Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05C—APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05C17/00—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces
  • B05C17/02—Rollers ; Hand tools comprising coating rollers or coating endless belts
  • B05C17/03—Rollers ; Hand tools comprising coating rollers or coating endless belts with feed system for supplying material from an external source or with a reservoir or container for liquid or other fluent material located in or on the hand tool outside the coating roller
  • B05C17/0308—Rollers ; Hand tools comprising coating rollers or coating endless belts with feed system for supplying material from an external source or with a reservoir or container for liquid or other fluent material located in or on the hand tool outside the coating roller the liquid being supplied to the inside of the coating roller
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05C—APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05C1/00—Apparatus in which liquid or other fluent material is applied to the surface of the work by contact with a member carrying the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. a porous member loaded with a liquid to be applied as a coating
  • B05C1/02—Apparatus in which liquid or other fluent material is applied to the surface of the work by contact with a member carrying the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. a porous member loaded with a liquid to be applied as a coating for applying liquid or other fluent material to separate articles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05C—APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05C1/00—Apparatus in which liquid or other fluent material is applied to the surface of the work by contact with a member carrying the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. a porous member loaded with a liquid to be applied as a coating
  • B05C1/04—Apparatus in which liquid or other fluent material is applied to the surface of the work by contact with a member carrying the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. a porous member loaded with a liquid to be applied as a coating for applying liquid or other fluent material to work of indefinite length
  • B05C1/08—Apparatus in which liquid or other fluent material is applied to the surface of the work by contact with a member carrying the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. a porous member loaded with a liquid to be applied as a coating for applying liquid or other fluent material to work of indefinite length using a roller or other rotating member which contacts the work along a generating line
  • B05C1/0813—Apparatus in which liquid or other fluent material is applied to the surface of the work by contact with a member carrying the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. a porous member loaded with a liquid to be applied as a coating for applying liquid or other fluent material to work of indefinite length using a roller or other rotating member which contacts the work along a generating line characterised by means for supplying liquid or other fluent material to the roller
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05D—PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05D1/00—Processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials
  • B05D1/32—Processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials using means for protecting parts of a surface not to be coated, e.g. using stencils, resists
  • B05D1/322—Removable films used as masks
  • B05D1/325—Masking layer made of peelable film
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05C—APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05C1/00—Apparatus in which liquid or other fluent material is applied to the surface of the work by contact with a member carrying the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. a porous member loaded with a liquid to be applied as a coating
  • B05C1/04—Apparatus in which liquid or other fluent material is applied to the surface of the work by contact with a member carrying the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. a porous member loaded with a liquid to be applied as a coating for applying liquid or other fluent material to work of indefinite length
  • B05C1/08—Apparatus in which liquid or other fluent material is applied to the surface of the work by contact with a member carrying the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. a porous member loaded with a liquid to be applied as a coating for applying liquid or other fluent material to work of indefinite length using a roller or other rotating member which contacts the work along a generating line
  • B05C1/10—Apparatus in which liquid or other fluent material is applied to the surface of the work by contact with a member carrying the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. a porous member loaded with a liquid to be applied as a coating for applying liquid or other fluent material to work of indefinite length using a roller or other rotating member which contacts the work along a generating line the liquid or other fluent material being supplied from inside the roller
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05D—PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05D1/00—Processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials
  • B05D1/28—Processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials performed by transfer from the surfaces of elements carrying the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. brushes, pads, rollers

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a protective layer forming material application system for applying a protective layer formingmaterial to anob ect tobe treated, amethod forprotecting a surface of an object to be treated, an object to be treated and a strippable ' protective layer, and ..in particular, to ⁇ a protective layer formingmaterial application systemfor applying a protective layer forming material which is liquid and which acts as a strippable protective layer after dried, a method for protecting a surface of an object to be treated,' an object to be treated and a strippable protective layer.
