COATING APPARATUS AND METHOD

Abstract

The invention relates to a coating apparatus that is in particular configured to coat narrow surfaces of a plate-shaped workpiece, and to a method. The coating apparatus comprises a first application device for applying a first coating material to a first narrow surface of the workpiece as well as a second application device for applying a second coating material to a second narrow surface of the workpiece. The coating apparatus furthermore comprises a first printing device for printing the first coating material.

Claims

1. A coating apparatus comprising: a first application device for applying a first coating material to a first narrow surface of a workpiece; a second application device for applying a second coating material to a second narrow surface of the workpiece; and a first printing device for printing the first coating material.

2. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first application device or the second application device comprises a pressure roller.

3. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first printing device is an inkjet printing device.

4. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a first format processing unit comprising a rotating processing tool for processing the first coating material applied to the workpiece; and a second format processing unit comprising a rotating processing tool for processing the second coating material applied to the workpiece.

5. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first printing device is arranged upstream of the first application device in the direction of movement of the first coating material.

6. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first printing device is arranged downstream of the first application device in the direction of movement of the first coating material.

7. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second printing device for printing the second coating material.

8. The coating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first printing device and the second printing device are in fluid connection with a common supply of printing material, in particular ink.

9. The coating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: the first application device or the second application device is movable along a guide and/or pivotable.

10. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a conveying device for moving the workpiece.

11. A coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first application device and the second application device are arranged opposite one another.

12. A method for coating narrow surfaces of a workpiece, comprising the steps of: applying a first coating material to a first narrow surface of the workpiece; and applying a second coating material to a second narrow surface of the workpiece, wherein at least the first coating material is printed.

13. The method according to claim 12, comprising: format processing, trimming the coating material and/or removing the first coating material applied to the workpiece and the second coating material applied to the workpiece.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the first coating material is printed before it is applied to the workpiece, or the first coating material is printed after it has been applied to the workpiece.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the second coating material is printed.

16. The coating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: the first printing device and the first application device or the second printing device and the second application device is movable along a respective guide or pivotable.

17. The coating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the conveying device comprises a transport belt, a conveyor chain or a conveyor belt.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] Further features and advantages of an apparatus, a use and/or a method are apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment.

[0051] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

[0052] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment.

[0053] FIG. 4 shows a top view of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0054] Identical reference numbers that are used in different figures designate identical, corresponding or functionally similar elements.

[0055] According to the first embodiment, a coating apparatus 1 is provided which is configured as a throughfeed device. The coating apparatus 1 comprises a conveying device (not shown), for example a transport belt, a conveyor belt or a chain conveyor, with which workpieces are moved in a conveying direction. A first workpiece W and a second W-2 are shown for the purpose of illustration in the figures.

[0056] The coating apparatus 1 is configured to provide a workpiece with coating material on both sides. For this purpose, the coating apparatus 1 is configured to supply a first coating material Ba and a second coating material Bb and apply them to a workpiece.

[0057] The coating apparatus 1 comprises a first printing device 10a, which is arranged such that the first coating material Ba supplied in the direction of the workpiece W can be printed. The printing device 10a is an inkjet printing device comprising a plurality of print heads 11a. The print heads 11a are provided for applying different colours. In particular, one print head should eject the colour black, one print head should eject the colour magenta, one print head should eject the colour yellow and another print head should eject the colour cyan. A multicoloured pattern can be created on the coating material Ba by combining the different colours.

[0058] The printing device 10a may comprise a pre-treatment device. A mechanical pre-cleaning and/or primer application may in particular be performed. In this manner, it is possible to produce printed images of excellent quality that are highly durable.

[0059] The coating apparatus 1 furthermore comprises a first application device 20a, with which the first coating material Ba can be applied to a first narrow surface of the workpiece. The application device 20a may comprise a pressure roller. Further pressure rollers may also be provided, with which the first coating material Ba applied to the workpiece is pressed onto the workpiece by the application of further force.

[0060] The coating apparatus 1 comprises the second printing device 10b, which is arranged such that the second coating material Bb supplied in the direction of the workpiece W can be printed. According to the embodiment, it is provided that the second printing device 10b is configured in a manner similar or identical to the first printing device 10a, the second printing device 10b in particular comprising a plurality of print heads 11b for different colours.

[0061] Similar to the printing device 10a, the printing device 10b may comprise a pre-treatment device configured for mechanical pre-cleaning and/or primer application.

