EP3666402A2 - Steam cleaning system and coating installation with steam cleaning - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning the surface of elongated workpieces (11) with an arrangement of nozzles (31) with nozzle axes, which are directed towards the workpiece (11), and to a transport device by means of which the workpiece (11) is relative along a transport axis for the arrangement of nozzles (31) is movable.

Description

The present invention relates to a coating system for, preferably metallic, workpieces, with a cleaning device for surface cleaning (particles, grease, chemistry) according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for preparing a workpiece for coating and coating the workpiece according to the preamble of the claim 15.

Such a cleaning device for the surface cleaning of elongated workpieces is designed with an arrangement of nozzles with nozzle axes, which are directed towards the workpiece, and a transport device by means of which the workpiece can be moved along a transport axis relative to the arrangement of nozzles.

The nozzles can in particular be a unit or group of discrete steam nozzles designed as a steam nozzle. In particular, the nozzle can be provided with a needle opening or (small) bore for the superheated steam.

The device according to the invention is characterized in particular in that it is / works / is provided free of cleaning agents and / or free of corrosion protection agents in the operational state. The device according to the invention can further be characterized in that it is designed to provide a dry workpiece after cleaning the workpiece by means of superheated steam. According to the invention, it can therefore be designed without a (separate) drying device. It was recognized according to the invention that separate drying is not necessary if a (metallic) workpiece is cleaned with superheated steam.

In such a method, for cleaning an elongated workpiece, the workpiece is introduced into a device according to the invention and guided through it. When passing through the device, the workpiece is subjected to superheated steam which is expelled from at least one of the nozzles, and the workpiece is moved relative to the at least one nozzle arrangement along its transport axis.

Oils and greases are usually used in the manufacture of the workpieces, which are intended to protect the workpiece, for example, from caustic substances or corrosion. However, this protective layer affects a high quality coating or treatment of the workpiece. It was found that this must be removed before further processing. This can be a recurring process, as the workpieces are usually treated with fats and oils after each work step.

In many processing processes, elongated workpieces, such as piston rods, are required, which up to now have been fed to various immersion baths for surface cleaning. In these, the oils and greases are removed from the surface of the workpieces by appropriate aggressive cleaning chemicals. The workpieces are then subjected to a drying process because they are regularly both clean and dry for further processing have to. This is a complex, expensive and environmentally harmful process which requires a large number of facilities in order to obtain the desired result. The resulting wastewater must be disposed of separately and at great expense.

Since this cleaning process and the corresponding devices require a great deal of space for this, it is unsuitable for providing it directly at the point of further processing. The chemicals used would also contaminate the electrolyte in a coating.

In principle, such a workpiece must be cleaned before each work step, which would require a large number of these devices. This cannot be achieved in terms of occupational safety, logistics or costs.

Therefore, the solution at the moment is to feed the workpiece after each work step for cleaning to an outsourced facility to which the workpiece has to be transported and then back to the processing hall. In addition to the cost of cleaning, a significant amount of time is lost in the processing process.

Starting from this prior art, the present invention has as its object to provide a cleaning device and a cleaning method which enable surface cleaning of elongated workpieces on site of the workpiece machining with simple means.

The surface cleaning should particularly preferably be free of chemicals.

According to the invention the object is achieved by a device according to the characterizing part of claim 1, a treatment device according to claim 9 and a method according to the characterizing part of claim 13.

Advantageously, the present invention does not cause any or no waste or waste water to be disposed of separately during cleaning.

The treatment device according to the invention can therefore be designed overall as a wastewater-free system.

The cleaning cycle, which can be carried out by means of the steam cleaning according to the invention, can take place before and after a respective process module, that is to say an individual processing step, for example a coating, in particular galvanizing, of the workpiece.

The steam cleaning according to the invention is in any case realized when a nozzle arrangement is provided, against which the workpiece can be transported by means of a transport device, that is to say can be moved relative to the nozzle arrangement.

The cleaning device according to the invention for preparing an elongated, preferably rotationally symmetrical, workpiece for a surface treatment, in particular electroplating, in one embodiment has an arrangement of nozzles with nozzle axes which are directed towards the workpiece to be cleaned, and a transport device by means of which the workpiece is along a Transport direction can be moved relative to the at least one nozzle, the arrangement of the nozzles being provided on the circumferential side around the jacket surface of the workpiece and the nozzles being aligned to apply superheated steam to the jacket surface of the workpiece as a whole.

