EP3434381B1 - Spray treatment for cleaning a surface of a 3d part - Google Patents
Spray treatment for cleaning a surface of a 3d part Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3434381B1 EP3434381B1 EP17182926.0A EP17182926A EP3434381B1 EP 3434381 B1 EP3434381 B1 EP 3434381B1 EP 17182926 A EP17182926 A EP 17182926A EP 3434381 B1 EP3434381 B1 EP 3434381B1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- spray
- cleaning
- spray nozzles
- treatment system
- cleaning path
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B08—CLEANING
- B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- B08B3/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
- B08B3/02—Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays
- B08B3/022—Cleaning travelling work
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- 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
- B05B12/02—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area for controlling time, or sequence, of delivery
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- 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
- B05B12/08—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means
- B05B12/12—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus
- B05B12/122—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus responsive to presence or shape of target
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- 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
- B05B13/0221—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work characterised by the means for moving or conveying the objects or other work, e.g. conveyor belts
- B05B13/0235—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work characterised by the means for moving or conveying the objects or other work, e.g. conveyor belts the movement of the objects being a combination of rotation and linear displacement
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a spray treatment system according to claim 1 of the present disclosure and to a spray treatment method according to claim 10 of the present disclosure.
- KR 20160126358 discloses a robot that has a vehicle scanning module provided with a flying object module which is provided with a precession module and a controller for controlling an operation of the precession module.
- HDG steel hot-dip galvanized steel
- the HDG steel surface is generally required to be free from dust, contaminants, grease etc before a successful layer of paint is applied.
- HDG steel weathers naturally and byproducts develop on the surface throughout the weathering process and thus depending on time for which the HDG steel has been subjected to weathering, there are different elements present on the surface of HDG steel.
- Newly galvanized HDG steel has none or few zinc compounds on the surface, thus cleaning may not be required generally. However, cleaning of the surface may still be required to free the surface of dirt, dust, oil or grease.
- grease may be present from rollers that may have been used in a manufacturing step to roll the HDG steel.
- Partially weathered galvanized surfaces of HDG steel have a build-up of zinc compounds and, possibly, organic contaminants such as dirt, dust, oil or grease. These compounds/contaminants become attached to the zinc coating by electrostatic forces or otherwise and may get released from the surface over time.
- the zinc compounds mostly zinc oxide and zinc hydroxide, must be removed before painting.
- Partially weathered galvanized steel is the most common galvanized surface condition requiring painting, and also the most difficult to prepare and requiring thorough cleaning of the surface as part of surface preparation for subsequent painting.
- Fully weathered galvanized steel has zinc compounds covering the entire surface. The main compound in the fully weathered surface is zinc carbonate. Zinc carbonate is tightly adhered to the surface, is not water soluble, and does not wash off the surface when water hits the part. In fully weathered state, the zinc compounds need not be removed, as the paint performs better when the compounds are left on the surface.
- Fully weathered galvanized coatings are the simplest surface condition to paint, as only mild cleaning may be necessary.
- FIG. 1 schematically presents a side view of a conventionally known spray treatment system 2 for cleaning a surface 6 of a part 5 i.e. a surface 6 of an article formed of HDG steel.
- the conventionally known spray treatment system 2 hereinafter also referred to as the system 2, generally has a cleaning chamber 7 enclosing a cleaning space 90 or cleaning path 90 or cleaning volume 90 in which the part 5 is cleaned.
- On both sides 91, 92 of the cleaning path 90 are a plurality 22 of spray nozzles 20 located.
- the part 5 is generally moved into the cleaning path 90 and suspended above a bottom surface 93 or floor 93 of the cleaning chamber 7 in front of the spray nozzles 20, hereinafter also referred to as the nozzles 20, by using a conveyor mechanism for example from a hook 12 of a pneumatic conveyer mechanism.
- the nozzles 20 are supplied with a cleaning agent 3, for example a mild acidic solution (e.g. a mixture of 25 parts water to one-part acid) or a mild alkaline solution (e.g. a mixture of ten parts water and one part alkaline cleaner) via supply lines 86 that carry the cleaning agent 3 from a reservoir or supply (not shown) to the nozzles 20 propelled by a pump 82.
- a cleaning agent 3 for example a mild acidic solution (e.g. a mixture of 25 parts water to one-part acid) or a mild alkaline solution (e.g. a mixture of ten parts water and one part alkaline cleaner)
- supply lines 86 that carry the cleaning agent 3 from
- the cleaning agent 3 is ejected out of the nozzles 20 towards the surface 6 of the part 5 in form of sprays 25 or jets 25, hereinafter referred to as the cleaning jets 25 or simply as the jets 25, generally with a predetermined pressure for example a pressure of 1000 psi (pound per square inch) to 1450 psi or a pressure of 5000 psi or more.
- a predetermined pressure for example a pressure of 1000 psi (pound per square inch) to 1450 psi or a pressure of 5000 psi or more.
- This conventionally known system 2, and the method of surface treatment associated with the system 2 is generally effective for simple shaped articles as the part 5.
- Fig. 2 schematically represents a top view of the conventionally known system 2 being used for cleaning the part 5 having a more complicated shape than a simple sheet shape for example a frame of a television, or other household items such as a curved panel for a wardrobe, etc.
- Fig. 3 shows a section of the conventionally known system 2 and a section of the part 5 being used for cleaning of the surface 6 of the part 5.
- the surface 6 of the part 5 owing to the complicated 3D (three-dimensional) shape and/or size may have different portions or segments of the surface 6, hereinafter known as surface portions, that are oriented differently from a nozzle 20 ejected the cleaning jet 25 to clean the surface portions.
- surface portions hereinafter known as surface portions
- the surface 6 of the part 5 has a first surface portion 4 and a second surface portion 4' oriented at distances d and d' from the nozzle 20 as shown in Fig. 3 . Since the distances d and d' are different from each other, the cleaning jets 25 ejected from the nozzle 20 of Fig. 3 will attack the surface portions 4 and 4' differently that means with variable pressure, which may result from difference in distances and difference in an angle at which the jets 25 interact with a given surface portion 4, 4'. Thus, the cleaning effect at surface portions 4 and 4' are variable and thus difficult to regulate or control.
- Fig. 4 presents another embodiment of the part 5 having a shape of the part 5 different from a shape of the part 5 of Fig. 3 .
- the part 5 may have different subparts or portions such as a first section 5a and a second section 5b.
- the sections 5a,5b are relatively oriented in the part 5 such that the first surface portion 4 is shadowed by the second surface portion 4' in the direction from the nozzle 20 of Fig. 4 towards the part 5.
- the cleaning jet 25 ejected from the nozzle 20 of Fig. 4 would either not impact the first surface portion 4 or impact the first surface portion 4 substantially differently from the impact with the second surface portion 4'.
- the central axis 95 is a central line on the bottom surface 93 of the cleaning path 90.
- the central axis 95 is generally a straight-line segment, but nevertheless the central axis 95 may be curved depending on the cleaning path 90.
- the aforementioned object is achieved by a spray treatment system for cleaning a surface of a part according to claim 1 of the present invention, which presents a first aspect of the present technique.
- the part may be a hot-dip galvanized steel article, preferably having a 3D shape.
- the spray treatment system includes a conveyor mechanism, a plurality of spray nozzles, a part rotating mechanism, a 3D scanner, and a processor.
- the conveyor mechanism supports the part, for example by hanging the part from a hook attached to a pneumatic conveyor.
- the conveyor mechanism also moves the part along a cleaning path.
- Te cleaning path has a central axis along which the part is moved for example by moving the hook, from which the part is suspended, from one position to another position along the central axis.
- the spray nozzles spray a cleaning agent in form of cleaning jets towards the part.
- the spray nozzles are positioned along at least one side, and preferably along both sides in another embodiment, of the cleaning path.
- the spray treatment system of the present disclosure may have high pressure spray nozzles, i.e. that may be operated from 5000 psi to above for example from between 5000 psi and 10000 psi, and/or may have low pressure spray nozzles, i.e. that may be operated below 5000 psi for example from between 300 psi and 1000 psi.
- the part rotating mechanism rotates the part about an axis of the part such that the part is aligned in different orientations with respect to the central axis of the cleaning path.
- the part rotating mechanism may rotate the part as the part is moving from one position along the central axis to another position along the central axis and/or may rotate the part which the part is stationary along the central axis i.e. when the part is at a fixed or given location or position along the central axis.
- the 3D scanner scans the part before the part is cleaned, and preferably before the cleaning of the part is initiated.
