CA1317168C - Process and apparatus for spraying a product onto opposite faces of a panel - Google Patents
Process and apparatus for spraying a product onto opposite faces of a panelInfo
- Publication number
- CA1317168C CA1317168C CA000585277A CA585277A CA1317168C CA 1317168 C CA1317168 C CA 1317168C CA 000585277 A CA000585277 A CA 000585277A CA 585277 A CA585277 A CA 585277A CA 1317168 C CA1317168 C CA 1317168C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- panel
- spraying
- apparatuses
- spraying apparatuses
- plane
- 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.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B13/00—Machines or plants for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces of objects or other work by spraying, not covered by groups B05B1/00 - B05B11/00
- B05B13/02—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work
- B05B13/04—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work the spray heads being moved during spraying operation
- B05B13/0405—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work the spray heads being moved during spraying operation with reciprocating or oscillating spray heads
- B05B13/041—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work the spray heads being moved during spraying operation with reciprocating or oscillating spray heads with spray heads reciprocating along a straight line
- B05B13/0415—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work the spray heads being moved during spraying operation with reciprocating or oscillating spray heads with spray heads reciprocating along a straight line the angular position of the spray heads relative to the straight line being modified during the reciprocating movement
-
- 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
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B24—GRINDING; POLISHING
- B24C—ABRASIVE OR RELATED BLASTING WITH PARTICULATE MATERIAL
- B24C3/00—Abrasive blasting machines or devices; Plants
- B24C3/08—Abrasive blasting machines or devices; Plants essentially adapted for abrasive blasting of travelling stock or travelling workpieces
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Spray Control Apparatus (AREA)
Abstract
DESCRIPTIVE ABSTRACT
The present invention relates to a process and an apparatus for spraying a product, e.g. paint, onto the two faces of a panel (88). which can be curved. The latter moves horizontally between two paint spray guns (54,56) mounted on a frame (34). The guns travel vertically in translation, whilst continuing to face one another. The paint discharge nozzles (64) are mounted on segments (60) mobile in rotation with respect to the guns (54,56). Thus, the paint jets can have a constant orientation with respect to a plane tangential to a median surface of the panel at the impact point. This apparatus makes it possible to simultaneously paint two faces of a curved panel.
(Fig.2) SP 4666.69 GP
The present invention relates to a process and an apparatus for spraying a product, e.g. paint, onto the two faces of a panel (88). which can be curved. The latter moves horizontally between two paint spray guns (54,56) mounted on a frame (34). The guns travel vertically in translation, whilst continuing to face one another. The paint discharge nozzles (64) are mounted on segments (60) mobile in rotation with respect to the guns (54,56). Thus, the paint jets can have a constant orientation with respect to a plane tangential to a median surface of the panel at the impact point. This apparatus makes it possible to simultaneously paint two faces of a curved panel.
(Fig.2) SP 4666.69 GP
Description
131716~
Process and apparatus for spraying a product onto opposite faces of a panel.
Description The present invention relates to a process and an apparatus making it possible to spray a produc-t, more particularly paint, onto the opposite faces of a panel, which may be curved.
In the aeronautical and space fields, it is necessary to paint or protect with the aid of a protective product panels, whose shape is generally curved, because they can e.g.
be fuselage elements. At present, use is made of conventional industrial painting methods for painting such panels.
Generally, the panel is brought to a loading station, where it is attached beneath a ~rder or beam travelling in an overhead rail. A travelling crane manipulates the assembly and positions the points in order that the panel can be manually brought into a painting charnber. Within the latter the paint is applied manually by an operator using a pneu-matic gun. As the panels generally are of a considerablesize, which can e.g. represent a height and!or length of several metres, certain difficulties are encountered when painting the top and bottom parts. In order to paint the top parts (which can be approximately 2.5 metres above the ground), use is made of an appropriate auxilliary means, whereas in the case of ~he bottom parts (positioned approx-imately 0.5 metre above the ground), the operator has to stoop. This succession of movements in such a difficult environment makes this work unpleasant.
However, automated painting systems already exist.
In a ~irst system, an operator applies the paint or prot-I ective product to the first part by manually moving a robot.
SP 4666.69 GP
Process and apparatus for spraying a product onto opposite faces of a panel.
Description The present invention relates to a process and an apparatus making it possible to spray a produc-t, more particularly paint, onto the opposite faces of a panel, which may be curved.
In the aeronautical and space fields, it is necessary to paint or protect with the aid of a protective product panels, whose shape is generally curved, because they can e.g.
be fuselage elements. At present, use is made of conventional industrial painting methods for painting such panels.
Generally, the panel is brought to a loading station, where it is attached beneath a ~rder or beam travelling in an overhead rail. A travelling crane manipulates the assembly and positions the points in order that the panel can be manually brought into a painting charnber. Within the latter the paint is applied manually by an operator using a pneu-matic gun. As the panels generally are of a considerablesize, which can e.g. represent a height and!or length of several metres, certain difficulties are encountered when painting the top and bottom parts. In order to paint the top parts (which can be approximately 2.5 metres above the ground), use is made of an appropriate auxilliary means, whereas in the case of ~he bottom parts (positioned approx-imately 0.5 metre above the ground), the operator has to stoop. This succession of movements in such a difficult environment makes this work unpleasant.
However, automated painting systems already exist.
In a ~irst system, an operator applies the paint or prot-I ective product to the first part by manually moving a robot.
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The movements of the latter are recorded, together with information on the products, i.e. the nature thereof as a function of the location to be painted or protected and this constitutes the painting or protection program for such parts.
In a second system, the operator carries out the application of the protective product or paint to the first part by moving a means which is lighter than a robot, said means being called a "syntaxer". It is the movments of said syntaxer which are recorded, together with the information concerning the products and constituting the program for this type of part. It is this program which is carried out by the robot during the subsequent treatment of a series of parts of this type.
In a third system, the operator moves a syntaxer, which represents the robot and the movements performed by the syntaxer are reproduced by the robot, which consequently carries out the first part. The movements of the robot are recorded, together with the information on the products and this represents the program for the particular part type in question.
Finally, in other sys-tems, use is made of a computer which determines the displacements of the robot as a Eunction of the coordinates of certain points of the part. For example, a programmer can give the computer the coordinates of certain points linked by velocities and accelerations, as well as the information on the products. The computer carries out a calibration in order to calculate a mean value and correct possible errors, said mean value constit-uting the pro~ram for the considered type of part.
Although these systems are automated, they suffer from a certain number of disadvantages when it is necessary I
SP 4666.69 GP
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to paint the two faces of a curved panel. Thus, all these systems use robots only dealing with a single face of the panel at once. In order to paint or protect the two faces, it is necessary either to turn over the panel, or to pass the robot on the other side thereof, or have two facing robots. In all these cases, the program of the first face differs from that of the second face. It is therefore necessary to have a significant storage capacity and it is necessary to check that the face of the panel facing the robot does indeed correspond to the selected program.
Moreover, it is necessary to ensure the good positioning of the part in space, which requires special attachment tools.
The object of the present invention is to eliminate these disadvantages by proposing a spraying process and apparatus making it possible to simultaneously treat the two faces of a panel, whilst having a minimum number of controlled axis for controlling the product application means and which do not make it necessary to have a separate program for each type of part.
The presen-t invention therefore proposes a process for the spraying of a product simultaneously onto two opposite faces of a randomly shaped panel, characterized by posit-ioning in facing manner at least one pair of spraying apparatuses in an arrangement such that a fictitious impact point common to each pair of apparatuses is located on a median surface positioned equidistantly of the opposite faces oE the panel, each apparatus having an orientation determined with respect to a plane tangential to said median surface and passing through said fictitious impact point and being located at a given distance from said plane;
and producing a relative displacement between the panel and the spraying apparatuses parallel to said plane, the SP 4666.69 GP
131716~3 spraying apparatuses being kept in said arrangement by simultaneously moving them in a transverse direction with respect to the panel in order to maintain the fictitious impact point on said median surface and by simultaneously orienting them about a common axis perpendicular to said transverse direction and passing through the fictitious impact point, in order to keep constant the orientation of each apparatus with respect to the tangential plane.
