With Hood Or Offtake For Waste Material Patents (Class 118/326)
  • Patent number: 6582517
    Abstract: A compartment for powder coating of workpieces (20) which is simple in structure, cost effective, and easy to clean comprises a floor (32, 40), two sidewalls (2, 4), and two end walls (10, 12) at least one (12) of which has a door opening (16) for entry and/or exit of the workpieces (20). Two oblique walls (22, 24) are arranged symmetrically inclined with respect to each other at the inside surfaces of the sidewalls (2, 4) in the lower corner regions of the compartment, so that, together with the corner regions, they define a suction channel (34, 36) each, and with their lower edges they form suction gaps (s). The walkable floor (32) may be embodied by a stationary plate or a discharge belt. The oblique walls (22, 24) can be tilted up against or removed from the inside surfaces of the sidewalls (2, 4) for cleaning purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Wagner International AG
    Inventors: Armando Volonté, Christoph Keller, Horst Adams
  • Patent number: 6576057
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for evenly applying an atomized adhesive for bonding a die to a leadframe are disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a hood in communication with an air supply and a vacuum plenum. The hood and vacuum plenum encompass a semiconductor device component located in a target area during adhesive application so that the adhesive is selectively applied to specific portions of the leadframe or other semiconductor device component and adhesive is not allowed outside the system. A mask or stencil may be employed to further prevent the application of adhesive to undesired areas. An air purge may be employed to direct the adhesive mist toward the component to be coated. In another embodiment, a fine adhesive spray is directed against the surface of the workpiece to be coated, selected areas being masked to prevent coating. Wafers may be coated as well as leadframes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard W. Wensel
  • Patent number: 6572701
    Abstract: A waste fluid separation and recovery system of the present invention includes a first cup in which the substrate is disposed when the substrate is being coated with the photoresist, a photoresist waste fluid groove connected by a path of fluid communication with the first cup and an exhaust airflow generator for generating an exhaust airflow, which guides photoresist waste fluid from the substrate toward the photoresist waste fluid groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshikazu Yamauchi, Yasuharu Oota
  • Patent number: 6569246
    Abstract: A powder coating assembly comprising a compartment (1) in which workpieces (3) are coated with powder and which includes a discharge belt (15) for conveying excess powder to a recovery unit (5) or a filter unit (4) is characterized in that both a recovery unit (5) and a filter unit (4) are provided, each connected by a separate conduit (16; 18) to an exhaust opening (17; 19) of the compartment (1), and in that a shutoff member (42) is provided in the separate conduits (16; 18) for selectively blocking conveyance of powder to the filter unit (4) or the recovery unit (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Wagner International AG
    Inventors: Christoph Keller, Horst Adams, Bernd Lutz, Daniel Ziwica
  • Patent number: 6569242
    Abstract: A thermal spraying system for a cylinder, in which a cylinder is held on a turntable; a bore inside surface of said cylinder is subjected to thermal spraying by moving a thermal spraying gun in the axial direction in the bore of said cylinder while said cylinder is rotated; a suction port of a dust discharge pipe for sucking dust in the bore of said cylinder is disposed under said cylinder to suck and discharge dust in the bore of said cylinder; and the diameter of the suction port of said dust discharge pipe is larger than the inside diameter of the bore of said cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Miyai, Seiya Kunioka, Tadashi Takahashi, Manabu Suzuki, Hirotoshi Ohishi
  • Publication number: 20030089311
    Abstract: Pre-treatment tunnel and method of preparing extrusions or section bars for being coated, wherein each workpiece is caused to move along a pre-treatment path and each treatment liquid is poured from above onto each workpiece so as to spread liquid onto the entire external surface of each workpiece with no solution of continuity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventor: Silvio Trevisan
  • Patent number: 6554205
    Abstract: A gas jetting nozzle is used for etching an object to be etched by jetting etching gas onto the object from the gas jetting nozzle. A gas jetting pipe for jetting an etching gas and a suction pipe for discharging the jetted gas are provided to have a coaxial dual pipe structure. The etching gas is jetted from the gas jetting pipe toward the object for etching and, at the same time, excess etching gas for reaction is discharged through the suction pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Syuhei Shinozuka, Kaori Miyoshi, Akira Fukunaga
  • Publication number: 20030077404
