Powder switching device for selectively feeding different types and / or types of powder to powder discharge device

Abstract

The invention relates to a powder switching device (1) for selectively feeding different types and / or types of powder to a powder discharge device. The powder switching device (1) comprises: a first powder inlet (2) for a first type and / or type of powder; a second powder inlet (3) for a second kind and / or type of powder; a powder outlet (4), in particular by means of a powder pump, directly or indirectly fluidly connected or connectable to a powder discharge device; and a switching mechanism designed to selectively fluidly connect the powder outlet (4) to the first powder inlet (2) or the second powder inlet (3). According to the invention, in particular, it is provided that the powder switching device (1) further comprises a purge air inlet (5) wherein the switching mechanism is designed such that the purge air inlet (5) is fluidly connected to the second powder inlet (3) when the powder outlet (4) is fluidly connected to the first powder inlet (2).

Description

A powder switching device that selectively feeds different types and / or varieties of powder into a powder discharge device. Technical Field

[0001] This invention generally relates to the field of powder coating of objects.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to a powder switching device for selectively feeding different types and / or varieties of powders into a powder discharging device such as a powder spray gun. The present invention also relates to a powder dispensing system having both a powder discharging device and a powder switching device. Background Technology

[0003] In powder coating technology, it is known that a common practice is to use a powder dispensing device, such as a manual or automatic powder spray gun, for spraying coating powder onto an object. This device typically has a powder nozzle at its front end for spraying the coating powder and a powder connection at its opposite rear end. Powder, particularly coating powder, can be fed through the powder connection of the powder dispensing device into a powder channel extending to the powder nozzle.

[0004] The powder discharge device discussed here is specifically a powder discharge device for applying powder pneumatically conveyed in a compressed air stream. The powder is sprayed at the front end of the powder discharge device through the material outlet of the powder spray nozzle. For example, the material outlet may be formed by a material channel opening with or without a lateral impact element (baffle head, etc.), by a nozzle, or by a rotating atomizer element.

[0005] The coating material, especially the powder or liquid coating, is preferably charged with static electricity by triboelectricity and / or by a high voltage greater than 1,000 volts (e.g., in the range of 10,000 to 140,000 volts) to achieve better adhesion to the (preferably grounded) object to be coated and to reduce scattering loss.

[0006] Such a powder emission device is described, at least in principle, for example, in document DE 44 18 288 A1. It is an automated powder coating device for electrostatically spraying objects with coating materials, particularly coating powders.

[0007] Powder coating apparatuses known from the prior art have an extended housing in the form of a gun barrel, a coating material channel extending through the housing in the longitudinal direction, a nozzle for atomizing the coating material at the downstream end of the coating material channel, and a high-voltage generator housed within the housing. The high-voltage generator is used to generate high voltage at a high-voltage electrode, by means of which the coating material to be sprayed by the powder coating apparatus is charged with static electricity.

[0008] In powder coating apparatuses known from the prior art, all connecting lines, particularly those for the coating material to be coated, the voltage on the primary side of the high-voltage generator, and the compressed air, are routed through a robotic arm and connected to the rear end face of the powder coating apparatus, where the apparatus can be attached, for example, to the robotic arm. Compressed air supplied to the powder coating apparatus via the compressed air connecting lines flows around the high-voltage electrode, preventing coating material from accumulating on it. Furthermore, the compressed air can be used to support the atomization process or to blow powder residue into the powder coating apparatus during the cleaning process.

[0009] According to DE 44 18 288 A1, multiple powder coating units are each attached to a carriage with their rear end faces, and the carriage is attached to a robotic arm on the side opposite to the powder coating unit. A high-pressure generator is arranged above the powder channel, which extends through the housing along its longitudinal direction. To accommodate this high-pressure generator, the housing has an upwardly extending area.

[0010] Document US 4,196,465 also describes a powder dispensing device in the form of a powder spray gun, wherein a powder channel for applying powder extends through the barrel of the powder spray gun, and components of a high-pressure generator are arranged below the powder channel. A handle is detachably attached to the barrel, allowing the barrel to be used without a handle, for example, by means of a fixed support, a lifting support, or a robotic arm. When the barrel is attached to a support or robotic arm, an arm is required to be attached to this support or robotic arm; these arms must pass through an opening in the wall of the coating chamber, and the barrel must be positioned within the coating chamber for coating the object. Connection lines for the coating material, voltage, and compressed air extend separately from the barrel through the wall opening of the coating chamber, and when using a lifting support, a loop is required so that the section of the connection lines connected to the barrel can be moved relative to the upstream portion of the lines fixed outside the coating chamber.

