Abstract: A filter for industrial coating filtration systems. The filter has a housing made up of a peripheral wall extending around the periphery. The housing is preferably made of a suitably rigid material. A preferably rigid support backing is mounted within the housing. The support backing has a planar configuration with openings formed through it so that gas can flow through without substantial resistance. The preferably planar sheet of which the support backing is made is pleated. The pleated support backing defines a series of panels, each of which is angled to a next adjacent panel. Filtration media is mounted to the support backing, end caps are attached to the ends of the support backing to maintain the pleated configuration, and the assembly is inserted into the housing, which can have end flaps to seal using tape or adhesive.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cyclone portion, a bin, a filter, a fan, a detector and a corrector. The cyclone portion separates toner from air containing dispersed toner by centrifugation. The bin stores the toner separated by the cyclone portion. The filter filters the air from which the toner has been separated by the cyclone portion. The fan generates an air flow for discharging the air which has passed through the filter. The detector detects the bin being full of the toner based on a change of a rotation speed of the fan. The corrector corrects the rotation speed of the fan based on a change of a physical property of the air which corresponds to a change of an environmental condition in image formation.

Abstract: A dust collector including a housing including an upper wall, at least one housing wall defining an inlet, and the upper wall or the housing wall defining an outlet opposite the inlet, the inlet and the outlet at a same height; a separating plate diagonally connected to the housing above the inlet and below the outlet and extending downward from the inlet, the separating plate defines at least two substantially parallel rows of staggered apertures, an entrance duct section fluidly connected to the housing and including a duct top surface oriented diagonally upward from the housing and away from the at least one housing wall; and a plurality of vertically extending filters connected to and extending below the separating plate, a center line of the inlet extending above a top portion of the filters, each of the filters fluidly communicating with a corresponding one of the first and second apertures.

Abstract: A suspension plasma spray feeder apparatus for delivering a suspension from a suspension source to a plasma spray gun. The feeder apparatus comprises a suspension line and a vibrator mounted to vibrate the suspension line.

Abstract: An apparatus for dusting printed sheets with powder contains at least one powder nozzle, an actuating element which is mounted such that it can be adjusted into a position, in which the actuating element is situated in the jet path of the powder nozzle and the powder bounces off the actuating element, and an extraction device for extracting the powder which has bounced off the actuating element. An air-conducting connection exists permanently between the powder nozzle and the surroundings of the apparatus.

Abstract: The current invention discloses a novel spray booth containing a plurality of spacers disposed on the walls or ceiling, and a plurality of fans attached to the spacers. A spacer allows a fan to be disposed at an angle and at a certain distance away from the wall or ceiling, allowing sufficient airflow for spraying or curing an object within the housing. Having fans emit airflow toward both the top and the sides of an object allows optimal coating and heating of the object. A ceiling fan may also be disposed within a plenum in the ceiling of the spray booth.

Abstract: A film deposition device includes a nozzle configured to inject a plurality of particles to a target; and a suction unit provided around the nozzle and configured to suck particles that are rebounded from the target among the plurality of particles injected from the nozzle.

Abstract: A dense phase powder coating system includes a powder supply, dense phase pump, a spray gun and a diverter valve that can be used to select between conveying powder to the spray gun or circulating the powder back to the powder supply. The diverter valve may include two pneumatically actuate valve members. In one embodiment, the powder spray gun applies powder coating material to inside surfaces of a tubular container. A spray nozzle concept also is presented having a nozzle body with a conical deflector. The spray nozzle provides an uninterrupted flow between spray nozzle outlet holes and a deflector surface. The deflector may be integrally machined with the nozzle body to provide a one piece spray nozzle.

