Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PAINT ~YSTEM WlTH COLOR CHANGE CAN~
BACKGROUND OF THE ~VENTION
The invention relates to a paint system for supplying paint to a coating device
S for the production line coating of ~4o~k~ ~s, particularly vehicle bodies.
A known paint system such as disclosed in EP-PS 0 274 322, incl-l~es an
en~mf.lin~ robot which carries the spraying device. Inlcl.;hallgeable cont~iners are
filled at ~ pen~ing stations that are ~nn~xPd to paint supply lines and are located in
the spray booth in the movement range of the robot, from where they are picked up
10 by the enameling robot itself as nfcçc~-.y. The interc~ ge~hle COIll~hlcl~ can be
coupled at different stations to any one of the numerous lines. In a different
embodiment, only two containers are provided, of which one cont~iner respectively
is mounted to the robot while the other is being filled at a color çh~n~er annexed
to connecting lines. A system of this type avoids long tubes between the spraying
15 arr~ngemPnt and the supply lines and permits ele~ u~lic coating with electrically
con-l~lctive coating material without the problem of a conductive connPction between
the spraying arrangement and the supply lines.
However, this system r~ui,cs a relatively high control cost if each paint
supply line is ~!C.~O~ rs~ with its own inlcl~ ng~hle cQI~ r~ because the robot
20 must run to a difrclent ~ ren~ing station for each color change. In addition, when
the robot runs to the dispensing station, it must wait for the conf~in~r to be filled.
On the other hand, if only two containers are available for ~ltern~t~ filling and use,
they must be rinsed for every color change, which leads to a loss of time in the
coating operation as well as a loss of the lr-~--;;l---~g m~tori~l in the container on a
25 reserve basis. In each case, the robot must execute laborious control movements
in order to couple the cnnt~inP.rs to the dispensing st~tion~
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In order to supply paint to an f n~...~l;.~p robot for vehicle bodies, which has
co~ that can be mounted to the robot arm in an int~ lc manner, it is
also conventionAlly lcnown to ~ ~, L co--~ ~;f -- ~ filled with the yu~llily l~Uil_d
for each body ~-~CCf cc;~ely on a conveying belt to a discharge point, from which
S they are removed by an auxiliary robot and delivered to the e-.A..~ ;ng robot.
SUl~JlVrARY OF T~IE INVENTION
The present invention provides a paint system for ~ line coating of
workrif~ec, particularly vehicle bodies, having the gl~t~sl possible fleYibility with
respect to the paints, spraying allA~g~ nl~ and coating IllAf ~ used. The paint
10 system inf~ltldP$ a paint supply system which, when filling the i~ r~l.A.IgfAh
col-lA;I~F ;~, limits the loss due to color change and provides a coating operation
which is siEnififAntly free of delay. The paint supply system also ~ Glably
manages to limit control effort for the control of 1~ ~uil~d move-mf~ntc
The paint system further inflllf~f-~ a paint spray system inrlu~linE a coating
15 mA~hine whose exfhAn~Ahle c~ in~r can be coupled to the valve unit of the
spraying device simply and with low contro} effort and which does not impair the
dynamic motion behavior of the m~f hine
For the paint supply system of the present invention, the f~.lAin- . ~ can each
be refilled with m~tPnAl of the same color. The cof.lA;I~ ~ . are rinsed only if a
20 control and mol~ E system ci,labli~l,es that the contAinf-~s were not used for
coating for a preset amount of time, or were not e l"~ied completely during coating,
or were not refilled after being emptied or in an excG~,onal case, if a COn~A;~
must be fillecl with a ~ rGlellt color. ConsG Iu. nlly, the loss of paint due to regular
nnsing is avoided.
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Since color loss by means of rinsing only rarely occurs, the r~ s~fxLive filling
qll~ntitiPS also are not critical in this respect. It can be adv~nt~Eeous to fill the
co,.l;.;n~-~ only with a ~A~ P~d quantity of m~tPri~l that is l~ui.~;d for a
pf~ t~ll.il.~d coating process, e.g., in order to coat one body; it is normal,
however, to require a s~lffiri~nt reserve quantity. However, excess paint can remain
in the CQ~ fr and be sprayed during the next use of the cor~
Since all co..~ can be refilled and, if nP. f ~y~ rinsed during normal
coating "~..,~;OI- ~4iLllouL inltllul~Lion, the system also o~ t~s with the least
possible loss of time. Loss of time can be limited to the time required to couple and
10 decouple the co..~ to and from the paint spray system with an adv~nt~gçous
prior po~itioninE of the co,.~;n~ .:, of the ~ assembly. For coating, this loss
of time can also be avoided if at least two paint spray sy~.l,s that alternate
op~ti- n are provided.
