Electrostatic And/or Electromagnetic Attraction Or Projection Of Coating Material To Work Patents (Class 118/621)
  • 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: 7097711
    Abstract: An electrostatic flocking operation of a workpiece (5) is advantageously performed in a condition in which the moisture content of an adhesive layer formed on a surface of the workpiece (5) is kept at a favorable value by a humidifier (1). The humidifier (1) is provided between an electrostatic flocking chamber and an adhesive applicator which is disposed in the upstream side of the electrostatic flocking chamber. In the humidifier (1), a current of a moisture bearing air (2) is driven upon the adhesive layer of the workpiece (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignees: Mesac Corporation, Sumitomo Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Abe, Teruyuki Tatsumi
  • Patent number: 7070656
    Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for electrostatically coating a pharmaceutical tablet core with powdered coating material. The apparatus comprises a first rotary drum (12) on which a core is held in electrical isolation from its surroundings but at a potential differecne to earth by an electrode which contacts the core. The core is carried past a coating station B at which particles of powder having an opposite potential difference to earth are held in a tray (18). The surface of the drum is held at the same potential difference to earth as the powder particles. The powder is attracted to the core, and not to the drum, coating the exposed surface of the core. The drum carries the coated core past a fusing station C at which a heater fuses the powder to form a continuous film coating. The core is then turned and transferred onto a second drum (12?) where the other surface is coated in the same way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Phoqus Pharmaceuticals Limited
    Inventors: John E. Hogan, John N. Stannforth, Linda Reeves, Trevor Page
  • Patent number: 7051670
    Abstract: The equipment for preparing for electrostatic painting three-dimensional articles (P) with a predominantly flat extension, made from dielectric or low-conductivity material, which move on and are supported by a horizontal conveyor (T), presents the feature that the conveyor is made from an electrically insulating material, having a resistivity greater than that of the panels (P) to be painted. One or more electrodes (E, 12) are placed in isolated positions, at suitable distances from each other and from the edges of the panels, under the said panels, at least while the powdered paints electrostatically charged to an electrical potential are being fed on to them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: CEFLA Soc. Coop. a.r.l.
    Inventors: Silver Santandrea, Stefano Benedetti
  • Patent number: 6977130
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electronic circuit satisfying demands for cost reduction, diversified small-quantity production, and a shorter cycle of design, manufacture, evaluation, correction, and so on is provided. The method includes at least forming a first pattern or forming a second pattern. Forming the first pattern comprises: forming a visible image on an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive base, by the adhesion of charged particles essentially made of a resin; transferring the visible image onto the intermediate transfer base by the contact and pressurization of the visible image; heating/softening on the intermediate transfer base; and transferring a heated/softened resin layer onto a base material by the contact and pressurization of the resin layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hideo Aoki, Chiaki Takubo, Atsuko Iida, Yasuyuki Hotta, Naoko Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6887314
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating sheet material with thermoset material. In certain embodiments, first and second different induction furnaces are provided, with the coated sheet first proceeding into and through the first furnace, and then into and through the second furnace. The first furnace may be maintained at a temperature less than the second furnace, so that out-gassing of volatile materials is achieved in the first furnace and thereafter heightened cross-linking conversation rates are achieved in the second furnace at higher temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Material Sciences Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas E. Edwards, Mark R. Monterastelli
  • Patent number: 6878355
    Abstract: The invention concerns the treatment of porous structures such as cross-linked foams, woven or nonwoven, to make them electrically conductive by depositing polymers. The device enables, in a chemical reactor, to perform the activating treatment directly through non-reeled off blocks or rolls of porous structures, the treating fluids of the successive steps being made to circulate inside said blocks or rolls, via a perforated rotary mandrel whereon they are pressed. Said device enables to activate efficiently the structures, which may be metal-coated or not, and are particularly designed to be used as electrodes for liquid effluent electrolysis, of detectors and traps of organic or biological molecules, electrode supports for electrochemical generators, catalyst supports, filtering media, acoustic insulants, electromagnetic, nuclear and antistatic protection structures, heat exchangers and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: S.C.P.S. Societe de Conseil et de Prospective Scientifique S.A.
