System and method for an ionization bar for an air nozzle manifold
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202480037620.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-04-15
- Filing Date
- 2024-04-16
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-10
Smart Images
Figure CN121646512A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Cross Reference to Related Applications
[0001] This application is a non-provisional patent application claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 496,662, filed April 17, 2023, entitled “A System and Method for an Ionizing Bar for an Air Nozzle Manifold,” the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. BACKGROUND
[0002] Examples of the present disclosure relate generally to air cleaning and static neutralization systems, and more particularly, to an ionizing bar installed into an air nozzle manifold.
[0003] Conventional bottle or can filling applications often utilize compressed air to clean the bottles or cans on the filling line prior to filling. Similarly, it is often desirable to neutralize static electricity that builds up or is otherwise introduced into the bottle or can during the filling operation. Thus, ionized compressed air is blown into the bottle or can using discrete nozzles to accomplish both tasks at once. However, these solutions are expensive due to the cost of using compressed air and powering the electrical components of the discrete nozzles. Maintenance is also difficult to perform on the discrete nozzles.
[0004] As an alternative to compressed air nozzles, an air manifold, air knife, or the like, for example, having a series of nozzles can be used to direct air received at an inlet from a blower. It is desirable to provide a cleaning and static neutralization system that utilizes blown air instead of compressed air and that allows for the use of an efficient static neutralization device that is simple to manage and maintain as part of the blown air system without compromising the desired effects of the blown air.
[0005] The limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art through comparison of such solutions with the present disclosure set forth in the remainder of this application with reference to the drawings. SUMMARY
[0006] Disclosed herein are systems and methods for processing objects. Examples of the present disclosure include a processing system including a blower and an air manifold including a main body having an inlet coupled to the blower and a plurality of outlet openings. Each of the outlet openings is coupled to a nozzle. An ionizing bar includes a housing, a power cable housed within the housing, and a plurality of emission pins electrically coupled to the power cable. A cartridge includes two side panels forming a channel in which the ionizing bar is installed. The cartridge is removably coupled to an interior of the main body of the air manifold. In some examples, the ionizing bar is powered by a low voltage input.
[0007] Certain aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein will now be presented with reference to example. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief overview of the disclosure and / or the claimed application and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure and / or the claimed application. Indeed, the disclosure and / or the claimed application can encompass a variety of aspects that can not be set forth below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a processing system according to one example of the present disclosure; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an air manifold according to this example of the present disclosure; Figure 3A and Figure 3B is a perspective view of an air manifold of Figure 2 with an ionizing bar installed; Figure 4A and Figure 4B are perspective and side views of a bracket for securing an ionizing bar to the air manifold in FIG. 3; Figure 5A is a top view of a cartridge for securing an ionizing bar to the air manifold in FIG. 3; Figure 5B is a bottom perspective view of the cartridge of Figure 5A ; Figure 6 is a right side view of the ionizing bar of FIG. 3; Figure 7 is a front view of the ionizing bar of FIG. 3; Figure 8 is a front perspective view of an air knife according to another example of the present disclosure; Figure 9 is a front perspective view of an air manifold according to yet another example of the present disclosure; Figure 10 is a front perspective view of an air manifold of Figure 9 with an ionizing bar installed; and Figure 11 is a side view of a nozzle of the air manifold of Figure 9 and an elongate cylindrical shaft coupled to the nozzle.
[0009] The drawings are not necessarily to scale. Where appropriate, the same or similar reference numerals and letters are used to denote like or similar elements in the accompanying drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] One or more specific embodiments will now be described. These described embodiments are provided by way of example only and do not limit the scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, in order to provide a concise description of these exemplary embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation may be described in the specification. It should be understood that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, many decisions must be made specifically for the implementation to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as complying with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from implementation to implementation. Moreover, it should be understood that such development work can be complex and time-consuming, but it remains a routine task of design, manufacture, and production for those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure.
[0011] The disclosed system has the advantage of allowing the ionizing rod to be installed within a housing and / or manifold (e.g., for systems employing an air knife). The disclosed system is configured to be powered by a low-voltage supply. The disclosed ionizing rod and / or low-voltage supply can be installed inside the air knife system (e.g., within a manifold, adjacent to the manifold, etc.).
