EP4175770A1

EP4175770A1 - Treatment station, treatment unit and method for treating workpieces

Info

Publication number: EP4175770A1
Application number: EP21739956.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tobias JÄGER; Michael Lauer; Marek DOWNAR; Klaus HEINSOHN; Oliver SEYBOTH
Original assignee: Duerr Systems AG
Current assignee: Duerr Systems AG
Priority date: 2020-07-01
Filing date: 2021-06-30
Publication date: 2023-05-10
Also published as: WO2022002311A1; DE102020208247A1; JP2023531785A; CN216779588U; US20240033769A1; KR20230034232A; CN113877866A; DE112021003542A5

Abstract

In order to provide a device and a method for treating workpieces (102), which allow optimum treatment of the workpieces, a treatment station (114) comprises a treatment chamber (136) that can be flooded for the purpose of treating the workpiece.

Description

Treatment station, treatment system and method for treating workpieces

The present invention relates to the field of workpiece treatment, in particular the cleaning and coating of workpieces, such as vehicle bodies or vehicle parts.

To treat workpieces, they can be immersed in immersion tanks, for example. The workpieces are lowered, for example, into a dip basin and removed from the dip basin after a treatment step. Here, a rotation of the workpiece for optimal treatment of the same can be provided even in hard-to-reach places.

In such immersion treatment systems, it can be disadvantageous if work pieces of different sizes and / or shapes are to be treated and / or if different treatment times are provided for different work pieces.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing devices and methods which enable an optimized workpiece treatment using cost-effective components.

This object is achieved by the device and the method according to the independent claims.

The device is in particular a treatment station or a treatment system for treating workpieces.

A treatment station preferably comprises a treatment container which surrounds a treatment space for receiving the workpieces. Furthermore, it can be provided that a treatment station comprises several such treatment containers.

It is preferably provided that the treatment space can be flooded with a fluid.

The fluid is in particular a treatment fluid, for example a cleaning fluid, in particular for degreasing the workpieces. It can also be provided that the fluid is a coating fluid, for example for phosphating or painting the workpieces.

It can be provided that the treatment container comprises at least one access opening for introducing the workpieces into the treatment room and / or for removing the workpieces from the treatment room.

The treatment container preferably comprises a closing device for the optional closing and opening of the at least one access opening.

It can be provided that the treatment container comprises a single access opening for introducing the workpieces into the treatment room and for removing the workpieces from the treatment room.

Alternatively, it can be provided that the treatment container comprises an access opening for introducing the workpieces into the treatment room and a further access opening for removing the workpieces from the treatment room, the access openings then being arranged in particular on opposite sides or ends or end walls of the treatment container. It can be advantageous if at least one access opening is arranged and / or formed in one or more side walls of the treatment container, in particular in one or more end walls of the treatment container.

The treatment container is in particular essentially cuboid and preferably comprises a, for example, closed top wall, a bottom wall, two or three closed side walls and two further or one further side wall which is provided with at least one access opening, the at least one access opening by means of the closing device is preferably completely closable.

It can be favorable if the closing device is used to close the at least one access opening in a fluid-tight manner.

For this purpose, the locking device comprises in particular a locking element which, for example, is designed to be self-locking and / or is provided with a self-locking lock and / or with a self-locking seal.

Furthermore, it can be provided that at least one toggle lever is used or can be used to ensure the sealing effect of the closing device, in particular in order to press a closing element onto a sealing device.

It can be advantageous if the locking device comprises a lifting device for raising and lowering a locking element of the locking device, in particular for lifting the locking element in order to bring it into an open position and / or for lowering the locking element in order to bring it into a closed position bring.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the closing element can be lowered by means of the lifting device in order to bring it into an open position, and / or can be raised in order to bring it into a closed position. Such a closing element can for example be a gate, in particular a lock gate.

The closing element can, for example, be designed in one piece and can be moved as a whole. As an alternative to this, it can be provided that the closing element is designed in several parts, the parts of the closing element preferably being movable independently of one another or executing different movements from one another in order to close or open the access opening.

As an alternative or in addition, it can be provided that the closing device comprises a sliding device for, for example, lateral displacement of the closing element in order to bring it either into an open position or into a closed position.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the locking device comprises a pivoting device for pivoting a locking element of the locking device, the locking element being pivotable in particular about an at least approximately horizontal pivot axis. As an alternative to this, it can be provided that the closing element can be pivoted about an at least approximately vertical pivot axis.

It can be advantageous if one or more closing elements, in particular at least one flap element, comprise or form one or more conveyor elements of a conveyor device, in particular one or more guide elements of a guide device of a conveyor device. In particular, it can be provided that one or more roller elements of a conveyor device designed as a roller conveyor are arranged on one or more closing elements. It can be advantageous if one or more closing elements of the closing device form part of the conveying device or carry or receive part of the conveying device.

The locking device preferably comprises a locking drive for automatically moving a locking element of the locking device, in particular in order to automatically bring the locking element into the open position and / or into the closed position.

The closing drive can, for example, act electrically or pneumatically or hydraulically on the closing element in order to bring it either into an open position or into a closed position. Here, for example, one or more electric motors and / or spindle gears and / or push chains and / or cable winches can be provided for moving the closure element.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the force of gravity is used to move the closing element, for example by mechanically coupling two closing elements, whereby one closing element is lowered and a further closing element is thereby raised or at least its raising is simplified.

It can be favorable if the treatment station comprises a fluid tank for receiving a fluid, in particular a treatment fluid.

For flooding the treatment room, the fluid can preferably be introduced from the fluid tank into the treatment room by means of a fluid guide.

To empty the treatment room, the fluid can preferably be guided back into the fluid tank by means of the fluid guide from the treatment room. A direct connection between the treatment room and the fluid tank can be provided for both flooding and emptying. As an alternative to this, one or more intermediate stations or other devices through which flow is to be passed can be provided.

The treatment station preferably comprises a conveyor device for conveying the workpieces, in particular for bringing the workpieces into the treatment room and / or for removing the workpieces from the treatment room and / or for conveying the workpieces from one treatment station to the next.

It can be favorable if the conveyor device comprises one or more roller conveyor, lifting conveyor, sliding conveyor and / or storage and retrieval units for conveying and / or moving the workpieces, in particular for bringing the workpieces into the treatment room and / or for removing the workpieces from the treatment room and / or for conveying the workpieces from one treatment station to the next.

As an alternative or in addition to this, it can be provided that the conveyor device comprises one or more driverless transport systems for conveying and / or moving the workpieces, in particular for bringing the workpieces into the treatment room and / or for removing the workpieces from the treatment room and / or for conveying of the workpieces from one treatment station to the next.

In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the conveyor device comprises several conveyor device sections with different conveyor technology in terms of a drive device and / or in terms of receiving and guiding the workpieces, the workpieces preferably being conveyed by means of a first conveyor device section into an area in front of a treatment container of a treatment station are and wherein the workpieces by means of one of these different second conveyor section can be introduced into the treatment room of the treatment station.

For example, it can be provided that outside the treatment rooms one or more roller conveyors are provided for conveying the workpieces and that the workpieces can be pushed into and / or pushed out of the treatment rooms by means of one or more sliding conveyors.

It can be favorable if one or more workpieces are arranged on a workpiece carrier. A workpiece carrier is in particular a skid, preferably for receiving a workpiece designed as a vehicle body.

The workpieces are then preferably conveyed and / or moved together with the workpiece carrier, so that the phrase "conveying the workpieces" or "moving the workpieces" can also mean conveying or moving at least one workpiece carrier together with at least one workpiece arranged on it .

In one embodiment of the invention it can be provided that the workpieces are arranged, in particular fixed, on the workpiece carrier through an entire treatment unit of the treatment system.

As an alternative to this, it can be provided that the workpieces are conveyed through an entire treatment unit of the treatment system without a workpiece carrier. The workpieces can then be transferred, in particular in the treatment rooms, to stationary workpiece holders provided for this purpose, or can be placed on the same and / or fixed thereon. The workpieces can preferably be moved along a horizontal plane by means of the conveying device, in particular can be brought into the treatment room and / or can be removed from the treatment room.

In particular, it can be provided that the workpieces can be moved at ground level by means of the conveying device, in particular brought into the treatment room and / or brought out of the treatment room.

It can be favorable if the conveyor device comprises one or more drive units for moving the workpieces, the drive units, in particular all drive units of the conveyor device, preferably being arranged outside the treatment room, at least while a treatment step is being carried out (workpiece treatment).

It can be advantageous if the conveyor device comprises a guide device for load-bearing reception of the workpieces, the guide device extending from outside the treatment room into the treatment room, in particular through at least one access opening.

The guide device is preferably arranged at least in sections within the treatment room, even if a treatment step (workpiece treatment) is being carried out.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the conveyor device comprises a guide device for the load-bearing reception of the workpieces, the guide device comprising both at least one guide section arranged outside the treatment room and at least one guide section section arranged inside the treatment room, the workpieces being fed through the access opening by a outside half of the treatment room arranged guide route section a guide path section arranged within the treatment room can be transferred, in particular by driving the workpieces by means of one or more drive units.

A drive unit can for example be a pushing device or a gripping device or a roller device.

The workpieces can preferably be brought out (removed) from the treatment room by means of the same drive unit or a different drive unit after a treatment step has been carried out.

In one embodiment of the invention it can be provided that the conveying device comprises one or more drive units which act on a guide section of the conveying device from outside the treatment space. A drive unit can for example be an electric motor or comprise an electric motor.

The one or more drive units are preferably coupled purely mechanically to the guide path section. In particular, it can be provided that a coupling device establishes a mechanical connection between the one or more drive units on the one hand and the guide section of the conveying device on the other hand. By means of the one or more drive units arranged outside the treatment room, in particular a workpiece guided within the treatment room on the guide path section can then be driven, preferably linearly displaced.

It can be favorable if the one or more drive units are arranged above a maximum filling level or above a maximum filling height of the treatment room and / or on an outside of a side wall of a treatment container surrounding the treatment room. One or more drive units are preferably arranged on an end area of the treatment container facing away from an access opening of the treatment container and / or in an area of a side wall of the treatment container close to the ceiling.

The coupling device is preferably passed through the side wall, preferably at the level of the one or more drive units. A lead-through opening for carrying out the coupling device is preferably arranged and / or formed above a maximum fill level or a maximum fill height of the treatment room. A coupling element of the coupling device passed through the side wall is preferably a rotating shaft or coupling shaft.

The rotating shaft or coupling shaft is preferably connected by means of a tension element, in particular by means of a belt and / or a chain, for example a duplex chain, to a further rotating shaft or coupling shaft which is arranged in the area of the guide section and ultimately acts directly or indirectly on the workpiece to move the same.

As an alternative or in addition, one embodiment of the invention can provide that the treatment station comprises one or more sensor devices which enable status and / or position detection within the treatment room from outside the treatment room. For example, correct positioning of a workpiece within the treatment room can be determined or monitored by means of a sensor device.

The one or more sensor devices preferably each include one or more sensor elements which are arranged outside the treatment room and which are preferably coupled purely mechanically to one or more transmitter elements within the treatment room. In particular, it can be provided that a coupling device a mechanical connection between the one or more sensor elements on the one hand and the one or more transmitter elements on the other hand. By means of the one or more sensor elements arranged outside the treatment room, in particular a workpiece arranged inside the treatment room can then be detected, preferably its position can be determined or monitored.

It can be favorable if the one or more sensor elements are arranged above a maximum filling level or above a maximum filling height of the treatment room and / or on an outside of a side wall of a treatment container surrounding the treatment room.

One or more sensor elements are preferably arranged in a region of a side wall of the treatment container close to the ceiling.

The coupling device is preferably passed through the side wall, preferably at the level of the one or more sensor elements. A lead-through opening for carrying out the coupling device is preferably arranged and / or formed above a maximum fill level or a maximum fill height of the treatment room. A coupling element of the coupling device passed through the side wall is preferably a rotating shaft or coupling shaft.

The rotating shaft or coupling shaft is preferably connected to a further rotating shaft or coupling shaft by means of a tension element or pressure element, in particular by means of a coupling rod, which is arranged, for example, in a base area and / or in the area of a guide section and is connected to a transmitter element. By actuating the encoder element, for example by rotating the encoder element, a rotation of the further rotating shaft or coupling shaft, thereby for example a vertical displacement of the coupling rod and thereby a rotation of the (upper) rotating shaft or coupling shaft, can be effected, whereby the (upper) rotary shaft or coupling shaft led out of the treatment room finally executes or causes a movement which can be detected by means of the at least one sensor element. By purely mechanical actuation of the coupling device, a change in the alignment or some other movement of the transmitter element can thus be detected by means of the one or more sensor elements.

It can be advantageous if all bearing points that come into contact with fluid, in particular treatment fluid, during operation of the treatment station are designed as lubrication-free and / or graphite-free components or comprise exclusively lubrication-free and / or graphite-free components. In particular, all plain bearings and / or roller bearings are preferably designed to be lubricant-free and / or graphite-free.

In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that all bearing points that come into contact with fluid, in particular treatment fluid, during operation of the treatment station are designed as sintered bronze bushings and / or plastic elements or comprise sintered bronze bushings and / or plastic elements.

All components that come into contact with fluid, in particular treatment fluid, during operation of the treatment station are preferably designed for permanent retention and / or contact with the fluid, for example by choosing stainless steel as the material, in particular V4A.

Preferably no electrical components are arranged within the treatment room, in particular within an interior of the treatment container.

It can be advantageous if the conveying device for conveying workpieces is designed to be open and / or at least on cover elements for at least partially covering components of the conveying device is waived within the treatment room. This allows a simple flow through and / or flushing of the delivery device. In addition, this preferably optimizes accessibility.

The conveying device preferably comprises a locking device for locking the workpieces in a treatment position within the treatment room.

