Quick change powder coating spray system
First Claim
1. A powder coating spray system comprising:
- a spray booth that at least partially encloses a spray area in which powder overspray is produced during a spraying operation;
a powder feed apparatus that supplies powder to spray guns in said booth;
a powder extraction apparatus that removes said powder overspray from said booth and transfers said powder overspray to a first collection device; and
a vacuum source connected to said first collection device to transfer powder overspray from said first collection device to a second powder collection device, wherein said first powder collection device comprises a cyclone separator.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Powder overspray that is extracted from a spray booth is recovered back to a powder supply that is used to supply powder to the spray guns inside the spray booth. The powder overspray extracted from the booth is separated from the high flow air stream by a separator such as a cyclone separator. The powder falls into a transfer pan and a vacuum is used to convey the powder from the transfer pan to a vacuum receiver. The powder is then discharged to the feed hopper in the feed center. The use of a vacuum to convey powder from the cyclone to the feed center in effect permits substantially all of the powder overspray to be recovered from the spray booth directly to the feed hopper with minimal dwell or residence time within the cyclone or vacuum receiver subsystems during a spraying operation. The receiver can be rotated for easy cleaning, and the vacuum line cleaned by one or more cleaning elements drawn through the vacuum line.
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Citations
64 Claims
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1. A powder coating spray system comprising:
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a spray booth that at least partially encloses a spray area in which powder overspray is produced during a spraying operation;
a powder feed apparatus that supplies powder to spray guns in said booth;
a powder extraction apparatus that removes said powder overspray from said booth and transfers said powder overspray to a first collection device; and
a vacuum source connected to said first collection device to transfer powder overspray from said first collection device to a second powder collection device, wherein said first powder collection device comprises a cyclone separator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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15. A powder recovery system for a powder coating system, comprising:
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a cyclone separator having a powder outlet;
a vacuum source; and
a powder extraction interface between said cyclone outlet and said vacuum source;
said interface receiving powder from said cyclone outlet;
said vacuum source transferring powder in said interface to a collection device.
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25. A vacuum receiver for a powder recovery system, comprising:
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a receiver canister; and
a support frame for said canister;
said canister being mounted for selected rotation about an axis to facilitate cleaning the canister.
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28. A powder spraying system of the type having a spray booth and a powder feed hopper for supplying powder to a spray hopper, comprising:
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a powder extraction device in said booth that conveys powder overspray from the booth to a collection device outside the booth; and
a vacuum device that conveys powder from said collection device to the feed hopper.
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44. A quick change powder coating spraying system comprising:
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a generally cylindrical powder spray booth comprising a canopy;
a generally circular booth floor that rotates relative to said canopy;
said canopy being suspended over said floor;
a powder overspray extraction duct disposed in said booth to draw powder from said rotating floor during a spraying operation;
a cyclone separator that receives powder from said extraction duct; and
a vacuum conveyance system for vacuum conveying powder from said cyclone separator to a powder feed hopper. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51)
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48. A method for quick color change in a powder spraying system of the type having a spray booth and a powder spray application system, comprising the steps of:
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continuously drawing powder from said spray booth during a spraying operation;
transferring powder from said booth to a first collection device;
conveying powder from said first collection device to said application system under vacuum.
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52. A powder coating application system, comprising:
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a powder spray booth;
said booth comprising a canopy wall structure and a floor that is rotatable relative to said canopy wall structure;
a powder overspray extraction device for extracting powder overspray from said floor to a first collection device; and
a vacuum recovery system that conveys powder overspray from said first collection device to a powder supply. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54)
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55. A method for cleaning a vacuum line for a powder recovery system, comprising:
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producing a vacuum in a vacuum line connected between a first powder collection device and a second powder collection device;
using said vacuum to convey powder from said first powder collection device to said second powder collection device; and
cleaning said vacuum line by passing at least one wiping element through said line under force of said vacuum. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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56. A powder coating application system, comprising:
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a powder pump having a powder inlet and a powder outlet;
a powder spray gun having a powder inlet and a nozzle; and
a powder feed hose that connects said pump powder outlet with said spray gun powder inlet;
said powder pump having a powder flow path that extends in a single direction from said powder inlet to said powder outlet.
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62. In a powder coating application system, a powder overspray sieve comprising a screen for filtering powder therethrough;
said screen being removeable for a color change operation and powder color specific.
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63. A powder overspray collection system, comprising:
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a powder spray booth;
at least one powder spray gun disposed in said booth for spraying an object;
a powder supply for supplying powder to said spray gun;
said spray booth comprising a canopy and a floor that rotates relative to said canopy; and
a powder overspray collection system that transfers powder overspray from said spray booth to said powder supply;
said collection system comprising;
a powder overspray extraction duct that draws powder overspray from said rotating floor and transfers said powder overspray to a powder separation device; and
a vacuum source that conveys powder overspray from said separation device to said powder supply.
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64. A powder coating spray system comprising:
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a spray booth that at least partially encloses a spray area in which powder overspray is produced during a spraying operation;
a powder feed apparatus that supplies powder to spray guns in said booth;
a powder extraction apparatus that removes said powder overspray from said booth and transfers said powder overspray to a first collection device; and
a vacuum source connected to said first collection device to transfer continuously powder overspray from said first collection device to a second powder collection device.
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Specification