Through using two facing sprayin~ apparatuses, it is possible to simultaneously treat the two ~aces and reduce the time and therefore cost of an operation. Moreover, through permanently maintaining said apparatuses in a given orien-tation with respect to the plane tangential to the median surface of the panel and passing through the fictitious impace point and at a given distance from said plane, it is possible to simultaneously treat the two faces of a curved panel with the aid of a single program, whilst only having two movements to control for the spraying apparatuses, e.g. and as will be shown hereinaft~r, a translation and a rotation of the supports on which are mounted the spraying apparatuses.
Within the context of the present description, the word "jet~ is considered in its most general sense for desig-nating a mist discharged by a sprayer, as well as a jet of liquid ejected under pressure.
In view of the fact that use is made of two spraying appar-atuses discharging jets of product onto each of the faces of a panel, it is obvious that there are at least two impact points, i.e. one on each face of the panel. Within the present description, the expression "real impact point"
can designate both a small spot corresponding to the location where the product is deposited on the panel at a given SP 4666.69 GP
- 5 - l 3 1 7 1 6 ~
time and the centre of said spot when using apparatuses making it possible to cover a relatively large area, e.g.
a sprayer. The expression "the fictitious impact point"
in all cases designates the centre of the segment joining the real impact points of each face.
According to another aspect of the process according to the invention, said relative displacement between the panel and the spraying apparatuses is brought about by moving the panel between the sprayer apparatuses in a first dir-ection parallel to said common axis and by simultaneously giving the spraying apparatuses a regular, reciprocating movement in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and to the transverse direction.
According to another aspect of the process according to the invention, the panel is firstly passed infront of a learning system, which determines the shape and dimensions of the panel and on the basis of said characteristics ~0 establishes a program then making it possible to produce said relative displacement between the panel and the spraying apparatuses.
Thus, an individual program is produced for each panel to be treated, so that it is no longer necessary to have a program for each type of part, as was necessary in the prior art. This required a large storage capacity and therefore a more complex and costly apparatus.
The invention also relates to an apparatus for performing this process. According to the main feature of said apparatus, it comprises:
- at least one pair of facing spraying apparatuses and having a common fictitious impact point, 5 - means for producing a relative displacement between the panel and the spraying apparatuses and SP 4666.69 GP
1 31 7 1 6~
- means for maintaining the spraying apparatuses in an arrangement such that their common fictitious impact point is located on a median surface positioned equidis-tantly of the opposite faces of the panel and that their orientation with respect to a tangential plane to said median surface and passing through said fictitious impact point and their distance from said plane remain constant, whereby said latter means comprise first means for simultan-eously displacing the spraying apparatuses in a transvexse direction ~ith respect to the panel making it po~ible to keep constant the distance separating the apparatuses from said plane, together with second means for simultaneously pivoting the spraying apparatuses about a common axis per-pendicular to said transverse direction and passing through said fictitious impact point, so that the orientation of said apparatuses with respect to said plane can be kept constant.
Preferably, the means for producing a relative displacement between the panel and the spraying apparatuses comprises third means for passing the panel between the spraying apparatuses in a first direction parallel to said common axis and fourth means for simultaneously making the spraying apparatuses carry out a regular, reciprocating movement in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and to the transverse direction.
Preferably, the spraying apparatuses are mounted on carriages able to move simultaneously on two parallel posts of a support frame under the action of a fourth means, the support frame itself being able to move in its plane in accordance with said transverse direction under the action of the first means, whi~st each spraying apparatus is mounted on one of the carriages so as to be pivotable about said common axis under the action of second means.
SP 4666.69 GP
131716~
In this case, the fourth means comprises a cable and pulley return system controlled by drive means and arranged on the frame in such a way that an actuation of the drive means produces a simultaneous displacement of the carriages in the same direction and by the same length.
Preferably, the third means successively pass the panel infront of a learning system and then between the spraying apparatuses, the learning system determining the shape and dimensions of the panel and transmitting the charac-teristics thereof to a computer, which draws up a control program relative to the first, second and fourth means when the panel passes between the spraying apparatuses.
The invention can be better gathered from studying the following description given in a purely illustrative and non-limitative manner with reference to the attached drawings, wherein show:
0 Fig.l a diagrammatic plan view of a painting installation incorporating an apparatus according to the invention.
Fig.2 is a diagrammatic view in eleYation of an apparatus according to the invention in accordance with arrow F in Fig.l.
On considering Fig.l, it can be seen that the painting installation firstly comprises a loading station 10 by which the panels to be painted arrive. The loading station has one or more linear rails 12 making it possible to move the panels or leave them in a waiting position. The panels are attached by their upper part to rails 12.
A transfer beam 14 manipulated with the aid of a travelling crane (not shown in Fig.l) is displaceable between a first position 14a, shown in continuous line form, and a second I
SP 4666.69 GP
--1 3 1 7 1 6~
position 14b diagrammatically shown in mi~ed line form.
In position 14a, beam 14 is located substan~ially in the extension of rail 12, whilst in position 14b it is located in the extension of a rail 16 similar to rail 12 and which makes it possible to pass the panel firstly infront of a learning system 18 and then infront of the painting apparatus 26 according to the invention.
The learning system 18 is an identification and telemetry apparatus, which can e.g. incorporate two detectors 19 be~ween which the panel passes. System 18 determines the characteristics of the panel, such as its shape and size.
It is connected to a computer 20, which produces a painting program as a function of said characteristics. In an ent-irely automatic manner said program controls the paintingapparatus 26, which will be described in greater detail hereinafter relative to Fig.2.
A partition 22 shown in mixed line form in Fig.l and having an opening 24, in the painting installation shown therein separates the area where the learning system 18 and computer 20 are located from the area where the painting apparatus 26 is located. Opening 24 is in the form of a thin vertical slit (i.e. perpendicular to the plane of Fig.l), its width being just sufficient to permit the passage of the panel.
Partition 22 makes it possible to protect the remainder of the installation against sprayed paint.
Fig.l shows a second transfer beam 28, which moves between a first position 28a, shown in continuous line form, and one or more positions 28b, shown in mixed line form. In position 28a beam 28 is located in the extension of rail 16, but on the side opposite to beam 14 with respect thereto.
Beam 28, which can be manipulated by a ~avelling crane, makes it possible to transfer thepanels leaving the painting SP 4666.69 GP
- 9 - 1 3 1 7 1 6~3 apparatus 26 and bring them into an oven 30 where they are dried. A system of rails ~ located in the upper part of the oven makes it possible to transfer said panels from one end o~ the oven to the other. When the beam 28 occupies one of the positions 28b, it is located in the extension of a rail 32. Rails 3~ can be constructed in the same way as rails 12 and 16.
Painting in the installation illustrated in Fig.1 takes place in the following way. The panels to be painted are attached by their upper part to rails 12, which makes it possible to bring them to the right-hand end thereof on considering the drawing, i.e. into the vicinity of the circulation zone of beam 14. ~y means of the travelling crane, the latter is brought facing the rail 12 where the panel to be painted is located and said panel is trans-ferred from rail 12 to beam 14. This transfer can take place by using any known means in the handling field.
