EP1080788B1 - Cooling zone of a painting installation and method for operating such a cooling zone - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cooling zone of at least one a paint booth, a heated dryer for drying painted objects and a dryer in the direction of passage the objects downstream cooling zone for cooling of lacquered and dried articles Painting plant, wherein the cooling zone is a tunnel-like cooling zone cabin bordering with the interior of the cooling zone cabin Includes boundary walls, which between a Inlet opening and an outlet opening of the cooling zone cabin for the painted objects, and the boundary walls the cooling zone cabin in one to the inlet opening adjacent inlet area of the cooling zone with nozzles for blowing cooling air into the interior of the cooling zone cabin are provided.

A paint shop according to document EP-A-911 086, for which such a cooling zone is provided is, in particular a painting plant for coating Car bodies with paints, has as an integral part a tunnel-like series of cabins leading from one to painting article, such as a vehicle body, to go through one after the other; to this end a conveyor extends through the cabin row through, with the help of which the objects to be painted be transported through the paint shop. This is a to be painted object, optionally after a suitable Pretreatment, in a paint booth, where it is can be a paint spray booth, coated with paint, which is then dried in a heated dryer, for what purpose the painted surfaces to a prescribed increased temperature must be brought. The im Dryers resulting solvent vapors are from the dryer sucked off and burned, for example, before the dryer exhaust is directed into the open. In the direction of passage to is located behind the dryer varnishing objects the cooling zone provided with the tunnel-type cooling zone cabin, cooled in the painted and dried objects become. If the dryer is operated continuously, it is required for thermal separation of the dryer from the dryer adjacent colder areas of the paint shop a dryer inlet and a dryer exit lock to provide, also tunnel-like, of the painted Having objects pass through cabins, in the usual heated fresh air is blown to create an air curtain through which the painted articles pass become. Also by such an air curtain However, can not be avoided that from the dryer in the Cooling zone solvent vapors reach that of the painted and dried items from the dryer to the cooling zone be towed and / or during transport of the painted Move items from the dryer to the cooling zone of the dryer exit and enter the cooling zone.

These solvent vapors lead to problems in the cooling zone, as they are at the boundary walls of the cooling zone cabin in the inlet area condense the cooling zone, due to the The fact that the solvent vapors are warm and therefore in the interior the cooling zone cabin rise to the top, preferably in upper area of the boundary walls of the cooling zone cabin. Dripping at the top of the boundary walls of the refrigerated zone cabin condensed solvent condensate on the painted objects conveyed by the refrigerated zone cabin This can cause damage to the painted surfaces arise. This flows at the boundary walls of the cooling zone cabin formed solvent condensate on the boundary walls down and gets into the area of the nozzles, through which cooling air into the interior of the cooling zone cabin is injected, so the solvent condensate can be injected from Cooling air flow entrained and to the painted objects be worn, which in turn causes damage to the can cause painted surfaces.

The present invention is therefore based on the object to provide a cooling zone of the type mentioned, the allows a quick cooling of the painted objects, without that of these objects by solvent condensate caused paint damage occur.

This task is performed in a cooling zone with the characteristics of Claim 1 solved.

By heating the portion of the boundary walls of the Cooling zone cabin in which at least one of the cooling air nozzles is arranged, the formation of solvent condensate significantly reduced or completely prevented in this subarea. The solvent vapors emitted by the painted objects Instead, be with the cooling air from the cooling zone cabin aspirated.

Characterized in that in the inlet region of the invention Cooling zone at the same time the painted objects by blowing effectively cooled by cooling air and still by the heating the subarea of the boundary walls of the refrigerated zone cabin in the inlet region, the formation of solvent condensate at the heatable portion of the boundary walls effective is prevented, it allows the cooling zone according to the invention, the painted objects during a short stay in the inlet area to cool so far that the Painted objects no more solvent vapors more emit without during the residence time in the inlet region the danger exists that of the boundary walls of the Kühlzonenkabine dripping or from the cooling air flow to the lacquered objects transported solvent condensate damages the painted surfaces of the objects.

After the painted objects in the inlet area of the Cooling zone have been cooled so far that they no solvent vapors emit more, can the objects into one adjoining the inlet region of the cooling zone outlet region in which the objects pass through Blowing cooling air can be further cooled without the Limiting walls of the cooling zone cabin in this outlet area should be heated.

For the solution according to the invention is essential that the injection of cooling air in the interior of the cooling zone cabin and the heating of a portion of the boundary walls of Cooling zone cabin does not take place spatially separated, but both at the same time in the inlet region of the cooling zone he follows.

Would in the inlet region of the cooling zone only by blowing Cooled cooling air, so would be due to condensation of solvent at the boundary walls of the cooling zone cabin In this area, stop the above problems.

On the other hand, would only a subarea in the inlet area the boundary walls of the cooling zone cabin heated, the but not painted objects in the inlet area at the same time also cooled, so would be at the boundary walls the cooling zone cabin in the inlet area, although no solvent condensate form; however, there would be no solvent vapors transported away from the painted objects, and the painted items would not be sufficiently short Time so far cooled that they emit no solvent vapors and transported in an unheated cooling zone on could become.

The cooling zone according to the invention is therefore much better suited to a sufficiently rapid cooling of the painted objects avoiding damage caused by solvent condensate to achieve as already known from the prior art Solutions where, for example, the cabin ceiling one between the dryer and the cooling zone of a paint shop arranged cabin-like lock is heated, without that in this lock cooling air to cool the painted Blown objects.

To reduce the risk that solvent condensate from the injected through a nozzle cooling air flow to the painted Is worn at least one of the nozzles, through which the cooling air into the interior the cooling zone cabin is blown in the heated Part of the boundary walls of the cooling zone cabin in the Inlet area arranged.

To entrain solvent condensate through a cooling air flow to largely prevent the painted objects, It is particularly favorable if all in the inlet area the cooling zone arranged nozzles in the heated Part of the cooling zone cabin are arranged.

As already stated, the solvent vapors rise in the inlet area the cooling zone cabin upwards, so that in particular in the ceiling area of the cooling zone cabin the risk of Solvent condensate formation exists. In a preferred Embodiment of the invention is therefore intended that a Ceiling wall of the cooling zone cabin in the inlet area of the cooling zone essentially over the entire surface is heated.

Also the upper areas of side walls of the cooling zone cabin provide preferred sites for the formation of solvent condensate Advantageously, it is therefore provided that a Upper area of side walls of the cooling zone cabin in the inlet area the cooling zone substantially over the entire surface heated is.

In particular, when the upper region of the side walls of the Cooling zone cabin in the inlet area of the cooling zone in the way is inclined that an upper edge of this area of a vertical Longitudinal plane facing the cooling zone and a lower Edge of this area of the vertical median longitudinal plane of the Cooling zone is remote, it is advantageous to this upper area Fully heatable to design, since just at a side wall portion inclined in the above-described manner the danger exists that on such a side wall area formed solvent condensate from the top of the dripping painted objects.

To the formation of solvent condensate on the heated Part of the boundary walls of the cooling zone cabin effective To prevent, is advantageously provided that the Heatable section of the boundary walls of the cooling zone cabin in the inlet area of the cooling zone by heating to one Temperature of about 80 ° C to about 130 ° C can be brought.

