EP3890895B1 - Cleaning device for an application device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning an application device (e.g. print head or non-atomizing application device) which, during operation, applies several coating agent jets of a coating agent (e.g. paint, adhesive, sealant) to a component (e.g. motor vehicle body component). The invention further includes an operating method for such a cleaning device.

In modern painting systems for painting motor vehicle body components, rotary atomizers are usually used as the application device, which atomize the coating agent to be applied and release a spray cloud of the coating agent. When changing colors or during breaks in operation (e.g. during a shift change or at the weekend), these rotary atomizers must be cleaned outside and inside to avoid contamination with paint residues or adhesion of paint residues. For this purpose, cleaning devices are known from the prior art, for example in EP 1 671 706 A2 , DE 10 2014 006 647 A1 and DE 10 2010 052 698 A1 are described.

However, the disadvantage of the known rotary atomizers is the fact that the application efficiency is not 100%, so that part of the applied paint has to be disposed of as overspray.

To avoid this problem, a newer line of development envisages using so-called print heads as application devices instead of rotary atomizers, such as those in DE 10 2013 002 412 A1 are described. Such print heads do not emit a spray jet, but instead emit narrowly defined jets of coating agent from small nozzles, so that no overspray occurs during operation. “Coating agent jet” can be understood to mean both a coherent jet that is not yet subject to natural decay, as well as a directed jet consisting at least partially of drops.

However, the problem with such print heads is the fact that the nozzles of the print heads can become clogged during operation, leading to a malfunction. Out of DE 10 2016 014 951 A1 A jet testing device is therefore known which can detect such clogging of a coating agent nozzle of such a print head.

The disadvantage of the prior art is the fact that the known cleaning devices are designed for rotary atomizers and are therefore not suitable for print heads. Another disadvantage of the prior art is that the cleaning of the print heads on the one hand and the testing of the coating agent jets on the other hand have previously had to be carried out in separate devices.

Furthermore, reference should be made to the general technical background of the invention EP 3 354 354 A1 , DE 11 2016 001 682 T5 , DE 10 2007 036 585 A1 , DE 195 08 725 A1 , US 5,627,571 A , US 2005/237357 A1 , KR 2011 000 1443 A , EP 0 110 634 A2 and DE 10 2016 206 995 A1 .

Finally revealed DE 199 36 790 A1 a cleaning device according to the preamble of claim 1 and an operating method therefor according to the preamble of claim 12.

The invention is therefore based on the object of solving this problem.

This object is achieved by a cleaning device according to the invention according to the main claim and a corresponding operating method.

The invention includes the general technical teaching of integrating a cleaning device for an application device (e.g. print head) and a jet testing device in a single structural unit. This initially offers the advantage that only a single device is required for blast testing and cleaning. Another advantage is that one of two collecting devices for paint residues can be dispensed with, since otherwise, with separate devices, a collecting device is required for the cleaning device and for the jet testing device. In addition, the invention enables a central solution for painting booths and a complete elimination of leaching or dry separation.

With regard to the design features of the cleaning device, the state of the art can be used in some cases, for example DE 10 2010 052 698 A1 ,

DE 10 2014 006 647 A1 and EP 1 671 706 A2 can be referred. The content of these patent applications is therefore to be attributed in full to the present description with regard to the structural design of the cleaning device.

With regard to the structural design of the beam testing device, reference can also be made in part to the state of the art, as described, for example, in DE 10 2016 014 951 A1 is described. The content of this earlier patent application is therefore to be attributed in full to the present description with regard to the structural design of the beam testing device.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the application device to be cleaned and measured is a print head, for example DE 10 2013 002 412 A1 is known. The content of this patent application is therefore to be attributed in full to the present description as far as the structural design of the application device is concerned. At this point, however, it should be mentioned that the term "print head" used in the context of the invention serves to distinguish it from atomizers, which apply a spray cloud of the atomized coating agent (eg paint). In contrast, a print head in the sense of the invention emits several narrowly defined jets of coating agent, which can, for example, have a beam expansion angle of less than 5° or 2°, 1°, 0.5° or 0.1°. Such print heads are essentially overspray-free, meaning the application efficiency is practically 100%.

