EP3120933B1 - Spray device for application of a colour medium on a component of a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a spraying device for applying a colored medium to a component of a motor vehicle.

For applying a colored medium to a component of a motor vehicle, it is known to use, as a spraying device, which can also be referred to as motor vehicle painting device, for example, an air atomizer or a rotary atomizer.

A rotary atomizer has a bell cup, which rotates in operation at a high speed and emits a spray jet at an annular peripheral spray-off edge. The color medium to be applied, in the form of a wet paint, in this case is fed through a paint tube and then first meets in the bell cup on a rotatable with the bell plate deflection plate with a through hole, the deflection disc divides the axially incident paint stream into two streams. A first partial flow is laterally deflected by the deflecting disk in the radial direction and, owing to the centrifugal force occurring during operation, flows outward along an internal overflow surface to the spraying edge, where the color medium is then finally released in the form of a spray jet. The second partial flow, however, passes axially through the through holes in the deflection plate and then flows on the end face of the deflection plate due to the centrifugal force in the radial direction to the outside, so that the end face of the deflection plate is permanently overflowed in operation of color medium.

Compared to a normal air atomizer, the rotary atomizer has the advantage that it is possible to achieve a coating efficiency of 60% -70% of the surface area of the component to be applied, whereas with a normal air atomizer only a 30% application efficiency can be achieved, which means that 70% of the paint medium is transported unused by an exhaust air in a leaching. The degree of application efficiency is defined by the amount of colorant that is dispensed by the sprayer and actually impinges on and accumulates on the surface of the component to be processed.

In order to further improve the order efficiency in a rotary atomizer, it is from the DE 10 2006 054 786 A1 It is known to arrange at the spraying device a first shaping air nozzle arrangement for dispensing a first shaping air stream for forming the spray jet and a second shaping air nozzle arrangement for dispensing a second shaping air stream for forming the spray jet, wherein furthermore a control device for influencing the two shaping air streams as a function of at least one application parameter, the one Property of the applied color medium or an operating size of the rotary atomizer reproduces is provided. In order to be able to influence the directing air flows, the at least one application parameter must first be determined and subsequently the directing air flows must be influenced correspondingly as a function of the ascertained application parameter. This requires a lot of effort in terms of control and also the construction of the designed as a rotary atomizer sprayer.

document DE 10 2004 056 455 A1 discloses another prior art spraying apparatus for applying a paint medium.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a spraying device available, which is characterized by a further improved order efficiency at a simultaneously simplified construction of the spraying device.

The object is achieved according to the invention with the features of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are specified in the subclaims.

The spraying device according to the invention comprises a base body, a covering element covering the base body in spraying direction and a multiplicity of spray nozzles arranged on the covering element, which are each connected to a paint line and a compressed air line, wherein the covering element and / or the spray nozzles are adjustable in this way in that a size of an application surface of the color medium can be adapted to the component.

In contrast to the design of a rotary atomizer, the spraying device according to the invention has a large number of individual spray nozzles, via which the color medium emerges from the spraying device in order to be applied to the component to be processed, such as a body part of a motor vehicle. The spray nozzles are distributed, preferably evenly distributed, arranged over the surface of the cover. The cover is preferably formed like a disk and covers an opening formed in the spray direction of the body. The base body, which may be cylindrical, conical or polygonal, for example, preferably forms a housing in which the plurality of color lines and compressed air lines leading to the individual spray nozzles are conducted. Each spray nozzle is associated with a color line and a compressed air line, so that each spray nozzle separately from the other spray nozzles, the color medium and compressed air can be supplied. In order to increase the application efficiency when applying the colored medium to the component to be processed, in particular to increase to 90% - 100%, it is inventively provided that the cover and / or the spray nozzles are adjustable so that a size of a job area of the color medium the component is customizable. The application surface is the region of the surface of the component to which can be applied to the component during a spray by means of the spray device in an idle state of the spray device, ie without a movement, in particular a pivoting movement of the spray device, color medium. By adjusting the cover and / or the spray nozzles, the size and thus the dimensions, such as the diameter of this application surface can be customized. If, for example, components with smaller surfaces, for example, components in the interior of the motor vehicle, color medium are applied, the size of the application surface can be reduced by means of adjustment or adjustment of the cover and / or the spray nozzles, so that by means of the spray a total spray with a small width or diameter can be applied to the component to be machined. If, on the other hand, colorant medium is to be applied to components with larger areas, the size of the application area can be increased, so that a total spray jet having a greater width or diameter can be applied to the component to be processed via the spray nozzles. The change in the total spray jet width of the spray medium emerging from the spray medium is thus not by additional Lenkluftströme, but by an immediate adjustment of the cover and / or the spray nozzles, so that over the previously known solutions a further improved order efficiency can be achieved with a simplified construction of the spraying device can is.