The present paint system is suitable for supplying paint to any coating
15 system, e.g., to ele~LIu ,LdLic systems for convention~l enamel or electrically
conductive water-based Pn~mPl, or to air al~;""~.~; in fact, not only to robots such
as the aÇ~ ;on~l known systems, but to any coating m~rhinPc In this regard,
only simple movements must be controlled, which in turn can reduce the control
effort conQ;~Ie~hly for robots and other mn1ti~ic coating m~hinPs For
20 move.l.~ nL i which are simple to control, . o~ inserted in the ~ u~ L
assembly are removed at the discharge point by means of a linear movement
. ~ ..
assembly that moves the cG~ in~s along a straight path b~lween the coating
assembly and the L-culs~oll arrangement. In the case of a mnlti~iQ ~ .,,rli"E
m~rhine, the arm that carries the :.~ldying assembly can be pivoted, on the side of
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the .,.~C~ P facing the tl~u~ ull ass~"lbly, from or back to the ~ L ~c~Pmhly
in order to take over the co~ , said L~ JOlL assembly likewise being simple
to control. The sarne advantage ensues if the coating ll~ ~'h;IlF iS con~h~ctF~A, pa~allel
to the ll~uu,yul~ di.~lio" of the ~4ul~ieces to the coated, to the discha~ point, in
S order to take over and deliver the co"~ s. A con~in-r is ~ ,Çcl~bly inserted
Ll~ou~ an o~ cuing of the arrn into its interior space, where it can be cou~ A very
easily, on one end, to control valves of the rinsing ~- "...g~ lt, and, on the other
end, to an clc~iLlul~p~h~ l drive for a ul~le~cd e "IyLying of the co~
Since the illle~ .f~l-le CQI~ ,,, can be filled relative slowly without
10 causing delays for the coating ~p- ,.I;on due to their int~....-F~ t-F storage on the
Lldlls~olL arr~ngelnPnt there is no need for high pl~,S;tul~, in the lines, which ~,otc~Ls
the coating material flowing in the lines, which as a rule is pressurc-~e.lsilive. For
the same reason, ~ ;,ulG flUctll~tio~c in the lines are far less critical than for
systems dPpPn~1ing on the quickest pos;,;blc filling.
In ~<lAitinn~ the invention enab}es a trouble-free coating with practically any
color shade, since not only are the colors delivered in previously conventional
supply lines available, but rullh~.",ure, all possible ~ Ul~., of these and/or
s~(itlitir~ l colors are available. Mixing can be carried out in the c~JIlL~ r by filling
it with dirr~.~"- colors, or even prior to filling the cu~ F in qupstion~ and in fact,
20 can be carried out ~1ltnm~ti~1ly or m~nll~lly by guiding to~p-thpr at least two
dir~.~nL colors, e.g., from the ~ Pri supply lines. As a rule, any optional
;nn of colors, which can be selF~t~d with flexibility, is carried out fully
Iu~ ly; it is ~ ~e~ul~ by means of an electronic control system, accu,ding to
the ~ ~;Li~re ~em~ntl~ In special cases, the ~u~ulL assembly can also be
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iy~d with cu..Id;..~ ~ filled externally, without being ~ ~ to the supply lines
of the filling station of the system de~clibed here.
At the filling station, a device shall be provided which auL(,.~ lly couples
a c~,..l;~;... ~ to a device fed by at least one supply line. The ~ - n~ of colors
S on the ll~uls~ assembly can be carned out at any optional po~itil~nC acco..l,ng to
c~fillnP~c, since the aulu,l,~lic devices provided at the discharge point and at the
filling station, in order to supply and remove or to fill the co..'~ , have free
access to all l~o~ c on the l-d-- ~ assembly.
The filling station or at least the discharge point could be located within the
lû spray booth in which coating conventi~n~lly is carried out. However, a spray booth
~cr~ bly cont~inc as few co-"~nenLs of the overall system as possible, esper~ y
in the actual spraying region due to the danger of dirt ~rc~m~ tion by means of the
sprayed coating material and due to the ilu~ t of the r,~ed~s", of move..lGnt of
the coating m~rhinPc For the system de~wibed here, it is therefore preferable to
15 locate the transport assembly collllJlt,lGly outside of the spray booth. For PY~mple,
the ~ assembly in IJlGf~rdbly located in the ~ rl ..A~ e region of the system
and is se~A.,.~P41 from the paint spray system by means of a wall, with con~i.in~ .~
being s~ppliPA to the paint spray system and I~IUll~ed to the ~ assembly
lluuu~l, an opening in the wall. Since the filling stadon is also located outside the
20 booth, the closed circular supply lines, in which coatdng m~t~ri~l circulates, do not
need to be guided as far as into the booth. The lines can ~ fo-G be shorter and
u .. _. .
The spray arm of the spray m~.hi~ iS ~-uUght for f~Yf'.l~Al~g;n~, the CQ~
into a position in which a manipulator device, ~e.rùrllling a linear movement
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rl;~ r to the ann u~ , can insert and remove the co"ln;~~e-. When
inserting the c~nl~ r . with this m~nip~ tor device, it can be col-nf~ very simply
to the valve unit of the spraying device, likewise provided in the interior of the arm,
and ~ .al~l from it during removal. All supply and control lines leading to the
5 spraying device can run in the interior of the movable ~l-m~nsc of the ,..~ f~ .