[0012] In the disclosed example, a treatment system for an air nozzle manifold includes an air manifold having a body having an inlet connected to a blower and a plurality of outlet openings; and an ionizing rod disposed within the body, wherein the ionizing rod is connected to a low-voltage power source to provide low-voltage power to the ionizing rod.
[0013] In some examples, the ionizing rod is connected to a low-voltage power source via one or more power cables, which are connected to an air manifold or ionizing rod via one or more fittings. In some examples, the system also includes an insulating housing that supports the ionizing rod within the body. In some examples, one or more emitter pins are electrically connected to the power cables and, through the insulating housing, to the ionizing rod.
[0014] In the example, the system also includes one or more supports that mount the ionizing rod within the air manifold, the ionizing rod being secured to the supports via one or more removable fasteners. In the example, the one or more supports are secured to the interior of the air manifold body.
[0015] In some examples, each outlet opening in the outlet opening is connected to a nozzle to blow ionized compressed air toward an object or environment.
[0016] In this example, the system also includes a second ionization rod connected to a low-voltage power supply. In this example, the second ionization rod is arranged within the air manifold housing.
[0017] In the example, the system also includes one or more cartridges comprising two side plates forming a channel in which an ionization rod is mounted, and the one or more cartridges are removably coupled to the interior of the body of the air manifold.
[0018] In some of the disclosed examples, the processing system includes a low-voltage power supply; a blower; an air manifold including a body having an inlet connected to the blower and a plurality of outlet openings, each of the outlet openings being connected to a nozzle; an ionizing rod supported by a housing; a power cable connected to the low-voltage power supply to provide low-voltage power to the ionizing rod; and one or more supports that mount the ionizing rod within the air manifold, the ionizing rod being secured to the one or more supports via one or more removable fasteners.
[0019] In some examples, the low-voltage power supply is located inside the air manifold.
[0020] In some examples, the low-voltage power supply is located near the air manifold.
[0021] In some examples, the power cable is housed within a portion of the housing, and multiple emitter pins electrically connect the ionization rod to the power cable.
[0022] In some examples, the casing is an insulating shell surrounding a portion of the ionization rod.
[0023] In some examples, the low-voltage power supply delivers 24 volts of direct current (DC) power.
[0024] In some examples, the low-voltage power supply is connected to a remote power source.
[0025] In the example, the system also includes a remote control panel / station to provide user control of the processing system, including controlling the ionization level of the ionization rods or monitoring feedback on one or more outputs or states related to the ionization process.
[0026] In the example, the system also includes a second air manifold housing a second ionization rod. In the example, a remote control panel / station is configured to provide operational control of the ionization rod and the second ionization rod.
[0027] Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the several drawings to denote the same parts, Figure 1 The diagram illustrates a processing system 10 including an air supply source 12 configured to deliver fluid (e.g., air) to air manifolds 14A and 14B along a flow path 16. In the illustrated example, the flow path 16 includes fluid conduits 20, 22, 36, and 38, a filter 24, and a distributor 32.
[0028] Air supply source 12 may include a high-flow centrifugal blower (“blower”), which in some examples may include a booster and electric motor configuration. In one example, the operating characteristics of blower 12 may provide an airflow with a pressure between approximately 1 and 10 pounds per square inch (psi) and a flow rate between approximately 50 and 2000 cubic feet per minute (CFM), or more specifically, between approximately 150 and 1500 CFM. In some examples, blower 12 may be housed within a housing. Blower 12 may be separated from air manifolds 14A and 14B by a distance of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 100, or 200 feet or greater. Therefore, flow path 16 is configured to provide a path through which the air supplied by blower 12 can travel and ultimately be delivered to air manifolds 14A and 14B.
[0029] Blower 12 may include an outlet 18 of a fluid conduit 20 coupled to a first portion defining a flow path 16. Fluid conduit 20 may be a hose, such as a flexible hose, a pipe, such as a stainless steel pipe or a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe, a piping system, or the like. An adapter (not shown) may be used in flow path 16 to provide an interface for connecting dissimilar conduit materials, such as hoses and pipes. Filter 24 may be located downstream of blower 12. Figure 1 As shown, filter 24 is inserted between conduits 20 and 22. The operation of filter 24 will be described in further detail below.
