EP1671706B1 - Process and device for cleaning spraying devices - Google Patents

Process and device for cleaning spraying devices Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1671706B1
EP1671706B1 EP05112153A EP05112153A EP1671706B1 EP 1671706 B1 EP1671706 B1 EP 1671706B1 EP 05112153 A EP05112153 A EP 05112153A EP 05112153 A EP05112153 A EP 05112153A EP 1671706 B1 EP1671706 B1 EP 1671706B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cleaning device
cleaning
spraying
accordance
spraying device
Prior art date
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Application number
EP05112153A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1671706A3 (en
EP1671706A2 (en
Inventor
Michael Baumann
Georg M. Sommer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Duerr Systems AG
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Duerr Systems AG
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Publication date
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Publication of EP1671706A2 publication Critical patent/EP1671706A2/en
Publication of EP1671706A3 publication Critical patent/EP1671706A3/en
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Publication of EP1671706B1 publication Critical patent/EP1671706B1/en
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B3/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
    • B08B3/02—Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B15/00—Details of spraying plant or spraying apparatus not otherwise provided for; Accessories
    • B05B15/50—Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter
    • B05B15/55—Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter using cleaning fluids
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B15/00—Details of spraying plant or spraying apparatus not otherwise provided for; Accessories
    • B05B15/50—Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter
    • B05B15/55—Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter using cleaning fluids
    • B05B15/555—Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter using cleaning fluids discharged by cleaning nozzles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B5/00—Electrostatic spraying apparatus; Spraying apparatus with means for charging the spray electrically; Apparatus for spraying liquids or other fluent materials by other electric means
    • B05B5/001—Electrostatic spraying apparatus; Spraying apparatus with means for charging the spray electrically; Apparatus for spraying liquids or other fluent materials by other electric means incorporating means for heating or cooling, e.g. the material to be sprayed
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B5/00—Electrostatic spraying apparatus; Spraying apparatus with means for charging the spray electrically; Apparatus for spraying liquids or other fluent materials by other electric means
    • B05B5/025—Discharge apparatus, e.g. electrostatic spray guns
    • B05B5/04—Discharge apparatus, e.g. electrostatic spray guns characterised by having rotary outlet or deflecting elements, i.e. spraying being also effected by centrifugal forces
    • B05B5/0403—Discharge apparatus, e.g. electrostatic spray guns characterised by having rotary outlet or deflecting elements, i.e. spraying being also effected by centrifugal forces characterised by the rotating member
    • B05B5/0407—Discharge apparatus, e.g. electrostatic spray guns characterised by having rotary outlet or deflecting elements, i.e. spraying being also effected by centrifugal forces characterised by the rotating member with a spraying edge, e.g. like a cup or a bell
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B5/00—Electrostatic spraying apparatus; Spraying apparatus with means for charging the spray electrically; Apparatus for spraying liquids or other fluent materials by other electric means
    • B05B5/025—Discharge apparatus, e.g. electrostatic spray guns
    • B05B5/053—Arrangements for supplying power, e.g. charging power
    • B05B5/0533—Electrodes specially adapted therefor; Arrangements of electrodes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B5/00—Electrostatic spraying apparatus; Spraying apparatus with means for charging the spray electrically; Apparatus for spraying liquids or other fluent materials by other electric means
    • B05B5/08—Plant for applying liquids or other fluent materials to objects
    • B05B5/10—Arrangements for supplying power, e.g. charging power
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B7/00—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas
    • B05B7/0081—Apparatus supplied with low pressure gas, e.g. "hvlp"-guns; air supplied by a fan
    • B05B7/0087—Atmospheric air being sucked by a gas stream, generally flowing through a venturi, at a location upstream or inside the spraying apparatus

