Fluid Current Projector, E.g., Spray Type Patents (Class 118/629)
  • Patent number: 7361227
    Abstract: A coating apparatus includes a container and a perforated plate separating a plenum from a coating chamber. A gas supply system delivers a gas to the plenum in a sufficient amount for passage of the gas through the plate and suspension of a powder in a fluidized condition in the chamber. The gas supply system preferably includes a primary portion for continuously delivered gas and a controllable pulsing portion for supplementing the gas from the primary portion. In a first mode of operation, the gas from the pulsing portion is cycled to provide variation in the fluidized volume. In a second mode, the pulsing portion delivers relatively long pulses of gas to mix the fluidized powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Arkema, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph L. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 7329320
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for electrifying spacers and an apparatus for scattering spacers using the same. For the purpose of maintaining a cell gap of a LCD, the spacer is electrified to have a first electrified voltage by a first electrifying pipe having a first curvature, and the spacer is electrified by a second electrifying pipe having a second curvature to have a second electrified voltage level high enough to prevent the spacers from being lumped. Thus, the spacer is not lumped by increasing an electrified voltage thereof, thereby preventing a quality of an image from being deteriorated, the spacer from being lost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Soo Choi, Min-Soo Kim, Hyun-II Park
  • Publication number: 20070295271
    Abstract: A composite coating material delivery conduit includes a first conduit providing a first passageway for coating material to be conveyed through the conduit, a second conduit including a second passageway adapted loosely to receive the first conduit, and an electrically non-insulative layer surrounding the second conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Gernot Engel, Ghaffar Kazkaz, Joel Albert Richardson
  • Patent number: 7241344
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for electrostatic spray deposition of small targets, such as medical devices like stents. The apparatus includes a target holder which applies a first electrical potential to the target, and an electrostatic dispensing nozzle which applies a second potential sufficient to attract the coating fluid from the nozzle toward the target. Because the entire dispensing nozzle is conductive, the coating fluid may receive a greater charge than may be obtained with internal electrode-type nozzles. Electrostatic attraction of the coating fluid to the target is enhanced by the combination of higher charge density imparted to the coating fluid by the conductive nozzle, and application of a momentary voltage spike to the target to provide consistent conductivity between the target and its holder, thereby ensuring the target is presents the full first potential applied to the holder. The voltage spike may also be used independently of the conductive nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Worsham, James G. Hansen
  • Patent number: 7238394
    Abstract: In a powder coating apparatus a pulse signal S2 of a low voltage generated by a pulse signal generation circuit (7) is boosted to a high voltage by means of a high voltage impression circuit (8), so that it is impressed upon corona electrodes (5). As a result, a corona discharge is intermittently generated from the corona electrodes (5) toward an object to be coated, whereby powder coating material sprayed from a nozzle opening of a gun main body in a forward direction is charged with negative ions developed by the corona discharge, whereafter it is directed toward the object to be coated, and is deposited on a surface of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Nihon Parkerizing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadao Morita, Hiroki Murai, Kosei Yabe, Akira Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7160391
    Abstract: A nozzle spray head is provided for use in a dynamic electrostatic air filter, in which the nozzle spray head assembly exhibits multiple nozzle orifices as outlet ports, which extend from the bottom of the nozzle body such that the distances between the outlet ports and a target member are not constant. The charged multiple outlet ports exhibit a more uniform electric field at their tips, thereby enabling a better and more uniform spray pattern to be emitted by each of the individual outlet ports. In one embodiment, the outlet ports are grouped in concentric circles, in which the innermost circle comprises outlet ports of the greatest lengths, and the outermost circle comprises outlet ports of the smallest lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Alan David Willey, Vladimir Gartstein, Chinto Benjamin Gaw, Jean Angela Jefferson, Krista Beth Comstock
  • Patent number: 7156045
    Abstract: A coating machine having a coating material discharging mechanism for discharging a previously filled coating material under pressure to an atomizing mechanism wherein a coating material bag for filling a coating material is housed in a coating material discharging chamber of a predetermined volume and an inlet/exit port of an operating fluid is disposed for exerting a pressure from the outside of the coating material bag thereby discharging the coating material under pressure, while crushing the coating material bag, whereby paint or other coating material can be discharged under pressure reliably by a small driving force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Trinity Industrial Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Ueno, Takao Nomura
  • Patent number: 7105058
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a microfiber coating includes directing a liquid solution toward a deposition surface. The apparatus includes a tube defining a volume through which the liquid solution travels. An electric field is applied between the origin of the liquid solution and the surface. A gas is injected into the tube to create a vortex flow within the tube. This vortex flow protects the deposition surface from entrainment of ambient air from the surrounding atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: PolyRemedy, Inc.
