EP3140042B1 - Cleaning device and method - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning a nebulizer, in particular a rotary atomizer. Furthermore, the invention relates to an operating method for such a cleaning device.

Rotary atomizers are usually used for painting motor vehicle body components, but they must be cleaned from time to time because excess paint mist ("overspray") can be deposited on the outside of the atomizer. For this purpose, usually cleaning devices are used, as for example DE 10 2010 052 698 A1 . EP 1 671 706 A2 . WO 97/18903 A1 and DE 10 2006 039 641 A1 are known. These known cleaning devices have a housing into which the atomizer to be cleaned is introduced for cleaning, wherein the atomizer is then sprayed within the housing of cleaning nozzles with a cleaning agent, wherein the cleaning agent may be a mixture of compressed air and cleaning liquid.

A disadvantage of the known cleaning devices, however, is the relatively long cleaning time, which is not adapted to the transfer time (eg 15 seconds) of a paint shop, ie the time required for a change of the vehicle body to be painted to the old, already painted vehicle body auszufördern from the spray booth and promote the new, unpainted motor vehicle body in the spray booth. This is how the people to be painted become Motor vehicle bodies painted in succession in a paint shop, wherein the change time of a motor vehicle body, for example, 15 seconds. In this change time, the atomizer can not work anyway in the painting, so that the change time for a cleaning of the atomizer is available without the operation is stopped by it. It is therefore desirable to provide a cleaning device that requires a shorter cleaning time, which is at best smaller than the change time between the successive motor vehicle bodies.

Furthermore, it should be noted on the prior art EP 1 367 302 A2 . DE 101 29 667 A1 . GB 2 198 033 A . DE 10 2007 033 036 A1 . US 2014/0008 457 A1 . DE 195 08 725 A1 ,

Finally are off DE 20 2012 103 426 U1 Mobile cleaning devices are known, which have a rotatable cleaning trunk for dispensing a cleaning fluid. However, these are mobile, portable cleaning devices used to clean surfaces.

The invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide a correspondingly improved cleaning device.

This object is achieved by an inventive cleaning device according to the main claim or by a corresponding operating method according to the independent claim.

The invention initially provides, in accordance with the known cleaning devices described above, a wet cleaning station which has at least one cleaning nozzle in order to spray the atomizer with a cleaning fluid, wherein the atomizer is introduced into the wet cleaning station for cleaning.

In contrast to the prior art, however, the cleaning nozzle in the cleaning device according to the invention is not immobile, but has an elongated, rotatable cleaning trunk, which rotates in operation and at its free end has a nozzle opening through which the cleaning fluid is discharged.

At its upstream end, the cleaning trunk preferably extends substantially coaxially with its axis of rotation. The free end of the cleaning bowl, however, is preferably slightly curved relative to the axis of rotation of the cleaning bowl, so that the cleaning fluid is sprayed in different directions depending on the rotational position of the cleaning bowl. In practice, the point of impact of the cleaning fluid then passes over an annular path on the surface of the component to be cleaned. The rotational movement of the cleaning spout and the associated change in direction of the cleaning fluid leads to an improved cleaning effect, which in turn allows a shortening of the cleaning time. Thus, the cleaning time in the cleaning device according to the invention can be shorter than 30 seconds, 20 seconds, 15 seconds or even 10 seconds, without the quality of the cleaning suffers.

The rotating during operation cleaning trunk leads due to unavoidable imbalances of the cleaning spout to corresponding vibrations that are undesirable. The cleaning brush according to the invention therefore preferably has a mass distribution and / or an outer contour which is substantially rotationally symmetrical with respect to the axis of rotation of the cleaning nozzle is to reduce the vibrations caused by the rotation of the cleaning spout. The imbalance can therefore be minimized by design, by providing a rotationally symmetric mass distribution.

However, it is within the scope of the invention, the possibility that the cleaning trunk is balanced by appropriate trim weights are attached to the cleaning trunk, the mass and the attachment point of the trim weights are selected specifically so that the cleaning trunk is statically and / or dynamically balanced.

In addition, the cleaning device according to the invention preferably has a speed controller to control the speed of the cleaning spout. For example, the speed regulator may be a centrifugal governor which, depending on the speed of the cleaning nozzle, derives a portion of the drive air intended for driving a turbine wheel. In this case, the cleaning trunk is thus pneumatically driven by a turbine wheel, wherein the turbine wheel is impinged by drive air. The centrifugal governor then branches depending on the speed of the cleaning spout from a part of the input side supplied cleaning air, so that the diverted part of the cleaning air then no longer serves to drive the turbine wheel, resulting in a corresponding reduction of the drive torque of the turbine wheel and thus to a speed limit , This idea of a centrifugal governor can also be implemented in a recoil drive of the cleaning spout, as will be described in detail.

The diversion of a portion of the drive air can be done for example via a sleeve, which rests on the outside of a through-flow of the drive air drive shaft and at Increasing speed Radial holes in the wall of the drive shaft releases, whereby a part of the drive air is discharged and then no longer serves to drive. In this case, the sleeve is thus preferably connected rotationally with the drive shaft. The sleeve is therefore at low speeds of the cleaning spout sealingly on the radial bores in the wall of the drive shaft and seals them thereby, so that no drive air escapes through the radial bores. However, as the speed of the cleaning spout increases, the boot lifts off from the wall of the drive shaft due to centrifugal force, thereby releasing the radial bores in the wall of the drive shaft, so that some of the drive air can escape through the radial bores and is then not available for drive purposes ,

For example, the collar of the centrifugal governor consist of several segments which are pressed by an elastic O-ring from the outside onto the lateral surface of the drive shaft. The elastic O-ring thus presses the segments against the centrifugal force radially inwardly on the outer wall of the drive shaft, whereby the located in the outer wall of the drive shaft radial bores are sealed.

