Abstract:
A mounting system for a spray manifold having a plurality of spray modules arranged in a lateral array with support assemblies between adjacent modules. The mounting arrangement includes one or more mounting assemblies which each have a hub that is securable about one of the manifold support assemblies and a clamp comprising a pair of clamping arms that is securable about the hub by means of an appropriate fastener. The hub and clamping arms define complementary circular surfaces which permit the selected pivotal positioning of the hub and the spray manifold to which it is secured relative to the clamp and a machine mounting structure.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/061,009, filed Jun. 12, 2008, which is incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Spray gun manifold assemblies that include a plurality of laterally spaced spray guns supported in a row for discharging an elongated spray pattern are known. One application for such manifolds is coating machines for use in coating food and pharmaceutical products. In such applications, a particular coating machine can be used to coat products having a variety of different shapes and sizes. The number of products that must be coated can also vary. Based on the size, shape or number of products being coated, it may be desirable to adjust the positioning of the spray gun manifold in order to ensure that the products are properly coated and to minimize wasteful overspray that does not contact the products being coated. While some spray gun manifolds are mounted in such a manner that their position can be adjusted, their adjustability can be limited to a narrow range. Additionally, the known mounting arrangements are not particularly adaptable to different applications and products. Another drawback with the known mounting arrangements is that they are very difficult to clean. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary spray gun manifold having a mounting assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a partially exploded perspective view of the clamp and hub assembly of the mounting assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the hub of the mounting assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the clamp and arm of the mounting assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the mounting bracket of the mounting assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the mounting bracket for the mounting assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now more particularly to  FIG. 1  of the drawings there is shown an illustrative embodiment of a spray gun manifold  10  having a mounting assembly  16  according to the present invention. The manifold  10  has a modular configuration that includes a plurality of spray gun modules  12  each of which includes a rectangular block-shaped body, a spray nozzle assembly supported at one end of the module body, and an actuator supported at the opposite end of the module body. The basic structure and mode of operation of the spray gun modules  12  are known in the art, for example, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,010 assigned to the same assignee of the present application, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The overall structure and mode of operation of the spray gun modules  12  should be understood to be illustrative of only one example of spray device with which the present invention may be used. The present invention will be described in connection with a coating machine such as used to apply coatings to pharmaceutical and food products. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to use in such applications. 
     The spray gun modules  12  are interconnected in laterally spaced apart relation by fluid communication and support assemblies  14  interposed between adjacent spray gun modules. The support assemblies  14  in this case include a plurality of fluid conduits for supplying liquid, atomizing air, cylinder air, and control air to corresponding passages in the spray gun module bodies. In the illustrated embodiment, the support assemblies  14  comprise blocks within which the fluid conduits are embedded or extend. Preferably, the blocks are made of a relatively lightweight material such as Teflon® or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, one end of the manifold  10  is closed by an end plate  15  that could be configured with fluid return passages while the other end of the manifold includes a fluid connection flange  17  that includes a plurality of fluid connections to which respective fluid lines can be connected. Additional details regarding the construction of the manifold  10  can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,083,121, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the illustrated modular manifold  10  is only one example of spray device with which the present invention may be used. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the modular spray gun manifold  10  has an associated mounting assembly  16  that supports the manifold while allowing the position or orientation of the manifold, including the spray gun modules  12 , to be adjusted very quickly and easily across a wide range of different positions relative to the product being coated. The flexibility of the mounting assembly  16  also enables the manifold  10  to be easily adapted to different applications. Moreover, the mounting assembly  16  is easy to install in connection with both new installations and retrofits to existing applications. To this end, the illustrated mounting assembly  16  includes a clamp and hub assembly  18  for connection to one of the support assemblies  14  of the manifold  10 . The clamp and hub assembly  18 , in turn, is supported by an arm  20  that is connectable to a support structure associated with the coating machine to thereby support the manifold  10  within the coating machine. 
     In the case of the illustrated embodiment, a pair of mounting assemblies  16  are provided so as to enable the manifold  10  to be supported at two different locations. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the number and location of mounting assemblies  16  that may be required will vary between applications and will depend on, among other things, the length and weight of the manifold  10 . For instance, some applications involving particularly lengthy or heavy manifolds may require more than two mounting assemblies. Conversely, particularly short or lightweight manifolds may only require a single mounting arrangement. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to any particular number of mounting arrangements. 
     In this case, the clamp and hub assembly  18  includes a hub  22  arranged inside of a clamp  24  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 2 ), which has an annular configuration, such that the hub is rotatable relative to the clamp. Moreover, to facilitate connection of the clamp and hub assembly  18  to the manifold  10 , both have a two-piece construction. In particular, the hub  22  is divided into first and second halves  26 ,  27  that can be connected together using fasteners, in this case two bolts  28 . The clamp  24  also comprises first and second parts  30 ,  31  that in this instance are pivotably connected to each other by a hinge such that the first and second parts can swing relative to each other between open and closed positions. The two part constructions of the hub  22  and clamp  24  make it easy to disassemble the system for cleaning operations, which is a particular concern in coating operations involving pharmaceutical and food products. According to one embodiment of the invention, the hub  22  and clamp  24  are both made of stainless steel. 
