EP1844866B1 - Lift dipping plant - Google Patents

Abstract

Raising and lowering unit especially for cleaning of workpieces including at least two chambers containing cleaning liquid forming an immersion bath.The unit has a lifting table and a cage for the workieces which can be raised and lowered with the workpieces.

Description

The invention relates to a lifting immersion system for treating, in particular for cleaning workpieces, with at least 2 chambers, in each of which a treatment liquid, in particular a cleaning liquid can be introduced, which forms an immersion bath in the lower region of the chamber, further comprising a lifting device and a thus connected, provided with through openings lifting table in particular with a grid basket arranged thereon, in which the workpieces are inserted and which is movable in the treatment process upwards and downwards in the dipping bath.

With such a plant workpieces can not only be cleaned and degreased, but also, for example, stripped, preserved and phosphated, using the appropriate treatment liquid is used. If, as the present invention provides, the submerged diving system contains at least two chambers, different treatment processes can be carried out in these chambers.

The workpieces to be treated are first placed on the lifting table arranged in the housing or in the mesh basket, which is lowered during the closing of the lid of the housing, whereupon the treatment process begins. In this case, the mesh basket in the immersion bath, which is located in the chamber, moves upwards and downwards, whereby a liquid movement is generated, by which the workpieces are cleaned on all sides.

The previously known systems of this type have a complex structure and require a long treatment time to achieve a satisfactory cleaning effect.

EP-A-1 815 916 (State of the art according to Art. 54. (3) EPC) describes a lift dip system which differs from the present lift dip system in that it contains a single chamber with a baffle plate. DE 39 30 880 A1 discloses a device for cleaning soiled parts by rinsing and / or spraying, which comprises a tub container which receives the parts to be cleaned, wherein the tub container is flooded from below with a cleaning liquid.

The present invention has for its object to provide a hub diving system of the type considered, which achieves a significantly improved treatment effect with a simple structure, while at the same time different treatment operations should be feasible.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

The invention provides that under each lifting table or mesh basket, a baffle plate is attached, which is moved during the treatment process in a bottom portion of the dip with preferably low lateral clearance to the walls up and down, so that treatment liquid is displaced in the downward movement and high Pressure is directed through the dipping bath in the direction of the mesh basket and the workpieces arranged thereon. In this case, the liquid displaced under the baffle plate generates strong turbulence in the dipping bath, so that the effect of the dipping bath on the objects is greatly increased. At about 60 Hüben / min and a stroke distance of preferably 50 to 100 mm, the effect of these turbulence increases by about 100%.

Furthermore, the invention provides that the lifting immersion plant contains at least two chambers, preferably three or more chambers, in which simultaneously or successively different treatment processes, preferably with different treatment methods, can be performed. For example, the steps pre-cleaning (eg with paint stripping), Wash 1 (eg with cold cleaner) and wash 2 (with lye-containing water) side by side. Another example is dipping, spraying, spraying, blowing off, drying, whereby several flushing units can also be provided.

In further details, it is proposed that the bottom portion of the dip is preferably formed by a recess at the bottom of the chamber, wherein between the walls of this recess and the edge of the baffle plate, a circumferential gap remains.

The displaced by the downward movement of the mesh basket and thus the baffle liquid can be directed in various ways and in different directions on the workpieces, which can be provided either individually or in combination with each other. According to a first aspect of the invention, the baffle contains passageways for the treatment liquid, which may be in the form of narrow slits and / or holes. When the baffle is pressed down in the trough-shaped depression, pass through the openings of the baffle strong liquid jets upwards, which generate turbulence through the preferred lattice-like lifting table and impinge with strong currents on the objects, thus effectively cleaned or otherwise from the Be treated liquid. During the subsequent upward movement of the lifting table and the baffle, treatment liquid flows back under the baffle plate. For this purpose, valve flaps are preferably provided on the baffle plate, which are closed during the downward movement and open during the upward movement.

It is understood that the baffle plate must have sufficient rigidity in order to effectively displace the treatment liquid can. It can be provided that the baffle plate is bent at the marginal edges at a shallow angle in order to better withstand the fluid pressure can.

