JPH07204544A - Color change device of automatic coating machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent deposition of a coating material in a color change device of an automatic coating machine. CONSTITUTION:A switching valve 8 is provided between a manifold 2 and a coating gun 5, and the switching valve 8 and the manifold 2 are connected with a hose to form a loop path 9 between the manifold 2 and the switching valve 8. Also a heating means is provided on the loop path 9 to circulate a heated washing thinner in the loop path 9 during stopping the operation of the automatic coating material.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color changing device for an automatic painting machine used in a painting line for car bodies such as automobiles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a line for painting a car body of an automobile or the like, a paint gun for spraying paint into a paint booth to which the car body is conveyed is used from the viewpoint of improving coating film quality and safety and health of workers. An automatic coating machine equipped with an equipped automatic machine and / or a coating robot, which coats a vehicle body with a spray gun on behalf of an operator, is used. By the way, in the above-mentioned automatic coating machine, when changing the coating color of the vehicle body conveyed in the coating boot, since the same coating gun sprays the coating material of the color corresponding to the vehicle body color, Equipped with a color changing device to change the paint color on the paint transport route.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the color changing device of the above-mentioned automatic coating machine. Reference numeral 1 denotes a plurality of paint tanks each of which stores paints of a plurality of colors arranged outside the coating booth. Manifold 2 equipped with and color change valve 3
It is a paint pipe that connects the. Reference numeral 2 denotes a manifold arranged in the coating boot, which has a plurality of color change valves 3 connected to respective paint tanks of a paint store via a circulation (not shown). Equipped. Then, one of the plurality of color change valves 3 is selected and opened, and the others are closed to select a paint of a desired color from each paint tank of the paint store and supply it to the manifold 2. To be done. Reference numeral 4 is a gear pump, one of which is connected to the manifold 2 via a hose, and the other of which is also connected to the coating gun 5 by a hose. The paint is sequentially supplied through a paint pipe 1, a color change valve 3, a manifold 2 and a gear pump 4 to a coating gun 5 and applied to an object to be coated.

When the coating color is changed, a cleaning thinner is supplied from the cleaning thinner pipe 6 to the cleaning valve 7 of the manifold 2 before the paint is supplied, and the coating is carried out from the manifold 2. The guns 5 and 5 are cleaned with a cleaning thinner and then dried with air, and then a paint having a desired coating color is supplied.
Then, while the automatic coating machine is in operation, the above operation is repeated to apply the coating to the object to be coated.

[0005]

By the way, in the above-mentioned color changing device of the automatic coating machine, the coating material is deposited on the wall surfaces of the color change valve 3 and the manifold 2 during operation, and during the coating operation. The deposits on the wall suddenly peeled off,
It mixes with the paint and adheres to the object being painted, resulting in deterioration of the coating quality. In order to eliminate such a problem, there is a problem that the color change valve 3 and the manifold 2 must be periodically disassembled and cleaned with a thinner or the like.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Connection via a hose or the like with a manifold equipped with a color change valve in which paints of colors according to specifications are supplied from paint stores storing paints of a plurality of colors. In an automatic coating machine equipped with a coating gun and the manifold and the cleaning thinner tank are connected by a hose or the like, a switching valve is arranged on the way from the manifold to the coating gun. On the other hand, the switching valve and the manifold are connected with a hose or the like to connect with the manifold to form a loop path between the manifold and the switching valve and to heat the loop path. Means are provided and the heated cleaning thinner is circulated in the loop path while the automatic coating machine is not operating.

[0007]

[Function] When changing colors, the required amount of cleaning thinner
Is first supplied to the manifold, then sequentially sent to the switching valve and the coating gun and discarded from the coating gun. Then, after switching the valve of the switching valve, the cleaning thinner is supplied to the manifold again, and the loop passage between the manifold, the switching valve and the manifold cleaning valve is circulated. Since the heating means is provided on the loop path, the heated cleaning thinner circulates through the loop path.
This circulation is continued until the next coating color is started.

