SEPARATING DEVICE, TREATMENT SYSTEM, METHOD FOR SEPARATING TWO SPATIAL REGIONS, AND METHOD FOR TREATING WORKPIECES

Abstract

In order to provide a separating device for separating two spatial regions, which has a simple structure and provides for efficient fluid separation, it is proposed that the separating device comprises a supply device for supplying a separating fluid to be introduced between the two spatial regions, the supply device preferably comprising at least two guide elements for guiding the separating fluid, which guide elements are designed in particular as guide plates

Claims

1. Separating device for separating two spatial regions, wherein the separating device comprises a supply device for supplying a separating fluid to be introduced between the two spatial regions, wherein the supply device preferably comprises at least two guide elements for guiding the separating fluid, which guide elements are designed in particular as guide plates.

2. Separating device according to claim 1, wherein the guide elements are arranged at least approximately in parallel with one another and/or at least approximately vertically.

3. Separating device according to claim 1, wherein the guide elements extend downward, from a ceiling region of one of the spatial regions or of both of the spatial regions.

4. Separating device according to claim 1, wherein the guide elements extend over at least approximately 70%, preferably at least approximately 90%, of a width of a passage opening interconnecting the two spatial regions.

5. Separating device according to claim 1, wherein the separating fluid can be introduced between the two spatial regions only between the two guide elements.

6. Separating device according to claim 1, wherein the separating device comprises a blocking device for blocking the separating fluid, the blocking device comprising one or more blocking elements which prevent or at least reduce the spreading of a separating fluid flow into at least one of the two spatial regions one or more blocking elements preferably being arranged in a floor region of the separating device.

7. Separating device according to claim 1, wherein the separating device comprises a discharge device for discharging the separating fluid, the discharge device being arranged in particular in a floor region of the separating device.

8. Separating device according to claim 7, wherein the discharge device comprises one or more suction slots which in particular extend partially or at least approximately completely along a plane which is offset in the parallel direction from a separating plane of the separating device.

9. Separating device according to claim 7, wherein the discharge device, in particular one or more outlet openings, for example one or more suction slots, and one or more blocking elements of a blocking device of the separating device are arranged on opposite sides of a separating plane.

10. Separating device according to claim 1, wherein the separating device separates two spatial regions in which different temperatures prevail, it being possible to supply the separating fluid by means of the supply device at a temperature which is between the temperature in a warmer of the two spatial regions and the temperature in a colder of the two spatial regions.

11. Separating device according to claim 1, wherein the separating fluid can be cooled by means of the supply device before being supplied, preferably by mixing in unconditioned fresh air.

12. Treatment system for treating workpieces, in particular a drying system for drying coated vehicle bodies, the treatment system comprising: a treatment space for treating workpieces, which comprises one or more treatment space portions; and at least one separating device according to claim 1, wherein at least one treatment space portion forms one of the spatial regions which can be separated from another of the spatial regions by means of the at least one separating device.

13. Treatment system according to claim 12, wherein the other spatial region is: a) a further treatment space portion of the treatment space; b) a spatial portion of a device different from the treatment system; or c) surroundings of the treatment system.

14. Treatment system according to claim 12, wherein the treatment system comprises a conveyor device for conveying the workpieces, which conveyor device extends through the separating device in a conveying direction of the conveyor device.

15. Treatment system according to claim 14, wherein the conveyor device is an indexing conveyor device, and in that the separating device is arranged between two indexing locations for the workpieces.

16. Treatment system according to claim 12, wherein a lower face of the guide elements is at least partially and/or at least approximately complementary to a conveying contour of the workpieces to be conveyed by means of the conveyor device.

17. Treatment system according to claim 12, wherein the treatment system comprises a plurality of treatment space modules, each treatment space module surrounding a treatment space portion and the separating device being arranged between two treatment space modules or integrated between two treatment space modules.

18. Method for separating two spatial regions by means of a separating device, in particular a separating device according to claim 1, a separating fluid being introduced between the two spatial regions by means of a supply device, the separating fluid preferably being guided by means of at least two guide elements.

19. Method according to claim 18, characterized in that wherein the at least two guide elements are designed as guide plates and/or are arranged at least approximately in parallel with one another and/or vertically.

20. Method according to claim 18, wherein the separating fluid is provided as a hot separating fluid and is then divided between at least two different and/or spatially separated separating devices, the separating fluid in one of the separating devices, optionally in precisely one of the separating devices, being cooled by mixing in a fluid, in particular a flow of fresh air that is unconditioned at least in terms of temperature, in particular within a supply device and/or between the at least two guide elements.

21. Method for treating workpieces, in particular for drying coated vehicle bodies, the method comprising: guiding workpieces through a separating device for separating two spatial regions; and separating the spatial regions by supplying a separating fluid flow between the two spatial regions, in particular by carrying out the method according to claim 18.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0120] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of two treatment space modules of a treatment system, between which a separating device is arranged;

[0121] FIG. 2 is a further schematic perspective view of the treatment space modules together with the separating device from FIG. 1;

[0122] FIG. 3 is a third schematic perspective view of the treatment space modules together with the separating device from FIG. 1;

[0123] FIG. 4 is a schematic vertical cross section through one of the treatment space modules from FIG. 1 viewed in a conveying direction of a conveyor device of the treatment system;

[0124] FIG. 5 is a schematic vertical cross section through the separating device from FIG. 1;

[0125] FIG. 6 is a schematic vertical longitudinal section through the treatment space modules and the separating device from FIG. 1;

[0126] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of region VII in FIG. 6; and

[0127] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of region VIII in FIG. 6.

