Abstract: A powder coating plant for coating a workpiece with coating powder includes a booth, which receives the workpiece delivered via a floor conveyor. In addition, the powder coating plant has an upper spray applicator arrangement for spraying coating powder downward, and a lower spray applicator arrangement for spraying coating powder upward. The upper and the lower spray applicator arrangement are thereby oriented toward the same workpiece. In addition, a manipulator is provided, to which the upper and the lower spray applicator arrangement is fastened. The manipulator is formed such that the spray applicator arrangements can be moved at least in the transport direction of the workpiece by the manipulator.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are different embodiments of a grounding apparatus, system and method, for use, in accordance with some embodiments, to ground an object to be coated in an electrostatic coating process. The apparatus generally comprises a structure and cover moveable relative to one another between a conductor receiving position and a covering position, such that a grounding conductor received therebetween may be conductively coupled therewith and at least partially covered thereby in the covered position. A removable grounding apparatus is also disclosed for positioning on an object support proximate a selected grounding location of the object.

Abstract: Various exemplary illustrations of a piston rod seal are disclosed. An exemplary piston rod seal may include a piston rod guide for guiding a piston rod that supports a scraping piston configured to scrape paint residue from an inner wall of a pipeline cylinder. The piston rod may further include a first seal for sealing the piston rod guide relative to the piston rod, and a second seal for sealing the piston rod guide relative to the piston rod, where the second seal is arranged axially offset relative to the first seal.

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.

Abstract: In equipment for powder-coating, workpieces such as escalator steps are subjected to a current treatment in an anodizing unit. A conveying means advancing carriers for the workpieces is lowered over a tank so that the workpieces in transit are immersed in and continue transit within a bath and after a specific dwell time are lifted back out of the bath at the end of the tank. Arranged in the tank region is a current feed, such as a bus bar, which extends parallel to the travel path of the conveying means. Each carrier is provided with a current take-off which connects the carrier with the current feed. The current connection is produced on lowering the carrier into the bath and interrupted on raising the carrier from the bath.

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 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.

Abstract: An electrostatic powder coating system usable for coating articles transported along a substantially non-conductive article transport conveyor belt supported by a substantially non-conductive slide member. The system includes a substantially non-conductive coating booth with an open side portion supported by an upright support member disposed on a movable base member. The coating booth is laterally movable toward and away from the conveyor, and the coating booth is movable along the upright support member so as to position the coating booth downwardly toward and upwardly away from the conveyor. An electrostatic coating applicator is directed into the coating booth for applying powder coating to articles transported along the conveyor. A coating collector includes a coating booth exhaust duct coupled to the coating booth, and a conveyor exhaust duct laterally movable toward and away from the conveyor.

Abstract: A support for parts being electrostatically coated or painted as mounted upon an electrically charged rack wherein the support is formed of a flexible material and includes a flexible electrical conductive portion engaging the rack and part permitting the part to be charged, and a flexible non-conductive portion frictionally engaging the part. The support may include a masking cover defined on either of the portions engaging and protecting the part from painting. The support may be formed of thermoset rubber material, thermoplastics, polyvinylchloride material, or the like.

Abstract: A conveyor device for applying a high voltage to a work transported in a coating booth includes a conveyor device main body having a running base running in the coating booth and an electrode attachment attached to the running base being insulated therefrom for carrying the work and applying a high voltage to the work, an electromagnetic wave transmitter disposed in the coating booth for transmitting electromagnetic waves to the running base during running in a high voltage application zone and a low voltage generator means for receiving electromagnetic waves from the electromagnetic transmitter means and a high voltage generator for stepping-up a low voltage outputted from the low voltage generator and supplying a high voltage to the electrode attachment, mounted on the running base.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying powdered coating to a workpiece--particularly to electric motor armatures and stators--including features relating to handling and masking of workpieces before, during and after coating, is provided. A first feature of the invention is the inclusion of all coating steps--e.g., coating, cleaning and precuring--as modules in a single treatment station on the production line. The treatment station can also be enclosed in a single housing to contain excess powder from both the coating and cleaning processes, so that a single powder recovery system can be used to recover the excess powder from both processes. The invention also includes a handling system for removing the workpiece from the production line, inserting it into the treatment station and moving it past the various modules in the treatment station, withdrawing it from the treatment station, and returning it to the armature production line.

