Dust Chamber Type Patents (Class 118/309)
  • Publication number: 20090130305
    Abstract: A cabin for coating a work piece with powder has horizontal suction channels provided in the lower area of the side walls of the cabin, such horizontal suction channels can be covered with flaps. Furthermore, a vertical suction channel is provided with suction openings, whereas the suction openings connect the inner part of the cabin with the vertical suction channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: J. WAGNER AG
    Inventors: Leopold VON KEUDELL, Michael TOPP, Joachim HIRT, Niko ZWERGER
  • Patent number: 7488389
    Abstract: A film forming apparatus by which uniform and large area films can be formed according to the AD method. The film forming apparatus includes: a film forming chamber; a substrate holder located in the film forming chamber, for holding a substrate on which a structure is to be formed; an exhaust pump for exhausting an interior of the film forming chamber; an aerosol generating unit for generating an aerosol by blowing up a raw material powder placed in a container with a gas; a carrier pipe for introducing the generated aerosol into the film forming chamber; a nozzle for spraying the aerosol introduced via the carrier pipe toward the substrate; and a control unit for chaotically changing a relative position of the substrate held by the substrate holder and the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Osawa
  • Patent number: 7399362
    Abstract: An installation for powder coating articles, in particular vehicle bodies, comprises a coating booth, in which a plurality of application devices for the powder coating may be arranged. The articles to be coated are located during the coating process on a rotating rotary stand. Application devices located in various angular positions relative to the axis of the rotary stand may be charged with powder coatings of different colours. A collecting hopper is located at the bottom of the coating booth, the outlet opening of which collecting hopper may be brought as desired into connection with various recovery devices for powder overspray. To coat articles of different colours, the application devices charged with powder coating of the appropriate colour are activated in each case and the recovery device which collects the powder of the corresponding colour is brought into connection with the outlet opening of the collecting hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Eisenmann Anlagenbau GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Werner Pohl, Wolfgang Bezner, Jürgen Hanf, Peter Abel
  • Patent number: 7351287
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of applying a particulate material to a substrate includes applying adhesive to the substrate and passing the substrate through a chamber in which a particulate material is suspended in a fluid in order to adhere the particulate material to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Y. Fung, Denis Tremblay
  • Patent number: 7325750
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Shutic, Larry R. Fenik, David Mancuso, Andrew M. Peddie, Erich W. Selic, Joseph G. Schroeder, Herman E. Turner
  • Patent number: 7297314
    Abstract: A fluidized bed apparatus has a rotary rotor 4 arranged at the bottom center thereof, a disintegrator mechanism 5 arranged above the rotary rotor 4, and a cylindrical draft tube 6 installed above the disintegrator mechanism 5. A fluidizing gas jetted from a gas dispersion plate 3 causes powder particles P in a processing container 1 to form a fluidized bed in which they circulate so as to ascend through the gap between the outer periphery of the rotary rotor 4 and the bottom inner wall of the processing container 1, the space between the disintegrator mechanism 5 and the inner wall of the processing container 1, and the space between the outer periphery of the draft tube 6 and the inner wall of the processing container 1, and descend through the inner portion of the draft tube 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Powrex
    Inventors: Susumu Natsuyama, Nobuyuki Watanabe, Kazuyoshi Otaki, Kenji Nagatsuma, Takuya Nagato, Yoshiyuki Kanoh, Ran Tabata, Makoto Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7247205
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying powder coating material onto large objects such as automotive, truck or other vehicle bodies includes a powder spray booth defining a controlled area within which to apply powder coating material onto the vehicle bodies, a powder kitchen located at a remote position from the powder spray booth, and, a number of feed hoppers located proximate the booth which receive powder coating material from the powder kitchen and supply it to automatically or manually manipulated powder spray guns associated with the booth. Oversprayed powder coating material is removed from the booth interior by a powder collection and recovery system which transmits the oversprayed powder back to the powder kitchen for recirculation to the powder spray guns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Shutic, John F. Carlson, Thomas E. Hollstein, Keith E. Williams, Ernest J. Fena, Harry J. Lader