    Abstract: A magnetic paint conveyor system having a conveyor for conveying ferromagnetic items into and through a powder-coating paint booth. A permanent magnet is mounted on one side of a magnetically-conductive conveyor belt for the conveyor. As the magnetically-conductive conveyor belt slides over the permanent magnet, magnetic attractive forces are transferred through the belt. The ferromagnetic items are magnetically connected to the magnetically-conductive conveyor belt over the length of the permanent magnet. A feed conveyor may be provided for supplying ferromagnetic items to the magnetized portion of the magnetically-conductive conveyor belt. The ferromagnetic items fall off the magnetically-conductive conveyor belt onto an exit conveyor when they extend just beyond the end of the permanent magnet. The exit conveyor may lead to, for example, a curing oven. A belt cleaner is provided to clean powder paint particles off the belt for reuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: The Coleman Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald L. Hartley
  • Publication number: 20030077385
    Abstract: A powder spray booth (2) with a powder recovery system having an overspray intake (18) communicating with the interior of the booth. A vertically extending duct (20) leads from the overspray intake to a powder recovery system such as, for example, a cyclone. The vertically extending duct may have doors (32) opening to the interior of the booth to provide access to the vertical duct for cleaning. The doors may have holes (120) to aspirate air from the booth interior to optimize air flow patterns within the booth. A diverter plate (26) within the booth (2) defines with the booth floor (10) a floor duct leading to the overspray intake (18). The diverter plate has apertures for allowing oversprayed powder to be collected through the plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: James Ainsworth, Louis Van Den Bergh, Luigi Perillo
  • Patent number: 6547883
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying a liquid composition to one or more fibers of a fan of fibers provides a housing defining an elongated passageway therethrough such that the fan of fibers travels along a path through the passageway. The apparatus further provides a plurality of centrifugal spray heads including at least a first centrifugal spray head mounted in the housing and supplied with the liquid composition under pressure for directing the liquid composition onto one or more fibers of the fan of fibers passing a first location of the path. The plurality of centrifugal spray heads further includes at least a second centrifugal spray head mounted in the housing and being supplied with the liquid composition under pressure to direct the liquid composition onto one or more fibers of the fan of fibers passing a second location of the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Molnar, Thomas O. Matteson, Gary Gao, Richard A. Green
  • Publication number: 20030059523
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Vincent L. Bednarz, Jeffrey A. Perkins
  • Publication number: 20030056722
    Abstract: There is provided a system for supplying a chemical to a substrate to form a liquid film of the chemical on the substrate, the system being capable of inhibiting particles from adhering to the surface of the substrate and improving the yields of a coating film formed on the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Takahiro Kitano, Yoshiyuki Kawafuchi, Norihisa Koga, Toshichika Takei
  • Publication number: 20030051663
    Abstract: A powder collection system for use with a powder paint spray booth is disclosed having a housing disposed beneath the spray booth. The housing has a pair of sidewalls which taper toward each other from the top and to the bottom of the housing while two spaced end walls close the opposite ends of the housing. A fluidized bed extends along the housing adjacent its bottom and the fluidized bed divides the housing into an upper and a lower chamber. An air induction source is fluidly connected to the upper chamber of the housing so that, upon activation, the air induction source inducts both air and powder from the upper housing chamber. Conversely, a pressure source is fluidly connected to the lower chamber such that the pressurized air agitates the powder paint in the upper chamber and maintains the powder paint in a suspended condition in the upper housing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventor: Edward E. Tomlin
  • Patent number: 6533654
    Abstract: A spray booth comprises a housing having a ceiling and a set of walls that each have a bottom end and a top end, with the walls and the ceiling defining an interior. An air intake is disposed in the ceiling, and an exhaust outlet is disposed near the bottom end of one the walls. A circulation system is used to introduce air into the interior through the intake and to exhaust air through the outlet. Further, the air intake is configured to produce a airflow gradient within the interior such that the flow rate decreases in a direction toward the outlet and such that the airflow through the interior is in a generally downward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Garmat USA Inc.
