EP2944379A1 - Coating system for coating objects - Google Patents

Abstract

A coating system for coating objects comprises an application device (20) and a supply system (26), by means of which the application device (20) via a flow path (24, 28, 30, 32) at least one liquid material can be fed. A tempering arrangement (70) is provided by which the at least one liquid material in the flow path (24, 28, 30, 32) and / or the application device (20) can be tempered in at least one tempering region (66).

Description

1. a) einer Applikationseinrichtung;
2. b) einem Versorgungssystem, mittels welchem der Applikationseinrichtung über einen Strömungsweg wenigstens ein flüssiges Material zuführbar ist.

The invention relates to a coating system for coating objects with

1. a) an application device;
2. b) a supply system, by means of which the application device via a flow path at least one liquid material can be supplied.

When known from the market coating systems of the type mentioned, the application device, which may be, for example, a Hochrotationszerstäuber or a spray gun in painting operations, supplied with liquid materials. On the one hand, these may be liquid coating materials, in particular paints, which are applied to an article to be coated.

On the other hand, solvents, rinsing agents or separating agents also flow through the flow path to the application device and, if appropriate, are also emitted by the latter. For example, in a material change the material-carrying channels and lines must be cleaned by the previously used paint, including a detergent is conveyed through the corresponding channels and lines. For example, in the case of a paint shop for such a material change a changing device for coating materials, ie then a color changing device used when it occurs more frequently in normal operation, that for the coating of an object, a different paint is to be used as that paint, with which previous Subject was painted.

In order to minimize paint losses and the required amounts of detergent, the so-called pigging technique is often used, in which the coating materials or the detergent are pushed by means of pigs through the channels and lines. Here, the pig is reciprocated between two pig stations, one of which is located close to the application device and the other close to the changing device.

In addition to paints, other coating materials with different application devices can be applied, for example preservatives such as waxes, individual components of multicomponent adhesives or optionally even highly viscous substances such as sealing materials.

Without further action, the liquid materials are passed through the flow path at a temperature corresponding to the ambient temperature or at which the materials are introduced into the conduit system. In general, in particular paints, but also dishwashing detergents, are kept in containers in a paint supply space and tempered there to a default temperature, which should also be present when dispensing the material through the application device, before the materials are introduced into the piping system. For this purpose, the material is heated or cooled depending on its starting temperature and the desired target temperature.

However, as it passes through the application delivery line, the temperature of the material may change under the influence of ambient temperature. In addition, with respect to different application or operating processes a higher or higher than the ambient temperature lower service temperature of the materials lead to positive effects. Thus, most common detergents can absorb more impurities at higher temperatures than is possible at a lower temperature. Also in the case of coating materials, it may be desirable to increase or decrease the temperature relative to the ambient temperature.

The object of the invention is to provide a coating system of the type mentioned, which takes into account this idea.

• c) eine Temperieranordnung vorhanden ist, durch welche das wenigstens eine flüssige Material in dem Strömungsweg und/oder der Applikationsvorrichtung in wenigstens einem Temperierbereich temperierbar ist.

This object is achieved in the coating system of the type mentioned in that

• c) a tempering arrangement is provided, by means of which the at least one liquid material in the flow path and / or the application device can be tempered in at least one tempering region.

According to the invention, therefore, liquid materials, be it liquid coating material or rinsing agent or another liquid material, can be tempered within the flow path, preferably on its way to the application device, or in the application device itself to a desired setpoint temperature. Tempering can mean both heating and cooling.

In this way, the temperature of the material to be applied can be adjusted accurately. For example, a unilack could have best application properties at a material temperature of 20 ° C in a certain application process, while a metallic paint can be optimally processed at a material temperature of 22 ° C.

Due to the tempering arrangement, it is also possible to react quickly to the changed temperature requirements even when the color changes, and to set the desired material temperature required for the best possible coating result.

