JP4736063B2 - Channel switching device - Google Patents

Description

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

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

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

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

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

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

  The flow path switching device according to the present invention includes first and second inflow ports into which a fluid is introduced, first and second outflow ports from which the fluid is led out, and a first in communication with the first inflow port. A cylinder portion, a second cylinder portion communicating with the first inlet and the second outlet, a third cylinder portion communicating with the first outlet, and the first outlet And a fourth cylinder part communicating with the second inflow port, a passage connecting the first cylinder part and the third cylinder part, and the fluid in the first to fourth cylinder parts The first to fourth valves that are movable by pressure and are inserted so as to open and close between each cylinder portion and the first inflow port or the first outflow port, and the first to fourth cylinders And an urging means for urging the first to fourth valves in the closing direction. And butterflies.

  In the flow path switching device of the present invention, when passing a fluid such as paint or water, cleaning liquid described later, the first valve is initially urged to close the passage by the urging means, When the bias is stopped, the passage is opened by the pressure of the fluid flowing into the first inflow port. As a result, the fluid flows into the first cylinder part, passes through the passage connecting the first cylinder part and the third cylinder part, and reaches the third cylinder part. In the third cylinder portion, the inflowing fluid pushes the third valve with the pressure to open the passage, so that the fluid reaches the first outlet from the third cylinder portion and flows out.

  On the other hand, when supplying to another flow path, the second valve is initially urged to close the passage by the urging means, but when the urging is stopped, the second valve flows into the first inflow port. Pressed to open the passage with fluid pressure. As a result, the fluid flows into the second cylinder portion and flows out from the second outlet that communicates therewith. Further, the fluid flowing into the second inflow port reaches the fourth cylinder part. In the fourth cylinder portion, the inflowing fluid pushes the fourth valve with the pressure to open the passage, so that the fluid reaches the first outlet from the fourth cylinder portion and flows out.

  According to the present invention, as described above, by controlling the supply or stop of the pressure fluid to the first to fourth cylinder parts, the fluid is moved in the direction of opening the first to fourth valves, The fluid flow path can be easily switched. The structure is also a simple structure in which valves that can be moved by the pressure of fluid are provided in four cylinder parts communicating with two inlets or two outlets, respectively, and each valve is biased in the closing direction. The weight can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the urging means is a spring that urges the first to fourth valves in a closing direction and a pressure fluid supplied to each cylinder part.

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

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

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

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a valve device constituting a flow path switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The valve device 16 includes a housing 91 provided with a plurality of passages, a passage connecting pipe 92 attached to the housing 91 for connecting the passages in the housing 91, and a first formed in the housing 91. A first valve 101 to a fourth valve 104, which are movably inserted into the cylinder 95 to the fourth cylinder 98, respectively, and a plurality of springs 106 for pressing the first valve 101 to the fourth valve 104 toward the side where the passage is closed, respectively. Consists of.

  The housing 91 is a member in which a vertically long vertical portion 111 and two horizontally long upper and lower horizontal portions 112 and 113 arranged so as to be orthogonal to the vertical portion 111 are integrally formed.

  The vertical part 111 has a first inlet 115 at the upper part and a first outlet 116 at the lower part. When this flow path switching device is used, for example, in the coating system shown in FIG. 4, the first inlet 115 is connected to the storage tank 13 (FIG. 4) via the first delivery path 15 a and the first outlet 116. Is connected to the coating gun 14 (FIG. 4) via the second delivery path 15b.

  In FIG. 1, the upper horizontal portion 112 includes an upper connection passage 121 that connects the first cylinder 95 and the second cylinder 96, and a first connection passage 123 that connects the passage 92 a in the first cylinder 95 and the passage connection pipe 92. And a second outlet 124 formed in the upper part of the second cylinder 96 and air for pressing the first valve 101 and the second valve 102 toward the side where the passage is closed respectively in the first cylinder 95 and the second cylinder 96. Air supply ports 125 and 125 are provided for supplying the air, respectively. The second outlet 124 is connected to the supply path 71.