Alternatively, there is the possibility that the centrifugal governor has a braking element which deforms as a function of the rotational speed and thereby generates a braking torque. With increasing speed, the brake element thus deformed such that the brake element bears against a fixed braking surface and thereby generates a braking torque.

Another possibility for the technical realization of a centrifugal governor is a recoil drive of the cleaning spout. This is about a cranked in the circumferential direction Tube ejected a fluid which generates a corresponding drive torque due to its recoil effect. The tube may in this case be elastic and deform depending on the speed of the cleaning spout and the centrifugal force generated thereby, so that the ejection direction is speed-dependent. At low speed, the ejection tube is then hardly deformed and outputs the fluid exactly in the circumferential direction, whereby a maximum recoil and a maximum drive torque can be achieved. However, with increasing speed and correspondingly greater centrifugal force, the ejection tube deforms so that the ejection direction runs more and more in the radial direction, as a result of which the recoil effect decreases and only a smaller drive torque is produced, which leads to a corresponding speed limitation.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cleaning nozzle constructive matches with a known cleaning nozzle, as for example in EP 2 522 435 A1 is described, so that the content of this patent publication of the present description in terms of the structural design and operation of the cleaning nozzle is fully attributable.

The cleaning nozzle thus preferably has a fixed funnel which surrounds the rotating cleaning nozzle. The term of a funnel used in the context of the invention is preferably based on a housing which is open on the face side and widens toward its end face, preferably in a conical or convex manner. However, the term of a funnel used in the context of the invention is to be understood generally and includes, for example, a cylindrical outer housing of the cleaning nozzle.

Furthermore, it should be mentioned that the rotating cleaning trunk preferably consists of a rigid material, so that the rotating cleaning trunk does not deform significantly during operation. This is advantageous because the cleaning bowl then does not hit the inner wall of the funnel regardless of the speed and the centrifugal force caused thereby.

Preferably, the rotatable cleaning trunk widens toward its free end, in particular conically. For example, the cleaning trunk can widen conically with a cone angle of 5 ° -20 ° or 10 ° -15 ° towards its free end. This conical expansion offers the possibility of a rotationally symmetrical mass distribution despite an unsymmetrical discharge of the cleaning fluid.

In the cleaning trunk is preferably a longitudinal bore in which extend coaxially an outer tube and an inner tube.

The inner tube is preferably used to carry out a cleaning fluid (eg cleaning fluid), while the annular gap between the outer tube and the inner tube serves to convey compressed air. The inner tube is therefore preferably connected upstream with a detergent feed line and downstream with a nozzle opening (outlet opening) at the free end of the cleaning spout. By contrast, the annular gap between the outer tube and the inner tube is preferably connected upstream with an air feed line and downstream with a nozzle opening (outlet opening) at the free end of the cleaning nozzle. At the free end of the cleaning bowl so in the preferred embodiment of the invention is a mixture of the cleaning liquid and the compressed air discharged, resulting in a good cleaning effect.

The inner tube is preferably fixed against rotation at its upstream end. By contrast, the outer tube preferably rotates with the rotating cleaning trunk, which leads to a relative movement between inner tube and outer tube. The outer tube is therefore preferably stiffer than the inner tube.

It should also be mentioned that the nozzle opening of the cleaning nozzle is angled to the axis of rotation of the cleaning nozzle by a certain angle of inclination, so that the rotation of the cleaning nozzle leads to a continuous change in the emission direction, as already briefly mentioned above. The angle of inclination relative to the axis of rotation of the cleaning spout is preferably in the range of 2 ° -30 °, 4 ° -20 ° or 5 ° -10 °, to name just a few examples.

It has already been mentioned briefly above that during operation a relative movement occurs between the inner tube and the outer tube, which leads to a corresponding wear of the inner tube and the outer tube and requires an occasional replacement of the tubes.

Therefore, the cleaning nozzle according to the invention preferably has a replaceable hose assembly, which includes the inner tube (and possibly the outer tube) and a clamping element, wherein the clamping element clamps the inner tube and is screwed by a screw in the cleaning nozzle. In this case, it is possible to easily and quickly replace the hose assembly, which the maintenance of the cleaning device according to the invention is substantially simplified.

It should also be mentioned that the cleaning device according to the invention preferably has a plurality of cleaning nozzles, which are distributed over the periphery with respect to the insertion direction of the atomizer and are preferably arranged equidistantly. For example, distributed over the circumference three cleaning nozzles can be arranged at an angular distance of 120 °. However, the invention is not limited to three cleaning nozzles in terms of the number of cleaning nozzles, but also with a different number of cleaning nozzles feasible. For example, four cleaning nozzles distributed over the circumference can be arranged at an angular distance of 90 °.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the cleaning nozzles are arranged in a common plane, which is oriented at right angles to the insertion direction. However, it is alternatively also possible that the cleaning nozzles are arranged in several planes, which are arranged one behind the other in the axial direction. For example, in each case three cleaning nozzles can be arranged in two parallel planes. In an arrangement of the cleaning nozzles in several successive planes, it is advantageous if the cleaning nozzles are offset in the individual planes to the cleaning nozzles in the respective adjacent plane in the circumferential direction. This staggered arrangement leads to a uniform spraying of the outer surface of the atomizer to be cleaned. For example, the cleaning nozzles can be arranged in a plane in each case centrally between the cleaning nozzles of the adjacent plane. For example, in a first plane, three cleaning nozzles can be arranged at 0 °, 120 ° and 240 °, while in a second plane three cleaning nozzles are arranged at 60 °, 180 ° and 300 °.

