JP2003144991A - Apparatus for supplying small amount of coating color - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus, in which small amount of coating color is supplied to a plurality of coating machines through a single system of coating- supply piping in a simple constitution, and suppress generation of useless effluent. SOLUTION: This apparatus 10 comprises a plurality of coating tanks 11a-11n for holding coatings of various colors, exclusive color-change valves 13a-13n which are installed to respective coating tanks for change in coatings of respective colors supplied from the tanks, one coating-supply piping 16 circulating in order respective color-supply valves provided in a plurality of coating machines, and two color-change valves 14, 15 which are connected respectively both ends of the coating-supply piping to select connection either to the exclusive color-change valve or to a discharge side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paint supply device for automatic painting of, for example, the body of an automobile, and more particularly to a small amount paint color supply device for supplying a plurality of small amount paint colors.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, with respect to the painting of the body of an automobile, generally 50 or more paintings have been performed as a usual painting color per month. The amount of paint used for this is
For example, it will be over 250 kg per month. On the other hand, there are not a few so-called small coating colors, such as 10 or less per month. In this case, the amount of coating used is, for example, 50 kg or less per month.

By the way, when the coating color is changed, it is necessary to replace the paint in the paint supply system, and the paint remaining in the paint supply system is disposed of as a waste liquid. Usually, in the case of paint color, the waste liquid ratio to the total amount of paint used is not so large, but in the case of small amount paint color, the waste liquid ratio to the total amount of paint used is considerably high. A corresponding small amount of coating color supply device is used to suppress the waste liquid ratio and reduce the cost.

Such a small amount coating color supply device is constructed, for example, as shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, a small amount paint color supply device 1 is a device for supplying a small amount of two color paints, and for the first color paint, a paint tank 2a, a paint supply pump 3a, a dedicated color change valve 4a, A paint supply pipe 5a is provided, and for the second color paint, a paint tank 2b, a paint supply pump 3b, and a dedicated color change valve 4
b, a paint supply pipe 5b.

The dedicated color change valves 4a and 4b are respectively provided from the paint tanks 2a and 2b to the paint supply pumps 3a and 3b.
The paints of the first color and the second color are supplied by the, and when the valve is closed, the paints of the first color and the second color are supplied to the paint tanks 2a, 2
Although it is returned to the inside of b, the paints of the first color and the second color are supplied to the paint supply pipes 5a and 5b when the valve is opened.

Each of the paint supply pipes 5a, 5b is provided with n coating machines 6a, ... From the dedicated color changing valves 4a, 4b.
.., 6n are circulated in sequence to return to the paint tanks 2a, 2b. Individual color change valves 7a ,. Alternatively, the second color paint is selectively applied to each of the coating machines 6a, ...
・ It is designed to be supplied to the 6n gun tip.

Further, each individual color changing valve 7a, ...,
7n is a coating machine 6 for selectively applying the paint of the first color or the second color supplied through the paint supply pipes 5a and 5b, respectively.
.., 6n, and the non-selected paint is discharged as a waste liquid.

According to the small amount coating color supply device 1 having such a structure, the dedicated color changing valves 4a and 4b are closed for the paints of the respective colors when the paints are not coated, and the interiors of the paint supply pipes 5a and 5b. Is empty. When the first color paint is applied, the dedicated color change valve 4a for the first color paint is opened and the dedicated color change valve 4b for the second color paint is closed. There is. As a result, the first color paint supplied from the paint tank 2a to the dedicated color changing valve 4a by the paint supply pump 3a is supplied into the paint supply pipe 5a.

Here, when the coating machines 6a, ..., 6n perform coating, the corresponding individual color change valves 7a ,.
.. 7n is the individual color change valve 7 opened from the paint supply pipe 5a by selecting and opening the first color paint.
, 7n via the coating machine 6a ,.
The paint of the first color is supplied to the gun tip of 6n, the paint of the first color is discharged from this gun tip, and coating with the paint of the first color is performed. After that, when the coating with the first color paint is completed, the dedicated color changing valve 4a for the first color paint is closed and the first color paint in the paint supply pipe 5a is stored in the paint tank 2a. The first color paint that has been returned and remains in each individual color changing valve 7a, ..., 7n is discharged as a waste liquid.

[0010]

By the way, in such a small amount paint color supply device 1, a paint supply system, that is, a paint tank, a paint supply pump, a dedicated color change valve and a paint supply pipe are provided for each color. However, since the paint supply system corresponding to the unpainted color is not used, the facility operation rate becomes low.