- the 3D scanner thus determines a shape and/or a size of the part and correspondingly generates data indicative of the shape and/or the size so determined by the part.
- the processor for example a micro-processor or an FPGA, receives the data from the 3D scanner and directs the part rotating mechanism which in response to directions received from the processor rotates the part and thereby orients the part based on the shape and/or the size of the part such that a surface portion, i.e. a selected portion or segment of the surface, of the part is disposed at a predetermined distance from at least one spray nozzle, preferably a selected spray nozzle, of the plurality of spray nozzles.
- the relative distance between different surface portions, i.e. one or more selected portions of the surface, from the spray nozzles may be altered and thereby controlled, at least within a range.
- the angle at which a cleaning jet is incident on the surface portion from a given spray nozzle may also be altered.
- any surface portion that may otherwise be overshadowed by another surface portion may be exposed to the cleaning jet at least in some orientations of the part.
- the part rotating mechanism rotates the part about the axis of the part such that the part is aligned in different orientations with respect to the central axis of the cleaning path, while the part is at different positions along the cleaning path.
- the part rotating mechanism rotates the part about the axis of the part such that the part is aligned in different orientations with respect to the central axis of the cleaning path at different time instances, while the part is at same position along the cleaning path.
- the at least one spray nozzle with respect to which the surface portion is disposed at the predetermined distance, is operable independent from the other spray nozzles of the plurality of spray nozzles.
- operation of the at least one spray nozzle is achieved without requiring operation of the other spray nozzles. This provides more flexibility and control in choosing whether the surface portion is subjected to the cleaning jet or not.
- the processor controls the at least one spray nozzle to alter a pressure of the cleaning jet ejected out from the at least one spray nozzle compared to pressures of the cleaning jets ejected out from the other spray nozzles.
- a pressure of the cleaning jet ejected out from the at least one spray nozzle is also regulated and controlled, and may be operated at a predetermined or desired pressure which thereafter may be altered to another predetermined or desired pressure.
- the processor controls each of the plurality of spray nozzles to alter pressure of the cleaning jets ejected out from the spray nozzles.
- the processor may ensure that all the spray nozzles eject the cleaning jet at same pressure, and thus the present system may also be used for simple shaped articles as the part to be cleaned.
- a spray treatment method for cleaning a surface of a part according to claim 10, which presents a second aspect of the present technique is also achieved.
- the spray treatment method hereinafter also referred to as the method
- first the part to be cleaned is scanned using a 3D scanner, and consequently a shape and/or a size of the part is determined. Based on the scanning, data is generated by the 3D scanner. The data is indicative of the shape and/or the size of the part to be cleaned.
- the part for example a hot-dip galvanized steel article having a 3D shape, is then moved along a cleaning path.
- the cleaning path has a central axis, as described hereinabove for the first aspect of the present disclosure.
- the part is supported and moved along the cleaning path using a conveyor mechanism, as described hereinabove for the first aspect of the present disclosure.
- the part is rotated, by using a rotating mechanism, about an axis of the part, as described hereinabove for the first aspect of the present disclosure. Consequently, the part is aligned based on the shape and/or the size of the part.
- the part may be aligned in one of the various different orientations that the part may assume with respect to the central axis of the cleaning path.
- the part is aligned such that a surface portion of the part is disposed at a predetermined distance from at least one spray nozzle from a plurality of spray nozzles.
- the at least one spray nozzle is operated and thus a cleaning agent is sprayed in form of a cleaning jet onto the surface portion of the part.
- the alignment of the part and the effect of the alignment of the part are same as described hereinabove for the first aspect of the present disclosure.
- the at least one spray nozzle with respect to which the surface portion is disposed at the predetermined distance, is operated independent from the other spray nozzles of the plurality of spray nozzles.
- operation of the at least one spray nozzle is achieved without requiring operation of the other spray nozzles. This provides more flexibility and control in choosing whether the surface portion is subjected to the cleaning jet or not.
- a pressure of the cleaning jet ejected out from the at least one spray nozzle is altered, preferably compared to pressures of the cleaning jets ejected out from the other spray nozzles.
- a pressure of the cleaning jet ejected out from the at least one spray nozzle is also regulated and controlled, and may be operated at a predetermined or desired pressure which thereafter may be altered to another predetermined or desired pressure.
- the part is rotated by the part rotating mechanism about the axis of the part such that the part is aligned in different orientations with respect to the central axis of the cleaning path, while the part is at different positions along the cleaning path.
- the part is rotated by the part rotating mechanism about the axis of the part such that the part is aligned in different orientations with respect to the central axis of the cleaning path at different time instances, while the part is at same position along the cleaning path.
- Fig. 5 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a spray treatment system 1 of the present invention.
- the spray treatment system 1, hereinafter also referred to as the system 1, functions to clean a surface 6 of a part 5.
- the part 5 may be a hot-dip galvanized steel article, preferably having a 3D shape.
- An example of the part 5 may be, but not limited to, a frame for a television formed from hot-dip galvanized (HDG) steel, a front, back and/or side panel for a washing machine or a dishwasher or a refrigerator having surface contouring and/or shapes other than simple sheet form, a T-shaped, L-shaped, Z-shaped article or joint, a segment of a body of an automobile, and so on and so forth.
- HDG hot-dip galvanized
- the part 5 may be an article that is intended to be painted, and is being cleaned by the system 1 of the present disclosure or by a spray treatment method 100 shown in Fig. 10 of the present disclosure, as surface preparation prior to the painting or coating of the surface 6 of the part 5.
- the part 5 may be formed of HDG steel that has been galvanized more than 48 hours back and less than a year prior to cleaning performed of the part 5 by the system 1 and/or method 100 of the present disclosure.
- the system 1 includes a conveyor mechanism 10, a plurality of spray nozzles 20, a part rotating mechanism 30, a 3D scanner 40, 40', and a processor 50.
- the conveyor mechanism 10 for example a mechanical or pneumatic conveyor system supports the part 5, for example by hanging the part 5 from the hook 12, as shown in Fig. 1 , attached to the pneumatic conveyor.
- the conveyor mechanism 10 moves the part 5 along a cleaning path 90.
- the cleaning path 90 has a central axis 95 along which the part 5 is moved for example by moving the hook 12 from which the part 5 is suspended, from one position to another position along the central axis 95.
- Fig. 5 depicts the part 5 at different such positions.
- the central axis 95 may be understood as an imaginary central line on the bottom surface 93 of the cleaning path 90, or an imaginary line along which the net motion of the part 5 is executed by the conveyor mechanism 10.
- the central axis 95 is generally a straight line segment, but nevertheless the central axis 95 may be curved depending on the cleaning path 90. It may be noted that Fig. 5 depicts only one part 5 that is shown to be present at different positions 101,102,103,104 moving from an initial position to a subsequent position i.e. say from position 101 to position 102, then from position 102 to position 103, thereafter from position 103 to position 104 within the system 1.
- Fig. 5 depicts twelve spray nozzles 20 forming the plurality 22 of spray nozzles 20.
- the spray nozzles 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 20e, 20f, 20g, 20h, 20i, 20j, 20k, 201 spray a cleaning agent 3 in form of cleaning jets 25 towards the part 5.
- the cleaning jets 25 reach one or more regions of the surface 6 of the part 5 and perform the action of cleaning that region of the surface 6. This has been explained with respect to Fig. 1 .
- the spray nozzles 20 are positioned along at least one side 91, 92, and preferably along both sides 91, 92 in the embodiment of Fig. 5 , of the cleaning path 90.
- the spray nozzles 20 are supplied with the cleaning agent 3 via supply lines 86.
- the cleaning agent 3 may be induced to flow within the supply lines 86 and out of the spray nozzles 20, in form of the cleaning jets 25, due to action of a pump (not shown in Fig 5 ).
- the system 1 may have high pressure spray nozzles 20, and/or may have low pressure spray nozzles 20.
- the spray nozzles 20 may form different sections or segments of the system 1, for example the system 1 of Fig. 5 has four segments - namely scanning segment that is upstream of AA' as shown in Fig. 5 with respect to an arrow marked with reference numeral 96, a segment AA'-BB', a segment BB'-CC', and a segment CC'-DD'.
- the arrow 96 presents a direction in which the part 5 moves along the central axis 95.
- the part rotating mechanism 30 rotates the part 5 about an axis 9 of the part 5 such that the part 5 is aligned in different orientations with respect to the central axis 95 of the cleaning path 90.
- Figs. 7a and 7b schematically depict the part rotating mechanism 30 and its action on the part 5.