    Inventor: Dmitriy Sinyagin
  • Patent number: 7056387
    Abstract: Apparatus and a method are provided for isolating an electrostatic sprayer from an electrically grounded coating product distribution circuit connected thereto. The apparatus includes an electrostatic sprayer carried by a maneuverable robot arm, the sprayer capable of spraying an electrically conductive coating product such as water-based paint onto a workpiece passing in adjacent proximity thereby, on command. The coating product is supplied from a remote source of supply through at least one distribution circuit connected to the sprayer. The apparatus includes therein, carried by the robot arm, an electrically insulative storage tank for the coating product in valved fluid communication with the sprayer. The insulated storage tank is connected to and positioned downstream from a length of electrically insulative supply conduit connected to the distribution circuit and also carried by the robot arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: EFC Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Gunnar van der Steur
  • 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: 6918551
    Abstract: A coating material dispensing system including a coating dispenser having a terminal for coupling to a high-magnitude potential supply, supply valves having respective input ports, respective output ports, and respective control ports, first purge valves having respective input ports, respective output ports, and respective control ports, a second purge valve having an input port, an output port and a control port, and means for coupling: the output port of a first one of the supply valves to a common point in a fluid circuit; the output port of a second one of the supply valves to the common point; the output port of the second purge valve to the common point; and, the common point to the coating dispenser, the common point also coupled to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: James P. Baltz
  • Patent number: 6896735
    Abstract: For improving external charging in electrostatic atomizers for conductive coating material and for reducing the structural size of the atomizer, particularly for robot applications, the charging electrodes are embedded in a ring part made of insulating material, which is set directly on the outside of the outer housing or forms a part of the outer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Behr Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefano Giuliano, Peter Marquardt
  • Patent number: 6889721
    Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating a liquid crystal display panel includes a chamber for holding a substrate, wherein the substrate includes first and second metal patterns, a spray nozzle connected to the chamber for spraying spacers onto the substrate, wherein the spacers are charged with a predetermined polarity, and a first power supplier connected to the chamber for applying a first voltage with a positive polarity and a second voltage with a negative polarity to the first and second metal patterns of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong Ho Kim, Woo Sup Shin, Hak Jun Lee, Yeong Geun Hwang, Tae Man Kim
  • Patent number: 6874712
    Abstract: A powder spraying gun generates a desired pattern of electrostatically charged particles for coating a workpiece without rotating parts or particle deflectors. The powder pattern is generated with a funnel-shaped output in conjunction with air introduced into a powder charging chamber of the gun in a tangential swirling motion. The swirling air is additionally used to purge agglomerated powder particles from the charging electrodes in the charging chamber. The charging chamber surface is fashioned from material exhibiting low friction or high resistance to powder impact fusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: ABB Inc.
