FR2849397A1 - Device for surface treatment of articles by spraying with fluid comprises an enclosure having a part that is movable and able to cover the element to be treated - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for spraying a surface with fluid has an enclosure (22) having a movable part that is able to cover the element to be treated. The enclosure is a parallelepiped having a fixed side wall (24) and a mobile part comprising the three other side walls (26) and an upper wall (28). The upper wall has an opening with a flexible sealing device (32). The enclosure (22) has guide rails (34) on the ground at the same level as the longitudinal side walls and which extend from the fixed side wall (24) over an appropriate length in order to ensure sufficient clearance of the moveable part so that the elements to be treated can be introduced. The spraying unit (38) located inside the enclosure (22) is moveable with respect to the element to be treated.

Description

DEVICE FOR THE SURFACE TREATMENT

  The present invention relates to a device for surface treatment.

  In known manner, for surface treatments, use is made of different baths in which the parts to be treated are successively immersed. Such an implementation requires a lot of space on the ground and, in the case of large-sized pieces, basins with large capacities or large quantities of stored products possibly requiring site classification. Another technique is to move the pieces through a tunnel. The products used for each step being generally incompatible and their effluents 10 having to be treated separately, the different zones assigned to each step are arranged one after the other. Depending on the number of stages, the length of the tunnel can be relatively large, which requires a site of large dimensions.

  Also, the present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the devices of the prior art by proposing a new device for surface treatment which does not require large quantities of stored products and of reduced bulk. To this end, the subject of the invention is a device for the surface treatment of at least one element, comprising means for projecting a fluid, characterized in that it comprises at least one enclosure, part of which is mobile and likely to come over the element to be treated.

  Thus, the fact of projecting the treatment product or products makes it possible to reduce the quantities of products stored while the mobile enclosure makes it possible to have a reduced footprint.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the mobile enclosure of substantially parallelepiped shape has a fixed side wall and a mobile part comprising the other three side walls and an upper wall.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the projection means arranged inside the enclosure are movable relative to the element to be treated. This arrangement makes it possible to obtain a uniform treatment over the entire surface.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the projection means comprise a network of conduits on which spray nozzles are attached, the network of conduits being connected to the enclosure by means of a substantially horizontal slide connection.

  According to another characteristic, the enclosure comprises means for supplying fluid comprising a first fixed part, a second part integral with the movable part of the enclosure and connected to the projection means as well as means for quick connection by snap-fastening between both parts when the enclosure is closed.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the enclosure comprises means for collecting effluents.

  Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the description which follows of the invention, description given by way of example only, with reference to the appended drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a top view of the entire device , - Figure 2 is a section of the device along the line II-1I of Figure 1, - Figure 3 is a perspective view of a movable projection enclosure, and - Figure 4 is a detail view illustrating the inner side face of a mobile enclosure.

  The device of the invention is described in the various figures applied to a surface treatment process, known as powder coating, of chassis 10 made of aluminum, in particular of joinery or gates, requiring prior degreasing and deoxidation steps in order to improve anticorrosion and adhesion of the lacquer, a rinsing phase being provided between each step.

  It comprises, in the order of the steps, a first treatment station 12, a second treatment station 14 and a drying station 16. The device 10 comprises a number of stations appropriate according to the products used and their compatibilities. In the case studied, the device comprises two treatment stations, the products used during the chromating being not compatible with those of the degreasing and deoxidation stages.

  Transfer means 18 are provided in order to convey the chassis 10 from one station to another. According to a preferred embodiment, these means 18 comprise one or more rails extending above the different stations, serving as a guide for a plurality of movable hooks 20 capable of supporting chassis 10.

  According to a characteristic of the invention, the treatment stations used for coating or for spraying a product each comprise an enclosure 22 described in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. Each enclosure 22 of substantially parallelepiped shape has at least one part mobile to allow the introduction of the elements to be treated and to style them. According to a preferred embodiment, the enclosure 22 comprises a fixed side wall 24 and a movable part comprising the three other side walls 26 and an upper wall 25. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the fixed part corresponds to a width. Advantageously, the upper wall 28 comprises an opening 30 allowing the passage of the hooks 20. Preferably, this opening 30 comprises flexible closing means 32 allowing the passage of the hooks 20, in the form for example of two flexible plates or strips .