In opP~tion, the cu~ need only p~tici~ak; in the arm ...ul;onc of the
~n~ r" but not in the z~firiitilf n~ cial n,u~ of the spraying device. The
~Q~ . . in the arsn interior is also easily incnl~tF~i when it is ~ul~Je~ d to high
voltage in an e~ecl-u:.~Lic coating o~.,.l;ol~ with conductive m:~t~.riz~i. Preferably,
10 the arm of the m~f hinf- consi~L~ of inclll~tin~ m~tfA~i~l over a length s~ffici~nt for
incnl~tin~ the spraying device and the c~ inr ~ from grounded parts of the m~f hin
An ~rlrlition~l advantage of the invention ccm~ictc in the fact that a c~
CO -sLlu~;led as a ~--f 1'" ~ g cylinder with a movable piston can be easily coupled in
the interior of the arm to an ele~Llu~ h~llif~l control drive for metered emptying
15 of the Co~ e~ . In particular, when removing the corl;~ r - from the m~f hine, a
piston rod which n ,--~lls in the ...~ c and which can be co~rpl~rl to the inserted
corll;.;nr r can be driven by an electric ser~/u--.olol in~t~llf~ in the mzlr~.hinç of a type
co,~ .v.-~lh.~ to the motors provided in the ...~ .F for axial driving.
20BRIEF DESCRIPIION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention, will
become readily a~p~nt to those skilled in the art from the following det~il~
dcs ~ ion of a ~ ~ e-~.ho li,..F..l when con~i~iPred in the light of the
acco...~ ying drawings in which:
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Figure 1 is a basic .c~ l;orl of the paint system of the present
- invention;
Figure 2 is a s(~ AI;c l~,~e~ l;nn of an ~, ~g~ nl with which a
cc!nl;.;..~l can be moved between the paint spray system and the l-, -.cl~.. L assembly
S in acconl~ce with Figure l;
Figure 3 is a ~h~ f;~ rL~ ;OIl of a filling station of the system in
accorclance with Figure 1;
Figure 4 shows a simplified longitlltiin~l section through the arm of the
p~inting robot of Figure l;
Figure ~ shows a s~ ;c l~ c~ ;on of the system for co~n~;l;.. g the
PY~h~ngP~hle co~ to the spraying device of Figure l;
Figure 6 is an ~lt~ t~ C.llbO~ t of the paint supply system of Figure 1;
and
Figure 7 is a sr~hPm~tic of another alternate paint supply system which can
15 be used in the paint system of Figure 1.
DETAI~ F;D DESCRIPIION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The paint system 20 of the present invention is genP~lly shown in Figure 1
COIll~lisillg a paint supply system 22 for supplying paint to a paint spray system 24.
The l.,...~yO.~ assembly itself of the system de~;libed here can be of any
20 optional type, e.g., a belt conveyor or a chain conveyor. The paint supply system
- 22 compri~P~ a m~g~7inP 26, which can rotate in either direction. The mzlp~7in.o
26 is provided with devices to accept and hold cartridge-like cGlll~ne~ 28 at a
mll1tit~ of ~ iru.~ y distributed positions, as is known and convention~l for tool
m~g~7inP.~ in ~ f~ n with tool-ch~nging ~ ng~.. l~; Preferably, the m~g;~7in~
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26 stores a mnitit~ of co~ y~ at least equal to or y~ r~.~bly
double the nu~llber of colors which can be s~ t~
Arrow 32 in-iic~t~s a filling station 32 in which the cu~ - ~ . 28 illse-Lcd in
the ...~ 26 are aulu..~-l;r~lly filled with the dirre~ll colors desired in each
S case. r~ .bly, the cul.~ r~ 28 remain in the ~ r 26 ~uring filling, if a
movable filling device 34 is cou~l~ to the co..~-;.... to be filled. Alt~rn~tively, the
co~ can be removed from the ..-~ 26 by means of a snit~hllo
~rT~ngem~nt and then likewise ~ntom~tic~lly coo}l-d to the filling device 34 for
~Illing. The filling device 34, co.~l;.;..c a color changer 36 or at least a movable
10 device connPI t~fi to a color challg_., with the color cZlan~cr 36 being ~nn-Ye~ to a
ml~ltitnA~ of closed circular pipelines ~ci~n~t~A, in ~ener~l, as 38, in which
circulate dirr~ colors of available coating m~t-ori~lc. Individual col~ , e.g.,
with individually mixed special colors, can be in;~G.L~i m~n--~lly at the manual
filling station 40.
At the dischdL~G point in ii-~t~A by arr~w 42, a filled cont~i~er 28a is
seized, removed from the m~7ine 26, and s~lrpiie~l along the l~ l~.ese.lL~ d straight
path 48 to the paint supply system 24 by means of a linear mov~ .IlGllL assembly 46
which, e.g., has a piston-cylinder driving unit and can be ~"~ "Led on the .~.~g~;nP
26.
