JP4059430B2 - Waste paint recovery device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for collecting paint that is discarded when the color of the paint is changed.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Some coating apparatuses used when painting a workpiece such as an automobile are configured so that a plurality of paints having different colors can be sprayed in order to cope with a variety of small-quantity production. In such a painting device, it is necessary to wash the inside of the paint gun with a solvent such as thinner when changing colors in order to prevent the paint used before from being mixed with the paint to be used. is there. Further, the thinner used for cleaning and the excess paint (waste paint) to be washed out must be collected as waste liquid.
[0003]
As a conventional technology for cleaning and waste liquid recovery required for coating equipment that can change colors in this way, a washing shroud for waste liquid recovery is integrated with the tip of a rotary atomizing electrostatic coating machine. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
The recovery device in the rotary atomizing electrostatic coating machine moves the washing shroud so as to cover the rotary cup spraying the paint during cleaning, and recovers the thinner that has cleaned the rotary cup from the bottom surface of the washing shroud. It is configured as follows.
[0004]
Moreover, there exists what collect | recovers waste paints using the washing shroud fixed to the floor surface of the coating room (for example, refer patent document 2). The rotary atomizing head that sprays the paint moves so as to be inserted into the washing shroud at the time of cleaning, and the thinner that has cleaned the rotary atomizing head is recovered from the bottom surface of the washing shroud. .
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 60-36360 (page 2-3, Fig. 1)
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2000-189849 A (page 3-4, FIG. 1)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the prior art exemplified in Patent Document 1, a washing shroud having a size sufficient to cover the tip and a cylinder for moving the washing shroud are provided at the tip of the rotary atomizing electrostatic coating machine. For this reason, the shape of the coating machine becomes large. Also, assuming a painting robot having such a configuration, the tip is too heavy and the load on the painting robot becomes large.
In the conventional techniques exemplified in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, no measures are taken to prevent the paint contained in the recovered waste liquid from sticking.
Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to realize, with a simple configuration, that the paint contained in the waste liquid generated at the time of color change is prevented from sticking.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is a waste paint recovery device for recovering surplus paint discharged from a paint gun at the time of color change of paint, a cleaning tube discarding blown paint, a nozzle to wash away the waste paint adhering to the inner surface of the cleaning tube is disposed below the cleaning tube, the funnel recover the waste paint, waste adhering to the inner surface of the funnel A nozzle that flushes the paint and a relay tank through which the blown paint flows from the funnel through a pipe, and the paint gun discharges a solvent for washing a supply line that supplies the paint to the nozzle that sprays the paint comprising a line, use at least a portion of the pipe, nozzle wash away the inner surface of the cleaning tube, and to each of the nozzles to wash the inner surface of the funnel to discharge the excess paint from the spray gun The solvent was set to waste paint recovery device is characterized by being configured to divert from the discharge line.
[0008]
The waste paint collecting device includes a cleaning cylinder and a funnel for blowing away paint when changing colors, a nozzle for washing the inner surface of the washing cylinder, at least a part of a pipe for collecting the abandoned paint, The nozzle used to wash the inner surface of the funnel was configured to flow the solvent used to drain the paint from the paint gun. This prevents the paint from adhering to the cleaning cylinder and funnel. Moreover, it is possible to prevent the pipe from being clogged by the adhesion of the paint.
[0009]
The invention according to claim 2 is the waste paint recovery apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a pump that forcibly sucks the paint and solvent stored in the relay tank.
[0010]
This waste paint recovery device is configured to forcibly suck using a pump when the paint and solvent are discharged from the relay tank. As a result, the pipe is prevented from clogging due to, for example, the coating material sticking into the pipe from the relay tank.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
First, a coating apparatus to which the waste paint recovery apparatus of this embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a coating apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a coating gun.
[0012]
The coating apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has a coating booth 1 in which a downflow from the top to the bottom is formed, and has a configuration in which paint is sprayed onto the workpiece W conveyed by the conveyor 2 in the coating booth 1. ing. The paint is sprayed from a painting gun 4 attached to the tip of a painting robot 3 which is a multi-joint robot arranged on the wall surface 1 a of the painting booth 1. In addition, a part of the floor of the painting booth 1 is recessed, and a collection container 5 for collecting excess paint in the painting gun 4 as waste paint when changing colors, a relay tank 6 in the booth, etc. are installed. Has been. Note that the collection container 5 and the in-booth relay tank 6 supported by the guide 51 fixed to the floor surface are components of the waste paint collection apparatus of this embodiment, which will be described in detail later.
