JPS5941784B2 - Fun Musairiyou Kirikaesouchi - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of atomization devices, and more particularly to that field as it relates to the atomization of coating materials.

More particularly, the present invention relates to the above-mentioned field where it is necessary to spray a variety of materials intermittently in an irregularly ordered manner, and where mixing of the materials is to be avoided to the utmost. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for use with an electrostatic powder atomizer, by means of which the powder atomizer rapidly transfers powder from a first selection powder to a second selection powder. It is switchable and can be connected to multiple sources of dry powder so as to avoid any mixing of the powder to be atomized with residual powder from previous atomization steps. For example, in spraying dry powder materials such as film-forming coatings for automobile body panels, it is often necessary to spray each of a series of body panels with a different powder coating at a single spray station.

A single-spray nursery can be equipped with one or more spray devices (called spray guns) arranged to spray the material all at once. To maintain a smooth and economical rate of operation of the atomizing assembly, switch from one atomizing material to another in approximately the same amount of time as is required for a series of body panels entering the area of the atomizing device. A spray device that can do this is required. It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for switching the material supplied to the atomizing station within the time required for successive parts entering the atomizing station. One way to accomplish this goal is to supply each spray material with a separate spray device and automatically switch between the series of spray devices for each body panel in the series.

However, this is uneconomical and complicated, considering that powder coating materials are typically sprayed with an electrostatic charge to achieve a uniform coating, and that providing a large number of spray devices requires a large number of electrostatic charging devices. This is a problem-solving method. Also, such a solution is burdensome in that the equipment required to maintain each spray station is extremely large. moreover,
Troublesome safety issues arise from the extra machinery required to switch between series of atomizers and the need to maintain numerous electrostatically charged parts of the atomizer. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a switching device for an atomizer that interconnects a single atomizer and multiple sources of atomizer material. One conventional mechanism for accomplishing the above objectives has been to equip multiple powder manifolds, each having a spray channel and a powder channel.

The manifolds are interconnected and the spray channels are aligned to create a common flow path through the manifolds. Each powder flow path intersects with a spray or common flow path to connect to a single source of material. Such devices are therefore controlled by a series of valves located in the powder flow path upstream from the junction with the spray flow path. This valving opens an individual powder flow path and concomitantly closes all other powder flow paths to prevent powder-to-powder mixing. However, such a valve arrangement must be located in the powder flow path slightly upstream from the junction point between each powder flow path and the spray flow path, resulting in small pockets where residual atomized material can accumulate. will occur. Although it is common practice to brush the spray channel and the spray device between successive additions of material by the spray device, it is difficult to completely brush the pockets of accumulated spray material, and residual material from previous steps can be removed. Mixing often occurs. Accordingly, another and particular object of the present invention is to provide a material switching device for use with an atomizing device, which device interconnects the atomizing device with multiple sources of atomized material and to prevent mixing.

? More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device that prevents the formation of an accumulation downstream of a control valve and prevents residual atomized material. Another method proposed to solve the above problem is to equip the spraying device with multiple material supply conduits.

Each of the supply conduits has an outlet intended to direct the stream of atomized material to the center of the vortex nozzle. In this method, a single material is supplied from a selected supply conduit and sprayed from the device. The spray nozzles are sequentially connected to different sources. This arrangement is dimensionally limited in that only a small number of conduits are concentrated in the center of the vortex, and is further complicated by the difficulty of vortexing. Accordingly, another particular object of the present invention is to provide a material switching device for a spraying device that connects the spraying device with multiple sources (or containers) of spraying material. Furthermore, a particular object of the invention is to provide a device in which the arrangement of the device connecting the material container and the switching device is not difficult to use. A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for automatically switching from a first selected material container to a second selected material container with a brushing step in between.
More particularly, it is an object to provide a switching device for interconnecting multiple fluidized dry powder sources and electrostatic spray devices, which is economical, reliable, and eliminates mixing of the atomized powders. It is. Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the claims and the following description. The present invention provides a valve adjustment mechanism comprising a pair of relatively movable plate members.

One of the plate members is arranged in a fixed manner, and the other plate member is arranged to be rotatable and movable. The stationary plate member has a number of channels therethrough, at least one of which is connectable to a source of brushing fluid, and the remaining channels are connected to a number of spray material containers. The movable plate member has a single channel device arranged to communicate with the atomizing device on one side and to connect with a selected fixed plate channel via the plate with appropriate displacement and rotational movement.