[0011] Each of the powder discharge devices known from the prior art is attached during operation to a bracket or robot positioned outside the coating chamber via a corresponding extension, wherein the extension passes through an opening in the wall of the coating chamber.

[0012] The disadvantage in this case is that cleaning such a powder discharge device, for example, due to powder replacement, is relatively time-consuming and troublesome. This is in particular because: not only must the powder discharge device itself be carefully cleaned of powder residue, but also the coating material line passing through the extension, and especially the powder line, must be carefully cleaned of powder residue. The powder line is used to feed the coating material to be sprayed from the powder reservoir to the coating material line guided through the extension or to the powder discharge device.

[0013] Cleaning the coating material lines and powder lines that pass through the extension is typically time-consuming because the coating material lines are often difficult to access. This usually necessitates completely removing the powder discharge device from the wall opening of the coating chamber to clean the coating material lines.

[0014] Regarding the cleaning of powder lines (which are used to feed coating material from the powder reservoir to be sprayed by the powder discharge device), it should be noted that these powder lines are usually relatively long, which also leads to relatively time-consuming cleaning, for example, in the case of color changes. Summary of the Invention

[0015] The present invention is specifically based on the problem of providing a solution that allows for efficient switching between a first type or type of powder and a second type or type of powder, particularly in terms of time and (cleaning) workload, in the case of a powder discharge device, especially a powder spray gun (e.g., supported by a fixed bracket arranged outside the coating chamber, a lifting bracket arranged outside the coating chamber, or another positioning device).

[0016] This problem is solved by the invention according to the subject matter of independent claim 1, which relates to a powder switching device for selectively feeding different kinds and / or types of powders to a powder discharge device. Advantageous further improvements of the powder switching device according to the invention are described in detail in the dependent claims.

[0017] Therefore, the present invention particularly relates to a powder switching device for selectively feeding different kinds and / or types of powders to a powder discharge device, wherein the powder switching device has a first powder inlet for a first kind and / or type of powder, a second powder inlet for a second kind and / or type of powder, and a powder outlet, the powder outlet being fluidly connected or capable of being connected to the powder discharge device directly or indirectly via a powder pump.

[0018] In addition, a switching mechanism is used, which is designed to connect the powder outlet selective fluid to either the first powder inlet or the second powder inlet.

[0019] For example, the first type or category of powder can be fresh powder of a certain color, while the second type or category of powder can be recycled powder.

[0020] As used herein, “recycled powder” refers to excess coating material or so-called “oversprayed material,” that is, coating material that cannot be applied to the workpiece to be coated or coating material that has been sprayed at least once during the coating process and is therefore recycled. Such recycled powder is sometimes also called “oversprayed powder.”

[0021] According to the invention, a powder switching device is provided in particular, having a purge air inlet, wherein the switching mechanism is designed such that when the powder outlet fluid is connected to the first powder inlet, the purge air inlet fluid is connected to the second powder inlet.

[0022] In this way, the second powder inlet and the piping system connected to the second powder inlet can be cleaned efficiently with purging air without interrupting the supply of the first type or variety of powder to the powder outlet or to the powder discharge device connected to the powder outlet.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment of the powder switching device of the present invention, the switching mechanism is designed such that when the powder outlet fluid is connected to the second powder inlet, the purge air inlet is connected to the first powder inlet. Using this embodiment, it is therefore possible to clean the first powder inlet and the piping system fluidly connected to the first powder inlet when appropriate coating powder is supplied to the powder discharge device through the second powder inlet.

[0024] Preferably, when the powder outlet is fluidly connected to the second powder inlet or the first powder inlet via a switching mechanism, the purge air inlet automatically establishes fluid communication with the first powder inlet or the second powder inlet.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment of the powder switching device of the present invention, the switching mechanism is provided with a carriage device, the carriage device having a carriage that is adjustable relative to the outer shell of the powder switching device and is particularly capable of linear displacement, wherein a powder outlet or a first powder inlet and a second powder inlet are formed in the carriage.