By means of the locking device, in particular a movement of the workpiece against the direction of gravity can be blocked.

By using such a locking device, it can preferably be avoided that the workpieces float or are otherwise moved or lifted when the treatment room is flooded.

The locking device can, for example, comprise one or more locking elements or folding elements or holding elements which act directly on one or more workpieces or else on one or more workpiece carriers for receiving one or more workpieces.

The one or more workpieces can preferably be fixed to one or more workpiece carriers outside the treatment room and / or before being introduced into the treatment room, in particular can be secured against displacement and / or lifting. As an alternative or in addition to this, it can be provided that the one or more workpieces are fixed within the treatment room and / or together with one or more workpiece carriers, in particular fixed relative to one another and / or relative to the treatment room.

As an alternative or in addition to this, it can be provided that locking takes place in that the at least one workpiece or one workpiece carrier for receiving the at least one workpiece in at least one partially complementary to this trained locking receptacle is conveyed into it, in particular when introducing the at least one workpiece and optionally the workpiece carrier in the treatment room.

It can also be advantageous if the conveying device comprises a movement device for tilting and / or rotating the workpieces, in particular for the temporary change in position relative to an at least approximately horizontal normal position.

The horizontal normal position is in particular a standard alignment of the workpieces during the conveyance and / or treatment of the same. A tilting process and / or a turning process can preferably be carried out by means of the movement device, as a result of which, in particular, a more efficient drainage of fluid from the workpieces can be achieved.

The treatment station can in particular be part of a treatment system, for example a painting system.

In particular, a method for treating workpieces can be carried out by means of the treatment station. The method preferably comprises the following steps:

Introducing a workpiece through an access opening of a treatment container into a treatment space of the treatment container;

Closing the access opening of the treatment tank by means of a locking device;

Flooding of the treatment room with a fluid to carry out a work piece treatment.

After the workpiece treatment has been carried out (treatment step), the fluid is preferably removed from the treatment space, in particular drained off. Furthermore, the workpiece is then preferably removed from the treatment room through one access opening or another access opening.

In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the treatment station comprises one or more built-in elements which are or can be arranged in the treatment room to support a flooding process.

Such built-in elements are, in particular, components different from a conveying device for conveying the workpieces.

Apart from supporting the flooding process, these built-in elements preferably have no further technical effect or serve no further purpose. As an alternative, however, it can also be provided that one or more built-in elements are used to accommodate functional components of the treatment station, for example devices for fluid distribution in the treatment room, measuring devices or other sensor devices, etc.

By means of the built-in elements, the flooding process can preferably be supported with regard to the timing and / or the optimization of a treatment step for treating the workpieces.

It can be favorable if a flow is generated and / or optimized within the treatment room, for example by means of one or more built-in elements and / or by means of one or more supply lines and / or by means of one or more discharge lines and / or by means of one or more pumping devices.

It can be beneficial if one or more nozzles for supplying and / or circulating fluid are arranged in the treatment room, the fluid being directed in particular at areas of the workpiece or workpieces that require additional treatment and / or which are located during flooding Gas accumulations, for example air bubbles, can form. The fluid can preferably be applied by means of the one or more nozzles in such a way that accumulations of gas, for example air bubbles, are expelled.

As an alternative or in addition to this, it can be provided that a lifting and / or lowering movement and / or tilting movement and / or rotary movement of the at least one workpiece to be treated can be carried out by means of the conveyor device and / or by means of movement components provided in addition or as an alternative to the conveyor device, in particular around gas accumulations , for example, to drive out air bubbles.

In one embodiment of the invention it can be provided that one or more built-in elements are designed as displacement elements, by means of which in particular free spaces within the treatment room can be filled which would remain free during the flooding process without the respective built-in element and would therefore have to be filled with fluid.

By means of one or more built-in elements designed as displacement elements, the fluid volume required to carry out the flooding process can be reduced, in particular by at least about 5%, preferably at least about 10%, for example at least about 20%, of what is required in total for carrying out a flooding process Fluid volume. Furthermore, as a result, an overall duration for carrying out the flooding process can preferably be reduced.

It can be advantageous if one or more built-in elements are adapted or adaptable to the workpieces to be treated with regard to their position and / or with regard to their function and / or with regard to their shape.

For example, it can be provided that one or more displacement elements are, at least in sections or areas, adapted or adaptable to a shape of the workpiece to be treated. In particular, can it can be provided that one or more displacement elements are designed at least in sections and / or at least approximately complementary to a workpiece shape, so that the free spaces within the treatment area can preferably be minimized.

For example, it can be provided that one or more displacement elements are designed to be adapted to side walls and / or floor areas and / or a front hood area and / or a rear hood area of workpieces designed as vehicle bodies.

Furthermore, it can be provided that one or more built-in elements are arranged and / or movable in such a way that they protrude into an interior space of the same during the treatment of a workpiece or are at least partially arranged therein, in particular without touching the workpiece. For example, in the case of workpieces that are designed as vehicle bodies of vans or (small) buses, etc., one or more built-in elements can be introduced into the interior of the respective workpiece through a tailgate to create a free interior volume and thus the space required for a flooding process Reduce fluid volume.

It can be provided that one or more displacement elements have a hollow body which can preferably be filled and / or filled and / or emptied independently of the flooding process.

In particular, one or more displacement elements are designed as hollow bodies and have one or more closable filling openings and / or one or more outlet openings.

Such displacement elements can, in particular, be designed very easily in and of themselves and are thus simply net angeord in the treatment room. An undesired floating or other movement of the displacement elements during a flooding process is preferably avoided suitable definition of the displacement elements within the treatment container and / or by weighing them down, for example filling the hollow body, prevented. To fill the one or more displacement elements, for example, a fluid different from the fluid used to carry out the workpiece treatment or the same fluid can be used. Furthermore, water can be provided as a filling fluid for the one or more displacement elements.

It can be advantageous if an inner and an outer geometry of one or more displacement elements differ from one another, so that, for example, cavities optimized for filling and emptying are formed within one or more displacement elements.

In one embodiment of the invention it can be provided that the treatment container comprises one or more receptacles for fixing one or more built-in elements, in particular displacement elements.

One or more built-in elements, for example displacement elements, in particular displacement elements with different shapes and / or dimensions, preferably have securing sections that are complementary to the receptacles, so that they can preferably be easily secured and / or exchanged.

It can be provided that one or more displacement elements are rigid.

One or more built-in elements, in particular displacement elements, are preferably fixed or fixable in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting and / or releasable manner on and / or in the treatment container.

It can be favorable if one or more displacement elements are designed to be flexible and / or changeable in shape and / or changeable in size, for example inflatable. As a result, the one or more displacement elements can, in particular, be adapted to different types of workpiece in order to optimize the respective treatment step and / or flooding process.

The treatment station preferably comprises a variation device for varying the shape and / or size of the one or more displacement elements, in particular for reducing a free space to be flooded for a treatment process within the treatment room.

A variation device can, for example, be a pump device by means of which filling fluid can be fed to a cavity within the one or more displacement elements in order to optimize the flooding process, with in particular a control and / or regulation being provided in such a way that a quantity of the fed filling fluid is dependent on the respective to treating workpiece is selected, in particular automatically by means of a suitably designed and configured control device.

It can be provided that one or more displacement elements fill one or more free spaces in the area of a conveying device of the treatment station.

As an alternative or in addition to this, it can be provided that one or more displacement elements fill a free space above a workpiece designed as a vehicle body, in particular above a vehicle front and / or above a vehicle rear of the vehicle body.

In a further supplementary or alternative embodiment it can be provided that one or more built-in elements are formed as support elements for supporting a workpiece to be treated during the flooding process. The one or more support elements thus preferably lie against the workpiece during the flooding process and preferably prevent buckling or buckling or any other deformation of the respective workpiece. For this purpose, the one or more support elements are preferably movable and / or changeable in shape and / or changeable in size.

In particular, one or more built-in elements formed as displacement elements can also serve as support elements.

To carry out a treatment step and / or after the treatment room has been flooded, the one or more support elements are preferably removed from the workpiece, in particular to ensure complete wetting of the workpiece with the fluid, in particular the treatment fluid. For this purpose, the one or more support elements can in particular be moved away from the workpiece. As an alternative or in addition to this, the removal can be implemented by changing the shape and / or size of the support element.

It can be favorable if one or more of the support elements each have a support section which is used to directly rest on the workpiece to support the same.

A support section is in particular provided with a material that prevents damage to the work piece and / or forms out elastically resilient. For example, a textile surface of the support section can be seen before.

In a further development of the invention it can be provided that one or more built-in elements are designed as temperature control elements for temperature control of the treatment container and / or the fluid. For this purpose, the one or more built-in elements are in particular filled or can be filled with a heating medium or cooling medium, in particular through a flow.

It can be advantageous if the one or more built-in elements, which are designed as temperature control elements, have one or more ribs or other surface enlargements in order to optimize heat transfer.

It can be beneficial if one or more built-in elements designed as temperature control elements are overflowed with the fluid when the treatment room is flooded. In this way, too, heat transfer can preferably be optimized.

In particular for the variable adaptation of the treatment station to differently dimensioned workpieces, it can be provided that one or more built-in elements are temporarily or can be arranged in the treatment room for one or more treatment processes and / or flooding processes or permanently.

In particular, it can be provided that the treatment station comprises a set of differently dimensioned built-in elements, individual of the built-in elements, in particular built-in elements adapted to certain types of workpiece, being introduced into the treatment room and fixed therein as required. When the type of workpiece is changed, the built-in elements are then preferably exchanged for built-in elements with different dimensions or with different function.

It can be provided that one or more built-in elements are immovably fixed in the treatment room during the flooding process, during the treatment process and / or during the emptying of the treatment room. Alternatively, it can be provided that one or more built-in elements are movable within the treatment room, for example can be introduced into a free space to be flooded in the treatment room during the flooding process and / or after the flooding process and / or the treatment process (treatment step) have been carried out, in particular automatically from the Removable free space to be flooded.

It can be provided that one or more built-in elements are arranged or can be arranged on a closing element for closing an access opening of the treatment container.

The one or more built-in elements can then be moved in particular by moving the closure element itself, in particular brought into a position in which they support the flooding process.

The one or more built-in elements can preferably be brought into a displacement position or a support position by means of the closure element.

It can be favorable if the one or more built-in elements can be moved, in particular linearly movable, and / or pivoted together with the closing element.

The workpieces can be treated by means of the treatment station, in particular vehicle bodies can be cleaned and / or coated.

For this purpose, the workpieces are brought into a treatment room of the treatment container. Subsequently, the treatment room is flooded with a fluid for carrying out a workpiece treatment, the flooding preferably being supported by means of one or more built-in elements that are or can be arranged in the treatment room. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the treatment station comprises a fluid tank for receiving a fluid. Furthermore, the treatment station preferably comprises a fluid guide by means of which the fluid for flooding the treatment space from the fluid tank into the treatment container and / or for emptying the treatment space from the treatment container into the fluid tank can be guided.

For this purpose, the fluid guide preferably comprises one or more fluid lines, a fluid line for supplying the fluid from the fluid tank to the treatment container and a further fluid line, in particular a separate fluid line, for supplying the fluid from the treatment container to the fluid tank being provided.

It can be favorable if the fluid tank is arranged above the treatment container with respect to the direction of gravity.

In this way, in particular, gravity can be used to feed the fluid to the treatment container, with a separate pumping device preferably being unnecessary.

A pumping device, on the other hand, can be advantageous in order to pump the fluid from the treatment room back into the fluid tank.

As an alternative to this, it can be provided that the treatment container is arranged above the fluid tank with respect to the direction of gravity. As a result, the fluid can then be passed from the treatment container into the fluid tank without using a pump device, while a pump device is preferably provided to guide the fluid from the fluid tank into the treatment container.

It can be provided that the fluid guide comprises a fluid line designed as a feed line, by means of which the fluid can be fed to the treatment room, the feed line preferably being in a floor area of the Treatment tank opens into the same. In this way, in particular, undesired foam formation when the fluid is fed into the treatment container can be reduced or completely avoided.

A floor area of the treatment container is in particular a lower third, preferably lower fifth, of the treatment room with regard to the total height of the treatment room and / or with regard to a maximum filling height.

The treatment container preferably comprises an inflow area which is arranged in particular below an access opening of the treatment container. The inflow area is preferably also filled with fluid in an emptied state of the treatment container provided for exchanging a workpiece.

A minimum fill level between two flooding processes and / or between the treatment of two workpieces is preferably selected or selectable so that the conveying device and / or other functional components or built-in tanks within the treatment room always remain below the fill level. In this way, particularly when using sticky or other adhering treatment fluids, contamination can be prevented from drying on.

Furthermore, as an alternative or in addition to avoiding contamination by sticky media or media that tend to coagulate or dry on, especially after a flooding process, in particular after emptying the treatment tank, in the treatment tank, on built-in elements and other components in the treatment room, in particular on tank fittings such as nozzle holders , Anodes and a conveyor device, as well as on the pipes necessary for the operation of the treatment station for filling and emptying a wetting is maintained or a cleaning takes place. For this purpose, liquids and / or filtrates can be used for cleaning, which have suitable measures such as use from rigidly attached nozzle holders or variably movable tank cleaning nozzles provide the cleaning performance. For components that are difficult to reach, such as a seal between the treatment container and the closure device, self-cleaning methods, such as a floodable seal with preferably defined outlets, can optionally also be used.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the treatment container and the components arranged therein are protected from drying out by hermetically sealing them. In addition, the humidity in the closed unit can be monitored and re-humidified if necessary. This can optionally also be provided for units that are not hermetically sealed.

Optionally, sticking can also be counteracted by permanent wetting with the medium used, in particular treatment fluid. This is particularly conceivable in the case of built-in conveyors, but also in the case of the pipes for filling and emptying.

