JPH0248060A - Color change painting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute efficient cleaning by interposing selector valves for selectively connecting paint supply flow passages to a pump and an outflow passage and drain flow passage to the midpoint of the pain supply flow passage and providing a pair of the paint supply flow passages in parallel. CONSTITUTION:The selector valve 7 is switched from a manifold side to a return side and a 1st cleaning valve 14 is switched to the open position of an air piping 15a simultaneously therewith to introduce air into a selector valve manifold 5 in the state in which the prepn. for introduction of the next paint is ready upon completion of the cleaning operation in the paint supply flow passage 3 side. The residual paint is pushed out to a painting head 1 side by this air. The 2nd selector valve 11 is switched to the drain side and a drain stop valve 22 is switched simultaneously to an open position to introduce the air to the outside when the terminal of the residual paint comes to the 2nd selector valve 11. The air is in succession introduced from a 3rd cleaning valve 19 via a stop valve 20 for cleaning to the 2nd selector valve manifold 16 to push out the residual paint to the 1st selector valve 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention provides a manifold connected to an upstream end of a paint supply passage connected to a coating head that applies paint to an object to be painted, and a plurality of paints connected to the manifold. The present invention relates to a color change coating device that performs color change painting by selectively introducing a plurality of colors of paint from an introduction pipe via a selection valve.

(Prior art) Conventionally, as this type of device, for example, Utility Model Application No. 63-209
A device described in Japanese Patent No. 73 is known, which connects a coating head for applying paint to an object to be painted, a paint supply passage, and a manifold, and also connects a plurality of colors of paint to the manifold via a selection valve. A paint pump is selectively introduced in the middle of the paint supply passage, and a first paint pump at the downstream end selectively connects the paint supply passage to an outflow passage and a drain passage connected to the coating head. A switching valve is provided,
During cleaning work, a cleaning liquid from a cleaning liquid introduction pipe connected to the manifold via a first cleaning valve is passed from the manifold to the first switching valve via the coating pump to clean this area. At the same time, a cleaning liquid from a cleaning liquid introduction pipe connected to the outflow passage via a second cleaning valve is passed through the area from the outflow passage to the coating head to clean this area. In addition, with this product, the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid introduction pipe connected to the shaft cleaning pipe communicating with the shaft of the cleaning pump via the third cleaning valve is periodically passed through the shaft, regardless of whether the painting work or cleaning work is performed. I use water to clean the shaft of the paint pump.

Furthermore, the method described in JP-A-56-65656 provides a pair of manifolds and paint supply passages in parallel, and selectively introduces paints of multiple colors into each manifold via a selection valve. A switching valve is provided at the downstream end of both paint supply passages to selectively switch the paint supply passages to the outflow passage side, and paint is introduced from one manifold to one of the paint supply passages connected thereto. While painting is in progress, water is passed through the other paint supply passage from the other manifold to the other paint supply passage for cleaning, and when the painting is completed, the cleaning liquid is applied between the switching valve and the coating head. It is designed to be washed by running water through it.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) This type of device is mainly installed on painting robots, and since the coating head is attached to the tip of the robot arm, the paint supply path becomes long. The problem is how to clean efficiently.

However, in the former device described above, since the paint supply passage is configured in one system, it is not possible to move on to the next painting work until the cleaning work is completed. There was a problem in that the entire painting process took time because it took time to clean the supply passage.

In addition, in the latter device, since two paint supply passages are provided, painting work and cleaning work can be performed concurrently, and the overall time for painting work can be shortened.
() has one manifold for each paint supply passage, so there are two parts around the manifold including the selection valve.
This required an increase in the number of parts for the entire device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a color change coating device that can shorten coating time and reduce the number of parts without impairing cleanability.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention connects a manifold to the upstream end of a paint supply passage connected to a coating head that applies paint to an object to be painted, and connects a plurality of This is a device that performs color change painting by selectively introducing multiple colors of paint from a paint introduction pipe via a selection valve, and includes a pump in the middle of the paint supply passage, and a pump connected to the paint supply passage at the downstream end. A first switching valve selectively connected to an outflow passage and a drain passage connected to the coating head is interposed, and a cleaning liquid is introduced into the manifold and the outflow passage through a first cleaning valve and a second cleaning valve, respectively. In the device for connecting pipes, a pair of paint supply passages are provided in parallel, and both of the paint supply passages are selectively connected to the manifold via a branch valve, and each paint supply passage is connected to the manifold. A second switching valve is disposed upstream of the installed pump and can be switched between the pump side and the drain side, and a second switching valve is provided between the second switching valve and the pump. A cleaning liquid introduction pipe is connected to the passage between the pump and the pump via a third cleaning valve.