[0030] Flow path 16 extends to the distal end of conduit 22, which may be coupled to the inlet 30 of a splitter 32 that receives the airflow. Splitter 32 may be configured to distribute or divert the airflow to multiple outlets 33 and 34. Additional fluid conduits 36 and 38 may respectively connect outlets 33 and 34 to air manifolds 14A and 14B. In the illustrated example, air manifolds 14A and 14B may each include inlets (40A, 40B) configured for hose connections, and fluid conduits 36 and 38 may therefore be provided as hoses, such as flexible hoses or the like. In other examples, conduits may be provided between splitter 32 and one of the air manifolds 14A or 14B, whereby an adapter (not shown) is coupled to each end of the conduit to facilitate a fluid connection between a hose extending from an outlet (e.g., 33 or 34) of splitter 32 and an inlet (e.g., 40A or 40B) of one of the air manifolds (e.g., 14A or 14B). In some examples, system 10 may consist of only a single air manifold (e.g., 14A) and therefore may not include splitter 32. In such examples, fluid conduit 22 may be directly coupled to air manifold 14A.
[0031] likeFigure 1 As shown, the airflow 44 exiting the air manifolds 14A and 14B can be directed to applications 48 and 50 of the processing system 10, respectively. For example, applications 48 and 50 can be transported through the system 10 along conveyor belt 52 or other suitable type of transport mechanism. As will be understood, the system 10 can utilize the airflow 44 provided by the air manifolds 14A and 14B for a variety of functions, including but not limited to drying products, removing dust or debris, coating control, cooling, leak detection, surface impregnation, corrosion protection, and the like. For example, in some examples, the system 10 can be used to dry food or beverage containers, such as jars or bottles, or it can be a system for removing dust and other debris from sensitive electronic products, such as printed circuit boards (PCBs) or the like. Furthermore, some examples of the system 10 can also utilize the airflow 44 to clean conveyor belt 52 and / or remove debris from conveyor belt 52.
[0032] Figure 2 Figure 3 shows the use of Figure 1 The example air manifold 14 in system 10 includes a body or housing 56, which includes an axial length (e.g., measured along the longitudinal axis L) between approximately 0.5 feet and 4 feet (e.g., 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, or 4 feet, or less or more), although other axial lengths of the body 56 may also be used. For example, in some examples, the length may also be greater than 4 feet (e.g., 5, 6, 7, 8 feet, or less or more, or similar).
[0033] In the depicted example, the body 56 is generally cylindrical (e.g., having a generally circular cross-section). In other examples, the body 56 may have an elliptical, rhomboid, triangular, square, or rectangular cross-section, or similar. A first end of the body 56 is open and forms an inlet 40. As described above, air supplied by the air source 12 can pass through the inlet 40 to the air manifold 14 and be discharged via a plurality of nozzles 42. For example, the inlet 40 may be coupled to a fluid conduit (e.g., conduit 36). The second end of the body 56 opposite the inlet 40 (the sealed end) may be sealed by an end cap 58. In some examples, the end cap 58 may have a shape substantially the same as the cross-sectional shape of the body 56 (e.g., circular). The end cap 58 may be attached to the body 56 by welding (e.g., tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding) and may be secured to the body 56 using one or more screws, bolts, or any other suitable type of fastener, adhesive, or the like.
[0034] In some examples, the body 56 of the air manifold 14 may include one or more mounting brackets 60 for mounting the air manifold 14 to an assembly line. The mounting brackets 60 may be welded to the body 56, although other connection methods such as adhesives, mechanical fasteners, or similar methods may be used to secure the brackets 60 to the body 56. In the example shown, each mounting bracket 60 is formed from a plate 61 extending radially outward from the body 56, and each mounting bracket includes a plurality of through holes 62 for receiving mounting screws (not shown) or similar mechanical fasteners for securing the plate 61 to a support (not shown). Other types of mounting brackets 60 may also be used, including mounting brackets 60 that allow movement of the body 56 relative to the support (including rotational movement, sliding movement, or the like).