    Inventors: Bernard Bugnet, Jacques Doniat, Robert Rouget
  • Patent number: 6849128
    Abstract: A device for producing a color filter includes a part for storing a solution in which a light transmitting material is dissolved, a part for feeding the solution to a tip of a flying electrode, a part for applying a voltage between the tip of the flying electrode and an electro-conductive material of a color filter substrate so as to form an electrostatic field, and a part for relatively shifting the tip of the flying electrode and the color filter substrate with respect to one another in at least one of a perpendicular direction and to a horizontal direction. The solution is formed into a stringy beam which is let to fly onto the color filter substrate so that the solution is injected into a concavity formed and surrounded by a black matrix on the color filter substrate, arid forms red, green and blue light emitting layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Yonekura, Yoshinobu Fukano, Mamoru Okano, Yasuo Imanishi, Sukekazu Aratani, Yoshiharu Nagae
  • Patent number: 6834612
    Abstract: Provided is a dispenser for dispensing particles onto a surface comprising a hopper for receiving particles, wherein the hopper has an opening at its bottom, a screen having openings and located adjacent the opening of the hopper, wherein the screen openings are uniformly sized and spaced and are sufficiently large to let the largest particles pass through during dispensing yet sufficiently small to hold the particles back when the dispenser is not operating, and means, located outside of the hopper, for moving particles from the hopper through the screen, and onto the surface. Also provided is a method of making a web with embedded particles comprising the sequential steps of making the web receptive to the particles by heating, eliminating static charges present on the web, dispensing the particles onto the web, dispersing the particles to minimize particle clumping in the web, and embedding the dispensed particles in the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David C. Chambers, Glen Connell, Ranjith Divigalpitiya, David E. Livingstone, Agatona D. Monteagudo, Susan C. Noe, Tejmeen K. Sandhu
  • Publication number: 20040255851
    Abstract: An electrode base material is held by electrostatic attraction when a voltage from a DC power source is applied to electrodes for electrostatic attraction. A paste is applied to the electrode base material, and then the paste is dried to form the water-repellent layer. Subsequently, another paste is applied to the water-repellent layer, and then the paste is dried. Accordingly, the substantially flat electrode catalyst layer including an extremely small number of depressions is formed. The electrode of the fuel cell produced as described above can be used as an anode or a cathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Iwasaki, Noboru Okada, Ichiro Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20040237887
    Abstract: The equipment for preparing for electrostatic painting three-dimensional articles (P) with a predominantly flat extension, made from dielectric or low-conductivity material, which move on and are supported by a horizontal conveyor (T), presents the feature that the conveyor is made from an electrically insulating material, having a resistivity greater than that of the panels (P) to be painted. One or more electrodes (E, 12) are placed in isolated positions, at suitable distances from each other and from the edges of the panels, under the said panels, at least while the powdered paints electrostatically charged to an electrical potential are being fed on to them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Silver Santandrea, Stefano Beneditti
  • Publication number: 20040234702
    Abstract: After forming a primary powder bed at a toothed portion of an article, such as a gear or a spline shaft, by electrostatic powder coating process, the powder bed is removed from crests of teeth in the toothed portion by a specified thickness by scraping it off while sucking up the scraped powder. Next, the electrostatic powder coating process is performed again to form a secondary powder bed over the entire surface of the toothed portion. Then, the primary and secondary powder beds are melted or fused by induction heating to thereby form a coating film of a substantially uniform thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicant: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Kitahata, Takashi Tojo, Katsura Koyagi, Takanon Kurokawa, Atsuo Suehiro, Yoshifumi Niide, Kouichi Taniguchi, Shingo Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20040216663
    Abstract: A device (10) for the direct or indirect application of liquid or pasty application medium (16) to one or both sides of a material web (20), in particular of paper or board, comprises an applicator unit (12) which discharges the application medium (16) onto the material web (20) in the form of a free application medium jet (18). In this case, in the region of the applicator unit (12) there is provided a device (30) for producing an electric field, which exerts on the application medium jet (18) moving from the applicator unit (12) to the material web (20) a force which assists its movement. Additionally or alternatively, edge guiding elements can be provided, which guide the lateral edges of the application medium curtain (18) at least on part of its movement under the force of gravity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Mendez-Gallon Benjamin, Ueberschar Manfred
  • Publication number: 20040197487
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electronic circuit satisfying demands for cost reduction, diversified small-quantity production, and a shorter cycle of design, manufacture, evaluation, correction, and so on is provided. The method includes at least forming a first pattern or forming a second pattern. Forming the first pattern comprises: forming a visible image on an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive base, by the adhesion of charged particles essentially made of a resin; transferring the visible image onto the intermediate transfer base by the contact and pressurization of the visible image; heating/softening on the intermediate transfer base; and transferring a heated/softened resin layer onto a base material by the contact and pressurization of the resin layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Hideo Aoki, Chiaki Takubo, Atsuko Iida, Yasuyuki Hotta, Naoko Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6797066
