JPH0584461A - Cleaning method for color change - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficently clean a coating gun when colors are changed and to eliminate loss of time by assorting the colors into the same, unavoidable and avoidable colors and leaving a space for a truck only when necessary at the time of cleaning a coating robot for color change. CONSTITUTION:The coating data for the day are previously inputted to a color- change control panel 11, and final coating is carried out in a final coating booth 1 while successively changing coating colors based on the data. Colors are assorted into the same, unavoidable and avoidable colors for the preceding work W, and the colors are discriminated by a coating color instruction plate. When the same color is detected, a robot 3 after the normal coating is returned to the original position and allowed to stand by, the work is brought out, and a fresh work is brought in. When an unavoidable color is detected, a signal is sent to a conveyor control panel 13, a space is left for one truck by a stopper at the inlet of the booth 1, and the coating gun is cleaned when the robot 3 in the booth 1 comes to the space. Colors are changed in this way with efficient working and cleaning.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color change cleaning method for efficiently performing color change cleaning of a coating gun when changing a coating color in a top coating process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in the topcoating process of automobiles, the vehicle bodies conveyed at regular intervals are sequentially loaded into a booth and automatically coated using a coating gun, but the same coating in the same booth is performed. Robots may be used to paint different colors. And when this coating color is, for example, the previous color is black and the next is white, it is not preferable to carry in the next work with the mist of the previous color black paint floating in the booth. If the same coating gun is applied as it is, there is a problem that the coating color will change due to color mixing. Therefore, when changing colors, make a vacancy of one trolley between the works and let the floating mist settle during this time. A method is adopted in which the coating line leading to the coating gun is washed with thinner or the like. For this reason, when changing colors, a color change indicator is attached to a dolly on which a work whose paint color is to be changed is mounted, and the dolly 1 is detected by a photoelectric tube.
The vacant space for the vehicle was made and the above color changing procedure was performed.

[0003]

However, in the conventional case, since a vacancy for one trolley is provided for each color change, the loss time is large, and a certain amount of thinner or the like is used for each color change for cleaning. Therefore, there is a problem that the cost becomes high.

[0004]

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention divides the color change mode into the same color, the non-avoidance color and the avoidance color with respect to the previous work, and this can be identified by the paint color indicating plate. In addition, the procedure is changed according to this color change mode. That is, if the color is the same, the paint gun is not washed.If the color is non-avoiding, wash the paint gun with the robot returning to the original position after the painting of the work being finished is completed. An empty space for one carrier truck was created between the work being painted and the work at the booth entrance, and when the robot returned to its original position, the empty space for this one car was used to clean the coating gun. ..

[0005]

When the colors are changed, those having a large influence of the floating mist of the original coating color and those having a large influence of the color mixture are designated as avoidance colors, and those having a little influence of the floating mist and the color mixture are designated as non-avoidance colors. Then, in the case of the avoidance color, the washing is performed in the same manner as in the conventional case. In the case of the non-avoiding color, the truck is not vacant, and the thinner is used at about 2/3 of the conventional amount. Continue painting without washing the same color. By categorizing the color change modes in this way, the vacancy of the dolly is reduced, and the thinner is used more efficiently.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a control circuit diagram for controlling the cleaning method of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a paint color indicator plate attached to a dolly truck, FIG. 3 is a flow chart of judgment after detection of photocells, and FIG. 4 is a cleaning work cycle. It is a flowchart.

As shown in FIG. 1, for example, in a topcoating process of an automobile, a topcoat booth 1 and a transfer line 2 for transferring a work W are provided.
A plurality of painting robots 3 are provided, and a robot control panel 4 that controls the painting robots 3 is provided.

Further, a paint supply pipe 5 is connected to each of the painting robots 3, ... And a paint for a paint tank 7 and a cleaning liquid for a thinner tank 8 are selectively valved to the paint supply pipe 5 via a manifold 6. 9 can be switched. And
Constant pressure pump 1 for supplying these paints and cleaning liquids
0, and a color change control panel 11 for changing control of the valve 9
Is provided, and the color change control panel 11 is connected to the robot control panel 4.

On the other hand, the work W mounted on the dolly carriage 12 as shown in FIG. 2 is conveyed to the conveyor line 2 at a predetermined interval, and the dolly carriage 12 is controlled by a conveyor control panel 13. It is driven by the drive source 14. The conveyor control panel 13 and the robot control panel 4 are connected to each other to exchange input / output signals.

By the way, a photoelectric tube 15 is provided on the side of the transfer line 2 at the entrance of the topcoat booth 1. This photocell 1
Reference numeral 5 is for detecting the paint color indicating plate 16 of the dolly carriage 12 described below, and sends a detection signal to the robot control panel 4.