[0013]
Here, the coating gun 4 can appropriately select and spray a plurality of paints of different colors supplied from a paint supply device (not shown). For example, as shown in a schematic configuration in FIG. 2, a nozzle 11 for spraying paint onto the workpiece W, a supply line 12 for supplying paint to the nozzle 11, switching of a plurality of paints, thinner for cleaning, and supply of air It has a color change valve (CCV) 13 to be controlled.
[0014]
In the coating gun 4 having a schematic configuration shown in FIG. 2, the supply line 12 is configured so that the first line 14 and the second line 15 can be selected, and while one of the lines is used for coating, In addition, the other line can be cleaned in preparation for color change. For this reason, the supply line 12 connects the nozzle 11 with the four-way valve 16 that switches the connection state between the first line 14, the second line 15 and the CCV 13 to one, and the line to which the paint is supplied. And a valve unit 21 used for cleaning an unused line (the other line). The first line 14 and the second line 15 include pressure regulators 14a and 15a, respectively. Between the pressure regulators 14a and 15a and the four-way valve 16, waste paint and thinner which is a solvent for washing away the waste paint are included. Valves 14b and 15b used for discharging the waste liquid to the discharge line 18 are provided. The valve unit 17 includes valves 19 a and 19 b that alternatively connect the first line 14 to the nozzle 11 or the discharge line 18, and a valve 20 a that alternatively connects the second line 15 to the nozzle 11 or the discharge line 18. , 20b. The valve 22 of the valve unit 17 is used for supplying thinner for blowing away the paint between the valve unit 17 and the nozzle 11, and the valve 23 is used for supplying air for dry operation. It is done. Similarly, the valve unit 21 has a valve 27 for supplying thinner for cleaning unused lines, and a valve 28 for supplying air.
[0015]
The CCV 13 has a configuration in which valves 24 assigned to each paint are assigned according to the type of paint used for painting, that is, for supplying cleaning thinner and air thereto. The valve 25 and the valve 26 are provided. Each valve 24 is connected to the paint supply device by a hose (not shown) for each color.
[0016]
Therefore, at the time of color change, the paint between the valve unit 17 and the nozzle 11 is blown away from the nozzle 11 so as to be washed away with thinner. The paint in the first line 14 or the second line 15 is discharged as waste liquid from the discharge line 18 so as to be washed away with thinner. The valves 22, 25 and 27 for supplying thinner are connected to a thinner supply source by a hose (not shown). It is assumed that the valves 23, 26 and 28 for supplying air are connected to an air supply source by hoses (not shown).
[0017]
The configuration of a waste paint recovery apparatus that recovers paint discharged from the paint gun 4 together with the thinner will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4. FIG. Here, FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the waste paint recovery device, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the recovery container. FIG. 3 shows a case where the present invention is applied to a painting apparatus in which a plurality of painting robots are arranged in a painting booth.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 3, the waste paint recovery device 10 includes a recovery container 5 in the painting booth 1 and an in-booth relay tank 6, a hopper 7 that can store excess waste liquid, a diaphragm pump 8 outside the painting booth 1, The relay tank 9 and pipes 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47 connecting them are included, branch lines 18 a, 18 b, 18 c, 18 d branched by the discharge line 18 of the coating gun 4 and the manifold 50. It has the structure which added.
[0019]
The collection container 5 has a cleaning cylinder 31 and a cleaning cylinder that prevent paint or thinner blown away from the coating gun 4 from being scattered and drifting in the coating booth 1 to adhere to the work W when the color is changed. 31 and a funnel 32 arranged below 31. In order to prevent the paint from sticking, the inner surfaces of the cleaning cylinder 31 and the funnel 32 are preferably coated with Teflon (R).
[0020]
The cleaning cylinder 31 shown in FIG. 4 has an inner diameter at which the upper open end 31a can insert the tip of the coating gun 4, and the inner surface includes waste liquid (hereinafter referred to as waste paint or thinner) supplied from the branch line 18a. A ring-shaped pipe 34 in which a plurality of nozzles 33 for blowing out waste liquid) is provided. The waste liquid blown out from the nozzle 33 is used to wash away the waste paint blown off in the cleaning cylinder 31 into the funnel 32 and to wash the tip of the coating gun 4. The direction of the nozzle 33 is preferably a direction toward the center of the ring-shaped pipe 34, but may be any direction as long as the inner surface of the cleaning cylinder 31 and the coating gun 4 can be cleaned. Further, instead of the pipe 34, a hose having a plurality of nozzles may be used.