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for powder coating 1 which includes a coat-applying station 39 for applying a powder coating P on a work 3 to be coated, and a high frequency induction heating apparatus 47 for heating the work 3 covered with the powder coating P under the effect of high frequency wave and baking the powder coating P on the work at the interface defined between the powder coating and the work. Use of the apparatus 1 provides a uniform and strong coating film without any unevenness more efficiently with the relatively compact apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisya Yoshino Kosakujo
    Inventors: Koshiro Yoshino, Michio Suganuma, Tadahiko Koyanagi
  • Publication number: 20040177809
    Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for electrostatically coating a pharmaceutical tablet core with powdered coating material. The apparatus comprises a first rotary drum (12) on which a core is held in electrical isolation from its surroundings but at a potential difference to earth by an electrode which contacts the core. The core is carried past a coating station B at which particles of powder having an opposite potential difference to earth are held in a tray (18). The surface of the drum is held at the same potential difference to earth as the powder particles. The powder is attracted to the core, and not to the drum, coating the exposed surface of the core. The drum carries the coated core past a fusing station C at which a heater fuses the powder to form a continuous film coating. The core is then turned and transferred onto a second drum (12′) where the other surface is coated in the same way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Applicant: Phoqus Limited
    Inventors: John E. Hogan, John N. Stannforth, Linda Reeves, Trevor Page
  • Patent number: 6786174
    Abstract: A system (100, 100′) and method for robotic manipulation of objects (130) is provided wherein a liquid (110, 110′) is agitated by the transfer of energy thereto for establishing an oscillatory motion instability in the liquid (110, 110′). The energy input into the liquid (110, 110′) forms standing waves (112). The objects (130) align themselves with nodes of the standing waves (112) and thus are dynamically arranged in a configuration established by the location of the standing waves (112). The location of the standing waves (112) can be predetermined by controlling the energy input by energy application system (140) and the size and shape of the container (120). Predetermined waveforms are supplied from the signal source (150, 154) to the energy application system (140).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: The Mitre Corporation
    Inventor: Johann M. Schleier-Smith
  • Patent number: 6783768
    Abstract: Method of coating a substrate which is a belt, sheet, film, or tape, comprising applying an active coating material to the substrate to form an active coating layer, the active coating material comprising biologically active material. The active coating material is applied electrostatically as a powder and, after the active coating material is applied, the active coating material is fused to form an active film layer. The active coating material is removable from the substrate as a wafer comprising the active film layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Phoqus Pharmaceuticals Limited
    Inventors: Steven R. Brown, Linda A. Reeves, John N. Staniforth
  • Patent number: 6776844
    Abstract: A production device to produce an organic EL display includes a solution in which a light emitting material is dissolved, and a flying electrode to receive solution from the container. A voltage is applied between the tip of the flying electrode and an electrically conductive material of an organic EL substrate to form an electrostatic field, and the tip of the flying electrode and the organic EL substrate are shifted relative to one another in at least one of a perpendicular direction and a horizontal direction. With this arrangement, the solution is formed into a stringy beam from the tip of the flying electrode to it fly onto the organic EL, substrate, thereby injecting the solution into a concavity formed and surrounded by banks on the organic EL substrate, and forming red, green and blue light emitting layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Yonekura, Yoshinobu Fukano, Mamoru Okano, Yasuo Imanishi, Sukekazu Aratani, Yoshiharu Nagae
  • Patent number: 6776118
    Abstract: A system (100, 100′) and method for robotic manipulation of objects (130) is provided wherein a liquid (110, 110′) is agitated by the transfer of energy thereto for establishing an oscillatory motion instability in the liquid (110, 110′). The energy input into the liquid (110, 110′) forms standing waves (112). The objects (130) align themselves with nodes of the standing waves (112) and thus are dynamically arranged in a configuration established by the location of the standing waves (112). The location of the standing waves (112) can be predetermined by controlling the energy input by energy application system (140) and the size and shape of the container (120). Predetermined waveforms are supplied from the signal source (150, 154) to the energy application system (140).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: The Mitre Corporation
    Inventor: Johann M. Schleier-Smith
  • Publication number: 20040149205
    Abstract: A spray booth comprising an electrostatic disk (1) that is suitable to move along a shaft in order to position it at a chosen height with respect to a piece to be coated, the electrostatic disk (1) being provided with a plurality of electrodes (3) for generating an electrical field and for coating the piece to be coated by electrostatic disk is composed of a plurality of circulars sectors (1a), each powered by an independent voltage source (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventor: Achille Borzone
  • Publication number: 20040144307
    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: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: ABB Service S.r.I.
