JP2001113221A - Multicolor coating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multicolor coating apparatus capable of sufficiently keeping washing time and improving productivity. SOLUTION: This multicolor coating apparatus 1 capable of selecting coating materials with necessary colors among a plurality of color coating materials and carrying out multicolor coating of the selected coating materials by a coater 11 is provided with a color changing means 3 comprising a color changing part 3j for selectively supplying required color coating materials among a plurality of color coating materials and a washing part 3k selectively supplying washing agents to wash the downstream side, a washing means 4 for selectively supplying washing agents, and the like, a first and a second coating material supply lines 6, 7 for supplying the coating materials selected by the color changing means 3 to the coater 11, a first switching means 5 for respectively switching the color changing means 3 to one of the coating material supply line 6 or 7 and the washing means 4 to the other coating material supply line 7, and a second switching means 8 for switching and connecting the first coating material supply line 6 to either the coater 11 side or a waste solution treatment part 12 side and the second coating material supply line 7 to either the waste solution treatment part 12 side or the coater 11 side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-color coating apparatus capable of coating multi-colors on an object to be coated from a single coating machine, and more particularly to a multi-color coating apparatus capable of sufficiently securing a cleaning time and improving productivity. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, an automobile body is generally coated with an electrodeposition coating for rust prevention, an intermediate coating with a multi-level light gray color, a top coating with a body color, and a clear coating for gloss. There are four steps. further,
In the intermediate coating, in order to reduce the amount of expensive top coating, there is a case where a color intermediate coating corresponding to a body color that can cope with a thinner top coating is performed. for that reason,
In the middle coat and top coat, a multi-color coating device that can paint various kinds of colors (10 to 30 kinds of colors) corresponding to the body color is placed on the painting line of the car body,
Paint the body color according to the specifications of each car.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a configuration diagram of a conventional multicolor coating apparatus. The multi-color coating apparatus 50 includes a paint delivery line 53 for sending each paint from the paint tanks 51a, 51b,...
are arranged side by side. Further, the multicolor coating device 50 is connected to the coating gun 54 from the color changing device 52.
Is provided with a paint supply line 55 for supplying the paint selected in. The paint delivery lines 53a, 53b,... Are provided by the number of colors necessary for painting, and the paint tanks 51a,
Delivery pump 56 for delivering paint from 51b ...
are provided respectively. The color changing device 52
A valve (not shown) is provided corresponding to each of the paint delivery lines 53a, 53b,..., And by opening and closing the valves, paint of a color required for painting is selected and delivered to the paint supply line 55. The color changing device 52 includes a cleaning valve (not shown) corresponding to the cleaning unit 57, and opens and closes this valve to remove the cleaning solvent from the color changing device 5.
2. It is sent to the paint supply line 55 and the paint gun 54. The cleaning unit 57 sends the cleaning solvent pooled in the cleaning solvent tank 57a to the color changing device 52 by the pump 57b. Incidentally, the color changing device 52, the paint supply line 55 and the coating gun 54 are commonly used parts,
Different color paints pass through.

[0004]

In order to use the multi-color coating device 50 for the top coat or intermediate coating of the vehicle body, the multi-color coating device 50 is arranged on the coating line for the top coating or intermediate coating of the vehicle body. Suppose you did. Incidentally, the vehicle body is painted with paint of various colors according to the specification required by the user and the production plan of the manufacturer. For this reason, in the case of top coating or intermediate coating, there is a case where a different color is applied to each of the automobile bodies transported on the same coating line by changing colors during transportation. When the color is changed, the commonly used color changing device 52, the paint supply line 55, and the coating gun 54 must be cleaned. This is because if this cleaning does not completely remove the residual paint from the previous painting, the next painting of a different color will be mixed with the paint of the color used in the previous painting, resulting in poor painting. . Therefore, a sufficient cleaning time is required. However, in order to improve productivity, the number of car bodies that can be conveyed per unit time is increased in a painting line by reducing the space between car bodies to be conveyed as much as possible. As a result, the color change time for changing the paint color is limited, and as a result, sufficient washing time cannot be secured, and the previous paint remains in the color change device 52, the paint supply line 55, and the paint gun 54. There is. In particular, depending on the configuration of the multi-color coating apparatus 50, the layout in the factory, and the like, the paint supply line 55 becomes long, and it may take time to clean the paint supply line 55. Therefore, the cleaning time of the paint supply line 55 (and, consequently, the color change time) must be secured for a long time, and the productivity is reduced.

An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-color coating apparatus which can secure a sufficient cleaning time and improve productivity.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a multi-color coating apparatus for selecting a paint of a color necessary for coating from a plurality of paints, and applying the selected paint to a multi-color coating apparatus. In a multicolor coating apparatus capable of painting, a color changing unit that selectively supplies the necessary color paint from the plurality of color paints, provided on the upstream side of the color changing unit, including the downstream side including the color changing unit. A color changing unit having a cleaning unit for selectively supplying at least a cleaning solvent for cleaning, a cleaning unit for selectively supplying at least a cleaning solvent for cleaning the downstream side, and a downstream side of the color changing unit and the cleaning unit; A first paint supply line that is provided on the upstream side of the coating machine and supplies the paint selected by the color changing unit to the coating machine side; and a downstream side of the color changing unit and the cleaning unit and the coating machine. The first paint on the upstream side A second paint supply line that is provided in parallel with the supply line and supplies the paint selected by the color change means to the coating machine side; the color change means and the cleaning means; the first paint supply line; The color changing means is provided between the second paint supply lines to switch the color changing means to one of the first paint supply line or the second paint supply line, and to connect the washing means to the color changing means. A first switching means for switching connection to the other paint supply line which is not connected, and a first switching means provided downstream of the first paint supply line and the second paint supply line and upstream of the coating machine, A second switching unit for switching and connecting a supply line to the coating machine side or the waste liquid processing unit side and switching and connecting the second paint supply line to the coating machine side or the waste liquid processing unit side; And supplying the paint selected by the color changing means through one of the first paint supply line or the second paint supply line, and supplying the paint while painting from the coating machine. It is characterized in that the other paint supply line which has not been cleaned can be cleaned by the cleaning means. According to this multicolor coating apparatus, the first paint supply line or the second paint supply line is used for painting while being switched by the first switching means and the second switching means. Paint supply lines can be cleaned by the cleaning means. Therefore, since the time for cleaning the other paint supply line can be sufficiently secured during the coating by one paint supply line, the paint supply line does not need to be cleaned within the color change time. As a result, the color change time can be reduced, and the productivity is improved. In addition,
The upstream side of the present invention is a source of the paint in the multicolor coating apparatus, and the downstream side is a destination of the paint in the multicolor coating apparatus. By the way, the coating machine is the most downstream.