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method and a cleaning device for cleaning a spraying device used for automatic series coating of workpieces according to the preamble of the independent claims.
  • the spraying device can typically be the atomizer of the painting robots customary for coating workpieces such as vehicle bodies or their parts, ie in particular air atomizers or rotary atomisers including electrostatic atomizers for the internal charging of the sprayed coating material and / or with external charging electrodes.
  • EP 1 367 302 or DE 101 10 098 known cleaning devices of this type have the disadvantage that they are unsuitable for the usually referred to as short rinsing internal cleaning process, in which the detergent from a short rinsing of the atomizer coming through the paint nozzle and in the case of rotary atomizers in particular in the EP 0 715 896 known manner also passed to the outside of the rotating bell cup and sprayed by the atomizer. This can, for example, during a color change or after painting a certain number Of bodies or other workpieces with the same color be appropriate to remove any color deposits on the paint nozzle or on the bell cup.
  • the invention has for its object to provide a method or a device that allows the regularly required in the coating operation cleaning the sprayer with less loss of time than before.
  • the media sprayed from the spray head of the atomizer and consisting of paint or other coating material and / or the flushing medium are sprayed into a discharge device provided inside the cleaning device, which media prevents it from reaching outside of the discharge device areas of the interior of the cleaning device and / or to reach the outside of the atomizer.
  • this discharge device contains a tubular body which, with its inlet opening in the vicinity of the spray head or surrounding it, can be arranged simply in the interior of the cleaning device and guide the sprayed colorant and detergent mixture into the drainage device of the interior space or out of the cleaning device.
  • the invention has the advantage that there is no contamination caused by turbulence of the spray of the interior of the cleaning device and the previous additional and / or renewed contamination of the in the cleaning device used part of the atomizer to be cleaned is avoided. Since, according to the invention, a mutual influence of the short flushing process and an external cleaning of the atomizer carried out in the same device is prevented, these two processes can be carried out parallel to one another, ie simultaneously, so that a corresponding time saving results for the overall cleaning process. The reduced contamination of the cleaning device also reduces the maintenance costs.
  • the above-mentioned danger of explosion in cleaning devices can be avoided if, prior to the start of cleaning and preferably before the introduction of the atomizer into the cleaning device, the charging device of the spray device to the electrical potential of the cleaning device or the cleaning device to the electrical potential of the charging device is placed.
  • the cleaning device may be put under high voltage at least when approaching the atomizer when it is mounted or arranged with appropriate electrical insulation and at a sufficient distance from all grounded parts of the coating system. In other instances, if the associated footprint and concomitant increase in total system electrical capacity are to be avoided, it may be more convenient to ground the atomizer when and / or before it is inserted into the cleaner.
  • the invention is based on the recognition that for the potential equalization a rapid degradation of the high voltage potential of the charging device of the atomizer typically in the order of milliseconds is sufficient, so that the time loss associated with the shutdown of the high voltage generator and the complete voltage reduction avoided and after a coating process practically With the cleaning without delay and then immediately with the coating can be started again.
  • the charging device of the atomizer can be grounded by an automatically controlled switch connected to the charging device.
  • the atomizer may be grounded by the cleaner itself.
  • the nebulizer may be removed from the coating machine such as e.g. a painting robot or from a provided for introducing the atomizer in the cleaning device handling machine are brought to a grounded contact arrangement of the cleaning device with which the charging device of the atomizer is brought into contact.
  • an alarm signal is generated and / or the handling machine is brought to a standstill when the atomizer approaches the cleaning device from a direction other than that predetermined by the motion control program of the machine.
  • a special control program for the nebulizer to bring the cleaning device handling machine in the vicinity of the cleaning device in a conventional manner, a limited space for the movement of the nebulizer, which is blocked by the control program for the movement of the nebulizer when he approaching from a direction other than the given direction.
  • Fig. 1 is a rotary atomizer 1 of conventional design with the cylindrical and conical outer casing 2, the bell cup 3 and the distributed around the outer casing, axially inserted from the retaining ring 4 outer electrodes 5 in the cleaning device 10 described here.
  • the cleaning device 10 may be arranged, for example, in a paint booth and consists essentially of a housing body 11, the interior 12 of which may extend from the circular insertion opening 13, for example initially conical and then cylindrical up to a funnel-shaped bottom part 14 with a cylindrical outlet 15.
  • the rotary atomizer 1 is shown in the coaxial with the central axis of the housing body 11 inserted into the cleaning device 10, that the insertion opening 13, the cylindrical part of his Enclosed outer housing 2 and the bell plate facing away from the end with the retaining ring 4 and the outer electrodes 5 outside of the cleaning device or at least the housing body 11 is located.
  • the shape of the housing body 11 is adapted to the direction in which the outer electrodes 5 protrude from the retaining ring 4.
  • the interior 12 of the cleaning device 10 shown is to be closed tightly with the atomizer inserted to the outside and is therefore provided at the insertion opening 13 with a circumferentially extending around the outer housing 2 seal assembly 16, for example with a non-contact pneumatic seal, by one of the in the EP 1 367 302 mentioned or described annular air nozzle assembly may be formed.
  • the cylindrical outlet 15 can lead to a disposal device, not shown, and be closed.
  • the housing body 11 of the cleaning device may be attached to an external holder.
  • the cleaning device 10 For cleaning the outside of the inserted into the inner space 12 of the outer part 2 of the atomizer, the cleaning device 10 has a concentric with the axes of the rotary atomizer and the housing body 11 arranged annular body 20 which forms or contains a feed line for a paint solvent suitable as cleaning liquid, and at arranged around the central axis of the cleaning device, connected to said feed line and directed to the outside of the outer housing 2 cleaning nozzles 21 are arranged.
  • Parallel and concentric with the ring body 20 is similar as this fixed in the interior 12, a second annular body 22 which forms or contains a compressed or compressed gas line, and are arranged on the likewise directed to the outer housing 2 nozzles 23 from which air or gas is blown to dry on the outer housing 2.
  • nozzle arrangements could also be arranged directly on the wall of the interior 12 of the cleaning device 10.
  • the lowermost ring body 22, which is axially farthest from the insertion opening 13, is located axially close to the bell-shaped front end of the outer housing 2.
  • the nozzle arrangements can be fed by solvent or compressed air lines leading from the cabin into the cleaning device ,
  • a cleaning or blast nozzle arrangement fixed in the cleaning device such as the nozzles 21 and 23, is generally to be preferred, in other cases also rotatable or pivotable nozzle arrangements may be provided around the atomiser.
  • the solvent supplied to the nozzles or other cleaning medium and / or the compressed gas may be expedient to heat the solvent supplied to the nozzles or other cleaning medium and / or the compressed gas.
  • the heating can be done by an electrical or by a heat exchanger formed or other heating device outside or inside the cleaning device or possibly also within the nozzle assembly.
  • By heating the compressed gas can also be a leading to condensation Avoid cooling by the gas relaxing at the nozzle.
  • the blowing nozzles 23 can be designed in a manner known per se in principle ("dry jet "® from SATA) in such a way that the flow from the outside, e.g. Compressed air supplied from a compressed air connection of the cabin generates a negative pressure in or at the tuyere, which draws in additional air from the vicinity of the tuyere.
  • the sucked ambient air can be passed through a filter of the tuyere and thereby cleaned before being mixed with the main flow is passed to the atomizer.
  • media sprayed off from the bell cup 3 of the rotary atomizer 1 used in the cleaning device 10 such as paint residues, rinsing liquid and their mixture, are to be prevented from the outer housing 2 of the atomizer or the walls of the interior 12 or parts of the cleaning device located therein in particular, to reach and contaminate the annular bodies 20 and 22 and their nozzles.
  • a cylindrical inner tube body 30 is mounted coaxially to the central axis of the housing body 11 in the inner space 12, in which the atomizer 1 facing the open input end 31, the media are sprayed from the bell cup 3.
  • the inner diameter of the inner tube body 30 is expediently larger than the outer diameter of the bell cup 3 at least at the input end 31, while its own outer diameter may be smaller than the inner diameter of the inner space 12 of the housing body 11, on the inner wall of which the inner tube body 30 is fastened, for example with radial cross members 33 can.
  • the input end 31 of the inner tube body 30 may be axially positioned so that the spray edge at the front end of the bell cup third is within the inner tube body 30 and the axially rear bell cup part is outside.
  • the illustrated inner tube body 30 at its input end 31 have a conically tapering end 34 to the outside up to the entrance plate enclosing the bell cup. In the direction away from the input end 31, the inner tube body 30 extends into or through the outlet 15 of the cleaning device 10. It can open in the cleaning device itself or in an external disposal device.
  • the cleaning device described here is also suitable for the cleaning of other types of atomizers, such as rotary atomizers without external electrodes or air atomizers, the spray head is not formed as in the illustrated example by a rotating bell cup, but by the usual fixed nozzle and air cap assembly.
  • the housing and inner tube body of the cleaning device can be modified in this case according to the respective Zerstäubertyp.
  • the spray device to be cleaned here the rotary atomizer 1 coming from a to the central axis of the housing and tubular body 11, 30 parallel direction and coaxially hereby introduced into the cleaning device 10, for example, vertically from above, although with a corresponding arrangement of the cleaning device 10th in itself any direction is possible.
  • the atomizer into the cleaning device, it is possible to use the painting robot with which a workpiece was immediately painted beforehand, or in other cases, for example, a handling robot or other handling device provided for this purpose, which automatically takes over the atomizer from the coating machine.
  • the 1 shown position can be with the Kurz choir- or interior cleaning process in which the rotating bell cup of residual color and flushing medium sprayed into the inner tube body 30, and at the same time without delay even with the external cleaning of the atomizer by spraying his Au togephases be started by the nozzle 21.
  • the air nozzles of the sealing arrangement 16 can be switched on.
  • the outer casing 2 is dried by the compressed air nozzles 23.
  • the cleaning liquid of the nozzles 21 collecting in the interior 12 is disposed of in a manner known per se through the funnel-shaped bottom part 14 and the outlet 15, the media sprayed from the bell cup can be led out of the cleaning device through the pipe body 30.
  • the nebulizer can be immediately withdrawn from the cleaner and used for the next coating operation.
  • electrostatic air or other atomizers are known in the workpiece coating connected to high voltage in the order of 100 kV. Since in the approximation of such electrostatic sprayer to the cleaning device 10 for explosion protection and other safety reasons, electrical flashovers may not be possible according to a particular feature of the invention before the start of cleaning and preferably before the introduction of the atomizer during its approach to the cleaning device Atomizer placed on the electrical potential of the cleaning device, such as ground potential, or the cleaning device to the electrical potential of the atomizer.
  • a first option is to electrically isolate the purifier and charge it to the high voltage potential of the electrical nebulizer, e.g. by being connected in parallel to the atomizer at its high voltage generator, wherein a switching means may be provided, with which this parallel circuit can be alternately set to high voltage potential and grounded.
  • the atomiser is also earthed, for which in turn there are various possibilities which result in no or only minimal losses of time.
  • a simple way is the schematic in Fig. 2 shown circuit in which between the high voltage generator HS and the charging device (electrodes) of the atomizer Z a programmable earth switch ES is connected to the atomizer is disconnected before reaching the grounded cleaning device RG from the high voltage generator and set to ground potential.
  • the ground switch ES may be outside or inside the handling machine or atomizer.
  • the grounding circuit may conveniently contain one of the known per se resistance or other damping devices, the atomizer can be connected to the ground switch ES unloaded in an extremely short time. This depending on the circumstances more or less damped discharge can take place without loss of time during the time in which the atomizer is moved to the cleaning device.
  • the timing of grounding the nebulizer is preferably controlled in response to the nebulizer approaching the purifier. Since the approach speed is known, as dictated by the control program of the robot, one can define in the path of the atomizer a sufficient safety distance from the cleaning device, below which the grounding or potential equalization is initiated.
  • the achievement of the safety limit can be achieved by a proximity sensor e.g. in the form of a light barrier, a laser scanner od. Like. Be monitored and reported.
  • the safety margin at which grounding or potential equalization must be initiated can be calculated from the known air isolation distance between the high voltage potential and ground plus the distance that the nebulizer travels in the time required to respond to the proximity sensor and transhipment , in Erdungsfall example, for the response of an earth switch and for the subsequent rapid discharge of the atomizer.
  • a in Fig. 3 illustrated alternative possibility for grounding the atomizer Z with a ground switch ES ', the atomizer during grounding with the switched high voltage generator HS remain connected to the ground switch ES' is connected in parallel. By appropriate control measures can be avoided in this case that the high voltage generator HS is switched off due to this short circuit.
  • the two options according to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 can also be modified or supplemented to the effect that instead of or in addition to the earth switch ES or ES 'the grounded cleaning device RG even contacted the electrode and charging device of the atomizer Z at its approach and thus grounded.
  • the high-voltage potential at the atomizer can be broken down in a very short time that the atomizer touches a grounded contact arrangement of the cleaning device on reaching its final position in the cleaning device or during its insertion movement, which is also a plurality of contact elements such as one of the atomizer in the Insertion motion traversed grounded flexible curtain can act of single conductors.
  • the atomizer could be grounded without ground switch and without direct Erdtitle ist.
  • the output voltage of the high voltage generator HS is at least approximately reduced to zero size by automatically controlled reduction of its set or predetermined by the control program of the system voltage setpoint, without the high voltage generator is turned off.
  • the high voltage potential at the atomizer is then degraded very quickly and preferably even during the feed movement of the atomizer by a resistor R connected in parallel with the high voltage generator HS to earth.
  • the spray device such as the rotary atomizer 1 in Fig. 1 can be easily and reliably used by the designated machine in the cleaning device 10, he must approach the cleaning device from the right direction, so for example when vertical arrangement of the cleaning device vertically from above.
  • the correct direction is also important if the atomizer is to pass through the above-mentioned proximity sensor as it moves to the cleaning device, so that the required potential equalization can be carried out in good time.
  • the correct path is given by the movement program of the machine moving the atomizer to the cleaning device, errors may result in deviations from the prescribed trajectory and thus errors in the proximity sensor or collisions of the atomizer with the cleaning device.
  • the atomizer can approach the cleaning device only from the prescribed direction, so for example in Fig. 1 only vertically from above.
  • a limited virtual lock space in the vicinity of the cleaning device, in which the atomizer can eg only vertically moved from above is known in the field of robot control. Possibilities are for example in EP 1 332 841 . EP 1 035 953 and DE 102004019888 described.

Landscapes

  • Electrostatic Spraying Apparatus (AREA)
  • Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
  • Details Or Accessories Of Spraying Plant Or Apparatus (AREA)
  • Application Of Or Painting With Fluid Materials (AREA)

Abstract

The method involves cleaning a spraying head of a sprayer (1) in a cleaning device (10) by a cleaning medium that is conveyed through their nozzle arrangement and/or to an outer side of the head. The medium is sprayed in a discharging device (30) in the cleaning device. The device (30) prevents the sprayed medium to reach an area of an internal space of the cleaning device and/or an outer side of the sprayer. An independent claim is also included for a coating plant having a device for cleaning a spraying device that serves for machine-series coating of work pieces.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren und ein Reinigungsgerät zum Reinigen einer zur maschinellen Serienbeschichtung von Werkstücken dienenden Sprühvorrichtung gemäß dem Oberbegriff der unabhängigen Patentansprüche. Bei der Sprühvorrichtung kann es sich typisch um den Zerstäuber der zum Beschichten von Werkstücken wie Fahrzeugkarossen oder deren Teilen üblichen Lackierroboter handeln, also insbesondere um Luftzerstäuber oder Rotationszerstäuber einschließlich elektrostatischer Zerstäuber für die Innenaufladung des abgesprühten Beschichtungsmaterials und/oder mit Außenaufladungselektroden.The invention relates to a method and a cleaning device for cleaning a spraying device used for automatic series coating of workpieces according to the preamble of the independent claims. The spraying device can typically be the atomizer of the painting robots customary for coating workpieces such as vehicle bodies or their parts, ie in particular air atomizers or rotary atomisers including electrostatic atomizers for the internal charging of the sprayed coating material and / or with external charging electrodes.