[0026] Preferably, a first powder inlet and a second powder inlet are formed in the carriage, while a powder outlet is formed in the housing body of the powder switching device. In particular, it is also provided herein that a purge air inlet is also formed in the housing body of the powder switching device.

[0027] This design variant achieves a particularly compact design for the powder switching device.

[0028] Preferably, the switching mechanism has a first drive associated with the carriage assembly, the first drive being designed to move the carriage relative to the housing body as needed, such that the powder outlet fluid is connected to a first powder inlet or a second powder inlet.

[0029] While it is conceivable in principle that the first actuator could be designed, for example, as a linear electric motor actuator, it is advantageous to use a pneumatic actuator for the first actuator, which moves the carriage relative to the housing body by supplying compressed air. For this purpose, at least one pneumatic connection is assigned a first actuator designed as a pneumatic actuator.

[0030] The pneumatic actuator (first actuator) can be based on the operating principle of a double-acting cylinder. Such a double-acting cylinder uses pneumatic power for both extension and retraction. In this design variant, the pneumatic actuator must be equipped with a first pneumatic connection and a second pneumatic connection.

[0031] To achieve a particularly compact design for the powder switching device, the first actuator, preferably designed as a pneumatic drive, is based on the functional principle of a single-acting cylinder, as this design requires only a single pneumatic connection. Compressed air can enter through this single pneumatic connection and move the carriage in one direction.

[0032] Preferably, the carriage assembly has a biasing element assigned to the carriage, particularly a biasing element in the form of a spring, the biasing element being designed to bias the carriage into a first position in which the powder outlet, for example, is fluidly connected to a first powder inlet.

[0033] The pneumatic actuator is designed to overcome the biasing force of the biasing element (which is specifically designed in the form of a spring) when compressed air is supplied through a (single) pneumatic connection, causing the carriage to move relative to the housing body from a first position to a second position, in which the powder outlet fluidly connects to the second powder inlet.

[0034] According to a preferred embodiment of the powder switching device of the present invention, a channel system is disposed in the housing body of the powder switching device. The channel system is in fluid communication with the purge air inlet and has a first purge air outlet and a second purge air outlet. The first purge air outlet and the second purge air outlet are formed in the end face of the housing body adjacent to the carriage, such that when the second powder inlet is in fluid communication with the powder outlet, the first purge air outlet is in fluid communication with the first powder inlet, and when the first powder inlet is in fluid communication with the powder outlet, the second purge air outlet is in fluid communication with the second powder inlet.

[0035] This is a particularly easy-to-implement yet effective solution for automatically connecting the purge air inlet fluid to the first powder inlet when the second powder inlet fluid is connected to the powder outlet, or for automatically connecting the purge air inlet to the second powder inlet when the first powder inlet fluid is connected to the powder outlet.

[0036] Furthermore, integrating the channel system into the housing of the powder switching device achieves a compact design for the powder switching device.

[0037] In a preferred further improvement of the latter embodiment, the powder outlet opening is provided to be formed in the end face of the housing body adjacent to the carriage. Furthermore, the powder outlet opening is arranged in a line with the first purge air outlet and the second purge air outlet, such that the first and second purge air outlets are equidistant from the powder outlet opening.

[0038] In order to enable the carriage to move relative to the housing body with the least possible wear, according to an embodiment of the powder switching device according to the invention, the carriage can be moved relative to the housing body from a first position to a second position. In the first position, there is a gap between the end face of the housing body adjacent to the carriage and the end face of the carriage adjacent to the housing body. In the second position, the gap between the end face of the housing body adjacent to the carriage and the end face of the carriage adjacent to the housing body is eliminated or at least reduced.

[0039] In this case, it is conceivable that the carriage assembly has a (second) actuator designed to move the carriage relative to the housing body from a first position to a second position as needed. Preferably, the second actuator is also designed as a pneumatic actuator and has at least one corresponding pneumatic connection.

[0040] Similar to the first drive, an advantage in the particularly compact design of the powder switching device is that the second drive, preferably designed as a pneumatic drive, is based on the operating principle of a single-acting cylinder, so that only a single pneumatic connection is needed for the second drive.

