This application relates to dispensing devices. It is disclosed in the context of dispensing devices (hereinafter sometimes guns) for dispensing pulverulent coating materials (hereinafter sometimes powders) onto articles (hereinafter sometimes targets) to be coated by such powders. However, it is believed to be useful in other applications as well.
Several types of dispensing devices for dispensing coating materials such as liquid coating materials (hereinafter sometimes paints), powders and the like are known. There are, for example, the devices illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,536,514; 3,575,344; 3,698,636; 3,843,054; 3,913,523; 3,964,683; 4,037,561; 4,039,145; 4,114,564; 4,135,667; 4,169,560; 4,216,915; 4,270,486; 4,360,155; 4,380,320; 4,381,079; 4,447,008; 4,450,785; Re. 31,867; 4,520,754; 4,580,727; 4,598,870; 4,685,620; 4,788,933; 4,798,340; 4,802,625; 4,825,807; 4,834,589; 4,893,737; 4,921,172; 5,353,995; 5,358,182; 5,433,387; 5,720,436; 5,768,800; 5,853,126; 6,328,224; 6,793,150; 6,889,921; and, 7,128,277. There are also the devices illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,759,763; 2,955,565; 3,102,062; 3,233,655; 3,578,997; 3,589,607; 3,610,528; 3,684,174; 3,744,678; 3,865,283; 4,066,041; 4,171,100; 4,214,708; 4,215,818; 4,323,197; 4,350,304; 4,402,991; 4,422,577; Re. 31,590; 4,505,430; 4,518,119; 4,684,064; 4,726,521; 4,779,805; 4,785,995; 4,879,137; 4,890,190; 4,896,384; 4,927,081; 5,683,976; and, 6,144,570; British Patent Specification 1,209,653; Japanese published patent applications: 62-140,660; 1-315,361; 3-169,361; 3-221,166; 60-151,554; 60-94,166; 63-116,776; 58-124,560; 52-145,445; and 52-145,448; and, French patent 1,274,814. There are also the devices illustrated and described in “Aerobell™ Powder Applicator ITW Automatic Division,” and, “Aerobell™ & Aerobell Plus™ Rotary Atomizer, DeVilbiss Ransburg Industrial Liquid Systems.” The disclosures of these references are hereby incorporated herein by reference. This listing is not intended to be a representation that a complete search of all relevant art has been made, or that no more pertinent art than that listed exists, or that the listed art is material to patentability. Nor should any such representation be inferred.
According to an aspect of the invention, a system for dispensing pulverulent coating material consists essentially of a source of pulverulent coating material, a source of compressed gas, a nozzle coupled to the source of pulverulent material and providing an opening through which the pulverulent material is dispensed, and a deflector spaced from the opening to aid in shaping a cloud of dispensed coating material. The deflector includes at least one first passageway extending with a radial component of the deflector and communicating with the source of compressed gas to direct gas with a radial component into the cloud of dispensed coating material.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system for dispensing pulverulent coating material consists essentially of a source of pulverulent coating material, a source of compressed gas, a device for movably supporting a nozzle, the nozzle coupled to the source of pulverulent material and providing an opening through which the pulverulent material is dispensed, and a deflector supported by the device and spaced from the opening to aid in shaping a cloud of dispensed coating material. The deflector includes at least one first passageway extending with a radial component of the deflector and communicating with the source of compressed gas to direct gas with a radial component into the cloud of dispensed coating material.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system for dispensing pulverulent coating material consists essentially of a source of pulverulent coating material, a source of compressed gas, a nozzle coupled to the source of pulverulent material and providing an opening through which the pulverulent material is dispensed, a deflector spaced from the opening to aid in shaping a cloud of dispensed coating material, and a source of high-magnitude electrostatic potential coupled to impart electrostatic potential to the dispensed pulverulent material. The deflector includes at least one first passageway extending with a radial component of the deflector and communicating with the source of compressed gas to direct gas with a radial component into the cloud of dispensed coating material.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system for dispensing pulverulent coating material consists essentially of a source of pulverulent coating material, a source of compressed gas, a nozzle providing an opening through which the pulverulent material is dispensed, a device for movably supporting the nozzle, the nozzle coupled to the source of pulverulent material, a deflector supported by the device and spaced from the opening to aid in shaping a cloud of dispensed coating material, and a source of high-magnitude electrostatic potential coupled to impart electrostatic potential to the dispensed pulverulent material. The deflector includes at least one first passageway extending with a radial component of the deflector and communicating with the source of compressed gas to direct gas with a radial component into the cloud of dispensed coating material.
