Ball Corporation

Alltrista Corporation

Dwight B Raddatz

Joseph B Lamirand

Louis S Comadena

Donald L Brownewell

Anthony Shideler

A method and apparatus for drying and curing a coating which as been applied in liquid form to a metal substrate. The process and apparatus include a precuring or drying of the coating by rapidly heating the sheet in an electromagnetic induction coil to volatilize solvents in the coating. The precured sheets are then immediately conveyed to a conventional convection oven for further heating the sheets by baking the sheets at a temperature and for a duration in accordance with the drying and curing specifications of the coating manufacturer. The induction coil is designed to heat the sheet metal in a narrow transverse band as the sheet moves through the induction coil. The power supply to the induction circuit is designed to permit the induction coil to be turned on under varying load.

Method for drying and curing a coated metal substrate

Apparatus for coating a metal substrate and for drying and curing said

Apparatus (74) and method are provided for electrostatically depositing particles (64) of a first material onto a sheet (18) of a second material. The apparatus (74) includes an accelerating and directing passageway (96) that is formed by a deflector (82) and one end (54) of a depositing chamber (78), and an accelerating electrode (90) that is disposed in the passageway (96). The accelerating electrode (90) and the passageway (96) cooperate to accelerate particles (64) in the depositing chamber (78) and to direct them into electrostatic depositing contact with the sheet (18).

Electrostatically directing and depositing

Apparatus (74) and method are provided for electrostatically depositing particles (64) of a first material onto a sheet (18) of a second material, and for electrostatically neutralizing the residual charge. The apparatus (74) includes a particle generator (20) for aspirating particles (64) of the first material, electrodes (60a and 60b) for electrostatically charging the particles (64) to a first polarity, an electrode (75) for electrostatically recharging a portion of the particles (64) to the opposite polarity, and a depositing chamber (22) for electrostatically depositing the particles of the opposite polarity subsequent to depositing the particles of the first polarity.

Electrostatically depositing and electrostatically neutralizing

A method for electrostatically depositing a first material, such as a lubricant, onto a second material where the first material comprises particles ranging in size from smaller to larger. The method comprises depositing the smaller particles of the first material onto adjacent portions of the second material moving through a depositing chamber and progressively depositing the larger particles of the first material onto the adjacent portions of the second material generally subsequent to the first depositing step.

Method of electrostatically depositing smaller particles first

An apparatus and method are disclosed for detecting voids in metal strip that are otherwise invisible through the use of X-ray radiation. The apparatus and method provide continuous and automatic inspection of sheet metal for localized voids through the continuous analysis of an electrical signal for departures from a norm, corresponding to homogeneousness, that represents such voids.

Growing community of inventors

Woodridge, IL, United States of America

Dwight B Raddatz