[0041] In this case, it is therefore advantageous for the carriage assembly to have a biasing element assigned to the carriage, in particular an elastic O-ring, which is designed to bias the carriage relative to the housing body, especially to bias it in a first position (with a gap). Specifically, when using an O-ring, its elasticity can be used to position the carriage in the first position (with a gap). A second position (without a gap) can optionally be achieved and maintained by a pneumatic actuator.

[0042] To ensure that the powder switching device is as compact as possible, the pneumatic connection of the first driver, the pneumatic connection of the second driver, and the pneumatic connection assigned to the purge air inlet should be formed adjacent to each other in the same side wall area of ​​the housing body.

[0043] To enable particularly easy maintenance and, when necessary, cleaning of the powder switching device, another improvement to the powder switching device according to the invention provides that the first powder inlet and the second powder inlet are designed in a carrier, and particularly in a carrier plate, wherein the carrier or carrier plate is received together with the first powder inlet and the second powder inlet and is particularly inserted into the receiving area of ​​the carriage, and preferably held in the receiving area of ​​the carriage by quick-release fasteners.

[0044] In summary, the present invention provides a powder switching device comprising a first powder inlet and at least one additional second powder inlet and a powder outlet, thereby allowing selective fluid connection of the first powder inlet or at least one second powder inlet to the powder outlet of the powder switching device.

[0045] In this way, the powder switching device can selectively feed different types and / or varieties of powder to the powder dispensing device, particularly an automatic powder coating device, which is fluidly connected to the powder outlet of the powder switching device. Therefore, switching between different types or varieties of powder no longer requires cleaning the powder supply line to the powder dispensing device, since preferably each type or variety of powder has its own powder supply line, which is fluidly connected to the powder outlet of the powder switching device as needed, enabling the feeding of the coating powder to the powder dispensing device, which is also fluidly connected to the powder outlet of the powder switching device. The solution according to the invention achieves automatic powder hose switching between different powder sources at the powder dispensing device.

[0046] The powder switching device according to the invention is characterized by its compact design. In particular, the powder switching device according to the invention is characterized by automatic hose flushing (upstream). This feature means that two processes can be performed in parallel using the powder switching device. A first type of powder can be conveyed through one of two powder inlets, while the other powder inlet is cleaned with compressed air; a second type of powder is conveyed through the other powder inlet, and the powder conveying component is fluidly connected to the second powder inlet.

[0047] An exemplary embodiment of the powder switching device according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0048] The attached diagram shows:

[0049] Figure 1 schematically shows a first isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of the powder switching device according to the present invention;

[0050] Figure 2 schematically shows a second isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of the powder switching device according to the present invention;

[0051] Figure 3 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the powder switching device according to the present invention;

[0052] Figure 4 schematically shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the powder switching device according to the present invention;

[0053] Figure 5 schematically shows a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the powder switching device according to the present invention;

[0054] Figure 6 schematically shows a (downstream) front view of an exemplary embodiment of the powder switching device according to the present invention;

[0055] Figure 7 schematically shows an upstream rear view of an exemplary embodiment of the powder switching device according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0056] An exemplary embodiment of the powder switching device 1 according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0057] Using the powder switching device 1, different types of powder can be selectively fed to the powder discharge device (not shown in the figure) during the automatic powder hose replacement process.

[0058] Specifically, the powder discharge device is an automatic powder coating device for spraying coating powder, wherein the coating powder is pneumatically conveyed, for example, by a spraying pump or by a dense phase pump, particularly in a compressed air stream.

[0059] An exemplary embodiment of the powder switching device 1 according to the present invention has a first powder inlet 2 for a first type and / or type of powder and a second powder inlet 3 for a second type and / or type of powder.

[0060] The first powder inlet 2 and the second powder inlet 3 are each fluidly connected to or can be connected to the first powder reservoir or the second powder reservoir via a powder line, which is specifically in the form of a powder hose, not shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0061] For this purpose, it is advantageous to design the first powder inlet 2 and the second powder inlet 3 of the powder switching device 1 as hose connections, so that powder hoses that are fluidly connected to the corresponding powder reservoirs can be connected to these hose connections.

[0062] An exemplary embodiment of the powder switching device 1 according to the present invention further includes a powder outlet 4, which can be fluidly connected to a powder discharge device.

