Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B5/00—Electrostatic spraying apparatus; Spraying apparatus with means for charging the spray electrically; Apparatus for spraying liquids or other fluent materials by other electric means
  • B05B5/16—Arrangements for supplying liquids or other fluent material
  • B05B5/1608—Arrangements for supplying liquids or other fluent material the liquid or other fluent material being electrically conductive
  • B05B5/1616—Arrangements for supplying liquids or other fluent material the liquid or other fluent material being electrically conductive and the arrangement comprising means for insulating a grounded material source from high voltage applied to the material
  • B05B5/1625—Arrangements for supplying liquids or other fluent material the liquid or other fluent material being electrically conductive and the arrangement comprising means for insulating a grounded material source from high voltage applied to the material the insulating means comprising an intermediate container alternately connected to the grounded material source for filling, and then disconnected and electrically insulated therefrom
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B12/00—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area
  • B05B12/14—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area for supplying a selected one of a plurality of liquids or other fluent materials or several in selected proportions to a spray apparatus, e.g. to a single spray outlet
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B13/00—Machines or plants for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces of objects or other work by spraying, not covered by groups B05B1/00 - B05B11/00
  • B05B13/02—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work
  • B05B13/04—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work the spray heads being moved during spraying operation
  • B05B13/0431—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work the spray heads being moved during spraying operation with spray heads moved by robots or articulated arms, e.g. for applying liquid or other fluent material to three-dimensional [3D] surfaces
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B15/00—Details of spraying plant or spraying apparatus not otherwise provided for; Accessories
  • B05B15/50—Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter
  • B05B15/55—Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter using cleaning fluids

