Powder Spray Coating Booth with Segmented Suction Ducts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Powder spray coating booths with rectangular booth interiors face inefficiencies and high downtime during color changes due to lengthy cleaning processes, especially when a main color is used for less than 50% of the operating time, leading to costly operations.

Innovation Solution

A powder spray coating booth design featuring a suction duct arrangement with a distributor that can be connected to multiple powder separators, such as cyclone and filter systems, allowing for quick switching between different types of powder without the need for extensive cleaning or replacement of the powder separator.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a rectangular booth interior is used with a single powder separator, then the booth structure is simple and compact, but the cleaning time during color changes increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebooth structureVSAvoidcleaning time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The suction duct is divided into multiple independent duct sections (first duct section, second duct section, etc.), each connected to different powder separators. This segmentation allows selective connection of powder separators to different duct sections, enabling rapid switching between powder types without complete cleaning of the entire system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs switchable connections between duct sections and powder separators, allowing dynamic reconfiguration of the powder separation system. This dynamic capability enables the booth to adapt to different powder types (including different colors) by selectively activating specific duct sections and their associated powder separators, dramatically reducing color change downtime.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of time

If multiple powder separators are connected to different duct sections, then color change downtime is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor change downtimeVSAvoidsuction duct arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The suction duct system is designed with multiple duct sections that can each be connected to different powder separators, creating a universal system capable of handling multiple powder types simultaneously. Each duct section-powder separator combination can independently process specific powder types, making the overall system highly versatile and adaptable to frequent color changes without requiring complete system reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If a single powder separator is used for all duct sections, then the device structure is simplified, but the ability to quickly switch between different powder types is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepowder separator configurationVSAvoidpowder type switching capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The suction duct is segmented into multiple independent duct sections, each capable of being connected to its own dedicated powder separator. This segmentation allows each duct section to independently handle specific powder types, enabling rapid switching between powder colors without requiring cleaning or reconfiguration of the entire powder separation system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates switchable connections between duct sections and powder separators, providing dynamic adaptability. When changing from one powder type to another, the system can selectively activate only the necessary duct sections and their associated powder separators, dramatically improving versatility and reducing downtime compared to a single centralized powder separator configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables efficient multi-color operation with reduced downtimes by allowing the use of different powder separators, maintaining a compact footprint and unchanged installation space, thus optimizing the powder coating process.

Implementation Method 1

A small negative pressure is usually maintained in the spray coating booths during the spray coating operation, so that no powder particles escape from the spray coating booth to the outside. The negative pressure usually maintained in the spray-coating booths during the spray-coating operation also serves to suck off excess powder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

When using a cyclone system, which is made up of one or more cyclones, for example, a suction fan sucks excess powder and air from the cabin interior through the cyclone system, with the powder-air flow in the cyclone system being separated into air and powder by cyclone centrifugal forces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCyclone centrifugal forces: Cyclone Separation

Implementation Method 3

Spray coating powder is usually conveyed pneumatically to spray devices, so-called spray guns, and is sprayed onto the objects to be coated pneumatically and by means of electrostatic support

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic support: Electrostatic Deposition

Data Source

PatentEP3148709B1Powder spray coating booth
Publication Date: 2018.04.11 GEMA SWITZERLAND GMBH
  • EP3148709B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3148709B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a powder spray coating booth (1) in which objects can be coated with powder with the aid of at least one spray device (6), wherein the powder spray coating booth (1) has an exhaust channel arrangement for exhausting air and excess powder from the booth interior of the powder spray coating booth (1), and wherein the exhaust channel arrangement has an exhaust channel (9) which is arranged in the booth substructure and which is fluidically connected to the booth interior via at least one exhaust opening (8). In order to achieve that a change of powder can also be quickly carried out, the invention provides that the exhaust channel (9) is additionally fluidically connected or can be additionally fluidically connected to at least two channel sections (31, 32) which are led out of the booth substructure, via a manifold (30) arranged in the booth substructure.