Beam 14 is at this instant in position 14a and then, when the panel is attached thereto, it is moved to position 14b. By a manipulation which is the opposite to that des-cribed hereinbefore, the panel is detached from beam 14 and attached to rail 16. It then moves along the latter, from right to left considering Fig.l. It firstly passes infront of the learning system 18 between the two detectors 19. As the panel moves batween the detectors 19, system 18 determines the shape and exact dimensions of the panel and these characteristics are transmitted to the computer 20, which produces the painting program as a function of the thus determined shape. The panel continues its path, passes through the slit 24 of pa~tition 22 and arrives level with apparatus 26.
In the preferred embodiment illustrated here and which will be described in greater detail hereinafter relative SP 4666.69 GP
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to Fig.2, apparatus 26 essentially comprises a frame having two vertical posts along ~hich travel the paint spraying apparatuses or guns. The displacements of the frame, the guns with respect to the frame and the supply of paint to the panel are determined, as the latter moves, by the program previously produced by computer 20.
Once the operation is completed, i.e. once the panel has completely left the apparatus 26, it is positioned at the left-hand end of rail 16 on considering Fig.l. Beam 28 is then brought into position 28a and the panel is trans-ferred from rail 16 to said beam. This operation can be carried out in the same way as hereinbefore. The travelling crane carrying the beam 28 is then manipulated until the beam reaches one of the positiones 28b. If necessary, at said level the panel can undergo a desolvation operation.
The panel is then detached from the beam 28 and attached to the corresponding rail 32. It can then pass through the oven at an adequate speed to ensure that drying is completed during said passage. ~hen the panel arrives at the end of the rail 32 opposite to beam 28, i.e. its right-hand end when considering the drawing, beam 14 is brought into an intexmediate position between positions 14a and 14b and in which it is located in the extension of rail 32. The panel is then detached from the latter and attached to beam 14, then the travelling crane manip-ulates the latter in order to bring the panel to the dis-charge system.
A description will now be given of the paint sprayiny apparatus 26 according to the invention with reference to Fig.2.
In the preferred embodiment, apparatus 26 essentially comprises a frame 34 having two parallel vertical posts 36 and 38 of substantially the same length and whose upper SP 4666.69 GP
11 13l7l6~
and lower ends are connected by two horizontal cross-beams 40,42 respectively. This frame is located in a plane per-pendicular to the displacement direction of panel 88 and is mounted on a fixed framework 43, so as to be movable in its plane in accordance with a horizontal direction contained therein, i.e. from right to left and vice versa when considering Fig.2. To this end, a screw-nut sys~em is mounted between the upper part of frame 34 and the fixed framework. The nut is constituted by a connec-ting part 44 fixed the centre of the upper cross-beam 40. This nut cooperates with a horizontal screw 46 supported by the framework and manipulated by a motor 48. Rollers 50 fixed to the lower cross-beam 42 of frame 34 enable the latter to be guided by a rail 52 integral with the framework during said movement.
The apparatus also has two paint spraying devices or guns, which are positioned facing one another on frame 34.
The first of these guns 54 is mounted on the vertical post 36 of frame 34, whilst the second gun 56 is mounted on vertical post 38. Guns 54 and 56 are identical. Each of the guns 54,56 is mounted on a carriage 55,58 mobile in translation along post 36,38, carriages 55 and 58 being at the same height on frame 34, as is shown in Fig.2.
In its part turned towards the interior of frame 34, each of the carriages 55,58 supports a toothed segment 60 mobile in translation with respect to said carriage and on which are mounted the nozzle 64 used for the discharge of the paint or any other product which it is wished to deposit on the panel. The two toothed segmen-ts 60 ha~e a common rotation axis passing through a fictitious impact point, common to the two guns 54,56 and perpendicular to the plane of the frame 34. A tooth system 61 formed on each of the toothed segments 60 meshes on a worm screw 62, whose axis SP 4666.69 GP
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is parallel to posts 36 and 38 and which is supported in rotary manner by the corresponding carriage 55,58. Conseq-uently, the rotation of each screw 62, controlled by a motor 63, drives that of the toothed segment 60 about the aforementioned common axis.
In the particular case described here, there is a nozzle 64 at each end of the toothed segments 60 and the incidence of the jet projected by each of the nozzles onto the corr-esponding surface of -the panel is approximately 45. However, it would not pass outside the scope of the invention to equip each gun 54,56 with a single nozzle e.g. placed in the centre of the arc formed by the latter, or a number of nozzles exceeding 2. It would also not pass beyond the scope of the invention to use two guns equipped with a different number of nozzles, or even the same number of nozzles, but whose incidence with respect to the corr-esponding surface of the panel is not the same. The number and arrangement of the nozzles are a function of each part-icular envisaged application.
Finally, a flexible tube 66 makes it possible to supplyto each gun 54,56 the paint, together with the electrical energy necessary for controlling the motor 63. Tube 66 can be a large tube containing both smaller diameter tubes for supplying each nozzle 64 individually, as well as the electric wires supplying motor 63. However, it would not extend beyond the scope of the invention to use a different arrangement.
In the embodiment described here, tube 66 passes over a pulley 68 carried by carriage 58, which makes it possible to keep it in place without it having to undergo stresses, which may lead to the deformation thereof during the move-ment of the carriage 58 along post 38. However, the presence SP 4666.69 GP
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of pulley 68 is not obligatory, the essential point being that the tube 66 has a length and a flexibility ~ch are adequate to follow the movements of the carriage.
The apparatus shown in Fig.2 also comprises a return system making it possible to simultaneously displace at the same speed the two guns 54,56 along posts 36,38.
It can be seen that the return system essentially comprises a first cable 70, whereof one end is fixed to the upper part of carriage 55 of gun 54. As from this point, cable 70 has a first subs-tantially vertical part and passes over a pulley 72 positioned level with the junction between post 36 and the upper cross-beam 40 of frame 34. Cable 70 then has a substantially horizontal part and passes over a pulley ?4, disposed in the same way as pulley 72, but which is located level with the junction between cross-beam 40 and post 38. Cable 70 then has a substantially vertical part parallel to post 38 and passes under another pulley 76, whose axis is fixed to the lower part of post 38. Finally, cable 70 has a last vertical part between pulley 76 and the lower part of carriage 58 of gun 56 to which it is fixed.
The return system comprises a second cable 78, whereof one end is fixed to the upper part of the carriage 58.
Cable 78 has a Eirst substantially vertical part and passes over a pulley 80 located at a certain distance from pul y 74 level with the junction between posts 38 and the upper cross-beam 40. Cable 80 then passes along the upper cross-beam 40 of frame 38 upto a pulley 82 located in the vicin-ity of pulley 72, in the same way as pulley 80 with xespect to pulley 74. However, between pulleys 80 and 82, cab~e 78 performs a dead turn about a drum controlled by a motor 84 carried by the connecting part 44. Motor 84 rotates SP 4666.69 GP
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the drum about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the plane of frame 3~. Af~er passing over pulley 82, cable 78 has a vertical part up ~o the lower part of post 36 along which it passes before passing below a pulley 86 positioned in the lower part of post 36, like pulley 76 with respect to the lower part of post 38. After passing around pulley 86, cable 78 has a final vertical part bet-ween the latter and the lower part of carriage 55 to which it is fixed.
Thus, when motor 84 is put into operation to drive the drum in the direction of arrow Fl, this has the effect of moving cable 78 from pulley 82 to pulley 80. Conseq-uently, the end of cable 78 fixed to the lower part of carriage 55 pulls the latter downwards. A rotation of a given angle of said drum consequently brings about a displacement of given length x of carriage 54 in the down-wards direction. This has the effect of driving downwards by a length x, that part of cable 70 between pulley 72 and carriage 55. The other end of cable 70 consequently moves downwards by a distance x. Thus, the two carriages 55,58 are moved downwards by the same distance. Therefore motor 84 makes it possible to simultaneously move the two carriages 55 and therefore the two guns 54,56. The latter remain in facing manner during said displacement if care has been taken to mount the carriages 55,58 at the same height on posts 36 and 38 of frame 3~.