Today, it has become established that un-applied coating material, which is still in the lines to the application device, is conveyed back into its material source in order to minimize paint losses. In this case as well, the flow path of materials and in particular of flushing agent flows through which, however, can then also move in the direction away from the application device. In this case, it is advantageous if material returned to the supply lines is brought to about the same temperature as the material in the material source. Thus, the material can be tempered so that it flows back with its initial temperature back into the material source.

In most cases, a heating of the liquid material will be required because it cools down again from an initial temperature on the flow path to the application device again. It is therefore particularly favorable if a temperature control unit with a temperature control element is arranged in the at least one temperature control range. This ensures safe heating or cooling of the material.

In order to monitor the temperature of the liquid material in a traceable manner, the tempering unit preferably comprises at least one temperature sensor, which is arranged upstream or downstream of the tempering element.

It is particularly effective if a tempering region is arranged on or in the application device. So can the

Temperature set shortly before the moment of delivery by the application device and optionally monitored.

If the application device comprises an output end line, it is favorable if the tempering element of the temperature control unit is arranged on it.

Alternatively or additionally, a tempering element can be arranged on a section of a supply line for coating material which runs through the application device.

It may also be advantageous if at least one tempering region is arranged on or in the flow path.

In view of an above-mentioned change of material, it is favorable if the flow path comprises a valve device which is fed by a plurality of material sources with liquid material and is arranged on or in which at least one tempering region. In this case, the temperature of material can be adjusted immediately upon entry into the flow path.

It can be advantageous if the flow path comprises at least one piston dispenser on or in which a temperature control region is arranged. With the help of a piston dispenser material can be promoted effectively to the application device. A piston dispenser usually has a working space whose cross-section is larger than incoming or outgoing lines. Therefore, it is convenient if the temperature can be adjusted there.

1. a) an oder in einer Versorgungsleitung zwischen dem Kolbendosierer und der Applikationseinrichtung ein Temperierbereich angeordnet ist;
   und/oder
2. b) an oder in einer Zuführleitung zwischen dem Kolbendosierer und einer Materialquelle ein Temperierbereich angeordnet ist.

It is also beneficial if

1. a) a temperature control region is arranged on or in a supply line between the piston dispenser and the application device;
   and or
2. b) a tempering region is arranged on or in a supply line between the piston dispenser and a material source.

• a) an oder in der Spüleinrichtung ein Temperierbereich angeordnet ist;
  und/oder
• b) an oder in der Spülmittelleitung ein Temperierbereich angeordnet ist.

For effective cleaning of the application device, it is preferably connected to a flushing device, by means of which flushing agent can be supplied to the application device via a flushing agent line. In order to temper the rinsing agent and thereby achieve a better rinsing effect, it is favorable in this case, if

• a) is arranged on or in the purging a Temperierbereich;
  and or
• b) a tempering region is arranged on or in the rinsing agent line.

With regard to heating of the material, it is advantageous if the temperature control unit is a heating unit and the temperature control element is a heating element.

Preferably, then, the heating unit is an inductive heating unit, which comprises a heating coil as a heating coil, which surrounds a portion of the flow path and / or the application device, so that the heating coil can be flowed through by liquid material.

Alternatively or additionally, the tempering unit may comprise a heat exchanger unit or a Peltier element as the tempering element.

Figur 1

schematisch das Layout eines Beschichtungssystems, bei welchem flüssige Medien mittels eines Heizsystems erwärmt werden können, das eine oder mehrere Heizeinheiten umfasst;

Figuren 2A, 2B und 2C

schematisch drei alternative Anordnungen zum Erfassen der Temperatur eines Mediums in einer Applikationsvorrichtung.

Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1

schematically the layout of a coating system in which liquid media can be heated by means of a heating system comprising one or more heating units;

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C

schematically three alternative arrangements for detecting the temperature of a medium in an application device.

In FIG. 1 10 generally indicates a coating system for applying coating materials to articles 12, illustrated herein as vehicle bodies 14. An article 12 is fastened to a support structure 16 which, in the case of vehicle bodies 14, is designed as a so-called skid 18, for example.