About the way of heating the heated part of the Boundary walls of the cooling zone cabin have so far no details provided.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention is provided that the heatable portion of the boundary walls the cooling zone cabin in the inlet area of the cooling zone by means of an electrical resistance heater is heated. A Such electric heating is particularly easy on the desired temperature adjustable.

The installation of electrical resistance heating designed Especially easy if the heated part the boundary walls of the refrigerated zone cabin comprises wall elements, in each of which an electrical resistance heating element integrated is.

Such wall elements are simple and inexpensive to produce, if they each have two plates of an electrically insulating Material, preferably glass plates, and an intermediate these plates arranged electrical resistance heating element include.

In particular, it can be provided that the electrical resistance heating element as a transparent resistance heating layer is trained; when using glass plates remains here obtained the transparency of the wall elements.

Alternatively or in addition to an electric heating can also be provided that the heatable portion of the Boundary walls of the cooling zone cabin by means of a hot gas is heated.

Such heating can be realized in a simple manner be that the cooling zone in the inlet region of the Cooling zone arranged hot gas duct comprises, which with the Heatable section of the boundary walls of the cooling zone cabin is in heat-conducting contact.

A particularly efficient heat transfer from the hot gas the heatable portion is achieved if advantageously a lateral boundary of the hot gas channel through the Heatable section of the boundary walls of the cooling zone cabin is formed.

If the hot gas duct clean gas from a thermal exhaust air purification system the paint shop is fed as a hot gas, this avoids the need for additional heating to heat the hot gas Energy must be expended. Rather, wearing in In this case, the heating of the heated portion of the Boundary walls of the cooling zone cabin to an efficient Use of the clean gas in the thermal exhaust air purification system the paint plant contained heat.

As the clean gas of the thermal exhaust air purification system immediately after exiting the exhaust air purification system in usually has a higher temperature than this for heating of the heated portion to a temperature in Range of about 80 ° C to about 130 ° C required is, can be used to optimum use of the clean gas Heat be provided that the clean gas from the thermal Exhaust air purification system before feeding to the hot gas duct by at least one heat exchanger for heating through the dryer circulating air is hindurchleitbar.

Since the hot gas even after passing through the hot gas channel the cooling zone is a higher temperature than the outside air temperature can lead to an efficient use of the residual heat content be provided of the hot gas that the hot gas after feeding to the hot gas passage through a heat exchanger for heating in sluices of the dryer einzublasender Fresh air is hindurchleitbar.

As a result of contact with the painted objects in the Refrigerated room cabin heated and loaded with solvent vapors Cooling air due to the buoyancy in the cooling zone cabin after rising above, it is advantageous if the cooling zone cabin in Outlet openings arranged at the top of their boundary walls for the exit of the cooling air from the interior of the Refrigerated zone cabin includes a complete extraction of all To reach solvent vapors from the cooling zone cabin.

A simple construction of the cooling zone cabin results thereby, if the outlet openings between each one Ceiling wall and a side wall of the refrigeration zone cabin arranged are.

Is alternatively or additionally provided for that the Refrigeration zone cabin arranged in the lower part of its boundary walls Outlets for the exit of the cooling air from the interior of the cooling zone cabin comprises, is through this measure a favorable flow pattern in the interior of the Refrigerator zone generated at which much of the blown Cooling air the surfaces and possibly the inner surfaces the painted objects before sweeping the Cooling zone cabin leaves again, so that a particularly effective Cooling of the painted objects in the cooling zone cabin is reached.

The from the interior of the cooling zone cabin in the inlet area Exiting cooling air is through an inlet region-cooling air discharge channel discharged from the cooling zone. Since the from the Inlet area Exiting cooling air Solvent condensate droplets contains, which should not get into the ambient air, is in the inlet region-cooling air discharge duct advantageously arranged at least one condensate.

This condensate separator can vary depending on the size of the drop and Amount of the solvent condensate as separation medium a knitted wire, a monofilament or a lamellar structure.

To prevent contamination of the condensate separator Regions of the inlet region-cooling air discharge channel, in particular an exhaust fan or exhaust air unit arranged therein, as completely as possible to prevent is preferred provided that in the inlet region-cooling air discharge channel at least two in the flow direction of the cooling air arranged successively arranged condensate are. By such a multi-stage condensate separation essentially all in the discharged cooling air deposited solvent condensate droplets deposited.

As already stated, the painted objects are in the Inlet area of the cooling zone cooled so far that subsequently a further cooling of the objects is possible without that solvent vapors are emitted from the articles, so that no heating to avoid solvent condensation more is needed.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention is therefore provided that the cooling zone in the direction of passage the objects adjoining the inlet area Has outlet area, wherein the boundary walls of the cooling zone cabin in the outlet area with nozzles for blowing Cooling air are provided in the interior of the cooling zone cabin, the boundary walls of the cooling zone cabin in the outlet area but need not be heated.

By dispensing with the heating of the boundary walls of the Cooling zone cabin in the outlet area, the cooling zone is cheaper manufacturable and operable.

To remove the cooling air from the interior of the cooling zone cabin to keep the required blower power low, This is advantageously provided that the cooling zone in addition to the inlet region-cooling air discharge channel through which the emerging from the interior of the cooling zone cabin in the inlet region Cooling air is sucked, a separate outlet area-cooling air discharge channel for those from the interior of the Cooling zone cabin in the outlet area exiting cooling air includes. As from the interior of the cooling zone cabin in the outlet area escaping cooling air not with solvent condensate is loaded, it is not necessary in the outlet area-cooling air discharge duct to provide a condensate separator, what of the cooling air flow through the outlet region-cooling air discharge duct to be overcome flow resistance reduced.

As it may under unfavorable operating conditions or in case of failure of the heater may occur Solvent condensate at the boundary walls of the cooling zone cabin precipitates in the inlet area, it is favorable if the boundary walls of the cooling zone cabin in the inlet area provided with shielding, which at the boundary walls flowing condensate from the inlet openings the nozzles at which the injected cooling air into the interior the cooling zone compartment enters, keep away. This will even under unfavorable operating conditions or in case of failure the heating of the boundary walls of the cooling zone cabin prevents that solvent condensate in the region of the inlet openings the nozzles passes and the injected cooling air flow transported to the painted objects becomes.

Optionally in a lower, nozzle-free area the boundary walls of the cooling zone cabin formed solvent condensate can be removed from the cooling zone can be provided be that the cooling zone at least one, preferably Removable from the cooling zone, condensate tank for recording of the boundary walls of the cooling zone cabin in the inlet region dripping condensate comprises.

The present invention is based on the further object a method of cooling in a paint booth painted and dried in a heated dryer objects in a direction of passage of the objects Dryer downstream cooling zone, the cooling zone a Tunnel-like cooling zone cabin with the interior of the cooling zone cabin includes delimiting boundary walls, which themselves between an inlet opening and an outlet opening extend the cooling zone cabin for the painted objects, at the cooling air means in the boundary walls the cooling zone cabin in a adjacent to the inlet opening Inlet area provided nozzles in the interior of the Cooling zone cabin is injected, to create a rapid Cooling of the painted objects allows, without that caused by these solvents by solvent condensate Paint damage occurs.