Further, in the multicolor coating apparatus, the multicolor coating apparatus is provided downstream of the second switching means and upstream of the coating machine, and switches and connects the second switching means to the coating machine side or the waste liquid processing section. It is characterized by comprising a third switching means. According to this multicolor coating apparatus, it is possible to switch whether or not the cleaning solvent or the like is supplied to the coating machine by the switching by the third switching means, so that the supply of the cleaning solvent or the like to the coating machine having a large internal resistance is limited. can do.

Further, in the multicolor coating apparatus, the second switching means has a cleaning unit for selectively supplying at least a cleaning solvent for cleaning the downstream side including the coating machine. According to this multicolor coating apparatus, the second
Since the washing on the downstream side including the second switching unit can be performed separately from the washing by the washing unit on the first switching unit by the washing unit of the switching unit, the downstream unit including the second switching unit included in the color change time is included. The cleaning time can be reduced.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a multicolor coating apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a configuration diagram of a multicolor coating apparatus, FIG. 2 is a control flowchart of a cleaning operation when the color of the multicolor coating apparatus is changed, and FIG. 3 is a time chart when there is a continuous color change of the multicolor coating apparatus. chart,
FIG. 4 is a time chart at the time of color change of the multicolor coating apparatus.

The multi-color coating apparatus according to the present embodiment is provided in a coating line for intermediate coating of an automobile body, and applies a similar-colored coating corresponding to each coating used in the top coating. In addition, this multicolor coating apparatus has the number of body colors (1
Instead of preparing only the type of paint (that is, the number of paints used in the top coat) from “0 to about 30”, “red,
A paint of a similar color corresponding to the body color is generated by blending paints of the five primary colors “blue, yellow, white, and black”. Further, when changing the color to be coated, the multicolor coating apparatus performs cleaning on a portion through which the paint passes in common in order to prevent color mixing with the paint used in the previous painting. Note that the multicolor coating apparatus of the present embodiment uses a solvent type paint, and in cleaning, a cleaning thinner and a cleaning air are alternately flowed to remove residual paint and the like. In the present embodiment, the cleaning thinner corresponds to the cleaning solvent described in the claims.

First, the configuration of the multicolor coating apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The multicolor coating apparatus 1 mainly includes the raw material delivery lines 2a to 2f, the color change valve (C
color Change Valve [CCV] 3,
Thinner Air Valve
e [TAV]) 4, four-way valve 5, first paint supply line 6, second paint supply line 7, trigger dump valve (Tr
and a surge tank 9, a three-way valve 10, a coating gun 11, a waste liquid tank 12, a control device 13, and the like. The raw material delivery lines 2a to 2f are white primary color paint delivery lines 2a to 2f.
a, red primary color paint delivery line 2b, yellow primary color paint delivery line 2c, black primary color paint delivery line 2d, dilution thinner delivery line 2e, and blue primary color paint delivery line 2f.
Incidentally, in the multi-color coating apparatus 1, portions other than the raw material delivery lines 2a to 2f are portions through which the respective paints pass in common, so that it is necessary to wash when changing the color to be coated. In the present embodiment, the color change valve 3 corresponds to the color changing means described in the claims, the thinner air valve 4 corresponds to the cleaning means described in the claims, and the four-way valve 5 corresponds to the claim. The first paint supply line 6 corresponds to the first paint supply line described in the claims, and the second paint supply line 7 corresponds to the first paint supply line described in the claims. The trigger paint valve 8 corresponds to the second switching means described in the claims, the three-way valve 10 corresponds to the third switching means, and the painting gun 11 corresponds to the second paint supply line. It corresponds to the coating machine described. Also, in the present embodiment, each of the raw material delivery lines 2a to 2a for delivering each primary color paint and diluted thinner.
f is the upstream side, and the coating gun 11 for spraying the paint is the downstream side.

The raw material delivery lines 2a to 2f will be described. Each of the raw material delivery lines 2a to 2f has a white primary color paint, a red primary color paint, a yellow primary color paint,
The diluted thinner is sent to the color change valve 3 in order to adjust the viscosities of the five primary color paints of the black primary color paint, the blue primary color paint, and the prepared paint. Further, at the time of sending, the primary color paint of a trace amount to a large volume is sent out according to the mixing ratio of each primary color paint determined in correspondence with each color to be painted in the database. In addition, a thinner thinner is supplied in an amount that gives an optimum viscosity for coating based on the temperature, the mixing ratio of the primary color paint, and the like. In addition, when there is a primary color paint that is not blended for the color to be coated, the raw material delivery lines 2a to 2f do not deliver the primary color paint.