It should be mentioned here that the coating agent jets can optionally consist of individual, separate coating agent drops or of a sequence of coating agent drops. Alternatively, there is the possibility that the individual coating agent jets are connected in the longitudinal direction of the jet, although these alternatives are known from the prior art cited at the beginning and therefore do not need to be described in more detail.

According to the invention, the beam testing device for detecting the coating agent jets has a sensor, in particular an optical sensor, such as a camera or a high-speed camera.

When checking the coating agent jets using an optical sensor Beam testing device has an illumination source, preferably a backlight source, which emits a light beam onto the optical sensor, the coating agent rays to be checked running in the beam path of the light beam between the backlight source and the optical sensor, so that the optical sensor checks the coating agent rays in the backlight.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the light beam from the backlight source runs transversely (e.g. at right angles, orthogonally) to the coating agent beams to be tested. The light beam from the backlight source runs transversely, in particular essentially at right angles, to the beam plane.

In another exemplary embodiment, the light beam from the backlight source runs tangentially, in particular essentially at an angle of 0°, to the beam plane.

It is also possible to check both alignments of the backlight source to the beam plane one after the other. To do this, either the opening in the cleaning device must be large enough to accommodate the beams in both orientations or there must be two separate openings with different orientations. Furthermore, it is possible to make the collecting device movable, in particular rotatable, in order to be able to check the different orientations of the jet plane.

It should also be mentioned that the application device (e.g. print head) typically emits several parallel jets of coating agent that lie in a common jet plane. Here, the light beam from the backlight source is preferably aligned transversely (e.g. at right angles, orthogonally) to the beam plane of the coating agent jets.

Furthermore, it should be mentioned that the beam testing device preferably has an optical diffuser which is arranged in the beam path of the backlight source between the backlight source and the coating agent jets to be tested, so that the backlight is diffuse.

The diffuser can, for example, be arranged in a stationary manner, so that diffuse backlight is used in every operating state. However, it is alternatively also possible for the diffuser to be arranged to be movable and to be able to be moved either into the beam path of the backlight source or out of the beam path of the backlight source in order to selectively illuminate the backlight to be delivered diffusely or in bundled form.

• Parallelität der Beschichtungsmittelstrahlen relativ zueinander. Dies kann ebenfalls sinnvoll sein, um beispielsweise ein Zusetzen der Beschichtungsmitteldüsen des Druckkopfs zu erkennen, da die Beschichtungsmittelstrahlen dann - wie bereits vorstehend erwähnt - leicht schräg austreten können.
• Verzögerungszeit der einzelnen Beschichtungsmittelstrahlen zwischen einem Ventilöffnungsbefehl und der anschließenden Erfassung des zugehörigen Beschichtungsmittelstrahls, wobei die Verzögerungszeit individuell für die einzelnen Beschichtungsmittelstrahlen ermittelt wird. Bei der Ansteuerung der einzelnen Ventile für die einzelnen Beschichtungsmitteldüsen des Druckkopfs kann diese individuelle Verzögerungszeit dann kompensatorisch berücksichtigt werden.

In addition, it should be mentioned that the jet testing device preferably checks the coating agent jets in a specific inspection area (ROI: Region of Interest), the spatially limited inspection area preferably being immediately after the exit from the application device, that is, immediately in front of the nozzle openings of the application device, for example at a distance of 0-100mm, especially from 0-70mm, especially from 0-40mm. In addition, an evaluation unit is provided, which is connected to the sensor on the input side and determines at least one of the following variables from the sensor signal:

• Parallelism of the coating agent jets relative to each other. This can also be useful, for example, to detect clogging of the coating agent nozzles of the print head, since the coating agent jets can then - as already mentioned above - emerge slightly at an angle.
• Delay time of the individual coating agent jets between a valve opening command and the subsequent detection of the associated coating agent jet, the delay time being determined individually for the individual coating agent jets. When controlling the individual valves for the individual coating agent nozzles of the print head, this individual delay time can then be taken into account in a compensatory manner.

