ES2217215T3 - COLOR CHANGE SYSTEM FOR A COATING INSTALLATION. - Google Patents

Abstract

The system to change the paint, at a paint spraying station and especially for vehicle bodyworks, has an array of paint supply valves (13) for direct connection to the valve (14) of a paint sputter unit or similar paint spray. The supply valves and the paint spray valve can be moved by a drive in relation to each other in a linear path or circular movements, so that they can be coupled and uncoupled as required. The movements are set by a position control. The supply valves and/or the paint spray connection valve can be mounted to a turntable.

Description

Color change system for an installation Coating.

The invention relates to a system of change of color for installation for serial coating of parts of work, such as in particular vehicle bodies according to the preamble of claim 1.

The usual color changers so far in Siding installations of this type consist, as is known, of a valve block pneumatically controlled by valves magnetic with color valve modules assigned in each case to one of the colors that can be chosen, which are aligned each other with a color channel common to all colors, whose output leads to the sprayers to be supplied. Others Valve modules are provided for washing functions. These color changers, although they make possible a rapid change of a color to another during the operation of varnish suffer, without However, of different disadvantages by principle. Above all I know prolongs, with the increase in the number of colors in the changer color and, consequently, in color control valves aligned to each other, the common color conduction section of the color change system This fact has a disadvantageous effect. About color consumption and washing agent. It also turns out disadvantageous that, for reasons of space, the installation of close to the sprayer, the color changer on the arm of varnishing of the varnishing machine is currently limited 24 colors In addition, with the number of colors, the number of magnetic valves, which are complex and occupy a lot of space, as well as the number of control lines from the magnetic valve towards the color control valve, with what which is necessary to make large expenses in materials of installation, energy chains, etc. The constructive space of which is available in the machine is also limited by the conduits of control. Also, known color changers are not unconditionally fail-safe to the extent that in case of Wrong parallel control of two color valves can access simultaneously two different colors inside the color channel common.

Publication CH 531900 describes a gun manually operated powder sprayer to project powders of different colors from a gun dust channel. Is powder spray gun has a device color switching in which, after a color change, they must Reduce color errors. The object of the patent of this publication is limited however exclusively to guns dust mills and therefore is not suitable for a automated installation for large series coating number of pieces.

Publication US 3,240,225 refers to a device for color choice and for unit washing of varnishing. At the same time different colors are supplied in each case to different hoses of a distribution installation color. The individual colors supplied in the different hoses can then be chosen, using a disc that can turn, which presents a transport channel for color. During the varnishing operation must fix the disc that can rotate in the position of the selected color in each case. This takes place by coupling pins which are arranged in the disc that can rotate axially movable for coupling and decoupling During fixing these coupling pins they engage, in openings correspondingly provided for it, in fixed color distributors. Here it is, however, disadvantageous. that the coupling pins tend to get stuck easily in fixed color distributors and, on the other hand, when coupled not always hook cleanly in the opening provided for the accommodation of the coupling pins in the distributors of fixed color This can lead to breakdowns that interrupt the the entire varnishing process and, consequently, the They love it.

By publication US-A-3674207 is known a system of color change for a serial coating installation of vehicle bodies with a multi-valve arrangement of color supply, connected to a supply line of color, for coating material with different colors that they can choose, in which a sprayer can be connected, to through a connection element. The connection element can be couple to and can be separated from the supply valve for the color selected in each case, in a direction of movement default, by means of a drive device. The color supply valves are arranged, opposite the connecting element, in a plane located transversely with respect to of the direction of movement of coupling and, with a device position control, the connecting element can be moved transversely with respect to the direction of movement of coupling to a position, in which the connecting element is aligned with the selected color supply valve on each case.

The invention poses the problem of proposing a color change system that avoids the disadvantages mentioned of the known color changers and that, with a number practically discretionally large of eligible colors, make possible a section of common color shortened to the shortest length possible, regardless of the number of colors.

This problem is resolved according to the characteristics provided in the claims.