According to a further aspect of the invention, it is proposed that an upright, preferably vertical, flow channel be connected to the immersion bath can stand, which extends to above the upper position of the grid basket (during the treatment process), and has the side outlet openings, from which liquid which has been displaced in the flow channel, is directed by the dipping bath in the direction of the workpieces. These jets of water thus produce flows and turbulence acting on the workpieces from the side and from above, which also contribute to a high degree of cleaning action.

In this embodiment of the invention, the baffle may have the above-mentioned through holes, which are to be smaller overall, so that also a sufficient amount of treatment liquid is displaced in the flow channel, so that both from below and from the side and / or above strong water jets on be directed to the mesh basket. But it can also be provided that the baffle plate has a closed surface, so that the water jets emerge during the downward movement of the mesh basket only from the lateral flow channel.

In the side wall of the flow channel through openings may be provided for the exit of the liquid, which may also have the form of narrow slits and / or holes here.

It is within the scope of the invention that at least two separate flow channels can be provided, which - taken together - can extend substantially over the entire width of the housing, so that all arranged in the mesh basket objects are detected by the turbulence generated by the exiting liquid jets can.

According to a further proposal, it is provided that the lifting devices of the at least two chambers is formed by a single common lifting cylinder, which in a preferred embodiment is a pneumatic cylinder. The lifting cylinder is advantageously close to the rear wall of the common housing of the at least two preferably three or more chambers in the Center of the housing disposed and drivingly connected to a sliding guide on which the grid baskets of the chambers are attached. On the rear wall of the housing whose hinged lid is hinged, which can close all chambers above.

It is within the scope of the invention that the lifting device may be formed by a plurality of pistons, cylinder assemblies. There are also one or more electrical linear and Hubsenkeinheiten possible.

With great advantage, it is provided that the lid is opened by the lifting cylinder when the grid baskets are moved to the removal of the treated workpieces all the way up. The sliding guide connected to the lifting cylinder impinges on the cover and pivots it into the open position. Thus, the entire system comes out with only a single cylinder, giving it a particularly simple structure. The lifting movement downwards simultaneously causes the closing of the hinged lid, by gravity.

Since no electrical connection is required in this embodiment, the system is also ideally suited for the use of flammable and potentially explosive treatment liquids such as benzene.

However, it is within the scope of the invention that as treatment liquid, e.g. it is also possible to use aqueous alkalis which are e.g. can be heated by electric heating cartridges.

It is also proposed with great advantage that the invention Hub-Tauchanlage another chamber, preferably a third chamber, which is provided with a stop for a lower end position of the grid basket, with this end position is above the Tauchbadniveaus. This stop should be easily removable so that even when needed a dip in this chamber is available.

It is further proposed that nozzle tubes are arranged in the further chamber, which have a plurality of nozzles or simple holes from which liquid jets can be directed to the mesh basket.

In this chamber, even if for a different treatment process, a dip should be in the lower area, liquid jets are directed to lying in the mesh basket items, as in this chamber the associated mesh basket not - as in the preferred two adjacent chambers - in the dip is lowered, but is kept above the immersion level. It is understood that the mesh basket loosely rests on its associated lifting table or a corresponding holder, the latter can be lowered together with its baffle together with the adjacent lifting tables and the lifting movements, which are caused by the common drive device executes while the objects to be cleaned are kept above the immersion level and are exposed to the jets of liquid from the nozzle tubes.

The at least two, preferably three or more chambers may be housed in a common, preferably approximately cubic housing, which may be divided by inner walls in the various chambers. But it can also be provided that the chambers are each in a separate housing, where it may be appropriate for some applications that these cases may have a cylindrical or barrel shape.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the chambers are formed by preferably three or five commercially available barrels, which are placed into the preferably rectangular in plan outline housing of the Hub immersion system, whereupon, -ebenso as in the embodiments described above, the at a common yoke with associated sliding guides provided lifting tables with the grid baskets and the baffles attached underneath into the barrels (or chambers) are used. In this embodiment, it is preferred that the drums with the respective dipping baths be brought by a service company to the hub dipping and picked up again after some time, the service company disposed of the dipping bath media used and barrels with new, unused media available. Also in this embodiment, a single pneumatic piston / cylinder arrangement is provided for all chambers or barrels, which is preferably mounted in the center of the rear wall of the housing and includes a transverse yoke to which the lifting tables of the individual barrels are attached for common upward and downward movement ,

According to a further proposal of the invention, the plant may also have in each chamber a means for removing oils, fats and dirt particles deposited on the surface of the treatment bath. For this purpose, a nozzle system can be arranged in the chamber, which causes a surface movement, whereby the floating oils and fats are discharged into a laterally flanged calming basin. A separation of the oil-water mixture can take place via a suitable Ölabscheideeinrichtung.

