EP4137235B1 - Coating device - Google Patents
Coating device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP4137235B1 EP4137235B1 EP22183922.8A EP22183922A EP4137235B1 EP 4137235 B1 EP4137235 B1 EP 4137235B1 EP 22183922 A EP22183922 A EP 22183922A EP 4137235 B1 EP4137235 B1 EP 4137235B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- rotary
- unit
- pump
- coating
- coating agent
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Active
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- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 title claims description 178
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 title claims description 69
- 239000007921 spray Substances 0.000 claims description 69
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Images
Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B13/00—Machines or plants for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces of objects or other work by spraying, not covered by groups B05B1/00 - B05B11/00
- B05B13/02—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work
- B05B13/04—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work the spray heads being moved during spraying operation
- B05B13/0463—Installation or apparatus for applying liquid or other fluent material to moving work of indefinite length
- B05B13/0484—Installation or apparatus for applying liquid or other fluent material to moving work of indefinite length with spray heads having a circular motion, e.g. being attached to a rotating supporting element
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B13/00—Machines or plants for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces of objects or other work by spraying, not covered by groups B05B1/00 - B05B11/00
- B05B13/02—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work
- B05B13/04—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work the spray heads being moved during spraying operation
- B05B13/0421—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work the spray heads being moved during spraying operation with rotating spray heads
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B12/00—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area
- B05B12/08—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means
- B05B12/085—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means responsive to flow or pressure of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged
- B05B12/087—Flow or presssure regulators, i.e. non-electric unitary devices comprising a sensing element, e.g. a piston or a membrane, and a controlling element, e.g. a valve
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B12/00—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area
- B05B12/08—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means
- B05B12/10—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means responsive to temperature or viscosity of liquid or other fluent material discharged
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B13/00—Machines or plants for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces of objects or other work by spraying, not covered by groups B05B1/00 - B05B11/00
- B05B13/02—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work
- B05B13/04—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work the spray heads being moved during spraying operation
- B05B13/0447—Installation or apparatus for applying liquid or other fluent material to conveyed separate articles
-
- 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
- B05B15/60—Arrangements for mounting, supporting or holding spraying apparatus
- B05B15/65—Mounting arrangements for fluid connection of the spraying apparatus or its outlets to flow conduits
- B05B15/652—Mounting arrangements for fluid connection of the spraying apparatus or its outlets to flow conduits whereby the jet can be oriented
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B3/00—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements
- B05B3/02—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements with rotating elements
- B05B3/021—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements with rotating elements with means for regulating the jet relative to the horizontal angular position of the nozzle, e.g. for spraying non circular areas by changing the elevation of the nozzle or by varying the nozzle flow-rate
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B3/00—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements
- B05B3/02—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements with rotating elements
- B05B3/025—Rotational joints
- B05B3/026—Rotational joints the fluid passing axially from one joint element to another
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B9/00—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent material, without essentially mixing with gas or vapour
- B05B9/03—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent material, without essentially mixing with gas or vapour characterised by means for supplying liquid or other fluent material
- B05B9/04—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent material, without essentially mixing with gas or vapour characterised by means for supplying liquid or other fluent material with pressurised or compressible container; with pump
- B05B9/0403—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent material, without essentially mixing with gas or vapour characterised by means for supplying liquid or other fluent material with pressurised or compressible container; with pump with pumps for liquids or other fluent material
- B05B9/0406—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent material, without essentially mixing with gas or vapour characterised by means for supplying liquid or other fluent material with pressurised or compressible container; with pump with pumps for liquids or other fluent material with several pumps
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B9/00—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent material, without essentially mixing with gas or vapour
- B05B9/03—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent material, without essentially mixing with gas or vapour characterised by means for supplying liquid or other fluent material
- B05B9/04—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent material, without essentially mixing with gas or vapour characterised by means for supplying liquid or other fluent material with pressurised or compressible container; with pump
- B05B9/0403—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent material, without essentially mixing with gas or vapour characterised by means for supplying liquid or other fluent material with pressurised or compressible container; with pump with pumps for liquids or other fluent material
- B05B9/0409—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent material, without essentially mixing with gas or vapour characterised by means for supplying liquid or other fluent material with pressurised or compressible container; with pump with pumps for liquids or other fluent material the pumps being driven by a hydraulic or a pneumatic fluid
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B9/00—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent material, without essentially mixing with gas or vapour
- B05B9/03—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent material, without essentially mixing with gas or vapour characterised by means for supplying liquid or other fluent material
- B05B9/04—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent material, without essentially mixing with gas or vapour characterised by means for supplying liquid or other fluent material with pressurised or compressible container; with pump
- B05B9/0403—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent material, without essentially mixing with gas or vapour characterised by means for supplying liquid or other fluent material with pressurised or compressible container; with pump with pumps for liquids or other fluent material
- B05B9/0423—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent material, without essentially mixing with gas or vapour characterised by means for supplying liquid or other fluent material with pressurised or compressible container; with pump with pumps for liquids or other fluent material for supplying liquid or other fluent material to several spraying apparatus
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
- B05B1/30—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages
- B05B1/3033—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages the control being effected by relative coaxial longitudinal movement of the controlling element and the spray head
- B05B1/304—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages the control being effected by relative coaxial longitudinal movement of the controlling element and the spray head the controlling element being a lift valve
- B05B1/3046—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages the control being effected by relative coaxial longitudinal movement of the controlling element and the spray head the controlling element being a lift valve the valve element, e.g. a needle, co-operating with a valve seat located downstream of the valve element and its actuating means, generally in the proximity of the outlet orifice
- B05B1/306—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages the control being effected by relative coaxial longitudinal movement of the controlling element and the spray head the controlling element being a lift valve the valve element, e.g. a needle, co-operating with a valve seat located downstream of the valve element and its actuating means, generally in the proximity of the outlet orifice the actuating means being a fluid
-
- 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
- B05B7/02—Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge
- B05B7/08—Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge with separate outlet orifices, e.g. to form parallel jets, i.e. the axis of the jets being parallel, to form intersecting jets, i.e. the axis of the jets converging but not necessarily intersecting at a point
- B05B7/0807—Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge with separate outlet orifices, e.g. to form parallel jets, i.e. the axis of the jets being parallel, to form intersecting jets, i.e. the axis of the jets converging but not necessarily intersecting at a point to form intersecting jets
- B05B7/0815—Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge with separate outlet orifices, e.g. to form parallel jets, i.e. the axis of the jets being parallel, to form intersecting jets, i.e. the axis of the jets converging but not necessarily intersecting at a point to form intersecting jets with at least one gas jet intersecting a jet constituted by a liquid or a mixture containing a liquid for controlling the shape of the latter
Definitions
- the invention relates to a coating device according to the preamble of claim 1.
- Such coating devices are known from the prior art and are used for the surface application of a coating agent to a workpiece.
- the coating agent can be, for example, varnish, in particular clear varnish or pigmented varnish, stain or paint.
- the workpiece is, for example, a wood material part or an assembly of such parts for the manufacture of furniture. For coating, the workpiece is placed on a workpiece holder and then provided with the coating agent by means of a plurality of moving spray units.
- the machine frame includes the workpiece holder mentioned above, while the rotation unit includes the plurality of spray units also mentioned above.
- the spray units cover the workpiece and distribute the coating agent onto the workpiece surface.
- a design challenge that must be overcome in known coating devices is to supply coating agent from a fixed coating agent source for the moving rotation unit and the to provide spray units arranged thereon.
- swivel joints are usually used, each of which has a fixed and a rotatable swivel joint part.
- the fixed swivel joint part is arranged on the machine frame, while the rotatable swivel joint part is arranged on the rotation unit.
- the swivel joint parts mentioned are connected to one another in a sealing manner to form a coating agent channel.
- the swivel joint parts can be rotated relative to one another, whereby the fluid-conducting coating agent channel remains independent of the relative angle of rotation between the swivel joint parts.
- the fixed swivel joint part comprises an inlet-side connection for the coating agent channel, to which the coating agent source is connected.
- the rotatable swivel joint part comprises a connection for providing the coating agent for the spray units on the rotation unit.
- one disadvantage of known coating devices is that they are usually designed as special constructions that are primarily used to coat similar workpieces. It is possible to adapt the design parameters of the coating device, such as the number of spray units and their movement path and speed, to changing operating conditions. However, the required design effort is too high to be able to respond in an economically efficient manner to the high variety of workpieces to be coated.
- the object underlying the invention is to provide a coating device which is highly adaptable to changing operating conditions, has good controllability and at the same time has a simple structure.
- the coating device comprises a machine frame with a workpiece holder, a coating agent source and a compressed air source.
- the coating device also comprises a rotation unit that can be rotated relative to the machine frame and has a pump and a plurality of spray units, the pump being connected on the suction side to the coating agent source via a fluid-conducting rotary joint and on the pressure side to the spray units.
- the rotation unit has a pneumatic valve device.
- the spray units each have a compressed air-controlled valve for controlling the output of coating agent.
- the valve device is connected on the supply air side to the compressed air source at least via a fluid-conducting rotary union and on the exhaust air side to the compressed air-controlled valves of the spray units.
- the invention is based on the finding that the arrangement of an additional component in the form of the pneumatic valve device on the rotation unit leads to an overall simple construction of the coating device and at the same time improves its controllability.
- the simple design of the coating device results from the fact that a rotary union known per se can be used to provide compressed air for the pneumatic components of the rotary unit.
- the rotary union preferably has only one compressed air channel, which allows a pneumatic connection between the compressed air source of the machine frame and the rotary unit, independent of the angle of rotation.
- the rotary union can have an overall simple, robust and structurally compact design: A fixed part of the rotary union is arranged on the machine frame and is fluid-conducting via an inlet connection. connected to the compressed air source. A movable part of the rotary union is arranged on the rotary unit and is connected to the fixed part of the rotary union in a sealing and relatively rotatable manner, forming a fluid path. The fluid path between the two parts of the rotary union remains independent of the angle of rotation between the fixed and the movable part of the rotary union. The fluid path opens into an exhaust air connection of the movable part, which is connected to the valve device.
- the compressed air flow provided via the rotary union can be distributed to a large number of pneumatically controlled and/or pneumatically operated components, which can be arranged on the rotary unit as required and in large numbers.
- the arrangement of the valve device on the rotary unit facilitates the simple design of the rotary union.
- the compressed air can be guided from the compressed air source to the rotary unit via just one compressed air channel and distributed by means of the valve device to a large number of compressed air lines on the exhaust air side.
- the said compressed air lines lead to the valves of the spray units and can be designed to be comparatively short due to the arrangement of the valve device on the rotary unit. This improves the controllability of the valves.
- the compressed air flow between the rotary feedthrough and the valve device can be divided into several partial flows in order to be able to supply other pneumatic components on the rotary unit with compressed air independently of the valve device. It is also within the scope of the invention that in addition to the rotary feedthrough, other pneumatic components can be arranged in the pneumatic connection between the compressed air source and the valve device.
- the valve device is designed as a valve island.
- a valve island can be equipped in a flexible manner and as required with a large number of so-called valve discs, which can be adapted to the type and number of the pneumatic components of the rotary unit that are to be driven and/or controlled can be adapted.
- the valve island usually has a distributor bar with a central air supply connection.
- the distributor bar also has a large number of distributor connections through which the valve discs are supplied with compressed air. This means that the compressed air for the valves to be controlled can be provided in a structurally compact manner.
- the pump for the coating agent is designed to be operated with compressed air and is connected to the compressed air source at least via the rotary union.
- the compressed air is used both to control the dispensing of coating agent and to drive the pump. It is therefore an advantage that the use of different types of energy and signal transmission can be dispensed with and compressed air is used both for control and as an energy source.
- the compressed air-operated pump is connected to the rotary feedthrough via the pneumatic valve device and is preferably controllable by means of the valve device.
- the pump is operated independently of the pneumatic valve device and connected to the rotary feedthrough via a pneumatic branching element, which can be designed as a T or Y piece, for example.
- the pneumatic branching element can be arranged in a simple manner in a compressed air line between the rotary feedthrough and the valve device. As a result, a compressed air flow can be guided to the rotary unit via the rotary feedthrough and divided between the valve device and the pump by means of the pneumatic branching element.
- valve device can be designed to be compact, since its air-conducting areas and their cross-sections do not have to be dimensioned depending on a required compressed air flow for the operation of the pump.
- the machine frame comprises an electrical control unit and the pneumatic valve device is designed to be electrically controllable.
- the rotary feedthrough has at least one signal line. The control unit and at least the valve device are connected to one another via this signal line of the rotary feedthrough.
- the rotary union is not only fluid-conducting, but also designed to transmit signals.
- the signal line for transmitting electrical signals can be designed in a simple manner in the form of an electrical sliding contact between the fixed and the moving part of the rotary union.
- the signal line is multi-pole and accordingly several sliding contacts are formed in the rotary union.
- the signal line is designed as an optical signal line for transmitting optical signals.
- the parts of the rotary union that can be rotated against each other are connected to one another in terms of signaling via optical coupling elements.
- the electrical control unit and the valve device each have at least one optoelectronic element by means of which electrical signals can be converted into optical signals and vice versa.
- the control unit can be designed as a control computer or as a programmable logic controller, which can be operated either alone or in a control network with other control units.
- a control program is preferably implemented on the control unit, which represents the control logic with which at least the valve device and thus the valves of the spray units can be controlled. If the compressed air supply to the pump is via the valve device, the pump can preferably also be controlled via the valve device.
- control unit is used to output control signals in the form of control voltages, preferably in the range of 0-24 volts. These voltages can be provided directly to the valves of the valve device via the control line of the rotary union in order to control them. After the voltage drops, the valves in question can be brought into an unactuated basic position, for example by means of a spring return. In principle, no electrical power supply is required for the operation of the valve device in addition to the electrical control signals.
- the valve device can have at least one analog and/or digital signal input.
- This signal input serves to receive control signals from the control unit, by means of which the compressed air distribution on the rotary unit can be controlled.
- a plurality of signal inputs can be spatially combined in a multi-pole connection, the poles of which are each connected to a valve of the valve device in order to control it directly. This is particularly conceivable if the valve device is designed as a valve island.
- the coating device preferably has a workpiece detection unit which is designed to detect the presence and preferably also the dimensions of the workpiece to be coated and to output a control signal to the control unit as a function of this.
- the control unit evaluates the control signal and outputs one or more opening signals to the valve device in order to preferably only open the valves of those spray units which are located above the workpiece. In this way, coating agent can only be output in the area of the workpiece to be coated and thus with high efficiency.
- a rotation angle sensor is designed to detect the rotation position of the rotation unit relative to the machine frame and to measure a measured rotation angle to the control unit.
- the control unit stores the positions of the spray units on the rotation unit.
- coating agent can be dispensed whenever one or more of the spray units sweep over a defined area of the workpiece holder. Coating agent can thus be dispensed regardless of whether or not there is a workpiece to be coated in this swept area.
- At least one other component located on the rotary unit is also controlled via the control line of the rotary union.
- the rotary union can output the corresponding control signals via the control line to the valve device, which passes the signals on to the other components to be controlled.
- the valve device is not located in the signal path between the rotary union and the other components to be controlled.
- bus communication can be provided so that the signal path between the rotary union and the valve device can be split in order to be able to control the other components to be controlled with little wiring effort and preferably only one signal line of the rotary union.
- the rotary union is designed for electrical energy transmission.
- the machine frame comprises an electrical voltage source which is at least connected to the valve device via the rotary union.
- the valve device is preferably equipped with components that require a permanent power supply, e.g. a microcontroller or another data processing unit. It is also possible to provide at least one analog-digital converter or a sensor on the valve device.
- the valve device can be designed in such a way that communication with the control unit can take place using standardized protocols such as TCP-IP and in real time.
- the rotary feedthrough preferably has an electrical power line for electrical energy transmission in addition to the signal line.
- the electrical power line is preferably designed as a two-pole sliding contact. The power line is connected to the electrical voltage source on the one hand and to the valve device on the other.
- wireless energy transmission using the rotary feedthrough is also conceivable.
- the electrical energy can be transmitted through non-wired electromagnetic fields, in particular by means of inductive and/or capacitive coupling, instead of along a power line and by means of electrical contacts.
- at least the electrically controllable valve device and the control unit are connected to one another in terms of signaling by means of a wireless transmitter-receiver arrangement.
- the transmitter-receiver arrangement comprises at least a first communication element, which is connected to the control unit, and a second communication element, which is connected to the valve device, wherein the two communication elements serve for the wireless transmission of control signals.
- the second communication element can also be connected to another electrically controllable component on the rotation unit must be signal-connected.
- the first communication element is a radio transmitter and the second communication element is a radio receiver in order to be able to communicate control signals wirelessly from the control unit to the valve device.
- the first and second communication elements can each be designed as WiFi or WLAN modules, whose signal communication takes place via a common network in which they are operated.
- the first communication element can be connected to the voltage source on the machine frame for energy supply.
- the second communication element arranged on the rotation unit can have its own energy storage device, e.g. in the form of an electric battery.
- a pneumatically operated, electric generator is arranged on the rotation unit, which is connected to the compressed air source at least via the rotary feedthrough and is designed to supply at least the valve device with electrical energy.
- the rotary union serves to provide a compressed air flow for the compressed air-operated generator. This converts this compressed air flow into electrical energy.
- an electrical accumulator can serve as an electrical buffer.
- the battery can preferably be charged using the generator. If necessary, other components on the rotary unit that require an electrical energy supply can also be supplied with electrical energy using the generator and/or the battery.
- the pump is connected to the rotary union on the supply air side at least via a pump pressure regulator.
- the pump pressure regulator is preferably designed to be electrically controllable.
- the pump pressure regulator is used to regulate a possibly fluctuating inlet pressure of the compressed air provided by the rotary union to a constant and usually lower outlet pressure.
- the pump pressure regulator preferably comprises a so-called pressure booster in order to regulate the inlet pressure to a higher outlet pressure.
- the quality of the coating result can also be optimized by regulating the pump drive pressure in this way.
- the pump pressure regulator can be designed in a simple manner as a mechanical component, whereby the output pressure to be regulated can be set manually and directly on the pump pressure regulator in a manner known per se.
- the pump pressure regulator is preferably designed as an electrically controllable component.
- the control unit is designed to output a control signal for regulating the output pressure. If the rotary union has a signal line, the control signal can be output from the control unit to the pump pressure regulator via the rotary union.
- the valve device can be located in the signal path between the pump pressure regulator and the rotary union. If the coating device has a wireless transmitter-receiver arrangement, this can be used to transmit the control signal from the control unit to the pump pressure regulator. It is also within the scope of the advantageous development that the pump pressure regulator is pneumatically controllable and is preferably controlled via the valve device.
- control unit is connected to an easy-to-use input element, e.g. a tablet or the control panel of the coating device. This makes it easy to specify the output pressure to be regulated.
- the pump pressure regulator can advantageously be integrated into the valve device on the exhaust air side.
- the control signal from the control unit can be sent to the valve device, which outputs the control signal directly or in processed form to the pump pressure regulator.
- the valve device can comprise an analog-digital converter in order to convert the control signal for the pump pressure regulator.
- the pump pressure regulator is preferably arranged between said branching element and the pump.
- the pump pressure regulator preferably also serves to control the pump operation.
- an output pressure to be set can be transmitted to the pump pressure regulator as required by means of a corresponding control signal.
- the specified output pressure corresponds to 0 bar when the pump operation is to be stopped.
- the output pressure to be set can correspond to 4 bar, for example, in order to start the pump operation.
- the compressed air supply to the pump and the pump pressure regulator is independent of the valve device.
- the valve device can be located in the signal path between the control device and the pump pressure regulator and can also output signals to electrically controllable components of the rotary unit that are not pneumatically connected to the valve device.
- the pump pressure regulator can comprise a measuring element which is used to measure the regulated pump pressure and output it to the control unit. This allows the operation of the pump to be monitored during the coating process.
- any electrical voltage required to operate the electrically controllable pump pressure regulator can be provided in a simple manner via the rotary union or via the compressed air-operated generator on the rotary unit.
- the valve device can also be used to provide electrical energy for the pump pressure regulator or other electrical components located on the rotary unit.
- a coating agent pressure regulator is arranged between the pump and at least one of the spray units, wherein the coating agent pressure regulator is preferably designed to be electrically controllable.