Abstract: An electrostatic spraying machine for coating product comprises a hollow insulative material beam disposed horizontally over objects to be coated and carrying at least one coating product sprayer. The beam encloses a plurality of coating product supply hoses for the sprayer(s). The interior of the hollow beam is divided longitudinally into at least two conduits separated by a common wall.

Abstract: A continuous, automated method and apparatus for transporting and electrostatically powder coating articles such as fasteners. Articles in an unoriented state are oriented one behind another, transferred in succession to and magnetically retained on a face of a rotating feed wheel at a first position with respect to the feed wheel, transported to a second position by rotation of the feed wheel, transferred in succession at the second position to a respective portion of a moving conveyor, and releasably suspended magnetically and electrically grounded at the respective portion of the conveyor. Magnets used to suspend the articles from the conveyor are shielded from direct contact with the articles to avoid coating the magnets. While the articles remain suspended magnetically from the conveyor by their end portions, they are conveyed through a coating booth where they are electrostatically powder coated.

Abstract: An electrostatic coating facility for an electroconductive coating material comprising a coating machine disposed in a coating zone while being grounded to the earth, an insulated conveyer disposed in the coating zone for conveying an object to be coated in an electrically insulated state and applying a high voltage to the object, an entering conveyer disposed for carrying the object into the coating zone, a delivery conveyer for carrying the coated object out of the coating zone, and a relay transfer device interposed between the insulated conveyer 1 and the entering conveyer or the delivery conveyer for transferring the object in an electrically insulated state while keeping a required insulation distance between each of them. Aqueous coating material free from public pollution can be used with no troubles for taking insulative measures on the side of the coating machine and without worry of spark discharge.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrostatically spraying conductive coating material onto objects, primarily large extended objects, by charging with a relatively large charge the space behind the surface to be coated. With hollow objects, such as automobile bodies, the space within the body is charged. The space is charged by spraying an electrostatically charged atomized water mist into the space which evaporates charging the space and object surface. An electrostatic field is produced between the surface and the gun which, along with the supply of conductive material to which it is connected, is grounded. The gun discharges a film of coating which is atomized into droplets. The field inductively charges the film fringe and thus the droplets which are then attracted onto the large charged surface.

Abstract: A grounding apparatus for supporting an article during manufacture, preferably including a trolley, a hanger assembly and a hook assembly. The trolley is moveable along, and electrically connected to, a conveyor track for transporting the articles. The hook assembly supports the article and comprises an electrically conductive, rotatable, hook and base. The hanger assembly is electrically conductive and secures the hook assembly to the trolley. The hook assembly includes a rotatable hook and base having an electrically conductive brush fixedly attached to the base and contacting the rotating hook and base to electrically connect the hook with the base, and define an electrically conductive path between the article and the trolley.

Abstract: A method for preventing cross-contamination of semiconductor wafers during processing comprising covering a surface portion of a support assembly with a process compatible material, engaging a semiconductor wafer with the support assembly, processing the wafer while it is engaged with the support member, and removing the process compatible material from the support assembly after said material is considered to be contaminated. A shield particularly adapted for this process includes a shield portion made from a process compatible material and a process-compatible adhesive for attaching the shield portion to the support assembly.

Abstract: A conveyor hanger used for carrying an annular work which is to be painted through an electro-static painting station. The conveyor hanger includes an arm which is inclined from the horizontal and which has a sharp edge at a top of its cross-section. A liquid paint of little electro-conductivity attached to the arm will thus flow down along the arm and will not collect on the arm. Due to the sharp edged cross-section, even if the paint remains on the arm, abrasion between the work and the sharp edge of the arm will remove the remaining paint. Thus, good electro-conductivity between the work and the arm is obtained.