The feed line preferably opens into the inflow area, in particular below a fluid line of the inflow area, in order to enable an optimized fluid supply into the treatment room.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the inflow area is arranged and / or formed in one or more inflow containers, in particular displacement elements, within the treatment space, the feed line in particular opening into the inflow container. The inflow container comprises in particular outflow openings, for example on its upper side, through which the fluid can flow into the treatment space in order to flood it. To avoid sedimentation, it can be provided that the fluid in the inflow area is permanently or regularly circulated and / or processed, in particular cleaned.

It can be favorable if the fluid guide comprises several feed lines, with one or more of these feed lines opening into the same in a bottom area of the treatment container and / or with one or more feed lines ending in or at one or more nozzles or other feed openings by means of which the fluid can be directed and / or applied to the workpieces, for example, as a jet or surge.

An emptied state of the treatment container is preferably a state of the treatment container in which the one or more access openings can be opened without achieving or fear of leakage of fluid through the access openings. In particular, an emptied state does not have to be a state of the treatment container in which any residual fluid has been removed from the treatment container.

A medium displaced from the same when flooding the treatment room, in particular a gas, for example air, can for example be released or processed and / or forwarded to the environment, for example to an exhaust air purification system and / or to a dryer for drying the workpieces.

It can also be provided that the displaced medium is introduced into the fluid tank.

In particular, if foam formation during a flooding process or filling process is to be expected or would be expected due to the type of feed and / or the selected fluid, it can be advantageous if the treatment station includes a compensation device to minimize or avoid foam formation. The compensation device comprises in particular a nozzle device, for example a nozzle stock, for injecting liquid, in particular filtrate. The nozzle device is arranged in particular in a ceiling area of the treatment room. As an alternative or in addition to this, it can be provided that the compensation device comprises a vacuum device for evacuating air from the treatment room. Furthermore, as an alternative or in addition to this, a chemical medium, in particular a defoaming medium, can be added to the fluid.

If media are used as fluids that tend to have air inclusions that make degassing necessary, facilities for removing them can also be provided in the treatment containers for this purpose. In addition to the possibility of vacuuming, the generation of ultrasound waves in the treatment container for coalescence of the gas bubbles in the batch process and in the flow process can alternatively or additionally be provided, with the facilities required for this being integrated into an additional or already existing circuit, for example. As an alternative to this, chemical modifications of the recipe and / or the addition of additives to the fluid to be introduced can be seen.

It can be advantageous if the fluid guide comprises a cleaning device for cleaning the fluid.

The cleaning device is preferably arranged outside of the container and / or outside of the fluid tank.

The cleaning device is preferably arranged in a return line for returning the fluid to the fluid tank. As a result, the fluid can be cleaned and / or processed before it is returned and / or before each start of a cycle, in particular before a renewed flooding process in one or more treatment tanks. The treatment station preferably comprises a control device by means of which a flooding process in the treatment room can be controlled and / or regulated, in particular by controlling and / or regulating a valve device for opening and closing a supply line for supplying fluid to the treatment room.

To control and / or regulate the flooding process, one or more workpiece parameters are preferably taken into account, in particular a geometry and / or size and / or position of the respective workpiece within the treatment room.

The one or more workpiece parameters are transferred to the control device in particular via a machine control and / or by CAD data, barcode recognition, RFID information or other workpiece-specific data records.

The flooding process is preferably controllable by means of the control device in such a way that a filling speed and / or a rate of change of the level of the fluid in the treatment room is varied during the flooding, in particular adapted to local stability differences of the workpieces and / or adapted to an area changing along the direction of gravity the water surface.

For example, it can be provided that the flooding process can be controlled by means of the control device in such a way that a fluid level in the treatment room rises at least approximately constantly.

Alternatively, it can be provided that the flooding process can be controlled by means of the control device in such a way that the volume flow of the supplied fluid is increased when the fluid level sweeps over more stable areas of the work pieces and that the volume flow of the supplied fluid is reduced when the fluid level of the Fluids less stable areas of the work pieces. The treatment station can, for example, comprise one or more measuring devices, by means of which, for example, a volume flow of the fluid flowing into the treatment room and / or a fill level or fill level within the treatment room and / or a fill level or fill level in the fluid tank can be determined.

One or more measured values of the one or more measuring devices are preferably taken into account for controlling and / or regulating the flooding process.

A maximum fill level (maximum fill level) is preferably selected for a flooding process as a function of the workpiece geometry and / or position. For example, in the case of a workpiece designed as a vehicle body, provision can be made that the treatment room is always filled with fluid to such an extent that the fill level is just above a roof of the vehicle body, for example at most approximately 10 cm, preferably at most approximately 5 cm, for example at most approximately 3 cm, above the roof.

Furthermore, it can be provided that one or more leakages are determined by means of one or more measuring devices, for example by a fill level or fill level or volume flow monitoring by means of one or more measuring devices. Preferably, one or more closing devices can be inferred from this as to the tightness of one or more closing devices.

In one embodiment, the treatment station can have a counter-tank which is arranged below the treatment space in particular with respect to the direction of gravity and to which the fluid to be discharged from the treatment space can be fed.

In this case, the fluid can preferably only be guided from the fluid tank into the treatment room and / or from the treatment room into the counter-tank using gravity. For example, by means of a pumping device, the fluid can preferably be fed back into the fluid tank from the counter tank.

The fluid tank is thus in particular a storage tank for providing the fluid, in particular when the fluid is in a state that is ready for a treatment process to be carried out. For this purpose, the fluid can in particular be cleaned or processed on the conveying path between the counter tank and the fluid tank, in particular by means of a cleaning device.

It can be advantageous if the treatment station comprises two or more than two treatment rooms, in particular two or more than two treatment containers, each with one treatment room.

A common fluid tank can be provided for feeding the fluid to the two or more than two treatment rooms.

As an alternative to this, several fluid tanks can be provided, in particular for several fluids in the same treatment room.

For example, it can be provided that a treatment room of a treatment station can optionally, in particular alternately, be flooded with different fluids, in particular in order to carry out different treatment steps on one or more workpieces located in the treatment room.

It can also be provided for this purpose that several counter tanks are provided for the several fluids.

In addition, a counter tank can be provided for more than two treatment rooms together. In this description and the appended claims, a tank is in particular a general receptacle for a fluid, for example these can be individual containers or several containers coupled to one another.

It can be provided that the treatment station comprises a rinsing device for rinsing and / or cleaning the treatment room, whereby a rinsing medium can be introduced into the treatment room, in particular sprayed, by means of the rinsing device, in particular independently of the fluid, independent of the fluid tank and / or independent of a counter tank , and can be removed, in particular drained, from the same.

The rinsing device can in particular comprise spray nozzles arranged in the treatment room and / or directed into the treatment room, which are used in particular to rinse off walls and / or a conveying device arranged in the treatment room.

To treat the workpieces at the treatment station described, it can be provided in particular that the workpieces are brought into the treatment space of the treatment container and that the treatment space is flooded with a fluid to carry out a workpiece treatment, the fluid being used to flood the treatment space from the fluid tank in the treatment tank and / or for emptying the treatment space from the treatment tank into the fluid tank.

The treatment station can be used in particular in a treatment system.

A treatment system is used in particular to treat workpieces.

The treatment system preferably comprises several treatment stations for treating the workpieces, in particular for cleaning and / or coating vehicle bodies. Each treatment station preferably comprises at least one treatment container, which surrounds a treatment room for receiving the workpieces, each treatment station individually or several treatment stations together comprising a fluid tank for receiving a fluid and wherein the treatment stations preferably include a fluid guide by means of which the fluid is flooded one or more treatment rooms from the fluid tank into the respective treatment container and / or for emptying the treatment rooms from the respective treatment container can be guided into the fluid tank.

When one or more treatment rooms are flooded, a fluid level within the treatment room is preferably increased by a factor of at least 10, preferably at least 50, for example at least 100.

Furthermore, when one or more treatment rooms are flooded, the liquid level is preferably raised from a minimum level to at least about 50%, preferably at least about 70%, for example at least about 90%, of a total interior height of the treatment room.

To empty one or more treatment rooms, the fluid located therein, in particular the treatment fluid, is preferably at least about 50%, in particular at least about 80%, for example at least about 90%, removed from the treatment room.

A flooding process and an emptying process are preferably carried out for each workpiece or each group of workpieces which is or are being introduced separately into the treatment room.

In one embodiment of the invention it is provided that the treatment system has several first treatment stations for carrying out a first step and several second treatment stations for carrying out a second treatment step, wherein one or more first treatment stations and one or more second treatment stations are preferably part of or form a treatment unit of the treatment system, which the workpieces pass through to carry out the treatment steps.

A treatment unit comprises in particular several treatment stations following one another along a main conveying direction of a conveying device for conveying the workpieces. By means of a treatment unit, all treatment steps that can be carried out one after the other for the workpiece treatment can preferably be carried out.

It can be provided that the treatment system comprises several treatment units, which in particular each comprise one or more first treatment stations and one or more second treatment stations and / or which in particular form mutually different treatment lines of the treatment system.

One or more first treatment stations, which are different from one another, preferably have a common fluid duct and / or a common fluid tank. As an alternative or in addition to this, it can be provided that one or more second treatment stations, which are different from one another, have a common fluid duct and / or a common fluid tank.

Furthermore, it can alternatively or additionally be provided that one or more first treatment stations different from one another have a common counter-tank and / or a common cleaning device. In addition, it can alternatively or additionally be provided that one or more second treatment stations, which are different from one another, have a common counter tank and / or a common cleaning device. It can be beneficial if a fluid, in particular a first treatment fluid, is first a) one or more treatment rooms of one or more treatment stations, in particular first treatment stations, a first treatment unit and then b) one or more treatment rooms of one or more treatment units by means of the fluid guide treatment stations, in particular first treatment stations, can be fed to a second treatment unit. One or more intermediate storage tanks can be arranged between the first treatment unit and the second treatment unit and / or between two treatment stations of the same treatment unit or treatment units that are different from one another.

It can be favorable if a fluid, in particular a second treatment fluid, is first a) one or more treatment rooms of one or more treatment stations, in particular second treatment stations, a first treatment unit and then b) one or more treatment rooms of one or more treatment stations by means of the fluid guide , in particular second treatment stations, can be fed to a second treatment unit. One or more intermediate storage tanks can be arranged between the first treatment unit and the second treatment unit and / or between two treatment stations of the same treatment unit or treatment units that are different from one another.

It can be favorable if the fluid can be alternately supplied to treatment rooms of different treatment units by means of the fluid guide.

As an alternative or in addition to this, it can be provided that the fluid can be alternately supplied to treatment rooms of the same treatment unit by means of the fluid guide. The fluid guide is preferably connected to a cleaning device or comprises such a device, so that the fluid can be cleaned in particular after it has been removed from one of the treatment rooms and / or before it is fed back to a further one of the treatment rooms.

The fluid is preferably cleaned when a treatment room is emptied and / or after it has been used once or several times in a flooding process and / or treatment step.

A total amount of a fluid contained overall in a fluid duct is preferably at most approximately twice, in particular at most approximately three times, the amount of fluid required to carry out a single flooding process in a treatment room.

The fluid guide preferably includes all components carrying and receiving the fluid, in particular one or more fluid tanks, one or more treatment rooms, one or more intermediate storage tanks and / or one or more counter tanks and optionally one or more cleaning devices.

The amount of the fluid is in particular a mass of the fluid and / or a volume of the fluid, in particular under normal conditions.

To carry out cleaning work, the fluid can preferably be brought into individual or multiple components of the fluid guide, in particular pumped, and stored therein. For example, it can be provided that, for cleaning at least one fluid tank, the fluid can be completely received in one or more treatment containers and / or in one or more counter tanks. Furthermore, for cleaning the one or more treatment containers, it can be provided, for example, that the fluid is completely in one or more fluid tanks and / or in one or more counter tanks is recordable. In addition, it can optionally be provided that, for example, for cleaning the one or more counter tanks, the fluid can be completely received in one or more fluid tanks and / or in one or more treatment containers.

It can be advantageous if several, in particular all, treatment stations of a treatment unit, in particular one or more or all of the first treatment stations and one or more or all of the second treatment stations of a treatment unit, are arranged on a common level of the treatment system. This is to be understood in particular as meaning that the treatment rooms of the treatment stations are only accessible to the same by horizontal movement of the workpieces, in particular without a level change or level change.

It can be advantageous if several treatment units of the treatment system are arranged on different levels of the treatment system.

It can be provided that several treatment stations are arranged one above the other along the direction of gravity. The treatment stations can be arranged at different sections or levels of a load-bearing structure, in particular a steel structure, of the treatment plant, in particular held in a supporting manner. Furthermore, it can be provided that one or more treatment stations each receive one or more additional treatment stations arranged above in a force-bearing manner. An additional load-bearing structure can be dispensed with here. For this purpose, the treatment containers are preferably dimensioned and / or designed in such a way that they can absorb the weight forces of one or more treatment stations arranged above them. It can be advantageous if one or more fluid tanks or counter tanks are arranged above one or more treatment containers or between two treatment containers, in particular are held by the one or more treatment containers in a load-bearing manner. An additional supporting structure is then preferably unnecessary for the one or more fluid tanks or counter tanks.

Furthermore, it can be provided that one or more treatment containers are arranged directly on one or more fluid tanks and / or counter tanks and that the one or more fluid tanks and / or counter tanks receive the one or more treatment containers in a force-bearing manner.

One or more treatment stations of the treatment system which are different from one another and which have a common fluid guide and / or which are used to carry out the same treatment step are preferably arranged one above the other along the direction of gravity.

The multiple treatment units arranged on different levels of the treatment system are preferably functionally identical, so that the same treatment steps can be carried out in particular with each treatment unit in order to ultimately be able to provide a greater treatment capacity of the treatment system compared to a single treatment unit.