- the part rotating mechanism 30, for example a rotary drive, a servomotor, and so on and so forth may be installed as part of the conveyor mechanism 10 and may rotate the part 5 as shown in Figs. 7a and 7b along the axis 9 of the part 5.
- a rotation of the part 5 along the axis 9 is represented in Fig. 7a by an arrow marked with reference numeral 8.
- the relative orientation of a first and a second section or segment 5a, 5b of the part 5 is changed as a result of the rotation 8 about the axis 9 performed by the part rotating mechanism 30, hereinafter also referred to as the mechanism 30.
- the mechanism 30 may rotate the part 5 as the part 5 is moving from one position 102,103,104 along the central axis 95 to another position 102,103,104 along the central axis 95, i.e.
- the 3D scanner 40,40' scans the part 5 before the part 5 is cleaned, and preferably before the cleaning of the part 5 is initiated, for example when the part 5 is at the position 101 as shown in example of Fig. 5 , wherein the cleaning of the part 5 initiates only when the part 5 moves to the position 102 from the position 101.
- the 3D scanner 40,40' for example a 3D laser scanner, a photometric scanner, etc is generally a contact-less scanner i.e. the 3D scanner 40,40' scans the part 5 without direct physical contact to the part 5.
- the system 1 may include two 3D scanners 40,40' as shown in Fig.
- the part 5 or may have just one 3D scanner (not shown) and the part 5 is rotated 360 degrees to allow the one 3D scanner to scan surface 6 on all sides of the part 5.
- the number of 3D scanners 40,40' and the technique of scheme by which the part 5 is scanned may differ in different embodiments of the system 1, for example in an embodiment, the system 1 includes more than two 3D scanners 40,40'.
- the 3D scanners 40, 40' determine a shape and/or a size of the part 5 and correspondingly generate data indicative of the shape and/or the size so determined of the part 5.
- the processor 50 receives the data from the 3D scanner 40,40' and directs the part rotating mechanism 30 which in response to directions received from the processor 50 rotates the part 5 and thereby orients the part 5 based on the shape and/or the size of the part 5 such that a surface portion 4,4', i.e. a selected portion or segment of the surface 6, of the part 5 is disposed at a predetermined distance from at least one spray nozzle 20, preferably a selected spray nozzle 20, of the plurality 22 of spray nozzles 20.
- a surface portion 4,4' i.e. a selected portion or segment of the surface 6, of the part 5 is disposed at a predetermined distance from at least one spray nozzle 20, preferably a selected spray nozzle 20, of the plurality 22 of spray nozzles 20.
- the part 5 is rotated as compared to a non-rotated orientation of part 5 depicted in Fig. 3 .
- the part 5 is rotated as explained in reference to Figs. 7a and 7b hereinabove.
- the processor 50 using the 3D scan data indicative of the shape and the size of the part 5 calculates how much the part 5 has to be rotated with respect to the central axis 95 to be oriented in such a way that the surface portions 4 and 4' are oriented similarly, i.e.
- the processor 50 is also provided with the relative orientations of the spray nozzle 20, the central axis 95 and the spatial orientation of the part 5 with respect to the central axis 95 when the part 5 is in non-rotated or default orientation.
- Fig. 3 which may present an example of non-rotated or default orientation of the part 5
- the distance of the first surface portion 4 from the mouth 21 of the spray nozzle 20 is d which is greater than d', i.e. the distance of the second surface portion 4' from the mouth 21 of the spray nozzle 20.
- d' i.e. the distance of the second surface portion 4' from the mouth 21 of the spray nozzle 20.
- the part 5 may be rotated by the mechanism 30 such that an angle at which the cleaning jet 25 emanating from a selected spray nozzle 20 is incident on the first surface portion 4 may be manipulated by rotating the part 5.
- the first surface portion 4 that was otherwise overshadowed by the second surface portion 4' in Fig. 4 is exposed, as shown in Fig. 9 to the spray nozzle 20, in particular to the cleaning jet 25 ejected from the spray nozzle 20, as a result of the rotation 8 (shown in Fig. 7a ) of the part 5.
- the part rotating mechanism 30 may rotate the part 5 such that the part 5 is aligned in different orientations with respect to the central axis 95 of the cleaning path 90, while the part 5 is at different positions 102,103,104 along the cleaning path 90, as depicted in Fig. 5 .
- the part 5 is presented to be oriented in the default position when in the position 102 in the segment AA'-BB', thereafter the part 5 moves from the position 102 to the position 103 in the segment BB'-CC' and is now oriented in a different orientation than the default orientation, and finally the part 5 moves from the position 103 to the position 104 in the segment CC'-DD' and is then rotated into yet another orientation different than the default orientation and different than the orientation of the part 5 when the part 5 was in the segment BB'-CC'.
- the cleaning jets 25 are sprayed on the surface 6 of the part 5 when the part 5 is in desired orientations, for example cleaning jets 25 are sprayed onto the part 5 when the part 5 was in the orientations shown in Fig. 5 at positions 102, 103, and 104.
- the mechanism 30 has been depicted in Fig. 5 at three locations, which represent the locations of the same mechanism 30 as the mechanism 30 travels along the central axis 95 along with the part 5.
- Fig 6a represents a time instance t1 at which the part 5 is scanned by the 3D scanner.
- the part 5 is not subjected to any cleaning jets 25.
- the part 5 is moved by the mechanism 10 along the central axis 95 and consequently the part 5 attains a position between the spray nozzles 20a, 20b and the spray nozzles 20c, 20d, and an orientation, say default orientation, depicted by Fig. 6b that represents the position and the orientation of the part 5 at a time instance t2, chronologically subsequent to time instance t1.
- the cleaning jets 25, for example all with same parameters such as at same pressure, are sprayed onto the surface 6 of the part 5.
- the part 5 while remaining at the same position as in time instance t2 i.e. between the spray nozzles 20a, 20b and the spray nozzles 20c, 20d, is rotated by the mechanism 30 as explained for Figs. 7a and 7b and consequently the part 5 attains an orientation, say first orientation, depicted by Fig. 6c that represents the orientation of the part 5 at a time instance t3, chronologically subsequent to time instance t2.
- the part 5 while remaining at the same position as in time instances t2 and t3 i.e. between the spray nozzles 20a, 20b and the spray nozzles 20c, 20d, is rotated again by the mechanism 30 as explained for Figs. 7a and 7b and consequently the part 5 attains another orientation, say second orientation, depicted by Fig.
- the pressure from the spray nozzles 20 may be varied, and also as shown in Fig. 6a wherein no cleaning jet 25 is ejected from the spray nozzles 20 i.e. the pressure at which the cleaning jet 25 is ejected in Fig 6a may be zero.
- the at least one spray nozzle 20a with respect to which the surface portion 4,4' is disposed at the predetermined distance, is operable independent from the other spray nozzles 20b-20l of the plurality 22 of spray nozzles 20.
- the processor 50 controls the spray nozzle 20a to alter a pressure of the cleaning jet 25 ejected out from the spray nozzle 20a, for example compared to pressures of the cleaning jets 25 ejected out from the other spray nozzles 20b-20l.
- the cleaning jets 25 from the spray nozzles 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d all are ejected at the same pressure, whereas when the part 5 is in the position 103, the cleaning jets 25 from the spray nozzles 20f and 20g are ejected at a higher pressure than the cleaning jets 25 ejected from the spray nozzles 20e and 20h, and furthermore when the part 5 is in the position 104, the cleaning jets 25 from the spray nozzles 20i and 20l are ejected at a higher pressure than the cleaning jets 25 ejected from the spray nozzles 20j and 20k.
- the processor 50 may control the spray nozzles 20 to eject the cleaning jets 25 at different pressures, at least between the cleaning jets 25 ejected from two of the spray nozzles 20. However, the processor 50 may also controls each of the plurality 22 of spray nozzles 20 such that all the spray nozzles 20 eject the cleaning jet 25 at same pressure, as shown in Fig. 6b .
- the spray treatment method 100 of the present inventions as depicted in the flow chart of Fig. 10 is explained in combination with the system 1 explained hereinabove with reference to Figs. 5 to 9 .
- the spray treatment method 100 also referred to as the method 100
- firstly in a step 110 the part 5 to be cleaned is scanned using the 3D scanner 40,40', and consequently the shape and/or the size of the part 5 is determined.
- data is generated by the 3D scanner 40,40'.
- the data is indicative of the shape and/or the size of the part 5 to be cleaned.
