DE20211864U1 - Handling system for vehicle body parts in factory has conveyer which dips each part into several vats of treatment and coating fluids in turn using carriage with rotatable clamp - Google Patents

Abstract

The conveyer system (22) has a carriage (36,36c) which runs on a set of rails extending round the working and return area. It has a clamp which can rotate on a pivot to lift the body part out of a vat and dip it into the next vat after the carriage has moved forward. The working area incorporates a line of closely-spaced vats (12-21).

Description

Device for surface treatment of parts

The invention relates to a device for the surface treatment of parts, with treatment baths for treating the parts using the immersion process, with a conveyor device for transporting the parts, which has at least one support element guided outside the treatment baths, which is guided so as to be movable at least in a first direction, and with a holder for fastening at least one part to be treated, which is held pivotably on a pivoting device.

Such a device is known from DE 44 10 477 Cl.

The known device is suitable for the surface treatment of vehicle bodies with high throughput in series production. In this case, the vehicle bodies are each firmly connected to a loading carriage, which is transported to a rotating device above a treatment tank with the help of drive rollers. If the loading carriage is in the correct position on the rotating device above a treatment tank, the movable guide rollers and the movable drive rollers are guided out of the rotating device's rotating area and the rotating device is then operated. During the rotating process, the rotating device with the loading carriage and the vehicle body attached to it is immersed in the treatment bath. During the rotating process, the vehicle body is completely immersed in the treatment bath and can be guided out of the treatment bath again by another rotation. After the loading carriage with the vehicle body mounted on it is back in the horizontal position on the rotating device, the transport devices located in front of the loading carriage are retracted into the rotating area and the loading carriage is transported on to the next treatment bath. In this way, a loading carriage moves gradually from one treatment bath to the next in a straight-line transport direction and is immersed in the treatment bath above each treatment bath by pivoting perpendicular to the transport direction.

In this way, the known device enables surface treatment of vehicle bodies in series production with high throughput. Since the transport devices for the loading carriages are located outside the treatment baths, contamination of mechanically moving parts or

Contamination of the treatment baths by foreign particles is largely avoided. A disadvantage of the known device is the relatively complicated structure of the drive mechanism for the respective transport devices and for the rotating device, since a plurality of movable drive and guide rollers must be provided for each loading carriage, which must be coupled with a lifting mechanism for the lateral movement of drive elements out of the rotating area of the rotating device. Since such a mechanism must also be provided for each treatment bath, the overall result is a relatively complex system that is suitable for series production with high throughput, but is too complex for lower throughputs.

The invention is therefore based on the object of creating a device for the surface treatment of parts, which enables high-quality surface treatment of parts in the simplest and most cost-effective manner possible.

This object is achieved in a device according to the type mentioned at the outset in that a boom which can be positioned above a treatment bath and on which the holder with the pivoting device is held is accommodated on the at least one support element.

The parts are each attached to a holder of a swivel device, which is held by a boom on a support element guided outside the treatment baths, transported to the treatment baths by moving the support elements in a first direction (x-direction) along the treatment baths and positioned above them, and

by pivoting about a pivot axis extending essentially parallel to the first direction (x-direction), the treatment baths are immersed in and out of the treatment baths.

According to the invention, a conveyor device is used to transport the parts, which has at least one support element guided outside the treatment baths, preferably a plurality of support elements. On each support element, a receptacle for fastening at least one part to be treated is provided, which is held pivotably on a pivoting device. The parts can now be moved from treatment bath to treatment bath by transporting the support elements guided and driven outside the treatment baths. The parts to be treated can each be positioned above a treatment bath, since the boom from the respective support element protrudes above the treatment bath, whereby in a suitable position above a treatment bath the pivoting device can now be actuated in order to immerse the parts in the treatment bath, pivot them therein if necessary and, at the end of the immersion treatment, to emerge from the treatment bath again by pivoting again. Since the conveyor device for the respective support elements is located completely outside the treatment baths, the risk of contamination for the parts to be treated and for the treatment baths is largely avoided. Since the conveyor device is located outside the treatment baths, it is easily accessible for maintenance and repair work. The swivel device allows immersion and removal at any angle. This significantly reduces air inclusions during the immersion process, thus preventing incorrect coatings.

