Spray Booth Patents (Class 454/50)
  • Publication number: 20020072320
    Abstract: A powder spray booth includes a booth canopy wall arrangement to contain powder during a spraying operation; and a booth floor that is rotatable relative to the booth wall during a spraying operation. The floor can be rotated about an axis that is also the longitudinal axis of the spray booth. The booth may be generally cylindrical in shape with a round floor. The booth canopy and top are supported on a base frame separately from the floor. By this arrangement, the floor can be rotated relative to the booth canopy. A powder extraction apparatus in the form of a low pressure duct suspended off the floor draws up powder that has collected on the floor. The extraction duct is stationary with respect to the rotating floor during a spraying operation. The floor may also be translated along the axis of rotation between a first position in which the floor can rotate and a second position in which the floor is sealed against a lower edge of the booth canopy wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Shutic, David Mancuso, Andrew M. Peddie, Edward L. Jones
  • Patent number: 6264711
    Abstract: An apparatus for the capture of overspray, blast media particles, and errant particle generated during spraying without employing an enclosure is disclosed. The apparatus is to be employed proximal a worker on a platform. The overspray capture mechanism is located intermediate the platform and the object being sprayed of coated. The mechanism includes a centrally supported suction duct which exerts a negative pressure in the area, the duct extends from the work area to a filtration area proximal a pump. A generally rectangular, flexible capturing device surrounds the duct. The flexible capture device is located intermediate a first and second support. The first and second supports include hydraulic elements which control the position of the supports and hence the flexible capture device. By use of the capturing device, liquid buildup, overspray or errant particles will be caused to move to and into the suction duct and then to a filtration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventor: William Smith
  • Patent number: 6186891
    Abstract: A regulating assembly for a controlled environment room including one or more work product openings comprising a positive pressure air chamber mounted in direct fluid communication with each of the work product openings and an airsupply assembly connected to each of the air chambers so as to supply a sufficient quantity of air thereto, such that a predetermined positive air pressure is created in each of the air chambers. The predetermined positive is at least minimally greater than the air pressure on the interior of the controlled environment room. The greater air pressure in each of the air chambers, results in concurrent paths of air flow directed from each of the air chambers into the interior of the controlled room and simultaneously outward therefrom to the surrounding environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Inventor: Anthony D'Andrea
  • Patent number: 6187098
    Abstract: A powder coating cabin includes a column-like housing defining an interior space between a ceiling and a bottom, with the bottom being substantially of flat configuration, and a coating unit arranged on the housing for spraying powder onto an object. The powder coating unit is further provided with a cleaning unit which is so received in the housing as to be movable between a stand-by position in which the cleaning unit is arranged at least partially underneath the bottom and an operative phase for automatically cleaning at least the inner wall surfaces of the housing, whereby the bottom is suitably so designed as to clear a passage for the cleaning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Erich Krämer, Matthias Krämer
  • Patent number: 6171656
    Abstract: The present invention is an overspray collector and method of collecting overspray. The overspray collector provides a device and method to intercept overspray produced by spraying coating material onto any relatively-flat surface and preventing air pollution by capturing such pollution at its source. The overspray collector includes a shroud which surrounds and moves with the spraying device(s), while maintaining a gap between itself and the work surface being sprayed. Behind the spraying device and opposite the work surface, the shroud terminates in ducting through which overspray-laden air exits. Air inlet slots allow atmospheric air to enter in sufficient quantity to minimize residual airflow through the aforementioned gap. Internal to the shroud, the spray from the spray device(s) impinges upon the work surface and the finest sprayed particles turn laterally along the work surface without depositing thereupon, thus forming overspray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventor: Gary S. Settles
  • Patent number: 6129020
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air exhaust device for printing machines, tin-plate printing machines, varnishing units or the like, in particular for the removal of ink mist, having at least one exhaust element arranged above the rolls of the printing machine, which exhaust element has at least one air exhaust opening. The exhaust element (16) is arranged laterally of the rolls (4) and the air exhaust opening (14) draws the air in in approximately horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: LTG Luftechnische Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung
    Inventor: Ulrich Speck
  • Patent number: 6010571
    Abstract: A paint spray booth with capability to separately exhaust clean powder paint overspray by a clean overspray upper exhaust system at floor level, and the additional exhaust air and paint overspray passing through a grated floor and conveyor system is exhausted by a lower exhaust system. The upper and lower exhaust systems each include a pair of channels having a first and a second sloping surface with a slot disposed at a lower portion thereof. The slot opens into an exhaust duct which extends longitudinally along the paint spray booth. The upper exhaust channels are disposed beneath a surface of a body to be painted, while the lower exhaust channels are disposed beneath a grated floor and the upper exhaust channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Flexible Automation Inc.