    Inventor: Achille Borzone
  • Patent number: 6755913
    Abstract: In a color changing apparatus for multiple color electrostatic coating of conductive coating material, a pipe joint (a) provided to be movable and an electrostatic spray gun connected to the pipe joint (a) through a pipeline are provided. A plurality of coating material supply circulation circuits, including a liquid tank, a pump and a pipe joint (b) disengageably engageable with the pipe joint (a) are provided. The liquid tank, the pump and the pipe joint (b) are connected through a pipeline. The pipe joint (a) and the pipe joint (b) in the plurality of coating material supply circulation circuits can be selectively engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Kobayashi, Hidetaka Tsukamoto, Nobuo Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6740853
    Abstract: A substrate holder for holding a substrate (e.g., a wafer or an LCD panel) during plasma processing. The substrate holder is a stack of processing elements which each perform at least one function. The elements include an electrostatic chuck (102), an He gas distribution system (122), multi-zone heating plates (132), and multi-zone cooling system (152). Each element is designed to match the characteristic of the processing system, e.g., by applying heat based on a heat loss characteristic of the substrate during normal processing. The integrated design allows for precise control of the operating conditions, including, but not limited to, fast heating and fast cooling of a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Wayne L. Johnson, Eric J. Strang
  • Patent number: 6736899
    Abstract: In order to obtain an evenly flocked and an evenly coated surface of a strip-like elongated workpiece, any slack of the strip-like elongated workpiece is removed not to affect the workpiece when the workpiece travels through an electrostatic flocking and an electrostatic coating chamber at high speed. A slack of the workpiece occurs due to its own weight under the influence of gravity when the workpiece travels through the electrostatic flocking and the electrostatic coating chamber at high speed. A V-shaped oblique surface portion of the workpiece is forcibly defined by a pressure roller in a position corresponding to that of the slack of the strip-like elongated workpiece. An electrode is disposed in parallel to the workpiece's V-shaped oblique surface portion defined by the pressure roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignees: Mesac Corporation, Sumitomo Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Abe, Teruyuki Tatsumi
  • Publication number: 20040052938
    Abstract: A method of electrostatically applying a powder material to a solid dosage form comprises the following steps: applying a bias voltage to generate an electric field between a source (1) of the powder material and the solid dosage form (5); applying an electrostatically charged powder material to the solid dosage form (5), the powder material being driven onto the solid dosage form (5) by the interaction of the electric field with the charged powder material, an the presence of the charged powder material on the solid dosage form serving to build up an electric charge on the solid dosage form (5) and thereby reduce the electric field generated by the bias voltage between the source (1) of powder material and the solid dosage form (5), and continuing the application of the electrostatically charged powder material to the solid dosage form (5) until the electric field between the source (1) of powder material and the solid dosage form is so small that the driving of the powder material by the electric field onto
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: David Hoover Feather, Douglas Howard Nelson
  • Publication number: 20040020428
    Abstract: The paint-spraying apparatus exhibits a supply line 7 for coating material, extending from the color changer to the atomizer. Cut-off valves 26, 27 installed in the supply line delimit an insulating section 25 of said supply line, which insulating section is associated with means 28 to 32 for emptying and flushing said insulating section 25. A voltage divider 16 is connected in parallel to said insulating section 25. When colors are changed, the residual coating material present in said voltage divider 16 can be moved into the empty insulating section 25, after which it is forced by means of slugs back through the entire supply line 7 to the color changer 1, and is thus reclaimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Applicant: LacTec GmbH
    Inventors: Burkhard Bilz, Udo Klein, Joachim Kunkel, Winfried Ott
  • Publication number: 20030234248
    Abstract: There is disclosed a heating apparatus with electrostatic attraction function 1, comprising at least a supporting base 2, an electrode for electrostatic attraction 4 and a heating layer 5 that are formed on the supporting base, and an insulating layer 6 that is formed on the electrode for electrostatic attraction and the heating layer, wherein the electrode for electrostatic attraction and/or the heating layer are/is composed of pyrolytic graphite containing boron and/or boron carbide of 0.001-30% by weight in terms of boron concentration, and the insulating layer has an electric resistivity of 106-1015 &OHgr;cm. There is provided a heating apparatus with electrostatic attraction function, which has a high thermal shock resistance, no problem of delamination, a proper resistance value, and a sufficient electrostatic attraction force even in a medium and high temperature range of 500-800° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Applicant: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shoji Kano, Ryouji Iwai, Nobuo Arai
