Computerized voc and solvent usage warning system

• US 20020077716A1
• Filed: 08/23/2001
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BASF Corporation (BASF SE)
• Original Assignee: BASF Corporation (BASF SE)
• Inventors: Shadow, Gregory S., Datsko, Aimee R., Kerkau, Melissa S., Lamberty, Paul E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,804,567 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/97
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/00 Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/406 characterised by monitoring or safety G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41875 characterised by quality surveillance of production
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31206 Exchange of parameters, data, programs between two station, station and central or host or remote
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31282 Data acquisition, BDE MDE
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31483 Verify monitored data if valid or not by comparing with reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32074 History of operation of each machine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32348 Process reengineering, rethink manufacturing process, continuous improve
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32351 Visual, graphical animation of process
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32368 Quality control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33209 Protocol, mailbox, email, mail system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34039 Access central database through internet
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45013 Spraying, coating, painting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A computer-implemented apparatus is provided for coordinating paint-related process steps of at least one paint-application facility, said paint-related process steps comprising at least one of data collecting, calculating, evaluating and reporting volatile organic content of paint and actual and projected paint and solvent usage from a painting process and solvent and volatile organic emission regulation data.

Claims

8-1. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the calculation means comprises a simplex calculator for constraining the permissable range of emissions from a painting facility within allowable regulatory ranges.

12. A method of determining volatile organic content emissions in a paint application facility and consequently performing a warning operation based on a determination of volatile organic content emissions, comprising

(a) providing a paint application facility with a computer-implemented apparatus for coordinating paint-related process steps of at least one paint-related facility, said apparatus comprising:

a process control data structure comprising

a paint application facility database for storing paint characteristic data, paint application data and volatile organic content emissions regulation data;

a calculation means attached to said database where paint characteristic, paint application and volatile organic content emissions regulation data are stored;

a computer based data display connected to said database and calculation means;

a warning device connected to said database and calculation device

(b) communicating and storing data to a paint application facility database;

(c) calculating the data received from the data base;

(d) displaying the data via a computer based data display;

(e) coordinating the material data, the paint application data and the regulatory emission limit data;

(f) activating a warning via computer software, where said warning is activated when coordinated solvent emission data and solvent regulatory limit data indicate regulatory solvent limits are or will be exceeded.