  According to another characteristic, the enclosure 22 comprises guide means ensuring easy translation of the movable part. According to a preferred embodiment, these guide means comprise two rails 34 on the ground, arranged in line with the longitudinal side walls, extending from the fixed side wall 24 over an appropriate length in order to ensure sufficient clearance from the part mobile so as to introduce the elements to be treated. Advantageously, a motorization is provided in order to ensure the translation of the movable part along the rails 34. According to a preferred embodiment, the upper surface of the rails has a profile in the form of a rack and a geared motor 36 with a pinion of notched outlet capable of meshing on the rack profile is provided in addition to the longitudinal side walls. In order to ensure the coating or the projection of products, projection means 38 are provided inside the enclosure 22, preferably arranged at the level of the interior faces of each longitudinal side wall 26 as illustrated in FIG. 4 These projection means 38 comprise a network of conduits 40 on which spray nozzles 42 are attached, the nature of which is adapted as a function of the product or products sprayed.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, to ensure a uniform coating or projection, the projection means 38 are movable relative to the element to be treated. Thus, said means 38 are capable of translating with respect to the interior surface of the enclosure 22. According to a preferred embodiment and illustrated in FIG. 4, the connection between the network of conduits 40 and the interior surface of the side wall 26 comprises a substantially horizontal slide 44 allowing the translation of the projection means 38 in the directions materialized by the double arrow 46, an actuator 48, in the form of a pneumatic cylinder for example, being provided to ensure these translations.

  Fluid supply means are provided for supplying the network of conduits 40 to the projection means 38.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the supply means comprise a first fixed part 50 secured to the fixed wall 24, a second part 52 secured to the movable side walls connected to the network of conduits 40, as well as connection means 54 fast by snap-fastening between the two parts 50 and 52 when the enclosure 22 is closed, that is to say 10 when the movable longitudinal side walls 26 come into contact with the fixed side wall 24.

  Upstream of the fixed part 50, the supply means comprise means for storing the products as well as means for regulating the flow rates of the various products.

  According to another characteristic, means 56 for collecting effluents are provided at the level of treatment stations for coating or spraying products. These means 56 comprise a bowl 58 disposed at ground level below each movable enclosure 22, between the rails 34, as well as at least one drain hole 60 ensuring the evacuation of the product or products to treatment means. appropriate effluents. As illustrated in Figure 2, the effluent treatment networks from the different treatment stations are separated in order to facilitate their subsequent treatment.

  Advantageously, control means are provided for slaving the translational movements of the projection means and of the movable part of the enclosure as well as for controlling the different means necessary for controlling the different flows and possibly for ensuring the movement of the elements to treat.

  The operation of the device is now described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

  The elements 10 to be treated are suspended on hooks 20, the enclosure 22 is in the open position as illustrated in station 12, the movable part being spaced from the fixed side wall 24 so as to allow the introduction of said elements 10 to the inside the enclosure.

  Then, the movable part of the enclosure 22 translates in the direction of the fixed part until the enclosure 22 is closed as illustrated in item 14. The flexible shutter means 32 make it possible to obtain a hermetic enclosure, 10 while allowing the passage of the hook (s) 20.

  as soon as the enclosure is closed, the treatment or treatments can begin, and the projection means 38 spray a product in the direction of the elements to be treated as illustrated in FIG. 2. In order to obtain a uniform treatment, the projection means 38 are put in alternative translation relative to the part to be treated. The effluents generated by the treatment are collected in the lower part in order to be treated.

  Several treatments can take place at the same station, as long as the products used are compatible, in particular at the level of effluent treatment or recycling.

  Then, the elements can be routed to another station with mobile enclosure or to any other station.

  Of course, the invention is obviously not limited to the embodiment shown and described above, but on the contrary covers all variants thereof, in particular as regards the nature and the shapes of the elements treated.

Thus, the device of the invention can be used for any surface treatment method comprising at least one step of coating or spraying a product.

Claims (10)

  1. Device for the surface treatment of at least one element (10), comprising means (28) for projecting a fluid, characterized in that it comprises at least one enclosure (22), part of which is movable and likely to come over the element to be treated (10).   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the mobile enclosure (22) of substantially parallelepiped shape comprises a fixed side wall (24) and a mobile part comprising the three other side walls (26) and an upper wall (28 ).   3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper wall (28) comprises an opening (30) with flexible closing means (32). 4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the enclosure (22) comprises guide means in the form of rails (34) on the ground, arranged in line with the longitudinal side walls, extending from the side wall 15 fixed (24) over an appropriate length to ensure sufficient clearance of the movable part so as to introduce the elements to be treated.   5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the projection means (38) disposed inside the enclosure (22) are movable relative to the element to be treated.   6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the projection means (38) comprise a network of conduits (40) on which spray nozzles (42) are attached.   7. Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the projection means (38) are connected to the enclosure (22) by means of a substantially horizontal slide link (44).   8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the enclosure (22) comprises means for supplying fluid to the means (38) of projection comprising a first fixed part (50), a second part (52) integral with the movable part of the enclosure and connected to the projection means 5 (38) as well as means (54) for quick snap connection between the two parts (50, 52) when the enclosure (22) is closed.   9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the enclosure comprises means (56) for collecting effluents.   10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises transfer means (18) comprising at least one rail extending above the enclosure or enclosures, used as a guide for a plurality of movable hooks (20) capable of supporting the elements to be treated (10).