Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A METHOD FOR A SURFACE TREAT~ENT
BACRGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for a surface
treatment employing masking member(s) to protect part(s)
of an article such as a car body from said surface treatment
such as coating, plating, vacuum evaporation, phosphatizing,
and the like.
More particularly, the present invention relates to
a method comprising sucking masking member(s) by sucker(s)
to transport said masking member(s) to said part(s) of
said article,attaching masking member(s) on(in) said part(s)
of said article, removing said masking member(s) from said
sucker(s), and removing said masking member(s) from said
part(s) after said surface treatment.
When a surface treatment is effected on the surface
of an article, and if said surface of said article has
(a) part(s) on which said surface treatment should not
be effected for the reason that another surface treatment
is effected on said part(s) after said surface treatment
of said surface treatment spoils the appearance of said
article and so on, said part(s) of said surface of said
article may be covered and protected with said masking
member(s).
In the case of a corrosion, sound, and vibration -
proof coating for the underside of a car body, said part(s)
may be part(s) on which bracket(s), frame(s), and the like
is(are) attached, and hole(s) such as water ejecting hole(s),
harness hole(s) and the like. If said corrosion, sound,
and vibration - proof coating by using a coating agent,
such as a polyvinylchloride-sol, a tar-urethane mixture
and the like is effected on(in) said part(s) or said hole(s),
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in a case of said part(s) on which bracket(s), frame(s),
and the like is(are) attached, it is difficult toattach
firmly said bracket(s), frame(s), and the like to said
part because of the coating layer formed by said coating,
and in the case of said hole(s), the surface treatment
leaks from said holets) to waste said coating agent and
further it may be a concern that said coating agent fills
in said hole(s) or stains the inside of said hole(s).
In a case where the surface treatment of an article
has many parts to be protected from said surface treatment
such as said coating of the underside of a car body as
above described, many masking members must be attached
to(in) said parts (more than 200 parts for one car body)
before said surface treatment and accordingly many masking
members must also be removed from said parts after said
surface treatment.
Further, in a case of a continuous mass-production
line, said masking members should be attached to(in) said
parts and removed from said parts in a short time.
Still urther, in the case of the continuous mass-
production line, it is desirable that said masking members
are automatically attached to(in) said parts and removed
from said parts.
DESCRIPTION {)F T~IE PRIOR ART
Hitherto, a flat type masking member having an adhesive
layer on one side has been provided (USP 4835026).
Said masking member is used to protect a flat surface
part of an article and said masking member is attached
to said flat surface part by said adhesive layer thereof
by a worker's hands. After a surface treatment, said masking
member is removed from said flat surface part by a worker's
hands or a hook.
Further, a plug type masking member has also been
provided (USSN 276407).
Said masking member is used to protect a hole in an
article and said masking member is inserted into said hole
by a worker's hands. After a surface treatment, said masking
member is removed from said hole by a worker's hands or
a hook the same as for said flat type masking member.
Still further, a cap type masking member having a
hole is provided (USSN 41826~).
Said masking member is used to protect a projection
of an article and said masking member is put over said
projection by inserting said projection into said hole
of said masking member by a worker's hands. After a surface
treatment, said masking member is removed from said projec-
tion by a worker's hands or a hook the same as for said
flat type and said plug type masking member.
Nevertheless, as above described, said masking members
are attached on(in) said part, said hole, or said projection
by a worker's hands and much labor and time have been necces-
sary to protect said part, said hole, or said projection.
SUMMARY OF T~E INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is
to save labor and time in the case of the attaching of
said masking mernbers.
Another object of the present invention is to provide
a attaching method of said masking mernbers suitable for
automatic operation.
A further object of the present invention is to provide
a method for a surface treatment suitable for a continuous
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mass-production line.
According to the present invention, there is provided
a method for a surface treatment including an attaching
method of a masking member employing a sucker.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig.1 to Fig.7 relate to a first embodiment of the
present invention.
Fig.1 is a partial side sectional view showing the attaching
of said masking member by a attaching tool.
