Apparatus for applying powered coating material to an article

Claim 2

Apparatus for applying powder coating material onto selected surfaces of an article of manufacture comprising: at least one material applying device having an interaction chamber including a selected passageway; coating material inlet means for admitting a stream of powder coating material into the selected passageway; coating material supply means for directing the stream of powder coating material to the coating material inlet means; first coating material outlet means in communication with said selected passageway and disposed in spaced relationship to the coating material inlet means, said first coating material outlet means including means for directing the stream of powder coating material out of the selected passageway and generally toward the selected surface of the article to be coated; an inwardly curving surface along the selected passageway of the chamber between said coating material inlet means and said first coating material outlet means for guiding the stream of coating material from the coating material inlet means generally toward the first coating material outlet means; a second coating material outlet means for transferring the stream of powdered coating material from said selected passageway and away from said first material outlet means for reuse; and regulating means disposed in the vicinity of said inwardly curving surface including at least one passageway terminating along the curving surface, for selectively controlling the flow of coating material stream toward either the first or second coating material outlet means whereby the stream of coating material through the first coating material outlet means may be effectively interrupted without discontinuing the admission of coating material into the selected passageway through the coating material inlet means.

Claim 3

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the coating material regulating means includes a first port opening into said passageway to direct a first fluid control stream onto said coating material stream and in the direction of the first coating material outlet means to cause said stream of coating material to be fed therethrough and the at least one passageway comprises a second port opening into said passageway for directing a second control fluid stream onto said coating material stream to divert the stream of coating material away from said first outlet means and towards the second outlet means.

Claim 4

The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which said first coating material outlet means includes a nozzle having an axis generally in line with the article being coated, said first port has its axis in general alignment with the nozzle axis to augment the density of coating material moved toward said nozzle and said second port is positioned along said passageway intermediate said nozzle and said inwardly curving surface portion of said passage, the axis of said second port being generally in line with said second coating material outlet means to facilitate selective deflection of said stream of coating material from said first outlet means and toward said second outlet means.

Claim 5

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one coating material applying device is positioned above the source of coating material, and said apparatus further includes coating material passageway means extending from the second coating material outlet means toward the coating material source, said second passageway having no bends exceeding 90* whereby the stream of coating material may be selectively returned to the source for reuse with a minimum tendency of the coating material buildup.

Claim 6

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said second outlet means has a cross-sectional area which is larger than that of said inlet means and wherein the second coating material outlet means is sufficiently large to reduce the tendency of coating material buildup in the area of said second coating material outlet means, when the stream of coatinG material is being fed thereto.

Claim 7

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the coating material regulating means includes a first port opening into said passageway to direct a fluid control stream onto said powdered coating material stream and in the direction of the first coating material outlet means to cause said stream of coating material to be fed therethrough and fluid pressure isolating means for increasing the fluid pressure differential between the coating material inlet means and first port and for directing powdered coating material generally toward the first coating material outlet means.

Claim 8

Apparatus for applying powdered coating material onto selected surfaces of an article of manufacture comprising: at least one material applying device having a chamber; means for supporting an article of manufacture adjacent to the at least one material applying device, coating material inlet means for admitting a stream of powdered coating material into the chamber; coating material supplying means for directing the stream of powdered coating material to the coating material inlet means; first coating material outlet means in communication with said chamber and in spaced relation to the coating material inlet means, and being adapted for directing the stream of powdered coating material out of the chamber generally toward the selected surface of an article to be coated and supported in spaced relationship to said material applying device by said means for supporting; second material outlet means in communication with said chamber for receiving coating material that is not directed out of the chamber through the first material outlet means; control means for selectively directing coating material toward the first and second outlet means; said chamber including an inwardly curving surface between said coating material inlet means and said first coating material outlet means for guiding the stream of coating material from the coating material inlet means generally toward the first coating material outlet means; and fluid supplying means having a port opening into the chamber intermediate said inwardly curving surface and said first coating material outlet means, generally behind said first coating material outlet means and in the path of travel of the stream of coating material as it is being guided through the chamber by the inwardly curving surface, for controlling the flow of the coating material stream into said first coating material outlet means for coating the selected surfaces of the article of manufacture.

