JP2011189256A - Paint filling device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paint filling device comprising a throttle valve capable of easily controlling the throttle amount of an opening area of a discharge path to decrease the amount of paint loss, and of keeping the throttle amount unchanged over the passage of time. <P>SOLUTION: The throttle valve 43 includes an annular valve sheet 64 and a needle 62 approachably/separably disposed relative to the valve sheet 64. A tapered face 62a is formed on the front end part of the needle 62. The throttle valve 43 is switched to a closed state by causing the needle 62 to approach the valve sheet 64 to allow the tapered face 62a to contact the valve sheet 64. The throttle valve 43 is switched to an opened state by causing the needle 62 to distance itself from the valve sheet 64 to form a gap between the tapered face 62a and the valve sheet 64. When the throttle valve 43 is in a closed state, a plurality of orifices 74, 74 are formed on the contact part of the tapered face 62a and the valve sheet 64, to communicate with the upstream side and the downstream side of the contact part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique of a paint filling apparatus that fills a paint cartridge with paint.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a coating apparatus is used when painting a car body or the like (hereinafter referred to as “part to be painted”).
The coating apparatus includes a paint cartridge that is detachably mounted. Then, the painting apparatus paints the part to be painted using the paint filled in the paint cartridge.
On the other hand, the paint cartridge is provided for each color with respect to a plurality of colors of paint. Then, the coating apparatus performs color change of the paint applied to the part to be coated by selecting and using an arbitrary paint cartridge from among a plurality of paint cartridges provided for each color.
Note that these paint cartridges are refilled with a common paint filling device regardless of the color of the paint when the paint filled therein is depleted.

Here, the paint filling apparatus is configured to include a cartridge mounting portion, a paint supply apparatus, a paint supply path, a discharge path, and the like.
When the paint cartridge is filled with the paint cartridge by the paint filling device, the paint cartridge is first attached to the cartridge attachment portion, and then the paint supplied from the paint supply device passes through the paint supply path into the paint cartridge. Filled.
That is, when the paint cartridge is filled with paint, paints of different colors pass through the same paint supply path.

For this reason, when the paint cartridge is filled with the paint by the paint filling device, the paint remaining in the paint supply path is previously removed in order to prevent the paints of different colors from being mixed in the paint supply path. A cleaning process for cleaning is required.
Specifically, in the cleaning step, cleaning liquid such as thinner is supplied into the paint supply path and air, and the paint and waste liquid remaining in the paint supply path are discharged outside the paint supply path through the discharge path by the air. By extruding (discharging), the paint remaining in the paint supply path is cleaned.

When the cleaning process is completed and the paint cartridge is immediately filled with the next color paint (paint newly filled in the paint cartridge), the air present in the paint supply path is supplied from the paint supply device. Mixed into the paint cartridge and mixed into the paint cartridge.
For this reason, after the cleaning process is completed and before the paint cartridge is filled with the paint, the paint of the next color is pumped into the paint supply path, and air existing in the paint supply path is discharged by the paint. An air venting process is performed by extruding (discharging) the paint supply path through the discharge path.

By the way, in the air venting process, air is surely discharged by pumping the next color paint into the paint supply path, so that the next color paint passes through the discharge path together with the air existing in the paint supply path. There is a problem in that the amount of paint to be discarded (hereinafter referred to as “paint loss”) increases because it is discharged to the outside of the paint supply path.
Therefore, in the conventional paint filling apparatus, a throttle valve is provided in the middle of the discharge path, and the amount of the paint loss is reduced by narrowing the opening area of the discharge path by the throttle valve (for example, (See Patent Document 1).

Here, the configuration of the throttle valve provided in the middle of the discharge path in the conventional paint filling apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 6 is a view showing the vicinity of the valve seat 103 in the conventional throttle valve 101, and FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the tip end portion (tapered surface 104 a) of the needle 104 is separated from the valve seat 103. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the tip end portion (tapered surface 104 a) of the needle 104 is close to the valve seat 103.
For convenience, the vertical direction in FIG. 6 is defined as the vertical direction of the throttle valve 101 and will be described below.

The throttle valve 101 includes a housing 102, a valve seat 103, a needle 104, and the like.
A through hole 102a penetrating in the vertical direction is drilled in the housing 102, and a needle 104 is fitted into the through hole 102a so as to be movable in the axial direction of the through hole 102a.

A valve seat 103 made of an annular member is fitted into one end (the lower end in FIG. 6) of the through hole 102a.
Further, a closing member (not shown) for closing the through hole 102a is disposed at the other end (the upper end in FIG. 6) of the through hole 102a.

A distribution path (not shown) that communicates with the through hole 102 a is provided in the middle in the vertical direction of the housing 102.
The throttle valve 101 is disposed in the middle of the discharge path provided in the paint filling device, and the end of the flow path and the through hole 102a on the side of the valve seat 103 communicates with the discharge path. .

For example, when performing an air venting process, the air existing in the paint supply path is discharged to the outside together with the paint through the discharge path, and at that time, passes through the throttle valve 101 provided in the middle of the discharge path. That is, in the throttle valve 101, air and paint flow through the through hole 102a from the flow path side toward the valve seat 103 side.
The air and the paint guided again into the discharge path are discharged to the outside of the discharge path through a discharge valve disposed at the end of the discharge path.

  A tapered surface 104a is formed at the lower end portion of the needle 104, that is, the end portion on the valve seat 103 side, and is inclined so as to be reduced in diameter toward the valve seat 103 side in the axial direction. The needle 104 is always urged downward in the axial direction by an urging means (not shown) made of a compression coil or the like.

