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

Abstract

The invention relates to a powder switching device (1) for selectively feeding different kinds and / or types of powder to a powder discharge device. The powder switching device (1) has a first powder inlet (2) for a first kind and / or type of powder, a second powder inlet (3) for a second kind and / or type of powder, a powder outlet (4) which is connected or connectable in terms of flow directly or indirectly - in particular via a powder pump - to the powder discharge device, and a switching mechanism which is designed to selectively connect the powder outlet (4) in terms of flow either to the first powder inlet (2) or to the second powder inlet (3). The invention in particular provides for the powder switching device (1) to also have a flushing-air inlet (5), the switching mechanism being designed in such a way that the flushing-air inlet (5) is connected in terms of flow to the second powder inlet (3) when the powder outlet (4) is connected in terms of flow to the first powder inlet (2).

Description

[0001] Gema Switzerland GmbH A / GEMA-211-PC

[0002] TR / Ij

[0003] Powder switch for selectively feeding different types and / or types of powder to a powder dispensing device

[0004] Description

[0005] The present invention relates generally to the field of powder coating of articles.

[0006] In particular, the invention relates to a powder diverter for selectively supplying different powder types and / or powder grades to a powder dispensing device, such as a powder spray gun. The invention further relates to a powder dispensing system comprising a powder dispensing device and a powder diverter.

[0007] It is known and common in powder coating technology to use powder dispensing devices, for example in the form of manual or automatic powder spray guns, for spraying objects with coating powder. The powder dispensing devices typically have a coating powder spray head for spraying coating powder at their front end and a coating powder connection at their opposite rear end. Powder, in particular coating powder, can be fed to a coating powder channel extending to the coating powder spray head via the coating powder connection of the powder dispensing device.

[0008] The powder dispensing devices discussed herein are, in particular, powder dispensing devices for coating powder conveyed pneumatically in a compressed air stream. The coating powder is sprayed at the front end of the powder dispensing device through a material outlet of the coating powder spray head. The material outlet can be formed, for example, by a material channel opening with or without a transverse deflection element (impact head or the like), by a nozzle, or by a rotary atomizer element.

[0009] The coating material, in particular coating powder or wet paint, is preferably electrostatically charged by frictional electricity and / or by high voltage of more than 1000 volts, for example with a voltage in the range between 10,000 volts and 140,000 volts, in order to achieve better adhesion to the preferably grounded object to be coated and to reduce scattering losses.

[0010] Such a powder dispensing device is described, at least in principle, in document DE 44 18 288 A1, for example. This device is an automatic powder spraying device for electrostatically spraying objects with coating material, in particular coating powder.

[0011] The powder spray device known from this prior art comprises an elongated housing in the shape of a gun barrel, a coating material channel extending through the housing in the longitudinal direction of the housing, a nozzle for atomizing the coating material at the downstream front end of the coating material channel, and a high-voltage generator housed in the housing. The high-voltage generator serves to generate a high voltage at a high-voltage electrode, by means of which the coating material to be sprayed with the powder spray device is electrostatically charged.

[0012] In the powder spray device known from this prior art, all connecting lines, in particular the connecting line for the coating material to be sprayed, the connecting line for an electrical voltage on the primary side of the high-voltage generator, and the connecting line for compressed air, are routed through a robot arm and connected to the rear end of the powder spray device, to which the powder spray device can be attached, for example, to a robot arm. The compressed air supplied to the powder spray device via the connecting line for compressed air serves to circulate the high-voltage electrode so that no coating material can accumulate on it. Furthermore, compressed air can be used to support the atomization process or during a cleaning process to blow powder residues into the powder spray device.

[0013] According to DE 44 18 288 A1, several powder spray devices are each attached by their rear end to a support, which is attached to a robot arm on the side facing away from the powder spray devices. The high-voltage generator is arranged above a powder channel that extends longitudinally through the housing. To accommodate this high-voltage generator, the housing has an upwardly extended section.