It has already been mentioned above that the wet cleaning station has a housing with an insertion opening to introduce the atomizer to be cleaned along the direction of insertion into the housing. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, this insertion opening of the housing is sealed with a seal (eg sealing ring, O-ring). Alternatively, the insertion opening may be sealed with a sealing air seal, the sealing air seal blowing sealing air over the insertion opening. Such a sealing air seal is known per se from the prior art and, for example, in EP 1 367 302 A2 so that the content of this patent publication is fully attributable to the construction and operation of the sealing air seal of the present specification.

In addition, in the housing of the wet cleaning station under the insertion and spaced therefrom, preferably an inner tube is arranged, which is aligned coaxially with the insertion direction. This inner tube serves to accommodate a bell cup of the atomizer to be cleaned for an internal flushing of the bell cup. In this case, rinsing agent is passed through the nebulizer through the bell cup, which is then collected together with dirt residues from the inner tube.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the individual cleaning nozzles are angled with their emission direction at a certain angle of inclination to the direction of insertion of the atomizer. This angle of inclination is preferably in the range of 20 ° -80 °, with a value of 60 ° has proven to be particularly advantageous. By contrast, relative to the surface of the atomizer to be cleaned, the angle of inclination of the individual cleaning nozzles is preferably 90 °.

The angle of inclination of the individual cleaning nozzles can be easily changed by mounting another nozzle holder.

It should be noted that the angle of inclination of the cleaning nozzles in the different levels of the cleaning nozzles may be different in order to optimize the cleaning effect.

It should also be mentioned that there is a certain cleaning distance between the outlet opening of the cleaning nozzles and the surface of the atomizer to be cleaned. The cleaning device according to the invention is preferably designed so that the cleaning distance is in the range of 10mm-50mm, with a value of 30mm for the cleaning distance has been found to be particularly advantageous.

The attachment of the cleaning nozzles according to the invention in the wet cleaning station and more precisely in the housing of the wet cleaning station is preferably carried out by means of a nozzle holder, the nozzle holder preferably allows a replaceable attachment of the individual cleaning nozzles. Preferably, the nozzle holder is vibration damping to reduce vibration transmission from the cleaning nozzles. This is advantageous because the rotating cleaning nozzle of the cleaning nozzles is not fully balanced in the rule and therefore transmits appropriate vibrations to the housing of the wet cleaning station. The vibration-damping design of the nozzle holder in this case reduces the vibration transmission from the cleaning nozzles to the housing of the wet cleaning station. For example, for this purpose, a vibration damping elastomer component may be provided in the nozzle holder, for example an O-ring.

It should also be mentioned that the nozzle holder preferably clamps the cleaning nozzle in a form-fitting manner, the nozzle holder having at least one screw for clamping the cleaning nozzle. Preferably, this screw is captive (self-locking) formed to avoid loosening of the screw despite the emanating from the cleaning nozzle vibrations. The nozzle holder thus preferably allows a quick change of the cleaning nozzle by two captive screws.

It has already been briefly mentioned above that the rotary drive for the rotating cleaning trunk can be done by at least one rotatable turbine wheel, which is pneumatically driven.

Preferably, the turbine wheel in this case is flowed through radially from the inside to the outside, but other designs of turbine wheels are possible.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the turbine wheel internally has a plurality of openings for receiving the internally supplied drive air into the turbine wheel. The openings in the turbine wheel then each open into a turbine chamber in the turbine wheel, wherein the individual turbine chambers each have an outlet opening which is aligned in the circumferential direction, which leads to a corresponding drive torque. The cross-sectional area of the outlet openings of the individual turbine chambers is preferably in the range of 0.5 mm ² -3 mm ² .

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the drive air is not simply discharged to the outside after flowing through the turbine wheel. Rather, the drive air is preferably after flowing through the turbine wheel as blocking air through blocking air nozzles in the annular gap between the fixed funnel and the rotating cleaning trunk dispensed. This sealing air forms quasi an annular protective jacket for the inner bearings and thereby prevents overspray or other dirt from entering the bearings.

It should also be mentioned that a plurality of turbine wheels, which can be arranged axially one behind the other, can also be provided for driving the rotating cleaning nozzle. This can be useful, for example, to increase the drive power.

Another possibility for driving the rotating cleaning bowl is that the cleaning bowl has at its free end an outlet opening which is aligned in the circumferential direction to drive the cleaning trunk by the recoil of the exiting cleaning fluid.

In this variant for driving the rotating cleaning spout, the cleaning spout may have at least one impeller to limit the speed of the cleaning spout by the flow resistance of the impeller. Alternatively, the impeller can also be used to drive when the impeller is flowed accordingly.

