JP4142894B2 - Paint supply device and paint supply method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a paint supply apparatus and a paint supply method that can appropriately change the paint color of a vehicle body, for example, in an automobile paint line.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a paint supply apparatus that has a common paint circulation pipe for a plurality of paint colors and performs color change by passing a member called a pig in the paint circulation pipe. In such a paint supply apparatus, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-31844 discloses a plurality of common paint circulation pipes as means for enabling color change in an extremely short cycle of about 1 minute to 1.5 minutes. A method has been proposed in which these are sequentially switched.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a conventional paint supply apparatus, a common paint circulation pipe and an auxiliary device necessary for switching the paint color, for example, a pig insertion device and a changeover valve for inserting a pig, have a plurality of paint circulation pipes. This increases the equipment cost.
[0004]
In particular, the common paint circulation pipe through which the pig passes is expensive because it is necessary to smooth the roughness of the inner wall or reduce the level difference mainly to reduce damage to the pig and the remaining amount of paint. Will be used. In addition, since there are usually multiple paint guns, the length of the paint booth must be passed all around the paint booth where the multiple paint guns are placed, or the distance between the paint booth and the paint preparation room Tends to be as long as about 70 to 200 m.
[0005]
In addition, it is necessary to connect multiple common paint circulation pipes, paint pumping sections and paint guns corresponding to multiple common paint circulation pipes. As a whole, the amount of paint used tends to increase.
[0006]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to enable color change work to be performed in a short time while suppressing an increase in equipment cost and waste of paint during color change.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is connected to a plurality of paint containers respectively containing paints of each color, and the paints of each color can be circulated independently and remain inside when the paint color is switched. Connected to the common paint circulation pipe into which the residual paint removal tool for removing the paint can be inserted is connected to a first branching means that can be branched into a plurality from the common paint circulation pipe. A second branching means capable of branching from the first to the second branching means, and a paint individual circulation pipe capable of individually circulating the paint of each color is disposed between the first branching means and the second branching means. The paint individual circulation pipe is provided with paint storage means for storing an amount of paint that can be applied to a plurality of objects to be coated, and paint pressure feeding means for pumping the paint stored in the paint storage means, Paint in the paint storage means When the storage amount is reduced below a set value, the paint on the common circulation piping side is color-changed by the residual paint remover as necessary, and the individual paint is passed through the first branching means. The instruction means for instructing the paint storage means of the circulation pipe to replenish the paint is provided.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, the number of the individual paint circulation pipes is set to be equal to or greater than the number of paint colors set in advance.
[0009]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first or second aspect of the invention, the paint storage means is a tank, and a paint sensor for detecting a paint storage amount in the tank is provided in the tank. In response to the detection signal of the paint sensor, the first branch means and the paint supply means arranged between the paint containers and the paint common circulation pipe are each configured to be a controller. .
[0010]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a paint storage means and a paint pressure feeding means are provided in each of a plurality of paint individual circulation pipes capable of individually circulating paint of each color, and a plurality of objects to be coated can be applied by the paint storage means. While storing a large amount of paint, the paint is pumped by the paint pumping means, and connected to a paint container that contains the paint of each color. The paint is replenished to any one of the plurality of individual paint circulation pipes through the first branching means from the common paint circulation pipe into which the residual paint removing tool for removing the paint remaining on the pipe can be inserted. The paint supply method supplies the paint to the paint gun from the other one of the paint individual circulation pipes via the second branching means.
[0011]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the paint supply method according to the fourth aspect of the invention, the number of the individual paint circulation pipes is equal to or greater than the number of paint colors set in advance.
[0012]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first or fourth aspect of the present invention, when coating is performed on an object designated as a certain paint color, the paint storage means of the paint individual circulation pipe which stores the designated color paint while being circulated. Then, it can be pumped by the paint pumping means and supplied to the coating gun via the second branching means.
[0013]
When painting of the object to be coated with the specified color paint is completed and the paint storage amount of the paint storage means decreases below the set value, the paint common circulation pipe removes residual paint as necessary according to the instructions of the instruction means. The paint can be replenished to the paint storage means of the paint individual circulation pipe via the first branching means after the color is changed by the tool.
[0014]
When changing the paint color on the object to be coated, it is only necessary to switch the paint individual circulation pipe through which the corresponding color paint circulates with the second branching means, and it is necessary to change the color with the paint common circulation pipe each time. Therefore, even if there is only one paint common circulation pipe, color change work can be performed in a short time. Also, only one paint common circulation pipe is required, the paint common circulation pipe, the paint pressure feeding section, and the paint gun. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the complication of the connecting portion with the apparatus, and it is possible to suppress an increase in equipment cost and waste of paint when changing colors.
