Claims
- 1. Apparatus for applying a fusible granular precursor of a protective or decorative coating to the surface of an article, the apparatus comprising means for dispensing a stream of the fusible granular precursor in a stream of a bearing fluid, means for recovering fusible granular precursor that does not adhere to the surface of the article, means for mounting the dispensing means within the recovery means and means for coupling the recovery means to means for reclaiming fusible granular precursor recovered by the recovery means, the recovery means including a first manifold, means for establishing in the first manifold a subambient pressure, a second manifold, means for establishing in the second manifold a subambient pressure, means providing a first series of inlets, the inlets of the first series generally surrounding the dispensing means, means for coupling the means providing the first series of inlets to the first manifold, means providing a second series of inlets, and means for coupling the means providing inlets of the second series to the second manifold.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for coupling the means providing inlets of the first series to the first manifold comprises an independently controllable damper for controlling flow through each inlet of the first series.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the means for coupling the inlets of the second series to the second manifold comprises an independently controllable damper for controlling flow through each inlet of the second series.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 3 and further comprising a fusible granular precursor deflection shield, means for movably mounting the deflection shield adjacent the dispensing means, and means for selectively moving the deflection shield between a use orientation in which the shield deflects fusible granular precursor dispensed by the dispensing means primarily into one of the inlets of the second series and a storage orientation in which the shield lies between the dispensing means and said one of the inlets of the second series.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 4 and further comprising second means for dispensing a stream of fusible granular precursor in a stream of a bearing fluid, means for mounting the second dispensing means within the recovery means, a second fusible granular precursor deflection shield, means for movably mounting the second deflection shield adjacent the second dispensing means, and means for selectively moving the second deflection shield between a use orientation in which the second deflection shield deflects fusible granular precursor dispensed by the second dispensing means primarily into a second one of the inlets of the second series and a storage orientation in which the second shield lies between the second dispensing means and said second one of the inlets of the second series.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for coupling the inlets of the second series to the second manifold comprises an independently controllable damper for controlling flow through each inlet of the second series.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 6 and further comprising a fusible granular precursor deflection shield, means for movably mounting the deflection shield adjacent the dispensing means, and means for selectively moving the deflection shield between a use orientation in which the shield deflects fusible granular precursor dispensed by the dispensing means primarily into one of the inlets of the second series and a storage orientation in which the shield lies between the dispensing means and said one of the inlets of the second series.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 7 and further comprising second means for dispensing a stream of fusible granular precursor in a stream of a bearing fluid, means for mounting the second dispensing means within the recovery means, a second fusible granular precursor deflection shield, means for movably mounting the second deflection shield adjacent the second dispensing means, and means for selectively moving the second deflection shield between a use orientation in which the second deflection shield deflects fusible granular precursor dispensed by the second dispensing means primarily into a second one of the inlets of the second series and a storage orientation in which the second shield lies between the second dispensing means and said second one of the inlets of the second series.
- 9. A collection head for collecting dispensed particulate material that does not adhere to an article, at least part of the surface of which is to be coated by the dispensed particulate material, the collection head comprising means for dispensing the particulate material, a first outer shell defining a boundary of the collection head, a second shell lying entirely within the first shell, the second shell including means providing a primary collection duct, the first and second shells cooperating to define between them a secondary collection duct, a first manifold, means for coupling the first manifold to the primary duct, a second manifold, means for coupling the second manifold to the secondary duct, means for coupling the first and second manifolds to means for reclaiming dispensed particulate material that does not adhere to the article, and means for independently controlling flow through the first and second ducts.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first outer shell includes means defining a lip region having a first contour, the surface of the article having a second contour, the first contour generally conforming to a portion, but less than all, of the second contour.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 10 including means providing a plurality of primary collection ducts.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 11 including means for independently controlling flow through each of the primary collection ducts.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 10 including means providing a plurality of secondary collection ducts.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 13 including means for independently controlling flow through each of the secondary collection ducts.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 10 and further comprising a particulate material deflection shield, means for movably mounting the deflection shield adjacent the dispensing means, and means for selectively moving the deflection shield between a use orientation in which the shield deflects particulate material dispensed by the dispensing means primarily into the primary collection duct and a storage orientation in which the shield lies between the dispensing means and the primary collection duct.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/125,372, filed Nov. 25, 1987 and now abandoned.