    Inventors: Leif E. Josefsson, Tim S. Slagle, Tim J. Sutton
  • Patent number: 5922130
    Abstract: A spray booth includes an outer enclosure in which the temperature and humidity of a fluid (such as air) is not controlled and a fluid handling unit within this enclosure, which circulates and controls the temperature and humidity of a smaller volume of the same fluid (air) to develop an environment suitable for application of coatings to desired substrates. In use, fluid is drawn from the outer enclosure into the inner, fluid handling unit in order to clean and modify the temperature and humidity of the fluid being handled, conditioning it to be delivered to the region of limited size which is established for receiving the substrate to be coated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Sermatech International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark F. Mosser, Bruce McMordie
  • Patent number: 5861062
    Abstract: A workpiece spray-painting device having at least two painting booths arranged on the conveying track of the workpieces, with each booth being designed in two separate parts that may be separated from each other. A spraying device for coating the workpieces is movable on a track between the booths when the booth parts are separated from each other so that the spray device may be positioned in one or the other of the booths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Tegometall (International) AG
    Inventor: Herbert Reiss
  • Patent number: 5820456
    Abstract: A paint spray booth (10) has a spray chamber (11), an air make-up unit (15), and an air exhaust system with an exhaust air fan (26) and an exhaust damper (25). The booth has a pressure transducer (29) that senses the pressure of air both inside and outside the booth and which transmits control signals indicative of sensed changes in the differential air pressure to motors that drive the exhaust fan or the exhaust damper. In this manner the exhaust air flow rate is adjusted to compensate for changes in the differential air pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignees: Sandy J. Pangle, Robert B. Kennedy
    Inventor: Thomas L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5769703
    Abstract: A protective curtain or liner is detachably mounted to the walls of a paint spray booth so that the paint which would otherwise contact walls would instead contact the curtain and the paint would then be disposed of by removing the curtain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Inventor: Douglas Conlin
  • Patent number: 5766355
    Abstract: A paint spray booth utilizes an exhaust system extending longitudinally along the path of the articles to be painted having an adjustment mechanism for varying the width of the exhaust inlets extending longitudinally for substantially the entire length of the air exhaust element and a downwardly slanting bottom surface of the exhaust elements for yielding powder overspray of uniform density to a filter media. Adjusting the width of the longitudinally extending exhaust inlet spreads an adjustable pressure drop over the slot opening. Adjusting the velocity of air flow through the exhaust elements substantially avoids powder paint build-up at the exhaust inlet. The slanted configuration of the exhaust elements, in conjunction with the adjustment mechanism, improves uniformity of filter life by providing a substantially even distribution of powder overspray to a filter media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: ABB Flexible Automation Inc.
    Inventors: Leif E. B. Josefsson, David O'Ryan
  • Patent number: 5741178
    Abstract: A paint booth structure and method having, in one form a specially shaped painting volume wherein the painting occurs is provided with an air flow system to carry away paint overspray and a decreasing cross-sectional area in the direction of air flow to cause an increasing velocity air flow where the painting occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Binks Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Steve E. Telchuk
  • Patent number: 5679071
    Abstract: A plenum for a paint spray booth including at least one improved plenum module having a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls each comprised of a truss adapted to cooperate with a plurality of stilts thereby independently supporting the plenum above the paint application zone of a paint spray booth. The improved plenum module permits the spacing between plenum stilts to be increased to at least sixty feet thereby decreasing construction costs, increasing the uniformity of airflow from the plenum and decreasing the potential for air leaks from and into the plenum. The improved plenum modules are adapted to be coupled in series and in parallel to provide plenum modules of varying lengths and widths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: ABB Flexible Automation Inc.
