WO2008019727A1 - Unit for treating objects, in particular for cataphoretic immersion coating - Google Patents

Abstract

A unit (10) is described, in particular for cataphoretic immersion coating of objects. A transport device (14) having a movable moving mechanism (16) guides the objects through the unit (10) and in the process moves them into and out of a treatment container (12), in which they are loaded with a treatment fluid. At least one pivoting arm (26) is articulated on the moving mechanism (16), with at least one holding device for the objects. At least one force transmission device (30) is provided for transmitting a drive force (F<SUB>A</SUB>) from a drive onto the pivoting arm (26), in order to pivot the pivoting arm (26). Said force transmission device (30) has at least one element (32) which can be moved translationally by way of the drive and has at least one face (36) which is inclined with respect to its movement direction (18) and is curved concavely as viewed from the outside. At least one roller (38), the rotational axis (42) of which is arranged parallel to the pivoting axis (24) of the pivoting arm (26) and spaced apart from said pivoting axis (24) is connected fixedly to the pivoting arm (26), indirectly or directly. During the translational movement of the element (32), said roller (38) rolls on the inclined face (36) of the former in the angle of inclination and in the process pivots the pivoting arm (26) about its pivoting axis (24).

Description

 Plant for treatment, in particular for cataphoretic dip painting, of objects.

The invention relates to a system for treating, in particular for cataphoretic dip painting, of objects, in particular of vehicle bodies, with

a) at least one treatment vessel in which the objects can be acted upon by a treatment liquid;

b) at least one transport device which guides the articles through the system, thereby introducing and removing them into the treatment container and, in turn, comprises: a running gear movable along the path of movement of the articles; at least one pivoting arm articulated to the chassis; at least one holder attached to the swivel arm for at least one article; at least one power transmission device for transmitting a driving force from a drive to the pivot arm for pivoting the pivot arm.

In paint shops for vehicle bodies, but also for other objects, there are a multitude of treatment containers in which the articles are provided with a -Z-

be acted upon. By "loading" is meant here both the swelling and the spraying and the immersion of the objects with or into the treatment liquid. "Swelling" is a process in which relatively large quantities of treatment liquid are applied to the articles per unit of time. Such swelling is used, for example, for the rough cleaning of vehicle bodies in the so-called pre-treatment zone. Spraying is understood to mean the generation of a very fine spray which penetrates into all angles, cracks and other inaccessible areas of the objects to be treated. Such spraying processes take place, for example, both for cleaning and for phosphating, passivation or activation of surfaces and for rinsing off a treatment liquid. When immersed, the objects, as the name implies, are placed under the liquid level of a bath of treatment liquid. Immersion processes can also be found, for example, during cleaning and other processes taking place in the pretreatment zone, but also in the painting process itself.

Of particular importance in such systems is the way in which the articles pass through the system and are introduced into or out of the individual treatment containers. The used kinematics of the objects should first ensure that the objects in optimal Way of the treatment liquid reached, but also can be completely freed from the treatment liquid again. Secondly, the kinematics of the objects should be such that the length of the individual treatment containers and thus also the length of the entire system remains as short as possible.

From DE 102 10 941 Al a system of the type mentioned is known. The degrees of freedom of movement which the trolley for the articles used in the known system makes available meet the above-mentioned requirements. The force that is required for pivoting two parallel pivot arms is transmitted here with two geared motors in each case via a threaded spindle to a corresponding threaded sleeve, which is connected via a linkage and a shaft with the two pivoting arms. "The course of the drive torque for the pivot arms The geared motors must therefore be dimensioned for the maximum required driving force and are otherwise clearly oversized.To keep the driving force as low as possible, here are air-filled bellows or springs provided as energy storage, which are compressed when lowering the respective object and the energy released latches. In the upward ^¬ movement of the object, the cached energy is retrievable. Another known from DE 101 03 837 B4 system uses counterweights, which are attached to the respective object opposite ends of the pivot arms in order to keep the required driving force as low as possible. To hold the counterweights a linkage is required. Again, the course of the drive torque for the pivot arms of the pivot angle relative to the vertical or the horizontal is dependent and not linear.

Object of the present invention is to design a system of the type mentioned so that a constant as possible course of the required drive force over the entire pivoting process can be realized.