Fig.2 also shows the rail 16 to which is attached the panel 88 via a connecting system 90 diagrammatically rep-resented in mixed line form. The arrangement is such that rails 16 is located in the vicinity of the upper cross-beam 40, but slightly below the latter, in such a way that the rail 16, panel 88 and attachment system 90 are located within the space defined by posts 36,38 SP 4666.69 GP
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and cross-beams 40 and 42. Rail 16 is oriented perpendicular to the plane of frame 30 and the attachment system 90 is such that the advance direction defined by the rail is parallel to a tangent to the median surface oE the panel.
In Fig.2, frame 34 occupies its mean position, i.e. rail 16 is located approximately in the centre of cross-beam 40, but said position can vary by means of the screw -nut system 44,46 as a function of the curvature of thepanel and the location thereof which it is wished to paint.
This displacement is limited, because rail 16 must always be located between posts 36 and 38.
The apparatus illustrated in Fig.2 functions as follows.
Initially, the guns 54,56 are located in the upper part of frame 34 and occupy the positions 54a,56a shown in continuous line form. The painting program is produced by computer 20 as the panel passes in front of the learning system 18. As a function of this program, frame 34 is moved by the screw - nut system 44,46, so that the common fictitious impact point of guns 54,56 is located on the median surface equidistant of the opposite faces of the panel. As a function of this program, the toothed segments 60 are simultaneously oriented by means of motors ~3 act-uating screws 62, so that the guns 54,56 carrying the nozzles 64 have the desired orientation or incidence with respect to a plane tangential to the aforementioned median surface and passing through the fictitious impact point of the guns. Panel 88 then advances along rail 16 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of frame 34 until the front part thereof is positioned between the two guns 54,56.
The advance of panel 88 is stopped and motor 84 is started SP 4666.69 GP
1 ~ 1 7 1 6~
up, in such a way that the two guns 54 and 56 simultaneously descend along posts 36,38. During this movement, frame 34 is if necessary displaced with the aid of the screw -nut system to maintain the fictitious impact point on the median surface at the fictitious impact point. By construction, the distance separating each gun from the plane tangential to said median surface from the fictitious impact point remains constant during said movement. In addition, there is a simultaneous and quasi-continuous manipulation, as a function of the panel curvature, of the screw 62 so as to constantly orient the toothed segment 60, in such a way that the orientation of the guns, i.e.
the incidence of the painting jets, with respect to the plane tangential to the median surface of the panel at the fictitious impact point. Thus, guns 54 and 56 arrive at the bottom of their travel, in positions 54b and 56b respectively (said positions being shown in mixed line form in Fig.2).
Thus, a layer of paint has been deposited on each face of the panel over a vertical strip thereof having a certain width. The panel can be advanced (perpendicular to the plane of the drawing) by a distance equal to the width of said strip and paint is then applied to a second strip during the raising movement of the guns, motor 84 being actuated in the reverse direction. This is continued until the entire panel 88 is painted.
It should be noted that for safety reasons, the part of the guns 54,56 having the worm screws 62 and the toothed sector 60 is protected by a skirt 92, which only reveals the spraying nozzles.
Thus, the process and apparatus according to the invention have particularly interesting advantages, the most important SP 4666.69 GP
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being that they make it possible to simultaneously treat the two faces of the panel with a minimum number of controlled axes. Thus, the translation of the guns is simultaneous and the rotation of the toothed segments 60 can be contr-olled with the same program. Thus, the only movementsare the displacement of panel 88, the simultaneous displ-acement of the guns in translation along posts 36,38, the simultaneous rotation of the toothed segments 60 and the displacement of frame 34 with the aid of the screw -nut system 4~,46.
Moreover, the use of the learning system 18 associatedwith computer 20 makes it possible to establish an indiv-idual program for each panel immediately prior to the actual painting operation. It is consequently no longer necessary to carry out learning operations as in the prior art, which takes time and makes the installation more complex and therefore more costly through the need of having large storage capacities. Obviously all the move-ments described hereinbefore are synchronized and a functionof one another. They are all controlled by the program produced by the computer.
Thus, it is possible to avoid all the prior operations ~5 necessary with the prior art apparatuses and in particular the individual programming of parts by an operator, either in situ, or in a simulator. There are no longer any storage, management, program loading or communication operations, program modifications in the case of modifying parts, etc. Moreover, it is no longer necessary to carry out an operation of recognition with respect to a part or one face thereof and the two faces can be dealt with sim-ultaneously without it being necessary to turn over the part or use two guns with two different programs.
SP 4666.69 GP
1 31 7 1 6~3 Furthermore, the apparatus according to the invention has a light weight and is simple to construct. Its movements are simple, which leads to a simplified movement control.
It is ~ossible to deal both with large panels and a series of smaller panels, whilst it is easy to orient the nozzles to optimize the application of the product. This solution is not very expensive from the mechanical standpoint (simple construction) and its control is very simple.
Finally, the installation has a ~ood flexibility, because the different movements make it possible to treat panels having different shapes and sizes and even panels with a considerable curvature. Such an apparatus makes it poss-ible to treat planar or curved panels with a thickness between 1 and 150 mm.
Although the above description has been given relative to the particular case oE spraying paint, such an apparatus can be used for depositing on the panels any random type o~ product, i.e. not only paints, no matter whether it is a primary coating or a finishing coating, as well as sweating, chemical working, rinsing or similar products, together with varnishes or wood treatment products, scratch-preventing products for protecting surfaces or finishing agents for composite materials, etc. The apparatus according to the invention can be used for carrying out simultaneous shot blasting of two faces of a thin panel, whilst avoiding deformation of said panel in the impact zone. The apparatus can be used for treating all materials which have to be sprayed.
In the frequent case where the treated panel have a uniform curvature, there are simple connection functions bet~een the displacements of the carriages along posts and the orientation angles of thP spraying apparatuses around their SP 4666.69 GP
, . . .
- 19_ ~31716~3 common axis and the lateral displacements of the frame.
It is then po~ ble to realize these connections mechanically without using a computer-controlled electromechanical system.
Finally, it is obvious that the inYention is not limited to the embodiments described hereinbefore and numerous variants can be made thereto ~ithout passing beyond the scope of the invention, particularly with regards to the movements of the different parts and the control of said movements, toge'her with the supply of paint to the guns and/or the electric power supply for the same. Optionally, without passing beyond the scope of the invention, the guns could be kept fixed and the panel could be moved with respect thereto, whilst it would be possible to simultan-eously use several pairs of identical or different spraying apparatuses or guns.
SP 4666.69 GP
The movements of the latter are recorded, together with information on the products, i.e. the nature thereof as a function of the location to be painted or protected and this constitutes the painting or protection program for such parts.
In a second system, the operator carries out the application of the protective product or paint to the first part by moving a means which is lighter than a robot, said means being called a "syntaxer". It is the movments of said syntaxer which are recorded, together with the information concerning the products and constituting the program for this type of part. It is this program which is carried out by the robot during the subsequent treatment of a series of parts of this type.
In a third system, the operator moves a syntaxer, which represents the robot and the movements performed by the syntaxer are reproduced by the robot, which consequently carries out the first part. The movements of the robot are recorded, together with the information on the products and this represents the program for the particular part type in question.
Finally, in other sys-tems, use is made of a computer which determines the displacements of the robot as a Eunction of the coordinates of certain points of the part. For example, a programmer can give the computer the coordinates of certain points linked by velocities and accelerations, as well as the information on the products. The computer carries out a calibration in order to calculate a mean value and correct possible errors, said mean value constit-uting the pro~ram for the considered type of part.
