LUBRICANT SPRAYING APPARATUS AND LUBRICANT APPLICATION METHOD FOR TREATING INNER SURFACES OF INSERTION AND ASSEMBLY AIDS IN A PACKING STATION

Abstract

The invention relates to a lubricant spray system and to a lubricant application method for treating the inner surfaces of insertion and assembly aids in a packing station. In order to efficiently treat the the inner surfaces of hollow bodies with continuous openings with the lubricant spray using the lubricant spray system, a combination of related methods and systems of the lubricant application and use in a system with directly consecutive steps is required. The lubricant spray system (1), which is equipped with a suction device, comprises a spray station (2), a mounting station (4) and a spray station (3) between which an adjustment and sliding frame element (5), designed as an insertion and mounting aid, is arranged. According to the invention, after spraying the lubricant (20), the parts to be introduced into the hollow body openings can be subsequently inserted and slidingly moved (22) in a smooth and damage-free manner A particular area of application is the packaging of battery plate packs (13) in battery containers (14).

Claims

1. Lubricant spraying system 1 for treatment of the inner surfaces of insertion and assembly aids with through-openings, for the inboxing of battery plate packs (17) into suitably sized battery containers (18) in a boxing station, characterized in that a lubricant spraying system (1) equipped with an exhaust system (19) consists of a spray station 1 (2), a spray station 2 (3), a mounting station (4) arranged between these, between which an adjusting and sliding frame (5) constructed as a hollow body is arranged so as to be movable in a horizontally directed manner, wherein the spray stations (2, 3) each being equipped with at least one stationarily positioned and pivotably arranged spray head (11) for lubricant spraying, and at least one vertically directed infeed rod (16) equipped with load cells and capable of vertical lifting movement being arranged on the movable upper part of the mounting station (4), in that there is a plurality of horizontal functional levels in the lubricant spraying system (1), wherein on an upper feed level (6) over a feed section, battery plate packs (17) positioned, sorted and each fixed by a clamping jaw device can be moved by a linear drive into a middle position in the mounting station (4), on an upper working level (7) the spray heads (11) are arranged in the spray station 1 (2) and in the spray station 2 (3), on a middle working level (8), adjusting and sliding frames (5) are arranged, designed in the form of at least two single frames or one double frame each with square inner openings each, longitudinally movable to and fro in coordinated cycle times between the spraying stations (2, 3) and the mounting station (4) in a linear direction, and wherein on a lower working level (9) the lowered infeed rod (16) is arranged, which abuts on the end faces of the battery plate packs (13) via the clamping jaw device and, during the lowering insertion and sliding movement of which, passing through the adjusting and sliding frame (5) arranged on the middle working level (8), is temporarily positioned into the empty battery containers (18) transferred to and arranged on the lower working level (9) and, after the battery plate packs (17) have been boxed into the battery containers (18), can be moved back from this position to the middle working level.

2. Lubricant spraying system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the spray heads (11), which can be positioned so as to be stationary in the spray station 1 (2) and in the spray station 2 (3) in a pivotally movable manner, are arranged in a line-connected configuration via a ring main (15) for the supply and discharge of the liquid lubricant by means of compressed air via a lubricant tank (12) by means of a feed pump (13) and a material flow and pressure regulator (14) for the lubricant, with the lubricant tank being equipped with an agitator for homogenizing the liquid lubricant provided, and wherein a permanent negative pressure is produced by means of an exhaust system (19) in the housing of the lubricant spraying system (1).

3. Lubricant spraying system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that an adjusting and sliding frame (5) is provided between the spray station 1 (2) and the mounting station (4) as well as between the spray station 2 (3) and the mounting station (4), said frame being horizontally movable in alternate directions and designed as a double frame with at least two adjacently arranged square inner openings, said frame being suitably adapted to the type of dimensioning of the battery plate pack (17) pushed and sliding through.

4. Lubricant spraying system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said system is provided with an infeed rod (16) equipped with load cells.

5. Lubricant spraying system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that external to the spray stations (2, 3) there is arranged at least one swivel arm which can be swiveled into the spray stations (2, 3) and has a spray head (11) arranged on the front side.

