WO2018028913A1

WO2018028913A1 - Device for spraying an application material with different jet profiles

Info

Publication number: WO2018028913A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/067397
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas Nowak
Original assignee: Kraussmaffei Technologies Gmbh
Priority date: 2016-08-10
Filing date: 2017-07-11
Publication date: 2018-02-15
Also published as: DE202016008249U1; DE102016114781A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for spraying an application material with different jet profiles, comprising: an application head (12) having a spraying nozzle (14) for spraying the application material as a jet having a first jet profile (S1); and a shaping element (18A, 18B), which can be moved between a first position, in which the shaping element allows the jet of application material having the first jet profile (S1) to pass, and a second position, in which the shaping element shapes the jet profile into a second jet profile (S2) different from the first jet profile (S1).

Description

Apparatus for spraying a coating material with different ones

beam profiles

The present invention relates to an apparatus for spraying a deposition material having different beam profiles.

Spraying of application materials, especially liquids, is of great importance in various technical areas. When painting, the paint is often discharged with air-assisted spray guns, in other applications, air is dispensed with in order to reduce spray. There are various types of spray jets. These range from solid and hollow cones over flat beams to profile trays, e.g. Rectangular sections. In the field of processing of reactive components, e.g. In the manufacture of sandwich panels, processes are used to spray on fiberglass mats wrapped paper honeycomb to produce lightweight and rigid components such as boot cargo shelves or hat racks. The applied material, e.g. PU hard foam, during the spraying process in a glass mat. In the following process step, the honeycomb is pressed close to the final contour, wherein the sprayed system foams easily, penetrates the glass fibers and bonds cohesively to the honeycomb. Here, mostly air-assisted spray nozzles, which form a full cone, but also "air-free" flat jet nozzles, which give a linear or slightly elliptical spray pattern with which it is possible to represent relatively wide spray paths, for example up to 1000mm wide, whereas cone trays are usually narrower are typically 10mm-500mm.

The combination of two spray nozzles, which allow large-area deposition combined with a relatively narrow storage, offers advantages in the production process. These are in addition to the cycle time for the manufacture of the component, e.g. the simplified programming of a possible handling robot for the spray device and the possibility of additional, selective spray application. So far, this combination could only be implemented by using several sprayers, each with its own spray nozzle.

DE 10130499 A1 describes a device for spraying a deposition material with different beam profiles, in which a revolver magazine is equipped with different spray nozzles and is rotatably mounted in front of an outlet of an application head. Since the outlet of the application head alone does not give the outgoing jet of application material a defined beam profile, one of the spray nozzles of the revolver magazine must always be positioned in front of the outlet. The seal between the

l Application head and the revolver magazine is therefore constantly exposed to the beam of application material. This causes the seal to deteriorate over time in its ability to function, since application material between the planar surfaces harden and thus can form during the rotary motion of the revolver magazine friction body, which destroy the seals between the revolver and the application head. An exchange of these seals requires an expansion of the revolver magazine, which is associated with a considerable mechanical effort and also requires a temporary shutdown of the device.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device for spraying a deposition material with different beam profiles, which largely avoids the sealing problems of the prior art.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a device for spraying a deposition material with different beam profiles, comprising:

an application head having a spray nozzle for spraying the application material as a jet having a first beam profile; and

a conversion member displaceable between a first position where it passes the jet of application material with the first beam profile and a second position where it transforms the beam profile into a second beam profile different from the first beam profile.

Unlike in the prior art, the application head thus comprises its own spray nozzle, which may for example be integrally installed at the outlet of the application head. In this area, therefore, no seals are required, which could be destroyed by friction of hardened application material. The spray device according to the invention can therefore be operated for a long time with the built-in in the application head own spray nozzle. Meanwhile, the forming element is in the first position where it allows the jet of application material to pass. In this state, substantially no seals of the spray device according to the invention are exposed to the beam of application material.

Only when a different beam profile is desired, the forming element is displaced to the second position, in which it transforms the beam profile into a second beam profile, which is different from the first beam profile. Once the application process is completed with the second beam profile, the conversion element can be moved back to the first position back to make a reapplication with the first beam profile. In This first position, the deformation element can be cleaned without the operation of the device according to the invention must be interrupted.

Appropriately, it is provided that the deformation element has a continuous channel with an inlet opening and an outlet opening and is positioned in the second position relative to the spray nozzle that the spray nozzle or the jet with the first beam profile enters the inlet opening and the beam with the second beam profile emerges from the outlet opening.

Here, the first beam profile z. B. be a flat beam profile, and the second beam profile may be an omnidirectional profile, cone beam profile, full cone beam profile or hollow cone beam profile. But there are also other combinations of first and second beam profile possible. Furthermore, the first and the second beam profile may belong to the same profile type, but differ in their dimensions. As an example, a transformation between flat beam profiles of different length and / or width and between full cone or hollow cone beam profiles of different diameters by a forming element according to the invention may be mentioned.

The frequently required in practice case of a flat beam profile as the first profile and a full cone beam profile as a second profile can be z. Example by a conversion element, wherein the channel comprises a running in the direction of propagation of the beam cylindrical portion, followed by a tapered to the outlet opening portion. The forward cylindrical portion in the direction of propagation of the jet may be placed in the second position over the spray nozzle of the application head to avoid lateral leakage of application material. The conically tapered section on the outlet then substantially effects the transformation of the jet from the first jet profile into the second jet profile, which is optionally optimized in a further downstream and thinner cylindrical section of the channel.

In order to enable air-assisted atomization of the application material, in a preferred development, the conversion element can have a connection for connection to a compressed-air source such that compressed air can be blown into the jet of the application material for atomization.

This injection of compressed air into the jet can in principle take place at one or more different points of the propagation path of the application material in the region of the deformation element, for. B. shortly before reaching the inlet or shortly after Leaving the forming element at the outlet opening. Preferably, however, is provided in a forming element with the above-mentioned channel, that the deformation element has a provided in a wall of the channel atomizer for blowing in the compressed air between the inlet opening and the outlet opening. Because in this case, the air supply can be used not only for atomizing the application material, but also for cleaning both the deformation element itself and the spray nozzle of the application head. For this purpose, first the forming element is brought into the second position, for example, placed on the spray nozzle, then compressed air is blown when switched supply of application material. Adhesions of application material in the vicinity of the atomizer nozzle are then entrained by the compressed air and thus removed. This cleaning option by means of the supplied with compressed forming element is particularly advantageous in devices with which highly reactive application materials are sprayed, which are usually to flush only with solvent from the flow channels. If no solvents may be used, this can lead to sticking and clogging of these channels. The described embodiment of the device according to the invention avoids such problems.

The inventive displacement of the deformation element between the first position, in which it allows the beam of application material to pass with the first beam profile, and the second position, in which it transforms the beam profile into a second beam profile, which is different from the first beam profile, depending be accomplished according to the shape of the deformation element in different ways. In a simple embodiment of the invention it is provided that the deformation element is integrally formed and adapted to be positioned at its displacement from the first to the second position by means of a sliding, pivoting and / or lifting movement over the spray nozzle of the application head.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, the forming element is formed in several parts, wherein the parts of the forming element in the first position spaced from each other and in the second position are approximated, in particular in contact with each other. In particular, the forming element may comprise two substantially symmetrical halves which face each other in the first position such that the jet of application material can be sprayed between them from the spray nozzle of the application head, substantially without coming into contact with either of the halves. In the second position, however, are the two Parts approximated each other so that they together z. B. define the above-mentioned channel with an inlet and an outlet opening.

In order to enable the movement of the parts of the deformation element toward or away from each other, it is expediently provided that the parts of the deformation element are designed for a linear movement between the first position and the second position, in particular by electric, pneumatic and / or hydraulic drive devices.

In principle, it is provided according to the invention that the deformation element in the second position converts the first beam profile of the jet emerging from the spray nozzle of the application head into a second beam profile, which is different from the first beam profile. For this purpose, the deformation element may be arranged in the second position in the propagation direction of the jet spaced from the spray nozzle, so that the application material after leaving the spray nozzle after a certain distance of flight encounters the forming element, for. B. enters the inlet opening of the channel. Conveniently, however, it is provided that the parts of the forming element enclose the spray nozzle of the application head in the second position. In this way, the tightness of the spray device according to the invention can be increased and avoid the ingress of foreign bodies.

In an advantageous development, the device according to the invention further comprises a protective device for protecting the parts of the deformation element in the first position in front of the sprayed from the spray nozzle of the application head beam of application material with the first beam profile. As a result, in particular the sealing surfaces of the parts of the deformation element can be protected against contamination and thus possible ineffectiveness of the seal.

Such a protective device can, for. B. include a protective curtain, which is arranged between the parts of the deformation element in the first position and the beam of application material with the first beam profile.

Additionally or alternatively, the device according to the invention may further comprise a cleaning device, in particular a brush, for cleaning sealing surfaces of the parts of the deformation element. For applications in which a transformation of the beam with the first beam profile is not required only in a single other beam profile, the device according to the invention may comprise two or more deformation elements. Thus, z. B. convert a beam with a flat beam profile using a first deformation element in a full cone beam, with the aid of a second deformation element in a hollow cone beam, etc.

Particularly preferred for reasons of space is an embodiment in which the device according to the invention comprises two deformation elements each having two substantially symmetrical halves, wherein the displacement direction of the halves of one of the two deformation elements is substantially orthogonal to the direction of displacement of the halves of the other of the two deformation elements.

Embodiments of the invention will be explained below with reference to the figures as non-limiting examples. Hereby shows:

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention in the first position.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in the second position; FIG.

3 shows a schematic side view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention in the first position; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of the embodiment of Fig. 3 in the second position.

1 shows a schematic side view of a first embodiment of a device 10 according to the invention in the first position. The apparatus 10 includes an application head 12 having a spray nozzle 14 projecting from an outer wall 16 of the apparatus 10 and configured to spray a deposition material as a jet having a first beam profile S1.

In this embodiment, shown purely by way of example in the figures, the spray nozzle 14 is a flat jet nozzle. The sprayed from the spray nozzle 14 jet of Application material thus has a substantially line-shaped profile S1, as is schematically indicated in FIG. 1 at the lower end of the jet.

The device 10 according to the invention further comprises a deformation element, which in the first embodiment shown is formed from two substantially symmetrical halves 18A, 18B. In Fig. 1, these two parts 18A, 18B are in their spaced-apart first position in which they let the beam with the flat beam profile S1 pass largely without any interference between them.

Fig. 2 shows the device 10 according to the invention of the first embodiment in its second position. The two substantially symmetrical halves 18A, 18B have been moved toward each other and brought into contact with each other by means of associated drive devices 20A, 20B in such a way that they surround the spray nozzle 14 of the application head 12. The drive devices 20A, 20B may, for. B. electrically, pneumatically and / or hydraulically.

In this second position of the deformation element 18A, 18B and thus the device 10 according to the invention in the first embodiment, the spray nozzle 14 projects into an inlet opening 22 of the deformation element 18A, 18B and sprays the jet of application material with the first beam profile S1 into a channel 24 of the deformation element 18A, 18B, which leads from the upper inlet opening 22 in the figures to a lower outlet opening 26.

When viewed in the propagation direction of the jet, the channel 24 initially comprises a cylindrical section 24a, followed by a section 24b which tapers conically towards the outlet opening 26. Through this sequence of channel sections 24a, 24b, the flat beam profile S1 of the jet of application material emerging from the spray nozzle 14 can be converted into a solid cone beam profile S2, that in the embodiment shown in the figures by a subsequent downstream channel section 24c of smaller diameter than the upstream channel section 24a is further optimized. In Fig. 2, the solid cone beam profile S2 is schematically indicated below the deformation element 18A, 18B.

For reasons of clarity, the upper channel section 24a in the figures is markedly wider than the beam at this point. However, the action of the reforming element 18A, 18B is, of course, based on an interaction of the jet with all channel sections 24a, 24b and 24c. The channel sections 24a, 24b and 24c result in the second position from respective recesses 24aA, 24aB, 24bA, 24bB and 24cA, 24cB made by milling or turning, for example, on the surfaces of the halves 18A, 18B of the former which in the first position of Figs Fig. 1 can be seen separately.

In the first embodiment shown, each of the halves 18A and 18B of the conversion element is provided with a port 28A and 28B, respectively, to which is connected a compressed air hose 30A and 30B for connection to a source of compressed air, not shown. The compressed air supplied by the compressed air source through the compressed air hoses 30A and 30B passes through the ports 28A and 28B into respective compressed air holes 32A and 32B, respectively, which open at the conical recesses 24bA and 24bB. In the second position of the deformation element 18A, 18B, compressed air can thus be blown into the tapered channel section 24b for atomizing the jet of application material.

With the spray nozzle 14 turned off, i. Without supply of application material by the application head 12, this also allows a compressed air cleaning of the device 10 according to the invention in the region of the spray nozzle 14 and the forming element 18A, 18B perform.

In the first position shown in Figure 1, the parts of the forming element 18A, 18B may, if necessary, be mechanically cleaned of deposits of application material, e.g. with brushes without having to stop the operation of the device 10 according to the invention. Rather, the device 10 can continue to operate while spraying a flat jet S1. The mechanical cleaning is facilitated by the fact that all parts of the deformation element 18A, 18B, which are exposed to the beam in the second position, are exposed in the first position and thus easily accessible from the outside.

These advantages can also be achieved with the second embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Fig. 3 shows a schematic side view in the first position, and Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view in the second position.

In contrast to the first embodiment, in the second embodiment, the deformation element 18 of the device 10 according to the invention is integrally formed and adapted to be displaced from the first to the second position by means of a Sliding and lifting movement to be positioned over the spray nozzle 14 of the application head 12. For this purpose, the deformation element 18 is held and moved by a single drive device 20. Starting from the first position shown in Fig. 3, in which the spray nozzle 14 without being affected by the deformation element 18 z. B. sprays a flat jet S1, the drive device 20 pushes the forming element 18 initially substantially rectilinear, in the figures to the left, under the spray nozzle 14 when the beam profile is to be changed. With a final small upward stroke, the former 18 is positioned over the spray nozzle 14 and then forms the outgoing beam of application material in a second beam profile S2 in its inner channel 24, which in turn comprises sections 24a, 24b and 24c comparable to the first embodiment , In Fig. 4, this second beam profile S2 is purely exemplified again shown as full cone beam profile.

Further features of the second embodiment correspond to the first embodiment and will not be explained separately. In particular, in a device according to the second embodiment, the deformation element 18 can be connected by means of one or more compressed air hoses to a compressed air source to atomize application material and / or make a compressed air cleaning of the forming element 18 can.

The device 10 according to the invention makes it possible in all embodiments to switch quickly between spray jet configurations without, for example, using two separate spray devices. At the same time, a cleaning effect of the enclosed nozzles is achieved. It can thus be reduced cycle times in the manufacture of, for example, composite components of polyurethane, glass fibers and honeycomb cores. The construction can be retrofitted to existing production facilities with little effort. The wear can be minimized by suitable material selection and combinations and the maintenance times are simplified and shortened by modular construction. Downtime due to contamination is reduced by the side effect of air cleaning the surface of the enclosed nozzles.

In the first embodiment explained above, the conversion element comprises two substantially symmetrical halves. However, the two parts of the deformation element can also be asymmetrically shaped. Further, a multi-part forming element may also be formed with three or more parts. Furthermore, in the first embodiment explained above, the two essentially symmetrical halves 18A, 18B of the deformation element completely surround the spray head 14 in the second position, so that it protrudes considerably into the inlet opening 22 in FIG. 2. For the function of the device according to the invention, however, it is sufficient that the beam with the first beam profile S1 can enter the inlet opening 22. This can also be achieved by positioning the deformation element 18A, 18B adjacent to the spray nozzle 14, comparable to the representation in the second embodiment according to FIG. 4, or even with a slight distance in front of the spray nozzle 14.