    Inventors: Dragoslav K. Milojevic, Christopher M. Rennie, Melissa L. Koster, Gary J. Ciarelli, Gunter Börner
  • Patent number: 6849129
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: LacTec GmbH
    Inventors: Burkhard Bilz, Udo Klein, Joachim Kunkel, Winfried Ott
  • Publication number: 20040255849
    Abstract: For improving external charging in electrostatic atomizers for conductive coating material and for reducing the structural size of the atomizer, particularly for robot applications, the charging electrodes are embedded in a ring part made of insulating material, which is set directly on the outside of the outer housing or forms a part of the outer housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Stefano Giuliano, Peter Marquardt
  • Patent number: 6833029
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Transmetal S.p.A.
    Inventor: Achille Borzone
  • Patent number: 6827781
    Abstract: A device for moistening a material web moved in the transport direction, is preferably used for re-moistening a paper or textile web dried after printing by means of spray device for spraying a water fog onto the material web under the influence of an electrostatic field produced by a device for electrostatic charging. The device includes a reversing roller provided in the transport direction upstream of the spray device for deflecting the material web. The reversing roller has associated with it a device designed as a corona-charging electrode for electrostatic charging and the spray device has two water spray heads located on both sides of the material web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Eltex-Elektrostatik GmbH
    Inventors: Ernst August Hahne, Franz Knopf
  • Patent number: 6827780
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying powder to at least an interior surface of a hollow object includes a powder discharge device adapted to receive powder and discharge the powder through an outlet. An object holder is configured to hold the object such that the outlet is positioned within the hollow object adjacent the interior surface. A rotating mechanism is configured to engage and rotate the hollow object such that the powder discharged from the outlet coats the interior surface as the interior surface rotates past the outlet. The powder discharge device may be a powder fluidizing bed unit including a chamber with a powder discharge opening in the form of an elongate slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher P. Bertellotti
  • Patent number: 6790285
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrostatic painting device with a transmission frequency adjustment device for automatically adjusting a transmission frequency in such a manner that the consumed current flowing in a high voltage booster circuit does not exceed a prescribed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Anest Iwata Corporation
    Inventor: Takuya Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6649221
    Abstract: Provided is a spacer microparticle spraying apparatus capable of selectively disposing spacer microparticles in electrode gaps where no pixels are present even on a substrate carrying an array of stripe electrodes in use for the STN liquid crystal display device, to a spacer particle spraying method and a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device which utilize said apparatus. The spacer microparticle spraying apparatus for selective disposition of a charged spacer microparticle on a substrate carrying a plurality of electrodes includes a spraying chamber adapted to accommodate the substrate, a spacer microparticle supply means for supplying the spacer microparticle into the spraying chamber and spraying it on the substrate, and a voltage application means for applying voltages to the electrodes disposed on the substrate, wherein the voltage application means is capable of applying different levels of voltages to the electrodes respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignees: Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd., Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Nisshin Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Akihiko Tateno, Hiroyuki Nakatani, Kazuya Yoshimura, Makoto Nakahara, Takatoshi Kira, Daisuke Ikesugi, Masaki Ban, Hiroshi Murata, Masaaki Kubo
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6645298
    Abstract: Modern techniques for manufacturing paper using mechanical wood pulp has lead to a persistent over-acidification of printed manner, and threatens to permanently destroy the same. This over-acidification can be neutralized by using an alkaline active substance whose main component is a salt having a relatively low water affinity. An alkaline deposit can be deposited on the paper by also using said alkaline active substance. A device suited for deacidification using this active substance comprises a case (10) which can be closed. Printed matter which can be fanned out in a stand (1) is treated in said case. The printed matter is treated by introducing the powdered active substance via a screw conveyor (32) into an air stream circulated by a fan (19a), whereby the printed matter is leafed through in order to expose it to the active substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Ruag Munition