6. Method related to and being applied with a lubricant spraying system (1) for the treatment of inner surfaces of an adjusting and sliding frame (5) which serves as an insertion and mounting aid for battery plate packs (17) into suitably sized battery containers (18) according to claims 1 to 5, characterized by the following process steps, i.e. Lubricant spraying (20) on the inner surfaces of an adjusting and sliding frame (5) in spray stations 1 and 2 (2, 3); horizontal change-station movement (21) of the adjusting and sliding frame (5) from one of the spray stations 1 and 2 (2, 3) to the mounting station (4) and back; lowering infeed and sliding movement of one battery plate pack (17) each passing through the adjusting and sliding frame (5) followed by; lowering and sliding insertion and mounting (23) of this battery plate pack (17) into a suitably sized and positioned battery container (18), and immediately following this without time interruption in a coordinated sequence as process steps; the feeding and discharge movements (24) of battery plate packs (17) and battery containers (18) towards the mounting station (4) and, with the packs being assembled, away from said station, as well as sensor-monitored process flow controls (25) and process changes being implemented in an automated manner, wherein during the entire process sequence the ambient air area of the lubricant spraying activity (20) being kept under negative pressure on the air pressure side by means of an exhaust system (19) thus meeting process safety requirements.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that a mixture of polytetrafluoroethylene and isopropanol is used as the lubricant, which is homogenized and used in liquid state, wherein the polytetrafluoroethylene due to the admixed carrier material is rendered flowable and transferred pressureless from a lubricant tank (12) with agitator via a lubricant ring main (15) to the spray heads (11) and is applied via the spray heads (11) in the form of an adhering spray mist to the inner surfaces of the adjusting and sliding frames (5).

8. Method according to claims 6 and 7 claim 6, characterized in that the sensor-detected process flow control for determining the necessary amount of lubricant to be used and thus for the horizontal change-station movement (21) of the adjusting and sliding frame (5) is carried out in an information-related and process-regulating way by means of pressure load cells arranged on the infeed rod (16) and serving to measure and monitor a predetermined insertion pressure.

9. Method according to claims 6 and 7 claim 6, characterized in that the sensor-detected process flow control for the determination of the amount of lubricant required and thus for the horizontal change-station movement (21) of the adjusting and sliding frames (5) is carried out in a process regulating manner by means of a prescribed/preset interval.

Description

[0043] The invention is presented in a simplified form using an embodiment example.

[0044] The enclosed figures provide elucidation as follows:

[0045] FIG. 1: is a schematic front view of the lubricant spraying system showing a simplified structural representation;

[0046] FIG. 2: illustrates a schematic plan view according to FIG. 1, based on the middle working level;

[0047] FIG. 3: is a schematic representation of the apparatus components as frontal view;

[0048] FIG. 4: shows as plan view a schematic representation of a spraying area;

[0049] FIG. 5: is a representation of the feed pump;

[0050] FIG. 6: is a representation of a spray area as isometric view and

[0051] FIG. 7: shows a representation of the lubricant tank with agitator.

[0052] The lubricant spraying system shown schematically in FIG. 1 shows the major functional parts of the system arranged side by side, i.e. [0053] Spray station 1 (2), [0054] Assembly station 4 and [0055] Spray station 2 (3),

[0056] with the functional components arranged in them, such as the exhaust system 19, to produce a negative pressure in the housing and the spray heads 11 in the spray stations 1 and 2, which are in terms of material flow connected by the ring main 15, as well as the infeed rod 16 in mounting station 4. In addition to this representation of a basic plant structure, the functional process structure is illustrated by means of the visual representation of the functional levels extending horizontally through the lubricant spraying plant 1, as listed hereunder: [0057] the upper feed level 6 for the feeding of the battery plate packs 17 and arranged below; [0058] the upper working level 7, where the lubricant supply and the application of lubricant via the spray heads 11 and the air exhaust for producing a slight negative pressure take place, with the infeed rod 16 with load cells being arranged in the movable upper portion of the mounting station 4; [0059] the middle working level 8 where the change-station movement of the adjusting and sliding frame 5 is carried out; [0060] the lower working level 9, where, as a result of the downward stroke movement of the infeed rod 16, a front-end arranged, sorted, completely finished and clamped battery plate pack 17 is inserted through the bottom opening in the adjustment and sliding frame 5, lowering it and sliding it into the battery container 18, which is positioned underneath, and [0061] the lower discharge level 10 where the fully assembled battery is moved from mounting station 4 out of the lubricant spraying unit 1.