[0015]
According to the invention of claim 2 or 5, it is not necessary to change the color of the paint individual circulation pipe, the amount of paint and cleaning agent used can be reduced, and the replacement frequency due to wear of the residual paint remover and the like is reduced. Can do.
[0016]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the color change operation can be reliably performed in a short time with a simple configuration.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a paint supply apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention. In this paint supply device, one paint common circulation pipe 1 and a plurality of paint individual circulation pipes 3 are connected by a first color change valve 5 as a first branching unit, and the plurality of paint individual circulation pipes are connected. The circulation pipe 3 and the coating gun 7 are connected by a second color change valve 9 as a second branching means.
[0019]
The paint common circulation pipe 1 is provided with a pig inserter 17 having opening / closing valves 13 and 15 on both sides. The pig inserter 17 includes a pig 19 as a residual paint remover that moves through the paint common circulation pipe 1 and removes the paint remaining in the paint common circulation pipe 1 when changing the color of the paint in the paint common circulation pipe 1. Inserted. The pig 19 inserted from the pig inserter 17 is pushed by the paint when the paint after color change is supplied into the paint common circulation pipe 1, and moves in the direction indicated by the arrow P in FIG.
[0020]
A plurality (here, two) of paint supply pipes 21 are connected to the paint common circulation pipe 1 on the downstream side of the opening / closing valve 15, and the lower ends of the paint supply pipes 21 are connected to the paint container 23. Each paint container 23 contains paints of different colors of A and B, and each paint is supplied to the paint common circulation pipe 1 through the paint switching valve 27 by the paint pump 25 provided in the paint supply pipe 21. To be supplied. The paint pump 25 and the paint switching valve 27 constitute a paint supply means.
[0021]
Here, although A and B colors are used, the paint color to be used is not limited to two colors.
[0022]
A paint return pipe 29 is connected to the paint common circulation pipe 1 upstream of the opening / closing valve 13, and the lower end of the paint return pipe 29 is connected to the paint container 23 described above. The paint return pipe 29 is provided with an open / close valve 31, and the paint in the paint common circulation pipe 1 is returned to the paint container 23 through the open / close valve 31.
[0023]
A cleaning liquid branch supply pipe 35 having an opening / closing valve 33 is connected to the paint common circulation pipe 1 between the opening / closing valve 27 and the opening / closing valve 15 and the paint common circulation pipe 1 further upstream of the opening / closing valve 31. Has been. In addition, a cleaning liquid branch supply pipe 35 having an opening / closing valve 33 is also connected to the pig inserter 17. Each of the cleaning liquid branch pipes 35 is connected to a cleaning liquid supply pipe 39 provided with a cleaning liquid pump 37, and the lower end of the cleaning liquid supply pipe 39 is connected to a cleaning liquid container 41 in which the cleaning liquid is accommodated.
[0024]
That is, the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid container 41 is supplied to the paint common circulation pipe 1 from the cleaning supply pipe 39 via the cleaning liquid branch pipe 35 by the cleaning liquid pump 37, and before the new paint is sent at the time of color change, the common paint circulation pipe. Clean inside 1.
[0025]
The paint common circulation pipe 1 between the on-off valve 13 and the on-off valve 31 and the cleaning liquid container 41 are connected by a cleaning liquid return pipe 44 provided with an on-off valve 43 to wash the paint common circulation pipe 1. The subsequent cleaning liquid is returned to the cleaning liquid container 41.
[0026]
A waste liquid pipe 47 having an open / close valve 45 is connected to the open / close valve 13 side of the pig inserter 17, and a lower end of the waste liquid pipe 47 is connected to a waste liquid container 49, so that the waste liquid in the pig inserter 17 is connected. Is discharged into a waste liquid container 49.
[0027]
The first color change valve 5 described above includes a valve main part 5a and a plurality of branch parts 5b provided on both sides of the valve main part 5a. The paint main circulation pipe 1 on the downstream side of the on-off valve 27 is connected to the valve main part 5a, and the paint individual circulation pipe 3 is individually connected to each branch part 5b.
[0028]
The second color change valve 9 described above includes a valve main body portion 9a and a plurality of branch portions 9b provided on both sides of the valve main body portion 9a. The above-described coating gun 7 is connected to the valve main body portion 9a via the coating pipe 51, and the individual paint circulation pipes 3 are individually connected to the branch portions 9b.
