A feed center for powder coating material includes a hopper, an extraction duct, and a control valve. The hopper is in fluid communication with a fluidizing pressure source. The extraction duct is in fluid communication with at least one suction source. The control valve connects the extraction duct with an extraction port of the hopper. The control valve is operable between a first position for applying suction from the at least one suction source to the hopper, and a second position providing an exterior opening in at least one of the control valve and the first extraction duct for exhausting pressurized fluid from the hopper and/or collecting at least some of the air and powder that is exhausted from the powder.

A feed center for powder coating material includes a hopper, an extraction duct, and a control valve. The hopper is connectable in fluid communication with a fluidizing pressure source. The extraction duct is connectable in fluid communication with at least one suction source. The control valve connects the extraction duct with an extraction port of the hopper. The control valve is operable between a first position for applying suction from the at least one suction source to the hopper, and a second position providing an exterior opening in at least one of the control valve and the first extraction duct for exhausting pressurized fluid from the hopper and/or collecting at least some of the air and powder that is exhausted from the powder.

The present invention provides a method for quantitatively and stably supplying fine powder and a system for implementing the method. In this invention, in a state in which at least part of the ultrasonic vibration gushing portion is in contact with the fine powder surface of the surface layer of the fine powder stored in the fine powder storage container, the powder inlet of the feed nozzle takes in the fine powder rising from the fine powder surface onto the ultrasonic vibration gushing portion through the passage region of the ultrasonic vibration gushing portion, together with the carrier gas, by ultrasonically vibrating at least part of the ultrasonic vibration gutting portion.

A pump for use with a material sprayer includes a cylinder, a piston, a pump head, first and second check valves, and an elbow connected to the cylinder. The cylinder and the piston are coaxial with a pump axis. The pump head is configured to make a mechanical connection with the reciprocating drive mechanism so as to allow the reciprocating drive mechanism to reciprocate the piston along the pump axis. The elbow includes a first end, a second end, and an inner fluid channel. The first end is configured to make a fluid connection with the hopper. The second end is configured to be fixed with respect to the cylinder. The inner fluid channel extends from the first end to the second end. The pump head and the first end of the elbow are configured to make mechanical and fluid connections with a single linear motion of the pump.

A measuring apparatus for measuring a coating powder mass flow rate generable by compressed gas in a powder line includes a control and evaluation unit, which is configured and operable such that it can switch between an offset mode and an operating mode. In the offset mode, the control and evaluation unit ensures that a setting device applies compressed gas to the powder line and prevents the coating powder flow in the powder line, and that a pressure sensor then detects the pressure in the powder line. The control and evaluation unit interprets the detected pressure as an offset pressure value. In the operating mode, the control and evaluation unit ensures that the setting device enables the coating powder flow in the powder line, and then determines the coating powder mass flow rate flowing through the powder line on the basis of the pressure detected by the pressure sensor in the powder line, the offset pressure value and a correction value.

The invention relates to a dense phase powder pump and a method for operating a dense phase powder pump in a powder-conveying mode. In order, in a simple manner, to prevent or at least reduce powder accumulations and clogging with powder, in particular on the powder inlet side of the powder conveying chamber of the dense phase powder pump, and thus in the region of the powder inlet valves, according to the invention, during a predefined or specified time period in at least one output phase and preferably at the end time of the output phase of a powder cycle, at least one of the following conditions exists: i) the powder inlet valve of the dense phase powder pump is open; ii) the powder outlet valve of the dense phase powder pump is closed; and/or iii) the application of an overpressure to the powder conveying chamber of the dense phase powder pump is interrupted.

A container for powder, a method for marking of the containers for the powder and an apparatus for use of a powder. There is at least one RFID Chip provided in the container, wherein the RFID chip stores at least one set of parameters for material characterization of the powder in the container. A unique key is assigned to every type of powder by means of which the data in the RFID chip located in the container are readable, writeable and updateable via an antenna arranged outside the container.

A confluent system includes an internal venturi; an open hopper in gaseous communication with the internal venturi, the open hopper being configured to receive solid large particles; and a fluid bed in gaseous communication with the internal venturi. The method includes a set of coatings and composite structures formed from a portion of the solid large particles applied to workpieces by gas-supported transfer then fused together by heating that comprise large-scale variations in structure provided by the inclusion of particles that are larger in at least one dimension than conventional powder coating particles.

A powder feed unit having a powder collection unit that includes a surface covering part and a powder collect-and-load part that allow a carrier gas to enter a powder collect-and-load cavity of the powder collect-and-load part via a first passageway, and powder particles to freely fall into said cavity via a second passageway. Upon entering said cavity, the powder particles are loaded onto the carrier gas thereby reducing and ideally avoiding contact between the powder particles and interior surfaces of said cavity. The carrier gas that is loaded with the powder particles can exit said cavity via a third passageway that is fluidly connected with a tubular conveyor element. An apparatus for performing laser welding processes or thermal spraying processes that includes the powder feed unit.

A feed center for powder coating material includes a hopper, an extraction duct, and a control valve. The hopper is connectable in fluid communication with a fluidizing pressure source. The extraction duct is connectable in fluid communication with at least one suction source. The control valve connects the extraction duct with an extraction port of the hopper. The control valve is operable between a first position for applying suction from the at least one suction source to the hopper, and a second position providing an exterior opening in at least one of the control valve and the first extraction duct for exhausting pressurized fluid from the hopper and/or collecting at least some of the air and powder that is exhausted from the powder.