On the other hand, the valve seat 103 has an inner diameter dimension that is larger than the outer diameter dimension at the diameter-reduced side end (lower end) of the tapered surface 104a, and the diameter-enlarged side end (upper end) of the tapered surface 104a. Part) is formed so as to have a smaller value than the outer diameter.
Therefore, the throttle valve 101 is closed by moving the needle 104 toward the valve seat 103 and bringing the inner peripheral edge of the valve seat 103 into contact with the tapered surface 104 a, so that the needle 104 moves away from the valve seat 103. It is to be opened by moving. Further, the opening degree of the throttle valve 101 is determined by the separation distance of the needle 104 from the valve seat 103.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6A, the throttle valve 101 moves the needle 104 to the maximum in the direction away from the valve seat 103 within the moving range, so that the tapered surface 104a of the needle 104 and the valve seat 103 are moved. Is the maximum, and is completely open (hereinafter referred to as “open state”).
On the other hand, when the needle 104 is moved from the open state in a direction approaching the valve seat 103, the gap between the tapered surface 104a of the needle 104 and the valve seat 103 is reduced, and the opening of the throttle valve 101 is reduced.
6B, when the needle 104 is moved to the valve seat 103 side and the tapered surface 104a of the needle 104 and the valve seat 103 are close to each other, the taper surface 104a and the valve seat 103 are There is only a slight gap between them, and the throttle valve 101 is in a “throttle state” in which it is slightly opened.

  Thus, by reducing the opening degree of the throttle valve 101 to the throttle state, the opening area of the discharge path (not shown) is narrowed down, and the paint loss during the air bleeding process is reduced.

That is, when the air venting process is performed, the paint pressured out in the discharge path and the air existing in the discharge path flow into the through hole 102a toward the valve seat 103 when introduced into the throttle valve 101. It will be.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the throttle valve 101 is in the throttle state, the air guided into the through hole 102a passes through the gap between the tapered surface 104a of the needle 104 and the valve seat 103. Then, it is discharged again to the outside of the throttle valve 101 (see arrow Z2 in FIG. 6B). On the other hand, the paint guided into the through hole 102a is difficult to pass through the gap between the tapered surface 104a of the needle 104 and the valve seat 103 due to the influence of viscosity or the like, and most of the paint is passed through the through hole 102a ( And within the discharge route). Thereby, it is possible to suppress the discharge of the paint while discharging the air.

  When performing the cleaning process, as shown in FIG. 6A, the throttle valve 101 is set in the “open state” so that the paint or waste liquid remaining in the discharge path is introduced into the through hole 102a. Then, it flows toward the valve seat 103 (in the direction of the arrow Z1 in FIG. 6A), and then passes through the gap between the tapered surface 104a of the needle 104 and the valve seat 103, and the outside of the throttle valve 101. Is discharged.

JP 2009-56382 A

If the throttle valve 101 having such a configuration is provided in the middle of the discharge path, the opening area of the discharge path can be easily narrowed, and the amount of paint loss can be effectively reduced. It is.
However, the throttle valve 101 has the following problems.

In other words, the opening area of the discharge path is narrowed by moving the needle 104 toward the valve seat 103 and reducing the size of the gap between the tapered surface 104a of the needle 104 and the valve seat 103, that is, the opening of the throttle valve 101. Is done by.
However, it is difficult to adjust the position of the needle 104 with high accuracy, and there is a problem that the opening degree of the throttle valve 101 also varies.

  Further, when the throttle valve 101 is used for a long period of time, the tapered surface 104a of the needle 104 comes into contact with the valve seat 103, or air containing paint passes between the tapered surface 104a and the valve seat 103, Even if the tapered surface 104a and the valve seat 103 are worn and the moving position of the needle 104 is adjusted to the same position, the opening degree of the throttle valve 101 changes over time.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described current problems, and has a paint staying in the paint supply path and a discharge path for discharging air to the outside, and reduces the amount of paint loss. Therefore, a paint filling device in which a throttle valve for narrowing the opening area of the discharge path is arranged in the middle of the discharge path, and the amount of narrowing the opening area can be easily adjusted, Another object of the present invention is to provide a paint filling apparatus having the throttle valve in which the narrowing amount does not change with time.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is as described above. Next, means for solving the problem will be described.

  That is, in the first aspect of the present invention, the paint filling apparatus includes a discharge path that discharges the paint and air remaining in the paint supply path, which is a path when the paint is stored in the paint storage member, to the outside of the paint supply path. A throttle valve is disposed in the middle of the discharge path, and the throttle valve includes an annular valve seat and a needle provided to be close to and away from the valve seat, and a tip end portion of the needle Is formed with a tapered surface that decreases in diameter toward the tip, the throttle valve is switched to a closed state by bringing the needle close to the valve seat and abutting the tapered surface and the valve seat, By separating the needle from the valve seat and forming a gap between the tapered surface and the valve seat, the throttle valve is switched to the open state, Ri in the state in which the valve is switched to the closed state, the contact portion between the tapered surface and the valve seat, a plurality of orifices for communicating the upstream side and the downstream side of the abutting portion is formed.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the orifice is constituted by a plurality of grooves formed on the tapered surface of the needle so as to extend along the inclination of the tapered surface in the axial direction of the needle.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the orifice is formed at the inner peripheral edge of the valve seat with which the tapered surface of the needle abuts, along the inclination of the tapered surface and extending in the axial direction of the needle. It is comprised by a groove part.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the opening area of the orifice is 1/10 or less with respect to the opening area of the valve seat when the throttle valve is switched to the open state.

As effects of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
That is, according to the paint filling apparatus of the present invention, the paint filling apparatus has a discharge path for discharging the paint remaining in the paint supply path and air to the outside, and in the middle of the discharge path to reduce the amount of paint loss. A paint filling apparatus in which a throttle valve for narrowing the opening area of the discharge path is provided, and the amount of narrowing of the opening area can be easily adjusted, and the amount of narrowing is changed over time. A paint filling apparatus having the throttle valve that does not change can be provided.

