the system before they build up, the present invention improves the powder coating operation in various respects.

Abstract: A tribo-electric powder spray gun includes a diffuser for mixing powder with a conveying gas, a charging portion downstream of the diffuser, and a sprayhead at the outlet of the charging portion for dispensing the charged powder. The charging portion has an inner core removably positioned within a hollow outer cylinder with an annular gap formed between the outer cylinder and inner core providing a charging flowpath for the powder. The inner core and the outer cylinder have undulating or wavy charging surfaces made of an electrically insulating material, so that the annular gap provides a tortuous path for the powder, enhancing powder contact and the charge imparted to the powder. Grounding is provided by surface conduction of the electrically insulating contact material through a ground ring located outside the powder path at the inlet to the charging portion of gun where the greatest amount of charging occurs.