Fig.2 is a partial side sectional view of said sucker part
of said attaching tool.
Fig.3 is a perspective view of said màsking member used
in said first embodiment.
Fig.4 is a partial side sectional view after the surface
treatment.
Fig.5 is a partial side sectional view showing the removal
of said masking member.
Fig.6 is a side view showing a conveyer system in which
said attaching tool is used.
Fig.7 is a side sectional view showing a cylinder system
in which said attaching tool is used.
Fig.8 to Fig.11 relate to a second embodiment of the
present invention.
Fig.8 is a perspective view of a masking member used in
said second embodiment.
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Fig.9 is a partial side sectional view showing the attaching
of said masking member by a sucker.
Fig.10 is a side view showing a slide system in which said
attaching tool is used.
Fig.11 is a cross sectional view of said slide.
Fig.12 and Fig.13 relate to a third embodiment of the
present invention.
Fig.12 is a perspective view of a masking member used in
said third embodiment.
Fig.13 is a partial side sectional view showing the
attaching of a masking member by a sucker.
Fig.14 and Fig.15 relate to a fourth embodiment of
the present invention.
Fig.14 is a perspective view of a masking member used in
said fourth embodiment.
Fig.15 is a partial side sectional view showing the attaching
of a masking member by a sucker.
Fig.16 and Fig.17 relate to a fifth embodiment of
the present invention.
Fig.16 is a perspective view of a masking member used in
said fifth embodiment.
Fig.17 is a partial side sectional view showing the attaching
o~ a masking member by a sucker.
Fig.18 and Fig.19 relate to a sixth embodiment of
the present invention.
Fig.18 is a perspective view of a masking member used in
,,
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said sixth embodiment.
Fig.19 is a partial side sectional view showing the attaching
of a masking member by a sucker.
Fig.20 and Fig.21 rela-te to a seventh embodiment
of the present invention.
Fig.20 is a perspective view of a masking member used in
said seventh embodiment.
Fig.21 is a partial side sectional view showing the attaching
of a masking member by a sucker.
Fig.22 and Fig.23 relate to a eighth embodiment of
the present invention.
Fig.22 is a partial side sectional view of a sucker part
of an attaching tool.
Fig.23 is a partial side sectional view showing that the
masking member is held by said sucker.
Fig.24 is a perspective view showing that the masking
member is held by a part of attaching tools.
Fig.25 to Fig.30 relate to a ninth embodiment of the
present invention.
Fig.25 is a partial side sectional view showing the attaching
of said masking members by suckers.
Fig.26 is a partial side sectional view of said sucker part
of said attaching tool.
Fig.27 is a partial side sectional view after the surface
treatment.
Fig.28 is a partial side sectional view showing the removal
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of said masking members.
Fig.29 is a side view showing a conveyer system in which
said attaching tool i5 used.
Fig.30 is a side sectional view showing a cylinder system
in which said attaching tool is used.
Fig.31 and Fig.32 relate to a tenth embodiment of the
present invention.
Fig.31 is a partial side sectional view showing the attaching
of said masking members by said attaching tool.
Fig.32 is a side view showing a slide system in which said
attaching tool is used.
Fig.33 relates to a eleventh embodiment of the present
invention and is a partial side sectional view showing
the attaching of said masking members by suckers.
Fig.34 relates to a twelfth embodiment of the present inven-
tion.
Fig.35 relates to a thirteenth embodiment of the present
invention.
Fig.36 relate to a fourteenth embodiment of the present
invention.
Fig.37 relates to a fifteenth embodiment of the present
invention.
Fig.38 is a perspective view showing that the masking member
is held by a pair of suckers of said attaching tool.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Fig.1 to Fig.7 relate to a first embodiment of the
present invention. In this invention, a part having a
flat surface of an article is protected by a masking member.
Referring now to Fig.1 to Fig.7, a sucking tool (101)
comprises an oil pressure cylinder (102) having a piston
rod ( l 03 ) consisting of a pipe to which a vacuum-ventilation
tube (105) connect, and a sucker (104) attached at the
end of said piston rod ( l 03 ) . Said sucker (104) is made
of a rubber, plastlc, a metal, and the like.
