Coating Powder Supply Device With Suction Line And Fluidizing Unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coating powder supply devices often fail to maintain consistently high quality of coating due to variations in powder delivery and measurement, leading to uneven coating on workpieces.

Innovation Solution

A coating powder supply device with a holder for the powder feeder that is not weighed by scales, a controller to evaluate measuring signals for powder quantity, a suction line to remove air from the storage container, and a fluidizing unit to improve powder flow, ensuring consistent powder delivery and quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the powder feeder is weighed by the scales to measure powder quantity, then the measurement system is simple, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to disturbances from powder flow and air currents

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepowder quantity measurement precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the powder feeder from the weighing system by placing it on a separate holder that is not weighed by the scales. Only the powder storage container is weighed, separating the measurement function from the powder delivery mechanism. This eliminates measurement disturbances caused by powder flow and air currents in the feeder while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is segmented into distinct functional components: the powder storage container (weighed), the holder (stationary support), and the powder feeder (not weighed). This segmentation allows the weighing function to focus solely on powder quantity in the storage container, improving measurement precision while keeping the device structure manageable through clear functional separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If air is not removed from the powder storage container, then the device structure is simple, but the powder delivery uniformity deteriorates due to air pockets and inconsistent flow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepowder delivery uniformityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The suction line is configured to remove air from the powder storage container before powder feeding begins. This preliminary action of air removal prepares the system for consistent powder flow by eliminating air pockets that would otherwise cause delivery variations. The suction line connects to the bottom of the container to efficiently extract air without adding significant structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If a fluidizing unit is not used, then the device structure is simpler, but the powder flow consistency deteriorates leading to uneven coating quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating quality consistencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fluidizing unit uses pneumatic principles to introduce air through a fluidizing plate at the bottom of the powder storage container. This pneumatic action fluidizes the powder, ensuring consistent and uniform powder flow to the feeder. The unit is integrated into the container structure with minimal additional components, achieving improved coating quality consistency without substantially increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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

The solution ensures a consistent and high-quality coating by maintaining precise powder quantity control and uniform delivery, enhancing the uniformity of the coating process.

Implementation Method 1

the coating powder supply device according to the invention comprises a suction line to suck air out of the powder storage container

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

the powder storage container has a fluidizing unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluidisation: Fluidisation

Data Source

PatentEP2218514B1Coating powder supply device
Publication Date: 2017.04.26 J WAGNER AG
  • EP2218514B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2218514B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2218514B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The apparatus has powder conveyors (15, 18) e.g. compressed-air-operated injector, conveying powder (4) out of a powder-storage container (2), and a set of scales (8) weighing the powder located in the powder-storage container. The scales are arranged beneath the powder-storage container. A lifting arrangement moves the powder conveyors upward and downward, where the powder conveyors are provided with intake pipes (14, 17). A control unit (24) evaluates a measuring signal (S8) of the set of scales to determine the quantity of powder in the powder-storage container. Independent claims are also included for the following : (1) a powder-coating installation comprising a powder-storage container for providing powder for a coating-powder-supply apparatus (2) a method for operating a coating-powder-supply apparatus (3) a method for operating a powder-coating installation.