Patent ID: 6887314

Claim:
A system for manufacturing a coated article, comprising: a) a chamber for electrostatically applying a thermoset powder coating to a substrate; b) a first oven operably associated with said chamber, said first oven operated for heating the substrate and thereby the powder to a first temperature sufficient to melt the powder, permit degassing, and effect cross-linking conversion of the powder at a first rate; c) a second oven downstream and spaced from the first oven, the second oven operated for heating the substrate to a second temperature higher than the first temperature in order to effect cross-linking conversion of the powder at a second rate that is faster than the first rate to achieve curing, the second oven is operated at a temperature for causing a cross linking percentage of the thermoset coating to rise at a rate of at least about 35 percentage points during a period of about 0.05 minutes; d) a space between said first and second ovens sufficient to permit the powder melted in said first oven to be degassed prior to entering said second oven; and e) a quench station downstream of said second oven for quenching the coated article.