A body can be rotationally symmetrical in particular if it has a circular shape or polygonal shape in a cross section to its longitudinal axis.

For cleaning, especially for degreasing workpieces, such as metallic piston rods, superheated steam is surprisingly well suited, whereby it can clean the residues on the surface without the addition of chemical additives.

The cleaning can be done contact-free. Accordingly, there is no other action on the surface to be cleaned, in particular of a mechanical nature than that of the superheated steam. The jacket surface can in particular be that part of the surface of the workpiece which extends about a longitudinal axis of the workpiece. The end faces, that is to say the front and rear ends, should be disregarded for the definition according to the invention “circumferentially around the jacket surface”. A simple example of a corresponding jacket surface is the jacket of a cylinder.

To achieve degreasing of the workpiece surface, the ratio of the distance from the nozzle to the workpiece surface must be related to a pressure at which the superheated steam is provided from the nozzles. The optimal ratio between pressure and distance between nozzle and workpiece can be determined by simple tests. The distance usually ranges from less than 1 mm to a few centimeters, preferably 1 to 100 mm. The pressure at which the superheated steam is provided can be between 0.2 and 10 bar, preferably between 2 and 8 bar, but can also be higher.

Temperature can also play a role, an increased temperature being able to compensate for a reduced pressure or an increased distance of the nozzle from the workpiece.

It is particularly preferably provided that the steam nozzle is designed to deliver the superheated steam directly to the workpiece (the workpiece surface) and / or that the steam is free of additives, in particular free of additional / separately admixed air.

Relative to the nozzle arrangement according to the present invention can mean both a static nozzle arrangement with a movable workpiece, a movable nozzle arrangement with a statically provided workpiece and a movable nozzle arrangement with a movable workpiece.

The arrangement can preferably also have only a single nozzle, which can be movably mounted relative to the workpiece for complete cleaning of the jacket surface. For this purpose, the nozzle can be mounted displaceably with respect to the workpiece along the outer circumference, that is to say it can be movable with respect to the workpiece surface. The nozzle can preferably rotate in an approximately radial direction around the surface of the workpiece. With a sufficiently high rotation speed, a sufficient cleaning effect of the surface of the workpiece can thus be achieved even with a single nozzle.

A basic idea of steam cleaning is to provide a cleaning device for surface cleaning by an arrangement of nozzles. This arrangement of nozzles can preferably be realized with an open metal ring, on the inner surface of which the nozzles are arranged. The nozzle axes preferably point inwards, particularly preferably approximately at the center of the open metal ring. It is particularly expedient here that the nozzles are provided indented on the inner surface of the metal ring, that is to say in a region whose radius at the center is larger than regions of the inner surface of the metal ring to the side of the nozzles (right and left thereof). As a result, a groove or an annular / partial ring-shaped depression can be provided on the inside of the nozzle arrangement or the open metal ring.

The elongated workpiece can, for example, have a circular cross section, that is to say a cylindrical shape. In principle, the elongated workpiece can have any cross-sectional geometry, the geometry of the arrangement of nozzles preferably being adaptable to the cross-sectional geometry of the workpiece. The arrangement of nozzles can consequently have a circular or polygonal, at least triangular shape, which is preferably open at least in one area, that is to say perforated.

The radius of the nozzle arrangement can preferably be selected such that a small gap of one to a few millimeters, preferably a maximum of 15 mm, is provided between the workpiece which is passed through the nozzle arrangement and the nozzle arrangement itself. As a result, the surface can be cleaned particularly effectively, since the pressurized nozzles along the groove or the depression can clean the workpiece that is passed through in a ring shape. Since the workpiece is guided relative to the nozzle arrangement, this results in a particularly uniform and complete surface treatment. The individual nozzles of the nozzle arrangement can preferably be arranged uniformly on the latter, as a result of which they are arranged at approximately equal intervals along the outer circumference of the workpiece guided through the nozzle arrangement.

