DEVICE FOR APPLYING FLUIDS

Abstract

A device (1) for applying fluids that is suitable for mounting as a tool on a robot arm and method therefor. The device (1) comprises a static element (3), a rotatable element (2) and a coupling point (8), wherein the coupling point (8) connects the static element (3) and the rotatable element (2) in such a way that the rotatability of the rotatable element (2) is effected. The coupling point (8) has, both on the side of the static element (3) and on the side of the rotatable element (2), inductive coupling elements (11, 11) which are arranged in such a way that inductive energy and/or signal transmission is made possible across the coupling point (8).

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. A device for applying fluids, for attaching as a tool to a robot arm, comprising: a static element, a rotatable element, and a coupling point, wherein said coupling point connects said static element and said rotatable element to each other in a rotatable manner, and said coupling point has inductive coupling elements, both on said static element side and on said rotatable element side, which are arranged in such a manner that inductive energy and/or signal transmission are/is rendered possible across said coupling point.

22. The device according to claim 21, wherein said inductive coupling elements comprise flat coils.

23. The device according to claim 21, wherein said static element comprises signal and/or data processing electronics for converting digital signals to analog signals, and/or analog signals to digital signals; said rotatable element comprises signal and/or data processing electronics for converting digital signals to analog signals and/or analog signals to digital signals.

24. The device according to claim 23, wherein said signal and/or data processing electronics is realized in said static element and said rotatable element and matched to each other so as to enable serial transmission of signals and/or data.

25. The device according to claim 21, wherein the device facilitates signals to be transmitted bidirectionally between said static element and said rotatable element.

26. The device according to claim 25, wherein said bidirectional transmission is made via respectively mutually corresponding coupling elements in said static element and said rotatable element for only one transmission direction in each case.

27. The device according to claim 21, wherein at least one inductive coupling element is enclosed with a microprocessor in a common capsule.

28. The device according to claim 21, wherein an inverter, for converting direct voltage to alternating voltage that can be carried to an inductive coupling element, is arranged in said static element; and/or a rectifier, for converting alternating voltage to direct voltage that can be carried from an inductive coupling element, is arranged in said rotatable element.

29. The device according to claim 21, wherein a modulator or a demodulator is assigned to at least one inductive coupling elements of said static element; and/or a modulator or a demodulator is assigned to at least one inductive coupling elements of said rotatable element;

30. The device according to claim 29, wherein the modulator is assigned to an inductive coupling element of said static element, and a demodulator is assigned to another inductive coupling element of said static element.

31. The device according to claim 29, wherein a modulator is assigned to an inductive coupling element of said rotatable element, and a demodulator is assigned to another inductive coupling element of said rotatable element.

32. The device according to claim 21, wherein at least two inductive coupling elements of said static element or of said rotatable element are arranged concentrically.

33. The device according to claim 21, wherein said rotatable element has at least one outlet valve having a valve needle.

34. The device according to claim 33, wherein said outlet valve is controlled via a solenoid valve.

35. The device according to claim 33, wherein said rotatable element has at least one sensor that senses the position of said valve needle(s) and is arranged, in such a manner, that the position(s) is transmitted to the signal and/or data processing electronics of said rotatable element.

36. The device according to claim 21, wherein said static element is communicatively connectable or connected to a process controller.

37. The device according to claim 33, wherein said signal and/or data processing electronics of said rotatable element is designed in such a manner that the position(s) of said valve needle(s) can be converted to a digital signal or digital signals, and/or the digital signal(s) can be converted to an analog alternating voltage signal or analog alternating voltage signals that can be supplied to an inductive coupling element and/or obtainable from the inductive coupling element.

38. The device according to claim 21, wherein a storage medium is arranged in said rotatable element on which switching intervals for opening and closing the valve needle(s) are stored.

39. The device according to claim 21, wherein said rotatable element and/or said static element comprise(s): sensor(s) for measuring the pressure; sensor(s) for measuring the temperature; heating element(s), and combinations thereof.

40. The device according to claim 21, wherein said rotatable element and said static element comprise at least one line for carrying compressed air and/or the fluid.

41. A method for transmitting energy and signals in a device for applying fluids comprising the steps: transmitting energy, for the purpose of supplying electric power, from a static element to a rotatable element of the device (1); and transmitting signals from said static element to said rotatable element, and/or from said rotatable element to said static element, wherein the transmission of electric power and signals is effected inductive coupling elements of a coupling point of the device.

42. The method according to claim 41, further comprising arranging the inductive coupling elements concentrically.

43. A method for switching at least one valve needle in a device for applying fluids, comprising the steps: calibrating an end position of a valve needle(s), determining a reaction time between a switching function command received at the device and attainment of said end position of said valve needle(s) that corresponds to said switching function command, optionally storing said values for opening and/or closing said valve needle(s), optionally defining a value range as a tolerance window or a limit value of the respective end position, for the purpose of monitoring wear, and providing said reaction time in a process controller for the purpose of time coordination of said switching function commands.

