JP2009095820A - Flow-path switching device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a flow-path switching device that can be suitably used in a fluid-supply system such as a coating system. <P>SOLUTION: The switching valve device 140 constituting the flow-path switching device is equipped with a first cylinder member 143 communicating with a first inflow port 155 for introducing a fluid thereinto and a second outflow port 163 for discharging a fluid therefrom, a second cylinder member 144 communicating with a first outflow port 156 and a second inflow port 166, a connection member 157 for connecting the first cylinder member 143 and the second cylinder member 144, first and second valves 146, 147 each inserted into the first and the second cylinder members 143, 144 respectively, in a manner movable by the fluid pressure, so as to open and close the path between the first inflow port 155 and the second outflow port 163 and the path between the first outflow port 156 and the second inflow port 166 respectively, and actuators 151, 152 for moving the first and the second valves 146, 147 in the first and the second cylinder members 143, 144 respectively, to open and close each of the paths respectively. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a flow path switching device used as means for switching a flow path for supplying a fluid such as paint or cleaning liquid to a coating gun or the like in an electrostatic coating system, for example.

  As a conventional electrostatic coating system, there is known a system in which water supplied from a water supply device is pure water, and the pure water is used to push out paint in a paint cartridge attached to a paint gun and eject the paint from a paint nozzle. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

In this painting system, the painting gun comprises a painting gun body and a paint tank unit as a paint cartridge detachably attached to the painting gun body. The paint tank unit includes a paint chamber for containing paint, and a paint chamber. A paint nozzle communicating with the paint chamber and an extrusion liquid chamber to which the pure water is supplied are provided, and the paint chamber and the extrusion liquid chamber are partitioned by a piston. Further, when pure water is supplied from the pure water supply device to the extrusion chamber, the pure water pushes out the paint in the paint chamber through the piston and sprays it from the paint nozzle.
JP 2006-346596 A

  In the above-described coating system, when a conductive paint having a color that is frequently applied is handled, it is necessary to replace the paint tank unit for each coating, which increases the number of painting steps.

  Therefore, it is proposed to provide a mechanism for extruding the paint with water or cleaning liquid in addition to the cartridge-type paint supply, and in that case, it is necessary to switch the supply of the paint or other fluid. For this purpose, a valve mechanism is used. However, the conventional fluid switching valve mechanism has a complicated structure and is not suitable for operation by being given to, for example, a painting robot in terms of weight.

  The objective of this invention is providing the flow-path switching apparatus used suitably in fluid supply systems like the said coating system.

  The flow path switching device of the present invention includes first and second inflow ports into which fluid is introduced, first and second outflow ports from which fluid is derived, and first and second outflow ports. A first cylinder portion communicating with the first cylinder portion, a second cylinder portion communicating with the first outlet and the second inlet, and a connecting portion connecting the first cylinder portion and the second cylinder portion; The first and second cylinder portions are movable by the pressure of the fluid, and are respectively between the first inlet and the second outlet and between the first outlet and the second inlet. The first and second valves inserted so as to open and close, and an actuator that opens and closes at least one of the first and second valves in the first and second cylinder portions.

  In the flow path switching device of the present invention, when a fluid such as a paint or water or cleaning liquid described later is allowed to pass, the actuator closes the first valve between the first inlet and the second outlet. When the fluid is moved to, the fluid that has entered the first inflow port reaches the second cylinder part from the first cylinder part through the connection part that connects the first cylinder part and the second cylinder part, and the second valve is turned on. It is moved and flows out from the second cylinder part through the first outlet.

  On the other hand, when supplying to another flow path, if the first valve is moved by the actuator so as to open between the first inlet and the second outlet, the fluid entering the first inlet Flows from the first cylinder part to the second outlet. The fluid that has flowed into the second inlet reaches the first outlet from the second cylinder portion and flows out.

