WO2006105235A1

WO2006105235A1 - Powder paint reclaim transport system

Info

Publication number: WO2006105235A1
Application number: PCT/US2006/011533
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph M. Klobucar; David J. Cole
Original assignee: Dürr Systems, Inc.
Priority date: 2005-03-29
Filing date: 2006-03-29
Publication date: 2006-10-05
Also published as: EP1863592A4; EP1863592B1; ATE529194T1; EP1863592A1

Abstract

A powder paint reclaim system (10) includes a plurality collectors (18) disposed beneath a paint booth for collecting powder paint not adhered to an article (12) being painted. Each of the collectors (18) has a fluidizer (34) for fluidizing the powder paint. A transporter (48) is connected to at least one of the collectors (18) for transporting powder paint from the collectors (18) to a powder paint reclaim hopper (54). At least a portion of each transporter (48) is disposed below the collector (18) and has fluidizer (34) for fluidizing the powder paint inside the transporter (48). Each transporter (48) is connected to at least one of the collectors (18) by a transfer line (36) transferring powder paint from the collector (18) to a portion of the transporter (48) disposed below the collector (18) enabling powder paint maintained in a fluidized state to gravitationally flow from the collector (18) to the transporter (48) and from the transporter (48) to the powder paint reclaim hopper (54) under positive pressure generated inside the transporter (48).

Description

POWDER PAINT RECLAIM TRANSPORT SYSTEM

PRIOR APPLICATIONS

[00001] The present application claims priority to United States

Provisional Patent Application No. 60/665,989 filed on March 29, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[00002] The present application covers a powder paint reclaim system and method for reclaiming powder paint not adhered to an article being painted in a powder paint booth. More specifically, the present application relates to a powder paint reclamation transport and method for reclaiming powder paint not adhered to an article being painted using positive gas pressure and gravitational forces to transport the powder paint.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[00003] To comply with ever-increasingly strict environmental regulations, the original equipment manufacturers such as, for example, automobile manufacturers, have been forced to modify the method by which articles are decorated and protected with paint. While many paint application systems have been converted from solvent-based to water-based paint, it has become apparent that powder paint application systems are preferable in many situations.

[00004] One reason that the application of powder paint is preferable to the application of liquid-based paint is because the nearly 100% transfer efficiency achieved by the paint application process. As is known to those of skill in the art, a high percentage of paint does not adhere to the article being painted even when an electrostatic application process is used. When applying a liquid-based paint, paint not adhered to the article is blown downwardly into a sheet of water disposed below the paint application booth removing the "over-sprayed paint" from the process. The drawback of this system is that the sheet of water that collects the paint must be processed as hazardous waste and the paint must be disposed of.

[00005] In a powder paint application system, over-sprayed paint is collected in a series of collectors disposed beneath the paint application booth where the paint is reclaimed and returned to be reapplied to subsequent articles. While this process increases transfer efficiency to near 100%, the process is known to be complex and costly to maintain due to the pumping systems required to transfer the powder from the collectors to a reclamation hopper for further use. One such prior art system is disclosed in United States Patent No. 6,679,193 to Nordson Corporation, where a number of vacuum pumps are used to draw powder from the collectors disposed beneath the powder paint application booth and subsequently pump the reclaim powder to a powder paint reclamation hopper. The use of vacuum pumps requires the use of complex valving along with a number of the expensive vacuum pumps disbursed throughout the reclamation system.

[00006] Therefore, the need exists to provide a powder paint reclamation system that is simple to use and easy to maintain to reduce the construction and operation costs of the powder paint system while maintaining a near 100% transfer efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[00007] A powder paint reclamation system includes a plurality of collectors disposed beneath a powder paint booth for collecting powder paint not adhered to the article being painted. Each of the plurality of collectors includes a collector fluidizer for maintaining the powder paint in a fluidized state. A transporter is connected to at least one of the plurality of collectors for transporting powder paint from the collectors to a powder paint reclaim hopper. At least a portion of each transporter is disposed below the collector fluidizer and has a transporter fluidizer for maintaining the powder paint received from the collector in a fluidized state.

[00008] The transporter is connected to at least one of a plurality of collectors by a transfer line that receives powder paint from a substantially lowermost region of the collector to the transporter disposed below the collector. Because the collector maintains the powder paint in a fluidized state, the powder paint flows with the assistance of gravitational forces from each collector to the transporter through the transfer line.