Für die während des Beschichtungsbetriebes in regelmäßigen Zeitabständen erforderliche vollautomatisch gesteuerte Reinigung derartiger Zerstäuber sind unterschiedliche Reinigungsgeräte bekannt, die jeweils aus einem bis auf die Einführöffnung für den Zerstäuber geschlossenen Gehäuse bestehen, in dessen Innenraum der eingeführte Teil des Luft- oder Rotationszerstäubers von einer drehbaren oder feststehenden Düsenanordnung des Reinigungsgeräts mit Reinigungsflüssigkeit besprüht wird und anschließend mit Druckluft getrocknet werden kann. Beispielsweise aus DE 3 808 801 , EP 1 367 302 oder DE 101 10 098 bekannte Reinigungsgeräte dieser Art haben den Nachteil, dass sie für den üblicherweise als Kurzspülen bezeichneten Innenreinigungsvorgang ungeeignet sind, bei dem Spülmittel aus einem Kurzspülkanal des Zerstäubers kommend durch dessen Farbdüse und im Fall von Rotationszerstäubern insbesondere in der aus der EP 0 715 896 bekannten Weise auch auf die Außenseite des rotierenden Glockentellers geleitet und von dem Zerstäuber abgesprüht wird. Dies kann beispielsweise bei einem Farbwechsel oder nach dem Lackieren einer bestimmten Anzahl von Karossen oder sonstigen Werkstücken mit der gleichen Farbe zweckmäßig sein, um eventuelle Farbablagerungen an der Farbdüse bzw. auf dem Glockenteller zu entfernen. Wenn dieser Innenreinigungs- oder Kurzspülvorgang in den bekannten Reinigungsgeräten durchgeführt wird, verteilt sich der bei der Zerstäubung des Lack- und Spülmittelgemisches entstehende und stark verwirbelte Sprühnebel in dem Innenraum des Reinigungsgeräts und verschmutzt sowohl den Innenraum einschließlich der darin angeordneten Reinigungsdüsenanordnung als auch die Außenseite des eingesetzten Zerstäubers. Man könnte zwar zunächst die Kurzspülung durchführen und erst anschließend die Außenseite des Zerstäubers besprühen und den Innenraum reinigen, doch ist der damit verbundene Zeitverlust bei der Serienbeschichtung von Werkstücken wegen der entsprechenden Produktionsverluste äußerst unerwünscht. Dieses Problem tritt im Wesentlichen auch dann auf, wenn man gemäß der EP 0 869 848 oder der DE 101 29 667 unter Verzicht auf eine Reinigung der Außenseite des Zerstäubergehäuses nur den Sprühkopf oder nur die Luftkappe von Luftzerstäubern in das Reinigungsgerät einführt.For the required automatically during the coating operation at regular intervals cleaning of such atomizers different cleaning devices are known, each consisting of a closed up to the insertion for the atomizer housing in the interior of the inserted part of the air or rotary atomizer of a rotatable or fixed Nozzle arrangement of the cleaning device is sprayed with cleaning liquid and then dried with compressed air. For example DE 3 808 801 . EP 1 367 302 or DE 101 10 098 known cleaning devices of this type have the disadvantage that they are unsuitable for the usually referred to as short rinsing internal cleaning process, in which the detergent from a short rinsing of the atomizer coming through the paint nozzle and in the case of rotary atomizers in particular in the EP 0 715 896 known manner also passed to the outside of the rotating bell cup and sprayed by the atomizer. This can, for example, during a color change or after painting a certain number Of bodies or other workpieces with the same color be appropriate to remove any color deposits on the paint nozzle or on the bell cup. When this internal cleaning or short-purging operation is carried out in the known cleaning devices, the resulting during the atomization of the paint and detergent mixture and strongly swirling spray spreads in the interior of the cleaner and pollutes both the interior including the cleaning nozzle assembly disposed therein and the outside of the inserted atomizer. Although one could first perform the short rinse and only then spray the outside of the atomizer and clean the interior, but the associated loss of time in the series coating of workpieces is highly undesirable because of the corresponding production losses. This problem occurs essentially even if, according to the EP 0 869 848 or the DE 101 29 667 dispensing with cleaning the outside of the atomizer housing introduces only the spray head or only the air cap of air atomizers in the cleaner.

Ein weiteres Zeitproblem ergibt sich aus der Tatsache, dass sich in dem Innenraum von Reinigungsgeräten besonders bei organische Lösemittel enthaltenden Beschichtungs- und Spülmitteln zündfähiger Sprühnebel bildet und deshalb keine zu Funken führenden elektrischen Spannungsüberschläge möglich sein dürfen. Diese Gefahr besteht bei der Reinigung elektrostatischer Zerstäuber, die bekanntlich zur Kontaktaufladung des abgesprühten Beschichtungsmaterials beispielsweise durch den Glockenteller oder zur Außenaufladung durch externe Elektroden an Hochspannung in der Größenordnung von 100 kV angeschlossen werden. Da die bekannten Reinigungsgeräte üblicherweise auf Erdpotenzial liegen, musste vor dem Einsetzen des Zerstäubers zunächst dessen Hochspannung abgeschaltet und abgebaut werden, wofür ein Zeitverlust typisch in der Größenordnung von einer Minute in Kauf genommen werden musste.Another time problem arises from the fact that forms in the interior of cleaning equipment, especially with organic solvents containing coating and rinsing agents ignitable spray and therefore no leading to sparks electrical voltage flashovers may be possible. This danger consists in the cleaning of electrostatic atomizers, which are known to be connected for contact charging of the sprayed coating material, for example by the bell cup or for external charging by external electrodes to high voltage in the order of 100 kV. Since the known cleaning devices are usually at ground potential, had before the onset of the atomizer first turned off its high voltage and degraded become what a loss of time typically in the order of a minute had to be accepted.

Aus US 4 422 576 ist es bekannt, an dem Rotationszerstäuber einer elektrostatischen Beschichtungsmaschine im Hochspannungsbereich des Zerstäubers ein ringförmiges Reinigungsgehäuse zu montieren, das von einem pneumatischen Antrieb zwischen einer die Zerstäuberglocke freigebenden Stellung und einer Reinigungsstellung verschiebbar ist. In seiner Reinigungsstellung umschließt das Reinigungsgehäuse die Zerstäuberglocke, so dass von dem Zerstäuber bei einem Farbwechsel abgesprühte Farb- und Reinigungsmedien von dem Reinigungsgehäuse aufgefangen und über eine ebenfalls an dem Zerstäuber angebrachte Leitungs- und Ventilanordnung abgeführt werden können.Out US 4,422,576 It is known to mount on the rotary atomizer of an electrostatic coating machine in the high voltage region of the atomizer, an annular cleaning housing, which is displaceable by a pneumatic drive between the atomizing bell releasing position and a cleaning position. In its cleaning position, the cleaning housing encloses the atomizer, so that color and cleaning media sprayed from the atomizer during a color change can be collected by the cleaning housing and removed via a line and valve arrangement likewise attached to the atomizer.

Aus EP 0 366 021 ist es bekannt, an einem Zerstäuber eine Reinigungseinrichtung zu montieren, die auf die Außenseite des Zerstäubers einen Dampfstrahl richtet.Out EP 0 366 021 It is known to mount on a nebulizer a cleaning device which directs a jet of steam on the outside of the nebulizer.

Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, ein Verfahren bzw. ein Gerät anzugeben, das die im Beschichtungsbetrieb regelmäßig notwendige Reinigung der Sprühvorrichtungen mit geringerem Zeitverlust ermöglicht als bisher.The invention has for its object to provide a method or a device that allows the regularly required in the coating operation cleaning the sprayer with less loss of time than before.

Diese Aufgabe wird durch die Merkmale der Patentansprüche gelöst.This object is solved by the features of the claims.

Gemäß einem ersten Aspekt der Erfindung werden bei Durchführung des erwähnten Innenreinigungs- oder Kurzspülvorgangs in dem Reinigungsgerät die von dem Sprühkopf des Zerstäubers abgesprühten, aus Lack oder sonstigem Beschichtungsmaterial und/oder dem Spülmedium bestehenden Medien in eine innerhalb des Reinigungsgeräts vorgesehene Abführeinrichtung gesprüht, die diese Medien daran hindert, außerhalb der Abführeinrichtung liegende Bereiche des Innenraums des Reinigungsgeräts und/oder, der Außenseite des Zerstäubers zu erreichen. Erfindungsgemäß enthält diese Abführeinrichtung einen Rohrkörper, der mit seiner Eingangsöffnung in der Nähe des Sprühkopfes oder diesen umschließend einfach in dem Innenraum des Reinigungsgeräts angeordnet werden und das von dem Zerstäuber eingesprühte Farb- und Spülmittelgemisch in die Abflusseinrichtung des Innenraums leiten oder aus dem Reinigungsgerät herausführen kann. In jedem Fall hat die Erfindung den Vorteil, dass es zu keiner durch Verwirbelung des Sprühnebels verursachten Verunreinigung des Innenraums des Reinigungsgeräts kommt und die bisherige zusätzliche und/oder erneute Verschmutzung des in das Reinigungsgerät eingesetzten Teils des zu reinigenden Zerstäubers vermieden wird. Da erfindungsgemäß eine gegenseitige Beeinflussung des Kurzspülvorgangs und einer in dem selben Gerät durchgeführten Außenreinigung des Zerstäubers verhindert wird, können diese beiden Vorgänge parallel zueinander, also gleichzeitig durchgeführt werden, so dass sich für den Gesamtreinigungsvorgang eine entsprechende Zeitersparnis ergibt. Durch die geringere Verschmutzung des Reinigungsgeräts werden außerdem die Instandhaltungskosten reduziert.According to a first aspect of the invention, when the internal cleaning or short-rinsing process in the cleaning device is carried out, the media sprayed from the spray head of the atomizer and consisting of paint or other coating material and / or the flushing medium are sprayed into a discharge device provided inside the cleaning device, which media prevents it from reaching outside of the discharge device areas of the interior of the cleaning device and / or to reach the outside of the atomizer. According to the invention, this discharge device contains a tubular body which, with its inlet opening in the vicinity of the spray head or surrounding it, can be arranged simply in the interior of the cleaning device and guide the sprayed colorant and detergent mixture into the drainage device of the interior space or out of the cleaning device. In any case, the invention has the advantage that there is no contamination caused by turbulence of the spray of the interior of the cleaning device and the previous additional and / or renewed contamination of the in the cleaning device used part of the atomizer to be cleaned is avoided. Since, according to the invention, a mutual influence of the short flushing process and an external cleaning of the atomizer carried out in the same device is prevented, these two processes can be carried out parallel to one another, ie simultaneously, so that a corresponding time saving results for the overall cleaning process. The reduced contamination of the cleaning device also reduces the maintenance costs.