[0014] Also known from US Pat. No. 4,196,465 is a powder dispensing device in the form of a powder spray gun, through whose gun barrel a powder channel for coating powder extends, with the components of a high-voltage generator arranged below the powder channel. A handle is detachably attached to the gun barrel so that the gun barrel can also be used without the handle, for example, on a stationary stand, a lifting stand, or a robot arm. When attaching the gun barrel to a stand or robot arm, arms attached to this stand or robot arm are required, which arms must extend through an opening in a wall of a coating booth in which the gun barrel must be arranged for coating objects.The connecting lines for the coating material, for the electrical voltage and for the compressed air also extend separately from the gun barrel through the wall opening of the booth and, when using a lifting stand, must have a loop so that their sections connected to the gun barrel can move relative to the upstream line section fixed outside the booth.

[0015] The previously described powder dispensing devices known from the prior art are each attached during operation via a corresponding extension to a stand or robot positioned outside a coating booth, wherein the extension extends through an opening in a wall of the coating booth. A disadvantage in this context is that cleaning such powder dispensing devices, for example due to a powder change, is relatively time-consuming and cumbersome. This is particularly due to the fact that not only the powder dispensing devices themselves must be carefully cleaned of powder residues, but also the coating material lines routed through the extensions, and in particular also the powder lines that serve to supply the coating material to be sprayed from a powder reservoir to the coating material lines routed through the extensions or to the powder dispensing devices.

[0016] Cleaning the coating material lines and powder lines routed through the extensions is often relatively time-consuming, as the coating material lines are often difficult to access. This usually requires the powder dispensing devices to be completely retracted from the wall opening of the coating booth to clean the coating material lines.

[0017] With regard to cleaning the powder lines used to supply the coating material to be sprayed by the powder dispensing devices from a powder reservoir, it should be noted that these powder lines are usually relatively long, which also leads to relatively time-consuming cleaning in the event of, for example, a color change.

[0018] The invention is based in particular on the object of providing a solution with which, in powder dispensing devices, in particular in powder spray guns which are carried, for example, by a stationary stand arranged outside a coating booth or by a lifting stand arranged outside a coating booth or by another positioning device, switching between a first powder type or powder type to a second powder type or powder type can be carried out efficiently, in particular with regard to time and (cleaning) effort.

[0019] This object is achieved according to the invention by the subject matter of independent patent claim 1, which relates to a powder diverter for selectively feeding different powder types and / or powder types to a powder dispensing device. Advantageous developments of the powder diverter according to the invention are specified in the dependent patent claims. Accordingly, the invention relates in particular to a powder diverter for selectively feeding different powder types and / or powder types to a powder dispensing device, wherein the powder diverter has a first powder inlet for a first powder type and / or powder type, a second powder inlet for a second powder type and / or powder type, and a powder outlet, which is or can be connected directly or indirectly - in particular via a powder pump - to the powder dispensing device.

[0020] In addition, a switching mechanism is used which is designed to selectively connect the powder outlet in terms of flow either with the first powder inlet or with the second powder inlet.

[0021] The first type of powder may, for example, be fresh powder of a certain color, while the second type of powder may be recovery powder.

[0022] The term "recovery powder" as used herein refers to excess coating material or so-called "overspray material," i.e., coating material that could not be applied to the workpiece to be coated, or that has already been sprayed at least once during a coating process and has been recycled accordingly. Such recovery powder is sometimes also referred to as "overspray powder."

[0023] According to the invention, it is particularly provided that the powder switch has a purge air inlet, wherein the switching mechanism is designed such that the purge air inlet is fluidly connected to the second powder inlet when the powder outlet is fluidly connected to the first powder inlet.

[0024] In this way, the second powder inlet and a line system fluidly connected to the second powder inlet can be cleaned with purge air in an efficient manner, without interrupting the supply of powder of the first powder type or type to the powder outlet or to the powder dispensing device fluidly connected to the powder outlet. According to a preferred implementation of the powder switch according to the invention, the switching mechanism is designed such that the purge air inlet is fluidly connected to the first powder inlet when the powder outlet is fluidly connected to the second powder inlet. This embodiment thus also makes it possible to clean the first powder inlet and the line system fluidly connected to the first powder inlet when appropriate coating powder is supplied to the powder dispensing device via the second powder inlet.

