EP2595760A1

EP2595760A1 - Treatment unit and installation for the surface treatment of articles

Info

Publication number: EP2595760A1
Application number: EP11734018.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ulrich Schmid; Jürgen FERNHOLZ; Roger Schmidt; Ralph Meier; Jürgen Hanf
Original assignee: Eisenmann SE
Current assignee: Eisenmann SE
Priority date: 2010-07-24
Filing date: 2011-07-16
Publication date: 2013-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 2031-07-16
Also published as: CN102905796B; DE102010032144A1; RU2013101748A; EP2595760B1; BR112013001148A8; BR112013001148A2; CN102905796A; RU2553854C2; WO2012013306A1

Abstract

A treatment unit (30) for the surface treatment, in particular painting, of articles, in particular of vehicle body parts, comprises at least one treatment cubicle (38), which defines a treatment space (42). The articles (12) can be conveyed into the treatment space (42) and out of it again by means of a conveying device (22). The conveying device (22) comprises a turning element (50) with a first and a second area (56, 58), which are arranged in such a way that, depending on the position of the turning element (50), the first or the second area (56, 58) bounds the treatment space (42), at least in certain regions. The turning element (50) bears on one area (58) a conveying robot (62), in particular a multiaxis conveying robot, by means of which at least one article (12) can be picked up and put down. An installation (10) for the surface treatment of articles (12) with at least one such treatment unit (30) is also specified.

Description

Treatment unit and facility for surface treatment of objects

The invention relates to a treatment unit for surface treatment, in particular for painting, articles, in particular of body parts, with a) at least one treatment cabin, which specifies a treatment room; b) a conveying device, by means of which the objects are conveyed into and out of the treatment space, wherein c) the conveyor comprises a rotary member having a first and a second surface, which are arranged such that depending on the position of the rotary member di first or the second surface of the treatment room at least partially limited.

In addition, the invention relates to a plant for surface treatment, in particular for painting, of objects, in particular of body parts.

A treatment unit of the above type in the form of a

Lackiereinheit is described in a German patent application, which was filed by the applicant under the file number DE 10 2009 060 649.1 at the German Patent and Trademark Office. There are provided on the surfaces of the rotary member stationary supports for objects to be painted, with a movable multi-axis Applxkationsrobo ter is arranged in the treatment room, which is an applicati onseinrichtung relative to the immovable object leads.

However, there may be cases in which a particularly good treatment result can only be achieved if a plurality of relative positions between the object to be treated and a treatment device could be passed through during the treatment. For example, in an article carried by a stationary support, regions may be difficult to access for the application robot, which may be on the opposite side of the article from the application robot. A good accessibility of all surface areas of the article is particularly important in facilities for cleaning the object.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a treatment unit and a plant of the type mentioned, in which the object to be treated in the treatment room can occupy as many relative positions relative to a treatment facility.

This object is achieved in a treatment unit of the type mentioned above in that d) the rotary member on a surface a conveyor robot, in particular a multi-axis conveyor robot, carries, by means of which at least one object is receivable and deliverable.

According to the invention, a movable robot arm is thus used as a holder for the object, so that its position and orientation in the interior of the treatment space can be changed flexibly.

It is structurally favorable if the rotary element acting space associated with rotating wall having a first wall surface and a second wall surface opposite thereto.

If the axis of rotation of the rotary element is vertical, the forces occurring during the rotation can be handled well.

With regard to the system for surface treatment, the above object is achieved by at least one such treatment unit according to one of claims 1 to 3.

If the system comprises a plurality of such treatment units, it is favorable if transport means are provided, through which objects can be conveyed into or out of the working space of the conveyor robot into the working space of the conveyor robot. Thus, the items can be passed from a treatment center to a next treatment center. As a working space of the conveyor robot is based on the position of the conveyor robot and this surrounding volume of space to understand, which is accessible from the conveyor robot.

It is particularly advantageous if the means of transport comprise at least one transfer robot for objects, which cooperates with at least one arranged in the working space of the conveyor robot bearing structure. On such a storage structure, the object can be stored and then picked up by the Umsetzroboter and passed on.