• Vehicles such as automobiles are, in many cases, stocked at outside stock yards after production until they are given to users or transported by trucks, ships or the like. Since those vehicles are exposed to dust, metallic powder, salt, oil, acid and direct sunlight while so stocked and transported, there is caused a risk that the quality of a surface layer of a plurality of paint layers applied to the outer surface of vehicles is damaged during such long storage and transportation. With a view to preventing the occurrence of such situations, there is known a method for forming a strippable protective layer on painted portions ofvehicles ina stepbefore theyare shipped (for example, refer to Patent Literature No. 1) .
• the strippable protective layer is formed when an applied protective layer formingmaterial (also referred to as a strippable paint) gets dried and canprotect painted portions.
• an applied protective layer formingmaterial also referred to as a strippable paint
• the strippable protective layer can easily be stripped off, whereas 1 there exists no risk that the strippable protective layer is naturally, stripped- off during a normal storage.
• theprotective layer formingmaterial is applied to rollers and a plurality of workers roll the rollers for application of the protective layer forming material.
• scratch covers are tentatively us.ed to prevent vehicle bodies . from being scratched during assembly work.
• the scratch covers are put on front sides of vehicle bodies, for example, and are removedbefore' the vehicles are shipped from the assembly plant .
• Scratch covers of different shapes need to be prepared depending on types of vehicle bodies, and furthermore, the number of scratch, covers to be prepared daily at a carrying line- depends' on .the number of vehicles, planned to be produced daily.
• JP-A-20O1-8969-7 (paragraphs 0022 to 0027) ' , - '
• the protective layer forming material cannot be always spread uniformly, and, with a view to preventing the scatter of the protective layer forming material, the method is not applied to edge portions of a roof.
• the protective layer formingmaterial is spread using the air nozzle, several workers need to perform a finish processing by applying the protective layer forming material to individual portions such as the edge portions of the roof and irregularportions using-rollers . Consequently, the application of the protective layer forming material needs to be .carried out manually, and therefore, the workers have to bear certain work load, and the application quality has to vary depending on the skill of the workers.
• the invention is made with aviewto dealingwith theproblems,. and an object thereof is to provide a protective layer forming material application system, a method for protecting a surface of an obj ect to be treated, an obj ect to be treated and a strippable protective layer which can all serve to enable the further automation of the process of applying a protective layer forming material to an object to be treated for improvement in production efficiency, simplification of the work and realization of a uniform application quality.
• a protective layer forming material application system having an application device provided near a conveying line for objects to.be treated and adapted to operate as taught, a protective layer forming material which is liquid and which acts as a strippable protective layer after dried, a- roller mechanism unit connected to the application device and provided with a revolving roller, a supply mechanismunit for supplying theprotective layer formingmaterial to the roller, and a control unit for controlling the application, device, wherein- the control unit holds .
• a teaching datum- given to the application- device for bringing the roller into contact with an obj ect.to be treated for rollingmovement thereon whereby ⁇ when the object to be treated is carried, the control Unit makes' the application device operate based on the teaching datum, so that the protective layer formingmaterial is-applied to an outer surface of the object to be treated while allowing the protective layer forming material to be supplied to the roller.
• the process of applying the protective layer formingmaterial is automated for improvement inproduction efficiency, simplification of the work and realization of a uniform application quality.
• the application device is a robot
• the object to be treated is a vehicle
• the robot can preferably operate in such a manner as to follow the complex shape of the vehicle body.
• an acrylic copolymer agent is used as a material for the protective layer forming material, . the painted portions of a vehicle can be protected more securely, and when attempted to be removed, the. -protective layer is easy to be stripped.
• the supplymechanismunit has a supply selector valve for selectively supplying the protective layer forming material. and water to the roller, and the ' control unit ⁇ controls the supply selector valve so that water is supplied to the roller, whereby the roller can be cleaned.
• control unit may hold, a plurality of teaching data which correspond to types.of 'the vehicle, whereby the control unit makes the robot operate based on a teaching datum which -suits a type of the vehicle.
• the roller includes a material which absorbs the protective layer forming material for storage therein.
• an obj ect to be treatedto which theprotective layer formingmaterial is applied by the protective layer forming material application system.
• the painting quality of the object to be treated can be maintained by the application of the protective layer forming material through the protective layer forming material application system.