[0062] The lubricant spraying system illustrated in FIG. 2 as a view of the middle working level shows, in addition to the visible structural device features with directional arrows, the feasible process steps and their points of effectiveness in the system parts and on the functional components. [0063] Process step: Lubricant spraying 20 alternately in spray stations 1 and 2 [0064] Process step: Change station movement 21 related to the adjusting and sliding frame 5 between one of the spray stations 1 and 2 and the mounting station 4 [0065] Process step: Infeed and sliding movement 22 in the mounting station 4 [0066] Process step: Insertion and mounting 23 in mounting station 4 and [0067] Process step: Feeding and discharge movements 24 into and out of the mounting station 4.

[0068] Aside from this, the process step of the process flow controls 25 is carried out, which is shown in FIG. 2 by way of the example of the lubricant flow control in the ring main 15, which is realized by means of a material flow regulator 14.

[0069] In addition, FIG. 2 shows the adjusting and sliding frame 5 in the design form of a double frame with two internal openings arranged next to each other for sliding in and through one battery plate pack 17 each and inserting and mounting it in a battery container 18 suitably positioned underneath.

[0070] FIGS. 4 to 6 show the spray area as a top view, the feed pump for conveying the lubricant, and the lubricant tank with agitator, these representing components and details of the apparatus as they are required for the supply of the material mixture. Putting the liquid lubricant to use as well as the discharge and return of drained and removed lubricant residues are carried out via ring main 15, as is shown schematically in FIGS. 1 to 4, with the lubricant tank 12 with agitator, the lubricant feed pump 13, the material flow and pressure regulator 14 and the spray heads 11 being interconnected by means of a main.

[0071] Not shown in the figures are the movement actuating drives, the sensory control components and the system and functional safety elements of the lubricant spraying system 1.

[0072] Aside from the assembly of battery elements, other hollow body finishes can also be carried out using lubricants.

[0073] Making use of and adopting the apparatus proposed by the invention as well as the method which can be carried out with this apparatus for the treatment of inner surfaces of adjusting and sliding frames, which are employed in this usage case as an insertion and assembly aid for battery plate packs to be mounted in suitably sized battery containers, make it possible, with the assistance of insertion aids and the automatic and regulated supply of an efficient liquid lubricant, associated with a simultaneous dosed exhaust ventilation of excess spray mist being provided to avoid explosion hazards, that an unimpaired and smooth process of inboxing finished battery plate packs into battery containers provided for this purpose can take place. This objective in mind, it is advantageous for the invention that spraying of the inner surfaces of the sliding and adjustment frames is carried out alternately through a spray nozzle, which is either positioned above the inner surfaces of the sliding and adjustment frames to be wetted in the form of a stationary and swivelmounted spray head through which lubricant spraying takes place or through a swivel arm, with front-mounted spray head, arranged outside the spraying stations and swiveling into the respective spraying station.

[0074] In this way, the inventive technical solution proposed avoids the disadvantages of the state of the art just as reliably as it avoids that packaging waste of lubricant stored in small packages accumulates in large quantities, which would otherwise have to be disposed of and reprocessed/recycled at great expense, with a specifically determined and actually required application quantity of the lubricant being applied by means of a material flow regulator, which prevents the application of excessive lubricant amounts.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

With Respect to System Components:

[0075] 1 Lubricant spraying system [0076] 2 Spray station 1 [0077] 3 Spray station 2 [0078] 4 Mounting station [0079] 5 Adjusting and sliding frame [0080] 6 Upper feed level [0081] 7 Upper working level [0082] 8 Middle working level [0083] 9 Lower working level [0084] 10 Lower discharge level [0085] 11 Spray heads [0086] 12 Lubricant tank with agitator [0087] 13 Lubricant feed pump [0088] 14 Material flow and pressure regulator [0089] 15 Ring main [0090] 16 Infeed rod with load cells [0091] 17 Battery plate pack [0092] 18 Battery container [0093] 19 Exhaust system

With Respect to Process Steps:

[0094] 20 Lubricant spraying [0095] 21 Change station movement [0096] 22 Infeed and sliding movement [0097] 23 Insertion and mounting [0098] 24 Feeding and discharge movements [0099] 25 Process flow controls (for example with 14)