Monitoring system and method for electrostatic powder painting industry

摘要

A system and method for monitoring an electrostatic powder painting process having a conveyor line adaptable for transporting articles to be electrostatically powder painted sequentially through a plurality of zones in the process. For monitoring the usage of powder paint particles, or “powder”, applied to the articles, the system and method sense a parameter associated with the amount of, or weight of, the powder in the powder delivery apparatus and displays it in real time as a powder-weight function over a period of time. For monitoring the operation of the conveyor line transporting the articles, the system and method sense the conveyor line speed and displays it in real time as a line-speed function over a period of time. For monitoring the precleaning-surface activation of the articles, the system and method sense the pH of the cleaning-surface activation solution and displays it in real time as a pH function over a period of time. For monitoring the curing of the painted articles, the system and method sense the curing temperature and displays it in real time as a temperature function over a period of time. Both short and long term periods of timer eg. 1 hr. and 12 hrs., are displayed by a single computer-monitor unit if displays are viewed sequentially, or by multiple units if displays are viewed simultaneously. The system and method allow the business owner to keep instantaneous track of the operational part of the painting process without being physically present at the conveyor line at all times or most of the time thereby freeing the business owner's time for other aspects of the business.