JP2007144289A - Coating apparatus and method for washing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coating apparatus capable of quickly cleaning a feed line through which a coating material liquid and a curing agent liquid are mixed in two liquid type water paint or the like, and a method for washing the same. <P>SOLUTION: A coating material cartridge 12 for storing the water paint on a cartridge table 13 is replaced with a cleaner 30 to quickly clean the feed line for feeding the water paint to a mixing part 15. The pipe line for feeding the curing agent liquid to the mixing part 15 is quickly cleaned by refluxing the cleaning liquid discharged from a cleaning liquid vessel 34 through a syringe 19 from a mixing part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a coating apparatus using a coating liquid, for example, an aqueous coating liquid, which is cured by mixing with a curing agent, and a cleaning method thereof.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a coating apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. The water-based paint is, for example, a urethane resin system and is stored in the paint container 2. The water-based paint liquid is supplied to the mixing unit 5 through the circulation pump 3 and the supply pump 4. The circulation pump 3 is continuously operated, and the aqueous paint liquid circulates in a circuit of the paint container 2 → the circulation pump 3 → the supply pump 4 → the mixing unit 5 → the paint container 2. The supply pump 4 is operated when the paint is supplied from the mixing unit 5 through the hose 6 to the gun 7 and sprayed from the gun 7 onto the object. The aqueous paint stored in the paint container 2 is a main agent liquid, which is mixed with the curing agent liquid in the mixing unit 5 and then sprayed with the gun 7. The curing agent liquid is supplied from the curing agent container 8 to the mixing unit 5 via the syringe pump 9. In the mixing unit 5, the curing agent is blended at a predetermined ratio with respect to the liquid amount of the aqueous paint (the liquid amount of the curing agent is small with respect to the aqueous paint). In order to maintain the blending ratio, the curing agent liquid is supplied to the mixing unit 5 while being measured by the syringe pump 9.

  The circuit of the water-based paint and the supply path of the curing agent are cleaned with different cleaning liquids. The circuit of the water-based paint is cleaned using an aqueous cleaning liquid such as cleaning water. At the time of washing, the paint container 2 is replaced with a washing water container, and the circulation pump 3 is operated for washing. The curing agent supply path uses a solvent as a cleaning liquid, replaces the curing agent container 8 with a cleaning liquid container, and operates the syringe pump 9 to perform cleaning.

  The aqueous two-component paint is easy to react and harden after mixing the main agent liquid and the curing agent liquid. In order to prevent hardening after mixing, a coating apparatus in which a cleaning liquid flow path is connected to a mixing unit is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1). There is also disclosed a cleaning method for a two-component mixing control device in which the mixed solution is discharged with compressed air, then cleaned with a cleaning solution for a main agent solution, and cleaning with a curing agent solution is performed alternately with supply of compressed air (for example, , See Patent Document 2).

  In addition, a small amount paint feeding system and various kinds of small amount paint supply devices for supplying paint from a cartridge and supplying thinner and air to a portion where the cartridge is connected to perform cleaning are also disclosed (for example, Patent Document 3 and (See Patent Document 4). Furthermore, a cartridge type coating system capable of cleaning the inside of the cartridge is also disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 5). A paint supply device having a cleaning device for cleaning the joint of the cartridge tank unit is also disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 6).

Japanese Patent No. 3514288 JP 2005-40680 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-590 JP 2000-61371 A JP 2002-11396 A JP 2002-79149 A

  In the coating apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. 20, as described above, at the time of cleaning, the paint container 2 is replaced with a cleaning water container, and the circulation pump 3 is operated to perform cleaning. However, the cleaning property is poor and the cleaning takes time. In addition, since defects such as residual paint residue may occur, the man-hours are further increased for the removal. Further, the curing agent container 8 is also replaced with a cleaning liquid container, and the syringe pump 9 is operated for cleaning. However, the syringe pump 9 has a small capacity and takes time for cleaning.

  In the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, since the path from the portion corresponding to the mixing portion 5 to the portion corresponding to the gun 7 in FIG. The cleaning of the route from the curing agent container 8 to the mixing unit 5 is excluded.