• a strippable protective layer which is formed after the protective layer forming material applied to the object to be treated by theprotective layer formingmaterial application systemhas dried,
• the protective layer forming material can be applied to auniformthickness to'therebyprevent the thickness ofthe applied protective layer forming aterial from becoming insufficient or excessive.
• the strippable protective layer may only has to be transparent to such an extent that the color of .the object, to be treated can be confirmed, and therefore, the strippable protective layer may be translucent or slightly colored to such ' an extent ' that transparency can be maintained.
• a method for protecting a surface of an object to be treated including using an application device adapted to operate as taught, a protective layer forming material which is liquid and which acts as a strippable protective layer after dried, and a roller mechanism unit connected to the application device and provided with a revolving roller, teaching in advance the application device an operation based on a configuration of the object to be treated, supplying the roller with the protective layer forming material, and making the application device execute a taught operation when the object to be treated is carried, so that the roller is brought into contact with an outer surface of the object to be treated for application thereto of the protective layer formingmaterial while being allowed to move thereon in a rolling fashion.
• the process of applying the protective layer forming material can be automated for improvement in productio efficiency, simplification of thework and realization of a uniform application quality. . . .
• the obj ect to be treated is a part constituting a predetermined product, and the application of the protective layer forming material to the object to be treated becomes easy in case the application is implemented in-a step where the object to be treated is not yet completely incorporated into the product .
• the surface of the object to be treated can also be protected during a period from when painted to when completed.
• the strippable protective layer may be separated from the object to be treated before the object to be treated is used as a product.
• the strippable protective layer may be stripped off by spouting water to an end portion of the strippable protective layer.
• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a protective layer forming, material application system according an embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 2 is a front view of the protective layer forming material application system according the embodiment of the invention. ⁇
• Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a robot and a roller mechanism unit provided on the robot.
• Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a composite circuit of liquid pressure and air-pressure.
• Fig.- 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a process of applying a protective layer forming material to a vehicle with a roller.
• Fig. 6 is an exemplary drawing showing a positional relationship between the robot and the surface of a vehicle in a process of teaching the robot an operation through an off-line teaching.
• Fig. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing a process of supplying the protective layer forming material by a tray. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
• Aprotective layer formingmaterial application system and a method for protecting a surface of an object to be treated according to the invention will be described based on a preferred embodiment raisedwhile referring to Figs .1 to 7 which are attached hereto.
• aprotective layer formingmaterial - application system 10 is such as to be provided at a carrying line 12 for automotive vehicles and is intended to apply a protective layer forming material to a vehicle (an object to be treated) 14 which is completely painted-.
• the application system 10 has three robots which are industrial robots (application devices) 16a, 16b, 16c, a control unit 18 for controlling- a total system, a tank 20 -in-which a protective layer forming material is stored, application material lines 22 which establish communication from the tank 20 to the respective robots 16a, 16b, 16c, and water lines 26 for supplying water from a water supply source 24 to the robots 16a, 16b, 16c.
• the robots 16a, 16b, 16c are controlled by, respectively, robot controllers 28a, 28b, 28c which are connected to the control unit 18.
• the robots 16a and 16c are provided on the left-hand side of the carrying line 12 relative to a direction inwhich the vehicle 14 is carried, whereas the robot 16b is provided on the right-hand side of the carrying line 12 relative to the direction in which the vehicle 14 is carried.
• the robot 16a is provided at a front-most position, the robot 16b at a middle position and the robot 16c at a rear-most position along the vehicle carrying direction.
• the robots 16a, 16b, 16c are movable on slide rails 30 which are in parallel with the carrying line 12.
• a pump 32 is provided at a position along the length of the application material line 22 for drawing the protective layer forming material from the tank 20 for supply to the robots 16a,' 16b, 16c.
• the protective layer forming material is controlled to be heated to an appropriate temperature by a heater and a thermometer, which are not shown.
• Arollermechanism unit 34 is provided at a distal end portion of each of- the robots- 16a, 16b, 16c andtheprotective layer formingmaterial is supplied to the roller, mechanism unit 34 so provided through each application material line 22.