- the part 5, for example a hot-dip galvanized steel article having a 3D shape is then moved along the cleaning path in a step 120.
- a step 130 of the method 100 the part 5 is rotated, by using the mechanism 30, about the axis 9 of the part 5, as described hereinabove with reference to Figs. 5 to 9 .
- the part 5 is aligned based on the shape and/or the size of the part 5.
- the part 5 may be aligned in a selected orientation from various different possible orientations that the part 5 may assume with respect to the central axis 95 of the cleaning path 90.
- the part 5 is aligned such that the surface portion 4,4' of the part is disposed at a predetermined distance from at least one spray nozzle 20, as described hereinabove with reference to Figs. 5 to 9 .
- a step 140 of the method 100 the at least one spray nozzle 20 is operated and thus a cleaning agent 3 is sprayed in form of the cleaning jet 25 onto the surface portion 4,4' of the part 4.
- the alignment of the part 5 and the effect of the alignment of the part 5 are same as described hereinabove with reference to Figs. 5 to 9 .
- the present invention refers to a spray treatment system 1 for cleaning a surface 6 of a 3D part 5.
- a conveyor mechanism 10 supports and moves the part 5 along a cleaning path 90 having a central axis 95.
- a plurality 22 of spray nozzles 20 positioned along sides 91,92 of the cleaning path are spraying a cleaning agent 3 in form of cleaning jets 25 towards the part 5.
- a 3D scanner 40,40' of the system 1 scans the part 5 to be cleaned and determines a shape and/or a size of the part 5 and generates corresponding data that is received by a processor 50 which then consequently directs a part rotating mechanism 30 to orient the part 5 based on the shape and/or the size of the part 5 such that a surface portion 4,4' of the surface 6 of the part 5 is disposed at a predetermined distance from at least one spray nozzle 20 from the plurality 22 of spray nozzles 20.
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- Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
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Description
- The present invention relates to a spray treatment system according to
claim 1 of the present disclosure and to a spray treatment method according toclaim 10 of the present disclosure. - As prior art
DE 10332443 is known which refers to a process of removing labels from an article and cleaning this article, wherein a spray treatment system is used that comprises nozzles, a conveyor mechanism and a rotating mechanism. - Further,
KR 20160126358 - In present times painting surfaces of articles, mostly made from metals and alloys, is an important manufacturing or post manufacturing fabrication step. For example successfully painting hot-dip galvanized steel, hereinafter also known as HDG steel, is important for increasing component life manufactured from HDG steel. Proper surface preparation, prior to the painting step, is crucial to ensure effective adhesion of the paint layer onto the HDG steel surface. The HDG steel surface is generally required to be free from dust, contaminants, grease etc before a successful layer of paint is applied.
- HDG steel weathers naturally and byproducts develop on the surface throughout the weathering process and thus depending on time for which the HDG steel has been subjected to weathering, there are different elements present on the surface of HDG steel. There are generally three weathering states: newly galvanized, i.e. generally less than 48 hours after being galvanized, partially weathered, i.e. generally exposed to the atmosphere for more than 48 hours after being galvanized but usually for less than one year, or fully weathered, i.e. generally more than one year of being exposed to the atmosphere, have different cleaning and/or profiling requirements.
- Newly galvanized HDG steel has none or few zinc compounds on the surface, thus cleaning may not be required generally. However, cleaning of the surface may still be required to free the surface of dirt, dust, oil or grease. For example grease may be present from rollers that may have been used in a manufacturing step to roll the HDG steel. Partially weathered galvanized surfaces of HDG steel have a build-up of zinc compounds and, possibly, organic contaminants such as dirt, dust, oil or grease. These compounds/contaminants become attached to the zinc coating by electrostatic forces or otherwise and may get released from the surface over time. The zinc compounds, mostly zinc oxide and zinc hydroxide, must be removed before painting. Partially weathered galvanized steel is the most common galvanized surface condition requiring painting, and also the most difficult to prepare and requiring thorough cleaning of the surface as part of surface preparation for subsequent painting. Fully weathered galvanized steel has zinc compounds covering the entire surface. The main compound in the fully weathered surface is zinc carbonate. Zinc carbonate is tightly adhered to the surface, is not water soluble, and does not wash off the surface when water hits the part. In fully weathered state, the zinc compounds need not be removed, as the paint performs better when the compounds are left on the surface. Fully weathered galvanized coatings are the simplest surface condition to paint, as only mild cleaning may be necessary.
- Therefore, cleaning is an integral step before most post processing steps, and especially before painting. Cleaning of simple shaped articles such as sheet or slab is easy to perform.
Fig. 1 schematically presents a side view of a conventionally knownspray treatment system 2 for cleaning asurface 6 of apart 5 i.e. asurface 6 of an article formed of HDG steel. The conventionally knownspray treatment system 2, hereinafter also referred to as thesystem 2, generally has acleaning chamber 7 enclosing acleaning space 90 orcleaning path 90 or cleaningvolume 90 in which thepart 5 is cleaned. On bothsides cleaning path 90 are aplurality 22 ofspray nozzles 20 located. Thepart 5 is generally moved into thecleaning path 90 and suspended above abottom surface 93 orfloor 93 of thecleaning chamber 7 in front of thespray nozzles 20, hereinafter also referred to as thenozzles 20, by using a conveyor mechanism for example from ahook 12 of a pneumatic conveyer mechanism. Thenozzles 20 are supplied with acleaning agent 3, for example a mild acidic solution (e.g. a mixture of 25 parts water to one-part acid) or a mild alkaline solution (e.g. a mixture of ten parts water and one part alkaline cleaner) viasupply lines 86 that carry thecleaning agent 3 from a reservoir or supply (not shown) to thenozzles 20 propelled by apump 82. Thecleaning agent 3 is ejected out of thenozzles 20 towards thesurface 6 of thepart 5 in form ofsprays 25 orjets 25, hereinafter referred to as thecleaning jets 25 or simply as thejets 25, generally with a predetermined pressure for example a pressure of 1000 psi (pound per square inch) to 1450 psi or a pressure of 5000 psi or more. This conventionally knownsystem 2, and the method of surface treatment associated with thesystem 2, is generally effective for simple shaped articles as thepart 5. -
Fig. 2 schematically represents a top view of the conventionally knownsystem 2 being used for cleaning thepart 5 having a more complicated shape than a simple sheet shape for example a frame of a television, or other household items such as a curved panel for a wardrobe, etc.Fig. 3 shows a section of the conventionally knownsystem 2 and a section of thepart 5 being used for cleaning of thesurface 6 of thepart 5. Thesurface 6 of thepart 5 owing to the complicated 3D (three-dimensional) shape and/or size may have different portions or segments of thesurface 6, hereinafter known as surface portions, that are oriented differently from anozzle 20 ejected thecleaning jet 25 to clean the surface portions. For example as shown inFigs. 2 and3 thesurface 6 of thepart 5 has afirst surface portion 4 and asecond surface portion 4' oriented at distances d and d' from thenozzle 20 as shown inFig. 3 . Since the distances d and d' are different from each other, thecleaning jets 25 ejected from thenozzle 20 ofFig. 3 will attack thesurface portions jets 25 interact with a givensurface portion surface portions -
Fig. 4 presents another embodiment of thepart 5 having a shape of thepart 5 different from a shape of thepart 5 ofFig. 3 . As shown inFig. 4 , thepart 5 may have different subparts or portions such as afirst section 5a and asecond section 5b. Thesections part 5 such that thefirst surface portion 4 is shadowed by thesecond surface portion 4' in the direction from thenozzle 20 ofFig. 4 towards thepart 5. As a result thecleaning jet 25 ejected from thenozzle 20 ofFig. 4 would either not impact thefirst surface portion 4 or impact thefirst surface portion 4 substantially differently from the impact with thesecond surface portion 4'. - Referring to
Fig. 2 , even if thepart 5 was moved in adirection 96 within thecleaning chamber 7 along acentral axis 95 of thecleaning path 90 for example by moving it along a conveyor mechanism or belt, and even if thepart 5 encounteredcleaning jets 25 from serially arrangednozzles 20 along bothsides cleaning path 90, still the disadvantage of cleaning some of the surface portions, such as thefirst surface portion 4 ofFigs. 3 and 4 , would still exist. Thecentral axis 95 is a central line on thebottom surface 93 of thecleaning path 90. Thecentral axis 95 is generally a straight-line segment, but nevertheless thecentral axis 95 may be curved depending on thecleaning path 90. - Hence, there exists a need for a spray treatment technique, preferably a spray treatment system and a spray treatment method, that would at least partially obviate the problems of uneven cleaning effect of conventionally known
systems 2 onparts 5 having 3D shapes. - It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a spray treatment, preferably a spray treatment system and a spray treatment method, that at least partially, and preferably completely, obviates occurrences of uneven cleaning effect on the different surface portions of a surface of a part.