Each of the stationary plate member passages includes a gasket surrounding an orifice.
a device for defining a seat (or ridge), while the rotating plate member cooperates with a gasket seat of the stationary plate member to seal each of the stationary plate member flow passages when the plate members are in close proximity to each other; A device for defining a sealing structure is provided. In order to make the movable plate member move the desired displacement,
A dual acting piston and cylinder mechanism is provided to connect the fixed plate and the movable plate member and to displace the movable plate member towards and away from the fixed plate member.

In order to cause the movable plate member to rotate as desired, a snap motor mechanism is provided to rotate the movable plate member clockwise and counterclockwise around the axis, thereby moving the movable plate member flow path device and the selected fixed plate member. Align the flow path device. FIG. 1 shows a material switching device 10 according to the invention.

For purposes of explanation, the present invention will be described below with reference to the application of fluid powder coating materials of various colors to automobile bodies and panels by electrostatic spraying. It is clear that the present invention is applicable to other electrostatic spray devices and to spray materials other than dry powder coating materials. The powder switching device 10 consists of a fixed plate member 12 and a movable plate member (plate valve device) 14, and the movable plate member 14 is supported so as to be rotatable about a shaft 16. The plate member 12 includes a plurality of channels 22 passing through the plate member from the powder supply side 18 to the sealing surface side 20. Each channel 22 can be connected, for example, by a hose 24 to a source of flowing powder and by a hose 26 to a source of brushing agent, as described below. The fixed plate member 12 is connected to the movable plate member 14 by a cylinder mechanism 28, and is mounted on the powder supply side 18 of the fixed plate member 12 in the drawing.

Cylinder mechanism 28 contains a dual acting piston member 30 disposed within its cavity 32. The piston 30 is arranged to be able to reciprocate within the cylinder mechanism 28 and includes a stub shaft member 34 that passes through the fixed member 12 and is fixed to the movable plate member 14. It will be appreciated that the stub shaft member 34 needs to be provided with some type of pressure retaining seal between it and the fixed plate member 12. The piston member 30 is connected to the fluid conduit 3
The arrangement is such that it is actuated in a first direction by fluid pressure applied to cylinder cavity 32 from fluid conduit 38 and actuated in a second (or opposite) direction by fluid pressure applied to cylinder cavity 32 from fluid conduit 38. The piston 30 further includes a pair of seal members 40 that seal both ends of the piston 30. The seal member 40 can be, for example, a flexible O-ring or other sealing mechanism. Fluid conduit 36
By applying fluid pressure to the surface 46 of the piston 30 through the flow path 42, the piston 30 can be moved to the right in FIG.
4, the movable plate member 14 can be moved to the right.

The piston 30 in FIG.
Applying fluid pressure to the right side 48 of the piston can cause the piston to move to the left in the drawing. Piston 30. Piston 3 due to mutual communication between stub shaft 34 and movable plate member 14
0 moves to the left, the movable plate member 14 is also displaced to the left. Each end of the material supply hose 24 and the brushing agent supply hose 26 are arranged to pass through the stationary plate member 12 from the supply side 18 to the sealing side 20. Hose 24, 26
is an extension flange portion 50 surrounding the flow path 22 of the fixed plate member 12;
It is growing up to. Each flange portion 50 includes, for example, a gasket which is a molded ridge portion as a part of the flange portion 50.
A sheet (or ridge) 52 is provided. The ridge 52 can also be annularly formed from another potted member or a suitable material, such as metal. The movable plate member 14 has a flow path 5 which leads to the spray device supply hose 56 on one side and passes through the cooperating seal body 60 on the other side.
8 is fitted with a device defining a single flow path 54 leading to 8.