The block diagram which showed the whole structure of the coating material filling apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. Sectional drawing which showed the whole structure of the throttle valve. It is the figure which showed the vicinity of the valve seat, (a) is sectional drawing which showed the state which separated the front-end | tip part of the needle from the valve seat, (b) shows the state which contact | abutted the front-end | tip part of the needle to the valve seat. (C) is sectional drawing seen from the direction of arrow X in (b). It is the figure which showed the vicinity of the valve seat in another Example, (a) is sectional drawing which showed the state which contact | abutted the front-end | tip part of the needle to the valve seat, (b) is from the direction of arrow Y in (a). Cross section seen. In the throttle valve which concerns on a present Example, the diagram which showed the relationship between the opening ratio in the state which contact | abutted the front-end | tip part of the needle | hook with the valve seat, and the flow rate ratio. It is the figure which showed the vicinity of the valve seat in the conventional throttle valve, (a) is sectional drawing which showed the state which spaced apart the front-end | tip part of a needle from the valve seat, (b) is the vicinity of the valve-seat to the valve seat. Sectional drawing which showed the state which carried out.

  Next, embodiments of the invention will be described.

[Paint filling device 1]
First, the whole structure of the coating material filling apparatus 1 which concerns on one Example of this invention is demonstrated using FIG.

The paint filling apparatus 1 is configured to be detachable from the paint cartridge 10 and is an apparatus for filling a paint cartridge 10 that is a paint storage member with a color paint arbitrarily selected from a plurality of colors of paint. is there.
The paint filling apparatus 1 is mainly composed of a cartridge mounting part 2, a paint supply apparatus 3, a discharge path 4, an extrusion liquid discharge apparatus 5, and the like.

The paint cartridge 10 includes a cartridge bag 11 filled with paint in its internal space. A paint moving tube 13 is inserted into the cartridge bag 11, and the paint is filled into the cartridge bag 11 and discharged from the cartridge bag 11 through the paint moving tube 13.
Further, an extrusion liquid moving pipe 12 is inserted into the internal space of the paint cartridge 10 (strictly, the portion outside the cartridge bag 11 in the internal space of the paint cartridge 10), and the paint cartridge 10 is inserted through the extrusion liquid moving pipe 12. The extrusion liquid can be filled into the internal space.

The cartridge mounting portion 2 of the paint filling device 1 is a member that detachably fixes and holds the paint cartridge 10.
Inside the cartridge mounting portion 2, a first extrusion liquid passage 21, a second extrusion liquid passage 22, a paint passage 23, and the like are formed.

One end portion of the first extrusion fluid passage 21 communicates with the extrusion fluid moving pipe 12 in a state where the paint cartridge 10 is attached to the cartridge attachment portion 2, and a stop valve is provided in the middle of the first extrusion fluid passage 21. 21a is arranged.
One end portion of the second extrusion liquid flow path 22 communicates with a portion outside the cartridge bag 11 in the internal space of the coating material cartridge 10 in a state in which the coating material cartridge 10 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 2. A stop valve 22 a is disposed in the middle of the path 22.
One end of the paint channel 23 communicates with the paint moving tube 13 in a state where the paint cartridge 10 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 2, and a stop valve 23 a is disposed in the middle of the paint channel 23.

  The stop valves 21 a, 22 a, and 23 a of the flow paths 21, 22, and 23 are closed when the paint cartridge 10 is not attached to the cartridge attachment portion 2, and the paint cartridge 10 is attached to the cartridge attachment portion 2. When it is attached, it is opened.

A trigger valve 31 is connected to the other end of the paint channel 23.
The trigger valve 31 is configured as a three-way valve, and is connected to the paint supply path 32 and the discharge path 4 in addition to the paint flow path 23.

The trigger valve 31 communicates the paint flow path 23 and the paint supply path 32 and blocks the paint supply path 32 and the discharge path 4, and communicates the paint supply path 32 and the discharge path 4 with the paint. The state in which the supply path 32 and the paint flow path 23 are blocked can be switched.
The trigger valve 31 is a switching valve that is operated by a solenoid (not shown).

In the paint supply path 32, the paint supply device 3 is connected to the end of the paint supply path 32 opposite to the side connected to the trigger valve 31.
The paint supply device 3 mainly includes paint tanks 33 and 33, paint pumps 34 and 34, paint valves 35 and 35, and the like.

The paint tank 33 is connected to the paint supply path 32 via the paint pump 34 and the paint valve 35.
The paint valve 35 is for switching the communication state between the paint supply path 32 and the paint tank 33 and the blocking state between the paint supply path 32 and the paint tank 33.
Further, the paint pump 34 is for pumping the paint from the paint tank 33 toward the paint supply path 32.

In FIG. 1, two sets of component groups including the paint tank 33, the paint pump 34, and the paint valve 35 are shown. However, these component group 33, 34, and 35 may be one set or three or more sets.
When a plurality of sets of component groups 33, 34, 35,... Are arranged in the paint filling apparatus 1, different types of paint are stored in the plurality of paint tanks 33, 33,.

  The paint supply apparatus 3 includes a cleaning liquid (for example, thinner) tank 36, a cleaning liquid pump 37, a cleaning liquid valve 38, an air source 39, an air valve 40, and the like, in addition to the above-described paint tank 33, paint pump 34, paint valve 35, and the like. .

The cleaning liquid tank 36 is connected to the paint supply path 32 via a cleaning liquid pump 37 and a cleaning liquid valve 38.
The cleaning liquid valve 38 is for switching the communication state between the paint supply path 32 and the cleaning liquid tank 36 and the shut-off state between the paint supply path 32 and the cleaning liquid tank 36.
Further, the cleaning liquid pump 37 is for pumping the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank 36 toward the paint supply path 32.

The air source 39 is connected to the paint supply path 32 via the air valve 40.
The air valve 40 is for switching the communication state between the paint supply path 32 and the air source 39 and the shut-off state between the paint supply path 32 and the air source 39.

  The paint valve 35, the cleaning liquid valve 38, and the air valve 40 are all switching valves that are operated by a solenoid (not shown).