For cleaning the surface, superheated steam with a temperature of between 101 ° C. and 220 ° C., preferably between 120 ° C. and 130 ° C., can preferably be supplied from the nozzles along the nozzle axes to the workpiece surface. The superheated steam can aid in the removal of fats and oils from the surface of the workpiece.

According to the invention, the nozzle axes are intended in particular to describe the direction in which a fluid is expelled from the nozzles.

The transport device can in principle be any means for transporting the elongated workpiece through the cleaning device according to the invention. In particular, it can have means for pushing and / or pressing and / or for receiving the workpiece. It is particularly preferably a transport pin which pushes the elongated workpiece through the cleaning device in front of it.

According to a preferred development of the present invention, it is provided that the transport device is provided with a support on which the workpiece can be supported. A height / distance / orientation can be set using the support be adjustable, in which the workpiece can be carried out in the transport direction through the at least one arrangement of nozzles of the cleaning device. The support is particularly preferably set such that a longitudinal axis of the workpiece is aligned approximately coaxially with the arrangement of the nozzles.

This can be conducive to a uniform distance between the nozzles and the workpiece. If several groups of nozzles are provided along the transport axis, the support can, for example, also be provided between the individual groups, whereby a supportive alignment of the workpiece is provided over the entire length of the cleaning device.

In particular in the area of a group of nozzles, the support can have an interruption or depression in which at least some of the nozzles of the group can be provided. In particular in the case of a continuous, preferably annular arrangement of a group of nozzles, it may be necessary to provide the support in an increased manner compared to the group of nozzles, as a result of which a continuously provided support would either collide with the group of nozzles or shield the workpiece at least against a part of the nozzles would, which could result in incomplete cleaning of the elongated workpiece. A transport device can advantageously protrude through the interruption into the interior of the continuous arrangement of a group of nozzles.

The support can expediently be divided into individual segments, which can be provided between the individual groups of nozzles of the arrangement of nozzles. The individual segments can in principle be connected to one another, but a collision of the nozzle arrangement with the support should advantageously be avoided.

According to an advantageous development of the present invention, it is provided that the arrangement has at least one interruption. This interruption can, in particular, depend on the size of the means of transport, in particular of the transport pin. The arrangement can also be referred to as a group of nozzles of the overall arrangement of nozzles of the cleaning device. If there is only one arrangement of nozzles, the arrangement according to claim 1 and the group are to be understood as the same. In principle, several arrangements, that is to say several groups, can be provided along the transport axis of the transport device, as a result of which the workpiece can be fed for repeated or multi-stage cleaning.

The interruption in the (ring-shaped) arrangement can in particular provide an area through which the transport device can transport the workpiece. So that the transport device can guide the workpiece through the individual groups of nozzles, it would have to be guided through the ring opening in a closed (ring-shaped) arrangement, which would mean a considerable construction effort.

By providing an interruption, in particular in a lower area of the ring opening or in an area in the vicinity of a corresponding support, the transport device can be provided in a simple manner, for example below the arrangement, for example in the area of the support, and / or the workpiece can be provided transport the pad at the intended height through the arrangement.

In particular, if the transport device is a pin or another pushing or pulling device, it can be delivered to the workpiece from below and transport the workpiece through the arrangement of nozzles. The transport device can pass the ring in the area of the interruption without colliding with the arrangement of the nozzles.

The transport device can in particular be integrated into the support. The support can be provided with a contour which roughly corresponds to the contour of the workpiece or at least has a recess which the elongated workpiece against lateral displacement parallel to the transport axis on the support. For this purpose, the support can have, for example, a V-shaped or U-shaped recess in which the workpiece is transported through the cleaning device. In a region of the depression, the transport device can be provided, for example, as a pushing or pulling device, preferably as a pin, which pushes the workpiece through the depression of the support.

For this purpose, the support can be provided, for example, in two parts, a gap being provided between the parts, in which the transport device is provided from below the workpiece and pushes the workpiece from behind or pulls it from the front.

It can be expediently provided that at least one interruption is aligned with the transport device. If the transport device is smaller than the interruption of the arrangement in at least one area, the transport device can be carried out by the interruption, thereby ensuring uninterrupted transport of the workpiece through the cleaning device.

