Appeal 2007-2774
Application 10/285,632
2. Knipe
[13] Knipe generally relates to compositions, methods and apparatuses for
purging coating equipment, e.g., paint lines, paint sprayers and paint
equipment, using water-based flushing solutions (Knipe at col. 1, ll.
10-16; col. 3, ll. 1-3 and 39-41).
[14] Knipe's apparatus includes a clean-up system for regenerating and
recycling used flush (purge) solutions comprising removing paint
particulates therefrom (Knipe at col. 3, ll. 11-18; col. 5, ll. 20-28).
[15] Dirty flush solution from line 19 flows through filter bag 18 into
neutralization tank 14 where the pH of the filtered flush solution is
adjusted, if necessary (Knipe at col. 4, ll. 36-46; Fig. 1).
[16] Additional paint separation occurs as paint settles to the bottom of
neutralization tank 13 and the "settled" paint is discharged into a paint
sludge drum 15 by opening a paint sludge dump valve 14 (Knipe at
col. 5, ll. 48-52).
[17] Regenerated flush solution flows from neutralization tank 13 through
line 12 and a series of 25 micron filters 9, 10 into water line 8 which
dilutes flush solution concentrate from tank 6 to provide a fresh
supply of flush solution (Knipe at col. 5, ll. 59-65).
[18] According to Knipe, filter bag 18 must be cleaned periodically and
filters 9 and 10 must be replaced periodically (Knipe at col. 5, ll. 66-
67).
[19] Knipe is silent as to the paint content of the used flush solution being
regenerated.
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