  According to the present invention, as described above, when the fluid passing through the flow path opened by the first valve sufficiently exceeds a certain pressure by the action of the actuator, the fluid passes through the second valve. Since the flow path can be easily switched by pushing it open, the flow path of a fluid such as a conductive paint or liquid can be easily switched. Its configuration is also a simple structure that is provided with valves driven by actuators in two cylinder parts communicating with two inlets or two outlets, and opened and closed with each valve, and the weight of the device is reduced, Cost can be reduced.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, a pair of actuators for opening and closing the first and second valves are provided. In this case, since each valve is opened and closed by the corresponding actuator, the flow path can be switched more reliably.

  The flow path switching device of the present invention is used, for example, in the following coating device. A storage unit for temporarily storing the conductive paint or liquid in the paint supply path for supplying the conductive paint or liquid from the paint supply unit to the coating gun and pushing the stored conductive paint or liquid to the coating gun side; It is equipped with an insulating part that electrically cuts off between the paint supply part and the storage part, and electrostatic coating is performed by supplying conductive paint to which a high voltage is applied to the paint gun, or liquid is applied The paint supply path is cleaned by supplying to the gun, and a fluid circuit is provided between the reservoir and the paint gun, and a paint cartridge is detachably connected to the fluid circuit. By providing a free piston in the interior, it is divided into a fluid chamber supplied with liquid and a paint chamber filled with conductive paint, and the liquid supplied from the paint supply unit and stored in the storage unit , By supplying the fluid chamber of the paint cartridge through the body circuit, and supplies to the spray gun by extruding a conductive paint in the paint chamber in the free piston.

  In this coating apparatus, when supplying the conductive paint filled in the paint chamber in the paint cartridge to the paint gun, the liquid is first supplied from the paint supply part to the storage part and stored, and then the liquid in the storage part is stored. Liquid is supplied to the fluid chamber in the paint cartridge via the fluid circuit. As a result, the liquid in the fluid chamber pushes out the conductive paint in the paint chamber via the piston, and the conductive paint is supplied to the coating gun. At this time, since the conductive paint in the paint cartridge is pushed out by the liquid used for cleaning the paint supply path, a special power source and a storage unit including this power source are used to push out the conductive paint in the paint cartridge. do not need. That is, the liquid supplied from the paint supply unit can be used to supply the conductive paint in the paint cartridge to the coating gun, and the fluid supply unit that supplies the liquid exclusively for the paint cartridge and the power of the fluid supply unit There is no need to provide a storage unit including a power source and a power source, and the cost can be reduced.

  In addition, the liquid can be supplied from the paint supply unit to the paint cartridge in the manner of cleaning the paint supply path with the liquid supplied from the paint supply unit, and no special method for extruding the paint in the paint cartridge is required. Electrostatic coating can be performed efficiently.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a valve device constituting a flow path switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The valve device 140 includes a housing 141 provided with a plurality of passages, and a first valve 146 and a second valve movably inserted in a first cylinder 143 and a second cylinder 144 formed in the housing 141, respectively. 147, and cylinder-type first actuator 151 and second actuator 152 arranged outside the housing 141 for opening and closing the first valve 146 and the second valve 147.

  The housing 141 includes a first inflow port 155 that communicates with the first cylinder 143, a first outflow port 156 that communicates with the second cylinder 144, a connection portion 157 that connects each of the first cylinder 143 and the second cylinder 144, A first horizontal hole 161 formed to communicate with the first cylinder 143 at a position facing the connecting portion 157 with respect to the one cylinder 143, a second outlet 163 connected to the first horizontal hole 161, and a second cylinder 144 On the other hand, a second lateral hole 164 formed so as to communicate with the second cylinder 144 and a second inlet 166 connected to the second lateral hole 164 are formed at positions facing the connection portion 157.

  When this valve device 140 is used in the coating system shown in FIG. 4, for example, the first inflow port 155 and the second outflow port 156 are respectively connected to a first delivery path 15a and a second delivery path 15b described later. The second outlet 163 is connected to the supply path 71, and the second inlet 166 is connected to the delivery path 74.

  The first cylinder 143 and the second cylinder 144 include large-diameter holes 143a and 144a, female taper portions 143b and 144b and female taper portions 143c and 144c adjacent to both sides of the large-diameter holes 143a and 144a, respectively.

  The first valve 146 includes a valve main body 146A and a rod portion 146B formed integrally with the valve main body 146A, and the rod portion 146B is a piston (not shown) that is movably inserted into the first actuator 151. ).