This object is achieved in that the power transmission device comprises:

c) at least one translationally movable with the drive body which has at least one opposite its direction of movement inclined surface which is concave curved viewed from the outside;

d) at least one roller whose axis of rotation is arranged parallel to the pivot axis of the pivot arm spaced therefrom and is connected directly or indirectly fixedly to the pivot arm and during translational movement of the body rolls on its inclined surface and thereby pivots the pivot arm about its pivot axis.

According to the invention, therefore, a kind of slotted guide is provided which has the form of a specially curved, inclined surface of a body on which the roller runs with minimal friction losses, via which the driving force is transmitted to the swivel arm. The special curvature profile of the inclined surface compensates to a considerable extent for the torque which is exerted on the swivel arm by the weight of the total load to be a function of the swivel angle, in particular a sine function. The required driving force is always almost constant over the entire swing path. This has the advantage that the drive means can be optimally dimensioned. About the degree of inclination of the inclined surface, the translation between the lifting force and the driving force can be specified.

In an advantageous embodiment, the curvature profile of the inclined surface may be predetermined depending on the load, the driving force and the initial position of the roller on the inclined surface with respect to the pivot axis. This has the great advantage that an optimal compensation of the swivel angle dependence of the load torque is achieved. In order to reverse the direction of the lifting force, for example, when the object is lifted vertically from the outside, to guide the roller along the inclined surface, on the side of the roller, which is opposite to the inclined surface, parallel to the inclined surface, a guide surface for guiding the Be arranged roller whose profile substantially corresponds to the inclined surface.

Furthermore, the roller can be connected via a pivot lever with the pivot arm. In this way, the wedge and the roller can be accommodated at a distance from the pivoting arm. For example, the wedge and the roller can be arranged protected from a treatment liquid laterally of the treatment container. The treatment liquid within the treatment tank, including the paint, can be so aggressive that the roller and the drive means of this treatment liquid should not be exposed. In contrast, the swivel arm can be made so insensitive that it is not damaged by the treatment liquid.

In order to simply guide the objects through the installation, the transport device can be a rolling or sliding transport vehicle. In a rolling trolley, the friction losses are lower, whereas a sliding trolley is less prone to aggressive handling fluids in particular. Particularly advantageously, the holder can be articulated on the swivel arm. In this way, the article can be additionally pivoted relative to the pivot arm. It can thus also be held in a certain orientation in the room when the swivel arm is pivoted.

When using a hinged bracket, it is advisable to provide independently operable drives for the pivoting of the pivot arm and the holder, so that the position of the object in the space within the limits set by the transport device is flexibly selectable.

For heavy items, the swing arm may cooperate with a weight balancer that can reduce the force required to pivot the swing arm.

In this regard, it is particularly preferred that the weight compensating device comprises an energy store which is able to temporarily store the energy released when the object is lowered, in particular by elastic deformation of a medium and from which the temporarily stored energy is reduced - Supporting the upward movement of the object is retrievable.

Alternatively or additionally, the pivot arm can carry a balance weight, whereby the driving force, which is required for pivoting the pivot arm, is further reduced.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing; show it

Figure 1 schematically shows an isometric view of a system for dip painting vehicle bodies with a transport device whose pivot arms are raised;

Figure 2 schematically shows the system of Figure 1 with lowered pivot arms;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the installation from FIG. 2;

Figure 4 schematically shows the system of Figure 1 in side view;

Figure 5 schematically shows the transport device of Figure 1 in plan view;

Figure 6 schematically shows the transport device of Figure 1 in the rear view;

Figure 7 schematically shows the transport device of Figure 1 in side view; FIG. 8 is a schematic detail of the transport device from FIG. 1 in an isometric view;

Figure 9 schematically in detail the transport device of Figure 2 in isometric view;

10 shows schematically a kinematic model of a

Power transmission device of a similar to that in Figures 1 to 9 system.

FIGS. 1 to 9 show a first exemplary embodiment of a system, indicated overall by the reference numeral 10, for the cataphoretic dip painting of vehicle bodies (not shown).

The plant 10 comprises a treatment tank 12, in the figures 1 to 4 below, which is filled up to a certain level with a not shown treatment liquid.

Above the treatment container 12 is a trolley 14, which leads the vehicle bodies through the system 10.

The trolley 14 has a further described below chassis 16, with which he in a known manner in the direction of an arrow 18 along the path of movement of the vehicle bodies, in Figures 1 and 2 from the left top to bottom right or in Figures 3 and 4 from left to right, is movable.