Abstract: A feed system and related process are configured to continuously feed measured doses of source material to a vapor deposition apparatus wherein the source material is sublimated and deposited as a thin film on a substrate. The system includes a bulk material hopper, and an upper dose cup disposed to receive source material from the hopper. A lower dose cup is disposed in a vacuum lock chamber to receive a measured dose of source material from the upper dose cup. A transfer mechanism is disposed below the vacuum lock chamber to receive the measured dose of source material from the lower dose cup and to transfer the source material to a downstream deposition head while isolating the deposition conditions and sublimated source material within the deposition head.

Abstract: Apparatus for coating food products with breading material has an excess breading-material circulation/re-circulation system, which itself has a main, central product-intake conveyor scraping across an up-sloping bottom panel flanked by left and right elevators that course through up-sloping gutters astride the central conveyor's bottom panel. The central conveyor is relatively broad but shallow for only carrying a relatively light load that becomes a bottom bed of breading material for conveyance of food product thereon. In contrast, the elevators are relatively deep but thin in order to carry relatively-substantial streams of breading material, and disproportionate to their thin width, which are ultimately elevated to a topcoat-applicator and becomes a top-coating of breading material. One or more plows are arranged in the overhead space above the central conveyor to divert a main stream of excess breading material into one or more diverted streams aimed at the flanking elevators.

Abstract: An apparatus for dusting printed sheets with powder contains at least one powder nozzle, an actuating element which is mounted such that it can be adjusted into a position, in which the actuating element is situated in the jet path of the powder nozzle and the powder bounces off the actuating element, and an extraction device for extracting the powder which has bounced off the actuating element. An air-conducting connection exists permanently between the powder nozzle and the surroundings of the apparatus.

Abstract: A powder paint recirculation block assembly for use in a powder paint transfer assembly, and a method of operation, is disclosed. The recirculation block assembly includes a powder paint recirculation block body having an intake flow passage directing flow to an applicator flow passage leading to an application flow control assembly and a return flow passage leading to a return flow control assembly. The angles (change in direction) through which powder paint flows may be minimized to minimize potential impact fusion. The pinch rubbers in pneumatic pinch valves of the application flow control assembly and return flow control assembly may be removable to allow for valve repair.

Abstract: In a method for coating at least the top of moving food products 100 with at least one layer of a free-flowing particulate coating material, coating material is poured from a storage container 60 over the moving food products. During the pouring, the coating material is partially segregated into coarse coating material 90 and relatively fine coating material, and substantially coarse coating material 90 is applied to the moving food products 100 first, followed by relatively fine coating material.

Abstract: The present invention provides applicators reducing generating bubble. Dispersion liquid is supplied while the pressure of a circulation tank on the delivery side is lower than the atmospheric pressure but higher than the pressure of the space in buffer tanks. The dispersion liquid in the discharge chambers is recovered while the pressure in a circulation tank serving as recovery destination is lower than the atmospheric pressure. Gas dissolution can be reduced because the dispersion liquid does not come into contact with gases at pressures higher than the atmospheric pressure and engulffing gas or deformation of solid microparticles can be avoided because no pump is used.

Abstract: A method of treating an aluminum-wheel surface for removing an alkaline material without damaging the aluminum surface to improve the adhesion of a coating to the aluminum base material. The method achieves a corrosion resistance equivalent to that obtained by treatment using chromic acid chromate containing hexavalent chromium, without adversely affecting the health of workers and the environment. The method includes a blasting process for blowing a casting material onto the aluminum-wheel surface. The casting material includes plastic particles ranging in size from 100 to 2000 ?m and containing a thermosetting resin as the main ingredient.

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: A sheet dryer includes sprockets and a delivery chain, at least one heat-resistant glass plate, at least one lower-surface drying lamp, a guide plate, a plurality of first discharge holes, and a plurality of second discharge holes. The sprockets and delivery chain convey a paper sheet along a convey path. The heat-resistant glass plate is arranged under the sheet convey path. The lower-surface drying lamp is arranged under the heat-resistant glass plate and dries the lower surface of the printed/coated paper sheet. The guide plate is arranged adjacent to the heat-resistant glass plate in a sheet convey direction. The first discharge holes are formed in the heat-resistant glass plate. Air is discharged upward through the first discharge holes. The second discharge holes are formed in the guide plate. Air is discharged through the second discharge holes in the widthwise direction of the paper sheet.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus (10) for making thin layers from particles, wherein the particles are deposited on a carrier fluid flowing by gravity along a ramp (12) leading to a dam (18). The particles are held back at the bottom of the ramp (12), thereby causing the particles to be piled up one against the other in a monolayer configuration.