[0025] It is preferably provided that the purge air inlet automatically enters into fluid communication with the first or second powder inlet when the powder outlet is fluidly connected to the second powder inlet or the first powder inlet with the aid of the switching mechanism.

[0026] According to a preferred implementation of the powder switch according to the invention, the switching mechanism comprises a carriage arrangement with a carriage that is adjustable and in particular linearly displaceable relative to a housing body of the powder switch, wherein the powder outlet or the first and second powder inlet is / are formed in the carriage.

[0027] Preferably, the first and second powder inlets are formed in the carriage, while the powder outlet is formed in the housing body of the powder switch. In particular, in this context, it is also provided that the purge air inlet is also formed in the housing body of the powder switch.

[0028] This design variant enables a particularly compact design of the powder switch.

[0029] Preferably, the switching mechanism has a first drive associated with the carriage arrangement, which is designed to move the carriage relative to the housing body as required in such a way that the powder outlet is fluidly connected either to the first powder inlet or to the second powder inlet.

[0030] Although it is fundamentally conceivable for the first drive to be designed as an electric motor-driven linear drive, for example, it is advisable to use a pneumatic drive for the first drive, which moves the slide relative to the housing body by supplying compressed air. For this purpose, at least one pneumatic connection is assigned to the first drive, which is designed as a pneumatic drive.

[0031] The pneumatic actuator (primary actuator) can be based on the functional principle of a double-acting cylinder. Such a double-acting cylinder uses air force to move both when extending and retracting. In this design variant, the pneumatic actuator must be assigned a first pneumatic connection and a second pneumatic connection.

[0032] To achieve a particularly compact design for the powder diverter, it is preferred that the first drive, designed as a pneumatic drive, be based on the functional principle of a single-acting cylinder, since this design requires only a single pneumatic connection. Compressed air can enter through this single pneumatic connection and move the slide in one direction.

[0033] It is preferably provided that the carriage arrangement has a pretensioning element associated with the carriage, in particular in the form of a spring, which is designed to pretension the carriage into a first position in which the powder outlet is fluidly connected, for example, to the first powder inlet.

[0034] The pneumatic drive is designed to move the carriage, when compressed air is supplied via the (single) pneumatic connection, against the pretensioning force of the pretensioning element, which is designed in particular in the form of a spring, relative to the housing body from the first position to a second position in which the powder outlet is fluidly connected to the second powder inlet.

[0035] According to preferred implementations of the powder switch according to the invention, it is provided that a channel system is formed in the housing body of the powder switch, which channel system is in fluid communication with the purge air inlet and has a first purge air outlet and a second purge air outlet, wherein the first and second purge air outlets are formed in an end face of the housing body adjacent to the carriage in such a way that the first purge air outlet is in fluid communication with the first powder inlet when the second powder inlet is in fluid communication with the powder outlet, and that the second purge air outlet is in fluid communication with the second powder inlet when the first powder inlet is in fluid communication with the powder outlet.

[0036] This is a particularly easy-to-implement but nevertheless effective solution as to how the purge air inlet is automatically connected in terms of flow to the first powder inlet when the second powder inlet is connected in terms of flow to the powder outlet, or how the purge air inlet is automatically connected in terms of flow to the second powder inlet when the first powder inlet is connected in terms of flow to the powder outlet.

[0037] In addition, the integration of the channel system into the housing body of the powder switch enables a compact design of the powder switch.

[0038] In a preferred development of the latter embodiment, a powder outlet opening is formed in the end face of the housing body adjacent to the slide. On the other hand, the powder outlet opening and the first and second purge air outlets are arranged in a line, with the first and second purge air outlets being arranged equidistant from the powder outlet opening.

[0039] In order to enable the carriage to be moved relative to the housing body with as little wear as possible, it is provided according to embodiment variants of the powder switch according to the invention that the carriage can be moved from a first position, in which 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, relative to the housing body into a second position, in which 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.

