WO2012028169A1

WO2012028169A1 - Device and method for cleaning a surface

Info

Publication number: WO2012028169A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/062619
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lothar Munder
Original assignee: Lothar Munder
Priority date: 2010-08-30
Filing date: 2010-08-30
Publication date: 2012-03-08
Also published as: DE202011102092U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for cleaning a surface, comprising a cover (12) for delimiting an active cleaning area, an outlet for applying a fluid suction flow to the active cleaning area, and an inlet arranged outside of the outlet and intended for applying a fluid pressure flow to the active cleaning area, wherein a flow-guiding surface for guiding the fluid pressure flow is provided that is designed in such a way that the height of a flow cross section of the active cleaning area between the surface to be cleaned and the flow-guiding surface is at least substantially constant or decreases when viewed in the direction from the inlet to the outlet.

Description

description

Apparatus and method for cleaning a surface

The invention relates to a device for cleaning a surface, with a cover for limiting a cleaning effective range, with an outlet for acting on the cleaning effective range with a fluid suction flow and with a arranged outside the outlet inlet for acting on the cleaning effective range with a fluid pressure stream.

From DE 43 10 470 C1 discloses a device for the treatment of surfaces is known which comprises a conical suction hood. A suction pipe is connected to a central cone tip of the extraction hood. Furthermore, in an outer edge region of

Extraction hood Air and spray nozzles distributed along a circumference. These serve for the production of air and

Liquid jets which are aligned in the direction of the surface to be cleaned and at the same time inwardly towards a central axis of the suction hood.

The known device has the advantage that the air and

Impact fluid jets on the surface to be treated and be reflected by this in the direction of exhaust hood center. The resulting turbulent flow under the suction hood causes an intensive contact between the treated

Surface and the treatment media.

The known device is thus characterized by a good

Cleaning effect off. For certain cleaning purposes, however, it is preferred to perform the cleaning dry, that is none

To use cleaning fluid. In addition, certain applications require that the surface to be cleaned can be completely freed even of the smallest particles, for example in preparation for a painting process of a vehicle body. Other particularly critical applications are the production of pharmaceuticals, plastic films or electronic articles.

On this basis, the present invention has the object underlying to improve a device of the type mentioned above so that a particularly good cleaning effect is achieved if necessary without the use of a cleaning liquid.

This object is achieved in a device of the type mentioned in the present invention, that a flow guide for guiding the fluid pressure flow is provided, which in such a way

is designed that the height of one between the to be cleaned

Surface and the flow control surface adjacent

Flow cross-section of the cleaning effective range in the direction from the inlet to the outlet seen at least substantially constant or decreases.

The device according to the invention makes it possible, the fluid,

in particular gaseous, to guide pressure flow through the cleaning effective range, namely from the outside inwards in the direction of the outlet, to which the fluid suction flow is applied. The fluid pressure flow is thereby from outside to inside in the direction of the outlet

accelerated. This is because the height of the

Flow cross section seen from outside to inside not or at least only slightly extended (for example, only a few millimeters) or even reduced in the form of a flat nozzle. In this way, the fluid pressure stream is channeled along the flow guide, so that the fluid pressure flow at least over part of the way from the inlet to the outlet with

Dirt particles can interact, which are deposited on the surface to be cleaned. The dirt particles are, in particular, dust or hair, which can or can be removed particularly well by the device according to the invention from a surface to be cleaned.

It is possible that the flow guide is not complete

extends between the inlet and the outlet. However, it is preferred if the flow guide surface adjoins the inlet with an outer region or adjoins the outlet with an inner region.

In particular, it is preferred if the flow guide with his outer region adjoins the inlet and with its inner region adjacent to the outlet, so that the fluid pressure flow is guided along its entire flow path between the inlet and the outlet parallel or narrowing between the flow guide surface and the surface to be cleaned.

In the context of the invention it has been recognized that it is advantageous for a fast and effective cleaning of a surface when the

Flow cross-section seen in the direction of the inlet to the outlet not frusto-conical extended, but this

Flow cross-section in height is at least substantially constant or decreases. In the case of a surface to be cleaned, which extends in a straight plane, an equally planar flow guide surface thus results in the simplest case.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is an adjusting device for adjusting an inclination and / or a

Curvature of the flow guide provided. This has the advantage that the course of the height of the flow cross section is variably adjustable and thus, if necessary, the flow characteristics of the

Cleaning effective range can be influenced. In addition, the adjustment device has the advantage that the flow guide can be adjusted in its inclination and / or curvature of the inclination and / or curvature of a surface to be cleaned. In this way, it is possible to deform the flow guide surface so that they are at least largely parallel to the cleaning along their extent

Surface is aligned or oriented so that there is a tapering from outside to inside flow cross-section. Thus, an effective and quick cleaning is also complex shaped,

in particular concave or convex curved surfaces feasible, which is very advantageous especially in the cleaning of Kraftfahrzeugkarossieren in paint shops.

[001 1] It is preferred if the flow guide by a

Flow guide is formed, which for adjusting the inclination and / or the curvature of the flow guide to be cleaned Surface is at least partially deformable. It is preferred to produce the flow-guiding element from an elastically deformable material, in particular from an elastomer.

It is conceivable that the flow guide separately from the

Cover is provided so that the flow guide is covered during a cleaning operation up from the cover. A particularly simple construction of the device results, however, when the cover is effective as a flow guide. Such

Cover is in particular as described above, at least partially deformable to adapt the course of the

To allow flow control relative to a surface to be cleaned.

In a further preferred embodiment, a measuring device for measuring the distance between the flow guide and the surface to be cleaned is provided. This makes it possible to move the device and / or a surface to be cleaned under

To control or regulate the use of appropriate handling systems, in such a way that a predetermined minimum distance between the flow guide and the surface to be cleaned is maintained. Moreover, it is possible, an adjusting device described above for adjusting an inclination and / or a curvature of the flow guide in dependence of

To control distance measurement, so that the course of the

Flow control surface is adapted to the course of the surface to be cleaned.

In the context of the invention, it is possible that the device is stationary and the surface to be cleaned is moved, that the surface to be cleaned is stationary and the device is moved, or that both the surface to be cleaned and the device to be moved.

Compliance with the minimum distance has the advantage of a surface

be able to clean without contact, so that the device and the surface to be cleaned are not in touching contact with each other. Thus, even scratch-sensitive surfaces can be cleaned quickly and effectively become.

The non-contact cleaning of a workpiece and the maintenance of a minimum distance has the additional advantage that a device surrounding the medium can be sucked from the outside in a region between an outer edge of the flow guide and the surface to be cleaned and in a turbulent flow can mix with the fluid pressure stream. This is where in the

Cleaning effective range, an increased volume flow available, a detachment of dirt particles from the surface to be cleaned and a subsequent detection of the dirt particles for their

Transport supported.

Advantageously, the distance is one of the to be cleaned

Surface facing boundary of the device and the surface between about 1 mm and about 25 mm.

For certain applications, it is advantageous if a

Ionisierungseinrichtung is provided for ionization of at least a portion of the fluid pressure stream and / or the surface to be cleaned and / or to be removed from the surface dirt particles. This is particularly useful when static easily rechargeable workpieces, such as plastic films to be unloaded and cleaned.

The invention further relates to a method for cleaning a surface in which a cleaning effective range is limited by a cover, wherein the cleaning effective range through an outlet with a fluid suction flow and through an outside of the outlet

arranged inlet is acted upon by a fluid pressure flow.

The invention is based on the further object of a method of

To improve the above-mentioned type so that a particularly good cleaning effect when needed without the use of a

Cleaning fluid is achieved.

This object is achieved in that the fluid pressure flow is guided along a flow guide surface, wherein the height of a between the surface to be cleaned and the

Flow guide adjacent flow cross section of the Cleaning effective range seen in the direction of the inlet to the outlet at least substantially constant or decreases.

Embodiments and advantages of the method according to the invention have been explained in part already above with reference to the device according to the invention. Therefore, in the following, only those embodiments and advantages that have not been explained above will be discussed.

It is particularly preferred if the fluid suction flow is many times greater than the fluid pressure flow, in particular by a factor of at least 10. Preferred suction flows are for example in the range between 30 liters / sec and 150 liters / sec. Preferred pressure flows are, for example, in the range between 30 liters / min and 150 liters / min (values refer to 1 bar absolute pressure).

The invention further relates to the use of an input

described apparatus for performing an above

described method.

Finally, the invention relates to a cleaning system, which a

Initially described apparatus for cleaning a surface and a workpiece having a surface to be cleaned. Advantages and embodiments of the cleaning system according to the invention have already been described above with reference to the inventive

Device and explained on the inventive method.

Further features and advantages of the invention are the subject of

following description and the drawings of preferred embodiments.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a

Device for cleaning a surface;

FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the device according to FIG. 1;

3a shows a side view of an embodiment of a

Cleaning system with the device of Figure 1 along a in FIG

1 with III - III marked section line;

Figures 3b to 3e of Figure 3a corresponding side views of others Embodiments of a cleaning system;

FIG. 4 shows a side view corresponding to FIG. 3a of another

Embodiment of a cleaning system with another

Embodiment Apparatus for cleaning a surface; and

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view corresponding to FIG. 2 of another

Embodiment of a device for cleaning a surface.

An embodiment of a device for cleaning a surface is shown in Figure 1 and indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. The device comprises a cover 12, which is annular disk-shaped in particular annular disk-shaped.

The device 10 further comprises a central suction line 14 which is connectable or connected at its free end 16 with a per se known and therefore not shown in the drawing suction device. At its side 18 opposite the free end 16, the suction line 14 opens at a central opening 20 (compare Figures 2 and 3a) of the cover 12. The opening 20 has a cross-section of, for example, between about 5 cm ² and about 500 cm ² .

The cover 12 forms an annular disc-shaped flow guide 22, the underside of which serves as a flow guide surface 24 for a fluid pressure flow described below. The flow guide surface is preferably closed, but may also have small-area openings (for example for the arrangement of one or more measuring devices, not shown, for measuring a distance between the cover 12 and a surface to be cleaned or

Arrangement of at least one ionizer, not shown).

The device 10 further comprises a device 26 for generating

a fluid, in particular gaseous, pressure stream. The device 26 comprises a pressure line 28, which is arranged adjacent to a boundary 30 of the cover 12, for example, as shown in Figures 2 and 3a at the bottom of the cover 12th

The pressure line 28 extends annularly around the aperture 20 around. Preferably, the pressure line 28 is made of a flexibly bendable material, for example an elastomer, so that the Pressure line of the deformation of a flow guide 24 (see Figure 4) is deformed accordingly.

The pressure line 28 has a plurality of Fluidaustrittsoffnungen 32, which distributed along the circumference of the pressure line 28, in particular regularly distributed, are arranged. At least two

Fluid outlet openings 32 are located opposite each other with respect to the outlet 44. Preferably, at least four fluid outlet openings 32 are provided.

Alternatively or in addition to this, one can also travel along a

Scope of the printing device 26 extending slot-shaped

Be provided fluid outlet.

The Fluidaustrittsoffnungen 32 are formed for example by holes in a wall 34 of the pressure line 28. The hole axes are aligned so that a fluid pressure flow, which emerges from the pressure line 28 through the fluid outlet opening 32, facing away from the cover 12 at the same time in the direction of a surface to be cleaned 36 and in the direction of the opening 20 of the cover 12 are aligned. As a result, flow directions 38 of a fluid pressure flow denoted by 38 in FIGS. 2 and 3a, which are inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the surface 36 to be cleaned, are preferably between approximately 20 ° and 70 °.

In order to feed the pressure line 28 with a fluid, in particular with compressed air, a fluid inlet 40, which is arranged in particular on the upper side of the cover 12, is provided, which communicates fluid-effectively with the pressure line 28. The pressure of the fluid is

for example, between about 0.1 bar and about 2.5 bar, preferably between about 0.9 bar and about 1, 6 bar above the pressure in the vicinity of the device 10th

A port 42 of the fluid input 40 is connectable or connected to a known per se and therefore not shown in the drawing pressure supply unit.

The opening 20 defines an outlet 44, by means of which a cleaning active area 46 can be acted upon by a suction flow 48. The device 26 forms with the Fluidaustrittsoffnungen 32 an inlet 50 for acting on the cleaning Wirkbereichs 46 with a fluid pressure flow 52nd

The cleaning effective range 46 is limited by the surface to be cleaned 36 itself and by the flow guide 24. Starting from the annularly around the outlet 44 extending around inlet 50 in the direction of the outlet 44 toward a height 54 of

Flow cross-section of the cleaning effective range 46 at least largely constant, so that the fluid pressure flow 52 is guided radially inward and parallel to the surface to be cleaned 36 and thereby accelerated. In this way, on the to be cleaned

Surface existing dirt particles 56 detected from the zu

cleaning surface 36 is released and transported in the direction of the outlet 44.

The transport effect is supported by the fact that the

Flow guide surface 24 is spaced from the surface 36 to be cleaned. In this way, a fluid flow 58 from the environment of the device 10 can enter the cleaning active region 46 and in this way support the detachment of the dirt particles 56 from the surface 36 to be cleaned by means of the fluid pressure flow.

The surface to be cleaned 36 is, for example, the surface of a workpiece 60 (not shown). The workpiece 60 with the surface 36 to be cleaned and the device 10 together form a cleaning system 62.

The device 10 shown in Figure 3b differs from that described above with reference to Figure 3a

Device 10 that the pressure device 26 is not arranged adjacent to the boundary of the cover 12 with the pressure line 28 but at a distance from the boundary 30 radially inwardly.

The devices 10 illustrated in FIGS. 3c and 3d differ from the devices 10 described above with reference to FIGS. 3a and 3b in that fluid outlet openings 32 of the pressure device 26 are not located in relation to the flow guide surface 24 Direction to the surface to be cleaned 36 are arranged offset in height, but at least substantially at height of

Flow guide 24th

In this case, the printing device 26 of the device 10 according to Figure 3c

arranged radially outwardly adjacent to the boundary 30 of the cover 12.

The pressure device 26 of the device 10 according to Figure 3d is spaced from the boundary 30 of the cover 12.

The device 10 shown in Figure 3e is characterized in that the fluid outlet openings 32 are not formed by the pressure line 28 but by inclined to the flow guide 24 inclined recesses 70 in the material of the cover 12. The recesses 70 are above the fluid inlet 40 and at the top of the

Cover disposed pressure line 28 with fluid, in particular with compressed air fed.

In contrast to the workpiece 60 according to FIG. 3 a, the workpiece 60 according to FIG. 4 does not have a planar surface 36 but has a curved surface 36. The device 10 for cleaning this curved surface corresponds in its essential structure of the below

Reference is made to the above-described description, reference is made to the above description and only the differences from the already

described device 10 explained.

The device 10 according to Figure 4 has on the underside of the cover 12 on a flow guide 24, which is adapted in its course, that is in its inclination and curvature, the course of the surface to be cleaned 36 such that a cleaning effective range 46 is formed, which extends from the inlet 50 in the direction of the outlet 44 at a substantially constant distance to the surface 36 to be cleaned.

In order to adapt the course of the flow guide surface 24, an adjusting device designated overall by the reference numeral 64 is provided. The adjusting device comprises at least one actuator 66, which at least indirectly connected to a portion 68 of the cover 12. The cover 12 is in the form of an elastically deformable

Flow guide 22 is formed. This is in particular a flat, annular elastomeric disk.

The actuator 66 is, for example, one at the

Suction line 14 hinged actuating cylinder. An extension 72 of the actuating cylinder is associated with a greater curvature of the flow guide 24, so that workpieces 60 can be cleaned with a smaller radius. A shortening 74 of the actuating cylinder is associated with a less pronounced curvature of the flow guide 24, so that workpieces with a larger radius can be cleaned. A further shortening of the actuating cylinder is associated with the fact that the

Flow guide 24 - as shown in Figure 4 by dashed lines

illustrated course of the cover 12 shown - is curved convexly, whereby also workpieces 60 with a concave curved

Surface 36 can be cleaned while maintaining a substantially constant height 54 of the flow cross-section of the cleaning effective range 46.

FIG. 5 shows a further device 10 for cleaning a surface 36. The device 10 according to FIG. 5 has a cover 12, which forms a flow-guiding element 22 with a flow-guiding surface 24, which likewise extends annularly around an outlet 44 for a fluid suction flow. However, the flow guide surface 24 is not, as in the embodiments described above,

annular, but has a stretched oval shape.