A high transport flexibility is achieved when the transfer robot is movable.

Embodiments of the invention are described below explained in more detail in the drawings. In these show:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an entrance area of a plant for the surface treatment of body parts with a plurality of treatment units, each comprising a treatment cabin with a rotating wall which carries a conveying robot;

Figure 2 is a top view of a painting booth of

Figure 1, wherein a treatment cabin is cut horizontally, so that a treatment device can be seen in the form of a spray nozzle assembly, and the rotary wall occupies a first working position;

Figure 3 is a figure of the ^'cabin 2 corresponding view of the paint, the rotary wall assumes an opposite to the first operating position twisted intermediate position;

FIG. 4 shows a view corresponding to FIGS. 2 and 3

Lackierkabine, wherein the rotary wall occupies a second working position;

FIG. 5 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 3 of a modified painting unit which, as a treatment device, comprises an application robot instead of the spray nozzle arrangement.

In FIG. 1, a treatment system for the surface treatment of objects 12 is shown at 10 overall, which in the present exemplary embodiment are shown by way of example as body parts in the form of bumpers for motor vehicles. With the treatment system 10, other objects can be treated as body parts, for example, as different items such as white goods, golf balls, radio panels, vehicle wheels or the like.

The treatment plant 10 comprises a delivery tunnel 14 which extends between an entrance lock 16 and an exit lock, the latter not being visible in the section 18 of the treatment installation 10 shown in FIG. Through the entrance lock 16 and the exit lock, the outside atmosphere surrounding the treatment facility 10 is separated from the tunnel atmosphere.

The delivery tunnel 14 is partially bounded by a tunnel housing 20. The tunnel housing 20 and the entrance ^{Schleu ¬} se 16 are indicated in Figure 1 only and shown translucently, so that in the delivery tunnel 14 and in the entrance lock 16 located components can be seen. In the conveying tunnel 14, an inert gas atmosphere can be maintained in a known manner.

The bumper 12 to be treated are conveyed by means of a conveyor system 22 through the treatment plant 10, wherein the conveyor tunnel 14 specifies a corresponding conveyor track. The conveyor system 22 comprises a feed conveyor

24, by means of which the bumper 12 to be treated are conveyed into the intake lock 16, through it and, after completion of the lock operation, further into the delivery tunnel 14. For this purpose, the bumpers 12 to be treated are placed on the feed conveyor 24 outside of the conveyor tunnel 14 by means of a conveying technique not specifically shown.

In a corresponding manner, in the region of the exit lock, which is not visible in the section 18, there is a delivery conveyor present, by means of which the treated bumper 12 in the exit lock into, through and thereafter and after completion of the lock operation are further promoted from the delivery tunnel 14 out into the environment. The treated bumpers 12 are removed outside of the treatment plant 10 by means of a conveyor technology also not shown specifically by this discharge conveyor and supplied to their further destination.

In the conveyor tunnel 14, a running rail 26 extends on this run one or more known per se multi-axis Umsetzroboter 28, which are movable in both directions and by means of which the bumper 12 can be handled. In Figure 1, a single such Umsetzroboter 28 can be seen.

The delivery tunnel 14 is at least partially open to one side and communicates there over largely its entire length with a plurality of treatment units 30, which are accessible via the conveyor tunnel 14. The delivery tunnel 14 is thus limited in total by the tunnel housing 20 and the existing treatment units 30.

In the partial section 18 of the treatment installation 10 to be recognized in FIG. 1, a first cleaning unit 32 for a basic cleaning, a second cleaning unit 34 for a C0 ₂ cleaning or an airing of the bumper 12 and a painting unit 36 for applying a paint are along the conveyor tunnel 14 , For example, for applying a first basecoat, arranged.

The treatment units 30 are identical except for the treatment devices used and existing in their interior. As in particular in Figure 1 the example of the first cleaning unit 32 and in Figures 2 to 4 by way of example can be seen the coating unit 36, 30 includes any treatmen ^¬ averaging unit, a treatment booth 38, and a communicating with said air unit 40, via which the air balance of the respective treatment unit 30 is controlled. In the case of functionally different treatment units 30, the respective treatment booths 38 are thus identical in construction but differently furnished, so that they fulfill different uses.

