Apparatus for painting articles

Abstract

An apparatus for painting articles comprises a painting booth delimited by side walls and having at least one inlet opening and an outlet opening reciprocally aligned on two of said respectively opposite side walls. A transport assembly moves a plurality of articles being processed respectively aligned along a movement path extending through the painting booth, to lead the articles being processed therein through the inlet opening and to extract said articles through the outlet opening. The delivery nozzles operatively arranged inside the painting booth deliver atomised paint against the articles transported along the movement path. Adjustment devices comprising adjustment knobs positioned externally of the painting booth and manually accessible by an operator operate on each delivery nozzle to modify its positioning with respect to the articles being processed.

Claims

1. Apparatus for painting articles, comprising: a painting booth delimited by side walls; a transport assembly configured (i) to move a plurality of articles being processed along a movement path extending through the painting booth and (ii) to lead the articles being processed inside the painting booth, the plurality of articles respectively aligned along the movement path; a dispensing nozzle operatively arranged inside the painting booth and configured to deliver atomised paint against the articles transported along the movement path; a support rod carrying the dispensing nozzle and extending through one of the side walls of the painting booth; and a set of adjustment devices configured to operate on the dispensing nozzle to modify a positioning of the dispensing nozzle with respect to the articles being processed, wherein said set of adjustment devices comprises: a first adjustment knob positioned outside the painting booth and configured to be manually accessible to an operator; and transmission members operatively connected with the support rod and with the first adjustment knob, and configured to modify the positioning of the dispensing nozzle upon a drive action on the first adjustment knob; wherein said transmission members comprise: a first linear guide extending along a first adjustment axis; a first slider slidably engaged along the first linear guide and carrying said support rod; a first block carried by the first linear guide and rotatably engaged by the first adjustment knob; and a first threaded bar integral with the first adjustment knob and operatively engaged through the first slider and the first block; wherein the set of adjustment devices further comprises: a second adjustment knob positioned outside the painting booth and configured to be manually accessible to an operator; a second linear guide carried by the first slider and extending along a second adjustment axis transverse to the first adjustment axis; a second slider slidably engaged along the second linear guide and carrying said support rod; a second block carried by the second linear guide and rotatably engaged by the second adjustment knob; and a second threaded bar integral with the second adjustment knob and operatively engaged through the second slider and the second block.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission members are positioned outside the painting booth.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement path extends through at least one opening arranged in at least one of the side walls of the painting booth, and wherein the support rod extends through the at least one of the side walls of the painting booth having said at least one opening.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second threaded bar is configured to rotatably cross the second block and engage by screwing into the second slider.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said set of adjustment devices further comprises a rotation joint positioned outside the painting booth, and the rotation joint comprises: a fixed portion rigidly carried by the second slider; a movable portion rotatably engaged to the fixed portion about a third adjustment axis substantially coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the support rod; and locking devices of the movable portion with respect to the fixed portion, the locking devices being selectively deactivatable to allow rotation of the dispensing nozzle about the third adjustment axis.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of dispensing nozzles, each provided with a respective set of adjustment devices.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first linear guide slidably engages two or more first sliders, each being part of the respective set of adjustment devices of a respective one of said dispensing nozzles.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a first and a second series of dispensing nozzles, each carried by a respective support rod.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the support rods carrying the dispensing nozzles belonging to the first and second series of dispensing nozzles extend through respective side walls of the painting booth.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission members engage one end of the support rod protruding externally from the painting booth.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support rod extends substantially parallel to the movement path.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further characteristics and advantages will become more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred, yet not limiting, embodiment of a apparatus for the of articles, according to the present invention. Such description will be set forth hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings given only for illustrative and, therefore, non-limiting purpose, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 represents a partially interrupted schematic plan view showing an apparatus according to the present invention, installed in a painting line;

(3) FIG. 2 represents an interrupted perspective view of a detail of the apparatus, showing rotational actuation devices associated with each of the trays;

(4) FIG. 3 represents an schematic elevation of a detail of the apparatus showing a painting station;

(5) FIG. 4 represents a partial perspective view of a detail of the apparatus, showing adjustment devices associated with a first series of paint delivery nozzles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) With reference to the mentioned figures, number 1 generally indicates an apparatus for painting articles, according to the present invention.

(7) In the illustrated embodiment, the apparatus 1 is arranged for the execution of a painting treatment of a plurality of articles 2, each one arranged on a respective piece-holding spindle 3.

(8) The piece-holding spindles 3 are carried by respective trays 4. Each tray 4 carries a group of piece-holding spindles 3, in the example illustrated thirteen piece-holding spindles 3, respectively aligned along a rectilinear direction and rotatably engaged each with a base plate 5 of the tray 4.

