Abstract: A hand-held powder spray gun includes a wand type handle that extends from the top of the handle and away from the rear of the gun, which provides for ergonomic operation of the gun. The wand handle can be converted to a pistol handle by removal of the handle from the gun body. The parts of the wand handle and the pistol handle are interchangeable to facilitate conversion and repair. The wand handle can be used with a diffuser having hose connections extending from the rear of the spray gun to make the gun easier to operate when held from above. A diffuser having hose connections at the bottom is also provided for use with a pistol type handle.

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.

Abstract: An electrostatic spray gun is provided that alternatively houses an end section of a high voltage cable remotely supplied by a high voltage source or an internal voltage multiplier so the electrode of the gun may be alternatively powered by the high voltage output of the end section of the high voltage cable or the internal voltage multiplier. The gun has an internal chamber into which the internal voltage multiplier or end section of the high voltage cable may be alternatively placed. A resistor/electrode assembly is mounted onto the high voltage output of the internal voltage multiplier or end section of the high voltage cable. A retainer secures the internal voltage multiplier or end section of the high voltage cable within the internal chamber and also maintains the electrical contact between the resistor/electrode assembly and the high voltage output housed within the internal chamber.

Abstract: A powder feed hopper includes a housing which mounts a porous plate adapted to support particulate powder material and receive an upwardly directed flow of fluidizing air to form an air-entrained fluidized bed in the housing above the porous plate. In order to improve fluidization, a baffle plate is mounted beneath the porous plate in the path of the pressurized air discharged from one or more air nozzles to create a circulating flow of air-entrained particulate powder material within the fluidized bed in which the flow moves upwardly along the wall of the housing and then inwardly and downwardly toward the center of the porous plate. Additionally, stirrer blades are located immediately above the porous plate to create turbulence and reduce the formation of concentrated channels of air atop the porous plate.

Abstract: A flat spray nozzle for a powder spray gun comprises a nozzle body formed with an axial powder flow passageway, a pair of spaced powder discharge slots intersecting the powder flow passageway and a bore located between the powder discharge slots. The bore in the nozzle body receives an electrode which extends forwardly of the spray nozzle, between the powder discharge slots for electrostatically charging particulate powder material emitted from the powder discharge slots without disrupting the spray pattern of particulate powder material.

Abstract: An electrostatic particle spray gun having, in one preferred embodiment, a conical deflector of insulative material mounted in the nozzle in the particle path for forming a conical particle spray pattern. A resistive sheet connected to a high voltage electrostatic supply is sandwiched between the forward and rearward ends of the deflector, leaving only the perimeter of the sheet exposed at the peripheral region of the conical deflector. The perimeter of the resistive sheet functions as a multi-point circular electrode for charging the particles such that improved coating transfer efficiencies are achieved. Also, because of the resistive nature of the resistive sheet, the sheet constitutes a resistor in the electrical current path between the center of the sheet where it connects to a high voltage terminal and the circular periphery of the sheet which serves as the multiple point charging electrode, thereby minimizing unsafe electrical discharges should the electrode inadvertently approach a grounded object.

Abstract: A robot is disclosed having a plurality of movable links or members interconnected end-to-end in series. Associated with each is an actuator and position transducer. Some of the links are relatively massive and cannot be readily moved without power assistance when the robot is manually programmed, while other links or members, namely those constituting the wrist, are relatively lightweight which permits movement thereof without power assistance during manual programming. A force transducer is connected in series with the output element of the robot in association with one of the massive links located between the wrist and the stationary base on which the robot is mounted. The transducer senses forces during programming applied to the massive links via the wrist when manual programming forces are applied to the robot output. The force transducer provides an output signal for each of the massive links correlated to the component of the manual programming force transmitted thereto via the wrist.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the feasibility of performing a programmed sequence of motions with a robot. Included is a work robot at a first location having a plurality of power-driven, signal-controlled, relatively massive links interconnected to permit relative motion in plural degrees of freedom, the work robot having a given mechanical response characteristic. Associated with each link of the work robot is a position transducer which generates a signal representative of the actual position of its associated work robot link. Also included is a portable, relatively lightweight, manually manipulable simulator robot located remote from the work robot. The simulator robot has a plurality of different interconnected links adapted for manual movement in different degrees of freedom for setting a program of desired mechanical responses, with the links and degrees of freedom of the simulator robot simulating those of the work robot.