Further, when the paint of a predetermined color is supplied, the paint supply pipe is empty at the start of the coating. Therefore, immediately after the start of coating, the paint is supplied together with air to the individual color changing valves 7a, ..., 7n corresponding to the respective coating machines 6a, ... Therefore, the paint is wasted. In addition, the paint supply pipe has a plurality of coating machines 6a ,.
.., 6n are sequentially circulated, so that the paint supply pressure in the downstream coating machine 6 decreases. Therefore, the coating material supply pressure varies among the coating machines 6a, ..., 6n.

In view of the above points, the present invention has a simple structure to supply a small amount of coating color to a plurality of coating machines by one system of coating supply pipe and to suppress wasteful waste liquid of coating material. It is an object of the present invention to provide a small amount coating color supply device.

[0013]

According to the present invention, a plurality of paint tanks containing paints of different colors and paints of different colors supplied from the paint tanks are switched for each paint tank. A dedicated color change valve provided in series with each other, a paint supply pipe that sequentially circulates through individual color change valves provided in a plurality of coating machines, and connected to both ends of the paint supply pipe, respectively. The small amount coating color supply device is characterized in that it includes two color change valves for switching, which are switched and connected to the exclusive color change valve side or the discharge side.

The small amount coating color supply device according to the present invention is preferably provided in a cleaning liquid tank for further containing a cleaning liquid and in the cleaning liquid tank for switching the cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning liquid tank, and in series with the dedicated color changing valve. And a color change valve dedicated to the cleaning liquid connected to the.

According to the above structure, when not in use, each dedicated color change valve is closed, and both of the change color change valves are switched to the discharge side. As a result, the paint in the paint supply pipe is discharged as waste liquid to the discharge side through the color change valve for switching, and the paint supply pipe is empty.

Here, when painting with a paint of a predetermined color, the dedicated color change valve provided in the paint tank containing the paint of the color is opened, and one of the change color change valves is changed to the dedicated color. Switch to the replacement valve side. As a result, the paint of that color is supplied from the paint tank to one end of the paint supply pipe via the exclusive color change valve and the one color change valve for switching. This allows the paint supplied to one end of the paint supply pipe to circulate in the paint supply pipe and reach the other end in order to bleed air from the paint supply pipe, and from the other switching color change valve to the discharge side. It is discharged, and this state continues until the paint is filled in the paint supply pipe.

After that, when the paint is filled in the paint supply pipe, the other switching color changing valve is switched to the dedicated color changing valve side. As a result, the paint is supplied from both ends of the paint supply pipe to the inside of the gun of each coating machine via both of the switching color change valves. In this way, the paint of the color is discharged from the gun tip of each coating machine, and the coating of the paint of the color is performed.

At the end of coating, the dedicated color change valve corresponding to the paint of the color is closed and at least one switching color change valve is switched to the discharge side. As a result, the paint remaining in the paint supply pipe is discharged to the discharge side as waste liquid through the color change valve for switching, and the paint supply pipe is emptied.

In this case, only one system is provided for the paint supply pipe, and the paint of each color is also used.
Therefore, when coating with paints of each color, the paint supply pipes are always used, the facility operating rate is improved, and the facility cost is significantly reduced.

When the paint is introduced into the paint supply pipe immediately after the start of coating, the air in the paint supply pipe and each individual color change valve is discharged through the paint supply pipe and the other color change valve for switching. Therefore, the air in each individual color changing valve is collected and discharged through the paint supply pipe, and wasteful discharge of paint can be reduced. Furthermore, at the time of painting, the paint is supplied from both ends of the paint supply pipe from the paint tank through the dedicated color change valve and the color change valves for both of them, so it is possible to supply paint on the downstream side of the paint supply pipe. The pressure drop is reduced. This allows
Since the paint supply pressure in the paint supply pipe is stable, the quality of the coating by the coating machine becomes uniform.

A cleaning liquid tank for containing a cleaning liquid,
If the cleaning liquid tank is provided with a cleaning liquid tank for switching the cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning liquid tank, and the cleaning liquid exclusive color changing valve connected in series with the exclusive color changing valve is provided, the paint supply pipe after coating is completed. When the paint inside is discharged, open this cleaning liquid color change valve and introduce the cleaning liquid into the paint supply pipe from the cleaning liquid tank through the cleaning liquid color change valve and one of the switching color change valves. The inside of the paint supply pipe is cleaned, and this cleaning liquid is discharged from the other switching color changing valve.