- The aforementioned object is achieved by a spray treatment system for cleaning a surface of a part according to
claim 1 of the present invention, which presents a first aspect of the present technique. The part may be a hot-dip galvanized steel article, preferably having a 3D shape. The spray treatment system includes a conveyor mechanism, a plurality of spray nozzles, a part rotating mechanism, a 3D scanner, and a processor. - The conveyor mechanism supports the part, for example by hanging the part from a hook attached to a pneumatic conveyor. The conveyor mechanism also moves the part along a cleaning path. Te cleaning path has a central axis along which the part is moved for example by moving the hook, from which the part is suspended, from one position to another position along the central axis.
- The spray nozzles spray a cleaning agent in form of cleaning jets towards the part. The spray nozzles are positioned along at least one side, and preferably along both sides in another embodiment, of the cleaning path. Furthermore, the spray treatment system of the present disclosure may have high pressure spray nozzles, i.e. that may be operated from 5000 psi to above for example from between 5000 psi and 10000 psi, and/or may have low pressure spray nozzles, i.e. that may be operated below 5000 psi for example from between 300 psi and 1000 psi. The part rotating mechanism rotates the part about an axis of the part such that the part is aligned in different orientations with respect to the central axis of the cleaning path. The part rotating mechanism may rotate the part as the part is moving from one position along the central axis to another position along the central axis and/or may rotate the part which the part is stationary along the central axis i.e. when the part is at a fixed or given location or position along the central axis.
- The 3D scanner scans the part before the part is cleaned, and preferably before the cleaning of the part is initiated. The 3D scanner thus determines a shape and/or a size of the part and correspondingly generates data indicative of the shape and/or the size so determined by the part. The processor, for example a micro-processor or an FPGA, receives the data from the 3D scanner and directs the part rotating mechanism which in response to directions received from the processor rotates the part and thereby orients the part based on the shape and/or the size of the part such that a surface portion, i.e. a selected portion or segment of the surface, of the part is disposed at a predetermined distance from at least one spray nozzle, preferably a selected spray nozzle, of the plurality of spray nozzles.
- As a result of the rotation, the relative distance between different surface portions, i.e. one or more selected portions of the surface, from the spray nozzles may be altered and thereby controlled, at least within a range. Furthermore, the angle at which a cleaning jet is incident on the surface portion from a given spray nozzle may also be altered. Additionally, any surface portion that may otherwise be overshadowed by another surface portion may be exposed to the cleaning jet at least in some orientations of the part.
- The part rotating mechanism rotates the part about the axis of the part such that the part is aligned in different orientations with respect to the central axis of the cleaning path, while the part is at different positions along the cleaning path. Alternatively, or additionally, the part rotating mechanism rotates the part about the axis of the part such that the part is aligned in different orientations with respect to the central axis of the cleaning path at different time instances, while the part is at same position along the cleaning path.
- In an embodiment of the spray treatment system, the at least one spray nozzle, with respect to which the surface portion is disposed at the predetermined distance, is operable independent from the other spray nozzles of the plurality of spray nozzles. Thus operation of the at least one spray nozzle is achieved without requiring operation of the other spray nozzles. This provides more flexibility and control in choosing whether the surface portion is subjected to the cleaning jet or not.
- In another embodiment of the spray treatment system, the processor controls the at least one spray nozzle to alter a pressure of the cleaning jet ejected out from the at least one spray nozzle compared to pressures of the cleaning jets ejected out from the other spray nozzles. Thus, in addition to the distance from the spray nozzle and/or angle of attack of the cleaning jet ejected from the spray nozzle, a pressure of the cleaning jet ejected out from the at least one spray nozzle is also regulated and controlled, and may be operated at a predetermined or desired pressure which thereafter may be altered to another predetermined or desired pressure.
- In a further embodiment of the spray treatment system, the processor controls each of the plurality of spray nozzles to alter pressure of the cleaning jets ejected out from the spray nozzles. Thus, the processor may ensure that all the spray nozzles eject the cleaning jet at same pressure, and thus the present system may also be used for simple shaped articles as the part to be cleaned.
- The aforementioned objective is also achieved by a spray treatment method for cleaning a surface of a part according to
claim 10, which presents a second aspect of the present technique. In the spray treatment method, hereinafter also referred to as the method, first the part to be cleaned is scanned using a 3D scanner, and consequently a shape and/or a size of the part is determined. Based on the scanning, data is generated by the 3D scanner. The data is indicative of the shape and/or the size of the part to be cleaned. The part, for example a hot-dip galvanized steel article having a 3D shape, is then moved along a cleaning path. The cleaning path has a central axis, as described hereinabove for the first aspect of the present disclosure. The part is supported and moved along the cleaning path using a conveyor mechanism, as described hereinabove for the first aspect of the present disclosure. - Subsequently, the part is rotated, by using a rotating mechanism, about an axis of the part, as described hereinabove for the first aspect of the present disclosure. Consequently, the part is aligned based on the shape and/or the size of the part. The part may be aligned in one of the various different orientations that the part may assume with respect to the central axis of the cleaning path. The part is aligned such that a surface portion of the part is disposed at a predetermined distance from at least one spray nozzle from a plurality of spray nozzles. Finally, the at least one spray nozzle is operated and thus a cleaning agent is sprayed in form of a cleaning jet onto the surface portion of the part. The alignment of the part and the effect of the alignment of the part are same as described hereinabove for the first aspect of the present disclosure.
- In an embodiment of the method, the at least one spray nozzle, with respect to which the surface portion is disposed at the predetermined distance, is operated independent from the other spray nozzles of the plurality of spray nozzles. Thus, operation of the at least one spray nozzle is achieved without requiring operation of the other spray nozzles. This provides more flexibility and control in choosing whether the surface portion is subjected to the cleaning jet or not.
- In another embodiment of the method, a pressure of the cleaning jet ejected out from the at least one spray nozzle is altered, preferably compared to pressures of the cleaning jets ejected out from the other spray nozzles. Thus, in addition to the distance from the spray nozzle and/or angle of attack of the cleaning jet ejected from the spray nozzle, a pressure of the cleaning jet ejected out from the at least one spray nozzle is also regulated and controlled, and may be operated at a predetermined or desired pressure which thereafter may be altered to another predetermined or desired pressure.
- In a further embodiment of the method, the part is rotated by the part rotating mechanism about the axis of the part such that the part is aligned in different orientations with respect to the central axis of the cleaning path, while the part is at different positions along the cleaning path. In yet another embodiment of the method, the part is rotated by the part rotating mechanism about the axis of the part such that the part is aligned in different orientations with respect to the central axis of the cleaning path at different time instances, while the part is at same position along the cleaning path.
- Further benefits, goals and features of the present invention will be described by the following specification of the attached figures, in which components of the invention are exemplarily illustrated. Components of the system and the method according to the invention, which match at least essentially with respect to their function can be marked with the same reference sign, wherein such components do not have to be marked or described in all figures.
- The invention is just exemplarily described with respect to the attached figures in the following.