  The lower horizontal portion 113 includes a lower connection passage 126 that connects the third cylinder 97 and the fourth cylinder 98, a second connection passage 127 that connects the passage 92 a in the passage connection pipe 92 and the third cylinder 97, and a fourth Air for supplying air into the third cylinder 97 and the fourth cylinder 98 to press the second inlet 128 formed in the lower part of the cylinder 98 and the third valve 103 and the fourth valve 104 to the side closing the passage, respectively. Supply ports 129 and 129 are provided. The second inflow path 128 is connected to the delivery path 74.

  As described above, the first valve 101 closes the passage between the first cylinder 95 and the upper connection passage 121 by the spring 106 and the pressure of the air supplied to the first cylinder 95 from the air supply port 125. . The second valve 102 closes the passage between the second cylinder 96 and the upper connection passage 121 by the pressure of the air supplied from the air supply port 125 to the spring 106 and the second cylinder 96. The third valve 103 closes the passage between the third cylinder 97 and the lower connection passage 126 by the pressure of the air supplied from the air supply port 129 to the spring 106 and the third cylinder 97. The fourth valve 104 closes the passage between the fourth cylinder 98 and the lower connection passage 126 by the spring 106 and the pressure of air supplied from the air supply port 129 to the fourth cylinder 98. Accordingly, the first to fourth valves (101 to 104) in the first to fourth cylinder portions (95 to 98) are formed by the springs 106 and the air (pressure air) supplied from the supply ports 125 and 129. The urging means for urging each in the closing direction is configured.

  The first cylinder 95 to the fourth cylinder 98 include large-diameter holes 95a to 98a and small-diameter holes 95b to 98b adjacent to the large-diameter holes 95a to 98a, respectively, and a female taper is formed at one end of each of the small-diameter holes 95b to 98b. Parts 95c to 98c are provided. Reference numerals 95d to 98d denote steps formed at the boundary between the large diameter holes 95a to 98a and the small diameter holes 95b to 98b.

  The first valve 101 to the fourth valve 104 are integrally formed with the large-diameter portions 101a to 104a and the large-diameter portions 101a to 104a, which are movably fitted into the large-diameter holes 95a to 98a, respectively, and the small-diameter holes 95b to 98b. The small diameter portions 101b to 104b are formed so that the outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameter, and one end of each of the small diameter portions 101b to 104b includes male tapered portions 101c to 104c that can be fitted to the female tapered portions 95c to 98c. In addition, the code | symbol 101d-104d has shown the step part made in the boundary of the large diameter parts 101a-104a and the small diameter parts 101b-104b.

  Here, an operation when the valve device 16 allows a fluid such as a conductive paint described later to pass through will be described.

  As indicated by a white arrow A in FIG. 2, in the switching valve device 16, the fluid that has flowed into the first inlet 115 from the first delivery path 15 a reaches the upper connection passage 121.

  Initially, air is supplied from the air supply port 125 to the first cylinder 95, and the first valve 101 has the male taper portion 101 c pressed against the female taper portion 95 c by the air pressure and the elastic force of the spring 106. However, when the supply of air to the first cylinder 95 is stopped, the first valve 101 is pushed open by the fluid in the upper connection passage 121 against the elastic force of the spring 106.

  As a result, the fluid flows into the first cylinder 95 and reaches the third cylinder 97 through the first connection passage 123, the passage 92 a in the passage connection pipe 92, and the second connection passage 127.

  At this time, since the supply of air from the air supply port 129 to the third cylinder 97 is also stopped, the third valve 103 is pushed open against the elastic force of the spring 106 by the fluid, and the fluid is From the first outlet 116 to the second delivery path 15b.

  Next, an operation when the valve device 16 supplies a fluid such as a conductive paint to another channel (for example, the relay channel 71 in FIG. 4) will be described.

  As indicated by the white arrow B in FIG. 3, the fluid that has flowed into the first inlet 115 from the first delivery path 15 a reaches the upper connection path 121.