The coating system comprises an application device 20. In the present case, a coating system 10 for paints will be described by way of example. In this case, the application device 20 may be, for example, a spray gun or a high-speed rotary atomizer 22, as it is known per se.

The application device 20 is connected to a supply line 24 of a total of 26 designated supply system, wherein the supply line 24 leads to a very schematically shown piston dispenser 28 of the supply system 26, as it is known per se. The piston dispenser 28 is in turn connected via a supply line 30 with a valve device 32, which is formed in the present embodiment as a changing device 34 for coating materials and in turn is fed from a plurality of material sources 36 with fluid material, as it is also known per se.

In the present embodiment, there are five material sources 36 in the form of ring lines 36.1 to 36.5, but there may be less or considerably more such ring lines, the number may well be 50 and above. The fluid materials offered by the ring lines 36.1 to 36.5 may be, in addition to different coating materials, in particular different paints, also compressed air and detergent. In the application of paints, the changing device 34 is thus a color changing device 38.

The application device 20 can also be fed from a purging device in the form of a purging block 40 compressed air via a separate compressed air line 42 and detergent via a separate detergent line 44. For this purpose, the flushing block 40 selectively connects the compressed-air line 42 to a compressed-air source 46 and / or the flushing-agent line 42 to a flushing-agent source 48, so that the application device 20 can be supplied with compressed air or flushing agent or both.

The supply line 24, the piston dispenser 28, the supply line 30 and the valve device 32 together form a flow path for materials from the material sources 36 to the application device 20.

The coating of the articles 12 takes place in a coating zone 50, which is limited for example by a coating booth not specifically shown. The operating atmosphere in this coating zone 50 is conditioned in a manner known per se and monitored in particular with regard to the moisture and the existing solvent concentration and the temperature. For this purpose, as it can in FIG. 1 a sensor device 52 may be present which monitors the desired parameters and by way of example a sensor 54 is shown.

Alternatively, the operating atmosphere in the coating zone 52 may also be detected based on data obtained from previous conditioning operations for air to be supplied to the coating zone. As a rule, conditioned air flows from a plenum through the coating zone 50 from top to bottom and absorbs overspray, which is thus removed from the coating zone 50.

The application device 20, the piston dispenser 28, the valve device 32 and the flushing block 40 are controlled by means of a control unit 56, which is described in US Pat FIG. 1 is illustrated by dashed lines. The sensor device 52 also communicates with the control unit 56 which, depending on the sensor information obtained, controls devices not specifically shown by which the operating atmosphere in the coating zone 50 can be adjusted.

Over the course of the operating period, overspray settles on the outer surface of the application device 20, which is why it must be cleaned at regular intervals. For this purpose, a cleaning device 58 with a receiving socket 60 is present, in the interior of the application device 20 led into it and can be dipped as it were. In the interior of the receiving nozzle 60 can be injected via a rinsing agent line 62 and not specifically shown here spray nozzles rinse, which wets the application device 20 and rinses existing impurities. The flushing agent loaded with impurities flows down into the receiving port 60, where it is discharged via a drain line 62. In the present embodiment, the receiving port 60 is funnel-shaped overall.

The coating system 10 now comprises one or more tempering regions 66 on or in the flow path 24, 28, 30, 32, in which fluid media in the flow path 24, 28, 30, 32 and / or the application device 20 can be heated or cooled. In particular, liquid materials in the flow path 24, 28, 30, 32 of the coating system 10 can be heated or cooled in the tempering region or regions 66. For this purpose, a temperature control unit 67 with a tempering element 68 is present in each temperature control area 66.

Depending on the application and the requirement, tempering may in principle be desired for all media conducted in the lines, that is to say for coating materials, in particular paints, as well as solvents, dishwashing detergents, release agents and even air, which are required in the coating of articles.

In the present exemplary embodiment, a heating unit 69 of a temperature control arrangement 70 is present as tempering unit 67. A tempering region 66 is thus a heating region in this case.