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The swivel movement can also be carried out during the treatment or coating time within the treatment bath, so that a more intensive flow around the part to be treated is possible. This also allows any air bubbles that may still be present to migrate through the relative movement of the part, so that all surfaces are optimally pre-treated or coated. Depending on the design of the swivel device and the arm on which it is mounted, the swivel movement can be up to 180° or even enable a complete swivel of 360° or more. In this way, the parts can be swiveled into a treatment bath and then removed again simply by a swivel movement without an additional lifting device. This makes it possible to swivel parts from a horizontal position to an overhead position in the treatment bath. This means that surfaces that have to be pre-treated and coated in a high-quality finish can be positioned so that they are in the treatment bath with the visible side facing downwards, which prevents contamination by particles settling on these surfaces in the treatment bath. Furthermore, the swiveling movement ensures that the parts to be dipped run out optimally and that the transfer of bath from one treatment bath to another is minimized. In this way, complicated, scooping parts can be coated without any defects.

The term "surface treatment of parts" is understood in the context of this application to mean any chemical and/or physical treatment of parts, including the usual chemical pretreatment for subsequent coating of the parts, such as degreasing, rinsing, activating, zinc phosphating, etc.

Alternatively or in addition to this, the term "surface treatment of parts" also refers to the coating process for a surface coating of the parts themselves, which may include, for example, dip painting.

In an advantageous development of the invention, at least some of the treatment baths are arranged one behind the other in a first direction (x-direction), wherein the pivoting device has a pivot axis which, in a position above a treatment bath, extends approximately parallel to the first direction (x-direction).

In an additional development of the invention, at least some of the treatment baths are arranged with their longitudinal sides next to one another, and the at least one support element is guided in a guide which extends in the first direction (x-direction) along the end faces of the baths.

These measures enable an extremely compact design of the entire device, since the pivot axis of the pivoting device is located in the first direction, i.e. in the main transport direction of the parts from treatment bath to treatment bath.

In this way, unlike in the prior art, the treatment baths can be arranged with their long sides adjacent to one another, while the conveyor for transporting the support elements extends along the front sides of the treatment baths. This achieves an extremely compact structure for the entire system.

In an expedient embodiment of the invention, the boom is received on the at least one support element in such a way that the pivoting device with the holder can be positioned above a treatment bath and the holder can be immersed in and out of the treatment bath by a pivoting movement.

In this way, a swiveling movement is sufficient to immerse the parts in and out of a treatment bath.

In an additional development of the invention, a lifting device is provided on the at least one support element, by means of which the boom is accommodated on the support element so that it can be moved in the vertical direction.

In this way, a lifting movement can be carried out in addition to the swivel movement, which enables an optimized treatment. Depending on the structure of the parts to be treated, the swivel movement and the lifting movement can be coordinated in such a way that a particularly favorable immersion behavior, a minimization of air bubbles during treatment, a particularly uniform treatment and optimized drainage when emerging from the treatment bath are achieved.

In an additional development of the invention, a plurality of support elements are driven by means of a circulating conveyor, which can be designed as a drag drive.

In this way, a particularly cost-effective and simple construction can be realized. Depending on the desired application

Of course, any other type of drive is also conceivable for this purpose, for example a linear drive.

In an additional development of the invention, the conveyor device is designed as a circulating conveyor which extends with a working section along the front sides of the treatment baths in the first direction (x-direction) and with a return section on which the support elements are returned, parallel thereto and spaced from the treatment baths, wherein head sections are formed between the working section and the return section, with a take-over position for receiving parts to be treated at one of the head sections and a transfer position for dispensing treated parts at the other head section.

In this way, a particularly compact and cost-effective overall arrangement is achieved. The circulating conveyor can be used to bypass all of the treatment baths. The curved travel in the transition area between the working section or the return section and the head sections means that the material to be conveyed, which usually arrives at the system in the longitudinal direction, can be taken over directly in this position at the take-over position onto the holder of a swivel device and, through the subsequent curved travel, reaches the correct position in which immersion in a treatment bath takes place by swiveling or lifting. In a corresponding manner, it is possible to output the treated parts at the opposite head section of the circulating conveyor at the transfer position either in the first direction (x-direction) or in a direction perpendicular to it in order to feed them to a downstream process, for example a firing system. In this way,

Additional conveyor systems such as turntables and the like are avoided.

According to a further development of the invention, the booms are raised or lowered in addition to the swivel movement.