  Patent Documents 3 to 6 disclose a technique for quickly cleaning the supply path until the main agent liquid and the curing agent liquid are mixed, not the technique for the paint used by mixing the main agent liquid and the curing agent liquid. Absent.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a coating apparatus and a cleaning method thereof capable of quickly cleaning a supply route until a main component liquid paint liquid and a curing agent liquid are mixed with an aqueous two-component paint or the like. It is.

The present invention (1) includes a cartridge receiving means capable of receiving a cartridge for storing a coating liquid and replacing the cartridge with a cleaning device for supplying a cleaning agent for the coating liquid.
A mixing means for mixing the coating liquid and the curing agent liquid and supplying the mixed coating liquid to the coating gun;
A supply pump for supplying the liquid received by the cartridge receiving means to the mixing means;
In a state where the cleaning device is received in the cartridge receiving means, the supply of the curing agent liquid to the mixing means is shut off, and the coating liquid cleaning liquid supplied to the cleaning device is supplied to the coating gun via the supply pump and the mixing means. It is a coating apparatus characterized by including the control means to control to guide.

  According to the present invention (1), the coating apparatus includes a cartridge receiving means, a mixing means, a supply pump, and a control means. The cartridge receiving means can receive a cartridge for storing the coating liquid, and can also replace the cleaning device supplied with the coating liquid cleaning liquid with the cartridge. When the cartridge is replaced with a cleaning device, the control means controls the cleaning liquid for the coating liquid supplied to the cleaning device to be guided to the coating gun through the supply pump and the mixing means, so that the coating liquid from the cartridge receiving means to the mixing means is controlled. It is possible to clean with the paint liquid cleaning liquid, including the supply path. By replacing the cartridge for storing the coating liquid with a cleaning device with respect to the cartridge receiving means, the path for supplying the coating liquid to the mixing means can be quickly cleaned.

Further, the present invention (2) includes a curing agent container for storing the curing agent liquid,
A hardener supply means for supplying a hardener liquid from the hardener container to the mixing means;
A cleaning liquid supply means connected to the mixing means for supplying a cleaning liquid for the hardener for cleaning the hardener liquid;
The control means includes
At the time of painting and cleaning with the coating liquid cleaning liquid, the cleaning liquid supply means is shut off from the mixing means,
When the hardener liquid is cleaned, the hardener cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning liquid supply means is caused to flow back from the mixing means to the hardener container via the hardener supply means in a state where the supply pump is shut off from the mixing means. Control is performed.

  According to the present invention (2), the curing agent supply means is realized by, for example, a syringe pump and supplies the mixing means while metering the curing agent liquid stored in the curing agent container. Will get smaller. The controller is configured to supply the curing agent cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning liquid supply unit to the curing agent container from the mixing unit via the curing agent supply unit in a state where the supply pump is shut off from the mixing unit when the curing agent liquid is cleaned. Therefore, even if the curing agent supply means is realized by a pump with a small supply flow rate such as a syringe pump, the flow rate of the cleaning solution for the curing agent that flows back may be larger than the flow rate of supplying the curing agent solution. And can be cleaned quickly.

Further, the present invention (3) is a method of cleaning a coating apparatus that performs coating by mixing a coating liquid with a curing agent liquid by mixing means, and spraying the mixed coating liquid from a coating gun,
At the time of cleaning, the cartridge for storing the coating liquid is replaced with a cleaning device to which the cleaning liquid for the coating liquid is supplied, and the path from the supply pump to the coating gun through the mixing means is cleaned, and the cleaning liquid supply means is supplied to the mixing means. A curing agent cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning liquid supply means, and a supply path to the mixing means for the curing agent liquid is caused to flow backward to clean the supply path of the curing agent liquid. It is a cleaning method.

  According to the present invention (3), the cartridge is replaced with a washer, and the paint liquid path to the paint gun is quickly washed with the paint liquid washing liquid supplied to the washer through the supply pump and the mixing means. be able to. The path for supplying the curing agent liquid to the mixing means causes the cleaning liquid for the curing agent to flow backward from the mixing means to the curing agent supply means, so that the curing agent supply means is realized by a syringe pump or the like and the forward capacity is increased. Even if it is small, the flow rate of the curing agent cleaning liquid can be made larger than the flow rate of supplying the curing agent liquid, and the cleaning can be performed quickly.