    Inventor: Karel J. DeRegge
  • Publication number: 20030046909
    Abstract: A powder paint reclamation collector includes an upper chamber for collecting powder paint particles from a paint booth and a lower chamber that receives the particles from the upper chamber. A vacuum line communicates with the lower chamber retrieving the particles from the collector and transferring the particles to a reclamation system. An air chamber receives pressurized air from an air supply and communicates with the lower chamber through a porous plate. Air bleeds through the porous plate into lower and upper chambers for fluidizing the paint particles. The porous plate and an air chamber floor angle downward from the lower chamber towards the vacuum line to improve the flow of fluidized paint particles into the vacuum line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: David John Cole, Charlotte E. Kelly, Richard D. Burke, David E. O'Ryan
  • Patent number: 6524388
    Abstract: A coating apparatus and a coating method are provided capable of adjusting the coating conditions into optimum and producing stabilized coating film continuously. The coating apparatus comprises a backing roll 2; a coating color delivery slit 4; a gas chamber 10, disposed upstream to the coating color delivery slit 4, containing therein a gas injection nozzle 9 and a pressure sensor 7; a gas recovery chamber 14 disposed upstream to the gas chamber; a nozzle group 20 disposed upstream to the gas recovery chamber 14; and a pressure control device for controlling the pressure inside of the gas chamber within a predetermined pressure range based on the detection results of the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Yamada, Masahiro Sugihara, Hiroshi Miura
  • Publication number: 20030024218
    Abstract: A modular powder recovery apparutus includes a base unit, one or more cartridge filters, and a wrapper that at least partially encloses the cartridge filters. The wrapper is designed to allow additional wrappers to be vertically stacked thereon to increase the overall height of the wrapper, thus permitting additional filter capacity without changing the base unit. The base unit is modular in design so that the size of the apparatus may be increased with a minimum of cost and waste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: John W. Stephens, Donald L. Urig
  • Patent number: 6514344
    Abstract: The present invention is a film forming unit for forming a film on a substrate by supplying a coating solution on the substrate from a discharge nozzle, including moving means for moving the discharge nozzle, wherein the moving means comprises a supporting member for supporting the discharge nozzle, a moving member for moving the supporting member, a guide shaft passing through bearing portion which is formed in the supporting member, and an air supply mechanism for supplying air to a space between the bearing portion and the guide shaft. The discharge nozzle discharges the coating solution while moving along the guide shaft. On the substrate the coating solution is applied along the locus of the discharge nozzle movement. Since air is supplied to the space between the bearing portion and the guide shaft, the supporting member can be made to be in the state of floating relative the guide shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Takahiro Kitano, Masateru Morikawa, Yukihiko Esaki, Nobukazu Ishizaka, Norihisa Koga, Kazuhiro Takeshita, Hirofumi Ookuma, Masami Akimoto
  • Publication number: 20030019425
    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: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Shutic, Larry Fenik, Scott Miller, Brean Bark
  • Patent number: 6503324
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: Robert D. Adair, Allen W. Ely, Qizhong Diao
  • Patent number: 6500262
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent L. Bednarz, Jeffrey A. Perkins
  • Patent number: 6497751
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a water-based paint recycling method with which there is no need to set up the water-based paint application booth close to the condensing separator, which affords greater freedom in installation. The present invention is a water-based paint recycling method in which, in a water-based paint application booth in the bottom of which booth water is pooled, the paint mist produced when a-water-based paint is applied is trapped by this booth water, the booth water containing this trapped paint mist is treated by the condensing separator, and the resulting concentrate and filtrate are reused, wherein this water-based paint recycling method is characterized in that the water-based paint application booth and the condensing separator are independent, not being connected by piping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Nippon Paint Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Yamauchi, Kageki Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20020192384
    Abstract: A method of surface treatment for a lens of a vehicle lamp. The method comprises forming a hard coating film on a outer surface of the lens by heating to harden after the hard coating film is applied onto the outer surface of the lens; cooling the lens formed with the hard coating film until the inner surface of the lens has a predetermined temperature; and forming a antifogging coating film on a inner surface of the lens by heating to dry after the antifogging coating film is applied onto the inner surface of the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd., a Tokyo, Japan corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Aikawa, Koichi Nakamura, Hidetaka Anma
  • Publication number: 20020185064
    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: August 2, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventor: Jeffrey R. Shutic
  • Publication number: 20020187272
