Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B08—CLEANING
  • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
  • B08B3/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
  • B08B3/006—Cabinets or cupboards specially adapted for cleaning articles by hand
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B15/00—Details of spraying plant or spraying apparatus not otherwise provided for; Accessories
  • B05B15/50—Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter
  • B05B15/55—Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter using cleaning fluids
  • B05B15/555—Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter using cleaning fluids discharged by cleaning nozzles

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an installation for cleaning various objects, such as paint guns, using a cleaning fluid such as a solvent.
• It relates more particularly to a cleaning installation of the type comprising: - a closed loop washing circuit established between a barrel for storing washing fluid and a cleaning chamber containing the products to be cleaned and - a rinsing circuit established between a reserve of rinsing fluid and the cleaning enclosure, the contents of which flow into the fluid storage barrel.
• a cleaning installation in particular a paint spray gun by means of a cleaning fluid such as a solvent.
• This cleaning installation comprises a closed-loop washing circuit and a rinsing circuit established between a reserve of rinsing fluid and the cleaning enclosure, the contents of which pours into the fluid storage barrel.
• This installation also includes a single pump arranged on a circuit section common to the washing and rinsing circuit. In this installation, closings of the cover of the cleaning chamber, the pump extracts fluid from the barrel containing the washing fluid. This results in the need to have initialized the installation beforehand by transferring part of the contents of the reserve containing the rinsing fluid to the barrel of washing fluid. This operation, which is carried out manually, has a number of drawbacks mentioned above.
• An object of the present invention is therefore to propose a cleaning installation whose design makes it possible to avoid the user any manipulation of the cans, in particular any transfer of fluids from one can to another during the start-up of installation.
• Another object of the invention is to propose a very economical cleaning installation, the design of which can be extremely simplified by limiting the number of pumps and control members necessary for the operation of the installation without, however, impoverishing its functionalities or degrade cleaning.
• Another object of the invention is to propose an installation of great ease of use thanks to permanent information of the operating state and accessibility on the front of the solvent cans.
• Another object of the invention is to propose a cleaning installation ensuring great freedom of operation under the control of a network of sensors at suitable locations.
• Another object of the invention is to propose a cleaning installation whose design, although extremely simplified, is perfectly safe and avoids, for example, any risk of overflow.
• Another object of the invention is to propose a cleaning installation, the design allows its operation in an explosive atmosphere, as simply as possible.
• the subject of the invention is an installation for cleaning various objects, such as paint spray guns, using a cleaning fluid such as a solvent, of the type comprising:
• a rinsing circuit established between a reserve of rinsing fluid and the washing enclosure, the content of which pours into the barrel for storing cleaning fluid
• the installation further comprises means for controlling the operation of the pump consisting of at least means for detecting a predetermined quantity of fluid in the barrel for storing washing fluid associated with means for detecting the position (washing / filling-rinsing) of the valve to allow, in particular after setting up a new reserve of f clean clean, an initialization of the installation by execution of a preliminary program for filling the washing fluid storage barrel during which the pump, in the valve rinsing position, transfers a predetermined quantity of fluid from the reserve of
• the means for controlling the operation of the pump prevent, below a predetermined quantity of fluid in the washing fluid storage barrel, the operation of the pump, in the position valve wash, and authorize, in the valve flush-fill position, the operation of said pump.
• Figure 1 shows a partial schematic view of an installation according to the invention
• FIG. 2 represents a schematic view of an installation with the associated operating logic in the case of an automatic version of the machine
• FIG. 3 represents a schematic view of the installation with the associated operating logic in a simplified version with manual operation of the machine.
• the cleaning installation 1, object of the invention allows the cleaning of various objects and in particular of paint spray guns 2 using a cleaning fluid such as a solvent.
• This installation is in the form of a frame delimiting a cleaning enclosure 4 generally positioned above a housing used for receiving a barrel 3 for storing washing fluid and a barrel 6 called reserve 6 of flushing fluid.
• the installation also includes a pump 8 and a certain number of connections between the drums 3, 6 and the cleaning enclosure 4.
• the installation comprises a closed loop washing circuit established between the barrel 3 for storing washing fluid and the cleaning enclosure 4 containing the products to be cleaned.
• closed loop circuit is meant a circuit in which the washing fluid circulates from the barrel 3 to the enclosure 4 then from the enclosure 4 to the barrel 3. This washing circuit is shown in 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D in FIGS. 2 and 3.