  According to the present invention (1), the cartridge is replaced with a cleaning device, and the coating liquid cleaning liquid supplied to the cleaning device is controlled to be guided to the coating gun through the supply pump and the mixing means, and the coating liquid is mixed. It is possible to quickly perform cleaning of the supply path.

  According to the invention (2), the curing agent supply means is realized by a syringe pump or the like, and the curing agent liquid stored in the curing agent container is mixed with the mixing means so that the amount is smaller than that of, for example, the coating liquid. Since it is supplied, the capacity is small even if the accuracy is high. Since the cleaning liquid for the curing agent supplied from the cleaning liquid supply means flows back from the mixing means to the curing agent container via the curing agent supply means, the flow rate of the cleaning liquid for the curing agent flowing back is supplied to the curing agent liquid. The flow rate can be increased more than the flow rate, and cleaning can be performed quickly.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention (3), by replacing the cartridge that stores the coating liquid by the cartridge receiving means with a cleaning device, the path for supplying the coating liquid to the mixing means can be quickly cleaned. The path for supplying the curing agent liquid to the mixing means allows the cleaning liquid for the curing agent to flow backward from the mixing means to the curing agent supply means so that the cleaning can be performed quickly.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a coating apparatus 11 as an embodiment of the present invention. The coating device 11 is used for coating with, for example, a urethane resin-based water-based paint. The aqueous paint is stored in the paint cartridge 12 as a main agent liquid. Here, the cartridge means a removable unit. The paint cartridge 12 can be attached to and detached from the cartridge base 13 (that is, the cartridge base 13 can receive the paint cartridge 12). When the color to be painted is switched, the paint cartridge 12 is replaced. The aqueous paint liquid in the paint cartridge 12 mounted on the cartridge base 13 is supplied to the mixing unit 15 via the supply pump 14. That is, the water-based paint liquid is supplied to the mixing unit 15 through the coating material cartridge 12 → the supply pump 14 → the 1 mixing unit 15 path. The paint to be applied is supplied from the mixing unit 15 to the gun 17 via the hose 16 and sprayed from the gun 17 onto the object. The aqueous paint stored in the paint cartridge 12 is a main agent liquid, which is mixed with the curing agent liquid in the mixing unit 15 and then sprayed with the gun 17. The curing agent liquid is supplied from the curing agent container 18 to the mixing unit 15 while being measured by the syringe pump 19 so as to be a predetermined ratio with respect to the liquid amount of the aqueous paint.

  The mixing unit 15 is provided with a paint valve 20 that receives a water-based paint, a curing agent valve 21 that receives a curing agent, a dilution water valve 22 that receives dilution water, and a cleaning liquid valve 23 that receives a cleaning liquid. A supply pump 14 is attached to the cartridge base 13, and paint valves 24 and 25 are provided on the inlet side and the outlet side of the supply pump 14, respectively. A curing agent valve 26 is provided between the curing agent container 18 and the syringe pump 19. The dilution water valve 22 of the mixing unit 15 is connected to the dilution water container 29 via the pump 27 and the dilution water valve 28. The mixing ratio of the water-based paint, the curing agent and the dilution water is, for example, about 100: 10: 10. In particular, the mixing ratio of the curing agent is important, and if it is too large, the curing agent may be cured in the course of the route from the mixing unit 15 through the hose 16 to the gun 17. Moreover, when there are too few hardening | curing agents, it will take time for hardening of the coating film after coating. For this reason, the syringe pump 19 measures accurately.

  The supply path of the water-based paint is cleaned using an aqueous cleaning liquid such as water. At the time of cleaning, the paint cartridge 12 is removed from the cartridge base 13, and the cleaning device 30 is mounted on the cartridge base 13. The cleaning device 30 is supplied with cleaning water from a cleaning water container 31. The washing water container 31 can be pressurized with compressed air from the compressed air source 32 to supply the washing water at a high pressure.

  A merging portion 33 is connected to the cleaning liquid valve 23 of the mixing portion 15. A cleaning liquid container 34, a cleaning water container 35, and a compressed air source 36 are connected to the merging portion 33 through a cleaning liquid valve 37, a cleaning water valve 39, and a compressed air valve 38, respectively. The compressed air source 36 can also pressurize the cleaning liquid container 34 and the cleaning water container 35 with compressed air and supply each liquid at a high pressure. The pump and valve of the coating apparatus 11 are controlled by a controller 40 configured by, for example, a microcomputer.

