METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PAINT INSULATION IN ELECTROSTATIC COATING

Abstract: A method and apparatus for paint insulation in electrostatic coating, wherein an insulating hollow member is grounded at its outer peripheral wall to prevent the rise in the potential at its inner wall. Consequently, drops of conductive paint such as water-base paint can be easily and continuously insulated when they fall from the upper part of the insulating hollow member.

Description: [TECHNICAL FIELD] This invention relates to process and apparatus for insulating a conductive paint in an electrostatic painting. [PRIOR ART] In a conventional electrostatic painting, an oil paint is often used for the purpose of painting efficiency. Yet, the oil paint causes air pollution. In addition, it has toxic and flammable properties, so that its use is being restricted under the fire defense law. The aqueous paint has less toxicity and less flammability. Since it is an electrically conductive paint it is necessary for the electrostatic painting to insulate completely a paint supply system while keeping constant a voltage in a paint jetting portion. According to Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 56-3108, the aqueous conductive paint is poured into a sealed, insulated chamber from its supply source. Since it drops downwardly without contacting an inner wall of the chamber, a high voltage applied to an electrode is prevented from being discharged to the paint supply source. More specifically, a cylindrical chamber having a paint inlet at its upper end and a paint outlet at its lower end comprises a plurality of insulating annular obstacles each having an opening for dropping the paint. The opening of respective annular obstacles becomes smaller and smaller in a downward direction. Further, there is mounted a dome-shaped ceiling on an uppermost annular obstacle. The dome-shaped ceiling is, on its periphery, provided with an annular aperture for regulating the flow rate of the paint, thereby it drops downwardly in a water like condition. However, the possibility increases that the paint may stick to the inner wall of the cylindrical chamber. Once it sticks to part of the inner wall, it becomes electrically conductive in a short time and sticks to a whole inner wall of the cylindrical chamber, so that a suitable electrostatic effect is not available. From document JP 51-26949 a method for the supply of water paint for electrostatic painting is known. This method is characterized in that at an intermediate position between a paint line which is at the earth potential and a paint hose which is connected to a spray gun and charged at a high voltage, paint is fed intermittently from the paint line side to the paint hose side so as to interrupt the flow of the paint and maintain an insulated state electrically. This method is realized by the aid of a relay tank which is provided between the paint line and the paint hose connected to a spray gun, thereby insulating the supply of the paint electrically from a high-voltage charged system. By this construction it is made possible to effect continuous spray. In view of the foregoing, the present inventor has made the following analysis regarding mechanism and disadvantages of the conventional apparatus and method. When the dropping paint sticks to part of the inner wall of the cylindrical chamber as a result of splattering, the insulating property of the inner wall is destroyed by a high voltage applied to the paint jetting means. The high voltage is also applied to the paint stuck to the inner wall. Then, the dropping paint is attracted to a high voltage charging area, thereby the aqueous paint is scattered due to a series of high pressure and impact. As a result, a leak current occurs on the paint stuck to a part other than the high voltage charging area. Thus, the interior of the cylindrical chamber becomes conductive, so that it becomes substantially impossible to insulate the paint. In light of the foregoing problems, this invention has been conceived. It is a main object of this invention to provide the apparatus and process for insulating an electrically conductive paint such as an aqueous paint or the like in an electrostatic painting. [DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION] This object is solved by the features of claim 1 and claim 6. The process comprises mounting a plurality of containers one above another in a vertical direction to form the insulating chamber; forming respective openings in the plurality of containers to drop the conductive paint straightforwardly; and disposing the grounding means on the outer wall of the respective containers. The apparatus for insulating a conductive paint in an electrostatic painting, comprises: a storage for storing the conductive paint; an insulating chamber for pouring and dropping thereinto the conductive paint supplied from the storage; a plurality of containers mounted one above another in a vertical direction to form the insulating chamber, each of the containers having an opening for dropping the conductive paint; and a voltage decline means mounted on an outer wall of the respective containers. The plurality of openings for dropping the conductive paint may be formed in a toothed shape on respective peripheries. The apparatus may comprise a paint dropping means disposed in a center of an uppermost container, and a diameter of respective openings is larger than an aperture of the print dropping means. Further, an opening of one of the containers disposed in