As shown in FIG. 2, the paint color indicating plate 16 can be attached to the front of the dolly carriage 12, and it is necessary to change the color of the work conveyed in the front and the work, and to wash the paint gun. It shows the necessity and is provided with an identification hole 17 for dividing the cleaning into three modes.

That is, the identification hole 17 is, for example, not provided with perforations, has one perforation, or has two perforations.
If there is no perforation, it indicates that the work W in front has the same color, and one perforation has a non-avoidance color and two perforations have an avoidance color.

At this time, when the original coating color is red, for example, the avoidance colors are non-avoiding colors such as black, blue and navy blue, and the avoiding colors such as white, yellow and gray. When the original coating color is white, all the next colors are avoidance colors, and when the original coating color is black, dark blue is a non-avoidance color and the others are avoidance colors.

That is, when the color is changed, those having a large influence of the floating mist of the original coating color in the booth 1 and those having a large influence on the coating surface due to the color mixture are set as avoidance colors, and the influence of the floating mist and the color mixture is set. Those that are not so large are considered as non-avoiding colors.

Further, the painting data for one day is previously stored in the color change control panel 1.
No. 1 is input, and the coating in the top coating booth 1 is performed while sequentially changing the coating color based on this input data, but only when this input data and the data from the photoelectric tube 15 are matched, as shown in FIG. In this way, the painting work is continued or the cleaning is performed, and when the two do not match, an alarm is issued and the line is stopped.

Now, the flow of the painting work in each aspect will be described.

First, when the same color is detected by the photoelectric tube 15, as shown in FIG. 4 (A), the coating work is performed in a normal cycle. That is, the painted robot 3
Returns to the original position and waits, during which the painted work is carried out, the next work is carried in, and the painting work is repeated.

Next, when the avoidance color is detected, a signal is sent to the conveyor control panel 13 to make a vacancy for one trolley by a stopper (not shown) provided at the entrance of the top coating booth 1, and the coating robot in the booth 1 is made. Of the three ..., The robot 3 having the vacant trolley at the front cleans the coating gun as shown in FIG. 4 (B).

That is, the coating robot 3 returns to the original position and stands by, all the supply paths leading from the paint tank 7 to the manifold 6 in FIG. 1 are closed, and the supply paths leading from the thinner tank 8 to the manifold 6 are opened. .. Then, by operating the constant pressure pump 10, the thinner is circulated in the manifold 6 to clean the supply path such as the paint supply pipe 5 between the manifold 6 and the coating gun.

When the cleaning is completed, the conveyor is operated by the conveyor control panel 13, the next work is carried in, and a new coating color is applied. In addition, the cleaning method as described above
It is roughly the same as the conventional cleaning method, and the amount of thinner used is almost the same.

When the phototube 15 detects a non-avoidance color, no vacant carriage is provided. That is, as shown in FIG. 4 (C), the coating robot 3 returns to the original position and starts cleaning, but during this time, the painted work is carried out and a new work is carried in. The thinner discharge amount at the time of cleaning is set to, for example, 2/3 of the case of the avoidance color.

When the cleaning is completed, the coating robot 3 is put in a standby state at the original position, and a new paint color is applied to the loaded work. By controlling in the manner described above, not only can the number of vacant trucks be reduced to improve work efficiency, but also the amount of thinner used can be reduced.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the color change cleaning of the painting robot is performed, the cleaning mode which has always been performed under the same condition in the past is divided into three, and the vacancy of the carriage is provided only when necessary. Also, because it was cleaned with the minimum necessary cleaning solution,
Work efficiency and cleaning efficiency can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a control circuit diagram for controlling a cleaning method.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a paint color indicating plate mounted on a dolly cart.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of judgment after detecting a photocell.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a cleaning work cycle, where (A) is the same color, (B) is the avoiding color, and (C) is the non-avoiding color.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Topcoat booth 3 Painting robot 15 Photoelectric tube 16 Paint color indicator 17 Identification hole W Work

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a color change cleaning method when a plurality of colors are overcoated by the same robot while combining coating and cleaning, a coating color indicator installed on a carrier is provided by a photoelectric tube installed at the entrance of a coating booth. The same color, non-avoidance color, or avoidance color for the work is judged from the identification holes punched in the paint color indicator, and if the color is the same, the paint gun is not washed. After the painting is completed, the painting gun is washed with the robot returning to the original position, and if it is the avoiding color, a space for one transport carriage is created between the painting currently being done and the work at the booth entrance. The color-changing cleaning method is characterized in that the paint gun is cleaned by using the empty space for one unit in a state where the paint is returned to the original position.