As shown in Fig.3, a flat type masking member (110)
consists of a flat body ('I 11 ) and an adhesive layer (112)
formed on a side of said flat body (111 ).
To attach said masking member (110 ) to a part (121)
having a flat surface of an article (120), said sucker(104)
of said sucking tool (101) contact to the upper side of
said masking member (110) to suck up by operation of a
vacuum pump connecting to said tube (105) of said sucking
tool (101), and then said masking member ( 110) held by
said sucker (104) is transported right below said part
(121) of said article (120~ by a robot with which said
sucking tool ( 101 ) is equipped. Said piston rod ( 103 )
is pushed from a dotted line position to a solid line posi-
tion by the oil pressure to attach said masking member
(110) to said part (121) of said article (120) by said
adhesive layer (112) thereof as shown in Fig.1. Said masking
member (110) is separated from said sucker (104) of said
attaching tool (101) by opening said piston rod (103) to
the atrnosphere or by putting air into said piston rod ( 103 ) .
As above described, said masking member (110) is attach-
ed to said part (121) of said article (120) by said adhesive
la~er (112), and after this, a paint such as a polyvinyl-
chloride-sol, a urethane resin, an asphalt, a rubber-asphalt
mixture, a tar-urethane mixture and the like is coated
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on the surface of said article to form a coating layer
(130~ as shown in Fig.4. After said coating, said masking
member (110) is removed from said part (121) by using said
sucking tool (101) or a hook equipped with a robot as shown
in Fig.5.
In above described coating process, a plural number
of said masking member (110) may be transported by a conveyer
(140) to a direction shown by an arrow in Fig.6, and said
masking member (110) may be sucked up one by one at one
end of said conveyer (140) by said sucking tool (101) to
attach said masking members (110) to said parts (121) of
said article (120) or a plural number of said masking member
(110) are placed one upon another to form an accurnulation
of masking members (110) wherein said masking members (110)
are mutually adhered by said adhesive layer (112) thereof.
Said accumulation of masking members (110) may be put into
a cylinder (141) equipping a piston (142) and then said
accumulation of masking members (110) may be pushed up
by said piston (142) to suck up said masking members (110)
one by one at the upper end of said accumulation of masking
members (110 ) by said sucking tool (101) to attach said
masking members (110) to said parts (121) of said article
(120).
Fig.8 to Fig.11 relate to a second embodiment of the
present invention. In this invention, a hole in an article
is protected by a masking member.
Referring now to Fig.8 to Fig.11, a plug type masking
member (110)A consists of an inserting part (111)A and
a flange part (112)A. Said masking member (110)A is inserted
into a hole (121)A in an article (120)A by using said sucking
the upper surface of said flange part (112)A of said masking
member (110)A as shown in FigO9. After a surface treatment,
said masking member (110)A is removed from said hole (121)A
of said article (120)A by using said sucking tool (101)
or a hook.
In above described surface treatment process, a plural
number of said masking members (110)A may be supplied to
said sucking tool (101) by a slide (143). In said slide
system, said masking members (110)A may be respectively
put in a guide groove (144) of said slide (143) as shown
in Fig.10 and Fig.11. Said conveyer system or said cylinder
system may be also applicable to supply said masking member
(110)A to said sucking tool (101).
Fig.12 and Fig.13 relate to a third embodiment of
the present invention. In this embodiment, a projection
of an article is protected by a masking member.
Referring now to Fig.12 and Fig.13, a cap type masking
member (110)B consists of a cylindrical body (111)B having
and inserting hole (112)B and said masking member (110)B
is attached over a projection (121~B of an article (120!B
by using said sucking .ool (101) of said first embodiment
by sucking the upper surface of said cylindrical body (111)B
of said masking member (110)B as shown in Fig.13.
After a surface treatment, said masking member (110)B
is removed from said projection (121)3 of said article
(120)B by using said sucking tool (101) or a hook.
