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.

Abstract: A coating apparatus with a powder supply system for use in a device for electrostatically spraying powder material onto the surface of an article or substrate to be coated. The system includes a powder reclaiming and recycling system which pneumatically retrieves the unused powder from the spray booths and filters the powder from the air. The filter system includes plural modules, each capable of accommodating a given number of spray guns. An automatic filter shaking system releases the powder from the filters upon command by sequentially shutting down the filter modules, one at a time, while the system is in operation. An additional filter module is provided so that adequate filtering capability is maintained while the filter shaking operation proceeds. The powder released from the filters is blown from the filters to a feeder section through a sieve which mixes new powder with the reclaimed powder under automatic control which replenishes the powder supply to the feeder.

Abstract: An electrostatic spray apparatus and method for spraying electrically conductive coating materials on a continuous basis from an electrically grounded bulk coating supply.