Each of the raw material delivery lines 2a to 2f includes a raw material tank 20a to 20f and a raw material tank delivery path 21a to 21f.
f, each of which is composed of each raw material constant supply pump 22a to 22f and each raw material pump delivery passage 23a to 23f. In each of the raw material tanks 20a to 20f, five primary color paints and diluted thinner are pooled, and a white primary color paint tank 20a, a red primary color paint tank 20b, a yellow primary color paint tank 20c, a black primary color paint tank 20d, a diluted thinner tank 20e, and a blue primary color paint tank 20f. Each raw material tank delivery path 21a-21f
Is a delivery path from each of the raw material tanks 20a to 20f to each of the raw material quantitative supply pumps 22a to 22f. Each of the raw material constant supply pumps 22a to 22f supplies the raw material tanks 20a to 2 with a primary color paint having a capacity corresponding to the mixing ratio and a required amount of diluted thinner.
This is a metering pump that discharges from 0f to the color change valve 3, and includes a white primary color paint constant supply pump 22a, a red primary color paint constant supply pump 22b, and a yellow primary color paint constant supply pump 22.
c, black primary color paint constant supply pump 22d, diluted thinner constant supply pump 22e, and blue primary color paint constant supply pump 22
f. Each of the raw material constant supply pumps 22a to 22f is a rotary piston pump, and the discharge amount can be varied by the rotation speed and stroke amount of a piston (not shown). Therefore, each of the raw material fixed amount supply pumps 22a to 22f is connected to a servo motor 24a to 24f for rotationally driving the piston, and the pistons 25a to 25f for tilting the cylinders 26a to 26f to change the stroke of the piston. Are respectively arranged. Incidentally, the servo motors 24a to 24f are connected to the control device 13, and the number of rotations (accordingly, each raw material constant supply pump 2
A signal for controlling the rotation speed of each piston 2a to 22f) is transmitted. Further, the pistons 25a to 25f are connected to the control device 13, and the stroke amounts corresponding to the mixing ratios (and, consequently, the inclination amounts of the cylinders 26a to 26f of the raw material constant supply pumps 22a to 22f, ２２22f) is transmitted. Raw material pump delivery paths 23a to 23f
Is a delivery path for each primary color paint and diluted thinner discharged from each raw material constant supply pump 22a to 22f to the color change valve 3.

Next, the color change valve 3 will be described. The color change valve 3 includes a color changing unit 3j for selecting a primary color paint and a diluted thinner required for painting from the five primary color paints and diluted thinners sent from the respective raw material delivery lines 2a to 2f. Incidentally, since each of the raw material delivery lines 2a to 2f sends out only the primary color paint and the diluted thinner required for coating by the respective raw material constant supply pumps 22a to 22f, the primary color paint and the diluted thinner that are sent out are selected. Will be. In addition, since the color change valve 3 has a common path 3i, which is a path commonly used by the five primary color paints and the diluted thinner after being selected, the color change valve 3 is used to clean the common path 3i and the downstream side of the color change valve 3. A cleaning unit 3k is provided. for that reason,
The cleaning unit 3k is provided at the uppermost stream of the color change valve 3 (that is, the common path 3i).

The color changing section 3j is connected to each of the raw material delivery lines 2a-2
The material pumps 3a to 3f are connected to the material pump delivery paths 23a to 23f, respectively, and the primary color paint and dilution thinner required for coating are selected by switching the valves. The raw material valves 3a to 3f are a white primary color paint valve 3a, a red primary color paint valve 3b, a yellow primary color paint valve 3c, a black primary color paint valve 3d, a dilution thinner valve 3e, and a blue primary color paint valve 3f. Yes, three-way valve. The color changing unit 3j switches any one of the raw material valves 3a to 3f to select a primary color paint and a diluted thinner required for coating, and switches the raw material pump delivery paths 23a to 23f.
f and the common path 3i are connected, and the primary color paint and diluted thinner necessary for painting are sent out to the common path 3i. Also, the color changing unit 3j
Switches any one of the raw material valves 3a to 3f so as not to select a primary color paint and a diluted thinner which are unnecessary for coating, so that the raw material pump delivery paths 23a to 23f can be selected.
And the respective raw material tanks 20a to 20f are connected, and the unnecessary primary color paint and the like are returned to the respective raw material tanks 20a to 20f. Incidentally, the downstream end of the common path 3i is connected to the paint supply path 30,
The primary color paint or the like sent to the common path 3i is supplied to the paint supply path 30.
Flows to The color changing unit 3j is connected to the control device 13, receives a switching signal of each of the material valves 3a to 3f from the control device 13, and uses the signal to switch each of the material valves 3a to 3f.
Switch f. In the present embodiment, the color changing unit 3j
Corresponds to the color changing section of the color changing means described in the claims.

The cleaning section 3k includes a cleaning thinner valve 3g connected to the cleaning thinner tank 31 and a cleaning air tank 3g.
m, which is connected to the cleaning air valve 3h. The cleaning thinner valve 3g is also an open / close valve that is connected to the common path 3i and whether the cleaning thinner tank 31 is connected to the common path 3i. On the other hand, the cleaning air valve 3h is connected to the common path 3i.
And an open / close valve for determining whether to connect the cleaning air tank 3m to the common path 3i. The cleaning unit 3k alternately opens and closes the cleaning thinner valve 3g and the cleaning air valve 3h to clean the common path 3i of the color change valve 3 and the downstream side of the color change valve 3, thereby cleaning the cleaning thinner and the cleaning thinner. Flow air downstream. Also, the cleaning unit 3
k is connected to the control device 13, receives a signal for opening and closing the cleaning thinner valve 3g and the cleaning air valve 3h from the control device 13, and uses the signal to output the cleaning thinner valve 3g.
Then, the cleaning air valve 3h is opened and closed. A delivery pump (not shown) is provided between the cleaning thinner tank 3l and the cleaning thinner valve 3g and between the cleaning air tank 3m and the cleaning air valve 3h as needed. In the present embodiment, the cleaning unit 3k corresponds to a cleaning unit of the color changing unit described in the claims.