    Inventors: Christian Herren, Martin Monkewitz
  • Patent number: 6638358
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for processing a semiconductor device, the semiconductor device comprising at least two gate stacks and a spacer gap. The method and system comprise utilizing a spin-on technique at the transistor device level to provide an oxide spacer in the spacer gap and then curing the semiconductor device at a temperature above approximately 450° C. Through the use of a system/method in accordance with the present invention, the voids that are created in the spacer gaps during conventional semiconductor processing are eliminated. Furthermore, the oxide spacers posses the high quality characteristics that are typically provided through the use of the conventional CVD methodology. Accordingly, as a result of the use of the system/method in accordance with the present invention, the MOSFET oxide spacers are strengthened, which increases the reliability of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Lu You, Mark S. Chang, Hao Fang
  • Patent number: 6622948
    Abstract: A spray gun coating objects with a coating material. Its barrel (2) and its grip (4), at least their basic shapes, are one integral structure (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: ITW Gema AG
    Inventors: Gerald Haas, Karl Buschor
  • Patent number: 6589346
    Abstract: An apparatus for and method of coating the outer surface of a non-rotating pipe with a fluid including a fluid reservoir for containing fluid to be discharged onto the surface of a pipe, and a pipe receiving chamber extending through and separate from the fluid reservoir. The apparatus further includes a fluid application assembly having a plurality of fluid intake openings positioned in the fluid reservoir for the intake of fluid therefrom. The fluid intake openings are rotatable in a circular pattern within the reservoir about a path extending through the chamber. The assembly has a plurality of fluid discharge outlets in fluid communication with the fluid intake openings and directed towards the path. The fluid discharge outlets are rotatable in unison with the fluid intake openings about the path, whereby fluid entering the fluid intake openings from the reservoir is discharged through the fluid discharge outlets to coat the outer surface of a pipe being conveyed along the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Bredero-Shaw Company
    Inventors: Calvin Schick, Randall Henry Danderfer
  • 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: 6579574
    Abstract: A liquid coating is formed by spraying drops of liquid onto a substrate or a transfer surface from an electrostatic spray head that produces a mist of drops and a wet coating in response to an electrostatic field. During spraying, the electrostatic field is repeatedly altered to change the pattern deposited by the drops. The wet coating can be contacted with two or more pick-and-place devices that improve the uniformity of the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Albert E. Seaver, William K. Leonard
  • Publication number: 20030108666
    Abstract: A method and an assembly is disclosed for manufacturing a web of glazed paper or board so as to produce with a web surface treated with a treatment agent, the method comprising the steps of first producing a base web (10), whereupon in an applicator apparatus to the surface of the web is applied in at least one step at least one kind of a treatment agent. Subsequent to the application of the treatment agent, the web (10) is passed via a dryer. The solids content of the treatment agent to be applied the surface of the web (10) in an applicator apparatus is not less than 80 %, and after the application of the treatment agent, the web (10) is passed via a belt dryer comprising at least one heatable belt (2) in such a manner that the heatable belt comes to face the treated surface of the web (10). Advantageously, the web has a high moisture content prior to the application of the treatment agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Vilho Nissinen, Elias Retulainen, Johan Gron
  • Patent number: 6537378
    Abstract: Spray coating apparatus comprises a spray nozzle (2) and a regulation system (16) which limits the high voltage at a high-voltage electrode (10) to a predetermined voltage value. The system also directly measures and limits the electric spray current of the high-voltage electrode (10) to a predetermined current value. The electric spray current is limited by adjusting the high voltage at the high-voltage electrode (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: ITW Gema AG
    Inventor: Felix Mauchle
  • 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: 6472326
    Abstract: Aspects for more reliable particle removal from a semiconductor processing chamber following a chamber wet clean are described. With the present invention, an improved particle removal following wet cleans of semiconductor processing chambers occurs. The present invention creates a turbulent gas flow in a chamber in order to more thoroughly remove particles from the chamber, including those that the wet clean procedures cannot reach. In a straightforward and efficient manner, the turbulent gas flow is created by providing gas in both an upper and lower portion of the chamber substantially simultaneously, including the advantageous use of the backside helium available to chamber processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Allison Holbrook, Greg A. Johnson, Darlene Smith, Omar Serna, Theodros W. Mariam