    Abstract: Coating of a substrate with an organic material, which is characterized in that it comprises liquefying by pressurization a medium which is gaseous at ordinary temperature under 1 atom and liquefies at ordinary temperature under a pressure of 100 atom or less, dissolving or dispersing an organic material in the liquefied medium, and spraying the resulting material mixture onto a substrate in an inert gas atmosphere or comprises bringing a medium having a critical temperature of ordinary temperature or lower and a critical pressure of 100 atm or less into a supercritical state, dissolving or dispersing an organic material in the medium, and spraying the resulting material mixture onto a substrate in an inert gas atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Gen Kojima, Kunio Masumo, Akira Takahashi, Goro Asari
  • Publication number: 20020187258
    Abstract: Apparatus for applying powder to objects, such as electric motor stators and permeable substrates. The apparatus includes a first chamber having upper and lower portions. A powder fluidizing bed is disposed at the lower portion and receives and fluidizes a bed of powder to form a powder cloud within the first chamber. An opening is disposed at the upper portion of the first chamber and directs at least one stream of the powder from the powder cloud out of the first chamber. An object holder is disposed above the opening and is configured to hold at least one of the objects at a position for intersecting the stream of powder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Bellemare, John Donahue, Martin Fagan, Robert Vollono
  • Patent number: 6491974
    Abstract: The invention provides a device and method for dispensing fluid materials from a product reservoir onto a substrate. The device includes at least one dispensing nozzle having at least one inner conduit leading to an exit port and adaptable to be in fluid communication with a supply source for the fluid dispensable material. The nozzle further comprises an end portion defining the exit port such that a ribbon of fluid dispensable material can be applied to the substrate. The nozzle is mountable on means that effect substantially perpendicular free movement of the nozzle relative to the substrate, such that the end portion of the nozzle maintains contact with the fluid material applied to the substrate. During dispensing, movement towards the substrate is effected by an applied force and movement away from the substrate is effected by a thrust exerted by the dispensed fluid material against said end portion of the nozzle and the dispensable material in the exit port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Loctite (R&D) Limited
    Inventor: Fergal A. Gordon
  • Patent number: 6485568
    Abstract: In an apparatus for coating substrates with materials, particularly for lacquering Si-wafers (9) with photosensitive material, comprising a treating chamber (1,16) holding a carrier (10) (chuck) for the substrate to be treated and at least one atomizing nozzle (2) generating a spray jet of the coating material, which may be dosed and which is directed towards the substrate, and a propellant gas, additional guiding and, respectively or, processing devices (6) are arranged between the atomizing nozzle or nozzles (2) and the substrate carrier (10) in the treating chamber (1, 16), which devices comprise nozzles or swirl generators charged with compressed gas or compressed gas and a solvent, and/or centrifugal disks, small turbines, or the like, and produce the spray jet directed towards the substrate from the spray mist generated by the atomizing nozzle or nozzles, for additionally influencing and controlling the spray jet and thereby to improve the quality of the material application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Inventor: Erich Thallner
  • Publication number: 20020172769
    Abstract: A protective masking device adapted to rest on the upper surface of an engine block having cylinder bores during a thermal coating operation of the cylinder bores comprises a protective masking member having an essentially hollow cylindrical shape with an inner diameter selected in relation to the diameter of the cylinder bore to be thermally coated. The protective masking device comprises either an essentially tube shaped outer sleeve member and an insert member inserted into the outer sleeve member, or it is designed such that at least a portion of a layer or of several layers of coating material applied to the inner side of the masking device during the coating operation of the related cylinder bore is mechanically removable. Using the proposed masking device, the coating operation can be started outside the cylinder bore, without the danger that portion of the engine block or the environment is contaminated by coating particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: Ralph Herber, Peter Zurcher, Gerard Barbezat
  • Publication number: 20020170494
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for the application of a polymer resin to a threaded fastener, where the fastener includes a cylindrical body and the threads of the fastener are formed in a bore extending diametrically across the body. The apparatus generally comprises a conveyor, a resin application station and a fastener orientation station. The conveyor carries the fasteners along a predetermined path of travel, and includes one or more fastener support members that permit the individual fasteners to rotate about the axes of their cylindrical bodies. The application station comprises a nozzle which directs a stream of the resin toward the travel path of the fasteners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: Anthony DiMaio, Mahmoud Arslanouk
  • Publication number: 20020166506
    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: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: Christoph Keller, Hans Mendler
  • Publication number: 20020157604
