JPH064925Y2 - Automatic painting equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to an automatic coating apparatus for simultaneously coating a wide object such as an automobile body by using two or more coating machines at the same time. More specifically, the present invention relates to an automatic coating device capable of freely adjusting the mutual intervals of coating machines according to changes in the coating area of the object to be coated.

(Prior Art) For example, in the automatic painting of the outer skin of the automobile body,
It has been practiced to coat two or three coating machines at the same time (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-88067), and recently, in order to make the coating film even more uniform, automobiles have been used. If the paint discharge amount from each coater and shaping air etc. are controlled according to the change of the painting area of the body (bonnet part [large paint width] → roof part [small paint width] → rear trunk part [large paint width]) At the same time, the mutual spacing (gun pitch) between the coating machines is adjusted. That is, the size of the spray pattern from each coating machine is controlled by controlling the paint discharge amount, shaping air, etc., and the gun pitch is adjusted to maintain the state of the spray overlapping portion of each spray pattern constant, Overall, the coating film is maintained even when the coating area (painting width) of the object to be coated changes.

As a conventional device for this purpose, for example, a device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-48163 is known. This device has two sets of parallel-arranged sub-rails on a guide base which reciprocates by a crank mechanism. By providing two gun holders each having a coating gun fixed to each of the two sets of sub-rails movably, mounting an actuator on each gun holder, and controlling each actuator,
The gun pitch of each painting gun is adjusted.

Also, as a gun pitch control method, a plurality of limit switches are provided in the middle of the movement path of the coating gun, and the gun pitch is controlled by directly confirming the position of the coating gun by an electrical signal from this limit switch. In addition, a plurality of cam plates each having irregularities of different widths are formed on the peripheral surface based on the code method as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-12498, and each of these is used. A limit switch is attached to the cam plate, an electrical on / off signal is taken out by contact between the limit switch and the uneven surface of the cam plate, and an alternating binary output is formed by combining the signals from the respective limit switches. It is also known to utilize a method of detecting and controlling the position of the coating gun by a code.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) However, in the above-described conventional automatic coating apparatus, since two gun holders are provided with different drive mechanisms (actuators), the apparatus becomes large and its control is balanced. However, there is a problem in that the cost becomes high because the position detection mechanism must be separately attached.

Also, if limit switches are used for the position detection mechanism, a large number of limit switches must be used for accurate position detection, which makes the device larger and the mechanism more complicated. Above, there was a problem that it was not possible to accurately detect the position within a few millimeters.

Further, since the automatic coating device is usually used in the coating booth, when using the limit switch for the position detection mechanism, it is necessary to use one with explosion-proof measures,
There is a problem that the mechanism is large and the cost is high.

In addition, a position detection mechanism that uses multiple cam plates requires a large number of cam plates to be installed side by side, and an explosion-proof tamper limit switch must be attached to each of them, so the entire mechanism is large and the mounting space and weight are large. There was a problem that it became large and costly.

In particular, when using an automatic coating apparatus commonly referred to as a top reciprocating machine as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-88067, when the driving mechanism and position detecting mechanism of the coating gun become large and heavy, the reciprocating machine itself There was also a problem that the reciprocating device itself had to be increased in size in order to withstand an excessive load applied to the elevating stand and the elevating mechanism.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
The object is to provide an automatic coating device that is small and inexpensive, and that can adjust the mutual intervals of the coating machines with high precision.
The technical problem is to downsize and simplify the gap adjusting mechanism and the position detecting mechanism of the coating machine.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The automatic coating apparatus according to the present invention is an automatic coating apparatus configured such that two coating machines are moved in parallel in mutually opposite directions and the mutual intervals of the coating machines can be adjusted. The apparatus includes two sliding mounts each of which is equipped with each of the coating machines and moves in parallel in mutually opposite directions, a rail that slidably supports the sliding mounts, and a rotatable rotating body. Two sets of link arms that respectively connect two points of the rotating body, which are located point-symmetrically with respect to the center of rotation, and one ends of the two slide frames, and the rotating body are connected to each other to extend and contract the cylinder rod. A space adjusting mechanism for moving the two coating machines in mutually opposite directions, which comprises a fluid cylinder rotationally driven in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, and which rotates in synchronization with the rotational driving of the rotating body, and , Centered on its center of rotation A rotating plate on which an alternating binary output code is formed along the circumference by a pattern of a plurality of concentric circles, a light source that projects light toward the concentric pattern of the rotating plate, and a light from the rotating plate. A position detection mechanism for detecting the positions of the two coating machines, which comprises a photodetector that receives and reads the output code of the alternating binary system, and an output code read by the photodetector for the two coating machines. The two coatings are checked by collating with pre-registered alternating binary data for machine spacing, and controlling the delivery of working fluid to the fluid cylinder with agreement between the output code and the registered data. And a control mechanism for adjusting the mutual distance between the machines.