[0021]
The funnel 32 has a shape whose diameter decreases from the upper side to the lower side, for example, an inverted conical shape, and is disposed with a gap between the cleaning tube 31 for air bleeding. For this reason, the upper open end 32 a of the funnel 32 is larger than the inner diameter of the lower end of the cleaning cylinder 31 so that the waste liquid flowing down from the cleaning cylinder 31 does not spill. The funnel 32 is also provided with a nozzle 35 for blowing out a waste liquid for washing away the waste paint. The nozzle 35 is drilled in a ring-shaped pipe 36 inserted into the funnel 32, and the waste liquid used for cleaning the coating gun 4 is supplied from the branch line 18b. From the viewpoint of preventing adhesion of the paint, the inner diameter of the pipe 36 is preferably larger than the inner diameter of the cleaning cylinder 31. As described above, the direction of the nozzle 35 is preferably the direction toward the center of the ring-shaped pipe 36, but may be any direction as long as the inner surface of the funnel 32 can be cleaned. Further, instead of the pipe 36, a hose having a plurality of nozzles may be used.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 3, the piping for discharging the waste liquid from the bottom of the funnel 32 joins the branch pipes 41 connected to the individual funnels 32 and the waste liquid from each branch pipe 41 to the inside of the booth in the painting booth 1. The junction pipe 42 leads to the relay tank 6.
The joining pipe 42 has a plurality of branch pipes 41 attached at predetermined intervals, and has a downward slope toward the in-booth relay tank 6 so that waste liquid discharged from the funnel 32 can be easily guided to the in-booth relay tank 6. It is arranged like this. A waste liquid supply port 42a is formed at a position farthest from the in-booth relay tank 6. By directly flowing the waste liquid from the supply port 42a to the junction pipe 42, the paint is prevented from being dried and fixed. Furthermore, if the inner surfaces of the branch pipe 41 and the junction pipe 42 are coated with Teflon (R), it is possible to effectively prevent the paint from adhering and clogging the inside of the pipe.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 1, the booth relay tank 6 has a volume capable of storing a predetermined amount of waste liquid, and is provided with a junction pipe 42 and an air vent hole 43 at the top, and at the bottom. A discharge pipe 44 is connected. This pipe 44 is connected to a recovery pipe 45 installed outside the painting booth 1. The pipe 44 is coated with Teflon (R) for preventing the adhesion of the paint, and the discharge of the stored waste liquid is controlled by opening and closing a valve (not shown).
[0024]
The hopper 7 in FIG. 3 is a container in which the remaining waste liquid except for the part supplied to the collection container 5 and the junction pipe 42 is recovered through the branch line 18d out of the waste liquid used for cleaning the coating gun 4. . The hopper 7 is connected to the recovery pipe 45 through a pipe 46. The pipe 46 is coated with Teflon (R) for preventing adhesion of the paint, and the discharge of the stored waste liquid is controlled by opening and closing a valve (not shown).
[0025]
The diaphragm pump 8 is a pump that pumps waste liquid by moving a diaphragm (not shown), and is used to collect the waste liquid discharged from the relay tank 6 in the booth and the hopper 7 in the relay tank 9 via the pipe 47. It is done. Since the diaphragm pump 8 has a high suction / discharge speed, it is possible to prevent the paint from adhering to the recovery pipe 45. The reason why the diaphragm pump 8 is installed at a position lower than the painting booth 1, that is, the collection container 5, the in-booth relay tank 6, and the hopper 7 is to easily collect the waste liquid while using gravity.
[0026]
The relay tank 9 is installed outside the painting booth 1 and has a larger capacity than the above-described booth relay tank 6. The relay tank 9 is provided with a pump 49 for periodically sucking up and collecting the collected waste liquid, and a pipe 48 on the discharge side of the pump 49 is connected to a drum can in a blending chamber (not shown). .
[0027]
The operation of the waste paint recovery apparatus 10 will be described focusing on the flow of waste liquid when color change is performed.
When changing the color to be sprayed on the workpiece W in FIG. 1, the coating robot 3 is operated to insert the tip of the coating gun 4 in advance from the position where the tip of the coating gun 4 has been taught in advance, that is, from the upper open end 31 a of the cleaning cylinder 31 Let At this position, the paint in the coating gun 4 is washed away with a thinner, and a part of the paint is blown out from the nozzle 11 into the cleaning cylinder 31. At this time, since the waste liquid is also discharged from the discharge line 18 from the coating gun 4, the waste liquid discharged from the discharge line 18 is branched by the manifold 50, and the nozzle 33 and the funnel of the cleaning cylinder 31 are branched from the branch line 18a. Each of the nozzles 35, the merging pipe 42, and the hopper 7 (see FIG. 3) is divided.
[0028]
As described above, the paint that is blown off by the cleaning cylinder 31 is the paint from the valve unit 17 to the nozzle 11 in FIG. The paint between the CCV 13 and the valve unit 17 contains a lot of thinner so as to be washed away by the thinner supplied from the CCV 13 or the thinner supplied from the valve unit 21 connected to the other port of the four-way valve 16. It is discharged from the discharge line 18 as waste liquid.
