Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20040081748?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2014-09-20 15:02:49
Document Index: 614119554

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 32', 'art 32', 'art 32', 'art 32', 'arts 34', 'art 37']

Patent US20040081748 - Vehicle used to deposit an agent on the article is reclaimed for reuse in ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsA system and method of coating articles with the method comprising directing a plurality of articles into an enclosure; applying a vehicle carrying a first agent onto the plurality of articles; converted the vehicle into a gaseous state to leave the first agent on each the plurality of articles; collecting...http://www.google.com/patents/US20040081748?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20040081748 - Vehicle used to deposit an agent on the article is reclaimed for reuse in depositing other agents onto other partsAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS20040081748 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 10/278,280Publication dateApr 29, 2004Filing dateOct 23, 2002Priority dateOct 23, 2002Also published asEP1413361A2, EP1413361A3, US6908640, US7390364, US20050186350Publication number10278280, 278280, US 2004/0081748 A1, US 2004/081748 A1, US 20040081748 A1, US 20040081748A1, US 2004081748 A1, US 2004081748A1, US-A1-20040081748, US-A1-2004081748, US2004/0081748A1, US2004/081748A1, US20040081748 A1, US20040081748A1, US2004081748 A1, US2004081748A1InventorsRobert Ratte, David ZinschlagOriginal AssigneeRatte Robert W., Zinschlag David P.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManClassifications (20), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetVehicle used to deposit an agent on the article is reclaimed for reuse in depositing other agents onto other partsUS 20040081748 A1Abstract A system and method of coating articles with the method comprising directing a plurality of articles into an enclosure; applying a vehicle carrying a first agent onto the plurality of articles; converted the vehicle into a gaseous state to leave the first agent on each the plurality of articles; collecting the vehicle in the gaseous state; converting the vehicle in the gaseous state back into a reclaimed state to enable one to add a further agent to the reclaimed vehicle so that one can apply the reclaimed vehicle and a further agent onto a further set of articles. Images(2) Claims(28)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008]FIG. 1 is a schematic of the system for coating articles with recycled or reclaimed vehicle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0009] Referring to FIG. 1 reference numeral 10 generally identifies a partial schematic of the system for coating articles, such as battery parts, with a recycled or reclaimed vehicle carrying a coating agent. The system includes a first source of liquid vehicle 11, an agent 12 for mixing with the vehicle and a source of recycled liquid vehicle 13. Located in fluid communication with the vehicle and agent sources is a mixing chamber 20. Vehicle 11 flows into a mixing chamber 20 through a conduit 11 a and a control valve 15. Similarly agent 12 a flows into mixing chamber 20 through a conduit 12 a and a control valve 16 and reclaimed or recycled vehicle 13 flows into mixing chamber 20 through a conduit 13 a and a control valve 17. By controlling the valves one can draw vehicle and agent into the mixing chamber 20 where the vehicle preferably in liquid state can absorb and carry the agent so that one can apply the agent to an article such as a battery part using the vehicle as the carrier. [0010] In operation of the system for coating battery parts, typically known vehicles or solvents such as trichloylethene, perchloroethylene, toluene or xylene can be used since they do not interfere with the lead in the battery parts. Agents which are typically used to coat battery parts are materials such as wood resin or other commercial available materials one which is known as Oppanol, which is sold by BASF AG of Ludwigshafen Germany, chlorinated polefin, titantiaum dioxide or any other battery coating adhesive. The agents are typically used to enhance the sealing of the battery part to the container to thereby prevent leakage of electrolyte from the finished battery. In the preferred embodiment of coating battery parts evaporation temperatures of the vehicle are limited in order to prevent alteration of the battery part as well as the trichloroethylene which is the preferred vehicle to carry one or more of the agents that are applied to the battery part. [0011] In start up operation of the system the vehicle 11 and agent are directed through valves 15 and 16 into mixing chamber 20 where the vehicle and agent are mixed to obtain a liquid vehicle carrying the agent to be applied to the part. [0012] Located proximate the mixing chamber 20 is a work station 30 where parts are coated with the agent 12. Work station 30 includes a conveyor 31 for carrying parts, such as battery parts, through the work station with the work station containing three stages, a first heating stage 30 a, a second vehicle and agent application stage 30 b and a third vehicle evaporation stage 30 c. Located on conveyor 31 are a plurality of battery parts 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37. Battery part 32 is located in the first stage of the work station 30. A heat source 39 in the first stage provides heat for elevating the temperature of the battery part 32. The temperature of the battery part is elevated above room temperature to enhance the evaporation of vehicle from the battery part. The elevation of the temperature is determined by the type of vehicle as well as the part being coated. For example, the temperature of the battery part should not be elevated so as to produce permanent changes in the configuration of the battery part or the grain structure of the battery part. Similarly, care should be taken so that the vehicle does not get heated to a temperature where the chemical bonds of the vehicle are broken and unwanted by products are generated. If heating is maintained below chemical breakdown of the