Next, the thinner air valve 4 will be described. The thinner air valve 4 supplies a cleaning thinner and cleaning air for cleaning one of the first paint supply line 6 or the second paint supply line 7 while the other paint supply line 6 or 7 is being used. Select and flow downstream. The thinner air valve 4 includes a cleaning thinner valve 4a connected to the cleaning thinner tank 4d and a cleaning air valve 4b connected to the cleaning air tank 4e. The cleaning thinner valve 4a is also an open / close valve that is connected to the common path 4c and whether the cleaning thinner tank 4d is connected to the common path 4c. On the other hand, the cleaning air valve 4b is also an open / close valve that is connected to the common path 4c and whether the cleaning air tank 4e is connected to the common path 4c. The thinner air valve 4 alternately opens and closes the cleaning thinner valve 4a and the cleaning air valve 4b to flow the cleaning thinner and the cleaning air downstream.
The thinner air valve 4 is connected to the control device 13 and receives a signal for opening and closing the cleaning thinner valve 4a and the cleaning air valve 4b from the control device 13, and uses the signal to perform the cleaning thinner valve 4a and the cleaning air valve. 4b
Open and close. Incidentally, when the cleaning thinner valve 4a or the cleaning air valve 4b is opened, the cleaning thinner or the cleaning air flows through the common path 4c. Then, the cleaning thinner or the cleaning air flows through the cleaning supply path 31 connected to the downstream end of the common path 4c. A delivery pump (not shown) is provided between the cleaning thinner tank 4d and the cleaning thinner valve 4a and between the cleaning air tank 4e and the cleaning air valve 4b as necessary.

Next, the four-way valve 5 will be described. The four-way valve 5 is provided between the color change valve 3 and the thinner air valve 4 and the first paint supply line 6 and the second paint supply line 7. And the four-way valve 5
The paint supply path 30 connected to the color change valve 3 is switched and connected to one of the first paint supply line 6 and the second paint supply line 7, and the cleaning supply path 31 connected to the thinner air valve 4 is connected to the other paint supply line 6. , 7 for connection. That is, the four-way valve 5 supplies cleaning thinner and the like to the other paint supply lines 6 and 7 in parallel with supplying paint required for painting to one of the two paint supply lines 6 and 7. Make a switching connection. The four-way valve 5 is connected to the control device 13, receives a switching signal from the control device 13, and switches the valve with the signal.

Next, the first paint supply line 6 and the second paint supply line 7 will be described. The first paint supply line 6 and the second paint supply line 7 have the same configuration and the same role, and two lines are provided to wash one while using one for painting. That is, the first paint supply line 6 and the second paint supply line 7 are
b and 7b, respectively, and it takes a very long time to clean the paint supply lines 6 and 7 due to the complexity of the internal structure of the mixers 6b and 7b and the length of the paint supply lines 6 and 7. Because.

The first paint supply line 6 and the second paint supply line 7 are provided in parallel downstream of the four-way valve 4 and upstream of the trigger dump valve 8. Note that, as described above, the first paint supply line 6 and the second paint supply line 7
Since they have the same configuration, the configuration of the first paint supply line 6 will be described as a representative. The first paint supply line 6 includes a supply path 6a, a mixer 6b, and a supply path 6c. The supply path 6a is a path connecting the four-way valve 5 and the upstream end of the mixer 6b. The mixer 6b mixes the primary color paint and the diluted thinner selected by the color change valve 3 to generate a paint for painting. Therefore, the mixer 6b
Mixing and stirring blades are provided inside the cylindrical body, and stir and mix while moving the primary color paint and the like to the downstream side. The mixer 6b
On the contrary, it has a complicated internal structure for stirring and mixing, and conversely, it is difficult to wash. The supply path 6c is a mixer 6b
Is a passage connecting the downstream end of the trigger dump valve 8.

Next, the trigger dump valve 8 will be described. The trigger dump valve 8 is connected to the first paint supply line 6.
And, the second paint supply line 7 is switched and connected to the coating gun 11 side or the waste liquid tank 12 side. For this purpose, the trigger dump valve 8 includes a first switching unit 8a for switching the first paint supply line 6 and a second switching unit 8b for switching the second paint supply line 7. Also, the trigger dump valve 8
Is provided with a cleaning unit 8c at the uppermost stream of the coating gun common path 8d in order to wash the downstream side including the coating gun common path 8d and the coating gun 11 of the trigger dump valve 8. In the present embodiment, the cleaning unit 8c corresponds to the cleaning unit of the second switching unit described in the claims.