    Abstract: A powder coating material spray booth, one or more powder spray devices position to spray articles passing through the booth with powder coating material, a powder recovery module comprising a separator for separating powder coating material from air, a source of suction for drawing over sprayed powder coating material from inside the booth, an exhaust duct connected to the powder recovery module and communicating with the suction source, said suction source being operable to draw airborne over sprayed powder coating material out of the booth through the exhaust duct and into the powder recovery module, at least a portion of the exhaust duct being [contained] accessible from within the booth, said portion including a cover section which forms a part of said exhaust duct, said cover section being [removable] movable to allow over sprayed powder coating material to be removed from inside said exhaust duct during a color change operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: James Ainsworth, Christopher Eastwood, Robert Perrin
  • Patent number: 6471737
    Abstract: A powder paint reclamation collector includes an upper chamber for collecting powder paint particles from a paint booth and a lower chamber that receives the particles from the upper chamber. A vacuum line communicates with the lower chamber retrieving the particles from the collector and transferring the particles to a reclamation system. An air chamber receives pressurized air from an air supply and communicates with the lower chamber through a porous plate. Air bleeds through the porous plate into lower and upper chambers for fluidizing the paint particles. The porous plate and an air chamber floor angle downward from the lower chamber towards the vacuum line to improve the flow of fluidized paint particles into the vacuum line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Durr Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David John Cole, Charlotte E. Kelly, Richard D. Burke, David E. O'Ryan
  • Patent number: 6461431
    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: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: James Ainsworth, Christopher Eastwood, Robert Perrin
  • Patent number: 6458209
    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: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey R. Shutic
  • Patent number: 6447585
    Abstract: In the method and system of the instant invention, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) liberated in the course of solvent-based painting of a workpiece, are recovered. The atmosphere within a closed spray-booth is maintained at a fixed humidity such that vaporized water, supplied in the form of steam or nebulized water vapor, acts as a carrier for VOCs liberated in the course of spray painting or heat curing of a workpiece. The VOCs may be recovered continuously, including during the spray-painting or heat curing of the workpiece. The VOC laden, humidified air is circulated through a condenser such that VOCs dissolved in the water vapor condense and are directed to a recovery means. The water and solvent are separated, recovered and purified for re-use or placed in an appropriate container for disposal, thereby eliminating the usual practice of expelling VOC laden air into the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Inventors: LeRoy H. Buchholz, Jr., Loretta P. Buchholz
  • Publication number: 20020119254
    Abstract: A spray booth comprises a housing having a ceiling and a set of walls that each have a bottom end and a top end, with the walls and the ceiling defining an interior. An air intake is disposed in the ceiling, and an exhaust outlet is disposed near the bottom end of one the walls. A circulation system is used to introduce air into the interior through the intake and to exhaust air through the outlet. Further, the air intake is configured to produce a airflow gradient within the interior such that the flow rate decreases in a direction toward the outlet and such that the airflow through the interior is in a generally downward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventor: Karel J. DeRegge
  • Patent number: 6432173
    Abstract: Methods and systems for recovering paint include utilizing a plurality of centrifugal separator modules downstream of a paint booth. Each of the centrifugal separator modules includes a plurality of centrifugal separators. Each of the centrifugal separators separates at least a portion of the paint particles from an air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: James Edward Johnson, James Michael Browning, Timothy Camiel Buyck, Michael Joseph Thies
  • Patent number: 6419720
    Abstract: A modular powder recovery apparatus includes a base unit, one or more cartridge filters, and a wrapper that at least partially encloses the cartridge filters. The wrapper is designed to allow additional wrappers to be vertically stacked thereon to increase the overall height of the wrapper, thus permitting additional filter capacity without changing the base unit. A modular cartridge assembly is provided to facilitate color change operations. A fan cone is provided in the base unit to permit fan wheel size changes without requiring structural modifications to the base unit housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Stephens, Donald L. Urig
  • Publication number: 20020078668
    Abstract: A powder paint reclamation collector includes an upper chamber for collecting powder paint particles from a paint booth and a lower chamber that receives the particles from the upper chamber. A vacuum line communicates with the lower chamber retrieving the particles from the collector and transferring the particles to a reclamation system. An air chamber receives pressurized air from an air supply and communicates with the lower chamber through a porous plate. Air bleeds through the porous plate into lower and upper chambers for fluidizing the paint particles. The porous plate and an air chamber floor angle downward from the lower chamber towards the vacuum line to improve the flow of fluidized paint particles into the vacuum line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: David John Cole, Charlotte E. Kelly, Richard D. Burke, David E. O'Ryan