In this embodiment of the invention, the workpieces still remain after the treatment process in the immersion bath on the lifting table or the grid basket arranged thereon until the settled on the liquid surface oils, etc. are removed, whereupon the lifting table is raised in the loading and unloading.

Figur 1A

eine erste Ausführungsform einer Kammer der Hub-Tauchanlage in einer schematischen Aufsicht;

Figuren 1B bis 1D

die Kammer der Hub-Tauchanlage in schematischen Seitendarstellungen in der unteren Position des Hubtischs, der oberen Position des Hubtischs beim Behandlungsvorgang und in der Lade- und Entladeposition des Hubtischs;

Figuren 1E bis 1G

entsprechende schematische Darstellungen der Ausführungsform von vorne;

Figur 2A

eine zweite Ausführungsform einer Kammer der Hub-Tauchanlage in einer schematischen Aufsicht;

Figuren 2B bis 2D

die Kammer der Hub-Tauchanlage in schematischen Seitendarstellungen in der unteren Position des Hubtischs, der oberen Position des Hubtischs beim Behandlungsvorgang und in der Lade- und Entladeposition des Hubtischs;

Figuren 2E bis 2G

entsprechende schematische Darstellungen der Ausführungsform von vorne;

Figur 3A

eine dritte Ausführungsform einer Kammer der Hub-Tauchanlage in einer schematischen Aufsicht;

Figuren 3B bis 3D

die Kammer der Hub-Tauchanlage in schematischen Seitendarstellungen in der unteren Position des Hubtischs, der oberen Position des Hubtischs beim Behandlungsvorgang und in der Lade- und Entladeposition des Hubtischs;

Figuren 3E bis 3G

entsprechende schematische Darstellungen der Ausführungsform von vorne;

Figur 4A

eine vierte Ausführungsform einer Kammer der Hub-Tauchanlage in einer schematischen Aufsicht;

Figuren 4B bis 4D

die Kammer der Hub-Tauchanlage in schematischen Seitendarstellungen in der unteren Position des Hubtischs, der oberen Position des Hubtischs beim Behandlungsvorgang und in der Lade- und Entladeposition des Hubtischs;

Figuren 4E bis 4G

entsprechende schematische Darstellungen der Ausführungsform von vorne;

Figur 5A

eine schematische Aufsicht auf eine Ausführungsform der Hub-Tauchanlage mit drei Kammern;

Figuren 5B und 5C

die Hub-Tauchanlage gemäß Figur 5A in schematischen Schnittdarstellungen von vorne in der unteren und oberen Position der Hubtische;

Figur 6A

eine schematische Aufsicht auf eine Ausführungsform der Hub-Tauchanlage mit drei in das Gehäuse eingesetzten Fässern;

Figuren 6B bis 6D

die Hub-Tauchanlage gemäß Figur 6A in schematischen Schnittdarstellungen von vorne und von der Seite, letzteres in der unteren und der oberen Position der Hubtische.

Further details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of some preferred embodiments and from the drawings. Showing:

Figure 1A

a first embodiment of a chamber of the Hub-Tauchanlage in a schematic plan view;

FIGS. 1B to 1D

the chamber of Hub-Tauchanlage in schematic side views in the lower position of the lift table, the upper position of the lift table in the treatment process and in the loading and unloading position of the lift table;

FIGS. 1E to 1G

corresponding schematic representations of the embodiment from the front;

FIG. 2A

a second embodiment of a chamber of the Hub immersion plant in a schematic plan view;

Figures 2B to 2D

the chamber of Hub-Tauchanlage in schematic side views in the lower position of the lift table, the upper position of the lift table in the treatment process and in the loading and unloading position of the lift table;