[0040] In this context, it is conceivable for the slide assembly to have a (second) drive configured to move the slide relative to the housing body from the first position to the second position as needed. Preferably, the second drive is also designed as a pneumatic drive and has at least one corresponding pneumatic connection.

[0041] As with the first drive, it is advantageous with regard to a particularly compact design of the powder switch that the second drive, which is preferably designed as a pneumatic drive, is based on the functional principle of a single-acting cylinder, so that only a single pneumatic connection is required for the second drive.

[0042] In this context, it is therefore advisable for the slide assembly to have a preloading element associated with the slide, in particular an elastic O-ring, which is designed to preload the slide relative to the housing body, in particular in the first position (with gap). Specifically, when using an O-ring, its elasticity can be used to position the slide in the first position (with gap). The second position (without gap) is optionally reached and maintained by a pneumatic drive.

[0043] In order to ensure the most compact design possible for the powder switch, the pneumatic connection of the first drive, the pneumatic connection of the second drive and a pneumatic connection associated with the purge air inlet should be arranged adjacent to one another in a common side wall area of ​​the housing body.

[0044] In order to enable particularly simple maintenance and, if necessary, cleaning of the powder switch, it is provided according to a development of the powder switch according to the invention that the first powder inlet and the second powder inlet are designed in a carrier and in particular in a carrier plate, wherein the carrier or the carrier plate together with the first and second powder inlets are received and in particular inserted in a receiving area of ​​the carriage and are held there preferably via a quick-release fastener.

[0045] In summary, the invention proposes a powder switch which has a first powder inlet and at least one further, second powder inlet as well as a powder outlet, wherein either the first powder inlet or the at least one second powder inlet can be fluidly connected to the powder outlet of the powder switch.

[0046] In this way, with the aid of the powder switch, different powder types and / or powder types can be selectively supplied to a powder dispensing device, in particular an automatic powder spraying device, which is fluidly connected to the powder outlet of the powder switch. Switching between different powder types or powder types thus no longer requires cleaning the powder supply lines to the powder dispensing device, since preferably a (separate) powder supply line is available for each powder type or powder type to be sprayed, which can be fluidly connected to the powder outlet of the powder switch as needed, thus enabling the supply of this coating powder to the powder dispensing device, which is also fluidly connected to the powder outlet of the powder switch.The solution according to the invention enables automatic powder hose changes from different powder sources to powder dispensing devices.

[0047] The powder diverter according to the invention is characterized by its compact design. In particular, the powder diverter according to the invention is characterized by automatic hose flushing (upstream). This feature allows two processes to be carried out in parallel with the powder diverter. Thus, powder of a first type can be conveyed through one of the two powder inlets, while the other powder inlet, through which powder of a second type was conveyed, as well as the powder-conveying components fluidly connected to the second powder inlet, are cleaned with compressed air.

[0048] An exemplary embodiment of the powder switch according to the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

[0049] FIG. 1 schematically shows a first isometric view of the exemplary embodiment of the powder switch according to the invention;

[0050] FIG. 2 schematically shows a second isometric view of the exemplary embodiment of the powder switch according to the invention;

[0051] FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of the exemplary embodiment of the powder switch according to the invention;

[0052] FIG. 4 schematically shows a side view of the exemplary embodiment of the powder switch according to the invention;

[0053] FIG. 5 schematically shows a plan view of the exemplary embodiment of the powder switch according to the invention;

[0054] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of the (downstream) front side of the exemplary embodiment of the powder switch according to the invention; and

[0055] FIG. 7 schematically shows a view of the (upstream) rear view of the exemplary embodiment of the powder switch according to the invention.

[0056] An exemplary embodiment of the powder switch 1 according to the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0057] With the powder switch 1, different powder types and / or powder grades can be selectively fed to a powder dispensing device not shown in the drawings as part of an automatic powder hose change.

