Apparatus and method for automatic powder spray booth cleaning

• US 20040074987A1
• Filed: 07/25/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey R. Shutic
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey R. Shutic
• Inventors: Shutic, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US10/470,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20040074987A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/225.1
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 14/41 by cleaning the walls of the booth
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 14/48 specially adapted for particulate material

Abstract

An automatic and pneumatically driven cleaning apparatus and method for cleaning interior surfaces of a powder spray booth. The cleaning apparatus includes a frame that can be transported into the booth by an overhead conveyor. The frame has a number of air jets that blow off powder from the interior surfaces. Propulsion air jets are also provided with the frame to pneumatically cause the frame to rotate. A lower stabilizer hub may be used to stabilize the rotation of the frame. The frame is made of lightweight materials such as composite materials.

Claims

1. A pneumatic powder spray booth cleaning apparatus comprising:

a rotatable frame having an air passage therethrough;

said air passage being connectable to a source of pressurized air;

said frame having a height and width that allow said frame to be moved between a first position outside a spray booth and a second position inside a spray booth;

said frame having a number of air jets that are in fluid communication with said air passage and that direct an air flow at interior surfaces of a spray booth to blow off powder therefrom as said frame rotates.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said frame directs said air flow in multiple directions so that when said frame is inside a spray booth said air flow is directed at vertical wall areas and a ceiling area of the spray booth.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a number of said air jets comprise propulsion air jets to cause said frame to rotate about an axis.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said frame is mountable on an overhead conveyor for transport between said first and second positions through openings in the spray booth wall structure that align with said conveyor.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 comprising a pressurized air source associated with said conveyor;

said frame having a inlet port that is coupled to said pressurized air source when said frame is in said second position.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said frame inlet port is uncoupled from said pressurized air source when said frame is in a position other than said second position.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said pressurized air source is actuated only when said frame is coupled thereto.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said frame is suspended from said conveyor by a rotatable air coupling that defines an upper hub about which said frame rotates when pressurized air is supplied to said air passage.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 comprising a lower stabilizer hub at a bottom of said frame that is coaxial with said upper hub;

said lower stabilizer hub being coupled to a non-rotating member of the spray booth when said frame is rotating within the spray booth.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said air jets comprise air nozzles mounted on said frame and in fluid communication with said air passage.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said frame comprises non-metallic material.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said frame comprises composite material.

13. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said frame comprises hollow members joined together in an inverted U-shaped configuration when said frame is in said second position.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said propulsion air jets comprise bores formed through wall sections of said rectangular members and at an angular orientation to cause said frame to rotate in a predetermined direction when pressurized air is ejected through said propulsion air jets.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said blow off air jets comprise air bores formed through wall sections of said rectangular members and at an angular orientation to cause pressurized air to impinge on interior surfaces of the spray booth when pressurized air is ejected through said blow off air jets.

16. A method for cleaning a powder spray booth, comprising the steps of:

a. transferring into the spray booth a plurality of blow off air jets that direct pressurized air at interior surfaces of the spray booth;

b. coupling a pressurized air supply to said blow off air jets; and

c. rotating said blow off air jets about an axis to blow off powder from said interior surfaces.

17. The method of claim 16 comprising the step of using pressurized air through a number of propulsion air jets to at least partially rotate said blow off air jets.

18. The method of claim 16 comprising the step of using an overhead conveyor to transfer said air jets into and out of the spray booth.

19. A pneumatic powder spray booth cleaning apparatus comprising:

a powder spray booth having vertically extending walls, a ceiling and a floor;

a rotatable frame having an air passage therethrough;

said air passage being connectable to a source of pressurized air;

said frame having a height and width that allow said frame to be moved between a first position outside said spray booth and a second position inside said spray booth;

said frame having a number of blow off air jets that are in fluid communication with said air passage and that direct an air flow at interior surfaces of said vertically extending walls and ceiling to blow off powder therefrom while said frame rotates.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said frame rotates about a central longitudinal axis of said spray booth.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said frame is transported into said spray booth by an overhead conveyor that is also used to transfer objects to be sprayed inside said booth for spraying operations.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 comprising a number of propulsion air jets that cause rotation of said frame about said axis.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 comprising an upper rotatable air coupling for coupling said frame to a pressurized air supply.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 comprising a lower stabilizer hub that is substantially coaxial with said upper rotatable air coupling.

25. The apparatus of claim 19 comprising a duct disposed near a floor of said powder booth;

said duct having a negative pressure air flow therethrough that extracts powder from said spray booth that has been blown off said interior surfaces by said frame.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said duct is coupled to a powder recovery apparatus.

27. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said frame is rotationally suspended on bearings from a conveyor.

28. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said spray booth is substantially cylindrical.

29. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said frame is rotationally supported at a lower end by a stabilizer hub that contacts an extraction duct in said booth.

30. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein rotation of said frame is self-propelled.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said self-propelled frame rotates in response to air flow within said frame.

32. A cleaning system comprising:

a powder spray booth that is generally a vertical cylinder;

an overhead conveyor;

said spray booth having an opening for parts carried by the conveyor into and out of said spray booth;

said frame being suspended from said conveyor and moveable through said opening for positioning within said spray booth; and

a cleaning frame having vertically extending legs which are positioned adjacent cylindrical interior surfaces of said spray booth;

said cleaning frame rotating to remove oversprayed powder from said interior surfaces.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein compressed air jets are supported by said cleaning frame to spray compressed air onto said interior surfaces for removing oversprayed powder therefrom.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said frame rotation is self-propelled by compressed air jets supported by said frame.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said frame is supported on a bearing device.

36. A powder booth cleaning apparatus comprising:

a powder spray booth;

a cleaning frame conforming to interior surfaces of said spray booth;

said cleaning frame having associated air jets that cause said cleaning frame to rotate.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said frame is supported on bearings for rotation.