EP3017875B1 - Cleaning method and device for one or multiple parts of an application system - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a cleaning method according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a cleaning device according to the preamble of claim 11. When coating the objects with paint in a paint booth usually enters a partial flow of application units leaking coating material not on the object to be coated. This partial flow is referred to in the art as overspray. The overspray is discharged to a large extent with the help of an air flow from the spray booth.

However, a minor portion of the overspray impacts as soiling on interior surfaces of the paint booth, and especially on the exterior surfaces of the application system, and particularly on the application units, so that the overspray-contaminated components must be cleaned from time to time.

From the DE 101 45 168 A1 For example, there is known a method of automatically cleaning the outside of a coating apparatus used to coat workpieces, wherein the coating apparatus is sprayed with dry ice in a cleaning tank, and wherein a nozzle directed to the outside of the coating apparatus is provided in the cleaning tank or in its wall is. In the DE 101 45 168 A1 is further proposed that the nozzle is movably mounted and displaceable and / or pivotable by an automatically controlled drive device relative to the coating device.

The EP 2 056 970 B1 describes a cleaning method and a cleaning device for atomizers, in particular spray guns, wherein a mixing device is adapted to supply a compressed air-cleaning agent mixture to a mixture outlet, wherein a spraying device is provided, which is connected to the mixture outlet and suitable for spraying the cleaning mixture, wherein the Spraying device has a plurality of Spühlrohre, which deliver the compressed air cleaning agent mixture.

A disadvantage of the known cleaning methods, inter alia, the relatively high consumption of medium during the cleaning process.
In connection with the cleaning of application units in a system for coating objects is from the DE 10 2012 014 212 A1 It is known to automatically monitor the contamination of the application units with the aid of a sensor device and to initiate the cleaning process of an application unit as a function of a degree of contamination of the application unit detected by means of the sensor device. This is to reduce the risk of too early or too late cleaning. The DE10110098 A1 discloses a cleaning method according to the preamble of claim 1. The object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning method and a cleaning device of the type mentioned, which are further developed in comparison with the methods known from the prior art.

This object is achieved in a cleaning method according to claim 1. By such a variable media use, the media consumption during the cleaning process can be reduced and / or the cleaning effect can be increased. Also, the removal of dissolved in the cleaning contaminants can be improved according to the invention.

Preferably, at least two phases of the sequence can be distinguish by the medium supplied to the spraying devices. In this way, a better solution effect can be achieved by using different media in the respective phases and / or the consumption of relatively expensive media, for example solvents, can be reduced.

It may be advantageous to use as media at least two of the following: solvents, water, compressed air, water vapor, carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is preferably delivered in the form of pellets known per se.

In order to further increase the cleaning effect, the number of spray devices to which a medium is supplied in a first phase of the sequence may differ from the number of spray devices to which a medium is supplied in a second phase of the sequence.

It may be favorable if the first volume flow is not equal to zero, and if the second volume flow is at least almost equal to zero.

Advantageously, at least between two phases, in each of which at least one of the spraying devices a volume flow is supplied, which is not equal to zero, be provided a phase in which all the spraying devices, a volume flow is supplied, which is at least almost equal to zero. In this way, in particular the removal of dissolved contaminants can be further improved.

In an advantageous development, the phases of the sequence can be predetermined such that the volume flows which are supplied to individual spray devices or groups of spray devices are controlled such that the sequence follows a geometric arrangement of the spray devices. According to this embodiment of the invention, the cleaning effect can be further increased, wherein it is further made possible to adapt the sequences as needed to the application system to be cleaned or to its parts.

In order to increase the cleaning effect and / or to improve the removal of contaminants, spraying devices of different design can advantageously be used for irradiating the one or more parts of the application system.

It may be advantageous to use spraying devices according to at least two of the following types: full jet nozzle, flat jet nozzle, rotary nozzle.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the one or more parts of the application system can be rotated about an axis by means of a handling unit in the cleaning chamber, wherein one or more of the spray devices are arranged at least nearly perpendicular to this axis.

The object of the invention is achieved in a cleaning device according to claim 11. The advantages of the cleaning device according to the invention result in particular analogously to the advantages of the cleaning method according to the invention.