  FIG. 2 schematically shows a basic cleaning procedure of the supply route of the water-based paint. When painting is completed, the paint cartridge 12 used for painting is removed from the cartridge base 13 in step a1. In step a2, the cleaning device 30 is attached to the cartridge base 13. In step a3, the supply pump 14 is operated, and the cleaning water supplied from the cleaning water container 31 to the cleaning device 30 is sent to the path from the cartridge base 13 to the gun 17 through the mixing unit 15 to perform cleaning. When the water-based paint is removed from the path, the cleaning is completed in step a4.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of a procedure for automatically cleaning the water supply paint supply path under the control of the controller. This process is started when an instruction to start the paint path automatic cleaning is given to the controller. The replacement from the paint cartridge 12 to the washer 30 as in steps a1 to a2 in FIG. 2 is performed manually by an operator in advance, for example. It can also be performed automatically using a mechanism as disclosed in Patent Document 3. In step b1, the washing water container 31 is pressurized with high-pressure air from the compressed air source 32, the pressurized washing water is supplied to the washing device 30, and the pressurized washing water is supplied by the operation of the supply pump 14. It is fed from the cartridge base 13 through the mixing section 15 to the gun 17. In step b2, the supply of cleaning water from the cleaning water container 31 to the cleaning device 30 is stopped. In step b3, the same pressurized cleaning water supply as in step b1 is performed. In step b4, the washing water supply is stopped as in step b2. In step b5, pressurized washing water is supplied in the same manner as in step b3. In steps b1 to b5, the supply of the pressurized cleaning water and the stop of the supply of cleaning water are repeated three times in total. However, the number n of repetitions, the time, and the flow rate of the cleaning water are determined according to the necessity of cleaning. be able to. In step b6, it is determined whether or not a total of n cools is finished. If not finished, the process returns to step b1. When the total n cools are finished, the wash water supply is stopped in step b7 and the washing is completed.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a state in which the cartridge base 13 is cleaned with cleaning water by replacing the paint cartridge 12 and the cleaning device 30 in the procedure shown in FIG. (A) shows an example of a state in which the paint cartridge 12 is mounted on the cartridge base 13 and the water-based paint in the paint cartridge 12 is supplied from the cartridge base 13 at the time of painting. (B) replaces the paint cartridge 12 of the cartridge base 13 with a cleaning device 30, pressurizes the cleaning water container 31 with high-pressure air from the compressed air source 32, and cleans the pressurized cleaning water from the cleaning water container 31. The state which is supplied to the container 30 and cleaned is shown. (C) shows the supply state of the washing water when washing the paint path.

  Replacement of the paint cartridge 12 with the cleaning device 30 is possible with one touch. Even when changing the color from the paint cartridge 12 to the washer 30 and changing the color to the other color paint cartridge 12, the time can be reduced. In addition, since cleaning is performed using pressurized cleaning water, cleaning can be performed at low cost and in a short time. Further, as shown in step b1 to step b5 in FIG. 3, by repeating the supply and stop of the supply of pressurized cleaning water, vibrations are applied to the supply path of the water-based paint, and it is possible to wash the places where the paint tends to accumulate. Become.

  FIG. 5 schematically shows a basic automatic cleaning procedure of the supply path of the curing agent. A solvent is used as the cleaning liquid used for cleaning the curing agent. This process is started when the controller 40 is instructed to start the automatic cleaning agent path cleaning. In step c1, the paint valve 20 and the dilution water valve 22 of the mixing unit 15 shown in FIG. 1 are controlled to close. In step c2, the curing agent valve 21 and the cleaning liquid valve 23 of the mixing unit 15 are controlled to open. In step c3, the hardener valve 26 between the syringe pump 19 and the hardener container 18 is controlled to open. In step c4, the cleaning liquid valve 37 of the merging section 33 is opened, the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid container 34 is pressurized with high-pressure air from the compressed air source 36, and supply to the mixing section 15 is started. When the cleaning is completed (for example, after supplying the cleaning liquid for a predetermined time), the valves are closed to stop the supply of the cleaning liquid, thereby completing the cleaning.