[00009] The powder paint reclamation system described above solves the problems associated with known systems through the simplicity of using gravitational forces to transfer powder paint from the powder paint collectors to the transporter. Furthermore, a need for a transfer pump is eliminated by the use of air pressure that increases in the transporter through the introduction of fluidizing air through the transporter fluidizer. Therefore, powder paint is transferred from the transporter to the reclamation hoppers by positive pressure not requiring the use of vacuum pumps that are expensive and difficult to maintain.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00010] Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

[00011] Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the assembly showing a plurality of powder paint collectors disposed below a powder paint application booth;

[00012] Figure 2 is a side fragmented view of a lowermost region of a powder paint collector having a exit port for transferring powder paint to a transporter;

[00013] Figure 3 shows a partial schematic view of one embodiment of the inventive transporter connected to a powder paint collector;

[00014] Figure 4 shows a side-elevational view of a plurality of transporters in a powder paint application system; and

[00015] Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a plurality of transporters in a powder paint application system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[00016] Referring to Figure 1, a powder paint application assembly is generally shown at 10. The assembly has been described in fuller detail in United States Patent Nos. 6,471,737 filed on December 26, 2000 and United States Patent No. 6,723,145 filed January 2, 2002, each assigned to the present applicant, the particulars of which are incorporated hereby by reference. The assembly 10 includes an enclosed application booth (not shown) where articles to be painted, such as, for example, vehicle bodies 12 are conveyed, preferably on a conveyor system, where robotic and stationary applicators (not shown) disburse powder paint. A grating, or other porous floor 14 separates the booth from a continuous air chamber 16, which is disposed below the booth. The continuous air chamber 16, generally extends the length of the booth, and is enclosed upon a bottom end by a plurality of powder paint collectors 18.

[00017] Each powder paint collector 18 includes a filter assembly 20 which filters recirculation air that is transported to an air plenum through a duct 22 for reintroduction into the application booth.

[00018] As best represented in Figure 2, each collector 18 includes a collection chamber 24 and an air chamber 26 separated from the collection chamber 24 by a porous plate 28. As stated above, a flow of air forces powder paint not adhered to the article 12 downwardly into the collectors 18 and, therefore, into the collection chamber 24. A constant flow of fluidizing air enters into the air chamber 26 through air chamber inlet 30 where air flows upwardly through the porous plate 28 into the air chamber 26 fluidizing the powder paint collecting in the collection chamber 24.

[00019] Preferably, the porous plate 28 slopes downwardly toward a powder outlet 32 so that the powder outlet 32 is located in a lowermost portion of the collector 18. The combination of the fluidizing air, the porous plate 28, and the air chamber 26 comprise a fluidizer 34 used to fluidize the powder paint forced into the collectors 18 from the powder paint booth. It should be understood by those of skill in the art that alternative fluidizer designs may be used to fluidize the powder paint disposed within the collection chamber 24 as long as the powder outlet 32 is located in the lowermost section of the collection chamber 24, the purpose of which will become more evident as the assembly 10 is explained further below.

[00020] A transfer line 36 is operably connected to the powder outlet

32 at one end and to a transporter 38 at an opposite end. A plurality of transporters is shown in Figure 1 connected to the plurality of collectors 18. At least a portion of the transporter 38 is disposed below the level of the lowermost portion of the collector 18. More preferably, an upper end 40 of the transporter is disposed between about three and six inches below the lowermost portion of the collection chamber 24 as identified by H, shown in Figure 3. In any event, the connection point of the transfer line 36 to the transporter 38 is below the lowermost portion of the collection chamber 24, or the powder outlet 32, so that gravitational forces allow the fluidized powder paint to flow from the collection chamber 24 to the transporter 38 as will become more evident when explained further below.

[00021] The transfer line 36 slopes downwardly from the collector 18 to the transporter 38 at an angle of between generally 50° and 25° to vertical. More preferably, the slope of the transfer line 36 is below about 45° and still more preferably below about 30° as shown in Figure 3 by angle θ. This has been shown to allow fluidized powder paint to flow from the collection chamber 24 to the transporter 38 with a minimal risk of blockage inside the transfer line 36. A transfer line valve 44 seals the link between the transporter 38 and the collector 18. The transfer line valve 44 is contemplated by the inventors to be a pinch valve. However, other equivalent sealing valves as known of those of skill in the art may be used as desired.

[00022] The transporter 38 includes a transporter fluidizing plate 46 that separates the transporter fluidizing chamber 48 from the transporter air chamber 50 where fluidizing air is injected from a source of fluidizing air to fluidize the powder paint received from the collection chamber 24.

[00023] A vent line 42 extends from the upper end 40 of the transporter 38 to the collection chamber 24 of the collector 18. A vent valve 57 is located in the vent line 42 to seal the vent line 42 preventing air from being transferred from the transporter 48 to the collection chamber 24. The purpose of the vent line 42 is to vent fluidizing air from the transfer fluidizing chamber 48 to the collector 18 at desired intervals as will be described further below.