The trolley 14 has two in the direction of movement 18 extending longitudinal beams 20, at the bottom of each two double wheels, not shown, are rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis. The double wheels are located under corresponding recesses 22 in the direction of movement 18 front or rear of the longitudinal beams 20. In addition, the double wheels with

Help of a turntable, not shown, rotatable about a vertical axis, so that the orientation of the double wheels relative to the respective longitudinal beam 20 can be changed.

The double wheels roll on corresponding running surfaces, not shown. The treads are mounted on two known, parallel I-profile beams, which are mounted to extend in the direction of movement 18. The I-profile girders are supported by a steel construction, not shown. The double wheels are guided in a known manner so that they follow the course of the treads.

The double wheels of the trolley 14 are not driven by themselves. The forward drive of the trolley 14 is rather on separate known, also not shown press roller drives. The two longitudinal beams 20 are connected to each other by a shaft 24 which is perpendicular to the direction of movement 18 and is mounted at the top of the two longitudinal beams 20. On the shaft 24, two parallel pivot arms 26 are mounted in a rotationally fixed manner, at whose ends remote from the shaft 24, a tab (not shown) is drivably mounted in a drivable manner in a known manner via a geared motor (not shown).

The remote from the pivot arms 26 ends of the tabs are connected in a known, not shown manner by a perpendicular to the direction of movement 18 cross-beam, which in turn is rigidly connected to the middle region of a support platform also not shown for the vehicle body.

The right end area of the shaft 24 in the direction of movement 18 is connected to a power transmission device 30, with the pivoting of the pivot arms 26 in a manner described below a driving force whose direction in the figures 2, 3 and 9 by an arrow F _A is indicated, can be transferred to the pivot arms 26 of a Schwenkarmantrieb, not shown. The length of the arrow F _A is not related to the amount of driving force.

The power transmission device 30 is constructed as follows: It includes one with the Schwenkarmantrieb The wedge 32 is located on the outside in the direction of movement 18 left longitudinal beam 20 facing away from the outside of the right longitudinal beam 20. The wedge 32 has approximately the profile of a right triangle, which extends perpendicular to the shaft 24. In this case, a catheter defining the lower side of the wedge 32 runs in the direction of movement 18. On the lower side, the wedge 32 is guided on a wedge guide, which is indicated by two guide bodies 34 which are fastened laterally to the outer side of the right longitudinal crosspiece 20 and allow a straight guide of the wedge 32.

The hypotenuse of the triangle defines the top of the wedge 32. There, the wedge 32 has a surface 36 inclined to the direction of movement 18. The inclined surface 36 is concavely curved as seen from above.

The wedge 32 is furthermore connected to a closed drive chain (not shown), which extends along the right-hand longitudinal traverse 20 between the recesses 22 and is deflected in the region of the recesses 22 via an unillustrated sprocket. One of the sprockets is driven by a corresponding gear through an electric motor.

On top of the inclined surface 36 is located on a roller 38 which is rotatably mounted at the end of a pivot lever 40. The axis of rotation 42 of the roller 38 is parallel to the axis the shaft 24. The pivot lever 40 in turn is fixedly connected to the end portion of the shaft 24, which thus forms its pivot axis, and extends parallel to the pivot arms 26th

The roller 38 is pressed by the load, whose direction is indicated by arrows F _N , against the inclined surface 36, which consists essentially of the weight of the vehicle body, these supporting components and the pivot arms 26 and the pivot arms 26th attacking transmitted via the shaft 24 and the pivot lever 40. The length of the arrows F _N is not related to the amount of the load. When the high end of the wedge 32 is under the roller 38, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 to 8, the roller 38 holds the pivot arms 26 and with them the vehicle body in the upper position. If the wedge 32 is then moved translationally horizontally in the direction of movement 18, in the figures 1 to 9 to the right or to the bottom right, under the roller 38, this rolls the load F _N subsequent to the inclined surface 36 of the wedge 32 obliquely downwards , In this case, the pivot lever 40 and pivot about the shaft 24, the pivot arms 26 down to the lowered position; this lowered position is shown in Figures 2, 3 and 9.

In order to pivot the pivoting arms 26 back upwards, that is to say to raise the vehicle body, the wedge 32 is produced by the drive arm generated by the swivel arm drive. Chain transmitted driving force F _A (Figures 2, 3 and 9) in the opposite direction, ie against the direction of movement 18 translationally moved under the roller 38. The roller 38 is so inclined upwards on the inclined surface 36 rolling upwards relative to the wedge 32 and the pivot lever 40 and the pivot arms 26 are pivoted with it about the axis of the shaft 24 upwards.