• Größe der einzelnen Beschichtungsmitteltropfen des Beschichtungsmittelstrahls.
• Abstand der benachbarten Beschichtungsmitteltropfen entlang dem Beschichtungsmittelstrahl.
• Anzahl der Beschichtungsmittelstrahlen, die aus dem Applikationsgerät austreten. Auf diese Weise kann beispielsweise das Zusetzen einer Beschichtungsmitteldüse erkannt werden, wenn die Anzahl der ermittelten Beschichtungsmittelstrahlen nicht der Anzahl der Beschichtungsmitteldüsen entspricht.
• Austrittswinkel der Beschichtungsmittelstrahlen. Auf diese Weise kann ein beginnendes Zusetzen einer Beschichtungsmitteldüse erkannt werden, da sich dies oftmals in einem leicht schrägen Austreten des jeweiligen Beschichtungsmittelstrahls äußert.
• Zerfallslänge der Beschichtungsmittelstrahlen, wobei die Zerfallslänge die Länge der zunächst zusammenhängenden Beschichtungsmittelstrahlen ist, ab der die Beschichtungsmittelstrahlen in einzelne Beschichtungsmitteltropfen zerfällt. Dies kann ebenfalls sinnvoll sein, um beispielsweise eine beginnende Verstopfung der Beschichtungsmitteldüsen des Druckkopfs zu erkennen, da ein Zusetzen der Beschichtungsmitteldüsen in einer geringeren Zerfallslänge resultieren.

In addition, the evaluation unit can also determine at least one of the following variables:

• Size of the individual coating agent drops of the coating agent jet.
• Distance of the neighboring coating agent drops along the coating agent jet.
• Number of coating agent jets emerging from the application device. In this way, for example, the clogging of a coating agent nozzle can be detected if the number of coating agent jets determined does not correspond to the number of coating agent nozzles.
• Exit angle of the coating agent jets. In this way, the beginning of clogging of a coating agent nozzle can be detected, since this often manifests itself in a slightly oblique exit of the respective coating agent jet.
• Decay length of the coating agent jets, whereby the decay length is the length of the initially connected coating agent jets, from which the coating agent jets disintegrate into individual coating agent drops. This can also be useful, for example, to detect the beginning of clogging of the coating agent nozzles of the print head, since clogging of the coating agent nozzles results in a shorter decay length.

With regard to the structural design of the cleaning device, it should be mentioned that the cleaning device preferably has a cleaning container in order to accommodate the application device or at least the coating agent jets emitted by the application device during cleaning. The cleaning container preferably has an insertion opening, which is preferably arranged on the top of the cleaning container in order to receive the application device to be cleaned or at least the coating agent jets emitted by the application device. The insertion opening is preferably sufficiently large to be able to accommodate all of the coating agent jets from the application device without the coating agent jets contaminating the outer surface of the cleaning device.

In a special embodiment, the cleaning device has at least one further opening into which the application device dispenses the paint during the measurement, i.e. one opening for the cleaning process and at least one additional opening for the jet testing process.

At least one cleaning nozzle is preferably arranged in the cleaning container in order to spray the application device from the outside with a cleaning fluid. For example, the cleaning fluid can be a rinsing agent for water-based fluids or for fluids based on organic solvents. This also includes mixtures that, in addition to water and/or organic solvents, also contain other substances, such as wetting agents, co-solvents or others Additives. The cleaning nozzle can be arranged stationary in the cleaning container. Preferably However, the at least one cleaning nozzle is movably arranged in the cleaning container, for example rotatable or pivotable, which can improve the cleaning effect. The cleaning nozzle can also be moved linearly (back and forth) using a cylinder, for example. The cleaning container can have a discharge on its underside in order to be able to drain away residues of the coating agent and the cleaning agent into a return system. Furthermore, it should be mentioned that at least one cleaning nozzle is preferably arranged in the cleaning container in order to blow the application device from the outside with a drying gas (eg compressed air). The drying nozzle can be mounted rotatably or pivotally, similar to the cleaning nozzle, or can be moved linearly (back and forth).

The cleaning nozzle preferably emits a flat jet of cleaning agent from a substantially linear nozzle arrangement, for example from a slot nozzle or from numerous outlet nozzles which are arranged in a row of nozzles. The application device can also have several application nozzles that are arranged in a row of nozzles. It is advantageous here if the linear nozzle arrangement of the cleaning nozzles is aligned essentially parallel to the row of nozzles of the application nozzles. The flat jet of the cleaning agent preferably hits the row of nozzles of the application nozzles obliquely from below, at an angle of 5-45°, in particular 15-35°, based on the jet direction of the application nozzles. It is advantageous here if the point of impact of the cleaning agent is not directed directly at the application nozzles in order to prevent cleaning agent from entering the application nozzles or rinsing out paint from the application nozzles.