Abstract: A secondary spindle or device is utilized with an overhead conveyor and a primary spindle to prevent solidified paint particles that may have built up on the conveyor from falling onto newly painted parts supported on the primary spindle. The primary spindle is suspended from the conveyor at attachment points. The secondary spindle includes a non-conductive plastic shield which is also suspended from the conveyor by a conductive support bracket so that both the primary spindle and the secondary spindle move together with the overhead conveyor. The shield includes a plurality of relatively small holes extending completely therethrough to allow cleaning solution to flow therethrough while preventing solidified paint particles from falling therethrough.

Abstract: Inside the enclosing wall (1) of the electrostatic coating plant for applying dry or wet color coatings to electrically conductive surfaces of articles (2) set up in an insulated position is located an electrostatically chargeable curtain (9), the charge polarity of which is the same as that of the spraying gun (7) used for the coating operation. The article (2) set up in an insulated position is supplied with opposite polarity, which is necessary for the electrostatic coating, by an inductor arrangement (16) arranged above the article (2), the inductor arrangement (16) applying an electrostatic field produced by means of a peak inductor (19) to an electrically conducting layer (18), which is located on the rear of a casing piece (17) made of insulating material.

Abstract: A system and method for electrostatic coating of articles with paint particularly suited for coating irregular surfaces from a substantial distance. Water-borne conductive paint may be handled from an electrically grounded supply. Plural paint particle charging mechanisms are established by a DC potential applied to an electrode physically divorced from the paint stream. The articles being coated are electrically charged.

Abstract: Drum parts, i.e. heads, bottoms and lids, are conveyed through pre-treatment, resin powder spray, and resin curing stations by a monorail conveyor system which has improved hold down means and shield means to prevent the parts from swinging and to prevent the outer side of the parts from being coated.

Abstract: An electrostatic coating system in which the workpiece to be coated is charged to a high DC potential. A conveyor moves the workpiece through a coating zone. A separate charge collector disc on the workpiece support passes close to but does not contact a charged conductor. An electrostatic charge is induced on the disc and is transferred to the workpiece. The conveyor is grounded and the workpiece support is connected to the conveyor through a high resistance which completes the charging circuit and drains the charge from the workpiece and support as they leave the coating zone. The ends of the charged conductor are curved away from the path of the charge collector. Insulating plates shield the conductor and limit swinging of the workpiece support.

Abstract: An electrostatic coating system in which the workpiece to be coated is charged to a high DC potential. A conveyor moves the workpiece through the coating zone past a charged conductor. A suspended workpiece support includes a swivel joint to accommodate tilt and sway of the workpiece. A charge collector on the support has a spherically contoured surface which swings from the swivel joint so that the spacing of the collector from the conductor is substantially constant, stabilizing the voltage induced on the workpiece and minimizing the danger of sparking.

Abstract: Bottle supporting and masking apparatus wherein the container or article to be coated electrostatically is carried in an inverted up-right position through an electrostatically charged particle spray zone, with the container supported by a non-conductive neck or finish masking chuck. The container is heated to render its surface conductive and four embodiments of supports are disclosed, each of which will provide a grounding of the container.

Abstract: In a serial electrostatic printer, the developing device has a magnetic brush feeding toner to the record carrier, divided into a large number of magnetic regions. The magnetic region trailing the printing location is activated after printing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method and apparatus for progressively charging an electrically isolated conductive workpiece from ground potential to high potential while the workpiece is supported by a moving grounded conveyor. A portion of the conveyor is selectively included in circuit with a high voltage source and a voltage divider to charge the isolated conveyed workpieces to high electrostatic potential with respect to ground. The highly charged workpieces are conveyed past a grounded spray device dispersing atomized particles (i.e., liquid or powder) which are at electrical ground potential. In accordance with well known electrostatic coating principles, the particles will be attracted to the high potential workpiece parts and will adhere thereto.