  FIG. 6 schematically shows an example of another procedure for automatic cleaning of the supply path of the curing agent. This process is started when an instruction to start the curing agent path automatic cleaning is given to the controller. In step d 1, the cleaning liquid container 34 is pressurized with high-pressure air from the compressed air source 36, and the pressurized cleaning liquid is supplied from the merging unit 33 to the mixing unit 15. In step d2, the supply of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid container 34 to the junction 33 is stopped. In step d3, the same pressurized cleaning liquid supply as in step d1 is performed. In step d4, the supply of the cleaning liquid is stopped as in step d2. In step d5, the pressurized cleaning liquid is supplied in the same manner as in step d3. In steps d1 to d5, the supply of the pressurized cleaning liquid and the stop of the supply of the cleaning liquid are repeated three times in total. However, the number n of repetitions, the time, and the flow rate of the cleaning liquid can be determined according to the necessity of cleaning. . In step d6, it is determined whether or not a total of n cools has been completed. If not, the process returns to step d1. If the total n cools have been completed, the cleaning liquid supply is stopped in step d7 and the valves are closed. To complete.

  FIG. 7 schematically shows a configuration in which the cleaning liquid flows backward from the mixing unit 15 side to the curing agent container 18 side to wash the curing agent supply path in the procedure shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. (A) shows the path | route from which the washing | cleaning agent flows back through the mixing part 15 through the mixing part 15 and the syringe pump 19 back to the hardening | curing agent container 18. FIG. (B) shows the position of the valve provided in the path shown in (a).

  The junction portion 33, the cleaning liquid container 34, the cleaning water container 35, and the compressed air source 36 shown in FIG. 1 are provided for cleaning the path from the mixing portion 15 through the hose 16 to the gun 17. This configuration can also be used for cleaning the supply path of the mixed agent by switching the valve. Moreover, although the syringe pump 19 exists in the supply path of the curing agent and the supply flow rate is limited in the forward direction, the cleaning performance can be improved by increasing the flow rate by causing the cleaning liquid to flow backward.

  FIG. 8 shows a configuration for confirming the cleaning state in the cleaning of the curing agent supply path as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7. Since a solvent is used as the cleaning liquid for the curing agent, the cost is higher than that of the cleaning water, and it is necessary to accurately detect the completion of cleaning. For this purpose, a flow meter 41 is provided in a path for allowing the cleaning liquid to flow backward in the curing agent container 18, and the flow rate is monitored by the controller 40, for example. The curing agent liquid has a high viscosity and a low flow rate. If the curing agent is removed with a cleaning agent having a low viscosity, the flow rate of the cleaning agent in the supply route of the curing agent increases. If the flow meter 41 is provided and the change in the flow rate is monitored, the cleaning state can be confirmed.

  FIG. 9 shows a schematic procedure for monitoring the flow rate by the flow meter 41 and confirming the cleaning state of the curing agent supply path in the configuration as shown in FIG. In this procedure, when cleaning the curing agent supply path, the difference in flow rate due to the difference in viscosity between the cleaning solution and the curing agent solution (the viscosity is different between the curing agent and the cleaning solution, so the cleaning solution with a lower viscosity has a higher flow rate) Is monitored by the flow meter 41. If it is detected that the fluid in the path has changed to the cleaning liquid, the cleaning can be automatically terminated.

  When the controller 40 is instructed to start the hardener path cleaning, the cleaning liquid is caused to flow back into the hardener container 18 and the cleaning process of the hardener supply path is started. That is, by causing the cleaning liquid to flow backward, the curing agent remaining in the path from the curing agent container 18 to the mixing unit 15 is discharged to the curing agent container 18 side. When the cleaning process is started, in step e1, the flow meter 41 starts measuring the flow rate of the cleaning agent that flows back in the path. Since the curing agent has a high viscosity, the flow rate is small and the flow rate is slow. As the cleaning progresses, since the cleaning liquid having a low viscosity is mixed with the curing agent having a high viscosity, the flow rate is increased and the flow rate is also increased. Accordingly, in step e2, it is determined whether or not the flow rate has increased. If it is determined that the flow rate has increased, in step e3, a timer is started to start timing. In step e4, when it is determined that a certain period of time, that is, a time necessary for discharging the curing agent has elapsed, the cleaning is terminated. If it is determined in step e2 that the flow rate has not increased, measurement is continued until the flow rate increases. If it is determined in step e4 that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the cleaning is continued as it is.