A paint sensor 41 is disposed in the discharge path 4 at a position close to the trigger valve 31.
The paint sensor 41 is for detecting the paint passing through the discharge path 4 at the point where the paint sensor 41 is disposed.
The paint sensor 41 is a sensor using a phototube.
More specifically, a part of the discharge path 4 is provided with a transmission part made of a light-transmitting material, and the paint sensor 41 includes a light source and a phototube arranged with the transmission part interposed therebetween. Composed.
When the paint sensor 41 detects the paint flowing in the discharge path 4, the paint sensor 41 transmits a signal to a controller (not shown) described later.

A switching device 42 is disposed on the downstream side of the paint sensor 41 in the discharge path 4.
The switching device 42 includes a throttle valve 43, a discharge valve 44, and the like.
A waste liquid tank 45 that receives paint, cleaning liquid, and the like discharged from the discharge path 4 is disposed at the downstream end of the discharge path 4 (the end opposite to the side connected to the trigger valve 31).

The throttle valve 43 is disposed upstream of the discharge valve 44 (on the trigger valve 31 side).
The throttle valve 43 is configured to be switchable between an “open state” in which the opening area of the discharge path 4 is maximized and a “throttle state” in which the opening area of the discharge path 4 is narrowed to be smaller than the open state. . Further, the discharge valve 44 is configured to be switchable between a “closed state” that completely closes the discharge path 4 and the “open state”.
The throttle valve 43 and the discharge valve 44 are switching valves that are operated by a solenoid (not shown).

The extrusion liquid discharge device 5 includes a first extrusion liquid discharge path 51, a second extrusion liquid discharge path 52, an extrusion liquid tank 53, and the like.
One end portion of the first extrusion liquid discharge passage 51 is connected to the other end portion of the first extrusion liquid passage 21 of the cartridge mounting portion 2. The other end of the first extrusion liquid discharge path 51 is communicated with the extrusion liquid tank 53.
The first extrusion liquid discharge path 51 is opened and closed by a first extrusion liquid valve 51 a disposed in the middle part of the first extrusion liquid discharge path 51.

One end of the second extrusion liquid discharge path 52 is connected to the other end of the second extrusion liquid flow path 22 of the cartridge mounting unit 2. The other end portion of the second extrusion liquid discharge path 52 is communicated with the extrusion liquid tank 53.
The second extrusion liquid discharge path 52 is opened and closed by a second extrusion liquid valve 52 a disposed in the middle of the second extrusion liquid discharge path 52.

As described above, the paint filling apparatus 1 includes the cartridge mounting portion 2, the paint supply apparatus 3, the discharge path 4, the extrusion liquid discharge apparatus 5, and the like.
Further, the above-described paint pump 34, paint valve 35, cleaning liquid valve 38, cleaning liquid pump 37, air valve 40, trigger valve 31, paint sensor 41, throttle valve 43, discharge valve 44, first extrusion liquid valve 51a, second extrusion liquid. A controller (not shown) is electrically connected to the valve 52a and the like, and the operation of each of the device groups 34, 35... Is controlled by the controller.

  When the paint cartridge 10 is filled with the paint by the paint filling apparatus 1 having such a configuration, first, in order to prevent paints of different colors from being mixed in the paint supply path 32, first, the paint supply is performed in advance. A cleaning process for cleaning the paint remaining in the path 32 is performed.

  Specifically, in the cleaning process, the cleaning liquid valve 38 is switched by the controller, and the cleaning liquid tank 36 and the paint supply path 32 are in communication with each other, while the throttle valve 43 and the discharge valve 44 constituting the switching device 42 are connected. Are each switched to the “open state” by the controller.

When the cleaning liquid valve 38, the throttle valve 43, and the discharge valve 44 are switched, the cleaning liquid pump 37 is activated by the controller, and the cleaning liquid is pumped from the cleaning liquid tank 36 toward the paint supply path 32.
As a result, a cleaning liquid such as thinner is supplied into the paint supply path 32, and the paint remaining in the paint supply path 32 is washed away by the cleaning liquid and pushed out of the paint supply path 32 through the discharge path 4 as waste liquid. (Discharge).

Then, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the controller stops the cleaning liquid pump 37 and switches the air valve 40 so that the air source 39 and the paint supply path 32 are in communication with each other.
Thus, air is supplied into the paint supply path 32, and the waste liquid remaining in the paint supply path 32 is pushed out (discharged) to the outside of the paint supply path 32 through the discharge path 4 by the air. The paint remaining in the paint supply path 32 is cleaned.
When air is supplied into the paint supply path 32 and a certain time elapses, the air valve 40 is switched again by the controller, the air source 39 and the paint supply path 32 are shut off, and the cleaning process is completed.

  When the cleaning process is completed, an air venting process is performed in order to prevent the air existing in the paint supply path 32 from being mixed with the paint supplied from the paint supply device 3 and entering the paint cartridge 10. .

  Specifically, in the air venting process, the controller switches the paint valve 35 for the next color paint (the paint newly filled in the paint cartridge 10) by the controller, and the paint tank 33 and the paint supply path 32 for the paint are connected. On the other hand, the throttle valve 43 and the discharge valve 44 constituting the switching device 42 are switched between the “throttle state” and the “open state”, respectively, by the controller.

When the paint valve 35, the throttle valve 43, and the discharge valve 44 are switched, the paint pump 34 is activated by the controller, and the paint of the next color is pumped from the paint tank 33 toward the paint supply path 32.
Thus, the next color paint is supplied into the paint supply path 32, and the air remaining in the paint supply path 32 is pushed out (discharged) to the outside of the paint supply path 32 through the discharge path 4 by the paint. However, since the throttle valve 43 is in the “throttle state”, most of the paint is blocked by the throttle valve 43.

  When the next color paint is supplied into the paint supply path 32 and a predetermined time elapses, the controller switches the throttle valve 43 and the discharge valve 44 to the “closed state” respectively, and the discharge path 4 and the paint supply The path 32 is cut off and the air venting process ends.