The paint spray system 24 co,.. l.. ;ces an F .~".~ g robot 50, which can be
moved, as shown by arrow 52, parallel to the L~ ul~ direction of w~,l.c~ir-Ps (not
se~lL~d~ supplied with a conv~ntinn~l conveyor. The robot 50 is moved back
and forth in this direction between a working position 50a and a co,.l; ;..P~h~nging
position 50b, in which a filled cont~in~or is delivered to the former and an empty
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co-~,;n~., iS removed. The con1 ~h-F. 28a shall yl~r.,.~bly be inse.l.:d lhL~)~g11 an
opening 54 in the housing 56 of the arm 58 of the robot 50 and there be cou~led to
a control valve construction of the spraying ~ ~I For this yulyose~ the robot
arm 58is pivoted more than 90 degrees, ~ Ç~ably more than 180 degrees, and
S most yl~f~, dbly ayplv}i -~tf-ly 270 degrees in the vertical ~o~ c~ -lc-A., in
which the ~v~ ;f nPA ~. n;llg of the arm 58is facing the del*ery z...,..-g~
46 of the m ~a7ine 26, hence, is located in a vertical plane which i~lt~.b~L~ the
h~ J~ path 48 roughly at a right angle. The pivoted movement of the robot arm
58.~~ d for this is made possible by the single-sided support of this arm 58 on
10 the robot SQ as .~ fA, Hence, the robot 50 need only eYe~ P a few simple
movements to reach the c~ ;.- -ul~ position 50b and to receive a filled
cQnt~inPr and deliver an empty cu~ ,.. The arm 58 is pocitionp~d on one side of
the paint spray system 24 for spraying paint and on the ~;,ile side of the paint
spray system 24 for receiving co. l;~;"~.~ 28.
While the robot 50 is located in the cQ~ ch~nging ~L/alLiOI- 50b, before
insertion of a full cQ~ 28a, the cor.l~ f, 28b used before and now empty,
sen~d by a dashed line in the figure, first is removed from the robot arm 58.
For this ~u.yose, the linear move,lle,.lassembly 46, only .~ ,se..lt;d 5~ I;f~lly,
can be as shown in Figure 2, such that it can hold at least two cu~ ;nl ~ 28
20 ~im~ lf~u~ly~ hold the full c~ 28a ready while it removes the empty
co~ ., 28b. In this regard, Figure 2 s~ l;r~11y le~J~L,s~ > that the linear
movement assembly 46 also carries out a transverse move,l,ent pf ~y~~ ;cul~r to the
h~ ul lz~l path 48; this can also be a rot~tiol-~l movement. After the new co~ ine
28a has been inserted, the robot 50 travels back to its working po~ition 50a.
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For the ~ ,lF de,. . ;l-e~, the linear movement assembly 46, which
removes the cv~ 28 from the paint supply system 22 and 5u~1ies it to the
paint spray system, also returns the Cu..l;~il.f r 28 to the paint supply system 22. The
po~ihility also exists of providing two mot~ t ~c~ornblies 46 at the ~I;crl~,..~"
point 42, of which one s--ppii~s co.. ~ . 28 to the paint spray system 24 while the
other movement a,se.,~bly 46 returns a different Cf~tU~ 28 to the paint supply
system ~.
The robot 50 ulJ~.ral~,S conv -~l;u~lly within a spray booth. Based on,
among other reasons, the ~fol~ ...,..I;UI~P~I linear movement of the cu~ n~ ,~ 28
10 along the path 48, the very ad~,~-~g~us possibility exists of ~ the paint
supply system 22 in-~lu~in~ the ...~g,.,;.~e 26, fully outside of the booth, and of
s~lJala~ , it from the robot by mP~ns of a wall (not .~.~c.lt~d). The co~
28 can be supplied to the paint spray system 24 without trouble and returned to the
Tn~7in.q 26 through an o~ening in this wall.
1~ Of course, in pro~luctioTI line coating of wu~k~ c, such as motor vehicle
bodies, ~ itions~ "~I;n~ r~ S can be located within the booth; in particular,
a second en~mt~ling robot can operate on the c~l osi~e side of the body to be coated,
and can obtain its int~,.cl~ Ahle .~ from an additional supply system, of
the type ~IF~.~,;I.e~, provided there. It is also possible to provide at least two
20 ,.. t~ .5 or ~.,.. cl,ul~ ~. ,,.. ~.... ~c of the type desc-ilJed, ~- .~ in p~11e~, on
the same side of the booth.
1iti(~n, the possibility exists of using one supply system of the type
d~ ed here in order to supply two robots or other coating ~ f 5, of which
one m~chinp l~ ively works while the paint Co~ are c~ngeA for the other
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l~;Live l"~ ;"r; such that a cl~ of the co..~ need not int~lu~t the
coating o~ n
A manual manipulation assembly could be used to fill the CQI~ 28; it
is ~ rr.~hlf ~ however, for the cv-~ , 28 to remain in the ",z~ lr 26 during
S filling, in accoldance with Figure 1. A control valve, which is both CO.~..f~-l~ to
the color ~h~ e~ 36 and is movable, is coL,'-d, e.g., from below, to the valve
opPningS provided in an end wall of the co~t~ f-- 28, as f~l.,se.~t~d with greater
precision in Figure 3.