Definitions

• the invention relates to a coating product spraying installation and a method of cleaning such an installation
• the invention relates to an installation for spraying coating products comprising at least one robot, a movable part of which supports at least one projector and a coating product tank connected to supply the projector.
• This installation is characterized in that the robot carries a second tank capable of being filled with cleaning product, this second tank being connected to supply the cleaning product tank with cleaning product, the projector and / or conduits connecting the tank. to the projector.
• the contents of the second reservoir can be used to clean the coating product reservoir, the projector and / or the associated conduits, at the end of a coating product projection step, that is to say that is to say before the robot has positioned its projector and its reservoir with respect to means located at a fixed station and provided for supplying it with coating products.
• the time taken for the robot to move from its projection position to its position for filling with new coating product can be used to clean the coating product tank, the projector and the associated conduits from the contents of the second tank.
• this installation incorporates one or more of the following characteristics:
• the second reservoir has an internal volume allowing it to contain a sufficient quantity of cleaning product to clean at least twice the coating product reservoir, the projector and / or the associated conduits. This aspect of the invention makes it possible to reduce the frequency of filling the second tank with respect to the filling frequency of the coating product tank.
• the second tank is mounted on a robot near the coating product tank.
• first connection means located at a fixed post in the vicinity of the robot and second connection means mounted on the robot and connected to the second tank, these first and second connection means being able to establish a connection between a circuit d cleaning product supply and the second tank.
• the second connection means are advantageously capable of being connected to the first connection means when first and second main connection means, provided respectively at a fixed station and on the robot, are connected for filling the product reservoir. coating.
• the first main connection means comprise different connectors each connected to a circuit for supplying a predetermined coating product, a first connection means for supplying the second tank being arranged in the vicinity of each. of these connectors.
• the robot carries a third tank connected to the coating product tank, to the projector and / or to conduits connecting the tank to the projector, this third tank being able to receive at least part of the cleaning residue from the coating product tank , of the above-mentioned projector and / or conduits.
• This third tank temporarily stores most of the cleaning residue. It can be provided that this third reservoir is mounted on the robot near the coating product reservoir and the second reservoir. Connection means of the third tank to a purge circuit are advantageously provided.
• the second tank and, optionally, the third tank can be piston tanks or tanks with a deformable wall.
• the invention also relates to a method for cleaning an installation as described above and more specifically a method for cleaning an installation for spraying products' coating comprising a coating product tank and an associated projector, this reservoir and / or this projector being mounted on a multi-axis robot, characterized in that it comprises a step consisting in supplying the reservoir, the projector and / or the conduits connecting the reservoir to the projector with cleaning products from '' a second tank mounted on the robot.
• this method can include one or more of the following characteristics: -
• the supply of the coating product reservoir, the projector and / or the cleaning product conduits from the second reservoir is carried out at end of a coating product spraying step, preferably before the tank the coating product is refilled.
• the supply of the second tank with cleaning product takes place simultaneously with the filling of the tank with coating product.
• - cleaning residues of the coating product tank, of the projector and / or ducts are at least in part temporarily stored in a third tank mounted on the robot.
• a step consisting in pouring the contents of the third tank into a purge circuit is advantageously a step consisting in pouring the contents of the third tank into a purge circuit.
• this step of pouring the contents of the third tank takes place before or after a step of filling the second tank with cleaning product.
• the step of pouring the contents of the third tank to the purge circuit and / or the step of filling the second tank takes place simultaneously with the filling of the product tank, coating.
• the cleaning product tank, the projector and the pipes are cleaned by air and cleaning product trains.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the principle of a coating product spraying installation according to the invention in use for spraying a coating product
• the Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 when filling the coating product reservoir used in the installation of Figure 1
• Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 for an installation according to a second embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 for an installation according to a third embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 by an installation according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.
• an automaton or robot 1 is arranged near a conveyor 2 transporting objects to be coated, in this case bodies 3 of motor vehicles.
• the robot 1 is of the multi-axis type and comprises a chassis 4 movable on a guide 5 'extending parallel to the conveying direction X-X'.
• An arm 6 is supported by the chassis 4 and comprises several segments 6a, 6b, 6c, articulated with respect to each other.
• the chassis 4 consists of parts 4a and 4b articulated with respect to each other around a substantially vertical axis Z-Z '.
• the segment 6c of the arm 6 supports an assembly comprising a reservoir 7, a projector 8 and a plate 9 in which are formed conduits connecting the reservoir 7 to the projector 8, one of these conduits being represented in FIGS. 1 and 2 with reference 91.
• the projector 8 is of the electrostatic type and is connected to a high-voltage generator, not shown.
• the product contained in the reservoir 7 can be a water-soluble paint or a solvent-based paint.
• the projector 8 is used to project coating product coming from the reservoir onto the body 3.
• a second reservoir 10 is mounted on the robot 1, near the segment 6c and is connected, by conduits not shown, to the reservoir 7, to the projector 8 and to the plate 9.
• This reservoir 10 is intended to be filled with cleaning product, which may be a solvent for the product of coating contained in the reservoir 7.
• cleaning product may be a solvent for the product of coating contained in the reservoir 7.
• the nature of the cleaning product is adapted to the type of coating product passing through the elements 7 to 9.
• the reservoir 10 could be mounted on the plate 9 and / or attached to the reservoir 7.
• the content of the tank 10 can be used to clean items 7, 8 and 9.
• This cleaning step can take place simultaneously with the displacement of the projector 8 from its position in the figure.
• a box 20 for collecting used cleaning product is provided in cabin C, near the base of the partition 12. This box collects the product used to clean the terminal part 8a of the projector 8 and can be connected to a purge circuit for the evacuation of the used cleaning product.