The curvature profile of the inclined surface 36 is dependent on the load F _N , the driving force F _Ä and the initial position of the roller 38 on the inclined surface 36 with respect to the pivot axis of the pivot lever 40, so the axis of the shaft 24, given such that the ratio the required drive force F _a to the payload F _N is constant in particular during the pivoting of the pivot arms 26 during the entire pivoting process. The pivoting process can then be realized with a constant motor torque of the swivel arm drive during the entire swiveling operation. At constant translational drive speed of the wedge 32 and the vertical lifting speed for the vehicle body is then constant.

The translation of the driving force F _A to the payload F _N and the maximum lifting height are by the inclination of the inclined surface 36 and its extension in the direction of movement 18 of the wedge 32 and thus its maximum displacement range and the lengths of the pivot lever 40 and the Swivel arms 36 are predetermined and can be changed by varying these parameters.

The required curvature profile can be calculated using a suitable algorithm. For this purpose, suitable equations are explained in more detail below with reference to a second embodiment of a system.

FIG. 10 shows a non-scale kinematic model of a power transmission device 130 of the second exemplary embodiment similar to the power transmission device 30 of the first exemplary embodiment described in FIGS. 1 to 9. Those elements which are similar to those of the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals plus 100. The pivot lever 140 is arranged here in a different orientation to the shaft 124 than is the case in the first embodiment.

The wedge 132 ^λ is shown in dashed lines in Figure 10 right in an initial position in which the pivot arm 126 ^{λ is} lowered. In the initial position, the roller 138 'is at the foot of the inclined surface 136 *. On the left, the same wedge 132 is shown in a position with a slightly raised pivoting arm 126; the roller 138 is located here in a nearer area on the inclined surface 136 of the wedge 132. In the second embodiment, the following equations are suitable for calculating the specific curvature profile of the inclined surface 136, in order to enable a constant driving force F _A over the entire stroke-related or pivoting process:

Y = 1 - (sin φ - sin α + cos φ - cos α + cos α) K U

Where X _κ and Y _{κ are} the coordinates of the points to be calculated on the curve profile of the wedge 132 in a Cartesian coordinate system. The zero point of the coordinate system lies in the pivot axis 124 of the pivot lever 140, which is identical to that of the pivot arm 126. F _N is the payload, F _A the driving force, Io the distance of the pivot axis 124 to the axis of rotation 142 of the roller 138, α the angle between the longitudinal axis of the pivot lever 140 ^λ and the pivot arm 126 ^Λ in the initial position of the roller 138 'at the foot of the inclined Area 136 ^Λ and the vertical Y-axis of the coordinate system and Φ the pivoting angle of the pivot lever 140 and the pivot arm 126 relative to the initial position when the roller 138 is located on the point of the inclined surface 136 whose coordinates X _κ and Y _κ ZU are to be calculated , In all embodiments, each transport carriage 14 includes its own carriage control, under the regime of which it controls both its translational movement along the running surfaces and the pivotal movements of the pivoting arms 26; 126 and carries the support platform.

The overall movement of the support platform and the vehicle body held thereon results from a superimposition of the linear translational movement of the transport vehicle 14, a first pivoting movement, which the

Pivoting arms 26; 126 opposite the longitudinal beams 20; 120 perform and which is associated with a raising or lowering of the vehicle body, and a second pivoting movement, which is located on the support platform vehicle body relative to the pivot arms 26; 126 executes. All of these types of movements can be carried out completely independently of one another, which leads to virtually any motion kinematics of the vehicle body.

In a third, not shown, similar to the first two embodiments embodiment is on the side of the roller, which lies opposite the inclined surface, parallel to the inclined surface, a guide surface for guiding the roller arranged, whose profile substantially corresponds to the inclined surface. The guide surface guides the roller if the pivot arms and thus the roller would be relieved and otherwise lose contact with the wedge. This comes, for example, Example, when the vehicle body is raised from the outside.

In a fourth embodiment, not shown, in addition to the previous embodiments, the pivot arms cooperate with a weight compensating device, with which the driving force required for pivoting the pivot arms can be reduced. By way of example, the weight compensation device can comprise an energy store, preferably an air-filled bellows and / or a spring, which is able to temporarily store the energy released when the vehicle body is lowered, in particular by elastic deformation of a medium and from which the buffer is stored Energy to support the upward movement of the vehicle body is retrievable. In addition or as an alternative to the deformable medium, the pivot arms can carry a balance weight which compensates for the weight of the vehicle body.