[0035] Entrance 40 and main body 56 Figure 2 The inlet 40 and body 56 are depicted in Figure 3 as having corresponding diameters that may be equal. In one example, the diameters of the inlet 40 and body 56 are between approximately 1 and 6 inches. In other examples, the diameters of the inlet 40 and body 56 may be different sizes. Furthermore, in some examples, the diameter of the body 56 may vary along its length L. For example, the diameter of the body 56 may gradually decrease or increase from the end of the inlet 40 to the sealing end (e.g., with an end cap 58).
[0036] Nozzle 42 extends radially outward from body 56. Body 56 includes a plurality of openings 70 (FIG. 3), each of which corresponds to a specific nozzle in nozzle 42. The inlet end of nozzle 42 may be welded to body 56 via TIG welding or a similar attachment process, such that air flowing into air manifold 14 from body 56 via inlet 40 can flow through opening 70 of body 56 and into the corresponding nozzle 42. That is, each nozzle 42 and its corresponding opening 70 on body 56 define a flow path through which air within body 56 can be discharged from air manifold 14.
[0037] Although Figure 2 The example depicted in Figure 3 includes ten nozzles (42), but it should be understood that various examples may provide any suitable number of nozzles. For example, some examples may include 2 to 20 nozzles or more. The nozzles 42 may be spaced apart axially along the length L of the body 56, such that each nozzle 42 is separated in the axial direction. Figure 2 As shown, the distance between adjacent nozzles 42 may be the same or may vary, and each distance is between approximately 1 and 12 inches, although other distances are also considered within the scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, the length of the nozzle extending from the outer surface of the air manifold body 56 can be adjusted to suit specific environments and / or applications (e.g., housing size, object size, processing speed, etc.).
[0038] Refer to Figure 3. Figure 6 and Figure 7 An ionizing rod 100 is provided for insertion into a body 56 to generate ions that enter an airflow 44 directed to applications 48, 50. The ionizing rod 100 includes a housing 102 made of an insulating material, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), reinforced plastic, or the like. The housing 102 includes at least one hollow channel 104 extending along the length of the ionizing rod 100. The hollow channel 104 is sized and shaped to receive a power cable 106, which may be an insulated cable with a conductive core.
[0039] In some examples, power supply 98 is connected to ionization rod 100 via power cable 106. Power supply 98 can be a low-voltage power source supplying a voltage range of values. For example, the low voltage supplied to ionization rod 100 can be below 50V DC (e.g., between 12V DC and 48V DC) and can be a 24V DC power supply voltage or approximately 24V DC power supply voltage. Although shown as being located away from air manifold 14 and connected to ionization rod 100 via power cable 106, in some examples, the low-voltage power source can be arranged adjacent to and / or incorporated within housing 56. In such an arrangement, the power source can be connected to a power source (e.g., mains, generator, energy storage system, etc.) to provide a direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC) input, and the power source can be located away from air manifold 14. In one example, system 10 and power supply 98 provide a 24V DC power supply voltage. Therefore, the line to ionization rod 100 can be configured to receive input from a 24V DC power source and / or a power converter. Advantageously, the power transmitted to system 10 and / or ionizing rod 100 can be delivered via cables suitable for low-voltage power, thereby allowing for wiring options that are more suitable for a particular application and / or environment (e.g., instead of cables for delivering high-voltage power).
[0040] Power supply 98 may include and / or employ a voltage converter. For example, the voltage converter may include a circuit system, switch, transformer, etc., that changes the input voltage to a desired output voltage; for example, the converter correspondingly converts the input voltage. This may include conversion from a DC or AC source, as well as conversion from high to low or low to high voltage. Furthermore, the power supply for converting and / or regulating the voltage output to ionization rod 100 may be installed inside the ionization rod itself (and / or within manifold 14, at or near the junction of manifold 14, etc.), thereby avoiding remote and / or separate high-voltage power supplies. This allows power supply 98 and / or ionization rod 100 to be protected from the operating environment (e.g., shock, chemicals, fluids, etc.) by installing power supply 98 and / or ionization rod 100 within the manifold, thereby reducing the overall installation footprint of air manifold 14 and / or the larger system 10.