To achieve a particularly efficient use of media, it may be advantageous if the module is connected on the input side with several media leading supply lines.

In order to clean the one or more parts of the application system as completely as possible, the spray devices are preferably at least partially formed as flat jet nozzles, which are arranged about an axis, wherein at least a portion of the flat jet nozzles arranged about the axis are aligned at least almost perpendicular to this axis.

Advantageously, a system for coating objects can have at least one cleaning device according to the invention or one of its embodiments.

Figur 1

einen horizontalen Schnitt eines Teilbereichs einer Anlage zum Beschichten von Gegenständen;

Figur 2

Teile eines Applikationssystems;

Figur 3

eine Teilansicht einer Reinigungsvorrichtung;

Figur 4

eine Teilansicht einer Reinigungsvorrichtung mit einer Medienzuführungseinrichtung;

Figur 5

eine Teilansicht einer Reinigungsvorrichtung.

Further advantageous embodiments will become apparent from the following description, embodiments of the invention, without being limited thereto, will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. It shows, in a simplified, schematic representation:

FIG. 1

a horizontal section of a portion of a system for coating objects;

FIG. 2

Parts of an application system;

FIG. 3

a partial view of a cleaning device;

FIG. 4

a partial view of a cleaning device with a media supply device;

FIG. 5

a partial view of a cleaning device.

FIG. 1 shows a portion of a generally designated 10 paint shop as an example of a system for coating objects. In the paint shop 10, articles 12 are provided with a coating in the form of a paint. In FIG. 1 the objects 12 are shown schematically as rectangles. To be coated objects 12 may be, for example, vehicle bodies, body parts, machine parts or vehicle parts such as bumpers or the like. Examples of equipment for coating objects include paint shops, facilities for applying preservatives and / or release agents or equipment for powder coating.

FIG. 1 shows a horizontal section of a section 14 a painting booth 16 below a cabin ceiling, not shown. In the example shown, the painting booth 16 has mutually parallel lateral walls 18, which in the example shown in FIG FIG. 1 not shown area can be closed by end faces, the end faces in a known manner gates or locks for the objects 12 have. The bottom of the painting booth 16 is essentially formed by a grid 20. Upwards For example, the paint booth 16 can be closed off in a manner known per se by an air plenum, from which conditioned air can be directed into the interior of the paint booth 16.

The objects to be painted 12 are guided in the example shown with the aid of a conveyor system 22 in a continuous or intermittent movement through the interior of the painting booth 16, for example in the direction of the arrow 50. The type of conveyor system 22 is irrelevant in the present context.

The objects to be coated 12 are provided in the painting booth 12 with the aid of an application system 24 with a coating in the form of a lacquer.

For coating the objects 12, the application system 24 preferably comprises on both sides of the path of movement of the objects 12 on the conveyor system 22 handling units 26, 28, which may be designed in the form of handling robots or painting robots of different construction. Likewise by way of example, in the section 14 of the painting booth 16, four handling units designed as articulated-arm robots 26 are provided, of which two are each arranged on one side of the path of movement of the objects 12. The articulated arm robots exemplified are also referred to as articulated robots. In addition, a total of two trained as an industrial robot 28 handling units are present, one of which is arranged on one side of the path of movement of the objects 12.

Both the articulated arm robot 26 and the industrial robot 28 have a movable robot arm 30 and 32, at the end of each an application unit 34 and 36 is worn. Each of these application units 34, 36 comprises the actual applicator in FIG. 1 not specifically provided with a reference numeral. The application unit 34 shown in the example of the articulated arm robot 26 includes, for example, a high-rotation atomizer, while the application unit 36 of the industrial robot 28 has a spray gun. Other common applicators may also be included in a modification of an application unit 34, 36.

As was explained at the outset, the overspray arising during the coating of the articles 12 is deposited as soiling on inner surfaces of the paint booth 16 and preferably on the outer surfaces of the application system 24 and especially on the application units 34, 36 and on the adjoining areas of the handling units 26, 28 ,

To remove dirt, in particular the above-described contamination by overspray, a plurality of cleaning devices 38 is provided along the side walls 18 of the spray booth 16.