In acculdance with Figure 3, the cartridges or cu~ 28 are in the form
10 of cylin-tric~ .;ng co..~ c-~ that contain a piston 60, which can be fli~pl~red
within the co.~ f . The ~os;Lion of the piston 60 in the cc,..~ - - defines the
volume to be filled and hence, the amount of enamel to be sprayed. The position
of the piston 60 can be set by means of a piston rod 66 prior to filling by an electric
motor 64, ~l~feldbly a stepping motor, which is controlled by means of the electric
15 control system of the filling station accc,l-ling to the l- ~I,e~;~ive quantity of enamel
f~ui~d.
While the piston 60 is ~ .ated from one end of the cu.llaine~ 28, the
c~f l;.;.-. ~ valves 70, 72 provided for filling and emptying are located at the o~ile
end. The valve 70 serves for filling at the filling station and in order for coating
20 ms~tPriz~l to be removed during coating. The valve 72 serves, if nPr_~. y, to empty
the co..l;~;n.~. 28 in the filling station in which the con~ can also be rinsed. A
handle 62 for the aforem~ntit~ned manual manipulation assembly, for inserting the
cqu~ in the robot and for re~ g it to the m~g~7inP 26 can be ~tt~rhPci to a
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-12-
side wall of the co~ 28. ~ t~ means for ~ nin~ the valves 70, 72 wit'n
those of the color çh~ng~r are located at the ends of the co..1;l;nF ~ 28.
The color r~ gcr 36 with a control valve unit 74 cc~nnF~ to it is cuu~
to the CQ~ 28. In this regard, a line 78 C~ nf~ the c~ ;..F- valve 70, to the
S color ~ 6, by means of cv l~vn~ valves Fl-Fn, to a n~,..,b~f of closed
circular pi~3in~s or other supply iines for dirr~ colors. T 31 .. isc in a
conv~Q~ f~ the color cl.~gcr also co..1~ valves V for a rinsing agent
or solvent and ~ 7ition~l valves PL for co~ ed air used to empty and rinse the
con~i,.cr 28. Return valves, fie~i~n~t~i RF, are cu....r~t~ to a line 84 which,
cunneci~ a drain valve 72 of the co~ 28 to a collprting receiver 84. When
~lP~ , y, rinsing liquid travels through the line 78 and valve 70 mto the co~
28. The control valve unit 74 is dU~ liy rinsed when the cont~inPr is
dC~Gi 7
It is ~ lcîc dble tû provide the co~ 28 with readable ",r~ ni~
15 i~1entifier data 90 such as bal~odcs or m~gn~ti~lly stored data, with respect to color
shade, quantity of paint, co~ . nu",l~er, co..1;.in~- size, identification of the
coating process to be carried out, etc., such that an optimtlm .n<,.~i1olillg and control
of the vl~e~ is always ~o;,i,;l,lc. In particular, the clecL,u.lic control system can
assign the co..1;.;..F- to a certain w. '~ if ' to be coated. The id~ r data on the
20 ~ can either be ~ en~ or have the ability of being overwritten.
Figure 4 shows the arm 58 of a p~inting robot. It co..~ ; f ,;,F-.I;~11y of an
P~ d houQing 56 that is seated at its right end in such a lll~.n~l as to be
movable ~not shown), and at its ol.~s;le end 5U~JUll~ ition~l movable c1e~ .t~
clu-iing a wrist or hand axis cu~ lu~lion lO0, on which the ~ld~iug device is
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-13-
geA The 1~.4Ui-~i lines run Illluu~;,h the interior of the hand axis construction
- 100 from the spraying device (not shown in Figure 4) to a valve block 102 inst~ PA
...;-,,. nlly at the end of arm 58 in its ho!.~;..g 56.
The housing 56 of the arm 58 is closed off low~ds the outside with the
S eYfeption of the o~enil,g 54 located on one side of the arm and ~lim~n~ior~ed
snffirient1y long and wide that the cyti~ ;r~l co~ er 28 can be i~lse,led lllluugll
the opening 54 into an interior space of the housing 56 to the ~ t~i ~,~.lion,
in which its own axis lies parallel to that of arm 58, and removed after use. In its
end face turned toward the valve hlock 102, the cc.~ 28 has the outlet valve
10 opening 106 which lies flush during the emptying process with an inlet o~eni.-g of
the valve block 102 facing toward the end face of the co~ inf . The precise
nmPnt iS aclli.,~rcd by ce.~ g means 108 that are provided on the valve block
and on the end of the cQnl;~inF~ and come into l n~;~gF.. ~l during the axial
pressing-lug~ r and coupling of the Cout~ f r 28 to the valve block 102. For
15 pressing the cu..l~ FI- against the valve b}ock 102 and loclcing it there, a pnPIlm~tic
locking cylinder 138 is provided.