[0041] While some examples involve low-voltage power supplies, in some examples, power supply 98 may include circuitry configured to provide a voltage range greater than 1 kV (e.g., higher voltage output).
[0042] The housing 102 of the ionization rod 100 also includes a pin slot 108 on its bottom surface extending along and into a hollow channel 104. A plurality of pins 110 are electrically coupled to a power cable 106 and extend into the pin slot 108. The pins 110 may be directly connected, resistively connected, or capacitively connected to a low-voltage power supply 98 via the power cable 106. While some examples involve a low-voltage power supply, a high-voltage power supply is also considered in some examples. In the example shown, the pins 110 penetrate the insulation of the cable 106 to establish a physical and electrical connection to the conductive core. However, in other examples, the pins 110 may be coupled to the power cable 106 via terminals, conductive traces, or the like. The pins 110 may be spaced in a regular pattern along the length of the housing 102 of the ionization rod 100 to provide a uniform distribution of ions. For example, the pins 110 may be positioned one inch apart from each other along the power cable 106. Pin 110 may be formed of a metallic or semiconductor material, such as copper, aluminum, tungsten, titanium, stainless steel, silicon, silicon carbide, or the like.
[0043] The ionizing rod 100 can be installed in the body 56 of the air manifold 14, with the free end of the power cable 106 located near the end cap 58. To prevent short circuits caused by unintentional contact between the power cable 106 or a pin 110 and the body 56, the end 112 of the housing 102 of the ionizing rod 100 can be filled with an inert or non-conductive material 114, which can be a polyolefin-based hot melt adhesive. Alternatively, the inert or non-conductive material 114 can be epoxy resin, polyurethane, silicone compounds, or the like.
[0044] In some examples, power supply 98 may include controller 99 and / or be operatively connected to controller 99. As a list of non-limiting examples, controller 99 may include control circuitry 101 to process data, and / or include user interface 103 to allow a user to provide instructions, make selections, adjust operating parameters, and / or receive feedback. Controller 99 may be located near power supply 98 and / or ionizing rod 100 (e.g., within the processing environment), and / or in a separate location (e.g., outside the processing environment). Controller 99 may be communicatively coupled to power supply 98 and / or ionizing rod 100 via a wired or wireless connection. As a list of non-limiting examples, user interface 103 may include knobs, dials, buttons, touchable surfaces, and voice and / or motion sensors through which information is received and / or presented.
[0045] Although a single ionizing rod 100 is shown in several examples, two or more ionizing rods may be used in some examples. Multiple ionizing rods may be placed side-by-side (e.g., within a single air manifold), and / or may be housed in separate air manifolds and connected via conduits and / or power cables. Multiple ionizing rods may be connected in parallel or in series, and may be controlled together and / or individually (e.g., via controller 99 or other suitable controllers).
[0046] In some examples, the process may require increased ionization, and therefore multiple ionization bars may be used. For example, ionization treatment of materials being processed at high speeds may employ juxtaposed ionization bars and / or multiple ionization bars arranged in or near the processing environment.
[0047] In some examples, the low-voltage ionization rods disclosed herein can be retrofitted into existing systems. Therefore, the support and housing arrangements, as well as the delivery of low-voltage power, can replace components in existing processing systems. For example, high-voltage ionization rods can be removed and replaced with low-voltage ionization rods, which are installed and powered as disclosed herein.
[0048] refer to Figures 4A-4B In some examples, the ionizing rod 100 can be mounted within the body 56 of the air manifold 14 via a bracket 78. The bracket 78 can be permanently attached to the body 56, for example, by welding or a similar method; however, the bracket 78 can also be releasably attached to the body 56 to facilitate easier access to the ionizing rod 100 for servicing and / or replacement. Thus, the bracket 78 can be attached to the body 56 via bolts 82 or other mechanical fasteners extending from the outside of the body 56 into the bracket 78. Other releasable attachment methods for the bracket 78, such as latches, hook-and-loop fasteners, or similar, can also be used. In some examples, the bracket 78 is securely attached to the body 56 to prevent movement of the bracket 78 and the ionizing rod 100 due to the forces of air flowing through the body 56.
