Powder coating booth containment structure

Abstract

A powder coating booth containment structure including first and second canopy halves, each of which is a substantially nonconductive, seamless, structural composite to substantially reduce oversprayed powder particle adhesion to the booth inner surfaces. The composite canopy halves, when assembled into a spray booth additionally including either a floor or a utility base and one or a pair of end units in the form of aperture bulkheads, vestibules, or a combination of both, are structurally sufficiently strong that no external support frame is required. The composite canopy halves can each include sidewall and ceiling portions, in an embodiment, that can be connected to a floor. In another embodiment, the canopy halves each additionally include a floor portion such that they may be connected together at a floor edge and placed atop a utility base. They may be connected to the utility base. In another embodiment, the canopy halves may each further include an integral end or ends, comprising aperture bulkhead or vestibule-type end portions. Methods of assembling these embodiments are also provided that require less time than for known powder coating spray booth assembly.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to powder coating spray booths used for containing powder particles that do not adhere to articles intended to be coated. More specifically, the invention relates to a substantially non-conductive spray booth comprising a pair of self-supporting, one-piece, composite, seamless canopy booth halves. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Powder spray booths for electrostatic powder coating operations are well known and are used for environmental purposes to contain oversprayed powder coating material that does not adhere to the target article. In addition, the booth facilitates collection of the oversprayed powder material which is often recycled back into the application system. In an electrostatic powder coating operation, the powder particles are charged, such as by one or more high voltage charging electrodes on an electrostatic powder spray application device, such as a spray gun, and the parts are grounded. The difference i...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] The invention herein provides for an improved powder coating spray booth. In one embodiment, which is well-suited for retrofitting existing powder coating spray booths, the invention herein comprises a pair of opposed canopy halves that each have a sidewall and a ceiling portion that can be connected to each other through a radius. This radius serves to reduce color change times and functions as a torsional support element for the wall and ceiling surfaces. Each canopy half is a seamless, composite, unitary structure that can connect with an existing booth floor and with the existing booth vestibule and/or aperture end or ends, and can be separated at the top providing for a narrow overhead conveyor slot opening typical in electrostatic powder coating spray booths. The

Problems solved by technology

Cleaning a powder coating spray booth can be a labor-intensive effort.

During extended powder coating runs, the amount of oversprayed powder accumulated within the booth can impact color change time.

Seams between booth panels and recessed ledges, such as where access doors or automatic or manual spray application devices may be located, are typically hard to clean areas and tend to hold concentrations of oversprayed powder coating material that could present a contamination risk after a color change.

These seams require much effort and cost to achieve a virtually uninterrupted, seamless surface.

In addition, known powder coating spray booths have numerous features that reduce operational efficiencies.

In booths using panel members connected with each other and supported by an external frame, numerous seams exist throughout the booth interior that entrap oversprayed powder coating material, thereby making the booth harder to clean during a color change or routine booth maintenance.

Even if otherwise angled or curved toward the floor from the typically vertical sidewalls, oversprayed powder coating material still tends to accumulate in these areas, thus making them more difficult to clean, as well.

In addition to the reduced spray booth operating efficiencies due to powder coating material adhesion as a result of electrostatics

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