It is preferably provided that the arrangement is interchangeable

The arrangement is preferably designed to be interchangeable. As a result, various arrangements of nozzles can be provided on the cleaning device according to the invention. This can be beneficial, for example, in adapting a distance between the nozzle and the workpiece. This also makes it possible to adapt the inner contour of the arrangement to a corresponding outer contour of the workpiece, as a result of which an advantageous, approximately equidistant distance between the individual nozzles and the workpiece surface can be provided even with rotationally asymmetrical workpieces.

It is particularly preferably provided that a distance between a surface of the workpiece to be cleaned and an opening of the respective nozzle can be adjusted.

For this purpose, for example, the distance of a nozzle can be individually adjustable radially in the direction of the workpiece surface. The distance can be detected, for example, by means of a sensor or sensor which measures the distance of the nozzle from the workpiece surface and is connected to an adjusting device which sets the distance. As a result, a preferably dynamic adaptation of the radial infeed of the nozzle to the workpiece surface, in particular to maintain a predetermined distance from the workpiece surface, can be made possible, for example, even in the case of a changing surface contour, such as depressions or undulating surfaces of workpieces. If there are several nozzles, the distance between the workpiece surface and the respective nozzle can be adjusted dynamically. An actuator, for example a servomotor or, for example, a pneumatic or hydraulic device for changing the position of the nozzles (generally a device for changing the position) can be provided for adjusting the nozzle (s). The nozzle can be adjusted relative to a receptacle of the nozzle, for example on and relative to the nozzle arrangement, in particular on and relative to the base body. To determine the distance between the workpiece surface and the respective nozzle, a measuring device can be provided, for example in the form of a laser-based distance measuring device or a device based on IR or UV radiation, which can interact with the device for changing the position by a predetermined / adjustable distance (e.g. radial distance ) to maintain the nozzle to the workpiece. This can be particularly useful for workpieces with irregular surfaces or irregular radii. For a particularly precise adaptation of the nozzles to the workpiece to be cleaned, individual nozzles on the arrangement of nozzles, in particular on the base body, can be detachable and / or exchangeable as required.

Instead of adjusting the distance of the nozzle from the workpiece, that is, maintaining a desired distance even when the diameter of the workpiece varies, an adjustment of the pressure of the superheated steam can be obtained the nozzle is provided, be customizable. By increasing the pressure, a change in the distance, in particular an increase in the distance, can be compensated for, at least within certain limits.

The pressure can be adjusted using the same distance measuring device, coupled with a device for providing and setting a fluid pressure, in particular at the nozzle outlet.

According to a further development of the invention, it is particularly preferred that the transport device is designed as an endless conveyor and / or has an element which moves the workpiece along its transport axis. The cleaning device is particularly preferably designed for cleaning a multiplicity of workpieces in an endless process. Here, an endless conveyor can provide a uniform or uniform transport through the cleaning device as a means of transport for the individual workpieces, the movement of the workpiece through the cleaning device being made possible with minimal means. The endless conveyor can be provided, for example, with individual pegs, each of which can be delivered to at least one workpiece and which can pass this through the cleaning device or the arrangement with an interruption, without the need to interrupt the contact between the peg and the workpiece. The arrangement can be provided with a base body which can receive and hold the individual nozzles. The base body can be at least partially hollow and / or fluidly connect the nozzles to a device for generating superheated steam.

According to a development of the invention, it is particularly expedient that the nozzles can be arranged approximately equidistantly from the surface of an elongated workpiece to be cleaned. It was found that the cleaning effect of the nozzles is particularly effective when there is a small distance from the workpiece surface is provided to the nozzles. This distance can be a few micrometers to a few millimeters. In particular, the distance can be between 1 mm and 10 mm.

Since the distance of the nozzle from the surface has an influence on the cleaning effect, it is preferred that all areas of the surface have approximately the same distance from the nozzle arrangement.

Logically, this results in a varying distance between the surface and the nozzles, since a distance is provided between the individual nozzles which are arranged around the workpiece. Thus, an area of the workpiece surface that is directly below a nozzle is closer to the nozzle than an area that is provided to the right or left thereof. However, the distance between the nozzles does not have the same significant influence on the result of the cleaning process as the distance between the nozzle and the surface of the workpiece itself. According to a development of the invention, it is particularly expedient that the support is provided at least in front of and / or behind the at least one, preferably approximately annular, arrangement.

