US 5,705,075 AGranted

Apparatus for maintaining a stable bath for an autodeposition composition by periodically separating particular metal ions from the composition

AssigneeHenkel Corporation

InventorsWilliam G. Kozak, Joseph C. Topping

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Abstract

A system automated for providing at least periodic removal of metal ions and contaminants from a chemical bath, consists of a microprocessor programmed for controlling fluid circuits of pumps and valves, for in one state of operation circulating a first predetermined quantity of the chemical bath from a first tank, through an ion exchange column, and back to the first tank; for in a second state of operation circulating deionized water from a second tank into the IEX column for displacing residual chemical bath therefrom for return to the first tank; for in a third state of operation circulating deionized water through the IEX column, and discharging the rinse water from a waste port; for in a fourth state of operation circulating regenerant acid through the ion exchange column, and discharging the used acid from a waste port; for in a fifth state of operation circulating deionized water through the IEX column for rinsing acid regenerant therefrom and discharging the same out of a waste port; and for in a sixth state of operation circulating chemical bath into the IEX column for displacing residual rinse water therefrom, and discharging the same out of the waste port, in preparation for a cycle of treatment of the chemical bath.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method for removing metal ions and contaminants from a bath of coating composition used in an autodeposition system during an ongoing coating process including a first tank for containing deionized water (DI water);

a second tank for containing regenerant chemical, a third tank for containing once used chemical, a fourth tank for containing said coating composition, and an ion exchange (IEX) column containing ion exchange material, said method comprising the steps of:
determining when the metal ion concentration of said coating composition in said fourth tank increases to a predetermined level as a result of using said coating composition for coating metal parts;
circulating, in response to the metal ion concentration of said coating composition increasing to the predetermined level, a portion of said coating composition from said fourth tank, through said IEX column for treatment by removal of metal ions via said ion exchange material, and back to said fourth tank after treatment, without interrupting the ongoing coating process to permit continuous coating of parts;
periodically determining when a sufficient quantity of said coating composition in said fourth tank has been circulated for treatment for removal of metal ions to decrease the concentration of metal ions to an acceptable level in said coating composition in said fourth tank;
and
terminating the circulation of said coating composition through said IEX column.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/453,618Filed 30 May 1995 · division
Priority: 26 Jan 1993
Granted: 6 Jan 1998
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification2 codes

B05D 7/142
To metal, e.g. car bodies: auto-deposited coatings, i.e. autophoretic coatings
B05D
Processes for applying fluent materials to surfaces, in general

Family

Serial08,956Parent of this division · filed 26 Jan 1993
Serial231,075Parent of this division · filed 7 Nov 1994
US 5,578,199 AParent of this division
US 5,393,416 AParent of this division
US 5,705,075 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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