  In the present embodiment, the flow meter 41 (means for detecting the flow velocity) is described as an example of converting the flow rate information into flow rate information by measuring the flow rate, but a sensor that directly measures the flow velocity. The flow rate may be measured, and the result may be converted into a flow velocity by other external means.

  FIG. 10 shows a configuration for checking the cleaning state by judging the color of the fluid in the hose 16 of FIG. If the paint remains in the hose 16, it does not transmit light, but transmits light when the inside of the hose 16 is cleaned. By attaching a sensor 42 for detecting the transmittance to the hose 16, for example, by the controller 40. The cleaning state can be confirmed. For cleaning the inside of the hose 16, the cleaning liquid and the cleaning water supplied from the merging section 33 connected to the mixing section 15 of FIG. 1 through the cleaning liquid valve 23 are used. The hose 16 is formed using a transparent resin material or the like so as to be transparent as a whole, or formed so that a portion where the detection sensor 42 detects the transmittance is transparent.

  FIG. 11 shows a schematic procedure in which cleaning is automatically performed with the configuration shown in FIG. 10, the permeability of the fluid in the hose 16 is determined by the sensor 42, and the cleaning liquid is switched. When the operator performs an operation for selecting automatic cleaning with respect to the controller 40, the pressurized water obtained by pressurizing the cleaning water in the cleaning water container 35 with the high-pressure air from the compressed air source 36 is passed through the hose 16 from the mixing unit 15 and the gun. The process of cleaning the route leading to 17 is started. When the cleaning process is started, measurement of the paint flowing in the path is started by the transmission sensor 42 in step f1. In the initial stage of cleaning, it is considered that only the paint flows in the path, and the paint is difficult to transmit light, so that the transmittance is low. As the cleaning progresses, the ratio of the cleaning liquid having a high transmittance increases, so that the transmittance increases. Increasing the transparency of the fluid in the path increases the transmittance. If it is determined in step f2 that the transmittance is greater than a predetermined value (that is, the desired transparency has been reached), in step f3, a timer is started to start timing. If it is determined in step f4 that a certain period of time, that is, a time necessary for completing the cleaning of the paint in the path has elapsed, the cleaning ends. If it is determined in step f2 that the transmittance is equal to or lower than the predetermined value, the measurement is continued until the transmittance is increased. If it is determined in step f4 that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the cleaning is continued as it is.

  FIG. 12 shows a configuration in which the paint after the mixing unit 15 is automatically washed when a set time elapses. About the path | route after the mixing part 15, since the hardening | curing agent and the coating material are mixed, hardening is accelerated | stimulated and there exists a danger that a coating material hardens | cures with time passage and a path | route clogs. For this reason, when the time is set and the set time elapses, the path from the mixing unit 15 to the gun 17 is automatically washed. By setting the time appropriately, cleaning can be performed before the paint is cured, and the clogging of the path can be prevented in advance.

  FIG. 13 shows a process for performing automatic cleaning performed by the controller 40 of FIG. 1 in the configuration of FIG. This process is executed during the painting operation. If it is determined in step g1 that the painting has been completed, in step g2, a timer is started to start timing. The timer is set with the time from the end of painting to the start of automatic cleaning (less than the time from the end of painting to the effect of the paint). In step g3, it is determined whether or not painting has been resumed. If painting has not been resumed, it is determined in step g4 whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed. The timer count-up is started at g5 and automatic cleaning is started at step g6. If it is determined in step g7 that the timer count exceeds the predetermined value, the automatic cleaning is terminated and the process proceeds to the next step. If it is determined in step g3 that painting has been resumed, the timer is reset and the process returns to step g1. If it is determined in step g7 that the timer count is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value, cleaning is continued.

  By performing such automatic cleaning, the paint can be removed from the path before it hardens, and if the paint is restarted before the set time of the timer (that is, before the paint hardens), the cleaning is performed. Since there will be no extra cleaning, it can be avoided.

  FIG. 14 shows an example of a time chart of automatic cleaning according to the process of FIG. When painting is started at time t1, the timer is reset. When painting is completed at time t2, a timer is started. When painting is resumed at time t3 when the time until automatic cleaning starts does not elapse, the timer is reset. When painting ends at time t4, the timer starts. When the time until starting automatic cleaning elapses at time t5, the timer is reset, timer count-up is started, and cleaning is performed until time t6.