The cover is formed in spray direction and counter to the spray direction. In a deformation of the cover in spray direction, the cover can be arched relative to the main body to the outside, so that the cover assumes a convex curvature. In a convex curvature of the cover, the arranged on the cover spray nozzles are inclined relative to a straight design of the cover that the emerging from the spray nozzles Gesamttsprühstrahl is widened or widened and thus increases the size of the application surface of the color medium to the component to be machined or is widened. The spray nozzles are then preferably arranged inclined away from one another. In a deformation of the cover against the spraying direction For example, the cover element can be arched inwards relative to the base body, so that the cover element assumes a concave curvature. In the case of a concave curvature of the covering element, the spray nozzles arranged on the covering element are inclined with respect to a straight formation of the covering element such that the total spraying jet emerging from the spraying nozzles is narrowed or reduced in width and thus the size of the application surface of the colored medium to be processed Component is reduced. The spray nozzles are then preferably arranged inclined to each other.

In order to achieve a good deformability of the cover, the cover is designed as a formed of a flexible material membrane. Thus, the cover can be elastically deformable over its entire surface in order to achieve good mobility of the cover can.

Furthermore, it is also possible for the cover element to be formed from a plurality of receiving elements arranged so as to be movable relative to one another, wherein a defined number of the plurality of spray nozzles can be arranged on each receiving element. The receiving elements themselves are preferably rigid, so that they do not deform with a deformation or movement of the cover in spray direction and against the spray direction. Due to the rigid design of the receiving elements, a permanent, secure attachment of the spray nozzles to the receiving elements can be achieved. For example, the individual spray nozzles may be fastened to the receiving elements via a screw connection. Furthermore, attachment of the spray nozzles to the receiving elements can also be effected by means of an adhesive, welding or riveting connection. The receiving elements may be formed, for example, of a metal or of a plastic. The receiving elements are preferably plate-shaped and preferably extend radially inwards from the cover element radially outward of the cover element. The receiving elements may, for example, each have a triangular shape or a circular segment shape. In order to be able to achieve a deformability of the cover element formed from a plurality of receiving elements in the spraying direction and against the spraying direction, the receiving elements are preferably designed to be movable relative to the main body and also relative to the respectively adjacent receiving elements. Due to this movable embodiment of the receiving elements, a convex and a concave deformation of the covering element can also be achieved with rigidly formed receiving elements.

A movable attachment of the receiving elements on the base body can be done for example by means of a hinge connection. Also between adjacent receiving elements arranged one or more articulated joints may be arranged to allow a relative movement between the receiving elements can. By means of the articulated joints, a mobility of the receiving elements and thus of the cover element formed from the receiving elements can be achieved with a low design effort. The articulated connection can be formed, for example, by means of a hinge element. As an alternative to the individual joint connections, provision can also be made for a flexible material, for example a plastic film, to be arranged between the receiving elements and / or between the receiving elements and the base body, which permits a relative movement of the receiving elements relative to one another and also a relative movement of the receiving elements to the base body can allow.

For the deformation of the cover, a control may be provided, which may be electrically, mechanically, pneumatically and / or hydraulically formed. In an electrical control, this may for example have an electric motor. A pneumatic control can be done by means of compressed air. A hydraulic control can be done by means of a pump-piston unit. A mechanical control can be done for example by means of a manually operable linkage.