  • Patent number: 7235278
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of applying a particulate material to a substrate includes applying adhesive to the substrate and passing the substrate through a chamber in which a particulate material is suspended in a fluid in order to adhere the particulate material to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Y. Fung, Denis Tremblay
  • Patent number: 7166164
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying powder coating material onto large objects such as automotive, truck or other vehicle bodies includes a powder spray booth defining a controlled area within which to apply powder coating material onto the vehicle bodies, a powder kitchen located at a remote position from the powder spray booth, and, a number of feed hoppers located proximate the booth which receive powder coating material from the powder kitchen and supply it to automatically or manually manipulated powder spray guns associated with the booth. Oversprayed powder coating material is removed from the booth interior by a powder collection and recovery system which transmits the oversprayed powder back to the powder kitchen for recirculation to the powder spray guns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Shutic, John F. Carlson, Thomas E. Hollstein, Keith E. Williams, Ernest J. Fena, Harry J. Lader
  • Patent number: 7108894
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the deposition of a source material (10) are disclosed. An atomizer (12) renders a supply of source material (10) into many discrete particles. A force applicator (14) propels the particles in continuous, parallel streams of discrete particles. A collimator (16) controls the direction of flight of the particles in the stream prior to their deposition on a substrate (18). In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the viscosity of the particles may be controlled to enable complex depositions of non-conformal or three-dimensional surfaces. The invention also includes a wide variety of substrate treatments which may occur before, during or after deposition. In yet another embodiment of the invention, a virtual or cascade impactor may be employed to remove selected particles from the deposition stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Optomec Design Company
    Inventor: Michael J. Renn
  • Patent number: 7074274
    Abstract: Systems and methods for applying powder coating materials in electrostatic spray systems are provided. For example, a gravity feed of recovered powder coating from the recovery system to the feed system is disclosed. In addition, a powder feed system is disclosed wherein a powder suction lance assembly has only two operable positions, a first for feeding powder from a fluidized hopper and also corresponding to a purge position for a novel purge manifold, and a second retracted position for powder color changes and servicing. Also, a pump assembly block in physical communication with an air line attachment plate, a suction tube plate, and a hose manifold is disclosed. A plurality of attachment members removably attach the air attachment plate, a suction tube plate, and the hose manifold plate to the pump assembly block. Method for applying a first powder color and a second powder color in a powder feed center are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Shutic, Edward L. Jones, Michael S. Thomas, Andrew M. Peddie, Kenneth A. Kreeger, Joseph G. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 7037374
    Abstract: A coating material spray application system includes first and second coating material supplies; first and second coating material pumps and first and second feed hoses; wherein each feed hose is in communication with a respective one of the coating material pumps and has a respective coating material hose outlet. Each pump is operable to transfer coating material from a respective one of the supplies to the respective feed hose. A spray booth may be used and a coating material spray gun operable within said spray booth, with the spray gun being connectable to a selected one of the coating material hose outlets. A source of pressurized air operates the pumps; and a pneumatic switch accessible from within the spray booth is operable to connect the pressurized air to a selected one of said coating material pumps which corresponds to the selected coating material hose outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: John J. Binder
  • Patent number: 7037556