The FIGS. 1 and 2 summarize a variety of Temperature control ranges 66.1 to 66.9. However, as an alternative to all of the temperature control regions 66 shown, the coating system 10 may also have only one of the temperature control regions 66 shown or some of the temperature control regions 66 shown. The temperature control regions 66 shown and explained below can thus each be provided alternatively or in addition to each other.

The temperature control units 67 may also include a respective temperature sensor 72 to detect the temperature of the medium. For the sake of clarity, a temperature sensor 72 is only in the FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C shown. In interaction with the controller 56 so one or more control circuits can be formed, through which the actual temperature of a material can be set to a desired temperature. All existing temperature sensors 72 can be read out via the controller 56 so that a temperature profile of the liquid material between the material source 36 and the outlet of the application device 20 can be created during operation with several temperature control units 67 along the flow path 24, 28, 30, 32.

The heating units 69 are designed as inductive heating units whose tempering 68 is a heating element 74 in the form of a respective heating coil, which is also denoted by the reference numeral 74 and which the respective material leading line or a respective material leading area, ie generally a section of the conduit system 24, 28, 30, 32, 36 and / or the application device 20, so that the heating coil 74 can be passed through by liquid material. Of the heating coils 74 of the individual heating units 69 only a few are provided with a reference numeral. In not specifically shown modifications, the respective heating element of a heating unit 69 may also be designed differently. For example, comes one Radiation source into consideration.

Alternatively or additionally, tempering elements 68 can also be present, which in principle can be heated and cooled. For this purpose, a tempering 68, for example, a heat exchanger unit or in particular a Peltier element whose technique is known per se. Even pure cooling elements can be present.

Depending on the manner and the arrangement of the tempering elements 68 in the flow path 24, 28, 30, 32, the material can be set to the material to be tempered on its way to the application device cascade to the desired target temperature.

The energy supply of the individual heating units is not shown specifically for the sake of clarity. The respective existing heating units 69 are also coordinated by the control unit 56.

A first tempering region 66.1 is now defined on or in the application device 20 so that media to be dispensed via the application device 20 can be heated to the desired temperature shortly before delivery. In the FIGS. 2A to 2C the application device 20 is shown in more detail. As can be seen there, run the supply line 24 of the supply system 26 and coming from the rinsing block 40 compressed air and detergent line 42 and 44 with subsections 24a, 42a and 44a within the application device 20 in a changeover valve 76, of which an output end line 78th leads to the output of the application device 20.

In the variant according to FIG. 2A the heating coil 74 is close to the heating unit 69.1 on the supply line section 24a arranged the diverter valve 74. The temperature sensor 72 is positioned there upstream of the heating coil 74, so that the temperature of the oncoming medium can be detected.

In the variant according to FIG. 2B On the other hand, the temperature sensor 72 is disposed downstream of the heating coil 74, so that the temperature of the medium being heated can be detected.

In the variant according to Figure 2C the heating coil 74 is located at the output end conduit 78 so that any medium supplied through the conduits 24, 42 or 44 can be heated. The temperature sensor 72 is again arranged there upstream of the heating coil 74, but may also be provided downstream thereof.

In a modification, both upstream and downstream of the heating element, in this case the heating coil 74, in each case a temperature sensor 72 may be arranged. Thus, both the temperature of material flowing to the heating unit 69 and of material flowing away from the heating unit 69 can be detected.

In the case of all heating units 69, the associated temperature sensor 72 can be arranged correspondingly upstream or downstream of the respective heating coil 74, wherein the arrangement downstream is preferred, since in this way the attained temperature of the medium can be detected directly.

Another temperature control range 66.2 with heating unit 69.2 is present on or in the supply line 24. A temperature control region 66.3 is on or in the piston dispenser 28 and a further temperature control region 66.4 on or in the supply line 30 between the valve device 32 and the piston dispenser 28. In the piston dispenser 28, the local heating coil 74 surrounds the piston chamber of the piston dispenser, designated 28a 28th

A temperature control region 66.5 shown on or in the valve device 32 shows a heating unit 69.5, which exemplarily represents one or more heating units 69, with which material from the material sources 36 can be heated immediately upon entry into the valve device 32.

