Coating humidification system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021402425-A1
Application number	US-202117349701-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 16, 2021
Priority date	Jun 26, 2020
Publication date	Dec 30, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Described herein is a coating system comprising an applicator head that is configured to apply a coating to a surface of a workpiece, a shroud comprising a housing and an internal cavity located inside of the housing, and a humidifying apparatus comprising an output that is fluidly coupled to the shroud, wherein the humidifying apparatus configured to introduce a quantity of humid air to the internal cavity of the shroud.

First claim

1 . A coating system comprising:
an applicator head that is configured to apply a coating to a surface of a workpiece; a shroud comprising a housing and an internal cavity located inside of the housing; and a humidifying apparatus comprising an output that is fluidly coupled to the shroud, wherein the humidifying apparatus configured to introduce a quantity of humid air to the internal cavity of the shroud.

2 . The coating system according to claim 1 , wherein the shroud can be altered between a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state the applicator head is at least partially located inside of the interval cavity and in the second state the applicator head is located outside of the internal cavity, and
wherein in the first state, the humidifying apparatus is configured to introduce a quantity of humid air to the internal cavity of the shroud that contacts an applicator nozzle on the applicator head, the application nozzle configured to apply the coating to the surface of the workpiece.

3 . (canceled)

4 . (canceled)

5 . (canceled)

6 . (canceled)

7 . The coating system according to claim 1 , wherein the coating system further comprises a support apparatus comprising a frame and a conveyor, the conveyor configured to support the workpiece and the conveyor and the applicator head are configured to move relative to each other.

8 . (canceled)

9 . (canceled)

10 . The coating system according to claim 1 , wherein the shroud comprises a top plate and a first side plate extending downward from the top plate.

11 . (canceled)

12 . The coating system according to claim 10 , wherein the first side plate comprises a first securing element and the support apparatus comprising a second securing element that is configured to interlock with the first securing element.

13 . (canceled)

14 . (canceled)

15 . (canceled)

16 . (canceled)

17 . (canceled)

18 . (canceled)

19 . The coating system according to claim 10 , wherein the shroud further comprises a second side plate and a third side plate; wherein each of the second side plate and the third side plate extend downward from the top plate, the second side plate being opposite the third side plate, and the second side plate and the third side plate orthogonal to the first side plate.

20 . The coating system according to claim 19 , wherein the first side plate extends downward a first distance from the top plate to a first bottom edge, the second side plate extends downward a second distance from the top plate to a second bottom edge, and the third side plate extends downward a third distance from the top plate to a third bottom edge, and wherein each of the second distance and the third distance is greater than the first distance.

21 . (canceled)

22 . (canceled)

23 . (canceled)

24 . A method for coating a workpiece, the method comprising:
a) supplying humid air to a coating assembly, the coating assembly comprising:
an applicator head; and
a shroud comprising an internal cavity
whereby the applicator head is at least partially disposed inside of the internal cavity and the humid air is supplied to the internal cavity of the coating assembly; b) moving the workpiece relative to the coating assembly; and c) directing a coating composition onto a surface of the workpiece using the applicator head and exposing the surface of the workpiece to the humid air.

25 . (canceled)

26 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein the humid air is gravity fed to the internal cavity of the coating assembly, and wherein the internal cavity is under a vacuum during step c).

27 . (canceled)

28 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein the coating composition has a solids content ranging from about 60 wt. % to about 90 wt. % based on the total weight of the coating composition.

29 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein the humid air has a relative humidity ranging from about 60% to about 90%.

30 . (canceled)

31 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein the humid air is fed to the internal cavity at a rate ranging from about 8 lb./hr. to about 10 lb./hr.

32 . (canceled)

33 . (canceled)

34 . (canceled)

35 . (canceled)

36 . (canceled)

37 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein the shroud comprises a baffle located in the internal cavity, and wherein during step c) the baffle redirects condensation from the humid air away from the surface of the workpiece.

38 . (canceled)

39 . (canceled)

40 . (canceled)

40 . A shroud for coating a work piece, the shroud comprising a housing and an internal cavity located inside of the housing, the housing comprising:
a top plate having an upper major surface opposite a lower major surface; a port located on the top plate and extending continuously from the upper major surface to the lower major surface of the top plate; a first side plate having a first major surface opposite a second major surface; the first side plate extending downward from the top plate; a second side plate having a first major surface opposite a second major surface; the second side plate extending downward from the top plate; a third side plate having a first major surface opposite a second major surface; the third side plate extending downward from the top plate; a baffle located within the internal cavity, wherein at least a portion of the baffle overlaps with the port in a vertical direction; and wherein each of the lower major surface of the top plate, the second major surface of the first side plate, the second major surface of the second side plate, and the second major surface of the third side plate face the internal cavity.

41 . (canceled)

42 . (canceled)

43 . The shroud according to claim 40 , wherein the first side plate extends downward a first distance from the top plate to a first bottom edge, the second side plate extends downward a second distance from the top plate to a second bottom edge, the third side plate extends downward a third distance from the top plate to a third bottom edge, wherein the second and third distance are greater than the first distance.

44 . (canceled)

45 . The shroud according to claim 40 , wherein the baffle comprises an upper major surface opposite a lower major surface, the baffle extending from a proximal edge to a distal edge.

46 . The shroud according to claim 45 , wherein the baffle comprises a cutout section that is formed into the distal edge and wherein the cutout section at least partially overlaps with the port in a vertical direction.

47 . (canceled)

48 . (canceled)

49 . (canceled)

50 . (canceled)

51 . (canceled)

52 . (canceled)

53 . (canceled)

54 . The shroud according to claim 43 , wherein the first side plate comprises an open-ended slot formed into the first bottom edge of the first side plate and wherein the open-ended slot com

Assignees

• Armstrong World Ind Inc

Inventors

• Pohl James M
• Baldwin Christine J
• Hake Jeffrey A
• Frantz William H

Classifications

• B05C9/12

  the auxiliary operation being performed after the application (B05C9/14 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05C5/0254

  Coating heads with slot-shaped outlet (B05C5/0283 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05C5/0204 Primary

  for applying liquid or other fluent material to the edges of essentially flat articles · CPC title

• B05C11/1039

  Recovery of excess liquid or other fluent material; Controlling means therefor · CPC title

• B05D3/0406

  the gas being air · CPC title