Abstract:
An electrostatic spray resin coating system recirculates overspray resin particles which do not contact the workpiece and blends them with new resin powder in a supply hopper. A predetermined small volume of powder is maintained in the hopper which contains a distribution of resin powder particle sizes that will not suffer elutriative separation, assures uniform coating, and prevents obstructions caused by compaction of the powder. Means for detecting the workpiece opposite the spray nozzle controls the supply of powder to the nozzle and minimizes the amount of overspray which contains a high proportion of coarse particles, and powder level detecting means responsive to the volume of new and recirculated powder in the supply hopper controls the supply of new powder mixed with the overspray in the supply hopper.
Abstract:
An electrostatic spray system for resin coating metallic articles heated above the melting temperature of the resin and moved on a conveyor through a spray booth past spray nozzles for resin powder includes means for recovering and recirculating the overspray resin particles which do not come into contact with the heated article, a bin for the recovered resin powder containing a magnet and a vibrating screen for cleaning the power, a supply hopper below the recovered power bin having venturis at its lower end operated by a pressurized air source for controlling the supply of powder to the spray nozzles, means driven by a motor for delivering new powder to the supply hopper, and means for detecting the level of new and recirculated powder in the supply hopper and for energizing the motor only when the powder in the supply hopper is below a predetermined amount which will prevent agglomeration and compacting of the resin powder particles. In one embodiment a hopper for new resin powder is disposed above the supply hopper, a rotatable valve at the lower end of the new powder hopper is rotated by an electric motor and controls the amount of new powder delivered to the supply hopper, and the powder level detecting means controls the energization of the electric motor. In an alternative embodiment, a flexible screw conveyor driven by an electric motor controlled by the powder level detecting means delivers the new powder to the bin containing the magnet and vibrating screen to remove agglomerated particles and ferromagnetic particles from the new powder.
Abstract:
In an electrostatic powder spray system wherein resin powder is fed from a supply hopper to a powder dispensing venturi and is propelled therefrom by pressurized air through a conduit to a spray gun, the venturi housing is constructed of insulating material so that resin powder particles electrostatically charged by the triboelectric effect are not attracted to the venturi housing walls and do not clog the venturi.