The cleaning device according to the invention preferably has a cleaning agent connection and a supply air connection, compressed air being supplied via the supply air connection, while a cleaning fluid (for example solvent) is supplied via the cleaning agent connection. In the individual cleaning nozzles, the supply air is then divided on the one hand in drive air for driving a turbine wheel in the cleaning nozzle and the other in cleaning air for Clean the atomizer. The drive air is used to drive the turbine wheel and then as blocking air, as already described above. The cleaning air, however, only serves to clean the atomizer and is discharged together with the cleaning fluid to the atomizer to be cleaned. The ratio of cleaning air to drive air may be, for example, 1: 1, 2: 1, 3: 1 or 4: 1, wherein a ratio of 2: 1 has proven to be advantageous.

It should also be mentioned that the mass flow (volume flow or mass flow) of the cleaning fluid and the mass flow (mass flow or volume flow) of the supply air are preferably adjustable independently of one another. This offers the possibility that the driving torque for the cleaning brush and the energy of the cleaning air can be kept high while the amount of the cleaning fluid is reduced. The amount of cleaning fluid is preferably adjusted centrally and uniformly for all cleaning nozzles of the cleaning device. This setting can be done for example via a pressure control valve, a throttle with exchangeable orifice or a needle valve. In addition to the amount of cleaning fluid, alternatively or additionally, the cycle time (cleaning time) may be changed (e.g., increased or decreased).

It should also be noted that the cleaning nozzle rotates at a speed which is preferably in the range of 500 revolutions / minute to 30,000 revolutions / minute, wherein a speed range of 2,000 revolutions / minute to 8,000 revolutions / minute has proven to be advantageous.

In addition, it should be noted that various components of the cleaning device by a generative manufacturing process ("rapid prototyping") can be produced. Such generative production methods are for example made WO 2010/028864 A2 so that the content of this patent publication is fully attributable to the present specification in terms of production by means of generative manufacturing methods.

In a variant of the invention, the cleaning device is mounted stationary in a coating installation, for example on a grid at the bottom of a painting booth.

In another variant of the invention, however, the cleaning device is movably mounted, for example, traveling on a movable painting robot. This co-moving mounting of the cleaning device offers the advantage that the cleaning device is always in the immediate vicinity of the painting robot irrespective of the positioning position of the painting robot, so that the cleaning process can begin without a process of the painting robot, whereby the cleaning time is reduced.

In addition to the wet cleaning station described above, the cleaning device according to the invention may also have a dry cleaning station for dry or semi-dry cleaning of the atomizer. For example, the dry cleaning station may include at least one cleaning brush to brush off the outside of the nebulizer. In one embodiment of the invention, the cleaning brush is annular and surrounds the atomizer during cleaning annular.

It should be mentioned here that the dry cleaning station is preferably arranged outside the housing of the wet cleaning station. The wet cleaning station is here along the insertion direction, preferably behind the dry cleaning station, so that the wet cleaning station cleans a front area of the atomizer while the dry cleaning station cleans a rear area of the atomizer.

The cleaning movement of the cleaning brush relative to the atomizer can be realized in various ways within the scope of the invention. In a variant of the invention, the cleaning brush is fixedly mounted, wherein the atomizer rotates about its longitudinal axis during the cleaning process in order to realize the relative movement between the cleaning brush and the atomizer. In another variant of the invention, however, the atomizer is held stationary during the cleaning process, while the cleaning brush rotates around the atomizer. In another variant of the invention, however, move both the cleaning brush and the atomizer during the cleaning process to realize the required relative movement between cleaning brush and atomizer.

In the context of the invention, there is also the possibility that there is a droplet separation below the wet cleaning station in order to deposit the atomized cleaning fluid.

Under this droplet deposition can still be arranged a catching device to collect the deposited by the droplet deposition cleaning fluid and cleaned paint.

In addition to the cleaning device according to the invention described above, the invention also includes a corresponding operating method, wherein the details of the operating method already apparent from the above description, so that is omitted to avoid repetition on a new description of the operating method.

However, a special feature of the operating method according to the invention may be that the atomizer after a cleaning process when pulling out of the cleaning device, the cleaning brush blows off with its shaping air to free the cleaning brush of adhering paint dust. For this purpose, the atomizer can perform a tumbling motion when the steering air is switched on, for example.

Figur 1

eine schematische Seitenansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Reinigungsgeräts mit einer Nass-Reinigungsstation und einer Trocken-Reinigungsstation,

Figur 2

eine Perspektivansicht der Nass-Reinigungsstation aus Figur 1,

Figur 3

eine Aufsicht auf die Nass-Reinigungsstation aus Figur 2,

Figur 4

eine Querschnittsansicht durch die Nass-Reinigungsstation gemäß den Figuren 2 und 3 entlang der Schnittlinie A-A in Figur 3,

Figur 5

eine Perspektivansicht einer der Reinigungsdüsen der Nass-Reinigungsstation aus den Figuren 2 bis 4,

Figur 6

eine Längsschnittansicht der Reinigungsdüse gemäß Figur 6,

Figur 7

eine vergrößerte Detailansicht von Figur 6,

Figur 8

eine Vorderansicht der Reinigungsdüse gemäß den Figuren 5 bis 7,

Figur 9

die Reinigungsdüse gemäß den Figuren 5 bis 7 mit demontiertem Trichter.

Other advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims or are explained in more detail below together with the description of the preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to FIGS. Show it:

FIG. 1

a schematic side view of a cleaning device according to the invention with a wet cleaning station and a dry cleaning station,

FIG. 2

a perspective view of the wet cleaning station FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3

a view of the wet cleaning station FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4

a cross-sectional view through the wet cleaning station according to the Figures 2 and 3 along the section line AA in FIG. 3 .