As stated above, the cu..l;~;..- 28 is consLIu.lGd as a ...- t~ ~;..g cylinder. It
co-u~inc a piston 60 movable in the CUl~; ;n in order t~ empty it. As desr~iheA
above, the piston which can be moved during or before the filling of the cu..l;.i~
20 at the remote filling site into a position in which it defines a preset filling volume
for the coating m~tPri~l filled Illn~u~ one of the valve o~e.lings 70. In the ~
shown, this is the entire co~ inFr volume, but in other cases, a volume can be set
which is just snffiri~nt for a preA~~finrA coating process plus a n~~e~ reserve.
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In case of c~--, ' emptying, the m~t~rinE~ piston 60 co..l~ the i~lt~iUl wall of
the end face of the conl~h~ 28, as shown at 60a
For the lllet-,.cd e.ll~Lyil~g of the c~ i. er 28, a piston rod 116 seated so as
to be axially movable along the hou~;. 56 acts on the mPflorin~ piston 60 through
S an opening 114 provided in the rear co~ F ~ end; said rod 116 is not ~.~ uuusly
in contact with the piston 60, but remains instead in the h.lu~ , 56 during the
~Yrh:ln~e of the cvn,A;~r. The piston rod 116 is driven, via a clutch 124, a belt
of gear tr~ncmic~ion 126, a spindle nut 130 guided at 128 and a spindle 134 seated
at 132, by an electric servomotor 122 housed in an enlarged part 118 of the
10 ho..~;..g. An absolute value sensor for the ser~,u,..oLol 122 and an inductive Ipm
gauge 136 provide precise control of the ~,~ .~i emptying of the cc,~ 28. The
housing part 118 is closed at its rear end by a lid 120.
At its end facing the cnnt~in~r 28, the piston rod 116 is seated in the
lJ~ f;r- stop cylinder 138 serving to stop the CQI~ . A l~--P~ ;C contact
sensor 142 that generates a pneum~tif~ signal when the piston rod 116 strikes against
the metering piston 60 is seated in the end face of the piston rod 116.
The coating . ~ 1 5~ Cd here can work in prin~iple with any a,LiL.dly
spraying device. If, however, an e~ u;"dLic i~ldying device is used for ;~ldyillg
el~LIu~o-ulllrtive coating m~tf~.ri~l, the valve block 102 and the co~ r 28, which
20 are constructed of ~ .I,e resistant metal, are raised to a high voltage. The,~,rc,.~,
it is ne~e~ . y to assure e~ trir~l is~ tion from the normally grounded metal parts
of the " ~c~l~;nf For inct~nce7 the ~~Yr~nllin~ houcinE~ part 118 preferably COI ci.ctc
of ~1.. ;".,." The honcin~ 56 of the ill~ ~i robot arm 58 ~l~,f~.dl~ly concictc of
a m~ n~ 1y-stable plastic or other incnl~ting m~ttori~l from the valve block 102
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up to the hol~cin~ part 118. The length of the i~ ;..g hol~ 56 iS ~ .n~ nr,~
such that the ft~Uil~,d i~nl~tin~ path 144 is created bc;l~n the rear end of the stop
cylinder 138, which is met~ and the metal hou~ r part 118. The piston rod 116
likewise con~ictc of incnl~ting m~tPrT~l
Figure S s~ lly illnctr~s the supply system of an cl~LluslaLic
ayil~g device 148, which can, for ;~ --ce, be a conv~ rotary ~t~".,;~. and
iS in~ Aed to spray the coating m~tPri~l from the CQI~ 28 inct~llP~I in the robot
arrn accùld~lg to Figure 4. If the cc,..l;~ 28 is in~e.lt;d and coupl~ to the system,
the main needle valve of the spraying device 148 is co~n~ A via a line HN and a
paint valve F in the control valve block 102 to the inlet o~ ing 150 of the valve
block, and cons~..~ ly the valve ù~.lhlg 70 of the cu..l ~;nF. 28.
FulLl~ u~, a rinsing agent line V leads into the valve block 102. A line
KS leads from the valve block 102, and serves for brief rinsing of the atomizer bell
while circumventing the main needle line EIN and is b,~cl.ed off into the spraying
15 device 148. The rinsing agent con~ ;ng of thinner in the line V reaches the line
HN and the spraying device as n~AeA particularly when ~ ..gi--g paint. Through
an ~AA;~;on~l line PL, co~ .~d air reaches the valve block 102 and the spraying
device 148 via line HN. Finally, a line RF, likewise co.-~ eA to the valve block
102 and in parallel thereto to the spraying device 148. Unsprayed coating m~trri~l
20 and rinsing agent are directed from the other lines, the control valve block and the
s~laying device through the line RF into a collP~sting con~ . L S~ particularly during
a change of paint. The c~es~,;l.cd lines are located on the inside of the movable
m:~htnr r.ll..,,..nl<i
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If cun~ fe paints are sprayed in the vicinity of the ~ ~ying device 148
and the valve block 102, the lines can be at a high pot~.-Lial and are tll~.'tr.,l~
constructed in their c(~ -AI;onc to be i~ g. The n~e.~;ly of electrical
inclllAti~m iS absent if, for inc~ a ~ l;c A~ 148a, rather than an
S cle~L,vsL~Lic spraying device, is C'~ r~l-A to the con~rol valve block and the line
RF.