The invention is based on the basic principle of make a desired color change using media couplings attachable and detachable, thanks to a coupling piece on the side of the sprayer is connected, by means of a handling aid which serves as a position control device, with one piece corresponding coupling of the color supply system of a very determined color. By using the device the connection valve can be moved and / or the color supply valves in the coupling direction of so that coupling pins are no longer needed to give rise to to breakdowns, which in addition to a trouble free operation Simplify, simultaneously, also the entire mechanics of the color change system

Thanks to the invention it turns out, especially when increases the number of colors, a drastic shortening of the stretch of common color conduction in the color changer, whose length is independent of the number of colors. A consequence is saving of color and washing agent. You can also do without now necessary magnetic valves for valve control of color which decreases the cost of investment, installation and assembly and, in addition, a space saving is achieved. With the magnetic valves are also removed the corresponding control air ducts for each color valve individual of the known color changers and the space that occupy

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, the color change system can be cleaned with pipe scrapers especially in case of use of key valves spherical To operate the corresponding key valves spherical of the different colors can be provided a single drive, which is handled according to the coupling of means of color changing system.

Among other advantages is the one that avoids parallel control of color valves, since it can always there is only one connection with the color conduction section common. They also result, compared to color changers known, savings in terms of installation material as well as in as for the complexity of assembly and commissioning. In total it they use less constructive parts especially for a large number of colors. Depending on the application case, the exchange system Color can be made very compact with hose conduction optimal, which is important especially in the mounting on arms of limited varnishing in terms of space.

In embodiments of the invention preferred media couplings can be closed on one side or on both sides, where closing organs can be used per se known. For media couplings of the exchange system Color can be used as closing organs, for example, check valves, needle valves or key valves spherical The coupling of means, especially the system of color change on the side of the sprayer, may contain, in addition to the color valve, function valves for example to dilute, Pulsed air and return. In addition the system media coupling Color change of the spray side may contain a device, formed for example by a tap, to open the media couplings of the color supply system.

When the system media links color supply and / or color change system on the side of the Sprayer have a ball valve, with which the Color changer can be cleaned with scraper in the position of open switching of spherical key valves, the drive to open the ball valve can be find, properly, in the media coupling of the color change system on the side of the sprayer.

The handling aid for the union of media couplings can have an electric drive to movements of a Cartesian coordinate system, whose x, y axes and z define the possible directions of movement. The movements axial are linear in this case and can, for example, take place along travel lanes. The positioning, in each case, of the media coupling of the supply system of color and / or media coupling of the color changing system on the side of the sprayer is carried out here by X and Y addresses. To do this, before coupling, the axes of media links that you want to connect with each other should be oriented opposite, so that they are aligned in a line. The z-direction movement can be used, by on the contrary, to couple the media couplings of the color feed system and color change system on the side of the sprayer. In certain cases of application is also possible to dispense with the guide axis x / y and carry out only a linear positioning (linear guide).

Instead of an x and y guide for the positioning and alignment of the media coupling in question, You can also use a rotary table. Also in this case the coupling movement can take place in the direction?, if well another direction is also possible with respect to the movement of turn. By an additional linear movement of the coupling of means on the side of the sprayer also creates the possibility of make the circular arrangement of the couplings in two rows of color supply system media.

Instead of an electric drive for the x / y positioning, you can also choose a drive tire. In this case there is a special possibility to perform, for the reduction of the number of valve functions and for the construction space reduction, a linear guide with movements of ascent coded in binary form.

The turntable mentioned above can be also actuated, instead of with an electric drive, pneumatically Also in this case a unit of Binary coded turn.

For positioning there is the possibility of handle the media coupling of the color change system of the side of the sprayer and / or the media couplings of the system color supply In many cases, the management of color supply, despite mechanical complexity possibly greater, since in this variant almost can be avoided completely loss of color change in the system of change of color.

Thanks to the aforementioned scraper technique it is possible to transport, with the scraper that serves as a body separation, the lining material through the colored hoses. Since also by prolonging the section that can be cleaned with scrapers, the losses are not greater colored, discretionary long hoses can be laid from the color change system on the side of the sprayer, in which there is a scraper tube station, to the end of the pipe scraper path, in which a second one is located scraper station. In such a system the changer of color can be mounted properly away from the sprayer in an easily accessible place, for example in a closet of color.