Regarding the drying nozzle, it should be mentioned that it can also be stationary or movable. With a movable arrangement of the drying nozzle, it can be moved, for example, by a pneumatic linear cylinder. The drying nozzle also emits the drying gas, preferably in the form of a flat jet from a substantially linear nozzle arrangement, in particular from a slot nozzle or from numerous outlet nozzles which are arranged in a row of nozzles. Here, the linear nozzle arrangement of the drying nozzles is preferably aligned transversely to the row of nozzles of the application nozzles.

In addition, the cleaning device can have a moisturizing device to keep the outlet nozzles of the application device moist. Such a moisturizing device can, for example, have a tub, a fleece, a sponge and/or a porous material are soaked with a solvent or have the solvent flowing through them. For example, the moisturizing device can also have a supply line and/or an outlet for the solvent.

Furthermore, it should be mentioned that the invention does not only claim protection for the cleaning device according to the invention with the integrated beam testing device. Rather, the invention also claims protection for a coating system according to the invention with the cleaning device according to the invention and with a multi-axis application robot for moving the application device and a control, the control controlling both the application robot and the cleaning device and the beam testing device. It is possible for the coating system to have a painting booth without washing out and without dry deposition.

Finally, the invention also claims protection for a corresponding operating method, the individual steps of the operating method according to the invention already emerging from the preceding description, so that a separate description of the operating method according to the invention can be dispensed with.

However, it should be mentioned that within the scope of the operating method according to the invention it is possible for cleaning and beam measurement to take place several times in succession. The cleaning of the application device (e.g. print head) is then repeated until the subsequent jet check of the applied coating agent jets shows that the jet is being emitted properly. With this cyclical repetition of cleaning and jet measurement, it is possible that increasingly intensive cleaning programs are used.

Figur 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Reinigungsgeräts mit einer integrierten Strahlprüfungseinrichtung,

Figur 2

eine andere schematische Darstellung des Reinigungsgeräts gemäß Figur 1,

Figur 3

eine vereinfachte Aufsicht auf die Einführöffnung des Reinigungsgeräts gemäß den Figuren 1 und 2,

Figur 4A

eine schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Reinigungsgeräts, wobei ein Roboter einen Druckkopf in einer Reinigungsposition positioniert,

Figur 4B

eine Abwandlung von Figur 4A, wobei der Roboter den Druckkopf in einer Prüfposition positioniert,

Figur 4C

das Betriebsverfahren des Reinigungsgeräts gemäß den Figuren 4A-4B in Form eines Flussdiagramms,

Figur 5

eine schematische Darstellung einer Abwandlung des Reinigungsgeräts gemäß Figur 1, sowie

Figur 6

eine schematische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Beschichtungsanlage.

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

Figure 1

a schematic representation of a cleaning device according to the invention with an integrated beam testing device,

Figure 2

another schematic representation of the cleaning device according to Figure 1 ,

Figure 3

a simplified supervision of the insertion opening of the cleaning device according to Figures 1 and 2 ,

Figure 4A

a schematic representation of a cleaning device according to the invention, wherein a robot positions a print head in a cleaning position,

Figure 4B

a variation of Figure 4A , where the robot positions the print head in a test position,

Figure 4C

the operating procedure of the cleaning device in accordance with the Figures 4A-4B in the form of a flowchart,

Figure 5

a schematic representation of a modification of the cleaning device according to Figure 1, and

Figure 6

a schematic representation of a coating system according to the invention.

Figure 1 first shows a print head 1, which applies several coating agent jets 2 of a coating agent, the coating agent jets 2 being aligned equidistantly and parallel to one another. Only five of the coating agent jets 2 are shown in the drawing. In fact, however, the print head 1 can emit a significantly larger number of coating agent jets 2. It should be mentioned here that the coating agent jets 2 are emitted from coating agent nozzles which are arranged next to one another in a linear row of nozzles in the print head 1.

In the drawing, the coating agent jets 2 are emitted into an insertion opening 3 of a cleaning device 4, the cleaning device 4 being shown only schematically.

The cleaning device 4 has a drain 5 on its underside for removing residues of coating agent and detergent.