Abstract: A drum-type coating apparatus for applying breading material to food products is configured to eliminate, in most circumstances, a hard cylindrical drum, to be replaced by a U-hanging belt, the belly of which provides all the operative utility of a cylindrical hard drum, but better than that, provides more clearance for cleaning operations, since the upper hemi-cylinder of a hard cylindrical drum provides no utility for tumbling purposes and only, to make matters worse, obstructs cleaning operations.

Abstract: In a method for forming a layer of coating material, a conveyor having a conveying part which is pervious to the coating material is used. This coating material is displaced on the conveying part over a guide plate into a coating zone. At the end of a coating zone, excess coating material is returned using a return part of a conveyor. To form a layer of coating material on the conveying part, the coating material is moved from the return part through the conveying part onto the conveying part.

Abstract: Seasoning for use with snack chips can be recovered and recycled. A seasoning permeable conveyor transports snack chips through a seasoning application. The seasoning applicator deposits seasoning onto the snack chips. The conveyor allows the seasoning not adhered to the moving snack chips to substantially pass through and by toward a seasoning recoverer. The seasoning recoverer, which is positioned beneath the conveyor, collects the seasoning for purification and blending with fresh seasoning. After blending, the seasoning mixture is transported to the seasoning application for use.

Abstract: There is provided a method of forming a coat on an inner surface of a bearing, in which a jig 13 is attached to a rotor 2 while holding four bearings 12 for example, so as to form those in a cylinder shape. Then, while the rotor 2 is rotated at a circumferential speed of 0.3 m/sec, a nozzle 8 for airless spraying is inserted into the rotor 2, so that the nozzle 8 injects a coating material 30 from the inside of the bearings 12 toward an inner surfaces of the bearings 12 to apply the coating material thereon. Because the coating material 30 is injected from the nozzle 8 without using compressed air, the fly amount of the coating material is made less as compared to air spray painting.

Abstract: A method for conveying sheets, which have been printed in a printing machine, through a sheet delivery system above a sheet deposit pile by a sheet conveying device and, at the same time, dusting the sheets with a powder, and preventing uncontrolled spread of excess powder, includes interrupting a powder-laden air flow extending in a direction towards the printing machine along an empty strand of the sheet conveying device in a housing of the sheet delivery system at least at one interruption location between a free end of the sheet delivery system and the printing machine, so that transport of entrained powder in a direction towards the printing machine is prevented; a prevention device for performing the method; a sheet delivery system including the prevention device; and a sheet-fed printing machine in combination with the sheet delivery system.

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.

Abstract: An air unit for the removal of excess particulate coating material that is present on products which are in a coating machine comprises, for blowing surplus particulate material off the products, at least one suction member for drawing off air, with particulate material present therein, from the coating machine, separating means for removing particulate material from the air drawn off, and circulating means for feeding at least a portion of the air drawn off to the blowing member.

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.

Abstract: A sheet offset printing method and a sheet offset printing press includes altering flow relationships in an interior of a housing of a sheet delivery of a sheet-fed printing machine to prevent uncontrolled spread of powder in the housing by extracting powder-laden air from the housing and/or feeding air into the housing from outside at a point along a return belt of a sheet conveying device. Air currents are channeled inside the housing by feeding air not laden with powder into the housing and/or leading the air into an air flow path along the return belt downstream of the point with respect to a return belt motion direction to transport the unladen air toward a printing unit by a drag effect of the return belt and/or impeding/blocking a supply of powder-charged air from around a conveyor belt of the sheet-conveyor or a powder-scattering device into a flow path along the return belt.

