Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Ransburg Corporation

Graco Inc.

Finishing Brands Holdings Inc.

Michael C Rodgers

Kevin L Alexander

Gene P Altenburger

Varce Eron Howe

Jerry L McPherson, Jr

Harold T Allen

Chris M Jamison

Roy Earl Young, Ii

Brian J Shull

Dennis P Stephens

D William Medlock

Matthew D Byam

Geoffrey H Michels

Gene P Altenberger

Wade H Hickam

A hand-held, electrostatically- and/or compressed gas-aided coating material dispensing device comprises a barrel and a handle extending downward from the barrel. The handle includes a module selected from modules having a number of different characteristics for coupling sources of coating material, compressed gas and/or electrical supply to the coating material dispensing device.

Hand-held coating dispenser device

Hand-held coating dispensing device

Methods and apparatus for electrostatically aided atomization and dispensing of coating material. The apparatus includes a power supply for supplying operating potential and a coating dispensing device remote from the power supply. The coating dispensing device includes an input/output (I/O) device. The I/O device includes at least one indicator for selectively indicating a commanded state of the power supply and a fault state of at least one of the power supply and the coating dispensing device. A pair of conductors couple the I/O device to the power supply. Commands are coupled from the I/O device to the power supply. Commanded state information and fault state information are coupled from the power supply to the I/O device.

In-gun power supply control

A device for dispensing coating material includes a handle and a barrel coupled to the handle and extending therefrom toward a forward end from which coating material is dispensed. A first component is provided on the dispensing device. Multiple second components each include a portion which is complementary to the first component. At least one of the multiple second components comprises a tool for use in conjunction with the operation of the dispensing device.

Material dispensing apparatus

A valve for controlling the flow of a gas or mixture of gases through a passageway in a coating material dispensing device includes first and second valve portions. The first valve portion is adjustable with respect to the second valve portion selectively to adjust the flow through the passageway. One of the first and second valve portions includes a first engagement member and the other of the first and second valve portions includes a second engagement member. Engagement of the first and second engagement members indicates the relative orientation of the first and second valve portions.

Indexing valve

A retaining ring for a coating material dispenser including a nozzle for the discharge of coating material and a cap having a plurality of orifices arrayed in a spatial orientation with respect to the nozzle to supply a flow of gas or a mixture of gases to aid in dispensing of the coating material from the nozzle. The retaining ring is adapted for retaining the cap on the coating material dispenser with the plurality of orifices in the spatial orientation. The retaining ring includes first and second members. The second member is adapted for coupling to the coating material dispenser. The first member includes a first torque limiting driving member. The second member includes a second torque limiting driven member for engaging the first torque limiting driving member to limit the torque which the second member can apply to the coating material dispenser in response to manipulation of the first member.

Ratcheting retaining ring

Coating material dispensing device

A grip cover is provided for fitting over the hand grip of a coating dispensing device for dispensing coating material. The grip cover includes material for cushioning a hand of an operator using the coating dispensing device.

Grip cover for coating dispensing device hand grip

A seal includes a first seal retainer, a seal holder and a second seal retainer. A somewhat cup-shaped recess of the first seal retainer opens in a first direction of motion of a movable member against which the seal is to seal. The seal holder includes a first somewhat cuplike portion adjacent to the first seal retainer and a second somewhat cuplike portion more remote from the first seal retainer. The first somewhat cuplike portion opens in a second direction of motion opposite the first. The second somewhat cuplike portion opens in the first direction. The second seal retainer includes a first portion closer to the seal holder and a second portion more remote from the seal holder. The second somewhat cuplike portion of the seal holder receives the first portion of the second seal retainer.

Self-adjusting cartridge seal

A system for atomizing and dispensing powder comprises a fluidized powder bed for entraining the powder fluidized in a bearing air stream, a dispenser, and a motor for rotating the dispenser. The dispenser has a somewhat bell-shaped interior. The motor has an output shaft having a first passageway extending lengthwise thereof. A feed tube extends through the first passageway. The fluidized powder is fed to an end of the feed tube passageway remote from the dispenser to be supplied through the feed tube to the interior as the motor rotates the dispenser. A diffuser is mounted within the interior. A discharge slot is defined between the dispenser and an edge of the diffuser. The feed tube is mounted so that it does not rotate with the output shaft. The diffuser includes a back side facing the interior and bounded by the edge. The back side includes a generally part-spherical concavity into which the fluidized powder is directed from the feed tube.

Rotary powder applicator

A robot is provided for manipulating an atomizing device. The robot has an arm having a proximal end for coupling to a robot controller and a distal end for supporting the atomizing device. The atomizing device is coupled to the source of fluid to be atomized. The coupling includes a first flexible conduit having a first end coupled to the source of fluid and a rotary fluid coupler for coupling a second end of the first flexible conduit to the atomizing device.

Swivel fluid fitting

Easily replaceable pressure reducers are located at the front of the spray gun behind the air and fluid nozzles. These reducers are calibrated and marked for use with a particular air/fluid nozzle combination and maintain .ltoreq.10 psig exit air pressure. If the air/fluid nozzle combination is changed, the pressure reducers matched to the new combination are installed at the same time, illustratively using a screwdriver. By designing the air/fluid nozzle combination and pressure reducer as matched sets, the spray gun can always inexpensively be kept in compliance with any requirements under which an HVLP device must operate. 'Fan-' or shaping-compressed air driven from the same compressed air which supplies the nozzle air is supplied through an additional pressure reducer valve to reduce its pressure below that of the nozzle air. The fan air reducer employs a drilled orifice of a calculated diameter. The atomizing air reducer is of a needle type that utilizes a controlling outside diameter.

Electrostatic high voltage, low pressure paint spray gun

A color changer comprises a manifold assembly including first and second fluid outlet passages for supplying coating material to first and second devices, respectively, a coating material circulation line extending through the manifold assembly, and valves for selectively coupling the coating material circulation line to the fluid outlet passages for separately controlling flow of coating material from the circulation line to the first and second outlet passages. The valves are coupled to the manifold assembly. The valves are arranged in pairs, one valve of each pair disposed across a respective coating material outlet passage directly opposite the other valve of its respective pair. The manifold assembly comprises a plurality of segments which are joined together to form the manifold assembly. At least a portion of each coating material circulation line is provided by a respective segment and the valves are removably attached to the segments to permit removal and replacement of a valve without disconnection of a respective coating material circulation line.

Modular plastic color changer

A rotary atomizer includes a passageway extending between, and coupling, the coating material cup and the interior of the atomizer, from an edge of which atomization occurs. The passageway initiates in the paint cup at a selected non-zero radius and terminates in the interior radially inwardly from the preselected radius. The passageway is angled both in the radial direction and tangentially. The tangential inclination is in a direction opposite the direction of revolution of the rotary atomizer.

Growing community of inventors

Montpelier, OH, United States of America

Michael C Rodgers