A temperature control area 66.6 shown on or in the flushing block 40 shows a heating unit 69.6, which exemplarily represents one or more heating units 69, with which material from the compressed air source 46 or the flushing agent source 48 can be heated directly upon entering the flushing block 40. Alternatively or additionally, a tempering region 69.7 is present on or in the compressed air line 42 or flushing agent line 44 respectively departing from the flushing block 40.

A further tempering region 66.8 is provided on the rinsing agent line 62 of the cleaning device 58, so that cleaning agent applied there can be heated. Alternatively or additionally, a temperature control region 66.9 is defined on the receiving nozzle 60.

The possibility of heating the media during operation of the coating system 10 in individual tempering regions 66 can, among other things, save resources. This is especially true with regard to rinsing and solvent, which can be heated when flowing through the associated lines, since they can absorb more impurities at higher temperatures than at the other hand, lower temperatures. But even with coating materials, the processing temperature of the materials has a significant influence on the coating result, so made here individually for different coating materials different temperature adjustments can be.

With the tempering units 67, air or another gaseous medium in the flow path 24, 28, 30, 32 or the application device 20 can always be tempered, if necessary or desirable.

Claims (14)

Coating system for coating objects with a) an application device (20); b) a supply system (26), by means of which the application device (20) via a flow path (24, 28, 30, 32) at least one liquid material can be fed;
characterized in that c) a tempering arrangement (70) is present, by which the at least one liquid material in the flow path (24, 28, 30, 32) and / or the application device (20) in at least one tempering (66) is temperature controlled. Coating system according to claim 1, characterized in that a tempering unit (67) with a tempering element (68) is arranged in the at least one tempering region (66). Coating system according to claim 2, characterized in that the tempering unit (67) comprises at least one temperature sensor (72) which is arranged upstream or downstream of the tempering element (68). Coating system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one tempering region (66.1) is arranged on or in the application device (20). Coating system according to claim 4, characterized in that the application device (20) comprises an output end line (78), on which the tempering element (68) of the temperature control unit (67) is arranged. Coating system according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a tempering element (68) is arranged on a section (24a) of a supply line (24) for coating material which runs through the application device (20). Coating system according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one tempering region (66) is arranged on or in the flow path (24, 28, 30, 32). Coating system according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the flow path (24, 28, 30, 32) comprises a valve device (32) which is fed by a plurality of material sources (36) with liquid material and at or in which at least one Temperature control (66.5) is arranged. Coating system according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the flow path (24, 28, 30, 32) comprises at least one piston dispenser (28) on or in which a temperature control region (66.3) is arranged. Coating system according to claim 10, characterized in that a) on or in a supply line (24) between the piston dispenser (28) and the application device (20) a tempering region (66.2) is arranged;
and or b) a temperature control region (66.4) is arranged on or in a feed line (30) between the piston dispenser (28) and a material source (36). Coating system according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the application device (20) is connected to a rinsing device (40), by means of which the application device (20) via a rinsing agent line (42) rinsing agent can be fed, wherein a) a tempering region (66.6) is arranged on or in the rinsing device (40);
and or b) a tempering region (66.7) is arranged on or in the rinsing agent line (42). Coating system according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the temperature control unit (67) is a heating unit (69) and the tempering element (68) is a heating element (74). Coating system according to Claim 12, characterized in that the heating unit (69) is an inductive heating unit and comprises as heating element a heating coil (74) which comprises a section of the flow path (24, 28, 30, 32) and / or the application device (20). surrounds, so that the heating coil (74) can be flowed through by liquid material. Coating system according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the temperature control unit (67) comprises a heat exchanger unit or a Peltier element as tempering element (68).

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