    Abstract: A process and apparatus is disclosed for preparation of a no-jam vending machine card wherein the card is treated with a suitably adhering powder to have a residual powder layer on the card to reduce generation of an electrical static charge upon each card as the card is dispensed by the vending machine. The process comprises applying a suitable dusting powder and testing the dusted card for the necessary residual powder layer. The apparatus comprises a powder dusting device and a card powder layer testing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Jet Lithocolor Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis E. Jaynes
  • Patent number: 6997991
    Abstract: Device for cleaning a powder coating booth and powder coating booth with cleaning device. The device for cleaning a powder coating booth is provided with a first air distribution batten arranged on the floor of the powder coating booth. Also provided is a second air distribution batten arranged on a side of the powder coating booth and a suction channel with a suction slot for sucking excess powder out of the booth. The first and the second air distribution batten are provided in order to blow excess powder in the direction of the suction slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: J. Wagner AG
    Inventors: Leopold von Keudell, Hanspeter Dietrich
  • Patent number: 6982004
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for electrostatic loading of drugs on an implantable medical device is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Shamim Malik, Syed F. A. Hossainy
  • Patent number: 6972053
    Abstract: The installation for coating a workpiece with powder in accordance with the invention comprises a powder spray device and a guide arm, the powder spray device being supported in such a manner as to be rotatable with respect to the guide arm around a rotation axis and giving rise to a principal powder spraying direction that differs from the rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: J. Wagner AG
    Inventors: Daniel Ziwica, Wolfgang Keller
  • Patent number: 6964708
    Abstract: A booth for coating objects with powder, in particular for powder painting, comprises in a manner known per se a housing, in which there is situated at least one application device, with which powder can be applied to the objects. Situated in the upper region of the housing is an air plenum, which is fed with supply air via an inlet opening. The air plenum is closed off downwardly by a filter ceiling. In contrast to known filter ceilings, the one according to the invention is air-permeable in its marginal region only, while in its central region it consists of air-impermeable material. The supply air is thus introduced into the interior of the booth as a kind of “air curtain” which flows mainly along the side walls of the housing of the booth, entrains in the process stray excess powder which has not adhered to the objects to be coated, and supplies it to at least one extraction opening situated in the bottom of the booth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Eisenmann Maschinenbau KG
    Inventors: Erwin Hihn, Wolfgang Bezner
  • Patent number: 6946032
    Abstract: An installation for powder coating articles, in particular vehicle bodies, comprises a coating booth, in which a plurality of application devices for the powder coating may be arranged. The articles to be coated are located during the coating process on a rotating rotary stand. Application devices located in various angular positions relative to the axis of the rotary stand may be charged with powder coatings of different colors. A collecting hopper is located at the bottom of the coating booth, the outlet opening of which collecting hopper may be brought as desired into connection with various recovery devices for powder overspray. To coat articles of different colors, the application devices charged with powder coating of the appropriate color are activated in each case and the recovery device which collects the powder of the corresponding color is brought into connection with the outlet opening of the collecting hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Eisenmann Maschinenbau KG (Komplementar: Eisenmann-Stiftung)
    Inventors: Werner Pohl, Wolfgang Bezner, Jürgen Hanf, Peter Abel
  • Patent number: 6916376
    Abstract: A painting booth, which includes: a frame which supports a plurality of movable walls (3) made of deformable material, whose internal surfaces bound a volume which can contain objects to be painted; at least one distributor arranged inside the volume and suitable to distribute painting powders meant to be applied to the surface of the objects to be painted; and removable means (10) which are suitable to interact operatively with the movable walls, so as to facilitate the removal of residual painting powders which deposit on their internal surfaces; and actuation means (6, 7, 11) which are suitable to move the movable walls with respect to the removal means. The actuation means include coupling means (11) for coupling to the movable walls, which are suitable to move the movable walls so as to keep the internal surfaces constantly taut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Transmetal S.p.A.