One coating machine installed on each sliding rack may be only one coating machine, but two or several coating machines should be operated together as one coating machine. Alternatively, a plurality of coating machines may be mounted on one sliding rack.

Also, the sliding base as one unit may be composed of only one sliding base, but two or more sliding bases may be connected to each other to operate as one sliding base. It may be configured to. In that case, one link arm may be used collectively after connecting the sliding mounts, but the link arms may be separately connected to each of the sliding mounts, and a plurality of link arms may be assembled together. It may be handled as a link arm.

As the rail, a type generally used for wheels and rollers, a round bar or a polygonal shaft as a guide rail can be used. The fluid cylinder may be of a type in which the cylinder rod expands and contracts depending on the amount of working fluid supplied to the cylinder, and for example, a hydraulic cylinder or a pneumatic cylinder is preferably used.

As the rotating body, a disc type or a crankshaft type having a rotating shaft provided at the center can be used.
The mounting position of the rotating body is generally in the approximate center between the two sliding mounts, but depending on the mounting space, etc. You can take it to the outside, without any restrictions. An arbitrary mechanism such as a rack-and-pinion mechanism or a crank mechanism can be adopted as a rotation driving mechanism of the rotating body by the fluid cylinder.

Further, it is preferable that the rotary plate having the output cord is directly attached to the rotary shaft of the rotary body and rotated for the sake of simplification of the device. However, it is possible to separate the rotary plate by a transmission mechanism such as a sprocket and a chain. You may rotate synchronously. The output code is given to the rotary plate by cutting out slit groups in an arc shape or pasting a reflective tape group so as to form an alternating binary output code along a plurality of concentric circles centering on the rotation center of the rotary plate. Do by wearing.

The light may be projected onto the rotary plate directly from a light source such as an explosion-proof type LED, but from the viewpoint of further miniaturization and stability of the device, an optical fiber is used from a light source far away. It is preferable that the transmitted light is projected from the end face of the optical fiber toward the rotary plate. Also, in the case of a photodetector, rather than mounting an explosion-proof type photodetector directly,
It is more preferable that an optical signal transmitted using an optical fiber is detected by a photodetector at a remote place.

The variable control of the amount of working fluid supplied to the fluid cylinder should be performed by combining any mechanism such as a commercially available electro-pneumatic converter or servomotor type pump with any control device such as a sequencer or a microcomputer. You can

(Operation) Since the interval adjusting mechanism of the automatic coating apparatus of the present invention uses the link mechanism using the rotating body and the link arm to simultaneously move the two sliding bases (coating machines) by the common fluid cylinder, The drive unit can be downsized, there is no need to purposely control the position balance of the two groups, and the two sliding racks are linked to each other to operate, so that only one mechanism for detecting the positions is required.

Further, as the position detecting mechanism, the one in which the output code of the alternating binary system is formed along the circumference of the surface of the rotary plate by the pattern of a plurality of concentric circles is used. Since a large number of output codes can be output and it is not necessary to use a large number of cam plates as in the conventional case, the device is small and lightweight, the mechanism is simplified, and the device can be easily adjusted.

In addition, since light is used as a detection medium for the output code, it is very advantageous in terms of explosion-proof measures, and in combination with the use of the alternating binary system, the position of the sliding mount (painting machine) can be accurately and accurately determined. And it can be detected easily.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of an automatic coating apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view seen from directly above.