[0062] The coating apparatus 1 furthermore comprises a second application device 20b for applying the second coating material Bb to a second narrow surface of the workpiece W. The second application device 20b is arranged in such a manner that the second coating material Bb is applied to the workpiece W such that opposite narrow surfaces of the workpiece are coated with the first coating material Ba and the second coating material Bb.

[0063] The first application device 20a and/or the second application device 20b is/are movable along a guide perpendicular to the conveying direction of the workpieces W, W-2. The coating apparatus 1 can thus be adjusted to workpieces of different widths. Furthermore, the first application device 20a and/or the second application device 20b may be pivotable to apply a coating material to an inclined narrow side.

[0064] The coating apparatus 1 is further equipped with a first trimming unit, a first scraper and/or a first format processing unit (not shown) comprising a rotating processing tool, in particular a milling cutter. The first format processing unit is provided for processing the first coating material Ba applied to the workpiece.

[0065] In order to process the second coating material Bb applied to the workpiece, a second trimming unit, a second scraper and/or a second format processing unit (not shown) is provided, which is mounted substantially opposite the first format processing unit. The second format processing unit comprises a rotating processing tool, in particular a milling cutter.

[0066] Post-processing of the coating materials can be carried out by means of the format processing units. It is in particular provided to cut off the sections of the coating material projecting in the vertical direction beyond the main surface of the workpiece and thus to create a transition between the coating materials and the main surfaces of the workpiece.

[0067] Clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is a coating apparatus 1′ according to a second embodiment. The coating apparatus 1′ according to the second embodiment differs from the coating apparatus 1 of the first embodiment as regards the arrangement of the application devices and printing devices. As regards the further features, reference is additionally made to the explanations provided with respect to the first embodiment.

[0068] The coating apparatus 1′ is designed as a throughfeed machine and is configured to provide a workpiece with coating material on both sides. For this purpose, the coating apparatus 1′ is configured to supply a first coating material Ba′ and a second coating material Bb′ and apply them to a workpiece.

[0069] The coating apparatus 1′ comprises a first application device 20a′, with which the first coating material Ba′ can be applied to a first narrow surface of the workpiece W′. The first application device 20a′ may comprise a pressure roller and further pressure rollers with which the first coating material Ba′ applied to the workpiece is pressed onto the workpiece W′ by the application of further force.

[0070] The coating apparatus 1′ further comprises a first printing device 10a′, which is arranged such that the first coating material Ba′ attached to the workpiece W′ can be printed. The printing device 10a′ is configured as an inkjet printing device comprising a plurality of print heads 11a′ which, similar to the print heads according to the first embodiment, are provided for applying different colours to produce a multicoloured pattern on the first coating material Ba′.

[0071] The coating apparatus 1′ comprises a second application device 20b′ for applying the second coating material Bb′ to a second narrow surface of the workpiece W′, which is arranged substantially opposite the first application device 20a′.

[0072] The coating apparatus 1′ furthermore comprises a second printing device 10b′ that is arranged substantially opposite the first printing device 10a′. According to the second embodiment, it is provided that the second printing device 10b′ is configured in a manner similar or identical to the first printing device 10a′, the second printing device 10b in particular comprising a plurality of print heads 11b′ for different colours.

[0073] According to the embodiment, the first printing device and the second printing device use a common supply (not shown) of printing material, in particular ink. The first printing device and the second printing device are accordingly in fluid connection with such a supply.

[0074] The first printing device 10a′ and the first application device 20a′, and/or the second printing device 10b′ and the second application device 20b, are movable along a respective guide perpendicular to the conveying direction of the workpieces W′, W-2′. The coating apparatus 1′ can therefore be adjusted to workpieces of different widths. Furthermore, the first application device 20a′ and/or the second application device 20b′ may be movable along a guide. The first printing device 10a′, the first application device 20a′, the second printing device 10b′ and/or the second application device 20b may also be pivotable to apply a coating material to an inclined narrow side and/or to print the same.

[0075] Similar to the coating apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, the coating apparatus 1′ is provided with format processing units for post-processing the coating materials.

[0076] Even though the coating apparatus according to the previously described embodiments is configured as a throughfeed machine in which a workpiece is moved, a coating apparatus can also be configured as a stationary machine in which a workpiece is at least temporarily held or fixed.

[0077] It is apparent to the person skilled in the art that individual features described in different embodiments can also be implemented in a single embodiment, provided that they are not structurally incompatible. Similarly, various features described in the context of a single embodiment may also be provided in several embodiments either individually or in any suitable sub-combination.