[0029]
The paint individual circulation pipe 3 here is equal to or more than the number of paint colors (two colors A and B) on the paint common circulation pipe 1 side, that is, two or more. Color or B paint circulates in the direction of arrow Q.
[0030]
On the downstream side of the first color change valve 5 of the individual paint circulation pipe 3 described above, a tank 53 as a paint storage means and a pump 55 as a paint pressure feeding means for pressure-feeding the paint are sequentially provided. The tank 53 described above includes a paint sensor 57 that stores an amount of paint that can be applied to a plurality of objects to be coated, and detects the amount of paint stored.
[0031]
FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the above-described paint supply apparatus. The paint gun control panel 59 for controlling the paint gun 7, the pump 55 in the paint individual circulation pipe 3, and the first and second color change valves 5, 9 are shown. An individual pipe control panel 61 for controlling and a common pipe control panel 63 for controlling various valves and pumps attached to the common paint circulation pipe 1 are provided, and these are controlled by a controller 65 as an instruction means. The controller 65 receives a detection signal from the paint sensor 57 of the tank 53.
[0032]
Next, the operation will be described. When there is sufficient paint in the tank 53 of the paint individual circulation pipe 3 and when it is not painted, the branch portions 5b and 9b of the first and second color change valves 5 and 9 are connected to the paint individual circulation pipe 3. The connection portion is closed, and in this state, as shown in FIG. 3, the pump 55 is operated to circulate the paint in the paint individual circulation pipe 3. Thereby, sedimentation of the pigment content of the paint and the glittering material in the paint individual circulation pipe 3 is prevented. In this case, the operation of the pump 55 may be a continuous operation or an intermittent operation.
[0033]
Next, when the body of the automobile to be painted enters a painting booth (not shown) and the painting gun 7 is operated, the pump 55 pumps the paint at a predetermined pressure immediately before the operation, and the second The connecting portion between the paint individual circulation pipe 3 and the paint pipe 51 in the color change valve 9 is brought into a communicating state. As a result, the paint is quickly filled up to the end of the paint gun 7 through the paint pipe 51.
[0034]
In this state, as shown in FIG. 4, by operating the coating gun 7, the paint is sprayed from the coating gun 7, and the painting work on the vehicle body is performed. The painting of the vehicle bodies for a plurality of vehicles is completed by the paint in the tank 53 in the paint individual circulation pipe 3, and when the paint sensor 57 of the tank 53 detects that the paint has decreased below the set value, the controller 65 An instruction to replenish the corresponding paint is issued to the common piping control panel 63.
[0035]
Here, when the color of the paint to be replenished and the color of the paint in the paint common circulation pipe 1 at that time are different, the pig 19 is inserted from the pig inserter 17 and moved in the paint common circulation pipe 1. Then, the cleaning liquid is further fed to change the color to the corresponding paint color.
[0036]
After the color change, as shown in FIG. 5, the first color change valve 5 is opened, and the paint changeover valve 27 corresponding to the paint tank 23 of the corresponding paint color (A color in this case) is opened. The paint pump 25 is driven. As a result, the paint is replenished to the tank 53 of the paint individual circulation pipe 3 that has decreased below the set value.
[0037]
If the color of the paint to be replenished and the color of the paint in the common paint circulation pipe 1 at that time are the same, the above-mentioned color change operation is not performed, and the paint on the common paint circulation pipe 1 side is used as it is. 3 tank 53 is replenished.
[0038]
When the paint sensor 57 detects a paint exceeding the set value by replenishing the paint, the first color change valve 5 is closed and the paint replenishment operation is stopped. After the replenishment operation is stopped, when the paint storage amount in the tank 53 in another paint individual circulation pipe 3 is equal to or less than the set value, the paint common circulation pipe 1 side paints the paint in another paint individual circulation pipe 3. When the color change operation is shifted to and the set value is exceeded, a standby state similar to FIG. 3 is entered.
[0039]
In the above-described paint supply device, when the paint color on the vehicle body is changed, the corresponding paint individual circulation pipe 3 may be switched by the second color change valve 9. For this reason, since it is not necessary to change the color on the paint common circulation pipe 1 side at the time of color change, even if the paint common circulation pipe 1 is one, the color change work can be performed in a short time. In addition, since a plurality of auxiliary devices such as the paint common circulation pipe 1 and the pig 19 and the pig inserter 17 necessary for switching the paint color are not required, the equipment cost can be kept low.