Darüber hinaus kann erfindungsgemäß auch die erwähnte Explosionsgefahr bei Reinigungsgeräten vermieden werden, wenn vor Beginn der Reinigung und vorzugsweise vor dem Einführen des Zerstäubers in das Reinigungsgerät die Aufladungseinrichtung der Sprühvorrichtung auf das elektrische Potenzial des Reinigungsgeräts oder das Reinigungsgerät auf das elektrische Potenzial der Aufladungseinrichtung gelegt wird. Das Reinigungsgerät kann zumindest bei Annäherung des Zerstäubers unter Hochspannung gesetzt werden, wenn es mit entsprechender elektrischer Isolierung und in ausreichendem Abstand von allen geerdeten Teilen der Beschichtungsanlage montiert oder angeordnet wird. Wenn in anderen Fällen der damit verbundene Platzbedarf und die sich ebenfalls ergebende Erhöhung der elektrischen Gesamtkapazität des Systems vermieden werden sollen, kann es zweckmäßiger sein, den Zerstäuber zu erden, wenn und/oder bevor er in das Reinigungsgerät eingesetzt wird. Bei diesem Aspekt beruht die Erfindung auf der Erkenntnis, dass für die Potenzialangleichung ein schneller Abbau des Hochspannungspotenzials der Aufladungseinrichtung des Zerstäubers typisch in der Größenordnung von Millisekunden genügt, so dass der mit dem Abschalten des Hochspannungserzeugers und dem vollständigen Spannungsabbau verbundene Zeitverlust vermieden und nach einem Beschichtungsvorgang praktisch verzögerungsfrei mit der Reinigung und danach sofort wieder mit der Beschichtung begonnen werden kann.In addition, according to the invention, the above-mentioned danger of explosion in cleaning devices can be avoided if, prior to the start of cleaning and preferably before the introduction of the atomizer into the cleaning device, the charging device of the spray device to the electrical potential of the cleaning device or the cleaning device to the electrical potential of the charging device is placed. The cleaning device may be put under high voltage at least when approaching the atomizer when it is mounted or arranged with appropriate electrical insulation and at a sufficient distance from all grounded parts of the coating system. In other instances, if the associated footprint and concomitant increase in total system electrical capacity are to be avoided, it may be more convenient to ground the atomizer when and / or before it is inserted into the cleaner. In this aspect, the invention is based on the recognition that for the potential equalization a rapid degradation of the high voltage potential of the charging device of the atomizer typically in the order of milliseconds is sufficient, so that the time loss associated with the shutdown of the high voltage generator and the complete voltage reduction avoided and after a coating process practically With the cleaning without delay and then immediately with the coating can be started again.

Für die schnelle Erdung des Zerstäubers gibt es verschiedene Möglichkeiten. Beispielsweise kann die Aufladungseinrichtung des Zerstäubers durch einen an die Aufladungseinrichtung angeschlossenen automatisch gesteuerten Schalter geerdet werden. Stattdessen oder zusätzlich hierzu kann der Zerstäuber von dem Reinigungsgerät selbst geerdet werden. Insbesondere kann der Zerstäuber von der Beschichtungsmaschine wie z.B. einem Lackierroboter oder von einer zum Einführen des Zerstäubers in das Reinigungsgerät vorgesehenen Handhabungsmaschine zu einer geerdeten Kontaktanordnung des Reinigungsgeräts gebracht werden, mit der die Aufladungseinrichtung des Zerstäubers in Kontakt gebracht wird.There are several ways to quickly ground the atomizer. For example, the charging device of the atomizer can be grounded by an automatically controlled switch connected to the charging device. Instead or in addition to this, the atomizer may be grounded by the cleaner itself. In particular, the nebulizer may be removed from the coating machine such as e.g. a painting robot or from a provided for introducing the atomizer in the cleaning device handling machine are brought to a grounded contact arrangement of the cleaning device with which the charging device of the atomizer is brought into contact.

Gemäß einem anderen Merkmal der Erfindung wird ein Alarmsignal erzeugt und/oder die Handhabungsmaschine zum Stillstand gebracht, wenn sich der Zerstäuber dem Reinigungsgerät aus einer Richtung nähert, die von der von dem Bewegungssteuerprogramm der Maschine vorgegebenen Richtung abweicht. Insbesondere kann durch ein besonderes Steuerprogramm für die den Zerstäuber zu dem Reinigungsgerät bringende Handhabungsmaschine in der Umgebung des Reinigungsgeräts in an sich bekannter Weise ein für die Bewegung des Zerstäubers begrenzter Raum definiert werden, der durch das Steuerprogramm für die Bewegung des Zerstäubers gesperrt ist, wenn er sich aus einer anderen als der vorgegebenen Richtung nähert. Durch diese Maßnahmen wird zunächst gewährleistet, dass der Zerstäuber ohne die Gefahr von Kollisionen mit dem Reinigungsgerät stets in der richtigen Weise in das Gerät eingeführt wird. Darüber hinaus ergibt sich der Vorteil, dass der Zerstäuber bei Überwachung seiner Annäherung an das Reinigungsgerät zur Einleitung der rechtzeitigen Potenzialangleichung mit Sicherheit einen dafür an der vorgegebenen Bewegungsbahn vorgesehenen Annäherungssensor passieren muss, so dass auch die Explosionsschutzsicherheit erhöht wird.According to another feature of the invention, an alarm signal is generated and / or the handling machine is brought to a standstill when the atomizer approaches the cleaning device from a direction other than that predetermined by the motion control program of the machine. In particular, by a special control program for the nebulizer to bring the cleaning device handling machine in the vicinity of the cleaning device in a conventional manner, a limited space for the movement of the nebulizer, which is blocked by the control program for the movement of the nebulizer when he approaching from a direction other than the given direction. These measures initially ensure that the atomizer is always introduced into the device in the correct manner without the risk of collisions with the cleaning device. In addition, there is the advantage that the atomizer when monitoring its approach to the cleaning device to initiate the timely potential equalization with certainty has to pass for this purpose provided on the given trajectory proximity sensor, so that the explosion protection safety is increased.

An einem in der Zeichnung vereinfacht dargestellten Ausführungsbeispiel wird die Erfindung näher erläutert. Es zeigen

Fig. 1
eine mögliche Ausführungsform eines Reinigungsgeräts für einen Rotationszerstäuber;
Fig. 2
eine schematisch vereinfachte Schaltungsanordnung zum Erden eines Zerstäubers bei Annäherung an ein Reinigungsgerät;
Fig. 3
eine gegenüber Fig. 2 abgewandelte Schaltungsanordnung; und
Fig. 4
eine weitere mögliche Schaltung zur Erdung des Zerstäubers.
On a simplified in the drawing illustrated embodiment, the invention is explained in detail. Show it
Fig. 1
a possible embodiment of a cleaning device for a rotary atomizer;
Fig. 2
a schematically simplified circuit arrangement for grounding a nebulizer when approaching a cleaning device;
Fig. 3
one opposite Fig. 2 modified circuit arrangement; and
Fig. 4
another possible circuit for grounding the atomizer.

Gemäß Fig. 1 ist ein Rotationszerstäuber 1 üblicher Bauart mit dem zylindrischen und konischen Außengehäuse 2, dem Glockenteller 3 und den um das Außengehäuse verteilten, von dem Haltering 4 axial vorspringenden Außenelektroden 5 in das hier beschriebene Reinigungsgerät 10 eingesetzt. Das Reinigungsgerät 10 kann z.B. in einer Lackierkabine angeordnet sein und besteht im Wesentlichen aus einem Gehäusekörper 11, dessen Innenraum 12 sich von der kreisrunden Einführöffnung 13 beispielsweise zunächst konisch und anschließend zylindrisch bis zu einem trichterförmigen Bodenteil 14 mit einem zylindrischen Auslass 15 erstrecken kann. Der Rotationszerstäuber 1 ist darstellungsgemäß koaxial mit der Mittelachse des Gehäusekörpers 11 so in das Reinigungsgerät 10 eingesetzt, dass die Einführöffnung 13 den zylindrischen Teil seines Außengehäuses 2 umschließt und dessen dem Glockenteller abgewandtes Ende sich mit dem Haltering 4 und den Außenelektroden 5 außerhalb des Reinigungsgeräts oder wenigstens des Gehäusekörpers 11 befindet. Durch seinen sich von der Einführöffnung 13 konisch erweiternden Teil ist die Form des Gehäusekörpers 11 an die Richtung angepasst, in der die Außenelektroden 5 von dem Haltering 4 abstehen. Statt des dargestellten Beispiels ist es auch möglich, den Rotationszerstäuber 1 vollständig oder wenigstens mit seinen Außenelektroden 5 in den Innenraum des Gehäuses des Reinigungsgeräts oder die Außenelektroden 5 in gesonderte Innenräume des Reinigungsgeräts einzusetzen. Der Innenraum 12 des dargestellten Reinigungsgeräts 10 soll bei eingesetztem Zerstäuber nach außen dicht geschlossen sein und ist deshalb an der Einführöffnung 13 mit einer sich um den Umfang des Außengehäuses 2 erstreckenden Dichtungsanordnung 16 versehen, beispielsweise mit einer berührungslosen pneumatischen Dichtung, die durch eine der in der EP 1 367 302 erwähnten oder beschriebenen ringförmigen Luftdüsenanordnung gebildet sein kann. Der zylindrische Auslass 15 kann in eine nicht dargestellte Entsorgungseinrichtung führen und verschließbar sein. Mit Flanschteilen 17 kann der Gehäusekörper 11 des Reinigungsgeräts an einer externen Halterung befestigt sein.According to Fig. 1 is a rotary atomizer 1 of conventional design with the cylindrical and conical outer casing 2, the bell cup 3 and the distributed around the outer casing, axially inserted from the retaining ring 4 outer electrodes 5 in the cleaning device 10 described here. The cleaning device 10 may be arranged, for example, in a paint booth and consists essentially of a housing body 11, the interior 12 of which may extend from the circular insertion opening 13, for example initially conical and then cylindrical up to a funnel-shaped bottom part 14 with a cylindrical outlet 15. The rotary atomizer 1 is shown in the coaxial with the central axis of the housing body 11 inserted into the cleaning device 10, that the insertion opening 13, the cylindrical part of his Enclosed outer housing 2 and the bell plate facing away from the end with the retaining ring 4 and the outer electrodes 5 outside of the cleaning device or at least the housing body 11 is located. By its conically widening from the insertion opening 13 part, the shape of the housing body 11 is adapted to the direction in which the outer electrodes 5 protrude from the retaining ring 4. Instead of the illustrated example, it is also possible to use the rotary atomizer 1 completely or at least with its outer electrodes 5 in the interior of the housing of the cleaning device or the outer electrodes 5 in separate interiors of the cleaning device. The interior 12 of the cleaning device 10 shown is to be closed tightly with the atomizer inserted to the outside and is therefore provided at the insertion opening 13 with a circumferentially extending around the outer housing 2 seal assembly 16, for example with a non-contact pneumatic seal, by one of the in the EP 1 367 302 mentioned or described annular air nozzle assembly may be formed. The cylindrical outlet 15 can lead to a disposal device, not shown, and be closed. With flange 17, the housing body 11 of the cleaning device may be attached to an external holder.