  • Patent number: 6648972
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for powdering printed sheets, especially printed sheets made out of paper, whereby a powder coating device is arranged inside a sheet feeding device and an electrostatic charging device that is disposed outside the sheet feeding device is assigned to the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Weitmann & Konrad GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Thomas Stober, Reiner Haas, Gunter Hess
  • Publication number: 20030209196
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating sheet material with thermoset material. In certain embodiments, first and second different induction furnaces are provided, with the coated sheet first proceeding into and through the first furnace, and then into and through the second furnace. The first furnace may be maintained at a temperature less than the second furnace, so that out-gassing of volatile materials is achieved in the first furnace and thereafter heightened cross-linking conversation rates are achieved in the second furnace at higher temperature(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventors: Douglas E. Edwards, Mark R. Monterastelli
  • Patent number: 6645300
    Abstract: A plurality of unconventional negative tribo-charging materials are described for use as the powder contact surfaces in tribocharging and corona powder spray guns, gun components, and powder delivery system components. The invention also provides a short barrel tribo-charging powder spray gun having an interchangeable powder contact insert and nozzle, with turbulence inducing air jets. The invention further provides novel tribocharging and corona gun designs. Improved powder coating systems are made possible wherein, for example, negative tribo guns can be utilized with negative corona guns to coat different parts of the same workpiece in a powder coating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: William R. Rehman, Harry J. Lader, James W. Messerly
  • Publication number: 20030200922
    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: April 29, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: Delsys Pharmaceutical Corporation
    Inventors: George R. Pawlo, Gary Santonastaso, David Keller, Ramaswamy Murari, Suggy S. Chrai
  • Publication number: 20030196599
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus for electrostatically adhering grains to a planar substrate comprising:
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: Delsys Pharmaceutical Corporation
    Inventors: Hoi Cheong Steve Sun, Bogdan Brycki
  • Patent number: 6630025
    Abstract: A coating apparatus includes: a coating gun to which a voltage is applied; a coating hose for leading a coating material to the coating gun; a piston provided so as to be capable of water-tightly sliding in the coating hose; and driving means for moving the piston in the coating hose. The coating material is injected into a front part of the piston and the piston is moved toward the coating gun at the time of coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Taikisha Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromi Nonomura, Yasuo Takamizu
  • Patent number: 6630027
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Delsys Pharmaceutical Corporation
    Inventor: George R. Pawlo
  • Publication number: 20030177978
    Abstract: A coating equipment managing system for controlling and monitoring a coating equipment of an automobile manufacturing line, comprising local installations which are provided in the manufacturing lines at a plurality of localities, and a central installation for receiving data from the plurality of local installations, wherein the local installation comprises a sensor installed in the coating equipment, a data acquisition unit for receiving signals from the sensor, a control unit for controlling the coating equipment, and a local communication unit; the central installation comprises a server unit and a central analysis unit; the local communication unit transmits the data from the data acquisition unit to the server unit by E-mail; the server unit transmits correction data for the coating equipment obtained from the analysis of the measured data by the central analysis unit to the local communication unit by E-mail; and the local communication unit converts the correction data into a control code and transmit
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Kenichi Nobutoh, Jun Suzuno
  • Publication number: 20030175417
    Abstract: The method for finishing a manufactured article by powder painting, providing for the application, on a surface to be decorated of the manufactured article, of one decorative layer obtained by means of the transfer by controlled migration of powder particles which originate from a graphic matrix arranged in front of the surface to be decorated and designed to adhere thereto, said transfer and said adhesion being provided by way of a first electrostatic field which comprises lines of force which are incident at right angles to the surface to be decorated, said manufactured article acting fully or partly as reference electrode for the first electrostatic field, so as to produce a condition of solid contact between the electrode and the surface to be decorated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventor: Tito Trevisan
  • Publication number: 20030175443