Thereafter, by closing the color change valve dedicated to the cleaning liquid, the cleaning liquid remaining in the paint supply pipe is discharged as waste liquid to the discharge side through the other color change valve for switching, and the inside of the paint supply pipe is Become empty. As a result, the paint remaining in the paint supply pipe is completely washed by the cleaning liquid, so that even if a paint of a different color is introduced into the paint supply pipe, the new paint and the previous paint are mixed. There is no such thing.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an embodiment of a small amount coating color supply device according to the present invention. Figure 1
In FIG. 1, the small amount paint color supply device 10 is a device for supplying a small amount of n color paint colors, and for each color paint, the paint tanks 11a, ..., 11n and the paint supply pump 12
a ... 12n and dedicated color change valve 13a, ...
.., 13n, a cleaning liquid tank 11z, a cleaning liquid supply pump 12z, a cleaning liquid dedicated color changing valve 13z, a first switching color changing valve 14 and a second switching color changing valve 15, and one common paint supply. , 17m and m individual color changing valves 18a, ..., 18m.

Each of the paint tanks 11a to 11n contains a paint of each color for applying a small amount of color, and the cleaning liquid tank 11z is a cleaning liquid (for example, a cleaning thinner).
Are housed. The paint supply pumps 12a to 12n
And the cleaning liquid supply pump 12z are the paint tank 1 respectively.
1a to 11n and the cleaning liquid tank 11z, and supplies the paint of the paint tanks 11a to 11n or the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid tank 11z to the corresponding dedicated color changing valves 13a to 13n and 13z, respectively.

The above-mentioned dedicated color changing valves 13a to 13n and 13z have the same structure, and the structure will be described with reference to FIG. Dedicated color change valve 20
2, the supply passage 22 penetrating the valve body 21 in the lateral direction, the discharge portion 23 extending downward from the supply passage 22, and the needle valve 24 capable of moving up and down so as to open and close the discharge portion 23. And a piston cylinder 25 for moving the needle valve 24 up and down, and an air passage 26 for supplying working air to the piston cylinder 25. The piston cylinder 25 has a piston 25a integrally connected to the needle valve 24, and the piston 25a is biased downward by a spring 25b.

As a result, when the working air is not introduced into the piston cylinder 25 from the air passage 26, the piston 25a and the needle valve 24 are pressed downward by the spring 25b as shown in FIG.
Closes the discharge part 23. Therefore, the paint (or the cleaning liquid) supplied into the supply path 22 remains as it is.
2 and is not discharged from the discharge part 23. here,
When the working air is introduced into the piston cylinder 25 from the air passage 26, the piston 25a moves upward against the tension of the spring 25b by the air pressure of the working air, as shown in FIG. The valve 24 also moves upward.
As a result, the needle valve 24 separates from the discharge part 23 and opens the discharge part 23. Therefore, the paint (or the cleaning liquid) supplied into the supply path 22 passes through the through path 22 as it is and is discharged from the discharge section 23.

Then, the dedicated color change valves 13a to 13
n and the cleaning liquid-dedicated color change valve 13z, as shown in FIG.
Are connected in series with each other via a manifold 26 connected to the first switching color changing valve 14. In addition, preferably, the color change valve 13z for exclusive use of the cleaning liquid
Are opened upstream of the other dedicated color changing valves 13a to 13n with respect to the manifold 26.

As a result, the dedicated color changing valves 13a to 13n and the cleaning liquid dedicated color changing valve 13z are all closed as shown in FIG. 3 (A) at the time of non-painting, and are not discharged into the manifold 26.

Further, when the paint of a specific color is supplied, the exclusive color change valves 13a to 13n and the cleaning liquid exclusive color change valve 13z are applied to the paint of the specific color as shown in FIG. 3 (B). Corresponding, for example, only the first dedicated color change valve 13a is opened.
Paint is supplied from the paint tank 11a to the manifold 26 via 3a, and into the paint supply pipe 16 via the first switching color changing valve 14.