the middle of the insulating chamber may be larger than the opening of the uppermost container. Further, the insulating chamber is formed in a sealed condition. According to a further advantage of the present invention, when pouring the conductive paint into the interior of the insulating chamber, it drops in an insulated condition since the paint dropping means is radially spaced from each other. Even though part of it sticks to the inner wall of the chamber and the inner wall becomes conductive due to a leak current caused by a high voltage, the outer wall of the chamber is provided with the voltage decline means including the grounding means, so that the leak current flows to the grounding means. Thus, the outer wall of the chamber maintains the insulating condition so that it may not be charged at the high voltage. The present invention enables an effective and continuous insulation of the dropping paint. [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a paint insulating apparatus in an electrostatic painting according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a block diagram in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a schematic section view of paint insulating means in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is perspective view of a paint guiding means disposed in an uppermost container of the paint insulating means. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a paint dropping portion in the paint insulating means. Fig. 6 is a front view of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a schematic sectional view of a paint insulating means according to a further embodiment of this invention. Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective views of the paint insulating means. Fig. 10 is a schematic sectional view of the paint insulating means in the further embodiment. [THE BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION] Referring to Fig. 1, a paint insulating apparatus in the electrostatic painting comprises a paint supply means 1, a paint insulating means 2 and a power source means 3 and a paint jetting means 4. The electrostatic painting is carried out through a paint jetting means 4. Paint supply means 1 comprises a paint storage 5, an agitator 6 for agitating the paint in paint storage 5 and a low pressure pump 7 for supplying the paint in storage 5 to paint insulating means 2. Low pressure pump 7 is driven by a pulse motor M, thereby the paint is supplied at a constant level. Paint insulating means 2 comprises a pair of isolators 8, each of which forms an insulating sealed hollow chamber 9 in a cylindrical shape. Chamber 9 comprises a plurality of insulating containers 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e and 9f each having a bottom. Those containers may be made of any suitable plastic material such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polycarbonate or the like, and are removably mounted one above another. The number of containers is optional. It may be five or more as proposed in Fig. 10. Respective bottom portions of containers 9a to 9f are provided with annular protruded openings 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e and 12f for passing the paint downwardly therethrough. Those openings are positioned coaxially. The diameter of respective openings 12a to 12f becomes smaller and smaller in a downward direction. As shown in Figs. 6 and 9, each opening 12 is provided with a corrugated circumference 12', but it may be provided with a regular circle as shown in Fig. 8. Further, as shown in Fig. 9, the inner wall of each container 9a-9f may be provided with a plurality of L-shaped ribs 9' or L-shaped grooves 12'. Further, electrically conductive electrodes 13a to 13f made of e.g. aluminum foil are respectively mounted in a band shape on a central part of each outer surface of respective containers 9a to 9f. Those electrodes are all grounded by way of a connecting wire, thereby forming a voltage decline means V2. The inner wall of respective containers causes a high voltage charging portion V1. The distance between adjacent electrodes is set suitably such that a high voltage may not be discharged to respective electrodes from respective joint portions of adjacent containers. Paint incoming means 10 is positioned in the midst of uppermost container 9a by way of an insulating pipe 14 connected to low pressure pump 7, thereby the paint drops downwardly through respective openings 12a to 12f. Paint incoming means 10 comprises a paint guiding means 15 and a paint dropping portion 16, both of which are made of a suitable insulating material such as polyethylene, polypropylene or the like. Paint guiding means 15 forms an elbow-shaped chamber comprising a horizontal part 15a and a vertical part 15b. Insulating pipe 14 is connected to horizontal part 15a. As shown in Fig. 4, a plurality of paint flowing channels 18 are formed radially about a top opening 17 of vertical part 15b of elbow-shaped chamber 15. The paint drops downwardly and straightforwardly from a first inclined channel 18a to a second channel 18b through a paint dropping end 16 without contacting each outer circumference of respective openings 12a to 12e of containers 9a to 9e. The width of each paint flowing channel 18 is formed suitably so as to prevent the paint from clogging. Opening 12f of lowermost container 9f forms an outlet 11 for supplying the paint to paint jetting means 4 by way of an insulating pipe. Outlet 11 is connected to a return pipe 19 for returning the paint to paint storage 5. Power