• the installation also includes a rinsing circuit established between the reserve 6 of rinsing fluid and the cleaning enclosure 4, the content of which pours into the barrel 3 for storing washing fluid. This circuit is shown in 7A, 5B, 5C, 5D in FIGS. 2 and 3.
• the washing and rinsing circuits comprise a section of common circuit shown in 5B, 5C in the figures.
• a single pump 8 which will allow the execution of all the programs of the installation, namely the filling, washing and rinsing programs which will be described below.
• This portion 5B, 5C of the circuit common to the washing and rinsing circuits extends between a valve 9 with at least three ways and at least two positions (washing / filling-rinsing) and the cleaning enclosure 4.
• the valve 9 is a manually operated valve.
• the single pump 8 is a pneumatic diaphragm pump coupled to a distributor 10, itself connected to a regulating filter shown at 11 in FIGS. 2 and 3.
• the installation also has two operating modes.
• the first mode also called installation initialization, includes at least one program for filling the barrel 3 with washing liquid during which the pump 8, in the valve rinsing position 9, transfers the cleaning liquid from the rinsing reserve 6 to the barrel 3 for storing washing fluid until obtaining a predetermined quantity of fluid in the barrel 3.
• the detection of this predetermined quantity automatically switches the installation to the second operating mode, known as the routine operating mode, which comprises at least two programs called washing respectively and rinsing valves selected according to the position occupied by the valve 9.
• Each program corresponds to a circulation of the cleaning fluid in the corresponding circuit via the pump 8.
• the barrel 3 is first filled with clean washing liquid coming from the reserve 6 of flushing fluid.
• the reserve 6 of rinsing fluid is generally formed from a whole barrel of new solvent fluid. This barrel is placed at the location provided for the reserve 6 of rinsing fluid. At the location of the washing liquid storage barrel 3 is positioned an empty barrel which has generally been used in a previous cycle as a reserve of rinsing fluid.
• the user then manually rotates the solvent drums which successively occupy the rinsing position before the washing position.
• the first operation which the machine performs, therefore consists in transferring part of the fluid contained in the reserve 6 of rinse fluid to the barrel 3 for storing washing fluid in order to subsequently allow the washing and rinsing operations pistols.
• the fluid is transferred via the rinsing circuit, namely the portions 7A, 5B, 5C and 5D of the circuit. This transfer can therefore be carried out by means of the pump 8, when the valve 9, which can occupy three positions, namely a washing position, a rinsing or filling position and a stop or closing, is in the filling or rinsing position.
• This transfer of fluid is carried out until a predetermined quantity is obtained in the barrel 3, this quantity preferably corresponding at least to the quantity necessary to carry out a first washing of the guns.
• the detection of the quantity automatically switches the installation into the so-called routine operating mode which will be described below.
• This initialization phase is made possible by the presence, in the installation, of means for controlling the operation, in particular of the control, of the pump 8 to the presence of a predetermined quantity of fluid in the barrel 3 washing fluid storage.
• These means for controlling the operation, in particular of the control, of the pump 8 consist at least of means for detecting a predetermined quantity of fluid in the barrel 3 for storing washing fluid associated with means for detecting the washing, filling or rinsing position of the valve 9.
• the means for detecting the position of the valve 9 may consist of two sensors 13, 14 positioned in the vicinity of the valve 9.
• the means for detecting a predetermined quantity of fluid in the barrel 3 for washing fluid storage can in turn affect a large number of forms.
• a weight sensor 15 can be provided positioned in the vicinity of the location of the barrel 3 for storing the cleaning fluid and possibly a sensor for the presence of said barrel 3.
• a washing fluid level detection sensor can also be provided inside the barrel 3. This solution is, however, more complex to implement.
• These control means are active in the different operating modes known as filling or routine and can be combined with other means in order to initialize the filling of the barrel 3 before any cleaning cycle.
• This rotation also corresponds to a traditional practice of use of solvents observed and widely used in the management of cleaning from at least two cans of solvent.
• the advantage of an operation providing for a systematic operation of filling beforehand a washing and / or rinsing cycle is to limit the overconsumption of solvent to " reduce its pollution rate by inviting the user to change by an action Solvent cans voluntarily when the rinse solvent supply is empty, therefore the total number of rinses will be defined as much by the volume remaining in the rinse solvent container as by the wishes of the user who decides even the duration of the rinsing.
• the first example concerns an installation whose logic operation is developed.