FIG. 5

a perspective view of one of the cleaning nozzles of the wet cleaning station from the FIGS. 2 to 4 .

FIG. 6

a longitudinal sectional view of the cleaning nozzle according to FIG. 6 .

FIG. 7

an enlarged detail view of FIG. 6 .

FIG. 8

a front view of the cleaning nozzle according to the figures 5 to 7,

FIG. 9

the cleaning nozzle according to the FIGS. 5 to 7 with dismantled funnel.

The drawings show an embodiment of a cleaning device according to the invention for cleaning a rotary atomizer 1 with a bell cup 2, wherein the cleaning device has a dry cleaning station 3 and a wet cleaning station 4.

For cleaning, the rotary atomizer is guided along an insertion direction 5 through an insertion opening 6 into a housing 7 of the wet cleaning station 4.

The dry cleaning station 3 is in this case outside the housing 7 of the wet cleaning station 4, i. above the wet cleaning station 4. The dry cleaning station 3 therefore cleans a rear portion of the rotary atomizer 1, while the wet cleaning station 4 cleans a front portion of the rotary atomizer 1 with the bell cup 2.

To clean the rotary atomizer 1, the dry cleaning station 3 has an annular cleaning brush 8, which can be moved by a brush drive shown only schematically. On the one hand, the brush drive 9 the Rotate annular cleaning brush 8 to the insertion direction 5, so that the cleaning brush 8 while the outside of the rotary atomizer 1 cleans. On the other hand, the brush drive 9 can also move the cleaning brush 8 along the insertion direction 5, so that the cleaning brush 8 can cover almost the entire outer surface of the rotary atomizer 1.

At the end of a cleaning process, the rotary atomizer guided by a multiaxial painting robot can be pulled out of the housing 7 of the wet cleaning station 4 and then perform a tumbling motion to blow off the annular cleaning brush 8 with its shaping air, thereby cleaning it.

The wet cleaning station 4 has at the top of the cup-shaped housing 7 a two-part lid with a lower lid part 10 and an upper lid part 11, wherein the two lid parts 10, 11 are fixedly connected to each other, for example by a screw. The lower cover part 10, however, is connected by three clamping closures 12 with the housing 7. The latches 12 allow a quick opening of the wet cleaning station 4, for example, for maintenance purposes.

In the upper cover part 11 of the wet cleaning station 4 is a nozzle ring 13 of Blasluftdüsen that deliver blast air radially inward and thereby can blow dry the atomizer.

The wet cleaning station 4 has three cleaning nozzles 14, which are arranged distributed equidistant over the circumference. The individual cleaning nozzles 14 each provide a compressed air-cleaning agent mixture along a radiation direction 15 on the outside of the rotary atomizer 1, wherein the emission direction 15 is angled with respect to the insertion direction 5 by an angle α≈60 °.

The individual cleaning nozzles 14 are in this case mounted vibration-damped in the wall of the housing 7 of the wet cleaning station 4. In this case, the individual cleaning nozzles 14 project through an opening in the wall of the housing 7 inwards and are fixed by an angle 16. With a leg of the angle 16 engages in a groove 17 of the cleaning nozzle 14 and thereby fixes this form-fitting manner. With its other leg, however, the angle 16 is on an elastic damping element 18 (spout) and is fixed by means of two captive screws 19. The damping element 18 between the angle 16 and the housing 7 of the wet cleaning station 4 in this case provides a vibration decoupling, so that the vibrations emanating from the cleaning nozzles 14 are transmitted to the housing 7 of the wet cleaning station 4 only to a small extent. In addition, this type of support of the individual cleaning nozzles 14 allows a quick and easy change of the cleaning nozzles.

The structure and operation of the individual cleaning nozzles 14 is in particular from the FIGS. 4 to 9 and will be described below.

First, the individual cleaning nozzles 14 each have an external, stationary funnel 20, which widens in a funnel shape towards its free end.

In the hopper 20 a rotating during operation cleaning brush 21 is arranged, wherein the cleaning trunk 21 in operation a mixture of compressed air and cleaning agent (eg Solvent) to clean the outside of the rotary atomizer 1.

In the cleaning trunk 21 extends a longitudinal bore in which an inner tube 22 and an outer tube 23 extend. The inner tube 22 serves to supply a cleaning agent (for example solvent), which is supplied via a detergent connection 24. The annular gap between the inner tube 22 and the outer tube 23, however, serves to forward cleaning air, which is supplied via a supply air connection 25.

The rotatable cleaning brush 21 is screwed to a drive shaft 26, which is hollow and receives the inner tube 22 and the outer tube 23.

At its upstream end, a sliding bearing 27 is arranged in the drive shaft 26, wherein the cleaning air flows through the sliding bearing 27 in the axial direction and can flow through radial bores 28 in the wall of the drive shaft to the outside in a turbine wheel 29. The supply air supplied via the supply air connection 25 is thus divided into cleaning air and drive air. The cleaning air flows through the annular gap between the inner tube 22 and the outer tube 23 to the front and is discharged at the free end of the cleaning spout 21. By contrast, the drive air flows through the radial bores 28 outwards into the turbine wheel 29 and thereby drives the turbine wheel. It should be mentioned that the drive shaft 26 is rotatably mounted with the turbine 29 via two rolling bearings 30, 31 in a housing part 32.