  The valve body 146A includes a large-diameter portion 146a that is movably fitted in the large-diameter hole 143a, and male tapered portions 146b and 146c formed on both sides of the large-diameter portion 146a so as to be fitted to the female tapered portions 143b and 143c, respectively. It consists of.

  The second valve 147 includes a valve main body 147A and a rod portion 147B formed integrally with the valve main body 147A. The rod portion 147B is a piston (not shown) that is movably inserted into the second actuator 152. ).

  The valve main body 147A includes a large-diameter portion 147a that is movably fitted in the large-diameter hole 144a, and male tapered portions 147b and 147c that are formed on both sides of the large-diameter portion 147a so as to be fitted to the female tapered portions 144b and 144c. Consists of.

  Next, an operation when the valve device 140 allows a fluid such as a conductive paint described later to pass will be described.

  The first valve 146 is moved by the first actuator 151 so that the male taper portion 146b is fitted to the female taper portion 143b, while the second valve 147 is fitted to the female taper portion 144b. Is moved by the second actuator 152. As a result, the first inlet 155 communicates with the connecting portion 157 via the first cylinder 143, and the connecting portion 157 communicates with the first outlet 156 via the second cylinder 144.

  In this state, as indicated by the white arrow D, the fluid is caused to flow from the first delivery path 15a to the first inflow port 155. As a result, the fluid flows from the first outlet 155 to the second cylinder 144 through the first cylinder 143 and the connecting portion 157, and flows out from the second cylinder 144 to the second delivery path 15b through the first outlet 156. To do.

  Next, an operation when the valve device 140 supplies a fluid such as a conductive paint to another flow path (for example, the relay path 71 in FIG. 4) will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first valve 146 is moved by the first actuator 151 so that the male taper portion 146c fits the female taper portion 143c, while the second valve 147 is moved by the male taper portion 147c. It is moved by the second actuator 152 so as to be fitted to the portion 144c. Thus, the first inlet 155 communicates with the first lateral hole 161 and the second outlet 163 via the first cylinder 143, and the second inlet 166 communicates with the first lateral hole 164 and the second cylinder 144 via the first cylinder 143. It communicates with the outlet 156.

  In this state, as indicated by the white arrow E, the fluid is caused to flow from the first delivery path 15a to the first inflow port 155. As a result, the fluid flows from the first outlet 155 to the second outlet 163 via the first cylinder 143 and the first horizontal hole 161 and flows out from the second outlet 163 to the supply path 71.

  Further, as indicated by the white arrow F, the fluid that has flowed into the second inflow port 166 from the delivery path 74 enters the first outflow port 156 from the second inflow port 166 via the second horizontal hole 164 and the second cylinder 144. Flows out from the first outlet 156 to the second delivery path 15b.

  As described above, the valve device 140 according to the present embodiment can easily switch the flow path of a fluid such as conductive paint or liquid under the action of the first actuator 151 and the second actuator 152. In addition, since the structure is simple, the cost can be reduced.

  Although not shown, when the fluid passing through the flow path opened by the first valve 146 under the action of the first actuator 151 sufficiently exceeds a certain pressure, the fluid passes through the second valve 147. Since the flow path can be easily switched by pushing open, the second actuator 152 can be omitted. Thereby, further simplification and weight reduction can be achieved, and cost can be suppressed.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an electrostatic coating apparatus as an example of use of the flow path switching apparatus according to the embodiment.

  The electrostatic coating apparatus 10 includes a color change valve mechanism 11 that is connected to a paint supply unit (not shown) that supplies a plurality of conductive paints having different colors and switches supply of the conductive paints, and the color change valve mechanism. 11 is a block valve mechanism 12 that electrically insulates the coating gun side, which will be described in detail later, a storage tank 13 that is connected to the block valve mechanism 12 and temporarily stores conductive paint, and is electrically conductive to the object to be coated. A coating gun 14 for injecting paint, a delivery path 15 connecting between the storage tank 13 and the painting gun 14, a switching valve device 140 (FIG. 1) provided in the delivery path 15, and this switching The relay path 17 is connected to the valve device 140, and the paint cartridge 19 is detachably attached to the cartridge base 18 provided in the relay path 17.