• the installation is equipped with several sensors wired independently in a logic of automatic maintenance of states thanks to memory functions made up of pneumatic cells taking into account all cases of variation of the sensors independent of each others and ensuring automatic maintenance of the states.
• this first operating case corresponding to that shown in FIG.
• the installation comprises a plurality of sensors, namely sensors 13, 14 for detecting the position of the valve 9 arranged in the vicinity of the valve 9 and detecting the washing position on the one hand and the filling / rinsing position on the other hand of the valve, a weight sensor 15 positioned in the vicinity of the location of the barrel 3 for storing the washing fluid, a sensor 17 detecting the opening of a member 16 for closing the cleaning enclosure 4 and detection of the actuation of a foot control 12 which will be described below.
• the pump 8 is inactive in the valve washing position 9.
• the pump when this initialization, as long as the barrel 3 for storing washing liquid is not filled with a quantity of fluid corresponding to a predetermined quantity, the pump is capable of operating only in the filling / rinsing position of the valve 9.
• routine two programs, called washing and rinsing programs, can be carried out. These two programs are selected according to the position occupied by the valve 9. Each program corresponds to a circulation of the cleaning fluid in the corresponding circuit via the pump 8.
• the pump 8 In this routine mode of operation, the pump 8 is controlled by the same actuating member 12 for the execution of the washing or rinsing program.
• the pump 8 is controlled by a single foot control 12 ensuring the launching and the execution of the washing or rinsing program as a function of the position occupied by the valve 9, this choice of position being performed by the operator who manually operates the valve.
• the pump 8 is in command with impulse tilting of the foot control 12 for the execution of the washing program and in continuous maintenance control of the foot control 12 for the execution of the rinsing program.
• a simple pulse of the foot control 12 allows the automatic execution of the washing program. washing.
• the washing fluid taken by means of the pump 8 in the barrel 3, travels, in a closed loop, the circuit delimited by the portions 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D of the circuit.
• This circulation in a closed loop of the fluid allows the guns to be washed for a period of time in accordance with the wishes of the user.
• the washing program can be stopped either by positioning the valve 9 in its stop or close position, or by opening the shutter member 16 which automatically ensures, because this opening is detected by the sensor 17, a stop of the installation or even by a pneumatic time delay on the air supply circuit of the distributor 10.
• the rinsing operation can then start. To do this, the operator positions the valve 9 in the rinsing position and actuates the foot control 12 again. The fluid is then transferred from the reserve 6 of rinsing fluid by the circuit 7A, 5B, 5C to the cleaning enclosure 4 and then drained by the circuit 5D into the storage barrel 3.
• the pump 8 is continuously controlled. In other words, the operator must constantly keep his foot on the foot control 12 to allow the operation of the pump 8. This allows the operator to precisely and perfectly dose the amount of rinse aid required during the rinsing operation. As soon as the foot control 12 is released, the pump 8 stops and the rinsing operation is completed.
• the three-way valve with three positions - closing, washing, filling / rinsing - has the role of circuit selector only in indirect mode, that is to say that it does not directly control the supply. pump air 8.
• the triggering of the pump 8 is also possibly previously controlled by a foot control 12.
• the manual valve 9 occupies the stable filling / rinsing position detected by the sensor 14, to actuate the foot control 12 to trigger an automatic operation of the pump 8, the sensor 15 ensuring the stopping of this pump 8.
• the pump 8 actuated in operation by the foot control 12, automatically switches from an impulse tilt command for filling to a continuous hold control for rinsing in the same rinsing / filling position of manual valve 9.
• This logic includes a priority function for registration with the sensor 15 which tolerates continuous filling as long as it is not actuated.
• the foot control 12 takes over only by a foot action maintained by the user who manages his rinse cycle.
• the sensor 17 for detecting the member 16 for closing the cleaning enclosure 4 is taken into account to prohibit operation if the cover 16 is open.
• This logic also includes an erasure priority function with the sensor 17 which then controls the continuous washing cycle as long as it is actuated by closing the cover 16. Once the sensor 17 is actuated again, only one pulse on control 12 restarts pump 8 for a washing cycle. In these two cases, the valve 9 with manual control controlled in the washing or rinsing position can cancel the effect of the state memory and only a new impulse on the foot control 12 restarts a cleaning cycle. In this solution, the user can manage his equipment by requesting limited manual actions for greater user comfort without increasing the cost. All the sensors are normally closed (no air in the non-actuated state). Thus, such an installation allows the washing operation to be carried out for any period of time without the risk of the installation overflowing. Conversely, the rinsing operation is perfectly controlled by the operator who will decide the amount of fluid rinse to be introduced into the cleaning chamber according to the degree of soiling of the products.