FIGS. 2E to 2G

corresponding schematic representations of the embodiment from the front;

FIG. 3A

a third embodiment of a chamber of the Hub-Tauchanlage in a schematic plan view;

FIGS. 3B to 3D

the chamber of Hub-Tauchanlage in schematic side views in the lower position of the lift table, the upper position of the lift table in the treatment process and in the loading and unloading position of the lift table;

Figures 3E to 3G

corresponding schematic representations of the embodiment from the front;

FIG. 4A

a fourth embodiment of a chamber of the Hub immersion plant in a schematic plan view;

FIGS. 4B to 4D

the chamber of Hub-Tauchanlage in schematic side views in the lower position of the lift table, the upper position of the lift table in the treatment process and in the loading and unloading position of the lift table;

FIGS. 4E to 4G

corresponding schematic representations of the embodiment from the front;

FIG. 5A

a schematic plan view of an embodiment of the Hub diving system with three chambers;

Figures 5B and 5C

the lifting dipping system according to FIG. 5A in schematic sectional views of the front in the lower and upper position of the lifting tables;

FIG. 6A

a schematic plan view of an embodiment of the Hub immersion system with three barrels inserted into the housing;

FIGS. 6B to 6D

the lifting dipping system according to FIG. 6A in schematic sectional views of the front and from the side, the latter in the lower and upper positions of the lifting tables.

The FIGS. 1A to 1G show a first embodiment of a hub diving system with a chamber. A container 1, which stands on feet 2, is provided with a hinged lid 3, which is hinged to the rear wall of the container 1. In the middle of the rear wall 4, a vertically oriented pneumatic lifting cylinder 5 is mounted in the container, which is surrounded by a sliding guide 6 for a lifting table 7. The piston rod 8 of the lifting cylinder 5 is connected to the connected to the lifting table 7 element of the sliding guide 6 in drive connection, so that the lifting table 7 can be raised and lowered by the pneumatic piston / cylinder assembly 5.

The lifting table 7 contains a grid-like basket for the objects to be treated.

At the bottom of the container 1, a trough-shaped recess 9 is formed into which a baffle plate 10 can enter with little lateral clearance, wherein the baffle plate is secured by webs 11 under the lifting table, at a distance therefrom. In addition to the bottom recess 9 a dirt collecting channel 12 is formed, which is provided with a drain cock 13, with the accumulated dirt from the housing 1 can be discharged.

The baffle 10 is provided in this embodiment with a plurality of evenly spaced in the longitudinal direction of the device, narrow slots 14, the purpose of which will be described below.

FIG. 1D shows the loading and unloading position of the lifting table 7. In this position, the piston rod 8 of the pneumatic piston / cylinder assembly 5 is fully extended, the attached to the lifting table 7 Gleitführungselement has raised the lifting table in the uppermost position within the housing 1. In this case, the sliding guide has accumulated with the piston rod 8 on the previously closed lid 3 and has this in the in FIG. 1D pivoted open position shown.

For example, after objects to be cleaned have been applied to the lifting table 7 or placed in its grid-shaped basket, the lifting table is moved downwards, with the lid moving into the closed position as a result of gravity. In the container there is a treatment bath which, in the case of a cleaning process, may be an alkali or, for example, mineral spirits.

The lifting table 7 is after secure closure of the lid first in the in the Figures 1C and 1F shown lowered upper position of the treatment process in which the baffle plate 10 is located at a small distance above the edge of the recess 9 at the bottom of the housing. From the schematic representation of Figure 1F It can be seen that the baffle is bent at two opposite edges at a shallow angle downwards.

During the treatment process, ie, for example, during the cleaning process of the device, the lifting table 7 is in the dip with a frequency of preferably 40 to 80 strokes / minute, most preferably 60 strokes / minute between in the Figures 1F / 1C and 1B / 1E shown positions moved up and down, in each case a stroke of preferably 50 to 100 mm is covered. When the baffle is on is immersed his way down with little lateral play in the recess 9, treatment liquid is displaced upwards through the slots 14, wherein the liquid jets cause strong turbulence in the immersion bath, which greatly enhance the caused by the upward and downward movement treatment effect. The efficiency of the system can easily be doubled by the turbulence generated by the displaced liquid.

