A powder coating device including: a powder feeder that feeds powder onto a surface of a base material; a squeegee that is disposed to form a gap with respect to the base material and has a surface in contact with the powder fed onto the surface of the base material, the squeegee being configured to adjust a thickness of a powder layer composed of the powder fed onto the surface of the base material by the powder feeder and move relative to the base material in a state where an inclination angle of the surface of the squeegee with respect to a normal direction of the surface of the base material is changeable; a powder inclination angle detector that detects an angle between a surface of the powder layer and the base material; anda first controller that adjusts the inclination angle of the surface of the squeegee in contact with the powder based on the inclination angle of the powder layer detected by the powder inclination angle detector.

There is disclosed a method of printing onto the surface of a substrate, which method comprises i) coating a donor surface (12) with a monolayer of particles, ii) treating the substrate surface (80) to render at least selected regions tacky, and iii) contacting the substrate surface with the donor surface to cause particles to transfer from the donor surface only to the tacky regions of the substrate surface. After printing on a substrate (20), the donor surface (12) returns to the coating station (14) where the continuity of the monolayer is restored by recovering with fresh particles the regions of the donor surface exposed by the transfer of particles to the substrate.

There is disclosed a method of printing onto the surface of a substrate, which method comprises i) coating a donor surface (12) with a monolayer of particles, ii) treating the substrate surface (80) to render at least selected regions tacky, and iii) contacting the substrate surface with the donor surface to cause particles to transfer from the donor surface only to the tacky regions of the substrate surface. After printing on a substrate (20), the donor surface (12) returns to the coating station (14) where the continuity of the monolayer is restored by recovering with fresh particles the regions of the donor surface exposed by the transfer of particles to the substrate.

A cyclone is disclosed that includes an enclosure that encloses at least a portion of the cyclone. The enclosure delimits an enclosed volume between an interior surface of the enclosure and the exterior surface of the body. The enclosure retains a gas coolant or liquid coolant in thermal exchange with the enclosed exterior surface of the cyclone. A powder coating system is disclosed that includes a spray booth and a cyclone, where ambient air is added to process air that is drawn from the spray booth into the cyclone. The ambient air may be added to the process air to cool the process air to a temperature that is lower than the process air would be if ambient air were not added, and also may be used to dilute the powder overspray entrained process air.

A cyclone is disclosed that includes an enclosure that encloses at least a portion of the cyclone. The enclosure delimits an enclosed volume between an interior surface of the enclosure and the exterior surface of the body. The enclosure retains a gas coolant or liquid coolant in thermal exchange with the enclosed exterior surface of the cyclone. A powder coating system is disclosed that includes a spray booth and a cyclone, where ambient air is added to process air that is drawn from the spray booth into the cyclone. The ambient air may be added to the process air to cool the process air to a temperature that is lower than the process air would be if ambient air were not added, and also may be used to dilute the powder overspray entrained process air.

An apparatus for coating a donor surface that is movable relative to the apparatus with a layer of thermoplastic particles, the particles adhering more strongly to the surface than to one another. The apparatus comprises an application device to apply to the donor surface a fluid stream within which the particles are suspended, a housing surrounds the application device forming an interior plenum for confining the fluid stream, the housing prevents egress of particles from a sealing gap defined between the rim of the housing and the surface to be coated, and a suction source connected to the housing to extract from the plenum excess fluid and particles. In operation, the suction source extracts substantially all particles that are not in direct contact with the donor surface, leaving substantially a single particle layer adhering to the donor surface upon exiting the apparatus.

An apparatus for coating a donor surface that is movable relative to the apparatus with a layer of thermoplastic particles, the particles adhering more strongly to the surface than to one another. The apparatus comprises an application device to apply to the donor surface a fluid stream within which the particles are suspended, a housing surrounds the application device forming an interior plenum for confining the fluid stream, the housing prevents egress of particles from a sealing gap defined between the rim of the housing and the surface to be coated, and a suction source connected to the housing to extract from the plenum excess fluid and particles. In operation, the suction source extracts substantially all particles that are not in direct contact with the donor surface, leaving substantially a single particle layer adhering to the donor surface upon exiting the apparatus.

A multicolor powder center is disclosed for supplying at least one powder spraying device with different types of coating powder as required. The multicolor powder center has a first powder container for receiving a first type of coating powder, at least one second powder container for receiving a second type of coating powder, and at least one pump unit comprising at least one powder pump. The pressure side of the at least one powder pump is fluidically connected or can be fluidically connected to the powder inlet of a powder spraying device. The at least one pump unit and/or the powder container can be moved relative to each other such that the suction side of the at least one powder pump is fluidically connected or can be fluidically connected either to the interior of the first powder container or the interior of the at least one second powder container as required.

A spray coating machine and process accommodates coating pans of various sizes and simplifies cleaning after particulate material in the pan is coated. A selected pan is supported on a trolley carried by a wheeled cart. After the cart is positioned adjacent the coating machine, the trolley and pan are extended into the machine, and then the pan lifted for support by a rotatable drive shaft and castors. The trolley is then removed from the machine, and the door is closed so that the coating process can commence. When coating is complete, the door is opened, and the trolley extended into the machine under the pan and raised for removal of the castors. Then, the trolley and pan are withdrawn from the machine. The trolley does not need cleaning after spraying, since the trolley is outside the machine during spraying of the coating solution.

A spray coating machine and process accommodates coating pans of various sizes and simplifies cleaning after particulate material in the pan is coated. A selected pan is supported on a trolley carried by a wheeled cart. After the cart is positioned adjacent the coating machine, the trolley and pan are extended into the machine, and then the pan lifted for support by a rotatable drive shaft and castors. The trolley is then removed from the machine, and the door is closed so that the coating process can commence. When coating is complete, the door is opened, and the trolley extended into the machine under the pan and raised for removal of the castors. Then, the trolley and pan are withdrawn from the machine. The trolley does not need cleaning after spraying, since the trolley is outside the machine during spraying of the coating solution.