In all the above-described embodiments of a system for the cataphoretic dip painting of vehicle bodies, the following modifications are possible, inter alia:

The invention is not limited to systems 10 for the cataphoretic dip painting of vehicle bodies. Rather, it can also be used in other types of equipment for treating objects in which the to be treated objects with a comparable kinematics are guided through the system.

Instead of just one treatment container 12, a plurality of treatment containers 12 in the direction of movement 18; 118 of the trolley 14 may be arranged one behind the other, in which preferably different treatments can be performed on the vehicle body.

Instead of the rolling transport vehicle 14, it is also possible to provide a transport device which is movable in another way, for example a sliding transport vehicle.

In addition, a multiplicity of transport carriages 14 can be provided which continuously or clocked one behind the other a plurality of vehicle bodies in the direction of movement 18; 118 transport.

The power transmission device 30; 130 carrying longitudinal beam 20; 120 may be formed as a box profile, which is above in the sliding region of the wedge 32; 132 has a slot through which the wedge 32; 132 protrudes and the one translational displacement of the wedge 32; 132 allows.

It can also at both ends of the shaft 24; 124 power transmission devices 30; 130 may be provided. Instead of the paired pivot arms 26; 126 may also only one pivot arm 26; 126 are used. There may also be more than two pivot arms 26; 126 are used.

The roller 38; 138 may take place via the pivot lever 40; 140 and the shaft 24; 124 with the pivot arms 26; 126 also be connected directly to the pivot arm 26; 126 attached.

Instead of the example described Krummungs- profile of the inclined surfaces 36; 136, also a different, viewed from the outside concave curvature profile may be provided.

The inclined surfaces can be located on another side of the wedge, for example a lower side, and the roller can roll from this side, in the example from below, on the inclined surface and be connected to the pivoting arm via a suitable deflection device.

The brackets for the support platform instead hinged and pivotally fixed to the pivot arms 26; In this case, the corresponding degree of freedom of movement is eliminated.

The pivot arms 26; 126 and the brackets can instead of independently with a common drive be drivable together or separately from each other, for example via a clutched transmission.

Claims

claims 1. Plant for treating, in particular for cataphoretic dip painting, of objects, in particular of vehicle bodies, with a) at least one treatment container, in which the objects can be acted upon by a treatment liquid; b) at least one transport device, which guides the articles through the system, thereby introducing them into the treatment container and applying them, and in turn comprising: - A movable along the path of movement of the objects chassis; - At least one hinged to the chassis pivoting arm; at least one holder attached to the swivel arm for at least one article; at least one power transmission device for transmitting a drive force from a drive to the pivot arm for pivoting the pivot arm, characterized in that the power transmission device (30; 130) comprises: c) at least one body (32; 132) which can be moved translationally with the drive and which has at least one surface (36; 136) inclined with respect to its direction of movement (18; 118), which is concavely curved from the outside; d) at least one roller (38; 138) whose axis of rotation (42; 142) is arranged parallel to the pivot axis (24; 124) of the pivot arm (26; 126) spaced therefrom and fixed directly or indirectly with the pivot arm (26; 126) which, during the translational movement of the body (32; 132), rolls on its inclined surface (36; 136) and pivots the pivoting arm (26; 126) about its pivot axis (24; 124). An installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the curvature profile of the inclined surface (36; 136) depends on the load (F _N ), the driving force (F _A ) and the initial position of the roller (38; 138) on the inclined surface (36; 136) with respect to the pivot axis (24; 124) is predetermined. 3. Installation according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that on the side of the roller, which is opposite to the inclined surface, parallel to the inclined surface, a guide surface for guiding the roller is arranged, whose profile substantially corresponds to that of the inclined surface. 4. Plant according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the roller (38) via a Swivel lever (40) is connected to the pivot arm (26). 5. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport device is a rolling or sliding dolly (14). 6. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holder is articulated on the pivot arm (26). 7. Installation according to claim 6, characterized in that independently operable drives for the pivoting of the pivot arm (26) and the holder are provided. 8. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivot arm cooperates with a weight compensating device, with which the force required for pivoting the pivot arm lent, can be reduced. 9. Plant according to claim 8, characterized in that the weight compensation device generates an energy Giespeicher which is able to temporarily store the energy released during the lowering of the article in particular by elastic deformation of a medium and from which the cached energy to support the upward movement of the object is retrievable. 10. Plant according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the pivot arm carries a balance weight.