[0040]
In particular, the common paint circulation pipe 1 that allows the pig 19 to pass through when changing colors is expensive and tends to be long. Therefore, it is effective to reduce the equipment cost by using a single paint pipe without using a plurality. On the other hand, although a plurality of paint individual circulation pipes 3 are required, it is not necessary to insert a pig, so an inexpensive pipe such as a Teflon (registered trademark) hose can be used and the length is connected to the paint gun 7. The second color change valve 9 and the first color change valve 5 are connected to each other, and the tank 53 and the pump 55 need only be provided in the middle thereof, so that the length can be shortened to about 5 to 20 m as compared with the prior art.
[0041]
In addition, since there is one common paint circulation pipe 1, a plurality of connecting portions to the paint pressure feeding section (fuel supply pipe 21) and the paint gun (paint individual circulation pipe 3) attached to the common paint circulation pipe 1 are necessary. Therefore, the residual paint at the time of switching the paint color of this connecting portion is reduced as compared with the case where a plurality of paint common circulation pipes 1 are provided, and the amount of paint used can be reduced as a whole. The amount of cleaning liquid used may be less than that in the case of having a plurality of paint common circulation pipes 1 because a cleaning liquid pumping section may be provided corresponding to one paint common circulation pipe 1 in the same manner as the paint described above. I'll do it.
[0042]
The paint individual circulation pipe 3 may be set for the paint color of the paint common circulation pipe 1 (colors A and B in this case), and it is desirable not to change the color, but it is also possible to change the color as needed. At that time, air, cleaning liquid and waste liquid pipes are respectively connected to the branch portions 5b and 9b not connected to the paint individual circulation pipes 3 in the first and second color change valves 5 and 9, respectively. The inside of the individual circulation pipe 3 is washed as needed to change colors.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a paint supply apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the paint supply apparatus of FIG.
FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory view showing a state in which paint is circulated in the paint individual circulation pipe in the paint supply apparatus of FIG. 1;
4 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a state in which paint is being sprayed by a paint gun in the paint supply apparatus of FIG. 1;
5 is an explanatory diagram showing a paint replenishing operation to an individual paint circulation pipe in the paint supply apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Paint common circulation pipe 3 Paint individual circulation pipe 5 First color change valve (first branch means)
7 Painting gun 9 Second color change valve (second branching means)
19 Pig (residual paint remover)
23 Paint container 25 Paint pump (paint supply means)
27 Paint switching valve (Paint supply means)
53 Tank (Paint storage means)
55 Pump (Paint pressure feeding means)
57 Paint sensor 65 Controller (instruction means)

Claims (5)

Connected to multiple paint containers that contain paint of each color, paint of each color can be circulated independently, and paint paint common circulation that can insert residual paint remover that removes paint remaining inside when paint color is switched The pipe is connected to a first branching means that can be branched into a plurality from the paint common circulation pipe, and a second branching means that can be branched into a plurality from the coating gun is connected to the upstream side of the coating gun, Between the first branching means and the second branching means, a paint individual circulation pipe capable of individually circulating the paint of each color is disposed, and a plurality of objects to be coated are coated on the paint individual circulation pipe. A paint storage means for storing a possible amount of paint and a paint pressure feeding means for pumping the paint stored in the paint storage means are provided, respectively, and the paint storage amount in the paint storage means is reduced below a set value. When the paint Instructing the paint storage means of the paint individual circulation pipe to replenish the paint through the first branching means after changing the color of the paint on the circulation pipe side with the residual paint removing tool as necessary. A paint supply apparatus comprising an instruction means. The paint supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of paint individual circulation pipes is equal to or greater than a preset number of paint colors. The paint storage means is a tank, and a paint sensor for detecting a paint storage amount in the tank is provided in the tank, and the instruction means receives the detection signal of the paint sensor, and the first branching means, The paint supply apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the paint supply apparatus is a controller that drives and controls paint supply means arranged between the paint containers and the paint common circulation pipe. A paint storage means and a paint pressure feeding means are provided in each of a plurality of paint individual circulation pipes capable of individually circulating paint of each color, and the paint storage means stores a quantity of paint capable of painting a plurality of objects to be coated. Residual paint that is connected to a paint container that contains paint of each color, and that can be circulated independently, and that removes paint remaining in the interior when the paint color is switched. The paint is supplied to any one of the plurality of individual paint circulation pipes through the first branching means from the common paint circulation pipe into which the removal tool can be inserted, and the other one of the plurality of individual paint circulation pipes. A paint supply method characterized in that a paint is supplied to the paint gun via the second branching means. 5. The paint supply method according to claim 4, wherein the number of the individual paint circulation pipes is equal to or more than a preset number of paint colors.

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