Preferably, it can be provided that the control comprises a plunger arranged on the cover, which is movable for movement of the cover by means of a drive device in the direction of spraying and counter to the spraying direction. In order for the cover element to follow the movement of the plunger both in the direction of spraying and counter to the spray direction, the cover element is preferably firmly connected to the cover element. The plunger and the drive device can be arranged in the base body, so that the plunger can be arranged on the cover, for example by the plunger rests against an underside of the cover facing towards the base body and / or the plunger connected to the cover, for example via a hinge connection is. The drive device may be in the form of an electric motor, such as a servomotor. In order to hold the plunger and thus the cover in a certain position, the controller may further comprise a locking element. The locking element may for example be in the form of a spindle, in particular a threaded spindle, which is arranged on the plunger.

To set the spray nozzles, the plurality of spray nozzles may each have a control device in which a guided from the paint line through the spray nozzle amount of colorant and a guided by the compressed air line through the spray nozzle amount of compressed air are separated from each other controllable. Thus, with each spray nozzle, both the quantity of compressed air to be passed through and the quantity of ink to be passed through can be adjusted, wherein the amount of ink to be passed through can be set independently of the quantity of compressed air to be passed through. By adjusting or regulating the amount of compressed air to be passed through as well as the quantity of ink to be passed through, the size of the application surface of the colored medium can hereby also be adapted and adjusted individually to the component. For example, with a reduction in the quantity of ink to be passed through, the size of the application surface of the colored medium can be reduced to the component. By increasing the amount of ink to be passed through, however, the size of the application surface of the colored medium on the component can be increased or increased.

The control devices of the plurality of spray nozzles are preferably designed such that each spray nozzle is controllable independently of the other of the plurality of spray nozzles. Thus, the ink quantity to be passed through as well as the amount of compressed air to be passed through can be adjusted individually at each spray nozzle. Each spray nozzle of the spray device can thus deliver a different amount of colorant as well as a different amount of compressed air. Due to the possibility of individual, specific adjustability of the individual spray nozzles, the application efficiency can be further improved.

Further, it is also possible that the control devices of two or more of the plurality of spray nozzles are interconnectable to a group, wherein the durchzuleitende amount of color medium and the amount of compressed air to be passed through within the interconnected group is uniformly adjustable. By interconnecting several spray nozzles into a group, the control of the spray nozzles can be simplified with respect to the amount of color medium to be passed through and the amount of compressed air to be passed through. For example, the spray nozzles arranged radially on the outside of the cover element can be interconnected to form a first group and the spray nozzles arranged radially inward on the cover element can each be connected together to form a second group. If the ink medium is now to be applied only to a small area, the first group of spray nozzles can be regulated such that the quantity of ink medium to be passed is reduced to zero, whereas the second group of spray nozzles can be controlled such that the quantity of ink medium to be passed through is increased.

Further measures which improve the invention are described in more detail below together with the description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the figures.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer Sprühvorrichtung gemäß der Erfindung,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung der in Fig. 1 gezeigten Sprühvorrichtung mit einem entgegen der Sprührichtung gewölbt ausgebildeten Abdeckelement,

Fig. 3

eine schematische Darstellung der in Fig. 1 gezeigten Sprühvorrichtung mit einem in Sprührichtung gewölbt ausgebildeten Abdeckelement,

Fig. 4

eine schematische Darstellung einer Draufsicht auf ein mehrere Aufnahmeelemente aufweisendes Abdeckelement einer Sprühvorrichtung gemäß der Erfindung, und

Fig. 5

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung entlang einer Längsachse einer Sprühvorrichtung gemäß der Erfindung.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a spraying device according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of in Fig. 1 shown spraying device with a curved against the spraying direction formed cover,

Fig. 3

a schematic representation of in Fig. 1 shown spraying device with a curved in direction of spraying cover,

Fig. 4

a schematic representation of a plan view of a plurality of receiving elements exhibiting cover of a spray device according to the invention, and

Fig. 5

a schematic sectional view along a longitudinal axis of a spray device according to the invention.

In Fig. 1 a spray device 100 according to the invention is shown schematically, which serves for applying a color medium 32 to a component 30 of a motor vehicle.

The spraying device 100 has a main body 10 and a covering element 13 which covers the main body 10 in the spraying direction 11 of a total spraying jet which comprises a plurality of spraying jets 12. The cover member 13 extends over the entire cross-sectional area of the main body 10 and covers an opening formed on an end face of the main body 10.