The cooperating seal body 60 in the embodiment is an annular band made of natural rubber and extends around the inner circumference of the movable plate member 14. Collaborative seal body 6
0 has a single flow path 58, so that the movable plate member 14
The gasket seat (or ridge) 52 and flange portion 5 of each hose 24, 26 when in the leftmost position in the figure.
0 to seal the hose from the surroundings. hose 26
, i.e., in fluid communication with the atomizer supply hose 56 , the cooperating seal 60 and gasket seat (or ridge) 52 are connected to the selected one hose 24 and from the atomizer supply hose 56 . Liquid-tight distribution must be provided. As mentioned above, the fixing plate member 12
On the other hand, since the movable plate member 14 is movable by the cylinder mechanism 28 to change the spatial relationship therebetween, even if the thicknesses of the gasket sheet 52 and the seal body 60 change, the gasket Seal body 60 on sheet 52
The movable plate member 14 can be brought into liquid-tight contact with the fixed plate member 12 to provide sealed communication between the single flow path 54 and the selected one flow path 22. By rotating the gasket seat 52 and the seal body 60 away from each other, the sliding movement between the gasket seat 52 and the seal body 60 can be eliminated, thereby preventing such wear and tear, thereby providing an economical and reliable switching device 10. In other words, it is possible to provide the following. The second stub shaft 62 is mounted to the piston 30 so as to extend away from the surface 46 of the piston 30.

The stub shaft 62 passes through the cylinder 28 and is connected to the step motor, for example by a sliding spline. In operation, the step motor 64 moves between the stub shaft 62 and the piston 30.
, stub shaft 34, } and the movable plate member 14 are arranged to rotate. Therefore, fluid pressure is applied to the surface 4 of the piston 30.
6, when the piston 30 is displaced to the right to displace the movable plate member 14 to the right with respect to the fixed plate member 12, the operation of the step motor 64 causes the movable plate member 14 to rotatably displace with respect to the fixed plate member 12. become. By step spacing the step motor 64 in a well-known manner, the single flow path arrangement 54 of the movable plate member 14 allows the atomizer supply hose 56 and one of the material supply hoses 24, 26 to be connected to each other during leftward displacement of the piston 30. Align with the flow path 22 selected for direct communication. 1 and 2, the passage device 54 of the movable plate member 14 and the fixed plate member 12
It can be seen that the flow channels 22 are arranged at equal intervals from the axis 16.

The soil and flow paths 22 are arranged around the fixed plate member 12 at equal angular intervals. As shown in FIG. 2, there are six channels 22 around the fixed plate member 12. It can be seen that the number of channels 22 depends only on the dimensions of the channels 22 and the dimensions of the fixed plate member 12. It can also be appreciated that a circular construction for the fixed and movable plate members 12, 14 is desirable. Although passageways 22 have been described as individual passageways and passageways 54 as single passageways, it is understood that passageways 54 can be multiple passageways as desired, each connected to one of a plurality of sprayer supply hoses. I understand. Fixed member 1
The two flow passages 22 can be similarly arranged and constructed and are connected to a plurality of hoses 24, 26, each of which in turn connects to a spray material container. An advantage of the device is that a single spray material can be fed to a plurality of spray nozzles, so that large areas can be coated, for example if a single spray device does not have sufficient delivery capacity. FIG. 3 shows a case in which the switching device 10 according to the present invention is applied to a powder paint spraying device using an electrostatically charged powder spraying device 66.

The powder atomizing device 66 is electrostatically loaded via a conductor 70 with an electrostatic charging device 68 . Electrostatic charging device 68 is shown operating from conventional AC power via cord 72. Electrostatic powder spray device 66 is activated to spray electrostatically charged powder coating material onto surface 74 of the coated member. As is well known, the powder coating material is uniformly distributed and adheres to the member 74 by electrostatic charge action. For example, in the spray coating of vehicle bodies as described above, it is often necessary to sequentially spray different colored materials onto vehicle body panels.

In order to ensure a rapid and mixing-free switching of the powder supplied to the powder spraying device, the switching device of the present invention is connected via a plurality of connecting hoses 24 to multiple containers of fluid powder coating material. Deploy. For example, FIG. 3 shows a pair of connecting hoses 24 leading to vessels 76, 78, each vessel containing a fluid bed of differently colored powder material and a bench lily type pump 80, 82. Air flow lines 90 extend from the controller to each powder pump 80, 82 to provide flow energy to the selected material. Additionally, hose 26 connects to a source of brushing agent. A convenient brushing agent is shot air, which cleans the hose between successive additions of powder coating material and flows downstream from the switching device. In operation, the device of the present invention operates as follows.

Brushing agent, such as shot air, flows through appropriate passages in hose 26 and diverter 10 to sprayer supply hose 56 and sprayer 66. After a sufficient period of time has elapsed to purge any residual powder from the atomizer supply flow path 56 and the atomizer 66, the controller 84 applies fluid pressure (including shop air) to the fluid conduit 36 and the face 46 of the piston 30. Possible)
The movable plate member 14 is moved in a direction away from the fixed plate member 12, that is, to the right in FIGS. 1 and 3. Since the proximity detection switch 86 responds to the plate 14 reaching the rightmost position, the step motor 64 operates to rotationally displace the movable plate member 14. The snap motor 64 is connected to the flow path 5
4 is arranged to be rotated a predetermined angle clockwise or counterclockwise to align it with one of the selected channels 22, thereby applying fluid pressure to the channel 38 and the face 48 of the piston 30 and Upon leftward displacement of the rotating plate member 14, the atomizer supply hose 56 is brought into fluid communication with a selected one of the powder hoses 24 and its associated material container, thus displacing the appropriate powder coating material onto the subsequent body panel 74. It will be possible to add. Upon leftward displacement of movable plate member 14, proximity sensing switch 86 will signal controller 84 that leftward displacement is complete and that the powder pump of the selected material container can be activated. Because of the double sealing action of the insert plate seal mechanism, powder supplied from one of the powder containers 76, 78 in direct communication with the atomizer supply hose 56 may also enter the flow path 22 communicating with the unselected container. I can't even accumulate it. After a period of time selected depending on the speed of transition of the body panel 74 on the conveyor device past the nozzle 88 of the spray device 66, the controller 84 depressurizes the powder pump in the selected material container and moves the movable plate member 14. Since the connection of the spray device supply hose 56 and the brushing agent supply hose 26 is dynamically indicated, residual powder is removed from the supply hose 56 and the spray device 66. In the preferred embodiment, the brushing agent is pressurized shot air, but the spray device 66 and its supply hose can alternatively be brushed by vacuum operation, in which case any powder remaining in the spray device and its supply hose can be brushed. can be collected and returned to the respective fluid supply containers 76,78. FIG. 4 shows a typical controller 84 that controls the sequence of operations of switching device 10 according to the present invention.

In the illustrated control device, its main element is a memory and sequence signal 90, which can be, for example, an EdOnMemO-Cha with memory capability.
in) control mechanism. The central processing unit 90 receives material selection indications from the powder selector 92 and sends appropriate control signals to the air control mechanism 94. The device 90 also provides suitable electrical power to the indexing device 64 when switching from one of the selected channels 22 of the fixed plate member 12 to the second selected channel 22 of the fixed plate member 12. send a signal. Air control mechanism 90 receives pressurized air fluid (which can also be shopped air) from a source 96 thereof. Air control mechanism 94
may comprise a suitable electromechanical valve mechanism for controlling the operation of cylinder mechanism 28, for example by applying pneumatic pressure to selected pump devices 80,82. Accordingly, the C spray material is conveyed from supply hose 24 to switching device 10 by pumps 80,82. This material is further ejected from the nozzle 88 via the atomizer supply hose 56. The lateral position of the movable plate member 14 relative to the fixed plate member is conveyed from the switch member 86 to the central processing unit 90 by a transmission mechanism. FIG. 5 shows a fixed suspension and rotating plate member 12 according to another embodiment of the invention.
, 14 show the valve in its open/closed state and the sealing mechanism.

According to the structure shown in FIG. 5, each flow path 2 of the fixed plate member 12
2 is equipped with a displaceable check valve mechanism 100 and another sealing mechanism 102. The check valve mechanism in the illustrated embodiment consists of a ball member 104 pressed against a valve seat 106 by a spring mechanism 108. The valve seat 106 has both a valve seat made of an elastic material and a sealing member 110. Similarly, movable plate member 14 includes an auxiliary seal member 112 in a cooperating arrangement with member 110 to provide a fluid-tight seal between channel 122 of stationary member 12 and channel arrangement 54 of rotating member 14. Fifth
As shown in the illustrated embodiment, cooperating sealing member 12 has a central hole 158 that is aligned with the hole in sealing member 110. Furthermore, the flow path 54 is connected to the check valve transition body (finger→1
14, the fingers within the flow path arrangement 54 and within the ball member 104 of the check valve arrangement 100.
It protrudes outward from the movable member 14 so as to be engaged and displaced.