It is understood that the features of the invention mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is an overall diagram of a device according to the invention in plan view in a highly simplified representation;

Fig. 2 shows a cross-section through the device according to the invention in a plane perpendicular to the first direction (main transport direction), in a highly simplified representation;

Fig. 3 shows a modification of the embodiment according to Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a section through the device according to Fig. 3 in the region of the treatment bath in a cutting plane perpendicular to the cutting plane according to Fig. 3, which extends in the direction of the first direction (main transport direction).

In Fig. 1, a device according to the invention for the surface treatment of parts is shown in a highly simplified top view and is designated overall by the number 10.

The device 10 comprises a plurality of treatment baths 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 with a rectangular outline, which are arranged with their long sides adjacent to one another so that the end faces extend in a first direction (x-direction). The treatment baths 12-21 can include, for example, baths for immersion degreasing, immersion rinsing, activation, zinc phosphating, immersion rinsing with demineralized water and the like.

A plurality of support elements 36, 36a, 36b, 36c are provided for transporting parts through the device 10 and for immersing and removing the parts from the treatment baths 12-21, of which only four are shown as examples. Each support element 36, 36a, 36b, 36c has an arm 41 that protrudes from it and extends approximately in a horizontal plane. At the outer end of each arm 41 there is a pivoting device, designated overall by 37, by means of which a holder 40 for parts 42 to be treated can be pivoted about a pivot axis 38, as is schematically indicated by the double arrow 39 on the pivoting device 37. Parts 42 to be treated, which can be, for example, vehicle bodies (body shells), are each received on a holder 40 on a swivel device 37, moved to the respective treatment baths 12-21 by transporting the support elements 36, 36a, 36b, 36c, immersed in and out of these by actuating the swivel device 37 and finally leave the last treatment bath.

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treatment bath 21 before they can be transferred to a subsequent system in a position indicated by the number 42'.

To transport the support elements 36, 36a, 36b, 36c, a conveyor device 22, designated overall by the number 22, is provided, which is designed as a trailing drive in the form of a circulating conveyor. The conveyor device 22 comprises a working section 24, which extends in the first direction (x-direction) along the front sides of the treatment baths 12-21, a return section 26, which extends parallel to the working section 24 and at a distance therefrom, for returning the support elements, a first head section 28 and a second head section 30. In the area of the first head section 28, the support element 36 with its holder 40 is in a takeover position 32, in which parts 42 to be treated can be fed from an upstream production station in the direction of the arrow 43 in the first direction (x-direction) and can be fixed on the holder 40.

A part 42 taken over in the takeover position 32 is now pivoted by 90° in the direction of arrow 44 by the movement of the conveyor device 22 from the takeover position 32 and then reaches the treatment baths 12-21, along which it is transported in the x-direction, as shown by arrow 45. After leaving the last treatment bath 21, the support elements are pivoted a further 90° at the transition from the working section 24 to the second head section 30, as indicated by arrow 46. This results in a transfer position 34 on the second head section 30, in which treated parts 42' are either removed in the x-direction

or, if necessary, can be moved laterally perpendicular to it in the y-direction, as indicated by the arrow 4 7, in order to be transferred to a subsequent production station, for example a firing system.

The structure of the support elements and swivel devices is now explained in more detail with reference to Figs. 2 to 4.

In Fig. 2, a treatment bath 15 is shown, in front of whose front face there is a support element 36a. The support element 36a is held on a guide 52 of the conveyor device 22, which is only shown schematically. A boom 41a protrudes from the support element 36a in the direction of the treatment bath 15, so that a pivoting device 37a held at the end of the boom 41a is located with its pivot axis 38a centrally above the treatment bath 15. A holder 40a is held on the swivel device 37a, in which a part 42" to be treated is received. In the position shown in Fig. 2, the part 42" to be treated can now be swiveled downwards by swiveling about the swivel axis 38a in the direction of the double arrow 51 until the part 42" to be treated is completely immersed in the treatment bath 15. The swiveling process can also be continued during the treatment time in order to achieve an even treatment and to remove as much air bubbles as possible that could adhere to the surfaces. At the end of the treatment, the part 42" is swiveled out of the treatment bath 15 in the opposite direction and can then be transported further by actuating the conveyor device 22.

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In the right-hand area of Fig. 2, a further support element 36c is shown with a boom 41c, a pivoting device 37c which can be pivoted about the pivot axis 38c, and a receptacle 40c which is located in the area of the return section 26 of the conveyor device and is thus returned in the direction of the take-over position 32 of the conveyor device.