For a particularly thorough cleaning of the workpiece it can be provided that the arrangement of nozzles, preferably in an uninterrupted area of the arrangement, has a width with individual areas in the direction of the transport axis, areas with and areas without nozzles being provided along the width of the nozzle arrangement are.

An arrangement of nozzles or a group of nozzles, which in particular can be an arrangement of nozzles, with a width along the transport axis is preferably provided. The arrangement of nozzles can extend, in particular, in the form of a jacket, at least in an area around a workpiece passed through the cleaning device. The nozzles are preferably in a central region of the jacket-shaped arrangement, in particular on one inner surface of the broken ring. As a result, narrow areas to the right and left of the nozzles along the transport axis are also preferably provided on the jacket, in which no nozzles are arranged.

An arrangement in the direction of transport can be, for example: area without nozzles area with nozzle area without nozzles. This arrangement can also be repeated several times in the direction of transport on the inside of the jacket of the nozzle arrangement, it being possible for the area without nozzles and the area with nozzles to be provided alternately.

In principle, instead of a continuous arrangement with a plurality of nozzles provided one behind the other in the transport direction, it is also possible to provide a plurality of individual arrangements of nozzles or individual groups of nozzles, each of which has a jacket-like shape with preferably an interruption in a lower region or an upper region, at least in one region, which faces a transport device.

The inner contour of the jacket-like shape can correspond to the outer contour of the workpiece to be cleaned.

It is particularly preferably provided that the at least one (approximately annular) arrangement of nozzles along the transport axis of the workpiece is constructed in at least three parts, the inner radii of at least two of the parts being different.

The definition of the inner radii only makes sense, of course, if the nozzles are roughly annular in relation to the workpiece. The individual nozzles in the arrangement or group around the workpiece are preferably compared to other structural components of the arrangement or group, in particular the jacket mentioned above, provided with a greater distance from the workpiece than the other components. A geometrically arbitrary device in which the arrangement of the nozzles is provided can have an internal recess on an inner side facing the workpiece, the recess being able to be delimited on both sides in the transport direction or along the transport axis by higher-lying surfaces or areas.

This results in an at least 3-part arrangement along the transport axis: first area - depression - second area. Due to the preferably small spacing of the workpiece from the individual nozzles and the preferably provided recess, a particularly effective cleaning result can be generated on the workpiece surface if, for example, superheated steam is supplied to the workpiece from the nozzles.

Basically, it is preferred that the at least one (approximately annular) arrangement of nozzles in a radial inner region, preferably in an uninterrupted region thereof, has an inner recess whose distance from the transport axis of the workpiece is greater than at least one further region of the at least one an arrangement. The uninterrupted area can in particular be the area of the arrangement outside the interruption. The further region can lie, in particular, along the transport axis in front of or behind the recess in relation to the inner recess and / or in particular can be provided parallel to the transport axis. This definition can be useful for definition in particular with regard to a geometry deviating from the annular shape, since the contour of a polygon or a polygon is fundamentally different from a center point. The above definition of the spacing of the inside recess should in particular refer to a point in of the depression compared to points on the arrangement of nozzles which are located along the transport axis in front of or behind the point in the depression.

It is particularly expedient according to the present invention that the inner recess is provided approximately in the center of the arrangement, but is at least delimited on both sides along the transport axis of the workpiece by regions with a smaller distance from the transport axis. Building on the above definition, the deepening should be provided especially if it is limited on both sides. A limitation is to be present in particular if raised areas are provided along the transport axis to the left or right of the depression, that is to say areas which are at a smaller distance from the center of the arrangement.

For a particularly thorough cleaning of the workpiece to be cleaned, it is preferably provided that at least one of the nozzles of the, preferably ring-shaped arrangement is arranged in the inner recess and / or that its nozzle axes face the transport axis. A particularly thorough cleaning can be provided by a radial alignment of the nozzle axes of the individual nozzles. The arrangement of the nozzles in the recesses on the inside can build up an advantageous pressure along the recess on the workpiece surface, which can also have a favorable effect on the cleaning result.