  Initially, air is supplied from the air supply port 125 to the second cylinder 96, and the second valve 102 has the male tapered portion 102c pressed against the female tapered portion 96c by the pressure of the air and the elastic force of the spring 106. When the passage is closed but the supply of air to the second cylinder 96 is stopped, the second valve 102 is pushed open by the fluid in the upper connection passage 121 against the elastic force of the spring 106.

  As a result, the fluid flows from the upper connection passage 121 into the second cylinder 96 and flows out from the second outlet 124 to the supply passage 71.

  Further, as indicated by the white arrow C, the fluid that has flowed into the second inlet 128 from the delivery path 74 reaches the fourth cylinder 98. At this time, since the supply of air from the air supply port 129 to the fourth cylinder 98 is also stopped, the fourth valve 104 is pushed open against the elastic force of the spring 106 by the fluid, and the fluid is in the fourth cylinder 98. From the first outlet 116 to the second delivery path 15b.

  As described above, the switching valve device 16 controls the supply or stop of air supply to the first cylinder 95 to the fourth cylinder 98, so that the first valve 101 to the fourth valve 104 are made of conductive paint or water W, The flow path can be easily switched by easily pushing open with a fluid such as the cleaning liquid S. In addition, since the structure is simple, the cost can be reduced.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing an electrostatic coating apparatus as an example of use of the switching valve device according to the embodiment.

  The electrostatic coating apparatus 10 includes a color change valve mechanism 11 that is connected to a paint supply unit (not shown) that supplies a plurality of conductive paints having different colors and switches supply of the conductive paints, and the color change valve mechanism. 11 is a block valve mechanism 12 that electrically insulates the coating gun side, which will be described in detail later, a storage tank 13 that is connected to the block valve mechanism 12 and temporarily stores conductive paint, and is electrically conductive to the object to be coated. A coating gun 14 for injecting paint, a delivery path 15 connecting between the storage tank 13 and the painting gun 14, a switching valve device 16 (FIG. 1) provided in the delivery path 15, and this switching A relay path 17 connected to the valve device 16 and a paint cartridge 19 detachably attached to a cartridge base 18 provided in the relay path 17 are included.

  The delivery path 15 includes a first delivery path 15a extending from the storage tank 13 to the switching valve device 16, a second delivery path 15b extending from the switching valve device 16 to the coating gun 14 (specifically, a trigger valve 62 described later), and a coating. It consists of a third delivery path 15c on the tip side (including the jet outlet 14a) of the trigger valve 62 of the gun 14.

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

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

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

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

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

  The coating gun 14 includes a second dump valve 61 and a trigger valve 62 connected to the switching valve device 16 via the second delivery path 15b, and is connected to a high voltage applying unit (not shown). In addition, 14a is a jet nozzle of the coating gun 14, and is a part which comprises the edge part of the delivery path 15. FIG.

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

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

  The supply passages 31, 33, 45, the storage tank 13, the first delivery passage 15 a, the second delivery passage 15 b, and the switching valve device 16 constitute a main paint supply passage 68 that extends from the paint supply section to the paint gun 14. It is.

  In this electrostatic coating apparatus, the switching valve device 16 includes a paint supply path for supplying the conductive paint to the coating gun 14 when the conductive paint is stored in the storage tank 13, and water W or cleaning liquid S in the storage tank 13. When water is stored, the water W or the cleaning liquid S is supplied to the paint cartridge 19 and used as means for switching between the fluid / paint supply path for supplying the conductive paint in the paint cartridge 19 to the paint gun 14.

  The relay path 17 includes a cartridge base 18, a supply path 71 connected to one end of the switching valve device 16 and the cartridge base 18, a three-way valve 72 provided on the output side of the cartridge base 18, The cleaning valve 73 is connected to the valve 72 to control the supply of air A and water W, and the delivery path 74 is connected to each of the three-way valve 72 and the other end of the switching valve device 16. The switching valve device 16 and the relay path 17 constitute a fluid circuit 10A.