[0049] refer to Figures 5A-5B In some examples, the ionizing rod 100 can be mounted within the body 56 of the air manifold 14 via a cartridge 80. The example cartridge 80 can be used in applications employing varying voltages, such as those greater than 1 kV. The cartridge 80 can be in the shape of a hollow rod having two side plates 84, 85 arranged parallel to each other and extending along the length L of the body 56 of the air manifold 14 during mounting. The side plates 84, 85 are spaced apart to form a channel 86 therebetween, the size and shape of which can be designed to hold the ionizing rod 100. The bottom surface of each of the side plates 84, 85 may include a lip 88 extending perpendicular to the plates 84, 85 and toward the channel 86. The lip 88 serves to support the ionizing rod 100. For example, the lip 88 may abut the bottom surface of the housing 102 of the ionizing rod 100 and allow the pin 110 to extend through the slot 90 formed by the lip 88. However, in some examples, the lip 88 engages with a corresponding groove 116 extending along the housing 102 of the ionization rod 100. Figure 6 In this way, the corona discharge of pin 110 will not be obstructed by cartridge 80. This arrangement allows for convenient insertion and removal of the ionizing rod 100 from cartridge 80 by sliding it into channel 86. However, other methods of insertion and removal of cartridge 80 may also be used, such as clips or other mechanical fasteners.
[0050] In some examples, the slot 90 does not extend the entire length of the cartridge 80, but stops in the installed position just before the edge of the cartridge 80 near the inlet 40 of the air manifold 14. The lip 88 may converge at this location of the cartridge 80 to form part of the spacer 92. The tops of each plate 84, 85 may also converge at this location to form another part of the spacer 92. The spacer 92 may also include an end cap 91. The spacer 92 seals the end of the cartridge 80 near the inlet 40 of the air manifold 14 to prevent air from reaching the power line 106 of the ionization rod 100.
[0051] Specifically, the power cord 106 can be held by the accessory 69 and inserted into the air manifold 14 through the wire opening 68 at the top of the body 56 near the inlet 40. The channel 86 of the cartridge 80 is aligned with the wire opening 68 such that when the accessory 69 is secured in the wire opening 68, the power cord 106 is received in the channel 86 of the cartridge 80 and is not exposed to the pressurized air entering the body 56 through the inlet 40. However, the accessory 69 and the wire opening 68 can be located at other positions in the air manifold 14.
[0052] Multiple nut plates 72 may be disposed on top of the cartridge 80, each of the multiple nut plates 72 being welded or otherwise mechanically fastened to plates 84, 85. Each nut plate 72 may include a threaded hole 74 extending at least partially therethrough. The threaded holes 74 may be spaced apart on the cartridge 80 to align with corresponding bolt holes formed on the top of the body 56. Bolts 82 are placed through the bolt holes and screwed into the threaded holes 74 of the nut plates 72 to secure the cartridge 80 to the body 56 of the air manifold 14.
[0053] Refer again Figure 1 Filter 24 prevents debris in the airflow from entering and contaminating applications 48 and 50. Filter 24 also prevents debris from accumulating on the pins 110 of the ionization rod 100, thereby maximizing the ionization efficiency of pins 110 over an extended period. Filter 24 also prevents contamination and / or damage in the event of an upstream failure. For example, blower 12 will typically have an aluminum impeller, which could generate shavings that might enter the airflow but be captured by filter 24 in the event of a catastrophic failure leading to aluminum-aluminum contact.
[0054] Filter 24 may have a housing made of stainless steel or a similar corrosion-resistant material. Furthermore, filter 24 may include a medium (not shown) that meets High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) standards (i.e., 99.97% of particles larger than 0.3 microns are removed). However, it has been found that a medium with 99.99% efficiency at 0.5 microns (nominal) allows for better airflow (e.g., with only 10% of the pressure drop experienced when using a HEPA filter) and is sufficient for food and beverage container applications 48, 50. Filter 24 may also include a meter (not shown) that notifies the user when replacement is needed.
[0055] Although Figure 1 Only one filter 24 is shown placed between the blower 12 and the splitter 32, but one or more additional filters 24 may be placed alternatively or additionally between the splitter 32 and the air manifolds 40A, 40B. This configuration is useful, for example, in a system 10 with a very high-pressure airflow. The filter 24 may also be placed at the inlet (not shown) of the blower 12.