Although these systems are automated, they suffer from a certain number of disadvantages when it is necessary I
SP 4666.69 GP
_ 3 _ l 3 1 7 1 6~
to paint the two faces of a curved panel. Thus, all these systems use robots only dealing with a single face of the panel at once. In order to paint or protect the two faces, it is necessary either to turn over the panel, or to pass the robot on the other side thereof, or have two facing robots. In all these cases, the program of the first face differs from that of the second face. It is therefore necessary to have a significant storage capacity and it is necessary to check that the face of the panel facing the robot does indeed correspond to the selected program.
Moreover, it is necessary to ensure the good positioning of the part in space, which requires special attachment tools.
The object of the present invention is to eliminate these disadvantages by proposing a spraying process and apparatus making it possible to simultaneously treat the two faces of a panel, whilst having a minimum number of controlled axis for controlling the product application means and which do not make it necessary to have a separate program for each type of part.
The presen-t invention therefore proposes a process for the spraying of a product simultaneously onto two opposite faces of a randomly shaped panel, characterized by posit-ioning in facing manner at least one pair of spraying apparatuses in an arrangement such that a fictitious impact point common to each pair of apparatuses is located on a median surface positioned equidistantly of the opposite faces oE the panel, each apparatus having an orientation determined with respect to a plane tangential to said median surface and passing through said fictitious impact point and being located at a given distance from said plane;
and producing a relative displacement between the panel and the spraying apparatuses parallel to said plane, the SP 4666.69 GP
131716~3 spraying apparatuses being kept in said arrangement by simultaneously moving them in a transverse direction with respect to the panel in order to maintain the fictitious impact point on said median surface and by simultaneously orienting them about a common axis perpendicular to said transverse direction and passing through the fictitious impact point, in order to keep constant the orientation of each apparatus with respect to the tangential plane.
Through using two facing sprayin~ apparatuses, it is possible to simultaneously treat the two ~aces and reduce the time and therefore cost of an operation. Moreover, through permanently maintaining said apparatuses in a given orien-tation with respect to the plane tangential to the median surface of the panel and passing through the fictitious impace point and at a given distance from said plane, it is possible to simultaneously treat the two faces of a curved panel with the aid of a single program, whilst only having two movements to control for the spraying apparatuses, e.g. and as will be shown hereinaft~r, a translation and a rotation of the supports on which are mounted the spraying apparatuses.
Within the context of the present description, the word "jet~ is considered in its most general sense for desig-nating a mist discharged by a sprayer, as well as a jet of liquid ejected under pressure.
In view of the fact that use is made of two spraying appar-atuses discharging jets of product onto each of the faces of a panel, it is obvious that there are at least two impact points, i.e. one on each face of the panel. Within the present description, the expression "real impact point"
can designate both a small spot corresponding to the location where the product is deposited on the panel at a given SP 4666.69 GP
- 5 - l 3 1 7 1 6 ~
time and the centre of said spot when using apparatuses making it possible to cover a relatively large area, e.g.
a sprayer. The expression "the fictitious impact point"
in all cases designates the centre of the segment joining the real impact points of each face.
According to another aspect of the process according to the invention, said relative displacement between the panel and the spraying apparatuses is brought about by moving the panel between the sprayer apparatuses in a first dir-ection parallel to said common axis and by simultaneously giving the spraying apparatuses a regular, reciprocating movement in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and to the transverse direction.
According to another aspect of the process according to the invention, the panel is firstly passed infront of a learning system, which determines the shape and dimensions of the panel and on the basis of said characteristics ~0 establishes a program then making it possible to produce said relative displacement between the panel and the spraying apparatuses.
Thus, an individual program is produced for each panel to be treated, so that it is no longer necessary to have a program for each type of part, as was necessary in the prior art. This required a large storage capacity and therefore a more complex and costly apparatus.
The invention also relates to an apparatus for performing this process. According to the main feature of said apparatus, it comprises:
- at least one pair of facing spraying apparatuses and having a common fictitious impact point, 5 - means for producing a relative displacement between the panel and the spraying apparatuses and SP 4666.69 GP
1 31 7 1 6~
- means for maintaining the spraying apparatuses in an arrangement such that their common fictitious impact point is located on a median surface positioned equidis-tantly of the opposite faces of the panel and that their orientation with respect to a tangential plane to said median surface and passing through said fictitious impact point and their distance from said plane remain constant, whereby said latter means comprise first means for simultan-eously displacing the spraying apparatuses in a transvexse direction ~ith respect to the panel making it po~ible to keep constant the distance separating the apparatuses from said plane, together with second means for simultaneously pivoting the spraying apparatuses about a common axis per-pendicular to said transverse direction and passing through said fictitious impact point, so that the orientation of said apparatuses with respect to said plane can be kept constant.
Preferably, the means for producing a relative displacement between the panel and the spraying apparatuses comprises third means for passing the panel between the spraying apparatuses in a first direction parallel to said common axis and fourth means for simultaneously making the spraying apparatuses carry out a regular, reciprocating movement in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and to the transverse direction.
Preferably, the spraying apparatuses are mounted on carriages able to move simultaneously on two parallel posts of a support frame under the action of a fourth means, the support frame itself being able to move in its plane in accordance with said transverse direction under the action of the first means, whi~st each spraying apparatus is mounted on one of the carriages so as to be pivotable about said common axis under the action of second means.
SP 4666.69 GP
131716~
In this case, the fourth means comprises a cable and pulley return system controlled by drive means and arranged on the frame in such a way that an actuation of the drive means produces a simultaneous displacement of the carriages in the same direction and by the same length.
Preferably, the third means successively pass the panel infront of a learning system and then between the spraying apparatuses, the learning system determining the shape and dimensions of the panel and transmitting the charac-teristics thereof to a computer, which draws up a control program relative to the first, second and fourth means when the panel passes between the spraying apparatuses.
The invention can be better gathered from studying the following description given in a purely illustrative and non-limitative manner with reference to the attached drawings, wherein show:
0 Fig.l a diagrammatic plan view of a painting installation incorporating an apparatus according to the invention.
Fig.2 is a diagrammatic view in eleYation of an apparatus according to the invention in accordance with arrow F in Fig.l.
On considering Fig.l, it can be seen that the painting installation firstly comprises a loading station 10 by which the panels to be painted arrive. The loading station has one or more linear rails 12 making it possible to move the panels or leave them in a waiting position. The panels are attached by their upper part to rails 12.
A transfer beam 14 manipulated with the aid of a travelling crane (not shown in Fig.l) is displaceable between a first position 14a, shown in continuous line form, and a second I
SP 4666.69 GP
--1 3 1 7 1 6~
position 14b diagrammatically shown in mi~ed line form.
In position 14a, beam 14 is located substan~ially in the extension of rail 12, whilst in position 14b it is located in the extension of a rail 16 similar to rail 12 and which makes it possible to pass the panel firstly infront of a learning system 18 and then infront of the painting apparatus 26 according to the invention.
The learning system 18 is an identification and telemetry apparatus, which can e.g. incorporate two detectors 19 be~ween which the panel passes. System 18 determines the characteristics of the panel, such as its shape and size.
It is connected to a computer 20, which produces a painting program as a function of said characteristics. In an ent-irely automatic manner said program controls the paintingapparatus 26, which will be described in greater detail hereinafter relative to Fig.2.
A partition 22 shown in mixed line form in Fig.l and having an opening 24, in the painting installation shown therein separates the area where the learning system 18 and computer 20 are located from the area where the painting apparatus 26 is located. Opening 24 is in the form of a thin vertical slit (i.e. perpendicular to the plane of Fig.l), its width being just sufficient to permit the passage of the panel.
Partition 22 makes it possible to protect the remainder of the installation against sprayed paint.
Fig.l shows a second transfer beam 28, which moves between a first position 28a, shown in continuous line form, and one or more positions 28b, shown in mixed line form. In position 28a beam 28 is located in the extension of rail 16, but on the side opposite to beam 14 with respect thereto.