The automatic coating apparatus 1 in this embodiment is of a type commonly referred to as a top reciprocating machine, and includes elevator frames 5a and 5b on base frames 4a and 4b that are erected on both sides of a transfer passage 3 for an object to be coated 2, respectively. Is provided, and the lifting platforms 5a and 5b are suspended by chains 7a and 7b on sprockets 6a, 6a ', 6b' and 6b 'mounted on the upper ends of the base frames 4a and 4b, respectively. There is. Balance weights 8a and 8b are hung on opposite sides of the chains 7a and 7b, respectively.
As a result, the balance is maintained with the total weight of the lifting parts 5a and 5b and other lifting parts. Then, the other chain 9 extending from the lower ends of the balance weights 8a and 8b
The a and 9b are wound around sprockets 10a and 10b attached to the lower ends of the base frames 4a and 4b, and returned to the lower ends of the elevating and lowering stands 5a and 5b to be connected to each other to form an endless structure as a whole. Has been done.

Further, a drive sprocket 13 is connected via a chain 12 to a sprocket 11 fixed on the same axis as one of the sprockets 6a, so that an explosion-proof drive motor (servo motor) 14 can be rotated normally or reversely. Thus, it is possible to raise or lower the elevating and lowering stands 5a and 5b and stop them at arbitrary positions. A bevel gear box 15a is connected to the other sprocket 6a ', and the rotational driving force is transmitted to the sprocket 6b' on the opposite side via the power transmission shaft 16 and the bevel gear box 15b, and the rotation is synchronized. It is like this.
Reference numerals 17 and 17 'are reinforcement frames for maintaining the strength of the base frames 4a and 4b.

Racks 18a, 1 having substantially the same length are respectively provided on the upper surfaces of the elevating and lowering stands 5a, 5b extending in the conveying direction of the object to be coated 2.
8b is laid, and tracking boxes 21a, 21b are mounted on the racks 18a, 18b via pinion gears 19a, 19b and rotating shafts 20a, 20b. Then, the explosion-proof drive motor (servo motor) 22 in the tracking box 21a is normally or reversely rotated to normally or reversely rotate the pinion gears 19a and 19b, so that the tracking boxes 21a and 21b are moved in the conveying direction of the object to be coated 2. The follow-up running such as forward or backward can be performed. The rotational driving force of the drive motor 22 is transmitted from the rotary shaft 20a to the rotary shaft 20b on the opposite side via the universal joints 23a and 23b and the power transmission shaft 24, and then to the pinion gear 19a. The power transmission shaft 24 serves not only to transmit the rotational driving force but also to synchronize the rotations of both the rotary bearings 20a and 20b.

Each tracking box 21a, 21b is a reinforcing frame 25, 2
The rollers 26a and 26b are attached to both outer sides of the rollers 26a and 26b while being connected by 5 '.
Is configured to rotate while sliding along the inner side wall surfaces of the elevating racks 5a and 5b, so that the tracking boxes 21a and 21b are reinforced and lateral stability is maintained. When the weight of the tracking boxes 21a, 21b, etc. becomes too heavy, the lifting racks 5a, 5b should be attached to the racks.
Rails may be laid parallel to 18a and 18b, wheels may be attached to the tracking boxes 21a and 21b, and the wheels may travel while supporting the weight of the tracking boxes 21a and 21b.

Each tracking box 21a, 21b has a swing arm 27
Tilt box 2 with a and 27b attached and bell type electrostatic coating machines 28a, 28b and 28c attached to the lower end side
9 is hanging. Each swing arm 27a, 27b is a crank drive mechanism 3 installed in the tracking box 21b.
When 0 is driven to rotate, it swings laterally.

Further, the tilt drive mechanism 31 is provided on the lower end side of the swing arm 27a.
The tilt box 29 hung from the lower ends of the swinging arms 27a and 27b via electrically insulating connecting cylinders 32a and 32b is connected to the tilt axis 29 of the connecting cylinders 32a and 32b. By rotating (tilting) along the axis and changing the directions of the bell-type electrostatic coating machines 28a, 28b, 28c, the bell-type electrostatic coating machine 28a, 28a, 28b 28b and 28c can face each other. The tilt box 29 is entirely covered with an electrically insulating case, and the bell type electrostatic coating machines 28a, 28b,
It prevents the paint mist from adhering from 28c and also prevents electrical discharge from occurring due to being charged.

In addition, 33 is a carrier truck that carries the article to be coated 2 and runs.
Is the floor surface of the coating booth composed of grating and the like.

FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view showing a main part of the automatic coating apparatus of the present invention. Two bell type electrostatic coating machines 28 are provided in the tilt box 29 connected and supported by the connecting cylinders 32a and 33b.
Two sliding mounts 35a, 35b that mount a, 28b and move in parallel in opposite directions, rails 36a, 36b slidably supporting the sliding mounts 35a, 35b, and a fluid cylinder (air cylinder). ) 37, which is rotationally driven by 37, and two points 40a, 40b located symmetrically about the center of rotation (rotational axis) 39 of the rotary body 38 and two ends 41a of the sliding mounts 35a, 35b. Four
With a coating machine spacing adjustment mechanism composed of two sets of link arms 42a and 42b that respectively connect 1b and 1b, and a plurality of concentric circles that rotate in synchronization with the rotational drive of the rotating body 38 and center around the rotation center. A rotating plate 44 on which alternating binary output codes 43a, 43b, 43c are formed is arranged along the circumference, and an LED which projects light toward the output codes 43a, 43b, 43c of the rotating plate 44. And a light detector 45 such as a phototransistor for reading the output codes 43a, 43b, 43c of the rotary plate 44, and the like. Part 48 and light source 4
5 and the photodetector 46 are connected by optical fiber cables 49 and 50, respectively.

Further, based on a signal from the photodetector 46, the feed amount of the working fluid (air) to the fluid cylinder (air cylinder) 37 is changed to adjust the mutual distance between the bell type electrostatic coating machines 28a and 28b. A control mechanism including a microcomputer 51 and an electropneumatic converter 52 is provided. That is, the output codes 43a, 43b, 43c read by the photodetector 46 are preliminarily compared to the mutual distance between the electrostatic coating machines 28a, 28b.
By collating with the alternating binary data registered in 51, and by matching the output codes 43a, 43b, 43c with the registered data, the working fluid is fed to the fluid cylinder 37 by adjusting the output of the electropneumatic converter 52. Electrostatic coating machine by controlling the amount
The distance between 28a and 28b can be adjusted. Incidentally, 53 is a supply source of the working fluid, and air or oil is preferably used as the working fluid.

In addition to bell-type electrostatic coating machines 28a and 28b, color change valve groups 54a and 54b are provided on the sliding mounts 35a and 35b as manifolds.
The CCV boxes attached to the 55a and 55b are mounted, and the paint and the thinner for the color change valve groups 54a and 54b respectively pass through the inside of the left and right connecting cylinders 32a and 32b and are temporarily stored in the tilt box 29. It is supplied by paint hoses (thinner hoses) 57a, 57b that are attached to the relay boxes 56a, 56b and extend from there to the color change valve groups again, and from there, through the manifolds 55a, 55b, the bell-type electrostatic coating machines 28a, It is supplied to 28b and 28c. Further, air hoses, high voltage cables, etc. are also passed through the inside of the connecting cylinders 32a, 32b similarly to the paint hoses 57a, 57b, and the relay boxes 56a, 5b.
It is connected and supplied to each bell type electrostatic coating machine 28a, 28b via 6b. The bell-type electrostatic coating machine 28c at the center is fixed to almost the center of the tilt box 29, and the bell-type electrostatic coating machines 28a and 28b are installed behind the bell-type electrostatic coating machine 28c. As in the case, a CCV box (not shown) is attached, and the supply of paint and thinner, and the supply of air and high voltage are the same as in the case of other bell type electrostatic coating machines 28a, 28b. Done in a way. Of course, various piping wiring such as the air and oil supply hose 58 to the fluid cylinder 37, the light emitting part 47, and the optical fiber cables 49 and 50 to the light receiving part 48 are also connected to the connecting cylinder 32.
It is introduced into the tilt box 29 through a and 32b.

Further, the rear portion of the fluid cylinder 37 is swingably attached to a mount 59 in the tilt box 29, and the tip end portion of the cylinder rod 60 thereof is an arm portion projecting to the outside of the rotating body 38.
It is rotatably attached to 61. The rotating body 38 can be rotated by expanding and contracting the cylinder rod 60. The rotation axis of the rotating body 38
A rotary plate 44 is coaxially attached to the 39 so as to rotate synchronously.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are a partially enlarged front view and a side view of the tilt drive mechanism 31 of the automatic coating apparatus according to the present embodiment, in which the swing arms 27a and 27a 'are provided with shaft holes at the lower ends thereof, respectively.
62 and 62 ′ are bored, and the rotary shafts 64 and 64 ′ fixed to the mount box 63 are inserted into the shaft holes 62 and 62 ′,
A mount box 63 is rotatably suspended and supported.