Illustratively, the at least one first passageway communicates with the source of compressed gas through a second passageway provided in the deflector.
Illustratively, the deflector includes a front surface and at least one first passageway is angled toward the front surface.
Additionally or alternatively illustratively, the deflector includes a front surface and at least one first passageway is angled away from the front surface.
Additionally or alternatively illustratively, the deflector includes a front surface and at least one first passageway extends parallel to the front surface.
Illustratively, the deflector includes a front surface and a second surface intersecting the front surface at a radially outer edge of the front surface. The front surface and second surface define between them an angle of less than 90°.
Illustratively, the deflector includes a front surface and a second surface intersecting the front surface at a radially outer edge of the front surface. The front surface and second surface define between them an angle of 90°.
Illustratively, the deflector includes a front surface and a second surface intersecting the front surface at a radially outer edge of the front surface. The front surface and second surface define between them an angle of greater than 90°.
Illustratively, the deflector includes a front surface and an axis about which the deflector is substantially symmetric. The front surface and axis define between them an angle of less than 90°.
Illustratively, the deflector includes a front surface and an axis about which the deflector is substantially symmetric. The front surface and axis define between them an angle of 90°.
Illustratively, the deflector includes a front surface and an axis about which the deflector is substantially symmetric. The front surface and axis define between them an angle of greater than 90°.
The invention may best be understood by referring to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention. In the drawings:
a-c illustrate alternative construction details to certain construction details illustrated in
Referring now to
A typical powder cloud 16 is illustrated in
Compressed air is also typically supplied through a center passageway 30 of the powder deflector 12. This is done because it tends to reduce the cross sectional areas of sections through the powder cloud 16 transverse to axis 18. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,381,079 and 4,447,008.
The prior art deflector 12 has a relatively thin wall thickness in the region 32 adjacent its radially outer, forward edge 34, which tends to make this wall more susceptible to damage. The shaping air ring 22 is necessary to control, for example, reduce the envelope of, the powder cloud 16. When higher shaping air velocities are required to reduce the size of the powder cloud 16 to smaller sizes, the higher shaping air velocities tend to reduce the transfer efficiency. Use of the shaping air ring 22 thus increases the cost associated with powder coating both by increasing the amount of factory air required to be maintained and by reducing the transfer efficiency of the equipment employing shaping air, thereby requiring a greater amount of powder to provide a coating of a predetermined thickness on the target 36. Additionally, where the powder gun 14 is mounted on a coating robot, reciprocator or like device 38 for manipulating powder gun 14, a shaping air ring 22 increases the weight borne by the device 38. This almost inevitably results in more frequent maintenance cycles for the device 38, further adversely affecting production costs.
The performance of the deflector 112 of
For comparison purposes, the air flow pattern of the prior art deflector 12 illustrated in
There are numerous other advantages which attend elimination of the shaping air ring 22. Less air is consumed since there is no shaping air ring 22 to which shaping air must be supplied. The gun body 126 remains cleaner, and the absence of a shaping air ring 22 removes concern about soiling such a shaping air ring 22. The absence of the shaping air ring 22 also improves the aesthetics of the gun body 126 design. The absence of the shaping air ring 22 and its need for higher velocity airflow when tighter (that is, smaller) powder patterns or powder cloud envelopes 16, 116 are required translates into higher transfer efficiency when such tighter, smaller patterns or powder cloud envelopes 16, 116 are used. Manufacturing cost is reduced because there is no shaping air ring 22. The absence of the shaping air ring 22 also results in less weight to be supported by a device 38, such as a robot arm in robotic coating material applications. The reduced surface area of the deflector 112 reduces impact area on the back side of the deflector 112, reducing the likelihood of impact fusion of dispensed powder on the back side of the deflector 112.
As previously noted, the prior art deflector 12 of
Referring again to
Referring again to
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