Abstract: A continuous coater of the type having a conveyor extending through a coating booth where paint or other material is sprayed onto the products as they are conveyed through the booth. The booth has an air flow control vestibule located adjacent the entrance and exit ports. Each vestibule is connected to an air flow exhaust system and is so configured that it is operative to draw air almost exclusively from outside the booth into the exhaust system so that there is a minimum of input air to the exhaust system from within the booth. The incoming air from outside the booth effectively forms a flow barrier to the egress of sprayed material and/or solvent to the atmosphere through the vestibule entrance and exit ports. Preferably, there is located in each vestibule means for creating an air curtain which functions to minimize the egress of paint or solvent from the coater cabinet and to provide a more nearly saturated atmosphere inside the cabinet.

Abstract: A system for evaluating whether a work-performing robot can perform a series of programmed motions is disclosed which includes means for continuously comparing the velocity of the various links of a robot simulator, which is manually moved through the sequence of motions to be programmed, against predetermined velocity limits associated with the corresponding links of the work-performing robot which will reproduce the programmed steps, and providing humanly perceptible alarm indications uniquely identifiable with the various robot links when the motions manually programmed on the robot simulator exceed the velocity limits of the work-performing robot. Additionally, the individual velocities of the various robot simulator links are summed, and the sum continuously compared against the power limit of the hydraulic pump driving the link actuators of the work-performing robot.

Abstract: A robot is disclosed having a plurality of movable links interconnected end-to-end in series. Associated with each is an actuator and position transducer. Some of the links are relatively massive and cannot be readily moved without power assistance when the robot is manually programmed, while other links, namely those constituting the wrist, are relatively lightweight which permits movement thereof without power assistance during manual programming. A force transducer is connected in series with the output element of the robot in association with one of the massive links located between the wrist and the stationary base on which the robot is mounted. The transducer senses forces during programming applied to the massive links via the wrist when manual programming forces are applied to the robot output. The force transducer provides an output signal for each of the massive links correlated to the component of the manual programming force transmitted thereto via the wrist.

Abstract: A multiple component applicator system for simultaneously metering a plurality of flowable materials and for delivering the metered quantities in predetermined proportions to a mixing device wherein the flowable materials are mixed and then dispensed. The system includes an improved metering and proportioning device as well as an improved modular control system for facilitating rapid interchangeability of the flowable materials being dispensed from the apparatus.

Abstract: An electrostatic powder coating system for selectively spraying any one of a plurality of different pulverant powder materials from a common spray gun without the necessity for physically disconnecting or reconnecting the spray source of the different pulverant materials to the common gun. This system includes the common spray gun, a plurality of powder material reservoirs and associated venturi pumps connected to a common manifold block. That manifold block is also connected to a source of purging air flow. Internally of the manifold block there are pinch valves operable to selectively connect and disconnect each of the different powder material reservoirs and the purging air flow to the common spray gun. Additional pinch valves separate the material reservoirs from the venturi pumps associated with each reservoir.

Abstract: A thermoplastic material dispensing apparatus adapted to translate feedstock from a solid state to a molten state by a novel heater block structure, and to discharge the molten feedstock through a novel discharge valve in response to operation of a novel trigger device. A novel annular cooling chamber is established about the dispenser's barrel to maintain a solid/melt interface inside the barrel adjacent to the heater block structure, that zone being air cooled by inlet air taken from a single inlet air line. The inlet air from the single line also drives the dispenser's ram through use of a novel pneumatic motor/spool valve mechanism. The spool valve is manually stroked forward to extend the dispenser's ram for extruding the feedstock, and is manually stroked rearward to retract the ram for recharging.

Abstract: A thermoplastic material dispensing apparatus adapted to translate feedstock from a solid state to a molten state by a novel heater block structure, and to discharge the molten feedstock through a novel discharge valve in response to operation of a novel trigger device. A novel annular cooling chamber is established about the dispenser's barrel to maintain a solid/melt interface inside the barrel adjacent to the heater block structure, that zone being air cooled by inlet air taken from a single inlet air line. The inlet air from the single line also drives the dispenser's ram through use of a novel pneumatic motor/spool valve mechanism. The spool valve is manually stroked forward to extend the dispenser's ram for extruding the feedstock, and is manually stroked rearward to retract the ram for recharging.