  • Publication number: 20020092470
    Abstract: A diffuser comprises a conduit having a cross-sectional area that increases in a direction fluid flow. In one embodiment, the diffuser is used to reduce the incidence and severity of flow fluctuations that occur in an electrostatic deposition apparatus. In some embodiments, the diffuser includes one or more flow control features. A first flow-control feature comprises one or more appropriately-shaped annular slits through which fluid having a greater momentum than a primary fluid moving through the diffuser is injected into the “boundary layer” near the wall of the diffuser. A second flow control feature comprises one or more annular slits or, alternatively, slots or holes that are disposed at appropriate locations around the circumference of the diffuser through which a portion of fluid flowing in the boundary layer is removed. Boundary-layer flow removal is effected, in one embodiment, by creating a pressure differential across such annular slit or slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: Kerry Dennis O'Mara, David Keller, Joseph Thomas McGinn
  • Publication number: 20020083893
    Abstract: A high-speed rotary atomiser for applying powder coating includes a housing (1) to the front end of which a bell disc (16) is rotatably mounted. Bell disc (16) is driven by a motor (13) arranged inside housing (1). At least one powder supply channel (28, 29, 22, 23, 24, 25, 11, 12, 9, 10) passes through housing (1), and emerges at the front of housing (1). This channel contains an acceleration jet (27, 28) in which the coating powder particles are accelerated to a higher velocity which is maintained over at least a certain distance. The increased velocity, preferably supported by acceleration air forming a surface layer, prevents coating powder particles from being deposited on the walls of powder supply channel (28, 29, 22, 23, 24, 25, 11, 12, 9, 10). In this way an insulating section is formed by which a backflash of the high voltage used to ionise the coating powder particles, from the internal electrode (4) of the high-speed rotary atomiser towards the powder supply, is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventor: Jan Reichler
  • Patent number: 6325854
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an amount of electric charge on a finely divided powder supplied into a powder transportation pipe in a substantially discrete particle state and transported therethrough in a stream of a compressed gas having a very small water content whose dew-point is 0° C. or less where electric charge is produced by friction on the powder by the collision thereof against the inner wall of the transportation pipe, controls the dew-point of the compressed gas, and the controls amount of frictional electric charge produced on the powder by uniformly spraying the powder onto a grounded sheet surface in a discrete particle state by use of a swinging nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignees: Nisshin Seifun Group Inc., Nisshin Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Murata, Hiromi Omura, Fumio Hara
  • Patent number: 6326062
    Abstract: An electrostatic spraying device for use in spraying inter alia personal care and personal hygiene products comprises an outlet (94) from which the product issues in the form of an electrostatically charged spray and a control member (60, 60a) for attenuating the potential gradient in the vicinity of the outlet (94) to such an extent that spraying is suppressed until the device is brought to within a predetermined distance from a site to be spayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Timothy James Noakes, Andrew Jefferies, Maurice Joseph Prendergast, Michael Leslie Green
  • Patent number: 6312740
    Abstract: A method and apparatus, for applying electrostatically charged particles of an edible coating material to a surface of a food product to be coated, incorporates a fluidizing hopper for containing the material. The hopper includes an agitating system including an agitator blade and lifting blades to stir and lift the material while air is forced through a microporous fluidizing plate into the material. The fluidized material is withdrawn from the hopper through a venturi pump and supplied to an application gun. The application gun includes a corona discharge through which the fluidized material is forced to create charged particles of the fluidized material. The fluidized particles are directed to a food product item to be coated. The quantity of coating material is predetermined and is precisely controlled by shutting off the air pressure supply to the venturi pump to avoid excessive overspray of the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Inventor: James K. Roberts
  • Patent number: 6294024