[Throttle valve 43]
Next, the configuration of the throttle valve 43 will be described with reference to FIGS.
For convenience, the vertical direction in FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B is defined as the vertical direction of the throttle valve 43, and the vertical direction in FIG. 4A is defined as the vertical direction of the throttle valve 143. This will be described below.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, for example, the throttle valve 43 can be arranged in a posture in which the axial center direction of the needle 62 is the vertical direction, but the arrangement posture is not limited to this, and the needle 62 is not limited thereto. It can arrange | position so that the axial center direction may turn into the front-back direction, or it may arrange | position so that it may turn into the left-right direction, and can be set as arbitrary arrangement | positioning attitude | positions.

As described above, the throttle valve 43 is provided in the middle of the discharge path 4 (see FIG. 1), and is used to narrow the opening area of the discharge path 4 in order to reduce the amount of paint loss during the air bleeding process. Is.
The throttle valve 43 includes a substantially cylindrical needle 62 that is an opening and closing member of the valve, an annular valve seat 64 on which the needle 62 can be seated, a holder member 67 that supports the needle 62, and an operating portion 65 that drives the needle 62. The needle 62, the valve seat 64, the holder member 67, and the casing 61 that integrally accommodates the operating portion 65.

The housing 61 is configured by a cylindrical member having a through hole 61a penetrating in the axial direction (vertical direction). A holder member 67 is fitted from the upper end to the middle of the through hole 61a in the axial direction, and a valve seat 64 is fitted to the lower end.
A storage space 67a for storing the operating portion 65 is formed in the upper part of the holder member 67, and a support hole 67d that is continuously formed in the storage space 67a and penetrates in the axial direction is formed in the lower part of the holder member 67. ing. A needle 62 is supported in the support hole 67d through bearings 72 and 72 so as to be slidable in the axial direction.

The operating portion 65 includes a fixed plate 68 fixed to the holder member 67 at the upper end of the storage space 67a, and a slide disposed below the fixed plate 68 in the storage space 67a with a predetermined distance from the fixed plate 68. A moving plate 69 and a spring 70 interposed between the fixed plate 68 and the sliding plate 69 are provided.
The sliding plate 69 is fitted in the storage space 67 a so as to be slidable in the axial direction, and is configured to be slidable integrally with the needle 62. Specifically, the upper portion of the needle 62 extends into the storage space 67 a, and a sliding plate 69 is fitted into the extended portion of the needle 62. The sliding plate 69 is fixed to the needle by being locked to the step formed in the middle of the needle 62 and fastened to the step by the nut member 73 screwed to the needle 62. As a result, the needle 62 and the sliding plate 69 can slide integrally.
The spring 70 is configured as a compression spring and biases the sliding plate 69 downward. That is, the needle 62 is urged downward by the spring 70.

When the needle 62 slides downward, it contacts (seats) the valve seat 64 and the throttle valve 43 is closed. When the needle 62 slides upward, the needle 62 is separated from the valve seat 64 and the throttle valve 43 is opened. It is configured as follows.
When the needle 62 is urged downward by the spring 70 and slides downward and contacts the valve seat 64, a space 67c is formed between the bottom surface 67b of the storage space 67a and the sliding plate 69. It becomes a state.

A space 61 </ b> A is formed in the lower portion of the holder member 67, and the space 61 </ b> A is configured so that air can be pressure-fed through an air passage 61 e formed in the housing 61. The space 61A communicates with the space 67c.
Accordingly, when air is pumped to the space 61A through the air passage 61e, the air pumped to the space 61A is guided to the space 67c and urges the sliding plate 69 upward by the pressure. As a result, the sliding plate 69 slides upward against the urging force of the spring 70.

  A tapered surface 62a is formed at the lower end portion (end portion on the valve seat 64 side) of the needle 62 so as to be inclined toward the valve seat 64 side in the axial direction. The tapered surface 62 a is a portion that is seated on the valve seat 64.

  Grooves 62b and 62b are formed in the tapered surface 62a, extending along the inclined surface of the tapered surface 62a and extending in the direction of diameter reduction of the tapered surface 62a (the axial center direction of the needle 62). The groove portions 62b and 62b are formed in a rectangular shape in a sectional view in the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 3C, the grooves 62b and 62b are arranged at positions facing each other.

In a state where the needle 62 is seated on the valve seat 64, a portion where the tapered surface 62a of the needle 62 is formed is inserted into the inner peripheral portion 64a of the valve seat 64, and the tapered surface 62a is the upper end edge of the inner peripheral portion 64a. It will be in the state contact | abutted to the part.
In a state where the needle 62 is seated on the valve seat 64, the space portion 61 </ b> B formed in a portion closer to the needle 62 than the valve seat 64 in the housing 61 and the inner peripheral portion 64 a are separated by the needle 62. However, the grooves 62b and 62b form orifices 74 and 74 (see FIG. 3C) that communicate the space 61B and the inner peripheral portion 64a.

  In this embodiment, the two groove portions 62b and 62b are formed on the tapered surface 62a. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the groove portions 62b and 62b formed on the tapered surface 62a are not limited thereto. May be three or more.

As described above, the valve seat 64 is made of an annular member, and is fitted on the lower end portion of the through hole 61a of the housing 61 coaxially with the needle 62 supported by the housing 61 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction.
That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the valve seat 64 is disposed to be spaced downward with respect to the holder member 67 fitted in the casing 61, and the holder member 67 and the valve in the through hole 61 a of the casing 61 are arranged. A space portion 61 </ b> B is formed between the sheet 64.

In addition, the casing 61 is formed with a flow path 61c whose one end communicates with the space 61B.
And the other end part of the distribution path 61c and the lower end part of the inner peripheral part 64a of the valve seat 64 are respectively communicated with the midway part of the discharge path 4 (see FIG. 1).