The print head 1 can be cleaned in the cleaning device 4. For this purpose, the print head 1 is lowered onto the cleaning device 4, as will be described in detail.

In Figure 1 However, the print head 1 is in a test position in which the print head 1 is lifted from the cleaning device 4. In this test position, a beam testing device structurally integrated into the cleaning device 4 enables the measurement of the coating agent jets 2, which are emitted by the print head 1.

The beam testing device initially has a backlight source 6, which directs a light beam 7 through a diffuser 8, so that the coating agent jets 2 are illuminated with a diffuse backlight.

Furthermore, the beam testing device comprises a camera 9, which is arranged in the beam path of the light beam 7 of the backlight source 6 behind the coating agent jets 2 and measures the coating agent jets 2.

The light beam 7 of the backlight source runs at an angle β = 90 ° to the coating agent jets 2 and at an angle α = 90 ° to the row of nozzles in the print head 1.

The image signal from the camera 9 is then forwarded to an evaluation unit 10, which evaluates the image signal and can, for example, determine the number of coating agent jets 2, the exit angle of the coating agent jets 2, the decay length of the coating agent jets 2 and other variables.

It should be mentioned here that the beam testing device is drawn separately from the cleaning device 4 in the drawing. However, this only serves to illustrate how the beam testing device works. In fact, the beam testing device and the cleaning device 4 form a structural unit.

The Figures 2 and 3 show other views of the overall device Figure 1 , so that reference is made to the above description to avoid repetition.

The following is now the exemplary embodiment according to Figures 4A-4C described, where This exemplary embodiment partially corresponds to the exemplary embodiment described above, so that to avoid repetition, reference is made to the above description, with the same reference numerals being used for corresponding details.

From the Figures 4A and 4B It can be seen that the print head 1 is moved by a multi-axis painting robot 11 with serial robot kinematics, the structure of the painting robot 11 itself being known from the prior art and therefore does not need to be described in more detail.

Figure 4A shows how the painting robot 11 positions the print head 1 in a cleaning position above the cleaning device 4. In this cleaning position, the print head 1 is located directly above the cleaning device 4 or even in direct contact with it. In this cleaning position, the outlet nozzles of the print head 1 can be cleaned by a cleaning fluid that is sprayed from the inside against the outlet nozzles.

Figure 4B shows, however, how the painting robot 11 positions the print head 1 in a test position in which the print head 1 is lifted from the cleaning device 4. In this test position, the coating agent jets 2 still enter completely into the insertion opening 3 of the cleaning device 4, without the outer surfaces of the cleaning device 4 being contaminated by the coating agent jets 2. The camera 9 can then measure the coating agent jets 2, as already explained above.

The following is the flowchart according to Figure 4C explained.

In a first step S1, the print head 1 is moved into the cleaning position according to Figure 4A emotional.

In a subsequent step S2, the print head 1 is then cleaned in the cleaning position by the cleaning device 4.

The painting robot 11 then moves the print head 1 in a step S3 into a test position, which is in Figure 4B is shown.

In a step S4, the print head 1 then ejects the coating agent jets 2.

In a step S5, the coating agent jets 2 are then measured by the camera 9.

If the evaluation in a subsequent step S7 then shows that the coating agent jets 2 are not delivered properly, steps S1-S6 are repeated with renewed cleaning.

If, on the other hand, the evaluation shows that the coating agent jets 2 are delivered properly, the print head 1 is ready for normal application of the coating agent in a step S7.

Figure 5 shows a modification of the exemplary embodiment Figure 1 , so to avoid repetitions refer to the above description Figure 1 we referred, whereby the same reference numbers are used for corresponding details.

A special feature of this exemplary embodiment is that the light beam 7 of the backlight source 6 runs at an angle α=0° in the beam plane of the coating agent beams 2.

Figure 6 shows a schematic representation of a coating system according to the invention with a cleaning device 12, which is controlled by a higher-level controller 14 via a solenoid valve cabinet 13. Furthermore shows Figure 5 a painting robot 15, which guides an application device and is controlled by the controller 14.

Finally, the drawing shows a beam testing device 16, which is used to measure the coating agent jets that are emitted by the application device, as described above.

The dashed line makes it clear that the beam testing device 16 and the cleaning device 12 form a structural unit.

It should be mentioned here that the control controls both the cleaning device 12 as well as the jet testing device 16 and the painting robot 15.