source means 3 of AC 100V comprises a digital multimeter 21, a programmable controller 22, a power source 23 for applying a high voltage to paint jetting means 4, an electrostatic voltmeter 24 and an microampere meter 25. Operation of the apparatus for insulating the paint will be discussed hereinafter. First, an aqueous paint filled in paint storage 5 is agitated fully by agitator 6, and then programmable controller 22, pulse motor M and low pressure pump 7 are driven one after another to supply the paint to paint insulating means 2. Subsequently, the paint supplied to paint insulating means 2 is supplied to paint guiding means 15 of insulating sealed chamber 9, and guided to paint dropping portion 16 through top opening 17. In order to drop the paint constantly in a water like condition, paint guiding means 15 is provided with a plurality of radial channels 18 spaced evenly from each other, so it can drop straightforwardly from radial channels 18 without causing any clogging. Since the paint drops evenly keeping a certain space as shown in Fig. 4, it is in an insulated condition. However, when part of it sticks to the inner wall of insulating sealed chamber 9, the insulated condition of the inner wall is destroyed due to a high voltage applied to paint jetting means 4, and the stuck paint is also applied to the high voltage. As a result, the dropping paint is attracted to a high voltage charging area, so that the aqueous paint is scattered due to a series of high pressure and impact. Then, a leak current occurs on the part other than the high voltage charging area. The foregoing phenomenon is again repeated. Although the plurality of electrodes 13a to 13f, each of which is mounted on the outer surface of respective containers 9a to 9f are grounded independently as shown in Fig. 3. Even though the high voltage is charged to the inner wall of respective containers, it is gradually leaked as a leak current through the plurality of electrodes 13a to 13f. Due to the decline of the high voltage, clogging or splattering of paint becomes less and less, thereby a suitable insulating condition can be maintained in the interior of insulating chamber 9. At that time, the voltage is 60 KV and the leak current is about 5 to 7 microns. The containers are made of polypropylene, each of which has a thickness of 1.3 mm. The leak current is 80 microns A. Accordingly, it is possible to carry out a suitable electrostatic painting. Since the leak current is grounded, the inner wall of respective containers maintains a suitable insulating condition. In order to prevent widening of the conductive area, lower opening 12e of container 9e is smaller than opening 12d of container 9d. The paint in an insulated condition is, under the application of the high voltage, supplied constantly to paint jetting means 4 by driving high pressure pump 20. To compare the performance of the apparatus according to the present embodiment with a conventional one, the following electrostatic painting test has been conducted. The test piece was a cement block, on which surface an aqueous paint was painted under the same condition. The result is that it is possible to maintain the insulating condition of the paint according to the present embodiment continuously more for two hours, and its adhesive efficiency exceeded 90 % with a thickness of 150 to 300 micron m. On the contrary, according to the conventional apparatus, the paint was forced to stick to the inner wall of the sealed chamber in about 5 to 15 minutes after dropping, so that the painting was suspended. The following modifications may be proposed within the concept and scope of the present invention. (1) Although the foregoing insulating chamber comprises the plurality of containers mounted one above another, it may be replaced with one unit chamber in which a plurality of dropping openings are formed with an annular protrusion. (2) The shape of the insulating chamber may be square, elliptical or the like. (3) The plurality of electrodes may be integrally formed on the insulating chamber. (4) It is possible to change the insulating resistance on the inner wall of the insulating chamber. Fig. 10 shows a further embodiment of the insulating chamber, in which an inner container 9a is slidably inserted into an outer container 9b. A pair of electrodes 13oa and 13ob are mounted on an outer wall of container 9b, and another electrode 13ib is mounted on an inner wall container 9b so as to oppose to electrode 13ob. Further, an electrode 13ia is mounted thinly on an overall inner wall of container 9a. The pair of electrodes 13oa and 13ob are grounded, thereby a high voltage inside containers 9a and 9b is decreased. The paint drops at an accelerated speed from paint dropping inlet 16 into outlet 11. Even though it sticks to a lower part of the inner wall of container 9b, the high voltage is reduced in cooperation with electrodes 13ib and 13ob. Since high voltage power source 35 includes a voltage rectifying circuit, a high pressure current is smoothly guided in pulsating current to grounding means. In lieu of grounding means, a resistor or a condenser may be disposed to decline the high voltage inside insulating chamber 9. The electrodes according to this invention may be made of an aluminium evaporated material. As discussed above, the process and apparatus according to this invention prevents the conductive paint such as an aqueous paint or the like from being discharged, since the grounding means disposed outside the insulating chamber causes the decline of the high voltage.