In particular, it can be provided that the inner recess is provided in the form of a ring or a partial ring, preferably as an inner groove, at least in the uninterrupted area. The inside groove shape can be provided regardless of the geometry of the nozzle arrangement or the group of nozzles. The groove shape, that is to say the recess on the inside, can be provided, in particular, rectangular, trapezoidal or wedge-shaped in relation to adjacent regions of the arrangement of nozzles.

An expedient development of the present invention consists in that two or more arrangements of nozzles are provided, which extend approximately coaxially along the transport axis of the workpiece. Accordingly, a plurality of arrangements or groups of nozzles can be provided along a common transport axis for the workpiece, each of which has an annular shape or another geometrical shape, but each has at least one lateral surface with an inner surface on which a recess can be provided in / on which the nozzles can lie.

The arrangement of nozzles is preferably approximately annular.

The method according to the invention is implemented at least when an elongated workpiece to be cleaned is cleaned by means of superheated steam.

According to a basic idea of the present invention, it is provided that the workpiece is moved relative to at least one nozzle arrangement, which can in particular be an annular nozzle arrangement, in particular is moved relative to the nozzle arrangement. In this case, the nozzle arrangement can preferably be arranged in a fixed manner. Furthermore, the nozzle arrangement can be arranged uniformly around the outer circumference of the workpiece.

The statements made in the general description section on an annular arrangement or annular group of nozzles can be transferred to any geometrical arrangement or group of nozzles. It can be expedient here that the arrangement of the nozzles in the group of nozzles is provided such that the distance between the nozzles and the surface of the respective workpiece is approximately equidistant. Accordingly, each individual statement relating to an annular or circular arrangement of nozzles can be transferred to any arrangement of nozzles with any geometry, or can be generalized. Instead of an annular arrangement or group, an arrangement or group of nozzles without the geometric one can generally also be used Specification according to the general description part should be provided if statements are made in the description of an annular arrangement or group of nozzles.

Due to the high temperature of the superheated steam and the contact-free steaming without mechanical cleaning agents, the surface of the workpiece can dry independently and quickly, which can make an additional drying step unnecessary. In particular, brushes or other mechanical devices for cleaning the workpiece surface can, contrary to non-contact vapor deposition, ensure that the surface is wetted with already condensed liquid water, which requires drying in a separate drying step.

Furthermore, mechanical cleaning devices can bring about a recontamination of the workpiece surface with contaminants, since these contaminants can adhere to the workpiece or from previous workpieces of the cleaning device. Such cleaning measures are therefore unsuitable for a subsequent coating of a workpiece.

The superheated steam can be supplied to the workpiece from the nozzles with an overpressure of 0.2 to 10 bar, preferably 0.5 to 3 bar. In this way, a particularly thorough surface cleaning can be carried out, which enables direct further processing, in particular galvanizing, without additional preparation steps on the workpiece surface.

The steam cleaning according to the invention can be integrated into a production line, for example for the production, in particular coating of piston rods or other preferably elongated workpieces.

The superheated steam is preferably free of additives, ie it consists only of water. Accordingly, both the surface of the workpiece and the collected one are Water from the superheated steam free of harmful residues, such as chemicals and poisons, which usually have to be detoxified when they are disposed of. This facilitates easy disposal of the collection water that can be collected after use as superheated steam.

In principle, the structure of the cleaning device can be designed such that the workpiece can preferably be moved horizontally and / or vertically by the cleaning device. However, the alignment can also have an angle that deviates from the horizontal or vertical

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The treatment device according to the invention has an electrolyte bath in which there is a surface coating material for the workpiece. According to the invention, it is provided that the treatment device is designed with a cleaning device for surface cleaning by means of superheated steam, in particular according to one of claims 1 to 8.

By connecting the treatment device to the cleaning device according to the invention, the workpiece can be prepared for the treatment of the surface immediately before a surface refinement. In particular, this can be a degreasing or removal of dirt from the, in particular, metallic workpiece surface. In particular, this makes it possible to dispense with the currently laborious method of preparing the workpieces separately for the coating in a complex degreasing system.

Advantageously, the cleaning device, in particular its nozzles, is arranged above the electrolyte bath.