Each channel 122 of the stationary member 12 in this embodiment includes an integral valve seat and seal member 110. The illustrated cooperating seal member 112 is an annular member disposed about the movable plate member 14 and spaced radially apart for engagement with the cooperating seat member 110. As shown, seal member 112 includes only a single hole 158. It can be seen that the present invention readily fulfills the aforementioned objectives. By providing a configuration of arrangement between opposing surfaces of the stationary and rotating plate members, dual sealing is provided: (1) the sprayer supply hose 5;
6 and the fixed plate member selective supply channels leading thereto; (2) operation of the switch 10 to the plate member 1;
The non-selective supply channels of the stationary plate member are sealed to prevent inadvertent mixing into the area between 2 and 14. Additionally, the present invention provides a method for avoiding any residue resulting in mixing when switching from a spray operation involving a first spray material to a spray operation involving a second spray material that is incompatible with the first spray material due to color or other differences. To provide a mechanism for discharging all residual powder remaining in the spray supply device. A direct means of enlarging the diameter of the fixed plate member and the rotary plate member, by suitably arranging an indexing device 64 to satisfy different dimensions and different angular spacings between the square and fixed plate member flow paths. Therefore, a considerably large number of different types of spray materials can be supplied to a single spray device while avoiding the risk of mixing between different types of spray materials and ensuring a brushing action when changing the spray materials. Furthermore, by utilizing multiple holes and multiple supply hoses, a multiple spray device can be provided. Although the invention has been described with particular application and specific examples, it will be obvious that various modifications may be made.

For example, the switching device can also be applied to non-flowing materials and need not be limited to the use of powders. The switching and indexing structure can be constructed such that a non-rotating piston member is sealingly coupled to a single through shaft, with that shaft slidingly engaging a movable plate or indexer, or the shaft can be constructed such that the shaft is a sliding engagement with a movable plate or indexer. It is also possible to fasten to both with a perpendicular and non-rotating coupling indexer.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the switching device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an end view of the device shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the device of the present invention applied to electrostatic powder spray coating, and FIG. Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating one control system for controlling a material changer according to the invention, useful in the system of Figure 3, and Figure 5 shows another embodiment of a valve seal for a changer according to the invention. show. 10... Material switching device, 12... Fixed plate member, 14... Movable plate member, 16...
・Axis, 22... Material flow path, 24, 26...
...Hose, 28...Cylinder mechanism, 30...
... Piston, 34 ... Stub shaft, 36,
38... Fluid conduit, 40... Seal member, 42, 44, 58... Fluid path, 50...
...Flange, 52...Rigid, 54...
... Single fluid path, 56 ... Spray device supply hose, 60 ... Seal body, 62 ... Second
Stub shaft, 64...Step motor, 66...
... Powder spraying device, 68 ... Electrostatic charge device, 74 ... Coating surface, 76, 78 ...
...Powder container, 80,82...Powder pump,
84... Control device, 86... Detection switch, 88... Nozzle, 90... Central processing device, 92... Powder selection Device, 94...
...Air control device, 100...Check valve, 1
02... Sealing mechanism, 104...
Ball, 106... Valve seat, 108...
Spring, 110... Seal body, 112...
- Auxiliary seal body, 114...Finger 12
2...Flow path, 158...Nakashinana.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A spray material switching device that connects a plurality of fluidized powder supply sources and one powder spraying device so that the powders do not mix with each other, and has an end face on the powder supply source side and an end face on the sealing side. a fixing plate member, a plurality of powder passages and at least one flushing passage extending within the fixing plate member from the end face on the powder supply source side to the sealing side end face of the fixing plate member; A hose device connected to the powder flow path on an end surface of the fixed plate member on the powder supply source side in order to fluid-tightly communicate the powder supply source and the powder flow path, and the powder of the fixed plate member. a further hose device connected to the at least one flushing channel of the source end; and a device connected to the further hose device for flowing a flushing medium through the further hose device; A plate valve device supported in close proximity to the fixed plate member, the flow path device extending within the plate valve device and aligned in fluid communication with the powder flow path and the flushing flow path. a spatial relationship between a plate valve device having a plate valve device, another hose device connected to the flow path device for communicating the flow path device and the spray device, and the plate valve device and the fixed plate member; an indexing device operative to align the flow path device with a selected powder flow path and the flushing flow path; and a fixed plate member. interposed between the plate valve device, between the flow path device and the selected one powder flow path and the flushing flow path, and between the plate valve device and the fixed plate member. and a sealing device for providing sealed communication regardless of changes in the spatial relationship of the spray material.