[0063] The fluid connection between the powder outlet 4 of the powder switching device 1 and the powder inlet of the powder discharge device can also be achieved via a powder hose. In this embodiment, it is therefore advantageous to design the powder outlet 4 of the powder switching device 1 as a hose connection as well.

[0064] In order to selectively fluidize the first powder inlet 2 or the second powder inlet 3 of the powder switching device 1 to the powder outlet 4, a corresponding switching mechanism is used in an exemplary embodiment of the powder switching device 1 according to the present invention.

[0065] Specifically, as can be seen from the cross-sectional view according to FIG3, the switching mechanism includes a corresponding actuator by which the first powder inlet 2 and the second powder inlet 3 of the powder switching device 1 can move together with respect to the powder outlet 4. For this purpose, in the embodiment shown in the figures, the actuator is provided to include a carriage device having a carriage 6, which is adjustable relative to the housing body 7 of the powder switching device 1 and is particularly linearly movable, wherein the powder outlet 4 or the first powder inlet 2 and the second powder inlet 3 are formed in the carriage 6.

[0066] In the exemplary embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, the first powder inlet 2 and the second powder inlet 3 are formed in the carriage 6, while the powder outlet 4 is formed in the housing body 7 of the powder switching device 1.

[0067] Although not directly apparent from the accompanying drawings, in an exemplary embodiment of the powder switching device 1 according to the invention, the switching mechanism is provided with a pneumatic actuator associated with the carriage device, the pneumatic actuator being designed to move the carriage 6 relative to the housing body 7 as needed, such that the powder outlet 4 is fluidly connected to the first powder inlet 2 or the second powder inlet 3.

[0068] The actuator is designed as a pneumatic actuator based on the working principle of a single-acting cylinder. Therefore, the actuator only requires a single pneumatic connection 8.

[0069] To achieve the most compact possible design of the powder switching device 1, it is advantageous that the carriage device has a biasing element associated with the carriage 6, in particular a spring-type biasing element designed to bias the carriage 6 to a first position in which the powder outlet 4 is fluidly connected to the first powder inlet 2.

[0070] The pneumatic actuator is specifically designed to overcome the biasing force of the biasing element (specifically designed in the form of a spring) when compressed air is supplied through the (single) pneumatic connection 8, so that the carriage 6 moves relative to the housing body 7 from a first position to a second position, in which the powder outlet 4 is fluidly connected to the second powder inlet 3.

[0071] Of course, in principle, it is also conceivable to use a pneumatic actuator for the drive, which is based on the working principle of a double-acting cylinder and therefore has two pneumatic connections.

[0072] A particularly distinctive feature of an exemplary embodiment of the powder switching device 1 according to the present invention is that the powder switching device 1 further comprises a purge air inlet 5. The switching mechanism of the powder switching device 1 is designed such that when the powder outlet 4 is fluidly connected to the first powder inlet 2, the purge air inlet 5 is fluidly connected to the second powder inlet 3, and when the powder outlet 4 is fluidly connected to the second powder inlet 3, the purge air inlet 5 is fluidly connected to the first powder inlet 2.

[0073] As shown in the figure, the purge air inlet 5 is preferably formed in the outer shell body 7 of the powder switching device 1.

[0074] As shown in the cross-sectional view of Figure 3, a channel system 9 is formed in the housing body 7 of the powder switching device 1, which is in fluid communication with the purge air inlet 5. The channel system 9 has a first purge air outlet 11 and a second purge air outlet 12, wherein the first purge air outlet 11 and the second purge air outlet 12 are formed in the end face 10 of the housing body 7 adjacent to the carriage 6, such that when the second powder inlet 3 is in fluid communication with the powder outlet 4, the first purge air outlet 11 is in fluid communication with the first powder inlet 2, and when the first powder inlet 2 is in fluid communication with the powder outlet 4, the second purge air outlet 12 is in fluid communication with the second powder inlet 3.

[0075] The cross-sectional view in Figure 3 also shows that the opening 13 of the powder outlet 4 is formed in the end face 10 of the housing body 7 adjacent to the carriage 6.

[0076] Specifically, it is provided that the opening 13 of the powder outlet 4 is arranged in a line (here, in a vertical line) with the first purge air outlet 11 and the second purge air outlet 12, wherein the first purge air outlet 11 and the second purge air outlet 12 are arranged equidistantly from the opening of the powder outlet 4.