Further, when supplying the cleaning liquid, the exclusive color changing valves 13a to 13n and the exclusive cleaning liquid color changing valve 13z are opened only by the exclusive cleaning liquid color changing valve 13z as shown in FIG. 3C. ing. As a result, the cleaning liquid flows from the cleaning liquid tank 11z to the upstream of the manifold 26 via the cleaning liquid-dedicated color changing valve 13z, and via the first switching color changing valve 14 to the paint supply pipe 1
6 is supplied. The dedicated color changing valves 13a to 13n and 13z return the paint or the cleaning liquid to the paint tanks 11a to 11n and the cleaning liquid tank 11z when the valves are closed.

The first switching color changing valve 14 is
Connect one end 16a of the paint supply pipe 16 to the dedicated color change valve 1
It is adapted to switch to the 3 side (that is, the manifold 26) or the discharge side. The second color changing valve 15 for switching has the other end 16b of the paint supply pipe 16.
Is switched to the dedicated color change valve 13 side (that is, the manifold 26) or the discharge side.

The opening and closing of the first and second color changing valves 14 and 15 for switching are controlled as follows.
That is, during non-painting, both the first and second color changing valves 14 and 15 for switching are switched to the discharge side. Further, when the paint is introduced, the first color change valve 14 for switching is switched to the dedicated color change valve side, that is, the manifold 26 side until the paint is filled in the paint supply pipe 16, and the second color changing valve is used for the second switch. Color change valve 1
5 is still switched to the discharge side. Further, at the time of painting, the above-mentioned first and second color changing valve for switching 1
Both 4 and 15 are switched to the dedicated color change valve side.

The paint supply pipe 16 is arranged so as to sequentially circulate m coating machines 17a to 17m from one end 16a to the other end 16b, and is provided adjacent to each coating machine 17a to 17m. The individual color changing valves 18a to 18m are adapted to supply the paint supplied by the paint supply pipe 16 to the gun tips of the associated coating machines 17a to 17m when the valves are opened.

Small amount coating color supply device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention
0 is configured as described above, and its operation will be described below. First, at the time of non-painting, as shown in FIG. 4, the first and second switching color changing valves 14 and 15 are switched to the discharge side, and the dedicated color changing valve 13a is used.
To 13n and the cleaning liquid-dedicated color change valve 13z are closed. As a result, each of the paint tanks 11a to 11n
And the dedicated color change valves 13a to 13n and the dedicated cleaning liquid color change valve 1 from the cleaning liquid tank 11z by the paint supply pumps 12a to 12n and the cleaning liquid supply pump 12z
The paint and cleaning liquid supplied to 3z are returned to the paint tanks 11a to 11n and the cleaning liquid tank 11z again.
In this case, the paint supply pipe 16 is empty.

From this state, for example, when coating with the first color paint, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, the dedicated color change valve 13a corresponding to the first color paint is opened to cause the first color change valve 13a to open. The switching color changing valve 14 is switched to the dedicated color changing valve side. As a result, the paint of the color is
It is supplied from the paint tank 11a to the dedicated color change valve 13a by the paint supply pump 12a, is discharged to the manifold 26, and is supplied into the paint supply pipe 16 through the first color change valve 14 for switching.

Then, the paint flows in the paint supply pipe 16 together with the air in the paint supply pipe 16, so that the air in the paint supply pipe 16 is switched to the second color change valve 1 for switching.
The air is discharged from 5 to the discharge side. that time,
Such paint supply is continued until the air in the paint supply pipe 16 is completely discharged and the paint supply pipe 16 is completely filled with the paint.

After that, when the air bleeding in the paint supply pipe 16 is completed, the second switching color changing valve 15 is switched to the dedicated color changing valve side as shown in FIG. As a result, the first and second color change valves 1 for switching from the dedicated color change valve 13a through the manifold 26.
Paint is supplied to 4, 15. And each coating machine 17a
Individual color change valves 18a to 18 corresponding to
When m is opened, each coating machine 17a to 17m
The paint is supplied to the gun tip, and the paint is discharged from the gun tip for painting.

After the coating is completed, the second color changing valve 15 for switching is switched to the discharge side, the dedicated color changing valve 13a is closed, and the color changing valve 13 for exclusive use of the cleaning liquid is further added.
z opens. As a result, the cleaning liquid supply pump 12z moves the cleaning liquid tank 11z from the cleaning liquid exclusive color change valve 1
The cleaning liquid flows through 3z upstream of the manifold 26, and through the first switching color changing valve 14 from one end 16a of the paint supply pipe 16 to the other end 16b, and further the second switching color changing valve 15 Emitted from. As a result, the paint remaining in the paint supply pipe 16 is discharged and the interior of the paint supply pipe 16 is cleaned.