This task is used in a method with the characteristics of Claim 26 solved.

Special embodiments of the method according to the invention are subject matter of claims 27 to 43, the benefits of which already above in connection with the particular embodiments the cooling zone according to the invention has been explained are.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer teilweise aufgebrochenen ersten Ausführungsform einer Kühlzone, deren Kühlzonenkabine im Einlaufbereich elektrisch beheizt wird, wobei die Kühlluft durch Austrittsöffnungen im oberen Bereich der Kühlzonenkabine austritt;

Fig. 2

einen schematischen vertikalen Längsschnitt durch die Kühlzone aus Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

einen schematischen horizontalen Längsschnitt durch die Kühlzone aus Fig. 1;

Fig. 4

einen schematischen Querschnitt durch den Einlaufbereich der Kühlzone aus Fig. 1 im Bereich eines Kühlluft-Zuführkanals;

Fig. 5

einen schematischen Querschnitt durch den Einlaufbereich der Kühlzone aus Fig. 1 im Bereich eines Einlaufbereich-Kühlluft-Abführkanals;

Fig. 6

einen schematischen Querschnitt durch einen Auslaufbereich der Kühlzone aus Fig. 1;

Fig. 7

eine Draufsicht auf einen als Drahtgestrick ausgebildeten Kondensatabscheider;

Fig. 8

einen Querschnitt durch den als Drahtgestrick ausgebildeten Kondensatabscheider aus Fig. 7;

Fig. 9

eine Draufsicht auf einen als Monofilament ausgebildeten Kondensatabscheider;

Fig. 10

einen Querschnitt durch den als Monofilament ausgebildeten Kondensatabscheider aus Fig. 9;

Fig. 11

einen Querschnitt durch einen aus Lamellen aufgebauten Kondensatabscheider;

Fig. 12

einen schematischen vertikalen Längsschnitt durch eine zweite Ausführungsform einer Kühlzone mit einer im Einlaufbereich elektrisch beheizten Kühlzonenkabine, die im unteren Bereich ihrer Seitenwände angeordnete Austrittsöffnungen für die in den Einlaufbereich eingeblasene Kühlluft aufweist;

Fig. 13

einen schematischen horizontalen Längsschnitt durch die Kühlzone aus Fig. 12;

Fig. 14

einen schematischen Querschnitt durch den Einlaufbereich der Kühlzone aus Fig. 13 im Bereich von Kühlluft-Zuführkanälen;

Fig. 15

einen schematischen vertikalen Längsschnitt durch eine dritte Ausführungsform einer Kühlzone mit einer im Einlaufbereich durch Heißgas beheizten Kühlzonenkabine, die im oberen Bereich ihrer Seitenwände angeordnete Austrittsöffnungen für in den Einlaufbereich eingeblasene Kühlluft aufweist;

Fig. 16

einen schematischen vertikalen Längsschnitt durch die Kühlzone aus Fig. 15;

Fig. 17

einen schematischen Querschnitt durch den Einlaufbereich der Kühlzone aus Fig. 15; und

Fig. 18

eine schematische Darstellung der Heißluft-Führung durch die Kühlzone aus Fig. 15.

Further features and advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description and drawings of exemplary embodiments. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a partially broken first embodiment of a cooling zone, the cooling zone cabin is electrically heated in the inlet region, wherein the cooling air exits through outlet openings in the upper part of the cooling zone cabin;

Fig. 2

a schematic vertical longitudinal section through the cooling zone of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

a schematic horizontal longitudinal section through the cooling zone of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4

a schematic cross section through the inlet region of the cooling zone of Figure 1 in the region of a cooling air supply duct.

Fig. 5

a schematic cross section through the inlet region of the cooling zone of Figure 1 in the region of an inlet region-cooling air-Abführkanals ..;

Fig. 6

a schematic cross section through an outlet region of the cooling zone of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7

a plan view of a formed as a wire knit condensate separator;

Fig. 8

a cross section through the formed as a wire knit condensate separator of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9

a plan view of a trained as a monofilament condensate separator;

Fig. 10

a cross section through the formed as a monofilament condensate separator of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11

a cross section through a built-up of fins condensate;

Fig. 12

a schematic vertical longitudinal section through a second embodiment of a cooling zone with an electrically heated in the inlet region cooling zone cabin, which has arranged in the lower region of its side walls outlet openings for the blown into the inlet region cooling air;

Fig. 13

a schematic horizontal longitudinal section through the cooling zone of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14

a schematic cross section through the inlet region of the cooling zone of Figure 13 in the region of cooling air supply ducts.

Fig. 15

a schematic vertical longitudinal section through a third embodiment of a cooling zone with a heated in the inlet region by hot gas cooling zone cabin, which has arranged in the upper region of its side walls outlet openings for injected into the inlet region cooling air;

Fig. 16

a schematic vertical longitudinal section through the cooling zone of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17

a schematic cross section through the inlet region of the cooling zone of Fig. 15; and

Fig. 18

a schematic representation of the hot air guide through the cooling zone of FIG. 15th

Equal or functionally equivalent elements are in all Figures with the same reference numerals.

One shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, designated as a whole by 100 First embodiment of a cooling zone comprises a standing on a hall floor 102, essentially cuboid Exterior cabin 104, which in its interior a tunnel-like Cooling zone cabin 106 receives. The refrigerated zone cabin 106 and the outside cabin 104 extend parallel to each other along a common longitudinal direction 108 (perpendicular to the drawing levels of Fig. 4 to 6).

The refrigerated zone cabin 106 and the outside cabin 104 have one common floor 110, which the side walls 112 of Outside cabin 104 and the side walls 114 of the cooling zone cabin 106 carries.

Upwards, the outside cabin 104 is through a flat ceiling wall 116 and the cooling zone cabin 106 by an angled Ceiling wall 118 completed.

In through the floor 110, the side walls 114 and the roof 118 limited interior 120 of the cooling zone cabin 106 is a Conveying device 122, for example, a support chain conveyor, arranged by means of which mounted on Skidrahmen 124 vehicle bodies 126 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction 108 Conveying direction through the cooling zone cabin 106 therethrough are eligible.

The conveyor 122 is known per se and their concrete Embodiment plays for the present invention no matter, so that on a detailed description of the Conveyor 122 is dispensed with.

The conveyor 122 promotes previously in a (not Painted booth painted and in a (not shown) heated dryer dried vehicle bodies 126 by a in Figs. 2 and 3 denoted by 128 Inlet opening into the cooling zone cabin 106 into and on a (not shown) outlet opening of the same out, with the contours of the inlet opening 128 and the Outlet opening of the apparent from FIGS. 4 to 6 cross-section the cooling zone cabin 106 correspond.

The entry opening 128 is followed by a designated 132 Inlet region of the cooling zone 100, which in turn a front part 134 which directly adjoins the Inlet opening 128 adjacent, and one along the conveying direction on the front part 134 following back part 136 includes (in Fig. 1, only the rear portion 136 of the lead-in area ) Shown.