[0077] The carriage 6 can be moved from a first position to a second position relative to the housing body 7. In the first position, there is a gap 14 between the end face 10 of the housing body 7 adjacent to the carriage 6 and the end face of the carriage 6 adjacent to the housing body 7. In the second position, the gap 14 between the end face 10 of the housing body 7 adjacent to the carriage 6 and the end face of the carriage 6 adjacent to the housing body 7 is eliminated or at least reduced so that the opening 13 of the powder outlet 4 is fluidly connected to the first powder inlet 2 or the second powder inlet 3 in a sealed manner, and the corresponding purge air outlets 11, 12 are fluidly connected to the second powder inlet 3 or the first powder inlet 2 in a flowing manner.

[0078] Preferably, the corresponding seal 15 (sealing ring) is also used here.

[0079] To move the carriage 6 from a first position to a second position relative to the housing body 7 of the powder switching device 1, a pneumatic actuator is provided for the carriage 6. The pneumatic actuator is designed to move the carriage 6 from the first position to the second position relative to the housing body 7 as needed. The actuator is specifically designed as a pneumatic actuator based on the working principle of a single-acting cylinder.

[0080] The carriage assembly may have a biasing element associated with the carriage 6, particularly a resilient O-ring, designed to bias the carriage 6 relative to the housing body 7 into a first position. The resilient nature of the O-ring can be used to position the carriage in the first position (with a gap). On the other hand, a second position (without a gap) can be achieved and maintained by a pneumatic actuator.

[0081] As can be seen particularly from the combined view of Figures 1, 2 and 3, an exemplary embodiment of the powder switching device 1 according to the present invention provides that the pneumatic connection 8 of the first driver, the pneumatic connection 16 of the second driver and the pneumatic connection associated with the purge air inlet 5 are formed in the same side wall region of the housing body 7 (here, formed in the lower side wall region of the housing body 7).

[0082] The isometric view of FIG1 also shows that, in an exemplary embodiment of the powder switching device 1 according to the invention, the first powder inlet 2 and the second powder inlet 3 are designed in the carrier 17, particularly in the carrier plate 17, wherein the carrier 17 or the carrier plate is accommodated together with the first powder inlet 2 and the second powder inlet 3 and is specifically inserted into the receiving area 18 of the carriage 6 and held in the receiving area 18 of the carriage 6 by means of quick-release fasteners 19.

[0083] The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment of the powder switching device shown in the accompanying drawings, but arises from a combination of all the features disclosed herein.

[0084] List of reference numerals

[0085] 1 Powder switching device

[0086] 2 First powder inlet

[0087] 3 Second powder inlet

[0088] 4 Powder outlet

[0089] 5. Purge air inlet

[0090] 6. Carriage assembly / carriage

[0091] 7. Outer shell

[0092] 8. Pneumatic connection of the first driver

[0093] 9-channel system

[0094] 10. End face of the outer shell body

[0095] 11 First purge air outlet

[0096] 12 Second purge air outlet

[0097] 13. Powder outlet opening

[0098] 14 gaps

[0099] 15. Seals

[0100] 16. Pneumatic connection of the second drive unit

[0101] 17. Carrier / Carrier Plate

[0102] 18. Carriage receiving area

[0103] 19 Quick-release fasteners

Claims

1. A powder switching device (1) for selectively feeding different types and / or varieties of powders to a powder discharge device, the powder switching device (1) comprising: A first powder inlet (2) for a first type and / or type of powder; a second powder inlet (3) for a second type and / or type of powder; a powder outlet (4) specifically fluidly connected or capable of being connected to the powder discharge device directly or indirectly via a powder pump; and a switching mechanism designed to selectively fluidly connect the powder outlet (4) to the first powder inlet (2) or the second powder inlet (3), characterized in that the powder switching device (1) further includes a purge air inlet (5), wherein the switching mechanism is designed such that when the powder outlet (4) is fluidly connected to the first powder inlet (2), the purge air inlet (5) is fluidly connected to the second powder inlet (3).

2. The powder switching device (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The switching mechanism is designed such that when the powder outlet (4) is fluidly connected to the second powder inlet (3), the purge air inlet (5) is fluidly connected to the first powder inlet (2).