    Inventor: Robert D. Proctor
  • Patent number: 5676753
    Abstract: A paint spray booth with capability to separately exhaust clean powder paint overspray by a clean overspray upper exhaust system at floor level, and the additional exhaust air and paint overspray passing through a grated floor and conveyor system is exhausted by a lower exhaust system. The upper and lower exhaust systems each include a pair of channels having a first and a second sloping surface with a slot disposed at a lower portion thereof. The slot opens into an exhaust duct which extends longitudinally along the paint spray booth. The upper exhaust channels are disposed beneath a surface of a body to be painted, while the lower exhaust channels are disposed beneath a grated floor and the upper exhaust channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: ABB Flexible Automation Inc.
    Inventors: Leif E. Josefsson, Tim S. Slagle, Tim J. Sutton
  • Patent number: 5643077
    Abstract: A ventilation system for use, in example, on a spray booth or paint stripping enclosure, in which variable speed fans (or equivalent) are employed, and controlled by a sensor so that the flow rate exhausted from the booth (and directed either to an emission control device or vented to atmosphere) is continually adjusted to minimize the exhaust flow rate from the enclosure. The remainder of the ventilation air is recirculated back into the enclosure. An analyzer located in the recirculation duct continuously monitors the concentration of hazardous constituents present in the recirculation stream, and transmits this data to a central controller, which controls the ventilation fan systems. The central controller controls the recirculation duct and exhaust duct fan systems to achieve the highest recirculation rate possible, yet also maintain constituent concentrations in the recirculation duct at a safe level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Inventor: Jacqueline Ayer
  • Patent number: 5634975
    Abstract: An air distribution apparatus in a paint spray booth plenum for increasing the uniformity of down draft velocities from the plenum to the spray booth paint application zone. The increased uniformity of down draft velocities correspondingly increases paint transfer efficiency and minimizes paint overspray buildup in the paint application zone. The improved air distribution apparatus includes airflow regulating elements and flow directing members which cooperate to distribute airflow substantially evenly across the plenum floor and into the paint application area. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of perforated plates and guide vanes are used to control the rate and direction of airflow in the plenum. The invention also provides for the adjustment of the rate and direction of flow through the use of slidable plates and adjustable guide vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: ABB Flexible Automation Inc.
    Inventor: Leif E. B. Josefsson
  • Patent number: 5518543
    Abstract: A spraying apparatus having a continuously moving conveyor belt which brings a vessel rim down to a spraying station, arrests movement of the vessel and aligns it with a vacuum gripping head, grips the vessel bottom and lifts and presents the vessel to a sprayer, rotates the vacuum gripped vessel rapidly to apply a plurality of thin layers of coating, and returns the coated vessel to the conveyor and releases the grip on the vessel so that the continuously moving conveyor can discharge the coated vessel from the spraying station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Anchor Hocking Corporation
    Inventors: Michael L. Pietrowski, Gordon D. Norlin, Thomas J. Mohr, Charles R. Williams, Thomas J. Haug, John W. Herrmann
  • Patent number: 5421885
    Abstract: Plant for the powdered-paint spraying of pieces to be painted, comprising a spraying booth with replaceable walls of the disposable type and a unit for feeding and recovering the paint that has not deposited on the pieces to be painted. The booth comprises a supporting frame which delimits a spraying chamber having at least two walls or half-booths which are arranged mutually opposite, have replaceable sheets and are movably mounted with respect to one another for moving mutually closer and further apart to vary the section of the spraying chamber according to the width of the pieces to be painted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Inventor: Ferdinando Trevisan
  • Patent number: 5348697
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the production of reinforced plastic objects uses a body form around which a casing having a cover is placed. The cover includes two cover units which between them defines an opening having an adjustable size and position. The opening provides access into the body form so that reinforced plastic material may be applied therein. The size of the opening is minimized to reduce the amount of environmentally harmful substances escaping therefrom, such as styrene. The position and size of the opening relative to the body form is adjustable to provide a convenient access into the body form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Institutet For Verkstadsteknisk Forskning