Zum Reinigen der Außenseite des in den Innenraum 12 eingesetzten Teils des Außengehäuses 2 des Zerstäubers besitzt das Reinigungsgerät 10 einen konzentrisch zu den Achsen des Rotationszerstäubers und des Gehäusekörpers 11 angeordneten Ringkörper 20, der eine Speiseleitung für eine als Lacklösemittel geeignete Reinigungsflüssigkeit bildet oder enthält, und an dem um die Mittelachse des Reinigungsgeräts verteilte, an die genannte Speiseleitung angeschlossene und auf die Außenseite des Außengehäuses 2 gerichtete Reinigungsdüsen 21 angeordnet sind. Parallel und konzentrisch zu dem Ringkörper 20 ist ähnlich wie dieser in dem Innenraum 12 ein zweiter Ringkörper 22 befestigt, der eine Druckluft- oder Druckgasleitung bildet oder enthält, und an dem ebenfalls auf das Außengehäuse 2 gerichtete Düsen 23 angeordnet sind, aus denen Luft oder Gas zum Trocknen auf das Außengehäuse 2 geblasen wird. Es könnte auch ein einziger Ringkörper genügen, der sowohl mit Düsen für das Lösemittel als auch mit Blasdüsen und zugehörigen Leitungen versehen ist, während andererseits auch zwei oder mehr jeweils mit Lösemittel- und/oder Blasdüsen versehene Ringkörper vorhanden sein können. Zum Reinigen und/oder Trocknen des Zerstäubergehäuses dienende Düsenanordnungen könnten auch unmittelbar an der Wand des Innenraums 12 des Reinigungsgeräts 10 angeordnet sein. Bei dem dargestellten Beispiel befindet sich der unterste, also axial am weitesten von der Einführöffnung 13 entfernte Ringkörper 22 axial nahe an dem glockenseitigen Stirnende des Außengehäuses 2. Die Düsenanordnungen können von Lösemittel- bzw. Druckluftleitungen gespeist werden, die aus der Kabine in das Reinigungsgerät führen.For cleaning the outside of the inserted into the inner space 12 of the outer part 2 of the atomizer, the cleaning device 10 has a concentric with the axes of the rotary atomizer and the housing body 11 arranged annular body 20 which forms or contains a feed line for a paint solvent suitable as cleaning liquid, and at arranged around the central axis of the cleaning device, connected to said feed line and directed to the outside of the outer housing 2 cleaning nozzles 21 are arranged. Parallel and concentric with the ring body 20 is similar as this fixed in the interior 12, a second annular body 22 which forms or contains a compressed or compressed gas line, and are arranged on the likewise directed to the outer housing 2 nozzles 23 from which air or gas is blown to dry on the outer housing 2. It could also satisfy a single ring body, which is provided with both nozzles for the solvent and with nozzles and associated lines, while on the other hand, two or more each provided with solvent and / or nozzles ring body may be present. For cleaning and / or drying of the atomizer housing serving nozzle arrangements could also be arranged directly on the wall of the interior 12 of the cleaning device 10. In the example shown, the lowermost ring body 22, which is axially farthest from the insertion opening 13, is located axially close to the bell-shaped front end of the outer housing 2. The nozzle arrangements can be fed by solvent or compressed air lines leading from the cabin into the cleaning device ,

Obwohl eine in dem Reinigungsgerät feststehende Reinigungs- bzw. Blasdüsenanordnung wie die Düsen 21 und 23 in der Regel zu bevorzugen ist, können in anderen Fällen auch drehbar oder um den Zerstäuber schwenkbare Düsenanordnungen vorgesehen sein.Although a cleaning or blast nozzle arrangement fixed in the cleaning device, such as the nozzles 21 and 23, is generally to be preferred, in other cases also rotatable or pivotable nozzle arrangements may be provided around the atomiser.

Zur Verbesserung der Reinigungs- bzw. Trocknungswirkung kann es zweckmäßig sein, das den Düsen zugeführte Lösemittel oder sonstige Reinigungsmedium und/oder das Druckgas zu erwärmen. Die Erwärmung kann durch eine z.B. elektrische oder durch einen Wärmetauscher gebildete oder sonstige Heizeinrichtung außerhalb oder innerhalb des Reinigungsgeräts oder eventuell auch innerhalb der Düsenanordnung erfolgen. Durch Erwärmung des Druckgases lässt sich auch eine zur Kondensatbildung führende Abkühlung durch das sich an der Düse entspannende Gas vermeiden.To improve the cleaning or drying action, it may be expedient to heat the solvent supplied to the nozzles or other cleaning medium and / or the compressed gas. The heating can be done by an electrical or by a heat exchanger formed or other heating device outside or inside the cleaning device or possibly also within the nozzle assembly. By heating the compressed gas can also be a leading to condensation Avoid cooling by the gas relaxing at the nozzle.

Gemäß einer besonderen Ausführungsform können die Blasdüsen 23 in prinzipiell an sich bekannter Weise ("dry jet"® der Firma SATA) so ausgebildet sein, dass die Strömung der von außen z.B. aus einem Druckluftanschluss der Kabine zugeführten Druckluft in oder an der Blasdüse einen Unterdruck erzeugt, der weitere Luft aus der Umgebung der Blasdüse ansaugt. Die angesaugte Umgebungsluft kann hierbei durch ein Filter der Blasdüse geleitet und dadurch gereinigt werden, bevor sie mit der Hauptströmung gemischt auf den Zerstäuber geleitet wird.According to a particular embodiment, the blowing nozzles 23 can be designed in a manner known per se in principle ("dry jet "® from SATA) in such a way that the flow from the outside, e.g. Compressed air supplied from a compressed air connection of the cabin generates a negative pressure in or at the tuyere, which draws in additional air from the vicinity of the tuyere. The sucked ambient air can be passed through a filter of the tuyere and thereby cleaned before being mixed with the main flow is passed to the atomizer.

Wie eingangs erläutert wurde, sollen von dem Glockenteller 3 des in das Reinigungsgerät 10 eingesetzten Rotationszerstäubers 1 abgesprühte Medien wie z.B. Farblackreste, Spülflüssigkeit und deren Gemisch daran gehindert werden, das Außengehäuse 2 des Zerstäubers oder die Wände des Innenraums 12 oder darin befindliche Teile des Reinigungsgeräts wie insbesondere die Ringkörper 20 und 22 und deren Düsen zu erreichen und zu verunreinigen. Aus diesem Grund ist koaxial zu der Mittelachse des Gehäusekörpers 11 in dem Innenraum 12 ein zylindrischer Innenrohrkörper 30 montiert, in dessen dem Zerstäuber 1 zugewandtes offenes Eingangsende 31 die Medien von dem Glockenteller 3 gesprüht werden. Der Innendurchmesser des Innenrohrkörpers 30 ist zumindest an dem Eingangsende 31 zweckmäßig größer als der Außendurchmesser des Glockentellers 3, während sein eigener Außendurchmesser kleiner sein kann als der Innendurchmesser des Innenraums 12 des Gehäusekörpers 11, an dessen Innenwand der Innenrohrkörper 30 beispielsweise mit radialen Querträgern 33 befestigt sein kann. Das Eingangsende 31 des Innenrohrkörpers 30 kann axial so positioniert sein, dass die Absprühkante am Stirnende des Glockentellers 3 sich innerhalb des Innenrohrkörpers 30 und der axial hintere Glockentellerteil sich außerhalb befindet. Zweckmäßig kann der dargestellte Innenrohrkörper 30 an seinem Eingangsende 31 ein sich nach außen bis zu der den Glockenteller umschließenden Eingangsöffnung konisch verjüngendes Endstück 34 haben. In der zu dem Eingangsende 31 abgewandten Richtung erstreckt sich der Innenrohrkörper 30 in oder durch den Auslass 15 des Reinigungsgeräts 10. Er kann in dem Reinigungsgerät selbst oder in einer externen Entsorgungseinrichtung münden.As was explained at the outset, media sprayed off from the bell cup 3 of the rotary atomizer 1 used in the cleaning device 10, such as paint residues, rinsing liquid and their mixture, are to be prevented from the outer housing 2 of the atomizer or the walls of the interior 12 or parts of the cleaning device located therein in particular, to reach and contaminate the annular bodies 20 and 22 and their nozzles. For this reason, a cylindrical inner tube body 30 is mounted coaxially to the central axis of the housing body 11 in the inner space 12, in which the atomizer 1 facing the open input end 31, the media are sprayed from the bell cup 3. The inner diameter of the inner tube body 30 is expediently larger than the outer diameter of the bell cup 3 at least at the input end 31, while its own outer diameter may be smaller than the inner diameter of the inner space 12 of the housing body 11, on the inner wall of which the inner tube body 30 is fastened, for example with radial cross members 33 can. The input end 31 of the inner tube body 30 may be axially positioned so that the spray edge at the front end of the bell cup third is within the inner tube body 30 and the axially rear bell cup part is outside. Suitably, the illustrated inner tube body 30 at its input end 31 have a conically tapering end 34 to the outside up to the entrance plate enclosing the bell cup. In the direction away from the input end 31, the inner tube body 30 extends into or through the outlet 15 of the cleaning device 10. It can open in the cleaning device itself or in an external disposal device.