  By having such a configuration, the cleaning liquid, waste liquid, air, paint, and the like introduced into the discharge path 4 during the cleaning process and the air venting process are passed through the distribution path 61c in the middle of the discharge path 4 to form a space. It flows into the part 61B, and then is discharged into the discharge path 4 again through the inner peripheral part 64a of the valve seat 64.

When the throttle valve 43 pumps operating air into the space 61A and moves the needle 62 upward in the axial direction, the tapered surface 62a is pulled out of the inner peripheral portion 64a of the valve seat 64, and the needle 62 The taper surface 62a and the inner peripheral portion 64a of the valve seat 64 are separated from each other, a gap is formed between the tapered surface 62a and the inner peripheral portion 64a, and the inner peripheral portion 64a is formed with respect to the space portion 61B. It is switched to the fully opened “open state”.
That is, in the “open state”, the lower end of the tapered surface 62a of the needle 62 is positioned above the inner peripheral portion 64a of the valve seat 64, and the upper end surface of the inner peripheral portion 64a of the valve seat 64 is a tapered surface. It is in the state which is not obstruct | occluded at all by 62a.

Conversely, as described above, when the needle 62 is seated on the valve seat 64, the upper end edge of the inner peripheral portion 64a of the valve seat 64 is closed by the needle 62, and the throttle valve 43 is switched to the closed state. It will be. In the closed state of the throttle valve 43, the communication state between the space portion 61B and the valve seat 64 is maintained while restricting the opening area by the orifices 74 and 74 formed by the grooves 62b and 62b of the tapered surface 62a. It will be.
That is, in the state where the throttle valve 43 is switched to the closed state, the inner peripheral portion 64a of the valve seat 64 is closed by the tapered surface 62a, but partially opened by the grooves 62b and 62b of the tapered surface 62a. The throttle valve 43 is in the “throttle state” in which the opening area is narrowed.
As described above, in the throttle valve 43 configured to be openable and closable, even in the closed state in which the needle 62 is seated on the valve seat 64, the space portion positioned on the upstream side of the contact portion between the tapered surface 62 a and the valve seat 64 61B and an orifice formed at the contact portion between the tapered surface 62a and the valve seat 64 are the inner peripheral portion 64a of the valve seat 64 positioned downstream of the contact portion between the tapered surface 62a and the valve seat 64. 74 and 74, it is comprised so that it may be in the "throttle state".

  By disposing the throttle valve 43 having such a configuration in the middle of the discharge path 4 (see FIG. 1), the paint filling apparatus 1 in the present embodiment narrows down the opening area of the discharge path 4 and air This makes it possible to reliably reduce paint loss during the drawing process.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the air bleeding process is performed, first, the throttle valve 43 is brought into a “squeezed state” in which the tapered surface 62a of the needle 62 is seated on the inner peripheral portion 64a of the valve seat 64. Switch.

When the throttle valve 43 is in the “squeezed state”, the paint is pressed out into the paint supply path 32, and the air existing in the paint and the paint supply path 32 is guided to the discharge path 4, and then the distribution path 61c. Through the space 61B.
The paint and air that have flowed into the space 61B flow toward the downstream side (in the direction of the arrow Y2 in FIG. 3B) and reach the orifices 74 and 74.

  The air easily passes through the orifices 74 and 74 and is discharged to the outside of the throttle valve 43 again. On the other hand, it is difficult for the paint to pass through the orifices 74 and 74 due to the influence of viscosity and the like, and most of the paint is in the space 61B (and in the discharge path 4 on the upstream side of the throttle valve 43). It will stay.

Here, as described above, the groove portions 62b and 62b are formed along the inclined surface of the tapered surface 62a and extending in the direction of diameter reduction of the tapered surface 62a.
That is, since the grooves 62b and 62b are formed linearly along the flow direction of the paint and air flowing into the space 61B, the air can surely pass through the orifices 74 and 74 without reducing the flow velocity. It is.

Further, as described above, the orifices 74 and 74 are formed by inserting the tapered surface 62a into the inner peripheral portion 64a of the valve seat 64 and contacting the tapered surface 62a with the upper end edge of the inner peripheral portion 64a. .
Therefore, according to the throttle valve 43, unlike the conventional throttle valve 101 (see FIG. 6), it is not necessary to strictly adjust the moving position of the needle 104, and the opening area of the discharge path 4 can be easily set to a constant area. It is possible to reduce paint loss during the squeezing and air bleeding process.

Further, the groove portions 62b and 62b forming the orifices 74 and 74 are provided at a plurality of locations (two locations in the present embodiment) on the tapered surface 62a.
Therefore, for example, even if a small amount of paint that passes through the inner peripheral portion 64 a of the valve seat 64 together with the air remains in some of the orifices 74, the air passes through the other orifice 74 and the inner peripheral portion. It will pass through the part 64a.
Therefore, according to the throttle valve 43, the opening area of the discharge path 4 can be narrowed down reliably, and the paint loss in the air bleeding process can be reduced.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the cleaning process is performed, the tapered surface 62a of the needle 62 is first removed from the inner peripheral portion 64a of the valve seat 64, and the throttle valve 43 is in the “open state”. .
When the throttle valve 43 is in the “open state”, the cleaning liquid is discharged into the paint supply path 32, and the paint and the paint existing in the paint supply path 32 are mixed with the cleaning liquid to become waste liquid, and are discharged to the discharge path 4. After being guided, it flows into the space portion 61B via the distribution path 61c.

  The waste liquid that has flowed into the space portion 61B flows into the inner peripheral portion 64a of the valve seat 64 through a gap formed between the tapered surface 62a of the needle 62 and the inner peripheral portion 64a of the valve seat 64 (FIG. 3). (Refer to the direction of the arrow Y1 in (a)), and further passes through the inner peripheral portion 64a of the valve seat 64 and is discharged to the outside of the throttle valve 43 again.