The workpieces are preferably each assigned individually to a single one of the plurality of treatment units and only pass through this single treatment unit. One or more fluid guides, on the other hand, are preferably designed to span treatment units and, in particular, are assigned to several treatment units for carrying out the same treatment steps. It can be advantageous if treatment stations arranged one above the other along the direction of gravity are connected by means of a common fluid duct, so that in particular a fluid can be fed to the individual treatment stations one after the other and can be used to carry out flooding processes, the fluid from a treatment station in particular using gravity can be guided to a further treatment station located below along the direction of gravity.

It can be advantageous if a common counter tank is arranged under all treatment stations and / or if a common fluid tank is arranged over all treatment stations.

The fluid can then, in particular, be conveyed from the fluid tank to an upper treatment station, then to a lower treatment station (possibly in between to a middle treatment station) and finally into the counter tank. From the counter tank, the fluid can preferably be pumped back into the fluid tank by means of a pumping device.

It can be advantageous if the treatment system comprises a plurality of fluid guides for guiding treatment fluids that are different from one another, the fluid guides being assigned to different treatment stations for carrying out different treatment steps.

As an alternative or in addition to this, it can be provided that the treatment system comprises several fluid ducts for guiding different treatment fluids, the fluid ducts being assigned to the same treatment stations, so that one of the treatment fluids can optionally be fed to the treatment stations in order to optionally carry out different treatment steps.

For the treatment of workpieces, a process is carried out in which the following process steps are carried out: Bringing one or more workpieces into one or more treatment rooms of one or more treatment stations;

Flooding the one or more treatment rooms with a fluid to carry out the treatment, the fluid being guided by means of a fluid guide to flood one or more treatment rooms from the fluid tank into the respective treatment room and / or to empty the treatment rooms from the respective treatment room into the fluid tank will.

It can be advantageous if the fluid is removed from the fluid tank one after the other, in particular completely offset in time, and fed to one or more treatment rooms. In particular afterwards, for example afterwards or at a later point in time, the fluid is preferably fed back into the fluid tank, optionally after the fluid has been cleaned in a cleaning device. The fluid tank and / or the one or more treatment rooms are thus preferably filled and emptied alternately.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the fluid is fed one after the other, in particular completely staggered in time, to one or more treatment rooms in a treatment station of a first treatment unit and then, in particular subsequently or at a later point in time, for example after being temporarily stored in an intermediate storage tank, to a or several treatment rooms of a treatment station of a second treatment unit.

It can be advantageous if a treatment system comprises several treatment stations for treating the workpieces, in particular for cleaning and / or coating vehicle bodies, with one or more treatment stations preferably each comprising at least one treatment container which surrounds a treatment room for receiving the workpieces. The treatment system preferably comprises a fluid duct by means of which one or more of the treatment rooms can optionally be flooded or emptied.

It can be favorable if the treatment system comprises a conveying device for conveying the workpieces, by means of which the workpieces can be brought into or out of the same in an emptied state of the one or more treatment rooms. It can be provided that the workpieces can be moved along a horizontal plane by means of the conveying device, in particular can be brought into the treatment room and / or can be removed from the treatment room.

The workpieces can be brought into the treatment room through an access opening or can be brought out of the treatment room through another or the same access opening.

The treatment system preferably comprises a main conveyor line extending in a main conveying direction, along which the workpieces can be conveyed by means of the conveying device from one treatment station to a further treatment station, with different treatment steps preferably being carried out or being able to be carried out at the treatment stations.

The workpieces can preferably be conveyed in a transverse orientation of the same along the main conveying direction or along the main conveying path.

A transverse alignment of the workpieces is in particular an alignment of the workpieces such that a main longitudinal axis of the workpieces, in particular a main longitudinal axis of the vehicle bodies, is aligned transversely, preferably at least approximately perpendicularly, to the direction of movement, in particular the main conveying direction, when the workpieces are aligned along the direction of movement, in particular the main direction of funding. A longitudinal alignment of the workpieces is in particular an alignment of the workpieces such that a main longitudinal axis of the workpieces, in particular a main longitudinal axis of the vehicle bodies, is at least approximately parallel to the direction of movement, in particular the main conveying direction, when the workpieces are conveyed along the direction of movement, in particular the main conveying direction .

It can be provided that the workpieces can be brought into one or more treatment rooms in a longitudinal orientation of the same or can be removed from the same.

A direction of movement of the workpieces when they are brought into the treatment rooms and / or when they are brought out of the treatment rooms is preferably transverse, in particular at least approximately perpendicular, to the main conveying direction.

In particular, it can be provided that the workpieces can be introduced into the treatment rooms in one introduction direction, the introduction direction being transverse, in particular at least approximately perpendicular, to a main conveying direction of the conveying device.

The treatment system preferably comprises several treatment stations for carrying out identical treatment steps, two or more such treatment stations preferably being arranged on opposite sides of a main conveyor line of the conveyor device.

By means of the conveying device, the conveyed workpieces can preferably be distributed alternately to the treatment stations.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the treatment system comprises several treatment stations for carrying out identical treatment steps, with two or more such treatment stations along one Main conveying direction of the conveying device are arranged consecutively and / or next to one another and / or on the same side with respect to the main conveying path. By means of the conveying device, the workpieces can preferably also be divided between these treatment stations, in particular in order to enable optimized utilization of the treatment system.

It can be provided that several treatment stations form a treatment unit, with several, in particular all, treatment stations of a treatment unit, in particular one or more or all of the first treatment stations and one or more or all of the second treatment stations of a treatment unit, on a common level of the treatment system are arranged.

In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the treatment system detects a main conveyor line extending in a main conveying direction along which the workpieces can be conveyed by means of the conveyor device from one treatment station to a further treatment station, the main conveyor line having one or more tunnel sections for housing the Main conveyor line includes.

One or more tunnel sections, in particular one or more tunnel sections arranged along the main conveying direction between two treatment stations, preferably have a cleaning station and / or rinsing station and / or spraying station, for example for applying a cleaning fluid, for example a degreasing fluid. The applied fluid can in particular be sprayed onto the workpieces or discharged onto the workpieces in a surge.

It can happen that fluid drips off the workpieces while they are being conveyed. The conveying device, in particular a main conveying route, therefore preferably comprises one or more collecting elements, which are designed, for example, as collecting troughs and serve to receive fluid that drips down from the workpieces. For sealing in a transition area between a treatment container and one or more collecting elements and / or between a treatment container and a tunnel section, for example, a flush closure and / or one or more sealing elements, for example sealing plates, sealing brushes, sealing hoods, and / or one or more suction devices can be used be provided.

It can be advantageous if the treatment station and / or the treatment system comprises a blower device for blowing fluid off the workpieces. Such a blower device can be arranged, for example, within a treatment tank and / or in a tunnel section and / or at a transition between them. For example, a blower device can be arranged and / or formed outside the treatment container in the area of the closing device.

A blower device comprises in particular one or more air curtain devices for generating an air curtain for global flow onto the workpieces and / or one or more nozzle devices, for example jet nozzles, for generating individual flow jets for local flow onto the workpieces, in particular for the directed blowing out of accumulations of fluid.

The treatment system preferably comprises two treatment units which are arranged on a common level of the treatment system, with main conveyor lines of the conveying devices of the two treatment units being aligned antiparallel to one another and / or being arranged linearly one after the other.

In particular, it can be provided that the two treatment units are arranged facing away from each other feed stations for feeding the work pieces and / or mutually facing removal stations for removal. take the workpieces and / or have a common removal station for Ent taking the workpieces, which is in particular arranged centrally between the main conveyor lines.

As an alternative to this, it can be provided that the two treatment units have removal stations arranged facing away from one another for removing the workpieces and / or mutually facing feed stations for feeding the workpieces and / or a common feeding station for feeding the workpieces, which is in particular arranged centrally between the main conveyor lines .

It can be advantageous if the conveyor device comprises one or more branch conveyors, by means of which the workpieces can be removed from a main conveyor line and brought into one or more treatment rooms and / or by means of which the workpieces can be brought out of one or more treatment rooms and back on the main conveyor line can be brought.

In the case of such treatment systems in particular, for the treatment of workpieces, in particular for cleaning and / or coating vehicle bodies, provision can be made for the following process steps to be carried out:

Conveying one or more workpieces by means of a conveyor device; Introducing the one or more workpieces into a treatment room of a treatment station in order to carry out a treatment step; Flooding the treatment room with a fluid;

Removal of the fluid and removal of the workpieces from the treatment room by means of the conveying device, the workpieces being brought into and out of the treatment room in particular in an at least approximately horizontal direction.

It is also preferably provided that the workpieces are conveyed along a main conveying direction from one treatment station to the next and in a transverse, in particular perpendicular, to the main conveying direction running A bringing direction are introduced into the treatment rooms of the treatment stations.

In a further embodiment of a treatment system, it can be provided that the treatment system comprises several treatment stations for treating the workpieces, in particular for cleaning and / or coating vehicle bodies, with one or more treatment stations each comprising at least one treatment container which has a treatment room for receiving the Surrounds workpieces, the treatment system comprising a fluid guide, by means of which one or more of the treatment rooms can optionally be flooded or emptied.

The treatment system preferably comprises a conveying device for conveying the workpieces, by means of which the workpieces in an emptied state of the respective treatment room can be introduced into the same through an access opening formed as an introduction opening and by means of which the workpieces in an emptied state of the respective treatment room through an access opening designed as an exit opening can be applied from the same.

The introduction opening and the discharge opening are preferably different access openings from one another, in particular in the opposite side walls of a treatment station.

It can be advantageous if the workpieces can be moved along a horizontal plane by means of the conveying device, in particular can be brought into the treatment room and / or can be removed from the treatment room.

A height position of the workpieces preferably remains at least approximately unchanged when they are brought into the treatment room and / or when they are brought out of the treatment room. It can be favorable if the treatment system comprises a main conveyor line extending in a main conveying direction, along which the workpieces can be conveyed by means of the conveying device from one treatment station to a further treatment station.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the workpieces can be conveyed in a longitudinal orientation of the same along the main conveying direction and / or along the main conveying route.

The workpieces can preferably be conveyed through one or more treatment rooms in a longitudinal orientation thereof.

It can be provided that the conveying device comprises one or more transfer stations at which or by means of which the workpieces can be transferred from a treatment station optionally to a further treatment station of the same treatment unit and / or a different treatment unit of the treatment plant following along a main conveying direction. Such a transfer station can in particular be used to transfer workpieces from one treatment unit to another treatment unit, for example to temporarily bypass a treatment unit that is defective or to be maintained or cleaned without having to completely shut down the treatment unit concerned.

It can be favorable if the treatment system comprises several treatment stations for performing identical treatment steps, two or more such treatment stations preferably being arranged adjacent to one another and / or being components of treatment units running parallel to one another or their treatment lines of the treatment system.

A treatment line is in particular a treatment unit in which the treatment stations of the treatment unit along a Treatment direction, in particular a main conveying direction, are arranged one after the other.

In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the treatment system comprises a main conveyor line extending in a main conveying direction, along which the workpieces can be conveyed by means of the conveyor device from one treatment station to a further treatment station, the main conveyor line having one or more tunnel sections for housing the Main conveyor line comprises, wherein one or more tunnel sections, in particular one or more tunnel sections arranged along the main conveying direction between two treatment stations, have a cleaning station and / or rinsing station and / or spraying station.

One or more cleaning stations and / or rinsing stations and / or spraying stations are preferably arranged and / or designed at one or more transfer stations.

To separate individual tunnel sections and / or one or more cleaning stations and / or rinsing station and / or spraying station, a mechanical door, for example a roller door or a high-speed door, can be provided.

The treatment system preferably comprises at least two treatment stations for carrying out the same treatment process, with a distribution device or a merging device being arranged with respect to a main conveying direction of the workpieces before and / or after these treatment stations.

By means of a distribution device, the workpieces supplied via a conveying device can preferably be divided or distributed over the at least two treatment stations. As a result, a common supply of the workpieces can be provided to optimize the outlay in terms of conveying technology. The workpieces discharged from the at least two treatment stations can preferably be brought together and further conveyed together by means of a merging device, so that conveying expenditure can preferably also be minimized.

The distributor device and / or the merging device are preferably each designed as a transverse displacement device.

In such a transverse displacement device, provision is made in particular for the workpieces to be displaced in a direction that is transverse, in particular perpendicular, to a main conveying direction, in order to subsequently enable further conveyance offset parallel to the main conveyance direction, in particular further conveyance offset parallel to the main conveying path.

The treatment system preferably comprises one or more treatment stations for carrying out flooding processes and one or more treatment stations for carrying out immersion processes.

In treatment stations for carrying out flooding processes, the workpiece is preferably left stationary while the fluid is introduced into the treatment room and a flooding process is thus carried out.

In treatment stations for performing immersion processes, on the other hand, the fluid is preferably essentially stationary, so that the workpiece is introduced into the fluid, in particular from above, and after the treatment process has been carried out, it is moved upwards, for example by screwing in and turning or lowering and lifting the respective workpiece.

The one or more treatment stations for carrying out flooding processes each serve to pretreat the workpieces, in particular cleaning, degreasing and / or phosphating. The one or more treatment stations for performing immersion processes are preferably used to coat the workpieces, in particular for painting; for example, a cathodic dip painting system in the form of treatment stations for performing immersion processes can be provided following one or more treatment stations for performing flooding processes being.