- the coating agent pressure regulator serves to regulate the pressure of the coating agent relative to the delivery pressure of the pump to an adjustable output pressure and, if necessary, to reduce the delivery pressure applied or to increase it using a pressure booster.
- the coating agent pressure regulator can be designed in a simple manner as a mechanical component in which the output pressure can be manually adjusted. Alternatively, the coating agent pressure regulator can be pneumatically controlled. If the coating agent pressure regulator is designed to be electrically controllable, control signals can be output from the control unit to the coating agent pressure regulator via the signal line of the rotary feedthrough or via the wireless transmitter-receiver arrangement. It is within the scope of the advantageous development that the valve device is located in the signal path between the control unit and the coating agent pressure regulator. Any electrical voltage required to operate the electrically controllable coating agent pressure regulator can be provided via the rotary union or via the compressed air-operated generator in a similar way to the statements regarding the pump pressure regulator.
- the spray units each have a compressed air-operated atomizer unit for atomizing the coating agent, wherein the atomizer unit is connected to the compressed air source at least via the rotary feedthrough.
- the atomizer unit is used to convert the dispensed coating agent into a large number of finely distributed drops using compressed air. This allows the coating agent to be distributed homogeneously on the workpiece surface and the coating quality to be optimized.
- the atomizer unit can be operatively connected to the spray unit in different ways for this purpose. It is within the scope of the advantageous development that the atomizer unit has at least one compressed air outlet which is arranged behind a coating agent dispensing opening of the spray unit in relation to the flow direction of the coating agent.
- the compressed air outlet is preferably designed as an annular gap. Additionally or alternatively, the compressed air outlet can be designed as one or more holes which are located laterally behind the coating agent dispensing opening of the spray unit.
- the atomizer unit and the spray unit are structurally combined and arranged in a common housing or are structurally separate from one another.
- the atomizer unit is pneumatically connected to the rotary feedthrough via the valve device.
- the operation of the atomizer unit can be controlled by means of the valve device.
- the atomizer unit is connected to the rotary feedthrough via the pneumatic branching element described above or another branching element and is operated independently of the pneumatic valve device.
- the pneumatic branching element can be designed as a T-piece or as a comparable pneumatic component in the manner already described in order to divide the compressed air flow, which is provided for the rotation unit by means of the rotary feedthrough, at least between the valve device and the atomizer unit.
- an atomizer pressure regulator is arranged between at least one of the atomizer units and the rotary feedthrough.
- the atomizer pressure regulator is preferably designed to be electrically controllable.
- the atomizer pressure regulator By means of the atomizer pressure regulator, it is possible, analogously to the statements for the pump pressure regulator, to regulate an inlet pressure applied to the atomizer pressure regulator to an adjustable outlet pressure.
- the inlet pressure can preferably be reduced or increased using a pressure booster. Investigations by the applicant have shown that an outlet pressure of between 2 and 4 bar should preferably be set for the atomizer pressure regulator in order to achieve an optimal coating result.
- the atomizer pressure regulator is preferably connected to a plurality of atomizer units, preferably to all atomizer units of the rotary unit.
- the advantage here is that only one atomizer pressure regulator is required to regulate the atomizer pressures of several atomizer units. If the atomizer pressure regulator is connected to a plurality of atomizer units, an arrangement of several pneumatic branching elements can be arranged between the atomizer pressure regulator and the atomizer units. As a result, the compressed air flow output by the atomizer pressure regulator can be divided between the plurality of atomizer units, preferably all atomizer units. It is within the scope of the advantageous development that the atomizer pressure regulator can be controlled mechanically or pneumatically.
- the atomizer pressure regulator is designed to be electrically controllable.
- the control unit is connected to the signal line of the rotary union or connected to the atomizer pressure regulator by means of the wireless transmitter-receiver arrangement.
- the required output pressure for an optimal coating result can be set using a control signal from the control unit.
- the atomizer pressure regulator can include a sensor for measuring and monitoring the atomization pressure and communicates the output pressure to the control unit during operation of the coating device.
- the valve device is located in the signal path between the rotary feedthrough and the atomizer pressure regulator.
- the electrical energy required to operate the electrically controllable atomizer pressure regulator can be provided in a simple manner via the rotary union.
- the electrical energy for the atomizer pressure regulator can also be provided via the valve device if it is connected to the rotary union in terms of energy.
- the electrical energy required can be provided via the compressed air-operated generator.
- At least one of the spray units has at least one compressed air-operated shaping air unit for adjusting a jet shape of the coating agent emitted from the spray unit, wherein the shaping air unit is connected to the compressed air source at least via the rotary feedthrough.
- the jet shape of the coating agent emitted from the spray unit is an important factor influencing the achievable coating quality.
- the shaping air unit is used to influence the jet shape of the coating agent.
- the shaping air unit has a mechanically adjustable air cap on which one or more air nozzles are located. By mechanically adjusting the air cap, the compressed air flow can be changed as required in order to adjust the jet shape of the coating agent accordingly.
- the rotary feedthrough is pneumatically connected to the shaping air unit via the valve device.
- the shaping air unit is preferably connected to the rotary feedthrough via the pneumatic branching element already mentioned above or another pneumatic branching element.
- the shaping air unit is supplied with compressed air independently of the pneumatic valve device.
- the pneumatic branching element can comprise a T-piece or a comparable pneumatic component in the manner already explained in order to divide the compressed air flow, which is provided for the rotary unit by means of the rotary feedthrough, at least between the valve device and the shaping air unit.
- a shaping air pressure regulator is arranged between the shaping air unit and the rotary feedthrough, which is preferably designed to be electrically controllable.
- the mold air pressure can be regulated from an increased input pressure to an adjustable output pressure and reduced or increased as required.
- the pressure level of the mold air pressure is preferably between 2 and 4 bar, so that the output pressure of the mold air pressure regulator can be adjusted accordingly to achieve an optimal coating result.
- the output pressure of the mold air pressure regulator can be controlled manually or pneumatically, analogous to the statements regarding the pressure regulators already described.
- the mold air pressure regulator is designed to be electrically controllable.
- the control unit is connected to the mold air pressure regulator via the signal line of the rotary union or by means of the wireless transmitter-receiver unit. This allows the required output pressure for an optimal coating result to be set using a control signal from the control unit.
- the The mold air pressure regulator can include a sensor for measuring and monitoring the mold air pressure and communicates the output pressure to the control unit during operation of the coating device.
- the valve device is located in the signal path between the rotary union and the mold air pressure regulator.
- the shaping air pressure regulator can be arranged between the shaping air unit and the valve device or between the shaping air unit and the branching element.
- the shaping air pressure regulator is preferably connected to a plurality of shaping air units, preferably to all shaping air units, on the rotary unit. The advantage here is that only one shaping air pressure regulator is required to regulate the shaping air pressures of several shaping air units.
- any electrical energy required to operate the electrically controllable molded air pressure regulator can be provided in a simple manner via the rotary union.
- the electrical energy for the molded air pressure regulator can also be provided via the valve device if it is connected to the rotary union for energy purposes.
- any electrical energy required can be provided via the compressed air-operated generator.
- the rotation unit comprises a plurality of adjusting means, on each of which at least one of the spray units is arranged.
- the adjusting means are designed to adjust a position, preferably an orientation, of the at least one spray unit arranged on them in relation to the workpiece holder.
- the adjusting means serve to adjust the position and preferably the orientation of the spray units relative to the workpiece in such a way that the workpiece can be evenly coated.
- the adjusting means serves only to adjust the orientation, i.e. the relative angular position of at least one spray unit relative to the workpiece.
- the adjusting means are designed to be controlled depending on a rotational position of the rotary unit relative to the machine frame.
- a mechanical control is conceivable here.
- the adjusting means can be coupled to a curved path arranged on the machine frame, for example by means of a rod or any other force transmission element.
- the curved path is preferably formed by a groove or edge running around the rotation axis of the rotary unit.
- the course of the curved path preferably corresponds approximately to an oval or preferably to a Cassini curve, the shape of which essentially corresponds to that of an oval pressed in on two sides.
- the rod slides along the curved path at the end and exerts forces on the adjusting means in accordance with the course of the curved path. These forces in turn cause an adjustment of the spray unit connected to the adjusting means.
- the actuating means comprises an electric drive and is designed to be electrically controllable.
- the actuating means are each a servo drive with which the position, in particular the orientation of the spray unit, can be adjusted in a path- and/or angle-controlled manner.
- the electrical drive of the actuating means is preferably connected to the control unit via the rotary feedthrough, with the electrically controllable valve device preferably being located in the signal path between the rotary feedthrough and the actuating means.
- the actuating means can be controlled via the wireless transmitter-receiver arrangement. connected to the control unit by means of signals.
- the electrical energy required for the electrical drive can preferably be provided via the rotary union and preferably via the valve device. Alternatively, the electrical energy required can be provided via the compressed air-operated generator.
- the advantage of an electrically controlled adjustment of the spray unit is that it can be flexibly adjusted and is not susceptible to malfunctions during operation. In particular, it is easy to adapt the orientation of the spray units to workpieces with different geometries and dimensions.
- the workpiece holder is designed as a conveyor belt in order to convey the workpiece from an inlet area of the machine frame to an outlet area by means of a linear movement.
- the workpiece is thereby swept over in the inlet area and in the outlet area by one of the spray units during a rotational movement of the rotation unit.
- the workpiece is preferably swept over along at least two intersecting movement paths, so that an intersecting spray pattern is produced on the workpiece.
- the workpiece is arranged on the conveyor belt in front of the inlet area and is conveyed by the conveyor belt into the outlet area and beyond.
- the conveying movement preferably takes place at an adjustable and preferably constant speed.
- the workpiece In the inlet area, the workpiece is covered by at least one spray unit of the rotary unit.
- the superimposed rotational movement of the rotary unit and the linear movement of the workpiece result in a sickle-shaped path for the movement path of the spray unit in the inlet area.
- the workpiece In the outlet area, the workpiece is then sprayed by the same spray unit or one of the other spray units of the rotary unit. This also results in a crescent-shaped path which overlaps the crescent-shaped path applied in the inlet area.
- the process described above is preferably repeated several times, with the crescent-shaped paths in the inlet area and in the outlet area preferably being applied to the workpiece offset from one another in order to coat the entire surface.
- the intersecting, crescent-shaped paths along which the coating agent is applied to the workpiece lead to a homogeneous distribution of the coating agent, which appears particularly uniform to the human eye.
- the rotary joint has a coating agent channel and a flushing agent channel, which are separated from one another by at least one seal, wherein the coating agent channel is designed to connect the coating agent source to the pump in a fluid-conducting manner and wherein the flushing agent channel is designed to absorb a leakage flow which may emerge at the seal and which contains coating agent from the coating agent channel.
- the swivel joint serves to provide a fluid-conducting connection between the coating agent source of the machine frame and the pump of the rotary unit.
- This fluid-conducting connection is formed by the coating agent channel, which is formed partly by the fixed swivel joint part and partly by the rotatable swivel joint part.
- the coating agent channel has a transition area in which the coating agent passes from the fixed swivel joint part into the rotatable swivel joint part. In this area, the swivel joint parts are separated from one another, which enables them to rotate relative to one another.
- this separation between the swivel joint parts is accompanied by the formation of at least one gap or channel between them.
- Such a gap or channel is usually sealed by means of the seal already mentioned above in order to prevent uncontrolled escape of coating agent from the swivel joint.
- the flushing agent channel is formed in the swivel joint so that the leakage flow does not dry between the swivel joint parts behind the seal and possibly stick them together. This is arranged in relation to the flow direction of the leakage flow in such a way that the leakage flow can pass the seal into the flushing agent channel and be flushed away by a flushing agent located therein. Since the pressure in the flushing agent channel is usually lower than in the coating agent channel, it can be sealed off from the environment more easily. In addition, the sealing of the flushing agent channel is simplified because the flushing agent contains fewer corrosive or abrasive components than the coating agent.
- the swivel joint can have a plurality of coating agent channels, via which a plurality of pumps are each connected to a coating agent source. It is also within the scope of the advantageous development that the swivel joint can have a plurality of flushing agent channels. In this case, the flushing agent channels and the coating agent channels are separated from one another in pairs by a seal, whereby a leakage flow that inevitably escapes at the seal can be flushed away through the respective flushing agent channel. It is also within the scope of the advantageous development that two coating agent channels are assigned to a common flushing agent channel and are separated from it by means of a leaky seal. In this case, the flushing agent channel serves to simultaneously flush away several leakage flows of different coating agents.
- the detergent channel is connected to a detergent source via a detergent inlet on the swivel joint. Furthermore, the Detergent channel connected to a detergent sink via a detergent outlet on the swivel joint.
- the detergent source preferably comprises a detergent tank and a detergent pump.
- the detergent pump serves to convey detergent from the detergent tank into the detergent channel and to circulate it at least in the swivel joint at a preferably adjustable pressure before it is drained to the detergent sink via the detergent outlet.
- the detergent sink is preferably formed at least partially by the same detergent tank to which the detergent pump is connected. It is also within the scope of the advantageous development that a second detergent tank is provided for the detergent sink, into which a non-reusable and contaminated detergent can be drained from the detergent outlet.
- a temperature sensor is arranged on or in the swivel joint.
- the coating agent or the rinsing agent When operating coating devices, it is usual for the coating agent or the rinsing agent to be flammable. In particular, an explosive coating agent-air mixture can arise when the coating agent is sprayed. For safety reasons, it is therefore desirable to ensure that those components which are directly or indirectly connected in a heat-conducting manner to the flammable coating agent and/or rinsing agent and/or coating agent-air gas mixture are operated in a temperature range which is below the respective ignition temperature. Since the swivel joint serves both to conduct coating agent and preferably rinsing agent, safety in the operation of the coating device is increased if the temperature in the area of the swivel joint or the temperature of the swivel joint is measured.
- the temperature sensor is arranged in the area of the coating agent channel and/or in the area of the rinsing agent channel in order to measure the temperature. to be able to detect directly in the areas where there is a risk of inflammation. It is also part of the advantageous development that the temperature sensor is arranged in the area of the seals of the swivel joint, since more heat is generated in this area during operation of the swivel joint than in the rest of the structure of the swivel joint.
- the temperature at or in the swivel joint is also relevant because it influences the viscosity of the coating agent. Measuring the temperature therefore allows at least some conclusions to be drawn about the quality of the coated workpieces. In addition, the quality of the coated workpieces can be positively influenced by appropriate temperature control of the swivel joint depending on the measured temperature.
- the temperature sensor transmits the recorded temperatures to the control unit, preferably via the valve device and the rotary feedthrough.
- the temperature signal can be present as an analog signal and can be converted into a digital signal by means of the valve device.
- a field bus connection can be used to transmit the signal converted in this way to the control unit via the rotary joint, so that it can be used to control the coating device.
- the pumping power of a rinsing agent pump for conveying the rinsing agent in the rinsing agent channel is adjusted depending on the temperature signal, so that the conveyed rinsing agent can also serve as a coolant.
- the recorded temperature can be transmitted via the wireless transmitter-receiver arrangement.
- the rotation unit has a base body in which at least the pump and the valve device are arranged. Furthermore, the rotation unit has a plurality of support arms on which at least one of the spray units, preferably two spray units, are arranged. Preferably, the support arms protrude in relation to on the rotation axis of the rotation unit radially from the base body.
- the base body can be formed from a frame, which gives the rotation unit its stability and rigidity.
- the base body can have one or more flat cladding elements with which the interior of the base body is sealed off from view and against dirt.
- the axis of rotation of the rotation unit runs through the base body, with heavy components of the rotation unit in particular being arranged in the base body.
- the support arm is preferably designed in a lightweight manner, for example as a hollow profile or with a lattice structure. Overall, this allows the largest proportion of the weight of the rotation unit to be concentrated in the area of the rotation axis of the rotation unit. This has a beneficial effect on the dimensioning of the drives required to generate the rotational movement. This is because the weight concentration described above means that less drive power is required to accelerate the rotation unit compared to an even weight distribution on the rotation unit.
- the base body can also be used to accommodate bearings for the movable mounting of the rotation unit relative to the machine frame.
- the mounting of the rotation unit relative to the machine frame is advantageously designed in such a way that the height of the rotation unit is adjustable. This is advantageous because it also allows the height of the spray units to be adjusted, so that workpieces of different thicknesses in particular can be coated from a uniform distance.
- the rotary joint and the rotary feedthrough are arranged coaxially to one another along the rotation axis of the rotation unit, with the rotary feedthrough being located above the rotary joint.
- the coating agent only needs to be pumped to a minimum required level in the lower area of the rotary unit so that it can be made available to the pump arranged on it.
- the coating agent source comprises a low-pressure pump and a coating agent tank, wherein the low-pressure pump is arranged in a fluid-conducting manner between the rotary joint and the coating agent tank.
- the development described above is based on the knowledge that the reliability of the coating agent supply during operation can be increased if a low-pressure pump is provided in addition to the pump of the rotary unit.
- the pump of the rotary unit can, if dimensioned accordingly, also be suitable on its own to suck in the coating agent through the rotary joint.
- studies have shown that the pump of the rotary device can be dimensioned significantly smaller if the low-pressure pump is also provided.
- the smaller dimensioning of the pump arranged on the rotary unit is accompanied by a correspondingly smaller required installation space and weight for the rotary unit.
- a differential pressure can be set between the coating agent channel and the flushing agent channel of the rotary joint if required in order to generate a pressure gradient between the coating agent channel and the flushing agent channel.
- the flushing agent pump can be set to a pressure of 1.5 bar and the low-pressure pump to a pressure of 2.0 bar, for example.
- the flushing agent pump and the low-pressure pump are preferably structurally identical double diaphragm pumps.
- the coating device 1 shown comprises a machine frame 2 with a workpiece holder 3 on which a workpiece 4 to be coated is arranged.
- the workpiece 4 is a flat wooden part which is to be evenly painted on the surface and on the side edges.
- a compressed air source 5 an electrical control unit 6 and an electrical voltage source 7 are arranged on the machine frame 2.
- the compressed air lines leading from the compressed air source 5 and their branches are shown as solid connecting lines.
- the electrical control lines leading from the control unit 6 are shown as single dashed connecting lines.
- the power lines leading from the electrical voltage source 7 are shown as dashed connecting lines.
- a coating agent tank 8, a low-pressure pump 9, a rinsing agent tank 10 and a rinsing agent pump 11 are also arranged on the machine frame 2.
- the coating device 1 further comprises a rotation unit 12, which can be rotated relative to the machine frame 2 and is connected to the components of the fixed machine frame 2 via a rotary joint 13 and a rotary feedthrough 14. This will be discussed in more detail below.
- the rotation unit 12 comprises a base body 15 and a plurality of support arms protruding from the base body 15, of which only one support arm is provided with the reference number 16.
- the base body 15 comprises a frame (not shown here) which forms an interior in which a compressed air-operated high-pressure pump 17 and a valve device 18 are arranged.
- the high-pressure pump 17 is designed as a double diaphragm pump. In another embodiment, the high-pressure pump 17 can also be designed as a piston pump.
- the valve device 18 is designed as an electrically controllable valve island.
- a spray unit 20 is arranged on each of the support arms 16, each of which comprises a compressed air-controlled valve 21 for controlling the coating agent output. Furthermore, the spray units 20 each comprise an atomizer unit 22 and a shaping air unit 23.
- an adjusting means 24 is arranged on each of the support arms 16, which is mechanically coupled to a curved path in a manner not shown here and by means of which the pivoting position of a respective spray unit 20 relative to the workpiece holder 3 and the workpiece 4 located thereon can be adjusted.
- the coating device 1 comprises a drive with which the rotation unit 12 can be set in a rotational movement relative to the machine frame 2, in particular relative to the workpiece holder 3 and the workpiece 4 located thereon.
- coating agent is dispensed from the spray units 20 over the surface of the workpiece 4.
- the swivel joint 13 serves in the present case to supply the rotation unit 12, which can be rotated relative to the machine frame 2, and the spray units 20 arranged on the rotation unit 12 with coating agent.
- the coating agent is conveyed by means of the low-pressure pump 9 via connection II into the rotary joint 13 and thereby reaches a coating agent channel (not shown) of the rotary joint 13.
- the rotary joint 13 comprises two parts which are connected to one another in a sealing manner and which can be rotated relative to one another.