    Inventors: Goran Palmers, Max Maupoix
  • Patent number: 5346553
    Abstract: A booth for the spray coating of workpieces with a powder coating material has a cleaning device for cleaning the interior of the booth. The walls, ceiling and floor constitute the interior contour of the booth and the cleaning device is dimensioned so that a working gap exists between the cleaning device carrier and the interior contour of the booth. The working gap is bridged elastically by cleaning elements that scrape the booth interior to dislodge powder material that has settled. A vacuum source connected to the cleaning device then sucks the powder material released from the interior surfaces for recycling of the powder and cleaning of the booth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Farb-Tec Gesellschaft fur Beschichtungskabinen
    Inventor: Joachim Pingel
  • Patent number: 5173118
    Abstract: Partitions in a paint spray booth are adjustably coupled to a grated ceiling of the booth and extend to preselected heights above a grated floor of the booth. The adjustable partitions define a paint spray application zone therebetween wherein air flow rate between the ceiling and the floor of the booth is chosen for optimum paint transfer and overspray removal efficiency, while air flow between the partitions and the booth outer walls may be much lower to conserve investment and running costs. Air flow reducers, such as adjustable perforated plates, are positioned on the grated ceiling above the low rate air flow spaces between the partitions and the outer walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: ABB Flakt, Inc.
    Inventor: Leif E. B. Josefsson
  • Patent number: 5169448
    Abstract: An apparatus, for determining the degree of tackiness of a surface of a body, comprises a closed chamber with inlet and outlet openings; a support for the body within the chamber; a fan for providing an airflow directed toward the surface of the body within the chamber; a powder dispenser for releasing powder into the path of the airflow upstream of the body surface, the powder being adapted to be carried by the airflow thereby to permit the powder to impinge against the body surface; whereby the amount of powder adhering to the body surface after a period provides a measure of tackiness of the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited
    Inventors: John P. Peterson, David E. Graves, Alan L. Crowle
  • Patent number: 5169417
    Abstract: A device for removing the excess sprayed material in a spraying operation (e.g., the spraying of wet lacquer or the like) includes a spraying booth, a suction booth and an aspirator. A partition provided with openings separates the spraying booth and the suction booth. The openings are defined as tapering nozzles so that the air and sprayed particles are passed through the nozzles at a high rate of speed. This construction minimizes the deposition of particles on the partition. Once in the suction chamber, the air flow is slowed so that the particles will dry. The aspirator is located in an upper region of the suction booth so that the particles are drawn upward. A filter is positioned in front of the aspirator to collect the dried particles. The particles thereby form filter cakes which are easily removed from the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Inventor: Hartwig Straub
  • Patent number: 5162132
    Abstract: A collapsible spray housing and method of using the housing in electrostatic powder spray operations. The housing is collapsible so that it can be folded and inserted into a conventional cartridge filter type powder recovery system. Separate collapsible housings may be maintained, each interconnected with a respective cartridge filter, dedicated to running one particular color therethrough. A skeletal frame may be employed upon which the various collapsible housings may be inserted and removed between successive runs different colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Reclaim
    Inventor: William Diaz
  • Patent number: 5074238
    Abstract: An improvement for a production line, downdraft type paint spray booth having a conveyor for carrying the parts to be painted, having a recessed portion for containing the conveyor and dual slots, on one or either side of the conveyor for air flow is disclosed.The improvement provides the advantage of improved air flow around the parts being painted and around the conveyor to keep it clean. Additionally, the provision of the dual slots permits the conveyor to be at least partially recessed into the booths floor to provide a lower profile and a more compact arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: Binks Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Steve E. Telchuk, Leslie H. Brown