Das hier beschriebene Reinigungsgerät ist auch für die Reinigung von Zerstäubern anderen Typs geeignet, beispielsweise von Rotationszerstäubern ohne Außenelektroden oder von Luftzerstäubern, deren Sprühkopf nicht wie bei dem dargestellten Beispiel durch einen rotierenden Glockenteller gebildet wird, sondern durch die übliche feststehende Düsen- und Luftkappenanordnung. Die Gehäuse- und Innenrohrkörper des Reinigungsgeräts können hierbei entsprechend dem jeweiligen Zerstäubertyp modifiziert sein.The cleaning device described here is also suitable for the cleaning of other types of atomizers, such as rotary atomizers without external electrodes or air atomizers, the spray head is not formed as in the illustrated example by a rotating bell cup, but by the usual fixed nozzle and air cap assembly. The housing and inner tube body of the cleaning device can be modified in this case according to the respective Zerstäubertyp.

Im Betrieb wird die zu reinigende Sprühvorrichtung, hier also der Rotationszerstäuber 1 aus einer zu der Mittelachse der Gehäuse- und Rohrkörper 11, 30 parallelen Richtung kommend und achsgleich hiermit in das Reinigungsgerät 10 eingeführt, beispielsweise senkrecht von oben, obwohl bei entsprechender Anordnung des Reinigungsgeräts 10 an sich jede beliebige Richtung möglich ist. Zum Einführen des Zerstäubers in das Reinigungsgerät kann der Lackierroboter verwendet werden, mit dem unmittelbar vorher ein Werkstück lackiert worden war, oder in anderen Fällen beispielsweise auch ein zu diesem Zweck vorgesehener Handhabungsroboter oder ein sonstiges Handhabungsgerät, das den Zerstäuber automatisch von der Beschichtungsmaschine übernimmt. Sobald der Zerstäuber sich in der in Fig. 1 dargestellten Position befindet, kann mit dem Kurzspül- oder Innenreinigungsvorgang, bei dem der rotierende Glockenteller Restfarbe und Spülmedium in den Innenrohrkörper 30 sprüht, und gleichzeitig ohne Verzögerung auch schon mit der Außenreinigung des Zerstäubers durch Besprühen seines Au-ßengehäuses durch die Düsen 21 begonnen werden. Ebenfalls gleichzeitig können ggf. die Luftdüsen der Dichtungsanordnung 16 eingeschaltet werden. Nach dem Besprühen wird das Außengehäuse 2 durch die Druckluftdüsen 23 getrocknet. Während die sich in dem Innenraum 12 sammelnde Reinigungsflüssigkeit der Düsen 21 in einer an sich bekannten Weise durch den trichterförmigen Bodenteil 14 und den Auslass 15 entsorgt wird, können die von dem Glockenteller abgesprühten Medien durch den Rohrkörper 30 aus dem Reinigungsgerät herausgeleitet werden. Nach der Beendigung dieser Reinigungsvorgänge kann der Zerstäuber sofort wieder aus dem Reinigungsgerät herausgezogen und für den nächsten Beschichtungsvorgang verwendet werden.In operation, the spray device to be cleaned, here the rotary atomizer 1 coming from a to the central axis of the housing and tubular body 11, 30 parallel direction and coaxially hereby introduced into the cleaning device 10, for example, vertically from above, although with a corresponding arrangement of the cleaning device 10th in itself any direction is possible. For introducing the atomizer into the cleaning device, it is possible to use the painting robot with which a workpiece was immediately painted beforehand, or in other cases, for example, a handling robot or other handling device provided for this purpose, which automatically takes over the atomizer from the coating machine. Once the atomizer is in the in Fig. 1 shown position can be with the Kurzspül- or interior cleaning process in which the rotating bell cup of residual color and flushing medium sprayed into the inner tube body 30, and at the same time without delay even with the external cleaning of the atomizer by spraying his Au ßengehäuses be started by the nozzle 21. At the same time, if appropriate, the air nozzles of the sealing arrangement 16 can be switched on. After spraying, the outer casing 2 is dried by the compressed air nozzles 23. While the cleaning liquid of the nozzles 21 collecting in the interior 12 is disposed of in a manner known per se through the funnel-shaped bottom part 14 and the outlet 15, the media sprayed from the bell cup can be led out of the cleaning device through the pipe body 30. Upon completion of these cleaning operations, the nebulizer can be immediately withdrawn from the cleaner and used for the next coating operation.

Die Außenelektroden 5 des gemäß Fig. 1 zu reinigenden Rotationszerstäubers oder in anderen Fällen elektrostatische Luft-oder sonstige Zerstäuber sind bei der Werkstückbeschichtung bekanntlich an Hochspannung in der Größenordnung von 100 kV angeschlossen. Da bei der Annäherung derartiger elektrostatischer Zerstäuber an das Reinigungsgerät 10 aus Explosionsschutz- und sonstigen Sicherheitsgründen keine elektrischen Überschläge möglich sein dürfen, wird gemäß einem besonderen Merkmal der Erfindung vor Beginn der Reinigung und vorzugsweise schon vor dem Einführen des Zerstäubers während seiner Annäherung an das Reinigungsgerät der Zerstäuber auf das elektrische Potenzial des Reinigungsgeräts, beispielsweise Erdpotenzial, oder das Reinigungsgerät auf das elektrische Potenzial des Zerstäubers gelegt.The outer electrodes 5 of the according Fig. 1 To be cleaned rotary atomizer or in other cases electrostatic air or other atomizers are known in the workpiece coating connected to high voltage in the order of 100 kV. Since in the approximation of such electrostatic sprayer to the cleaning device 10 for explosion protection and other safety reasons, electrical flashovers may not be possible according to a particular feature of the invention before the start of cleaning and preferably before the introduction of the atomizer during its approach to the cleaning device Atomizer placed on the electrical potential of the cleaning device, such as ground potential, or the cleaning device to the electrical potential of the atomizer.

Zur Vermeidung von Spannungsüberschlägen könnte man an sich nach einem Beschichtungsvorgang zunächst die Hochspannung abschalten. Es wäre aber in manchen Fällen unzweckmäßig, vor dem Anfahren des Reinigungsgeräts nach einem Beschichtungsvorgang zunächst den Hochspannungserzeuger des Zerstäubers vollständig, also einschließlich seiner eigenen Stromversorgung abzuschalten, weil hierbei der Abbau der Hochspannung und der nach der Reinigung erforderliche Wiedereinschaltvorgang unerwünscht lange dauern und entsprechende Produktionsverzögerungen zur Folge haben können. In solchen Fällen gibt es für die Potenzialangleichung gemäß der Erfindung unterschiedliche Möglichkeiten.In order to avoid flashovers, it would be possible to first switch off the high voltage after a coating process. However, it would be impractical in some cases, before the startup of the cleaning device after a coating operation, completely shut off the high voltage generator of the atomizer, including its own power supply, because in this case the degradation of the high voltage and the required after cleaning reclosure undesirably take long and corresponding production delays May have consequences. In such cases, there are different possibilities for the potential equalization according to the invention.

Eine erste Möglichkeit besteht darin, das Reinigungsgerät elektrisch isoliert anzuordnen und auf das Hochspannungspotenzial des elektrischen Zerstäubers aufzuladen, z.B. indem es parallel zu dem Zerstäuber an dessen Hochspannungserzeuger angeschlossen wird, wobei eine Schalteinrichtung vorgesehen sein kann, mit der diese Parallelschaltung wechselweise auf Hochspannungspotenzial gelegt und geerdet werden kann.A first option is to electrically isolate the purifier and charge it to the high voltage potential of the electrical nebulizer, e.g. by being connected in parallel to the atomizer at its high voltage generator, wherein a switching means may be provided, with which this parallel circuit can be alternately set to high voltage potential and grounded.

Wenn das Reinigungsgerät dagegen ständig geerdet sein soll, wird erfindungsgemäß auch der Zerstäuber geerdet, wofür wiederum verschiedene Möglichkeiten bestehen, die jeweils keine oder nur minimale Zeitverluste zur Folge haben. Eine einfache Möglichkeit ist die schematisch in Fig. 2 dargestellte Schaltung, bei der zwischen dem Hochspannungserzeuger HS und die Aufladungseinrichtung (Elektroden) des Zerstäubers Z ein programmgesteuerter Erdschalter ES geschaltet ist, mit dem der Zerstäuber vor Erreichen des geerdeten Reinigungsgeräts RG von dem Hochspannungserzeuger getrennt und auf Erdpotenzial gelegt wird. Der Erdschalter ES kann sich außerhalb oder innerhalb der Handhabungsmaschine oder des Zerstäubers befinden. Obwohl der Erdungskreis zweckmäßig eine der hierfür an sich bekannten Widerstands- oder sonstigen Dämpfungseinrichtungen enthalten kann, lässt sich der Zerstäuber mit dem Erdschalter ES in extrem kurzer Zeit entladen. Diese je nach den Gegebenheiten mehr oder weniger gedämpfte Entladung kann ohne Zeitverlust während der Zeit erfolgen, in der der Zerstäuber zu dem Reinigungsgerät bewegt wird.On the other hand, if the cleaning device is to be grounded all the time, according to the invention the atomiser is also earthed, for which in turn there are various possibilities which result in no or only minimal losses of time. A simple way is the schematic in Fig. 2 shown circuit in which between the high voltage generator HS and the charging device (electrodes) of the atomizer Z a programmable earth switch ES is connected to the atomizer is disconnected before reaching the grounded cleaning device RG from the high voltage generator and set to ground potential. The ground switch ES may be outside or inside the handling machine or atomizer. Although the grounding circuit may conveniently contain one of the known per se resistance or other damping devices, the atomizer can be connected to the ground switch ES unloaded in an extremely short time. This depending on the circumstances more or less damped discharge can take place without loss of time during the time in which the atomizer is moved to the cleaning device.