[0128] The same or functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference signs in all figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0129] A treatment system shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, denoted as a whole by 100, is used, for example, to treat workpieces 102.

[0130] The workpieces 102 are in particular vehicle bodies dried using the treatment system 100.

[0131] In particular, the treatment system 100 is a painting system and/or a drying system.

[0132] The treatment system 100 comprises in particular a housing 104 which surrounds a treatment space 106.

[0133] The treatment space 106 comprises in particular a plurality of treatment space portions 108.

[0134] The treatment system 100 preferably comprises a plurality of treatment space modules 110, each treatment space module 110 preferably surrounding a treatment space portion 108 of the treatment space 106.

[0135] The treatment system 100 also preferably comprises a conveyor device 112, by means of which the workpieces 102 can be guided through the treatment space 106 in a conveying direction 114 (see in particular FIGS. 5 and 6).

[0136] One or more treatment space modules 110 preferably comprise a circulating air duct 116, in particular a circulating air duct 116 for each module.

[0137] Each circulating air duct 116 preferably comprises one or more inlet openings 118 for supplying a circulating air flow to the relevant treatment space portion 108.

[0138] Optionally, each circulating air duct 116 can also have one or more outlet openings in order to be able to discharge, in particular extract by suction, circulating air from the relevant treatment space portion 108.

[0139] By means of the at least one circulating air duct 116, a circulating air flow within the relevant treatment space portion 108 that is oriented substantially transversely, for example at least approximately perpendicularly, to the conveying direction 114 can be in particular produced.

[0140] In the embodiment of a treatment system 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, a separating device 120 is preferably provided by means of which the two treatment space portions 108 of the two treatment space modules 110 can be separated, preferably fluidically.

[0141] In particular, fluid exchange, in particular exchange of air, between the two treatment space portions 108 can preferably be prevented or at least reduced by means of the separating device 120.

[0142] For this purpose, the separating device 120 is preferably arranged between the two treatment space modules 110 or is arranged or integrated in an end region of a second treatment space module 110 that faces a first treatment space module 110.

[0143] The separating device 120 comprises in particular a supply device 122 for supplying a separating fluid flow, for example an air flow.

[0144] For this purpose, the supply device 122 comprises in particular a fan 124 for driving the separating fluid flow and optionally one or more conditioning units for heating, cooling, extracting moisture from and/or adding moisture to the separating fluid flow and/or one or more filter elements 126 for removing contaminants from the separating fluid flow.

[0145] The separating fluid flow is, in particular, an air flow, for example from surroundings 128 of the separating device 120 and/or of the treatment system 100.

[0146] By means of a suction device 130, the separating fluid flow is preferably suctioned and supplied to one or more guide elements 134 of the supply device 122 via a pressure space chamber 132 of the supply device 122.

[0147] As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 6 and 7, the pressure space chamber 132 is fluidically connected by means of a mouth portion 136 to a guide channel 138 formed between two guide elements 134, and therefore separating fluid from the pressure space chamber 132 can be introduced between the two guide elements 134.

[0148] The mouth portion 136 is preferably arranged and/or formed substantially in a V shape in a cross section and/or longitudinal section.

[0149] By means of the mouth portion 136, a uniform supply of the separating fluid to the guide channel 138 is in particular made possible.

[0150] The guide elements 134 are preferably designed as guide plates 140.

[0151] The guide elements 134 are preferably arranged substantially in parallel with one another and/or extend downward, starting from a ceiling region 142, at least approximately in parallel with the direction of gravity 144.

[0152] In particular, the guide elements 134 can be arranged, in particular fixed, on a ceiling wall 146 of one or both treatment space modules 110 of the treatment system 100.

[0153] The guide elements 134 are in particular arranged and/or designed so as to be rigid and/or immovable.

[0154] As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 1 and 4, a supply opening 148 of the supply device 122 is formed by means of the guide elements 134.

[0155] The supply opening 148 is in particular a supply slot 150 which is arranged and/or formed in particular on a lower face 152 of the guide elements 134.

[0156] The lower face 152 is in particular an end of the guide elements 134 that faces away from the ceiling region 142.

[0157] In particular, a lower face 152 of the guide elements 134 is a lower end of the guide elements 134 with respect to the direction of gravity 144.

[0158] As can be seen in particular from FIG. 4, the supply opening 148 preferably extends at least approximately over the entire width B of a passage opening 154 which interconnects the spatial regions 156, in particular the treatment space portions 108, to be separated by means of the separating device 120.

[0159] The guide elements 134 preferably have a shape which is at least approximately complementary to an outer contour of a workpiece 102 to be treated.

