Apparatus for use of powder from the container

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use of a powder comprising: a container for a powder; a suction means for sucking up said powder from a surface of said powder out of said container and transporting said powder; at least one RFID chip arranged within said container, said at least one RFID chip arranged to store an individual set of parameters, which comprise setting values for said apparatus for use of powder and setting values for the subsequent work steps of said apparatus for use of powder; and, at least one antenna arranged outside said container, for reading and/or writing from or onto said at least one RFID chip, wherein only powder can be used in the apparatus which is released by a key; wherein said individual set of parameters encompasses a residual quantity of said powder in said container, wherein a scale is provided for detecting during an emptying process said residual quantity of said powder in said container in said apparatus and for writing said residual quantity of said powder on said RFID chip.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said key is assigned to each type of said at least one RFID chip can be read, written and updated via said at least one antenna.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said container stands on a scale and said at least one antenna is integrated in said scale.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one RFID chip is attached to a bottom of said container.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one RFID chip is attached to a wall of said container.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of RFID chip is arranged evenly distributed in said powder.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said individual set of parameters are batch and manufacturer verifications for said powder and include a filling amount of said powder in said container.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said individual set of parameters includes a material characterization of said powder in said container.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus for use of said powder is an apparatus for coating a substrate.

10. An apparatus for use of a powder comprising: a container for a powder; a suction means for sucking up said powder from a surface of said powder out of said container and transporting said powder; at least one RFID chip arranged within said container; an adjusting element, which positions said suction means relative to said surface of said powder in said container on the basis of data present on said at least one RFID chip in such a way that a required amount of powder per unit of time for use of said powder is adjustable automatically; and, at least one antenna arranged outside said container, for reading and/or writing from or onto said at least one RFID chip, wherein only powder can be used in the apparatus which is released by a key.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an apparatus for forwarding powder, wherein the apparatus shown here is used to coat a substrate with powder and the fine-grained powder is conveyed by the container to the substrate;

(3) FIG. 2 is an embodiment of the container according to the invention wherein the RFID chip is attached to the bottom of the container;

(4) FIG. 3 is a further embodiment of the container according to the invention wherein the RFID chip is attached to a wall of the container;

(5) FIG. 4 is a further embodiment of the container according to the invention wherein a plurality of RFID chips is evenly distributed in the powder;

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a portion of the apparatus for using powder, wherein here the apparatus is an apparatus for coating and the container stands on a pair of scales, which has an antenna assigned to it or in which an antenna is integrated; and,

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a block diagram of the method according to the invention for which the respective data is assigned to an RFID chip in order to characterize the powder which is in the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred aspects, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects.

(9) Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and, as such, may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the appended claims.

(10) Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described.

(11) FIG. 1 shows apparatus 200 for coating using fine-grained, non-flowable powder 1 with particle sizes of 0.01 m to 100 m. Powder 1 is stored in container 2. Powder 1 in container 2 forms surface 3 from which powder 1 can be removed from container 2 using suction means 6. Suction means 6 can be moved using multi-axis system 41 in X direction X, Y direction Y and Z direction Z in order to suck up the powder from whole surface 3. Pressure difference p is formed between first working space 51 and second working space 52. Based on pressure difference p it is possible that powder 1 is transported out of container 2 to surface 35 of substrate 36 which is located on second working space 52.

(12) One option for adjusting pressure difference p between surface 3 of powder 1 and surface 3 of substrate 35 or between first working space 51 and second working space 52 is offered by membrane pump 12. In this case, membrane pump 12 is connected to suction side 13 with suction means 6. Pressure line 16 is attached to pressure side 15 of membrane pump 12, which pressure line is connected with beam generator 31 for generating a focused plasma beam 32 through arc discharge. Plasma beam 32 from beam generator 31 is used to transport powder 1 by means of nozzle 33 in the area of its outlet 34 into the feed area. The finely distributed powder 1 is separated out by plasma beam 32 onto surface 35 of substrate 36 as coating 37. Beam generator 31 has inner rod-shaped electrode 38 to generate plasma beam 32 and sheathed electrode 39 surrounding this, insulated from inner rod-shaped electrode 38, which has working gas 40 flowing through it from the opening opposite nozzle 33.

(13) FIG. 2 shows a schematic embodiment of container 2 for powder 1, which is used with the current invention. RFID chip 20 is provided for in or on floor 4 inside container 2. Powder 1 is filled into container 2 and thus covers RFID chip 20 attached to floor 4 of container 2. Here, RFID chip 20 can be directly glued to or laid directly on floor 4. It is also possible for RFID chip 20 to be fitted with a cover (protective cover; not shown) before the powder 1 is filled in.

(14) FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of container 2. In this case, RFID chip 20 is mounted on wall 5 of container 2. It is also possible, in this case, as already mentioned in the description to FIG. 2, that RFID chip 20 is additionally fitted with a protective cover.

(15) FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of container 2. Here, powder 1 is already mixed with a plurality of RFID chips 20 before it is filled into container 2. Plurality of RFID chips 20 is here essentially arranged evenly distributed within powder 1. Therefore, RFID chips 20 swim freely in powder 1 present in container 2.