    Abstract: Disposable containers are provided for containing different types, for example, different colors, of coating material to be dispensed onto one or more articles. A method of coating articles includes providing a dispensing device for dispensing coating onto the articles. A high-magnitude potential supply is selectively coupled to the dispensing device for supplying electrostatic charge to the coating as the coating is being dispensed. A first disposable container containing a first coating material to be dispensed onto a first one of the articles is coupled to the dispensing device as the first article is presented for coating, and the first coating material is dispensed onto the first article. A second disposable container is filled with a second coating material to be dispensed onto a second one of the articles, for example, while the first coating material is being dispensed onto the first article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventor: Ghaffar Kazkaz
  • Patent number: 6620243
    Abstract: An electrostatic fluidized bed powder coating apparatus including powder coating structure, such as a coating enclosure, hood or booth, and a powder fluidizing bed operatively associated with an electrostatic charging device. An enclosed powder accumulator is provided for collecting excess powder from the powder coating structure. A vacuum pump communicates between the powder coating structure and the powder accumulator and is operable by a source of compressed air for forming and controlling a cloud of powder emanating from the fluidizing bed and for transferring excess powder from the powder coating structure to the powder accumulator. In the preferred embodiment, the accumulator includes a cyclone housing. A powder reclaim feeder is disposed below and in communication with the cyclone housing and further communicates with a new powder feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher P. Bertellotti, Colin Drummond, Mark Heckler, Joseph Rogari, Don Urig
  • Publication number: 20030170399
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating articles with coating material includes dispensing coating material from a coating dispensing device, maintaining the coating dispensing device at high-magnitude electrostatic potential, coupling articles to a conveyor on hangers constructed from electrically non-insulative strips, and conveying the articles through the dispensed coating material on the hangers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventor: John Paul Owed
  • Publication number: 20030136342
    Abstract: A device (10) for the direct or indirect application of liquid or pasty application medium (16) to one or both sides of a material web (20), in particular of paper or board, comprises an applicator unit (12) which discharges the application medium (16) onto the material web (20) in the form of a free application medium jet (18). In this case, in the region of the applicator unit (12) there is provided a device (30) for producing an electric field, which exerts on the application medium jet (18) moving from the applicator unit (12) to the material web (20) a force which assists its movement. Additionally or alternatively, edge guiding elements can be provided, which guide the lateral edges of the application medium curtain (18) at least on part of its movement under the force of gravity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Benjamin Mendez-Gallon, Manfred Ueberschar
  • Publication number: 20030129302
    Abstract: Provided is a dispenser for dispensing particles onto a surface comprising a hopper for receiving particles, wherein the hopper has an opening at its bottom, a screen having openings and located adjacent the opening of the hopper, wherein the screen openings are uniformly sized and spaced and are sufficiently large to let the largest particles pass through during dispensing yet sufficiently small to hold the particles back when the dispenser is not operating, and means, located outside of the hopper, for moving particles from the hopper through the screen, and onto the surface. Also provided is a method of making a web with embedded particles comprising the sequential steps of making the web receptive to the particles by heating, eliminating static charges present on the web, dispensing the particles onto the web, dispersing the particles to minimize particle clumping in the web, and embedding the dispensed particles in the web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David C. Chambers, Glen Connell, Ranjith Divigalpitiya, David E. Livingstone, Agatona D. Monteagudo, Susan C. Noe, Tejmeen K. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 6582521
    Abstract: An electrostatic powder coating apparatus including a housing with an interior coating area for receiving a workpiece. The interior coating area includes a vortex inducing surface and a pressurized air input device directs air against the surface to form a swirling pattern of air around the workpiece. A powder introducer directs charged powder into the swirling pattern of air and the powder is then electrostatically attracted to the workpiece. The powder introducer may be a powder fluidizing bed disposed in the housing or other suppliers, such as electrostatic powder spray guns. In alternative embodiments, vortex generators in the form of tubular structures connected proximate the housing inlet and outlet have tangential ports for introducing positive pressure air or inducing vacuum in the tubular structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher P. Bertellotti, Joseph Rogari
  • Patent number: 6578478