In above described surface treatment, said conveyer
system or said cylinder system in said first embodiment
or said slide system in second embodiment may be also appli-
cable to supply said masking member (110)B to said sucking
tool (101).
Fig.14 and Fig.15 relate to a fourth embodiment.
In this embodiment, a flat part of an article is protected
by a masking member.
Referring now to Fig.14 and Fig.15, a clip type masking
member (110)C consists of a rectangular parallel piped
body ~111)C having a inserting ditch (112)C and said masking
member (110)C is attached onto a flat part (121)C of an
article (120)C by using said sucking tool (101) of said
first embodiment by sucking one side of said masking member
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:
:
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(110)C as shown in Fig.15.
After a surface treatment, said masking member (110)C
is removed from said flat part (121)C of said article (120)C
by using said sucking tool (101) or a hook.
In above described surface treatment, said conveyer
system or said cylinder system in said first embodiment
or said slide system in said second embodiment may be also
applicable to supply said masking member (110)C to said
sucking tool (101).
Fig.16 and Fig.17 relate to a fifth embodiment of
the present invention. In this embodiment, a part having
a flat surface of an article is protected by a masking
member.
Referring now to Fig.16 and Fig.17, a masking member
(110)D consists of a vessel type body (111)D having a flange
(112)D extending from -the upper end of said vessel type body
(111)D and an adhesive layer (113)D formed on the upper sur-
face of said flange (112)D. Said masking member (110)D
is attached to a part (121)D having a flat surface of an
article (120)D by said adhesive layer (113)D by using said
masking tool (101) of said first embodiment by sucking
the under side of the bottom of said masking member (110)D
as shown in Fig.17.
After a surface treatment, said masking member (110)D
is removed from said flat part (121)D of said article (120)D
by using said sucking tool (101) or a hook.
In above described surface treatment, said conveyer
system or said cylinder system in said first embodiment
or said slide system in second embodiment may be also appli-
cable to supply said masking member (110)D to said sucking
tool (101).
Fig.18 and Fig.19 relate to a sixth embodiment of
the present invention. In this embodiment, a part having
a flat surface or an article is also protected by a masking
member.
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Referring now to Fig.18 and Fig.19, a masking member
(110)E consists of a vessel type body (111)E having a flange
(112iE extending from the upper end of said vessel type
under side of the bottom of said vessel type body ~111)E.
Said masking member (110)E is attached to a part (121)E
having a flat surface of an article (120)E by said adhesive
layer (113)E by using said masking tool (101) of said first
embodiment by sucking the upper side of the bottom of said
masking member (110)E as shown in Fig.19.
After a surface treatment, said masking member (110)E
is removed from said flat part (121)E of said article (120)E
by using said sucking tool (101) or a hook.
In above described surface treatment, said conveyer
system or said cylinder system ind said first embodiment
or said slide system in said second embodiment may be also
applicable to supply said masking member (110)E to said
sucking tool (101).
Fig.20 and Fig.21 relate to a seventh embodiment of
the present invention. In this embodiment, a hole in an
article is protected by a masking member.
Referring now to Fig.20 and Fig.21, a masking member
(110)F consists of a vessel type inserting part (111)F
having a flange (112)F extending from the upper end of
said inserting part (111)F and said masking member (110)F
is inserted into a hole (121)F in an article (120)F by
using said sucking tool (101) of the first embodiment by
sucking the upper side of the bottom of said masking member
(110)F as shown in Fig.21.
After a surface treatment, said masking member (110)F
is removed from said hole (121 )F of said article (120)F
by using said sucking tool (101) or a hook.
In above described surface treatment, said conveyer
system or said cylinder system in said first embodiment
or said slide system in said second embodiment may be also
applicable to supply said masking member (110)F to said
sucking tool (101).
Fig.22 and Fig.23 relate to a eighth embodiment of
the present invention. In this embodiment, a masking member
is held to a sucker of a sucking tool with its needles.