Large-diameter bearings 65 inside the mount box 63
The tilt box 29 is rotatably supported by inserting one end of the connecting cylinder 32a into it.
Further, a large diameter sprocket 66 is fixed to the tip of the connecting cylinder 32a. 67 is an annular collar for preventing the connecting cylinder 32a from being displaced in the axial direction during rotation. Further, on the mount box 63, a tilt drive unit composed of an explosion-proof type inverter motor 68 and a worm gear box 69 is mounted, and a drive sprocket 71 is fixed to the tip of the drive shaft 70 protruding from the worm gear box 69,
The toothed belt 72 is wound around the sprocket 66 attached to the tip of the connecting cylinder 32a, and the inverter motor
By rotating the 68 in the normal direction or in the reverse direction, the connecting cylinder 32a is rotated in the normal direction or the reverse direction along the axis of the drive shaft 70, the drive sprocket 71, the toothed belt 72, and the sprocket 66, and the tilt box 29 is rotated. It is designed to be tilted.

Further, on the opposite side of the worm gear box 69 from the drive shaft 70, a rotary position detecting mechanism 73 having a rotary plate similar to that described in FIG. 3 is attached, and a rotary angle (tilt angle) is detected to detect an inverter. The motor 68 can be controlled and adjusted.

Further, both ends of the connection cylinder 32a are in an open state, and all the piping wires such as a paint hose, an air hose, a high-voltage cable, and an optical fiber cable are inserted from one end side of the connection cylinder 32a, and the inside of the connection cylinder 32a is passed through. Since it is introduced into the tilt box 29, there is no possibility that the piping and wiring will get in the way during the painting work and dust that has accumulated on the piping and wiring will fall, resulting in poor painting.

Further, when an electrostatic coating machine is used as the coating machine as in this embodiment, the tilt box is formed by forming the connecting cylinder 32a (32b) with an electrically insulating material such as nylon or Delrin.
A good electrical insulation state can be maintained between the electrostatic coating machine in 29 and the swing arms 27a and 27b, and useless leakage current can be suppressed.

Although not shown, the structure of the tilt portion at the lower end of the swing arm 27b is similar to that of the mount box 63 and the rotary shafts 64 and 64 ', the bearings 65 and the flange 67 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In this structure, the connecting cylinder 32b is rotatably supported, and unlike the case of FIGS. 4 and 5, a drive mechanism including an inverter motor 68, a worm gear box 69, etc. is provided. Just not.

FIG. 6 shows in detail the structure of the rotary plate 44 portion of the position detecting mechanism which has already been described. The rotary plate 44 has, for example, openings formed in a pattern for forming the output code along a plurality of concentric circles. The light-shielding plate is formed, or a light-shielding paint is applied to the light-transmitting plate. Further, the alternating binary output codes 43a, 43b, 43c formed along the plurality of concentric circles of the rotary plate 44 are tilt boxes 29, respectively.
A signal "1" (or "0") is given when a light beam from the light projecting portion 47 to the light receiving portion 48 inside passes through the rotating plate 44, and conversely, the rotating plate.
Eight output codes having different combinations of the signal "1" and the signal "0" for each divided section obtained by equally dividing each concentric circle into eight with the same radial line when the signal is interrupted by 44 Signals 0 (0,0,0), 1 (1,0,0), 2
(1,1,0), ... 7 (0,1,1). The rotary plate 44 rotates in synchronization with the rotary drive of the rotary body 38, and the alternating binary output code according to the rotation amount of the rotary plate 44.
43a, 43b, 43c are read by the photodetector shown in FIG. 3 to detect the position of the bell type electrostatic coating machines 28a, 28b. Further, depending on the rotating direction of the rotary plate 44, the moving direction of whether the space between the bell-type electrostatic coating machines 28a and 28b is narrowed or expanded is also detected. The controllable mutual distance between the bell-type electrostatic coating machines 28a and 28b at this time corresponds to an interval obtained by dividing the maximum interval into eight equal parts.