Beam 28, which can be manipulated by a ~avelling crane, makes it possible to transfer thepanels leaving the painting SP 4666.69 GP
- 9 - 1 3 1 7 1 6~3 apparatus 26 and bring them into an oven 30 where they are dried. A system of rails ~ located in the upper part of the oven makes it possible to transfer said panels from one end o~ the oven to the other. When the beam 28 occupies one of the positions 28b, it is located in the extension of a rail 32. Rails 3~ can be constructed in the same way as rails 12 and 16.
Painting in the installation illustrated in Fig.1 takes place in the following way. The panels to be painted are attached by their upper part to rails 12, which makes it possible to bring them to the right-hand end thereof on considering the drawing, i.e. into the vicinity of the circulation zone of beam 14. ~y means of the travelling crane, the latter is brought facing the rail 12 where the panel to be painted is located and said panel is trans-ferred from rail 12 to beam 14. This transfer can take place by using any known means in the handling field.
Beam 14 is at this instant in position 14a and then, when the panel is attached thereto, it is moved to position 14b. By a manipulation which is the opposite to that des-cribed hereinbefore, the panel is detached from beam 14 and attached to rail 16. It then moves along the latter, from right to left considering Fig.l. It firstly passes infront of the learning system 18 between the two detectors 19. As the panel moves batween the detectors 19, system 18 determines the shape and exact dimensions of the panel and these characteristics are transmitted to the computer 20, which produces the painting program as a function of the thus determined shape. The panel continues its path, passes through the slit 24 of pa~tition 22 and arrives level with apparatus 26.
In the preferred embodiment illustrated here and which will be described in greater detail hereinafter relative SP 4666.69 GP
- 10- 1317~
to Fig.2, apparatus 26 essentially comprises a frame having two vertical posts along ~hich travel the paint spraying apparatuses or guns. The displacements of the frame, the guns with respect to the frame and the supply of paint to the panel are determined, as the latter moves, by the program previously produced by computer 20.
Once the operation is completed, i.e. once the panel has completely left the apparatus 26, it is positioned at the left-hand end of rail 16 on considering Fig.l. Beam 28 is then brought into position 28a and the panel is trans-ferred from rail 16 to said beam. This operation can be carried out in the same way as hereinbefore. The travelling crane carrying the beam 28 is then manipulated until the beam reaches one of the positiones 28b. If necessary, at said level the panel can undergo a desolvation operation.
The panel is then detached from the beam 28 and attached to the corresponding rail 32. It can then pass through the oven at an adequate speed to ensure that drying is completed during said passage. ~hen the panel arrives at the end of the rail 32 opposite to beam 28, i.e. its right-hand end when considering the drawing, beam 14 is brought into an intexmediate position between positions 14a and 14b and in which it is located in the extension of rail 32. The panel is then detached from the latter and attached to beam 14, then the travelling crane manip-ulates the latter in order to bring the panel to the dis-charge system.
A description will now be given of the paint sprayiny apparatus 26 according to the invention with reference to Fig.2.
In the preferred embodiment, apparatus 26 essentially comprises a frame 34 having two parallel vertical posts 36 and 38 of substantially the same length and whose upper SP 4666.69 GP
11 13l7l6~
and lower ends are connected by two horizontal cross-beams 40,42 respectively. This frame is located in a plane per-pendicular to the displacement direction of panel 88 and is mounted on a fixed framework 43, so as to be movable in its plane in accordance with a horizontal direction contained therein, i.e. from right to left and vice versa when considering Fig.2. To this end, a screw-nut sys~em is mounted between the upper part of frame 34 and the fixed framework. The nut is constituted by a connec-ting part 44 fixed the centre of the upper cross-beam 40. This nut cooperates with a horizontal screw 46 supported by the framework and manipulated by a motor 48. Rollers 50 fixed to the lower cross-beam 42 of frame 34 enable the latter to be guided by a rail 52 integral with the framework during said movement.
The apparatus also has two paint spraying devices or guns, which are positioned facing one another on frame 34.
The first of these guns 54 is mounted on the vertical post 36 of frame 34, whilst the second gun 56 is mounted on vertical post 38. Guns 54 and 56 are identical. Each of the guns 54,56 is mounted on a carriage 55,58 mobile in translation along post 36,38, carriages 55 and 58 being at the same height on frame 34, as is shown in Fig.2.
In its part turned towards the interior of frame 34, each of the carriages 55,58 supports a toothed segment 60 mobile in translation with respect to said carriage and on which are mounted the nozzle 64 used for the discharge of the paint or any other product which it is wished to deposit on the panel. The two toothed segmen-ts 60 ha~e a common rotation axis passing through a fictitious impact point, common to the two guns 54,56 and perpendicular to the plane of the frame 34. A tooth system 61 formed on each of the toothed segments 60 meshes on a worm screw 62, whose axis SP 4666.69 GP
- 12 - 131716~
is parallel to posts 36 and 38 and which is supported in rotary manner by the corresponding carriage 55,58. Conseq-uently, the rotation of each screw 62, controlled by a motor 63, drives that of the toothed segment 60 about the aforementioned common axis.
In the particular case described here, there is a nozzle 64 at each end of the toothed segments 60 and the incidence of the jet projected by each of the nozzles onto the corr-esponding surface of -the panel is approximately 45. However, it would not pass outside the scope of the invention to equip each gun 54,56 with a single nozzle e.g. placed in the centre of the arc formed by the latter, or a number of nozzles exceeding 2. It would also not pass beyond the scope of the invention to use two guns equipped with a different number of nozzles, or even the same number of nozzles, but whose incidence with respect to the corr-esponding surface of the panel is not the same. The number and arrangement of the nozzles are a function of each part-icular envisaged application.
Finally, a flexible tube 66 makes it possible to supplyto each gun 54,56 the paint, together with the electrical energy necessary for controlling the motor 63. Tube 66 can be a large tube containing both smaller diameter tubes for supplying each nozzle 64 individually, as well as the electric wires supplying motor 63. However, it would not extend beyond the scope of the invention to use a different arrangement.
In the embodiment described here, tube 66 passes over a pulley 68 carried by carriage 58, which makes it possible to keep it in place without it having to undergo stresses, which may lead to the deformation thereof during the move-ment of the carriage 58 along post 38. However, the presence SP 4666.69 GP
- 13 _ l 3171 6~
of pulley 68 is not obligatory, the essential point being that the tube 66 has a length and a flexibility ~ch are adequate to follow the movements of the carriage.
The apparatus shown in Fig.2 also comprises a return system making it possible to simultaneously displace at the same speed the two guns 54,56 along posts 36,38.
It can be seen that the return system essentially comprises a first cable 70, whereof one end is fixed to the upper part of carriage 55 of gun 54. As from this point, cable 70 has a first subs-tantially vertical part and passes over a pulley 72 positioned level with the junction between post 36 and the upper cross-beam 40 of frame 34. Cable 70 then has a substantially horizontal part and passes over a pulley ?4, disposed in the same way as pulley 72, but which is located level with the junction between cross-beam 40 and post 38. Cable 70 then has a substantially vertical part parallel to post 38 and passes under another pulley 76, whose axis is fixed to the lower part of post 38. Finally, cable 70 has a last vertical part between pulley 76 and the lower part of carriage 58 of gun 56 to which it is fixed.
The return system comprises a second cable 78, whereof one end is fixed to the upper part of the carriage 58.