(16) FIG. 5 shows a schematic arrangement of container 2 with powder 1 within apparatus 200 for coating substrate 36. Apparatus 200 for coating substrate 36 has pair of scales 42 on which container 2 stands. As already mentioned in the description to FIGS. 2 to 4, there is at least one RFID chip 20 provided in container 2. Antenna 10 is assigned to container 2, which is standing on pair of scales 42. Here, antenna 10 can be integrated into pair of scales 42. One further option is that antenna 10 surrounds container 2 while the latter sits on the pair of scales 42. Both possible embodiments are represented in FIG. 5. Through continuous weighing of mass M of powder 1 in container 2 during sucking up of powder 1, the current mass M of powder 1 in container 2 can thus be determined. The data so obtained are passed on to electronic unit 43. Operational amplifier 26 is provided between pair of scales 42 and electronic unit 43 in order to obtain the most accurate measurement data with the pair of scales 42 with respect to mass M of powder 1 in container 2. For the case where the coating process with powder 1 of a particular type is ended, setting up of apparatus 200 can therefore be undertaken for renewed use of this opened packing unit of powder 1 using the data which is stored in electronic unit 43 and written on RFID chip 20 for renewed use of powder 1 of said certain type for coating purposes. It is therefore, for example, possible that the suction means is moved in Z direction Z in such a way that the suction means reaches an appropriate distance for an appropriate immersion depth to be achieved in surface 3 of powder 1. It is therefore possible to approach apparatus 200 automatically so that all parameters required for the coating are set up. Furthermore, the data stored on RFID chip can be used to again to set up the conveying rate of powder 1 out of container 2. The setting-up of apparatus 200 can be simplified considerably for different types of powder 1. By means of antenna 10, the data are read out from RFID chip 20 and passed on to electronic unit 43, which subsequently undertakes the respective settings of apparatus 200 for coating substrate 36.

(17) FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of the method for marking of container 2 for powder 1. There is initially at least one RFID chip 20 assigned to each container 2, which is suitable for receiving powder 1. Powder 1 is made available by various manufacturers in the widest possible range of powder types. Powder 1 is passed on to distributors 30 who subsequently fill powder 1 into different containers 2. Here, one should note that container 2 is possibly already fitted with RFID chip 20, wherein RFID chip 20 is always provided inside container 2. It is also possible to mix a plurality of RFID chips 20 with powder 1 and to pour the mixture of powder 1 and RFID chip 20 into container 2. Distributors 30 call up key 21 from manufacturer 100 for apparatus 200 for use of powder 1 or apparatus 200 for coating substrate 36.

(18) The limitation in the following description of apparatus 200 for coating substrate 36 is not to be considered as a limitation of the invention. Apparatus 200 for use of powder 1 can be a general metering installation, a weighing system, a filling installation, a mixing installation etc. There is therefore an extra key 21 assigned for every type of powder 1. Using key 21, data available on RFID chip 20 in container 2 are read, written and updated with an individual set of parameters via antenna 10 arranged outside container 2. RFID chip 20 activated by distributor 30 by means of key 21 gets in container 2 to apparatus 200 for coating substrate 36. Apparatuses 200 for coating a substrate are usually installed at the premises of an appropriate installation operator who applies a coating to the broadest range of substrates 36. The pair of scales 42 of apparatus 200 for coating is also a quality assurance system so that, for coating, only powder 1 which was released by the prescribed key 21 can be used with apparatus 200. To this effect, as mentioned above, pair of scales 42 is fitted with antenna 10. Antenna 10 can be designed as a transmitter and/or a receiver.

(19) It is also possible, using antenna 10 during emptying of powder 1 from container 2, to read, to write and to update an individual set of parameters on RFID chip 20. The set of parameters which are stored on RFID chip 20 can, for example, be setting values of apparatus 200 for coating. The setting values can also be used for the subsequent work steps for apparatus 200 for coating. The set of parameters also comprises batch and manufacturer verifications for powder 1. It is necessary, in case there are any problems arising during the coating process, that proof is furnished in a simple way that only powder 1 specified by manufacturer 100 was used for apparatus 200 for the coating operation. If this is not the case, then the company operating an apparatus for coating used a non-specified powder 1 or a distributor 30 filled in a non-specified powder 1. One further option for a set of parameters is the material characterization of powder 1. Material characterization includes, for example, the distribution of the individual particle sizes in powder 1, the density, the flowing characteristics, the electrical conductivity and the chemical composition of powder 1, etc.

(20) It is also possible, as already mentioned in the description to FIG. 5, to detect a residual quantity of powder 1 in container 2. The residual quantity of powder 1 accrues from the emptying process in apparatus 200 for coating. The residual quantity present in the container can therefore be written onto RFID chip 20. The residual quantity is therefore an indicator of the location of surface 3 of powder 1 in container 2. To reuse container 2 with apparatus 200 for coating, apparatus 200 for coating can be set up in a simple manner by using the data available on RFID chip 20. Setting up of apparatus 200 can here take place completely automatically, wherein the suction means is moved in Z direction Z in such a way that it is located at a defined distance from, or at a defined immersion depth in, surface 3 of powder 1. It is therefore possible that, without any influence from a user of apparatus 200 for coating, change between the different, and to some extent applied quantities of powder, is possible in the individual containers.

(21) Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. It also is understood that the foregoing description is illustrative of the present invention and should not be considered as limiting. Therefore, other embodiments of the present invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(22) 1 Powder 2 Container 3 Surface of the powder 4 Bottom 5 Wall 6 Suction means 10 Antenna 12 Membrane pump 13 Suction side 15 Pressure side 16 Pressure line 17 Plasma coating apparatus 20 RFID chip 21 Key 23 Arrangement 26 Operational amplifier 27 Segment 28 Cable 30 Distributor 31 Beam generator 32 Plasma beam 33 Nozzle 34 Outlet 35 Surface 36 Substrate 37 Coating 38 Rod-shaped electrode 40 Working gas 41 Multi-axis system 42 Balance 43 Electronics 51 First working space 52 Second working space 100 Manufacturer 200 Apparatus for use M4 Mass of the powder p Pressure difference X x direction Y y direction Z z direction