[0058] The powder dispensing device is, in particular, an automatic powder spraying device for spraying coating powder, wherein the coating powder is pneumatically conveyed, in particular, in a compressed air stream, for example, with the aid of an injector pump or a dense-phase pump. The exemplary embodiment of the powder diverter 1 according to the invention has a first powder inlet 2 for a first powder type and / or powder grade and a second powder inlet 3 for a second powder type and / or powder grade.

[0059] The first and second powder inlets 2, 3 are each fluidly connected or connectable to a first and second powder reservoir, respectively, via a powder line not shown in the drawings, in particular in the form of a powder hose.

[0060] For this purpose, it is advisable to design the first and second powder inlets 2, 3 of the powder switch 1 as hose connections, to which a powder hose can be connected that is fluidly connected to the corresponding powder reservoir.

[0061] The exemplary embodiment of the powder switch 1 according to the invention further comprises a powder outlet 4, which can be fluidly connected to a powder dispensing device.

[0062] The flow connection between the powder outlet 4 of the powder switch 1 and a powder inlet of the powder dispensing device can also be realized using a powder hose. In this embodiment, it is therefore advisable to also design the powder outlet 4 of the powder switch 1 as a hose connection.

[0063] In order to selectively connect the first powder inlet 2 or the second powder inlet 3 of the powder switch 1 with the powder outlet 4 in terms of flow, a corresponding switching mechanism is used in the exemplary embodiment of the powder switch 1 according to the invention.

[0064] As can be seen in particular from the sectional view according to FIG. 3, the switching mechanism comprises a corresponding actuator, by means of which the first and second powder inlets 2, 3 of the powder switch 1 can be moved together relative to the powder outlet 4. For this purpose, in the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, the actuator has a slide arrangement with a slide 6 that is adjustable and, in particular, linearly displaceable relative to a housing body 7 of the powder switch 1, wherein the powder outlet 4 or the first and second powder inlets 2, 3 is / are formed in the slide 6.

[0065] In the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, the first and second powder inlets 2, 3 are formed in the carriage 6, while the powder outlet 4 is formed in the housing body 7 of the powder switch 1.

[0066] Although not directly apparent from the drawings, in the exemplary embodiment of the powder switch 1 according to the invention, it is provided that the switching mechanism has a pneumatic drive associated with the carriage arrangement, which is designed to move the carriage 6 relative to the housing body 7, if necessary, in such a way that the powder outlet 4 is fluidly connected either to the first powder inlet 2 or to the second powder inlet 3.

[0067] The actuator is designed as a pneumatic actuator based on the functional principle of a single-acting cylinder. Therefore, only a single pneumatic connection 8 is required for the actuator.

[0068] In order to realize a design of the powder switch 1 that is as compact as possible, it is advisable for the slide arrangement to have a pretensioning element assigned to the slide 6, in particular in the form of a spring, which is designed to pretension the slide 6 into a first position in which the powder outlet 4 is fluidly connected to the first powder inlet 2.

[0069] In this case, the pneumatic drive is particularly designed to move the carriage 6, when compressed air is supplied via the (single) pneumatic connection 8, against the pretensioning force of the pretensioning element, which is designed in particular in the form of a spring, relative to the housing body 7 from the first position into a second position in which the powder outlet 4 is fluidly connected to the second powder inlet 3.

[0070] Of course, it is also conceivable in principle to use a pneumatic drive for the drive, which is based on the functional principle of a double-acting cylinder and thus has two pneumatic connections. The exemplary embodiment of the powder switch 1 according to the invention is characterized in particular in that the powder switch 1 further has a purge air inlet 5. The switching mechanism of the powder switch 1 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, and that the purge air inlet 5 is fluidly connected to the first powder inlet 2 when the powder outlet 4 is fluidly connected to the second powder inlet 3.

[0071] As shown in the drawings, the purge air inlet 5 is preferably formed in the housing body 7 of the powder switch 1.