• the logic adopted is a simplified logic compared to that retained in FIG. 2.
• the maintenance of the states is no longer done automatically but manually thanks to an organization very precise sensors associated with pneumatic cells without state memory.
• the solution represented in FIG. 3 differs from that represented in FIG. 2 by the fact that in FIG. 2, pneumatic cells with state memory are used whereas, in the case of FIG. 3, one uses pneumatic cells without state memory.
• the pump 8 can be activated, including in the valve washing position 9.
• the rinsing program cannot be activated by maintaining the foot control 12 until the filling program has been completed in full.
• the filling program is launched by simple positioning of the valve 9 on the filling / rinsing position, position detected by the sensor 14. It is not necessary to actuate in addition the 12 foot control.
• the washing and rinsing operations in the second operating mode are carried out in a similar manner to that which has been described above. The differences are essentially present during the initialization phase where the pump 8 is active, including in the valve washing position 9 and where it is not necessary to actuate the foot control 12 to start one any of the filling or washing programs.
• the pump 8 is slaved to the actuation of the foot control member 12 for the rinsing program.
• the three-way valve 9, with three positions - closing, washing, filling / rinsing - has the role of a circuit switch in direct mode, that is to say that it directly controls the air supply. pump 8.
• the general supply of compressed air comes directly to the sensor 17 which constitutes the sensor for detecting the opening of the member 16 for closing the cleaning enclosure 4. This safely avoids any risk of solvent spraying on the user.
• the established order is as follows: the air is distributed in parallel to the sensors 13 and 14 corresponding to the sensors for detecting the position of the valve 9.
• the sensor 13 for detecting the position of the valve 9 by washing position used only for starting the washing function using the manually operated valve 9 the air is sent directly to the distributor 10 which controls the pump 8.
• the sensor 14 serving to detect the valve 9 in the pilot rinsing / filling position, for its part, two functions: filling and rinsing using the manually actuated valve.
• the air is then dispatched to the sensor 15 for detecting the filling of the barrel 3 for storing washing fluid and to the foot control 12.
• the sensor 15 for detecting the level of filling of the barrel 3 of the washing liquid monitors the continuous filling as long as it is not actuated, that is to say as long as the predetermined quantity of liquid does not is not reached. Once the sensor 15 is actuated, the foot control 12 takes over.
• the drums 3 and 6 are installed in the installation.
• the valve 9 is positioned in the rinsing / filling position and the member 16 for closing the storage enclosure 4 is closed.
• the foot control 12 is actuated by a simple impulse on the pedal to ensure the starting of the pump 8.
• pump 8 stops.
• the operation of the pump continues until the barrel 3 for storing washing fluid is filled with a predetermined quantity of fluid. Positioning the valve 9 before the final filling of the barrel 3 in the washing position does not cause the pump 8 to operate.
• the installation automatically switches to the operating mode in routine where washing and rinsing operations can begin.
• a simple press on the foot control 12 allows the washing program to be implemented.
• This program is stopped either by opening the cover 16 of the cleaning enclosure 4, or by positioning the valve 9 in its stopped position or by a pneumatic time delay on the air supply circuit of the distributor 10
• the rinsing operation is carried out by simple positioning of the valve 9 in its rinsing / filling position and actuation of the foot control 12 kept permanently actuated until the quantity of rinsing pumped conforms to that desired by the user.
• the washing and rinsing programs are repeated until the rinse aid is used up.
• the operator can then change the barrels by installing a new barrel 5 of rinsing liquid.
• the installation then performs the filling program for the barrel 3 for storing washing fluid before starting a new series of washing and rinsing program cycles.
• the quantity of fluid transferred during the filling program is greater than that which the pump 8 draws from the reserve 6 of rinse aid during the execution of a rinse program.

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• Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
• Details Or Accessories Of Spraying Plant Or Apparatus (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

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Family Applications (1)

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• 2002
  • 2002-09-16 FR FR0211474A patent/FR2844464B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2003
  • 2003-09-16 EP EP03775440A patent/EP1539385A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-09-16 US US10/526,373 patent/US20060130885A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-09-16 JP JP2004535613A patent/JP2005538829A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-09-16 WO PCT/FR2003/002724 patent/WO2004024351A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2003-09-16 CN CNB038219484A patent/CN100348341C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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