The first switching section 8a and the second switching section 8b have the same configuration and the same role, and have two paint supply lines 6,
The valve is switched to connect 7 to the waste liquid passage 32 or the supply passage 33. The first switching section 8a includes a coating gun valve 8e, a switching path 8f, and a waste liquid valve 8g. On the other hand, the second switching section 8b includes a coating gun valve 8h, a switching path 8i, and a waste liquid valve 8j. The coating gun valves 8e and 8h are connected to the supply paths 6c and 7c,
f, 8i and the coating gun common path 8d.
c, 7c to the switching paths 8f, 8i or the coating gun common path 8d
This is a three-way valve that switches and connects to. The downstream end of the coating gun common path 8d is connected to the supply path 33. The switching paths 8f and 8i are passages connecting the coating gun valves 8e and 8h and the waste liquid valves 8g and 8j, through which the waste liquid flows. The waste liquid valves 8g and 8j are connected to the switching paths 8f and 8i and the waste liquid common path 8 respectively.
and a switching valve for determining whether or not the switching paths 8f and 8i are connected to the waste liquid common path 8k. The waste liquid common path 8k
Is connected to the waste liquid passage 32. With the above configuration, the first switching unit 8a connects the first paint supply line 6 to the waste liquid common path 8k (therefore, the waste liquid path 32) via the coating gun valve 8e, the switching path 8f, and the waste liquid valve 8g, or the coating gun valve. 8d common road 8d through 8e
(Hence, the supply path 33). On the other hand, the second switching section 8b connects the second paint supply line 7 with the paint gun valve 8
h, a connection to the waste liquid common path 8k (therefore, waste liquid path 32) via the switching path 8i and the waste liquid valve 8j or a connection to the coating gun common path 8d (therefore, the supply path 33) via the coating gun valve 8h. The trigger dump valve 8
Is connected to the control device 13, receives a signal for switching the coating gun valves 8e and 8h and a signal for opening and closing the waste liquid valves 8g and 8j from the control device 13, and switches the coating gun valves 8e and 8h based on the signals to receive the signals.
8j is opened and closed.

The cleaning section 8c comprises a cleaning thinner valve 8l connected to the cleaning thinner tank 8n and a cleaning air tank 8l.
o is provided with a cleaning air valve 8m connected to o. The cleaning thinner valve 8l is also an open / close valve for connecting to the coating gun common path 8d and for connecting the cleaning thinner tank 8n to the coating gun common path 8d. On the other hand, the cleaning air valve 8
m is an opening / closing valve that is also connected to the coating gun common path 8d and whether the cleaning air tank 8o is connected to the coating gun common path 8d. The cleaning unit 8c alternately opens and closes the cleaning thinner valve 8l and the cleaning air valve 8m to clean the downstream side of the trigger dump valve 8 including the coating gun common path 8d and the coating gun 11 during the color change. The cleaning thinner and the cleaning air flow downstream. The trigger dump valve 8 is connected to the control device 13, receives a signal for opening and closing the cleaning thinner valve 8 l and the cleaning air valve 8 m from the control device 13, and receives a signal from the signal to open and close the cleaning thinner valve 8.
1 and the cleaning air valve 8m are opened and closed. By the way,
When the cleaning thinner valve 8l or the cleaning air valve 8m is opened, the cleaning thinner or the cleaning air flows through the coating gun common path 8d. Further, a cleaning thinner or cleaning air flows through a supply path 33 connected to the downstream end of the coating gun common path 8d. A delivery pump (not shown) is provided between the cleaning thinner tank 8n and the cleaning thinner valve 8l and between the cleaning air tank 8o and the cleaning air valve 8m as needed.

Next, the surge tank 9 will be described.
The surge tank 9 is provided with each raw material fixed amount supply pump 22a to 22
Provided to eliminate the pulsation of f. The surge tank 9
The supply path 33 is provided on the downstream side of the trigger dump valve 8 and on the upstream side of the three-way valve 10. The supply path 33 is connected to the upstream side, and the supply path 34 is connected to the downstream side. Furthermore, surge tank 9
Is connected to the surge air tank 9a. Then, the surge tank 9 applies a constant air pressure from the surge air tank 9 a to eliminate the pulsation of the paint for coating, and supplies the paint to the coating gun 11.

Next, the three-way valve 10 will be described.
The three-way valve 10 is a three-way valve for supplying paint to the painting gun 11 during painting and discharging a cleaning thinner or the like to the waste liquid tank 12 during color change. The three-way valve 10 is provided on the downstream side of the surge tank 9 and on the upstream side of the coating gun 11, and connects the supply path 34, the waste liquid path 35, and the coating gun 11. Further, the three-way valve 10 is connected to the control device 13 and receives a signal for switching the valve, and switches the valve to connect the supply path 34 to the waste liquid path 35 or the coating gun 11 with the signal.

Next, the coating gun 11 will be described. The coating gun 11 sprays a coating paint generated from the primary color paint and the diluted thinner to paint the automobile body. The painting gun 11 has a narrow ejection port (not shown), and ejects paint at a predetermined pressure.

Next, the waste liquid tank 12 will be described.
The waste liquid tank 12 is a tank for pooling residual paint and the like discharged from the trigger dump valve 8 and the three-way valve 10. In addition, as described above, the multicolor coating apparatus 1 alternately flows the cleaning thinner and the cleaning air every time the color to be coated is changed, in order to clean the portion through which the coating of various colors passes in common. And so on. Waste liquid containing residual paint and the like is discharged from the waste liquid passage 32 and the waste liquid passage 35 to the waste liquid tank 12. In the present embodiment, the waste liquid tank 12 and the waste liquid paths 32 and 35 correspond to a waste liquid processing unit described in the claims.