In this case, it is preferable to provide a third switching valve on the downstream side of each of the drain passages, which can freely connect each of the drain passages to each of the passage sections.

(Function) A selected paint is introduced from the paint inlet pipe by opening the selection valve, is guided from the manifold to one paint supply passage through the branch valve, and is applied to the object to be painted from the painting head by the paint pump. Carry out painting work. When this painting work is completed, the selection valve is closed, and then the first switching valve and the second switching valve on the one paint supply passage side are switched to the drain side, and the first to third cleaning valves are switched to the drain side. cleaning between the manifold and the second switching valve by the first cleaning valve and the second switching valve.
The cleaning valve performs cleaning between the outflow passage and the coating head, and the third cleaning valve cleans the area between the second switching valve and the first switching valve. When the cleaning by the first cleaning valve and the second cleaning valve is completed, the branch valve is switched to the other paint supply passage side, and the first switching valve on the other paint supply passage side is switched to the coating head side, and the selection is made. The valve is opened, and the paint to be used next is introduced from the manifold to the other paint supply passage, and is applied from the outlet passage to the object to be coated via the coating head.

During this painting operation, on the one paint supply flow path side, the third cleaning valve continues to clean between the second switching valve and the first switching valve to thoroughly clean the inside of the coating pump. .

In this way, the time-consuming work of cleaning the paint pump and paint supply passage can be done at the same time as the painting work.
Furthermore, even if the manifold is configured as a single manifold, there will be no time loss in the entire painting operation compared to the conventional configuration in which two sets are configured.

By the way, if a large amount of cleaning liquid is continuously passed between the second switching valve and the first switching valve, which takes time to clean, a large amount of cleaning liquid will be required. If it is connected to the passage section through the three-way switching valve, a circulation circuit including a coating pump can be constructed in this section, and it becomes possible to perform circulation cleaning using the coating pump using a small amount of cleaning liquid.

(Example) An example of the present invention will be described based on drawings showing a circuit configuration.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a coating head for applying paint to an object to be coated, and a pair of paint supply passages 3.3 provided in parallel are connected to the upstream side of the coating head 1 via an outflow passage 2. A selective valve manifold 5 is connected to the upstream side of . The introduced paint is selectively guided to either one of the paint supply passages 3 by the branch valve 4, and is applied from the coating head 1 to the object to be coated.

Each paint supply passage 3 is provided with a paint pump 8 in the middle thereof,
A first switching valve 10 is provided at the downstream end to selectively connect each paint supply passage 3 to the outflow passage 2 and the drain passage 9, and a first switching valve 10 is located upstream of the pump 8 to selectively connect the paint supply passage 3 to the outflow passage 2 and the drain passage 9. A freely switchable second switching valve 11 is provided, and the drain passage 9 is connected to the second switching valve 1 on the downstream side of the drain passage 9.
1 and the pump 8, the third
A switching valve 12 is provided, and the third switching valve 12 and the first switching valve 1
0, a circulation circuit 13 using the drain passage 9 is constructed around the pump 8.

To explain this in more detail, a plurality of selection valves 7 are attached to the selection valve manifold 5, one for each paint introduction pipe 6, and each selection valve 7 is connected to each paint introduction pipe 6 to its return pipe. A plurality of paint introduction pipes 6 connected to a plurality of paint introduction sources (not shown) are configured to be switchable between a return side communicating with the passage 5a in the manifold 5 and a manifold side communicating with the passage 5a in the manifold 5. It is configured to selectively connect to the manifold 5 by switching operation.