On the cover 13, a plurality of spray nozzles 14 are arranged over the entire surface of the cover 13, wherein the individual spray jets 12 emerge from the spray device 100 via the spray nozzles 14. Each spray jet 12 has a certain amount of ink medium 32 and a certain amount of compressed air. For this purpose, each spray nozzle 14 is connected to a paint line 15 and a compressed air line 16, as in Fig. 5 is shown. About the color line 15 of the spray nozzle 14, the ink medium 32 is supplied and the compressed air line 16 of the spray nozzle 14 compressed air is supplied.

The spray nozzles 14 may be formed as so-called airbrush nozzles. Spray nozzles 14 designed as airbrush nozzles have an inner nozzle and an outer nozzle enclosing the inner nozzle. The ink medium 32 flows through the inner nozzle and the compressed air flows through the outer nozzle. As a result, the compressed air flows past the inner nozzle with the ink medium 32. Due to the resulting air flow, a negative pressure is generated downstream of the inner nozzle with the ink medium 32 in the direction of flow or in the spray direction 11. By this negative pressure, the ink medium 32 is sucked from the inner nozzle and thus from the spray nozzle 14 and then atomized and entrained by the air stream formed by the compressed air. To control the amount of ink medium 32, which is passed through the inner nozzle and is discharged at the outlet of the spray nozzle 14, centered in the inner nozzle, a needle can be arranged to be movable, wherein by means of the position of the needle in the inner nozzle the Amount of exiting color medium 32 can be regulated and thus adjusted.

The spray device 100 is characterized in that by means of an adjustment of the cover 13 and / or adjustment of the spray nozzles 14, the size of the application surface 31 of the color medium 32 is adaptable to the component 30, which means that the width or the diameter of the multiple spray jets 12 formed Gesamtspühstrahls adaptable and thus is variably adjustable to different conditions.

An adjustment of the cover 13 can be effected in that the cover 13 against the spray direction 11, as in Fig. 2 is shown, and in spray direction 11, as in Fig. 3 is shown, deformable.

In Fig. 2 the cover member 13 is deformed against the spray direction 11, so that the cover 13 is formed curved into the interior 19 of the body 10. By this concave shaping of the cover 13, the individual spray nozzles 14 are inclined to each other, so that the individual, emerging from the spray nozzles 14 spray jets 12 would meet at an extension of the spray jets 12 at a common center. This results in a concentration of the total spray jet composed of the many individual spray jets 12, so that a large amount of colorant medium 32 can be concentratedly applied to a relatively small application area 31. The width or the diameter of the total spray jet is then reduced.

In Fig. 3 on the other hand, the cover element 13 is deformed in spray direction 11, so that the cover element 13 is arched outwards and is thus arched away from the interior 19 of the base body 10. As a result of this convex shaping of the cover element 13, the individual spray nozzles 14 are inclined away from one another, so that the spray jets 12 emerging from the spray nozzles 14 are directed away from one another and they would no longer meet at a common center when the spray jets are extended. The resulting from the many individual spray jets 12 total spray is in contrast to the in Fig. 2 shown position of the cover 13, so that the same amount of ink medium 32 to a larger application area 31 than in the Fig. 2 shown position of the cover 13 is applied. Due to the larger application surface 31, the amount of ink medium 32 per surface portion of the component 30 is smaller than in the Fig. 2 shown position of the cover 13. In the in Fig. 3 shown position of the cover 13, the width or the diameter of the total spray is then increased.

In order to achieve the good mobility or deformability of the cover 13, this may be formed as a formed of a flexible material membrane.

Alternatively, the mobility or deformability of the cover 13 can also be achieved in that it is formed of a plurality of movably arranged receiving elements 17, as shown in FIG Fig. 4 is shown. The receiving elements 17 are arranged side by side lying. The receiving elements 17 are plate-shaped, wherein the individual receiving elements 17 each have a triangular shape or a circular segment shape.

Several of the plurality of spray nozzles 14 are arranged on the individual receiving elements 17, wherein preferably each receiving element 17 has an equal number of spray nozzles 14.