3. The powder switching device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The switching mechanism includes a carriage device with a carriage (6) that is adjustable relative to the housing body (7) of the powder switching device (1) and is particularly capable of linear movement, wherein the powder outlet (4) or the first powder inlet (2) and the second powder inlet (3) are formed in the carriage (6).

4. The powder switching device (1) according to claim 3, wherein, The first powder inlet (2) and the second powder inlet (3) are formed in the carriage (6), while the powder outlet (4) is formed in the housing body (7) of the powder switching device (1).

5. The powder switching device (1) according to claim 4, wherein, The purge air inlet (5) is formed in the outer shell body (7) of the powder switching device (1).

6. The powder switching device (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein, The switching mechanism has a first driver associated with the carriage assembly, the first driver being designed to move the carriage (6) relative to the housing body (7) as needed, such that the powder outlet (4) is fluidly connected to the first powder inlet (2) or to the second powder inlet (3).

7. The powder switching device (1) according to claim 6, wherein, The first actuator is designed as a pneumatic actuator and includes at least one pneumatic connection (8).

8. The powder switching device (1) according to claim 7, wherein, The carriage assembly has a biasing element associated with the carriage (6), particularly a spring-type biasing element designed to bias the carriage (6) to a first position in which the powder outlet (4) is fluidly connected to the first powder inlet (2), wherein the pneumatic actuator is designed to overcome the biasing force of the biasing element when compressed air is supplied through the pneumatic connection (8), causing the carriage (6) to move relative to the housing body (7) from the first position to a second position in which the powder outlet (4) is fluidly connected to the second powder inlet (3), and the biasing element is specifically designed to be in the form of a spring.

9. The powder switching device (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein, A channel system (9) fluidly communicating with the purge air inlet (5) is formed in the housing body (7) of the powder switching device (1). The channel system has a first purge air outlet (11) and a second purge air outlet (12). The first purge air outlet (11) and the second purge air outlet (12) are formed in the end face (10) of the housing body (7) adjacent to the carriage (6), such that when the second powder inlet (3) is fluidly communicating with the powder outlet (4), the first purge air outlet (11) is fluidly communicating with the first powder inlet (2), and when the first powder inlet (2) is fluidly communicating with the powder outlet (4), the second purge air outlet (12) is fluidly communicating with the second powder inlet (3).

10. The powder switching device (1) according to claim 9, wherein, The opening (13) of the powder outlet (4) is formed in the end face (10) of the housing body (7) adjacent to the carriage (6), and wherein the opening (13) of the powder outlet (4) and the first purge air outlet (11) and the second purge air outlet (12) are arranged in a straight line, wherein the first purge air outlet (11) and the second purge air outlet (12) are arranged equidistantly from the opening (13) of the powder outlet (4).

11. The powder switching device (1) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein, The carriage (6) is movable relative to the outer shell body (7) from a first position to a second position. In the first position, there is a gap (14) between the end face (10) of the outer shell body (7) adjacent to the carriage (6) and the end face of the carriage (6) adjacent to the outer shell body (7). In the second position, the gap (14) between the end face (10) of the outer shell body (7) adjacent to the carriage (6) and the end face of the carriage (6) adjacent to the outer shell body (7) is eliminated or at least reduced.

12. The powder switching device (1) according to claim 11, wherein, The carriage assembly includes a second actuator designed to move the carriage (6) relative to the housing body (7) from the first position to the second position as needed, wherein the second actuator is preferably designed as a pneumatic actuator and has a pneumatic connection (16).

13. The powder switching device (1) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein, The carriage assembly has a biasing element associated with the carriage (6), in particular an elastic O-ring, the biasing element being designed to bias the carriage (6) relative to the housing body (7) to the first position.

14. The powder switching device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, and at least according to claims 7 and 12, wherein, The pneumatic connection (8) of the first driver, the pneumatic connection (16) of the second driver, and the pneumatic connection associated with the purge air inlet (5) are formed adjacent to each other in the same side wall region of the housing body (7).

15. The powder switching device (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 14, wherein, The first powder inlet (2) and the second powder inlet (3) are formed in the carrier (17), and particularly in the carrier plate, wherein the carrier (17) or the carrier plate together with the first powder inlet (2) and the second powder inlet (3) are accommodated and particularly inserted in the receiving area (18) of the carriage (6), and preferably held in the receiving area (18) of the carriage (6) by means of quick-release fasteners (19).

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