[00024] A reclaim hopper line 52 , or manifold connects the transporter fluidizing chamber 48 to a reclaim hopper 54 where powder paint not adhered to the vehicle body 12 is transferred from the collector 18 via the transporter 48. Fluidized powder paint is transferred from the transporter 48 to the reclaim hopper 54 by positive pressure established inside the transporter by injecting fluidized air. [00025] During operation, four sequential steps take place, a fill step, a pressurized step, a pushing step, and a venting step. During the filling step, the transfer line valve 44 is open, the vent valve 57 is open, and the reclaim valve 56 is closed. Additionally, fluidizing air is injected into the transporter air chamber 50 at a low pressure, preferably at a pressure of 10 psig or below at a flow rate of 20 to 30 cubic feet per hour. The low pressure and flow rate of fluidizing air allows the powder paint to flow downwardly through the transfer line 36 while still providing enough fluidizing air to fluidize the powder paint entering the transporter 38.

[00026] Once the transporter 48 has been filled to a desired level with powder paint, the pressurizing step is initiated where the transfer line valve 44, the vent valve 57, and the reclaim valve 56 are all closed. The fluidizing air is increased to a flow rate of about 100 to 200 cubic feet per hour to build up the pressure in the transporter to between generally 10 and 20 psig.

[00027] During the pushing step where the powder paint disposed in the transporter fluidizing chamber 48 is transferred to the reclaim hopper 54, the transfer line valve 44 is closed, the vent valve 57 is closed, and the reclaim valve 56 is opened. Because the gas pressure inside the transporter 48 has been increased to between 10 and 20 psig, the fluidized powder disposed within the transporter fluidizing chamber 48 is forced through the opened reclaim hopper line 52 to the reclaim hopper 44 without requiring the use of a pump.

[00028] Once the transporter 38 has been sufficiently emptied of the fluidized powder, the venting step takes place where the transfer line valve 44 is closed, the vent valve 57 is opened, and the reclaim valve 56 is also closed. During the venting step, the fluidizing air injected into the transport air chamber 50 is terminated, and excess air from the transporter fluidizing chamber 48 is vented into the collection chamber 24 of the collector 18 substantially equalizing the gas pressure between the transporter 38 and the collector 18 enabling fluidized power to flow downwardly from the collectors 18 to the transporter 38.

[00029] An additional step to clear the transfer line 36 of any plugs, is performed just prior to the fill step when fluidizing air is injected into the transporter 38 creating a pressure of between about 1 and 5 psig for a period of one to ten seconds and the transfer line valve 44 is briefly opened allowing fluidizing air to flow backward through the transfer line 36.

[00030] Referring now to Figure 4, one preferred embodiment of the assembly 10 shows a plurality of collectors 18 arranged in a row below the continuous air chamber 16. In this embodiment, each collector 18 is connected in the manner set forth above to a transporter 38. It is contemplated by the inventors that each transporter 38 has a separate reclaim hopper line 52 for transferring the fluidized powder from the transporter 38 to the reclaim hopper 54. However, it should be understood by those of skill in the art that a common reclaim hopper line 52 to each transporter 38 may also be used.

[00031] Referring now to Figure 5, an alternate embodiment of the inventive assembly is generally shown at 110. In this embodiment, pairs of collectors 118 are oriented so that the lowermost portion of the collection chamber 124 is positioned in an adjacent manner so that a single transporter 138 services two collectors 118. As such, the transporter 138 receives fluidized powder paint through two transfer lines 136, one each connected to the lowermost portion of the adjacent collection chambers 124. In this embodiment, it is believed that only a single vent line 42 is required for each transporter 138 and is linked to a single collector 118. It should also be understood that the process set forth above by which fluidized powder paint is removed from the collection chamber 24 and transferred to the reclaim hopper 54 by way of the transporter 38 is the same as that used by the alternative embodiment of the assembly 110 using the alternative transporter 138 having two transfer lines 136.

[00032] The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

[00033] Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claim, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Claims

1. A powder paint reclaim system, comprising: a plurality collectors disposed beneath a paint booth for collecting powder paint not adhered to the article being painted, each of said plurality of collectors having a collector fluidizer for maintaining the powder paint in a fluidized state; a transporter connected to at least one of said plurality of collectors for transporting powder paint from said collectors to a powder paint reclaim hopper, each transporter having at least a portion thereof disposed below said collector fluidizer and having a transporter fluidizer for maintaining the powder paint in a fluidized state; and said transporter being connected to at least one of said plurality of collectors by a transfer line receiving powder paint from a substantially lowermost region of said collector to a portion of said transporter disposed below said collector thereby enabling powder paint maintained in a fluidized state to gravitationally flow from said at least one of said plurality of collectors to said transporter and from said transporter to said powder paint reclaim hopper under positive pressure generated inside said transporter.

