Inventors:
Edward F. Kaczkowski - Pittsburgh PA, US
Robert A. Pyles - Bethel Park PA, US
Daniel E. Jaskiewicz - Dawson PA, US
Rick L. Archey - Pleasant Hills PA, US
George See - Venetia PA, US
Ronald J. Rathi - Pittsburgh PA, US
International Classification:
B05D 1/02, B05B 7/00
Abstract:
A process and an apparatus for treating large articles to impart color or performance enhancing additives to the article in which a treatment system which includes: (i) a coloring solution and/or a solution containing at least one performance enhancing additive, (ii) water, and (iii) a solvent such as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether and diethylene glycol is applied to the article. The apparatus is made up of (a) a spray enclosure sized to contain the article(s) to be treated; (b) dispensing means, such as nozzles, which are configured to dispense sequentially, hot solution (i), hot solution (ii) and hot water (iii) directly onto the article surface(s); (c) means for securing and transporting the article to be treated into and out of the spray enclosure (such as a trolley system); and at least three closed vessels capable of delivering enough hot saturated coloring and/or performance enhancing solution, hot dye-free rinse solution and deionized water, respectively, with sufficient pressure to form small droplets from the spray nozzles, to thoroughly cover and rinse articles contained in the enclosure.