Here, as described above, the groove portions 62b and 62b are formed along the inclined surface of the tapered surface 62a and extending in the direction of diameter reduction of the tapered surface 62a.
That is, since the grooves 62b and 62b are linearly formed along the flow direction of the waste liquid that has flowed into the space 61B, the waste liquid surely enters the inner peripheral portion 64a of the valve seat 64 without reducing the flow velocity. It is guided and discharged to the outside of the throttle valve 43.

  By the way, like the throttle valve 143 as another embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the grooves 164b and 164b forming the orifices 174 and 174 may be provided on the valve seat 164 side.

That is, the upper end portion (edge portion) of the inner peripheral portion 164a of the valve seat 164, that is, the inner peripheral portion of the valve seat 164 with which the tapered surface 162a of the needle 162 abuts is parallel to the inclined surface of the tapered surface 162a of the needle 162. In addition, grooves 164b and 164b extending in the direction of diameter reduction of the tapered surface 162a (the axial center direction of the needle 162) are formed. The grooves 164b and 164b are formed in a rectangular shape in a sectional view in the axial direction.
As shown in FIG. 4B, for example, two grooves 164b and 164b are formed and arranged at positions facing each other.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 4A, the tapered surface 162a is inserted into the inner peripheral portion 164a of the valve seat 164 and abuts against the upper edge of the inner peripheral portion 164a, so that the groove portions 164b and 164b Orifices 174 and 174 (see FIG. 4B) are formed to communicate the space portion 161B and the inner peripheral portion 164a.

  Even in the throttle valve having the needle 162 and the valve seat 164 having such a configuration, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the throttle valve 43 in the present embodiment. It is possible to reliably reduce the paint loss during the process.

  That is, the grooves 74b and 164b constituting the orifice 74 or the orifice 174 may be formed on either the tapered surface 62a or the inner peripheral portion 164a of the valve seat 164. More specifically, both the members 62a and 164a are formed. You may form in.

[Demonstration experiment]
Next, a verification experiment regarding reduction in the amount of paint loss in the air bleeding process performed by the inventors of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5.

  In the air venting process, when the opening area of the discharge path 4 (see FIG. 1) is narrowed using the throttle valve 43 in order to reduce the amount of paint loss, the inner peripheral portion 64a of the valve seat 64 and the tapered surface 62a The opening area of the orifices 74 and 74 formed by the grooves 62b and 62b becomes a problem.

That is, if the opening area of the orifices 74 and 74 is large, the amount of paint passing through the discharge path 4 increases with the air remaining in the paint supply path 32 (see FIG. 1), and the amount of paint loss increases. To do.
Further, if the opening area of the orifices 74 and 74 is small, the amount of air passing through the orifices 74 and 74 is reduced, and the amount of air remaining in the discharge path 4 is increased.

  Therefore, as a demonstration experiment, the inventors changed the opening area of the orifices 74 and 74 in the throttle valve 43 (the total opening area of the orifices 74) and performed the air bleeding process a plurality of times to obtain an appropriate paint loss. The opening area of the orifices 74 and 74, which is the amount of

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the results of the demonstration experiment, in which the vertical axis indicates a numerical value related to “flow rate ratio” and the horizontal axis indicates a numerical value related to “aperture ratio”.
The “flow rate ratio” means that when the throttle valve 43 is in the “open state”, the amount of paint discharged from the throttle valve 43 (basic flow rate) is 100%, and the throttle valve 43 is in the “throttle state”. In this case, the ratio of the amount of paint discharged from the throttle valve 43 (change flow rate) to the amount of paint (basic flow rate) is shown.
The “aperture ratio” is 100% of the opening area of the inner peripheral portion 64a of the valve seat 64 (the cross-sectional area at the upper end portion of the inner peripheral portion 64a) when the throttle valve 43 is in the “open state”. The ratio of the opening area of the orifices 74 and 74 to the opening area when the valve 43 is in the “throttle state” is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the "opening ratio" is 10% or less, that is, the opening area of the orifices 74 and 74 in the "throttle state" is larger than the opening area of the inner peripheral portion 64a of the throttle valve 43 in the "open state". When the ratio is 1/10 or less, the “flow rate ratio” is found to be halved.

  From these results, it is possible to effectively reduce the amount of paint loss in the air venting process by making the opening area of the orifices 74 74 1/10 or less with respect to the opening area of the inner peripheral portion 64a. It was proved possible.

  In addition to such conditions, the present inventors have formed the groove portions 62b and 62b formed in the tapered surface 62a under the following conditions, so that the air space portion 161B and the inner peripheral portion 164a are formed. It was derived that the amount of paint loss can be more effectively reduced without hindering the passage between the two.

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, on the tapered surface 62a of the needle 62, the value of the outer diameter on the diameter expansion side is “d”, and the value of the width dimension of each groove 62b and the depth When the dimension values are “W” and “D”, respectively, (1/20) × d <W <(1/2) × d and (1/40) × d <D <(1/4). ) × d, each groove 62b is formed to satisfy the condition.

  As described above, the paint filling apparatus in the present embodiment discharges the paint and air remaining in the paint supply path 32 which is a path for filling the paint cartridge 10 with the paint to the outside of the paint supply path 32. The paint filling apparatus 1 includes a discharge path 4, and a throttle valve 43 (143) that narrows the opening area of the discharge path 4 is disposed in the middle of the discharge path 4, and the throttle valve 43 (143) Is provided with an annular valve seat 64 (164) and a needle 62 (162) provided to be close to and away from the valve seat 64 (164). A taper surface 62a (162a) having a reduced diameter is formed, the needle 62 (162) is brought close to the valve seat 64 (164), and the taper surface 62a ( 62a) and the valve seat 64 (164) are brought into contact with each other, whereby the throttle valve 43 (143) is switched to the throttle state (closed state), and the needle 62 (162) is separated from the valve seat 64 (164). Thus, by forming a gap between the tapered surface 62a (162a) and the valve seat 64 (164), the throttle valve 43 (143) is switched to the open state, and the throttle valve 43 (143) is throttled. In the state switched to the state (closed state), a plurality of orifices 74 communicating the upstream side and the downstream side of the contacted part with the contacted part of the tapered surface 62a (162a) and the valve seat 64 (164). · 74 (174 · 174) is formed.