To treat the workpieces, a method is carried out in particular, which comprises the following:

Conveying one or more workpieces by means of a conveyor device; Introducing the one or more workpieces into a treatment room of a treatment station for carrying out the treatment step; Flooding the treatment room with a fluid;

Removal of the fluid and removal of the workpieces from the treatment room by means of the conveyor device, the workpieces being introduced into the respective treatment room by means of the conveyor device in an emptied state of the respective treatment room through an access opening formed as an introduction opening and by means of which the workpieces in an emptied state of the respective treatment room be brought out from the same through an access opening designed as a discharge opening, wherein the introduction opening and the discharge opening are preferably different access openings from one another.

The workpieces are preferably conveyed in a longitudinal orientation of the same along a main conveying direction from one treatment station to the next and conveyed through the treatment rooms of the treatment stations in the same longitudinal orientation.

It can be favorable if one or more treatment stations, in particular one or more treatment containers and / or fluid tanks, are designed and / or arranged to be modular and / or separately transportable as a whole. In particular, it can be provided that one or more Treatment stations, in particular one or more treatment containers and / or fluid tanks, can be arranged on or removed from a main conveyor line as required and can accordingly optionally be equipped with workpieces or the treatment sequence can be overridden.

Further preferred features and / or advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description and the graphic representation of exemplary embodiments.

In the drawings show:

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective illustration of a first Ausfüh approximate form of a treatment system in which two treatment units arranged one above the other, each with several treatment stations are provided, the workpieces being conveyed by means of a conveyor device in a transverse orientation along a main conveying direction;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic vertical longitudinal section through the treatment plant from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view from above of the treatment system from FIG. 1; FIG.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic vertical cross section through the treatment plant from FIG. 1; FIG.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a treatment station of the treatment system from FIG. 1; FIG.

6 shows a further schematic perspective illustration of the treatment station from FIG. 5, a side wall of a treatment container of the treatment station being hidden; 7 shows a schematic perspective illustration corresponding to FIG. 1 of a second embodiment of a treatment system, in which the workpieces can be conveyed in a longitudinal orientation of the same along a main conveying direction;

FIG. 8 shows a schematic side view of the treatment plant from FIG. 7; FIG.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic plan view from above of the treatment system from FIG. 7; FIG.

10 shows a schematic vertical cross section through the treatment plant from FIG. 7;

11 shows a schematic perspective illustration corresponding to FIG. 5 of a treatment station of the treatment system from FIG.

7;

FIG. 12 shows a schematic perspective illustration corresponding to FIG. 11 of the treatment station of the treatment system from FIG. 7, a side wall of a treatment container of the treatment station being hidden;

13 shows a schematic plan view of a third embodiment of a treatment system, in which treatment stations are provided on both sides of a main conveyor line;

14 shows a schematic plan view of a fourth embodiment of a treatment system, in which two opposite ends of a common main conveyor line or two main conveyor lines adjoin feed stations for feeding the workpieces, a common removal station for removing the workpieces being provided essentially in the center; 15 shows a schematic plan view of a fifth embodiment of a treatment system, in which distribution devices and merging devices of a conveying device are provided so that the workpieces can be distributed to different treatment stations and can be merged to minimize the outlay on conveying technology;

16 shows a schematic plan view of an upper side of a sixth embodiment of a treatment system, in which a combination of treatment stations for carrying out flooding operations and treatment stations for carrying out diving operations is provided;

FIG. 17 shows an enlarged illustration of the region XVII in FIG. 16 in the form of a vertical longitudinal sectional illustration; FIG.

18 shows an enlarged illustration of the region XVIII in FIG. 17;

19 shows an alternative embodiment of the treatment station shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 shows a schematic vertical cross section through the treatment station according to FIG. 19, another workpiece to be treated being arranged within a treatment room of the treatment station; FIG.

21 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a treatment station in which an external drive unit of a conveyor device and two external sensor elements of a sensor device are provided; FIG. 22 shows a schematic perspective isolated illustration of the conveying device and the sensor device from FIG. 21; FIG.

FIG. 23 shows an enlarged illustration of the region XXIII in FIG. 22, with a view of an inside of the drive unit facing the treatment room and an upper part of a coupling device; FIG.

FIG. 24 shows an enlarged illustration of the region XXIV in FIG. 22; FIG.

FIG. 25 shows an enlarged illustration of the region XXV in FIG. 22; FIG.

FIG. 26 shows an enlarged illustration of the region XXVI in FIG. 22; FIG. and

FIG. 27 shows an enlarged illustration of the region XXVI in FIG. 22, with a different viewing direction.

Identical or functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference symbols in all figures.

A treatment system shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 and designated as a whole by 100 is used to treat workpieces 102, for example vehicle bodies 104.

The treatment system 100 comprises one or more treatment units 106, for example two treatment units 106, which the workpieces 102 optionally pass through in order to carry out several treatment steps.

In the first embodiment of the treatment system 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, a feed station 108 for feeding to the treatment units 106 is provided. The feed station 108 is part of a conveying device 110 of the treatment system 100.

The feed station 108 preferably forms a distribution device 112 for distributing the workpieces 102 to the treatment units 106.

The feed station 108 is designed as a lift, for example, and is used to feed the workpieces 102 to treatment units 106 arranged on different levels of the treatment system 100.

The treatment system 100, in particular each treatment unit 106, comprises one or more treatment stations 114 for treating the workpieces 102, in particular for carrying out flooding processes to be described in more detail.

The treatment stations 114 are arranged one after the other along a main conveying direction 116 of the conveying device 110.

In the first embodiment of the treatment system 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, a main conveyor line 118 of the conveyor device 110 is provided, which extends along all treatment stations 114 and from which the workpieces 102 can be fed to the individual treatment stations 114.

The main conveyor line 118 comprises, in particular, one or more tunnel sections 120 for housing at least individual sections of the main conveyor line 118.

Furthermore, the main conveyor line 118 preferably comprises one or more cleaning stations 122 and / or spraying stations 124 and / or rinsing stations 126. The cleaning station 122, the spraying station 124 and / or the rinsing station 126 are arranged and / or formed in particular with respect to the main conveying direction 116 in front of one or more treatment stations 114, between several treatment stations 114 and / or after one or more treatment stations 114.

After the workpieces 102 have been treated, they can be conveyed further by means of a removal station 128.

The removal station 128 forms, in particular, a merging device 130 for merging the workpieces 102 treated at the different treatment units 106 and for further conveying the same together.

In the first embodiment of the treatment system 100 shown in FIGS.

In the treatment stations 114, which in particular laterally adjoin the main conveyor line 118, the vehicle bodies 104 are preferably introduced along a longitudinal axis thereof.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 3, for example, a first treatment station 114a, a second treatment station 114b, a third treatment station 114c and a fourth treatment station 114d are provided for each treatment unit 106.

A fluid tank 134 is preferably assigned to each treatment station 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d. In addition, each treatment station 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d comprises one or more treatment containers 136 for carrying out workpiece treatment.

The workpieces 102 can in particular be treated with one or more fluids in the form of liquids.

During the conveyance of the workpieces 102, liquid in particular can drip off from them.

The conveying device 110, in particular the main conveying path 118, therefore preferably comprises one or more collecting elements 138, which, for example, are designed as collecting troughs and serve to receive liquid that drips down from the workpieces 102.

The collecting elements 138 are in particular integrated into a fluid duct of the treatment system 100, which will be described later, in order to be able to reuse or discharge the liquid thus caught.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 6, each treatment station 114 comprises a fluid tank 134 which is arranged, for example, above a treatment container 136 and which is, for example, a liquid tank.

The fluid tank 134 and the treatment container 136 are connected to one another by means of a fluid guide 140 or form part of a fluid guide 140.

The fluid guide 140 comprises in particular a fluid line, for example a feed line 142, by means of which the fluid can be introduced from the fluid tank 134 into the treatment container 136.

By means of a valve device 144, the supply can be controlled and / or regulated, in particular with regard to the volume flow. The feed line 142 opens, in particular, in a floor area 146 into a treatment space 148 within the treatment container 136.

The treatment container 136 comprises in particular a closed bottom wall 150, a closed top wall 152, two closed side walls 154 and a closed end wall (further side wall) 156.

The further end wall 156, i.e. the further and thus fourth side wall 154, is preferably provided with an access opening 158.

The access opening 158 preferably extends over at least approximately 60%, preferably at least approximately 80%, in particular at least approximately 95%, of a total area of the end wall 156.

The access opening 158 is used in particular to bring in the workpieces 102 and / or to bring out the workpieces 102.

The access opening 158 is thus in particular an introduction opening 160 and / or an extraction opening 162.

The access opening 158 can preferably be closed by means of a closing device 164 of the treatment station 114.

The locking device 164 comprises, in particular, a locking element 166 which can be brought into an open position or into a closed position by means of a locking drive 168.

The closing drive 168 is or comprises, for example, a lifting device 170. In particular, the locking drive 168 comprises an electric motor and a spindle drive for driving, in particular raising and lowering, the locking element 166.

The closing element 166 can thereby preferably be moved in front of the access opening 158 or raised above the same.

The closing element 166 forms, in particular, a lock gate 172 of the closing device 164.

To guide the closing element 166 and / or to support a fluid pressure acting on the closing element 166 during a flooding process in the treatment container 136, a guide device 174 is preferably provided on the treatment container 136 for slidably receiving and guiding the closing element 166.

The closing device 164 is preferably designed to be self-locking and / or self-sealing in order to ensure that the container 136 is fluid-tight.

In particular, a conveyor device 110 or at least a section of a conveyor device 110 is arranged and / or formed in the bottom region 146 of the treatment container 136.

In particular, a guide device 176 of the conveyor device 110 for the load-bearing reception of the workpieces 102 is arranged and / or formed in the floor region 146.

By means of this guide device 176, in particular receiving devices 178, for example skids 180 for receiving workpieces 102 in the form of vehicle bodies 104, can be picked up and moved in an insertion device 182, in particular in a horizontal direction 184, into the handler. treatment space 148 can be brought in and / or brought out from the same. The conveying device 110 preferably only has the guide device 176 within the treatment container 136. Drive components of the conveying device 110 are preferably arranged and / or formed outside of the treatment container 136.

In order to carry out a flooding process in the treatment container 136, the fluid can be supplied via the supply line 142. The fluid can preferably be discharged from the treatment container 136 by means of a discharge line 186.

In order to be able to completely flow around the workpiece 102 with fluid or to allow the workpiece 102 to sink completely into the fluid, the interior (treatment space 148) of the treatment container 136 must be filled with fluid up to a certain filling level.

In order to minimize the amount of fluid required for this, one or more built-in elements 188, in particular built-in elements 188 designed as displacement elements 190, are preferably provided.

A displacement element 190 serves in particular to minimize the free space in the treatment space 148, which free space would have to be filled with fluid unnecessarily.

The displacement elements 190 are in particular at least partially adapted to a shape of the workpiece 102 to be treated, for example a shape facing the workpiece 102 follows at least approximately a shape of a front region of the workpiece 102 (see FIG. 6).

In addition, at least one installation element 188 designed as a displacement element 190 can be provided in the area of the conveying device 110 in order to minimize the free spaces in the floor area 146. For example, one or more support elements 192 can be provided as further built-in elements 188.

A support element 192 can, for example, support the workpiece 102 at least in some areas in order to secure it, in particular to support it, against movement and / or deformation during the flooding process. In this way, an accelerated flooding of the treatment room 148 can preferably be realized.

After flooding has taken place, the respective support element 192 is preferably removed from the workpiece 102 in order to ensure complete wetting and / or flow around the workpiece 102 with fluid.

Furthermore, one or more displacement elements 190 can be moved before, during and / or after the flooding process in order to optimize the flooding process.

In particular, if the fluid tends to form foam when flowing in, it can be provided that it flows into the treatment space 148 in an inflow area 194 below a permanent and / or minimal fluid level. This inflow area 194 is arranged in particular below the access opening 158 in order to avoid an undesired outflow of fluid when the closing device 164 is opened.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 4, the treatment stations 114, which are different from one another, can be connected to one another by means of one or more common fluid ducts 140.

In particular, it can be provided that, by means of the fluid guide 140, fluid from a fluid tank 134 of a treatment unit 106 that is upper with respect to the direction of gravity g is first fed into a treatment container 136 of this upper treatment unit 106, then out of the Treatment tank 136 is introduced into a fluid tank 134 of a lower treatment unit 106 with respect to the direction of gravity g and is thus available for use for a flooding process in a treatment tank 136 of the lower treatment unit 106.

Subsequently, the fluid can, for example, be fed into a counter tank 196 arranged below the lower treatment unit 106, from where the fluid is fed back into the fluid tank 134 of the upper treatment unit 106, for example by means of a pump device 198 and / or after cleaning it by means of a cleaning device 200 will.

Such fluid guides 140 can in principle be provided for each type of treatment station 114 of a plurality of treatment units 106 in each case.

A second embodiment of a treatment system 100 shown in FIGS. 7 to 12 differs from the first embodiment shown in FIGS Treatment stations 114 are conveyed through.

As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 11 and 12, the treatment containers 136 of the treatment stations 114 are provided with access openings 158 on both sides for this purpose, one access opening 158 forming the introduction opening 160 and the further access opening 158 forming the discharge opening 162.

The workpieces 102 can be conveyed through the treatment rooms 148 in particular in the introduction direction 182. To carry out a flooding process in the treatment rooms 148, both access openings 158 must be closed. For this purpose, a separate closing device 164 is assigned to each access opening 158.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 12, the treatment stations 114 arranged one behind the other form treatment lines, for example.

Each treatment line can be a treatment unit 106, so that, for example, two treatment units 106 can be arranged on the same level.

The fluid guides 140 can be assigned to the treatment stations 114 on the same level or on different levels (see, in particular, FIG. 10) in order to enable optimized fluid guidance and / or fluid use.

Otherwise, the second embodiment of the treatment system 100 shown in FIGS. 7 to 12 corresponds in terms of structure and function to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, so that reference is made to the description thereof above.