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-
Fig. 1 schematically represents a side view of a conventionally known spray treatment system according to the prior art, -
Fig. 2 schematically represents a top view of the conventionally known spray treatment system ofFig. 1 , -
Fig. 3 schematically represents a section of the conventionally known spray treatment system ofFig. 2 depicting a portion of a part to be cleaned and its relative orientation with respect to one of the spray nozzles, -
Fig. 4 schematically represents the section of the conventionally known spray treatment system ofFig. 3 depicting a portion of a part, different from a part ofFig. 3 , to be cleaned, and its relative orientation with respect to one of the spray nozzles, -
Fig. 5 schematically represents a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a spray treatment system of the present invention, depicting different exemplary orientations of a part at different sections of the spray treatment system, -
Fig. 6a schematically represents a top view of another exemplary embodiment of the spray treatment system of the present invention, depicting a part at an initial time instance t1, -
Fig. 6b schematically represents a top view of the exemplary embodiment of the spray treatment system ofFig. 6a , depicting an exemplary orientation of the part at a time instance t2, subsequent to the initial time instance t1 ofFig. 6a , and when the part is at a given location in the spray treatment system, -
Fig. 6c schematically represents a top view of the exemplary embodiment of the spray treatment system ofFigs. 6a and 6b , depicting another exemplary orientation of the part at another time instance t3, subsequent to the time instance t2 ofFig. 6b , and when the part is at the same location in the spray treatment system as depicted inFig. 6b , -
Fig. 6d schematically represents a top view of the exemplary embodiment of the spray treatment system ofFigs. 6a, 6b , and6c depicting yet another exemplary orientation of the part at yet another time instance t4, subsequent to the time instance t3 ofFig. 6c , and when the part is at the same location in the spray treatment system as depicted inFigs. 6b and6c , -
Figs. 7a and 7b schematically represent a side view of the exemplary embodiment of the spray treatment system showing an exemplary scheme of rotation of the part as performed forFig. 5 and forFigs. 6b to 6d , -
Fig. 8 comparable toFig. 3 , schematically represents a section of the spray treatment system ofFigs. 5 and6a-d depicting an exemplary orientation of a portion of the part, -
Fig. 9 comparable toFig. 4 , schematically represents the section of the spray treatment system ofFig. 8 depicting a portion of a part, different from a part ofFig. 8 , and -
Fig. 10 is a flow chart depicting a spray treatment method; in accordance with the present technique. - It may be noted that in the present disclosure, the terms 'first', 'second', etc are used herein only to facilitate discussion and carry no particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise indicated.
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Fig. 5 depicts an exemplary embodiment of aspray treatment system 1 of the present invention. Thespray treatment system 1, hereinafter also referred to as thesystem 1, functions to clean asurface 6 of apart 5. Thepart 5 may be a hot-dip galvanized steel article, preferably having a 3D shape. An example of thepart 5 may be, but not limited to, a frame for a television formed from hot-dip galvanized (HDG) steel, a front, back and/or side panel for a washing machine or a dishwasher or a refrigerator having surface contouring and/or shapes other than simple sheet form, a T-shaped, L-shaped, Z-shaped article or joint, a segment of a body of an automobile, and so on and so forth. Thepart 5 may be an article that is intended to be painted, and is being cleaned by thesystem 1 of the present disclosure or by aspray treatment method 100 shown inFig. 10 of the present disclosure, as surface preparation prior to the painting or coating of thesurface 6 of thepart 5. Thepart 5 may be formed of HDG steel that has been galvanized more than 48 hours back and less than a year prior to cleaning performed of thepart 5 by thesystem 1 and/ormethod 100 of the present disclosure. - The
system 1 includes aconveyor mechanism 10, a plurality ofspray nozzles 20, apart rotating mechanism 30, a3D scanner 40, 40', and aprocessor 50. - The
conveyor mechanism 10, for example a mechanical or pneumatic conveyor system supports thepart 5, for example by hanging thepart 5 from thehook 12, as shown inFig. 1 , attached to the pneumatic conveyor. Theconveyor mechanism 10 moves thepart 5 along acleaning path 90. The cleaningpath 90 has acentral axis 95 along which thepart 5 is moved for example by moving thehook 12 from which thepart 5 is suspended, from one position to another position along thecentral axis 95.Fig. 5 depicts thepart 5 at different such positions. Thecentral axis 95 may be understood as an imaginary central line on thebottom surface 93 of thecleaning path 90, or an imaginary line along which the net motion of thepart 5 is executed by theconveyor mechanism 10. Thecentral axis 95 is generally a straight line segment, but nevertheless thecentral axis 95 may be curved depending on thecleaning path 90. It may be noted thatFig. 5 depicts only onepart 5 that is shown to be present at different positions 101,102,103,104 moving from an initial position to a subsequent position i.e. say fromposition 101 toposition 102, then fromposition 102 toposition 103, thereafter fromposition 103 to position 104 within thesystem 1. -
Fig. 5 depicts twelvespray nozzles 20 forming theplurality 22 ofspray nozzles 20. However, the number ofspray nozzles 20, i.e. twelvespray nozzles 20 and their relative arrangement, depicted inFig. 5 is for exemplary purposes only and is not depicted as way of a limitation to the present invention. Thespray nozzles cleaning agent 3 in form of cleaningjets 25 towards thepart 5. The cleaningjets 25 reach one or more regions of thesurface 6 of thepart 5 and perform the action of cleaning that region of thesurface 6. This has been explained with respect toFig. 1 . Features and explanation provided hereinabove with respect toFig. 1 is included herein for explanation of thesystem 1 and themethod 100 of the present technique. The spray nozzles 20 are positioned along at least oneside sides Fig. 5 , of thecleaning path 90. The spray nozzles 20 are supplied with thecleaning agent 3 viasupply lines 86. Thecleaning agent 3 may be induced to flow within thesupply lines 86 and out of thespray nozzles 20, in form of thecleaning jets 25, due to action of a pump (not shown inFig 5 ). - The
system 1 may have highpressure spray nozzles 20, and/or may have lowpressure spray nozzles 20. The spray nozzles 20 may form different sections or segments of thesystem 1, for example thesystem 1 ofFig. 5 has four segments - namely scanning segment that is upstream of AA' as shown inFig. 5 with respect to an arrow marked withreference numeral 96, a segment AA'-BB', a segment BB'-CC', and a segment CC'-DD'. Thearrow 96 presents a direction in which thepart 5 moves along thecentral axis 95. - The
part rotating mechanism 30 rotates thepart 5 about anaxis 9 of thepart 5 such that thepart 5 is aligned in different orientations with respect to thecentral axis 95 of thecleaning path 90.Figs. 7a and 7b schematically depict thepart rotating mechanism 30 and its action on thepart 5. Thepart rotating mechanism 30, for example a rotary drive, a servomotor, and so on and so forth may be installed as part of theconveyor mechanism 10 and may rotate thepart 5 as shown inFigs. 7a and 7b along theaxis 9 of thepart 5. A rotation of thepart 5 along theaxis 9 is represented inFig. 7a by an arrow marked withreference numeral 8. As may be observed from a comparison ofFigs 7a and 7b , the relative orientation of a first and a second section orsegment part 5 is changed as a result of therotation 8 about theaxis 9 performed by thepart rotating mechanism 30, hereinafter also referred to as themechanism 30. As a result of the change in relative orientationdifferent surface portions surface 6 of thepart 5 may be oriented or disposed at different spatial locations with respect to one another and with respect to another reference such as one of thespray nozzles 20. Themechanism 30 may rotate thepart 5 as thepart 5 is moving from one position 102,103,104 along thecentral axis 95 to another position 102,103,104 along thecentral axis 95, i.e. while thepart 5 is still in motion along thecentral axis 95, and/or may rotate thepart 5 when thepart 5 is stationary along thecentral axis 95 i.e. when thepart 5 has moved to a position 102,103,104 along thecentral axis 95 and thereafter is stationary at that location or position 102,103,104. - The