Referring now to Fig.22 and Fig.23, a sucker (104)A
of said sucking tool (101) has needles (106)A inside of
said sucker (104)A. When the upper side of said masking
member (110) is sucked by said sucker (104)A, said masking
member (110) is pierced with said needles (106)A of said
sucker (104)A to be held more firmly by said sucker (104)A.
In the first embodiment, in the case that said masking
member (110) having a big volume is used, said masking
member (110) may be unstably held by only one sucking tool
(101). Therefore, it is desirable that said masking member
(110) is held by a pair of said sucking tool (101) as shown
in Fig.24.
Fig.25 to Fig.30 relate to a ninth embodiment of the
present invention. In this embodiment, a plural number
of said masking member (110) of the first embodiment are
attached by a sucking tool (101)A.
Referring now to Fig.25 to Fig.30, said sucking tool
(101)A comprises a vacuum pipe (103)A connected to a vacuum
pump (102)A, a plural number of branch pipes (105)A
connected to said vacuum pipe (103)A, a plural number of
suckers (104)A connected respectively to the end of said
branch pipes ~105)A, and a pair of valves (106)A, ~107)A
arranged at both ends of said vacuum pipe (103)A.
To attach a plural number of said masking members
(110) to said plural numbers of said parts (121) of said
article (120), a plural number of said masking members
(110) are respectively sucked up by a plural number of
said suckers (104)A of said sucking tool (101)A as shown
in Fig.25. To suck a plural number of said masking members
(110) as above described, said valve (106)A is shut and
said valve ~107)A is opened and said vacuum pump (102)A
is operated. Further, to suck a plural number of said
masklng members (110), a pair of said valves (106)A, (107)A
is opened and said vacuum pump (102)A is operated, thus
air passes through said vacuum pipe (103)A and a plural
number of said masking members ( 110 )A are also sucked up
by a plural number of said suckers (104)A. After a plural
number of said masking members ( 11 0 ) are attached to said
parts (121 ) of said article (120), said masking members
(110) are respectively separated from said sucking tool
(101)A. To separate a plural number of said masking members
(110) from said sucking tool (101)A, said valve (106)A
is opened. If desired, said valve (107)A is shut and/or
said vacuum pump (102)A is stopped.
After said masking members (110) are respectively
attached to said parts (121) as above described, a surface
treatment such as a coating is effected on the surface
of said article (120) to form a coating layer (130) as
shown in Fig.27, and then said masking members (110) are
removed by such as said sucking tool (101)A as shown in
Fig.2~3, or a hook and the like.
In above described coating process, a plural number
of said masking members(110) may be transported by a conveyer
(140) to a direction shown by an arrow in Fig.29, and said
masking members (110) may be sucked up at the corner of
said conveyer (140) by sai~ sucking tool (101) to attach said
masking members (110) to said parts (121) of said article (120)
or a plural number of said masking members (110) are placed
one upon another to form an accumulation of masking members
(110) wherein said masking members (110) are mutually adhered
by said adhesive layer (112) thereof. Said accumulation
of masking members ~110) may be put into a cylinder (141)
equipping a piston (142), and then said accumulation of
masking members (110) may be pushed up by said piston (142)
to suck up said masking members (110) one by one at the
upper end of said accumulation of masking members (110)
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by said sucking tool (101)A to attach said masking members
(110) to said parts (121) of said article (120) as shown
in Fig.30.
Fig.31 and Fig.32 relate to a tenth embodiment of
the present invention. In this embodiment, a plural number
of said masking members (110)A are inserted in a plural
number of said holes t121)A in said article (120)A by said
sucking tool (101)A as shown in Fig.31.
After a surface treatment, said masking members (110)A
are respectively removed from said holes (121)A by such
as said sucking tool (101)A, a hook, and the like.
In above described surface treatment process, a plural
number of said masking members (110)A may be supplied to
said sucking tool (101)A by a slide (143) as shown in Fig.32,
the same as in the second embodiment. The conveyer system
and the cylinder system suggested in the first embodiment
may be also applicable to supply said masking members (110)A
to said sucking tool (101)A.