When the scraper is used to push the varnish that could remain in the hose line, after a coating process, back to the color supply can be suitable to place a dosing pump, after a regulator of color pressure, directly at the color changer outlet colored on the side of the sprayer. If you are not going to use any Dosing pump may make sense, to avoid losses of color in this part of the system, handle during a color change the color change system on the side of the sprayer together with the color pressure regulator. However, when a dosing pump just after the system side of the side of the sprayer is necessary, to avoid loss of color, handle either the entire color supply part or the media coupling of the color change system on the side of the sprayer, together with the pressure regulator and the pump dosing

The scraper tube can also be used for push the lining material from the color conduction common in the direction of the sprayer. In this case the pump dosing machine is in the vicinity of the sprayer, it is say, at the corresponding distance of the exchange system of color.

The invention is explained in more detail about The basis of the drawing. In the drawing, the figures show:

Fig. 1A, 1B, a schematic diagram of the color change system according to the invention;

Fig. 2, a perspective view of a first embodiment of the color change system;

Fig. 3, a perspective view of a second embodiment of the color change system;

Fig. 4A, 4B, a schematic representation of an x, y and z guide of a color change system on the side of the sprayer;

Fig. 5, a schematic representation of a media coupling;

Fig. 6, a schematic representation of a color changer that can be cleaned with scrapers;

Fig. 7, a schematic diagram for handling of the media coupling of the color supply system;

Fig. 8, a schematic diagram for handling of valve functions mounted for installations and procedure with a spray that can be released;

Fig. 9, a third embodiment of a color changer;

Fig. 10, a fourth embodiment of a color changer;

Fig. 11-13, a linear drive Binary coding tire.

Fig. 1A schematically shows a system of color change 10, in which a unit of 11 color supply decoupled in front of a change unit of color 12. The color supply unit 11 has valves of color supply 13 and the color change unit 12 a connection valve 14. Valves 13 and 14 may be formed such as check valves, needle valves, key valves spherical or similar. Valves 13 and 14 may present media couplings at their connection points 15, whereby valves 13 and 14 can be connected to each other in the state coupled (see Fig. 1B). The color supply valves 13 are located, in a plane that is transversely with respect to the coupling direction, in front of the connection valve 14. The degrees of freedom are represented by arrows 16 minimally necessary for the movement of the couplings means 15. When the arrows 16 located in the drawing plane represent the x and z directions of a coordinate system Cartesian another degree of freedom in direction and perpendicular to him.

Fig. 1B shows the supply unit of color in the state coupled with the color change unit. To the same time the three-valve control unit is now coupled 13 color supply represented by the couplings of means 15 with the connection valve 14. To make the flow possible of lining material open, in the coupled state, the central color supply valve 13 and connection valve 14. The other two color supply valves 13 are closed to prevent unwanted leakage of coating material.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a color change system 20, where you can move a unit of color change 21 along of the Cartesian x, y and z coordinate system. A unit of color supply 22 preferably presents valves 23 color supply made as check valves, the which are connected with a hose 24 that supplies the lining material The color supply valves 23 can be arranged, with the possibility of movement along of the x, y and z coordinate system, on a mobile table here It is not represented in greater detail. At the same time the valves of color supply 23 may be grouped or in the provision represented here or also in other provisions that They seem appropriate. The color change unit 21 presents different valve functions and a tap to undock the unit color supply 22 of the color changing unit 21.

Fig. 3 shows a color change system 30, in which a color changing unit 31 is located opposite to a color supply unit 32 formed as a rotary table. The color supply unit 32 has check valves 33 which are connected to the hoses 34 that carry The lining material. The color changing unit 32 formed as a turntable naturally has very large dimensions compact and is therefore especially suitable for mounting on a varnishing arm of a varnishing machine or a varnishing robot The drive rotation of the unit Color supply 32 can be both electric and pneumatic. When the color supply valves 33 are arranged, such as is represented, on two concentric circles with each other can if necessary, to couple the color supply unit 32 with the color change unit 31, additionally a drive linear, with which the color change unit 31 performs, in addition to the movement in the z direction, a movement in the plane x / y. It is also possible so much a change between the valves of color supply arranged in the two concentric circles, as well as a movement of the color change unit 31 in z direction, to be able to couple one in another and decouple one from another the color change unit 31 and the color supply unit 32