The drive air exiting externally on the turbine wheel 29 then flows outward past the roller bearings 30, 31 to the front through holes in hollow grub screws 33 with holes and finally passes through sealing air nozzles 34 (see. FIG. 7 ) forward. The blocking air nozzles 34 thus emit a barrier air curtain into the annular gap between the fixed hopper 20 and the rotating cleaning brush 21. As a result, the contamination of the rolling bearings 30, 31 is minimized.

The housing part 32 is in this case inserted into the proximal end of the funnel 20 and sealed by a sealing ring 35 with respect to the hopper 20. The sealing ring 35 also prevents the release of the hopper 20 by vibrations.

At its proximal end, the housing part 32 is inserted into a further housing part 36, the housing part 32 being sealed off from the housing part 36 by a further sealing ring 37.

Finally, the cleaning nozzle 14 still has a connection part 38 which can be tightened by a clamping screw 39 in the housing part 36, the connection part 38 having the detergent connection 24 and the supply air connection 25.

Out FIG. 6 Furthermore, it can be seen that the inner tube 22 and the outer tube 23 at the free end of the cleaning nozzle 21 open into a nozzle opening which emits the mixture of cleaning agent and compressed air in a specific emission direction 40. The cleaning nozzle 21 rotates in this case about a rotation axis 41, wherein the emission direction 40 is angled relative to the rotation axis 41 by an angle β≈10 °. The inclination angle β has the consequence that the radiation direction 40 due to the rotation of the cleaning spout 21 continuously changes in operation and thereby covers a larger area.

Furthermore, it is off FIG. 6 it can be seen that the cleaning nozzle 21 expands towards its free end with a cone angle γ≈20 °. This has the technical purpose that a possible rotationally symmetrical mass distribution of the cleaning spout 21 is desired so that in spite of the rotation of the cleaning spout 21 as low as possible vibrations occur. The additional mass in the cleaning nozzle 21 on the outlet opening of the inner tube 22 and the outer tube 23 opposite side thus serves to avoid an imbalance of the cleaning nozzle 21st

The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment described above. Rather, a variety of variants and modifications is possible, which also make use of the inventive idea and therefore fall within the scope. In particular, the invention also claims protection for the subject matter and the features of the subclaims independently of the claims in each case referred to and in particular without the features of the main claim.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

rotary atomizers

2

A bell plate

3

Dry-cleaning station

4

Wet-cleaning station

5

insertion

6

Insertion opening of the wet cleaning station

7

Housing of the wet cleaning station

8th

cleaning brush

9

brush drive

10

Lower lid part

11

Upper lid part

12

fasteners

13

Nozzle ring for blowing air

14

cleaning nozzle

15

Radiation direction of the cleaning nozzle

16

angle

17

Groove in the cleaning nozzle

18

Damping element for vibration-damping mounting of the cleaning nozzle

19

Captive screws

20

funnel

21

cleaning trunk

22

inner tube

23

outer tube

24

Cleaner connection

25

Supply air connection

26

drive shaft

27

bearings

28

Radial holes in the drive shaft

29

turbine

30

roller bearing

31

roller bearing

32

housing part

33

Grub screws with holes

34

Sealing air nozzles

35

sealing ring

36

housing part

37

sealing ring

38

connector

39

clamping screw

40

Radiation direction of the cleaning spout

41

Rotation axis of the cleaning spout

α

Inclination angle between emission direction and insertion direction

β

Inclination angle of the emission direction to the axis of rotation

γ

Cone angle of the cleaning spout

Claims (14)

1. Cleaning device for cleaning an atomizer (1), in particular a rotary atomizer, comprising

   a) a wet cleaning station (4) with at least one cleaning nozzle (14) for wet cleaning the atomizer (1) by spraying with a cleaning fluid, wherein, for cleaning purposes, said atomizer (1) can be introduced into the wet cleaning station (4) in an introduction direction (5), characterized in that,

   b) the cleaning nozzle (14) has a rotatable cleaning trunk (21) for dispensing the cleaning fluid,

   c) the rotatable cleaning trunk (21)

   c1) has a mass distribution and/or external contour that is substantially rotationally symmetrical to the rotational axis (41) of the cleaning trunk (21) in order to reduce the vibrations generated by rotation of the cleaning trunk (21), and/or

   c2) has at least one counterweight to statically and/or dynamically balance the cleaning trunk (21) .
2. Cleaning device according to claim 1,
   characterized in that,

   a) a speed controller is provided to control the rotational speed of the cleaning trunk (21), and/or

   b) the speed controller is a centrifugal governor, which dissipates a part of the driving air intended for driving a turbine wheel as a function of the rotational speed of the cleaning trunk (21), and/or

   c) the centrifugal governor has a collar, which, on the outside, abuts a driveshaft through which the driving air passes and, with increasing rotational speed, uncovers radial holes in the wall of the driveshaft, thereby dissipating part of the driving air so that it is no longer available for driving, and/or

   d) the collar consists of a plurality of segments, which are pressed onto the driveshaft by an O-ring, or

   e) the centrifugal governor has a brake element, which deforms as a function of the rotational speed, thereby generating a braking torque, or

   f) the cleaning trunk (21) has an circumferentially oriented outlet aperture to set the cleaning trunk (21) in rotation by means of the thrust of the escaping fluid and that the outlet aperture changes its orientation as a function of the rotational speed, thereby having a speed-controlling effect.
3. Cleaning device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that,