Next, the control device 13 will be described. The control device 13 controls the multicolor coating device 1 in an integrated manner.
With multi-color coating equipment 1
Transmits and receives signals to and from each unit. The data on the coating includes the mixing ratio (mixing capacity) of the five primary color paints for each color to be coated, the mixing capacity of the diluted thinner with respect to the temperature, the switching timing and opening / closing timing of each valve, and the rotation speed of each raw material constant supply pump 22a to 22f. And the stroke amount. The connection relationship between the control device 13 and each part of the multi-color coating device 1 and the signals and the like have been described above, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

Next, control of the cleaning operation when changing the coating color of the multicolor coating apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The cleaning operation in the multicolor coating apparatus 1 is performed only when the coating color is changed, and a cleaning time is allocated. Therefore, before explaining the control of the cleaning operation, the time distribution of the coating, the color change, and the cleaning when the color of the multicolor coating apparatus 1 is changed will be described with reference to the example of FIG.

In FIG. 3, the multicolor coating apparatus 1 applies X color to BODY-1 of the vehicle body, applies Y color to BODY-2 of the car body to be conveyed next, Is painted in Z color on the car body BODY-3 that is transported to the company. In the painting line, one cycle painting time, which is the same time, is set for each vehicle body because the vehicle bodies are transported at the same transport speed at the same interval.
This one-cycle coating time is divided into a coating time and a color change time. First, when BODY-1 is conveyed, the multicolor coating apparatus 1 applies X color to BODY-1 during the coating time. When the coating time has elapsed, the multi-color coating device 1
Shifts to a color changing operation for painting Y color on BODY-2. Therefore, the multicolor coating apparatus 1 performs cleaning by the cleaning unit 3k of the color change valve 3 and the cleaning unit 8c of the trigger dump valve 8 during the first half of the color change time (X color cleaning time). In this cleaning time, the paint supply lines 6 and 7 cannot be sufficiently cleaned on the downstream side including the color change valve 3, but the other parts can be sufficiently cleaned. When the color change is not performed, the multicolor coating apparatus 1 is in a standby state during the cleaning time, and stops the operation until the cleaning time has elapsed. After the elapse of the X-color cleaning time, the multi-color coating apparatus 1 performs the second half of the color change time (the next color supply time).
The primary color paint and diluted thinner required for the Y color are sent out from each of the raw material delivery lines 2a to 2f, selected by the color change valve 3, and further stirred and mixed by the mixers 6b and 7b not used in the X color coating. Generate a color. Also,
After the elapse of the X-color cleaning time, the multicolor coating apparatus 1 starts cleaning the mixers 6b and 7b used for the X-color coating. This X-color mixer cleaning time is secured until the next Y-color mixer cleaning is performed, and the thinner air valve 4 sufficiently cleans the mixers 6b and 7b used for the X-color coating. By the way, it is not necessary to perform cleaning in the entire time of the X-color mixer cleaning time, and the mixer 6b used for the X-color coating,
The cleaning is performed for a time sufficient to clean 7b. Finally, when the next color supply time elapses, the BODY-2 uses the multicolor coating apparatus 1.
Is transported to the area where it can be painted by
Coating of Y color on DY-2 is started. Further, the multi-color coating apparatus 1 includes a Y-color coating for BODY-2,
, The color change operation and the like are performed in the same time distribution as the X color coating for BODY-1.

Next, the control of the cleaning operation when changing the color of the multicolor coating apparatus 1 will be described. First, after a lapse of the coating time, the multicolor coating apparatus 1 starts the white primary color paint valve 3a, the red primary color paint valve 3b, the yellow primary color paint valve 3c, and the black primary color paint of the color changing portion 3j of the color change valve 3. The valve 3d, the dilution thinner valve 3e, and the blue primary color paint valve 3f are all closed (S1). Further, the multi-color coating apparatus 1 includes a coating gun valve 8e of the first switching section 8a of the trigger dump valve 8 and a waste liquid valve 8g or a second switching section 8.
The paint supply lines 6 and 7 used for painting are connected to the waste liquid passage 32 by the coating gun valve 8h and the waste liquid valve 8j of FIG.
(That is, the waste liquid tank 12) (S1). For example, when the first paint supply line 6 is used for painting, the multicolor painting apparatus 1 switches the first paint supply line 6 from the paint gun common path 8d to the switching path 8f by the painting gun valve 8e of the first switching section 8a. And the waste liquid valve 8g of the first switching part 8a is opened to connect the switching path 8f to the waste liquid common path 8k. Further, the multicolor coating apparatus 1 switches and connects the supply path 34 from the coating gun 11 to the waste liquid path 35 with the three-way valve 10 (S1).

Next, the multicolor coating apparatus 1 alternately opens and closes the cleaning thinner valve 3g and the cleaning air valve 3h of the cleaning section 3k of the color change valve 3 (S2), and alternately switches between the cleaning thinner and the cleaning air. Shed. For example, when the first paint supply line 6 is used for painting, the cleaning thinner and the cleaning air are used for cleaning the residual paint while the common path 3i of the color change valve 3 → the paint supply path 30 → the four-way valve 5 → It flows from the first paint supply line 6 to the coating gun valve 8e of the first switching portion 8a of the trigger dump valve 8, the switching path 8f and the waste liquid valve 8g, the waste liquid path 32, and the waste liquid tank 12. Then, the multicolor coating apparatus 1 mainly cleans the common path 3i of the color change valve 3 and the paint supply path 30 by the cleaning section 3k of the color change valve 3. By the way, as shown in FIG. 4, the cleaning thinner valve 3g and the cleaning air valve 3h are opened from the cleaning thinner valve 3g, and then alternately opened and closed, and are opened and closed three times within the cleaning time. Further, the multicolor coating apparatus 1 alternately opens and closes the cleaning thinner valve 8l and the cleaning air valve 8m of the cleaning section 8c of the trigger dump valve 8 (S2), and causes the cleaning thinner and the cleaning air to flow alternately. The cleaning thinner and the cleaning air are supplied to the paint gun common path 8d of the trigger dump valve 8, the supply path 33, the surge tank 9, the supply path 34, the three-way valve 10, the waste liquid path 35, and the waste liquid tank 12 while cleaning the residual paint. Flows. The multi-color coating apparatus 1 mainly includes the cleaning section 8 c of the trigger dump valve 8 and the coating gun common path 8 d and the supply paths 33 and 3 of the trigger dump valve 8.
4, surge tank 9, three-way valve 10, and painting gun 1
Wash 1 Since the spray nozzle (not shown) of the coating gun 11 has a very small internal resistance due to its small injection port, the cleaning of the coating gun 11 is performed by pushing out the cleaning thinner remaining at the end of the cleaning. By the way, as shown in FIG.
The cleaning thinner valve 8l and the cleaning air valve 8m open from the cleaning thinner valve 8l, and then alternately open and close three times within the cleaning time.