List of reference symbols:

1

Printhead

2

Coating agent blasting

3

Insertion opening of the cleaning device

4

cleaning device

5

Sequence

6

Backlight source

7

Light beam from the backlight source

8th

diffuser

9

camera

10

Evaluation unit

11

Painting robots

12

Cleaning device

13

Solenoid valve cabinet

14

steering

16

Beam testing facility

α

Angle α=90° or α=0° between the light beam of the backlight source and the plane of the coating agent jets

β

Angle β=90° between the light beam of the backlight source and the row of nozzles of the coating agent nozzles

Claims (13)

1. Cleaning device (4; 12) for cleaning an application device (1) which, in operation, applies coating agent jets (2) of a coating agent to a component, with

   a) a jet checking device (6-10; 16) integrated in the cleaning device (4; 12) in order to check the coating agent jets (2) emitted by the application device (1), so that the cleaning device (4; 12) forms a structural unit with the jet checking device (6-10; 16),

   b) wherein the jet checking device (6-10; 16) comprises a sensor (9) for detecting the coating agent jets (2),

   c) wherein the jet checking device (6-10; 16) comprises an evaluation unit (10) which is connected at the input side to the sensor (9),
   characterized in

   d) that the evaluation unit (10) determines from the sensor signal at least one of the following variables:

   d1) parallelism of the coating agent jets (2) relative to each other,

   d2) delay time of the individual coating agent jets (2) between a valve opening command and the detection of the associated coating agent jet (2), the delay time being determined individually for the individual coating agent jets (2).
2. Cleaning device (4; 12) according to claim 1, characterized in that the jet checking device (6-10; 16) comprises a backlight source (6) which emits a light beam (7) onto the optical sensor (9), the coating agent jets (2) to be checked running in the beam path of the light beam (7) between the backlight source (6) and the optical sensor (9), so that the optical sensor (9) checks the coating agent jets (2) in the backlight.
3. Cleaning device (4; 12) according to claim 2, characterized in

   a) that the light beam (7) of the backlight source (6) runs transversely, in particular essentially at right angles, to the coating agent jets (2) to be checked, and/or

   b) that the coating agent jets (2) run in a common jet plane, and/or

   c) that the light beam (7) of the back light source (6) runs transversely, in particular essentially at right angles, to the jet plane, and/or

   d) that the light beam (7) of the back light source (6) runs in the jet plane or at an acute angle to the jet plane, in particular at an angle (α) of less than 5°, 2° or 1° to the jet plane, and/or

   e) that the jet checking device (6-10; 16) has a diffuser (8) which is arranged in the beam path of the back light source (6) between the back light source (6) and the coating agent jets (2) to be checked, so that the back light is diffuse, and that the diffuser (8) is arranged movably and can be moved selectively into the beam path of the back light source (6) or out of the beam path of the back light source (6) in order to deliver the back light selectively in diffuse or bundled form.
4. Cleaning device (4; 12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the jet checking device (6-10; 16d) checks the coating agent jets (2) in a specific checking area, in particular immediately after it emerges from the application device (1).
5. Cleaning device (4; 12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in

   a) that the cleaning device (4; 12) comprises a cleaning container for receiving the application device (1) during cleaning, and

   b) that the cleaning container comprises an insertion opening (3), in particular on the upper side of the cleaning container, in order to receive the coating agent jets (2) and/or to be able to insert the application device (1) into the cleaning container for cleaning, and

   c) that at least one cleaning nozzle is arranged in the cleaning container for spraying the application device (1) from the outside with a cleaning fluid, and

   d) that the at least one cleaning nozzle is arranged stationary or movable, in particular rotatable, linear or pivotable, and

   e) that the cleaning container has a discharge (5) on its underside for discharging residues of the coating agent and cleaning agent, and

   f) that at least one drying nozzle is arranged in the cleaning container in order to blow a drying gas onto the application device (1) from the outside, and

   g) that the at least one drying nozzle is arranged stationary or movable, in particular rotatable, linear or pivotable.
6. Cleaning device according to claim 5, characterized in

   a) that the cleaning container comprises a first insertion opening for receiving the at least one coating agent jet during cleaning of the application device, and

   b) that the cleaning container comprises a second insertion opening for receiving the at least one coating agent jet during jet checking.
7. Cleaning device (4; 12) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in