Treatment booth 38 defines a treatment space 42 bounded on three sides by vertical side walls 44, 46 and a vertical cabin wall 48 perpendicular to and between them (see, for example, Figure 2). The cabin wall 48 opposite a rotary member in the form of a rotary wall 50 is arranged, which serves as a conveying element about a vertical axis of rotation 52 is rotatably mounted.

The rotary wall 50 are associated with a first and a second working position, which will be discussed again below. In its working positions, it limits the treatment space 42 on the side of the treatment cabin 38 which is opposite the cabin wall 48 and spatially separates the treatment space 42 from the delivery tunnel 14.

The rotary wall 50 comprises a horizontally uniformly curved wall portion 54 with mutually parallel vertical edges and with mutually parallel horizontal, corresponding curved edges. The curved wall portion 54 thus corresponds to a wall portion of a circular cylinder and has a first, convex, ie outwardly curved wall surface 56 and an opposite second, concave, ie inwardly curved wall surface 58. The vertical and horizontal edges of the wall portion 54 each carry a flexible seal in the form of a rubber lamella, which is not specially shows.

The rotary wall 50 also includes a horizontal rotary bottom 60, which is attached to the lower end of the wall portion 54 on the concave wall surface 58 so that it is rotated during rotation of the rotary wall 50 with.

On the turntable 60, a multi-axis gripper robot 62 is attached as a conveyor robot. This gripping robot 62 defines a working space surrounding it, in which the gripping robot 62 can act and which is predetermined by the reach of the gripping robot 62 and its respective position.

Optionally, the convex wall surface 56 or the concave wall surface 58 with the gripping robot 62 can now face the treatment space 42, while the respective other wall surface 58 or 56 faces the conveyor tunnel 14. These two orientations of the wall surfaces 56, 58 define the above-mentioned first and second working position of the rotary wall 50. In the first working position of the rotary wall 50 shown in FIG. 2, the gripper robot 62 thus faces the conveyor tunnel 14 and limits its first wall surface 56 in regions to the treatment chamber 42 In the second working position of the rotary wall 50 shown in FIG. 4, the gripping robot 62 is thus located in the treatment space 42, which is then partially bounded by the second wall surface 58.

The treatment space 42 has a horizontal cabin ceiling at the top, which is formed as the lower boundary of an air supply chamber 64, which can be seen again with reference to FIG.

Downwards, the treatment space 42 is open and leads to a flow area 66, via which the treatment space 42 is connected to a first functional area 68 of the air unit 40. bond stands. This can be clearly seen in FIG. 1 in the first cleaning unit 32. It can also be seen there that the first functional region 68 in the upward direction is followed by a second functional region 70, into which the cabin air passes after flowing through the first functional region 68. From there, the cabin air flows into a flow channel 72. The flow channel 72 is connected on the one hand to the air supply chamber 64 above the treatment chamber 42 and on the other hand has a connection flange 74, via which the flow channel 72 - and thus the total flow path of the cabin air - with a non-specific shown exhaust duct of a likewise not specifically shown central air system of the treatment plant 10 is connected. The connection flange 74 is not shown in FIGS. 2 to 5.

Depending on the function of each treatment unit 30, components for conditioning the cabin air can be arranged in the functional areas 68 and 70.

In the case of the painting unit 36, an electrostatically operating deposition unit is arranged in the first functional area 68, for example. The second functional area 70 serves as a conditioning area for cleaned cabin air.

As mentioned above, 30 different treatment facilities are also arranged in the treatment room 42 depending on the function of each treatment unit.

In the case of the painting unit 36, an application unit in the form of a stationary nozzle arrangement 76 for paint is attached to the booth wall 48 as a treatment unit, which comprises two pointed nozzles 76a, 76b pointing in the direction of the opposite rotary wall 50. Optionally, the spray nozzles 76a, 76b also movably mounted and their discharge direction be adjustable.