When performing the next painting operation, the valve of the switching valve is switched to the painting gun side, the circulating cleaning thinner is discarded from the painting gun, and then the air is introduced into the above path. Sending and discharging the cleaning thinner completely to prepare for the start of painting work.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a main part configuration diagram showing a color changing device of an automatic coating machine according to the present invention. Reference numeral 1 is a paint pipe, one of which is connected to a paint tank and the other of which is connected to a manifold 2 through a hose. A manifold 2 is provided with a color change valve 3 and a cleaning thinner valve 7. Reference numeral 4 denotes a gear pump, one of which is connected to the manifold 2 and the other of which is connected to the switching valve 8 via a hose. 5 is a painting gun. Reference numeral 10 is a liquid heating heater for heating the cleaning thinner. 11
And 12 are check valves. While the automatic coating machine is operating, the coating material of a desired coating color is sequentially supplied from the coating pipe 1 to the color change valve 3, the manifold 3, the gear pump 4, and the coating gun 5 to be coated on the vehicle body.

When changing colors, the cleaning thinner first passes through the cleaning thinner pipe 6, the check valve 11 and the liquid heating line heater 10 and is installed in the manifold 2 for cleaning. It is supplied to the manifold 2 via the valve 7. The thinner includes a gear pump 4 and a switching valve 8
And is discarded from the painting gun 5.

Then, the valve of the switching valve 8 is switched, and the manifold 2, the gear pump 4, the switching valve 8 and the manifold are switched.
One loop path 9 is formed between the cleaning thinner valves 7 of the nozzle 2 and a fluid heating line heater 10 for heating the cleaning thinner is disposed on the loop path 9. To do. Then, the cleaning thinner is circulated in the loop path 9. The cleaning thinner passes through the cleaning thinner pipe 6, the check valve 11 and the liquid heating line heater 10. , Is supplied to the manifold 2 via a manifold valve 7 for cleaning the manifold, and is again supplied to the manifold 2 via the gear pump 4, the switching valve 8 and the check valve 12.
Then, the heated cleaning thinner circulates through the loop path 9. In FIG. 1, both the cleaning thinner passing through the cleaning thinner pipe 6 and the cleaning thinner circulating through the loop path 9 are heated by using one fluid heating line heater 10. The fluid heating line heaters may be separately arranged. That is, the check valve 1 on the cleaning thinner pipe 6
1 to the manifold thinner valve 7 for cleaning the manifold, a pipe may be separately provided, and a fluid heating line heater may be installed on the pipe. It should be noted that it is not always necessary to heat the cleaning thinner passing through the cleaning thinner pipe 6.

As a heating means for the cleaning thinner, a heater may be wound directly around the hose forming the loop path 9 to heat it. Next, the heating temperature of the cleaning thinner is preferably not lower than the glass transition point of the resin constituting the paint, and is preferably in the range of 40 ° C to 85 ° C. The glass transition point of the resin constituting the paint is in the range of 40 ° C to 85 ° C. After properly circulating the cleaning thinner in this way, the valve of the switching valve is switched, the cleaning thinner is discarded from the coating gun 5, and then the cleaning thinner remaining in the loop path 9 is removed by air. Eject completely and prepare for the start of painting work.

[0013]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION Cleaning thinner whose loop path is heated
Since the paint circulates, it is difficult for the paint to deposit on the color change valve and the manifold, so that the quality of the coating film can be improved.
Further, since the heated cleaning thinner is circulated, the cleaning time can be shortened and the line tact can be improved.
In addition, the frequency of disassembling the device can be reduced, and the number of cleaning steps and costs can be reduced. Further, since only the heating means is added, it can be applied to the existing equipment with extremely inexpensive equipment investment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main part configuration diagram showing a color changing device of an automatic coating machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a main part configuration diagram showing a color changing device of a conventional automatic coating machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Paint Piping 2 Manifold 3 Color Change Valve 4 Gear Pump 5 Coating Gun 6 Cleaning Thinner Pipe 7 Cleaning Thinner Valve 8 Switching Valve 9 Loop Path 10 Heating Means 11 Check Valve

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A coating gun connected via a hose or the like with a manifold equipped with a color change valve to which the paint of a color according to the specifications is supplied from a paint store which stores paints of a plurality of colors. In an automatic coating machine having a manifold and a thinner tank for cleaning connected by a hose or the like, a switching valve is provided on the way from the manifold to the coating gun, while the switching valve is provided. Connect the valve and the manifold with a hose, etc., and connect the valve between the manifold and the switching valve.
A loop path is formed and a heating means is disposed on the loop path, and the heated cleaning thinner is circulated in the loop path while the automatic coating machine is not operating. Color changing device for automatic painting machines.