  The delivery path 15 includes a first delivery path 15a from the storage tank 13 to the switching valve device 140, a second delivery path 15b from the switching valve device 140 to the coating gun 14 (specifically, a trigger valve 62 described later), and a painting. It consists of a third delivery path 15c on the tip side (including the jet outlet 14a) of the trigger valve 62 of the gun 14.

  The color change valve mechanism 11 is connected to a first cleaning valve 21 that controls the supply of drying air A, water W, and cleaning liquid S, and a paint supply unit (not shown) that supplies a plurality of conductive paints having different colors. Paint valves 22, 23 and 24 for controlling the supply of the conductive paint.

  The block valve mechanism 12 includes a switching valve 32 connected to the color change valve mechanism 11 via a supply path 31, and a switching valve 32 connected to the switching valve 32 via a supply path 33 as a resin-made electrically insulating conduit. Valve 34. Reference numeral 36 denotes a first drainage passage connected to the supply passage 31 via a first dump valve 37, and 38 denotes a supply valve 41 connected to the switching valve 32 via a supply passage 41 to supply air A, water W and cleaning liquid S. A second cleaning valve 42 to be controlled is a second discharge path connected to the switching valve 34 via a one-way valve 43.

  The switching valve 32 switches between the color change valve mechanism 11 side and the second cleaning valve 38 side. The switching valve 34 switches between the storage tank 13 side connected via the supply path 45 and the second drainage path 42 side.

  The storage tank 13 includes a cylinder 51, a piston 52 movably inserted into the cylinder 51, a rod 53 attached to the piston 52, a cylinder chamber 54 formed by the cylinder 51 and the piston 52, and a cylinder The injection port 56 and the discharge port 57 are provided at the end of 51 and communicate with the cylinder chamber 54.

  The rod 53 is connected to the servo motor 58 via the ball screw means 59, and by driving the servo motor 58, the rod 53 and the piston 52 are moved in the cylinder axial direction (direction indicated by A) via the ball screw means 59. Move forward and backward.

  The coating gun 14 includes a second dump valve 61 and a trigger valve 62 connected to the switching valve device 140 via the second delivery path 15b, and is connected to a high voltage applying unit (not shown). In addition, 14a is a jet nozzle of the coating gun 14, and is a part which comprises the edge part of the delivery path 15. FIG.

  The second dump valve 61 is connected to a third discharge path 64 for discharging waste liquid containing conductive paint and cleaning liquid generated during cleaning to the outside of the delivery path 15. The third discharge path 64 is connected via a one-way valve 67 to a third cleaning valve 66 that controls the supply of air A, water W and cleaning liquid S.

  The trigger valve 62 controls ejection of the conductive paint from the coating gun 14.

  The supply paths 31, 33, 45, the storage tank 13, the first delivery path 15 a, the second delivery path 15 b, and the switching valve device 140 constitute a main paint supply path 68 from the paint supply section to the paint gun 14. It is.

  In this electrostatic coating apparatus, the switching valve device 140 includes a paint supply path for supplying the conductive paint to the coating gun 14 when the conductive paint is stored in the storage tank 13, and water W or cleaning liquid S in the storage tank 13. When water is stored, the water W or the cleaning liquid S is supplied to the paint cartridge 19 and used as means for switching between the fluid / paint supply path for supplying the conductive paint in the paint cartridge 19 to the paint gun 14.

  The relay path 17 includes a cartridge base 18, a supply path 71 connected to one end of the switching valve device 140 and the cartridge base 18, a three-way valve 72 provided on the output side of the cartridge base 18, The cleaning valve 73 is connected to the valve 72 to control the supply of air A and water W, and the delivery path 74 is connected to each of the other end of the three-way valve 72 and the switching valve device 140. The switching valve device 140 and the relay path 17 constitute a fluid circuit 10A.

  The paint cartridge 19 includes a cylinder 81, a free piston 82 movably inserted into the cylinder 81, a fluid chamber 83 defined in the cylinder 81 by the free piston 82, and a fluid chamber 83 of the paint chamber 84. And a fluid passage 86 connecting the cartridge base 18 and a paint passage 87 connecting the paint chamber 84 in the cylinder 81 and the cartridge base 18.