[0072] The sectional view according to FIG. 3 shows that a channel system 9 which is in fluid connection with the purge air inlet 5 and has a first purge air outlet 11 and a second purge air outlet 12 is formed in the housing body 7 of the powder switch 1, the channel system having a first purge air outlet 11 and a second purge air outlet 12, wherein the first and second purge air outlets 11, 12 are formed in an end face 10 of the housing body 7 adjacent to the carriage 6 in such a way that the first purge air outlet 11 is in fluid connection with the first powder inlet 2 when the second powder inlet 3 is in fluid connection with the powder outlet 4, and that the second purge air outlet 12 is in fluid connection with the second powder inlet 3 when the first powder inlet 2 is in fluid connection with the powder outlet 4.

[0073] It can also be seen from the sectional view according to FIG. 3 that a mouth opening 13 of the powder outlet 4 is formed in the end face 10 of the housing body 7 adjacent to the slide 6.

[0074] In particular, it is provided that the mouth opening 13 of the powder outlet 4 and the first and second purge air outlets 11, 12 are arranged in a line (here: in a vertical line), wherein the first and second purge air outlets 11, 12 are arranged in an equidistant manner with respect to the mouth opening of the powder outlet 4.

[0075] The slide 6 can be moved from a first position, in which a gap 14 is present between the end face 10 of the housing body 7 adjacent to the slide 6 and the end face of the slide 6 adjacent to the housing body 7, relative to the housing body 7, into a second position, in which the gap 14 between the end face 10 of the housing body 7 adjacent to the slide 6 and the end face of the slide 6 adjacent to the housing body 7 is eliminated or at least reduced, in order to fluidly connect the mouth opening 13 of the powder outlet 4 to the first or second powder inlet 2, 3 and to fluidly connect the corresponding purge air outlet 11, 12 to the second or first powder inlet 3, 2 in a sealing manner.

[0076] Preferably, appropriate seals 15 (sealing rings) are also used here.

[0077] In order to move the slide 6 from the first position to the second position relative to the housing body 7 of the powder switch 1, the slide 6 is assigned a pneumatic drive, which is designed to transfer the slide 6 from the first position to the second position relative to the housing body 7 as needed. The drive is designed, in particular, as a pneumatic drive based on the functional principle of a single-acting cylinder.

[0078] The slide assembly can have a preloading element associated with the slide 6, in particular an elastic O-ring, which is designed to preload the slide 6 relative to the housing body 7 into the first position. The elasticity of the O-ring can be used to position the slide in the first position (with a gap). The second position (without a gap), in contrast, can be achieved and maintained by a pneumatic drive.

[0079] As can be seen in particular from a joint view of FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in the exemplary embodiment of the powder switch 1 according to the invention, the pneumatic connection 8 of the first drive, a pneumatic connection 16 of the second drive and a pneumatic connection assigned to the purge air inlet 5 are formed in a common side wall region of the housing body 7 (here: in the lower side wall region of the housing body 7). The isometric view according to FIG. 1 also shows that in the exemplary embodiment of the powder switch 1 according to the invention, the first powder inlet 2 and the second powder inlet 3 are designed in a carrier 17 and in particular in a carrier plate, wherein the carrier 17 andthe carrier plate together with the first and second powder inlets 2, 3 is received and in particular inserted in a receiving area 18 of the carriage 6 and is held there by a quick-release fastener 19.

[0080] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment of the powder switch shown in the drawings, but results from a synopsis of all features disclosed herein.

[0081] Reference symbol list

[0082] Powder switch first powder inlet second powder inlet

[0083] Powder outlet

[0084] Purge air inlet

[0085] Carriage arrangement / carriage

[0086] Housing body

[0087] Pneumatic connection of the first drive

[0088] Canal system

[0089] Front face of the housing body first purge air outlet second purge air outlet

[0090] Mouth opening of the powder outlet

[0091] gap space

[0092] seal

[0093] Pneumatic connection of the second drive carrier / carrier plate

[0094] Slide mounting area quick release

Claims

Powder switch for selectively feeding different types and / or types of powder to a powder dispensing device Patent claims 1. Powder switch (1) for selectively supplying different powder types and / or powder types to a powder dispensing device, the powder switch (1) comprising: a first powder inlet (2) for a first powder type and / or powder type; a second powder inlet (3) for a second powder type and / or powder type; a powder outlet (4) which is or can be connected directly or indirectly - in particular via a powder pump - to the powder dispensing device.and a switching mechanism which is designed to selectively connect the powder outlet (4) in terms of flow either to the first powder inlet (2) or to the second powder inlet (3), characterized in that the powder switch (1) further comprises a purge air inlet (5), wherein the switching mechanism is designed such that the purge air inlet (5) is in flow communication with the second powder inlet (3) when the powder outlet (4) is in flow communication with the first powder inlet (2).