Accordingly, the outlet 44 is slit-shaped. The course of the aperture 20 of the cover 12 is matched to the course of the boundary 30 of the cover 12 such that a width 76 between the aperture 20 and the rim 30 along the annular profile of the cover 12 is substantially constant.

The course of the device 26 for generating a fluid pressure flow is adapted to the course of the edge 30 of the cover 12. In this way, along the circumference of the device 26 seen the distance between a fluid outlet opening 32 and the outlet 44 in FIG

Essentially constant.

Instead of a slot-shaped outlet 44 can also several

(For example, circular) outlets 44 may be provided.

Further basic forms of a cover 12 are oval or polygonal, in particular rectangular shapes. The size of the

Flow guide surface 24 of a cover 12 is for example between about 100 cm ² for small workpieces and about 10000 cm ² or more for large, in particular web-shaped workpieces, motor vehicle bodies or packaging (for example, packaging must be cleaned in the course of the delivery of outer packaging or raw materials for the production of pharmaceuticals before these raw materials or outer packaging can be used in a production environment).

Claims

claims

1. A device (10) for cleaning a surface (36), comprising a cover (12) for delimiting a cleaning effective area (46), with an outlet (44) for acting on the cleaning effective area (46) with a fluid suction flow ( 48) and with an outside of the outlet (44) arranged inlet (50) for acting on the cleaning Wirkbereichs (46) with a fluid pressure flow, characterized in that a flow guide surface (24) for guiding the fluid pressure flow (52) is provided which is formed such that the height (54) of one between the to be cleaned

Surface (36) and the flow guide surface (24) adjacent

Flow cross section of the cleaning effective range (46) in the direction from the inlet (50) to the outlet (44) seen at least substantially constant or decreases.

2. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the

Flow guide surface (24) with an outer region adjacent to the inlet (50) and / or that the flow guide surface (24) with an inner region adjacent to the outlet (44).

3. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by an adjusting device (64) for adjusting an inclination and / or a curvature of the flow guide surface (24).

4. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the flow guide surface (24) by a

Flow guide (22) is formed, which is at least partially deformable to adapt the inclination and / or the curvature of the flow guide (24) to the surface to be cleaned (36).

5. Device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the

Cover (12) as a flow guide (22) is effective.

6. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a measuring device for measuring the distance between the

Flow control surface (24) and the surface to be cleaned (36).

7. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an ionization device for ionizing at least a portion of the fluid pressure stream (52) and / or the surface to be cleaned (36). and / or dirt particles (56) to be removed from the surface (36).

8. A method for cleaning a surface (36), wherein a

Cleaning effective range (46) by a cover (12) is limited, wherein the cleaning effective region (46) through an outlet (44) with a fluid suction flow (48) and through an outside of the outlet (44) arranged inlet (50) is subjected to a fluid pressure flow, characterized in that the fluid pressure flow (52) along a

Flow guide (24) is guided, wherein the height (54) of a between the surface to be cleaned (36) and the flow guide surface (24) abutting flow cross-section of the cleaning effective region (46) in the direction from the inlet (50) to the outlet (44 ) is at least substantially constant or decreases in size.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that an inclination

and / or a curvature of the flow guide surface (24) in dependence on the inclination and / or the curvature of the surface to be cleaned (36) is adjusted.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the

Flow guide surface (24) is positioned and aligned while maintaining a minimum distance relative to the surface to be cleaned (36) and the surface to be cleaned (36) is cleaned without contact.

1 1. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that to maintain the minimum distance, the distance of the flow guide surface (24) is measured to a surface to be cleaned (36).

12. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 1 1, characterized in that the fluid suction flow (48) is greater by a multiple than the fluid

Pressure flow (52), in particular by a factor of at least 10.

13. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that at least a portion of the fluid pressure stream (52) and / or the surface to be cleaned (36) and / or of the surface (36) to be removed

Dirt particles (56) is ionized.

14. Use of a device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7 for carrying out a method according to one of claims 8 to 13.

15. Cleaning system (62), comprising a device (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 7 and a workpiece (60) having a surface to be cleaned (36).

16. cleaning system (62) according to claim 15, characterized in that the flow guide surface (24) is positioned and aligned while maintaining a minimum distance relative to the surface to be cleaned (36), so that the surface to be cleaned (36) is contactless cleanable.