  The paint passage 87, the cartridge base 18, the three-way valve 72, the delivery path 74, the switching valve device 140, the second delivery path 15 b, and the third delivery path 15 c of the paint cartridge 19 reach from the paint cartridge 19 to the paint gun 14. An auxiliary paint supply path 88 is formed.

  Next, the operation of the electrostatic coating apparatus 10 will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 4, with the switching valves 32 and 34 of the block valve mechanism 12 opened, for example, the paint valve 22 of the color change valve mechanism 11 is opened, the servo motor 58 of the storage tank 13 is driven. The piston 52 is moved in the A1 direction.

  Thereby, the conductive paint of a predetermined color is filled into the cylinder chamber 54 of the storage tank 13 from the paint valve 22 through the supply paths 31, 33 and 45.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the servo motor 58 is continuously driven and the paint valve 22 is closed and the first dump valve 37 is opened while the piston 52 is moving in the A1 direction. As a result, the conductive paint in the supply path 45 is drawn into the cylinder chamber 54, and air substituted for the conductive paint is introduced into the supply path 33.

  As shown in FIG. 6, after the filling of the conductive paint into the cylinder chamber 54 of the storage tank 13 is completed, the flow paths of the switching valves 32 and 34 of the block valve mechanism 12 are switched, the second cleaning valve 38 is opened, The cleaning liquid is supplied from the second cleaning valve 38 to the supply path 33 to clean the supply path 33. The waste liquid at this time is discharged from the second discharge path 42. Further, air is supplied from the second cleaning valve 38 to the supply path 33 to dry the supply path 33. As a result, the switching valves 32 and 34 are electrically insulated.

  As shown in FIG. 7, by opening the trigger valve 62 and driving the servo motor 58 to move the piston 52 in the A2 direction, the conductive paint is pumped from the cylinder chamber 54 to the delivery path 15. As a result, the conductive paint is supplied to the coating gun 14 through the switching valve device 140 and the trigger valve 62, and is ejected from the jet port 14a, and a high voltage is applied to the conductive paint to electrostatically apply to the object to be painted. Painting is done.

  As shown in FIG. 8, after the electrostatic coating is completed, the conductive paint remaining in the storage tank 13 is temporarily returned to the block valve mechanism 12 side.

  That is, the trigger valve 62 is closed, the switching valves 32 and 34 are switched to connect the supply paths 31, 33, and 45, the first dump valve 37 is opened, and the first discharge path 36 is connected to the supply path 31. By driving the motor 58 and moving the piston 52 in the direction of the arrow A2, the conductive paint in the cylinder chamber 54 is temporarily returned to the supply paths 45 and 33. At this time, the air in the supply paths 45 and 33 is pushed out to the supply path 31 by the conductive paint and is discharged from the first discharge path 36.

  Therefore, when the paint valve 22 is opened and the conductive paint is supplied to the supply path 31 in order to perform electrostatic coating with the same color of the conductive paint, air may be mixed in the conductive paint. In addition, air can be prevented from being introduced into the storage tank 13, and the coating quality can be kept good by a simple process.

  When a new conductive paint having a color different from that of the above-described conductive paint is used, the application of the high voltage to the coating gun 14 is canceled after the above-described painting operation is completed, and the block valve mechanism 12 By switching the switching valves 32 and 34 and opening the first cleaning valve 21, the cleaning liquid is injected into the cylinder chamber 54 of the storage tank 13, and this cleaning liquid is applied from the cylinder chamber 54 through the delivery path 15 and the switching valve device 140. It is sent to the gun 14 and after the inside of the coating gun 14 is cleaned, it is ejected to the outside from the jet nozzle 14a and discharged, and the main coating material supply path 68 from the coating material supply unit to the coating gun 14 is cleaned.

  Then, a different color conductive paint is supplied to the cylinder chamber 54 of the storage tank 13 through, for example, the paint valve 23 of the color change valve mechanism 11, and the painting operation may be performed by the same method as described above. .

