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US 6,663,693 B2Granted
Duct cleaning for powder spray system
AssigneeNordson Corporation
InventorLarry R. Fenik
Life of this patent
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AssigneeNordson Corporation
InventorLarry R. Fenik
Estimating the term…
Method and apparatus for cleaning a powder transfer duct uses a pressurized volume of air directed at an interior surface of the duct to dislodge powder particles adhering to the interior surfaces or that are entrapped within a volume or region of the duct interior. In one embodiment of the invention, the duct is a passageway for powder that is entrained in an air stream from a powder spray booth to a powder collection device such as, for example, a cyclone separator. Pressurized air is provided by a device that can be selectively activated to direct a blast of high pressure air into the duct interior in a direction that is generally transverse a primary air flow through the duct. The device may be realized in the form of a pulse valve that has an outlet that opens to the duct interior and directs a pulse of pressurized air at a surface or region within the duct where powder tends to accumulate, either from eddy current characteristics or from impacting the interior surface. The pulse valve may be mounted to a wall of the duct. Pressurized air is supplied to the pulse valve from an accumulator connected thereto. The pulse valve may be manually actuated or actuated by other suitable control mechanisms. In accordance with another aspect of the invention the device is activated while air is flowing through the duct, such as when the separator is operating.
In a powder spraying apparatus of the type having a powder spray booth, a cyclone separator and a duct through which powder is transferred from the booth to the cyclone separator along a primary flow path, the improvement comprising:
In combination with a powder transfer duct that receives overspray powder from a powder spray booth:
A method for cleaning a powder transfer duct that transfers overspray powder from a powder spray booth to a cyclone, comprising the steps of:
A powder spray system comprising:
A method for quick color change in a powder spraying system of the type having a powder spray booth, a powder collection device and a duct that connects the spray booth to the collection device and conveyor powder overspray therethrough, the method comprising:
In combination with a powder transfer duct that receives overspray powder from a powder spray booth:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.