Fig. 4A shows a color change unit 40, which can be connected to a power supply unit color 41 by semi-couplings 42 and 43. A drive 45 move the color change unit 40 in the y direction and a drive 44 or 49 (Fig. 4B) moves the color change unit 40 in x direction. A pneumatic cylinder 46 moves the unit of 40 color change in z direction. To attach the change unit color 40 with the color supply unit 41 must be aligned in a line the central axis of the semi-coupling 43 with the axis middle of the semi-coupling 42 to be coupled in each case, is that is, the semi-coupling 43 must be oriented exactly in direction x and y towards the position of the semi-coupling 42 there What to do A color pressure regulator 401 attempts, during The coating process, the correct color pressure.

Fig. 4B shows the color change unit 40 as a sectional representation along the cutting line A-A of Fig. 4A. The color change unit 40 it is moved at the same time on guides 47 and 48 to the x and y direction. The drive 45 moves the color change unit at the same time 40 in the y direction and the drive 49 moves the change unit of color 40 in x direction. The pneumatic cylinder 46 moves the unit of 40 color change in z direction, in order to connect the unit color change 40 with color supply unit 41 or separate it from the color supply unit 41.

Fig. 5 shows a media coupling 50 (see Pos. 15 in Fig. 1). The media coupling 50 presents the half coupling 51, which is assigned to the supply side of color, and semi-coupling 52 that is assigned to the change side color. The lining material is transported to it time in the direction of arrow 53. Semi-coupling 51 it has a check valve 54 which, in the uncoupled state, You should avoid allowing unwanted access to the environment. With an interlocking mechanism 55 it can be interlocked and unlocked check valve A cylinder 56 generates the movement for coupling and decoupling the half-couplings 51 and 52. In cylinder 57 acts during the connection of the two half-couplings 51 and 52 on a tap 58 that opens check valve 54. By separating the two half couplings 51 and 52 in a separation plane 59 the valve retention 54 is closed again by recoil of tap 58 and by a spring 501. A needle valve 502 is at provision for functions such as supply, closure and regulation of color, diluent, pulsed air or the like. Unlike what represented here, the cylinder 56 which serves to couple the two half couplings 51 and 52, may be arranged instead of in the color change side also on the supply side of color.

Fig. 6 shows a color changer 60 that is you can clean with scrapers, which has two halves 63 and 63 that they can be separated along the separation plane 61. The material of lining is transported at the same time in the direction of arrow 64. The color changer 60 that can be cleaned with scraper has a unit 66, which contains a hose 67, a screwed joint 68 and a ball valve 65. By means of a self-locking transmission element 69 and a 601 drive can open and close the key valve spherical 65. Drive 601 can be operated both Pneumatic as electric. If necessary it can exist for each color, in the corresponding ball valve 65, a own drive Depending on the application case and the procedure technique may be appropriate to make reality certain functions such as washing, return, blocking a pipe scraper using spherical selector valve valves or valves not shown here in greater detail. Also in conceivable to close the semi-coupling 63 on the spray side by a ball valve. A cylinder 602 serves to connect and separate the two half couplings 62 and 63. The changer Color 60 that can be cleaned with scrapers should be preferred, example, for special color coatings, in which it must be transported by means of scraper technique of the varnish content from a colored cube or similar to a sprayer.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic diagram of the media coupling of Fig. 5 for further explanation in detail of a cycle of color change. Media links 70 are closed or opened by check valves 71. A media coupling 72 on the side of the sprayer is connected with a valve 73, which can perform the functions dilution and pulsating air to wash the color conduction section common. A valve 74 will take over the function for color, the which is not needed during the color change. The coupling of media 72 of the spray-side color changing system It contains a taque, which has not been represented in greater detail here, to open check valve 71 of, in each case, media coupling 70 of the color supply system. How operating device a linear guide is used here, which has not been represented in greater detail, electrically operated for x direction and a linear guide, also not represented with greater detail, pneumatically operated for z direction.

Varnish with the first color

The axes of the media coupling 70 of the F1 color supply system and media coupling 72 of the color changing system on the side of the sprayer are oriented in x direction. A cylinder Z2 is taken out, with which the two half couplings 70 and 72 are coupled. A Z1 tap is also removed, whereby the check valve is opened. Via valve 71 for color F open, the first color arrives at the section of color conduction common to application devices contiguous such as color pressure regulator, pump doser and sprayer, as not shown here.