   a) that the cleaning nozzle emits a flat jet of the cleaning agent from a substantially linear nozzle arrangement, in particular from a slot nozzle or numerous outlet nozzles in a row of nozzles,

   b) that the application device (1) has a plurality of application nozzles arranged in a nozzle row,

   c) that the linear nozzle arrangement of the cleaning nozzles is aligned essentially parallel to the nozzle row of the application nozzles,

   d) that the flat jet of the cleaning agent is preferably directed obliquely from below onto the row of nozzles of the application nozzles, in particular at an angle of 5°-45° or 10°-30°, and/or

   e) that the flat jet of the cleaning agent is preferably not directed directly onto the application nozzles.
8. Cleaning device (4; 12) according to claim 5, 6 or 7, characterized in

   a) that the drying nozzle is movable,

   b) that at least one pneumatic linear cylinder is preferably provided for moving the drying nozzle,

   c) that the drying nozzle preferably emits a flat jet of the drying gas from a substantially linear nozzle arrangement, in particular from a slot nozzle or numerous outlet nozzles in a row of nozzles,

   d) that the linear nozzle arrangement of the drying nozzles is preferably aligned transversely to the nozzle row of the application nozzles.
9. Cleaning device (4; 12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in

   a) that the cleaning device (4; 12) has a moisture-retaining device for keeping the outlet nozzles of the application device (1) moist,

   b) that the moisture-retaining device preferably comprises a trough, a nonwoven fabric, a sponge and/or a porous material, which are impregnated with a solvent or through which the solvent flows,

   c) that the moisture-retaining device preferably comprises a supply line and/or a discharge line for the solvent.
10. Cleaning device (4; 12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in

    a) that the application device (1) does not emit a spray mist of the coating agent, but a spatially narrowly limited coating agent jet (2), in particular with a jet widening angle of less than 10°, 5° or 2°, and/or

    b) that the application device (1) operates essentially without overspray, and/or

    c) that the application device (1) is a print head, and/or

    d) that the coating agent jet (2) consists of individual coating agent drops or a sequence of coating agent drops or is contiguous in the longitudinal direction of the jet.
11. Coating installation for coating components, in particular motor vehicle body components, having

    a) a multi-axis application robot (11) for moving the application device (1),

    b) the cleaning device (4; 12) according to one of the preceding claims, and

    c) a controller (14) which controls the application robot (11) and the cleaning device (4; 12) and the jet checking device (6-10; 16),

    d) wherein the coating apparatus preferably comprises a painting booth without washout and without dry cut-off.
12. Operating method for a cleaning device (4; 12) for cleaning an application device (1), comprising the following steps:

    a) positioning the application device (1) in a cleaning position in or on the cleaning device (4; 12), in particular at a distance from the cleaning device (4; 12) of less than 10mm, 5mm or 1mm or with direct contact between the application device (1) and the cleaning device (4; 12), and

    b) cleaning of the application device (1) in the cleaning position by the cleaning device (4; 12),

    c) checking the coating agent jets (2) emitted by the application device (1) by means of a jet checking device (6-10; 16) integrated in the cleaning device (4; 12), wherein the jet checking device (6-10; 16) comprises a sensor (9) for detecting the coating agent jets (2) and an evaluation unit (10) which is connected at the input side to the sensor (9),
    characterized in

    d) that the evaluation unit (10) determines from the sensor signal at least one of the following variables:

    d1) parallelism of the coating agent jets (2) relative to each other,

    d2) delay time of the individual coating agent jets (2) between a valve opening command and the detection of the associated coating agent jet (2), the delay time being determined individually for the individual coating agent jets (2).
13. Operating method according to claim 12, characterized by the following step:

    a) positioning the application device (1) in a checking position in or on the cleaning device (4; 12) for subsequent inspection of the coating agent jet (2), wherein the checking position is different from the cleaning position, and/or

    a1) that the checking position is above the cleaning position and the coating agent jets are delivered into the cleaning opening, and/or

    a2) that the at least one checking position is adjacent to the cleaning position and the coating agent jets are emitted into at least one additional opening,

    b) repeating the cleaning and the subsequent inspection until the checking shows that the jet delivery is proper, in particular with an increasing intensity of the cleaning.

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