A cleaning device 38 has in each case at least one cleaning chamber 40 and several in FIG. 1 not shown sprayers on. The spraying devices of a cleaning device 38 can be designed, for example, as a nozzle and / or as a flushing pipe.

In a cleaning chamber 40, one or more parts of an application system 24 can be cleaned with the aid of the spray devices. In particular, in a cleaning chamber 40, the application units 34, 36 are at least partially cleaned, wherein adhering overspray is released and transported away.

FIG. 2 shows an end portion 44 of one of the in FIG. 1 shown Robot arms 30. This end portion 44 of the robot arm 30 comprises a robot wrist 46, which in turn carries in a manner known per se the application unit 34, which is shown here by way of example in the form of a rotary atomizer 48.

The rotary atomizer 48 has a bell plate 42 and may preferably be equipped with a steering air system not shown in detail in the drawing. With the help of the bell plate 42, a spray jet cloud can be formed. With the help of the steering air system, the spray jet can be regulated and the spray jet cloud can be adapted to the objects 12 to be painted.

In the FIG. 2 shown application unit 34 is designed as an atomizer with internal charging, wherein the atomizer is preferably provided with an integrated high-voltage cascade, which is not shown in detail in the drawing. Another example of a nebulizer are those in FIG. 1 indicated, executed as a gun atomizer application units 36th

The cleaning chamber 40 of a cleaning device 38 may be designed for the partial or complete reception of the end section 44 of a handling unit 26, 28.

FIG. 3 shows an application unit 34 designed as a rotary atomizer 48, which projects into a cleaning chamber 40 of a cleaning device 38. The application unit shown here is designed as an atomizer with external charging, wherein the charging device 56 in the example shown has a retaining ring 54 which carries a plurality of outer electrodes 52. The rotary atomizer 48 has a bell plate 42 and may preferably be equipped with a steering air system, not shown.

In the FIG. 3 shown cleaning device 38 is equipped with a plurality of nozzles 58 designed as sprayers, wherein from the spray devices, as indicated in the drawing, a medium in the form of a jet 60 can emerge. From different spray devices may emerge the same or different media.

In the example shown, in each case a jet 60 emerges from the nozzles 58 in the form of a cleaning jet, the jet 60 being directed onto the end section of the application unit 34.

FIG. 4 shows a cleaning device 38, wherein the cleaning chamber 40 of the cleaning device 38 is shown in a sectional view, wherein the cutting plane is perpendicular to the axis 78 of the application unit 34.

The parts of the application system 24 shown in the example also comprise the outer electrodes 52 of an application unit 34 designed as a rotary atomizer 48 with external charging. According to the invention, the application unit 34 is located in the cleaning chamber 40 for cleaning. In the cleaning chamber, nozzles 58a, 58b, 58c, 58d are formed Provided spraying devices which are arranged about the axis 78. From the nozzles 58a, 58b, 58c, 58d, in each case a medium in the form of a jet 60 emerges, which jet 60 is directed onto the application unit 34. In an alternative embodiment to the nozzles 58a, 58b, 58c, 58d, the spraying devices can be designed as flushing pipes.

The medium used to irradiate the application unit becomes the spray devices formed as nozzles 58a, 58b, 58c, 58d supplied via main lines 62. In the example shown, the nozzles 58a, 58b, 58c, 58d are directed at the axis 78.

The application unit 34 can be rotated for example by a robot arm 30 about the axis 78.

Further shows FIG. 4 a media supply device 66 having an assembly 64 which is connected on the output side to the main lines 62 leading to the spray devices. A main conduit 62 may be configured to supply media to a single sprayer or to supply media to a group of sprayers. The latter is in FIG. 4 not shown in detail. On the input side, the assembly 64 is connected to a plurality of supply lines 70. The assembly 64 may include at least one and known per se media change block.

For example, media such as air or compressed air, water, carbon dioxide, cleaning agents and / or solvents can be supplied to the assembly 64 via the supply lines 70. Media supplied to assembly 64 via supply lines 70 may be mixed or unmixed from assembly 64 to one or more of the main conduits 62.