Abstract: In a method for forming a layer of coating material, a conveyor having a conveying part which is pervious to the coating material is used. This coating material is displaced on the conveying part over a guide plate into a coating zone. At the end of a coating zone, excess coating material is returned using a return part of a conveyor. To form a layer of coating material on the conveying part, the coating material is moved from the return part through the conveying part onto the conveying part.

Abstract: A coil coating system for embedding discrete masses of material in a resinous coating on sheet metal as it is pulled from a dispensing coil through a series of rollers, said system comprising a paint pan, a roller rotating in the pan and picking up said resinous coating composition and transferring it to an applicator roller; thenceforth to the moving sheet metal, an oven, and a sprayer that can heat thermoplastic resin particles to a molten or plastic state and spray the particles to the moving sheet metal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for electrically controlling a flow of material, wherein a single- or multi-component, essentially polymer-based material (1), such as plastics, elastomer or the like, is charged electrically (I) and sprayed (II) in an electrical field (E) to a three-dimensional mould (2)/target (3). The method of the invention makes use of the mould (2)/target (3) set at an electric potential and provided with two or more treatment blocks (Li) to be set at voltage levels different from each other, especially for coordinating the courses of sprayed material particles and the electrical field (E) affecting the same, in such a manner that each section/area of the mould/target surface forms a material layer of desirable thickness in the spraying cycle (II). The invention relates also to an apparatus operating in accordance with the method.

Abstract: Stucco tower and method for applying ceramic particulates to a ceramic slurry coated pattern involves positioning the ceramic slurry coated pattern in a chamber, discharging ceramic particulates downwardly onto the ceramic slurry coated pattern, and circulating air through air circulation plenums from a lower region of the chamber to an upper region thereof as the ceramic particulates are discharged. An air curtain is provided at an access opening to the chamber.

Abstract: A remote control device that provides a wireless connection between the operator and a control console of a material coating spraying system, thereby allowing the operator to select, change, modify and otherwise control a variety of parameters and functions of the spraying operation. The remote capability permits an operator to be stationed at, in or near the spray booth so as to be able to observe the actual spraying operation and transmit instructions to the control console. In one embodiment, a powder spray system includes a spray gun having a pressurized air inlet and a powder inlet, a powder spray booth, a powder supply for feeding powder to the gun, a control console separately located with respect to the booth; the console being operable to control a spraying operation; and a hand-held remote control device for wireless operation of the control console by an operator positioned a distance from the console.

Abstract: A coating apparatus is configured to coat a moving strip of material with liquid coating material. The apparatus includes a liquid coating material supply unit and a coater for dispensing liquid coating material onto the moving strip of material. A recycler is provided for returning liquid coating material dispensed from the coater to a position in the coating apparatus upstream of the coater.

Abstract: A device for coating food products with granular material, for example breadcrumb material, comprises a rotating conveyor belt which is permeable to the granular material and on which the food products can be held, guide plates which extend beneath at least a section of the top part and the bottom part of the conveyor belt, a feed, which opens out above the top part of the conveyor belt, for the granular material, a diverter for guiding the granular material from the top part to the bottom part of the conveyor belt and back, as well as a conveyor for conveying granular material from the top part of the conveyor belt to the feed. A selection device to which granular material is fed from the top part of the conveyor belt is situated between the top part and the bottom part of the conveyor belt, via which selection device the selected granular material is fed to the bottom part of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for covering printed sheets with powder having a reservoir for the powder, an inlet for a carrier air stream feeding into the reservoir, an outlet for the carrier air stream loaded with powder exiting out of the reservoir and with a heating cartridge disposed in the reservoir, wherein the heating cartridge is provided with a heat conducting device. Powder can thereby be heated in a controlled, simple, and effective manner to remain in a pourable condition.