• a material for the protective layer forming material is such as to containan acrylic copolymer agent as amain constituent, and preferably, the material may be such as to have two acrylic copolymers having different glass transition temperatures.
• a protective layer forming material described in the Patent Literature No.1 maybe used.
• the viscosity of the protective layer forming material can be adjusted by a mixing ratio with water and a change in temperature, and moreover, when dried, the protective layer forming material adheres closelyto thevehicle 14 so as to chemicallyandphysically protect painted portions of the vehicle 14 from dust, metallic powder, salt, oil, acid and direct sunlight .
• the protective layer forming material adhering closely to the vehicle 14 can easily be stripped off.
• the robots 16a, 16b, 16c are, for example, industrial multi-joint robots and each have a base portion 40, ⁇ as well as a first arm 42, a second arm 44 and a third arm 46 in. that order as viewed from the base portion 40, the roller mechanism unit 34 being provided at the distal end portion of the third arm 46.
• the first arm 42 is adapted to rotate via shafts Jl, J.2 which can rotate.horizontally and vertically relative to the base portion 40.
• the second arm 44 is • rot.ationally coupled to the first arm 42 via a shaft J3.
• the second arm 44 is adapted to twist rotate via a shaft J4.
• the third arm 46 is rotationally coupled to the second arm 44 via a shaft -J5.
• the third arm 46 is -adapted to twist rotate via a shaft J6.
• the roller mechanism units 34 connected to the distal end portions of the robots 16a, 16b, 16c can be moved to any positions near the vehicle 14 and set to any orientation by the operation of the robots 16a, 16b, 16c which are each constituted by the six shafts.
• the robots 16a, 16b, 16c may be such as to have operating portions which perform extending and contracting operations and parallel link operations in addition to the rotating operations.
• the roller mechanism unit 34 is attached to the distal end portion of the third arm 46 and has at its distal end a roller 48 which is a cylinder having a width W and formed of a material which can absorb and store therein the protective layer forming material.
• the roller 48 is rotationally attached to a holding portion 49, and the application material line 22 is connected to an end of the holding portion 49.
• the protective layer forming material is supplied to an axial center portion of the roller 48 from the application material line 22 so- as to ooze out -to the surface of the roller 48.
• a sponge or bristle set body can be raised as a material for the roller 48.
• the roller 48 • can freely be detached from the holding portion- 49 for. replacement, cleaning and maintenance. •
• a composite-circuit (a supply mechanism unit) 50 of liquid.pressure and air pressure for supplying the protective layer formingmaterial to the roller 48 has a compressor 52, an air tank 54 connectedto a dischargeportionofthe compressor 52, a manual air pressure introduction valve 56 for changing over supply and cut-off of air pressure, a regulator control' valve 60 for reducing a secondary side pressure by an electric signal supplied from the control unit 18 and a regulator 58 adapted to be pilot controlled by the secondary pressure of the regulator control valve 60 so as to reduce the pressure of the application material line 22.
• the composite circuit 50 has a MCV (Material Control Valve, a supply selector valve) 62 connected to a secondary side line of the regulator control valve 60 and thewater line 26 and a triggervalve 64 providedbetween a secondary side of the MCV valve 62 and the roller 48.
• Changeover valves 62a, 62b for changing over the communication and cut-off of the application material line 22 and the water line 26 are provided in the interior of theMCV .62, and secondary sides of the changeover valves 62a, '62b are mtade to communicate with each other.
• broken lines in .Fig. 4 denotes air pressure lines.
• the driving system of MCV 62, the trigger valve 64 and the regulator control valve 60 is not limited to the air pressure pilot type but a driving system using such as an electric solenoid may be used.
• the composite circuit 60 has further an MCV' changeover electromagnetic valve 66 for pilot controlling the changeover valves 62a, 62b by changing over the air pressure supplied from the air pressure introduction valve 56 and. a trigger changeover electromagnetic valve 68 for pilot controlling the trigger valve 64.