3D scanner 40,40' scans thepart 5 before thepart 5 is cleaned, and preferably before the cleaning of thepart 5 is initiated, for example when thepart 5 is at theposition 101 as shown in example ofFig. 5 , wherein the cleaning of thepart 5 initiates only when thepart 5 moves to theposition 102 from theposition 101. The3D scanner 40,40', for example a 3D laser scanner, a photometric scanner, etc is generally a contact-less scanner i.e. the3D scanner 40,40' scans thepart 5 without direct physical contact to thepart 5. Thesystem 1 may include two3D scanners 40,40' as shown inFig. 5 or may have just one 3D scanner (not shown) and thepart 5 is rotated 360 degrees to allow the one 3D scanner to scansurface 6 on all sides of thepart 5. The number of3D scanners 40,40' and the technique of scheme by which thepart 5 is scanned may differ in different embodiments of thesystem 1, for example in an embodiment, thesystem 1 includes more than two3D scanners 40,40'. The3D scanners 40, 40' determine a shape and/or a size of thepart 5 and correspondingly generate data indicative of the shape and/or the size so determined of thepart 5. Theprocessor 50, for example a micro-processor or an FPGA, receives the data from the3D scanner 40,40' and directs thepart rotating mechanism 30 which in response to directions received from theprocessor 50 rotates thepart 5 and thereby orients thepart 5 based on the shape and/or the size of thepart 5 such that asurface portion surface 6, of thepart 5 is disposed at a predetermined distance from at least onespray nozzle 20, preferably a selectedspray nozzle 20, of theplurality 22 ofspray nozzles 20. This aspect has been explained in further details with reference toFig. 8 , which may be understood in comparison withFig. 3 . - As shown in
Fig. 8 , thepart 5 is rotated as compared to a non-rotated orientation ofpart 5 depicted inFig. 3 . Thepart 5 is rotated as explained in reference toFigs. 7a and 7b hereinabove. Say, during the cleaning of thepart 5, it is desired that thesurface portions mouth 21 of thespray nozzle 20 shown inFig. 8 . To achieve this, theprocessor 50 using the 3D scan data indicative of the shape and the size of thepart 5 calculates how much thepart 5 has to be rotated with respect to thecentral axis 95 to be oriented in such a way that thesurface portions mouth 21 of thespray nozzle 20. Theprocessor 50 is also provided with the relative orientations of thespray nozzle 20, thecentral axis 95 and the spatial orientation of thepart 5 with respect to thecentral axis 95 when thepart 5 is in non-rotated or default orientation. Thus, as shown inFig. 3 , which may present an example of non-rotated or default orientation of thepart 5, the distance of thefirst surface portion 4 from themouth 21 of thespray nozzle 20 is d which is greater than d', i.e. the distance of thesecond surface portion 4' from themouth 21 of thespray nozzle 20. However, as a result of the rotation 8 (shown inFig. 7a ) of thepart 5 by therotary mechanism 30 after being instructed so by theprocessor 50 results in such an orientation of thepart 5 with respect to thecentral axis 95 that the distance d of thefirst surface portion 4 from themouth 21 of thespray nozzle 20 is same as the distance d' of thesecond surface portion 4' from themouth 21 of thespray nozzle 20. - Similarly, the
part 5 may be rotated by themechanism 30 such that an angle at which the cleaningjet 25 emanating from a selectedspray nozzle 20 is incident on thefirst surface portion 4 may be manipulated by rotating thepart 5. Additionally, as shown inFig. 9 in comparison toFig. 4 , thefirst surface portion 4 that was otherwise overshadowed by thesecond surface portion 4' inFig. 4 is exposed, as shown inFig. 9 to thespray nozzle 20, in particular to the cleaningjet 25 ejected from thespray nozzle 20, as a result of the rotation 8 (shown inFig. 7a ) of thepart 5. - The
part rotating mechanism 30 may rotate thepart 5 such that thepart 5 is aligned in different orientations with respect to thecentral axis 95 of thecleaning path 90, while thepart 5 is at different positions 102,103,104 along the cleaningpath 90, as depicted inFig. 5 . For example, thepart 5 is presented to be oriented in the default position when in theposition 102 in the segment AA'-BB', thereafter thepart 5 moves from theposition 102 to theposition 103 in the segment BB'-CC' and is now oriented in a different orientation than the default orientation, and finally thepart 5 moves from theposition 103 to theposition 104 in the segment CC'-DD' and is then rotated into yet another orientation different than the default orientation and different than the orientation of thepart 5 when thepart 5 was in the segment BB'-CC'. The cleaningjets 25 are sprayed on thesurface 6 of thepart 5 when thepart 5 is in desired orientations, forexample cleaning jets 25 are sprayed onto thepart 5 when thepart 5 was in the orientations shown inFig. 5 atpositions mechanism 30 has been depicted inFig. 5 at three locations, which represent the locations of thesame mechanism 30 as themechanism 30 travels along thecentral axis 95 along with thepart 5. - Now referring to
Figs 6a to 6d , another exemplary embodiment of the present technique is explained hereinafter.Fig 6a represents a time instance t1 at which thepart 5 is scanned by the 3D scanner. At time instance t1 thepart 5 is not subjected to anycleaning jets 25. Subsequently, thepart 5 is moved by themechanism 10 along thecentral axis 95 and consequently thepart 5 attains a position between thespray nozzles spray nozzles Fig. 6b that represents the position and the orientation of thepart 5 at a time instance t2, chronologically subsequent to time instance t1. The cleaningjets 25, for example all with same parameters such as at same pressure, are sprayed onto thesurface 6 of thepart 5. Thereafter, thepart 5 while remaining at the same position as in time instance t2 i.e. between thespray nozzles spray nozzles mechanism 30 as explained forFigs. 7a and 7b and consequently thepart 5 attains an orientation, say first orientation, depicted byFig. 6c that represents the orientation of thepart 5 at a time instance t3, chronologically subsequent to time instance t2. The cleaningjets 25, for example thecleaning jets 25 ejected from thespray nozzles jets 25 ejected from thespray nozzles surface 6 of thepart 5. Finally, for the example ofFigs 6a to 6d , thepart 5 while remaining at the same position as in time instances t2 and t3 i.e. between thespray nozzles spray nozzles mechanism 30 as explained forFigs. 7a and 7b and consequently thepart 5 attains another orientation, say second orientation, depicted byFig. 6d that represents the orientation of thepart 5 at a time instance t4, chronologically subsequent to time instance t3. The cleaningjets 25, for example thecleaning jets 25 ejected from thespray nozzles jets 25 ejected from thespray nozzles surface 6 of thepart 5. - As shown in example of
Figs. 6b ,6c and 6d the pressure from thespray nozzles 20 may be varied, and also as shown inFig. 6a wherein no cleaningjet 25 is ejected from thespray nozzles 20 i.e. the pressure at which the cleaningjet 25 is ejected inFig 6a may be zero. In an embodiment of thesystem 1, the at least onespray nozzle 20a, with respect to which thesurface portion other spray nozzles 20b-20l of theplurality 22 ofspray nozzles 20. Theprocessor 50 controls thespray nozzle 20a to alter a pressure of the cleaningjet 25 ejected out from thespray nozzle 20a, for example compared to pressures of thecleaning jets 25 ejected out from theother spray nozzles 20b-20l. This has been depicted by different pressures at which thespray nozzle 20a is ejecting the cleaningjet 25 inFigs. 6b ,6c, 6d . Furthermore, the feature of thesystem 1 that the pressure at which thedifferent cleaning jets 25 impact thesurface 6 at different positions may be varied, is also depicted inFig. 5 which depicts when thepart 5 is in theposition 102, the cleaningjets 25 from thespray nozzles part 5 is in theposition 103, the cleaningjets 25 from thespray nozzles jets 25 ejected from thespray nozzles part 5 is in theposition 104, the cleaningjets 25 from the spray nozzles 20i and 20l are ejected at a higher pressure than the cleaningjets 25 ejected from thespray nozzles - Thus, the
processor 50 may control thespray nozzles 20 to eject thecleaning jets 25 at different pressures, at least between the cleaningjets 25 ejected from two of thespray nozzles 20. However, theprocessor 50 may also controls each of theplurality 22 ofspray nozzles 20 such that all thespray nozzles 20 eject the cleaningjet 25 at same pressure, as shown inFig. 6b . - Hereinafter, the
spray treatment method 100 of the present inventions as depicted in the flow chart ofFig. 10 is explained in combination with thesystem 1 explained hereinabove with reference toFigs. 5 to 9 . In thespray treatment method 100, also referred to as themethod 100, firstly in astep 110 thepart 5 to be cleaned is scanned using the3D scanner 40,40', and consequently the shape and/or the size of thepart 5 is determined. Based on the scanning, data is generated by the3D scanner 40,40'. The data is indicative of the shape and/or the size of thepart 5 to be cleaned. Thepart 5, for example a hot-dip galvanized steel article having a 3D shape, is then moved along the cleaning path in astep 120. Subsequently, in astep 130 of themethod 100, thepart 5 is rotated, by using themechanism 30, about theaxis 9 of thepart 5, as described hereinabove with reference toFigs. 5 to 9 . As a consequence ofstep 130, thepart 5 is aligned based on the shape and/or the size of thepart 5. Thepart 5 may be aligned in a selected orientation from various different possible orientations that thepart 5 may assume with respect to thecentral axis 95 of thecleaning path 90. Thepart 5 is aligned such that thesurface portion spray nozzle 20, as described hereinabove with reference toFigs. 5 to 9 . Finally, in astep 140 of themethod 100, the at least onespray nozzle 20 is operated and thus acleaning agent 3 is sprayed in form of the cleaningjet 25 onto thesurface portion part 4. The alignment of thepart 5 and the effect of the alignment of thepart 5 are same as described hereinabove with reference toFigs. 5 to 9 . - Thus, the present invention refers to a