(9) Each tray 4 can be conveniently equipped with rotational actuation devices 6 for the piece-holding spindles 3. Preferably, as can be better seen in FIG. 2, such rotational actuation devices 6 comprise a toothed belt 7 or another transmission member extending around respective pulleys 8 carried by the base plate 5. One of the pulleys 8, non visible and indicatively identified by the reference 8a, is driving and coaxially integral with a drive member 9, comprising for example a draggable plate magnetically in rotation. The transmission member 7 operatively engages a plurality of toothed pinions 7a, each coaxially integral with one of the piece-holding spindles 3. By controlling the driving pulley 8a in rotation it is consequently possible to simultaneously actuate in rotation the piece-holding spindles 3 and the articles 2 carried by them, each around its own geometric axis Y.

(10) The base plate 5 of each tray 4 carries, preferably on a lower side thereof, a plurality of rollers 10 by which each tray 4 is slidably engaged along a transport guide 11 extending, e.g., according to a closed line along a movement path P.

(11) A plurality of work stations 12, 13, s distributed along the movement path P, each one arranged for the execution of a respective processing provided in a cycle of treatment of the articles 2.

(12) The work stations 12, 13 identifiable in the illustrated example comprise a loading/unloading station 12 of the articles 2 on/from the individual trays 4, and a painting station 13 operating immediately downstream of the loading/unloading station 12. However, further work stations can be provided along the movement path P, e.g., an infrared drying station and/or a UV ray polymerization station, not visible in the drawings, through which the articles 2 carried by the trays 4 pass before reaching again the loading/unloading station again 12.

(13) In the loading/unloading station 12, a manipulator 14 withdraws articles 2 previously treated from the respective tray 4 to replace them with new articles 2 to be subjected to the painting. The articles 2 to be treated can be withdrawn from a respective auxiliary tray 15 arriving along a first section of a supply line 16. The same auxiliary tray 15 also lends itself to receiving the painted articles 2 to remove them from the treatment apparatus 1, for example along a second section of the same supply line 16. The manipulator 14 can for example comprise a double gripping assembly which simultaneously withdraws articles 2 already treated or to be treated by the respective trays 4 and, after 180° rotation around a vertical axis, engages them again on the same trays 4 in reversed positions.

(14) Along the movement path P a transport assembly 17 operates, which translates the trays 4 along the transport guide 11, through the painting station 13 and the other work stations provided along the movement path P.

(15) For this purpose, the transport assembly 17 can for example comprise a toothed belt 18 or another flexible dragging member, extending around a plurality of toothed pulleys 19 by which it is made to advance along the movement path P, for example according to a continuous movement at constant speed, or according to a step-by-step movement. A plurality of translators 20 distributed along the toothed belt 18 each engaging a respective tray 4, to lead it along the movement path P.

(16) At the painting station 13, as well as in one or more of the other work stations possibly provided along the movement path P, actuating members can also operate in rotation operatively engaged with the drive member to impose on each of the articles 2 a rotation around its own geometric axis, at least during their passage through the painting station itself. For example, these actuating members can comprise a dragging plate 21 carried by a carriage 22 movable parallel to the movement path P at the painting station 13. The dragging plate 21, operable by a respective rotation motor not visible in the drawings, is magnetically coupled with the drive member 9 carried by each tray 4, so as to control its rotation during the crossing of the painting station 13.

(17) The painting station 13 comprises a painting booth 23 delimited among side walls, respectively the right 24, left 25, front 26, rear 27 and top 28 ones. On the opposite side of e top wall 28, the painting booth 23 has a bottom portion 29 crossed by a slot 30 extending along the movement path P. The slot 30 is wide enough to allow the passage of the piece-holding spindle 3, so that the articles 2 being processed are exposed inside the painting booth 23, while the underlying parts of the tray 4 are shielded from the bottom portion 29 and consequently protected against paint contamination.

(18) Preferably, the painting booth 23 has at least one opening 31, 32 to allow the articles 2 being processed to enter and/or leave the painting booth 23. More particularly, in the illustrated embodiment an inlet opening 31 and an outlet opening 32 reciprocally aligned on two of the respectively opposite side walls, namely the left side wall 25 and the right side wall 24 are provided.

(19) During processing, the transport assembly 17 leads the articles 2 inside the painting booth 23 through the inlet opening 31, and extract said articles 2 through the outlet opening 32, while the possible actuating members 21 control the rotation of the articles 2 carried by each tray 4 during the crossing of the painting booth 23.

(20) Inside the painting booth 23 one or more delivery nozzles 33a, 33b are arranged, which are configured to deliver atomised paint against the articles 2 carried along the movement path P. In the illustrated example, six delivery nozzles 33a, 33b are provided, preferably divided into a first series 33a and a second series 33b.

(21) On each of the delivery nozzles 33a, 33b, or on at least part of them, adjustment devices 34 operate, which are configured to modify their positioning with respect to the articles 2 being processed inside the painting booth 23.

(22) In this regard, it is preferably provided that each delivery nozzle 33a, 33b is mounted at the end of a respective support rod 35, extending parallel to the movement path P, for example adjacent to the front wall 26 of the painting booth 23 and in a raised position with respect to trays 4.