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to electrostatic chucks, methods for their use, the electrostatic deposition of objects, such as particles in a dry powder, onto recipient substrates, and the recipient substrates themselves that have been subjected to electrostatic deposition. In one aspect, the present invention provides an electrostatic chuck for electrostatically attracting an object or objects wherein the object is used in chemical or pharmaceutical assaying or manufacturing. The objects can be pharmaceutical substrates, for example, such as a pharmaceutical tablet. Additional embodiments of the invention provide chucks and their use to electrostatically attract particles, such as a pharmaceutically active ingredient, to a substrate, such as a tablet. In one aspect, the electrostatic chuck comprises a floating electrode, and is used to selectively attract particles to a substrate above the floating electrode, thereby providing for charge imaging for the deposition of particles in a selected image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Delsys Pharmaceutical Corporation
    Inventors: Hoi Cheong Steve Sun, Timothy Allen Pletcher
  • Patent number: 6284047
    Abstract: A rotary atomizing head type coating system capable of multiple color changes in the course of a coating operation. A housing (12) with a coating machine (19) is mounted on a wrist portion (5) of a coating robot. Provided for the coating system are a plural number of feeder units (29) which serve as separate sources for a variety of paint colors and which each accommodate a paint valve (40) and a solvent valve (41). Through paint hoses (42) and solvent hoses (43), the respective feeder unit (29) are connected to paint supply lines (49) of different colors and a solvent supply line (52). In order to supply paint of different colors to the coating machine (19) during a coating operation, the feeder units (29) are selectively and replaceably loaded into the housing (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: ABB K. K.
    Inventors: Osamu Yoshida, Akihiko Arichi
  • Patent number: 6279502
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is fabricated by the steps of coating an underlayer formed on a semiconductor substrate with chemically amplified resist, exposing the resist to light, bringing the resist into contact with an alkaline developing solution with applying a magnetic field to the alkaline developing solution for conducting development to form a resist pattern, and etching the underlayer on the semiconductor substrate using the resist pattern as a mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Tsukasa Azuma
  • Patent number: 6274202
    Abstract: A method for controlling operation of powder spraying coating apparatus comprising automatically reducing both the discharge current and discharge voltage of the electrostatic charging means as the spray apparatus approaches a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Eurotec Surface Coating Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: David Hugh Campbell
  • Publication number: 20010009700
    Abstract: A method for transferring in an encapsulated space (1), with the aid of high voltage, additional material (5) onto the surface of a material web (2) moving through the space. The additional material which is added onto the surface of the material web (2) is brought into the housing (1) in a controlled manner in the form of dust or spray (5), for example. The dust or the spray particles are transferred onto the surface of the material web (2) in the encapsulated space (1) by using ion blasting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Publication date: July 26, 2001
    Inventors: VEIKKO ILMASTI, TIMO NYBERG
  • Patent number: 6254684
    Abstract: A powder-spraying appliance for electrostatic powder coating of work pieces. In order to achieve particularly good charging of powder particles, the powder-spraying appliance contains a chamber, into which a powder/air mixture is introduced transversely to a spraying direction via a supply conduit. An earth electrode and a plurality of high-voltage electrodes are disposed in the chamber. All of the electrodes are flushed with cleaning air in order to avoid powder deposits on the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Günter Börner, Hans-Christoph Nienburg, Josef Wittmann, Helmut Böhme
  • Patent number: 6217654
    Abstract: Powder spray coating equipment includes a spraying system (2), an injector (26) to pneumatically convey powder to the spraying system (2), and at least one flushing-air intake (73) to supply flushing compressed air into the air/powder path at a flushing-air supply site where the flow impedance to the flushing compressed air is less everywhere in the downstream direction through the spraying system (2) than in the upstream direction as far as through the injector (26) in order to drive flushing compressed air from the flushing air intake (73) through the air/powder path and out of the spraying system (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: ITW Gema AG
    Inventors: Felix Mauchle, Heinz Höfler
  • Patent number: 6203619