Further, the manifold 5 is connected to the internal passage 5a of the manifold 5.
A cleaning liquid introduction pipe 15 consisting of an air pipe 15a and a thinner pipe 15b is connected through a first cleaning valve 14 consisting of an air valve 14a and a thinner valve 14b attached to the valve 14a. , 14b are both closed, an air valve open position where the air valve 14a is opened, and a thinner valve open position where the thinner valve 14b is opened. After switching the cleaning valve 14 to the both-valve closed position, switching one of the selection valves 7 to the manifold side, introducing paint of a predetermined color into the manifold 5, and switching the selection valve 7 to the return side during cleaning work. , the first
The cleaning valve 14 is alternately switched between an air valve open position and a thinner valve open position, so that air and thinner are alternately introduced into the manifold 5.

Further, the first switching valve 10.10 of both paint supply passages 3.3 shall be attached to the first switching valve manifold 16 at the upstream end of the outflow passage 2, and the internal passage 1 of said manifold 16
6a is connected to the same cleaning liquid introduction pipe 15 as described above through a second cleaning valve 17 consisting of an air valve 17a and a thinner valve 17b attached to the manifold 16, and the two box 1 switching valves 10 and 10 are alternately connected to each other. Painting work in which the paint is selectively introduced into the manifold 16 from both paint supply passages 3.3 by switching to the outflow passage 2 side, and the switching valve 1O110 of both boxes 1 at the time of color change.
The second cleaning valve 17 is switched to the drain side and the second cleaning valve 17 is opened to perform a cleaning operation in which air and thinner are introduced alternately.

Further, the second switching valve 11 and the third switching valve 12 of each paint supply passage 3 are attached to a second switching valve manifold 18 interposed in the passage portion 3a on the upstream side of each paint pump 8, and A cleaning liquid inlet pipe I5 similar to that described above is connected to the internal passage 18a of the manifold 8 through a cleaning on-off valve 20 connected to a third cleaning valve 19 consisting of an air valve 19a and a thinner valve 19b. During work, switch the second switching valve 11 to the pump side to transfer paint to the manifold 18.
During cleaning work, the second switching valve 11
is switched to the drain side, and air and thinner are alternately introduced into the manifold 18 from the cleaning liquid introduction pipe 15 via the third cleaning valve 19.

This third cleaning valve 19 is a cleaning opening/closing valve 20 of a second switching valve manifold 18.18 provided in both paint supply passages 3.3.
．． 20, and the third
Air and thinner are introduced alternately through the cleaning valve I9, and the air and thinner are supplied to one paint supply passage 3 side and the other by selectively opening the opening/closing valves 20 and 20. It is possible to selectively supply it to the passage 3 side.

Note that 22 and 23 indicate drain on-off valves provided on the drain side of the second switching valve 11 and the third switching valve 12, respectively.

Next, the procedure of painting and cleaning work in this example will be explained.

Now, using one paint supply passage 3, paint introduction pipe 6
From the selection valve 7, the selection valve manifold 5, the branch valve 4, the second switching valve 11S of the one paint supply passage 3, the second switching valve manifold 18, the paint pump 8, the first switching valve lO1, the first switching valve manifold 1B, It is assumed that a painting operation has been completed in which the paint is applied to the object of a predetermined color by flowing the paint through the outflow passage 2 and the coating head 1 in this order. At this time, the cleaning work is completed on the other side of the paint supply passage 3, and preparations are made for introducing the paint to be used next. From this state, the selection valve 7 is switched from the manifold side to the return side, and at the same time, the first cleaning valve 14 is switched to the open position of the air pipe 15a, air is introduced into the selection valve manifold 5, and the remaining paint is applied with the air. Push it out to the head 1 side. When the end of the residual paint reaches the second switching valve 11, the second switching valve 11 is switched to the drain side, and at the same time, the drain on-off valve 22 is switched to the open position to guide air to the outside. Subsequently, air is introduced into the second switching valve manifold 16 from the third cleaning valve 19 via the cleaning on-off valve 20, and the residual paint that has been pushed out to the second switching valve 11 is further pushed out to the first switching valve 10. .

When the end of the residual paint reaches the first switching valve 10, the first
Switch the switching valve IO to the drain side and the drain opening/closing valve 2
3 to the open position, and this time the air is introduced into the drain passage 9 to push out the residual paint in the drain passage 9 to the outside. Subsequently, air is introduced into the first switching valve manifold 16 from the second cleaning valve 17, and the residual paint that has been pushed out to the first switching valve IO is continuously pushed out from the coating head 1.