Then, the operation of the automatic coating apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described. When the object to be coated (vehicle body) 2 mounted on the carrier truck 33 arrives at the coating zone, first, the lifting platform 5a,
5b descends, and then gradually rises along the outer curved surface of the car body 2 so that the tilt box follows the bell type electrostatic coating machines 28a, 28b, 28c so that they directly face the painted surface of the car body 2. While the tilt box 29, that is, the bell-type electrostatic coating machines 28a, 28b, and 28c are oscillated by the crank drive mechanism 30 via the oscillating arms 27a and 27b, in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the vehicle body 2. The painting work progresses from the front part of the automobile body 2 to the bonnet part. At this time, since the coating width of the bonnet portion is wide, the intervals between the bell-type electrostatic coating machines 28a, 28b and 28c remain wide.

Further, on the racks 18a, 18b laid on the lifting platforms 5a, 5b, the tracking boxes 21a, 21b perform forward or backward tracking traveling in parallel with the conveyance direction of the vehicle body 2 by rotation of the pinion gears 19a, 19b. Meanwhile, the bell-type electrostatic coating machines 28a, 28b, 28c are made to follow the coating surface of the automobile body 2 so as to maintain the proper position and the proper relative speed.

Next, when the coating of the bonnet portion is completed and the coating of the roof portion is started, the elevating and lowering stands 5a and 5b suddenly rise to the proper positions and, at the same time, the fluid cylinder rod in the tilt box 29.
60 contracts, rotates the rotating body 38 clockwise, and pulls the sliding mounts 35a, 35b toward the center through the link arms 42a, 42b. As a result, the mutual distance between the bell-type electrostatic coating machines 28a and 28b mounted on the sliding mounts 35a and 35b is reduced,
The spacing is suitable for painting the roof.

At this time, it is necessary to judge whether or not the distance between the bell-type electrostatic coating machines 28a and 28b has reached the proper distance.
The alternating binary output code formed on the rotary plate 44 mounted on the rear side of 39 is read by the light source 45 and the photodetector 46 through the optical fiber cables 49 and 50, and the internal registration data in the microcomputer 51 is read. It is performed by collating with. Bell type electrostatic coating machines 28a, 2
The control for moving 8b is the output of the electropneumatic converter 52 (air supply amount) until the read output code matches the coating control data registered in advance in the microcomputer 51.
Is controlled to control the supply amount of the working fluid (air) to the fluid cylinder 37.

Then, when painting of the roof part is completed, the elevating racks 5a, 5b
Plunges to the proper position and begins painting the rear trunk. At that time, the space between the bell-type electrostatic coating machines 28a and 28b is
The operation opposite to that described above is performed, that is, the cylinder rod 60 of the fluid cylinder 37 is extended and the rotating body 38 is rotated counterclockwise to widen the space between the sliding bases 35a and 35b, thereby increasing the bell-type electrostatic force. The spacing between the coating machines 28a and 28b is set to a wide spacing suitable for coating the rear trunk portion. The interval control at that time is performed by the same procedure as described above.

Then, when all the painting work including the rear trunk portion and the rear part of the body is completed, the elevating racks 5a and 5b are raised to the uppermost stage, and at the same time, the tilt box 29 faces downward, and the tracking boxes 21a and 21b are in the initial positions. Return to and wait for the next painting. During the standby, the bell-type electrostatic coating machines 28a, 28b, 28c may be washed and the colors may be changed.

In the automatic coating apparatus according to the present embodiment, the lifting platform is separated into two bodies 5a and 5b, and a power transmission shaft is provided above the article 2 to be coated.
Since only 24, reinforcing frames 25 and 25 ', and tilt box 29 are configured, there is less obstruction of the air flow from above, which causes turbulence of the air flow and paint failure due to falling objects such as accumulated dust. It is extremely advantageous to perform high-quality painting of automobile bodies in tunnel-type painting booths and the like. Further, since the tracking mechanism is mounted on the elevating platforms 5a and 5b and the tracking boxes 21a and 21b are made to follow and travel, the tracking mechanism and The drive mechanism for that purpose is greatly miniaturized, and since there is no large mechanism such as a drive mechanism near the floor surface of the coating booth, the entire device is refreshed and the workability such as maintenance is very good. In addition, since all the piping and wiring to the bell type electrostatic coating machines 28a, 28b, 28c, etc. are introduced and connected through the connecting cylinders 32a, 32b, like the conventional apparatus, the coating apparatus (particularly the lifting platform) ) Does not hinder the piping and wiring, nor does it cause dust or dirt accumulated on the piping or wiring to fall and cause paint failure.