    Inventor: Achille Borzone
  • Patent number: 6905546
    Abstract: A conveyor system for a powder paint spray booth including spaced continuous parallel first and second moving belts supported by a plurality of spaced rollers enclosed within a sealed housing and a powder paint collector located below the powder paint spray booth which receives powder paint from between the sealed housings. The continuous belts are formed of stainless steel each having a width of less than ten inches and grating is provided between the housings permitting personnel to walk over the conveyor system without damaging the stainless steel belts. The collector system includes a V-shape baffle having an apex located between the conveyor housings directing powder paint into collectors on opposed sides of the conveyor units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Acco Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William Mainieri, Bernd Kreuzer, Richard A. Cantin, Bradley M. Hare
  • Patent number: 6878205
    Abstract: A powder coating system includes a booth and one or more powder-recovery modules that are insertable into an equipment-receiving space of the booth. A color change method includes removing a first powder-recovery module from the equipment-receiving space and positioning a second powder-recovery module in the equipment-receiving space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Browning, Timothy C. Buyck, James E. Johnson, Michael S. Smith, Michael J. Thies
  • Patent number: 6866717
    Abstract: A powder spray booth includes a booth canopy wall arrangement to contain powder during a spraying operation; and a booth floor that is rotatable relative to the booth wall during a spraying operation. The floor can be rotated about an axis that is also the longitudinal axis of the spray booth. The booth may be generally cylindrical in shape with a round floor. The booth canopy and top are supported on a base frame separately from the floor. By this arrangement, the floor can be rotated relative to the booth canopy. A powder extraction apparatus in the form of a low pressure duct suspended off the floor draws up powder that has collected on the floor. The extraction duct is stationary with respect to the rotating floor during a spraying operation. The floor may also be translated along the axis of rotation between a first position in which the floor can rotate and a second position in which the floor is sealed against a lower edge of the booth canopy wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Shutic, Larry Fenik, Scott Miller, Brean Bark
  • Patent number: 6852165
    Abstract: A powder spray apparatus is described including a powder booth with a scraper bar which reciprocates across the floor thereof to collect deposited overspray powder and supply it to intakes located at each end wall. The intakes are connected by a feed channel to one or more cyclone separators. An exhaust duct may also be provided for air-borne overspray powder which preferably forms part of the feed channel. Powder recovered from the cyclone separators may be passed to a common collection hopper by use of a venturi pump which transfers the powder from each separator to the hopper via a sieve located in a ventilated enclosure above the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: James Ainsworth, Christopher Eastwood, Robert Perrin
  • Patent number: 6837931
    Abstract: A water washer for spray booth includes a gas exhaust duct, an exhaust fan and a fluid pump. The duct includes an entrance and an exit, with the entrance of the duct including a plurality of apertures. The entrance of the duct is positioned to receive a gas mixed with a spray from a spray application area of a spray booth. The exhaust fan is positioned to draw the gas from the spray application area into the gas exhaust duct. The fluid pump is coupled to a source of fluid and fluid supply pipe, which is positioned to direct a fluid into the plurality of apertures at the entrance of the enclosure and thereby remove overspray from the gas drawn from the spray application area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Thierica, Inc.
    Inventor: Louis F. McGough
  • Publication number: 20040258834
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided to actively apply finish to one or more yarns in motion at speeds greater than about 3000 m/min, to achieve a finish application of 0.2 wt. % or more, and with a coefficient of variation of finish concentration of 10% or less. The devices are compact, portable and readily installed at a variety of positions on a fiber processing line. The devices of the invention contain the finish so that contamination of the surrounding areas is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Yui-Tai Tam, Jeffrey T. Perkins, Qiang Zhou, Arlin L. Fynaardt
  • Patent number: 6833028
    Abstract: In a method for depositing particles onto a substrate a flow of gas containing particles is provided along a flow path that bypasses a deposition chamber. The flow path may direct the flow of the gas containing the particles to a vacuum. To deposit particles onto a substrate in the deposition chamber, the flow path of the gas containing the particles is diverted into the deposition chamber so that particles are deposited onto the substrate. After a desired amount of particles have been deposited onto the substrate, the flow path of the flow of the gas containing the particles is changed to the flow path that bypasses the deposition chamber. A particle deposition system and a method for maintaining particle diameter during deposition of particles onto a substrate also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: The Scatter Works Inc.