Cable 78 has a Eirst substantially vertical part and passes over a pulley 80 located at a certain distance from pul y 74 level with the junction between posts 38 and the upper cross-beam 40. Cable 80 then passes along the upper cross-beam 40 of frame 38 upto a pulley 82 located in the vicin-ity of pulley 72, in the same way as pulley 80 with xespect to pulley 74. However, between pulleys 80 and 82, cab~e 78 performs a dead turn about a drum controlled by a motor 84 carried by the connecting part 44. Motor 84 rotates SP 4666.69 GP
- 14 - 131716~
the drum about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the plane of frame 3~. Af~er passing over pulley 82, cable 78 has a vertical part up ~o the lower part of post 36 along which it passes before passing below a pulley 86 positioned in the lower part of post 36, like pulley 76 with respect to the lower part of post 38. After passing around pulley 86, cable 78 has a final vertical part bet-ween the latter and the lower part of carriage 55 to which it is fixed.
Thus, when motor 84 is put into operation to drive the drum in the direction of arrow Fl, this has the effect of moving cable 78 from pulley 82 to pulley 80. Conseq-uently, the end of cable 78 fixed to the lower part of carriage 55 pulls the latter downwards. A rotation of a given angle of said drum consequently brings about a displacement of given length x of carriage 54 in the down-wards direction. This has the effect of driving downwards by a length x, that part of cable 70 between pulley 72 and carriage 55. The other end of cable 70 consequently moves downwards by a distance x. Thus, the two carriages 55,58 are moved downwards by the same distance. Therefore motor 84 makes it possible to simultaneously move the two carriages 55 and therefore the two guns 54,56. The latter remain in facing manner during said displacement if care has been taken to mount the carriages 55,58 at the same height on posts 36 and 38 of frame 3~.
Fig.2 also shows the rail 16 to which is attached the panel 88 via a connecting system 90 diagrammatically rep-resented in mixed line form. The arrangement is such that rails 16 is located in the vicinity of the upper cross-beam 40, but slightly below the latter, in such a way that the rail 16, panel 88 and attachment system 90 are located within the space defined by posts 36,38 SP 4666.69 GP
- 15 - l 3l7 l 6~
and cross-beams 40 and 42. Rail 16 is oriented perpendicular to the plane of frame 30 and the attachment system 90 is such that the advance direction defined by the rail is parallel to a tangent to the median surface oE the panel.
In Fig.2, frame 34 occupies its mean position, i.e. rail 16 is located approximately in the centre of cross-beam 40, but said position can vary by means of the screw -nut system 44,46 as a function of the curvature of thepanel and the location thereof which it is wished to paint.
This displacement is limited, because rail 16 must always be located between posts 36 and 38.
The apparatus illustrated in Fig.2 functions as follows.
Initially, the guns 54,56 are located in the upper part of frame 34 and occupy the positions 54a,56a shown in continuous line form. The painting program is produced by computer 20 as the panel passes in front of the learning system 18. As a function of this program, frame 34 is moved by the screw - nut system 44,46, so that the common fictitious impact point of guns 54,56 is located on the median surface equidistant of the opposite faces of the panel. As a function of this program, the toothed segments 60 are simultaneously oriented by means of motors ~3 act-uating screws 62, so that the guns 54,56 carrying the nozzles 64 have the desired orientation or incidence with respect to a plane tangential to the aforementioned median surface and passing through the fictitious impact point of the guns. Panel 88 then advances along rail 16 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of frame 34 until the front part thereof is positioned between the two guns 54,56.
The advance of panel 88 is stopped and motor 84 is started SP 4666.69 GP
1 ~ 1 7 1 6~
up, in such a way that the two guns 54 and 56 simultaneously descend along posts 36,38. During this movement, frame 34 is if necessary displaced with the aid of the screw -nut system to maintain the fictitious impact point on the median surface at the fictitious impact point. By construction, the distance separating each gun from the plane tangential to said median surface from the fictitious impact point remains constant during said movement. In addition, there is a simultaneous and quasi-continuous manipulation, as a function of the panel curvature, of the screw 62 so as to constantly orient the toothed segment 60, in such a way that the orientation of the guns, i.e.
the incidence of the painting jets, with respect to the plane tangential to the median surface of the panel at the fictitious impact point. Thus, guns 54 and 56 arrive at the bottom of their travel, in positions 54b and 56b respectively (said positions being shown in mixed line form in Fig.2).
Thus, a layer of paint has been deposited on each face of the panel over a vertical strip thereof having a certain width. The panel can be advanced (perpendicular to the plane of the drawing) by a distance equal to the width of said strip and paint is then applied to a second strip during the raising movement of the guns, motor 84 being actuated in the reverse direction. This is continued until the entire panel 88 is painted.
It should be noted that for safety reasons, the part of the guns 54,56 having the worm screws 62 and the toothed sector 60 is protected by a skirt 92, which only reveals the spraying nozzles.
Thus, the process and apparatus according to the invention have particularly interesting advantages, the most important SP 4666.69 GP
131716~
being that they make it possible to simultaneously treat the two faces of the panel with a minimum number of controlled axes. Thus, the translation of the guns is simultaneous and the rotation of the toothed segments 60 can be contr-olled with the same program. Thus, the only movementsare the displacement of panel 88, the simultaneous displ-acement of the guns in translation along posts 36,38, the simultaneous rotation of the toothed segments 60 and the displacement of frame 34 with the aid of the screw -nut system 4~,46.
Moreover, the use of the learning system 18 associatedwith computer 20 makes it possible to establish an indiv-idual program for each panel immediately prior to the actual painting operation. It is consequently no longer necessary to carry out learning operations as in the prior art, which takes time and makes the installation more complex and therefore more costly through the need of having large storage capacities. Obviously all the move-ments described hereinbefore are synchronized and a functionof one another. They are all controlled by the program produced by the computer.
Thus, it is possible to avoid all the prior operations ~5 necessary with the prior art apparatuses and in particular the individual programming of parts by an operator, either in situ, or in a simulator. There are no longer any storage, management, program loading or communication operations, program modifications in the case of modifying parts, etc. Moreover, it is no longer necessary to carry out an operation of recognition with respect to a part or one face thereof and the two faces can be dealt with sim-ultaneously without it being necessary to turn over the part or use two guns with two different programs.
SP 4666.69 GP
1 31 7 1 6~3 Furthermore, the apparatus according to the invention has a light weight and is simple to construct. Its movements are simple, which leads to a simplified movement control.
It is ~ossible to deal both with large panels and a series of smaller panels, whilst it is easy to orient the nozzles to optimize the application of the product. This solution is not very expensive from the mechanical standpoint (simple construction) and its control is very simple.
Finally, the installation has a ~ood flexibility, because the different movements make it possible to treat panels having different shapes and sizes and even panels with a considerable curvature. Such an apparatus makes it poss-ible to treat planar or curved panels with a thickness between 1 and 150 mm.
Although the above description has been given relative to the particular case oE spraying paint, such an apparatus can be used for depositing on the panels any random type o~ product, i.e. not only paints, no matter whether it is a primary coating or a finishing coating, as well as sweating, chemical working, rinsing or similar products, together with varnishes or wood treatment products, scratch-preventing products for protecting surfaces or finishing agents for composite materials, etc. The apparatus according to the invention can be used for carrying out simultaneous shot blasting of two faces of a thin panel, whilst avoiding deformation of said panel in the impact zone. The apparatus can be used for treating all materials which have to be sprayed.
In the frequent case where the treated panel have a uniform curvature, there are simple connection functions bet~een the displacements of the carriages along posts and the orientation angles of thP spraying apparatuses around their SP 4666.69 GP
, . . .
- 19_ ~31716~3 common axis and the lateral displacements of the frame.
It is then po~ ble to realize these connections mechanically without using a computer-controlled electromechanical system.
Finally, it is obvious that the inYention is not limited to the embodiments described hereinbefore and numerous variants can be made thereto ~ithout passing beyond the scope of the invention, particularly with regards to the movements of the different parts and the control of said movements, toge'her with the supply of paint to the guns and/or the electric power supply for the same. Optionally, without passing beyond the scope of the invention, the guns could be kept fixed and the panel could be moved with respect thereto, whilst it would be possible to simultan-eously use several pairs of identical or different spraying apparatuses or guns.