A schematic cross section through the front part 134 of Lead-in area 132 is shown in FIG. 4.

As can be seen from Fig. 4, forms in the front part 134 of the inlet region 132 of the between the cooling zone cabin 106 and the outer cabin 104 remaining space a front inlet area-cooling air supply chamber 138, in the of above by the ceiling wall 116 of the outer cabin 104, a cooling air supply channel 140 opens.

The cooling air supply passage 140 is at its the cooling air supply chamber 138 opposite end to a (not shown) Cooling air supply connected to a cooling air supply fan.

The symmetrical to a vertical longitudinal center plane 142 of Refrigerated zone cabin 106 and the outer cabin 104 formed and arranged side walls 114 in the front part 134 of the inlet region 132 each include a lower vertical one Side wall portion 144 extending from the bottom 110 upwards extends, an adjoining, from the vertical Longitudinal center plane 142 inclined lower oblique side wall area 146, an adjoining upwards middle vertical sidewall area 148, one at it adjoining upward, to the vertical longitudinal center plane 142 inclined upper oblique side wall portion 150 and a at the same upper vertical upper Side wall portion 152, which the angled ceiling wall 118 the cooling zone cabin 106 carries.

Each of the upper oblique side wall portions 150 is made in the conveying direction consecutive, essentially rectangular wall elements 154 composed by means of each between two consecutive wall elements 154 from the top of the middle vertical sidewall area 148 to the lower edge of the upper vertical sidewall area 152 extending retaining rails 156 at the middle vertical sidewall area 148 and the upper one vertical sidewall area 152 are fixed.

The rectangular wall elements 154 each comprise two rectangular, stacked glass plates 158 and 160, between those a transparent electrically conductive resistance layer is arranged.

Furthermore, each of the wall elements 154 is provided with a nozzle 162, which the outer glass plate 158 and the inner glass plate 160 of the wall element 154 passes through and the nozzle axis 164 substantially perpendicular to the respective wall element 154 is directed to the vehicle body 126, so that through each nozzle 162, cooling air from the front intake area cooling air supply chamber 138 in the interior 120th the Kühlzonenkabine 106, directly to the cooled Vehicle body 126, can be blown.

The nozzles 162 are preferably arranged and aligned in this way, that injected through the same in the interior 120 Cooling air by existing on the vehicle bodies 126 Openings 166, such as window openings, in reach the interior of the vehicle bodies 126 to be cooled may be to the inner surfaces of the vehicle bodies 126 paint over and thus achieve a good cooling effect can.

Also, the angled ceiling wall 118 of the cooling zone cabin 106th is in the inlet region 132 from successive along the conveying direction, essentially rectangular wall elements 168 composed.

The wall elements 168 as well as the wall elements 154 are made two stacked glass plates 158 and 160 and a formed therebetween transparent resistance layer.

The wall elements 168 are by means of between each two successive wall elements 168 extending retaining rails 171 on each one of the upper vertical side wall portions 152 and at one in the longitudinal direction 108th extending first rail 172 set.

The electrically conductive resistance layers of the wall elements 154 and 168 are each via a (not shown) Temperature controller to a (not shown) power supply connected so that the wall elements 154 and 168 by means of ohms generated in these resistive layers Heat to a predetermined temperature in the range of about 80 ° C to about 130 ° C can be heated.

The along the conveying direction of the front part 134th the inlet portion 132 subsequent rear portion 136 of Lead-in area 132 differs, as shown in FIG. 5 can be seen is, from the front part 134 of the lead-in area 132nd in that between the outer cabin 104 and the refrigerated zone cabin 106 remaining gap by slightly against the horizontal inclined false ceiling 174 in below the Tween ceilings 174 arranged rear inlet area-cooling air supply chambers 176 and one above the false ceilings 174 arranged inlet region-cooling air discharge chamber 178, in which from above through the ceiling wall 116 of the outer cabin 104th an inlet region-cooling air discharge channel 180 opens, divided is.

As best seen in Fig. 2, closes at the vertical, into the inlet region cooling air discharge chamber 178 opening portion of the inlet region-cooling air discharge channel 180, a horizontal portion 184 of the intake area cooling air discharge passage 180, in which a first condensate 186 and a second condensate separator 188 along the Flow direction of the cooling air arranged one behind the other are.

Each of the condensate separators 186 and 188 includes a a carrier grid 190 disposed separator medium 192nd

Examples of such separator media are shown in FIGS. 7 to 11 is shown.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, may be formed as wire knit 194, through the mesh, the cooling air in the flow direction 222 passes through, with the entrained condensate droplets hang on the knitted fabric 194.

Alternatively, the separator medium as so-called Monofilament 196 may be formed as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 shown, wherein the net-like monofilament pyramidal Spans funnel, which flows through the cooling air be, with the entrained condensate droplets on the webs of the monofilament get stuck.

Furthermore, it is possible to use the separator medium a flock parallel to each other, across the Flow direction of the cooling air spaced-apart fins 198, which transverse to the flow direction 222nd the cooling air are corrugated and each have a first curved Scraper 200, which in the flow direction the cooling air is located just behind the respective shaft crest and a second curved scraper 201, which in the flow direction of the cooling air behind the first scraper 200 and on the opposite surface of each Slat 198 is arranged. The separation effect This is due to the fact that the entrained in the cooling air Condensate droplets preferred because of their inertia in the spaces between the scrapers 200 and 201, respectively and get the respective blade 198 and get stuck there, when the cooling air condensate aerosol through the curvature the fins 198 is accelerated transversely to the direction of flow.

The lamellae 198 and the monofilament 196 may consist of a Plastic material such as polyethylene or polytetrafluoroethylene be formed.

This is in the flow direction of the cooling air behind the condensate traps 186 and 188 lying end of the horizontal area 184 of the intake area cooling air discharge passage 180 is connected to a (not shown) cooling air discharge chimney.

The front end of the intake area-cooling air discharge chamber seen in the conveying direction 178 is by means of a vertical front partition 202 (see Fig. 2) opposite the front Inlet area cooling air supply chamber 138 completed.

The rear inlet area cooling air supply chambers 176 are however, at its forward end in the conveying direction to the front intake area cooling air supply chamber 138 open, so that the cooling zone 100 supplied cooling air from the cooling air supply passage 140 through the front intake area cooling air supply chamber 138 in the rear inlet area-cooling air supply chambers 176 can get.

Further, the upper vertical side wall portions 152 are in FIG rear part 136 of the lead-in area 132 not, as in the front part 134, completely closed, but with Inlet region outlet openings 204 provided, which between each one of the upper oblique side wall portions 150 on the one hand and the angled ceiling wall 118 of the cooling zone cabin 106 extend in the longitudinal direction 108 on the other hand.

The of the cooling air from the interior 120 of the cooling zone cabin 106 permeable clear width of the inlet area outlet openings 204 is by means of the angled ceiling wall 118 held, slidable in the vertical direction slider 206 adjustable.

Otherwise, the structure of the cooling zone 100 is correct in the rear Part 136 of the inlet region 132 with its structure in the front Part 134 of the inlet region 132 match.

