DE102022121063A1 - Device comprising an applicator with a media tank for holding a medium to be applied and a charging station - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to load the heatable media tank (3) of an applicator (1) with medium, there is a charging shaft (17) at a charging station (2) which has at least one charging channel (23) and a return channel (24), the head of which The loading shaft (17) is designed as a valve (40), which is controlled by a displacement of the loading tube (20) receiving the loading channel (23) relative to a further tube surrounding the loading tube. In addition to the media tank (3), there is a in the applicator (1). Detergent tank (43) is provided, which can also be filled with a dishwashing/cleaning agent via the loading shaft (17). Since, according to the invention, the rinsing agent tank (43) is integrated in an isolated manner in the applicator (1), rinsing processes can be carried out during a painting process involving several color changes without the high-voltage supply to the applicator (1) having to be interrupted.

Description

The invention relates to a device comprising an applicator with a media tank for holding a medium to be applied and a charging station to which the applicator can be docked for filling the media tank, the applicator having an applicator device which can be rotated about its longitudinal axis and has a continuous longitudinal channel and wherein the charging station has a charging shaft having at least one channel, which can be inserted into the longitudinal channel and whose distal end can be coupled to a distributor which is arranged inside the applicator between the media tank and the applicator device and is in a controlled line connection with the distributor.

Such an applicator in the form of an atomizer is in the WO 2021/037317 A described. The atomizer has an atomizer bell, which contains the medium to be atomized, e.g. B. a colored paint is supplied via a channel in the atomizer head. The atomizer also has an integral media tank for the medium to be atomized, which must be filled from time to time. To do this, the charging shaft of a charging station is inserted into the atomizer bell.

With atomizers that are suitable for electrospray painting, the atomizer bell is under high voltage during painting. To rinse or clean the atomizer bell, a rinsing/cleaning agent is usually supplied to it via a line that runs through a robot arm carrying the atomizer. When using water-soluble paints, a water-based dishwashing/cleaning agent is required. Because such a rinsing/cleaning agent is electrically conductive, during a rinsing process during which the atomizer bell is at high voltage, the environment (robot, robot cabin) would also be put under high voltage, which should not be the case for safety reasons. The flushing process can therefore only take place if the device is grounded. Therefore, in a device according to the above-mentioned prior art, rinsing can only take place if the atomizer is first guided into the grounded charging station before a color change. However, this delays the color change.

The invention is based on the task of accelerating the color change.

To solve the problem, the invention provides that the applicator has a detergent tank, which is also in a controlled line connection with the distributor.

Since, according to the invention, the rinsing agent tank is integrated in an isolated manner in the applicator, the rinsing processes can take place during a painting process involving several color changes without the high-voltage supply having to be interrupted. There is also high voltage at the detergent tank. Since the detergent tank is filled as needed via the - grounded - charging station, it does not require a supply line from an external detergent/cleaning agent source, which would put the environment under high voltage during a rinsing process.

The invention also has the advantage that the atomizer does not have to be returned to the charging station in the event of minor disruptions to the painting system in which it is used, as long as the system has to be stopped due to the disruption.

The invention also has the advantage that the atomizer does not have to be guided into the charging station in the event of minor disruptions to the painting system in which it is used

The invention also has the advantage that the atomizer does not have to be guided into the charging station in the event of minor disruptions to the painting system in which it is used

Since the distal end of the loading shaft is brought close to the media tank, the channels in the applicator between the loading shaft and the media tank are relatively short, so that when the medium is changed (color change), only small residual amounts of the old medium remain in this area can be removed by refilling the media tank with a small amount of rinsing/cleaning agents and are therefore irrelevant.

The loading shaft preferably has a loading channel, a return channel, which can also perform a flushing function, and a flushing channel. The loading channel is preferably used to fill the media tank. The return channel makes it possible to recover the color that is still in the loading channel when changing colors and thereby flush a ring channel. The flushing channel is used to clean the device.

In order to realize the three channels, the invention provides that the loading shaft consists of a central loading tube, a middle tube and an outer tube, with the loading channel from the loading tube, the return channel from an annular gap between the loading tube and the middle tube and the flushing channel is formed by an annular gap between the middle tube and the outer tube.

In order to realize different switching positions, the invention provides that the distal end of the charging shaft, which is remote from the charging station, has a valve system that can be inserted into the distributor in the applicator. The distributor has an inlet channel, a tank channel and a detergent channel, wherein in a first switching position of the valve system the charging channel is blocked with the return channel, in a second switching position the charging channel is blocked with the tank channel and the detergent channel and in a third switching position the return channel and the charging channel are blocked .