In operation, the COI~IA;~ 28 is filled at a point removed from the paint
spray system 24 and ~.~ fe.dbly conveyed outside the conv~ AI .~lAyi..g booth
by the paint supply system 22 as ciPs.-.;beA above to a co..l~inf- eYfhAn~e point,
10 where it is gli~>~i by a manipulator device and is inserted Ll,n~ugll an opening of
the booth wall along a linear con~ ce path into the u~ ing 114 of the housing
56 of the arm 58 shown in Figure 4. The co..lA;... i- 28 is e~lui~lJ~I, on one side for
inctAn~e, with a handle 152 ~Figure 4~ by which it is sei~d by a gripper 154 of the
ar~J,. ,.~. .nionPc~ mAnipu~tor device. The process of pressing against and co~pling
15 to the con~i,l~ l 28 occurs A~ AIIy After use, the CO~ ;"CI is again removed
from the arm 58 by the manipulator device, which ciml~lt~nP~usly inserts a new
col-tA;f~- filled as needed with the same or a dirr ~ paint, unless it is more
rrA~tit~l to use S~A~AIt' devices for insertion and removal.
Figure 6 .~ .,.L~ a dirr~.~..t ~ ho.1;"....~t of the paint supply system.
20 Here, a belt or chain conveyor 156 serves as the I~A~''P~IL ArrzmgemPnt, in which
the co--lAi..r .~ 28 are held in a hc/..~onL~I position by means of a chain or belt 158,
and which revolves about a hc,. ;~ A1 axis.
As with the çmho.li...- -t in acco.dance with ~igures 1 and 3, a color CjlA~Ig~..
160 is c~l~nF~ A by lines 162 to closed ~ ;ul~ ~ elines or, preferably, a movable
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filling coupler 170 with the ability to be rinsed. The movable filling coupler 170
- is fed by the color changc~ 160, is coupl~A to a cQI.t;~ 28 to be filled by means
of an ~.I.. _I;.~lly controlled shifting device. In ~ litir~n, ~ ion~l supply lines
164 are con.~ ,b.~ to the color changer 160, and at least some lines lead to ~ ul~
S ch~mhP~s 166 or to other supply tanlcs for special colors or other coating materials
that cannot be drawn from the lines 162. For ~ lr, difr~.,nl colors could be
mixed in the C~ h~ ~ 166. In each case, the lines 162, 164 include control air
lines for valve ~rt~l~tinn
As with the embo~imPnt in accoldance with Figure 1, a linear move.,lellt
10 ~..,..-g~ 1 168, e.g., one driven by means of a piston~ linder unit, or a dirr~c~
po~itioning device, is provided in order to remove and reinsert the co~ ;nP.~ g4.
In each case, the conveyor 90 is ~ ~ by means of a drive 172 controlled by
the elecllunic control system such that the eo~.';..l-l ~ .~ui.~d in each case are
removed and refilled at the correct point in time at the discharge point and filling
15 station.
~ rc,~bly a flow meter 176 is positioned on the line which leads from the
color ch~nger 160 into the cu~ s 28. This can be used to lllo~ ul a metered
filling or, by means of a cG~Ic~ ing control of the present valves, to control the
filling quantity. Hence, the piston control des~,.il,ed with the e..lbodill....l in
20 accoldd,l.,e with Figure 3 is not IC~lUil~d.
With the use of cl~-us~ic spraying ~- ~ e,...~ , the spatial cl~n~ e of
the filling station from the discharge point or from the spraying ~ ngemf~nt is at
least as great as the ~ n-e re~uired for an electrical in~nl~tion Tn~lepenrlPnt of
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the type of spraying ~~ g~ ho.._ve,, a filling station shall be located outside
the spray booth for the reasons already cited above.
Figure 7 sc~ lly inAi~ tes a paint supply system according to another
embo-iimPnt e~ le of the invention. In this ~-~".p1~, a standard side ...~ 1.;..
5 198 used in auL~>1,1~ile p~inting le~lln~ y can be supplied with dirr.,,~nt color
coating material as coating device 200, acco..lin~ to the ;~ J~I;Qm The coating
device 200 is located at the h~u~s~. point 42, to which the filled cul~ 28a are
Ll~u sy~lltd from the filling site 32 to moving m~g~7in~c 204. The conveyance of
these m~g~7inP,s 204 used as moving L~ ulL devices, from the filling site 32 to
the transfer site 42, can take place by dirL.Gnt means or conveyors 208, as
..rc.?c~;..y; for Py~mrlP, with a rail-based conveyor or conveyor linked by an
inrluctiQn coil, or a chain conveyor, etc., or in special cases, even m~n~ ly, onto
the illllctr~t~i cart.