• the reservoir 7 is provided on its external surface with a first connector 71 intended to cooperate with a connector
• the reservoir 7 is also provided with a second connector 72 intended to cooperate with a second connector 13 placed in the cabin C, to near connector 11.
• the connector 11 is connected by a conduit 11 to a unit 11 2 for changing the coating product which makes it possible to supply the connector 11 with different coating products, depending on the nature of the product to be sprayed on the next body 3 arriving opposite the robot 1.
• the connector 13 is, in turn, connected by a conduit 13 ⁇ to a source 13 2 of cleaning product.
• the connector 11 is connected to the interior of the reservoir 7 while the connector 72 is connected to the interior of the reservoir 10.
• the reservoir 10 has a sufficient capacity to allow two successive cleanings of the reservoir 7, of the projector 8 and of the plate 9.
• the reservoir 10 may not not be filled during each filling of the reservoir 7.
• the reservoir 10 may have a capacity allowing more than two cleanings of the elements 7, 8 and 9.
• the robot 101 of this embodiment embodiment is arranged opposite a conveyor 102 on which pass the bodies 103 of motor vehicles.
• the robot 101 comprises a chassis 104 movable on a guide 105 and an arm 106 comprising several segments 106a, 106b and 106c.
• a reservoir 107 is mounted on the arm 106c and is associated with an electrostatic projector 108 to which it is connected by means of a plate 109 in which conduits are formed, one of which is shown with the reference 191.
• a second reservoir 110 is mounted on the robot 101 near the reservoir 107 and is intended to be filled with cleaning product, like the reservoir 10 of the first embodiment.
• a third reservoir 120 is also mounted on the robot 101 near the reservoir 107 and is intended to receive the cleaning residues of the elements 107, 108 and 109, with the exception of those corresponding to the cleaning of the terminal part 108a of the projector 108 , which can be spit out in the cabin, because they are of very small volume.
• a box like the box 20 of the first embodiment could be provided.
• the reservoirs 110 and 120 are, in practice, neighbors of the plate 109.
• connectors 171 and 172 are provided on the tank 107 to cooperate with connectors 111 and 113 provided at a fixed station in cabin C, the connectors 111 and 113 being respectively connected to a unit 111 2 for changing the coating product. and to a source 113 2 of cleaning product.
• a third connector 173 is provided on the reservoir 107 to cooperate with a connector 114 installed at a fixed position on the partition 112 of the cabin C and connected by a conduit 114 x to a drain 114 2 .
• the tank 107 can be brought opposite the connectors 111, 113 and 114, which makes it possible to fill the tanks 107 and 110 respectively with coating product and of cleaning product and empty the tank 120 in the direction of the drain 114 2 .
• the robot 201 of this embodiment is placed opposite a conveyor 202 on which bodies 203 of motor vehicles pass.
• This robot 201 comprises a chassis 204 mounted on a guide 205 as well as an arm 206 comprising several segments 206a, 206b and 206c.
• a reservoir 207 is mounted on the segment 206c_ and is associated with an electrostatic projector 208 by means of conduits formed in a plate 209, a conduit appearing in FIG. 5 with the reference 291.
• a reservoir 210 of cleaning product is provided on the robot 201 near the tank 207, as well as a tank 220 for collecting cleaning residue from the elements 207 to 209.
• Two connectors 271 and 272 are provided on the reservoir 207 to cooperate respectively with fixed station connectors 211 and 213 provided on the partition 212 of the cabin C in which the robot 201 is installed.
• the connector, 211 is connected by a conduit 211 ⁇ to a unit 211 2 for changing the coating product.
• the connector 213 is connected by a conduit 213 ⁇ to a three-way valve
• the tanks 210 and 220 which are in practice close to the plate 209, can have capacities sufficient to allow them not to be filled or purged each time the tank 207 is connected to the connector 211. Thus, provision can be made for the connectors 272 and 213 to be used every second time to communicate the source 213 5 and the tank 210, and half the time to connect the reservoir 220 and the drain 213 6 .
• the tanks 210 and 220 are respectively filled and emptied each time the tank 207 is connected to the source of coating products, the tank 210 being first of all filled from the source 213 5 , then the three-way valve 213 2 being tilted to its second position where it allows the contents of the reservoir 220 to be discharged towards the drain 213 6 .
• the contents of the reservoir 220 can be spilled before the reservoir 210 is filled.
• the cleaning of the coating product reservoir, of the projector and of the associated conduits is carried out using these trains of air and cleaning product.
• the second reservoirs 10, 110 and 210 of an installation in accordance with the invention are advantageously piston reservoirs or reservoirs with deformable membrane, which makes it possible to control the flow of the cleaning product towards the organs to be cleaned.
• the third tanks 120 or 220 can also be constituted by piston tanks or tanks with deformable membrane.
• the second tanks 10, 110 and 120 are mounted 'permanently or removably on the robots.
• the third tanks 120 and 22.0 which can be considered as optional equipment.
• the invention has been described with a multi-axis robot. It is however applicable independently of the exact type of the robot, provided that a coating product tank and a cleaning product tank are on board a mobile part of this robot. It could be a reciprocator, a machine called "roof" or a machine called "lateral".

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Robotics (AREA)
• Spray Control Apparatus (AREA)
• Application Of Or Painting With Fluid Materials (AREA)
• Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
• Agricultural Chemicals And Associated Chemicals (AREA)
• Details Or Accessories Of Spraying Plant Or Apparatus (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

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ID=27619944

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (12)

Families Citing this family (17)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2002
  • 2002-02-06 FR FR0201418A patent/FR2835450B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2002-02-21 US US10/078,538 patent/US6756080B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2003
  • 2003-02-05 AT AT03718841T patent/ATE297257T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2003-02-05 JP JP2003565650A patent/JP4384499B2/ja not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-02-05 AU AU2003222886A patent/AU2003222886A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-02-05 CA CA2474352A patent/CA2474352C/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2003-02-05 KR KR1020047012125A patent/KR100939241B1/ko not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-02-05 DE DE60300815T patent/DE60300815T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-02-05 WO PCT/FR2003/000360 patent/WO2003066232A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2003-02-05 EP EP03718841A patent/EP1472006B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-02-05 ES ES03718841T patent/ES2240941T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-02-05 CN CNB038033089A patent/CN1268438C/zh not_active Expired - Lifetime

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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