  Next, a procedure for supplying the conductive paint in the paint cartridge 19 to the paint gun 14 in the electrostatic paint apparatus 10 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 9, first, with the switching valves 32 and 34 of the block valve mechanism 12 opened and the second cleaning valve 38 opened, the servo motor 58 of the storage tank 13 is driven to move the piston 52 in the A1 direction. Move. As a result, water or cleaning liquid is filled into the cylinder chamber 54 of the storage tank 13 from the second cleaning valve 38 through the supply passages 41, 33, 45.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the flow path of the switching valve 34 of the block valve mechanism 12 is switched, the second cleaning valve 38 is opened, air is supplied from the second cleaning valve 38 to the supply path 33, and the supply path 33 is dried. . As a result, the switching valves 32 and 34 are electrically insulated.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the servo motor 58 is driven to move the piston 52 in the A2 direction, so that the water or cleaning liquid in the cylinder chamber 54 passes through the first delivery path 15a, the switching valve device 140, and the supply path 71. Then, it is fed into the paint cartridge 19 and supplied from the fluid passage 86 to the fluid chamber 83.

  As a result, the pressure in the fluid chamber 83 increases and the free piston 82 moves to push the conductive paint in the paint chamber 84 to the relay path 17 through the paint passage 87. The conductive paint passes through the three-way valve 72 and the delivery path 74 of the relay path 17, passes through the switching valve device 140 again, is sent to the painting gun 14, and is ejected from the ejection port 14a. The object is electrostatically coated.

  Next, a procedure for cleaning the auxiliary paint supply path 88 when the paint cartridge 19 is used will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 12, first, the cleaning valve 73 is opened, and the cleaning liquid is supplied to the auxiliary paint supply path 88 to the coating gun 14 via the three-way valve 72, the delivery path 74, the switching valve device 140, and the second delivery path 15b. In the state in which the trigger valve 62 is opened, the cleaning liquid is ejected from the ejection port 14a and discharged to clean the sub-coating material supply path 88 from the coating material cartridge 19 to the coating gun 14.

  In the electrostatic coating apparatus, the conductive paint or liquid is temporarily stored in the paint supply path for supplying the conductive paint or liquid from the paint supply unit to the coating gun 14 and the stored conductive paint or liquid is applied to the paint gun. 14 and a block valve mechanism 12 as an insulating portion that electrically cuts between the coating material supply unit and the storage unit 13, and a fluid is provided between the storage unit 13 and the coating gun 14. The paint cartridge 19 is detachably connected to the fluid circuit 10A, and the conductive paint is supplied from the reservoir 13 through the fluid circuit 10A, or the conductive paint is supplied from the paint cartridge 19 to the fluid circuit 10A. By applying a high voltage when supplying via the coating, the conductive coating applied with the high voltage is supplied to the coating gun 14 to perform electrostatic coating.

  The electrostatic coating method implemented by this apparatus is to supply liquid from the coating material supply unit to the storage unit 13 when supplying the conductive coating material filled in the coating material chamber 84 in the coating material cartridge 19 to the coating gun 14. The step of storing and supplying the liquid in the storage unit 13 to the fluid chamber 83 separated from the coating material chamber 84 by the free piston 82 in the coating material cartridge 19 through the fluid circuit 10A. And a process of supplying the conductive paint in the paint chamber 84 to the coating gun 14 by the movement of the free piston 82, and using a liquid such as water W or cleaning liquid S supplied from the paint supply unit. Thus, the conductive paint in the paint cartridge 19 can be supplied to the paint gun 14, and a fluid supply unit or a fluid supply unit for supplying water or cleaning liquid dedicated to the paint cartridge 19 Power source, it is not necessary to provide a reservoir comprising a power source, it is possible to reduce the cost.

  Further, the water W or the cleaning liquid S can be supplied from the coating material supply unit to the coating material cartridge 19 in the manner of cleaning the coating material supply path with the water W or the cleaning liquid S supplied from the coating material supply unit. Since a special method for extruding the paint is not necessary, electrostatic coating can be performed efficiently.