  FIG. 15 shows a configuration in which cleaning water is intermittently supplied by the operation of the valves 39 and 23 when the paint after the mixing unit 15 as shown in FIG. By supplying cleaning water intermittently to the path after the mixing unit 15, vibration can be applied to the path and the efficiency of cleaning the path can be increased.

  FIG. 16 shows a schematic procedure for intermittently supplying cleaning water as shown in FIG. In step h1, the operator instructs the automatic cleaning start to the controller 40 in FIG. In step h <b> 2, the washing water container 35 is pressurized with high-pressure air from the compressed air source 36, and pressurized washing water is supplied to the path from the mixing unit 15 to the gun 17. In step h3, the washing water supply is stopped. In step h4, as in step h2, pressurized cleaning water is supplied. In step h5, the washing water supply is stopped as in step h3. In step h6, as in step h4, pressurized washing water is supplied. In steps f2 to h6, the pressurized washing water supply and the washing water supply stop are repeated three times in total, but this number can be set as appropriate. Cleaning is completed in step h7, and the supply of cleaning water is stopped in step h8. In such intermittent supply of cleaning water, it is possible to improve the cleaning performance by impact generated at the start of supply and at the stop of supply.

  FIG. 17 shows an example of the configuration of the mixing unit 15 of FIG. The mixing unit 15 is provided with a paint valve 20, a curing agent valve 21, a dilution water valve 22, and the like, and is supplied with a water-based paint, a curing agent, and dilution water, respectively. These valves have basically the same configuration. That is, as shown for the paint valve 20, the valve body shaft 51 is disposed on the axis in the cylinder 50 so as to be displaceable in the axial direction. The tip of the valve body shaft 51 opens and closes the mixing passage of the mixing unit 15. High-pressure air can be introduced into the intermediate portion of the valve body shaft 51 via the air introduction portion 52. The proximal end of the valve body shaft 51 is urged toward the distal end side by a spring 53. A piston 54 is provided between the spring 53 and the air introduction part 52, and when high-pressure air is introduced from the air introduction part 52, the valve body shaft 52 is displaced to the proximal end side against the bias of the spring 53. And the tip opens the mixing passage. A joint portion 55 is provided in the open mixing passage, and a supply pipe 56 connected to the cartridge base 13 in FIG. 1 can be attached and detached.

  FIG. 18 partially shows a configuration related to the joint portion 55 of the paint valve 20 shown in FIG. Since the joint portion 54 has the large-diameter portion 57, stagnation easily occurs due to the flow of the water-based paint supplied from the supply pipe 56.

  FIG. 19 shows a configuration that eliminates stagnation that tends to occur in the large-diameter portion 56 of FIG. (A) shows the structure conventionally used by the joint part 54. FIG. In the large-diameter portion 56 that expands extremely with respect to the supply pipe 55 such as a hose for feeding the paint and the joint inner diameter, stagnation occurs due to the flow of the paint, and the paint residue or the like tends to accumulate. As shown in FIG. 5B, by inserting a collar 58 having only an inner diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the supply pipe 55 and having an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the large diameter portion 57, the accumulation of paint debris and the like is eliminated. can do.

  Although the urethane resin system is used as the water-based paint in the above description, the present invention can be similarly applied to other materials such as an epoxy resin system, an acrylic resin system, and a polyester resin system. Further, the present invention can be applied not only to water-based paints but also to paints used by mixing a main agent liquid and a curing agent.