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

3. Powder switch (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the switching mechanism has a carriage arrangement with a carriage (6) which is adjustable and in particular linearly displaceable relative to a housing body (7) of the powder switch (1), wherein the powder outlet (4) or the first and second powder inlets (2, 3) is / are formed in the carriage (6).

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

5. Powder switch (1) according to claim 4, wherein the purge air inlet (5) is formed in the housing body (7) of the powder switch (1).

6. Powder switch (1) according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the switching mechanism has a first drive associated with the carriage arrangement, which is designed to move the carriage (6) relative to the housing body (7) as required in such a way that the powder outlet (4) is fluidly connected either to the first powder inlet (2) or to the second powder inlet (3).

7. Powder switch (1) according to claim 6, wherein the first drive is designed as a pneumatic drive and has at least one pneumatic connection (8).

8. Powder switch (1) according to claim 7, wherein the carriage arrangement has a pretensioning element, in particular in the form of a spring, which is assigned to the carriage (6), which is designed to pretension the carriage (6) into a first position in which the powder outlet (4) is fluidly connected to the first powder inlet (2), wherein the pneumatic drive is designed to move the carriage (6) against the pretensioning force of the pretensioning element, in particular in the form of a spring-constructed biasing element 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).

9. Powder switch (1) according to one of claims 3 to 8, wherein a channel system (9) is formed in the housing body (7) of the powder switch (1) and is in fluid communication with the purge air inlet (5), said channel system having a first purge air outlet (11) and a second purge air outlet (12), wherein the first and second purge air outlets (11, 12) are formed in an end face (10) of the housing body (7) adjacent to the carriage (6) in such a way that the first purge air outlet (11) is in fluid communication with the first powder inlet (2) when the second powder inlet (3) is in fluid communication with the powder outlet (4), and that the second purge air outlet (12) is in fluid communication with the second powder inlet (3) when the first powder inlet (2) is in fluid communication with the powder outlet (4).

10. Powder switch (1) according to claim 9, wherein an orifice (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 orifice (13) of the powder outlet (4) and the first and second purge air outlets (11, 12) are arranged in a line, the first and second purge air outlets (11, 12) being arranged in an equidistant manner with respect to the orifice (13) of the powder outlet (4).

11. Powder switch (1) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the carriage (6) can be transferred from a first position, in which a gap (14) is present 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), relative to the housing body (7) into a second position, in which 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.

12. Powder switch (1) according to claim 11, wherein the carriage arrangement has a second drive which is designed to transfer the carriage (6) relative to the housing body (7) from the first position to the second position as required, wherein the second drive is preferably designed as a pneumatic drive and has a pneumatic connection (16).

13. Powder switch (1) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the carriage arrangement has a pretensioning element associated with the carriage (6), in particular an elastic O-ring, which is designed to pretension the carriage (6) relative to the housing body (7) into the first position.

14. Powder switch (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13 and at least according to claim 7 and claim 12, wherein the pneumatic connection (8) of the first drive, the pneumatic connection (16) of the second drive and a pneumatic connection associated with the purge air inlet (5) are formed adjacent to one another in a common side wall region of the housing body (7).

15. Powder switch (1) according to one of claims 3 to 14, wherein the first powder inlet (2) and the second powder inlet (3) are designed in a carrier (17) and in particular in a carrier plate, wherein the carrier (17) or the carrier plate together with the first and second powder inlets (2, 3) is received and in particular inserted in a receiving area (18) of the carriage (6) and is held there preferably via a quick-release fastener (19).

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