• the MCV changeover electromagnetic valve 66 allows one of the changeover valves 62a, 62b to communicate and cuts off the -other by an electric signal supplied from the control unit 18 to thereby change over water and the protective layer forming material for supply to the trigger valve 64.
• the trigger changeover electromagneticvalve 68 changes over the triggervalve 64 between communication and cut-off to thereby supply water or the protective layer forming material to the roller 48.
• Manual stop valves 70, 72 are provided at positions along the lengths of the application material line 22 and the water line 26, respectively. Normally, the stop valves 70 and 72 are left communicating.
• a silencer 74 is provided at each of outlets of air in the composite circuit 50 for reducing exhaust noise.
• a relief valve (not shown) for preventing an excessive increase in air pressure is provided for the compressor 52, the pump 32 and the water supply source 24, respectively.
• the compressor 52,- the air tank 54, the water supply source 24 and the pump 32 are common to the respective robots 16a, 16b, 16c, the other equipment being provided individually for the respective robots 16a, 16b, 16c.
• the respective robots 16a, 16b, 16c are taught operations in advance.
• the robots 16a, ⁇ 16b, 16c are assigned to a-bonnet portion 14a (refer to Fig.1) , a roof central portion 14b and a roof rear portion 14c of the vehicle 14, respectively, and are taught to apply the protective layer forming material to the assigned portions, respectively.
• the teaching data so taught to the robots are stored andheld in a predetermined storage portion of the control unit 18.
• the robot 16c is assigned to a boot portion. As shown in Fig.
• loci of motions 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90 are taught to the robot 16a assigned to the bonnet portion 14a such that the protective layer forming material is applied over the width W of the roller 48 for each motion, and the robot 14a is taught not to leave any location unapplied in particular at edge portions as depicted by shaded or hatched portions 92, 94.
• the roller mechanism unit 34 can have six degrees of freedom in its motion due to the mechanism of the robot 16a, the roller mechanism unit 34 can cope with a complex configuration. For example, the roller mechanism unit 34 is allowed to move along the motion locus 84 to ensure the application of the protective, layer forming material even to an air intake portion 96.
• the protective layer forming material- can be prevented by adjusting appropriately the vis.cosity . of thereof, whereby a proper application of the protective layer forming material can be ensured even at the hatched portion 94 where there exists a largely inclined edge portion.
• the protective layer forming material can also be applied to vertical surfaces of the sides of the vehicle 14 by setting the viscosity large . Thus, paintedportions on the vertical surfaces can be protected, and there is caused no risk that the vehicle body is damaged during assembly work, a necessity of placing a scratch cover on such a part of the vehicle body 14 being thereby obviated.
• the robots 16a, 16b, 16c When teaching the robots 16a, 16b, 16c the operations, the robots 16a, 16b, 16c are actuall movedbycontrolling, for example, the control unit 18, the robot controller 28a or an exclusive control pendant 98. As this occurs, the operator teaches the robots 16a, 16b, 16c the operations while visually verifying that the rollers 48 are brought into contact along the vehicle 14.
• the operations teaching may be implemented by adopting, for example, a so-called off-line teaching method .
• teaching is carried out using a three-dimensional CAD (Computer Aided Design) on a solid model without using the actual robots 16a, 16b, 16c.
• CAD Computer Aided Design
• a vector-having a length L is set- at an appropriate angle relative to the surface of thevehicle 14 basedonthe configuration - data thereof, and then the motions of the robots 16a, 16b,- 16c - may automaticallybe set such that the axis of the rollermechanism unit 34 thereof coincides with the vector V.
• the teaching is implemented such that the process of •applyingtheprotective layer formingmaterial is completedwithin a tact time set for every vehicle 14 at the carrying line 12.
• the tank (refer to Fig. 4) and the application material line 22 are heated to appropriate temperatures by a predetermined heater, and the compressor 52, the water supply source 24 and the pump 32 are activated.
• the robots 16a, 16b, 16c are made to wait at positions where they do not interfere with a vehicle 14, and the air pressure introduction valve 56 is made to communicate.