    Inventors: Craig A. Scheer, John C. Stover
  • Patent number: 6830620
    Abstract: A powder coating booth containment structure including first and second canopy halves, each of which is a substantially nonconductive, seamless, structural composite to substantially reduce oversprayed powder particle adhesion to the booth inner surfaces. The composite canopy halves, when assembled into a spray booth additionally including either a floor or a utility base and one or a pair of end units in the form of aperture bulkheads, vestibules, or a combination of both, are structurally sufficiently strong that no external support frame is required. The composite canopy halves can each include sidewall and ceiling portions, in an embodiment, that can be connected to a floor. In another embodiment, the canopy halves each additionally include a floor portion such that they may be connected together at a floor edge and placed atop a utility base. They may be connected to the utility base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey R. Shutic
  • Publication number: 20040219292
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved method and apparatus for the application of powdered resins to threaded fasteners. In accordance with the present invention, the powdered resin handling system used to apply, collect, recycle and make-up the resin is generally enclosed; that is, with the exception of the application of the resin to the fasteners, the resin is generally maintained within conduit, housings or hoppers that are not open to the surroundings. This tends to minimize discharge of resin into the areas surrounding the fastener processing equipment and also isolates the resin from external environmental conditions that tend to degrade the resin over time. In addition, the present invention introduces fresh, new or make-up resin in a manner that assures intimate and thorough intermixing of the new and recycled resin while minimizing the cost and complexity of the equipment employed for that purpose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Anthony Dimaio, Mike Arslanouk
  • Patent number: 6800138
    Abstract: An installation for coating objects with a powder, in particular for powder painting, comprises a booth, in which powder can be applied to the objects, a recovery device for the excess powder, which does not adhere to the objects during coating, a storage container for fresh powder and a mixing container, which can be supplied with excess powder from the recovery device and fresh powder from the storage container. A screening machine is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the mixing container, preferably directly beneath the latter, and serves at the same time as an application container, in which mixed powder can be temporarily stored for removal by the application device. The screening machine is not subjected to any low-frequency vibrations, so that a weighing device, which continuously measures the weight of the screening machine, measures the instantaneous consumption of mixed powder in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Eisenmann Maschinenbau KG
    Inventors: Erwin Hihn, Jan Reichler
  • Patent number: 6790281
    Abstract: The present invention provides a finely-divided powder spray apparatus having a spray nozzle pipe for discharging finely-divided powders from the tip together with a gas stream, which is disposed at a prescribed distance from the member to be sprayed and inclined in a prescribed direction to the member; and a moving-speed control means which controls the moving-speed of the tip of the spray nozzle pipe in accordance with the quadratic function, which indicates the reduction rate of the density of the deposited finely-divided powders based on the distance between a peak point of the density of the finely-divided powders deposited on the member to be sprayed in a trial spray and a spray point at which an extension from the spray nozzle pipe intersects with the member to be sprayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Nisshin Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin Doi, Masaki Ban, Goro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6770139
    Abstract: A dusting device comprises a housing (12) and at least one powder gas delivery device (14, 15), which discharges a powder gas jet (16) onto a surface of products transported in one conveyor direction (18) and a suction device (34) for unused powder gas. At least one housing wall (21) is permeable for an airstream (28a), whereby at least one permeable housing wall (21) has an air-permeable filter mat arrangement (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Platsch GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hans Georg Platsch
  • Publication number: 20040134423
    Abstract: A powder coating booth containment structure including first and second canopy halves, each of which is a substantially nonconductive, seamless, structural composite to substantially reduce oversprayed powder particle adhesion to the booth inner surfaces. The composite canopy halves, when assembled into a spray booth additionally including either a floor or a utility base and one or a pair of end units in the form of aperture bulkheads, vestibules, or a combination of both, are structurally sufficiently strong that no external support frame is required. The composite canopy halves can each include sidewall and ceiling portions, in an embodiment, that can be connected to a floor. In another embodiment, the canopy halves each additionally include a floor portion such that they may be connected together at a floor edge and placed atop a utility base. They may be connected to the utility base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: James W. Messerly, Jeffrey Shutic