Next, the multicolor coating apparatus 1 determines whether or not the cleaning time has elapsed (S3). If the cleaning time has not elapsed, the cleaning is continued.

On the other hand, if the cleaning time has elapsed, the multicolor coating apparatus 1 closes the cleaning thinner valve 3g and the cleaning air valve 3h of the cleaning section 3k of the color change valve 3 (S4), and the color change valve 3 Finish the washing with. Further, the multicolor coating apparatus 1 includes a trigger dump valve 8
The cleaning thinner valve 8l and the cleaning air valve 8m of the cleaning section 8c are closed (S4), and the trigger dump valve 8 is closed.
Finish the washing with. Further, the multicolor coating apparatus 1 uses the three-way valve 10 to move the supply path 34 from the waste liquid path 35 to the coating gun 11.
And switch connection (S4). And the multicolor coating device 1
Extrudes the remaining cleaning thinner from the injection port of the coating gun 11 to clean the coating gun 11. Further, the multicolor coating apparatus 1 switches and connects one paint supply line 6, 7 to the thinner air valve 4 by the four-way valve 5 in order to wash one paint supply line 6, 7 used in the painting. At the same time, in order to use the other paint supply lines 6 and 7 that have been washed for painting, the other paint supply lines 6 and 7 are switched and connected to the color change valve 3 (S4). For example, when the first paint supply line 6 is used for painting, the first paint supply line 6 is connected to the thinner air valve 4 via the four-way valve 5 and the cleaning supply path 31, and the second paint supply line Reference numeral 7 is connected to the color change valve 3 via the four-way valve 4 and the paint supply path 30.

Next, the multi-color coating apparatus 1 generates a paint for use in the next coating by using a valve 3a for a primary white paint, a valve 3b for a primary red paint, and a valve 3b for a color change portion 3j of the color change valve 3. Among the yellow primary paint valve 3c, black primary paint valve 3d, dilution thinner valve 3e, and blue primary paint valve 3f, the valves for supplying the primary paint and dilution thinner required for the next coating are opened (S5). Further, in the multicolor coating apparatus 1, the other paint supply lines 6, 7 that have been cleaned are moved from the waste tank 12 side to the coating gun 11 by the first switching section 8 a or the second switching section 8 b of the trigger dump valve 8.
Switch connection. For example, the second paint supply line 7
Is a paint supply line that has been washed (ie, has not been used for painting), the multicolor painting apparatus 1 uses the open valve of the color changing portion 3j of the color change valve 3 and the common path 3i → paint. Supply path 30 → four-way valve 5 → second
The paint supply line 7 → the paint gun valve 8h of the second switching portion 8b of the trigger dump valve 8 → the supply path 33 → the surge tank 9 → the supply path 34 → the three-way valve 10 → the painting gun 11 is connected to the paint supply path. I do. By the way, at this time,
The multicolor coating apparatus 1 sends out a primary color paint and a diluted thinner necessary for the next coating from the raw material delivery lines 2a to 2f to the color change valve 3 in a predetermined mixing capacity. Therefore, the multicolor coating apparatus 1 includes the raw material valves 3 a to 3 a necessary for the next coating in the color changing section 3 j of the color change valve 3.
By opening f, it is possible to supply the mixers 6b and 7b with a predetermined mixing volume of the primary color paint and the diluted thinner. Then, the multi-color coating apparatus 1 is stirred and mixed by the mixers 6b and 7b to generate a coating paint. Further, the multicolor coating apparatus 1 ejects a paint that is gradually mixed and generated from the coating gun 11.

After the operation of the color change valve 3 and the trigger dump valve 8, the multicolor coating apparatus 1 continues to generate the next color paint until the next color supply time has elapsed (S6). The next color supply time is set to a time sufficient for the primary color paint and the diluted thinner to be completely mixed to generate a paint for coating.

When the next color supply time has elapsed, the automobile body is conveyed to the coating area of the multicolor coating apparatus 1 on the coating line. Then, the multicolor coating apparatus 1 starts coating the automobile body with the next color paint (S7).

On the other hand, in the multicolor coating apparatus 1, the cleaning thinner valve 4 of the thinner air valve 4 and the color change valve 3 and the trigger dump valve 8 are simultaneously operated in S5.
a and the cleaning air valve 4b are alternately opened and closed (S
8) The cleaning thinner and the cleaning air are alternately flowed. For example, when the first paint supply line 6 is used for painting, the cleaning thinner and the cleaning air are supplied to the common path 4c of the thinner air valve 4 while cleaning the residual paint.
→ The four-way valve 5 → the first paint supply line 6 → the coating gun valve 8e of the first switching portion 8a of the trigger dump valve 8, the switching path 8f and the waste liquid valve 8g → the waste liquid path 32 → the waste liquid tank 12. Then, the multicolor coating apparatus 1 sufficiently cleans the paint supply lines 6 and 7 used for coating by the thinner air valve 4. Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 4, the cleaning thinner valve 4a and the cleaning air valve 4b
Opens from the cleaning thinner valve 4a, and then alternately opens and closes three times. One opening / closing time is ensured longer than one opening / closing time of the cleaning section 3k of the color change valve 3 and the cleaning section 8c of the trigger dump valve 8, so that the mixers 6b and 7b having a complicated internal structure can be sufficiently cleaned. Have time.