[0029]
The waste liquid blown from the nozzle 33 of the cleaning cylinder 31 is sprayed on the coating gun 4 and the inner surface of the cleaning cylinder 31. Thereby, even if the waste paint adheres to the inner surface of the coating gun 4 or the cleaning cylinder 31, the waste liquid is washed away to the funnel 32. Similarly, the funnel 32, the waste liquid is discharged from the nozzle 3 5. Therefore, waste paint contained in waste liquid flowing down from the cleaning tube 31, even when the adhere to the inner surface of the funnel 32 are washed away by the waste liquid discharged from the nozzle 3 5.
[0030]
The waste liquid in each collection container 5 shown in FIG. 3 flows into the junction pipe 42 from each branch pipe 41 and flows into the relay tank 6 in the booth while being mixed with the waste liquid from the supply port 42a. The waste liquid flowing into the in-booth relay tank 6 and the waste liquid in the hopper 7 are sucked by the diaphragm pump 8 periodically (for example, every 30 minutes). At this time, valves (not shown) of the pipes 44 and 46 perform an opening / closing operation in conjunction with the diaphragm pump 8. The diaphragm pump 8 forcibly sucks the waste liquid to prevent the paint in the waste liquid from remaining in the pipe 45, and prevents the pipe 45 from being clogged by the adhesion of the paint.
[0031]
The waste liquid sucked from the in-booth relay tank 6 and the hopper 7 by the diaphragm pump 8 flows into the relay tank 9 through the recovery pipe 47 and is stored therein. Thereafter, the waste liquid is pumped up by a pump 49 and injected into a drum can in the preparation chamber.
[0032]
As described above, the waste paint collecting apparatus 10 can prevent the waste paint from being scattered when the paint gun 4 is blown away by providing the collection container 5 for flowing the waste liquid to the inner surface, and can also prevent the paint from sticking. The waste liquid is once collected in the in-booth relay tank 6 in the painting booth 1, but the branch pipe 41 and the junction pipe 42 are coated with Teflon (R), and the waste liquid is allowed to flow through the junction pipe 42. Therefore, the clogging of the pipe due to the adhesion of the paint here is prevented. Further, when the waste liquid is collected in the relay tank 9 outside the painting booth 1, the diaphragm pump 8 is used to perform forced suction periodically, so that it becomes difficult for the waste liquid to stay in the pipe and the collection pipe 45. , 47 can also be prevented.
[0033]
Note that the present invention can be widely applied without being limited to the above-described embodiment.
For example, when the amount of waste liquid is small, it is not necessary to provide the hopper 7. Further, a known pump such as a rotary pump may be used instead of the diaphragm pump 8.
The number of collection containers 5, the number of relay tanks 6 in the booth, the number of diaphragm pumps 8, and the like can be appropriately selected according to the size and layout of the coating apparatus.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect, since the solvent used for discharging the paint from the paint gun is used to prevent the paint from adhering to the pipes to the cleaning cylinder, the funnel and the relay tank, the paint clogging is simple and inexpensive. A waste paint recovery device without any problem can be obtained.
According to the second aspect, since the paint and the solvent are discharged from the relay tank by forced suction, it is possible to prevent the pipe from being clogged due to the paint sticking into the pipe.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a coating apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a paint gun.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a waste paint recovery device.
FIG. 4 is a partially broken perspective view of a collection container.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Painting booth 4 Painting gun 5 Collection container 6 Booth relay tank (relay tank)
7 Hopper 8 Diaphragm pump 31 Cleaning cylinder 32 Funnel 33 Nozzle 35 Nozzle 42 Junction pipe (pipe)

Claims (2)

A waste paint recovery device that recovers excess paint discharged from the paint gun when the paint color is changed,
A cleaning cylinder for blowing off excess paint from the coating gun;
A nozzle to wash away the waste paint adhering to the inner surface of the cleaning cylinder;
Is disposed below the cleaning tube, the funnel you recover the waste paint,
A nozzle to wash away the waste paint adhering to the inner surface of the funnel;
A relay tank in which the paint that has been blown off flows from the funnel through a pipe,
The paint gun includes a solvent discharge line for cleaning a supply line for supplying paint to a nozzle for spraying paint,
At least a portion of the pipe, diverter nozzle wash away the inner surface of the cleaning tube, and to each of the nozzles to wash the inner surface of the funnel, the solvent used to discharge the excess paint from the spray gun from the discharge line A waste paint recovery device, characterized in that it is configured to allow The waste paint recovery apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pump that forcibly sucks the paint and solvent stored in the relay tank.

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