Thereafter, the color change valve 13z for exclusive use of the cleaning liquid is closed, the first color change valve 14 for switching is switched to the discharge side, and the cleaning liquid in the paint supply pipe 16 is discharged and emptied. I will prepare for painting.

In this case, since the paint supply pipe 16 is provided for only one system for each color, it is not necessary to provide a paint supply pipe for each color as in the conventional case, and the facility cost can be greatly reduced. it can. In addition, when the paint is introduced at the start of painting, in order to release air from the paint supply pipe 16,
By the paint supply pipe 16 circulating the individual color changing valves 18a to 18m corresponding to the respective coating machines 17a to 17m,
The air in the individual color changing valves 18a to 18m is exhausted at once. Therefore, it is possible to reduce wasteful discharge of the paint for each of the individual color changing valves 18a to 128m. Further, at the time of coating, the paint is supplied from both ends 16a and 16b of the paint supply pipe 16, so that the paint supply pressure in the vicinity of one downstream end is not significantly reduced. Therefore, since the paint supply pressure in the paint supply pipe 16 is stable, each of the coating machines 17a to 17m
The coating quality will be uniform.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where a small amount of n colors is applied has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this.
It is obvious that the present invention can be applied to the case where an arbitrary number of small amount coating colors of two or more colors is applied. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the m coating machines 17a to 17m are configured to perform the coating, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to the case where the coating is performed by at least one coating machine. It is clear that it can be applied.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, the paint supply pipe is provided in only one system, and the paint of each color is also used. Therefore, when coating with paints of each color, the paint supply pipes are always used, the facility operating rate is improved, and the facility cost is significantly reduced.

Further, when the paint is introduced into the paint supply pipe immediately after the start of coating, the air in the paint supply pipe and each individual color change valve is discharged through the paint supply pipe and the other color change valve for switching. Therefore, the air in each individual color change valve is collected and discharged through the paint supply pipe, and wasteful discharge of paint can be reduced.

Further, at the time of coating, since the paint is supplied from both ends of the paint supply pipe through the exclusive color change valve and the color change valves for both switching from the paint tank, the paint is supplied on the downstream side of the paint supply pipe. The decrease in the paint supply pressure is reduced. As a result, the paint supply pressure in the paint supply pipe is stabilized, and the quality of the coating by the coating machine is made uniform.

In this way, according to the present invention, a small amount of color is supplied to a plurality of coating machines by a single system of paint supply pipe with a simple structure, and wasteful waste liquid of the paint is suppressed. Thus, an extremely excellent small amount coating color supply device is provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a configuration of an embodiment of a small amount coating color supply device according to the present invention.

2A and 2B are schematic cross-sectional views of a color change valve used in the small amount color coating supply device of FIG. 1, in which FIG. 2A shows the valve closed and FIG. 2B shows the valve open.

3 is a schematic view of each dedicated color changing valve in the small amount coating color supply device of FIG. 1, where (A) is for non-painting, (B) is for painting the first color, and (C) is for washing. Each operation of is shown.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a state in which the small amount coating color supply device of FIG. 1 is not coated.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a state of the small amount coating color supply device of FIG. 1 when the coating material is filled.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a state of the small amount coating color supply device of FIG. 1 during coating.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an example of a conventional small amount coating color supply device.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Small amount paint color supply device 11a-11n paint tank 11z cleaning liquid tank 12a-12n paint supply pump 12z cleaning liquid supply pump 13a-13n dedicated color change valve 13z cleaning liquid dedicated color change valve 14, 15 color change valve for switching 16 Paint supply piping 17a-17m coating machine 18a-18m Individual color change valve

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of paint tanks containing paints of respective colors, and a dedicated color change valve provided in each paint tank for switching paints of respective colors supplied from the paint tanks and connected in series with each other. , One paint supply pipe that sequentially circulates through individual color change valves installed in a plurality of painting machines and two ends connected to the paint supply pipe, respectively, and switch connection to the dedicated color change valve side or discharge side A small amount coating color supply device, which includes two color changing valves for switching. 2. A cleaning liquid tank for containing a cleaning liquid, and a cleaning liquid-dedicated color change valve provided in the cleaning liquid tank for switching the cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning liquid tank and connected in series with the dedicated color change valve. The small amount coating color supply device according to claim 1, which is provided.