Start of color change program

In case of a color change I will go to occur is initiated, through the control of the installation, a automatic wash and drive program.

Washed

Washing is carried out by changers of Conventional color in a known way. At the same time the tap Z1 is entered with which the check valve is closed 71. This closes the flow of the first F1 color. During the Washing valve 71 is open for this color. 73 valves for dilution and pulsed air they are open instead. With it wash the common color path from the color changer to the sprayer The insertion point is also washed automatically.

Driving

After finishing the washing process all valves 71 go to their starting state and cylinder Z2 returns to enter, with which the two semi-drives are separated. Now it is carried, by means of the linear guide with electric drive, the media coupling shaft 72 on the spray side on x direction, until it is aligned with the coupling shaft of means 70, for example of the color delivery system F3. TO then, one after another, the cylinders Z2 and Z1, which are decoupled the two half-couplings 70 and 72 and the Next color F3 reaches the common color conduction section. After the drive process in the sprayer they develop the same processes that in the case of varnishing with the first color.

Fig. 8 shows a schematic diagram of a 80 color supply unit and a color change unit 81 on the side of the sprayer. Between the color supply unit 80 and the color change unit 81 is a unit of washing and loading 82. The washing and loading unit 82 can be coupled, via couplings 83, to the color supply unit 80 and a the color change unit 81. Accordingly it is discussed in the case of the color changing unit 81 on the spray side of a unit that can be released, so that the installation is can operate in a so-called change operation of sprayer. The wash and load unit 82 has valves 84 for dilution and pulsed air functions to wash the section of common color conduction. It also has a valve 85 for color function, where this function is not used during a change of color.

Fig. 9A shows a change installation of sprayer 90 with sprayers 92 and 93, which can be rotated around axis 91. Sprayers 92 and 93 can be washed by a wash coupling 94 and can be loaded with color through a color point 95, which can present a check valve

Fig. 9B shows, from above, an installation of change of sprayer 90. The installation of change of sprayer 90 is suitable, for example, for special colors. The sprayers 92 and 93 may contain, in addition to the function of spraying, also the color storage function and of color dosing and, after each varnishing process, be managed by the 90 exchange facility. This body of Dosage, which is not shown here in greater detail, may be arranged immediately before the spray organ with what which, during a color change, have to be emptied and washed Only very short sections of color. It is also possible, thanks to the installation of the change facility sprayer out of the varnishing arm, a storage of a infinite number of colors. Since in the installation of change of sprayer 90 there are no more suitable handling devices for the operation of the sprayer, the installation of change of sprayer 90 represented here can be done without problems with media couplings.

Fig. 10 shows an embodiment of a 100 color change system, in which two are provided semi-couplings A and B, which can be coupled separately with color supply systems not shown here, connected in each case with a 100 or 102 sprayer. Among other things, for a Fast color change can be carried out, for example for the 101 sprayer, one color change while the other sprayer 102 works in coating operation. It is also possible simultaneous color change for both 101 and 102 sprayers.

Since a section of color is always varnished with a very specific color is enough with a closing organ, not here represented, for example a check valve by color. To the section of color (A or B) considered in each case is assigned a linear guide 103 or 104. It is also possible to move using a guide linear with tweezers the corresponding media coupling, with what which can be dispensed with a linear unit.

Instead of the linear arrangement of the valves F1-F8 color supply represented is possible also a circular arrangement with movements Radial

Based on Fig. 11-13 it is explained, for the color change system described here, a suitable pneumatic linear drive with coding binary

The signals (A, B, ... N) from the control top of the siding installation are assigned each to a cylinder ZA, ZB, ... ZN. Thanks to the serial connection of the cylinders you get that the input signals of the cylinders are coded binary to give binary codes. Through decoding it is possible to obtain from n input signals, that is n cylinders, 2 n switching positions, that is output signals (for n = 0, 1, 2 ...). System decoding for for example n = 3 input signals to give 2 n = 8 output signals can be seen in the table in Fig. eleven.