It is a block diagram which shows the schematic structure of the coating device 11 as one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows roughly the basic washing | cleaning procedure of the supply path | route of the water-based paint in the coating device 11 of FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for automatically performing a water-based paint supply path in the coating apparatus 11 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which replaces the coating material cartridge 12 and the washing | cleaning device 30, and wash | cleans with a washing water with respect to the cartridge base 13 in the procedure shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows schematically the procedure of the basic automatic washing | cleaning of the supply path | route of a hardening | curing agent with the coating apparatus 11 of FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart schematically showing another example of the procedure for automatic cleaning of the curing agent supply path in the coating apparatus 11 of FIG. 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows roughly the structure which reversely flows a washing | cleaning liquid from the mixing part 15 side to the hardening | curing agent container 18 side in the procedure shown in FIG.5 and FIG.6, and wash | cleans the supply path | route of a hardening | curing agent. It is a figure which shows the structure for confirming a washing | cleaning state by washing | cleaning of the supply path | route of a hardening | curing agent as shown in FIG.5, FIG.6 and FIG.7. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a schematic procedure for monitoring the flow rate by the flow meter 41 and confirming the cleaning state of the curing agent supply path with the configuration shown in FIG. 8. It is a figure which shows the structure which judges the color of the fluid in the hose 16 of FIG. 1, and confirms a washing state. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a schematic procedure for automatically cleaning with the configuration shown in FIG. 10, determining the color of the fluid in the hose 16 with a sensor 42, and switching the cleaning liquid. It is a figure which shows the structure which wash | cleans automatically the coating material after the mixing part 15 with the coating apparatus 11 of FIG. 1, if setting time passes. 13 is a flowchart showing a schematic procedure for performing automatic cleaning in the configuration of FIG. 12 under the control of the controller 40 of FIG. 1. The example of the time chart of the automatic washing | cleaning according to the process of FIG. 13 is shown. It is a figure which shows the structure which supplies a wash water intermittently, when the coating material after the mixing part 15 like FIG. 12 is wash | cleaned automatically by progress of setting time. It is a flowchart which shows the schematic procedure which performs intermittent supply of the washing water as shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the example of a structure of the mixing part 15 of FIG. FIG. 18 is a simplified cross-sectional view partially showing a configuration related to the joint portion 54 of the paint valve 20 shown in FIG. 17. It is a figure which shows the structure which eliminates the stagnation which is easy to generate | occur | produce in the large diameter part 56 etc. of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the schematic structure of the coating apparatus 1 from the past.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Coating apparatus 12 Paint cartridge 13 Cartridge stand 14 Supply pump 15 Mixing part 16,55 Hose 17 Gun 18 Hardener container 19 Syringe pump 20, 24, 25 Paint valve 21, 26 Hardener valve 22, 28 Dilution water valve 23 Cleaning liquid valve 30 Washing Machine 31, 35 Washing Water Container 32, 36 Compressed Air Source 34 Washing Liquid Container 40 Controller 41 Flowmeter 42 Sensor 55 Joint Portion 56 Supply Pipe 57 Large Diameter Portion 58 Color

Claims (3)

A cartridge receiving means capable of receiving a cartridge for storing the coating liquid and replacing the cartridge with a cleaning device for supplying a cleaning agent for the coating liquid;
A mixing means for mixing the coating liquid and the curing agent liquid and supplying the mixed coating liquid to the coating gun;
A supply pump for supplying the liquid received by the cartridge receiving means to the mixing means;
In a state where the cleaning device is received in the cartridge receiving means, the supply of the curing agent liquid to the mixing means is shut off, and the coating liquid cleaning liquid supplied to the cleaning device is supplied to the coating gun via the supply pump and the mixing means. And a control means for controlling to guide the coating apparatus. A curing agent container for storing the curing agent liquid;
A hardener supply means for supplying a hardener liquid from the hardener container to the mixing means;
A cleaning liquid supply means connected to the mixing means for supplying a cleaning liquid for the hardener for cleaning the hardener liquid;
The control means includes
At the time of painting and cleaning with the coating liquid cleaning liquid, the cleaning liquid supply means is shut off from the mixing means,
When the hardener liquid is cleaned, the hardener cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning liquid supply means is caused to flow back from the mixing means to the hardener container via the hardener supply means in a state where the supply pump is shut off from the mixing means. 2. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control is performed. It is a method of cleaning a coating apparatus that performs coating by mixing a coating liquid with a curing agent liquid by a mixing means, and spraying the mixed coating liquid from a coating gun,
At the time of cleaning, the cartridge for storing the coating liquid is replaced with a cleaning device to which the cleaning liquid for the coating liquid is supplied, and the path from the supply pump to the coating gun through the mixing means is cleaned, and the cleaning liquid supply means is supplied to the mixing means. A curing agent cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning liquid supply means, and a supply path to the mixing means for the curing agent liquid is caused to flow backward to clean the supply path of the curing agent liquid. Cleaning method.

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