  • Patent number: 6390383
    Abstract: A robotic machine includes a robotic arm with a machine tool mounted thereto. A powder injector is mounted near the tool. A local powder feeder is mounted to the arm and includes a local conduit for supplying powder to the injector, and a load cell for measuring powder weight therein to control feedrate. A remote powder feeder is spaced from the arm, and includes a remote conduit joined to the local feeder for supplying powder thereto. A process computer controls the arm, and two feeders and effects staged delivery of the powder from the remote feeder to the local feeder for improving powder delivery response time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Anthony Fusaro, Jr., Russell Stephen DeMuth
  • Patent number: 6379056
    Abstract: A first processing unit group for performing processing for a substrate at a temperature close to room temperature and a second processing unit group for performing heat processing for the substrate are disposed in divided different areas. Between the first processing unit group and the second processing unit group, the substrate is transferred only by means of a main transport apparatus and not directly. Thereby, temperature control can be precisely performed in the first processing unit group for performing processing for the substrate at a temperature close to room temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Issei Ueda
  • Publication number: 20020046702
    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: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventors: James M. Browning, Timothy C. Buyck, James E. Johnson, Michael S. Smith, Michael J. Thies
  • Publication number: 20020046700
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for introducing in continuous a substance in liquid phase into plastics granules by means of the steps of:
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventors: Giuseppe Colombo, Pierluigi Folcini, Giovanni Pozzati, Marcello Del Brenna
  • Publication number: 20020046701
    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: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventors: James M. Browning, Timothy C. Buyck, James E. Johnson, Michael S. Smith, Michael J. Thies
  • Publication number: 20020043212
    Abstract: Provided, among other things, is a re-circulating particle feed apparatus comprising: a circular conduit of dimensions suitable for circulating gas with suspended particles; a deposition station comprising an opening onto the conduit, into which opening an electrostatic chuck fits, with a deposition surface of the chuck available to the interior of the conduit; and a propulsion device for maintaining fluid and particle circulation through the conduit, wherein the propulsion device is adapted to maintain fluid and particle circulation at a rate that brings a deposition effective amount of particles within a range of electro-attractive influence at the deposition station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventor: George R. Pawlo
  • Publication number: 20020041935
    Abstract: The present invention is a coating unit for applying a coating solution on a substrate, comprising: a container enclosing the substrate; a casing for accommodating the container therein; a supply device for supplying a predetermined gas into the casing; a first exhaust pipe for exhausting an atmosphere inside the container; a second exhaust pipe for exhausting an atmosphere inside the casing; a first adjusting device which is disposed in the first exhaust pipe, for adjusting a flow rate of an atmosphere passing through the first exhaust pipe; and a second adjusting device which is disposed in the second exhaust pipe, for adjusting a flow rate of an atmosphere passing through the second exhaust pipe. According to the present invention, the second exhaust pipe is usable for adjusting the exhaust flow rate to maintain a pressure inside the casing at a positive pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hiroichi Inada, Shinichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6368387
    Abstract: A device for recovering powder in an installation for spraying pulverulent coating product. The device includes: at least one cyclone for separating the powder recovered in the installation and its conveying air, and a sieve associated with the or each cyclone. The device further includes a perforated plate disposed on the path of the recovered powder, between the cyclone and the sieve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Sames Technologies
    Inventors: Thierry Buquet, Stéphane Bonal, Michel Fossacera, Daniel Belmain
  • Patent number: 6361605
    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: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Shutic, John F. Carlson, Thomas E. Hollstein, Keith E. Williams, Ernest J. Fena, Harry J. Lader
  • Patent number: 6361600
    Abstract: A drive pulley is disposed to a driving motor. A plurality of follower pulleys are disposed to a rotating shaft of a spin chuck that vacuum sucks a substrate. A belt is passed from one follower pulley to the drive pulley. Belts are passed from the other follower pulleys to the drive shafts of a plurality of air motors. Since the air motors assist the driving of the driving motor, a large substrate can be rotated at a predetermined rotating acceleration. Thus, a film forming apparatus and a film forming method that allow the quantity of process solution supplied to be reduced and a film of process solution to be equally formed on a substrate can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kiyohisa Tateyama, Tsutae Omori