  According to the paint filling apparatus 1 in the present embodiment having such a configuration, the paint staying in the paint supply path 32 and the discharge path 4 for discharging air to the outside are provided to reduce the amount of paint loss. Accordingly, the paint filling apparatus 1 is provided with a throttle valve 43 for narrowing the opening area of the discharge path 4 in the middle of the discharge path 4, and the adjustment of the amount of opening area is easily performed. In addition, it is possible to provide a paint filling apparatus having the throttle valve in which the narrowing amount does not change with time.

In other words, in the throttle valve 43 (143) in the present embodiment, the tapered surface 62a (162a) of the needle 62 (162) is inserted into the inner peripheral portion 64a (164a) of the valve seat 64 (164) to form a tapered surface. The orifices 74 and 74 (174 and 174) having an appropriate opening area are formed only by abutting 62a (162a) with the upper end edge of the inner peripheral portion 64a (164a).
Therefore, unlike the conventional throttle valve 101 (see FIG. 6), it is not necessary to strictly adjust the moving position of the needle 104, and the amount of narrowing the opening area of the discharge path 4 can be easily adjusted to be constant. Thus, the paint loss during the air venting process can be reduced.

Further, due to long-term use of the throttle valve 43 (143), the tip of the tapered surface 62a (162a) of the needle 62 (162) passes through the inner peripheral portion 64a (164a) of the valve seat 64 (164). Even when the air containing paint is worn over time, the orifices 74 and 74 (174 and 174) are formed at the contact points between the tapered surface 62a (162a) and the inner peripheral portion 64a (164a). The opening areas of the orifices 74 and 74 (174 and 174) do not change.
Therefore, the amount of narrowing of the opening area of the discharge path 4 does not change with time, and the paint loss during the air bleeding process can be effectively reduced.

  Further, by removing the tapered surface 62a (162a) at the tip of the needle 62 (162) from the inner peripheral portion 64a (164a) of the valve seat 64 (164), the inner peripheral portion 64a (164a) is in the “open state”. Therefore, it is possible to pass a waste liquid composed of a cleaning liquid or a paint, and the paint filling apparatus 1 as a whole is economical without providing a separate discharge path for performing a cleaning process.

  In the coating material filling apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the orifices 74 and 74 are formed on the tapered surface 62a of the needle 62 so as to extend in the axial direction of the needle 62 along the inclination of the tapered surface 62a. The plurality of groove portions 62b and 62b are configured.

By having such a configuration, the grooves 62b and 62b are formed along the flow direction of the air passing through the orifices 74 and 74 on the tapered surface 62a.
Therefore, the air passing through the orifices 74 and 74 can surely pass through the orifices 74 and 74 without reducing the flow velocity.

  In the paint filling apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the orifices 174 and 174 are formed on the inner peripheral edge of the valve seat 164 with which the tapered surface 162a of the needle 162 abuts along the inclination of the tapered surface 162a. The plurality of grooves 164b and 164b are formed to extend in the axial direction of 162.

By having such a configuration, the groove portions 164b and 164b are formed along the flow direction of the air passing through the orifices 174 and 174 at the edge portion on the tapered surface 162a side of the inner peripheral portion 164a.
Therefore, the air passing through the orifices 174 and 174 can surely pass through the orifices 174 and 174 without reducing the flow velocity.

  In the coating material filling apparatus 1 in this embodiment, the total opening area of the orifices 74 and 74 (174 and 174) is the same as that of the valve seat 64 (164) when the throttle valve 43 (143) is switched to the open state. The opening area of the inner peripheral portion 64a (164a) is 1/10 or less.

  Thus, the paint filling device 1 effectively reduces the amount of paint loss in the air venting process by setting the opening area of the orifices 74 and 74 to 1/10 or less of the opening area of the inner peripheral portion 64a. It is possible to reduce.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Paint filling apparatus 4 Discharge path 10 Paint cartridge 32 Paint supply path 43 Throttle valve 62 Needle 62a Tapered surface 64 Valve seat 64a Inner circumference 74 Orifice 143 Throttle valve 162 Needle 162a Taper surface 164 Valve seat 164a Inner circumference 164b Groove section 174

Claims (4)

A paint filling apparatus including a discharge path for discharging paint and air remaining in a paint supply path, which is a path for filling paint into a paint storage member, to the outside of the paint supply path,
A throttle valve is arranged in the middle of the discharge path,
The throttle valve includes an annular valve seat, and a needle provided to be close to and away from the valve seat,
A tapered surface that is reduced in diameter toward the tip is formed at the tip of the needle,
The throttle valve is switched to the closed state by bringing the needle close to the valve seat and abutting the tapered surface and the valve seat,
The throttle valve is switched to an open state by separating the needle from the valve seat and forming a gap between the tapered surface and the valve seat,
In a state where the throttle valve is switched to the closed state, a plurality of orifices that communicate the upstream side and the downstream side of the corresponding contact part are formed in the contact part between the tapered surface and the valve seat.
A paint filling apparatus characterized by that. The orifice is
On the tapered surface of the needle,
Along with the inclination of the tapered surface, it is constituted by a plurality of grooves formed to extend in the axial direction of the needle,
The paint filling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The orifice is
On the inner peripheral edge of the valve seat with which the tapered surface of the needle abuts,
Along with the inclination of the tapered surface, it is constituted by a plurality of grooves formed to extend in the axial direction of the needle,
The paint filling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paint filling apparatus is characterized in that: The opening area of the orifice is 1/10 or less with respect to the opening area of the valve seat when the throttle valve is switched to the open state.
The paint filling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the paint filling apparatus is characterized in that:

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