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

  The paint passage 87, the cartridge base 18, the three-way valve 72, the delivery path 74, the switching valve device 16, the second delivery path 15 b, and the third delivery path 15 c of the paint cartridge 19 reach the paint gun 14 from the paint cartridge 19. An auxiliary paint supply path 88 is formed.

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

  First, as shown in FIG. 5, with the switching valves 32 and 34 of the block valve mechanism 12 opened and the paint valve 22 of the color change valve mechanism 11 opened, for example, the servo motor 58 of the storage tank 13 is driven to drive the piston. 52 is moved in the A1 direction. Thereby, the conductive paint of a predetermined color is filled into the cylinder chamber 54 of the storage tank 13 from the paint valve 22 through the supply paths 31, 33 and 45.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the servo motor 58 is continuously driven and the paint valve 22 is closed and the first dump valve 37 is opened while the piston 52 is moving in the A1 direction. As a result, the conductive paint in the supply path 45 is drawn into the cylinder chamber 54, and air substituted for the conductive paint is introduced into the supply path 33.

  As shown in FIG. 7, after the filling of the conductive paint into the cylinder chamber 54 of the storage tank 13 is completed, the flow paths of the switching valves 32 and 34 of the block valve mechanism 12 are switched, the second cleaning valve 38 is opened, The cleaning liquid is supplied from the second cleaning valve 38 to the supply path 33 to clean the supply path 33. The waste liquid at this time is discharged from the second discharge path 42. Further, air is supplied from the second cleaning valve 38 to the supply path 33 to dry the supply path 33. As a result, the switching valves 32 and 34 are electrically insulated.

  As shown in FIG. 8, by opening the trigger valve 62 and driving the servo motor 58 to move the piston 52 in the A2 direction, the conductive paint is pumped from the cylinder chamber 54 to the delivery path 15. As a result, the conductive paint is supplied to the coating gun 14 through the switching valve device 16 and the trigger valve 62, and is ejected from the ejection port 14a, and a high voltage is applied to the conductive paint to electrostatically apply to the object to be painted. Painting is done.

  As shown in FIG. 9, after the electrostatic coating is completed, the conductive paint remaining in the storage tank 13 is once returned to the block valve mechanism 12 side.

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

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

  When a new conductive paint having a color different from that of the above-described conductive paint is used, the application of the high voltage to the coating gun 14 is canceled after the above-described painting operation is completed, and the block valve mechanism 12 By switching the switching valves 32 and 34 and opening the first cleaning valve 21, the cleaning liquid is injected into the cylinder chamber 54 of the storage tank 13, and this cleaning liquid is applied from the cylinder chamber 54 via the delivery path 15 and the switching valve device 16. It is sent to the gun 14 and after the inside of the coating gun 14 is cleaned, it is ejected to the outside from the jet nozzle 14a and discharged, and the main coating material supply path 68 from the coating material supply unit to the coating gun 14 is cleaned.

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

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

  As shown in FIG. 10, first, the switching valves 32 and 34 of the block valve mechanism 12 are opened, and the servo motor 58 of the storage tank 13 is driven with the second cleaning valve 38 opened to move the piston 52 in the A1 direction. Move. As a result, water or cleaning liquid is filled into the cylinder chamber 54 of the storage tank 13 from the second cleaning valve 38 through the supply passages 41, 33, 45.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the flow path of the switching valve 34 of the block valve mechanism 12 is switched, the second cleaning valve 38 is opened, and air is supplied from the second cleaning valve 38 to the supply path 33 to dry the supply path 33. . As a result, the switching valves 32 and 34 are electrically insulated.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the servo motor 58 is driven to move the piston 52 in the A2 direction, whereby the water or the cleaning liquid in the cylinder chamber 54 is moved through the first delivery path 15a, the switching valve device 16 and the supply path 71. Through the fluid passage 86 and supplied to the fluid chamber 83.

  As a result, the pressure in the fluid chamber 83 increases and the free piston 82 moves to push the conductive paint in the paint chamber 84 to the relay path 17 through the paint passage 87. The conductive paint passes through the three-way valve 72 and the delivery path 74 of the relay path 17, passes through the switching valve device 16 again, is sent to the delivery gun 15, and is ejected from the ejection port 14 a to be coated. The object is electrostatically coated.