To operate the valve system, it is provided that the loading tube can be displaced in the longitudinal direction relative to the middle tube. The distal end of the loading tube is closed, but has side openings that connect the loading channel with the return channel, with seals lying in front of and behind the openings and the inner surface of the middle tube having a circumferential bypass, preferably in the form of a bypass groove.

In order to push the rinsing/cleaning agent out of the rinsing agent tank during a rinsing process, it is connected to a source of compressed air.

Preferably, the loading channel, the tank channel and the detergent channel are each connected either to the media tank or to the detergent tank via a valve system.

To clean the atomizer, rotating brushes are arranged in the charging bay of the charging station. As soon as the atomizer is in the loading bay, these are driven in rotation so that the atomizer cleans them from the outside.

• 1 zeigt in einer schematischen Darstellung eine Vorrichtung mit einem einen Medientank aufweisenden Zerstäuber und einer Ladestation, wobei sich ein Ventilsystem in einer zweiten Schaltstellung befindet, bei der der Medientank von der Ladestation aufgefüllt werden kann,
• 2 zeigt in einer vergrößerten Darstellung das distale Ende des Schaftes, wobei das Ventilsystem sich in der zweiten Schaltstellung befindet,
• 3 zeigt in einer vergrößerten Darstellung das distale Ende des Schaftes, wobei das Ventilsystem sich in einer dritten Schaltstellung befindet,
• 4 zeigt in einer vergrößerten Darstellung das distale Ende des Schaftes, wobei sich das Ventilsystem in einer ersten Schaltposition befindet,
• 5 zeigt in einer schematischen Darstellung einen Zerstäuber nach 1, wobei zusätzlich ein Spülmitteltank vorgesehen ist, und
• 6 zeigt in einem vergrößerten Ausschnitt eine schematische Darstellung eines Ventilsystems zum Füllen bzw. Leeren des Spülmitteltanks.

The invention will be explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment that shows an applicator in the form of an atomizer.

• 1 shows a schematic representation of a device with an atomizer having a media tank and a charging station, with a valve system being in a second switching position in which the media tank can be filled by the charging station,
• 2 shows an enlarged view of the distal end of the shaft, with the valve system in the second switching position,
• 3 shows an enlarged view of the distal end of the shaft, with the valve system in a third switching position,
• 4 shows an enlarged view of the distal end of the shaft, with the valve system in a first switching position,
• 5 shows a schematic representation of an atomizer 1 , whereby a detergent tank is also provided, and
• 6 shows an enlarged section of a schematic representation of a valve system for filling or emptying the detergent tank.

• Die Vorrichtung besteht aus einem Zerstäuber (Applikator) 1 und einer Ladestation 2. Der Zerstäuber weist einen integralen Medientank 3 mit einem Schiebekolben 11 auf, der von einem aus einem Dosierzylinder 4 stammenden Schiebemedium betätigt wird, wobei der Dosierzylinder 4 bzw. eine von einem Spindelmotor 12 angetriebene Dosierpumpe 5 eine genaue Austragungsrate festlegt.

First we look at the 1 Referenced:

• The device consists of an atomizer (applicator) 1 and a charging station 2. The atomizer has an integral media tank 3 with a sliding piston 11, which is actuated by a sliding medium coming from a metering cylinder 4, the metering cylinder 4 or one being operated by a spindle motor 12 driven metering pump 5 determines an exact discharge rate.

The media tank 3 has an integrated heating coil 10 to heat the medium (the colored varnish) to a predetermined processing temperature.

Connected to the media tank 3 is a distributor consisting of a first and a second distribution block 6, 7, which is equipped with various valves in order to control the functions in the atomizer 1.

On the front of the atomizer 1 there is an atomizer device, which in this exemplary embodiment is designed as an atomizer bell (applicator device) 8, behind which there are paint nozzles 9, which come from the media tank 3 by switching the corresponding valves in the distribution blocks 6 and 7 with the medium (colored varnish). The rapidly rotating atomizer bell 8 ensures that the paint is applied evenly, e.g. B. is discharged onto a vehicle body. Instead of an atomizer bell, a paint-air nozzle ring can also be used.

The charging station 2 consists of a housing 15 with a charging bay 16 into which the atomizer head with the atomizer bell 8 can be inserted. In the loading bay 16, the outside of the atomizer is completely cleaned with one or more rotating brushes 47 and at the same time the media tank 3 is filled with paint.