In the upper position of the treatment process, the baffle plate 10 is at a distance above the edge of the recess 9, so that previously displaced liquid can flow back under the baffle plate 10 again.

The in the FIGS. 2A to 2G illustrated second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the dirt collecting channel 12 is arranged on the lifting cylinder 5 facing side of the baffle plate 10. Again, the dirt collecting channel is provided with a leading out of the housing 1 drain cock 13. In addition, buffers 15 are provided outside the movement path of the baffle 10, which is incident on the lifting table 7 in the lower position. Otherwise, the second embodiment is consistent with the first embodiment.

The in the FIGS. 3A to 3G illustrated third embodiment contains some significant changes. In this embodiment, the baffle plate 17 is a closed plate without passage for displaced liquid. The bottom depression 9, into which the baffle plate 17 enters during the treatment process, communicates with a vertically upwardly extending flow channel 18, which extends beyond the upper position of the lifting table 7 (during the treatment process). The flow channel 18 has in the lifting table 7 facing wall at least one, preferably a plurality of outlet slots, of which in the schematic representations of Figures 3B to 3G only one arranged at the top edge exit slot 19 is shown. Other slots may be underneath, but this is not necessarily the case.

As the Figures 3E to 3G show, the flow channel 19 may consist of two separate flow channels on both sides of the sliding guide 6.

In this embodiment, during the downward movement of the lifting table 7 and the attached baffle 17 liquid displaced from the recess 9 in the flow channel 18, in which (or in which) the treatment liquid is pushed up and out of the slot 19 (and optionally further Slits) in the direction of the lifting table 7 emerges. The ejected water jets generate strong turbulence in the dip, which in turn significantly enhance the treatment effect.

It is understood that it is within the scope of the invention that in the third embodiment, slots or holes may be provided in the baffle plate, so that turbulence in both the baffle and from the flow channel are generated in the dip.

The FIGS. 4A to 4G show a fourth embodiment, which is similar to the third embodiment. There are valve flaps 20 are provided, which consist of flat plates which are slidably mounted on short pins 21 under the baffle plate 10. In the region of the valve flaps 20 are large passage openings in the baffle plate 10, which are covered by the valve flaps 20.

During the downward movement of the baffle plate in the recess 9 causes the back pressure of the liquid that the valve flaps 20 create tightly against the underside of the baffle plate 10, whereby the passage openings 22 are closed in the baffle plate. In this way, liquid may be displaced upwardly from the well 9 either through slots of the baffle (as in the first two embodiments) and / or between the edges of the baffle and the walls of the well and housing forming flow passages become.

As the lift table is moved upwardly, the valve flaps slide against the pins a small distance away from the baffle until they abut, for example, heads of the pins, so that upon the upward movement of the baffle, treatment liquid can pass through the openings 22 below the baffle.

The baffle 10 forms, as mentioned above, with the walls of the recess and the housing flow channels.

The lift dipping unit has a device for discharging oils, fats and dirt particles deposited on the surface of the treatment bath. In this discharge device, a nozzle system is provided in the container 1, which generates a surface movement of the treatment liquid.

The FIGS. 5A to 5C show a hub diving system in which three adjacent chambers are formed in a common housing 1, in which the interior of the housing 1 is divided by two bulkheads 30. For all three lifting tables 7 in the chambers, a common pneumatic lifting cylinder 5 is provided, the piston rod 8 is drivingly connected to all three lifting tables via corresponding sliding guides in drive connection. All three chambers are closed by a common cover 3, which is raised when the sliding guide elements attached to the lifting tables are moved by the piston rod of the lifting cylinder in the uppermost position.

While in the two outer chambers, the above-described treatment operations are carried out in which the lift table in the dipping strip are moved upwards and downwards, the middle chamber contains a stop 25 for the lower end position of resting on the lifting table 7 grid basket, thus above the Tauchbadniveaus is held (even in this chamber may be a dip, if another Treatment cycle is provided. Otherwise, this chamber contains no immersion bath).

While in the middle chamber the lift table is moved up and down together with the lift tables in the two other chambers, the objects held in the grid basket in the raised position can be handled by liquid jets directed from nozzle tubes 26 onto the mesh basket.