In the painting unit 36, air coming from the air supply space 64 flows down through the treatment space 42 to the flow area 66 and absorbs paint overspray during painting. The flow region 66 directs the cabin air, which is then loaded with overspray particles, to the first functional region 68 with the above-mentioned electrostatic precipitator in such a way that it flows through it in a direction from bottom to top. The hereafter of

Cabin air freed of overspray particles then passes into the second functional area 70 of the air unit 40, which is arranged above the first functional area 68, where it is returned to the correct temperature and humidity in a manner known per se. From there the purified cabin air is supplied to 64 above the treatment chamber 42 again the air supply space ^', where it may be optionally mixed with unused fresh air. For this purpose, the air supply chamber 64 is connected via the connection flange 74 with a fresh air source of the central air system.

In the modification of the painting unit 36 shown in FIG. 5, a stationary multiaxial application robot 78 is arranged in the treatment space 42 as a treatment unit instead of the nozzle arrangement 76, as it is known per se.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, in the area between the running rail 26 with the transfer robot 28 and the treatment units 30 along the running rail 26, there are arranged storage tables 80 on each of which a bumper 12 to be treated can be temporarily stored. Representative of all the treatment units 30 is the second cleaning unit 34 for right and left of the two storage tables 80a, 80b flanked, so that each of these two storage tables 80a, 80b can be reached by the gripper robot 62 of the second cleaning unit 34 when the rotary wall 50 assumes its first working position. Thus, the storage tables 80 or their storage area are arranged in the above-mentioned working range of the respectively associated gripping robot 62 of a specific treatment unit 30.

In FIGS. 2 to 5, the storage table 80b is not shown, whereas a further storage table 80c assigned to the coating unit 36 can be seen, which in turn is not shown in FIG.

Since the gripper robot 62 of the first cleaning unit 32 already cooperates with the feed conveyor 24, only the storage table 80a is assigned to it. In a corresponding manner, the last processing unit 30 arranged along the conveyor line-as a rule this is a dryer unit-is associated with only one storage table 80, since this last processing unit 30 also cooperates with the above-mentioned discharge conveyor.

The treatment units 30 can be permanently installed on the one hand. On the other hand, the treatment units 30 can each be designed as modular units, as such movable and detachable in their operating position shown in FIG. 1 with respect to the conveyor tunnel 14 or the conveying path predetermined by the latter. For this purpose, the individual treatment units 30 can be arranged to be movable, for example, in addition to the conveyor tunnel 30 and rails extending perpendicular thereto. In the case of modular processing units 30 this standardized connection units comprise all the proper ^¬ free operation of a treatment unit 30 necessary connections such as electrical connections, one or several supply ports, one or more ports for the paint supply, one or more connections for a detergent supply and the like.

The number and arrangement of individual and functionally different treatment units 30 can then be freely adjusted within the available rails to the successive treatment steps necessary for the treatment of a particular material to be treated. Optionally, the treatment units 30 are supplemented by evaporation units, in which treated objects, here the bumpers 12, can temporarily be temporarily stored for evaporation. Such evaporation units can also be permanently installed or configured in a corresponding manner as modular units.

If then the arrangement of the treatment units 30 or such Abdunsteinheiten must be changed or an existing treatment unit 30 against a functionally different treatment unit - for example, a cleaning unit against a painting unit - to be replaced, the unit to be replaced is released and on the associated rails of the delivery tunnel 14 away hazards.

Alternatively, a transport technology may be present, by means of which a treatment unit 30 or evaporation unit to be exchanged can be lifted off the associated rails and transported away, and an exchange unit can be placed on the destination rails.

The mode of operation of a treatment unit 30 will now be explained using the example of the painting unit 36 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4.

Throughout the treatment process within the Action system 10 rest the bumper 12 on not specifically shown goods carriers, which can be handled by the gripping robots 62 and the Umsetzrobotern 28.

As an initial situation of the painting unit 36, it is assumed that the rotary wall 50 assumes its first working position shown in FIG. 2, in which the gripping robot 62 faces the conveyor tunnel 14. The gripping robot 62 has already picked up a bumper 12 previously cleaned in the cleaning units 32 and 34 from the storage table 80b, which is associated with the painting unit 40 and the second cleaning unit 34. As mentioned above, this storage table 80b is not shown in Figs.