Zur Vermeidung eines Sicherheitsrisikos wird der Zeitpunkt der Erdung des Zerstäubers (oder der Potenzialangleichung durch Aufladung des Reinigungsgeräts) vorzugsweise in Abhängigkeit von der Annäherung des Zerstäubers an das Reinigungsgerät gesteuert. Da die Annäherungsgeschwindigkeit bekannt, da durch das Steuerprogramm des Roboters vorgegeben ist, kann man in der Bewegungsbahn des Zerstäubers einen ausreichenden Sicherheitsabstand von dem Reinigungsgerät definieren, bei dessen Unterschreiten die Erdung bzw. Potenzialangleichung eingeleitet wird. Das Erreichen der Sicherheitsgrenze kann durch einen Annäherungssensor z.B. in Form einer Lichtschranke, einer Laserabtasteinrichtung od. dgl. überwacht und gemeldet werden. Der Sicherheitsabstand, bei dem die Erdung bzw. Potenzialangleichung eingeleitet werden muss, lässt sich berechnen aus dem bekannten Luftisolationsabstand zwischen dem Hochspannungspotenzial und Erde plus dem Weg, den der Zerstäuber in der Zeit zurücklegt, die für das Ansprechen des Annäherungssensors und für die Umladung erforderlich ist, im Erdungsfall also beispielsweise für das Ansprechen eines Erdschalters und für die anschließende Schnellentladung des Zerstäubers.To avoid a safety risk, the timing of grounding the nebulizer (or potential equalization by charging the purifier) is preferably controlled in response to the nebulizer approaching the purifier. Since the approach speed is known, as dictated by the control program of the robot, one can define in the path of the atomizer a sufficient safety distance from the cleaning device, below which the grounding or potential equalization is initiated. The achievement of the safety limit can be achieved by a proximity sensor e.g. in the form of a light barrier, a laser scanner od. Like. Be monitored and reported. The safety margin at which grounding or potential equalization must be initiated can be calculated from the known air isolation distance between the high voltage potential and ground plus the distance that the nebulizer travels in the time required to respond to the proximity sensor and transhipment , in Erdungsfall example, for the response of an earth switch and for the subsequent rapid discharge of the atomizer.

Gemäß einer in Fig. 3 dargestellten Alternativmöglichkeit zur Erdung des Zerstäubers Z mit einem Erdschalter ES' kann der Zerstäuber während der Erdung mit dem eingeschalteten Hochspannungserzeuger HS verbunden bleiben, zu dem der Erdschalter ES' parallel geschaltet ist. Durch zweckmäßige Steuermaßnahmen kann hierbei vermieden werden, dass der Hochspannungserzeuger HS aufgrund dieses Kurzschlusses abgeschaltet wird.According to a in Fig. 3 illustrated alternative possibility for grounding the atomizer Z with a ground switch ES ', the atomizer during grounding with the switched high voltage generator HS remain connected to the ground switch ES' is connected in parallel. By appropriate control measures can be avoided in this case that the high voltage generator HS is switched off due to this short circuit.

Die beiden Möglichkeiten gemäß Fig. 2 und Fig. 3 lassen sich ferner dahingehend abwandeln oder ergänzen, dass anstelle oder zusätzlich zu dem Erdschalter ES bzw. ES' das geerdete Reinigungsgerät RG selbst die Elektroden- und Aufladungseinrichtung des Zerstäubers Z bei dessen Annäherung kontaktiert und dadurch erdet. Beispielsweise kann das Hochspannungspotenzial am Zerstäuber dadurch in kürzester Zeit abgebaut werden, dass der Zerstäuber bei Erreichen seiner Endposition in dem Reinigungsgerät oder bei seiner Einführbewegung eine geerdete Kontaktanordnung des Reinigungsgeräts berührt, bei der es sich auch um mehrerer Kontaktelemente wie beispielsweise einen von dem Zerstäuber bei der Einführbewegung durchfahrenen geerdeten flexiblen Vorhang aus Einzelleitern handeln kann.The two options according to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 can also be modified or supplemented to the effect that instead of or in addition to the earth switch ES or ES 'the grounded cleaning device RG even contacted the electrode and charging device of the atomizer Z at its approach and thus grounded. For example, the high-voltage potential at the atomizer can be broken down in a very short time that the atomizer touches a grounded contact arrangement of the cleaning device on reaching its final position in the cleaning device or during its insertion movement, which is also a plurality of contact elements such as one of the atomizer in the Insertion motion traversed grounded flexible curtain can act of single conductors.

Wie schematisch in Fig. 4 dargestellt ist, könnte der Zerstäuber auch ohne Erdschalter und ohne direkte Erdkontaktierung geerdet werden. Bevor der Zerstäuber das Reinigungsgerät RG erreicht, wird bei dieser Variante die Ausgangsspannung des Hochspannungserzeugers HS durch automatisch gesteuerte Reduzierung seines eingestellten oder z.B. von dem Steuerprogramm des Systems vorgegebenen Spannungssollwerts wenigstens annähernd auf die Größe Null heruntergeregelt, ohne dass der Hochspannungserzeuger abgeschaltet wird. Das Hochspannungspotenzial am Zerstäuber wird dann sehr schnell und vorzugsweise noch während der Zuführbewegung des Zerstäubers durch einen parallel zu dem Hochspannungserzeuger HS gegen Erde geschalteten Widerstand R abgebaut.As schematically in Fig. 4 is shown, the atomizer could be grounded without ground switch and without direct Erdkontaktierung. Before the atomizer reaches the cleaning device RG, in this variant, the output voltage of the high voltage generator HS is at least approximately reduced to zero size by automatically controlled reduction of its set or predetermined by the control program of the system voltage setpoint, without the high voltage generator is turned off. The high voltage potential at the atomizer is then degraded very quickly and preferably even during the feed movement of the atomizer by a resistor R connected in parallel with the high voltage generator HS to earth.

Auch bei den anderen oben beschriebenen Erdungsmöglichkeiten wie z.B. bei der Erdung durch das Reinigungsgerät selbst kann es zweckmäßig sein, zuvor die Ausgangsspannung des Hochspannungserzeugers in der erläuterten Weise herunterzuregeln.Even with the other grounding options described above, such as when grounding by the cleaning device itself, it may be appropriate to previously regulate the output voltage of the high voltage generator in the manner explained.

Damit die Sprühvorrichtung wie beispielsweise der Rotationszerstäuber 1 in Fig. 1 einfach und zuverlässig von der dafür vorgesehenen Maschine in das Reinigungsgerät 10 eingesetzt werden kann, muss er sich dem Reinigungsgerät aus der richtigen Richtung nähern, also beispielsweise bei vertikaler Anordnung des Reinigungsgeräts senkrecht von oben. Darüber hinaus ist die richtige Richtung auch wichtig, wenn der Zerstäuber bei seiner Bewegung zu dem Reinigungsgerät den oben erwähnten Annäherungssensor passieren soll, damit rechtzeitig die erforderliche Potenzialangleichung durchgeführt werden kann. Der richtige Weg ist zwar an sich durch das Bewegungsprogramm der den Zerstäuber zu dem Reinigungsgerät fahrenden Maschine vorgegeben, doch können sich durch Fehler Abweichungen von der vorgeschriebenen Bewegungsbahn und damit Fehler des Annäherungssensors oder Kollisionen des Zerstäubers mit dem Reinigungsgerät ergeben. Um mit Kollisionen und/oder der Explosionsgefahr durch Spannungsüberschläge verbundene Sicherheitsrisiken zu verhindern, wird gemäß dem eingangs erläuterten weiteren Merkmal der Erfindung dafür gesorgt, dass der Zerstäuber sich dem Reinigungsgerät nur aus der vorgeschriebenen Richtung nähern kann, also beispielsweise in Fig. 1 nur senkrecht von oben. Wie zu diesem Zweck ein begrenzter virtueller Sperrraum in der Umgebung des Reinigungsgeräts definiert werden kann, in den der Zerstäuber z.B. nur senkrecht von oben hineinbewegt werden kann, ist auf dem Gebiet der Robotersteuerung an sich bekannt. Möglichkeiten sind beispielsweise in EP 1 332 841 , EP 1 035 953 und DE 102004019888 beschrieben.Thus, the spray device such as the rotary atomizer 1 in Fig. 1 can be easily and reliably used by the designated machine in the cleaning device 10, he must approach the cleaning device from the right direction, so for example when vertical arrangement of the cleaning device vertically from above. In addition, the correct direction is also important if the atomizer is to pass through the above-mentioned proximity sensor as it moves to the cleaning device, so that the required potential equalization can be carried out in good time. Although the correct path is given by the movement program of the machine moving the atomizer to the cleaning device, errors may result in deviations from the prescribed trajectory and thus errors in the proximity sensor or collisions of the atomizer with the cleaning device. In order to prevent collisions and / or the risk of explosion by flashovers associated safety risks, it is ensured according to the above-described further feature of the invention that the atomizer can approach the cleaning device only from the prescribed direction, so for example in Fig. 1 only vertically from above. As can be defined for this purpose a limited virtual lock space in the vicinity of the cleaning device, in which the atomizer can eg only vertically moved from above, is known in the field of robot control. Possibilities are for example in EP 1 332 841 . EP 1 035 953 and DE 102004019888 described.