- a fixed part of the rotary joint is connected to the machine frame 2 and the other, movable part is connected to the rotation unit 12.
- a flushing agent channel is formed in the swivel joint. This is arranged in relation to the flow direction of the leakage flow in such a way that the leakage flow can pass past the seal into the flushing agent channel and be flushed away by a flushing agent that is temporarily or permanently conveyed therein.
- connection I is connected to the rinsing agent tank 10 via the rinsing agent pump 11 and serves to supply the rinsing agent into the swivel joint 13.
- Connection III represents a drain opening through which the rinsing agent mixed with the removed leakage flow returns to the rinsing agent tank 10.
- the coating agent channel is connected on the outlet side to the suction side of the high-pressure pump 17.
- the coating agent is fed through the high-pressure pump 17 to the spray units 20 via distribution lines 19.
- the high-pressure pump 17 is operated by compressed air and moves with the rotation unit 12. To ensure a simple compressed air supply to the high-pressure pump 17 In order to enable this, the rotary union 14 serves to provide compressed air from the compressed air source 5 for the rotation unit 12 which can be rotated relative to the machine frame 2.
- valve device 18 is arranged in the base body 15 of the rotary unit 12 and is designed to controllably distribute the compressed air provided by the rotary feedthrough 14 to the rotary unit.
- the valve device 18 is designed as a valve island and has a distributor bar on which a plurality of pneumatic valves in the form of valve disks (not shown) are arranged.
- the valve disks can each be selectively locked and unlocked by an electrical control signal.
- the required control signal is provided by the control unit 6 and is also output to the valve device 18 via a signal line of the rotary feedthrough 14.
- the rotary feedthrough 14 has a power line for power transmission, by means of which the valve device 18 is also supplied with electrical energy from the voltage source 7.
- the valve device 18 is connected to the valves 21 via a plurality of exhaust air connections.
- the valve device 18 serves to control the valves 21.
- the valve device 18 can have comparatively small flow cross-sections and can therefore be constructed compactly.
- the high-pressure pump 17, on the other hand, requires a volume flow for its operation which cannot be provided by the valve device 18. Instead, the high-pressure pump 17 is connected to the rotary feedthrough 14 via a pneumatic branching element 30.
- the coating device comprises a total of three branching elements which are designed as T-pieces and serve to divide a compressed air flow provided by the rotary feedthrough 14 independently of the valve device 18 on the rotary unit 12.
- the compressed air flow is guided to the high-pressure pump 17 by means of the branching element 30 via a pump pressure regulator 25.
- the pump pressure regulator 25 serves to regulate the drive pressure of the high-pressure pump 17 to a desired pressure level.
- a pressure regulator 26 or 27 is arranged between the rotary feedthrough 14 and the atomizer units 22 and between the rotary feedthrough 14 and the shaping air units 23.
- the pressure levels can be digitally adjusted by the control unit 6.
- the pressure regulators 25, 26, 27 are connected to the electrical voltage source 7 in terms of energy via a current-conducting connection in the rotary feedthrough 14.
- a coating agent pressure regulator 29 is arranged in a corresponding manner between the high-pressure pump 17 and a spray unit 20 in each case. For better clarity, the energy and signaling connection of the coating agent pressure regulators 29 is not shown.
- a temperature sensor 28 is arranged in the area of the coating agent channel of the rotary joint 13, which is connected in terms of energy and signaling to the electrical voltage source 7 or to the control unit 6 via the valve device 18 and the rotary joint 14.
- the temperature sensor 28 can be designed as a temperature-dependent resistor.
- the coating device 1' shown corresponds in its construction essentially to the coating device 1 according to Figure 1 .
- the coating agent device 1 ⁇ has a valve device 18 which serves as a central distribution element for compressed air, signals and electrical energy on the rotation unit 12.
- the rotary union 14 must be installed as described Figure 1 constructed and connected pneumatically, signalling-technically and energy-technically to the valve device 18.
- a compressed air flow directed to the rotation unit 12 enters the valve device 18 and can be distributed to the pneumatically controlled and/or driven components on the rotation unit 12 depending on the control signals from the control unit 6. Furthermore, the valve device 18 is designed to output control signals from the control unit 6 directly or in converted form to other electrically controlled components. In the embodiment shown, the valve device 18 outputs electrical control signals to the pressure regulators 25, 26, 27 and 29.
- valve device 18 is designed with suitable signal inputs to receive the temperatures measured by means of the temperature sensor 28 and to output them to the control unit 6.
- the coating device 1' also has electrically controllable actuating means 24, which are connected to the valve device 18 by means of signals.
- valve device 18 has electrical connections in order to provide electrical energy for the electrically operated components on the rotation unit 12.
- the valve device is connected in terms of energy to the pressure regulators 25, 26, 27, 29, the temperature sensor 28 and the electrically controllable actuating means 24.
- the coating device 1' according to Figure 2 has a pressure regulator 26 for each of the atomizer units 22 and a pressure regulator 27 for each of the shaping air units 23.
Landscapes
- Spray Control Apparatus (AREA)
Description
Die Erfindung betrifft eine Beschichtungsvorrichtung nach dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 1.The invention relates to a coating device according to the preamble of
Solche Beschichtungsvorrichtungen sind aus dem Stand der Technik bekannt und dienen zum oberflächlichen Auftragen eines Beschichtungsmittels auf ein Werkstück. Bei dem Beschichtungsmittel kann es sich beispielsweise um Lack, insbesondere Klarlack oder pigmentierten Lack, Beize oder Farbe handeln. Bei dem Werkstück handelt es sich beispielsweise um ein Holzwerkstoffteil oder eine Baugruppe aus solchen Teilen zur Herstellung von Möbeln. Zur Beschichtung wird das Werkstück auf einer Werkstückaufnahme angeordnet und anschließend mittels einer Mehrzahl bewegter Sprüheinheiten mit dem Beschichtungsmittel versehen.Such coating devices are known from the prior art and are used for the surface application of a coating agent to a workpiece. The coating agent can be, for example, varnish, in particular clear varnish or pigmented varnish, stain or paint. The workpiece is, for example, a wood material part or an assembly of such parts for the manufacture of furniture. For coating, the workpiece is placed on a workpiece holder and then provided with the coating agent by means of a plurality of moving spray units.
Zur Erreichung einer hohen Produktivität hat es sich im Stand der Technik bewährt, Beschichtungsvorrichtungen jeweils mit einem Maschinengestell und einer gegenüber dem Maschinengestell verdrehbaren Rotationseinheit auszubilden. Das Maschinengestell umfasst dabei die oben bereits genannte Werkstückaufnahme, während die Rotationseinheit die ebenfalls bereits genannte Mehrzahl an Sprüheinheiten umfasst. Bei einer relativen Verdrehung der Rotationseinheit gegenüber dem Maschinengestell überstreichen die Sprüheinheiten das Werkstück und verteilen dabei das Beschichtungsmittel auf die Werkstückoberfläche.In order to achieve high productivity, it has proven to be a good idea in the state of the art to design coating devices with a machine frame and a rotation unit that can be rotated relative to the machine frame. The machine frame includes the workpiece holder mentioned above, while the rotation unit includes the plurality of spray units also mentioned above. When the rotation unit is rotated relative to the machine frame, the spray units cover the workpiece and distribute the coating agent onto the workpiece surface.
Eine konstruktive Herausforderung, die bei bekannten Beschichtungsvorrichtungen bewältigt werden muss, besteht darin, Beschichtungsmittel aus einer feststehenden Beschichtungsmittelquelle für die bewegte Rotationseinheit und den daran angeordneten Sprüheinheiten bereitzustellen. Hierfür kommen üblicherweise Drehgelenke zum Einsatz, welche jeweils einen feststehenden und einen verdrehbaren Drehgelenkteil aufweisen.A design challenge that must be overcome in known coating devices is to supply coating agent from a fixed coating agent source for the moving rotation unit and the to provide spray units arranged thereon. For this purpose, swivel joints are usually used, each of which has a fixed and a rotatable swivel joint part.
Der feststehende Drehgelenkteil ist an dem Maschinengestell angeordnet, während der verdrehbare Drehgelenkteil an der Rotationseinheit angeordnet ist. Die genannten Drehgelenkteile sind unter Ausbildung eines Beschichtungsmittelkanals dichtend miteinander verbunden. Gleichzeitig sind die Drehgelenkteile relativ zueinander verdrehbar, wobei der fluidleitende Beschichtungsmittelkanal unabhängig von dem relativen Drehwinkel zwischen den Drehgelenkteilen bestehen bleibt. Der feststehende Drehgelenkteil umfasst einen zulaufseitigen Anschluss für den Beschichtungsmittelkanal, an welchen die Beschichtungsmittelquelle angeschlossen ist. Der verdrehbare Drehgelenkteil umfasst einen Anschluss zur Bereitstellung des Beschichtungsmittels für die Sprüheinheiten auf der Rotationseinheit.The fixed swivel joint part is arranged on the machine frame, while the rotatable swivel joint part is arranged on the rotation unit. The swivel joint parts mentioned are connected to one another in a sealing manner to form a coating agent channel. At the same time, the swivel joint parts can be rotated relative to one another, whereby the fluid-conducting coating agent channel remains independent of the relative angle of rotation between the swivel joint parts. The fixed swivel joint part comprises an inlet-side connection for the coating agent channel, to which the coating agent source is connected. The rotatable swivel joint part comprises a connection for providing the coating agent for the spray units on the rotation unit.
Aus der
Dokumente US A1,
Aufgrund der stetig zunehmenden Variantenvielfalt zu beschichtender Werkstücke, insbesondere Möbelteilen, ist es gewünscht, die Betriebsweise der Beschichtungsvorrichtung bei Bedarf einfach verändern zu können. Hierzu gehört beispielsweise eine individuell anpassbare Konfiguration der Beschichtungsmittelausgabe in Abhängigkeit von den individuellen Abmessungen oder von dem verwendeten Material der zu beschichtenden Werkstücke.Due to the ever-increasing variety of workpieces to be coated, especially furniture parts, it is desirable to be able to easily change the operating mode of the coating device if necessary. This includes For example, an individually adaptable configuration of the coating agent output depending on the individual dimensions or the material used for the workpieces to be coated.
Allerdings besteht ein Nachteil bekannter Beschichtungsvorrichtungen darin, dass diese üblicherweise als Sonderkonstruktionen ausgeführt sind, welche vorrangig zur Beschichtung sich ähnelnder Werkstücke dienen. Zwar ist es möglich, konstruktive Parameter der Beschichtungsvorrichtung, wie etwa die Anzahl der Sprüheinheiten sowie ihre Bewegungsbahn und -geschwindigkeit an sich ändernde Einsatzbedingungen anzupassen. Allerdings ist der erforderliche konstruktive Aufwand zu hoch, um auf wirtschaftlich effiziente Weise auf die hohe Variantenvielfalt der zu beschichtenden Werkstücke reagieren zu können.However, one disadvantage of known coating devices is that they are usually designed as special constructions that are primarily used to coat similar workpieces. It is possible to adapt the design parameters of the coating device, such as the number of spray units and their movement path and speed, to changing operating conditions. However, the required design effort is too high to be able to respond in an economically efficient manner to the high variety of workpieces to be coated.
Insbesondere ist ein hoher konstruktiver Aufwand erforderlich, wenn aktiv steuerbare Komponenten, beispielsweise Steuerelemente für die Beschichtungsmittelausgabe, nachgerüstet werden sollen. Denn eine zunehmende Anzahl solcher Komponenten erfordert üblicherweise eine entsprechend hohe Anzahl an Steuerleitungen, welche in aufwändiger Weise von dem Maschinengestell auf die Rotationseinheit geführt werden müssen. Sofern die zu steuernden Komponenten für ihren Betrieb eine Energieversorgung erfordern, müssen zudem zusätzliche Energieleitungen ebenfalls in konstruktiv aufwändiger Weise von dem Maschinengestell auf die Rotationseinheit geführt werden. Dadurch wird die Beschichtungsvorrichtung technisch komplex und somit auch teuer.In particular, a high level of design effort is required if actively controllable components, such as control elements for the coating agent dispensing, are to be retrofitted. This is because an increasing number of such components usually requires a correspondingly high number of control lines, which must be routed from the machine frame to the rotation unit in a complex manner. If the components to be controlled require a power supply for their operation, additional power lines must also be routed from the machine frame to the rotation unit in a structurally complex manner. This makes the coating device technically complex and therefore expensive.
Die der Erfindung zugrundeliegende Aufgabe ist, eine Beschichtungsvorrichtung bereitzustellen, welche mit einer hohen Anpassungsfähigkeit an sich ändernde Einsatzbedingungen, einer guten Steuerbarkeit und gleichzeitig einem einfachen Aufbau einhergeht.The object underlying the invention is to provide a coating device which is highly adaptable to changing operating conditions, has good controllability and at the same time has a simple structure.
Die Aufgabe wird gelöst durch eine Beschichtungsvorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 1. Vorteilhafte Weiterbildungen finden sich in den abhängigen Unteransprüchen. Diese Unteransprüche enthalten Merkmalskombinationen, die auch unabhängig vom kennzeichnenden Teil des Anspruchs 1 und ohne dessen Merkmale selbständige Erfindungen sein können, gegebenenfalls in Kombination mit Merkmalen von anderen Unteransprüchen.The object is achieved by a coating device according to
Die erfindungsgemäße Beschichtungsvorrichtung umfasst ein Maschinengestell mit einer Werkstückaufnahme, einer Beschichtungsmittelquelle sowie einer Druckluftquelle. Ferner umfasst die Beschichtungsvorrichtung eine gegenüber dem Maschinengestell verdrehbare Rotationseinheit mit einer Pumpe und einer Mehrzahl von Sprüheinheiten, wobei die Pumpe saugseitig über ein fluidleitendes Drehgelenk mit der Beschichtungsmittelquelle und druckseitig mit den Sprüheinheiten verbunden ist.The coating device according to the invention comprises a machine frame with a workpiece holder, a coating agent source and a compressed air source. The coating device also comprises a rotation unit that can be rotated relative to the machine frame and has a pump and a plurality of spray units, the pump being connected on the suction side to the coating agent source via a fluid-conducting rotary joint and on the pressure side to the spray units.
Erfindungsgemäß weist die Rotationseinheit eine pneumatische Ventilvorrichtung auf. Ferner weisen die Sprüheinheiten jeweils ein druckluftgesteuertes Ventil zur Steuerung der Ausgabe von Beschichtungsmittel auf. Die Ventilvorrichtung ist zuluftseitig zumindest über eine fluidleitende Drehdurchführung mit der Druckluftquelle und abluftseitig mit den druckluftgesteuerten Ventilen der Sprüheinheiten verbunden.According to the invention, the rotation unit has a pneumatic valve device. Furthermore, the spray units each have a compressed air-controlled valve for controlling the output of coating agent. The valve device is connected on the supply air side to the compressed air source at least via a fluid-conducting rotary union and on the exhaust air side to the compressed air-controlled valves of the spray units.
Der Erfindung liegt die Erkenntnis zugrunde, dass die Anordnung einer zusätzlichen Komponente in Gestalt der pneumatischen Ventilvorrichtung auf der Rotationseinheit zu einem insgesamt einfachen Aufbau der Beschichtungsvorrichtung führt und gleichzeitig ihre Steuerbarkeit verbessert.The invention is based on the finding that the arrangement of an additional component in the form of the pneumatic valve device on the rotation unit leads to an overall simple construction of the coating device and at the same time improves its controllability.
Der einfache Aufbau der Beschichtungsvorrichtung ergibt sich dadurch, dass eine an sich bekannte Drehdurchführung verwendet werden kann, um Druckluft für die pneumatischen Komponenten der Rotationseinheit bereitzustellen. Dabei weist die Drehdurchführung vorzugsweise lediglich einen Druckluftkanal auf, welcher eine drehwinkelunabhängige pneumatische Verbindung zwischen der Druckluftquelle des Maschinengestells und der Rotationseinheit zulässt. Hierfür kann die Drehdurchführung einen insgesamt einfachen, robusten und baulich kompakten Aufbau aufweisen: Ein feststehender Teil der Drehdurchführung ist an dem Maschinengestell angeordnet und über einen Zulaufanschluss fluidleitend mit der Druckluftquelle verbunden. Ein beweglicher Teil der Drehdurchführung ist an der Rotationseinheit angeordnet und unter Ausbildung eines Fluidweges dichtend und relativ verdrehbar mit dem feststehenden Teil der Drehdurchführung verbunden. Der Fluidweg zwischen den beiden Teilen der Drehdurchführung bleibt unabhängig von einem Drehwinkel zwischen dem feststehenden und dem beweglichen Teil der Drehdurchführung bestehen. Der Fluidweg mündet in einen Abluftanschluss des beweglichen Teils, welcher mit der Ventilvorrichtung verbunden ist.The simple design of the coating device results from the fact that a rotary union known per se can be used to provide compressed air for the pneumatic components of the rotary unit. The rotary union preferably has only one compressed air channel, which allows a pneumatic connection between the compressed air source of the machine frame and the rotary unit, independent of the angle of rotation. For this purpose, the rotary union can have an overall simple, robust and structurally compact design: A fixed part of the rotary union is arranged on the machine frame and is fluid-conducting via an inlet connection. connected to the compressed air source. A movable part of the rotary union is arranged on the rotary unit and is connected to the fixed part of the rotary union in a sealing and relatively rotatable manner, forming a fluid path. The fluid path between the two parts of the rotary union remains independent of the angle of rotation between the fixed and the movable part of the rotary union. The fluid path opens into an exhaust air connection of the movable part, which is connected to the valve device.
Mittels der Ventilvorrichtung kann der über die Drehdurchführung bereitgestellte Druckluftstrom auf eine Vielzahl pneumatisch gesteuerter und/oder pneumatisch betriebener Komponenten verteilt werden, welche bedarfsweise und in hoher Anzahl auf der Rotationseinheit angeordnet werden können. Die Anordnung der Ventilvorrichtung auf der Rotationseinheit begünstigt die einfache Ausgestaltung der Drehdurchführung. Vorzugsweise kann die Druckluft, wie oben bereits erläutert, über lediglich einen Druckluftkanal von der Druckluftquelle auf die Rotationseinheit geführt werden und mittels der Ventilvorrichtung auf eine Vielzahl abluftseitiger Druckluftleitungen aufgeteilt werden. Die besagten Druckluftleitungen führen zu den Ventilen der Sprüheinheiten und können aufgrund der Anordnung der Ventilvorrichtung auf der Rotationseinheit vergleichsweise kurz ausgestaltet sein. Dies verbessert die Steuerbarkeit der Ventile.By means of the valve device, the compressed air flow provided via the rotary union can be distributed to a large number of pneumatically controlled and/or pneumatically operated components, which can be arranged on the rotary unit as required and in large numbers. The arrangement of the valve device on the rotary unit facilitates the simple design of the rotary union. Preferably, as already explained above, the compressed air can be guided from the compressed air source to the rotary unit via just one compressed air channel and distributed by means of the valve device to a large number of compressed air lines on the exhaust air side. The said compressed air lines lead to the valves of the spray units and can be designed to be comparatively short due to the arrangement of the valve device on the rotary unit. This improves the controllability of the valves.
Es liegt im Rahmen der Erfindung, dass der Druckluftstrom zwischen der Drehdurchführung und der Ventilvorrichtung in mehrere Teilströme aufgeteilt werden kann, um weitere pneumatische Komponenten auf der Rotationseinheit unabhängig von der Ventilvorrichtung mit Druckluft versorgen zu können. Ferner liegt es im Rahmen der Erfindung, dass in der pneumatischen Verbindung zwischen der Druckluftquelle und der Ventilvorrichtung zusätzlich zur Drehdurchführung weitere pneumatische Komponenten angeordnet sein können.It is within the scope of the invention that the compressed air flow between the rotary feedthrough and the valve device can be divided into several partial flows in order to be able to supply other pneumatic components on the rotary unit with compressed air independently of the valve device. It is also within the scope of the invention that in addition to the rotary feedthrough, other pneumatic components can be arranged in the pneumatic connection between the compressed air source and the valve device.