     The inside surface of the clamp  24  has a generally circular configuration when in the closed position and the outside surface of the hub has a complementary circular configuration (see  FIGS. 2-4 ). The complementary geometries of the inside surface of the clamp  24  and the outside surface of the hub  22  enable the hub to be arranged on the radial inside of the clamp, i.e. with the clamp in surrounding relation to the hub. In this case, the hub  22  includes a radially outward extending rim  32  (see  FIG. 3 ) that is received in a groove  34  in the inside surface of the clamp  24  (see  FIG. 4 ). When the clamp  24  is in the closed position, this rim  32  is captured in the clamp groove  34  such that the hub  22  cannot move axially relative to the clamp  24 . However, the hub  22  is free to rotate relative to the clamp  24 , at least until the clamp is tightened, as described in greater detail below. 
     For securing the clamp  24  in the closed position, the illustrated clamp includes a swinging latch  36  (see  FIGS. 2 and 4 ). The latch  36  is pivotally connected to one of the parts of the clamp  24  and is receivable in a bracket  38  carried on the other part of the clamp. In this case, the latch  36  is threaded and carries a nut  39 . To close and secure the clamp  24 , the latch  36  is pivoted into the bracket  38  and then the nut  39  is tightened down on body of the latch and into engagement with the bracket  38 . Once the nut  39  engages the bracket  38 , further tightening of the nut draws the ends of the two parts of the clamp  24  together and tightens the clamp down on the hub  22  securing it within the clamp and locking the hub against further rotation relative to the clamp. The clamp  24  can comprise a standard, commercially available sanitary clamp which is in common usage in the pharmaceutical industry. One supplier of appropriate sanitary clamps is WCB-Flow Products of Buffalo, N.Y. 
     For facilitating connecting the clamp and hub assembly  18  to available support structures, in the illustrated embodiment, the clamp and hub assembly is attached to the end of an arm  20 . For example, in this case the second part  31  of the clamp  24  is secured to the end of the arm  20  such as by welding. The first part  30  of the clamp  24  is, in turn, pivotable relative to the second part  31  and the arm  20 . Beginning adjacent the end opposite the end where the clamp  24  is attached, the arm  20  includes a plurality of mounting holes  40 . In this case, the mounting holes  40  are arranged in a plurality of rows with each row having a pair of mounting holes  40  and with each pair being spaced a different distance from the end of the arm  20 . 
     These mounting holes  40  allow the arm  20  to be connected to a mounting bracket  42 . Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the mounting bracket  42  includes a pair of complementary threaded mounting holes  44 . Thus, the arm  20  can be connected to the mounting bracket  42  by aligning one of the pairs of the mounting holes  40  on the arm  20  with the pair of mounting holes  44  on the mounting bracket  42  and then connecting the two components with appropriate bolts  45  inserted through the aligned holes. Because the arm  20  includes a plurality of mounting holes  40 , the clamp and hub assembly  18  can be placed in a variety of different positions relative to the mounting bracket  42  by using different pairs of the plurality of mounting holes  40  provided on the arm  20  to connect to the mounting holes  44  on the mounting bracket  42 . This flexibility in the positioning of the clamp and hub assembly  18  relative to the mounting bracket  42  allows the mounting assembly  16  to be easily tailored to different applications including existing equipment where the mounting assembly is being installed as a retrofit. In order to provide additional flexibility with regard to the relative positioning of the arm  20  and mounting bracket  42 , the mounting bracket  42  could also have a plurality of mounting holes which, like those provided on the arm, would correspond to different mounting positions as shown in  FIG. 5A . 
     In this case, the mounting bracket  42  is configured to attach to a mounting structure that may already be associated with the application. For example, the mounting structure may be a rod or bar that is either already provided in the application equipment (e.g., the coating machine) or that can be installed in the equipment. To enable the connection to the mounting structure, one end of the illustrated mounting bracket  42  includes an opening  48  that corresponds in shape to the cross-sectional configuration of the mounting structure. The illustrated embodiment is intended for use with a round mounting bar, as shown in  FIG. 1 , so opening  48  in the mounting bracket  42  is generally circular with a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the mounting bar. The mounting bracket further includes a slot  49  that communicates with the opening  48  and extends to the end of the mounting bracket  42  so as to allow the bracket to flex somewhat to facilitate placement of the mounting bracket over the mounting bar. Once the mounting bracket  42  is placed over the mounting bar, the mounting bracket  42  can be tightened down on the bar using a bolt  50  (see  FIG. 1 ) that is receivable in a complementary hole  52  (see  FIG. 5 ) that extends laterally through the end of the mounting bracket across the slot  49 . When the bolt  50  is tightened, the portions of the mounting bracket  42  on opposite sides of the slot  49  are drawn towards each other so as to reduce the circumference of the opening and thereby tightening the mounting bracket  42  down on the mounting bar. 