• a vehicle 14 which is completely painted is carried in by the carrying line 12 and is then stopped near the robots 16a, 16b, 16c.
• the control unit 18 recognizes that the vehicle 14 is carried in through a signal supplied from the carrying line 12 or a sensor (not shown) and allows the robots 16a, 16b, 16c to operate based on the teaching data.
• the control unit 18 controls the regulator control valve 60 via the regulator 58 (refer to Fig. 4) so as to control the application material line 22 to an appropriate pressure.
• the control unit 18 controls the- MCV 62 via- the MCV changeover electromagnetic valve 66 so that the application material line -22 is allowed to communicate, while, the water-line 26 is cut off.
• the control unit 18 controls- the trigger changeover electromagnetic valve 68 so as to allow the trigger valve 64 to communicate.
• the protective layer- forming material is supplied to the roller 48 of the roller mechanism unit 34 while being maintained to appropriate pressure and temperature as the control unit 18 functions as is- described above, and an appropriate amount of the protective layer forming material is oozed out to the surface of the roller 48.
• the protective layer formingmaterial canbe appliedto the vehicle 14.
• the thickness of the protective layer forming material applied to the vehicle 14 can be adjusted by controlling the pressure of the regulator 58 and through the speed at which the robots 16a, 16b, 16c are moved.
• the vehicle 14 so applied with the protective layer forming material then only has to be painted but, needless to say, does not have to be a completed vehicle fitted with components.
• an object to be treated to which the protective layer forming material is applied is- a vehicle body which constitutes the vehicle 14, and the protective layer forming material is to be applied thereto in a step before the vehicle 14 is completed.
• the application work can be facilitated.
• the protective layer forming material application step by setting 'the protective layer forming material application step to occur immediately after the painting process, a time during which painted surfaces of the vehicle body are exposed to outside air can.be shortened, and the painted surfaces can be -protected from dust also along the .carrying line 12.
• the protective layer forming material may be applied to doors separately in a process where such doors are fabricated.
• the vehicle 14 to which the protective layer forming material is applied by the robots 16a, 16b, 16c is then carried to the next process by the carrying line 12.
• the robots 16a, 16b, 16c are restored to the waiting postures where they do not interfere with a vehicle 14 and are made to so wait until the next vehicle is carried in.
• the trigger valve 64 is cut off to stop the supply of the protective layer forming material.
• the protective layer forming material so applied is then driednaturallyorbyblowing air thereto so as to forma strippable protective layer to thereby protect the painted portions of the vehicle 14.
• the color of the strippable protective layer formed when the protective layer forming material gets dried can be made transparent by adjusting the constituents of the protective layer forming material, so that the color of the vehicle 14 can be identified.
• the color of the strippable protective layer maybe translucent (or colored but still transparent) to such- an ' extent that' the color of the vehicle 14 can be identified.
• this strippable protective layer is stripped using water by a person- responsible for delivery arrangement at a dealership in a step before the vehicle 14 is used as a product, ' or,, more specifically, in a step before the vehicle 14 is given to the user.
• a person- responsible for delivery arrangement at a dealership in a step before the vehicle 14 is used as a product, ' or,, more specifically, in a step before the vehicle 14 is given to the user.
• the strippable protective layer can be stripped as a single sheet.
• a car-washing spray can be used as the high-pressure spray.
• the strippable protective layer is applied uniformly by the protective layer formingmaterial application system 10 and hence has no location where the thickness thereof is reduced, there is no risk that the strippable protective layer is broken while being stripped, thereby facilitating the stripping of the protective layer . Moreover, there is no risk that the strippable protective layer is naturally stripped by being exposed to rain.
• the carrying line 12 is adapted for a plurality of models or where configurations of detailed portions are different even on the same model. For example, the existence of a sunroof hole 14d (refer to Fig. 1) , the air intake portion 96 (refer to Fig.
• a swelling portion also referred to as -.a bulge
• a rear spoiler is meant- b -the configurations of the detailed portions.
• the robots 16a,. 16b, 16c are to be taught operations according to individual models and the configurations of the detailedportions.