[0056] In an alternative example of this disclosure, the air manifold 14 can be replaced by an air knife 14', as follows: Figure 8As shown. The air knife 14' is constructed similarly to the air manifold 14, including an inlet 40' that receives blown air from the air supply 12; however, instead of the nozzle 42 of the air manifold 14, the air knife 14' includes an exhaust slot 42' extending for the majority of the length of its body 56'. The body 56' includes a tapered portion 57' to force air through the exhaust slot 42'. The ionizing rod 100 can be mounted within the air knife 14' using a cartridge 80 in a similar manner to that described above.
[0057] Figures 9 to 11 Another example of this disclosure is shown that is specifically designed for cleaning bottles (not shown), which typically have small openings. Figures 9-11 The air manifold is similar to Figures 1-7 The examples shown, and similar reference numerals for similar elements, except... Figures 9-11 The examples shown use the 200 series reference numerals. Therefore, [the following is omitted]. Figures 9-11 The example provides a complete description, only highlighting the differences.
[0058] like Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown, an elongated cylindrical shaft 243 with a constant inner diameter dI can be connected to the outlet of each of the nozzles 242A-242H. The elongated cylindrical shaft 243 does not further compress the airflow through the respective nozzles 242A-242H, but rather maintains the pressure of the airflow 44 at a relatively constant level. The elongated cylindrical shaft 243 is used, for example, to guide the airflow 44 to a small opening in a bottle. The outer diameter dO of the elongated cylindrical shaft 243 can be constant along its length. In some examples, the inner diameter dI for bottle cleaning applications can be maximized to deliver air into the bottle, while the outer diameter dO is minimized so that air leaving the bottle opening can escape through the elongated cylindrical shaft 243. In one example, the inner diameter dI is approximately 5 / 16 inch, and the outer diameter is approximately 3 / 8 inch, but various diameters are within the scope of this disclosure.
[0059] The elongated cylindrical shaft 243 can be friction-fitted and / or welded to the corresponding air nozzles 242A-242H. However, other attachment methods, such as adhesives, mechanical fasteners, or similar methods, can also be used. The elongated cylindrical shaft 243 can also be removable for replacing and / or using nozzles 242A-242H without the shaft 243.
[0060] Figure 9 and Figure 10 An alternative arrangement for attaching the power cable 206 to the air manifold 214 is also shown. The cable opening 268 is located at the sealed end of the body 256 opposite the inlet 240, rather than on the top or radial surface of the body 256. Figure 9A slightly different arrangement of the bracket 260 is also shown. As previously described, these changes can be made to accommodate the installation requirements of the air manifolds 14, 214, and are not limited to this disclosure.
[0061] When introducing elements of the various embodiments described below, the article “a” is intended to indicate the presence of one or more elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that additional elements may be present in addition to those listed. Furthermore, while the term “exemplary” may be used herein in conjunction with certain examples of aspects or embodiments of the subject matter of this disclosure, it should be understood that these examples are illustrative in nature, and the term “exemplary” is not intended herein to indicate any preference or requirement with respect to the disclosed aspects or embodiments. Additionally, it should be understood that references to “an embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “some embodiments,” or similar references are not intended to be construed as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also include the disclosed features.
[0062] As used herein, the terms “first” and “second” can be used to enumerate different parts or elements of the same type and do not necessarily imply any particular order.
[0063] As used herein, the terms “connection,” “connected to,” and “connected to” each mean a structural and / or electrical connection, whether it be attachment, affixation, joining, engagement, fastening, linking, and / or other form of fixation. As used herein, the term “attachment” means attachment, affixation, joining, engagement, fastening, linking, and / or other form of fixation. As used herein, the term “connection” means attachment, affixation, joining, engagement, fastening, linking, and / or other form of fixation.