In the present embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to an automatic coating device in which a coating machine commonly referred to as a top reciprocating machine is moved in a horizontal direction (lateral direction) has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, it can be suitably applied to an automatic coating apparatus of a type commonly referred to as a side reciprocating machine that moves in a vertical direction (vertical direction) or in an oblique direction.

Further, as the coating machine to be used, various coating machines such as an electrostatic type, a non-electrostatic type, an air atomizing type, an airless atomizing type and a rotary atomizing (bell) type can be used without any limitation.

(Effect of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, the link mechanism using the rotating body and the link arm is used to adjust the distance between the two coating machines at the same time by the common fluid cylinder. Therefore, the drive unit can be made smaller and lighter, and the control of adjusting the position balance of the two units is not necessary, so the control is simple. Furthermore, since the two coating machines operate by linking with each other, the position detection mechanism also works. The effect is that only one unit is required and the price is low.

Further, as the position detecting mechanism, the rotating plate that rotates in synchronization with the rotating body and has the binary output code formed on the surface along a plurality of concentric circles is used. Since a large number of output codes can be output, the mechanism is small and lightweight, the structure is simple and the adjustment is easy.

Also, since light is used as a detection medium for the output code,
This is very advantageous in terms of explosion-proof measures, and in combination with the use of the alternating binary system, the position of the coating machine can be detected accurately, accurately and easily.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of the automatic coating apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 seen from directly above, and FIG. FIGS. 4 and 5 are enlarged front views and side views showing a tilt drive mechanism portion of the device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is one example of a position detection mechanism of the device shown in FIG. It is an enlarged front view which shows a part. 1 ... Automatic coating device 28a, 28b, 28c ... Bell type electrostatic coating machine 35a, 35b ... Sliding base 36a, 36b ... Rail 37 ... Fluid cylinder 38 ... Rotating body 42a, 42b ... Link arm 43a, 43b, 43c ... Alternation Binary output code 44 ... Rotating plate 45 ... Light source 46 ... Photodetector 51 ... Microcomputer 52 ... Electropneumatic converter

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshitaka Naruse 1-9 Kakimoto-cho, Toyota-shi, Aichi Trinity Industries Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takeshi Mieno 1 Toyota-cho, Toyota-shi, Aichi Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Koji Ota 1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Naoki Yamada 1, Toyota Town, Aichi Prefecture Toyota Motor Company, Ltd. (72) Inventor, Hajime Takeuchi 1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor: Tomoaki Iwashita 1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Toyota Motor Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An automatic coating apparatus in which two coating machines are parallelly moved in opposite directions so that a mutual interval between the coating machines can be adjusted, the apparatus including the coating machines. And two sliding bases that move in parallel in opposite directions, a rail that slidably supports the sliding base, a rotatable rotor, and point symmetry with respect to the center of rotation of the rotor. Two sets of link arms, which respectively connect the two points located and one ends of the two slide mounts, and the rotary body are coupled to each other, and are driven to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise by expansion and contraction of the cylinder rod. A space adjusting mechanism composed of a fluid cylinder that moves the two coating machines in opposite directions, and a plurality of concentric circles that rotate in synchronization with the rotational drive of the rotating body and have their centers of rotation as centers. Along its circumference depending on the pattern A rotating plate on which an alternating binary output code is formed, a light source that projects light toward a concentric circular pattern of the rotating plate, and light that receives the light from the rotating plate and reads the alternating binary output code. A position detection mechanism configured to detect the positions of the two coating machines, which includes a detector, and alternating binary data in which the output code read by the photodetector is registered in advance with respect to the distance between the two coating machines. And a control mechanism for adjusting the mutual distance between the two coating machines by controlling the feed amount of the working fluid to the fluid cylinder based on the agreement between the output code and the registered data. The automatic coating device is characterized by