Claims: A process for insulating a conductive paint in an electrostatic painting, comprising: pouring and dropping into an insulating chamber (9) the conductive paint supplied from a storage, the insulating chamber (9) including a plurality of annular protruded openings (12) spaced from each other, for passing the conductive paint therethrough; disposing a voltage decline means (13, V2) on an outer wall of the insulating chamber (9) to lower the voltage thereinside; and preventing the interior of the insulating chamber (9) from being charged at a high voltage. A process for insulating a conductive paint in an electrostatic painting as claimed in claim 1, in which the voltage decline means (13, V2) includes grounding means. A process for insulating a conductive paint in an electrostatic painting as claimed in claim 1, wherein said annular protruded openings (12) spaced from each other are formed in a plurality of containers (9a-9f) mounted one above another in a vertical direction in the insulating chamber (9). A process for insulating a conductive paint in an electrostatic painting as claimed in claim 1, in which an outer wall of the insulating chamber (9) is grounded on a ground. A process for insulating a conductive paint in an electrostatic painting as claimed in claim 1, in which each container (9a-9f) is provided with a bottom opening. An apparatus for insulating a conductive paint in an electrostatic painting, comprising: a storage (5) for storing the conductive paint; an insulating chamber (9) for pouring and dropping thereinto the conductive paint supplied from the storage (5); a plurality of containers (9a-9f) mounted one above another in a vertical direction to form the insulating chamber (9); a plurality of annular protruded openings (12) formed in a center of the respective containers (9a-9f) for passing the conductive paint therethrough; and a voltage decline means (13, V2) disposed on an outer wall of the insulating chamber (9). An apparatus for insulating a conductive paint in an electrostatic painting as claimed in claim 6, in which the plurality of annular openings (12) for dropping the conductive paint are formed in a tooth shape on respective peripheries. An apparatus for insulating a conductive paint in an electrostatic painting as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a paint dropping means disposed in a center of an upper part of the insulating chamber (9), a diameter of each opening of the respective containers (9a-9f) being larger than an aperture of the paint dropping means (16). An apparatus for insulating a conductive paint in an electrostatic painting as claimed in claim 6, in which an opening (12) of one of the containers (9a-9f) disposed in the middle of the insulating chamber (9) is larger than the opening (12) of the uppermost container (9a). An apparatus for insulating a conductive paint in an electrostatic painting as claimed in claim 6, in which the insulating chamber (9) is formed in a sealed condition. An apparatus for insulating a conductive paint in an electrostatic painting as claimed in claim 6, in which an outer wall of the insulating chamber (9) is grounded on a ground to form the voltage decline means (13, V2). An apparatus for insulating a conductive paint in an electrostatic painting as claimed in claim 6, in which each of the containers (9a-9f) is provided with a bottom opening.

Inventors: SASAOKA RYOSUKE, SASAOKA, RYOSUKE, SASAOKA, RYOSUKE, 140-1, OOAZA-TSUMASAKIKAISAKU
Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISYA KOTOGAWA
Application year: 1990
Main classification: B05B5
IPC codes: B05B5, B05D1