[0064] As used herein, the terms “circuit” and “circuit system” mean any analog and / or digital component, power and / or control element, such as a microprocessor, digital signal processor (DSP), software or similar, discrete and / or integrated component, or part and / or combination thereof, including physical electronic components (i.e., hardware) and any software and / or firmware (“code”) that can configure, be executed by, and / or otherwise associate with the hardware. As used herein, for example, a particular processor and memory may constitute a “first circuit” when executing a first line or more of code, and a “second circuit” when executing a second line or more of code. As used herein, a circuit system is “operable” and / or “configured” to perform a function, regardless of whether the execution of that function is disabled or enabled (e.g., through user-configurable settings, factory settings, etc.).
[0065] As used herein, the terms “control circuit,” “control circuit system,” and / or “controller” can include digital and / or analog circuit systems, discrete and / or integrated circuit systems, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), and / or other logic circuit systems, and / or associated software, hardware, and / or firmware. The control circuit or control circuit system may be located on one or more circuit boards forming part or all of the controller and is used to control soldering processes, such as power supplies or wire feeders, and / or any other type of soldering-related system.
[0066] While only certain features of the invention have been shown and described herein, many modifications and alterations will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it should be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and alterations falling within the essential spirit of the invention.
[0067] While this method and / or system has been described with reference to certain embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes can be made and equivalents can be substituted without departing from the scope of this method and / or system. Furthermore, many modifications can be made to adapt particular situations or materials to the teachings of this disclosure without departing from its scope. Therefore, this method and / or system is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, but rather will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
[0068] As used in this article, "and / or" refers to any one or more items in a list connected by "and / or". As an example, "x and / or y" refers to any element in the three-element set {(x), (y), (x, y)}. In other words, "x and / or y" means "one or both of x and y". As another example, "x, y and / or z" refers to any element in the seven-element set {(x), (y), (z), (x, y), (x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z)}. In other words, "x, y and / or z" means "one or more of x, y, and z".
[0069] As used herein, the terms “for example” and “such as” introduce a list of one or more non-limiting examples, instances, or illustrations.
Claims
1. A treatment system for an air nozzle manifold comprising: an air manifold comprising a body having an inlet coupled to a blower and a plurality of outlet openings; and an ionizing bar disposed within the body, wherein the ionizing bar is connected to a low voltage power source to provide low voltage power to the ionizing bar.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the ionizing bar is connected to the low voltage power source via one or more power cables, the one or more power cables being connected to the air manifold or the ionizing bar via one or more fittings.
3. The system of claim 2, further comprising an insulating housing that supports the ionizing bar within the body.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein one or more emitting pins are electrically coupled to the power cables and to the ionizing bar through the insulating housing.
5. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more brackets for mounting the ionizing bar within the air manifold, the ionizing bar being secured to the one or more brackets via one or more removable fasteners.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the one or more brackets are secured to an interior of the body of the air manifold.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the outlet openings is coupled to a nozzle to blow ionized compressed air toward an object or an environment.
8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second ionizing bar coupled to the low voltage power source.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the second ionizing bar is disposed within the air manifold housing.
10. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more cartridges comprising two side panels forming a channel in which the ionizing bar is mounted, the one or more cartridges being removably coupled to an interior of the body of the air manifold.
11. A treatment system comprising: a low voltage power source; a blower; an air manifold comprising a body having an inlet coupled to the blower and a plurality of outlet openings, each of the outlet openings being coupled to a nozzle; an ionizing bar supported by a housing, a power cable connected to the low voltage power source to provide low voltage power to the ionizing bar; and one or more brackets mounting the ionizing bar within the air manifold, the ionizing bar being secured to the one or more brackets via one or more removable fasteners.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the low voltage power source is located within the air manifold.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the low voltage power source is located proximate to the air manifold.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the power cable is housed within a portion of the housing and a plurality of emitting pins electrically couple the ionizing bar to the power cable.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein the housing is an insulating housing that surrounds a portion of the ionizing bar.
16. The system of claim 11, wherein the low voltage power supply delivers 24 volts direct current (DC) power.
17. The system of claim 11, wherein the low voltage power supply is connected to a remote power source.
18. The system of claim 11, further comprising a remote control panel / station to provide user control of the treatment system, including control of ionization levels of the ionizing bar or feedback monitoring one or more outputs or states related to the ionization process.
19. The system of claim 11, further comprising a second air manifold that houses a second ionizing bar.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the remote control panel / station is configured to provide operational control of the ionizing bar and the second ionizing bar.