SP 4666.69 GP
Claims (8)
1. Process for the spraying of a product simultaneously onto two opposite faces of a randomly shaped panel, charac-terized by positioning in facing manner at least one pair of spraying apparatuses in an arrangement such that a fict-itious impact point common to each pair of apparatuses is located on a median surface positioned equidistantly of the opposite faces of the panel, each apparatus having an orientation determined with respect to a plane tangential to said median surface and passing through said fictitious impact point and being located at a given distance from said plane; and producing a relative displacement between the panel and the spraying apparatuses parallel to said plane, the spraying apparatuses being kept in said arrange-ment by simultaneously moving them in a transverse direction with respect to the panel in order to maintain the fictitious impact point on said median surface and by simultaneously orienting them about a common axis perpendicular to said transverse direction, and passing through the fictitious impact point, in order to keep constant the orientation of each apparatus with respect to the tangential plane.
2. Process according to claim 1, wherein the relative movement between the panel and the spraying apparatuses or guns is brought about by moving the panel between the spraying apparatuses in a first direction parallel to said common axis and by simultaneously making the spraying app-aratuses perform a regular, reciprocating movement in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and to the transverse direction.
3. Process according to claim 1, wherein the panel is firstly passed infront of a learning system, which determines the shape and dimensions of the panel and on the basis SP 4666.69 GP
of these characteristics produces a program then making it possible to produce said relative displacement between the panel and the spraying apparatuses or guns.
of these characteristics produces a program then making it possible to produce said relative displacement between the panel and the spraying apparatuses or guns.
4. Apparatus for spraying a product simultaneously onto two opposite faces of a randomly shaped panel, said appar-atus comprising:
- at least one pair of facing spraying apparatuses and having a common fictitious impact point, - means for producing a relative displacement between the panel and the spraying apparatuses and - means for maintaining the spraying apparatuses in an arrangement such that their common fictitious impact point is located on a median surface positioned equidistantly of the opposite faces of the panel and that their orien-tation with respect to a tangential plane to said median surface and passing through said fictitious impact point and their distance from said plane remain constant, whereby said latter means comprise first means for simultaneously displacing the spraying apparatuses in a transverse direc-tion with respect to the panel making it possible to keep constant the distance separating the apparatuses from said plane, together with second means for simultaneously pivoting the spraying apparatuses about a common axis perpendicular to said transverse direction and passing through said fict-itious impact point, so that the orientation of said appara-tuses with respect to said plane can be kept constant.
- at least one pair of facing spraying apparatuses and having a common fictitious impact point, - means for producing a relative displacement between the panel and the spraying apparatuses and - means for maintaining the spraying apparatuses in an arrangement such that their common fictitious impact point is located on a median surface positioned equidistantly of the opposite faces of the panel and that their orien-tation with respect to a tangential plane to said median surface and passing through said fictitious impact point and their distance from said plane remain constant, whereby said latter means comprise first means for simultaneously displacing the spraying apparatuses in a transverse direc-tion with respect to the panel making it possible to keep constant the distance separating the apparatuses from said plane, together with second means for simultaneously pivoting the spraying apparatuses about a common axis perpendicular to said transverse direction and passing through said fict-itious impact point, so that the orientation of said appara-tuses with respect to said plane can be kept constant.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the means for producing a relative displacement between the panel and the spraying apparatuses comprise third means for passing the panel between the spraying apparatuses in a first dir-ection parallel to the common axis and fourth means for simultaneously making the spraying apparatuses perform a regular, reciprocating movement in a second direction SP 4666.69 GP
perpendicular to the first direction and to the transverse direction.
perpendicular to the first direction and to the transverse direction.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the spraying apparatuses are mounted on carriages able to move sinultan taneously on two parallel posts of a support frame under the action of fourth means, the support frame being able to move in its plane in said transverse direction under the action of first means and each spraying apparatus or gun is mounted on one of the carriages, so that it can pivot about said common axis under the action of second means.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said fourth means comprise a cable and pulley return system controlled by drive means and arranged on the frame in such a way that an actuation of the drive means produces a simultan-eous displacement of the carriages in the same direction and by the same length.
8. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the third means sucessively make the panel pass infront of a learning system and then between the spraying apparatuses, the learning system determining the shape and dimensions of the panel and transmitting said characteristics to a computer, which produces a control program for the first, second and fourth means and the panel passes between the spraying apparatuses or guns.
SP 4666.69 GP
SP 4666.69 GP
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR8717057A FR2624036B1 (en) | 1987-12-08 | 1987-12-08 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PROJECTING A PRODUCT ON THE OPPOSITE FACES OF A PANEL |
| FR8717057 | 1987-12-08 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1317168C true CA1317168C (en) | 1993-05-04 |
Family
ID=9357618
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000585277A Expired - Fee Related CA1317168C (en) | 1987-12-08 | 1988-12-07 | Process and apparatus for spraying a product onto opposite faces of a panel |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0320378A1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU607287B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1317168C (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2624036B1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN112743459A (en) * | 2021-01-12 | 2021-05-04 | 福州捷圣达机械有限公司 | Continuity shot-blast cleaning device and shot-blasting machine |
Families Citing this family (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2710858B1 (en) * | 1993-10-06 | 1995-12-15 | Sames Sa | Coating product projection device forming a roof machine or side machine. |
| GB2344776B (en) * | 1998-12-15 | 2001-06-27 | Gerber Scient Products Inc | An apparatus and method for applying a manicure |
| GB9929408D0 (en) * | 1999-12-14 | 2000-02-09 | Maxwell Davidson Ltd | Composite material |
| CN107877391A (en) * | 2017-11-02 | 2018-04-06 | 金鑫 | Sandblasted structures, sand-blasting machine and blasting method |
| CN108636666A (en) * | 2018-07-20 | 2018-10-12 | 深圳聚纵科技有限公司 | Ship derusts and synchronizes the equipment and its application method of spray paint |
| CN110538779A (en) * | 2019-09-05 | 2019-12-06 | 安徽龙马自动化科技有限公司 | Dislocation spraying machine and dislocation spraying process |
| CN112588465B (en) * | 2020-12-21 | 2022-11-29 | 中国水产科学研究院黑龙江水产研究所 | Aquaculture pesticide spraying equipment and operation method |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3138900A (en) * | 1962-02-19 | 1964-06-30 | Elmer H Greenberg | Metal-plate-treating apparatus |
| US3777702A (en) * | 1970-10-12 | 1973-12-11 | Indesco Corp | Electrostatic painting system |
| JPS5712849A (en) * | 1980-05-29 | 1982-01-22 | Ransburg Corp | Regulating system for relative location in electrostatic painting |
| AU549892B2 (en) * | 1980-09-22 | 1986-02-20 | Arnold Robert Berry | Spray gun reciprocating device |
| AU599780B2 (en) * | 1987-04-28 | 1990-07-26 | Arnold Robert Berry | Improved spray gun reciprocating device |
-
1987
- 1987-12-08 FR FR8717057A patent/FR2624036B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1988
- 1988-11-30 AU AU26416/88A patent/AU607287B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1988-12-07 EP EP88403102A patent/EP0320378A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1988-12-07 CA CA000585277A patent/CA1317168C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN112743459A (en) * | 2021-01-12 | 2021-05-04 | 福州捷圣达机械有限公司 | Continuity shot-blast cleaning device and shot-blasting machine |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU2641688A (en) | 1989-06-08 |
| FR2624036B1 (en) | 1990-03-30 |
| EP0320378A1 (en) | 1989-06-14 |
| FR2624036A1 (en) | 1989-06-09 |
| AU607287B2 (en) | 1991-02-28 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |