Classifications

• • 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
  • B05B12/14—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area for supplying a selected one of a plurality of liquids or other fluent materials or several in selected proportions to a spray apparatus, e.g. to a single spray outlet
• • 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
  • B05B12/14—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area for supplying a selected one of a plurality of liquids or other fluent materials or several in selected proportions to a spray apparatus, e.g. to a single spray outlet
  • B05B12/1463—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area for supplying a selected one of a plurality of liquids or other fluent materials or several in selected proportions to a spray apparatus, e.g. to a single spray outlet separate containers for different materials to be sprayed being moved from a first location, e.g. a filling station, where they are fluidically disconnected from the spraying apparatus, to a second location, generally close to the spraying apparatus, where they are fluidically connected to the latter
• • 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
  • B05B13/0431—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 spray heads moved by robots or articulated arms, e.g. for applying liquid or other fluent material to 3D-surfaces
• • 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
  • B05B13/0447—Installation or apparatus for applying liquid or other fluent material to conveyed separate articles
  • B05B13/0452—Installation or apparatus for applying liquid or other fluent material to conveyed separate articles the conveyed articles being vehicle bodies

Definitions

• the present invention relates, in general, to the field of automated painting installations in particular usable for the application of paint and in particular of electrically conductive paint or other similar coating product on bodywork of motor vehicles.
• This invention relates, more particularly, to the filling of paint tanks, in the case of installations using painting machines or robots each carrying a movable tank intended to supply a spray gun or a paint spray bowl.
• Machines which have at least two orthogonal axes, but which do not follow the bodywork longitudinally during their advance on the conveyor.
• color change systems are placed either in the cabin, in the area accessible by the end of the robot arm, or, in the case of "machines”, in the frame of the machine itself, or even in an “on-board” situation, on one of the axes of the machine as indicated in document EP 0 691 892.
• the reservoir consists of a cylindrical chamber with a fixed maximum capacity, housing a piston.
• the piston is pushed back during the tank filling phase, then it is pushed forward during the spraying phase.
• the displacements of the piston are controlled and measured in order to be able to know at any time the quantity of paint present in the reservoir and the instantaneous flow of sprayed paint.
• the assembly consisting of a sprayer and the associated reservoir has a multiple fluidic connector, for example at three connection points.
• a first connection point makes it possible first to inject a cleaning liquid in order to rinse the tank, then air allowing the cleaning product to be pushed towards a drain, through a second connection point, and finally paint or other coating product to fill the tank in sufficient quantity.
• the third and last connection point allows you to rinse only the spray nozzle.
• a fixed distribution system which in particular comprises a shade changer block supplied with paint of the different shades to be selected, said block comprising multiple inlets, piloted valves and a single outlet.
• This distribution system comprises a connection assembly, for example at three points corresponding to those of the fluid connector of the sprayer.
• one point of the connection assembly is connected to the output of the color changer block, another point is connected to a rinsing block comprising an air valve and a solvent valve, and the last connection point is connected to a drain allowing the collection of cleaning residues.
• the tank is then cleaned by injecting the cleaning product, which is then evacuated to the purge, while the sprayer nozzle is itself rinsed with solvent and then with air. Then, compressed air pushes the solvent towards the purge, and the tank is filled with paint of a new shade, selected and distributed by the shade changer block.
• the present invention aims to solve these problems, by providing a technical solution which, without modifying the machines or the robots themselves, provides a significant reduction in losses of paint and rinse aid, during color changes, and which limits maintenance operations are also strongly affected, so that this results in a significant reduction in operating costs and production losses of an installation of the type concerned, to which is added a significant reduction in the initial investment.
• the invention firstly relates to a process for filling a paint tank, in an automated painting installation of the type concerned, that is to say comprising painting machines or robots each with a sprayer and reservoir of paint or other coating product, associated with the sprayer and intended to supply it, these machines or robots being arranged along a paint line in particular for motor vehicle bodies, each assembly consisting of a sprayer and associated reservoir having a fluid connector intended to cooperate in a non-permanent manner with a distribution system, comprising a shade changer block supplied with paint of different colors, and a fluid connection assembly connected to the outlet of the shade changer block, this process being characterized by the fact that at least two machines or robots use the same distribution system, to which they connect successively, at each change of shade, to rinse and fill with paint successively their respective reservoirs, associated with their respective sprayers.
• the invention also relates to a device for implementing the method defined above, this device comprising, for two painting machines or robots each with sprayer and paint reservoir, arranged consecutively along the paint line, a system distribution system with color changer block and fluid connection assembly connected to the output of the color changer block, the distribution system being placed between the two machines or robots so that it can be used by either these machines or robots, for rinsing and filling their respective tanks, associated with their respective sprayers.
• the inventive idea consists in providing a single distribution and shade change system for two machines or robots, by allowing these two machines or robots to use the same distribution system to rinse and fill their respective tanks, this unlike conventional installations which include at least as many distribution systems, with color changer, as machines or robots.
• the invention therefore makes it possible to halve the number of distribution systems, with shade changer block and fluidic connection assembly, which already reduces the initial investment, as well as the times and costs of maintenance.
• a motorized hatch is fitted in the wall of the paint booth for the passage of the fluid connection assembly, connected at the outlet of the shade changer unit and provided movable, in the direction of the interior of the paint booth, with a view to rinsing and filling the paint reservoir associated with the sprayer of either of the two machines, or robots, between which the distribution system is placed.
• the shade changer unit can be fixed, and located outside the paint booth, in which case the fluid connection assembly is connected by flexible conduits to fixed distribution points of the distribution system.
• the hatch is only opened when necessary to power the two machines or robots, in order to keep the cabin watertight.
• the situation of the distribution system makes it possible to carry out interventions on the means for changing colors without having to enter the paint application booth and without stopping the installation, which further contributes to minimizing the downtime necessary for maintenance and to avoid high production losses.
• interventions in the cabin generate introductions of dust into the filtered air and, as a result, appearance defects which can lead to the scrapping of many bodies, hence the advantage of the latter. disposition.
• the fluidic connection assembly of the distribution system is made movable through the motorized hatch brought into the open position, between the exterior and the interior of the paint booth, for example by means a cylinder, for example flexible conduits connecting this mobile fluid connection assembly to distribution points of the distribution system, in particular at the outlet of the color changer block.
• Figure 1 is a plan view, very schematic, of a paint line equipped with devices according to the present invention
• Figure 2 shows the detail of one of these devices, with an indication of a tank to be filled;
• Figure 3 is a more detailed plan view of a section of the paint line in Figure 1.
• Figure 1 shows, very schematically, a portion of a paint line of motor vehicle bodies. The bodies
• paint booth 4 On the two sides of the paint booth 4 are successively arranged painting machines or robots, placed facing one another, for example:
• Each painting machine has a fixed frame 10, and a movable arm 11 located inside the cabin 4 and carrying, at its end, a sprayer 12 with which is associated a paint reservoir 13 with piston 13a (visible on the figure 2).
• a sprayer 12 with which is associated a paint reservoir 13 with piston 13a (visible on the figure 2).
• all these machines are, on each side of the cabin 4, associated two by two as regards the supply of paint to their tanks 13, that is to say a system is provided distribution system common to two consecutive machines, in detail:
• a distribution system 14a common to the two machines 6a and 7a, and located between these two machines;
• a distribution system 15a common to the two machines 8a and 9a, and located between these two machines;
• a distribution system 15b common to the two machines 8b and 9b, and located between these two machines. As still shown in FIG. 1, each distribution system 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b is located outside the cab of painting 4.
• a hatch 16, electrically or pneumatically motorized, is arranged in the wall 5a or 5b of the cabin 4, in correspondence with each distribution system.
• each distribution system such as the system 14a comprises a shade changer block 17, supplied with paint and / or coating product, of various shades, by the circuits (not shown) of the installation.
• the distribution system also has a fluid connection assembly 18, mounted movable in translation along an axis 19 perpendicular to the wall 5 of the cabin 4, and driven along the axis 19 by a jack 20.
• the connection assembly 18 is thus movable between the outside of the cabin 4, and the inside of the cabin 4, the opening of the hatch 16 allowing the passage of this connection assembly 18 from the outside to the inside of the cabin 4.
• a variant would consist in moving the shade charger block 17 entirely, with the connection assembly 18, through the hatch 16.
• the fluidic connection assembly 18, which is mobile, has three connection points, respectively 21, 22 and 23:
• the first connection point 21 is connected, by a flexible hose 24, to the outlet 25 of the shade changer block 17.
• the second connection point 22 is connected, by another flexible hose 26, to a drain 27.
• connection point 23 is connected, by a last flexible pipe 28, to a rinsing block 29 comprising an air valve and a solvent valve.
• the sprayer 12 of any of the painting machines, with which the paint reservoir 13 is associated is provided with a fluid connector 30 comprising three connection points 31, 32 and 33, which correspond, respectively, to the three connection points 21, 22 and 23 of the connection assembly 18 of a distribution system such as 14 a:
• the first connection point 31 is directly connected to the reservoir 13 and ensures its filling.
• connection point 32 is provided for purging.
• the third connection point 33 is in direct relation with the nozzle 34 of the sprayer 12, for rinsing the latter.
• the actuator 20 is then retracted, so as to move the mobile connection assembly 18 back, while the machine is ready to coat a new bodywork 2, with the paint of the new shade selected.
• a rinsing and filling process is carried out successively, by the same distribution system such as 14a, for filling the respective reservoirs 13 of the sprayers 12 of the two machines, such as 6a and 6b, between which is placed the distribution system considered.
• the same connection system 18 comes to “land”, successively, the fluidic connectors 30 of one, then of the other of these two machines 6a and 6b, connectors which are brought in. one after the other in the same predefined position.
• the overall operation of the installation is as follows: We consider the set of four machines 6a, 7a, 6b, 7b, when the machines 6a and 6b located furthest back have finished painting a certain bodywork 2 '.
• the machines 6a and 6b will then be positioned in the rinsing / filling position, that is to say respectively in front of the distribution systems 14a and 14b.
• the jacks 20 of these systems then “dock” the connectors 30 of the respective sprayers 12 of the two machines 6a and 6b, and the cleaning and filling cycles (previously detailed) are carried out simultaneously, for these two machines 6a and 6b, with a possible change of color, depending on the shade provided for the following bodywork 2 ".
• the jacks 20 of these systems then "dock" the connectors 30 of the respective sprayers 12 of the two machines 7a and 7b, and the cleaning and filling cycles, with any change in color (depending on the color of the body 2 "next) are also carried out for these two machines 7a and 7b.
• the filling of the reservoirs 13 of these latter machines having been completed, these will also be positioned so as to be ready to start coating the following bodywork 2 ".
• the operating cycle is exactly the same for the other painting machines 8a, 9a, 8b, 9b, and it is repeated, of course, for the following bodies such as the 2 "body, in particular in the event of a change in color by compared to a previous body.
• the outlet channel of the shade changer block 17 can remain filled with the paint used for the machine 6a, because this same paint will be used for the machine 6b.
• the loss of paint and rinse aid is therefore halved for the entire installation.
• each distribution system 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b being located outside the cabin 4, interventions on these systems can be carried out easily, and without stopping the entire installation.
• FIG. 3 shows in more detail certain components, in particular the movable arms 1 1 and the sprayers 12 of the different machines.
• This FIG. 3 also illustrates, in a more particular way, certain operating phases; thus, in the situation shown: - the two machines 6a and 6b are in the rest or waiting position;
• the two machines 7a and 7b having their arms 11 folded in the direction of the corresponding side 5a or 5b of the cabin 4, are in the docking position facing the distribution system 14a or 14b which is assigned to them;
• the two machines 8a and 8b are in the process of painting the rear of a bodywork 2;
• the rinsing block 29 is also movable with the connection assembly 18, through the hatch 16, between the outside and the inside of the paint booth 4; using this filling device for painting machines or robots of all types, with more or less numerous axes; by applying the invention to installations or painting lines of various configurations, with machines or robots in more or less number.

Landscapes

• Spray Control Apparatus (AREA)
• Details Or Accessories Of Spraying Plant Or Apparatus (AREA)
• Application Of Or Painting With Fluid Materials (AREA)
• Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
• Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=8853989

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (11)

Families Citing this family (13)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 2000
  • 2000-09-05 FR FR0011309A patent/FR2813538B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2001
  • 2001-09-04 AU AU2001289988A patent/AU2001289988A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-09-04 JP JP2002524640A patent/JP2004508176A/ja active Pending
  • 2001-09-04 WO PCT/FR2001/002739 patent/WO2002020173A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 2001-09-04 US US10/363,250 patent/US6896010B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-09-04 EP EP01969854A patent/EP1315580B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-09-04 BR BR0113691-7A patent/BR0113691A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-09-04 AT AT01969854T patent/ATE356675T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-09-04 CA CA002421263A patent/CA2421263A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-09-04 DE DE60127273T patent/DE60127273T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-09-04 KR KR10-2003-7002722A patent/KR20030024910A/ko active IP Right Grant

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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