(23) Preferably, each of the support rods 35 preferably extends through one of the side walls 24, 25, 26, 27, 28. More particularly, the support rods 35 carrying the dispensing nozzles 33a belonging to the first series cross the left side wall 25, for example at the inlet opening 31, while the support rods 35 carrying the delivery nozzles 33b belonging to the second series extend through the right side wall 24, for example at the outlet opening 32.

(24) The adjustment devices 34 also provide that each delivery nozzle 33a, 33b is combined with a respective first adjustment knob 36, positioned externally to the painting booth 23.

(25) The transmission members 37 are operatively connected between the support rod 35 and the respective first adjustment knob 36, to modify the positioning of the delivery nozzle 33a, 33b upon a drive action on the knob itself.

(26) The transmission members 37 are preferably positioned outside the painting booth 23 and engage one end of the support rod protruding externally from the painting booth itself. The transmission members 37 can comprise a first linear guide 38, preferably integral with respect to the painting booth 23 and extending along a first adjustment axis Z. In the illustrated preferential example, two first linear guides 38 are provided, one for each series of delivery nozzles 33a, 33b, each vertically extending next to one of the side walls, respectively the left 25 and right 24 ones.

(27) The support rod 35 of each delivery nozzle 33a, 33b is connected to a respective first slider 39, slidably engaged along the respective first linear guide 38.

(28) Each first linear guide 38 also carries a first block 40, which rotatably engages the first adjustment knob 36 of each delivery nozzles 33a, 33b belonging to the respective series. Each of the first adjustment knobs 36 is made integral with a first threaded bar 41 operatively engaged through the first block 40 and the respective first slider 39. Preferably, the first threaded bar 41 rotatably crosses the first block 40 and engages by screwing the first slider 39 of the respective delivery nozzle 33a, 33b.

(29) Each of the first adjustment knobs 36 can be reached manually by an operator from outside the painting booth 23, and can be actuated in rotation to adjust the positioning of the respective delivery nozzle 33a, 33b along the first adjustment axis Z. In the illustrated example the first adjustment axis Z is orthogonal, and preferably vertical, with respect to the movement path P.

(30) Preferably, each of the first sliders 39 is interconnected to the respective support rod 35 after interposition of at least one second slider 42 and possibly a rotation joint 43.

(31) More particularly, the second slider 42 can be slidably engaged with a second linear guide 44 carried by the first slider 39 and extending along a second control axis X transverse, preferably orthogonal, with respect to the first adjustment axis Z. A second linear guide 44 is rigidly engaged to a second block 45, which rotatably engages a second adjustment knob 46, positioned externally to the painting booth 23.

(32) A second threaded bar 47 integral with the second adjustment knob 46 is operatively engaged through the second slider 42 and the second block 45. Preferably, the second threaded bar 47 rotatably crosses the second block 45 and engages by screwing the second slider 42. Each of the second adjustment knobs 46 can be reached manually by an operator from outside the painting booth 23, and can be actuated in rotation to adjust the positioning of the respective delivery nozzle 33a, 33b along the second adjustment axis X. In the illustrated example, the second adjustment axis X is preferably horizontal and perpendicular to the movement path P.

(33) Each rotation joint 43 is preferably positioned outside the painting booth 23 and can comprise a fixed portion 48, rigidly carried by the respective second slider 42, and a movable portion 49 rotatably engaged with the fixed portion 48 around a third adjustment axis β. Preferably, the third adjustment axis β is substantially coaxial to a longitudinal axis of the support rod 35. An angular rotation of the movable portion 49 and of the support rod 35 around the third adjustment axis β modifies the orientation of the paint jet produced by the respective delivery nozzle 33a, 33b in a vertical plane, according to an inclination more or less accentuated with respect to a horizontal direction.

(34) Locking devices 50 are provided to rigidly lock the movable portion 49 with respect to the fixed portion 48. Such locking devices 50 can be selectively deactivatable to allow a rotation of the delivery nozzle 33a, 33b around the third adjustment axis β, preferably parallel to the movement path P.

(35) For example, the locking devices 50 can comprise one or more threaded elements 51 configured to reciprocally clamp and lock the fixed portion 48 with the movable portion 49 of the rotation joint 43. Respective gripping knob 52 can be associated to the threaded elements 51 to facilitate the manual loosening and clamping thereof.

(36) The present invention allows an easy adjustment of the positioning and/or orientation of the individual delivery nozzles 33a, 33b, without requiring the stopping of the processing along the painting apparatus 1. It is therefore simplified to obtain the optimal painting conditions according to the various parameters different from time to time, minimizing production waste. The optimization of the painting conditions also allows an appreciable reduction of paint waste, with consequent benefit in economic and environmental impact terms. An advantageous simplification and reduction in the frequency of maintenance operations, required to keep the internal surfaces of the painting booth 23 clean is also achieved. The positioning of the adjustment devices 34 on the outside of the painting booth 23 also allows an advantageous reduction of the dimensions thereof, for the benefit of the construction and maintenance costs and simplifying the realization of any accessory plants required for atmospheric conditioning inside the cabin itself.