Abstract: Powder spray coating equipment includes a spraying system (2), an injector (26) to pneumatically convey powder to the spraying system (2), and at least one flushing-air intake (73) to supply flushing compressed air into the air/powder path at a flushing-air supply site where the flow impedance to the flushing compressed air is less everywhere in the downstream direction through the spraying system (2) than in the upstream direction as far as through the injector (26) in order to drive flushing compressed air from the flushing air intake (73) through the air/powder path and out of the spraying system (2).

Abstract: The disclosure is for an apparatus and a method of adhering particulate matter to limited areas of adhesive on a moving web and enabling the use of a very limited amount of particulate matter so that material costs are minimized. The path of a moving web with zones of adhesive and with previously supplied loose particles is shaped to form a trough with substantially vertical sides, so that gravity clears the web of excess material as the web moves down and up through the trough. Meanwhile, the particles falling from the web, go into the bottom of the trough where they stay until they stick to a following portion of the web which has adhesive. The loose particles are thereby immediately recycled for use, without any exposure to other contaminating materials, and the amount of particulate material used approaches the ideal quantity which would be needed to cover only the adhesive areas.

Abstract: A presentation is given of an improved method for coating lamp tubes for gas discharge lamps and for drying the coating, as well as of a device designed for the method, in the case of which method and device, during coating and drying, the lamp tubes are arranged at an oblique angle to the horizontal.

Abstract: The present invention is a means and method for powder dusting various manufactured products such as extrusions, sheet materials, thin films, and piece parts. The powder dusting system includes a regenerative compressor which propels an air/dust mixture through a control valve body into a cone shaped filter where a majority of the air is filtered out. The remaining concentrated air/dust mixture enters a head component where head jets direct the air/dust mixture to the item that is being coated. The powder duster of the present invention also provides a method of coating manufactured products on both their interior and exterior surfaces.

Abstract: The invention provides a powder coating apparatus, comprising a fresh powder container for receiving fresh powder, a recovery container for receiving powder recovered from the coating process, and a mixing container, which is connected to the fresh powder container and the recovery container via a first powder line and a second powder line, and comprising a control means for adjusting the mass flow rates of powder flowing in the first and the second powder line at a predetermined ratio of fresh powder and recovered powder. A first powder mass sensor is provided in or at the first powder line, and a second powder mass sensor is provided in or at the second powder line, wherein the control means is coupled with the first and the second powder mass sensor to adjust the ratio of the mass flow rates of powder flowing in the first and the second powder line.

Abstract: A thermographic printing apparatus, and method for thermographic printing, including a header assembly having at least two rollers for transporting a substrate having first and second sides, two edges, and powder adhering liquid on the first side thereof through the apparatus, wherein the rollers contact the substrate on the second side thereof, at least two disks each having an edge for transferring the substrate between each roller and the disks, wherein the disks position the substrate adjacent the edge thereof to provide at least one substantially contained area within the disks and substrate, and a powder supply for providing powder particles into the at least one contained area for application to the first side of the substrate, whereby an amount of the particles provided into the contained areas adheres to the powder adhering liquid on the substrate.

Abstract: A powder coating booth for performing therein powder coating onto an article to be coated is divided into an automatic coating zone in which coating is performed only by automatic coating machines and manual coating zones in which coating is performed by a worker. A dry type of first recovering apparatus which recovers only that powder coating material in the automatic coating zone which has not been coated onto the article to be coated is provided separately from a second recovering apparatus which recovers that powder coating material in the manual coating zones which has not been coated onto the article to be coated. In this manner, the ratio of reuse of the recovered uncoated powder coating material is improved.

Abstract: In a food bread apparatus an inlet conveyor provides food components to be breaded in the inlet opening of a breading drum. A recirculating bread mixture conveyor provides the breading mixture to the inlet opening. A takeout conveyor moves the breaded food components from the outlet opening of the breading drum. A lump removal conveyor is positioned below openings in the sidewall of the breading drum. The lump removal conveyor includes a plurality of openings sized to allow passage of surplus breading mixture therethrough but retain the lumps of breading mixture for transport to a catch pan. A surge hopper and conveyor positioned below the lump removal conveyor collected surplus breading mixture and transports the surplus breading mixture to the recirculation conveyor wherein the cycle begins again.