  • Patent number: 6746535
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for coating a continuously advancing article. The apparatus includes a housing defining a spray chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end. Walls in the spray chamber form an inlet buffer zone adjacent the inlet end, an outlet buffer zone adjacent the outlet end and a spraying zone between the inlet and outlet buffer zones. A conveyor transports articles to be coated through the spray chamber. A plurality of spray guns are mounted on the housing to substantially surround an article on the conveyor transported through the spraying zone. The spray guns are adapted for spraying an ultraviolet curable coating composition. The spray guns are mounted substantially entirely outside the spraying zone, with only nozzle portions of the spray guns located inside the spraying zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Dubois Equipment Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin W. Hasenour, John R. Stenftenagel, James F. Arvin
  • Patent number: 6743295
    Abstract: A compartment for powder coating workpieces conveyed through an aperture for the workpieces formed in an end wall and coated by means of automatic coating equipment inside the compartment in which there is negative pressure comprises at least one manual coating station located beyond and adjacent the aperture, as seen in conveying direction of the workpieces for manually coating workpieces outside of the compartment. In this manner, on the one hand, openings in the sidewalls of the compartment for manual coating of the workpieces from the side of the compartment can be dispensed with and, on the other hand, practically unlimited free space is offered during manual coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: J. Wagner AG
    Inventors: Christoph Keller, Hans Mendler
  • Patent number: 6730167
    Abstract: A powder spray booth includes a booth canopy wall arrangement to contain powder during a spraying operation; and a booth floor that is rotatable relative to the booth wall during a spraying operation. The floor can be rotated about an axis that is also the longitudinal axis of the spray booth. The booth may be generally cylindrical in shape with a round floor. The booth canopy and top are supported on a base frame separately from the floor. By this arrangement, the floor can be rotated relative to the booth canopy. A powder extraction apparatus in the form of a low pressure duct suspended off the floor draws up powder that has collected on the floor. The extraction duct is stationary with respect to the rotating floor during a spraying operation. The floor may also be translated along the axis of rotation between a first position in which the floor can rotate and a second position in which the floor is sealed against a lower edge of the booth canopy wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Shutic, David Mancuso, Andrew M. Peddie, Edward L. Jones
  • Patent number: 6723169
    Abstract: An installation for coating objects with powder, in particular for powder painting, comprises a booth which is known per se and in which powder can be applied to the objects by an application device. Stray powder is entrained by an air stream directed through the interior of the booth from the top downwards. The mixture of air and powder is extracted via an extraction opening in the bottom of the booth and supplied to a movable filter unit which is situated beneath the extraction opening and in which the powder is separated from the air/powder mixture for reuse. A plurality of such movable filter units are movable while suspended from a supporting-rail system, it being possible for all of these filter units, which are each intended for separating off a particular type of powder in particular one powder paint color, to be selectively brought under the extraction opening of the booth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Eisenmann Maschinenbau KG
    Inventors: Erwin Hihn, Axel Halbmeyer, Johannes Palesch
  • Patent number: 6699325
    Abstract: A powder facility used for spray coating includes at least one injection unit (6), at least two powder stations (2) and at least one cleaning unit (16) which are mutually displaceably in program-controlled manner in order to alternatively convey powder from one of the powder receptacles of the powder stations or to clean the powder-flow itineraries using compressed cleaning air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: ITW Gema AG
    Inventors: Felix Mauchle, Markus Lenherr
  • Patent number: 6679193
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying powder coating material onto large objects such as automotive, truck or other vehicle bodies includes a powder spray booth defining a controlled area within which to apply powder coating material onto the vehicle bodies, a powder kitchen located at a remote position from the powder spray booth, and, a number of feed hoppers located proximate the booth which receive powder coating material from the powder kitchen and supply it to automatically or manually manipulated powder spray guns associated with the booth. Oversprayed powder coating material is removed from the booth interior by a powder collection and recovery system which transmits the oversprayed powder back to the powder kitchen for recirculation to the powder spray guns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Shutic, John F. Carlson, Thomas E. Hollstein, Keith E. Williams, Ernest J. Fena, Harry J. Lader