This logic can be continued discretionally. Thus it is possible, for example, to obtain with six control signals (A, B, C, D, E, F) as input signal 64 output signals for the travel of individual switching points. In Fig. 12 a pneumatic linear drive with a Binary coding of this type.

If, for example, a total section S8 must have the same switching points, then the subdivision of the individual rise lengths of the individual cylinders takes place according to Fig. 12. The ascent can be calculated from according to L_ {k} = S 2 n with n = 0, 1, 2, ... and k = 1, 2, 3,...

It is true that:

S_ {1}, S_ {2}, S: distance from the points of individual switching

S_ {ges}: total tranche

N: number of switching points individual

n: variable for cylinders

L_ {1}, L_ {2}, L_ {k}: individual ascent of the corresponding cylinders

L_ {ges}: total ascent

k: variable for ascent

S_ {ges} = L_ {ges}

A possibility for the optimization of this arrangement with a view to the constructive length is that they have cylinders of the connection in series, according to the needs, parallel. A linear drive with binary coding corresponding constructively short is represented in the Fig. 13.

For more favorable constructive forms it is conceivable also the use of hollow shaft cylinders inserted in each other.

The arrangement represented here as a unit linear can be transformed into a radial or circular unit, which operate according to the same principle through drives linked swingarms, where certain switching points are tours in the perimeter.

Claims (18)

1. Color changing system for a serial coating installation of work pieces, comprising an arrangement of several color supply valves (13, 23, 33), each connected to a color supply line, for the coating material with different selectable colors, to which at least one sprayer of the coating installation can be connected through at least one connection valve (14), characterized in that an actuating device (46) is provided, by means by which the connection valve (14) and the supply valve (13, 23, 33) can be moved for the selected color in each case to a predetermined direction of movement with each other and at the same time can be coupled and separated between yes, because the color supply valves (13, 23, 33) are arranged in a plane, located transversely with respect to the direction of coupling movement, opposite to the connection valve ón (14), and because a position control device is provided by means of which the color supply valves (13, 23, 33) and / or the connection valve (14) can be moved, in two directions different from each other, transversely with respect to the direction of coupling movement, to a position in which the connection valve (14) is aligned with the color supply valve (13, 23, 33) selected in each case. 2. Color changing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the position control device contains a linear drive, by means of which the arrangement of color supply valves (13, 23, 33) and / / can be moved or the connection valve (14) in one direction (x) or in two directions (x, y) located perpendicular to each other in the same plane. 3. Color changing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the arrangement of color supply valves (13, 23, 33) and / or the connection valve (14) are arranged on a rotating table or a carrier supported by possibility of rotation. 4. Color changing system according to claim 3, characterized in that the connection valve (14) can also be moved linearly. 5. Color change system according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the rotary table can be operated electrically or pneumatically. 6. Color change system according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the color supply valves (13, 23, 33) and the connection valve (14) have means couplings (15, 42, 43 ) at their connection points. 7. Color changing system according to claim 6, characterized in that the media couplings (15, 42, 43) can be closed on one side or both sides. 8. Color changing system according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the coupling of means (15, 42, 43) also contains, in addition to the color valve (74, 85), function valves (73, 84 ). 9. Color changing system according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the media couplings (15, 42, 43) have an opening device for example in the form of a block (58). 10. Color changing system according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the media couplings (15, 42, 43) are connected to a ball valve (65). 11. Color changing system according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the operating aid for assembling the media couplings (15, 42, 43) has an electric drive (45, 49) or an drive (44) tire for movements in a Cartesian spatial coordinate system. 12. Color change system according to claim 11, characterized in that the x / y positioning takes place by means of a pneumatic drive. 13. Color change system according to one of claims 6 to 12, characterized in that the color supply valves (13, 23, 43) and / or the connection valve (14) are positionable. 14. Color change system according to claim 13, characterized in that it has ball valve valves (65). 15. Color change system according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it has at least one scraper station. 16. Color changing system according to claim 15, characterized in that the color changer (12, 21, 31) is arranged remotely from the sprayer. 17. Color change system according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that a metering pump is arranged at the color outlet of the color changer (12, 21, 31) on the side of the sprayer after a pressure regulator colored (401). 18. Color changing system according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the dosing pump is arranged in the vicinity of the sprayer.