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for fabricating thin films for use in an active component of an integrated circuit by the use of an assembly line type process. A plurality of substrate stations are located on a platen which is rotated to move each station sequentially between a misted deposition device, a drying device, and a solidification device. The misted deposition device includes a mist showerhead in a movable housing. The mist showerhead separates a velocity reduction chamber from a deposition chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Symetrix Corporation
    Inventor: Larry D. McMillan
  • Patent number: 6197114
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for adjusting a discharge width of a powder feeder. The system includes a supply hopper that is spaced from the powder feeder. The powder feeder includes a receiving opening and a discharge opening and at least one adjustable wall. Preferably, two adjustable walls are provided. Movement of the two adjustable walls provides variations in the width of the discharge opening and therefore facilitates use of the powder feeder on target volumes or target areas having different widths. A rotatable auger brush is in communication with the supply hopper for causing powder withdrawn from the supply hopper to be transported to the powder feeder and disposed uniformly across the receiving opening of the powder feeder. The brush is immersed within the powder and extends across the receiving opening of the powder feeder, and maintains a filled level powder feeder. The powder feeder is particularly well-suited for use in a coating apparatus, as well as a dual-side coating apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Material Sciences Corporation
    Inventor: Phillip Rodenberger
  • Patent number: 6196478
    Abstract: A fluid supply cylinder with improved flusbability, useable for supplying paints to a dispenser in electrostatic coating systems. The fluid supply cylinder having generally a piston reciprocatingly disposed in a chamber of a body member, the piston having a head with a face opposite an end wall of the chamber, a plurality of chamber fluid ports disposed in the end wall of the chamber, and a plurality of fluid conduits between a corresponding one of the plurality of chamber fluid ports and a common outer fluid port, whereby the reciprocating piston draws fluid into the cylinder chamber and supplies fluid from the cylinder chamber through the plurality of chamber fluid ports in the end wall thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry L. McPherson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6190456
    Abstract: A spacer spraying device for spraying a powdery spacer onto, e.g., a substrate for an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is disclosed. When the device sprays the spacer onto the top of the substrate in a spray chamber, it prevents the spacer from depositing on the inner side walls and top wall of the chamber and dropping in the form of cohered masses onto the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Akehiro Matsuda
  • Patent number: 6116184
    Abstract: A mass flow controller controls the delivery of a precursor to a mist generator. The precursor is misted utilizing a venturi in which a combination of oxygen and nitrogen gas is charged by a corona wire and passes over a precursor-filled throat. The mist is refined using a particle inertial separator, electrically filtered so that it comprises predominately negative ions, passes into a velocity reduction chamber, and then flows into a deposition chamber through inlet ports in an inlet plate that is both a partition between the chambers and a grounded electrode. The inlet plate is located above and substantially parallel to the plane of the substrate on which the mist is to be deposited. The substrate is positively charged to a voltage of about 5000 volts. There are 440 inlet ports per square inch in an 39 square inch inlet port area of the inlet plate directly above the substrate. The inlet port area is approximately equal to the substrate area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignees: Symetrix Corporation, Primaxx, Inc.
    Inventors: Narayan Solayappan, Robert W. Grant, Larry D. McMillan, Carlos A. Paz de Araujo
  • Patent number: 6096132
    Abstract: An automatic painting device wherein control for driving spray gun heads in a Z axis direction is executed correctly with respect to a surface to be painted having a curved shape so that painting can be effected while keeping a constant interval between the plurality of spray gun heads and the surface to be painted. The automatic painting device can include a spray gun head unit holding a plurality of spray gun heads, an X axis direction driving mechanism for driving the spray gun head unit in a horizontal X axis direction, and a Y axis direction driving mechanism for driving the spray gun head unit in a Y axis direction perpendicular thereto, and in which different paints are ejected by the plurality of spray gun heads. The different spray gun heads are held by the spray gun head unit movably in a Z axis direction perpendicular to the x axis direction and the Y axis direction, independently from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: L.A.C. Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Kaiba, Syusei Murai