Abstract: Powder overspray that is extracted from a spray booth is recovered back to a powder supply that is used to supply powder to the spray guns inside the spray booth. The powder overspray extracted from the booth is separated from the high flow air stream by a separator such as a cyclone separator. The powder falls into a transfer pan and a vacuum is used to convey the powder from the transfer pan to a vacuum receiver. The powder is then discharged to the feed hopper in the feed center. The use of a vacuum to convey powder from the cyclone to the feed center in effect permits substantially all of the powder overspray to be recovered from the spray booth directly to the feed hopper with minimal dwell or residence time within the cyclone or vacuum receiver subsystems during a spraying operation. The receiver can be rotated for easy cleaning, and the vacuum line cleaned by one or more cleaning elements drawn through the vacuum line.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for cleaning a powder transfer duct uses a pressurized volume of air directed at an interior surface of the duct to dislodge powder particles adhering to the interior surfaces or that are entrapped within a volume or region of the duct interior. In one embodiment of the invention, the duct is a passageway for powder that is entrained in an air stream from a powder spray booth to a powder collection device such as, for example, a cyclone separator. Pressurized air is provided by a device that can be selectively activated to direct a blast of high pressure air into the duct interior in a direction that is generally transverse a primary air flow through the duct. The device may be realized in the form of a pulse valve that has an outlet that opens to the duct interior and directs a pulse of pressurized air at a surface or region within the duct where powder tends to accumulate, either from eddy current characteristics or from impacting the interior surface.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for cleaning a powder transfer duct uses a pressurized volume of air directed at an interior surface of the duct to dislodge powder particles adhering to the interior surfaces or that are entrapped within a volume or region of the duct interior. In one embodiment of the invention, the duct is a passageway for powder that is entrained in an air stream from a powder spray booth to a powder collection device such as, for example, a cyclone separator. Pressurized air is provided by a device that can be selectively activated to direct a blast of high pressure air into the duct interior in a direction that is generally transverse a primary air flow through the duct. The device may be realized in the form of a pulse valve that has an outlet that opens to the duct interior and directs a pulse of pressurized air at a surface or region within the duct where powder tends to accumulate, either from eddy current characteristics or from impacting the interior surface.

Abstract: Powder overspray that is extracted from a spray booth is recovered back to a powder supply that is used to supply powder to the spray guns inside the spray booth. The powder overspray extracted from the booth is separated from the high flow air stream by and then discharged to a feed center. By recovering overspray powder in this fashion, the time required for a color change operation in the powder spray system is greatly reduced.

Abstract: Powder overspray that is extracted from a spray booth is recovered back to a powder supply that is used to supply powder to the spray guns inside the spray booth. The powder overspray extracted from the booth is separated from the high flow air stream by a separator such as a cyclone separator. The powder falls into a transfer pan and a vacuum is used to convey the powder from the transfer pan to a vacuum receiver. The powder is then discharged to the feed hopper in the feed center. The use of a vacuum to convey powder from the cyclone to the feed center in effect permits substantially all of the powder overspray to be recovered from the spray booth directly to the feed hopper with minimal dwell or residence time within the cyclone or vacuum receiver subsystems during a spraying operation. The receiver can be rotated for easy cleaning, and the vacuum line cleaned by one or more cleaning elements drawn through the vacuum line.