Particle cloud coating method and apparatus
AssigneeElectrostatic Equipment Corporation
InventorWilliam C. Goodridge
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Objects are coated using apparatus which includes a mechanical barrier effectively interposed between a cloud of particles which is produced thereby, and the travel path for objects conveyed therethrough. The barrier means includes an upstanding baffle having an edge portion configured to progressively expose different vertical portions of the object as it is conveyed thereby. Generally, at the beginning of the travel path the lower portions of the objects will be masked by the baffle so as to promote deposition of the particles upon the upper surfaces initially. As it proceeds along the travel path, progressive exposure of the lower portions of the object will permit the complete and uniform coating thereof.
Claims17
In apparatus for coating an object, the combination comprising:
- a. fluidized bed means for producing a cloud of particles;
- b. means for conveying at least the portion of an object to be coated along a travel path, which travel path is laterally adjacent said fluidized bed means;
- and
- c. mechanical barrier means effectively interposed between said fluidized bed means and said travel path, and including at least a first upstanding baffle spaced laterally to one side of said travel path and extending along at least a portion thereof, said baffle having an elongated edge portion across which particles may readily pass from said cloud to said travel path, said conveyor means and baffle being so disposed relative to one another that said travel path traverses the imaginery, laterally-extending projection surface of said edge portion at a non-perpendicular angle thereto,
- so that particles from said cloud may deposit on the object, so as to develop a coating thereon along an axis that is angularly displaced from the axis of said travel path as progressively lower verticle portions of the object horizontally register with said edge portion and thereby become exposed behind said baffle during passage of the object thereby.
In a system for coating a multiplicity of objects transported sequentially along a predetermined path, a fluidized bed unit comprising a substantially closed container having a passageway for transport therethrough of objects depending thereinto, and at least a first plenum chamber extending along one side of said passageway, said plenum chamber having an inlet for pressurized air and an upwardly directed opening, said unit also including a porous plate spanning said opening, and a baffle interposed between said plenum chamber and said passageway, said baffle having an elongated uppere edge portion spaced above said porous plate and being so disposed that said passageway traverses the imaginary, laterally extending projection surface of said edge portion at a non-perpendicular angle thereto, so that a cloud of particles of a coating material may be generated above said porous plate of said plenum chamber, and said particles may readily be deposited upon progressively lower vertical portions of objects as such portions horizontally register with said edge portion and are thereby exposed behind said baffle during passage along said passageway.
In apparatus for coating an object, the combination comprising:
- a. means for producing a cloud of particles;
- b. means for conveying at least the portion of an object to be coated along a travel path, which travel path is laterally adjacent said cloud-producing means;
- and
- c. mechanical barrier means including at least a first generally upstanding baffle effectively interposed laterally between said cloud-producing means and said travel path;
- said baffle having an elongated edge portion across which particles may readily pass from said cloud-producing means to said travel path, said conveyor means and baffle being so disposed relative to one another that said travel path traverses the imaginary, laterally extending projection surface of said edge portion at a non-perpendicular angle thereto, so as to permit particles of the cloud to deposit upon the object, to thereby develop a coating along an axis that is angularly displaced from the axis of said travel path as progressively lower vertical portions of the object horizonally register with said edge portion and thereby become exposed behind said baffle during passage of the object thereby.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.