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 device for coating food products with granular material, for example breadcrumb material, comprises a rotating conveyor belt which is permeable to the granular material and on which the food products can be held, guide plates which extend beneath at least a section of the top part and the bottom part of the conveyor belt, a feed, which opens out above the top part of the conveyor belt, for the granular material, a diverter for guiding the granular material from the top part to the bottom part of the a conveyor belt and back, as well as conveyor for conveying granular material from the top part of the conveyor belt to the feed. A selection device to which granular material is fed from the top part of the conveyor belt is situated between the top part and the bottom part of the conveyor belt, via which selection device selected granular material is fed to the bottom part of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A food breading apparatus for breading food components with a breading mixture includes a breading drum rotatable about its longitudinal axis wherein the longitudinal axis is inclined from horizontal. The drum includes an inlet opening located in an upper end, an outlet opening located in a lower end, and a plurality of openings located proximal to the lower end of a sidewall. The openings are sized to allow surplus breading mixture and lumps of breading mixture to pass therethrough but retain the breaded food product in the rotating breading drum. An inlet conveyor provides food components to be breaded to the inlet opening of the breading drum. A recirculating breading mixture conveyor provides the breading mixture to the inlet opening. A takeout conveyor moves the breaded food components from the outlet opening of the breading drum. A lump removal conveyor is positioned below the plurality of openings in the sidewall of the breading drum.

Abstract: A composite manufacturing system moves a multi-fiber tow through a processing space. A resin particle source provides particles to the space. This source may include an airstream entrained with particles which is discharged into the space through an orifice; the airstream diverging as it enters the space. An electrode is disposed in the space to electrostatically charge the particles and facilitate deposition of the charged particles on the tow. In one embodiment, the electrode includes a corona wire disposed proximate to the tow to provide a generally cylindrical charging region. An electric field useful to direct deposition of the particles may be generated by appropriately shaping a wire electrode and orienting it in a predetermined manner relative to the tow. After the particles are deposited, a fixation unit may be used to at least partially melt the deposited particles. A processing stage may be included which has a pair of surfaces configured to heat and compress the tow therebetween.

Abstract: A food breading apparatus for breading food components with a breading mixture includes a breading drum rotatable about its longitudinal axis wherein the longitudinal axis is inclined from horizontal. The drum includes an inlet opening located in an upper end, an outlet opening located in a lower end, and a plurality of perforations located proximal to the lower end and through a sidewall of the drum. The perforations are sized to allow surplus breading mixture and lumps of breading mixture to pass therethrough but to retain the breaded food product in the rotating breading drum. An inlet conveyor provides food products to be breaded to the inlet opening of the breading drum. A recirculating breading mixture conveyor provides the breading mixture to the inlet opening. A takeout conveyor moves the breaded food products from the outlet opening of the breading drum. A lump removal conveyor is positioned below the plurality of perforations in the sidewall of the breading drum.

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: An electrostatic powder coating apparatus comprising a powder reservoir, a gas flow injection chamber, a diffusion chamber and a coating chamber and method for coating a substrate or target objects. The injection chamber receives powder from the reservoir at a controlled rate. The powder particulates awe entrained by a gas flow within the injection chamber. The diffusion chamber receives the particulates from the injection chamber. The diffusion chamber deaccelerates the particulates and creates a particulate cloud. The coating chamber receives the particulate cloud. A housing encloses the coating chamber. The coating chamber is isolated from the ambient atmosphere. The coating chamber has a cloud inlet and a cloud outlet. The cloud flows through the coating chamber from the inlet to the outlet. One or more deflectors, within the chamber, define a passage and two or more pockets adjoining the substrate or target objects.