A third embodiment of a treatment system 100 shown in FIG. 13 differs from the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 essentially in that the treatment stations 114 are arranged on both sides of the main conveyor line 118.

The workpieces 102 can thus be brought into the treatment rooms 148 of the treatment stations 114 optionally to the right or left of the main conveyor line 118 by means of the conveyor device 110 in order to carry out the workpiece treatment. The main conveying path 118 can hereby be designed to be particularly short and compact. By means of a turntable 204, in particular in front of or at the feed station 108, an alignment of the workpieces 102 can be changed in order to enable an optimized feed to the main conveyor line 118.

A fluid guide 140 (not shown in FIG. 13) is provided in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 13, for example, in such a way that the treatment stations 114 arranged opposite one another with respect to the main conveying path 118 always have a common fluid guide 114 and thus serve to carry out the same treatment step .

The third embodiment of the treatment system 100 shown in FIG. 13 can form a treatment unit 106 which, of course, can be provided multiple times, in particular one above the other.

Otherwise, the third embodiment of the treatment system 100 shown in FIG. 13 corresponds in terms of structure and function to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, so that reference is made to the description above.

A fourth embodiment of a treatment system 100 shown in FIG. 14 differs from the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 essentially in that a removal station 128 is provided which is centrally arranged with respect to the main conveyor line 118 or with respect to two main conveyor lines 118. The workpieces 102 are thus removed centrally from the treatment unit 106 and correspondingly fed to the main conveying path 118 at ends 206 facing away from one another. For this purpose, a feed station 108 is provided at each end 206.

The workpieces 102 are thus conveyed towards one another by the two feed stations 108 and removed and conveyed further by means of the common removal station 128. Otherwise, the fourth embodiment of the treatment system 100 shown in FIG. 14 corresponds in terms of structure and function to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, so that reference is made to the description above.

A fifth embodiment of a treatment system 100 shown in FIG. 15 differs from the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 12 essentially in that a treatment unit 106 forming a treatment line comprises a plurality of treatment stations 114 that can be equipped parallel to one another.

For this purpose, a main conveyor line 118 of the conveyor device 110 of the treatment plant 100 preferably comprises one or more distributor devices 112 in order to distribute the workpieces 102 supplied via a feed station 108 to treatment stations 114 arranged parallel to one another.

The distribution device 112 is in particular a transverse displacement device 208.

A further transverse displacement device 208 preferably forms a merging device 130, which is arranged after the treatment stations 114 and is used to merge the workpieces 102 and convey them further together. In particular, the work pieces 102 can then be fed to a rinsing station 126 or spraying station 124.

One or more further distribution devices 112, treatment stations 114 arranged parallel to one another and / or merging devices 130 can then be provided for further treatment steps of the treatment system 100.

In the fifth embodiment of the treatment system shown in FIG. 15, two such treatment steps, each with treatment stations 114 arranged parallel to one another, are provided. Otherwise, the fifth embodiment of a treatment system 100 shown in FIG. 15 corresponds in terms of structure and function to the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 12, so that reference is made to the description above.

A sixth embodiment of a treatment system 100 shown in FIGS. 16 to 18 differs from the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 12 essentially in that a workpiece exchange 102 is possible between two treatment units 106 arranged on one level.

For this purpose, the conveying devices 110 of the treatment units 106 comprise one or more transfer stations 210, by means of which the workpieces 102 can be transferred from the conveying device 110 of one treatment unit 106 to the conveying device 110 of the further treatment unit 106.

In particular, the workpieces 102 can be transferred by means of a transfer station 210 from a main conveyor line 118 of the one treatment unit 106 to the main conveyor line 118 of the further treatment unit 106.

As a result, treatment stations 114 that are to be maintained and / or to be cleaned and / or to be repaired can be bypassed in an isolated manner without having to temporarily shut down the entire treatment unit 106.

As can also be seen in particular from FIG. 17, in the sixth embodiment of the treatment system 100 shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, in addition to the workpiece treatment by flooding, a workpiece treatment by immersing the workpieces is also provided.

For this purpose, one or more treatment containers 136 designed as dipping basins 212 are provided, the associated treatment stations 114 serving to carry out dipping processes. Such immersion tanks 212 are used in particular to coat the work pieces 102, for example the painting of the same as part of a cathodic dip painting.

In particular, several such immersion basins 212 can be arranged one after the other along the main conveying direction 116, for example after one or more treatment stations 114 for carrying out flooding processes for workpiece pretreatment.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 17, provision can be made for several fluid tanks 134 and / or several counter tanks 196 to be assigned to a treatment station 114 in order to be able to carry out different treatment steps in the same treatment room 148.

The treatment space 148 can then be flooded in particular alternately or in succession with different fluids, in particular treatment fluids.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 18, instead of locking elements 166 designed as lock gates 172, flap elements 214 could also be provided as locking elements 166.

The folding elements 214 are in particular arranged pivotably about a substantially horizontal axis and can be brought into a vertical orientation to close the respective access opening 158 and to a horizontal orientation to open the access opening 158 (both states are shown in FIG. 18).

The closing elements 166 can, for example, only partially cover the access opening 158 or else completely cover the access opening 158. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 18, only a partial covering of the access opening 158 is required provided so that the treatment station 114 according to FIG. 18 is only suitable for a partial flooding process.

The dimensions of the closing element 166 can be selected as a function of the filling level required to carry out the workpiece treatment.

At least one closing element 166, in particular at least one folding element 214, can for example comprise or form one or more conveyor elements of a conveyor device 110, in particular one or more guide elements of a guide device 176 of a conveyor device 110 (not shown in the figures). The closing element 166 then serves, in particular, for load-bearing guidance of the one or more workpieces 102 when they are introduced over the closing element 166 into the treatment room 148.

Otherwise, the embodiment of the treatment system 100 shown in FIGS. 16 to 18 corresponds in terms of structure and function to the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 12, so that reference is made to the description above.

19 and 20 show a further alternative embodiment of a treatment station 114, which essentially corresponds to the embodiment of a treatment station 114 shown in FIG fluid to be discharged from the treatment space 148 can be collected.

The collecting container 218 thus in particular forms a counter tank 196 of a fluid guide 140. Otherwise, the embodiment of a treatment station 114 shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 corresponds in terms of structure and function to the embodiment shown in FIG. 18, so that reference is made to the description thereof above.

An optional development of the treatment station 114 is shown in FIGS. It is provided here that the conveying device 110 comprises one or more drive units 220 which act from outside the treatment space 148 on a guide section 222 of the conveying device 110. A drive unit 220 can be, for example, an electric motor or comprise an electric motor.

The one or more drive units 220 are preferably coupled purely mechanically to the guide path section 222. In particular, it can be provided that a coupling device 224 establishes a mechanical connection between the one or more drive units 220 on the one hand and the guide section 222 of the conveying device 110 on the other hand. By means of the one or more drive units 220 arranged outside of the treatment room 148, in particular a workpiece 102 guided within the treatment room 148 on the guide path section 222 can be driven, preferably linearly displaced, for example brought into or removed from the treatment room 148.

It can be favorable if the one or more drive units 220 are arranged above a maximum filling level or above a maximum filling height of the treatment room 148 and / or on an outer side 226 of a side wall 228 of a treatment container 136 surrounding the treatment room 148.

One or more drive units 220 are preferably at an end region facing away from an access opening 158 of the treatment container 136 of the treatment container 136 and / or arranged in a region of a side wall 228 of the treatment container 136 close to the ceiling.

The coupling device 224 is preferably passed through the side wall 228, preferably at the level of the one or more drive units 220. A feed-through opening 230 for passing through the coupling device 224 is preferably arranged and / or above a maximum filling level or above a maximum filling height of the treatment room 148 educated. A coupling element 232 of the coupling device 224 passed through the side wall 228 is preferably a rotating shaft or coupling shaft.

The rotating shaft or coupling shaft is preferably connected by means of a tension element 234, in particular by means of a belt and / or a chain, for example a duplex chain, to a further rotating shaft or coupling shaft which is arranged in the region of the guide section 222 and ultimately directly or indirectly onto the workpiece 102 acts to drive the same thing. The tension element 234 can be tensioned in particular by means of one or two tension elements 236, in particular tension rollers.

Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 21 to 27, it is provided that the treatment station 114 comprises one or more sensor devices 238, which enable a status and / or position detection within the treatment room 148 from outside the treatment room 148. For example, correct positioning of a workpiece 102 within the treatment room 148 can be determined or monitored by means of a sensor device 238.

The one or more sensor devices 238 preferably each include one or more sensor elements 240 arranged outside of the treatment room 148, which are preferably coupled purely mechanically to one or more transmitter elements 242 within the treatment room 148 (see in particular FIGS. 25 to 27). In particular, can it can be provided that a coupling device 224 establishes a mechanical connection between the one or more sensor elements 240 on the one hand and the one or more transmitter elements 242 on the other. By means of the one or more sensor elements 240 arranged outside the treatment room 148, in particular a workpiece 102 arranged inside the treatment room 148 can then be detected, preferably its position can be ascertained or monitored.

It can be favorable if the one or more sensor elements 240 are arranged above a maximum filling level or above a maximum filling height of the treatment room 148 and / or on an outer side 226 of a side wall 228 of the treatment container 136 surrounding the treatment room 148.

One or more sensor elements 240 are preferably arranged in a region of a side wall 228 of the treatment container 136 close to the ceiling.

The coupling device 224 of the sensor device 238 is preferably passed through the side wall 228, preferably at the level of the one or more sensor elements 240 / or trained. A coupling element 232 of the coupling device 224 passed through the side wall 228 is preferably a rotating shaft or coupling shaft.

The rotating shaft or coupling shaft is preferably connected to a further rotating shaft or coupling shaft by means of a tension element or pressure element, in particular by means of a coupling rod 244, which is arranged, for example, in a base area and / or in the area of a guide section 222 and is connected to a transmitter element 242. Through Actuating the transmitter element 242, for example by rotating the transmitter element 242, a rotation of the further rotary shaft or coupling shaft, thereby for example a vertical displacement of the coupling rod 244 and thereby a rotation of the (upper) rotary shaft or coupling shaft, can be effected, with the output from the treatment room 148 (upper) rotary shaft or coupling shaft finally executes or effects a movement which can be detected by means of the at least one sensor element 240. By purely mechanical actuation of the coupling device 224, a change in the alignment or another movement of the transmitter element 242 can thus be detected by means of the one or more sensor elements 240.

Preferred embodiments are as follows:

1. Treatment station (114) for treating workpieces (102), in particular special for cleaning and / or coating vehicle bodies (104), the treatment station (114) comprising a treatment container (136) which has a treatment room (148) for receiving the Work pieces (102) surrounds.

2. Treatment station (114) according to embodiment 1, characterized in that the treatment room (148) can be flooded with a fluid, the treatment container (136) having at least one access opening (158) for introducing the workpieces (102) into the treatment room (148) and / or for removing the workpieces (102) from the treatment room (148), the treatment container (136) comprising a closing device (164) for the optional closing and opening of the at least one access opening (158).