In particular, the wall elements 154 and 168 of the upper oblique side wall portion 150 and the ceiling wall 118 in the manner already described above and formed thus during operation of the cooling zone electrically to a temperature in the range of about 80 ° C to about 130 ° C heated.

Furthermore, the wall elements 154 have nozzles 162 through which Cooling air from the rear inlet area-cooling air supply chambers 176 injected into the interior 120 of the cooling zone cabin 106 can be.

As seen in the conveying direction to the rear is the inlet region-cooling air discharge chamber 178 by a vertical rear Partition 208 completed.

From this partition 208 to the outlet opening of the cooling zone cabin 106 extends in the conveying direction the inlet region 132 following outlet region 210 of the cooling zone 100th

As can be seen from Fig. 6, the structure differs the cooling zone 100 in the outlet region 210 of the structure in the rear part 136 of the inlet region 132 in that the angled ceiling wall 118 'of the cooling zone cabin 106 in the outlet area 210 not made of heated wall elements, but is formed by non-heatable sheets 212.

Also, the upper inclined side wall portion 150 'of the cooling zone cabin 106 is not heatable in the outlet area 210. Of the between the outside cabin 104 and the refrigerating zone cabin 206 in FIG Outlet area 210 remaining space is replaced by a horizontal false ceiling 214 below the false ceiling 214 arranged outlet region-cooling air supply chambers 216, which with the rear inlet area-cooling air supply chambers 176 are connected, so that cooling air from the cooling air supply channel 140 through the front inlet area-cooling air supply chamber 138 and the rear inlet area-cooling air supply chambers 176 into the spout area cooling air supply chambers 216 can reach, and in one above the false ceiling 214th arranged outlet region-cooling air discharge chamber 218, in which from above through the ceiling wall 116 of the outside cabin 104 Outlet area-cooling air discharge channel 220 opens, divided.

The drain area cooling air discharge chamber 218 is in the interior 120 of the cooling zone cabin 106 via outlet area outlet openings 221, whose clear width by means of sliders 223 is adjustable, connected.

The outlet region-cooling air discharge channel 220 is above a (Not shown) cooling air extraction fan to a cooling air discharge chimney connected by which from the interior 120 of the cooling zone cabin 106 sucked cooling air in the Environment can escape.

It can also be provided that the inlet region-cooling air discharge channel 180 at a flow direction of the cooling air behind the condensate traps 186 and 188 lying Point merged with the outlet area-cooling air discharge channel 220 is, so that both discharge channels on the same exhaust fan and the same cooling air discharge chimney in the surrounding Atmosphere flow.

As can be seen from Fig. 6, are also the upper oblique Side wall portions 150 'of the outlet portion 210 with nozzles 162nd provided, which the upper oblique side wall portions 150 ' penetrate substantially vertically and through which the Cooling air from the discharge area-cooling air supply chambers 216 in the interior 120 of the cooling zone cabin 106 is inflatable.

For a higher cooling capacity in the outlet region 210 of the cooling zone 100 is the number of nozzles 162 per unit area in the upper oblique side wall portions 150 ' of the spout area 210 is higher than in the upper oblique sidewall areas 150 of the inlet region 132. Further also the middle vertical side wall regions 148 ', the lower oblique side wall portions 146 'and the lower vertical Side wall portions 144 'of the side walls 114 of the cooling zone cabin 106 provided in the outlet region 210 with nozzles 162, their nozzle axes 164 to the through the cooling zone cabin 106th subsidized vehicle bodies 126 are directed towards.

The above-described first embodiment of a cooling zone 100 works as follows:

The vehicle bodies 126 are moved in a passing direction the vehicle bodies 126 of the cooling zone 100 upstream Paint booth painted and in a heated dryer dried. The vehicle bodies 126 leave the Dryers in heated condition and drive in this condition through the inlet opening 128 in the inlet region 132 of the Cooling zone 100 a.

Together with the vehicle bodies 126 are thereby solvent vapors from the dryer into the inlet region 132 of the Cooling zone 100 is delayed. Furthermore, of the coatings, the seam sealing materials, insulation mats, etc. of the heated Vehicle bodies 126 as long as solvent vapors and / or softener vapors released until the vehicle bodies 126 have cooled sufficiently.

The cooling of the vehicle bodies 126 in the inlet area 132 of the cooling zone 100 is achieved in that by means of Cooling air supply fan Suction of fresh air at ambient temperature and under increased pressure through the cooling air supply passage 140 in the front inlet region-cooling air supply chamber 138 and the two rear inlet area-cooling air supply chambers 176 is promoted. From these chambers, the cooling air blown through the nozzles 162 onto the vehicle bodies 126, which cool by the contact with the cooling air. The heated by contact with the vehicle bodies 126 and with solvent vapors loaded cooling air is through the Inlet region outlet openings 204 in the upper region of the Refrigeration zone cabin 106 in the inlet region-cooling air discharge chamber 178 sucked, from where they are in the inlet region-cooling air discharge channel 180 arrived.

When flowing through the in the inlet region-cooling air discharge channel 180 deputed condensate 186 and 188 are those contained in the cooling air solvent condensate aerosol Solvent condensate droplets deposited so that a Contamination of in the flow direction of the cooling air the condensate absorbers 186 and 188 following areas of the inlet region-cooling air-discharge channel 180 and the cooling air suction fan and the cooling air discharge chimney by solvent condensate is largely prevented.

The course of the cooling air flow through the inlet region 132 the cooling zone 100 is indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5 by arrows 222.

A condensation of solvent vapors on the interior 120 facing inner sides of the ceiling wall 118 and the upper oblique side wall portions 150 is thereby avoided that these wall areas by means of electrical heating the resistor heating layers arranged therein in operation the cooling zone 100 at a temperature in the range of about 80 ° C to about 130 ° C are held.

In the lower, unheated sidewall regions 148, 146 and 144, no nozzles 162 are provided so that at these lower Side wall areas resulting solvent condensate also not with injected cooling air to the vehicle bodies 126 can get.

Rather, formed on the lower side wall areas formed Condensate to the bottom 110 of the cooling zone cabin 106 down.

Optionally, the draining condensate in the bottom 110 of the Refrigeration zone cabin 106 arranged (not shown) condensate collection containers be caught.

Preferably, such condensate collection are from the Refrigerated zone cabin 106 removable to the accumulated therein Dispose of condensate from time to time.

The residence time of each vehicle body 126 in Einlaufbeeich 132 of the cooling zone 100 is typically about 1 up to 2 minutes.

It can be provided that the conveyor 122, the Vehicle body 126 during the residence time substantially continuously through the inlet region 132 of the cooling zone 100 passes through.

Alternatively, it can also be provided that the conveying device 122 operates in clock mode, that is, a vehicle body 126 in the inlet region 132 of the cooling zone 100th inside, the vehicle body 126 during the dwell time from about 1 to 2 minutes in the inlet area 132 let rest and then the vehicle body 126 in the Outlet region 210 of the cooling zone 100 further promotes. Such a Intermittent operation of the conveyor 122 provides the Advantage that the length of the inlet region 132 along the conveying direction only slightly larger than the length of a vehicle body 126 must be chosen.