One ~ltern~tive possibility (not ill~ .,.l~) consists in moving the conL~i"e,
15 28 or a suitable m~gp7inP by means of a pnpnnt~tic tube system in a Icnown manner.
When using a number of coating devices, the COnt~illel~ 28, or in the
P~ eY~mrle, their m~ 7in~s 204, can be s~pplip~ either directly from the
filling site 32 from the individual coating devices, or instead, the m~g7~7.in~c can
move the various coating devices one after the other, where one filled co~n;~ is
20 removed and/or an empty co.-~ , can be .GLulned from the coating device into the
m~7.inf~ ~
There are several possibilities for filling the col~ 28 at the filling site
32; for ~ , ConnP~ting empty ~ to ring lines or other lines, or to large
supply vessels. It is also possible to set up filled co~ u~ , supplied from outside
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of the particular system, in the filling station for ll_lS~Il to the l.~u.sr~. site 42.
According to one particular ~l~A.A~t~ ;c of the invention, a mixing bench 210 can
be provided at the filling site, from which various coating s.~ AI~c~s of dirf~,.i"g
colors are moved into the co..~;n- " which are mixed in advance, or are mixed in
S the co,-lA;n--~, into the desired color tone. Furthermore, the CO~.IA;.~ can be
rinsed at the filling site. It is also possible to l~ r e~-- - AI~ the coating m~t~riAl from
not co~llylet ly e ~ l ;~1 cu- ~l A; ~e. .~ 28. The col ~ u ~ ~ can be ;,~.L.; e ~ to a quantity
check and a yl~ u~ test; they can be shaken to agitate their cont-nt, and they can
be positioned aulo~A~ A11Y with respect to the ~llAy~ ,;..e 204 and with respect to the
10 e~ ;..g filling devices.
Both the filling and yo~i~ible emptying and rinsing of the co,-l~in. .~ at the
filling site 32, and also the loading of the conveyer 208 ~yl~ented as a cart) can
take place mAmlA11y or All~ ..AI;.~ y.
As described above, the co.llA;~.P ~ 28 can be provided with mA~h;nr-readable
15 or visually readable iclentifir~tion data to identify their co~ , in~ iing paint
type, filling date, etc. If several mAg~7inrs 204 are used, they are also provided
with s~ ~A.AtP i~iPntifi~rs or Cl1A.A- r~ data to identify the CUI~IA;I1~ held therein.
Aecc3.~ g to the illl-~l.,.l;ol~, the ~ .r 204 can be removed with the
COr-lA;n~ S 28 to be filled, from a reserve mAg~7inP supply 212, and moved from
20 there, e.g., by means of an aulo~ ic hAn iiin~ unit 216 or another conveyance
device, or even m~nnAlly, to the pocitiollC nr~e~A. y for filling, emptying or rinsing.
~he reserve mAg~7in~ supply 212 can be located directly at the filling site 32, in a
paint mixing room or at a remote site. The reserve ...AgA7;..e supply 212 can
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contain ~"~,,.,;"r.c 204 and/or single coo~ ... 28. They can be cornrlPtely or
partially full, empty, used, or rinsed.
A reserve ll~a~7;llF supply with already filled co~ P,~. could also be
provided. Fulll.--...nre, it is po~cihl~ to heat the l~S~.~/oil so that the coating
S m~t~ iS first brought to an O~ Ull~ t~ e. In this case the co.. ~;.. are
~f~ably provided with thermal inn~ ti-n during their LlallS~vlL to the coating
device 200.
The co..l;~ . 28 removed from the coating device at the ll~,sî~,. site 42
after use can be ~lalls~JulLGd first into the reserve ~ g~ F supply 212, as
illustrated, before they are reused at the filling site 32. The m~7ine 204 used for
transport into the reserve 111~ 7;i~P- supply 212 can be l~ulsyult~d on similar
conveyors 208, as on the path to the coating device 200.
The entire u~_.dlin~, s~u~ e is llllsllilulcd and controlled, plGfeldbly by an
~ligninp and control system 218. This system ensures, in particular by using the
15 mPntionPd ~h~ t~ristic data, that all eYicting coating devices are supplied as
quickly as possible and with the sm~ t possible m~t~n~l losses, with the coating
m~t~ri:~l needed in the particular case.
The ~.n~ .... used according to this invention have numerous, inherently
adv~nt~ge~us plupGl~ies. They are suitable for ll.e~Gl;ng, airtight and ~esign~d as
~ .7:1Ule vessels. They provide plote~l;oll against aging of the coating m~t~ i~l and
act as llalls~ul~ cont~in~rs7 paint reservoirs and for decoupling of the coating devices
from ring lines or other paint supply systems. They are portable, rinsable and
reusable and they can be i-~ntifi~d in a simple manner. FulLh~.lllul~, they are easy
to grasp and can be easily centered and locked into position.