In order to achieve a mobility of the individual receiving elements 17 to each other and thus a deformability of the cover 13, the receiving elements 17 by means of a hinge connection 23, such as a hinge member, movably secured to the base body 10.

Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of the spray device 100 according to the in Fig. 4 shown embodiment. For deformation of the cover 13, a controller 18 is provided, which is formed here mechanically and electrically. The controller 18 is arranged in the interior 19 of the base body 10.

The controller 18 has a plunger 20, which can be moved in the longitudinal direction 21 of the spray device 100, so that the plunger 20 can be moved upwards and downwards. The plunger 20 is located on a pointing toward the interior 19 of the body 10 bottom 22 of the cover 13 centered or centered. Preferably, the plunger 20 is fixedly secured to the cover 13. At the in 4 and 5 This embodiment is characterized in that the receiving elements 17 are movably mounted on the plunger 20. The movable attachment can be done by means of a respective articulated connection 24, such as a hinge element. The receiving elements 17 are thus fixed radially on the outside by means of a hinge connection 23 to the base body 10 and radially inwardly the receiving elements 17 by means of a further articulated connection 24 movable on the controller 18, in particular on the plunger 20 of the controller 18, attached.

The plunger 20 is driven by means of a drive device 25, which is designed here as an electric motor.

The controller 18 further includes a locking member 26 by means of which the plunger 20 can be kept fixed in a certain position. The locking element 26 may be formed, for example in the form of a spindle.

The dashed representation of the cover 13, a spray nozzle 14 and a portion of the plunger 20 shows a position at which the cover 13 is deformed by the controller 18 in spray direction 11.

The invention is limited in its execution to the above-mentioned preferred embodiments, which are defined by the claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100

sprayer

10

body

11

spray direction

12

spray

13

cover

14

spray nozzle

15

paint line

16

Compressed air line

17

receiving element

18

control

19

inner space

20

tappet

21

longitudinal direction

22

bottom

23

articulation

24

articulation

25

driving means

26

locking

30

component

31

application surface

32

color medium

Claims (8)

1. Spray device (100) for the application of a colour medium (32) on a component (30) of a motor vehicle, comprising
   a main body (10),
   a covering element (13) covering the main body (10) in the spraying direction (11), and
   a multiplicity of spray nozzles (14) which are arranged on the covering element (13) and are each connected to a colour line (15) and to a compressed-air line (16), wherein the covering element (13) and/or the spray nozzles (14) is/are adjustable in such a manner that a size of an application area (31) of the colour medium (32) is adaptable to the component (30), characterized in that the covering element (13) is designed to be deformable in the spraying direction (11) and counter to the spraying direction (11), and in that the covering element (13) is designed as a membrane which is formed from a flexible material.
2. Spray device (100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the covering element (13) is formed from a plurality of receiving elements (17) which are arranged movably with respect to one another, wherein a defined number of the multiplicity of spray nozzles (14) is arranged on each receiving element (17).
3. Spray device (100) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the receiving elements (17) are each fastened movably to the main body (10) by means of a hinge connection (23).
4. Spray device (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a controller (18) which is of electrical, mechanical, pneumatic and/or hydraulic design is provided for deforming the covering element (13).
5. Spray device (100) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the controller (18) has a plunger (20) which is arranged on the covering element (13) and is movable in the spraying direction (11) and counter to the spraying direction (11) by means of a driving device (25) in order to deform the covering element (13).
6. Spray device (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the multiplicity of spray nozzles (14) each have a regulating device by means of which a quantity of colour medium conducted through the spray nozzle (14) by the colour line (15) and a quantity of compressed air conducted through the spray nozzle (14) by the compressed-air line (16) can be regulated separately from each other.
7. Spray device (100) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the regulating devices of the multiplicity of spray nozzles (14) are designed in such a manner that each spray nozzle (14) can be regulated independently of the other spray nozzles of the multiplicity of spray nozzles (14).
8. Spray device (100) according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the regulating devices of two or more of the multiplicity of spray nozzles (14) can be connected together to form a group, wherein the quantity of colour medium to be conducted through and the quantity of compressed air to be conducted through can be regulated uniformly within the connected-together group.

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