The residence time in the inlet region 132 of the cooling zone 100 is such that the vehicle bodies 126 at the end of the dwell time have cooled down so much that they are substantially no longer emit solvent and / or plasticizer vapors. In the adjoining the inlet region 132 outlet region 210 of the cooling zone 100, the vehicle bodies 126 therefore continue to be cooled with great cooling power, without that the risk of condensation on the inner walls of the Cooling zone cabin 106 is made so that a heating of the Ceiling wall 118 'and the upper sloping sidewall areas 150 'can be dispensed in the outlet area 210.

In the run-out area 210 is through the rear inlet region-cooling air supply chambers 176 the outlet area-cooling air supply chambers 216 supplied cooling air through the nozzles 162 in the interior 120 of the cooling zone cabin 106 injected and through the spout area outlet openings 221 into the spout area cooling air discharge chamber 218 sucked, from where the in the interior 120 heated cooling air through the outlet area-cooling air discharge channel 220, the cooling air suction fan and the Cooling air discharge chimney enters the environment. Since those in the outlet area 210 sucked cooling air substantially no solvent condensate is in the outlet area-cooling air discharge channel 220 no condensate separator required.

Due to the separate extraction of the cooling air from the inlet area 132 of the cooling zone 100 on the one hand and from the outlet area 210 of the cooling zone 100 on the other hand it is achieved that only the cooling air extracted from the inlet region 132, which is loaded with solvent condensate, one or more Must pass condensate.

As a result, on the one hand, the condensate separator dimensioned smaller be as required if the whole Cooling air extracted from cooling zone 100 causes the condensate separators would have to happen.

Furthermore, only occurs in the inlet region-cooling air discharge channel 180 a caused by the condensate pressure loss on, so that for the extraction of the cooling air from the cooling zone 100 used exhaust fan correspondingly smaller can be.

A second embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 a cooling zone 100 differs from the above described first embodiment in that the in the Interior 120 injected cooling air in the inlet region 132 of the Cooling zone not through in the upper part of the cooling zone cabin 106 arranged outlet openings, but by in the bottom Area of the refrigerated zone cabin 106 in the lower vertical Side wall portions 144 of the inlet region 132 provided Outlet openings 224 is sucked, the clear width is adjustable by means of slides 225.

As can be seen from Fig. 14, is in the inlet region 132 of the second embodiment of a cooling zone 100 between the Outside cabin 104 and the cooling zone cabin 106 remaining gap by at the height of the upper edge of the lower vertical Side wall portions 144 arranged substantially horizontal False ceilings 226 below the false ceiling 226 arranged inlet region-cooling air discharge chambers 178 ' and inlet area cooling air supply chambers disposed above the false ceilings 226 176 'divided.

The two left and right of the cooling zone cabin 106 arranged Inlet area-cooling air supply chambers 176 'are here by means extending in the longitudinal direction 108 vertical partition 228 separated from each other to a possible symmetrical flow pattern of the cooling air in the interior 120 to achieve. In each of the intake area cooling air supply chambers 176 'flows from above through the ceiling wall 116 of the Exterior cabin 104 each have a cooling air supply channel 140th

The ceiling wall 118 '' of the refrigerated zone cabin 106 is at the in FIGS. 12 to 14 show the second embodiment a cooling zone 100 not angled, but made flat; however, it would be readily possible for this embodiment as well an angled ceiling wall can be used.

As best seen in Fig. 12, the inlet area cooling air discharge chambers open 178 'am in the conveying direction behind lying end of the inlet region 132 in each case a vertical Inlet area cooling air exhaust duct 230. The two Inlet area-cooling air discharge shafts 230 turn into an inlet region-cooling air discharge channel 180, which like the inlet region-cooling air discharge channel of the first embodiment with a first condensate separator 186 and a second condensate separator 188 is provided.

Also, the outlet region 210 of the second embodiment of a Cooling zone 100 differs from that of the first embodiment only in that the cooling air through in the Outlet region outlet openings arranged at lower vertical sidewall regions 144 ' 232 is sucked out. Which resulting changes in the construction of the outlet area 210 of the second embodiment correspond exactly to the above-described changes in the structure of the inlet area 132, so that a detailed description of this Changes are unnecessary.

As in the first embodiment of a cooling zone 100 are also in the second embodiment in the inlet region 132nd the ceiling wall 118 "and the upper sloping sidewall areas 150 of electrically heatable wall elements 154 and 168 formed so that in the second embodiment, a Condensation on the inner walls in the upper area of the Cooling zone cabin 106 is reliably prevented. As a result of that in the second embodiment, the cooling air in the lower area the Kühlzonenkabine 106 is sucked, is a special favorable, indicated by arrows 222 in Fig. 14, Achieved flow pattern in the interior 120 of the cooling zone cabin 106, in which a large part of the injected cooling air through the openings 166 on the vehicle bodies 126 in the interior the vehicle bodies 126 penetrates and through openings on the undersides of the vehicle bodies 126 again emerges from the same, so that it is guaranteed that also hard to reach inner surfaces of the vehicle bodies 126 exceeded by a sufficient cooling air mass flow become.

Otherwise, the second embodiment of a cooling zone is correct 100 in structure and function with the first embodiment with reference to the above description is taken.

A third embodiment shown in FIGS. 15 to 18 a cooling zone 100 differs from the above described first embodiment in that instead of a electric heating of the ceiling wall and the upper sloping Side wall areas of the cooling zone cabin 106 in the inlet area 132 a heating of these areas by means of a through this Wall regions passed through hot gas is provided.

As can be seen from the schematic representation of FIG is, as a hot gas, the clean gas of a thermal exhaust air purification system 234, in which the dryer 236, in which the painted vehicle bodies 126 dried are removed through a dryer exhaust duct 238 Dryer exhaust air by oxidation of the hydrocarbons contained therein cleaned while being heated.

The clean gas of the thermal exhaust air purification system 234 is the cooling zone 100 supplied by a hot gas supply line 240, which warm side before entering the cooling zone 100 passes through a first heat exchanger 242, the cold side of circulating through a heating zone 244 of the dryer 236 Circulating air is flowed through, and warm side, a second heat exchanger Runs through 246, the cold side of a holding zone 248 of the dryer 236 circulating circulating air flows through becomes.

After the hot gas arranged in the cooling zone 100 Hot gas channel 250 has flowed through, it passes into a hot gas discharge line 252, in which the hot gas on the warm side flows through third heat exchanger 254, which cold side of from the environment sucked fresh air is flowed through, which after heating in the third heat exchanger by a Frischluftzuführleitung 256 partially an entrance lock 258 and partially an exit lock 260 of the dryer 236 is supplied.

After flowing through the third heat exchanger 254 occurs Hot gas through a hot gas fireplace 262 in the environment.

The above-described hot gas duct ensures that that the heat content of the clean gas of the thermal Exhaust air purification system 234 used as fully as possible before the hot gas escapes into the environment.