vehicle as well as breakdown down of the part the vehicle can be subsequently recovered for reuse. [0013] In operation of station 30, after the part 32 is heated the part enters the second stage, namely, the coating area where a nozzle 22 sprays liquid vehicle containing an agent onto heated parts 34, 35 and 36. Once the parts are coated, they enter the last stage 30 c of the work station where the vehicle is allowed to evaporate into an enclosure or hood that collects the evaporate. Part 37 is shown in the final stage 30 c of the work station 30 with the vaporized vehicle 28 being drawn into exhaust passage 40 by blower 41. [0014] Thus work station 30 contains three stages, a heating stage 30 a, a coating stage 30 b and a vaporizing stage 30 c. While the system is shown with use of a heating stage to accelerate the evaporation of the vehicle other methods of hastening evaporation could be used. For example, if the pressure within the work station were lower or a vacuum was drawn the liquid vehicle would evaporate quickly. An advantage of enhancing evaporation by directing the parts through a vacuum is that the vehicle that evaporates could be collected in concentrated form in the work station and subsequently condensed into liquid form without having to separate the gas in the work station from the vehicle. In most operation the work station 30 contains an air atmosphere; however, if needed the gas within the work station could be other than an air atmosphere. [0015] Once the vehicle is drawn into conduit 40 by blower 41 the gas, which is usually air, that carries the vaporized vehicle therein is directed upward into a fluidized bed 49 containing beads of charcoal 52. The charcoal beads 52 are fed into the fluidized bed through an inlet 50 and flow out of fluidized bed 49 through a discharge conduit 54. As the gas which contains the vehicle flows through the fluidized charcoal bed the charcoal particles removes the vehicle from the air allowing the cleaned air to be discharged through a vent passage 53. [0016] The charcoal particles 52, which have now collected the vehicle, are directed to a separation chamber 60 where the particles 52 are heated by a heater 56 to drive the vehicle in the charcoal into chamber 60. The vaporized vehicle 67 is then directed into duct 62 which carries the vaporized vehicle to condenser 63. As chamber 60 is maintained in a closed condition it captures the vehicle that is evaporated from the charcoal particles or beads. Once the charcoal particles have been heated to separate the vehicle there from the charcoal beads are discharge through passage 61 for reuse in collecting vehicle. [0017] In operation of the reclamation or recycle system the concentrated atmosphere of vehicle 67 in the gaseous state in chamber 60 is directed through a passage 62 into a condenser 63 which converts the vehicle in the gaseous state back into the liquid state. The condensed liquid vehicle 65 then flows into pipe 66 where a pump 67 or gravity sends the vehicle though a passage 68 into a neutralizing station 70 where the vehicle can be neutralized in the event that any acids may have formed during the vaporization of the vehicle. The reclaimed vehicle is then directed into passage 71 into recycle or reclaim vehicle container 13. [0018] Once the recycled liquid vehicle 13 begins arriving, one can shut off the source of liquid vehicle 11 by closing valve 15. One then opens valves 17 to allow the reclaimed vehicle 13 to mix with the agent 12 in the mixing chamber 20. The operation of the application of the system can now be done with the use of only recycled or reclaimed vehicle. Thus the on-the-go reclamation of the vehicle and the on-the-go mixing of the agent and vehicle provide for continuous recycling of the vehicle to permit repeated reuse of the vehicle in applying agent to the part. [0019] As described above the present invention comprises a method for coating articles such as battery parts comprising: directing a plurality of battery parts into an enclosure: spraying a vehicle carrying a first agent onto the plurality of battery parts; heating each of the plurality of battery parts until the vehicle evaporates into a gas in the enclosure to leave the agent on each of the battery parts; directing the gas carrying the vaporized vehicle through a bed of charcoal to collect the vaporized vehicle from the gas; directing the charcoal with the collected vehicle into a chamber; heating the charcoal in the chamber to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the vehicle in the charcoal into the chamber; cooling the vaporized vehicle to condense the vaporized vehicle as a liquid; collecting the liquid vehicle; and adding a further agent to the liquid vehicle; spraying the liquid vehicle and a further agent onto a further plurality of battery parts. [0020] The system 10 for recapturing vehicle used in applying coatings to battery parts includes a work station 30 for directing battery parts therethrough; an applicator, such as a nozzle 22, for applying a vehicle containing an agent to a surface of a battery part; a discharge vent for removing a vaporized vehicle from the work station 30; a work station 60 for converting the vaporized vehicle into a liquid state; and a further work station 20 comprising a mixing chamber for mixing the vaporized vehicle in the liquid state with a further agent to use the reclaimed vehicle to apply the agent to the parts. Classifications U.S. Classification427/58, 427/385.5, 427/427.4, 118/326, 118/300International ClassificationH01M2/02, B05B15/12, H01M2/30Cooperative ClassificationY10S118/07, B01D2259/40088, B05B15/1225, H01M2/30, B01D53/12, H01M2/0292, B01D2257/704, B01D2253/102, H01M2/0257European ClassificationH01M2/02E, B05B15/12F, H01M2/30Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionOct 1, 2012FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Dec 22, 2008FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Oct 23, 2002ASAssignmentOwner name: WATER GREMLIN COMPANY, MINNESOTAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:ZINSCHLAG, DAVID P.;RATTE, ROBERT W.;REEL/FRAME:013423/0979Effective date: 20021021RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google