Claim 9

Apparatus for applying powdered coating material onto selected surfaces of an article of manufacture comprising: at least one material applying device having a chamber; means for supporting an article of manufacture adjacent to the at least one material applying device, coating material inlet means for admitting a stream of powdered coating material into the chamber; coating material supplying means for directing the stream of powdered coating material to the coating material inlet means; first coating material outlet means in communication with said chamber and in spaced relation to the coating material inlet means, and being adapted for directing the stream of powdered coating material out of the chamber generally toward the selected surface of an article to be coated and supported in spaced relationship to said material applying device by said means for supporting; second material outlet means in communication with said chamber for receiving coating material that is not directed out of the chamber through the first material outlet means; control means for selectively directing coating material toward the first and second outlet means; said chamber including an inwardly curving surface between said coating material inlet means and said first coating material outlet means for guiding the stream of coating material from the coating material inlet means generally toward the first coating material outlet means; and fluid supplying means having a port opening into the chamber intermediate said inwardly curving surface and said first coating material outlet means, generally behind said first coating material outlet means and in the path of travel of the stream of coating material as it is being guided through the chamber by the inwardly curving surface, for controlling the flow of the coating material stream into said first coating material outlet means for coating the selected surfaces of the article of manufacture.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 in which at least one coating material applying device is mounted above a feeding source of coating material, and the coating material supplying means includes a passageway extending between the feeding source and the coating material inlet means, said passageway having no bends exceeding 90* in order to reduce the tendency of coating material buildup therein as the stream of coating material is being supplied from the feeding source to the coating material inlet means.

Claim 11

An improved apparatus for coating powdered material on predetermined surfaces of an article of manufacture comprising: a hollow support disposed in adjacent relationship with selected surfaces of the article, means forming a plenum chamber on the side of said support opposite the article, ports formed within said support and a source of low pressure fluid connected to said plenum chamber for directing low pressure coolant through said ports and onto the selected surfaces of the article of manufacture to achieve low velocity, fluid masking of the selected surfaces, at least one fluid controlled coating nozzle in juxtaposition to the predetermined surfaces of the article of manufacture including coating material inlet means for admitting a stream of powdered coating material, a control passageway carried by said coating nozzle in communication with said inlet means, first outlet means in the form of a discharge nozzle in communication with the passage for normally discharging powdered coating material onto the other selected surfaces of said article of manufacture, second outlet means adjacent to the path of flow of powdered coating material between the inlet means and discharge nozzle for directing the stream of powdered coating material away from said discharge nozzle, control stream means for selectively discharging powdered coating material through the second outlet means, and for enhancing discharge of powdered material that passes the second outlet means through said discharge nozzle, and low pressure fluid means for moving powdered material to said coating material inlet means and into said control passage whereby the low pressure and said plenum chamber enhances masking of selected surfaces of the article of manufacture while said coating nozzle discharges powdered coating material under low pressure to insure uniform thickness of accumulated coating material on the predetermined surfaces of the article.

Claim 12

An improved apparatus for coating powdered material on predetermined surfaces of an article of manufacture comprising: a hollow support disposed in adjacent relationship with selected surfaces of the article, means forming a plenum chamber on the side of said support opposite the article, ports formed within said support and a source of low pressure fluid connected to said plenum chamber for directing low pressure coolant through said ports and onto the selected surfaces of the article of manufacture to achieve low velocity, fluid masking of the selected surfaces, at least one fluid controlled coating nozzle in juxtaposition to the predetermined surfaces of the article of manufacture including coating material inlet means for admitting a stream of powdered coating material, a control passageway carried by said coating nozzle in communication with said inlet means, first outlet means in the form of a discharge nozzle in communication with the passage for normally discharging powdered coating material onto the other selected surfaces of said article of manufacture, second outlet means adjacent to the path of flow of powdered coating material between the inlet means and discharge nozzle for directing the stream of powdered coating material away from said discharge nozzle, control stream means for selectively discharging powdered coating material through the second outlet means, and for enhancing discharge of powdered material that passes the second outlet means through said discharge nozzle, and low pressure fluid means for moving powdered material to said coating material inlet means and into said control passage whereby the low pressure and said plenum chamber enhances masking of selected surfaces of the article of manufacture while said coating nozzle discharges powdered coating material under low pressure to insure uniform thickness of accumulated coating material on the predetermined surfaces of the article.

Claim 13

The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said support comprises an outer cylinder, and said plenum chamber includes said outer cylinder and further comprises a radially perforated inner tube concentrically mounted within said cylinder, an imperforate wall joining the inner end of said tube to the inner surface of said cylindrical member at one end, an imperforate outer tube slidably and sealably positioned between said cylindrical member and said perforated inner tube and to one side of said end wall whereby; movement of said outer tube simultaneously exposing the perforations of said inner tube and the radial holes carried by the outer cylinder to vary both the size of the plenum chamber and the peripheral surface of the cylinder acting as an air mask.

Claim 14

The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a common source of low pressure fluid for both said air mask, and said fluid controlled coating nozzle.