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

  As shown in FIG. 13, first, the cleaning valve 73 is opened, and the cleaning liquid is supplied to the auxiliary paint supply path 88 to the coating gun 14 via the three-way valve 72, the delivery path 74, the switching valve device 16, and the second delivery path 15b. In the state where the trigger valve 62 is opened, the cleaning liquid is ejected from the ejection port 14a and discharged, and the sub-coating material supply path 88 from the coating material cartridge 19 to the coating gun 14 is cleaned.

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

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

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

  Further, the electrostatic coating apparatus temporarily stores the conductive paint or liquid in the paint supply path for supplying the conductive paint or liquid from the paint supply unit to the coating gun 14 and applies the stored conductive paint or liquid to the paint gun. 14 is provided with a storage unit 13 that pushes out to the 14 side, and a block valve mechanism 12 that electrically cuts off between the coating material supply unit and the storage unit 13, and supplies conductive paint to which a high voltage is applied to the coating gun 14. The paint supply path is washed by electrostatic coating by supplying the liquid to the coating gun 14, and a fluid circuit 10A is provided between the reservoir 13 and the coating gun 14, and this fluid A paint cartridge 19 is detachably connected to the circuit 10A. In the paint cartridge 19, a free piston 82 is movably provided in the interior, so that a fluid chamber 83 to which a liquid is supplied, and a conductive property are provided. A free-piston by supplying the liquid supplied from the paint supply unit and stored in the storage unit 13 to the fluid chamber 83 of the paint cartridge 19 via the fluid circuit 10A. Since the conductive paint in the paint chamber 84 is pushed out by 82 and supplied to the coating gun 14, the conductive paint in the paint cartridge 19 is used by utilizing a liquid such as water W or cleaning liquid S supplied from the paint supply unit. It is possible to supply to the coating gun 14, and it is not necessary to provide a fluid supply unit for supplying water or cleaning liquid dedicated to the paint cartridge 19, a power source for the fluid supply unit, and a storage unit including the power source, thereby reducing costs. Can do.

  Further, the switching valve device 16 only controls the supply or stop of air to the first cylinder 95 to the fourth cylinder 98, and therefore can be made relatively light. As a result, the load on the holding means such as a six-axis joint robot that holds the coating gun 14 of the electrostatic coating apparatus 10 and the supply system (including the switching valve device 16) that supplies conductive paint to the coating gun 14 is also relatively reduced. The

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

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

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Electrostatic coating apparatus, 10A ... Fluid circuit, 12 ... Insulation part (block valve mechanism), 13 ... Storage tank, 14 ... Coating gun, 16 ... Switching valve apparatus, 18 ... Cartridge stand, 82 ... Free piston, 83 ... Fluid chamber, 84 ... paint chamber, S, W ... liquid (cleaning liquid, water).

Claims (2)

First and second inlets (115, 128) through which fluid is introduced;
First and second outlets (116, 124) from which fluid is derived;
A first cylinder part (95) communicating with the first inlet (115);
A second cylinder part (96) communicating with the first inlet (115) and the second outlet (124);
A third cylinder part (97) communicating with the first outlet (116);
A fourth cylinder portion (98) communicating with the first outlet (116) and the second inlet (128);
A passage (92a) connecting the first cylinder part (95) and the third cylinder part (97);
In the first to fourth cylinder parts (95 to 98), the cylinder part and the first inflow port (115) or the first outflow port (116) are movable by the pressure of the fluid. First to fourth valves (101 to 104) inserted to open and close;
A flow path comprising urging means for urging the first to fourth valves (101 to 104) in the first to fourth cylinder portions (95 to 98) in a closing direction, respectively. Switching device. The urging means is a spring (106) that urges the first to fourth valves (101 to 104) in a closing direction, and a pressure fluid supplied to each cylinder portion (95 to 98). The flow path switching device according to claim 1.

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