• the control unit 18 receives fromthe carrying line- 12 signals indicating a model and the configurations of the detailed portions and can operate the robots 15a, 16b, 16c by selecting- teaching data based on the signals so received.
• the MCV 62 is controlled via the MCV changeover electromagnetic valve 66 so that the changeover valve 62a is cut off while the changeover valve 62b is allowed to communicate, whereby water is supplied from the water line 26 so as to clean the MCV 62, the trigger valve 64 and the roller 48 of the roller mechanism unit 34. Since the roller 48 is adapted to be detached, the roller 48 may be removed from the roller mechanism unit 34 to be cleaned separately as a single body.
• the process of applying the protective, layer forming material can be automated so as to make uniform the' application quality by operating the roller mechanism units 34 provided with the rollers 48 by the robots 16a, 16b, 16c, respectively, and supplying the protective layer forming material to the rollers 48, whereby there is caused no location.
• the thickness of the strippable protective layer becomes insufficient, and the paint quality of the vehicle 14 which is an object to be treated can be maintained for a long time.
• the thickness of the strippable protective layer can be.prevented from becoming excessively thick, thereby making it possible to save on the protective layer forming material.
• the process where the workers apply the protective layer forming material is obviated by the automation of the process, the number of processes can be reduced to thereby improve the production efficiency. Moreover, air conditioners for the application workers can be omitted. Consequently, it is possible to save on energy by reducing the power needed for air-conditioning, and therefore, the environmental friendliness can be improved and the running costs for the plant can be reduced.
• a tray (a supply mechanism unit) 100 for storing therein the protective layer forming material is provided, so that the roller 48 may be first submerged into the tray 100 and be then made to apply the protective layer forming material to the vehicle 14.
• the composite circuit 50 can be obviated, the configuration of the system being thereby simplified.
• the strippable protective layer formed from the protective layer formingmaterial canprotect thepaintedportions of the vehicle 14 after it is shipped from the plant, the strippable protective layer can also protect the painted portions of the vehicle 14 even inside theplant to therebyreplace scratch covers . Consequently, a number of scratch covers in different configurations can be omitted.
• the protective layer forming material may be dropped or sprayed in advance on the vehicle 14 by a dropping mechanism 102 (refer to Fig. 7) , and thereafter, the protective layer forming material may be spread out by the roller mechanism unit 34.
• the workers ma be allowed to apply a finish coating thereto. As this occurs, since the number of locations to which the protective layer forming material fails to be applied can be decreased, the work load of the -workers can be reduced largely.
• the protective layer forming material may be applied to locations other than the painted portions including the bumper so painted.
• the obj ect to be treatedto which the protective layer forming material is applied is not limited to vehicles but may be an object to be treated such as traffic sign boards along roads orbillboards .
• the device for applying theprotective layer forming material is not limited to the robots 16a,- 16b, 16c but may be any device provided that the device can operate as taught.
• the protective layer formingmaterial application system, the object to be treated, the strippable protective layer and the method for protecting a surface of an object to be treated according to the invention are not limited to the examples described in the embodiment, respectively, but can, of course, adopt various constructions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
• an advantage can be attained that the protective layer forming material application process can be automated for improvement in production efficiency.
• the work can be simplified and the application quality can be uniformed.
• the vehicle can be protected more securely, and when attempted to be removed, the protective layer- of such a material is easy to be stripped.
• the present invention is applicable to products in state of either before coating or after coating. Further, the present invention is applicable to completed products.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Application Of Or Painting With Fluid Materials (AREA)
• Automobile Manufacture Line, Endless Track Vehicle, Trailer (AREA)
• Spray Control Apparatus (AREA)
• Coating Apparatus (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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• 2003
  • 2003-12-03 JP JP2003404458A patent/JP2004216365A/ja active Pending
  • 2003-12-24 AU AU2003292552A patent/AU2003292552A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-12-24 WO PCT/JP2003/016633 patent/WO2004060578A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2003-12-24 EP EP03768188A patent/EP1575711A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-12-25 TW TW092136896A patent/TWI243075B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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