Vorzugsweise ist die Ventilvorrichtung als eine Ventilinsel ausgestaltet. Eine solche Ventilinsel lässt sich auf flexible Weise und bedarfsgemäß mit einer Vielzahl von sogenannten Ventilscheiben bestücken, welche an die Art und Anzahl der anzutreibenden und/oder zu steuernden pneumatischen Komponenten der Rotationseinheit angepasst sein können. Dafür weist die Ventilinsel üblicherweise eine Verteilerleiste mit einem zentralen Zuluftanschluss auf. Die Verteilerleiste weist außerdem eine Vielzahl von Verteileranschlüssen auf, über welche die Ventilscheiben mit Druckluft versorgt sind. Dadurch kann die Druckluft für die zu steuernden Ventile auf konstruktiv kompakte Weise bereitgestellt werden.Preferably, the valve device is designed as a valve island. Such a valve island can be equipped in a flexible manner and as required with a large number of so-called valve discs, which can be adapted to the type and number of the pneumatic components of the rotary unit that are to be driven and/or controlled can be adapted. For this purpose, the valve island usually has a distributor bar with a central air supply connection. The distributor bar also has a large number of distributor connections through which the valve discs are supplied with compressed air. This means that the compressed air for the valves to be controlled can be provided in a structurally compact manner.
In einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung ist die Pumpe für das Beschichtungsmittel druckluftbetrieben ausgestaltet und ist zumindest über die Drehdurchführung mit der Druckluftquelle verbunden.In an advantageous further development, the pump for the coating agent is designed to be operated with compressed air and is connected to the compressed air source at least via the rotary union.
Gemäß der vorstehend beschriebenen Weiterbildung wird die Druckluft sowohl zur Steuerung der Ausgabe von Beschichtungsmittel als auch zum Antrieb der Pumpe verwendet. Es ist somit ein Vorteil, dass auf die Nutzung unterschiedlicher Arten der Energie- und Signalübertragung verzichtet werden kann und Druckluft sowohl zur Steuerung wie auch als Energieträger zum Einsatz kommt.According to the development described above, the compressed air is used both to control the dispensing of coating agent and to drive the pump. It is therefore an advantage that the use of different types of energy and signal transmission can be dispensed with and compressed air is used both for control and as an energy source.
Es liegt im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass die druckluftbetriebene Pumpe über die pneumatische Ventilvorrichtung mit der Drehdurchführung verbunden und dabei bevorzugt mittels der Ventilvorrichtung steuerbar ist. Bevorzugt ist die Pumpe jedoch unabhängig von der pneumatischen Ventilvorrichtung betrieben und über ein pneumatisches Verzweigungsglied, welches beispielsweise als T- oder Y-Stück ausgestaltet sein kann, mit der Drehdurchführung verbunden. Das pneumatische Verzweigungsglied kann in einfacher Weise in einer Druckluftleitung zwischen der Drehdurchführung und der Ventilvorrichtung angeordnet sein. Dadurch kann ein Druckluftstrom über die Drehdurchführung auf die Rotationseinheit geführt werden und mittels des pneumatischen Verzweigungsglieds zwischen der Ventilvorrichtung und der Pumpe aufgeteilt werden. Dies hat unter anderem den Vorteil, dass der für die Pumpe erforderliche Druckluftstrom nicht durch die Ventilvorrichtung begrenzt wird. Ferner kann die Ventilvorrichtung kompakt ausgestaltet sein, da ihre luftführenden Bereiche und deren Querschnitte nicht in Abhängigkeit eines erforderlichen Druckluftstromes für den Betrieb der Pumpe dimensioniert sein müssen.It is within the scope of the advantageous development that the compressed air-operated pump is connected to the rotary feedthrough via the pneumatic valve device and is preferably controllable by means of the valve device. Preferably, however, the pump is operated independently of the pneumatic valve device and connected to the rotary feedthrough via a pneumatic branching element, which can be designed as a T or Y piece, for example. The pneumatic branching element can be arranged in a simple manner in a compressed air line between the rotary feedthrough and the valve device. As a result, a compressed air flow can be guided to the rotary unit via the rotary feedthrough and divided between the valve device and the pump by means of the pneumatic branching element. This has the advantage, among other things, that the compressed air flow required for the pump is not limited by the valve device. Furthermore, the valve device can be designed to be compact, since its air-conducting areas and their cross-sections do not have to be dimensioned depending on a required compressed air flow for the operation of the pump.
In einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung umfasst das Maschinengestell eine elektrische Steuereinheit und die pneumatische Ventilvorrichtung ist elektrisch steuerbar ausgestaltet. Ferner weist die Drehdurchführung hierbei mindestens eine Signalleitung auf. Die Steuereinheit und zumindest die Ventilvorrichtung sind über diese Signalleitung der Drehdurchführung signaltechnisch miteinander verbunden.In an advantageous development, the machine frame comprises an electrical control unit and the pneumatic valve device is designed to be electrically controllable. Furthermore, the rotary feedthrough has at least one signal line. The control unit and at least the valve device are connected to one another via this signal line of the rotary feedthrough.
Gemäß der vorstehend beschriebenen Weiterbildung ist die Drehdurchführung nicht lediglich fluidleitend, sondern auch zur Übertragung von Signalen ausgebildet. Eine derartige Ausgestaltung steht nicht im Gegensatz zu einem einfachen Aufbau der erfindungsgemäß einfachen Drehdurchführung. Vielmehr kann die Signalleitung zur Übertragung elektrischer Signale in einfacher Weise in Gestalt eines elektrischen Schleifkontaktes zwischen dem feststehenden und dem bewegten Teil der Drehdurchführung ausgebildet sein. Es liegt im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass die Signalleitung mehrpolig ist und in der Drehdurchführung dementsprechend mehrere Schleifkontakte ausgebildet sind. Ferner liegt es im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass die Signalleitung als optische Signalleitung zur Übertragung optischer Signale ausgestaltet ist. Hierfür sind die gegeneinander verdrehbaren Teile der Drehdurchführung über optische Koppelelemente signaltechnisch miteinander verbunden. Bevorzugt weisen die elektrische Steuereinheit sowie die Ventilvorrichtung jeweils zumindest ein optoelektronisches Element auf, mittels dessen elektrische Signale in optische Signale gewandelt werden können und umgekehrt.According to the development described above, the rotary union is not only fluid-conducting, but also designed to transmit signals. Such a design does not contradict a simple structure of the simple rotary union according to the invention. Rather, the signal line for transmitting electrical signals can be designed in a simple manner in the form of an electrical sliding contact between the fixed and the moving part of the rotary union. It is within the scope of the advantageous development that the signal line is multi-pole and accordingly several sliding contacts are formed in the rotary union. Furthermore, it is within the scope of the advantageous development that the signal line is designed as an optical signal line for transmitting optical signals. For this purpose, the parts of the rotary union that can be rotated against each other are connected to one another in terms of signaling via optical coupling elements. Preferably, the electrical control unit and the valve device each have at least one optoelectronic element by means of which electrical signals can be converted into optical signals and vice versa.
Die Steuereinheit kann als Steuerrechner oder als speicherprogrammierbare Steuerung ausgebildet sein, welche jeweils alleinstehend oder in einem Steuerungsnetzwerk mit anderen Steuereinheiten betrieben ist. Auf der Steuereinheit ist vorzugsweise ein Steuerprogramm implementiert, welches die Steuerlogik repräsentiert, mit der zumindest die Ventilvorrichtung und somit die Ventile der Sprüheinheiten gesteuert werden können. Sofern die Druckluftversorgung der Pumpe über die Ventilvorrichtung erfolgt, kann vorzugsweise auch die Pumpe über die Ventilvorrichtung gesteuert sein.The control unit can be designed as a control computer or as a programmable logic controller, which can be operated either alone or in a control network with other control units. A control program is preferably implemented on the control unit, which represents the control logic with which at least the valve device and thus the valves of the spray units can be controlled. If the compressed air supply to the pump is via the valve device, the pump can preferably also be controlled via the valve device.
In einer einfachen Ausführungsform dient die Steuereinheit dazu, Steuersignale in Gestalt von Steuerspannungen, bevorzugt im Bereich von 0-24 Volt, auszugeben. Diese Spannungen können über die Steuerleitung der Drehdurchführung unmittelbar an den Ventilen der Ventilvorrichtung bereitgestellt werden, um diese anzusteuern. Nach Abfall der Spannung können die besagten Ventile beispielsweise mittels Federrückstellung in eine unbetätigte Grundstellung gebracht werden. Grundsätzlich ist neben den elektrischen Steuersignalen somit keine elektrische Energieversorgung für den Betrieb der Ventilvorrichtung erforderlich.In a simple embodiment, the control unit is used to output control signals in the form of control voltages, preferably in the range of 0-24 volts. These voltages can be provided directly to the valves of the valve device via the control line of the rotary union in order to control them. After the voltage drops, the valves in question can be brought into an unactuated basic position, for example by means of a spring return. In principle, no electrical power supply is required for the operation of the valve device in addition to the electrical control signals.
Die Ventilvorrichtung kann zumindest einen analogen und/oder digitalen Signaleingang aufweisen. Dieser Signaleingang dient dazu, Steuersignale der Steuereinheit aufzunehmen, mittels derer die Druckluftverteilung auf der Rotationseinheit steuerbar ist. Eine Mehrzahl an Signaleingängen kann räumlich zusammengefasst als Multipolanschluss ausgestaltet sein, dessen Pole jeweils mit einem Ventil der Ventilvorrichtung verbunden sind, um diese unmittelbar anzusteuern. Insbesondere ist dies denkbar, wenn die Ventilvorrichtung als Ventilinsel ausgestaltet ist.The valve device can have at least one analog and/or digital signal input. This signal input serves to receive control signals from the control unit, by means of which the compressed air distribution on the rotary unit can be controlled. A plurality of signal inputs can be spatially combined in a multi-pole connection, the poles of which are each connected to a valve of the valve device in order to control it directly. This is particularly conceivable if the valve device is designed as a valve island.
Bevorzugt weist die Beschichtungsvorrichtung eine Werkstückerfassungseinheit auf, welche dazu ausgestaltet ist, die Anwesenheit sowie vorzugsweise auch die Abmessungen des zu beschichtenden Werkstückes zu erfassen und in Abhängigkeit davon ein Steuersignal an die Steuereinheit auszugeben. Die Steuereinheit wertet das Steuersignal aus und gibt eines oder mehrere Öffnungssignale an die Ventilvorrichtung aus, um bevorzugt nur die Ventile derjenigen Sprüheinheiten zu öffnen, welche sich oberhalb des Werkstücks befinden. Auf diese Weise kann Beschichtungsmittel nur in dem Bereich des zu beschichtenden Werkstücks und somit mit einer hohen Effizienz ausgegeben werden.The coating device preferably has a workpiece detection unit which is designed to detect the presence and preferably also the dimensions of the workpiece to be coated and to output a control signal to the control unit as a function of this. The control unit evaluates the control signal and outputs one or more opening signals to the valve device in order to preferably only open the valves of those spray units which are located above the workpiece. In this way, coating agent can only be output in the area of the workpiece to be coated and thus with high efficiency.
Ebenso liegt es im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass ein Drehwinkelsensor dazu ausgestaltet ist, die Rotationslage der Rotationseinheit gegenüber dem Maschinengestell zu erfassen und einen gemessenen Rotationswinkel an die Steuereinheit auszugeben. Vorzugsweise ist in der Steuereinheit gespeichert, an welchen Positionen sich die Sprüheinheiten auf der Rotationseinheit befinden. Somit kann in Abhängigkeit des erfassten Rotationswinkels ermittelt werden, welche der Sprüheinheiten sich in dem Bereich oberhalb eines zu beschichtenden Werkstückes befindet. Hierbei ist es nicht zwingend erforderlich, dass die Beschichtungsvorrichtung eine Werkstückerfassungseinheit aufweist, mittels derer die Anwesenheit oder die Abmessungen des zu beschichtenden Werkstücks erfasst werden. Stattdessen kann die Ausgabe von Beschichtungsmittel immer dann erfolgen, wenn eine oder mehrere der Sprüheinheiten einen definierten Bereich der Werkstückaufnahme überstreichen. Eine Ausgabe von Beschichtungsmittel kann somit unabhängig davon erfolgen, ob sich in diesem überstrichenen Bereich ein zu beschichtendes Werkstück befindet oder nicht. Eine derartige Anordnung ist insbesondere vorteilhaft, wenn die zu beschichtenden Werkstücke in hoher Stückzahl und mit geringen Abständen zueinander in die Beschichtungsvorrichtung gegeben werden.It is also within the scope of the advantageous development that a rotation angle sensor is designed to detect the rotation position of the rotation unit relative to the machine frame and to measure a measured rotation angle to the control unit. Preferably, the control unit stores the positions of the spray units on the rotation unit. Thus, depending on the detected angle of rotation, it can be determined which of the spray units is in the area above a workpiece to be coated. In this case, it is not absolutely necessary for the coating device to have a workpiece detection unit by means of which the presence or dimensions of the workpiece to be coated are detected. Instead, coating agent can be dispensed whenever one or more of the spray units sweep over a defined area of the workpiece holder. Coating agent can thus be dispensed regardless of whether or not there is a workpiece to be coated in this swept area. Such an arrangement is particularly advantageous when the workpieces to be coated are placed in the coating device in large numbers and with small distances from one another.
Es liegt im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass auch mindestens eine andere Komponente, die sich auf der Rotationseinheit befindet, über die Steuerleitung der Drehdurchführung gesteuert ist. In einfacher Weise kann die Drehdurchführung die entsprechenden Steuersignale über die Steuerleitung an die Ventilvorrichtung ausgeben, welche die Signale an die anderen zu steuernden Komponenten weitergibt. Es liegt jedoch auch im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass die Ventilvorrichtung nicht in dem Signalpfad zwischen der Drehdurchführung und der anderen zu steuernden Komponenten liegt. In einfacher Weise kann eine Buskommunikation vorgesehen sein, sodass der Signalpfad zwischen der Drehdurchführung und der Ventilvorrichtung aufgeteilt werden kann, um die anderen zu steuernden Komponenten mit geringem Verdrahtungsaufwand und vorzugsweise lediglich einer Signalleitung der Drehdurchführung steuern zu können.It is within the scope of the advantageous development that at least one other component located on the rotary unit is also controlled via the control line of the rotary union. In a simple manner, the rotary union can output the corresponding control signals via the control line to the valve device, which passes the signals on to the other components to be controlled. However, it is also within the scope of the advantageous development that the valve device is not located in the signal path between the rotary union and the other components to be controlled. In a simple manner, bus communication can be provided so that the signal path between the rotary union and the valve device can be split in order to be able to control the other components to be controlled with little wiring effort and preferably only one signal line of the rotary union.
In einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung ist die Drehdurchführung zur elektrischen Energieübertragung ausgestaltet. Ferner umfasst hierbei das Maschinengestell eine elektrische Spannungsquelle, welche über die Drehdurchführung energietechnisch zumindest mit der Ventilvorrichtung verbunden ist.In an advantageous further development, the rotary union is designed for electrical energy transmission. Furthermore, the machine frame comprises an electrical voltage source which is at least connected to the valve device via the rotary union.
Vorzugsweise ist die Ventilvorrichtung mit Komponenten ausgestattet, welche eine dauerhafte Spannungsversorgung erfordern, z.B. einem Mikrocontroller oder einer anderen datenverarbeitenden Einheit. Zudem ist es möglich, zumindest einen Analog-Digital-Wandler oder einen Sensor an der Ventilvorrichtung vorzusehen. Außerdem kann die Ventilvorrichtung derart ausgestaltet sein, dass eine Kommunikation mit der Steuereinheit mittels standardisierter Protokolle wie TCP-IP und in Echtzeit erfolgen kann. Damit elektrische Energie von der elektrischen Spannungsquelle für die Ventilvorrichtung sowie bevorzugt andere Komponenten auf der Rotationseinheit bereitgestellt werden kann, weist die Drehdurchführung neben der Signalleitung vorzugsweise eine elektrische Stromleitung zur elektrischen Energieübertragung auf. Die elektrische Stromleitung ist bevorzugt als zweipoliger Schleifkontakt ausgestaltet. Die Stromleitung ist einerseits mit der elektrischen Spannungsquelle und andererseits mit der Ventilvorrichtung verbunden. Zusätzlich oder alternativ ist auch eine drahtlose Energieübertragung mittels der Drehdurchführung denkbar. Hierbei kann die elektrische Energie, anstatt entlang einer Stromleitung und mittels elektrischer Kontakte, durch nicht drahtgebundene elektromagnetische Felder, insbesondere mittels induktiver und/oder kapazitiver Kopplung, übertragen werden. In einer anderen vorteilhaften Weiterbildung sind zumindest die elektrisch steuerbare Ventilvorrichtung und die Steuereinheit mittels einer drahtlosen Sender-Empfänger-Anordnung signaltechnisch miteinander verbunden.The valve device is preferably equipped with components that require a permanent power supply, e.g. a microcontroller or another data processing unit. It is also possible to provide at least one analog-digital converter or a sensor on the valve device. In addition, the valve device can be designed in such a way that communication with the control unit can take place using standardized protocols such as TCP-IP and in real time. In order for electrical energy to be provided from the electrical voltage source for the valve device and preferably other components on the rotary unit, the rotary feedthrough preferably has an electrical power line for electrical energy transmission in addition to the signal line. The electrical power line is preferably designed as a two-pole sliding contact. The power line is connected to the electrical voltage source on the one hand and to the valve device on the other. Additionally or alternatively, wireless energy transmission using the rotary feedthrough is also conceivable. In this case, the electrical energy can be transmitted through non-wired electromagnetic fields, in particular by means of inductive and/or capacitive coupling, instead of along a power line and by means of electrical contacts. In another advantageous development, at least the electrically controllable valve device and the control unit are connected to one another in terms of signaling by means of a wireless transmitter-receiver arrangement.
Durch die vorstehend beschriebene Weiterbildung kann die Übertragung von Steuersignalen von der Steuereinheit an die Ventilvorrichtung drahtlos und unabhängig von der Drehdurchführung erfolgen. Die Sender-Empfänger-Anordnung umfasst hierbei zumindest ein erstes Kommunikationselement, welches mit der Steuereinheit verbunden ist, sowie ein zweites Kommunikationselement, welches mit der Ventilvorrichtung verbunden ist, wobei die beiden Kommunikationselemente zur drahtlosen Übertragung von Steuersignalen dienen. Bevorzugt kann das zweite Kommunikationselement auch mit einer anderen elektrisch steuerbaren Komponente auf der Rotationseinheit signaltechnisch verbunden sein.Due to the development described above, the transmission of control signals from the control unit to the valve device can be carried out wirelessly and independently of the rotary feedthrough. The transmitter-receiver arrangement comprises at least a first communication element, which is connected to the control unit, and a second communication element, which is connected to the valve device, wherein the two communication elements serve for the wireless transmission of control signals. Preferably, the second communication element can also be connected to another electrically controllable component on the rotation unit must be signal-connected.
Es liegt im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass das erste Kommunikationselement ein Funksender und das zweite Kommunikationselement ein Funkempfänger ist, um Steuersignale drahtlos von der Steuereinheit an die Ventilvorrichtung kommunizieren zu können. Alternativ können das erste und das zweite Kommunikationselement jeweils als WiFi- oder WLAN-Module ausgestaltet sein, deren signaltechnische Kommunikation über ein gemeinsames Netzwerk erfolgt, in welchem sie betrieben sind. Das erste Kommunikationselement kann zur Energieversorgung mit der Spannungsquelle an dem Maschinengestell verbunden sein. Das auf der Rotationseinheit angeordnete zweite Kommunikationselement kann einen eigenen Energiespeicher, z.B. in Gestalt eines elektrischen Ackus aufweisen.It is within the scope of the advantageous development that the first communication element is a radio transmitter and the second communication element is a radio receiver in order to be able to communicate control signals wirelessly from the control unit to the valve device. Alternatively, the first and second communication elements can each be designed as WiFi or WLAN modules, whose signal communication takes place via a common network in which they are operated. The first communication element can be connected to the voltage source on the machine frame for energy supply. The second communication element arranged on the rotation unit can have its own energy storage device, e.g. in the form of an electric battery.
In einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung ist auf der Rotationseinheit ein pneumatisch betriebener, elektrischer Generator angeordnet, welcher zumindest über die Drehdurchführung mit der Druckluftquelle verbunden ist und dazu ausgestaltet ist, zumindest die Ventilvorrichtung mit elektrischer Energie zu versorgen.In an advantageous development, a pneumatically operated, electric generator is arranged on the rotation unit, which is connected to the compressed air source at least via the rotary feedthrough and is designed to supply at least the valve device with electrical energy.
Gemäß der vorstehend beschriebenen Weiterbildung dient die Drehdurchführung dazu, einen Druckluftstrom für den druckluftbetriebenen Generator bereitzustellen. Dieser wandelt diesen Druckluftstrom in elektrische Energie. Dadurch ist es möglich die Drehdurchführung ohne die Möglichkeit zur Übertragung elektrischer Energie auszubilden und die elektrisch betriebenen Komponenten der Rotationseinheit, vorzugsweise unabhängig von einer stationären Spannungsquelle an dem Maschinengestell, zu betreiben. Um eine unterbrechungsfreie elektrische Energieversorgung auf der Rotationseinheit zu gewährleisten, kann ein elektrischer Akkumulator als elektrischer Zwischenspeicher dienen. Vorzugsweise kann der Akku mittels des Generators geladen werden. Bedarfsweise können sich auch andere Komponenten auf der Rotationseinheit, welche eine elektrische Energieversorgung benötigen, mittels des Generators und/oder des Akkus mit elektrischer Energie versorgt werden.According to the development described above, the rotary union serves to provide a compressed air flow for the compressed air-operated generator. This converts this compressed air flow into electrical energy. This makes it possible to design the rotary union without the possibility of transmitting electrical energy and to operate the electrically operated components of the rotary unit, preferably independently of a stationary voltage source on the machine frame. In order to ensure an uninterrupted electrical energy supply to the rotary unit, an electrical accumulator can serve as an electrical buffer. The battery can preferably be charged using the generator. If necessary, other components on the rotary unit that require an electrical energy supply can also be supplied with electrical energy using the generator and/or the battery.
In einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung ist die Pumpe zuluftseitig zumindest über einen Pumpendruckregler mit der Drehdurchführung verbunden. Bevorzugt ist der Pumpendruckregler elektrisch steuerbar ausgestaltet.In an advantageous development, the pump is connected to the rotary union on the supply air side at least via a pump pressure regulator. The pump pressure regulator is preferably designed to be electrically controllable.
Der Pumpendruckregler dient dazu, einen gegebenenfalls schwankenden Eingangsdruck der durch die Drehdurchführung bereitgestellten Druckluft auf einen konstanten und üblicherweise geringeren Ausgangsdruck zu regeln. Vorzugsweise umfasst der Pumpendruckregler einen sog. Druckbooster, um den Eingangsdruck auf einen höheren Ausgangsdruck zu regeln.The pump pressure regulator is used to regulate a possibly fluctuating inlet pressure of the compressed air provided by the rotary union to a constant and usually lower outlet pressure. The pump pressure regulator preferably comprises a so-called pressure booster in order to regulate the inlet pressure to a higher outlet pressure.
Da die Ausgabe von Beschichtungsmittel aus den Sprüheinheiten unmittelbar von dem Pumpendruck abhängig ist, lässt sich durch einen derart geregelten Antriebsdruck der Pumpe auch die Qualität des Beschichtungsergebnisses optimieren.Since the output of coating agent from the spray units is directly dependent on the pump pressure, the quality of the coating result can also be optimized by regulating the pump drive pressure in this way.
Der Pumpendruckregler kann in einfacher Weise als mechanische Komponente ausgestaltet sein, wobei der zu regelnde Ausgangsdruck in an sich bekannter Weise manuell und unmittelbar an dem Pumpendruckregler eingestellt werden kann. Bevorzugt ist der Pumpendruckregler als elektrisch steuerbare Komponente ausgestaltet. Hierbei ist die Steuereinheit dazu ausgebildet, ein Steuersignal zur Regelung des Ausgangsdruckes auszugeben. Sofern die Drehdurchführung eine Signalleitung aufweist, kann das Steuersignal über die Drehdurchführung von der Steuereinheit an den Pumpendruckregler ausgegeben werden. Hierbei kann die Ventilvorrichtung in dem Signalpfad zwischen dem Pumpendruckregler und der Drehdurchführung liegen. Sofern die Beschichtungsvorrichtung eine drahtlose Sender-Empfänger-Anordnung aufweist, kann diese zur Übermittlung des Steuersignals von der Steuereinheit an den Pumpendruckregler genutzt werden. Es liegt ebenfalls im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass der Pumpendruckregler pneumatisch steuerbar ist und bevorzugt über die Ventilvorrichtung gesteuert wird.The pump pressure regulator can be designed in a simple manner as a mechanical component, whereby the output pressure to be regulated can be set manually and directly on the pump pressure regulator in a manner known per se. The pump pressure regulator is preferably designed as an electrically controllable component. The control unit is designed to output a control signal for regulating the output pressure. If the rotary union has a signal line, the control signal can be output from the control unit to the pump pressure regulator via the rotary union. The valve device can be located in the signal path between the pump pressure regulator and the rotary union. If the coating device has a wireless transmitter-receiver arrangement, this can be used to transmit the control signal from the control unit to the pump pressure regulator. It is also within the scope of the advantageous development that the pump pressure regulator is pneumatically controllable and is preferably controlled via the valve device.
Vorzugsweise ist die Steuereinheit mit einem einfach zu bedienenden Eingabeelement, z.B. einem Tablet oder dem Bedienpanel der Beschichtungsvorrichtung verbunden. Dadurch kann der zu regelnde Ausgangsdruck auf einfache Weise vorgegeben werden.Preferably, the control unit is connected to an easy-to-use input element, e.g. a tablet or the control panel of the coating device. This makes it easy to specify the output pressure to be regulated.
Sofern die Pumpe über die Ventilvorrichtung mit der Drehdurchführung verbunden ist, um mit Druckluft versorgt zu sein, kann der Pumpendruckregler vorteilhafterweise abluftseitig in die Ventilvorrichtung integriert sein. In diesem Fall kann das Steuersignal der Steuereinheit an die Ventilvorrichtung gegeben werden, welche das Steuersignal unmittelbar oder in verarbeiteter Form an den Pumpendruckregler ausgibt. Insbesondere kann die Ventilvorrichtung einen Analog-Digital-Wandler umfassen, um das Steuersignal für den Pumpendruckregler zu wandeln.If the pump is connected to the rotary union via the valve device in order to be supplied with compressed air, the pump pressure regulator can advantageously be integrated into the valve device on the exhaust air side. In this case, the control signal from the control unit can be sent to the valve device, which outputs the control signal directly or in processed form to the pump pressure regulator. In particular, the valve device can comprise an analog-digital converter in order to convert the control signal for the pump pressure regulator.
Sofern die Pumpe über das pneumatische Verzweigungsglied mit der Drehdurchführung verbunden ist, um unabhängig von der Ventilvorrichtung betrieben werden zu können, ist der Pumpendruckregler vorzugsweise zwischen dem besagten Verzweigungsglied und der Pumpe angeordnet. In dieser Anordnung dient der Pumpendruckregler vorzugsweise auch dazu, den Pumpenbetrieb zu steuern. Hierfür kann mittels eines entsprechenden Steuersignals bedarfsweise ein einzustellender Ausgangsdruck an den Pumpendruckregler übermittelt werden. Beispielswiese entspricht der vorgegebene Ausgangsdruck 0 bar, wenn der Pumpenbetrieb beendet werden soll. Dementsprechend kann der einzustellende Ausgangsdruck beispielsweise 4 bar entsprechen, um den Pumpenbetrieb zu starten. In dieser Ausführungsform ist die Druckluftversorgung der Pumpe und des Pumpendruckreglers zwar unabhängig von der Ventilvorrichtung. Nichtsdestotrotz kann die Ventilvorrichtung in dem Signalpfad zwischen der Steuervorrichtung und dem Pumpendruckregler liegen und auch Signale an elektrisch steuerbare Komponenten der Rotationseinheit ausgeben, welche nicht pneumatisch mit der Ventilvorrichtung verbunden sind.If the pump is connected to the rotary feedthrough via the pneumatic branching element in order to be able to operate independently of the valve device, the pump pressure regulator is preferably arranged between said branching element and the pump. In this arrangement, the pump pressure regulator preferably also serves to control the pump operation. For this purpose, an output pressure to be set can be transmitted to the pump pressure regulator as required by means of a corresponding control signal. For example, the specified output pressure corresponds to 0 bar when the pump operation is to be stopped. Accordingly, the output pressure to be set can correspond to 4 bar, for example, in order to start the pump operation. In this embodiment, the compressed air supply to the pump and the pump pressure regulator is independent of the valve device. Nevertheless, the valve device can be located in the signal path between the control device and the pump pressure regulator and can also output signals to electrically controllable components of the rotary unit that are not pneumatically connected to the valve device.
Es liegt ferner im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass der Pumpendruckregler ein Messglied umfassen kann, welches dazu genutzt wird, den geregelten Pumpendruck zu messen und an die Steuereinheit auszugeben. Dadurch kann der Betrieb der Pumpe während des Beschichtungsprozesses überwacht werden.It is also within the scope of the advantageous development that the pump pressure regulator can comprise a measuring element which is used to measure the regulated pump pressure and output it to the control unit. This allows the operation of the pump to be monitored during the coating process.
Eine gegebenenfalls erforderliche elektrische Spannung zum Betrieb des elektrisch steuerbaren Pumpendruckreglers kann in einfacher Weise über die Drehdurchführung oder über den druckluftbetriebenen Generator auf der Rotationseinheit bereitgestellt werden. Bevorzugt kann die Ventilvorrichtung auch dazu genutzt werden, elektrische Energie für den Pumpendruckregler oder andere, auf der Rotationseinheit befindliche, elektrische Komponenten bereitzustellen.Any electrical voltage required to operate the electrically controllable pump pressure regulator can be provided in a simple manner via the rotary union or via the compressed air-operated generator on the rotary unit. Preferably, the valve device can also be used to provide electrical energy for the pump pressure regulator or other electrical components located on the rotary unit.
In einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung ist zwischen der Pumpe und zumindest einer der Sprüheinheiten ein Beschichtungsmitteldruckregler angeordnet, wobei der Beschichtungsmitteldruckregler bevorzugt elektrisch steuerbar ausgestaltet ist.In an advantageous development, a coating agent pressure regulator is arranged between the pump and at least one of the spray units, wherein the coating agent pressure regulator is preferably designed to be electrically controllable.
Der Beschichtungsmitteldruckregler dient dazu, den Druck des Beschichtungsmittels gegenüber dem Förderdruck der Pumpe auf einen einstellbaren Ausgangsdruck zu regeln und dabei den anliegenden Förderdruck bedarfsweise zu mindern oder mittels eines Druckboosters zu erhöhen. Der Beschichtungsmitteldruckregler kann in einfacher Weise als eine mechanische Komponente ausgestaltet sein, bei der der Ausgangsdruck manuell einstellbar ist. Alternativ kann der Beschichtungsmitteldruckregler pneumatisch steuerbar sein. Wenn der Beschichtungsmitteldruckregler elektrisch steuerbar ausgestaltet ist, können Steuersignale von der Steuereinheit über die Signalleitung der Drehdurchführung oder über die drahtlose Sender-Empfänger-Anordnung an den Beschichtungsmitteldruckregler ausgegeben werden. Es liegt im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass die Ventilvorrichtung in dem Signalpfad zwischen der Steuereinheit und dem Beschichtungsmitteldruckregler liegt. Eine gegebenenfalls erforderliche elektrische Spannung zum Betrieb des elektrisch steuerbaren Beschichtungsmitteldruckreglers kann analog zu den Ausführungen bezüglich des Pumpendruckreglers über die Drehdurchführung oder über den druckluftbetriebenen Generator bereitgestellt werden.The coating agent pressure regulator serves to regulate the pressure of the coating agent relative to the delivery pressure of the pump to an adjustable output pressure and, if necessary, to reduce the delivery pressure applied or to increase it using a pressure booster. The coating agent pressure regulator can be designed in a simple manner as a mechanical component in which the output pressure can be manually adjusted. Alternatively, the coating agent pressure regulator can be pneumatically controlled. If the coating agent pressure regulator is designed to be electrically controllable, control signals can be output from the control unit to the coating agent pressure regulator via the signal line of the rotary feedthrough or via the wireless transmitter-receiver arrangement. It is within the scope of the advantageous development that the valve device is located in the signal path between the control unit and the coating agent pressure regulator. Any electrical voltage required to operate the electrically controllable coating agent pressure regulator can be provided via the rotary union or via the compressed air-operated generator in a similar way to the statements regarding the pump pressure regulator.
In einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung weisen die Sprüheinheiten jeweils eine druckluftbetriebene Zerstäubereinheit zum Zerstäuben des Beschichtungsmittels auf, wobei die Zerstäubereinheit zumindest über die Drehdurchführung mit der Druckluftquelle verbunden ist.In an advantageous development, the spray units each have a compressed air-operated atomizer unit for atomizing the coating agent, wherein the atomizer unit is connected to the compressed air source at least via the rotary feedthrough.
Die Zerstäubereinheit dient dazu, das ausgegebene Beschichtungsmittel mittels Druckluft in eine Vielzahl fein verteilter Tropfen zu wandeln. Dadurch lässt sich das Beschichtungsmittel homogen auf der Werkstückoberfläche verteilen und die Beschichtungsqualität optimieren. Die Zerstäubereinheit kann hierfür auf unterschiedliche Weisen mit der Sprüheinheit wirkverbunden sein. Dabei liegt es im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass die Zerstäubereinheit mindestens einen Druckluftauslass aufweist, welcher in Bezug auf die Strömungsrichtung des Beschichtungsmittels hinter einer Beschichtungsmittelausgabeöffnung der Sprüheinheit angeordnet ist. Vorzugsweise ist der Druckluftauslass hierbei als Ringspalt ausgebildet. Zusätzlich oder alternativ kann der Druckluftauslass als eine oder mehrere Bohrungen ausgebildet sein, welche sich seitlich hinter der Beschichtungsmittelausgabeöffnung der Sprüheinheit befinden. Es liegt ferner im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass die Zerstäubereinheit und die Sprüheinheit baulich zusammengefasst und in einem gemeinsamen Gehäuse angeordnet sind oder baulich voneinander getrennt ausgebildet sind.The atomizer unit is used to convert the dispensed coating agent into a large number of finely distributed drops using compressed air. This allows the coating agent to be distributed homogeneously on the workpiece surface and the coating quality to be optimized. The atomizer unit can be operatively connected to the spray unit in different ways for this purpose. It is within the scope of the advantageous development that the atomizer unit has at least one compressed air outlet which is arranged behind a coating agent dispensing opening of the spray unit in relation to the flow direction of the coating agent. The compressed air outlet is preferably designed as an annular gap. Additionally or alternatively, the compressed air outlet can be designed as one or more holes which are located laterally behind the coating agent dispensing opening of the spray unit. It is also within the scope of the advantageous development that the atomizer unit and the spray unit are structurally combined and arranged in a common housing or are structurally separate from one another.
Es liegt im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass die Zerstäubereinheit über die Ventilvorrichtung mit Drehdurchführung pneumatisch verbunden ist. Hierbei kann der Betrieb der Zerstäubereinheit mittels der Ventilvorrichtung gesteuert werden. Alternativ ist die Zerstäubereinheit über das oben bereits beschriebene pneumatische Verzweigungsglied oder ein anderes Verzweigungsglied mit der Drehdurchführung verbunden und ist unabhängig von der pneumatischen Ventilvorrichtung betrieben. Hierfür kann das pneumatische Verzweigungsglied in bereits beschriebener Weise als ein T-Stück oder als ein vergleichbares pneumatisches Bauelement ausgestaltet sein, um den Druckluftstrom, welcher mittels der Drehdurchführung für die Rotationseinheit bereitgestellt wird, zumindest zwischen der Ventilvorrichtung und der Zerstäubereinheit aufzuteilen.It is within the scope of the advantageous development that the atomizer unit is pneumatically connected to the rotary feedthrough via the valve device. The operation of the atomizer unit can be controlled by means of the valve device. Alternatively, the atomizer unit is connected to the rotary feedthrough via the pneumatic branching element described above or another branching element and is operated independently of the pneumatic valve device. For this purpose, the pneumatic branching element can be designed as a T-piece or as a comparable pneumatic component in the manner already described in order to divide the compressed air flow, which is provided for the rotation unit by means of the rotary feedthrough, at least between the valve device and the atomizer unit.
In einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung ist zwischen mindestens einer der Zerstäubereinheiten und der Drehdurchführung ein Zerstäuberdruckregler angeordnet. Bevorzugt ist der Zerstäuberdruckregler elektrisch steuerbar ausgestaltet.In an advantageous development, an atomizer pressure regulator is arranged between at least one of the atomizer units and the rotary feedthrough. The atomizer pressure regulator is preferably designed to be electrically controllable.
Mittels des Zerstäuberdruckreglers ist es, analog zu den Ausführungen zu dem Pumpendruckregler, möglich, einen an dem Zersträuberdruckregler anliegenden Eingangsdruck auf einen einstellbaren Ausgangsdruck zu regeln. Vorzugsweise kann der Eingangsdruck hierbei gemindert oder mittels eines Druckboosters erhöht werden. Untersuchungen der Anmelderin haben gezeigt, dass für den Zerstäuberdruckregler vorzugsweise ein Ausgangsdruck zwischen 2 und 4 bar einzustellen ist, um ein optimales Beschichtungsergebnis zu erzielen.By means of the atomizer pressure regulator, it is possible, analogously to the statements for the pump pressure regulator, to regulate an inlet pressure applied to the atomizer pressure regulator to an adjustable outlet pressure. The inlet pressure can preferably be reduced or increased using a pressure booster. Investigations by the applicant have shown that an outlet pressure of between 2 and 4 bar should preferably be set for the atomizer pressure regulator in order to achieve an optimal coating result.
Bevorzugt ist der Zerstäuberdruckregler mit einer Mehrzahl an Zerstäubereinheiten, bevorzugt mit allen Zerstäubereinheiten der Rotationseinheit, verbunden. Vorteilhaft ist hierbei, dass nur ein Zerstäuberdruckregler erforderlich ist, um die Zerstäuberdrücke mehrerer Zerstäubereinheiten zu regeln. Wenn der Zerstäuberdruckregler mit einer Mehrzahl an Zerstäubereinheiten verbunden ist, kann zwischen dem Zerstäuberdruckregler und den Zerstäubereinheiten eine Anordnung aus mehreren pneumatischen Verzweigungsgliedern angeordnet sein. Dadurch kann der von dem Zerstäuberdruckregler ausgegebene Druckluftstrom auf die Mehrzahl an Zerstäubereinheiten, vorzugsweise auf alle Zerstäubereinheiten, aufgeteilt werden. Es liegt im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass der Zerstäuberdruckregler mechanisch oder pneumatisch steuerbar ist.The atomizer pressure regulator is preferably connected to a plurality of atomizer units, preferably to all atomizer units of the rotary unit. The advantage here is that only one atomizer pressure regulator is required to regulate the atomizer pressures of several atomizer units. If the atomizer pressure regulator is connected to a plurality of atomizer units, an arrangement of several pneumatic branching elements can be arranged between the atomizer pressure regulator and the atomizer units. As a result, the compressed air flow output by the atomizer pressure regulator can be divided between the plurality of atomizer units, preferably all atomizer units. It is within the scope of the advantageous development that the atomizer pressure regulator can be controlled mechanically or pneumatically.
Bevorzugt ist der Zerstäuberdruckregler elektrisch steuerbar ausgestaltet. Hierbei ist die Steuereinheit signaltechnisch über die Signalleitung der Drehdurchführung oder mittels der drahtlosen Sender-Empfänger-Anordnung mit dem Zerstäuberdruckregler verbunden. Hierbei kann der erforderliche Ausgangsdruck für ein optimales Beschichtungsergebnis mittels eines Steuersignals der Steuereinheit eingestellt werden. Es liegt auch im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass der Zerstäuberdruckregler einen Sensor zur Messung und Überwachung des Zerstäubungsdruckes umfassen kann und den Ausgangsdruck während des Betriebs der Beschichtungsvorrichtung an die Steuereinheit kommuniziert. Es liegt im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass die Ventilvorrichtung sich im Signalpfad zwischen der Drehdurchführung und dem Zerstäuberdruckregler befindet.Preferably, the atomizer pressure regulator is designed to be electrically controllable. The control unit is connected to the signal line of the rotary union or connected to the atomizer pressure regulator by means of the wireless transmitter-receiver arrangement. The required output pressure for an optimal coating result can be set using a control signal from the control unit. It is also within the scope of the advantageous development that the atomizer pressure regulator can include a sensor for measuring and monitoring the atomization pressure and communicates the output pressure to the control unit during operation of the coating device. It is within the scope of the advantageous development that the valve device is located in the signal path between the rotary feedthrough and the atomizer pressure regulator.