spray treatment system 1 for cleaning asurface 6 of a3D part 5. Aconveyor mechanism 10 supports and moves thepart 5 along acleaning path 90 having acentral axis 95. Aplurality 22 ofspray nozzles 20 positioned alongsides cleaning agent 3 in form of cleaningjets 25 towards thepart 5. A3D scanner 40,40' of thesystem 1 scans thepart 5 to be cleaned and determines a shape and/or a size of thepart 5 and generates corresponding data that is received by aprocessor 50 which then consequently directs apart rotating mechanism 30 to orient thepart 5 based on the shape and/or the size of thepart 5 such that asurface portion surface 6 of thepart 5 is disposed at a predetermined distance from at least onespray nozzle 20 from theplurality 22 ofspray nozzles 20. -
- 1
- spray treatment system
- 2
- conventionally known spray treatment system
- 3
- cleaning agent
- 4
- first surface portion of the part
- 4'
- second surface portion of the part
- 5
- part
- 5a
- first section of the part
- 5b
- second section of the part
- 6
- surface of the part
- 7
- cleaning chamber
- 8
- rotation about the axis
- 9
- axis of the part
- 10
- conveyor mechanism
- 12
- hook
- 20
- spray nozzles
- 20a-l
- spray nozzles
- 21
- mouth of the spray nozzle
- 22
- plurality of spray nozzles
- 25
- cleaning jet
- 30
- part rotating mechanism
- 40,40'
- 3D scanner
- 50
- processor
- 82
- pump
- 84
- valves
- 86
- supply lines
- 90
- cleaning path
- 91
- first side of the cleaning path
- 92
- second side of the cleaning path
- 93
- bottom surface of the cleaning path
- 95
- central axis
- 100
- spray treatment method
- 101
- position of the part at the 3D scanner
- 102-105
- different positions along the cleaning path
- 110
- scanning the part
- 120
- moving the part
- 130
- rotating the part
- 140
- operating the spray nozzle
- 150
- altering pressure of the cleaning jet
- d,d'
- distances
- t1
- initial time instance
- t2
- time instance after t1
- t3
- time instance after t2
- t4
- time instance after t3
Claims (15)
- A spray treatment system (1) for cleaning a surface (6) of a part (5), the spray treatment system (1) comprising:- a conveyor mechanism (10) configured to support the part (5) and to move the part (5) along a cleaning path (90) having a central axis (95);- a plurality (22) of spray nozzles (20), each spray nozzle (20) configured to spray a cleaning agent (3) in form of a cleaning jet (25) towards the part (5), wherein the spray nozzles (20) are positioned along at least one side (91,92) of the cleaning path (90);- a part rotating mechanism (30) configured to rotate the part (5) about an axis (9) of the part (5) such that the part (5) is aligned in different orientations with respect to the central axis (95) of the cleaning path (90);characterized by- a 3D scanner (40,40') configured to scan the part (5) to be cleaned to determine a shape and/or a size of the part (5) and to generate data indicative of the shape and/or the size of the part (5) to be cleaned; and- a processor (50) configured to receive the data from the 3D scanner (40,40') and to direct the part rotating mechanism (30) to orient the part (5) based on the shape and/or the size of the part (5) such that a surface portion (4,4') of the surface (6) of the part (5) is disposed at a predetermined distance from at least one spray nozzle (20) from the plurality (22) of spray nozzles (20).
- The spray treatment system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spray nozzle (20a) of the plurality (22) of spray nozzles (20) is configured to be operable independent from the other spray nozzles (20b-20l) of the plurality (22) of spray nozzles (20).
- The spray treatment system (1) according to claim 2, wherein the processor (50) is configured to control the at least one spray nozzle (20a) to alter a pressure of the cleaning jet (25) ejected out from the at least one spray nozzle (20a).
- The spray treatment system (1) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the processor (50) is configured to control the plurality (22) of spray nozzles (20) to alter pressure of the cleaning jets (25) ejected out from the plurality (22) of spray nozzles (20).
- The spray treatment system (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the spray nozzles (20) are positioned on both sides (91,92) of the cleaning path (90).
- The spray treatment system (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the part rotating mechanism (30) is configured to rotate the part (5) about the axis (9) of the part (5) such that the part (5) is aligned in different orientations with respect to the central axis (95) of the cleaning path (90) at different positions (102,103,104) along the cleaning path (90).
- The spray treatment system (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the part rotating mechanism (30) is configured to rotate the part (5) about the axis (9) of the part (5) such that the part (5) is aligned in different orientations with respect to the central axis (95) of the cleaning path (90) at different time instances (t2, t3, t4) at a given position along the cleaning path (90).
- The spray treatment system (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the plurality (22) of spray nozzles (20) comprises at least one spray nozzle (20) operable at a higher pressure than the other spray nozzles (20).
- The spray treatment system (1) according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the plurality (22) of spray nozzles (20) comprises at least one spray nozzle (20) operable at a lower pressure than the other spray nozzles (20).
- A spray treatment method (100) for cleaning a surface (6) of a part (5), the spray treatment method (100) comprising:- moving (120) the part (5) along a cleaning path (90) having a central axis (95), wherein the part (5) is supported and moved along the cleaning path (90) using a conveyor mechanism (10);- rotating (130), by using a rotating mechanism (30), the part (5) about an axis (9) of the part (5); and- operating (140) the-at least one spray nozzle (20) from a plurality (22) of spray nozzles (20) to spray a cleaning agent (3) in form of a cleaning jet (25) towards the surface portion (4,4') of the surface (6) of the part (5)characterized by- scanning (110) the part (5) to be cleaned using a 3D scanner (40,40') to determine a shape and/or a size of the part (5) to be cleaned and to generate data indicative of the shape and/or the size of the part (5) to be cleaned; and- processing the data received from the 3D scanner (40,40') and directing the part rotating mechanism (30) to orient the part (5) based on the shape and/or the size of the part (5) such that a surface portion (4,4') of the surface (6) of the part (5) is disposed at a predetermined distance from said at least one spray nozzle (20) from the plurality (22) of spray nozzles (20).
- The spray treatment method (100) according to claim 10, wherein the at least one spray nozzle (20a) of the plurality (22) of spray nozzles (20) is operated independent from the other spray nozzles (20b-20l) of the plurality (22) of spray nozzles (20).
- The spray treatment method (100) according to claim 11, further comprising altering (150) a pressure of the cleaning jet (25) ejected out from the at least one spray nozzle (20a).
- The spray treatment method (100) according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the part (5) is rotated (130) such that the part (5) is aligned in different orientations with respect to the central axis (95) of the cleaning path (90) at different positions (102,103,104) along the cleaning path (90).
- The spray treatment method (100) according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the part (5) is rotated (130) such that the part (5) is aligned in different orientations with respect to the central axis (95) of the cleaning path (90) at different time instances at a given position along the cleaning path (90).
- The spray treatment method (100) according to any of claims 10 to 14, wherein the part (5) is a hot-dip galvanized steel article.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP17182926.0A EP3434381B1 (en) | 2017-07-25 | 2017-07-25 | Spray treatment for cleaning a surface of a 3d part |
TR2017/11067A TR201711067A2 (en) | 2017-07-25 | 2017-07-28 | Spray treatment for cleaning a surface of a 3D part. |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP17182926.0A EP3434381B1 (en) | 2017-07-25 | 2017-07-25 | Spray treatment for cleaning a surface of a 3d part |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3434381A1 EP3434381A1 (en) | 2019-01-30 |
EP3434381B1 true EP3434381B1 (en) | 2020-03-11 |
Family
ID=59592820
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP17182926.0A Active EP3434381B1 (en) | 2017-07-25 | 2017-07-25 | Spray treatment for cleaning a surface of a 3d part |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP3434381B1 (en) |
TR (1) | TR201711067A2 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN109847977A (en) * | 2019-02-15 | 2019-06-07 | 广东顺德德力印刷机械有限公司 | Coating equipment is used in a kind of production of lithium ion battery |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE10332443A1 (en) * | 2003-07-16 | 2005-02-10 | Josef Basic | Automatic removal of labels from packaging using a high-pressure jet, e.g. for use in the food processing industry, whereby the jets are activated using sensors and controlled so that they are only active during label removal |
KR20160126358A (en) * | 2015-04-23 | 2016-11-02 | 중소기업은행 | Drone-type smart carwash robot |
-
2017
- 2017-07-25 EP EP17182926.0A patent/EP3434381B1/en active Active
- 2017-07-28 TR TR2017/11067A patent/TR201711067A2/en unknown
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
None * |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN109847977A (en) * | 2019-02-15 | 2019-06-07 | 广东顺德德力印刷机械有限公司 | Coating equipment is used in a kind of production of lithium ion battery |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
TR201711067A2 (en) | 2019-02-21 |
EP3434381A1 (en) | 2019-01-30 |
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