This invention relates to apparatus for coating articles with decorative and protective coatings, such as paints and powder coatings. It is disclosed in the context of a powder collector. However, it is believed that the invention will find utility in other environments as well.
The protective abilities of fused powder coatings are well known. While protective and decorative powder coatings have been applied to articles for some time, it is in the nature of the presently known powder coating processes that it is difficult to control where powder is applied to the surface of an article. Thus, powder coating has not been a viable technology where only certain zones of an article which passes through a powder coating booth need to be, or are desired to be, coated. Let it be assumed, for example, that it is desired to powder coat only the lower regions of a vehicle body, for example, the lower one-third to one-fourth of the body, all of the way around the vehicle, to protect the vehicle body metal from rusting due to chips caused by flying stones and the like, which chips would ex tend entirely through the protective and decorative coating of the vehicle body and expose bare metal. One way to reduce substantially the likelihood of such exposure would be to coat the lower one-third to one-fourth of the vehicle body with a powdered material which, when fused, forms a highly resilient and durable protective layer around the lower one-third to one-fourth of the body. Such powders are well known in the industry. Heretofore, however, the technology for applying such powders in a reasonably controlled fashion only to the lower one-third to one-fourth of the vehicle body has not been available. It is proposed hereby to provide an apparatus for the controlled application of fluid-borne powders only to certain zones of an article for fusing into protective and/or decorative coatings on those zones.
According to the invention, apparatus for applying a fusible granular precursor of a protective and/or decorative coating to the surface of an article comprises means for dispensing a stream of the fusible granular precursor in a stream of a bearing fluid, means for recovering fusible granular precursor that does not adhere to the surface of the article, means for mounting the dispensing means within the recovery means and means for coupling the recovery means to means for reclaiming fusible granular precursor recovered by the recovering means. The recovering means includes a first manifold, means for establishing in the first manifold a subambient pressure, a second manifold, and means for establishing in the second manifold a subambient pressure. The apparatus further includes means providing a first series of inlets generally surrounding the dispensing means, means for coupling the inlets of the first series to the first manifold, means providing a second series of inlets, and means for coupling the inlets of the second series to the second manifold.
Illustratively according to the invention, the means for coupling the inlets of the first series to the first manifold comprises a independently controllable damper for controlling flow through each inlet of the first series.
Additionally according to the invention, the means for coupling the inlets of the second series to the second manifold illustratively comprises an independently controllable damper for controlling flow through each inlet of the second series.
Illustratively, apparatus according to the invention comprises a fusible granular precursor deflection shield, means for movably mounting the deflection shield adjacent the dispensing means, and means for selectively moving the deflection shield between a use orientation in which the shield deflects fusible granular precursor dispensed by the dispensing means primarily into one of the inlets of the second series and a storage orientation in which the shield lies between the dispensing means and said one of the inlets of the second series.
Illustratively, apparatus according to the invention further comprises second means for dispensing a stream of fusible granular precursor in a stream of a bearing fluid, means for mounting the second dispensing means within the recovery means, a second fusible granular precursor deflection shield, means for movably mounting the second deflection shield adjacent the second dispensing means, and means for selectively moving the second deflection shield between a use orientation in which the second deflection shield deflects fusible granular precursor dispensed by the second dispensing means primarily into a second one of the inlets of the second series and a storage orientation in which the second shield lies between the second dispensing means and said second one of the inlets of the second series.
The invention may best be understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention.
PCT Information
| Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
102e Date |
371c Date |
| PCT/US88/03562 |
10/13/1988 |
|
|
11/13/1989 |
11/13/1989 |
| Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
| WO89/04882 |
6/1/1989 |
|
|
US Referenced Citations (6)
Patent Grant
4998501