    Abstract: The electrostatic printing aid for gravure and flexographic printing machines can be operated with a voltage electrode whose dimensions have been reduced significantly, the print quality being kept at a high level. The voltage electrode, connected to a high voltage source, can be constructed with a bar-like or arc-like shape and to be non-contacting, or as a slip ring or as an electrically conductive brush. The voltage electrode is preferably arranged at one end of the three-layer impression roller of a gravure printing unit or the three-layer printing plate cylinder of a flexographic printing unit. The particular advantages of the arrangement reside in the significantly improved ease of servicing and the saving in costs, as early as at the time of purchase, in particular in the event of retrofitting printing machines already in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Spengler Electronic AG
    Inventor: Alfred Doppler
  • Patent number: 6562137
    Abstract: A high magnitude potential supply comprises a first circuit for generating a first signal related to a desired output high magnitude potential across a pair of output terminals of the supply, a second circuit for generating a second signal related to an output current from the high magnitude potential supply, and a third circuit for supplying an operating potential to the high magnitude potential supply so that it can produce the high magnitude operating potential. The third circuit has a control terminal. A fourth circuit is coupled to the first and second circuits and to the control terminal. The fourth circuit receives the first and second signals from the first and second circuits and controls the operating potential supplied to the high magnitude potential supply by the third circuit. A fifth circuit is provided for disabling the supply of operating potential to the high magnitude potential supply in certain conditions so that no high magnitude operating potential can be supplied by it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
    Inventor: Daniel C. Hughey
  • Patent number: 6558757
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for coating substrates in a vacuum, in which a plasma is generated from a target using a laser beam and ionized particles of the plasma are deposited on the substrate in the form of a layer, inert reactive gas or a gas mixture being supplied. The solution according to the invention is intended to provide a possible way of supplying gases or gas mixtures in a locally and temporally defined manner. According to the invention, this object is achieved by the fact that the gas or gas mixture is supplied to the plasma from and/or through a porous target, the intention being that the target is to have a temporary storage function on account of its porosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Scheibe, Carl-Friedrich Meyer, Bernd Schultrich, Holger Ziegele
  • Publication number: 20030044524
    Abstract: The device and method of the invention utilizes a vibratory trough or bed to triboelectrically charge powder paint particles. The trough is lined with polytetrafluorethylene or any other material having a dielectric constant sufficient to triboelectrically charge paint particles such that oscillation of the paint particles by a motor charges the particles. The motor has an unbalanced weight sufficient to cause a vibration on the trough. The fluidized and subsequently charged particles then attach to a grounded workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventor: Derrick B. Hoffland
  • Patent number: 6521299
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for improving the coating surface of a coating mass deposited on or applied to a paper web (8, 23) by a film press. An anionic aqueous coating mass or an anionic paper web are provided with an opposite electric charge by an electric charger, whereby the applied coating is attracted to the oppositely charged paper (8, 23) in a nip exit area of the film press. The electric charger is, for example, a corona generator (13, 17) or a direct current voltage source (9) that is connected to the paper (8, 23) and coating slip by electrodes (5, 5a, 7, 7a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: BTG Eclépens S.A.
    Inventor: Guido Dessauer
  • Publication number: 20030029379
    Abstract: An electrostatic coating device and an electrostatic coating method are provided which can expel, in a form of drops having high monodispersability, a coating liquid which is highly viscous. The electrostatic coating device includes a coating liquid chamber storing a coating liquid in an interior of the coating liquid chamber; a voltage applying portion applying a voltage, which is positive or negative with respect to an object-to-be-coated onto which the coating liquid is to be coated, to the coating liquid in the coating liquid chamber; and a nozzle expelling, in drop form and toward the object-to-be-coated, the coating liquid to which the voltage has been applied by the voltage applying portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Onogawa, Manabu Hashigaya
  • Publication number: 20030026897
    Abstract: An automatic machine for varnishing an application piece including at least one of wood, medium density fiberboard, and particle board, with an ultraviolet powder, and a method of varnishing the application piece. A preheating device preheats the application piece. An application device applies the powder to the preheated application piece. A fusion device fuses the applied powder to the application piece. A curing device cures the fused powder on the application piece. A cooling device cools the cured powder on the application piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventor: Jesus Francisco Barberan Latorre