  • Patent number: 6669780
    Abstract: A booth of a powder coating system is designed for quick color changes. The booth includes a bottom wall supported above a floor. An inner space of the booth is defined above the bottom wall and an equipment-receiving space is defined beneath the bottom wall. The bottom wall has an opening providing communication between the inner space and the equipment-receiving space. The booth is adapted to receive a powder-recovery module beneath the bottom wall in the equipment-receiving space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Browning, Timothy C. Buyck, James E. Johnson, Michael S. Smith, Michael J. Thies
  • Patent number: 6666166
    Abstract: A spray application system includes an enclosed spraybooth area in which airborne particles are generated and a scrubber system is located below the enclosed spraybooth area. The scrubber system includes an inlet receiving water and air from the spraybooth area along with airborne particles. The scrubber system transfers the airborne particles to the water for cleaning the air. A generally downwardly opening noise reflector is located directly over the inlet of the scrubber system and is configured to reflect sound generated by the scrubber system back into the inlet of the scrubber system. The reflector is spaced from the inlet of the scrubber system a distance equal to approximately the width of the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Dürr Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason L. Kramer, James L. Pakkala, Joseph M. Klobucar, Gregory M. Still
  • Patent number: 6648969
    Abstract: An upper processing section 10 is provided by evenly spacing out functional stations 13 having respective functions of steps constituting a fluidized bed granulation coating process, on circumferential points. An intermediate storing section 20 is provided under the upper processing section 10 by evenly spacing out powder grain storing vessels 22 corresponding to the plurality of functional stations 13, on circumferential points. A lower gas supply section 30 is provided under the intermediate storing section 20 by evenly spacing out gas supply stations 31 corresponding to the plurality of powder grain storing vessels 22. The powder grain storing vessels 22 storing powder grains sequentially proceed to the respective functional stations 13 to execute respective processes to the powder grains, and thereby granulation coating of the powder grains is performed in a batch type and a continuous type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Freund Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Hirono, Narimichi Takei, Kazuomi Unosawa
  • Publication number: 20030200920
    Abstract: A fluidized bed apparatus for applying a coating liquid onto the surface of particles includes a vertically disposed cylindrical product container having a peripheral wall, at least one cylindrical partition defining a centrally located up bed region and a peripherally located down bed region. The product container further includes an upper end connected to an expansion chamber and a lower end including an orifice plate having a plurality of openings for passage of fluidized air or gas. A nozzle is centrally located through the orifice plate and is adapted to generate a spray of coating liquid upwardly into the up bed. Particles located within the product container circulate upwardly through the partition and the coating liquid spray, between the up bed and the down bed. A plurality of inwardly directed discharge jets are positioned along the periphery of the product container and generally adjacent to the orifice plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: Glatt Air Techniques Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Jones, Richard Andrew Smith, John Patrick Kennedy, Frank Maurer, Matthias Georg Tondar, Bernhard Luy, Markus J. Baettig
  • Publication number: 20030170384
    Abstract: An apparatus for placing particles onto a substrate, methods for using the apparatus to deposit particles on a substrate and substrates prepared using the apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes a rotary screen, a blade disposed for directing and urging the particles through the screen, and a sheet mounted in a position to receive the particles from a feeder and deliver the particles to the rotary screen substantially across the blade. The apparatus can include a frame on which a rotary screen is rotatably mounted and a feed system disposed within and extending substantially along the length of the screen for distributing the particles. The apparatus can optionally include a vacuum means, an anti-static means and/or collection pans for handling stray particles. The screen can include a series of openings in the form of a pattern, and can be used to place particles in a pattern in register with a design or pattern on a substrate as the substrate passes under the openings in the screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. McQuate, Elizabeth A. Malkowski, John J. Orlando, David A. Kraft
  • Patent number: 6613145