     To attach the clamp and hub assembly  18  to the manifold  10  and in particular to one of the support assemblies  14  of the manifold, the two halves  26 ,  27  of the hub  22  are first joined around the outside surface of the support assembly  14 . To this end, when assembled, the inside surface of the hub  22  has a configuration that corresponds to the cross-sectional configuration of the support assembly  14 . In this case, the support assemblies  14  have a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration with beveled corners, accordingly the inside surface of the hub  22  has a corresponding configuration. Once the two halves  26 ,  27  of the hub  22  are assembled on the support assembly  14 , the two halves can be loosely secured together using two bolts  28  that are in respective mounting holes in the two halves of the hub  22 . The hub  22  can then be slid along the support assembly  14  until it is aligned with the clamp  24 , which typically is mounted first on the mounting bar via the arm  20  and mounting bracket  42 . When in the proper position, the two mounting bolts  28  for the hub  22  can be tightened down to lock the hub in position on the support assembly  14 . The manifold  10  and hub  22  are then inserted into the clamp  24  with the rim  32  of the hub received in the groove  34  in the inside surface of the clamp and the clamp is then closed. These steps can be used for both of the mounting assemblies  16  included in the illustrated embodiment. 
     Before the clamp latches  36  are tightened down, the manifold  10  can be rotated about its longitudinal axis until the spray gun modules  12  are discharging in the desired direction. As noted above, this rotation is possible because the hub  22  is rotatable relative to the clamp  24 . Once the manifold  10 , and in particular the spray gun modules  12 , are in the desired orientation, the latches  36  can be tightened down so as to secure the hubs  22 , and with it the manifold  10 , in position. If an operator wants to later change the angular orientation of the spray modules  14 , for example, because a different product is going to be run through the coating machine, the operator only has to loosen the latches  36  of the clamps  24  so that the hubs  22  can again rotate in the clamp. The operator can then turn the manifold  10  about its longitudinal axis until the spray modules  12  are in the desired new position. Once the new position is reached, the clamps  24  can be tightened down again using the latches  36 . Similarly, when it becomes necessary to clean or otherwise service the manifold  10 , the hubs  22  just have to be released from the clamps  24  and the manifold can be removed from the mounting arrangement. 
     In this case, the hub  22  is a separate element from the clamp  24  that is assembled to the manifold support assembly  14  before the clamp is arranged over the hub. However, it is possible to provide a clamp and hub assembly  18  that has a hub that is essentially permanently connected to the clamp while the hub maintains the ability to rotate relative to the clamp. 
     The position of the manifold  10  along its longitudinal axis can also be adjusted by, for example, releasing the clamps  24  and then loosening the hubs  22  so that they can slide along the respective support assembly  14 . Once the hubs  22  are in their desired new positions they can again be tightened down and the hubs  22  and manifold  10  reinserted into the clamps  24 . Another way to adjust the position of the manifold  10  along its longitudinal axis would be loosen the mounting brackets  42  so that the whole mounting arrangement  16  can be slid along with the manifold  10  along the mounting bar. Once the manifold  10  is in the desired new position, the mounting brackets  42  can be re-tightened down on the mounting bar. As discussed above, the lateral spacing of the manifold  10  relative to the mounting bar can be adjusted by using a different pair of mounting holes  40  to attach the arm  20  to the mounting bracket  42 . 
     For facilitating rotation of the manifold  10  into the desired position, the hub and clamp assembly  18  can respectively be provided with indexing marks  54  that can be used to signify that the hub  22  and the clamp  24  are in specified relative positions. In the illustrated embodiment, the hub  22  has a plurality of indexing marks  54  on the outer circumferential surface of a flange  56  (see  FIG. 3 ) that extends axially away from the rim  32  that is captured in the groove of the clamp. The indexing marks  54  are arranged on the flange  56  and the hub  22  is configured in such a manner that the indexing marks  54  are visible when the hub  22  is arranged in the clamp  24 . The indexing marks  54  in this case correspond to ten degree increments between 0° and 90° around the circumference of the hub  22 . 
     A corresponding reference mark  58  can be provided on the clamp  24  (see  FIG. 4 ) with which the indexing marks  54  on the hub  22  can be aligned. As will be appreciated, these marks  54 ,  58  allow the hub  22  and manifold  10  to be rotated relative to the clamp  24  into precise positions quickly and easily. The marks  54 ,  58  also make it easy to accurately return the manifold  10  and hub  22  into a particular position when specific products are being coated. For instance, when coating a specific pharmaceutical product it may be desired to have manifold  10  and hub  22  at an angular position of 20° relative to the clamp  24 . Thus, when setting up the manifold  10  to process that pharmaceutical product, the operator can quickly turn the manifold  10  and hub  22  relative to the clamp  24  until the 20° index mark  54  aligns with the reference mark  58  on the clamp  24 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that indexing marks are not necessary to practice the invention and that other types of indexing systems could be used to measure the position of the manifold and hub relative to the clamp. 
     In view of the foregoing, a mounting assembly is provided that allows the position of the spray gun manifold to be adjusted quickly and easily. Moreover, the mounting assembly allows the position and orientation of the manifold to be adjusted across a wide range providing added flexibility that is useful when adapting the manifold and mounting arrangement to different applications, including existing equipment. The mounting assembly is also easily assembled and disassembled thus facilitating service and cleaning operations. 
     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
     Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.