In both embodiments shown, the halves 18A, 18B of the conversion element and the one-piece conversion element 18 are kept substantially free of the drive devices 20A, 20B and 20, respectively. However, depending on the size, weight and required positioning accuracy, the halves 18A, 18B of the deformation element or the one-part deformation element 18 can also be guided on the outer wall 16, for example by means of rails provided there.

Further, in the illustrated first embodiment, the compressed air holes 32A and 32B respectively open at the conical recesses 24bA and 24bB. However, they may also flow further upstream or downstream into the channel 24 of the forming element to achieve both atomization and cleaning effects. In principle, however, it is also conceivable to allow the compressed-air bores 32A and 32B to open on the upper side or lower side of the deformation element, such that the jet of application material is atomised before reaching the inlet opening 14 or after leaving the outlet opening 26.

Claims

claims

1 . Apparatus (10) for spraying a deposition material having different beam profiles, comprising:

an application head (12) having a spray nozzle (14) for spraying the application material as a jet having a first beam profile (S1); and

a deformation element (18A, 18B; 18) displaceable between a first position allowing the jet of application material to pass with the first beam profile (S1) and a second position displacing the beam profile into a second beam profile (18A, 18B; S2) different from the first beam profile (S1).

A device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the forming element (18A, 18B; 18) has a through channel (24) with an inlet (22) and an outlet (26) and in the second position relative to the spray nozzle (14 ) is positioned so that the spray nozzle (14) or the jet with the first beam profile (S1) enters the inlet opening (22) and the jet with the second jet profile (S2) emerges from the outlet opening (26).

3. Device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first beam profile (S1) is a flat beam profile, and the second beam profile (S2) is a full cone beam profile.

The apparatus (10) according to claim 3, wherein the channel (24) comprises a cylindrical portion (24a) extending in the direction of propagation of the jet, followed by a portion (24b) tapered towards the exit aperture (26).

A device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conversion element (18A, 18B; 18) has a port (28A, 28B) for connection to a source of pressurized air such that compressed air can be injected into the jet of the application material for sputtering.

6. Device (10) according to claim 5 in combination with claim 2, wherein the deformation element (18A, 18B; 18) has a spray nozzle provided in a wall of the channel (24) for blowing in the compressed air between the inlet opening (22) and the outlet opening (18). 26).

7. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the deformation element (18) is integrally formed and adapted to be in his Displacement from the first to the second position by means of a sliding, pivoting and / or lifting movement over the spray nozzle (14) of the application head (12) to be positioned.

8. Device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the deformation element (18A, 18B) is formed in several parts, wherein the parts of the deformation element (18A, 18B) spaced apart in the first position and in the second position are approximated , in particular in contact with each other.

A device (10) according to claim 8, wherein the deformation element (18A, 18B) comprises two substantially symmetrical halves which are opposed to each other in the first position such that the jet of application material from the spray nozzle (14) of the application head (12). between them can be sprayed.

10. Device (10) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the parts of the deformation element (18A, 18B) are designed for a linear movement between the first position and the second position, in particular by electric, pneumatic and / or hydraulic drive devices (20A, 20B ).

1 1. Apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the parts of the forming element (18A, 18B) enclose the spray nozzle (14) of the application head (12) in the second position.

The apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 8 to 11, further comprising a protective device for protecting the parts of the forming element (18A, 18B) in the first position from the jet of sprayed from the spray nozzle (14) of the application head (12) application material.

The apparatus (10) of claim 12, wherein the protection device comprises a protective curtain disposed between the parts of the forming member (18A, 18B) in the first position and the beam of application material with the first beam profile (S1).

14. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a cleaning device, in particular a brush, for cleaning sealing surfaces of the parts of the deformation element (18A, 18B).

15. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising two or more deformation elements (18A, 18B, 18).

A device (10) according to claim 15 when appended to claim 9, comprising two deformation elements (18A, 18B), wherein the direction of displacement of the halves of one of the two deformation elements (18A, 18B) is substantially orthogonal to the direction of displacement of the halves of the other the two deformation elements (18A, 18B).