   a) the cleaning nozzle (14) comprises a fixed funnel (20) and/or

   b) the rotating cleaning trunk (21) is arranged inside the funnel (20) and/or

   c) the rotating cleaning trunk (21) consists of a rigid material, so that the rotating cleaning trunk (21) does not deform substantially in operation and/or

   d) the cleaning trunk (21) widens out at its free end, especially conically, especially with a taper angle (γ) of 5°-20° or 10°-15°, and/or

   e) the rotating end of the cleaning trunk (21) comprises a longitudinal bore, in which an outer hose (23) and an inner hose (22) run coaxially and/or

   f) the inner hose (22) is connected to a cleaning agent feed line (24) upstream and opens into in a nozzle aperture downstream at the free end of the cleaning trunk (21), and/or

   g) the annular gap between the outer hose (23) and the inner hose (22) is connected to an air supply line (25) upstream and to a nozzle aperture downstream at the free end of the cleaning trunk (21), and/or

   h) the inner hose (22) is fixed at its upstream end so that it cannot rotate, so that, in operation, the outer hose (23) rotates relative to the inner hose (22), and/or

   i) the outer hose (23) is stiffer then the inner hose (22), and/or

   j) the nozzle aperture for dispensing the cleaning fluid is inclined at an angle (β) to the rotational axis (41) of the cleaning trunk (21), so that the rotation of the cleaning trunk (21) brings about a change in the emission direction (40), and/or

   k) the cleaning nozzle (14) has an interchangeable hose assembly, comprising the inner hose (22), the outer hose (23) and a clamping element, and/or

   l) the clamping element clamps the inner hose (22), and/or

   m) the clamping element is screwed into the cleaning nozzle (14) by means of a screw connection, and/or

   n) the cleaning nozzles (14) are distributed around the circumference relative to the introduction direction (5), and/or

   o) the cleaning nozzles (14) are arranged in several planes, arranged axially one behind the other, and/or

   p) the cleaning nozzles (14) in the individual planes are circumferentially offset relative to cleaning nozzles (14) in the adjacent plane, and/or

   q) the wet cleaning station (4) comprises a housing (7) with an introduction aperture (6) for introducing the atomizer (1) to be cleaned into the housing (7) along the introduction direction (5), and/or

   r) the introduction aperture (6) is sealed off by a sealing ring, and/or

   s) the introduction aperture (6) is sealed with an air seal, wherein the air seal blows sealing air over the introduction aperture (6), and/or

   t) a blow air ring (13) is arranged at the introduction aperture (6) to blow the atomizer (8) dry, and/or

   u) an inner tube is arranged in the housing (7) coaxially to the introduction direction (5) to receive a bell cup of the atomizer (1) for cleaning, and/or

   v) the at least one cleaning nozzle (14) is inclined with its emission direction (15) at a certain angle (α) to the introduction direction (5) of the atomizer (1), and/or

   w) the inclination (α) of the at least one cleaning nozzle (14) is greater than 20°, 30°, 40° or 50°, and/or

   x) the inclination (α) of the at least one cleaning nozzle (14) is less than 85°, 80°, 70° or 65°, and/or

   y) the inclination (α) varies in the different planes of cleaning nozzles (14), and/or

   z) there is a certain cleaning distance between the outlet aperture of the cleaning nozzle (14) and the surface of the atomizer (1) to be cleaned, and/or

   aa) the cleaning distance of the at least one cleaning nozzle (14) is greater than 5mm, 10mm, 20mm or 25mm, and/or

   ab) the cleaning distance of the at least one cleaning nozzle (14) is less than 70mm, 60mm, 50mm, 40mm or 35mm, and/or

   ac) on its upper side, the housing (7) is closed off by a lid (10, 11), in which is arranged the introduction aperture (6) for the atomizer (1).
4. Cleaning device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that,

   a) the wet cleaning station (4) has a nozzle mount (16-19) for attaching the at least one cleaning nozzle (14), and/or

   b) the nozzle mount (16-19) allows exchangeable attachment of the cleaning nozzle (14), and/or

   c) the nozzle mount (16-19) is vibration-damping to reduce any transfer of vibrations from the cleaning nozzle (14), in particular by means of a vibration-damping elastomeric component (18) in the nozzle mount, in particular by means of an O-ring (18), and/or

   d) the nozzle mount (16-19) clamps the cleaning nozzle (14) in a form-fit, and/or

   e) the nozzle mount (16-19) has at least one screw (19) to clamp the cleaning nozzle (14), said screw (19) being self-locking and captive, in order to prevent the screw connection loosening, despite the vibrations emanating from the cleaning nozzle (14).
5. Cleaning device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that,

   a) the cleaning nozzle (14) has at least one rotatable turbine wheel (29) for pneumatically driving the rotatable cleaning trunk (21), or

   b) the cleaning trunk (21) has a circumferentially oriented outlet aperture at its free end, to drive the cleaning trunk (21) by means of the thrust of the escaping cleaning fluid, the cleaning trunk (21) preferably having at least one vane to limit the rotational speed of the cleaning trunk (21) due to the flow resistance of said vane.
6. Cleaning device according to claim 5,
   characterized in that,

   a) the driving air flows onto the turbine wheel (29) from the inside to the outside, and/or