For this purpose, a loading shaft 17 of the charging station 2 projects centrally into the loading bay 16 and is guided through a longitudinal channel in the atomizer bell 8 to the distribution block 7.

Like from the 2 can be clearly seen, the loading shaft 17 consists of a loading tube 20, a middle tube 21 and an outer tube 22. The inner tube has a loading channel 23. Between the loading pipe 20 and the middle pipe 21 there is an annular space which functions as a return channel 24 or, depending on the circuit, also serves for flushing, and between the middle pipe 21 and the outer pipe 22 there is another annular space which acts as a flushing channel 25 functions. Like from the 1 As can be seen, the charging tube 20 is extended backwards beyond the charging station 2 and is led to a paint changer 30, which allows the loading tube 20 to be charged with different colors. There is a pig station at both ends of the loading pipe 20. The pig station at the proximal end of the loading pipe 20 is designated 31, the one at the distal end is designated 33. In the pig station 33 at the distal end of the charging pipe, a spherical pig 34 is shown, which is moved by means of a pushing medium from this position to the pig station 31 at the proximal end of the Charging tube can be moved.

In the housing 15 of the charging station 2 there is also an adjusting device for moving the charging tube 20. This consists of a cylinder piston 32, which is connected to the loading tube 20 and in three different positions, which are labeled Pos.1, Pos. 2, Pos. 3 are designated, can be adjusted.

The head of the loading shaft 17 forms a valve 40 which is in the 1 is shown symbolically, but is actually realized by the design of the head of the loading shaft 17 described below.

Like from the 2 As can be seen, the loading tube 20 is closed at its distal end, but has oblique lateral openings 35 between the loading channel 23 and the outer lateral surface of the loading tube 20, the mouth of the opening on the outer lateral surface being directed towards the proximal end of the loading tube. There is an annular seal 36, 37 in front of and behind the openings 35, and a bypass groove 38 is also formed in the inner surface of the central tube 21. Alternatively, the diameter of the tube or the lateral surface can be increased from the sealing area to the proximal end of the loading shaft.

In the in 3 shown third switching position or middle position of the charging pipe 20 (= item 3 according to 1 ), both seals 36, 37 rest on the inner surface of the middle tube 21, so that the loading channel 23 and the return channel 24 are blocked.

Now look at the second switching position or upper position 2 (= Item 2 according to 1 ), a seal 36 protrudes from the middle tube 21, so that the openings 35 open into a tank channel 41 in the second distribution block 7. Since the distal end of the loading channel is widened, the pig 34 located there does not hinder the exit of the medium introduced through the loading channel 23 into the tank channel 41. Depending on the position of the other valves in the distribution blocks 6 and 7, a medium that comes from the Paint changer 30 has been passed into the loading pipe 20, into the tank channel 41 and from there into the media tank 3.

In the 4 is the first switching position or lower position of the charging pipe 20 (pos. 1 according to 1 ) shown, in which the one seal 36 just mentioned rests on the inner surface of the middle tube, while the other seal 37 lies in the area of the bypass groove 38. As a result, the loading channel 23 and the return channel 24 are connected to one another. Using the pig 34, paint can now be moved from the loading channel 23 back into the paint changer 30 and recovered. For this purpose, a pushing medium is introduced into the proximal end of the return channel 24, which reaches behind the pig 34 via the obliquely arranged openings 35, so that it - pushing the medium in front of it - is moved to the proximal end of the loading pipe 20. When refilling, the medium pushes the pig 35 back into the distal pig station before it passes through the opening 35 into the tank channel 41.

The flushing channel 25 is always with an inlet channel 42 in the second distributor 7 (see 2 ) connected in the distributor head 7, which can be supplied with air or solvent via valves in the distributor blocks 6, 7 in order to clean the arrangement. This happens when the atomizer 1 is docked in the charging station 2 and is used to prepare or fill the new paint into the charging tube 20 or into the media tank 3 of the atomizer 1.

The description of the exemplary embodiment is not intended to limit the invention to an atomizer. Instead of an atomizer device, the invention can also be implemented with a print head having several nozzles, which allows the medium to be discharged with sharp edges.

Below we will refer to the 5 and 6 Referenced. These show an atomizer 1 accordingly 1 , but an additional detergent tank 43 is provided in the atomizer 1. Otherwise, reference is made to the previous description.

The detergent tank 43 is filled while the loading pipe 20 is inserted into the distributor 6, 7.