Since the steam condensate of the cleaning device of the present invention is a chemical-free liquid, it can also be introduced into the electrolyte bath. Since the electrolyte bath is a recyclable / regenerable solution of surface coating material, both the cleaning / degreasing of the workpiece and the subsequent surface coating can be carried out without waste water. With previous cleaning devices, it is necessary to dispose of their waste water either as special waste or in some other way separately. This need is eliminated by the treatment device according to the invention. However, this in turn is only possible because the cleaning device according to the invention works exclusively with water for cleaning the workpiece surface.

A liquid-conducting device can advantageously be arranged from the nozzles to the electrolyte bath. The condensed water of the superheated cleaning steam can also be fed via this to the treatment device according to the invention if it is not arranged directly above the electrolytic bath, so that condensed water vapor can simply drip into the electrolytic bath.

The transport device is particularly preferably designed to feed the workpiece to the cleaning device before and after a coating in the electrolyte bath.

Thus, not only the workpiece can be prepared for a coating by the treatment device according to the invention, but also excess electrolyte, which can also contain heavy metals, can be removed from the workpiece after the coating. Thus, a coated workpiece can be provided contamination-free with just a single device.

Figur 1

eine Draufsicht auf einen Ausschnitt einer erfindungsgemäßen Reinigungsvorrichtung mit zumindest einer Düsenanordnung, bei welcher das Werkstück horizontal geführt wird,

Figur 2

eine Draufsicht auf einen Ausschnitt einer erfindungsgemäßen Reinigungsvorrichtung mit zumindest einer Düsenanordnung, bei welcher das Werkstück vertikal geführt wird,

Figur 3

eine erste Ausführungsform einer Anordnung von Düsen, und

Figur 4

eine zweite Ausführungsform einer Anordnung von Düsen.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Figure 1

2 shows a plan view of a section of a cleaning device according to the invention with at least one nozzle arrangement in which the workpiece is guided horizontally,

Figure 2

2 shows a plan view of a section of a cleaning device according to the invention with at least one nozzle arrangement in which the workpiece is guided vertically,

Figure 3

a first embodiment of an arrangement of nozzles, and

Figure 4

a second embodiment of an arrangement of nozzles.

Figure 1 shows in a top view of the cleaning device according to the invention an elongated workpiece 11 which is transported in a transport direction 12 by the device 40 according to the invention. Part of this device is at least one arrangement of nozzles via which superheated steam can be delivered to the workpiece 11 when it passes through the arrangement of nozzles.

To transport the workpiece, a transport device 20 can be provided, for example in the form of a driving system, which, for example, has a pin that can be fed to the workpiece and a corresponding running rail, which is at least partially provided in the transport direction 12 Figure 1 is horizontally movable by the arrangement of nozzles 31.

The arrangement of nozzles 31 can, for example, be made in one piece or in several pieces, wherein one or more nozzles 31 can be combined in the arrangement of nozzles 31. In principle, the nozzles 31 can be operated independently of one another or at least separately from one another, however, from the same source be operated by superheated steam. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is an annular arrangement of nozzles 31, which can be open (interrupted ring) or closed (continuous ring).

The arrangement of nozzles 31 can be provided with an undercut, which radially separates the individual nozzles 31 from the overall arrangement of nozzles 31 from the workpiece 11. This can be realized, for example, in the form of an internal groove on, for example, the inside of the open or closed ring. As a result, the arrangement of nozzles 31 can be provided with a first near region, which can either be in contact with the workpiece or directly opposite it, and a second region, in which the nozzles 31 are provided, which are at least slightly spaced apart from the workpiece 11 can be. This forms a closed or only slightly open pocket between the workpiece and the nozzle, in which the superheated steam can act on the workpiece in an advantageous manner. 2 variants for such an embodiment of the arrangement of nozzles are exemplified in the Figures 3 and 4th specified.

The superheated steam can enter at least one nozzle of the arrangement of the nozzles, for example, via the regions 10 of FIG Figures 1 and 2nd respectively. The superheated steam flows from a prechamber 30, which can be provided as part of the arrangement of nozzles, to the workpiece 11.