On the other hand, in order to follow this extrusion operation, thinner is introduced from the first cleaning valve 14 between the selection valve manifold 5 and the second switching valve 11 after the extrusion operation of the residual paint is completed. After washing with water, air is introduced to push out the thinner to the outside. Similarly, between the second switching valve 11 and the first switching valve 10, thinner is introduced from the third cleaning valve 19 and water is passed through the first switching valve 10 to the third switching valve 12 for cleaning. The thinner is connected to the third switching valve 1.
2, the third switching valve 12 is switched to the pump side to form a circulation circuit 13 around the painting pump 8,
Circulation cleaning using the pump 8 is started. Further, thinner and air are introduced from the second cleaning valve 17 between the first switching valve IO and the coating head 1 to perform water cleaning in the same manner as described above.

During this series of cleaning operations, the selection valve manifold 5 and the second
When the cleaning during this period is completed, the branch valve 4 is switched to the other paint supply passage 3 side, and then the branch valve 4 is switched from the selection valve 7 for the paint to be used to the first one on the other paint supply passage 3 side. Guide the paint to the switching valve IO. At this time, the third switching valve 12 on the other side of the paint supply passage 3 is switched to the pump side, and the paint is circulated in preparation for the subsequent painting work. Then, after waiting for the cleaning work between the first switching valve 10 and the coating head 1 to be completed, the first switching valve 10 on the other paint supply passage 3 side is switched to the outflow passage 2 side, and the paint is removed. The paint is guided to the coating head 1 and a coating operation using the other paint supply passage 3 is started.

Even when this painting work starts, on the one paint supply passage 3 side, circulation cleaning around the paint pump 8 continues until the inside of the paint pump 8 is completely cleaned, and the cleaning is continued for a predetermined period of time. After cleaning, the third switching valve 12 is switched to the drain side, and then air is introduced from the third cleaning valve 19 to push out the thinner to the outside, completing cleaning of this area.

As described above, this series of procedures is repeated to perform color change coating by alternately using both paint supply passages 3.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, a pair of paint supply passages are provided in parallel, and when painting is performed using one paint supply passage, cleaning is performed using the other paint supply passage. By performing the time-consuming cleaning work of the paint supply passage including the pump, it is possible to shorten the overall work time even though the manifold is configured with one set compared to conventional ones. This has the effect of improving productivity and reducing the number of parts to reduce costs.

Furthermore, by configuring a circulation circuit as in claim 2 and circulating the cleaning liquid using a pump, it is possible to sufficiently clean the inside of the pump with a small amount of cleaning liquid.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawing is a circuit diagram of one embodiment of the present invention. 1... Application head 2... Outflow passage 3... Paint supply passage 3a... Passage portion 4... Branch Valve 5... Manifold 6... Paint introduction pipe 7... Selection Valve 8... Paint pump 9... Drain passage 10... First switching valve 11... Second switching valve 12... Third switching valve 14... First cleaning valve 15... Cleaning liquid Introductory pipe 17...Second cleaning valve 19...Third cleaning valve

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A manifold is connected to the upstream end of a paint supply passage connected to a coating head that applies paint to an object to be painted, and a plurality of paint inlet pipes are connected to the manifold to supply a plurality of colors through a selection valve. This apparatus selectively introduces a paint to perform color change painting, and includes a pump in the middle of the paint supply passage, and a downstream end of the paint supply passage selected as an outflow passage and a drain passage connected to the coating head. and a first switching valve connected to the manifold and the outflow passage, and a cleaning liquid introduction pipe is connected to the manifold and the outflow passage through a first cleaning valve and a second cleaning valve, respectively, wherein the paint supply passage is connected to the paint supply passage. A pair of paint supply passages are provided in parallel, and both paint supply passages are selectively connected to the manifold via a branch valve, and a pump is disposed in each paint supply passage on the upstream side of the pump interposed therein. A second switching valve that can be freely switched between the side and the drain side is provided, and a cleaning liquid introduction pipe is connected to the passage between the second switching valve and the pump via a third cleaning valve. Color change coating equipment. 2. The color changing coating device according to claim 1, further comprising a third switching valve provided downstream of each of the drain passages, the third switching valve being able to freely connect each of the drain passages to each of the passage portions.