    Abstract: A coating booth for film having a table on which a film to be coated is mounted, an air intake which is provided in the ceiling of the booth and through which open air is cleaned and introduced into the inside of the booth, and an exhaust system which sucks up the introduced air from the side walls of the table to make a substantially horizontal air flow inside the table and discharges the air outside, wherein the table has a substantially horizontal tabletop with a plurality of suction holes so that a film mounted thereon are held by suction by the action of the air flow inside the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Japan Alumibody Maintenance Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomio Asahi
  • Publication number: 20030154917
    Abstract: The improved Wurster of the present invention includes an air diverter which supplies a flow of air in a radial direction adjacent the spray nozzle body and spray nozzle, so as to force the product away from the nozzle during the spraying process. The air diverter includes a sleeve with air passages therein, a manifold connected to the sleeve and to a source of secondary pressurized air or gas, and a collar to mount the assembled air diverter onto the perforated plate of the Wurster apparatus. In operation, the air diverter allows the spray pattern from the nozzle to more fully develop, allows more complete atomization of the spray solution, and allows for higher spray rates with little or no agglomeration of the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventor: Brian K. Jensen
  • Publication number: 20030157246
    Abstract: The improved Wurster of the present invention includes an air diverter which supplies a flow of air in a radial direction adjacent the spray nozzle body and spray nozzle, so as to force the product away from the nozzle during the spraying process. The air diverter includes a sleeve with air passages therein, a manifold connected to the sleeve and to a source of secondary pressurized air or gas, and a collar to mount the assembled air diverter onto the perforated plate of the Wurster apparatus. In operation, the air diverter allows the spray pattern from the nozzle to more fully develop, allows more complete atomization of the spray solution, and allows for higher spray rates with little or no agglomeration of the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventor: Brian K. Jensen
  • Patent number: 6607597
    Abstract: A deposition system is used for depositing particles onto a substrate, such as a wafer in a deposition chamber. The particles are carried in an aerosol that is generated by an atomizer that includes an impaction plate for removing large particles before the aerosol is discharged, and which has an output that is provided through a particle classifier to the deposition chamber. Various branches of flow lines are used such that the aerosol that has classified particles in it, is mixed with a clean dry gas prior to discharge into the deposition chamber, and selectively the aerosol can be directed to the deposition chamber without having the particles classified. The lines carrying the aerosol can be initially connected to a vacuum source that will quickly draw the aerosol closely adjacent to the deposition chamber to avoid delays between deposition cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: MSP Corporation
    Inventors: James J. Sun, Benjamin Y. H. Liu
  • Patent number: 6592920
    Abstract: Ready-to-eat cereal is prepared in modified sequence utilizing an apparatus to efficiently apply antioxidant or other useful minor ingredients for ready-to-eat cereal products as they are being conveyed through a conduit, preferably by gravity. The apparatus includes a conduit having an inlet and an outlet, and an external wall defining a passage between the inlet and outlet. The passage has a central zone and a radially displaced application zone adjacent the external wall. A baffle is suspended within the passage to deflect a downward flow of particulate cereal material toward the application zone. A spray applies the minor ingredient onto the particulate cereal in the application zone. Efficiencies in equipment and processing are achieved. Storage life of cereal products awaiting further processing and, thus, final product quality, is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis W. Charles, Thomas P. Johnson, Allan R. Olson
  • Patent number: 6592665
    Abstract: Plant for powder coating the surfaces of objects with polymeric powder having a melting and softening temperature below 100° C. The polymeric powder includes a polymer curable under the influence of electromagnetic radiation. Objects to be coated are prepared to retain powder charged with static electricity. The objects are then sprayed with powder charged with static electricity and thereafter heated to a surface temperature of about 100° C. thereby melting the powder retained on the surface by exposure to infrared radiation and heated air. The objects are radiated by electromagnetic radiation for curing of the powder over the surface of the objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Triline AB
    Inventors: Håkan Arvérus, Lars Karlsson, Jaan Kärem, Maria Strid
  • Patent number: 6589345
    Abstract: A powder spray-coating cabin, in particular a vertically cylindrical cabin, has its air suction flows shifted away from the center of spray coating toward object wall passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: ITW Gema AG
    Inventor: Silvano Gelain