According to the multicolor coating apparatus 1, since two paint supply lines 6, 7 (two mixers 6b, 7b) are provided, one of the paint supply lines 6, 7 is used for painting. During this time, the other paint supply lines 6, 7 can be sufficiently cleaned. Therefore, the multicolor coating apparatus 1
Mixers 6b and 7b with complicated internal structure and time-consuming cleaning
Need not be performed within the color change time. As a result, the multicolor coating apparatus 1 can shorten the color change time (and, consequently, one cycle of coating time),
7b can also be sufficiently washed.

As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may be embodied in various forms. For example, in this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a multicolor coating apparatus having a paint supply line including a mixer. However, the paint supply line is very long due to a layout of a factory or the like, and the multicolor coating that requires a long time to clean the paint supply line. It is effective when applied to a device or the like. Further, in this embodiment, the solvent type paint is used in the multicolor coating apparatus, but a water-soluble paint may be used. In the case of a water-soluble paint, pure water for cleaning is used instead of the cleaning air in the embodiment. Further, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a multicolor coating apparatus that generates a paint to be applied by blending a primary color paint, but may be applied to a multicolor coating apparatus including a paint corresponding to a color to be applied.

[0041]

According to the multicolor coating apparatus of the present invention, while one of the first paint supply line or the second paint supply line is used for painting, the other paint supply line is cleaned. It can be washed by means. Therefore, the color change time is not affected by the cleaning time of the paint supply line.
Color change time can be shortened, and productivity can be improved.

Further, in the multicolor coating apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to switch whether or not to supply a cleaning solvent or the like to the coating machine by switching by the third switching means. The supply of the cleaning solvent and the like to the machine can be restricted.

Further, in the multicolor coating apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, the cleaning of the downstream side including the second switching means is separated from the cleaning by the cleaning section of the first switching means by the cleaning section of the second switching means. Since it can be performed, the cleaning time on the downstream side including the second switching means included in the color change time can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a multicolor coating apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a control flowchart of a cleaning operation when the color of the multicolor coating apparatus according to the present embodiment is changed.

FIG. 3 is a time chart in the case where there is a continuous color change of the multicolor coating apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a time chart at the time of color change of the multicolor coating apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an example of a configuration diagram of a conventional multicolor coating apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Multi-color coating device 3 ... Color change valve 3j ... Color change part 3k ... Cleaning part 4 ... Thinner air valve 5 ... Four-way valve 6 ... 1st paint supply line 6b ... Mixer 7 ... Second paint supply line 7b ... Mixer 8 ... Trigger dump valve 8a ... First switching unit 8b ... Second switching unit 8c ... Washing unit 10 ...・ Three-way valve 11 ・ ・ ・ Painting gun 12 ・ ・ ・ Waste liquid tank

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Eiko Tajima 1907, Hirata-cho, Suzuka-shi, Mie Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Suzuka Factory (72) Inventor Kotaro Hirata 1907, Hirata-cho, Suzuka-shi, Mie Honda F term in Suzuka Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (reference) 4D075 AA09 AA74 BB20X BB65X CA47 CB36 DA23 DB02 DC12 EA05 EC30 4F035 AA03 BA15 BC06 4F042 AA09 CB07 CC10 DA01

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A multicolor coating apparatus capable of selecting a paint of a color necessary for painting from a plurality of paints and painting a multicolor from a painter with the selected paint, wherein A color changing unit that selectively supplies and supplies a paint, and a color changing unit that is provided upstream of the color changing unit and has a cleaning unit that selectively supplies at least a cleaning solvent for cleaning the downstream side including the color changing unit. A cleaning means for selectively supplying at least a cleaning solvent for cleaning the downstream side; and a paint provided on the downstream side of the color changing means and the cleaning means and on the upstream side of the coating machine, and selected by the color changing means. A first paint supply line for supplying the first paint supply line in parallel with the first paint supply line on the downstream side of the color changing means and the washing means and on the upstream side of the coating machine. Selected by means A second paint supply line for supplying paint to the coating machine side; a color changing means and a cleaning means provided between the first paint supply line and the second paint supply line; First switching means for switching and connecting to one of the first paint supply line or the second paint supply line and the cleaning means for switching to the other paint supply line not connected to the color changing means; Provided downstream of the first paint supply line and the second paint supply line and upstream of the coating machine;
And a second switching means for switching and connecting the paint supply line to the coating machine side or the waste liquid processing unit side and switching and connecting the second paint supply line to the coating machine side or the waste liquid processing unit side, The paint selected by the replacement means is supplied through one of the first paint supply line or the second paint supply line, and during painting from the painting machine,
A multicolor coating apparatus wherein the other paint supply line to which no paint is supplied can be washed by the washing means. 2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a third switching means provided downstream of said second switching means and upstream of said coating machine for switching said second switching means to said coating machine side or to a waste liquid processing section. The multicolor coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second switching unit has a cleaning unit for selectively supplying at least a cleaning solvent for cleaning a downstream side including the coating machine. Multicolor painting equipment.