44. A method for converting electrical coupling points in a device for applying fluids, comprising the step: replacing sliding contacts by inductive coupling elements.

Description

[0077] The invention is explained in greater detail in the following on the basis of the figures, which represent only exemplary embodiments. There are shown:

[0078] FIG. 1: schematic view of the device according to the invention

[0079] FIG. 2: circuit arrangement of the device according to FIG. 1

[0080] FIG. 3: course of the fluid of the device according to FIG. 2.

[0081] The device 1 represented in FIG. 1 is suitable for the application of fluids. The device 1 is composed substantially of a rotatable element 2 and a static element 3. The device 1 is suitable for attaching to a robot arm, wherein a connection can be effected via an end face 12 of the static element 3, for example by screwed connection. The static element 3 is disposed over a coupling point 8 to the rotatable element 2. The coupling point 8 has inductive coupling elements 11, both in the rotatable element 2 and in the static element 3. The inductive coupling elements 11 are flat coils having ferrite cores. The flat coils may be arranged in the elements in such a manner that, at most, a diameter of 84 mm and a structural height of 22 mm are required for integration of three flat coils. Typically, the inductive coupling elements are opposite each other, without contact, with a gap of 2 mm.

[0082] The static element 3 is supplied with energy via the connection 9. The static element 3 can be connected to a higher-order process controller (not shown) via a field bus connection 10. The rotatable element 2 can be supplied with energy via the inductive coupling elements 11. The rotatable element 2 has three needle valves 4 that are controlled by solenoid valves 7. A sensor 6 registers the position of the needle of the needle valves. The sensor 6 may be, for example, a sensor that may be composed of two Hall elements for generating four binary signals, or also an inductive sensor, by means of which the exact needle position is determined for the purpose of further processing in the data processing electronics.

[0083] FIG. 2 shows the circuit arrangement of the device 1 shown in FIG. 1, and individual elements of the rotatable element 2 and of the static element 3. A higher-order process controller 13 is connected to a power coil 14 of the static element 3 and thus supplies the static element 3 with energy. The direct-voltage signal for the supply of energy is converted, at the power coil 14 of the static element 3, by means of an inverter 15, to alternating voltage, and transmitted to an inductive coupling element 11 of the static element 3. Via the coupling point 8, the alternating-voltage signal for the supply of power is transmitted to the corresponding inductive coupling element 11 of the rotatable element 2. The power coil 17 of the rotatable element 2 can then convert the alternating-voltage signal back to a direct-voltage signal, via a rectifier 16.

[0084] The higher-order process controller 13 also delivers the relevant data set for controlling the solenoid valves 7 and the heating 27. The data are transmitted to a bus interface 18.

[0085] The signals are provided to the modulator 20 via the processor 19 of the static element 3. The modulator 20 converts the digital control signals to analog signals. By means of a further inductive coupling element 11 of the static element 3, the analog signals are transmitted, via the coupling point 8, to the corresponding inductive coupling element 11 of the rotatable element 2. The signal is converted in the demodulator 21 of the rotatable element 2 and carried, for example via the processor 22/23, to the solenoid valves 7. The solenoid valves 7, for their part, control the supply of compressed air for a pneumatic cylinder (not shown), which in turn controls the position of the valve needles 24. The positions of the valve needles 24 are determined by means of sensors (FIG. 1, 6), and the signal can then be carried, via the processor 22/23, to a modulator 20 of the rotatable element 2. In the modulator 20 of the rotatable element 2, the signal is conditioned such that it can be transmitted, via an inductive coupling element 11 of the rotatable element 2, to the inductive coupling element 11 of the static element 3. The signal is then converted back again in the demodulator 21 of the static element. The signal is processed in the processor 19 and carried, via the bus interface 18, to the higher-order process controller 13. The operating temperature can be set and controlled by means of additional temperature sensors 26. Via the process controller, pressure sensors 27 regulate the dosing mechanism by which the fluid is conveyed to the outlet valve. Furthermore, there may be additional heating elements 28 arranged in the static element 3, for heating, for example, the applicator (not shown) or for heating the fluid line. The corresponding signals may be processed via an analog adapter 25 and transmitted, on the one hand, to the processor 19 of the static element 3 and, on the other hand, obtain signals from the processor 19 for the purpose of regulation.

[0086] FIG. 3 shows the course of the fluid within the device. Elements from FIG. 2 that are not shown have been omitted for reasons of clarity.

[0087] Via an inlet channel 29, the fluid is supplied to a nozzle head, which has three nozzles that have controllable valve needles 24. The fluid is returned from the nozzle head via a return channel 30. The fluid can thus be circulated. The emission 31 of the fluid is regulated by means of the pneumatically controlled valve needles 24. The solenoid valves 7, for their part, control the supply of compressed air for a pneumatic cylinder (not shown), which, in turn, controls the position of the valve needles 24.