  Further, the electrostatic coating apparatus temporarily stores the conductive paint or liquid in the paint supply path for supplying the conductive paint or liquid from the paint supply unit to the coating gun 14 and applies the stored conductive paint or liquid to the paint gun. 14 is provided with a storage unit 13 that pushes out to the 14 side, and a block valve mechanism 12 that electrically cuts off between the coating material supply unit and the storage unit 13, and supplies conductive paint to which a high voltage is applied to the coating gun 14. In the electrostatic coating apparatus 10 that performs electrostatic coating by cleaning or cleaning the coating material supply path by supplying liquid to the coating gun 14, a fluid circuit 10 </ b> A is provided between the reservoir 13 and the coating gun 14. A paint cartridge 19 is detachably connected to the fluid circuit 10A. In the paint cartridge 19, a free piston 82 is movably provided, so that a fluid chamber is supplied with liquid. 3 and a paint chamber 84 filled with a conductive paint, and the liquid supplied from the paint supply unit and stored in the storage unit 13 is supplied to the fluid chamber 83 of the paint cartridge 19 through the fluid circuit 10A. As a result, the conductive paint in the paint chamber 84 is pushed out by the free piston 82 and supplied to the paint gun 14, so that liquid such as water W or the cleaning liquid S supplied from the paint supply unit is used in the paint cartridge 19. The conductive paint can be supplied to the paint gun 14, and it is not necessary to provide a fluid supply part for supplying the water or cleaning liquid dedicated to the paint cartridge 19, a power source of the fluid supply part, and a storage part including the power source. Cost can be reduced.

  Further, the switching valve device 140 only controls the supply or stop of air to the first cylinder and the second cylinder, and therefore can be made relatively light. As a result, the load on the holding means such as a six-axis joint robot that holds the coating gun 14 and the supply system (including the switching valve device 140) that supplies the conductive paint to the coating gun 14 is also relatively reduced.

  As described above, the embodiment has been described. However, the flow path switching device of the present invention is not limited to the coating device as described above, and can be used as a means for switching a fluid path and a supply path in various fluid supply systems. Is.

It is sectional drawing of the switching valve apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the effect | action of the switching valve apparatus of embodiment. It is a block diagram of the electrostatic coating apparatus using the flow-path switching valve apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a 1st operation | movement figure which shows the effect | action of an electrostatic coating apparatus. It is a 2nd operation | movement figure which shows the effect | action of an electrostatic coating apparatus. It is a 3rd operation | movement figure which shows the effect | action of an electrostatic coating apparatus. It is a 4th operation | movement figure which shows an effect | action of an electrostatic coating apparatus. It is a 5th operation | movement figure which shows the effect | action of an electrostatic coating apparatus. It is a 6th operation | movement figure which shows the effect | action of an electrostatic coating apparatus. It is a 7th action figure showing action of an electrostatic painting device. It is an 8th action figure which shows the effect | action of an electrostatic coating apparatus. It is a 9th action figure which shows the effect | action of an electrostatic coating apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Electrostatic coating apparatus, 10A ... Fluid circuit, 12 ... Insulation part (block valve mechanism), 13 ... Storage tank, 14 ... Coating gun, 18 ... Cartridge stand, 82 ... Free piston, 83 ... Fluid chamber, 84 ... Paint Chamber, 140: switching valve device, S, W: liquid (cleaning liquid, water).

Claims (2)

First and second inlets (155, 166) through which fluid is introduced;
First and second outlets (156, 163) from which fluid is derived;
A first cylinder portion (143) communicating with the first inflow port (155) and the second outflow port (163);
A second cylinder part (144) communicating with the first outlet (156) and the second inlet (166);
A connecting portion (157) for connecting the first cylinder portion (143) and the second cylinder portion (144);
The first and second cylinder parts (143, 144) are movable by the pressure of the fluid, and are respectively between the first inlet (155) and the second outlet (163) and the first. First and second valves (146, 147) inserted to open and close between one outlet (156) and the second inlet (166);
An actuator (151 or 152) for opening and closing at least one of the first and second valves (146, 147) in the first and second cylinder portions (143, 144). Channel switching device. The flow path switching device according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of actuators (151, 152) for opening and closing the first and second valves as the actuator.

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