The rotary wall 50 is now rotated by 180 ° about its axis of rotation 52 by means of a drive unit not specifically shown and brought into its second working position so that its concave wall surface 58 and the rotary bottom 60 and the gripping robot 62 point to the treatment space 42, as shown in FIG can be seen. During the rotational movement, the rotary wall 50 passes through an intermediate position shown in FIG. During the turning operation, the flexible rubber blades can rub against the walls of the treatment booth 42 at the edges of the wall part 54 of the rotary wall 50, without the risk of damaging these wall areas. In Figure 3, an envelope is designated H, which is formed by the outer contour of the rotary wall 50 in its rotation.

Now, the bumper 12 carried by the gripping robot 62 is painted by activating the nozzle assembly 76 and moving the bumper 12 in front of the nozzles 76a, 76b by a corresponding sequence of movements of the gripper robot 62.

The overspray occurring during painting is, as described above, flowing from the treatment space 42 Cabin air taken and deposited in the course and collected.

During the painting process, the transfer robot 28 receives on the running rail 26 an already painted bumper 12 which rests on the storage table 80c present downstream of the painting module 40, so that this storage table 80c becomes free.

When the bumper 12 has been completely painted in the treatment chamber 42 of the painting unit 36, the rotary wall 50 is again rotated by 180 ° about its axis of rotation 52, so that it now assumes its first working position again.

The gripper robot 62 places the now painted bumper 12 on the storage table 80c, from where it can be picked up by the transfer robot 28 and fed to a next treatment unit 30, not shown in the figures.

The painting operation, in the modified coating unit 36 according to Figure 5 it ^¬ follows sense corresponding with the only difference that the application robot 78 is movable in the treatment chamber 42 and the paint application is carried out by means of a coordinated movement of both of the gripping robot 62 and the application robot 78th When using the application robot 78, it is also possible to more effectively coat more complex components with shaded areas and / or complex undercuts than would be possible with the nozzle arrangement 76.

The transfer robot 28 can convey bumpers 12 into or out of the working space of the transport robot into the work space assigned to a respective robot robot 62 of a particular treatment unit 30. If necessary, a shock Catcher 12 are also transferred directly from the Umsetzroboter 28 to a gripper robot 62 or vice versa of a gripping robot 62 to the Umsetzroboter 28 without the bumper 12 for this purpose is temporarily stored on a storage table 80.

Claims

claims

Treatment unit for surface treatment, in particular for painting, articles, in particular body parts, with a) at least one treatment cabin (38), which defines a treatment space (42); b) a conveying device (22), by means of which the articles (12) into the treatment chamber (42) and back out of this are conveyed, wherein c) the conveyor (22) has a rotary member (50) having a first and a second surface (56, 58), which are arranged such that, depending on the position of the rotary element (50), the first or the second surface (56, 58) delimits the treatment space (42) at least in regions, characterized in that d) the rotary element (50) on a surface (58) carries a conveyor robot (62), in particular a multi-axis conveyor robot, by means of which at least one object (12) can be received and released.

Treatment unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotary element (50) is a treatment chamber (42) associated with the rotary wall (50) having a first wall surface (56) and a second wall surface opposite thereto (58). Treatment unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the axis of rotation (52) of the rotary member (50) extends vertically.

Plant for surface treatment, in particular for painting, articles, in particular body parts, characterized by at least one treatment unit (30) according to one of claims 1 to 3.

Installation according to claim 4, characterized in that transport means (26, 28) are provided, through which objects (12) in the working space of the conveyor robot

(62) into or out of the working space of the conveyor robot

(62) are eligible.

Installation according to claim 5, characterized in that the transport means (26, 28) at least one Umsetzroboter (28) for objects (12), which cooperates with at least one in the working space of the conveyor robot (62) arranged bearing structure (80).

Installation according to claim 6, characterized in that the Umsetzroboter (28)) is movable.