2. The systems as set forth in claim 1, wherein said transfer line is oriented at an angle to vertical of less than about 45 degrees.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said transfer line is oriented at an angle to vertical of less than about 30 degrees.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said transfer line is connected to said reclaim hopper adjacent said fiuidizer.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fiuidizer includes a fluidizing plate having a porous composition and sloping downwardly toward said transfer line.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said transfer line defines slope with to vertical and intersects said transporter at an angle substantially constant with said slope.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said collector includes a lower end and said transporter includes an upper end terminating at a location spaced below said lower end of said collector.

8. The system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said upper end of said transporter is disposed at least about three inches below said lower end of said collector.

9. The system as set forth in claim 1, including a vent line selectively interconnecting said transporter and said collector to vent pressurized air to said collector.

10. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said transporter is connected to a source of fiuidizing air providing positive pressure to said transporter thereby transferring fluidized powder paint to said powder paint reclaim hopper.

11. A method of reclaiming powder paint not adhered to an object being painted in a powder paint application booth having a collector disposed below said powder paint application booth wherein the powder paint not adhered to the object being painted is collected for transfer to a powder paint reclaim hopper, comprising the steps of: providing a transporter disposed between said collector and said powder paint reclaim hopper for transferring powder paint from said collector to said powder paint reclaim hopper; equalizing the gas pressure between said collector and said transporter; opening a powder paint link between said collector sand said transporter thereby allowing powder paint to flow from said collector to said transporter with gravitational forces; closing said link between said collector and said transporter; increasing the gas pressure inside said transporter thereby creating a positive pressure inside said transporter greater than atmospheric pressure; and opening a link between said transporter and said powder paint reclamation hopper having a gas pressure lower than said transporter thereby pushing the powder paint from said transporter to said powder paint reclamation hopper.

12. The method set forth in claim 11, wherein said step of increasing the gas pressure inside said transporter is further defined by sealing said transporter and injecting fiuidizing gas into said transporter.

13. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said step of increasing the gas pressure inside said transporter is further defined by increasing the gas pressure between about 10 and 10 psig.

14. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said step of opening a link between said collector and said transporter is further defined by opening a sealable valve disposed between said collector and said transporter.

15. The method as set forth in claim 11, further including the step of clearing said link between said transporter and said collector by opening said link between said transporter and said collector after the gas pressure of said transporter has been increased.

16. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said step of equalizing the gas pressure between said transporter and said collector is performed just prior to opening said link between said collector and said transporter.

17. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said step of equalizing the gas pressure between said transporter and said collector is further defined by venting air from said transporter into said collector.

18. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said step of increasing the gas pressure inside said transporter is further defined by injecting fluidizing air into said transporter at a volumetric flow rate of between about twenty and thirty cubic feet per hour.

19. A powder paint reclaim transport system, comprising: a plurality of powder paint transporter each having a fluidized bed receiving overspray powder paint including a fluidizing plate and a fluidizing chamber beneath said fluidizing plate connected to a source of gas under pressure; a powder paint reclaim hopper located at a remote location relative to said plurality of powder paint transporter hoppers; each of said plurality of powder paint transporter having a powder paint discharge line including an inlet connected to said powder paint transporter adjacent said fluidizing plate, an outlet connected to a manifold line interconnecting said discharge lines of said plurality of powder paint transport; and said manifold line connecting each of said powder paint transporters to said powder paint reclaim hopper for transporting powder paint to said powder paint reclaim hopper under positive pressure.

20. The powder paint reclaim transport system as defined in Claim 6, wherein said powder paint reclaim transport system includes a control connected to said discharge valves opening only one of said discharge valves at a time to deliver powder paint from one of said plurality of powder paint transport hoppers to said powder paint reclaim hopper at a time through said manifold line.

21. The powder paint reclaim transport system as defined in Claim 6, wherein said powder paint reclaim transport system includes a plurality of powder paint collection chambers located beneath a powder paint spray booth collecting powder paint overspray from said paint booth and each of said plurality of powder paint transport hoppers is connected to a powder paint collection chamber by a fill line having a fill valve.

22. The powder paint reclaim transport system as defined in Claim 8, wherein each of said plurality of powder paint transport hoppers includes a vent line having an inlet at an upper portion of said powder paint transport hoppers and an outlet connected to an upper portion of a powder paint collection chamber.

23. The powder paint reclaim transport system as defined in Claim 8, wherein each of said plurality of powder paint transporter hoppers is connected to a plurality of powder paint collection chambers by a fill line.