RU2508169C1 - Semiautomatic device for electric flocculation - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: process engineering.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to application of protective, decorative, heat-insulation and other "smooth" coatings on various hollow articles, mainly, of ceramic and glass. Proposed device comprises electrodes arranged coaxially relative to each other to generate electrostatic field. One of them represent a hollow current conducting cylinder arranged concentrically to outer case to make therewith a closed tube space. Second replaceable variable-configuration electrode allows varying electrostatic field gradient vector geometric shape in compliance with configuration of flocculated article. Device comprises also a turbine composed by directed-blow blower to create turbulent airflow in closed volume to cause recovery of surplus flocculant in combination of coaxial arrangement of electrodes. Besides, comprises proportioning device composed of a baffle at loading bin outlet driven by program-and-parameter-controlled vibrator forced in operation at flocculant concentration drop to keep up constant its concentration in time irrespective of its consumption per unit time.

EFFECT: higher flocculation quality, decreased losses of flocculant, automated process.

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Description

The invention relates to the field of applying protective, decorative, thermal insulation and other "velvet" coatings to various, mainly glass and ceramic hollow products.

As a starting material, a flock is used, which is particles crushed to a size of 0.5 to 1.5 mm in length of a polyamide or viscose fiber applied to the product under the influence of an electrostatic field - the electroflocation method.

Before applying flock to the product, a special glue (substrate) is previously applied to the surface of the latter, to which the flock adheres.

Apparatuses of various firms and designs, the so-called flocculators, in which the flock is applied to the product either by a jet of air (pneumatic flocculators) or under the influence of an electrostatic field (electroflocators), for example, flocculators manufactured by Maag Flockmaschinen GmbH, Germany, type ERO-Flock, EPF-2000, FK1200, or flocators manufactured by Kontur-Flock LLC, Lipetsk, Russia, types ALFP-1, UV-05, UVLM-4 and others.

From the prior art, http://www.flok.ru, http://en.maag-lok.com/content.php?id=71 it is known that all of the listed and other flocators are usually composed of:

1) a high voltage power source to create the necessary electrostatic field;

2) chambers for applying the flock itself with electrostatic field configurator electrodes installed in it;

3) flock inflating devices in the flocking chamber to increase flock “volatility” and facilitate orientation of each flock particle along the electrostatic field gradient vector and, as the final result, its correct, strictly oriented gluing to the substrate. This device, for example, FK1200-N-Flocking Cabin, is made in the form of a separate chamber, from which a flock suspended in air is supplied in the form of an air mixture with a certain flock concentration;

4) devices for dosing the amount of flock to maintain the necessary concentration of the amount of flock per unit volume of the chamber;

5) a collection device for the excess flock that didn’t get on the product and, as a rule, goes to waste due to the loss of its properties. At the same time, the waste increases the dust content of the workplace, reduces the economic indicators of the flocking process, because the cost of flock in the flocking technology itself is its main part.

 The objectives of the invention are to improve the quality of flocking, reducing flock losses, reducing environmental pollution.

The technical result of the invention is to increase the automation of the process.

The problem is solved as follows.

A device is proposed consisting of an external casing 1 (see Fig.) Made of a dielectric material, for example polyethylene, in the form of a cylinder with a diameter of up to 500 mm, the main working chamber 2, which performs the function of an electrode made in the form of a hollow metal cylinder without a bottom and concentric placed inside the housing 1 with the formation between the housing 1 and the chamber 2 of the annular space. Inside the chamber 2 is placed coaxially located with respect to the chamber 2 of the second, opposite sign, replaceable, with a variable configuration, electrode 3, mounted on the cover 4.

A hopper 9 for filling the flock is attached to the housing 1, from which the flock wakes up in the chamber 2 through a special outlet valve 6, which is a thin-walled short tube, the output end of which is closed by a shutter 7, which is actuated by opening and closing with a special vibrator 10. Vibrator 10 automatically, by the signal of the sensor 5 for determining the concentration of the flock, is included in the work in accordance with a given program when the concentration of the flock in the chamber 2 and in the annulus are reduced. Thus, from the hopper 9, the flock is automatically added to the unit dosed directly in the process of electroflocating, thereby ensuring the optimal concentration of the flock automatically continuously in time. A closed turbulent air flow in the chamber 2 and the annular space is created by a special turbine 8 located in the lower part of the chamber 2. The turbulent flow of the flock mixture in the air of the chamber 2 ensures a uniform flock concentration in the entire flocation region, which improves the quality of the coating and ensures the recovery of the flock, returning to technological process of flock particles that did not have time to stick to the substrate.

The sensor 5 for measuring the concentration of the flock installed in the annulus represents two parallel metal grids with different potentials.

Air flow with a flock passing through the sensor grids transfers the charge of the flock from one grid to another, which, depending on the concentration of the flock in the air flow, changes the current strength in the sensor circuit, which is recorded by the parametric control system of the dispenser.

The flocking process is as follows.

A flockable product with an electrode placed inside it corresponding to the configuration of the product is mounted on the cover 4.

The lid closes, after which the process starts automatically in accordance with the specified parametric control program.

At the end of flocking, lid 4 opens, finished products are removed from the lid. Next, the cycle repeats.

Claims (1)

A semi-automatic device for electroflocation, containing electrodes that create an electrostatic field, located coaxially with respect to each other, one of them being a hollow conductive cylinder placed concentrically to the outer casing, forming the closed annular space with the latter, the second electrode is interchangeable, with a variable configuration that allows you to change the geometric shape of the gradient vector of the electrostatic field in accordance with the configuration of the flocked product; a special turbine, which is a directional fan, which creates a turbulent air flow in a closed volume, which, in combination with the coaxial arrangement of the electrodes, recovers excess flux, which provides better spraying and thereby saves the main raw materials: a metering device in the form of a shutter at the output part of the loading hopper (dispenser), driven by a program-controlled parametrically controlled vibrator, which is activated when the concentration of the flock drops and both this ensures, constant concentration of flocks in time, regardless of its flow rate per unit time.