   b) the turbine wheel (29) has a plurality of apertures on the inside to receive the driving air into the turbine wheel (29), and/or

   c) the apertures in the turbine wheel (29) each open into a turbine chamber, and/or

   d) the turbine chambers each have a circumferentially oriented outlet aperture, and/or

   e) the cross-sectional area of the outlet apertures is greater than 0.5mm² and/or less than 3mm², and/or

   f) after flowing through the turbine wheel, the driving air is dispersed by way of sealing air through sealing air nozzles into the annular gap between the static funnel (20) and the rotating cleaning trunk (21), the sealing air reducing soiling of the roller bearings (30, 31) of the cleaning trunk (21), and/or

   g) a plurality of turbine wheels (29) are provided for driving the rotatable trunk.
7. Cleaning device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by

   a) a cleaning agent connection (24) to deliver the cleaning fluid and

   b) a supply air connection (25) to deliver supply air, and

   c) the fact that, in the cleaning nozzle (14) the supply air divides into

   - driving air to drive a turbine wheel (29) in the cleaning nozzle (14) for a rotational drive of the cleaning trunk (21) and

   - cleaning air for cleaning the atomizer (1), and/or

   d) the fact that the proportion of driving air in the supply air is greater than 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% or 50%, and/or

   e) the fact that the proportion of driving air in the supply air is less than 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 35%, and/or

   f) the fact that the ratio of cleaning air to driving air is substantially 2:1, and/or

   g) the fact that the volume flow of the cleaning fluid and the volume flow of the supply air can be adjusted independently of each other, and/or

   h) the cleaning trunk (21) rotates at a rotational speed of at least 500min^-1, 1000min^-1 or 2000min^-1 and at most 30000min^-1, 20000min^-1, 10000min^-1, 8000min^1- and/or

   i) at least one component of the cleaning device is manufactured by rapid prototyping.
8. Cleaning device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by

   a) mounting of the cleaning device in a fixed location in a coating plant, in particular on a grid on the floor of a paint booth, or

   b) movable mounting of the cleaning device, in particular to move on a travelling painting robot.
9. Cleaning device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that,

   a) the cleaning device also comprises a dry cleaning station (3) for dry cleaning the atomizer (1), and/or

   b) the dry cleaning station (3) has at least one cleaning brush (8), and/or

   c) the cleaning brush (8) is annular and encircles the atomizer (1) during cleaning, and/or

   d) the dry cleaning station (3) is arranged outside the housing (7) of the wet cleaning station (4), and/or

   e) the cleaning brush (8)

   e1) is statically mounted and does not move during cleaning of the atomizer (1), a relative movement of the cleaning brush (8) being achieved relative to the atomizer (1) by means of a rotation of the atomizer (1), or

   e2) is rotatably mounted and rotates during cleaning of the atomizer (1), a relative movement of the cleaning brush (8) relative to the atomizer (1) being achieved by a rotation of the cleaning brush (8), and/or

   f) the atomizer (1) to be cleaned is introduced into the cleaning device in a particular introduction direction (5), and the wet cleaning station (4) is arranged along the introduction direction (5) downstream of the dry cleaning station (3), so that the wet cleaning station (4) cleans a front section of the atomizer (1), while the dry cleaning station (3) cleans a rear section of the atomizer (1).
10. Cleaning device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by

    a) a droplet separator arranged underneath the wet cleaning station (4) to separate off the atomized cleaning fluid, and/or

    b) a catch device arranged underneath the droplet separator to collect the cleaning fluid separated off by the droplet separator.
11. Operating method for a cleaning device according to any of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps:

    a) Introduction of the atomizer (1) to be cleaned into a wet cleaning station (4),

    b) Spraying of the atomizer (1) with a cleaning fluid in the wet cleaning station (4),

    characterized by the following step:

    c) Rotation of a cleaning trunk (21) of the wet cleaning station (4), wherein the cleaning trunk (21) dispenses the cleaning fluid in different spraying directions (15, 40) as a function of its rotational position.
12. Operating method in particular according to Claim 11, characterized in that,

    a) the atomizer (1) undergoes a dry cleaning process, and/or

    b) during dry cleaning of the atomizer (1), a cleaning brush (8) is moved relative to the atomizer (1), and/or

    c) during dry cleaning, the atomizer (1) is stationary and only the cleaning brush (8) is moved, or

    d) during dry cleaning, the atomizer (1) is moved and the cleaning brush (8) is stationary, or

    e) during dry cleaning, the atomizer (1) and the cleaning brush (8) are moved.
13. Operating method according to Claim 12,
    characterized in that,

    a) the atomizer (1) blasts the cleaning brush (8) with its shaping air to remove any paint dust adhering to the cleaning brush (8), and/or

    b) the atomizer (1) performs a tumbling motion to blow off the cleaning brush, and/or

    c) the atomizer (1) blows off the cleaning brush (8) after a cleaning process.
14. Operating method according to any of claims 11 to 13,
    characterized in that,

    a) the rotational speed of the rotating cleaning trunk (21) is controlled, in particular by means of a centrifugal governor, and/or

    b) supply air for driving a rotating cleaning trunk (21) of the wet cleaning station (4) and for cleaning the atomizer (1) is supplied with an air flow, the air flow of the supply air being

    - greater than 50 Nl/min, 100 Nl/min, 200 Nl/min and/or

    - less than 1500 Nl/min, 1000 Nl/min, 750 Nl/min or 50 Nl/min.

Images