Claims (30)

  1. A process for cleaning a spraying device (1) used for mechanical series coating of workpieces, in which the section of the spraying device polluted by the coating material to be cleaned is inserted into the internal cavity of a cleaning device (10) by the coating machine or by another automatically-controlled handling machine,
    wherein sections of the outside of the spraying device (1) located in the internal cavity (12) of the cleaning device (10) are sprayed with a cleaning agent by a nozzle arrangement (21) of the cleaning device,
    and wherein the spraying head (3) of the spraying device (1) is cleaned in the cleaning device (10) by a cleaning agent which is delivered from the inside of the spraying device (1) through the nozzle arrangement thereof and/or onto the outside of the spraying head (3) and the medium sprayed by the spraying head (3) in the cleaning device (10) is sprayed into an evacuation device (30) provided inside the cleaning device,
    characterised in that the cleaning agent is sprayed by the rotating bell cup (3) of a rotary atomiser (1) or from the nozzle of an air atomiser into an evacuation tube (30) of the cleaning device (10), at or in the inlet end (31) of which the spraying head (3) is located in such a way that the tube (30) prevents the sprayed medium from reaching the nozzle arrangement (21) of the cleaning device (10) and sections of the internal cavity (12) of the cleaning device (10) located outside the evacuation device (30) and/or the outside of the spraying device (1).
  2. The process in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the cleaning agent is conducted into the internal cavity (12) of the cleaning device (10) or out of the cleaning device by the evacuation tube (30).
  3. The process in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the outside of the spraying device (1) is sprayed by the nozzle arrangement (21) of the cleaning device (10) while the medium delivered from the inside of the spraying device (1) is sprayed by the spraying head (3).
  4. The process in accordance with one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the spraying device (1) is dried by spraying with compressed air or another pressurised gas in the cleaning device (10).
  5. The process in accordance with one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the cleaning agent and/or the pressurised gas are heated.
  6. The process in accordance with claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the pressurised gas is sprayed by a nozzle arrangement (23) by or in which subatmospheric pressure is created by the current of gas, by which air from the vicinity of the nozzle arrangement is sucked in and conducted together with the pressurised gas to the spraying head to be dried.
  7. The process in accordance with claim 6, characterised in that the ambient air is sucked through a filter.
  8. The process in accordance with one of claims 1 to 7 for cleaning a spraying device (1) with a charging device (5) for the coating material, connected to a high-voltage generator for electrostatic coating, characterised in that the charging device (5) of the spraying device (1) is connected to the electrical potential of the cleaning device (10) or the cleaning device (10) is connected to the electrical potential of the charging device (5), prior to commencement of cleaning.
  9. The process in accordance with claim 8, characterised in that potential equalisation takes place while the spraying device (1) is approaching the cleaning device (10) or at least before the spraying device is inserted in the cleaning device (10).
  10. The process in accordance with claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the charging device (5) is earthed while the spraying device (1) is being moved towards or into the cleaning device (10) or is located in the cleaning device (10) and in that the high-voltage generator (HS) remains switched on during earthing.
  11. The process in accordance with claim 10, characterised in that before or during earthing with the high-voltage generator (HS) switched on, its output voltage is reduced to zero or to a low level, by reducing the voltage setting.
  12. The process in accordance with one of claims 8 to 11, characterised in that the approach of the spraying device (1) towards the cleaning device (10) is monitored and indicated by a sensor.
  13. The process in accordance with claim 12, characterised in that the proximity sensor generates a signal as soon as the spraying device (1) is within a distance less than a safe distance from the cleaning device (10) on its path towards the cleaning device (10), which is determined as a function of the minimum air gap for electrical isolation between the high-voltage potential of the spraying head (1) and the earth potential, and by the path which the spraying device (1) covers during the period required for the signal from the proximity sensor and for earthing or potential equalisation.
  14. The process in accordance with one of claims 8 to 13, characterised in that the charging device (5) of the spraying head (Z) is earthed by an automatically-controlled connected switch (ES) before cleaning commences.
  15. The process in accordance with one of claims 8 to 14, characterised in that the spraying device is earthed by the cleaning device (10).
  16. The process in accordance with one of claims 8 to 15, characterised in that the spraying device (1) is brought into contact with an earthed contact arrangement of the cleaning device by the coating machine or the handling machine, to which arrangement the charging device (5) of the spraying device is electrically connected.
  17. The process in accordance with one of claims 1 to 16, in which the spraying device is to be moved towards the cleaning device (10) by the coating or handling machine along a direction which is specified by a movement control program of the machine, characterised in that an alarm signal is generated and/or the machine brought to a standstill if the spraying device (1) approaches the cleaning device (10) from a direction other than that specified.
  18. The process in accordance with claim 17, characterised in that a restricted space in the vicinity of the cleaning device (10) is defined by a control program for the machine and is inaccessible for movement of the spraying device (1) by said control program if said spraying device (1) approaches from a direction other than that specified.
  19. A cleaning device for cleaning a spraying device used for the mechanical series coating of workpieces with a internal cavity (12) into which the section of the spraying device (1) to be cleaned may be introduced,
    with an evacuation facility (30) located in the cleaning device (10) to trap and evacuate a medium sprayed by the spraying head (3) of the spraying device (1) introduced into the cleaning device (10),
    and with nozzles (21, 23) located in the internal cavity (12) of the cleaning device (10), which are connected to a feed line arrangement (20, 22) for a cleaning agent and/or for pressurised gas and which are directed onto the outside of the spraying device (1) used,
    wherein the evacuation device (30) contains an internal tube (30) in the internal cavity (12) of the cleaning device (10), into the open inlet end (31) of which the medium is sprayed by the spraying device (1),
    characterised in that the spraying head (3) is located at or in the inlet end of an internal tube, which prevents the medium sprayed by the spraying head (3) from reaching the nozzles (21, 23) of the cleaning device and sections of the internal cavity (12) of the cleaning device and/or the outside of the spraying device (1).
  20. The cleaning device in accordance with claim 19, characterised in that the internal tube (30) ist located concentrically to an inlet (13) of the cleaning device (10) into which the spraying device (1) is inserted so that the spraying head (3) is located at or in the inlet end (31) of the internal tube (30).
  21. The cleaning device in accordance with claim 19 or 20, characterised in that the internal tube (30) discharges into the internal cavity of the cleaning device (10) at an end opposite the inlet end (31).
  22. The cleaning device in accordance with claim 19 or 20, characterised in that the internal tube (30) discharges outside the cleaning device (10).
  23. The cleaning device in accordance with one of claims 19 to 22, characterised in that the nozzles (21, 23) are mounted on a ring arrangement (20, 22) which is at least approximately concentric to the longitudinal axis or axis of rotation of the spraying device (1) used and contains part of the feed line arrangement.
  24. The cleaning device in accordance with one of claims 19 to 23, characterised in that the nozzles (21, 23) are stationary in the internal cavity (12).
  25. The cleaning device in accordance with one of claims 19 to 24, characterised in that a heating device is provided to heat the cleaning medium and/or the pressurised gas.
  26. The cleaning device in accordance with one of claims 19 to 25, characterised in that pressurised gas nozzles are provided which are connected to a pressurised gas line leading into the cleaning device and suck in air from the vicinity of the nozzles because of the current of pressurised gas.
  27. The cleaning device in accordance with one of claims 19 to 26, characterised in that a nozzle arrangement (16) is provided extending annularly around the inlet (13) of the internal cavity (12) of the cleaning device (10) into which the section of the spraying device (1) to be cleaned is inserted, forming a pneumatic seal between the circumference of the inlet (13) and the circumference of the inserted section (2) of the spraying device (1).
  28. The cleaning device in accordance with one of claims 19 to 27, characterised in that it is or can be connected to an electrical earthing conductor and is equipped with a contact arrangement to earth the inserted spraying device used.
  29. The cleaning device in accordance with one of claims 19 to 28, , characterised in that it is or can be connected to an electrical high-voltage conductor, by which it is connected to the high-voltage potential of an electrostatic spraying device.
  30. A coating system with a device for cleaning a spraying device (1) used for mechanical series coating of workpieces in accordance with one of claims 19 to 29, where the section of a spraying device polluted by the coating material to be cleaned is inserted into the internal cavity of the cleaning device (10) by the coating machine or another automatically-controlled handling machine.
EP05112153A 2004-12-20 2005-12-14 Process and device for cleaning spraying devices Active EP1671706B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102004061322A DE102004061322A1 (en) 2004-12-20 2004-12-20 Method and cleaning device for cleaning a spray device
US72944205P 2005-10-21 2005-10-21
US72947505P 2005-10-21 2005-10-21
US11/551,671 US7721745B2 (en) 2004-12-20 2006-10-20 Method and cleaning device for cleaning a spraying device

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1671706A2 EP1671706A2 (en) 2006-06-21
EP1671706A3 EP1671706A3 (en) 2006-07-19
EP1671706B1 true EP1671706B1 (en) 2009-05-06

Family

ID=44282575

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05112153A Active EP1671706B1 (en) 2004-12-20 2005-12-14 Process and device for cleaning spraying devices

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US7721745B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1671706B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE430628T1 (en)
DE (2) DE102004061322A1 (en)
ES (1) ES2325927T3 (en)

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US9017452B2 (en) 2011-11-14 2015-04-28 ADA-ES, Inc. System and method for dense phase sorbent injection
WO2023036679A1 (en) * 2021-09-07 2023-03-16 Dürr Systems Ag Electrode arrangement for a rotary atomizer and associated operating method
DE102021133410A1 (en) 2021-12-16 2023-06-22 Dürr Systems Ag Coating equipment and related operating procedure

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DE102009052655A1 (en) 2009-11-11 2011-05-12 Dürr Systems GmbH Apparatus, system, component, method and composition for preventing deposits of a disposal agent in coating plants
US8784757B2 (en) * 2010-03-10 2014-07-22 ADA-ES, Inc. Air treatment process for dilute phase injection of dry alkaline materials
DE102010022309A1 (en) 2010-06-01 2011-12-01 Dürr Systems GmbH Apparatus, method and system for receiving and / or dispensing disposal means
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DE102012006567A1 (en) * 2012-03-30 2013-10-02 Dürr Systems GmbH Dry ice cleaning device for a paint shop
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WO2023036679A1 (en) * 2021-09-07 2023-03-16 Dürr Systems Ag Electrode arrangement for a rotary atomizer and associated operating method
DE102021133410A1 (en) 2021-12-16 2023-06-22 Dürr Systems Ag Coating equipment and related operating procedure
WO2023110511A1 (en) 2021-12-16 2023-06-22 Dürr Systems Ag Coating device and corresponding operating method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2325927T3 (en) 2009-09-24
DE102004061322A1 (en) 2006-06-22
EP1671706A3 (en) 2006-07-19
ATE430628T1 (en) 2009-05-15
US7721745B2 (en) 2010-05-25
EP1671706A2 (en) 2006-06-21
US20070089762A1 (en) 2007-04-26
DE502005007233D1 (en) 2009-06-18

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