[0160] In particular, the lower face 152 of the guide elements 134 is adapted so as to be at least approximately complementary to an upper face of an outer contour of a workpiece 102 to be conveyed through the separating device 120.

[0161] The guide elements 134 can thus in particular form a diaphragm which reduces the passage opening 154 at least approximately to the shape and/or cross section required for conveying the workpieces 102 through the separating device 120.

[0162] By means of the supply device 120, in particular a separating fluid flow can be introduced in the direction of gravity 144 from top to bottom between the two spatial regions 156, in particular the two treatment space portions 108.

[0163] As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 6 and 8, a discharge opening to which there is a flow directly from the supply device 122 flows is not arranged and/or formed in a floor region 158 of the separating device 120 that is opposite the ceiling region 142.

[0164] Instead, a combination of one or more outlet openings 160 and one or more blocking elements 162 of a blocking device 164 is preferably provided.

[0165] A discharge device 166, which in particular comprises the one or more outlet openings 160, is preferably not arranged as a direct extension of the guide elements 134, but is instead offset in the conveying direction 114.

[0166] In particular, the two outlet openings 160 are designed as continuous and/or discontinuous suction slots 168, which extend at least approximately in parallel with a separating plane 170 of the separating device 120 in particular in the floor region 158.

[0167] The separating plane 170 is, in particular, a mirror plane of the guide elements 134 and/or a center plane of the guide channel 138.

[0168] In particular, the separating plane 170 is formed at least approximately perpendicularly to the conveying direction 114.

[0169] The separating plane 170 can also be a plane arranged and/or extending between the two treatment space modules 110.

[0170] All of the outlet openings 160 of the discharge device 166 are preferably arranged on one side of the separating plane 170.

[0171] One or more blocking elements 162 of the blocking device 164 are preferably arranged on another side of the separating plane 170 that is opposite the aforementioned side.

[0172] As can be seen in particular from FIG. 6, the blocking elements 162 extend upward, starting from the floor region 158, in particular a floor wall 172, in particular upward counter to the direction of gravity 144.

[0173] The one or more blocking elements 162 in particular provide for a damming effect such that separating fluid which is guided from top to bottom in the direction of gravity 144 by means of the guide elements 134 and which is deflected in the floor region 158 is blocked at least in a direction parallel to the conveying direction 114. In the embodiment of the treatment system 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the one or more blocking elements 162 in particular result in the separating fluid in the floor region 158 spreading counter to the conveying direction 114 and, as a result, there being no flow roller formed, for example.

[0174] By means of the one or more outlet openings 160, which are arranged on a side of the separating plane 170 that is opposite the one or more blocking elements 162, the separating fluid can preferably also be extracted by suction without a flow roller forming.

[0175] A separating fluid curtain, in particular an air curtain, produced by means of the separating fluid thereby preferably has a particularly small extent in the conveying direction 114, and so the separating device 120 can take up little installation space overall.

[0176] As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, a plurality of blocking elements 162 or at least one or more discontinuous blocking elements 162 are preferably provided, one or more elements of the conveyor device 112, for example rails or the like, being passed through one or more gaps 174.

[0177] Furthermore, in particular with view of FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the option of a compensation device 176 should be noted.

[0178] The compensation device 176 can in particular compensate for a temperature-related length variation of the treatment space modules 110 in the conveying direction 114.

[0179] For this purpose, the compensation device 176 preferably comprises one or more compensation elements 178, which are designed, for example, as bent, curved, and/or meandering connecting elements between the two treatment space modules 110 and/or between a treatment space module 110 and the separating device 120.

[0180] With regard to the supply device 122, it should also be noted that in particular the pressure space chamber 132, fan 124, one or more conditioning units and/or one or more filter elements 126 can be arranged in a ceiling region 142, in particular on a ceiling wall 146.

[0181] One or more filter elements 126, one or more conditioning units and/or an interior of the pressure space chamber 132 are preferably accessible from a treatment space portion 108 by means of an access element 180, for example an access flap 182. In this way, the supply device 122, in particular the one or more filter elements 126, can be maintained in a simple and cost-effective manner.

[0182] As indicated in FIG. 6, a plurality of workpieces 102 are preferably arranged in the treatment space 106 at any one time.

[0183] The conveyor device 112 is, for example, a continuous conveyor device 112.

[0184] In contrast, an indexing conveyor device is preferably provided as the conveyor device 112.

[0185] The workpieces 102 can in particular be conveyed in stepwise operation from one indexing location 184 to a subsequent indexing location 184 by means of the conveyor device 112.

[0186] The separating device 120 and the conveyor device 112 are arranged and designed in particular in such a way that the separating device 120 is arranged between two indexing locations 148.

[0187] In particular, the separating plane 170 extends between two indexing locations 184 in order to be able to produce a separating fluid curtain, in particular an air curtain, that is as continuous as possible while the workpieces 102 are at a temporary standstill. As a result, the two spatial regions 156, in particular the treatment space portions 108, can be fluidically separated.

[0188] By using the guide elements 134, the blocking device 164 and/or the discharge device 166, the separating device 120 can preferably be particularly compact, such that loss of space between the indexing locations 184 caused by the separating device 120 can be minimized as much as possible.