A slightly modified version is shown in Fig. 3. The difference to the version explained with reference to Fig. 2 is that here the boom 41d is not mounted directly on the respective support element 36d, but on a lifting device 48 which is mounted on the support element 36d so that it can move in the direction of the double arrow 49 in the vertical direction (z direction). The support element 36d is in turn movably mounted on a guide 54 of the conveyor device 22. The pivoting device 37d mounted on the outer end of the boom 41d, by means of which the holder 40d for a part 42'" can be pivoted in the direction of the arrow 50, can thus also be raised or lowered in the direction of the arrow 49.

It is understood that the pivoting movement about the pivot axis 38d and the lifting movement in the direction of the arrow 49 can be controlled in combination by a central control device 56, which can be a PLC control, for example, in order to achieve optimized conditions for immersion and re-emergence and, if necessary, certain movement curves during the treatment time.

In this way, particularly high-quality surface treatments can be achieved, depending on the parts to be treated.

From Fig. 4 it can be seen how a part 42 ^iv to be treated can be received on the holder 40d. It can, for example, be fastened at its lower side edges to end sections of the holder 40d which project from the part 42 ^IV .

Claims (8)

1. Device for the surface treatment of parts, with treatment baths ( 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ) for treating the parts ( 42 , 42 ', 42 ", 42 ''', 42 ^IV ) using the immersion process, with a conveyor device ( 22 ) for transporting the parts, which has at least one support element ( 36 , 36 a, b, c, d) guided outside the treatment baths ( 12-21 ) and which is guided so as to be movable at least in a first direction (x-direction), and with a receptacle ( 40 , 40 a, c, d) for fastening at least one part to be treated ( 42 , 42 ', 42 ", 42 ''', 42 ^IV ), which is attached to a pivoting device ( 37 , 37 a, c, d) is held pivotably, characterized in that on the at least one support element ( 36 , 36 a-d) there is held an arm which can be positioned above a treatment bath (12-21), on which the holder ( 40 , 40 a, c, d) with the pivoting device ( 37 , 37 a, c, d) is held. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least some of the treatment baths ( 12-21 ) are arranged one behind the other in the first direction (x-direction), wherein the pivoting device ( 37 , 37 a, c, d) has a pivot axis which, in a position above a treatment bath, extends approximately parallel to the first direction (x-direction). 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least some of the treatment baths ( 12-21 ) are arranged with their longitudinal sides next to one another, and that the at least one support element ( 36 , 36 a, b, c, d) is guided in a guide ( 52 , 54 ) which extends in the first direction (x-direction) along the end faces of the baths ( 12-21 ). 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the boom ( 41 , 41 a, c, d) is received on the at least one support element ( 36 , 36 a-d) in such a way that the pivoting device ( 37 , 37 a, c, d) with the receptacle ( 40 , 40 a, c, d) can be positioned above a treatment bath ( 12-21 ) and the receptacle ( 40 , 40 a, c, d) can be immersed in and out of the treatment bath (12-21) by a pivoting movement. 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a lifting device ( 48 ), by means of which the boom ( 41 d) is received on the support element ( 36 d) so as to be movable in the vertical direction (x-direction). 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of support elements ( 36 , 36 a-d) are driven by means of a circulating conveyor. 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the conveyor device ( 22 ) is designed as a circulating conveyor which extends with a working section ( 24 ) along the front sides of the treatment baths ( 12-21 ) in the first direction (x-direction) and with a return section ( 26 ) on which the support elements ( 36 , 36 a-d) are returned, is returned parallel thereto at a distance from the treatment baths ( 12-21 ), head sections ( 28 , 30 ) being formed between the working section ( 24 ) and the return section ( 26 ), with a receiving position ( 32 ) for receiving parts to be treated ( 42 , 42 ', 42 ", 42 ''', 42 ^IV ) at one ( 30 ) of the head sections ( 30 , 32 ) and a transfer position ( 34 ) for dispensing treated parts ( 42 , 42 ', 42 ", 42 ''', 42 ^IV ) at the other head section ( 32 ). 8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a control device ( 56 ) which is coupled at least to the pivoting device ( 37 , 37 a, c, d) or the conveying device ( 22 ) or the lifting device ( 48 ) for control purposes.