Die gegebenenfalls erforderliche elektrische Energie zum Betrieb des elektrisch steuerbaren Zerstäuberdruckreglers kann in einfacher Weise über die Drehdurchführung bereitgestellt werden. Vorzugsweise kann die Bereitstellung elektrischer Energie für den Zerstäuberdruckregler auch über die Ventilvorrichtung erfolgen, wenn diese energietechnisch mit der Drehdurchführung verbunden ist. Alternativ kann die gegebenenfalls erforderliche elektrische Energie über den druckluftbetriebenen Generator bereitgestellt werden.The electrical energy required to operate the electrically controllable atomizer pressure regulator can be provided in a simple manner via the rotary union. Preferably, the electrical energy for the atomizer pressure regulator can also be provided via the valve device if it is connected to the rotary union in terms of energy. Alternatively, the electrical energy required can be provided via the compressed air-operated generator.
In einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung weist zumindest eine der Sprüheinheiten mindestens eine druckluftbetriebene Formlufteinheit zum Einstellen einer Strahlform des aus der Sprüheinheit ausgegebenen Beschichtungsmittels auf, wobei die Formlufteinheit zumindest über die Drehdurchführung mit der Druckluftquelle verbunden ist.In an advantageous development, at least one of the spray units has at least one compressed air-operated shaping air unit for adjusting a jet shape of the coating agent emitted from the spray unit, wherein the shaping air unit is connected to the compressed air source at least via the rotary feedthrough.
Die Strahlform des aus der Sprüheinheit ausgegebenen Beschichtungsmittels stellt einen wichtigen Einflussfaktor für die erreichbare Beschichtungsqualität dar. Die Formlufteinheit dient dazu, die besagte Strahlform des Beschichtungsmittels zu beeinflussen. Hierfür weist die Formlufteinheit eine mechanisch verstellbare Luftkappe auf, an der sich eine oder mehrere Luftdüsen befinden. Durch mechanische Verstellung der Luftkappe kann die Druckluftführung bedarfsgemäß verändert werden, um die Strahlform des Beschichtungsmittels in Abhängigkeit davon einzustellen.The jet shape of the coating agent emitted from the spray unit is an important factor influencing the achievable coating quality. The shaping air unit is used to influence the jet shape of the coating agent. For this purpose, the shaping air unit has a mechanically adjustable air cap on which one or more air nozzles are located. By mechanically adjusting the air cap, the compressed air flow can be changed as required in order to adjust the jet shape of the coating agent accordingly.
Es liegt im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass die Drehdurchführung über die Ventilvorrichtung mit der Formlufteinheit pneumatisch verbunden ist. Alternativ ist die Formluftlufteinheit bevorzugt über das oben bereits genannte pneumatische Verzweigungsglied oder ein anderes pneumatisches Verzweigungsglied mit der Drehdurchführung verbunden. Hierbei ist die Formlufteinheit unabhängig von der pneumatischen Ventilvorrichtung mit Druckluft versorgt. Das pneumatische Verzweigungsglied kann in bereits erläuterter Weise ein T-Stück oder ein vergleichbares pneumatisches Bauelement umfassen, um den Druckluftstrom, welcher mittels der Drehdurchführung für die Rotationseinheit bereitgestellt wird, zumindest auf die Ventilvorrichtung und die Formlufteinheit aufzuteilen.It is within the scope of the advantageous development that the rotary feedthrough is pneumatically connected to the shaping air unit via the valve device. Alternatively, the shaping air unit is preferably connected to the rotary feedthrough via the pneumatic branching element already mentioned above or another pneumatic branching element. In this case, the shaping air unit is supplied with compressed air independently of the pneumatic valve device. The pneumatic branching element can comprise a T-piece or a comparable pneumatic component in the manner already explained in order to divide the compressed air flow, which is provided for the rotary unit by means of the rotary feedthrough, at least between the valve device and the shaping air unit.
In einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung ist zwischen der Formlufteinheit und der Drehdurchführung ein Formluftdruckregler angeordnet, welcher bevorzugt elektrisch steuerbar ausgestaltet ist.In an advantageous further development, a shaping air pressure regulator is arranged between the shaping air unit and the rotary feedthrough, which is preferably designed to be electrically controllable.
Mittels des Formluftdruckreglers kann der Formluftdruck von einem erhöhten Eingangsdruck auf einen einstellbaren Ausgangsdruck geregelt und bedarfsweise gemindert oder erhöht werden. Das Druckniveau des Formluftdruckes liegt hierbei vorzugsweise zwischen 2 und 4 bar, sodass der Ausgangsdruck des Formluftdruckreglers entsprechend eingestellt werden kann, um ein optimales Beschichtungsergebnis zu erzielen. Der Ausgangsdruck des Formluftdruckreglers kann dabei, analog zu den Ausführungen bezüglich der bereits beschriebenen Druckregler, manuell oder pneumatisch gesteuert sein.Using the mold air pressure regulator, the mold air pressure can be regulated from an increased input pressure to an adjustable output pressure and reduced or increased as required. The pressure level of the mold air pressure is preferably between 2 and 4 bar, so that the output pressure of the mold air pressure regulator can be adjusted accordingly to achieve an optimal coating result. The output pressure of the mold air pressure regulator can be controlled manually or pneumatically, analogous to the statements regarding the pressure regulators already described.
Bevorzugt ist der Formluftdruckregler elektrisch steuerbar ausgestaltet. Hierbei ist die Steuereinheit signaltechnisch über die Signalleitung der Drehdurchführung oder mittels der drahtlosen Sender-Empfänger-Einheit mit dem Formluftdruckregler verbunden. Hierdurch kann der erforderliche Ausgangsdruck für ein optimales Beschichtungsergebnis mittels eines Steuersignals der Steuereinheit eingestellt werden. Es liegt im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass der Formluftdruckregler einen Sensor zur Messung und Überwachung des Formluftdruckes umfassen kann und den Ausgangsdruck während des Betriebs der Beschichtungsvorrichtung an die Steuereinheit kommuniziert. Es liegt im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass die Ventilvorrichtung sich im Signalpfad zwischen der Drehdurchführung und dem Formluftdruckregler befindet.Preferably, the mold air pressure regulator is designed to be electrically controllable. The control unit is connected to the mold air pressure regulator via the signal line of the rotary union or by means of the wireless transmitter-receiver unit. This allows the required output pressure for an optimal coating result to be set using a control signal from the control unit. It is within the scope of the advantageous development that the The mold air pressure regulator can include a sensor for measuring and monitoring the mold air pressure and communicates the output pressure to the control unit during operation of the coating device. It is within the scope of the advantageous development that the valve device is located in the signal path between the rotary union and the mold air pressure regulator.
Je nachdem, ob die Formlufteinheit über die Ventilvorrichtung oder über das Verzweigungsglied mit der Drehdurchführung verbunden ist, kann der Formluftdruckregler zwischen der Formlufteinheit und der Ventilvorrichtung oder zwischen der Formlufteinheit und dem Verzweigungsglied angeordnet sein. Bevorzugt ist der Formluftdruckregler mit einer Mehrzahl an Formlufteinheiten, vorzugsweise mit allen Formlufteinheiten, auf der Rotationseinheit verbunden. Vorteilhaft ist hierbei, dass nur ein Formluftdruckregler erforderlich ist, um die Formluftdrücke mehrerer Formlufteinheiten zu regeln.Depending on whether the shaping air unit is connected to the rotary feedthrough via the valve device or via the branching element, the shaping air pressure regulator can be arranged between the shaping air unit and the valve device or between the shaping air unit and the branching element. The shaping air pressure regulator is preferably connected to a plurality of shaping air units, preferably to all shaping air units, on the rotary unit. The advantage here is that only one shaping air pressure regulator is required to regulate the shaping air pressures of several shaping air units.
Die gegebenenfalls erforderliche elektrische Energie zum Betrieb des elektrisch steuerbaren Formluftdruckreglers kann in einfacher Weise über die Drehdurchführung bereitgestellt werden. Vorzugsweise kann die Bereitstellung elektrischer Energie für den Formluftdruckregler auch über die Ventilvorrichtung erfolgen, wenn diese energietechnisch mit der Drehdurchführung verbunden ist. Alternativ kann die gegebenenfalls erforderliche elektrische Energie über den druckluftbetriebenen Generator bereitgestellt werden.Any electrical energy required to operate the electrically controllable molded air pressure regulator can be provided in a simple manner via the rotary union. Preferably, the electrical energy for the molded air pressure regulator can also be provided via the valve device if it is connected to the rotary union for energy purposes. Alternatively, any electrical energy required can be provided via the compressed air-operated generator.
In einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung umfasst die Rotationseinheit eine Mehrzahl an Stellmitteln, an denen jeweils zumindest eine der Sprüheinheiten angeordnet ist. Die Stellmittel sind dazu ausgestaltet, eine Lage, bevorzugt eine Orientierung, der jeweils an ihnen angeordneten, zumindest einen Sprüheinheit gegenüber der Werkstückaufnahme einzustellen.In an advantageous development, the rotation unit comprises a plurality of adjusting means, on each of which at least one of the spray units is arranged. The adjusting means are designed to adjust a position, preferably an orientation, of the at least one spray unit arranged on them in relation to the workpiece holder.
Gemäß vorstehend beschriebener Weiterbildung dienen die Stellmittel dazu, die Lage und bevorzugt die Orientierung der Sprüheinheiten gegenüber dem Werkstück derart einzustellen, dass dieses gleichmäßig beschichtet werden kann. Dies ist vorteilhaft, da sich die Lagen der Sprüheinheiten, welche jeweils eine Position und eine Orientierung umfassen, gegenüber der Werkstückaufnahme und dem darauf angeordneten Werkstück aufgrund der Drehbewegung der Rotationseinheit verändern. Bevorzugt dient das Stellmittel dazu lediglich die Orientierung, also die relative Winkellage zumindest einer Sprüheinheit gegenüber dem Werkstück einzustellen.According to the above-described development, the adjusting means serve to adjust the position and preferably the orientation of the spray units relative to the workpiece in such a way that the workpiece can be evenly coated. This is advantageous because the positions of the spray units, each of which has a Position and orientation, relative to the workpiece holder and the workpiece arranged thereon due to the rotational movement of the rotary unit. Preferably, the adjusting means serves only to adjust the orientation, i.e. the relative angular position of at least one spray unit relative to the workpiece.
Vorzugsweise sind die Stellmittel dazu ausgebildet, in Abhängigkeit einer Rotationslage der Rotationseinheit gegenüber dem Maschinengestell gesteuert zu werden. Hier ist insbesondere eine mechanische Steuerung denkbar. Dafür kann das Stellmittel beispielsweise mittels eines Stabes oder einem beliebigen anderen Kraftübertragungselement mit einer Kurvenbahn gekoppelt sein, die an dem Maschinengestell angeordnet ist. Die Kurvenbahn ist vorzugsweise durch eine um die Rotationsachse der Rotationseinheit umlaufende Nut oder Kante gebildet. Der Verlauf der Kurvenbahn entspricht dabei vorzugsweise in etwa einem Oval oder vorzugsweise einer Cassinischen Kurve, deren Form im Wesentlichen der eines zweiseitig eingedrückten Ovals entspricht. Bei einer Drehbewegung der Rotationseinheit gleitet der Stab endseitig entlang der Kurvenbahn und übt, entsprechend dem Verlauf der Kurvenbahn, Kräfte auf das Stellmittel aus. Diese Kräfte bewirken wiederum eine Verstellung der jeweils mit dem Stellmittel verbundenen Sprüheinheit.Preferably, the adjusting means are designed to be controlled depending on a rotational position of the rotary unit relative to the machine frame. In particular, a mechanical control is conceivable here. For this purpose, the adjusting means can be coupled to a curved path arranged on the machine frame, for example by means of a rod or any other force transmission element. The curved path is preferably formed by a groove or edge running around the rotation axis of the rotary unit. The course of the curved path preferably corresponds approximately to an oval or preferably to a Cassini curve, the shape of which essentially corresponds to that of an oval pressed in on two sides. When the rotary unit rotates, the rod slides along the curved path at the end and exerts forces on the adjusting means in accordance with the course of the curved path. These forces in turn cause an adjustment of the spray unit connected to the adjusting means.
In einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung umfasst das Stellmittel einen elektrischen Antrieb und ist elektrisch steuerbar ausgestaltet.In an advantageous further development, the actuating means comprises an electric drive and is designed to be electrically controllable.
Die vorstehend beschriebene Weiterbildung ermöglicht es, die jeweils mit dem Stellmittel verbundene Sprüheinheit oder mehrere Sprüheinheiten elektrisch zu verstellen. Vorzugsweise handelt es sich bei den Stellmitteln jeweils um einen Servoantrieb, mit dem die Lage, insbesondere die Orientierung der Sprüheinheit weg- und/oder winkelgesteuert eingestellt werden kann. Der elektrische Antrieb des Stellmittels ist hierbei vorzugsweise über die Drehdurchführung signaltechnisch mit der Steuereinheit verbunden, wobei die elektrisch steuerbare Ventilvorrichtung bevorzugt in dem Signalpfad zwischen der Drehdurchführung und dem Stellmittel liegt. Alternativ ist das Stellmittel über die drahtlose Sender-Empfänger-Anordnung signaltechnisch mit der Steuereinheit verbunden. Die erforderliche elektrische Energie für den elektrischen Antrieb kann vorzugsweise über die Drehdurchführung und vorzugsweise über die Ventilvorrichtung bereitgestellt werden. Alternativ kann die erforderliche elektrische Energie über den druckluftbetriebenen Generator bereitgestellt sein.The development described above makes it possible to electrically adjust the spray unit or several spray units connected to the actuating means. Preferably, the actuating means are each a servo drive with which the position, in particular the orientation of the spray unit, can be adjusted in a path- and/or angle-controlled manner. The electrical drive of the actuating means is preferably connected to the control unit via the rotary feedthrough, with the electrically controllable valve device preferably being located in the signal path between the rotary feedthrough and the actuating means. Alternatively, the actuating means can be controlled via the wireless transmitter-receiver arrangement. connected to the control unit by means of signals. The electrical energy required for the electrical drive can preferably be provided via the rotary union and preferably via the valve device. Alternatively, the electrical energy required can be provided via the compressed air-operated generator.
Der Vorteil einer elektrisch gesteuerten Verstellung der Sprüheinheit besteht darin, dass diese flexibel angepasst werden kann und im Betrieb unanfällig für Störungen ist. Insbesondere ist es auf einfache Weise möglich, die Orientierungen der Sprüheinheiten an Werkstücke mit unterschiedlichen Geometrien und Abmessungen anzupassen.The advantage of an electrically controlled adjustment of the spray unit is that it can be flexibly adjusted and is not susceptible to malfunctions during operation. In particular, it is easy to adapt the orientation of the spray units to workpieces with different geometries and dimensions.
In einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung ist die Werkstückaufnahme als Förderband ausgestaltet, um das Werkstück mittels einer linearen Bewegung aus einem Einlaufbereich des Maschinengestells in einen Auslaufbereich zu fördern. Dabei wird das Werkstück in dem Einlaufbereich und in dem Auslaufbereich bei einer Drehbewegung der Rotationseinheit von jeweils einer der Sprüheinheiten überstrichen. Bevorzugt wird das Werkstück entlang mindestens zweier sich kreuzender Bewegungsbahnen überstrichen, sodass sich auf dem Werkstück ein sich überkreuzendes Sprühbild ergibt.In an advantageous development, the workpiece holder is designed as a conveyor belt in order to convey the workpiece from an inlet area of the machine frame to an outlet area by means of a linear movement. The workpiece is thereby swept over in the inlet area and in the outlet area by one of the spray units during a rotational movement of the rotation unit. The workpiece is preferably swept over along at least two intersecting movement paths, so that an intersecting spray pattern is produced on the workpiece.
Gemäß vorstehend beschriebener Weiterbildung wird das Werkstück vor dem Einlaufbereich auf dem Förderband angeordnet und mittels des Förderbandes in den Auslaufbereich und über diesen hinaus gefördert. Vorzugsweise erfolgt die Förderbewegung mit einer einstellbaren und bevorzugt konstanten Geschwindigkeit.According to the development described above, the workpiece is arranged on the conveyor belt in front of the inlet area and is conveyed by the conveyor belt into the outlet area and beyond. The conveying movement preferably takes place at an adjustable and preferably constant speed.
In dem Einlaufbereich wird das Werkstück von zumindest einer Sprüheinheit der Rotationseinheit überstrichen. Durch die überlagerte Rotationsbewegung der Rotationseinheit und der linearen Verfahrbewegung des Werkstückes ergibt sich für die Bewegungsbahn der Sprüheinheit in dem Einlaufbereich eine sichelförmige Bahn. In dem Auslaufbereich wird das Werkstück anschließend von derselben Sprüheinheit oder einer der übrigen Sprüheinheiten der Rotationseinheit überstrichen. Hierbei ergibt sich ebenfalls eine sichelförmige Bahn, welche die in dem Einlaufbereich aufgetragene sichelförmige Bahn überschneidet.In the inlet area, the workpiece is covered by at least one spray unit of the rotary unit. The superimposed rotational movement of the rotary unit and the linear movement of the workpiece result in a sickle-shaped path for the movement path of the spray unit in the inlet area. In the outlet area, the workpiece is then sprayed by the same spray unit or one of the other spray units of the rotary unit. This also results in a crescent-shaped path which overlaps the crescent-shaped path applied in the inlet area.
Der vorstehend beschriebene Ablauf wiederholt sich vorzugsweise mehrfach, wobei die sichelförmigen Bahnen in dem Einlaufbereich und in dem Auslaufbereich vorzugsweise zueinander versetzt auf das Werkstück aufgetragen werden, um dieses vollflächig zu beschichten. Die sich kreuzenden, sichelförmigen Bahnen, entlang derer das Beschichtungsmittel auf dem Werkstück aufgetragen ist, führen zu einer homogenen Verteilung des Beschichtungsmittels, welche für das menschliche Auge besonders gleichmäßig erscheint.The process described above is preferably repeated several times, with the crescent-shaped paths in the inlet area and in the outlet area preferably being applied to the workpiece offset from one another in order to coat the entire surface. The intersecting, crescent-shaped paths along which the coating agent is applied to the workpiece lead to a homogeneous distribution of the coating agent, which appears particularly uniform to the human eye.
In einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung weist das Drehgelenk einen Beschichtungsmittelkanal und einen Spülmittelkanal auf, welche über mindestens eine Dichtung voneinander getrennt sind, wobei der Beschichtungsmittelkanal dazu ausgestaltet ist, die Beschichtungsmittelquelle fluidleitend mit der Pumpe zu verbinden und wobei der Spülmittelkanal dazu ausgestaltet ist, einen an der Dichtung etwa austretenden Leckagestrom, welcher Beschichtungsmittel aus dem Beschichtungsmittelkanal enthält, aufzunehmen.In an advantageous development, the rotary joint has a coating agent channel and a flushing agent channel, which are separated from one another by at least one seal, wherein the coating agent channel is designed to connect the coating agent source to the pump in a fluid-conducting manner and wherein the flushing agent channel is designed to absorb a leakage flow which may emerge at the seal and which contains coating agent from the coating agent channel.