After completion of the treatment operations in the three chambers, the lifting tables are moved to the upper removal position, the middle lift table entrains the mesh basket.

The end stop 25 for the mesh basket in the middle chamber is arranged easily detachable, so that after its removal in this chamber, the dipping operations described above can be performed.

In the presentation of the FIG. 5B located to the right of the common housing for the three chambers, a switch box 28 and a pump 29 arranged thereunder. The reference numerals 23 and 24, a slider and a sliding roller are referred to, while in the right chamber surface nozzles 27 are indicated.

In the in the FIGS. 6A to 6D illustrated embodiment of the invention, three barrels are set in a common housing 31 of the hub diving system, in annular holders 32 which are attached to the bottom of the housing 31, so that the barrels are held immovable laterally, but are easily removed upwards. These barrels 30 are preferably supplied to the respective forming the dip media to the Hub immersion system and replaced after some time against barrels with fresh dip baths.

The pneumatic piston / cylinder assembly 5 is fixed to the rear wall of the housing 31 and in turn provided with a sliding guide 6, to which an upper transverse yoke 33 is attached, to which in turn the supports 34 for the lifting tables 7 are mounted with the grid baskets arranged thereon. In this way, the pneumatic piston / cylinder assembly 5 can put all lifting tables simultaneously in rapid up and down movements through the dipping bath. Also in this embodiment, baffles are mounted under the lifting tables, even if they are in the FIGS. 6A to 6D are not shown. The turbulence in the dip baths can be generated or enhanced in a variety of ways by the baffles, as described above in the other embodiments of the invention. An embodiment with only a single barrel is within the scope of the invention. The at least one keg (or barrels) can be indirectly heated.

It is emphasized that the invention is not limited to the described and illustrated embodiments. Rather, all disclosed features of the Hub diving system can be individually combined with each other in any way.

Claims (11)

1. Lifting/immersing apparatus for treating, especially cleaning, workpieces, having at least two chambers which are each fillable with a treatment fluid, especially a cleaning fluid, which forms an immersion bath in the chamber, and further having a lifting device and, connected thereto, lifting tables provided with through-openings, especially each having a basket into which the workpieces can be placed and which is movable upwards and downwards through the immersion bath during the treatment operation,
   characterised in that
   below each of the lifting tables or baskets (7) of the at least two chambers there is mounted a baffle plate (10, 17) which, during the treatment operation, is movable upwards and downwards in a section of the immersion bath, so that during the downward movement treatment fluid is displaced and turbulences are created in the immersion bath.
2. Lifting/immersing apparatus according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   a gap is left between the walls defining the immersion bath and the edge of the baffle plate (10, 17).
3. Lifting/immersing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that
   the baffle plate has through-openings (14) for the treatment fluid, which openings are narrow slots (14) and/or round holes.
4. Lifting/immersing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
   characterised in that
   there is connected to the immersion bath at least one upright flow channel (18) which extends to above the upper position of the basket (5) and has at least one lateral outlet opening (19) from which treatment fluid which has been displaced into the at least one flow channel (18) is discharged and is returned to the immersion bath, generating turbulences.
5. Lifting/immersing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
   characterised in that
   the baffle plate (10) is provided with valve flaps (20) which close automatically during the downward movement and open automatically during the upward movement of the baffle plate.
6. Lifting/immersing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
   characterised in that
   the lifting devices have a common piston/cylinder arrangement (5).
7. Lifting/immersing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
   characterised by
   at least one chamber provided with a stop (25) for a lower end position of the basket, which position is located above the level of the immersion bath.
8. Lifting/immersing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
   characterised in that
   in the chamber there are arranged nozzle pipes (26) having a plurality of nozzles, or bores, from which jets of fluid can be directed onto the basket.
9. Lifting/immersing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
   characterised in that
   the at least two, preferably three or more, chambers are housed in a common housing.
10. Lifting/immersing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
    characterised in that
    each of the at least two, preferably three, chambers has its own housing.
11. Lifting/immersing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
    characterised in that
    the chambers are formed by vats (30) which can be installed in the housing (31) of the lifting/immersing apparatus and removed therefrom again.

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