3. Treatment station (114) according to embodiment 2, characterized in that the at least one access opening (158) in a or a plurality of side walls (154) of the treatment container (136), in particular in one or more end walls (156) of the treatment container (136), is arranged and / or formed. Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 2 or 3, characterized in that the closing device (164) serves to close the at least one access opening (158) in a fluid-tight manner. Treatment station (114) according to one of embodiments 2 to 4, characterized in that the closing device (164) comprises a lifting device (170) for raising and lowering a closing element (166) of the closing device (164), in particular for lifting the closing element (166) in order to bring this into an open position, and to lower the closing element (166) in order to bring it into a closed position. Treatment station (114) according to one of embodiments 2 to 5, characterized in that the closing device (164) comprises a swiveling device for swiveling a closing element (166) of the closing device (164), the closing element (166) in particular about an at least approximately horizontal swivel axis is pivotable. Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 2 to 6, characterized in that the closing device (164) comprises a closing drive (168) for automatically moving a closing element (166) of the closing device (164). Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 2 to 7, characterized in that the treatment station (114) comprises a fluid tank (134) for receiving a fluid, in particular a treatment fluid, the fluid for flooding the Treatment room (148) can be introduced from the fluid tank (134) into the treatment room (148) by means of a fluid guide (140) and / or wherein the fluid for emptying the treatment room (148) is returned from the treatment room (148) by means of the fluid guide (140) can be guided into the fluid tank (134). Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 2 to 8, characterized in that the treatment station (114) comprises a conveyor device (110) for conveying the workpieces (102), in particular for introducing the workpieces (102) into the treatment room (148) and / or for removing the workpieces (102) from the treatment room (148). Treatment station (114) according to embodiment 9, characterized in that the workpieces (102) can be moved along a horizontal plane by means of the conveyor device (110), in particular can be brought into the treatment room (148) and / or can be removed from the treatment room (148). Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 9 or 10, characterized in that the conveyor device (110) comprises one or more drive units for moving the workpieces (102), the drive units, in particular all drive units of the conveyor device (110), outside the treatment room (148) are arranged, at least while a workpiece is being treated. Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 9 to 11, characterized in that the conveyor device (110) comprises a guide device (176) for load-bearing reception of the workpieces (102), the guide device (176) extending from outside of the treatment room (148) extends into the treatment room (148), in particular through at least one access opening (158). Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 9 to 12, characterized in that the conveyor device (110) comprises a guide device (176) for load-bearing reception of the workpieces (102), the guide device (176) both outside of the treatment room (148 ) and at least one guide path section arranged inside the treatment room (148), the workpieces (102) passing through the access opening (158) from a guide path section arranged outside the treatment room (148) to a guide path section inside the treatment room (148 ) arranged guide path section can be transferred, in particular by driving the workpieces (102) by means of one or more drive units. Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 9 to 13, characterized in that the conveying device (110) comprises a locking device for locking the workpieces (102) in a treatment position within the treatment room (148), with the locking device in particular moving the workpiece (102) can be blocked against the direction of gravity (g). Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 9 to 14, characterized in that the conveyor device (110) comprises a movement device for tilting and / or rotating the workpieces (102), in particular for temporarily changing their position relative to an at least approximately horizontal normal position. Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 1 to 15, wherein the treatment space (148) can be flooded with a fluid, wherein the treatment station (114) comprises one or more built-in elements (188) which are arranged or can be arranged in the treatment room (148) to support a flooding process. Treatment station (114) according to embodiment 16, characterized in that one or more built-in elements (188) are adapted or adaptable to the workpieces (102) to be treated with regard to their position and / or with regard to their function and / or with regard to their shape. Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 16 or 17, characterized in that one or more built-in elements (188) are designed as displacement elements (190), by means of which in particular free spaces within the treatment room (148) can be filled which during the flooding process without the respective installation element (188) would remain free and would therefore have to be filled with fluid. Treatment station (114) according to embodiment 18, characterized in that one or more displacement elements (190) are at least partially or regionally adapted or adaptable to a shape of the workpiece (102) to be treated. Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 18 or 19, characterized in that one or more displacement elements (190) have a hollow body which can be filled and / or filled and / or emptied independently of the flooding process. Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 18 to 20, characterized in that one or more displacement elements (190) are designed to be changeable in shape and / or changeable in size, for example to be pumpable, and in that the treatment station (114) has a variation device for varying the shape and / or or the size of the one or more displacement elements (190), in particular to reduce a free space to be flooded for a treatment process within the treatment room (148). Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 18 to 21, characterized in that one or more displacement elements (190) fill one or more free spaces in the area of a conveyor device (110) of the treatment station (114). Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 18 to 22, characterized in that one or more displacement elements (190) create a free space above a workpiece (102) designed as a vehicle body (104), in particular above a vehicle front and / or above a vehicle rear of the vehicle body (104), fill in. Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 16 to 23, characterized in that one or more built-in elements (188) are designed as support elements (192) for supporting a workpiece (102) to be treated during the flooding process. Treatment station (114) according to embodiment 24, characterized in that one or more of the support elements (192) each have a support section which is used to rest directly on the workpiece (102) to support the same. Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 16 to 25, characterized in that one or more built-in elements (188) are designed as temperature control elements for temperature control of the treatment container (136) and / or the fluid. Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 16 to 26, characterized in that one or more built-in elements (188) are temporarily used for one or more treatment processes and / or Flooding processes or permament are arranged or can be arranged in the treatment room (148). Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 16 to 27, characterized in that one or more built-in elements (188) for carrying out a flooding process can be automatically introduced into a free space to be flooded in the treatment room (148) and automatically out of the free space to be flooded after the flooding process has been carried out are removable. Treatment station (114) according to embodiment 28, characterized in that one or more built-in elements (188) are or can be arranged on a closing element (166) for closing an access opening (158) of the treatment container (136) and that the one or more built-in elements ( 188) can be brought into a closed position by moving the closing element (166) into a position in which they support the flooding process. Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 1 to 29, characterized in that the treatment station (114) comprises a fluid tank (134) for receiving a fluid and that the treatment station (114) comprises a fluid duct by means of which the fluid a) is flooded the treatment space (148) from the fluid tank (134) into the treatment container (136); and / or b) can be guided into the fluid tank (134) for emptying the treatment space (148) from the treatment container (136). Treatment station (114) according to embodiment 30, characterized in that the fluid tank (134) is arranged above the treatment container (136) with respect to the direction of gravity (g). Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 30 or 31, characterized in that the fluid guide (140) comprises a pumping device (198) by means of which the fluid can be pumped from the treatment space (148) into the fluid tank (134). Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 30 to 32, characterized in that the fluid guide (140) comprises a fluid line designed as a feed line (142), by means of which the fluid can be fed to the treatment room (148), the feed line (142) in a bottom area (146) of the treatment container (136) opens into the same. Treatment station (114) according to embodiment 33, characterized in that the treatment container (136) comprises an inflow area (194) located in particular below an access opening (158) of the treatment container (136), which is also emptied in an area provided for exchanging a workpiece (102) State of the treatment container (136) is filled with fluid, the feed line (142) opening into the inflow area (194). Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 30 to 34, characterized in that the fluid duct (140) comprises a cleaning device (200) for cleaning the fluid, the cleaning device (200) in particular in a return line of the fluid duct (140) for returning the Fluid is arranged in the fluid tank (134). Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 30 to 35, characterized in that the treatment station (114) comprises a control device by means of which a flooding process in the treatment room (148) can be controlled and / or regulated, in particular by controlling and / or regulating a valve device (144) for Opening and closing of a supply line (142) for supplying fluid to the treatment room (148). Treatment station (114) according to embodiment 36, characterized in that one or more workpiece parameters are taken into account to control and / or regulate the flooding process, in particular a geometry and / or size and / or position of the respective workpiece (102) within the treatment room (148) . Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 36 or 37, characterized in that the flooding process can be controlled by means of the control device in such a way that a filling speed and / or a rate of change of the level of the fluid in the treatment room (148) is varied, in particular adapted, during the flooding to local differences in stability of the workpieces (102). Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 36 to 38, characterized in that the treatment station (114) comprises one or more measuring devices, by means of which a volume flow of the fluid flowing into the treatment room (148) and / or a fill level or fill level within the treatment room (148) and / or a fill level or fill level in the fluid tank (134) can be determined, one or more measured values from the one or more measuring devices for controlling and / or regulating the flooding process being taken into account. Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 30 to 39, characterized in that the treatment station (114) has a counter tank (196) which is arranged below the treatment room (148) in particular with regard to the direction of gravity (g) and which is from the treatment room (148) fluid to be discharged can be supplied. Treatment station (114) according to embodiment 40, characterized in that the fluid flows only using gravity (g) from the fluid tank (134) into the treatment room (148) and / or from the treatment room (148) into the counter tank (196) . Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 30 to 41, characterized in that the treatment station (114) comprises two or more than two treatment rooms (148), in particular two or more than two treatment containers (136) each with a treatment room (148) wherein a common fluid tank (134) is provided for supplying the fluid to the two or more than two treatment rooms (148). Treatment station (114) according to one of the embodiments 30 to 42, characterized in that the treatment station (114) comprises a rinsing device for rinsing and / or cleaning the treatment room (148), whereby by means of the rinsing device in particular independently of the fluid, independent of the fluid tank (134) and / or independently of a counter tank (196), a rinsing medium can be introduced into the treatment space (148), in particular sprayed in, and removed from the same, in particular drained off. Treatment system (100), comprising one or more treatment stations (114), in particular according to one of the embodiments 1 to 43, characterized in that each treatment station (114) comprises at least one treatment container (136) which has a treatment space (148) for receiving workpieces (102), wherein each treatment station (114) alone or several treatment stations (114) together comprise a fluid tank (134) for receiving a fluid and wherein the treatment stations (114) comprise a fluid guide (140) by means of which the fluid a) for flooding one or more treatment rooms (148) from the fluid tank (134) into the respective treatment container (136); and / or b) can be guided into the fluid tank (134) for emptying the treatment rooms (148) from the respective treatment container (136). Treatment system (100) according to embodiment 44, characterized in that the treatment system (100) comprises several first treatment stations (114) for carrying out a first treatment step and several second treatment stations (114) for carrying out a second treatment step, one or more first treatment stations ( 114) and one or more second treatment stations (114) are part of or form a treatment unit (106) of the treatment system (100) through which the workpieces (102) pass to carry out the treatment steps. Treatment system (100) according to embodiment 45, characterized in that the treatment system (100) comprises a plurality of treatment units (106), each of which comprises one or more first treatment stations (114) and one or more second treatment stations (114) and which in particular have different treatment lines of the treatment system (100), a) wherein one or more first treatment stations (114) of mutually different treatment units (106) have a common fluid duct (140) and / or a common fluid tank (134); and / or b) wherein one or more second treatment stations (114) of different treatment units (106) have a common fluid duct (140) and / or a common fluid tank (134). Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 44 to 46, characterized in that a fluid, in particular a first treatment fluid, by means of the fluid guide initially a) one or more treatment rooms (148) one or more treatment stations (114), in particular first treatment stations (114 ), a first treatment unit (106) and then b) one or more treatment rooms (148) of one or more treatment stations (114), in particular first treatment stations (114), of a second treatment unit (106). Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 44 to 47, characterized in that a fluid, in particular a second treatment fluid, by means of the fluid guide (140) initially a) one or more treatment rooms (148) of one or more treatment stations (114), in particular second Treatment stations (114), a first treatment unit (106) and then b) one or more treatment rooms (148) of one or more treatment stations (114), in particular second treatment stations (114), of a second treatment unit (106). Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 44 to 48, characterized in that the fluid can be supplied to treatment rooms (148) of different treatment units (106) in alternation by means of the fluid guide (140). Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 44 to 49, characterized in that the fluid guide (140) is connected to a cleaning device (200) so that the fluid, in particular after it has been removed from one of the treatment rooms (148) and / or before a renewed supply to another of the treatment rooms (148) can be cleaned. Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 44 to 50, characterized in that a total amount of a fluid contained overall in a fluid duct (140) is at most approximately twice, in particular at most approximately three times, that for carrying out a single flooding process in a treatment room (148 ) is the required amount of fluid. Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 44 to 51, characterized in that several, in particular all, treatment stations (114) of a treatment unit (106), in particular one or more or all of the first treatment stations (114) and one or more or all of the second treatment stations (114) of a treatment unit (106) are arranged on a common level of the treatment system (100). Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 44 to 52, characterized in that several treatment units (106) of the treatment system (100) are arranged on different levels of the treatment system (100). Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 44 to 53, characterized in that one or more treatment stations (114) different treatment units (106) of the treatment system (100), which have a common fluid duct (140) and / or which carry out the same Serve treatment step, along the direction of gravity (g) are arranged one above the other. Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 44 to 54, characterized in that the treatment system (100) comprises several fluid guides (140) for guiding treatment fluids that are different from one another, the fluid guides (140) from one another different treatment stations (114) are assigned to carry out different treatment steps. Treatment system (100), in particular according to one of the embodiments 44 to 55, comprising: several treatment stations (114) for treating the workpieces (102), in particular for cleaning and / or coating vehicle bodies (104), with one or more treatment stations (114 ) each comprise at least one treatment container (136) which surrounds a treatment space (148) for receiving the workpieces (102), the treatment system (100) comprising a fluid duct (140) by means of which one or more of the treatment rooms (148) can be selected can be flooded or emptied, the treatment system (100) comprising a conveying device (110) for conveying the workpieces (102), by means of which the workpieces (102) can be introduced into the one or more treatment rooms (148) in an emptied state and / or can be extracted from them. Treatment system (100) according to embodiment 56, characterized in that the workpieces (102) can be moved along a horizontal plane by means of the conveyor device (110), in particular can be brought into the treatment room (148) and / or can be removed from the treatment room (148). Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 56 or 57, characterized in that the treatment system (100) comprises a main conveyor line (118) extending in a main conveying direction (116), along which the workpieces (102) are conveyed by means of the conveying device (110). can be conveyed from one treatment station (114) to a further treatment station (114). Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 56 to 58, characterized in that the workpieces (102) can be conveyed in a transverse orientation (132) of the same along the main conveying direction (116) and / or along the main conveying path (118). Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 56 to 59, characterized in that the workpieces (102) can be brought into and / or removed from one or more treatment rooms (148) in a longitudinal orientation (202) thereof. Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 56 to 60, characterized in that the workpieces (102) can be brought into the treatment rooms (148) in an introduction direction (182), the introduction direction (182) being transverse, in particular perpendicular, to a main conveying direction (116) of the conveyor device (110). Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 56 to 61, characterized in that the treatment system (100) comprises several treatment stations (114) for carrying out identical treatment steps, two or more such treatment stations (114) on opposite sides of a main conveyor line (118 ) the conveyor device (110) are arranged. Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 56 to 62, characterized in that the treatment system (100) comprises several treatment stations (114) for carrying out identical treatment steps, two or more such treatment stations (114) along a main conveying direction (116) of the conveying device (110) are arranged one after the other and / or next to one another. Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 56 to 63, characterized in that several treatment stations (114) form a treatment unit (106), with several, in particular all, treatment stations (114) of a treatment unit (106), in particular one or more or all of them first treatment stations (114) and one or more or all of the second treatment stations (114) of a treatment unit (106) are arranged on a common level of the treatment system (100). Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 56 to 64, characterized in that the treatment system (100) comprises a main conveying path (118) extending in a main conveying direction (116), along which the workpieces (102) are conveyed by means of the conveying device (110). can be conveyed from a treatment station (114) to a further treatment station (114), wherein the main conveyor line (118) comprises one or more tunnel sections (120) for housing the main conveyor line (118), wherein one or more tunnel sections (120), in particular one or more have a plurality of tunnel sections (120) arranged along the main conveying direction (116) between two treatment stations (114), a cleaning station (122) and / or rinsing station (126) and / or spraying station (124). Treatment system (100) of one of the embodiments 56 to 65, characterized in that the treatment system (100) comprises two treatment units (106) which are arranged on a common level of the treatment system (100), with main conveyor lines (118) of the conveyor devices (110) of the two treatment units (106) are aligned antiparallel to one another and / or are arranged linearly one behind the other. Treatment system (100) according to embodiment 66, characterized in that the two treatment units (106) a) each other feed stations (108) arranged facing away for feeding the workpieces (102) and / or b) mutually facing removal stations (128) for removing the workpieces (102) and / or c) a common removal station (128) for removing the workpieces (102) exhibit. Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 56 to 67, characterized in that the conveyor device (110) comprises one or more branch conveyors, by means of which the workpieces (102) a) can be removed from a main conveyor line (116) and transferred to one or more treatment rooms ( 148) can be brought in; and / or b) can be removed from one or more treatment rooms (148) and brought back onto the main conveyor line (116). Treatment system (100), in particular according to one of the embodiments 44 to 68, comprising: several treatment stations (114) for treating the workpieces (102), in particular for cleaning and / or coating vehicle bodies (114), with one or more treatment stations (114 ) each comprise at least one treatment container (136) which surrounds a treatment space (148) for receiving the workpieces (102), the treatment system (100) comprising a fluid duct (140) by means of which one or more of the treatment rooms (148) can be selected can be flooded or emptied, the treatment system (100) comprising a conveying device (110) for conveying the workpieces (102), by means of which the workpieces (102) in an emptied state of the respective treatment room (148) through an inlet opening (160) formed access opening (158) can be introduced into the same and by means of which the workpieces (102) in an emptied state of the respective treatment s space (148) can be brought out from the same through an access opening (158) designed as a discharge opening (162), the introduction opening (160) and the Discharge openings (162) are mutually different access openings (158). Treatment system (100) according to embodiment 69, characterized in that the workpieces (102) can be moved along a horizontal plane by means of the conveyor device (110), in particular can be brought into the treatment room (148) and / or can be removed from the treatment room (148). Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 69 or 70, characterized in that the treatment system (100) comprises a main conveying path (118) extending in a main conveying direction (116), along which the workpieces (102) are conveyed by means of the conveying device (110). can be conveyed from one treatment station (114) to a further treatment station (114). Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 69 to 71, characterized in that the workpieces (102) can be conveyed in a longitudinal orientation (202) of the same along the main conveying direction (116) and / or along the main conveying path (118). Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 69 to 72, characterized in that the workpieces (102) can be conveyed through one or more treatment rooms (148) in a longitudinal orientation (202) thereof. Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 69 to 73, characterized in that the conveyor device (110) comprises one or more transfer stations (210) at which or by means of which the workpieces (102) from a treatment station (114) optionally to a longitudinal a main conveying direction (116) subsequent further treatment station (114) of the same treatment unit (106) and / or can be transferred to a treatment unit (106) of the treatment system (100) that is different therefrom. Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 69 to 74, characterized in that the treatment system (100) comprises several treatment stations (114) for performing identical treatment steps, two or more such treatment stations (114) being arranged adjacent to one another and / or components of treatment units (106) or treatment lines of the treatment system (100) running parallel to one another. Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 69 to 75, characterized in that the treatment system (100) comprises a main conveying path (118) extending in a main conveying direction (116), along which the workpieces (102) are conveyed by means of the conveying device (110). can be conveyed from a treatment station (114) to a further treatment station (114), the main conveyor line (118) comprising one or more tunnel sections (120) for housing the main conveyor line (118), wherein one or more tunnel sections (120), in particular a or several tunnel sections (120) arranged along the main conveying direction (116) between two treatment stations (114), a cleaning station (122) and / or rinsing station (126) and / or spraying station (124). Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 69 to 76, characterized in that one or more cleaning stations (122) and / or rinsing stations (126) and / or spraying stations (124) are arranged or formed at one or more transfer stations (210). Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 69 to 77, characterized in that the treatment system (100) at least comprises two treatment stations (114) for performing the same treatment process and that a distribution device (112) or a merging device (130) are arranged with respect to a main conveying direction (116) of the workpieces (102) before and / or after these treatment stations (114). Treatment system (100) according to embodiment 78, characterized in that the distribution device (112) and / or the merging device (130) are each designed as a transverse displacement device (208). Treatment system (100) according to one of the embodiments 69 to 79, characterized in that the treatment system (100) comprises one or more treatment stations (114) for carrying out flooding processes and one or more treatment stations (114) for carrying out immersion processes. Treatment system (100) according to embodiment 80, characterized in that a) the one or more treatment stations (114) are used to carry out flooding processes for pretreating the workpieces (102), in particular cleaning, degreasing and / or phosphating; and / or b) that the one or more treatment stations (114) are used to carry out immersion processes for coating the workpieces (102), in particular for painting. Method for treating workpieces (102), in particular for cleaning and / or coating vehicle bodies (104), wherein in particular one or more treatment stations (114) according to one of the embodiments 1 to 43 and / or one or more treatment systems (100) according to a of embodiments 44 to 81 can be used. Method, in particular according to embodiment 82, wherein the method comprises the following:

- Introducing a workpiece (102) into a treatment space (148) of a treatment container (136);

- Flooding the treatment space (148) with a fluid for carrying out a workpiece treatment, the fluid a) for flooding the treatment space (148) from the fluid tank (134) into the treatment container (136); and / or b) for emptying the treatment space (148) from the treatment container (136) into the fluid tank (134). Method, in particular according to one of the embodiments 82 or 83, wherein the method comprises the following:

- Bringing one or more workpieces (102) into one or more treatment rooms (148) of one or more treatment stations (114);

- Flooding of the one or more treatment rooms (148) with a fluid for carrying out the treatment, the fluid a) being used to flood one or more treatment rooms (148) from the fluid tank (134) into the respective treatment room ( 148); and / or b) to empty the treatment rooms (148) from the respective treatment room (148) into the fluid tank (134). Method according to one of the embodiments 82 to 84, characterized in that the fluid is successively, in particular completely offset in time, a) removed from the fluid tank (134) and fed to one or more treatment rooms (148) and b) thereafter, in particular afterwards or at a later point in time, for example after cleaning the fluid in a cleaning device (200), is returned to the fluid tank (134), the fluid tank (134) and / or the one or more Treatment rooms (148) are thereby preferably alternately filled and emptied. Method according to one of the embodiments 82 to 85, characterized in that the fluid is fed one after the other, in particular completely offset in time, a) one or more treatment rooms (148) of a treatment station (114) of a first treatment unit (106) and b) thereafter, in particular after this or at a later point in time, for example after intermediate storage in an intermediate storage tank, is supplied to one or more treatment rooms (148) of a treatment station (114) of a second treatment unit (106). Method, in particular according to one of the embodiments 82 to 86, for treating workpieces (102), in particular for cleaning and / or coating vehicle bodies (104), the method comprising the following:

- Introducing a workpiece (102) through an access opening (158) of a treatment container (136) into a treatment space (148) of the treatment container (136);

- Closing the access opening (158) of the treatment container (136) by means of a closing device (164);

- Flooding of the treatment room (148) with a fluid to carry out a workpiece treatment. Method, in particular according to one of the embodiments 82 to 87, for treating workpieces (102), in particular for cleaning and / or coating vehicle bodies (104), the method comprising:

Conveying one or more workpieces (102) by means of a conveyor device (110);

Bringing the one or more workpieces (102) into a treatment room (148) of a treatment station (114) to carry out a treatment step;

Flooding the treatment room (148) with a fluid;

Removal of the fluid and removal of the workpieces (102) from the treatment room (148) by means of the conveying device (110), the workpieces (102) being brought into and out of the treatment room (148) in particular in an at least approximately horizontal direction. Method, in particular according to one of the embodiments 82 to 88, for treating workpieces (102), characterized in that the workpieces (102) are conveyed along a main conveying direction (116) from one treatment station (114) to the next and in a transverse, in particular perpendicular, direction , the introduction direction (182) running towards the main conveying direction (116) into the treatment rooms (148) of the treatment stations (114). Method, in particular according to one of the embodiments 82 to 89, for treating workpieces (102), in particular for cleaning and / or coating vehicle bodies (104), the method comprising the following:

- Flooding of the treatment room (148) with a fluid for carrying out a workpiece treatment, the flooding being supported by means of one or more built-in elements (188) arranged or can be arranged in the treatment room (148). Method, in particular according to one of the embodiments 82 to 90, for treating workpieces (102), in particular for cleaning and / or coating vehicle bodies (104), the method comprising the following:

Conveying one or more workpieces (102) by means of a conveyor device (110);

Flooding the treatment room (148) with a fluid;

Removal of the fluid and removal of the workpieces (102) from the treatment room (148) by means of the conveyor device (110), the workpieces (102) in an emptied state of the respective treatment room (148) by means of the conveyor device (110) through a feed opening ( 160) formed access opening (158) is introduced into the same and by means of which the workpieces (102) in an emptied state of the respective treatment room (148) through an access opening (158) designed as an exit opening (162) are brought out of the same, the introduction opening (160) and the discharge opening (162) are mutually different access openings (158). Method according to embodiment 91, characterized in that the workpieces (102) are conveyed in a longitudinal orientation (202) of the same along a main conveying direction (116) from one treatment station (114) to the next and in the same longitudinal orientation (202) through the treatment rooms (148) of the Treatment stations (114) are promoted therethrough. List of reference symbols

Treatment facility

workpiece

Vehicle body

Treatment unit

Feeding station

Conveyor

Distribution device

Treatment station

Main direction of conveyance

Main conveyor line

Tunnel section

Cleaning station

Spraying station

Rinsing station

Unloading station

Merging device

Transverse alignment

Fluid tank

Treatment tank

Catch element

Fluid guidance

Supply line

Valve device

Floor area

Treatment room

Bottom wall

Ceiling wall

Side wall

Front wall

Access opening

Feed opening Discharge opening

Locking device

Locking element

Locking drive

Lifting device

floodgate

Guide device

Cradle

Skid

Insertion direction horizontal direction

Derivation

Built-in element

Displacement element

Support element

Inflow area

Counter tank

Pumping device

Cleaning device

Longitudinal alignment

Turntable

end

Cross shifting device

Transfer station

Diving pool

Folding element

Collecting funnel

Collecting container

Drive unit

Route section

Coupling device

Outside 228 side wall

230 feedthrough opening

232 coupling element

234 tension element

236 clamping element

238 sensor device

240 sensor element

242 encoder element

244 coupling rod g direction of gravity

Claims

Expectations

1. Treatment station (114) for treating workpieces (102), in particular special for cleaning and / or coating vehicle bodies (104), the treatment station (114) comprising a treatment container (136) which has a treatment room (148) for receiving the Workpieces (102) surrounds, wherein the treatment station (114) comprises a fluid tank (134) for receiving a fluid and wherein the treatment station (114) comprises a fluid guide by means of which the fluid a) for flooding the treatment space (148) from the fluid tank (134) into the treatment tank (136); and / or b) can be guided into the fluid tank (134) for emptying the treatment space (148) from the treatment container (136).

2. Treatment station (114) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fluid tank (134) is arranged with respect to the direction of gravity (g) above the treatment container (136).

3. Treatment station (114) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the fluid guide (140) comprises a pumping device (198) by means of which the fluid can be pumped from the treatment space (148) into the fluid tank (134).

4. Treatment station (114) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fluid guide (140) comprises a fluid line designed as a feed line (142), by means of which the fluid can be fed to the treatment space (148), the feed line ( 142) opens into a bottom area (146) of the treatment container (136) in the same.

5. Treatment station (114) according to claim 4, characterized in that the treatment container (136) comprises an inflow area (194) located in particular below an access opening (158) of the treatment container (136), also in an inflow area (194) for exchanging a workpiece (102) provided emptied state of the treatment container (136) is filled with fluid, the feed line (142) opening into the inflow area (194).

6. Treatment station (114) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the fluid guide (140) comprises a cleaning device (200) for cleaning the fluid, the cleaning device (200) in particular in a return line of the fluid guide (140) for Return of the fluid is arranged in the fluid tank (134).

7. Treatment station (114) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the treatment station (114) comprises a Steuervorrich device by means of which a flooding process in the treatment room (148) can be controlled and / or regulated, in particular by control and / or Regulation of a valve device (144) for opening and closing a supply line (142) for supplying fluid to the treatment room (148).

8. Treatment station (114) according to claim 7, characterized in that one or more workpiece parameters are taken into account to control and / or regulate the flooding process, in particular a geometry and / or size and / or position of the respective workpiece (102) within the treatment room ( 148).

9. Treatment station (114) according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the flooding process can be controlled by means of the control device in such a way that a filling speed and / or a rate of change of the level of the fluid in the treatment room (148) is varied during flooding, in particular adapted to local differences in stability of the workpieces (102).

10. Treatment station (114) according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the treatment station (114) comprises one or more measuring devices, by means of which a volume flow of the fluid flowing into the treatment room (148) and / or a fill level or fill level within of the treatment room (148) and / or a fill level or fill level in the fluid tank (134) can be determined, one or more measured values of the one or more measuring devices for controlling and / or regulating the flooding process being taken into account.

11. Treatment station (114) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the treatment station (114) has a counter tank (196) which is arranged in particular with respect to the direction of gravity (g) below the treatment room (148) and which is composed of the fluid to be discharged can be supplied to the treatment room (148).

12. Treatment station (114) according to claim 11, characterized in that the fluid is only using gravity (g) from the fluid tank (134) in the treatment room (148) and / or from the treatment room (148) in the counter tank (196) flows.

13. Treatment station (114) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the treatment station (114) has two or more than two treatment rooms (148), in particular two or more than two treatment containers (136), each with a treatment room (148) , wherein a common fluid tank (134) for supplying the fluid to the two or more than two treatment rooms (148) is provided.

14. Treatment station (114) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the treatment station (114) has a rinsing device for rinsing and / or cleaning the treatment room (148), wherein a rinsing medium can be introduced into the treatment room (148) by means of the rinsing device, in particular independently of the fluid, independent of the fluid tank (134) and / or independently of a counter tank (196), in particular can be sprayed in and removed from the same, in particular drained.

15. A method for treating workpieces (102), in particular for cleaning and / or coating vehicle bodies (104), the method comprising the following:

- Flooding the treatment space (148) with a fluid for carrying out a workpiece treatment, the fluid a) for flooding the treatment space (148) from the fluid tank (134) into the treatment container (136); and / or b) for emptying the treatment space (148) from the treatment container (136) into the fluid tank (134).