Fig.33 relates to a eleventh embodiment of the present
invention. In this embodiment, a plural number of said
masking members (110)B are attached over a plural number
of said projections (121)B of said article (120)B by said
sucking tool (101)A as shown in Fig.33.
After a surface treatment, said masking members (110)A
are respectively removed from said projections (121)B
by said sucking tool (101)A, or a hook.
In above described surface treatment process, said
conveyer system, said cylinder system and said slide system
may be applicable to supply a plural number of said masking
members (110)B to said sucking tool (1û1)A.
Fig.34 relates to a twelfth embodiment of the present
invention. In this embodiment, a plural number of said
masking members (110)C are attached onto said parts (121 )C
on said article (120)C by said sucking tool (101)A as shown `-
in Fig.34.
After a surface treatment, said masking members (110)C
are respectively removed from said parts (121)C by said
sucking tool t101)A, or a hook.
In above described surface treatment process, said
conveyer system, said cylinder system and said slide system
may be applicable to supply a plural number of said masking
members (110)C to said sucking tool (101)A.
Fig.35 relates to a thirteenth embodiment of the present
invention. In this embodiment, a plural number of said
masking members (110)D are attached to a plural number
of said flat parts (121)D of said article (120)D by said
sucking tool (101)A as shown in Fig.35.
After a surface treatment, said masking members (110)D
are respectively removed from said parts (121)D by said
suckinq tool (101)A, or a hook.
In above described surface treatment process, said
conveyer system, said cylinder system and said slide system
may be applicable to supply a plural number of said masking
members (110)D to said sucking tool (101)A.
Fig.36 relates to a fourteenth embodiment of the present
invention. In this invention, a plural number of said
masking members (110)E are attached to a plural number
of said flat parts (121)E of said article (120)E by said
sucking tool (101)~ as shown in Fig.36.
After a surface treatment, said masking members (110)E
are respectively removed from said parts (121)E by said
sucking tool (101)A, or a hook.
In above described surface treatment process, said
conveyer system, said cylinder system and said slide system
may be applicable to supply a plural number of said masking
members (110)E to said sucking tool (101)A.
Fig.37 relates to a fifteenth embodiment of the present
invention. In this embodinent, a plural number of said mask-
ing members (110~F are inserted in a plural number of said
holes (121)F in said article (120)F by said sucking tool
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(101)A as shown in Fig.37
After a surface treatment, said masking members (110)F
are respectively removed from said holes (121)F by said
sucking tool (101)A, or a hook.
In above described surface treatment process, said
conveyer system, said cylinder system and said slide system
may be applicable to supply a plural number of said masking
members (110)F to said sucking tool (101)A.
In said ninth embodiment, in the case that said masking
member (110) having a big volume is used, said masking
member (110) may be unstably held by only one sucker (10~)A
of said sucking tool (101)A. ThereforeJ it is desirable
to held said masking member (110) by a pair of suckers
(104)A of said sucking tool (101 )A which are next each
other as shown in Fig.38.
In the present invention, said masking member (110),
(110)A, (110)B, (110)C, (110)D, (110)E, (110)F are made
of a material, such as a plastic or a rubber such as poly-
styrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene-propylene
copolymer, polyvinylchloride, polyvinylidene chloride,
polymethacrylate, styrene-butadiene copolymer, acrylonitrile-
butadiene copolymer, polybutadine polyisoprene, polyiso-
butylene, polychloroprene, isoprene-isobutylene copolymer,
natural rubber, polyurethane, melamine resin, urea resin,
phenol resin, epoxy resin and the like; foams of said plastic
or said rubber' a mixture of said plastic or said rubber
with a filler such as calcium carbonate, talc, bentonite,
flyash, blast furnace slag, and the like; a fiber material
such as thermoplastic uesin - impregnated fiber; a thermo-
setting resin - impregnated fiber, wooden material such
as wood, hardboard, plywood and the like; metal material
and the like; composite material consisting of a plural
number of materials selected from the group of said materia~s.