Wie oben bereits erläutert, dient das Drehgelenk dazu, eine fluidleitende Verbindung zwischen der Beschichtungsmittelquelle des Maschinengestells und der Pumpe der Rotationseinheit bereitzustellen. Diese fluidleitende Verbindung wird durch den Beschichtungsmittelkanal gebildet, welcher teilweise durch den feststehenden Drehgelenkteil und teilweise durch den verdrehbaren Drehgelenkteil gebildet ist. Zwischen den Drehgelenkteilen weist der Beschichtungsmittelkanal einen Übergangsbereich auf, in welchem das Beschichtungsmittel aus dem feststehenden Drehgelenkteil in den verdrehbaren Drehgelenkteil gelangt. In diesem Bereich sind die Drehgelenkteile voneinander getrennt, wodurch ihre relative Verdrehung zueinander ermöglicht wird. Allerdings geht diese Trennung zwischen den Drehgelenkteilen mit der Bildung mindestens eines zwischen ihnen gebildeten Spalts oder Kanals einher. Ein solcher Spalt oder Kanal ist üblicherweise mittels der oben bereits genannten Dichtung abgedichet, um einen unkontrollierten Austritt von Beschichtungsmittel aus dem Drehgelenk zu verhindern. Allerdings kann hierbei nicht dauerhaft und vollständig ausgeschlossen werden, dass Beschichtungsmittel als Leckagestrom an der Dichtung vorbei aus dem Beschichtungsmittelkanal gelangt.As already explained above, the swivel joint serves to provide a fluid-conducting connection between the coating agent source of the machine frame and the pump of the rotary unit. This fluid-conducting connection is formed by the coating agent channel, which is formed partly by the fixed swivel joint part and partly by the rotatable swivel joint part. Between the swivel joint parts, the coating agent channel has a transition area in which the coating agent passes from the fixed swivel joint part into the rotatable swivel joint part. In this area, the swivel joint parts are separated from one another, which enables them to rotate relative to one another. However, this separation between the swivel joint parts is accompanied by the formation of at least one gap or channel between them. Such a gap or channel is usually sealed by means of the seal already mentioned above in order to prevent uncontrolled escape of coating agent from the swivel joint. However, it cannot be permanently and completely ruled out that coating agent will leak past the seal from the coating agent channel.
Damit der Leckagestrom in Bezug auf seine Strömungsrichtung hinter der Dichtung nicht zwischen den Drehgelenkteilen antrocknet und diese gegebenenfalls verklebt, ist in dem Drehgelenk der Spülmittelkanal ausgebildet. Dieser ist in Bezug auf die Strömungsrichtung des Leckagestromes derart angeordnet, dass der Leckagestrom an der Dichtung vorbei in den Spülmittelkanal gelangen und durch ein darin befindliches Spülmittel fortgespült werden kann. Da in dem Spülmittelkanal üblicherweise geringere Drücke herrschen als in dem Beschichtungsmittelkanal kann dieser entsprechend einfacher gegenüber seiner Umwelt abgedichtet werden. Zudem ist die Dichtung des Spülmittelkanals vereinfacht, da das Spülmittel im Vergleich zum Beschichtungsmittel weniger ätzende oder abrasive Bestandteile enthält.The flushing agent channel is formed in the swivel joint so that the leakage flow does not dry between the swivel joint parts behind the seal and possibly stick them together. This is arranged in relation to the flow direction of the leakage flow in such a way that the leakage flow can pass the seal into the flushing agent channel and be flushed away by a flushing agent located therein. Since the pressure in the flushing agent channel is usually lower than in the coating agent channel, it can be sealed off from the environment more easily. In addition, the sealing of the flushing agent channel is simplified because the flushing agent contains fewer corrosive or abrasive components than the coating agent.
Es liegt im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass das Drehgelenk eine Mehrzahl an Beschichtungsmittelkanälen aufweisen kann, über die eine Mehrzahl an Pumpen mit jeweils einer Beschichtungsmittelquelle verbunden sind. Ferner liegt es im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass das Drehgelenk eine Mehrzahl an Spülmittelkanälen aufweisen kann. Hierbei sind die Spülmittelkanäle und die Beschichtungsmittelkanäle paarweise jeweils durch eine Dichtung voneinander getrennt, wobei ein an der Dichtung unvermeidbar austretender Leckagestrom durch den jeweiligen Spülmittelkanal fortgespült werden kann. Es liegt auch im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass zwei Beschichtungsmittelkanäle einem gemeinsamen Spülmittelkanal zugeordnet sind und mittels jeweils einer leckagebehafteten Dichtung von diesem getrennt sind. Hierbei dient der Spülmittelkanal dazu, gleichzeitig mehrere Leckageströme unterschiedlicher Beschichtungsmittel fortzuspülen.It is within the scope of the advantageous development that the swivel joint can have a plurality of coating agent channels, via which a plurality of pumps are each connected to a coating agent source. It is also within the scope of the advantageous development that the swivel joint can have a plurality of flushing agent channels. In this case, the flushing agent channels and the coating agent channels are separated from one another in pairs by a seal, whereby a leakage flow that inevitably escapes at the seal can be flushed away through the respective flushing agent channel. It is also within the scope of the advantageous development that two coating agent channels are assigned to a common flushing agent channel and are separated from it by means of a leaky seal. In this case, the flushing agent channel serves to simultaneously flush away several leakage flows of different coating agents.
In einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung ist der Spülmittelkanal über einen Spülmittelzulauf am Drehgelenk mit einer Spülmittelquelle verbunden. Ferner ist der Spülmittelkanal über einen Spülmittelauslauf am Drehgelenk mit einer Spülmittelsenke verbunden.In an advantageous further development, the detergent channel is connected to a detergent source via a detergent inlet on the swivel joint. Furthermore, the Detergent channel connected to a detergent sink via a detergent outlet on the swivel joint.
Gemäß vorstehend beschriebener Weiterbildung umfasst die Spülmittelquelle vorzugsweise einen Spülmitteltank und eine Spülmittelpumpe. Die Spülmittelpumpe dient dazu, Spülmittel aus dem Spülmitteltank in den Spülmittelkanal zu fördern und mit einem vorzugsweise einstellbaren Druck zumindest in dem Drehgelenk zirkulieren zu lassen, bevor es über den Spülmittelauslauf zur Spülmittelsenke abgelassen wird. Die Spülmittelsenke wird vorzugsweise zumindest teilweise durch den gleichen Spülmitteltank gebildet, mit dem auch die Spülmittelpumpe verbunden ist. Es liegt auch im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass ein zweiter Spülmitteltank für die Spülmittelsenke vorgesehen ist, in welchen ein nicht wiederverwendbares und verunreinigtes Spülmittel aus dem Spülmittelauslauf abgelassen werden kann.According to the above-described development, the detergent source preferably comprises a detergent tank and a detergent pump. The detergent pump serves to convey detergent from the detergent tank into the detergent channel and to circulate it at least in the swivel joint at a preferably adjustable pressure before it is drained to the detergent sink via the detergent outlet. The detergent sink is preferably formed at least partially by the same detergent tank to which the detergent pump is connected. It is also within the scope of the advantageous development that a second detergent tank is provided for the detergent sink, into which a non-reusable and contaminated detergent can be drained from the detergent outlet.
In einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung ist ein Temperatursensor an oder in dem Drehgelenk angeordnet.In an advantageous development, a temperature sensor is arranged on or in the swivel joint.
Im Betrieb von Beschichtungsvorrichtungen ist es üblich, dass das Beschichtungsmittel oder etwa das Spülmittel entzündlich sind. Insbesondere kann bei Versprühen des Beschichtungsmittels ein explosives Beschichtungsmittel-LuftGemisch entstehen. Aus Sicherheitsgründen ist es daher gewünscht, sicherzustellen, dass diejenigen Komponenten, welche unmittelbar oder mittelbar wärmeleitend mit dem entzündlichen Beschichtungsmittel und/oder Spülmittel und/oder Beschichtungsmitte-Luft-Gasgemisch verbunden sind, in einem Temperaturbereich betrieben werden, welcher unterhalb der jeweiligen Zündtemperatur liegt. Da das Drehgelenk sowohl zur Leitung von Beschichtungsmittel sowie vorzugsweise von Spülmittel dient, wird die Sicherheit im Betrieb der Beschichtungsvorrichtung erhöht, wenn die Temperatur im Bereich des Drehgelenks oder die Temperatur des Drehgelenks gemessen wird. Insbesondere ist es vorteilhaft, wenn der Temperatursensor im Bereich des Beschichtungsmittelkanals und/oder im Bereich des Spülmittelkanals angeordnet wird um die Temperatur unmittelbar in den Bereichen erfassen zu können, in denen ein Entzündungsrisiko besteht. Es liegt ebenfalls im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass der Temperatursensor im Bereich der Dichtungen des Drehgelenks angeordnet ist, da in diesem Bereich während des Betriebs des Drehgelenks gegenüber der restlichen Struktur des Drehgelenks mehr Wärme entsteht.When operating coating devices, it is usual for the coating agent or the rinsing agent to be flammable. In particular, an explosive coating agent-air mixture can arise when the coating agent is sprayed. For safety reasons, it is therefore desirable to ensure that those components which are directly or indirectly connected in a heat-conducting manner to the flammable coating agent and/or rinsing agent and/or coating agent-air gas mixture are operated in a temperature range which is below the respective ignition temperature. Since the swivel joint serves both to conduct coating agent and preferably rinsing agent, safety in the operation of the coating device is increased if the temperature in the area of the swivel joint or the temperature of the swivel joint is measured. In particular, it is advantageous if the temperature sensor is arranged in the area of the coating agent channel and/or in the area of the rinsing agent channel in order to measure the temperature. to be able to detect directly in the areas where there is a risk of inflammation. It is also part of the advantageous development that the temperature sensor is arranged in the area of the seals of the swivel joint, since more heat is generated in this area during operation of the swivel joint than in the rest of the structure of the swivel joint.
Neben dem Brand- und/oder Explosionsschutz ist die Temperatur am oder in dem Drehgelenk auch deshalb relevant, da sie die Viskosität des Beschichtungsmittels beeinflusst. Eine Messung der Temperatur lässt somit zumindest teilweise auch einen Rückschluss auf die Qualität der beschichteten Werkstücke zu. Zudem kann die Qualität der beschichteten Werkstücke durch geeignete Temperierung des Drehgelenks in Abhängigkeit der gemessenen Temperatur positiv beeinflusst werden.In addition to fire and/or explosion protection, the temperature at or in the swivel joint is also relevant because it influences the viscosity of the coating agent. Measuring the temperature therefore allows at least some conclusions to be drawn about the quality of the coated workpieces. In addition, the quality of the coated workpieces can be positively influenced by appropriate temperature control of the swivel joint depending on the measured temperature.
Während des Betriebs der Beschichtungsvorrichtung übermittelt der Temperatursensor die erfassten Temperaturen vorzugsweise über die Ventilvorrichtung und die Drehdurchführung an die Steuereinheit. Das Temperatursignal kann hierbei als analoges Signal vorliegen und mittels der Ventilvorrichtung in ein digitales Signal gewandelt werden. Eine Feldbusverbindung kann dazu dienen, das derart gewandelte Signal über das Drehgelenk an die Steuereinheit zu übermitteln, sodass dieses für die Steuerung der Beschichtungsvorrichtung genutzt werden kann. Insbesondere liegt es im Rahmen der vorteilhaften Weiterbildung, dass die Pumpleistung einer Spülmittelpumpe zur Förderung des Spülmittels in dem Spülmittekanal in Abhängigkeit des Temperatursignals angepasst wird, sodass das geförderte Spülmittel auch als Kühlmittel dienen kann. Alternativ kann die Übermittlung der erfassten Temperatur über die drahtlose Sender-Empfänger-Anordnung erfolgen.During operation of the coating device, the temperature sensor transmits the recorded temperatures to the control unit, preferably via the valve device and the rotary feedthrough. The temperature signal can be present as an analog signal and can be converted into a digital signal by means of the valve device. A field bus connection can be used to transmit the signal converted in this way to the control unit via the rotary joint, so that it can be used to control the coating device. In particular, it is within the scope of the advantageous development that the pumping power of a rinsing agent pump for conveying the rinsing agent in the rinsing agent channel is adjusted depending on the temperature signal, so that the conveyed rinsing agent can also serve as a coolant. Alternatively, the recorded temperature can be transmitted via the wireless transmitter-receiver arrangement.
In einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung weist die Rotationseinheit einen Grundkörper auf, in welchem zumindest die Pumpe und die Ventilvorrichtung angeordnet sind. Ferner weist die Rotationseinheit eine Mehrzahl an Tragarmen auf, an welchen jeweils mindestens eine der Sprüheinheiten, vorzugsweise jeweils zwei Sprüheinheiten, angeordnet sind. Vorzugsweise ragen die Tragarme in Bezug auf die Rotationsachse der Rotationseinheit jeweils radial von dem Grundkörper ab.In an advantageous development, the rotation unit has a base body in which at least the pump and the valve device are arranged. Furthermore, the rotation unit has a plurality of support arms on which at least one of the spray units, preferably two spray units, are arranged. Preferably, the support arms protrude in relation to on the rotation axis of the rotation unit radially from the base body.
Der Grundkörper kann aus einem Rahmen gebildet sein, welcher der Rotationseinheit ihre Stabilität und Steifigkeit verleiht. Zusätzlich kann der Grundkörper ein oder mehrere flächige Verkleidungselemente aufweisen, mit denen der Innenraum des Grundkörpers blickdicht und gegen Verschmutzung abgeschlossen ist. Vorzugsweise verläuft die Rotationsachse der Rotationseinheit durch den Grundkörper, wobei insbesondere schwere Komponenten der Rotationseinheit in dem Grundkörper angeordnet sind.The base body can be formed from a frame, which gives the rotation unit its stability and rigidity. In addition, the base body can have one or more flat cladding elements with which the interior of the base body is sealed off from view and against dirt. Preferably, the axis of rotation of the rotation unit runs through the base body, with heavy components of the rotation unit in particular being arranged in the base body.
Der Tragarm ist vorzugsweise in Leichtbauweise, beispielswiese als Hohlprofil oder mit einer Fachwerkstruktur ausgebildet. Insgesamt lässt sich dadurch der größte Gewichtsanteil der Rotationseinheit im Bereich der Rotationsachse der Rotationseinheit konzentrieren. Dies wirkt sich begünstigend auf die Dimensionierung der Antriebe aus, die zur Erzeugung der Rotationsbewegung erforderlich sind. Denn durch die vorstehend beschriebene Gewichtskonzentration sind im Vergleich zu einer gleichmäßigen Gewichtsverteilung auf der Rotationseinheit geringere Antriebsleistungen erforderlich, um die Rotationseinheit zu beschleunigen. Ferner kann der Grundkörper dazu dienen, Lager für die bewegliche Lagerung der Rotationseinheit gegenüber dem Maschinengestell aufzunehmen. Vorteilhafterweise ist die Lagerung der Rotationseinheit gegenüber dem Maschinengestell derart ausgestaltet, dass die Rotationseinheit höhenverstellbar ist. Dies ist vorteilhaft, da hierdurch auch die Höhe der Sprüheinheiten verstellt werden kann, sodass insbesondere Werkstücke unterschiedlicher Dicken aus einer einheitlichen Entfernung beschichtet werden können.The support arm is preferably designed in a lightweight manner, for example as a hollow profile or with a lattice structure. Overall, this allows the largest proportion of the weight of the rotation unit to be concentrated in the area of the rotation axis of the rotation unit. This has a beneficial effect on the dimensioning of the drives required to generate the rotational movement. This is because the weight concentration described above means that less drive power is required to accelerate the rotation unit compared to an even weight distribution on the rotation unit. The base body can also be used to accommodate bearings for the movable mounting of the rotation unit relative to the machine frame. The mounting of the rotation unit relative to the machine frame is advantageously designed in such a way that the height of the rotation unit is adjustable. This is advantageous because it also allows the height of the spray units to be adjusted, so that workpieces of different thicknesses in particular can be coated from a uniform distance.
In einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung sind das Drehgelenk und die Drehdurchführung entlang der Rotationsachse der Rotationseinheit koaxial zueinander angeordnet, wobei sich die Drehdurchführung oberhalb des Drehgelenks befindet.In an advantageous further development, the rotary joint and the rotary feedthrough are arranged coaxially to one another along the rotation axis of the rotation unit, with the rotary feedthrough being located above the rotary joint.
Durch die Anordnung des Drehgelenks unterhalb der Drehdurchführung muss das Beschichtungsmittel nur auf ein minimal erforderliches Niveau in dem unteren Bereich der Rotationseinheit gefördert werden, damit dieses für die daran angeordnete Pumpe bereitgestellt werden kann.By arranging the swivel joint below the rotary union, the coating agent only needs to be pumped to a minimum required level in the lower area of the rotary unit so that it can be made available to the pump arranged on it.
In einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung umfasst die Beschichtungsmittelquelle eine Niederdruckpumpe und einen Beschichtungsmitteltank, wobei die Niederdruckpumpe fluidleitend zwischen dem Drehgelenk und dem Beschichtungsmitteltank angeordnet ist.In an advantageous development, the coating agent source comprises a low-pressure pump and a coating agent tank, wherein the low-pressure pump is arranged in a fluid-conducting manner between the rotary joint and the coating agent tank.
Der vorstehend beschriebenen Weiterbildung liegt die Erkenntnis zugrunde, dass die Zuverlässigkeit der Beschichtungsmittelversorgung im Betrieb erhöht werden kann, wenn zusätzlich zu der Pumpe der Rotationseinheit eine Niederdruckpumpe vorgesehen wird. Zwar kann die Pumpe der Rotationseinheit durch entsprechende Dimensionierung auch alleinstehend dazu geeignet sein, das Beschichtungsmittel durch das Drehgelenk anzusaugen. Allerdings haben Untersuchungen gezeigt, dass die Pumpe der Rotationsvorrichtung deutlich geringer dimensioniert werden kann, wenn zusätzlich die Niederdruckpumpe vorgesehen wird. Die geringere Dimensionierung der Pumpe, die an der Rotationseinheit angeordnet ist, geht mit einem entsprechend geringeren erforderlichen Bauraum und Gewicht für die Rotationseinheit einher. Mittels der zusätzlichen Niederdruckpumpe kann bei Bedarf ein Differenzdruck zwischen dem Beschichtungsmittelkanal und dem Spülmittelkanal Drehgelenk eingestellt werden, um ein Druckgefälle zwischen dem Beschichtungsmittelkanal und dem Spülmittelkanal zu erzeugen. Hierbei kann die Spülmittelpumpe beispielsweise auf einen Druck von 1,5 bar und die Niederdruckpumpe auf einen Druck von 2,0 bar eingestellt werden. Vorzugsweise handelt es sich bei der Spülmittelpumpe und der Niederdruckpumpe um baulich identische Doppelmembranpumpen.The development described above is based on the knowledge that the reliability of the coating agent supply during operation can be increased if a low-pressure pump is provided in addition to the pump of the rotary unit. The pump of the rotary unit can, if dimensioned accordingly, also be suitable on its own to suck in the coating agent through the rotary joint. However, studies have shown that the pump of the rotary device can be dimensioned significantly smaller if the low-pressure pump is also provided. The smaller dimensioning of the pump arranged on the rotary unit is accompanied by a correspondingly smaller required installation space and weight for the rotary unit. Using the additional low-pressure pump, a differential pressure can be set between the coating agent channel and the flushing agent channel of the rotary joint if required in order to generate a pressure gradient between the coating agent channel and the flushing agent channel. The flushing agent pump can be set to a pressure of 1.5 bar and the low-pressure pump to a pressure of 2.0 bar, for example. The flushing agent pump and the low-pressure pump are preferably structurally identical double diaphragm pumps.
Weitere bevorzugte Merkmale und Ausführungsformen der erfindungsgemäßen Beschichtungsvorrichtung werden im Folgenden anhand zweier Ausführungsbeispiele und der Zeichnungen erläutert. Die Ausführungsbeispiele sind lediglich vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen der Erfindung und schränken diese somit nicht ein.Further preferred features and embodiments of the coating device according to the invention are explained below using two embodiments and the drawings. The embodiments are merely advantageous embodiments of the invention and therefore do not restrict it.
Es zeigen:
Figur 1- ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäß ausgestalteten Beschichtungsvorrichtung in schematischer Darstellung;
Figur 2- ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäß ausgestalteten Beschichtungsvorrichtung in schematischer Darstellung.
- Figure 1
- a first embodiment of a coating device designed according to the invention in a schematic representation;
- Figure 2
- a second embodiment of a coating device designed according to the invention in a schematic representation.
