DEVICE AND METHOD FOR COATING SMALL PARTS

• US 20090017224A1
• Filed: 03/01/2006
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Special Coatings GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Special Coatings GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Brendel, Gerhard
• Granted Patent: US 9,950,333 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 427/557
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/26 Apparatus for coating by tumbling with a liquid or powder, spraying device-associated, drum, rotating pan
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/06 into the form of pills, lozenges or dragees
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2/12 in rotating drums
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/0257 in a moving container, e.g. a rotatable foraminous drum
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 11/1015 responsive to a conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature B05C11/1005 takes precedence; responsive to position or movement of the coating head relative to the target
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 11/1034 specially designed for conducting intermittent application of small quantities, e.g. drops, of coating material B05C5/0225, B05C11/1026 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 3/05 by applying vibrations thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 2258/00 Small objects (e.g. screws)

Abstract

The present invention relates to a coating device for small parts, in particular for lacquering mass produced small parts, like e.g. bolts, small plastic parts and similar, and it relates to a method for this purpose with a movable receiver element for receiving and moving the small parts, and a dispenser device, located at the receiver element for continuous or portioned dispensing the coating material into the receiver element, wherein a radiation emitter device is provided in the receiver element for emitting radiation for drying and/or hardening the coating material.

Claims

1. A coating device for small parts, comprising:

a movable receiver element for receiving and moving the small parts, and with at least one dispenser device for dispensing a coating material into the receiver element; and

,

at least one infrared (IR) radiation emitter device for emitting (infrared) IR radiation into the receiver element for drying an/or hardening the coating material.

2. A coating device according to claim 1, wherein:

the receiver element is a rotatable drum or a rattling or shaking body.

3. A coating device according to claim 1, wherein:

the dispensing device is a spraying- or squirting device, which is provided so that a continuous dispensing of the coating material, or spray- or squirt blasts with very short duration are performed.

4. A coating device according to claim 1, wherein:

the radiation emitter device comprises at least one radiation emitter from the group comprising short-, medium- or long wave IR radiation emitters, CIR radiation emitters and NIR radiation emitters.

5. A coating device according to claim 1, further including:

at least one closing element for closing a receiver opening of the receiver element for loading and unloading of the small parts to be coated.

6. A coating device according to claim 5, wherein:

the radiation emitter device and/or the dispenser device are located at the at least one closing element, so that the radiation emitter device, and/or the dispenser device can be moved into and out of a receiving area of the receiver element through operating the at least one closing element.

7. A coating device according to claim 5, wherein:

openings for incoming air and exhaust air are provided at the receiver element and/or at the at least one closing element,

8. A coating device according to claim 7, wherein:

a suction device, is located at the air exhaust opening.

9. A coating device according to claim 1, further including:

sensors whose output signals are processed through a particularly programmed control or regulation for controlling or regulating the radiation emitter device and/or the dispenser device.

16. A coating device according to claim 2, wherein:

the receiver element is a rotatable drum with conveyor ribs on an inside wall.

17. A coating device according to claim 3, wherein:

the dispensing device is an air- or water assisted squirt or spray gun.

18. A coating device according to claim 2, further including:

at least one pivotable cover for closing the drum for loading and unloading of the parts to be coated.

19. A coating device according to claim 7, wherein:

the air intake opening has an air intake spout, whose outlet opening ends proximal to the closure element, and the air exhaust opening has an air exhaust spout, whose intake opening is disposed close to the backside wall located opposite to the closure element.

20. A coating device according to claim 8, wherein:

the suction device includes a fan.

21. A coating device according to claim 9, wherein:

the sensors comprise temperature- and/or gas- or steam sensors.

10. A method for coating small parts, comprising:

providing a coating device with a movable receiver element for receiving and moving the small parts, the receiver element having at least one dispenser device for dispensing a coating material, into the receiver element, and with at least one radiation emitter device for emitting infrared radiation into the receiver element;

filling the small parts to be coated into the receiver element of the coating device;

moving the small parts in the coating device under simultaneous, at least intermittent infrared (IR) irradiation;

at least intermittent, dispensing of the coating material through the dispensing device onto the moving small parts; and

removing the small parts after a coating period.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein:

the small parts are brought to a minimum temperature through infrared (IR) irradiation before dispensing the coating material.

12. A method according to claim 10 wherein

the coating material is dispensed continuously in small quantities, through single subsequent spraying- or squirting blasts so that the coating material dries and/or hardens directly on the small parts through the temperature and/or the environmental conditions created through the infrared (IR) radiation.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein:

the coating material is deposited through air- or water vapor assisted spraying.

14. A method according to claim 10, wherein:

the small parts are metal or plastic parts, with any three dimensional contour.

22. A method according to claim 10, wherein:

the movable receiver element continuously turns over or shakes the small parts.

23. A method according to claim 10, wherein:

the at least intermittent dispensing of the coating material is continuous.

15. A method according to claim, wherein the coating material is solvent based, or water based lacquer, or powder.