The assembly 64 may be preceded by a function group 68, which is the output side connected to a supply line 70. The function group 68 is connected on the input side at least to a first supply line 72 and to a second supply line 74.

The function group 68 may provide a media mixture for the assembly 64, wherein in the function group 68, a medium supplied via the first supply line 72 is mixed with at least one further supplied by means of the second supply line 74 medium.

In an alternative embodiment, the functional group 68 may be formed, for example, as a hot water cleaning device, in particular as a low-pressure hot water cleaning device, and preferably have a sensor block, not shown. In this embodiment, the supply lines 72 and 74 may be configured to supply water or electricity.

In the FIG. 4 shown media supply device 66 has a control device 76, which is coupled in the example shown with the assembly 64 and is designed to control the media supply to the spray devices.

By means of the control device 76, the media supply to individual spray devices and / or the media supply to blocks of spray devices can be controlled. A block of spray devices is preferably formed by a plurality of spray devices connected to the assembly 64 via a common main line.

The spraying devices of the cleaning device 38 can, for example, by means of in FIG. 4 shown control means 76 are driven in defined sequences. In particular, the media supply to the spraying devices is controlled according to the defined sequences.

The defined sequences, which are used for the control, are subdivided into several temporally successive phases.

A sequence can be defined, for example, in that in a first phase another medium via a or several main lines 62 is supplied as in a second phase.

Alternatively or additionally, a sequence can be defined by the fact that the at least one volume flow related to a medium to one or more spray devices is set differently in a first phase than in a second phase. In this case, both the volume flow itself and the allocation of one or more spray devices can be varied to a volume flow.

Alternatively or additionally, a sequence can be defined by the number of spray devices to which a medium is supplied in a first phase being different from the number of spray devices to which a medium is supplied in a second phase.

Thus, for example, a medium may be supplied to the spraying devices 58a and 58b in a first phase, while in a second phase a medium is supplied to the spraying devices 58c and 58d. Furthermore, for example, in a first phase, a medium can be supplied to the spray devices 58a and 58c and in a second phase to the spray devices 58b and 58d. By means of these or other combinations, for example, a sequence of four or any other multiplicity of phases can also be formed.

A sequence may also be defined such that the spray devices are driven in a geometric sequence. For example, opposing spraying devices can be actuated successively or in different phases. In another example, the spraying device can be controlled one after the other around an axis, for example first the nozzle 58a, later the nozzle 58b, later the nozzle 58c and again later the nozzle 58d are driven. Or, for example, first the nozzles 58b and 58c, in a later phase the nozzles 58c and 58d and again later the nozzles 58d and 58a can be actuated. Or it can, for example, first in FIG. 5 shown nozzle 58e and possibly further aligned in the same angle nozzles or more arranged on the same height nozzles, in a later phase, the nozzle 58f and possibly further aligned in the same angle nozzles or more arranged at the same height nozzles, and again later the Nozzle 58g and possibly further aligned in the same angle nozzles or more arranged at the same height nozzles are controlled.

For example, a sequence may also be defined such that a medium is supplied in a first phase of a first group of spray devices while no medium is supplied to a second group of spray devices, no medium being supplied during a second phase of the first group of spray devices second group of spray devices, a medium is supplied.

A sequence can also be defined by supplying a different medium to all of the main lines 62 of the cleaning device 38 in a first phase than in a second phase.

FIG. 5 shows a highly schematic representation of a part of a cleaning device 38 and a part of an application unit 34, which is formed in the example as a rotary atomizer 48 with a bell plate 42 and with a plurality of outer electrodes 52. The cleaning device 38 has a plurality of spray devices designed as nozzles 58e, 58f, 58g, which are connected to main lines 62. The nozzles 58e, 58f, 58g are each in different Angles are aligned relative to the axis 78 of the application unit. There may be more in FIG. 5 not shown nozzles are provided, which are arranged about the axis 78, the orientation of this in FIG. 5 not shown nozzles to the axis 78 of the alignment in FIG. 5 shown nozzles 58e, 58f, 58g may correspond to the axis 78.