A release valve 44 and further valves 48, 49 in the distribution block control the connection of the rinsing agent channel 39 to the rinsing agent tank 43. The flow path of the rinsing/cleaning agent runs via the release valve 44, the rinsing channel 25 of the loading pipe 20, the rinsing agent channel 39 and through the other valves 48, 49 into the detergent tank 43.

Further valves 50, 51 enable the back pressure in the detergent tank 43 to be vented.

Both filling and venting can only take place in the docked state, in which the atomizer 1 is in the charging station 2 and is therefore at ground potential.

After filling the detergent tank 43, the atomizer 1 is pulled out of the charging station 2 and can then be set to high voltage before painting.

The atomizer bell 8 is cleaned or rinsed when the atomizer 1 is outside the charging station 2. For this purpose, compressed air is released via a pulse valve 45 and pressed into the detergent tank 43 via a check valve 46, which can also be designed as a switching valve. When the compressed air is switched on in a sequential, pulsed manner, rinsing/cleaning agent is entrained from the rinsing agent tank 43 into the atomizer bell 8, so that it is cleaned before the color is changed. For this purpose, the valves 50 and 51, 52 are switched. Opening the first-mentioned valve 50 enables a so-called small bell flushing. A so-called large bell flush is initiated with the second-mentioned valves.

Reference symbol list

1

Atomizer (applicator)

2

Charging station

3

Media tank

4

Dosing cylinder

5

Dosing pump

6

Distributor

7

Distributor

8th

Atomizer bell (applicator device)

9

Color nozzles

10

Integrated heating coil

11

Sliding piston

12

Spindle motor

15

Housing

16

loading bay

17

cargo shaft

20

Loading tube

21

middle pipe

22

outer tube

23

Loading channel

24

return channel

25

Flushing channel

30

Paint changer

31

Proximal newt station

32

cylinder piston

33

Distal newt station

34

Newt

35

side openings

36

Ring seal

37

Ring seal

38

Bypass groove

39

Detergent channel

40

Valve

41

Tank channel

42

Inlet channel

43

Detergent tank

44

release valve

45

Pulse valve

46

check valve

47

to brush

48

Valve

49

Valve

50

Valve

51

Valve

52

Valve

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 2021/037317 A [0002]

Claims (8)

Device, comprising an applicator (1) with a media tank (3) for holding a medium to be applied and a charging station (2) to which the applicator (1) can be docked for filling the media tank (3), the applicator (1) has an applicator device (8) which can be rotated about its longitudinal axis and has a continuous longitudinal channel, and wherein the charging station (2) has a charging shaft (17) which has at least one channel, which can be inserted into the longitudinal channel and whose distal end is connected to a distributor (6, 7 ) can be coupled, which is arranged inside the applicator (1) between the media tank (3) and the applicator device (8) and is in a controlled line connection with the distributor (6, 7), characterized in that the applicator (1) has a detergent tank (43), which is also in a controlled line connection with the distributor (6, 7). Device according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the loading shaft (17) has a loading channel (23), a return channel (24) and a flushing channel (25). Device according to Claim 2 , characterized in that the loading shaft (17) consists of a central loading tube (20), a middle tube (21) and an outer tube (22), the loading channel (23) being separated from the loading tube (20), the return channel (24) is formed by an annular gap between the loading tube (20) and the middle tube (21) and the flushing channel (25) is formed by an annular gap between the middle tube (21) and the outer tube (22). Device according to Claim 2 or 3 , characterized in that the distal end of the charging shaft (17) remote from the charging station (2) has a valve system which can be inserted into the distributor (6, 7) in the applicator (1), the distributor having an inlet channel (42). Tank channel (41), and a detergent channel (39), and wherein in a first switching position of the valve system the charging channel (23) with the return channel (24), in a second switching position the charging channel (23) with the tank channel (41) and the Detergent channel (39) and in a third switching position the return channel (24) and the charging channel (23) are blocked. Device according to Claim 4 , characterized in that the loading tube (20) is displaceable in the longitudinal direction relative to the central tube (21), that its distal end is closed, but has side openings (35) which connect the loading channel (23) with the return channel (24). , whereby there are seals in front of and behind the openings, and the inner surface has a circumferential bypass. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detergent tank (43) is connected to a source of compressed air. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the loading channel (23), the tank channel (41) and the detergent channel (39) are each connected via a valve system either to the media tank or to the detergent tank (43). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that rotating brushes (47) are arranged in the loading bay (16) of the loading station (2).

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