As best seen in Fig. 17, it differs the structure of the lead-in area 132 of the third embodiment a cooling zone 100 of that of the first embodiment in that the roof 118 '' 'and the upper oblique side wall portions 150 '' of the cooling zone cabin 106 not by electrical heated wall elements are formed, but instead its extending in the longitudinal direction 108 hot gas channels 250 include the interior 120 of the cooling zone cabin 106 facing boundary walls 263 at the same time interior walls the cooling zone cabin 106 form and by reinforcing ribs 265 can be stiffened. At the the interior 120 of the Cooling zone cabin 106 facing away from the hot gas channels 250th Each is a heat insulation 264 made of a material with poor thermal conductivity arranged to release a Heat from the flowing through the hot gas channels 250 hot gas to the between the outside cabin 104 and the cooling zone cabin 106 to prevent remaining gap.

The upper oblique side wall portions 150 "of the third embodiment are as well as the corresponding wall areas of the first embodiment provided with nozzles 162, through which Cooling air from the inlet region-cooling air supply chambers 176 injected into the interior 120 of the cooling zone cabin 106 can be. The nozzles 162 are through the thermal insulation 264 separated from the hot gas channels 250 to prevent that injected into the interior 120 cooling air through the the hot gas channels 250 heated hot gas is heated.

The inlet area cooling air discharge chamber 178 is above inlet area outlet openings 204 at the top of the Cooling zone cabin 106 with the interior 120 of the cooling zone cabin 106 and at their end in the conveying direction end with the inlet region-cooling air discharge channel 180 of the third Embodiment connected (see Fig. 15).

The hot gas channels 250 are at their in the conveying direction front ends with one in the front part of the inlet area 132 arranged hot gas inlet chamber 272, in which the hot gas supply line 240 opens and in which a hot gas fan 274 is arranged, which hot gas from the hot gas supply line 240 into the hot gas channels 250 promotes.

The hot gas channels 250 in the ceiling wall 118 '' 'and in the upper sloping side wall portions 150 "are at their in the conveying direction of the rear ends through hot gas wells 268th interconnected so that the hot gas through the hot gas channel in the ceiling wall 118 '' 'to the rear end of the inlet area 132 and from there through the hot gas channels 250 in the upper sloping side wall portions 150 '' back in the hot gas inlet chamber 272 passes.

Further, the hot gas inlet chamber 272 opens from above an inclined partition wall 269, a hot gas exhaust duct 270 (See FIG. 15) which is connected to the hot gas discharge line 252 is.

Since both the hot gas ducts 250 and the hot gas exhaust duct 270 directly into the hot gas inlet chamber 272, promotes the hot gas fan 274, the hot gas partly in the hot gas channels 250 and partly in the hot gas exhaust duct 270, so that no additional suction fan for suction the hot gas from the cooling zone 100 is required.

In operation of the third embodiment of a cooling zone 100 Thus, the interior 120 of the cooling zone cabin 106th facing inner sides of the ceiling wall 118 '' 'and the upper oblique side wall portion 150 '' of the inlet portion 132 of the Cooling zone 100 by heat from the hot gas, which is conveyed through the hot gas channels 250 and the cooling zone 100 through the hot gas exhaust duct 270 leaves on a Temperature in the range of about 80 ° C to about 130 ° C heated, so that at the upper side wall portions of the Cooling zone cabin 106 can not form a solvent condensate.

If in case of failure of the heating of the ceiling wall 118 '' 'and the upper oblique side wall portions 150 '' but condensate on these wall areas should arise, this condensate, if it is on the side walls 114 of the cooling zone cabin 106 down, through above and to the side of the nozzle openings arranged shielding 276 around the nozzle openings guided around and thus kept away from the nozzle openings, so that even when a failure of the heating reliable prevents condensate drops from entering the interior 120 entrained the Kühlzonenkabine 106 incoming cooling air flow and deposited on the vehicle bodies 126 become.

The shielding elements 276 preferably have the shape of a downwardly open U and are at the upper oblique sidewall area 150 ", for example by welding. Basically, such shielding are also at can be used for electrical heating.

Otherwise, the third embodiment is a cooling zone 100 in structure and function with the first embodiment with reference to the above description is taken.

Claims (43)