The nozzles 58, 58a, 58b, 58c, 58d, 58e, 58f, 58g can be designed, for example, as a full-jet nozzle, flat-jet nozzle and / or rotary nozzle, it being possible for nozzles of different designs to be provided in a cleaning device 38. Alternatively or additionally, further rinsing devices may be provided in the cleaning device 38.

The invention enables a highly efficient media usage. Furthermore, both the dissolution effect and the removal of dissolved contaminants can be improved by the invention.

Claims (14)

1. Cleaning process for one or more parts of an application system (24), comprising at least the following process steps:

   a) positioning the one or more parts of the application system (24) in a cleaning chamber (40);

   b) spraying the one or more parts of the application system (24) with a medium, wherein the spraying is carried out by means of a plurality of spray devices (58) arranged inside the cleaning chamber (40), wherein the medium is supplied to the spray devices (58) from an assembly group (64); wherein

   c) a first volume stream is supplied to a first group of spray devices (58) arranged inside the cleaning chamber (40) and a second volume stream is supplied to a second group of spray devices (58) arranged inside the cleaning chamber (40), wherein the first and the second volume streams differ from one another;

   d) removing the one or more parts of the application system (24) from the cleaning chamber (40);
   characterized in that

   e) the supply of media to the spray devices (58) arranged inside the cleaning chamber (40) takes place in a sequence having a plurality of successive phases, wherein at least two phases of the sequence differ in terms of the supply of the at least one medium to the spray devices (58);

   f) in a first phase of the sequence, the allocation of the spray devices (58) arranged inside the cleaning chamber (40) to the first group and to the second group is carried-out differently as in a second phase of the sequence.
2. Cleaning process according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least two of the phases differ in terms of the medium supplied to the spray devices (58).
3. Cleaning process according to Claim 2, characterized in that there are used as media at least two if the following: solvents, water, compressed air, steam, carbon dioxide.
4. Cleaning process according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the number of spray devices (58) to which a medium is supplied in a first phase of the sequence is different from the number of spray devices (58) to which a medium is supplied in a second phase of the sequence.
5. Cleaning process according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first volume stream is not equal to zero, and in that the second volume stream is at least approximately equal to zero
6. Cleaning process according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that there is provided, at least between two phases in which a volume stream that is not equal to zero is supplied to at least one of the spray devices (58), a phase in which a volume stream that is at least approximately equal to zero is supplied to all the spray devices (58).
7. Cleaning process according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the phases of the sequence are specified in such a way that the volume streams which are supplied to individual spray devices (58) or groups of spray devices (58) are controlled in such a way that the sequence follows a geometric arrangement of the spray devices (58).
8. Cleaning process according to any one of Claim 1 to 7, characterized in that spray devices (58) of different types are used for spraying the one or more parts of the application system (24).
9. Cleaning process according to Claim 8, characterized in that spray devices (58) according to at least two of the following types are used: full jet nozzles, fan nozzles, rotary nozzles.
10. Cleaning process according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the one or more parts of the application system (24) are rotated in the cleaning chamber (40) by means of a handling unit (26, 28), wherein the rotation takes place around an axis (78), to which axis (78) one or more of the spray devices (58) are arranged at least approximately perpendicularly.
11. Cleaning device (38) for one or more parts of an application system (24), having

    a) a cleaning chamber (40);

    b) a plurality of spray devices (58) arranged inside the cleaning chamber (40) for introducing a medium into the cleaning chamber (40);

    c) an assembly group (64) for providing the medium for the spray devices (58);

    d) at least one main line (62) for supplying the medium from the assembly group (64) to the spray devices (58),
    characterized in that

    e) the cleaning device (38) is designed to carry out the cleaning process according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein a control device (76) is provided for controlling the supply of the at least one medium to the spray devices (58).
12. Cleaning device (38) according to Claim 11, characterized in that the assembly group (64) is connected on inlet side to a plurality of supply lines (70) carrying media.
13. Cleaning device (38) according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that at least some of the spray devices (58) are in the form of fan nozzles which are arranged around an axis (78), wherein at least some of the fan nozzles arranged around the axis (78) are oriented at least approximately perpendicularly to the shaft (78).
14. System for coating objects, having at least one cleaning device (38) according to any one of Claims 11 to 13.

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