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an arrangement of nozzles according to a first preferred embodiment, in which the nozzle outlet opening in an upper region is set back from an upper side by a flanking geometry 33. The top according to Figure 3 corresponds in the case of an annular nozzle arrangement to an inner side of the ring which faces the workpiece 11 in the operating state. The nozzle axis 32 can face from a radial orientation be aligned differently to the passing workpiece, whereby the superheated steam can be provided with a swirl before it hits the surface of the elongated workpiece, which can increase the cleaning effect. The flanking geometry 33 can be provided with an open trapezoidal shape, as shown in FIG Figure 3 is shown as an example. This can increase the cleaning effect of the superheated steam emerging from the nozzle by a kind of positive guidance within the recess.

Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the nozzle arrangement according to the invention in a cross-sectional view, as can be provided for example in an annular arrangement. In contrast to Figure 3 is after Figure 4 a sealing system 34 is provided, which can be provided in a corresponding receptacle on the base body of the nozzle arrangement. In this embodiment, too, the nozzle axis 32 can be arranged to deviate from a radial alignment with respect to the workpiece 11.

The superheated steam can flow into a prechamber 30, which is provided between the two sealing system elements 34 and can be fed to the workpiece via the prechamber 30. The antechamber 30 can correspond in particular to the space which is due to the flanking geometry 30 Figure 3 is provided.

With an orientation of the device according to the invention, which enables the workpiece 11 to be transported in a vertical direction, the transport system 20 can be provided, for example, with a pulling element for individual workpieces. This can particularly preferably be a cable pull. In the case of an arrangement of nozzles that is at least partially open, a driver system as in FIG Figure 1 (20) can be provided, in which the workpiece 11 can be inserted and transported vertically.

The cross-sectional views according to Figure 3 and 4th can basically be a section of an overall annular arrangement with a plurality of nozzles 31, which are preferably distributed uniformly around the circumference of the workpiece or around the circumference of the arrangement of nozzles. An interruption of the uniform distribution can be provided in particular in the area of the transport system 20, as a result of which an even distribution of nozzles can be provided over a pitch circle. According to the invention, uniform does not necessarily have to mean an equidistant arrangement between the nozzles.

Claims (10)

Cleaning device for preparing an elongated, preferably rotationally symmetrical workpiece for a surface treatment, in particular galvanization,
wherein an arrangement of nozzles with nozzle axes, which are directed towards the workpiece to be cleaned, and a transport device are provided, by means of which the workpiece can be moved relative to the nozzles along a transport direction,
characterized,
that the arrangement of nozzles on the circumferential side is provided around the jacket surface of the workpiece and is both aligned and designed to act on the jacket surface of the workpiece as a whole with superheated steam from a source of the superheated steam. Cleaning device according to claim 1,
characterized,
that a distance between a surface of the workpiece to be cleaned and an opening of the respective nozzle can be adjusted. Cleaning device according to one of claims 1 or 2,
characterized,
that the nozzles can be arranged approximately equidistantly from the surface of an elongated workpiece to be cleaned. Cleaning device according to one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized,
that two or more arrangements of nozzles are provided which extend approximately coaxially along the transport axis of the workpiece. Cleaning device according to one of claims 1 to 4,
characterized,
that the arrangement of nozzles is approximately annular. Treatment device for the surface treatment of elongated, rotationally symmetrical workpieces, in particular piston rods, with an electrolyte bath in which a surface coating material for the workpiece is present,
characterized,
that the treatment device is designed with a cleaning device for surface cleaning by means of superheated steam, in particular according to one of claims 1 to 8. Treatment device according to claim 6,
characterized,
that the cleaning device is arranged above the electrolyte bath, in particular its nozzles. Treatment device according to claim 6 or 7,
characterized,
that a liquid-conducting device is arranged from the nozzles to the electrolyte bath. Treatment device according to one of claims 6 to 8,
characterized,
that the transport device is designed to feed the workpiece to the cleaning device before and / or after a coating in the electrolyte bath. Method for preparing an elongated, preferably rotationally symmetrical workpiece for a surface treatment, in particular galvanization, in which
the workpiece is introduced into a device according to one of claims 1 to 8 and guided through it,
when passing through the device, the workpiece is subjected to superheated steam which is expelled from the nozzles of the arrangement, the workpiece being moved relative to the nozzle arrangement along its transport axis and
superheated steam is applied to the entire surface of the workpiece.

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