Die in
Ferner sind an dem Maschinengestell 2 eine Druckluftquelle 5, eine elektrische Steuereinheit 6 sowie eine elektrische Spannungsquelle 7 angeordnet. In der gezeigten Darstellung sind die von der Druckluftquelle 5 abgehenden Druckluftleitungen sowie ihre Verzweigungen als durchgezogene Verbindungslinien dargestellt. Die von der Steuereinheit 6 abgehenden elektrischen Steuerleitungen sind als einfach gestrichelte Verbindungslinien dargestellt. Die von der elektrischen Spannungsquelle 7 abgehenden Stromleitungen sind als strichgepunktete Verbindungslinien dargestellt.Furthermore, a
An dem Maschinengestell 2 sind auch ein Beschichtungsmitteltank 8, eine Niederdruckpumpe 9, ein Spülmitteltank 10 und eine Spülmittelpumpe 11 angeordnet.A
Die Beschichtungsvorrichtung 1 umfasst ferner eine Rotationseinheit 12, welche gegenüber dem Maschinengestell 2 verdrehbar ist und über ein Drehgelenk 13 sowie eine Drehdurchführung 14 mit den Komponenten des feststehenden Maschinengestells 2 verbunden ist. Hierauf wird weiter unten im Detail eingegangen.The
Die Rotationseinheit 12 umfasst einen Grundkörper 15 sowie mehrere von dem Grundkörper 15 abragende Tragarme, von denen nur ein Tragarm mit dem Bezugszeichen 16 versehen ist.The
Der Grundkörper 15 umfasst einen hier nicht dargestellten Rahmen, welcher einen Innenraum ausbildet, in dem eine druckluftbetriebene Hochdruckpumpe 17 sowie eine Ventilvorrichtung 18 angeordnet sind. Die Hochdruckpumpe 17 ist als eine Doppelmembranpumpe ausgestaltet. In einer anderen Ausführungsform kann die Hochdruckpumpe 17 auch als Kolbenpumpe ausgestaltet sein. Die Ventilvorrichtung 18 ist als eine elektrisch steuerbare Ventilinsel ausgestaltet.The
An den Tragarmen 16 ist jeweils eine Sprüheinheit 20 angeordnet, welche jeweils ein druckluftgesteuertes Ventil 21 zur Steuerung der Beschichtungsmittelausgabe umfasst. Ferner umfassen die Sprüheinheiten 20 jeweils eine Zerstäubereinheit 22 sowie eine Formlufteinheit 23.A
Ferner ist an den Tragarmen 16 jeweils ein Stellmittel 24 angeordnet, welches in hier nicht gezeigter Weise mechanisch mit einer Kurvenbahn gekoppelt ist und mittels welchem die Schwenklage jeweils einer Sprüheinheit 20 gegenüber der Werkstückaufnahme 3 und dem darauf befindlichen Werkstück 4 eingestellt werden kann.Furthermore, an adjusting means 24 is arranged on each of the
In hier nicht gezeigter Weise umfasst die Beschichtungsvorrichtung 1 einen Antrieb, mit dem die Rotationseinheit 12 in eine Rotationsbewegung gegenüber dem Maschinengestell 2, insbesondere gegenüber der Werkstückaufnahme 3 und dem darauf befindlichen Werkstück 4, versetzt werden kann. Dabei wird Beschichtungsmittel aus den Sprüheinheiten 20 über der Oberfläche des Werkstückes 4 ausgegeben.In a manner not shown here, the
Das Drehgelenk 13 dient vorliegend dazu, die zum Maschinengestell 2 verdrehbare Rotationseinheit 12 und die auf der Rotationseinheit 12 angeordneten Sprüheinheiten 20 mit Beschichtungsmittel versorgen zu können. Hierfür wird das Beschichtungsmittel mittels der Niederdruckpumpe 9 über Anschluss II in das Drehgelenk 13 gefördert und gelangt dabei in einen Beschichtungsmittelkanal (nicht gezeigt) des Drehgelenks 13. Im gezeigten Beispiel umfasst das Drehgelenk 13 zwei dichtend miteinander verbundene Teile, welche relativ zueinander verdrehbar sind. Ein feststehender Teil des Drehgelenks ist dabei mit dem Maschinengestell 2 und der andere, bewegliche Teil, mit der Rotationseinheit 12 verbunden.The swivel joint 13 serves in the present case to supply the
Dieser Aufbau des Drehgelenks 13 führt zu einem unvermeidbaren Leckagestrom zwischen dem feststehenden und dem beweglichen Teil des Drehgelenks 13. In diesem Bereich befindet sich zwar eine Dichtung, allerdings kann nicht dauerhaft und vollständig ausgeschlossen werden, dass Beschichtungsmittel als Leckagestrom an der Dichtung vorbei aus dem Beschichtungsmittelkanal gelangt. Damit sich der Leckagestrom in Bezug auf seine Strömungsrichtung hinter der Dichtung nicht zwischen den Drehgelenkteilen antrocknet und diese gegebenenfalls verklebt, ist in dem Drehgelenk ein Spülmittelkanal ausgebildet. Dieser ist in Bezug auf die Strömungsrichtung des Leckagestromes derart angeordnet, dass der Leckagestrom an der Dichtung vorbei in den Spülmittelkanal gelangen und durch ein darin zeitweise oder dauerhaft gefördertes Spülmittel fortgespült werden kann.This design of the swivel joint 13 leads to an unavoidable leakage flow between the fixed and the moving part of the swivel joint 13. Although there is a seal in this area, it cannot be permanently and completely ruled out that coating agent will leak past the seal and out of the coating agent channel. To ensure that the leakage flow does not dry between the swivel joint parts behind the seal in relation to its flow direction and possibly stick them together, a flushing agent channel is formed in the swivel joint. This is arranged in relation to the flow direction of the leakage flow in such a way that the leakage flow can pass past the seal into the flushing agent channel and be flushed away by a flushing agent that is temporarily or permanently conveyed therein.
Der Spülmittelkanal erstreckt sich von Anschluss I zu Anschluss III des Drehgelenks 13. Anschluss I ist über die Spülmittelpumpe 11 mit dem Spülmitteltank 10 verbunden und dient der Zuführung des Spülmittels in das Drehgelenk 13. Anschluss III stellt eine Ablassöffnung dar, durch die das mit dem abgetragenen Leckagestrom versetzte Spülmittel wieder in den Spülmitteltank 10 gelangt.The rinsing agent channel extends from connection I to connection III of the swivel joint 13. Connection I is connected to the rinsing
Der Beschichtungsmittelkanal ist auslaufseitig mit der Saugseite der Hochdruckpumpe 17 verbunden. Durch die Hochdruckpumpe 17 gelangt das Beschichtungsmittel über Verteilerleitungen 19 zu den Sprüheinheiten 20.The coating agent channel is connected on the outlet side to the suction side of the high-
Die Hochdruckpumpe 17 ist druckluftbetrieben und bewegt sich mit der Rotationseinheit 12. Um eine einfache Druckluftversorgung der Hochdruckpumpe 17 zu ermöglichen, dient die Drehdurchführung 14 dazu, Druckluft aus der Druckluftquelle 5 für die zum Maschinengestell 2 verdrehbare Rotationseinheit 12 bereitzustellen.The high-
Es ist eine Besonderheit der gezeigten Beschichtungsvorrichtung 1, dass die Ventilvorrichtung 18 in dem Grundkörper 15 der Rotationseinheit 12 angeordnet ist und dazu ausgestaltet ist, die mittels der Drehdurchführung 14 bereitstellte Druckluft steuerbar auf der Rotationseinheit zu verteilen. Hierfür ist die Ventilvorrichtung 18 als Ventilinsel ausgestaltet und weist eine Verteilerleiste auf, auf welcher eine Mehrzahl pneumatischer Ventile in Gestalt von Ventilscheiben (nicht gezeigt) angeordnet sind. Die Ventilscheiben sind jeweils durch ein elektrisches Steuersignal wahlweise sperrbar und entsperrbar. Das erforderliche Steuersignal wird durch die Steuereinheit 6 bereitgestellt und über eine Signalleitung der Drehdurchführung 14 ebenfalls an die Ventilvorrichtung 18 ausgegeben. Zudem weist die Drehdurchführung 14 eine Stromleitung zur Leistungsübertragung auf, mittels welcher die Ventilvorrichtung 18 auch mit elektrischer Energie aus der Spannungsquelle 7 versorgt wird. Abluftseitig ist die Ventilvorrichtung 18 über eine Vielzahl an Abluftanschlüssen mit den Ventilen 21 verbunden.A special feature of the
In dem hier gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiel dient die Ventilvorrichtung 18 dazu, die Ventile 21 zu steuern. Hierfür kann die Ventilvorrichtung 18 vergleichsweise geringe Strömungsquerschnitte aufweisen und dadurch kompakt aufgebaut sein. Die Hochdruckpumpe 17 erfordert für Ihren Betrieb hingegen einen Volumenstrom, welcher nicht durch die Ventilvorrichtung 18 bereitgestellt werden kann. Stattdessen ist die Hochdruckpumpe 17 über ein pneumatisches Verzweigungsglied 30 mit der Drehdurchführung 14 verbunden. Im gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiel umfasst die Beschichtungsvorrichtung insgesamt drei Verzweigungsglieder, die als T-Stücke ausgeführt sind und dazu dienen, einen durch die Drehdurchführung 14 bereitgestellten Druckluftstrom unabhängig von der Ventilvorrichtung 18 auf der Rotationseinheit 12 aufzuteilen.In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the
Wie in
Zur Überwachung der Temperatur des Drehgelenks 13 ist im Bereich des Beschichtungsmittelkanals des Drehgelenks 13 ein Temperatursensor 28 angeordnet, welcher energietechnisch und signaltechnisch über die Ventilvorrichtung 18 und das Drehgelenk 14 mit der elektrischen Spannungsquelle 7 bzw. mit der Steuereinheit 6 verbunden ist. Alternativ kann der Temperatursensor 28 als temperaturabhängiger Widerstand ausgestaltet sein.To monitor the temperature of the rotary joint 13, a
Die in
Hierzu ist die Drehdurchführung 14 entsprechend den Ausführungen zu
Ein auf die Rotationseinheit 12 geführter Druckluftstrom gelangt in die Ventilvorrichtung 18 und kann in Abhängigkeit der Steuersignale der Steuereinheit 6 auf die pneumatisch gesteuerten und/oder angetriebenen Komponenten auf der Rotationseinheit 12 aufgeteilt werden. Ferner ist die Ventilvorrichtung 18 dazu ausgestaltet, Steuersignale der Steuereinheit 6 unmittelbar oder in gewandelter Form an andere elektrisch gesteuerte Komponenten auszugeben. In dem gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiel gibt die Ventilvorrichtung 18 elektrische Steuersignale an die Druckregler 25, 26, 27 und 29 aus.A compressed air flow directed to the
Zudem ist die Ventilvorrichtung 18 mit geeigneten Signaleingängen dazu ausgestaltet, die mittels des Temperatursensors 28 gemessenen Temperaturen zu empfangen und an die Steuereinheit 6 auszugeben. Die Beschichtungsvorrichtung 1' weist ferner elektrisch steuerbare Stellmittel 24 auf, welche signaltechnisch mit der Ventilvorrichtung 18 verbunden sind.In addition, the
Ferner weist die Ventilvorrichtung 18 elektrische Anschlüsse auf, um elektrische Energie für die elektrisch betriebenen Komponenten auf der Rotationseinheit 12 bereitzustellen. Hierfür ist die Ventilvorrichtung energietechnisch mit den Druckreglern 25, 26, 27, 29, dem Temperatursensor 28 sowie den elektrisch steuerbaren Stellmitteln 24 verbunden.Furthermore, the
Ein weiterer Unterschied zwischen der Beschichtungsvorrichtung 1' gemäß
Claims (15)
- Coating device (1, 1') for applying a coating agent to the surface of a workpiece (4), the coating device comprising a machine frame (2) having a workpiece mount (3), a coating agent source and a compressed air source (5), further comprising a rotary unit (12) which is rotatable in relation to the machine frame (2) and has at least one pump (17) and a plurality of spray units (20), wherein the at least one pump (17) on a suction side is connected to the coating agent source by a fluid-conducting rotary joint (13), and on a pressure side is connected to the spray units (20),
characterized in that,
the rotary unit (12) has a pneumatic valve device (18), and the spray units (20) each have a compressed air controlled valve (21) for controlling the delivery of coating agent, wherein the valve device (18) on an intake air side is connected to the compressed air source (5) at least via a fluid-conducting rotary feedthrough (14), and on an exhaust air side is connected to the compressed air controlled valves (21) of the spray units (20). - Coating device according to claim 1,
in which the pump (17) is configured to be operated by compressed air and is connected to the compressed air source (5) at least via the rotary feedthrough (14). - Coating device according to claim 1 or 2,
in which the pneumatic valve device (18) can be controlled electrically, the rotary feedthrough (14) has at least one signal line, and the machine frame (2) comprises an electric control unit (6), which for transmitting signals is connected at least to the valve device (18) by the rotary feedthrough (14). - Coating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
in which the rotary feedthrough (14) is configured for transmitting electric power, and the machine frame (2) comprises an electric voltage source (7), which for transmitting power is connected at least to the valve device (18) by the rotary feedthrough (14). - Coating device according to claim 1 or 2,
in which the pneumatic valve device (18) is electrically controllable, and the machine frame (2) comprises an electric control unit (6), wherein at least the valve device (18) and the control unit (6) are connected by a wireless transceiver for signal transmission, and wherein preferably a pneumatically operated generator is arranged on the rotary unit (12), said pneumatically operated generator at least being connected to the compressed air source (5) via the rotary feedthrough (14) and being configured to supply at least the valve device (18) with electric power. - Coating device at least according to claim 2,
in which the pump (17) on the suction side is connected to the rotary feedthrough (14) by a pump pressure regulator (25), wherein the pump pressure regulator (25) is preferably electrically controllable. - Coating device according to any one of the preceding claims,
in which a coating agent pressure regulator (29) is arranged between the pump (17) and at least one spray unit (20), wherein the coating agent pressure regulator (29) is preferably electrically controllable. - Coating device according to any one of the preceding claims,
in which at least one of the spray units (20) has at least one compressed air operated atomizer unit (22) for atomizing the coating agent, wherein the atomizer unit (22) is connected to the compressed air source (5) at least via the rotary feedthrough (14), and wherein preferably an atomizer pressure regulator (26) is arranged between the atomizer unit (22) and the rotary feedthrough (18), which an atomizer pressure regulator (26) is preferably configured to be electrically controllable. - Coating device according to any one of the preceding claims,
in which at least one of the spray units (20) has at least one compressed air operated air-forming unit (23) that adjusts a jet shape of the coating agent delivered from the spray unit (20), wherein the air-forming unit (23) is connected to the compressed air source (5) at least via the rotary feedthrough (14) and wherein preferably an air-forming pressure regulator (27) is arranged between the air-forming unit (23) and the rotary feedthrough (14), which air-forming pressure regulator (27) is preferably electrically controllable. - Coating device according to any one of the preceding claims,
in which the rotary unit (12) comprises a plurality of actuators (24) on each of which one of the spray units (20) is arranged, wherein the actuators (24) are configured to adjust a position of the respective spray unit (20) arranged thereon in relation to the workpiece mount (3), in particular an orientation of the respective spray unit (20), and the actuators (24) comprise in each case at least one electric drive and are preferably electrically controllable. - Coating device according to any one of the preceding claims,
in which the workpiece mount (3) is in the form of a conveyor belt to convey a workpiece (4) via a linear movement from an inlet region of the machine frame (2) to an outlet region, wherein the spray units (24) are configured to move in a rotating movement of the rotary unit (12) sweeping across the workpiece (4) conveyed by the conveyor belt in the inlet region and in the outlet region. - Coating device according to any one of the preceding claims,
in which the rotary joint (13) has a coating agent channel and a rinsing agent channel which are isolated from one another by at least one seal, wherein the coating agent channel is configured to fluidically connect the coating agent source to the pump (17), wherein the rinsing agent channel is configured to receive a leakage flow which exits at the seal and contains coating agent from the coating agent channel, wherein the rinsing agent channel is preferably connected to a rinsing agent source by a rinsing agent infeed on the rotary joint (13), and the rinsing agent channel is connected to a rinsing agent sink by a rinsing agent outlet on the rotary joint. - Coating device according to any one of the preceding claims,
in which at least one temperature sensor (28) is arranged in or on the rotary joint (13). - Coating device according to any one of the preceding claims,
in which the rotary unit (12) has a main body (15) in which at least the pump (17) and the valve device (18) are arranged, and in which the rotary unit (12) further includes a plurality of support arms (16) on each of which at least one of the spray units (20) is arranged, preferably two spray units (20), wherein preferably the rotary joint (13) and the rotary feedthrough (14) are arranged so as to be mutually coaxial along a rotational axis of the rotary unit (12), and the rotary feedthrough (14) is situated above the rotary joint (13). - Coating device according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the coating agent source comprises a low-pressure pump (9) and a coating agent tank (8), wherein the low-pressure pump (9) is fluidically arranged between the rotary joint (13) and the coating agent tank (8).
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE102021121591.9A DE102021121591A1 (en) | 2021-08-19 | 2021-08-19 | coating device |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP4137235A1 EP4137235A1 (en) | 2023-02-22 |
EP4137235B1 true EP4137235B1 (en) | 2024-04-24 |
EP4137235C0 EP4137235C0 (en) | 2024-04-24 |
Family
ID=82404155
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP22183922.8A Active EP4137235B1 (en) | 2021-08-19 | 2022-07-08 | Coating device |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US11850616B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP4137235B1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA3170298A1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE102021121591A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2888903A (en) * | 1955-09-08 | 1959-06-02 | Conforming Matrix Corp | Apparatus for rotating spray guns to evenly paint non-planar surfaces |
US3034475A (en) * | 1958-08-25 | 1962-05-15 | Francis A Bowman | Contour spray machine |
US3135629A (en) * | 1961-07-31 | 1964-06-02 | Harvest Queen Mill & Elevator | Pipeline coating unit |
US3908592A (en) * | 1973-12-06 | 1975-09-30 | Circle Machine Co Inc | Apparatus for spraying material with two fluids |
GB1522544A (en) * | 1976-04-22 | 1978-08-23 | Maddock P | Apparatus for supplying fluid media |
US4151808A (en) * | 1977-03-10 | 1979-05-01 | Circle Machine Co., Inc. | Apparatus for spraying articles carried by a conveyor |
US4421275A (en) * | 1981-08-17 | 1983-12-20 | Gratton Richard A | Apparatus for applying refractory material to refractory lined vessels |
US6632475B1 (en) * | 2000-10-06 | 2003-10-14 | Nicola Bleggi | Method of lining underground pipes and apparatus for performing the method |
US6745955B2 (en) * | 2001-07-18 | 2004-06-08 | Remote Orbital Installations Inc. | Spraying apparatus |
JP2003251234A (en) * | 2002-03-01 | 2003-09-09 | Chubu Electric Power Co Inc | Coating apparatus for inside of pipe |
FR2875150B1 (en) | 2004-09-10 | 2006-12-01 | Disa Cattinair Soc Par Actions | ROTATING MANUAL DEVICE FOR APPLICATION BY SPRAYING A COLORING AND / OR TREATING PRODUCT |
ES2361098B1 (en) * | 2008-05-23 | 2012-04-24 | Jesus Francisco Barberan Latorre | POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR ROTATING PRODUCT APPLICATION EQUIPMENT. |
US9297064B2 (en) * | 2009-01-16 | 2016-03-29 | Marca Machinery, Llc | In-line metallizer assemblies and part-coating conveyor systems incorporating the same |
-
2021
- 2021-08-19 DE DE102021121591.9A patent/DE102021121591A1/en active Pending
-
2022
- 2022-07-08 EP EP22183922.8A patent/EP4137235B1/en active Active
- 2022-08-10 CA CA3170298A patent/CA3170298A1/en active Pending
- 2022-08-17 US US17/889,519 patent/US11850616B2/en active Active
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US11850616B2 (en) | 2023-12-26 |
CA3170298A1 (en) | 2023-02-19 |
EP4137235A1 (en) | 2023-02-22 |
DE102021121591A1 (en) | 2023-02-23 |
US20230058008A1 (en) | 2023-02-23 |
EP4137235C0 (en) | 2024-04-24 |
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