1. Cooling zone of a coating installation, which comprises at least one coating booth, a heated drier (236) for drying coated articles (126), as well as a cooling zone (100) disposed, in the direction of passage of the articles (126), downstream of the drier (236) for cooling the coated and dried articles (126),
   wherein the cooling zone (100) comprises a tunnel-like cooling zone booth (106) with boundary walls (114, 118; 118'; 118''; 128'''), which delimit the interior (120) of the cooling zone booth (106) and extend between an entry opening (128) and an exit opening of the cooling zone booth (106) for the coated articles (126),
   and the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth (106) in an inlet region (132) of the cooling zone (100) adjoining the entry opening (128) are provided with nozzles (162) for blowing cooling air into the interior (120) of the cooling zone booth (106), wherein
   at least a sub-region of the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth (106) in the inlet region (132) of the cooling zone (100) is heated,
   characterized in that at least one of the nozzles (162) is disposed in the heated sub-region of the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth (106) in the inlet region (132).
2. Cooling zone according to claim 1, characterized in that all of the nozzles disposed in the inlet region (132) of the cooling zone (100) are disposed in the heatable sub-region of the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth (106).
3. Cooling zone according to one of claims 1 or 2,
   characterized in that a ceiling wall (118; 118''; 118''') of the cooling zone booth (106) in the inlet region (132) of the cooling zone (100) is heatable over its entire surface.
4. Cooling zone according to one of claims 1 to 3,
   characterized in that an upper region (150; 150'') of side walls (114) of the cooling zone booth (106) in the inlet region (132) of the cooling zone (100) is heatable over its entire surface.
5. Cooling zone according to claim 4, characterized in that the upper region (150; 150'') of the side walls (114) of the cooling zone booth (106) in the inlet region (132) of the cooling zone (100) is inclined in such a way that an upper edge of said region faces towards a vertical longitudinal centre plane (142) of the cooling zone (100) and a lower edge of said region faces away from the vertical longitudinal centre plane (142) of the cooling zone (100).
6. Cooling zone according to one of claims 1 to 5,
   characterized in that the heatable sub-region of the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth (106) in the inlet region (132) of the cooling zone (100) can be brought through heating to a temperature of approximately 80°C to approximately 130°C.
7. Cooling zone according to one of claims 1 to 6,
   characterized in that the heatable sub-region of the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth (106) in the inlet region (132) of the cooling zone (100) is heatable by means of electric resistance heating.
8. Cooling zone according to claim 7, characterized in that the heatable sub-region of the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth (106) comprises wall elements (154, 168), into each of which an electric resistance heating element is integrated.
9. Cooling zone according to one of claims 7 or 8,
   characterized in that the wall elements (154, 168) comprise in each case two panels of an electrically insulating material and an electric resistance heating element disposed between said panels.
10. Cooling zone according to claim 9, characterized in that the panels of electrically insulating material are glass panels (158, 160).
11. Cooling zone according to one of claims 9 or 10,
    characterized in that the electric resistance heating element takes the form of a transparent resistance heating layer.
12. Cooling zone according to one of claims 1 to 11,
    characterized in that the heatable sub-region of the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth (106) is heatable by means of a hot gas.
13. Cooling zone according to claim 12, characterized in that the cooling zone (100) comprises a hot-gas channel (250), which is disposed in the inlet region (132) of the cooling zone (100) and is in heat-conducting contact with the heatable sub-region of the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth (106).
14. Cooling zone according to claims 12 or 13,
    characterized in that a lateral boundary of the hot-gas channel (250) is formed by the heatable sub-region of the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth (106).
15. Cooling zone according to one of claims 12 to 14,
    characterized in that clean gas from a thermal exhaust air cleaning system (234) of the coating installation is suppliable to the hot-gas channel (250).
16. Cooling zone according to claim 15, characterized in that the clean gas from the thermal exhaust air cleaning system (234), before being supplied to the hot-gas channel (250), is conveyable through at least one heat exchanger (242, 246) for heating air circulating through the drier (236).
17. Cooling zone according to one of claims 12 to 16,
    characterized in that the hot gas, after being supplied to the hot-gas channel (250), is conveyable through a heat exchanger (254) for heating fresh air that is to be blown into locks (258, 260) of the drier (236).
18. Cooling zone according to one of claims 1 to 17,
    characterized in that the cooling zone booth (106) comprises outlet openings (204, 221) disposed in the upper region of its boundary walls to allow cooling air to pass out of the interior (120) of the cooling zone booth (106).
19. Cooling zone according to claim 18, characterized in that the outlet openings (204, 221) are disposed in each case between a ceiling wall (118; 118'; 118''') and a side wall (114) of the cooling zone booth (106).
20. Cooling zone according to one of claims 1 to 17,
    characterized in that the cooling zone booth (106) comprises outlet openings (224, 232) disposed in the lower region of its boundary walls to allow cooling air to pass out of the interior (120) of the cooling zone booth (106).
21. Cooling zone according to one of claims 1 to 20,
    characterized in that the cooling zone (100), for discharging cooling air that passes out of the interior (120) of the cooling zone booth (106) in the inlet region (132), comprises an inlet-region cooling-air discharge channel (180), in which at least one condensation product separator (186, 188) is disposed.
22. Cooling zone according to claim 21, characterized in that disposed in the inlet-region cooling-air discharge channel (180) are at least two condensation product separators (186, 188), which are disposed subsequently in the direction of flow one downstream of the other.
23. Cooling zone according to one of claims 21 or 22,
    characterized in that the cooling zone (100) comprises an outlet region (210), which in the direction of passage of the articles (126) adjoins the inlet region (132), wherein the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth (106) in the outlet region (210) are provided with nozzles (162) for blowing cooling air into the interior (120) of the cooling zone booth (106), and the cooling zone, in addition to the inlet-region cooling-air discharge channel (180), comprises an outlet-region cooling-air discharge channel (220) for cooling air that passes out of the interior (120) of the cooling zone booth (106) in the outlet region (210).
24. Cooling zone according to one of claims 1 to 23,
    characterized in that the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth (106) in the inlet region (132) are provided with shielding elements (276), by means of which condensation product running down the boundary walls is kept away from the inlet openings of the nozzles (162).
25. Cooling zone according to one of claims 1 to 24,
    characterized in that the cooling zone comprises at least one condensation product container, which is removable from the cooling zone, for receiving condensation product that drips down from the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth (106) in the inlet region (132).
26. Method of cooling articles, which have been coated in a coating booth and dried in a heated drier, in a cooling zone disposed, in the direction of passage of the articles, downstream of the drier,
    wherein the cooling zone comprises a tunnel-like cooling zone booth with boundary walls, which delimit the interior of the cooling zone booth and extend between an entry opening and an exit opening of the cooling zone booth for the coated articles,
    in which cooling air is blown into the interior of the cooling zone booth by means of nozzles, which are provided in the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth in an inlet region adjoining the entry opening,
    wherein at least a sub-region of the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth in the inlet region of the cooling zone is heated,
    characterized in that cooling air is blown into the interior of the cooling zone booth through at least one nozzle disposed in the heated sub-region of the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth in the inlet region.
27. Method according to claim 26, characterized in that the cooling air in the inlet region of the cooling zone is blown into the interior of the cooling zone booth exclusively through nozzles disposed in the heated sub-region of the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth.
28. Method according to one of claims 26 or 27,
    characterized in that a ceiling wall of the cooling zone booth in the inlet region of the cooling zone is heated substantially over its entire surface.
29. Method according to one of claims 26 to 28,
    characterized in that an upper region of side walls of the cooling zone booth in the inlet region of the cooling zone is heated substantially over its entire surface.
30. Method according to one of claims 26 to 29,
    characterized in that the heated sub-region of the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth in the inlet region of the cooling zone is brought to a temperature of approximately 80°C to approximately 130°C.
31. Method according to one of claims 26 to 30,
    characterized in that the heated sub-region of the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth is heated by means of electric resistance heating.
32. Method according to one of claims 26 to 31,
    characterized in that the heated sub-region of the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth is heated by means of a hot gas.
33. Method according to claim 32, characterized in that the hot gas is conveyed through a hot-gas channel, which is disposed in the inlet region of the cooling zone and is in heat-conducting contact with the heated sub-region of the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth.
34. Method according to one of claims 32 or 33,
    characterized in that clean gas from a thermal exhaust air cleaning system is supplied to the hot-gas channel.
35. Method according to claim 34, characterized in that the clean gas from the thermal exhaust air cleaning system, before being supplied to the hot-gas channel, is conveyed through at least one heat exchanger for heating air circulating through the drier.
36. Method according to one of claims 33 to 35,
    characterized in that the hot gas, after being conveyed through the hot-gas channel, is conveyed through a heat exchanger for heating fresh air that is to be blown into locks of the drier.
37. Method according to one of claims 26 to 36,
    characterized in that the cooling air is sucked from the interior of the cooling zone booth through outlet openings disposed in the upper region of the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth.
38. Method according to one of claims 26 to 37,
    characterized in that the cooling air is extracted from the interior of the cooling zone booth through outlet openings disposed in the lower region of the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth.
39. Method according to one of claims 26 to 38,
    characterized in that cooling air, which has been extracted from the interior of the cooling zone booth in the inlet region, is conveyed through an inlet-region cooling-air discharge channel, in which at least one condensation product separator is disposed.
40. Method according to claim 39, characterized in that disposed in the inlet-region cooling-air discharge channel are at least two condensation product separators, which are disposed subsequently in the direction of flow of the cooling air.
41. Method according to one of claims 39 or 40,
    characterized in that the cooling air is conveyed from the interior of the cooling zone booth in an outlet region, which in the direction of passage of the articles adjoins the inlet region and in which the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth are provided with nozzles for blowing cooling air into the interior of the cooling zone booth, into an outlet-region cooling-air discharge channel, which is separate from the inlet-region cooling-air discharge channel.
42. Method according to one of claims 26 to 41,
    characterized in that condensation product running down the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth in the inlet region is kept away from the inlet openings of the nozzles by means of shielding elements.
43. Method according to one of claims 26 to 42,
    characterized in that condensation product dripping down from the boundary walls of the cooling zone booth in the inlet region is collected in at least one condensation product container.

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