CENTRIFUGAL CLEANING INSTALLATION AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A CENTRIFUGAL CLEANING INSTALLATION

Abstract

In order to adapt a centrifugal cleaning installation (1) in a simple manner to different components (7), the centrifugal cleaning installation (1) is provided with a clamping unit (14) for clamping and retaining a component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d) for the component (7). The clamping unit (14) and a drive (6) are removably connected to the component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d) and said component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d) is adapted to a specific component (7) by positioning devices (25) and/or balance weights (26) provided on the holder.

Claims

1. A centrifugal cleaning installation comprising a component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d), which can be connected to an industrially manufactured component (7) to be centrifuged, and a drive (6) co-operating with the component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d) for rotation of the component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d), characterized in that in the centrifugal cleaning installation (1) a clamping unit (14) for clamping and retaining the component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d) is provided, and the clamping unit (14) and the drive (6) are releasably connected to the component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d), wherein the component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d) is adapted to a specific component (7) by positioning devices (25) and/or balance weights (26) provided on the holder.

2. The centrifugal cleaning installation according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of component holders (4a, 4b, 5a-5d) intended in each case for a specific component (7) are arranged in a component holder magazine (3a, 3b) in receptacles (13) provided therefor and each component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d) is adapted to a specific component (7) by positioning means (25) and/or balance weights (26).

3. The centrifugal cleaning installation according to claim 2, characterized in that a receptacle (13) of the component holder magazine (3a, 3b) is arranged aligned with the clamping unit (14).

4. The centrifugal cleaning installation according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the component holder magazine (3q, 3b) is configured as a rotatably mounted turntable (8a, 8b), on which a plurality of receptacles (13) for component holders (4a, 4b, 5a-5d) are arranged distributed over the circumference, and in that a magazine drive (9) is provided for rotating the turntable (8a, 8b).

5. The centrifugal cleaning installation according to claim 2, characterized in that an axial guidance groove (22), which co-operates with a guide element (23) on the receptacle (13), can be provided on a sleeve (20) arranged on a component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d).

6. The centrifugal cleaning installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping unit (14) is arranged on a movable carriage (15a, 15b) and the clamping unit (14) can be moved back and forth by movement of the carriage (15a, 15b) between a centrifuging position (S) and a clamping position (C) remote therefrom.

7. The centrifugal cleaning installation according to claims 3 or 4) and 6, characterized in that the clamping unit (14) in the clamping position (C) is in engagement with a component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d) located in the component holder magazine (3a, 3b).

8. The centrifugal cleaning installation according to claim 7, characterized in that the component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d) in the clamping position (C) is engaged in a receptacle (13) of the component holder magazine (3a, 3b).

9. The centrifugal cleaning installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping unit (14) is arranged on a movable carriage (15a, 15b) and the clamping unit (14) with a component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d) held thereby comes into engagement with the component (7) in the centrifugal cleaning installation (1) by movement of the carriage (15a, 15b) into a centrifuging position (s).

10. The centrifugal cleaning installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping unit (14) is arranged on a movable carriage (15a, 15b) and the clamping unit (14) with the retained component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d) is movable into a changeover position (W) remote from the component (7) for changing of the component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d).

11. The centrifugal cleaning installation according to claims 6, 9 and 10, characterized in that the clamping position (C) is arranged between the changeover position (W) and the centrifuging position (S).

12. The centrifugal cleaning installation according to one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that the drive (6) is arranged on the movable carriage (15a, 15b).

13. The centrifugal cleaning installation according to claim 1, characterized in that a splash guard (30) is provided in the centrifugal cleaning installation (1).

14. A method for operating a centrifugal cleaning installation (1) for centrifuging an industrially manufactured component (7), wherein a component (7) is conveyed into the centrifugal cleaning installation (1), the component (7) is held by a component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d), the component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d) is rotated by a drive (6) in order to centrifuge the held component (7), and after the centrifuging the component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d) is released from the component (7) and the centrifuged component (7) is removed from the centrifugal cleaning installation (1), characterized in that a component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d) is releasably connected to a clamping unit (14), and before the centrifuging of the next component (7) the component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d) connected to the clamping unit (14) is released from the clamping unit (14) and is replaced by another component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d) associated with the next component (7).

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the clamping unit (14) with the component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d) for grasping and releasing the component (7) is moved back and forth between a clamping position (C) remote from the component (7) and a centrifuging position (S) in which the component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d) is in engagement with the component (7).

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d) in the clamping position (C) is engaged in a receptacle (13) of a component holder magazine (3a, 3b).

17. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that before the change of component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d) the clamping unit (14) is moved into a changeover position (W) remote from the component (7).

18. The method according to claims 15, 16 and 17, characterized in that clamping position (C) is located between the changeover position (W) and the centrifuging position (S) and the component holder (4a, 4b, 5a-5d) is released from the clamping unit (14) after the engagement in the component holder magazine (3a, 3b).

Description

[0016] The present invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9, which show by way of example, schematically and without limitation, advantageous embodiments of the invention. In the drawings:

[0017] FIG. 1 shows an advantageous embodiment of a centrifugal cleaning installation according to the invention,

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a component holder in a receptacle of a component holder magazine,

[0019] FIG. 3 shows a component holder with a sleeve and a shank taper for clamping the component holder with a clamping unit,

[0020] FIG. 4 shows a component holder with adapted positioning devices and balance weights,

[0021] FIGS. 5 to 7 show an advantageous method sequence in the centrifugal cleaning installation,

[0022] FIG. 8 shows a splash guard and

[0023] FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment of a splash guard.

[0024] The centrifugal cleaning installation 1 according to the invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 1 on the basis of a specific advantageous exemplary embodiment in a particularly compact design. The centrifugal cleaning installation 1 here consists of a stationary support structure 2 on which opposing component holder magazines 3a, 3b with component holders 4a, 4b, 5a-5d held therein and a drive 6 for a component holder 4 are arranged. Furthermore, the centrifugal cleaning installation 1 comprises opposing clamping means 14 by which component holders 4a, 4b, 5a-5d can be grasped, clamped and retained. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment a component 7 should be held between a set of two opposing component holders 4c, 5c, as described in greater detail below. Therefore in FIG. 1 two component holder magazines 3a, 3b are arranged axially spaced apart. Of course, however, a component 7 can also be held in the centrifugal cleaning installation 1 only on one side by a component holder 4a, 4b. In this case a second component holder magazine 3b could also be omitted. The drive 6 is releasably connected to a component holder 4a, 4b, 5a-5d, as is explained in greater detail below.

[0025] Here a component holder magazine 3a, 3b comprises a rotatably supported turntable 8a, 8b with a plurality of receptacles 13 for component holders 4a, 4b, 5a-5d distributed over the circumference of the turntable 8a, 8b, as is explained in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The turntables 8a, 8b, which can be connected to one another by a connecting shaft 10 for this purpose, are rotated by means of a magazine drive 9 which is connected to the rotatably supported turntable 8b. Alternatively both turntables 8a, 8b could be driven by separate magazine drives 9.

[0026] Of course, the component holder magazines 3a, 3b may also be configured in any other way and also it does not have to be arranged on the support structure 2 of the centrifugal cleaning installation 1, but may also be arranged for example adjacent to the support structure 2. In principle it would even be conceivable to have absolutely no component holder magazine 3a, 3b in the centrifugal cleaning installation 1, in particular when only very rarely a change of component holder is necessary.

[0027] A component 7 can be conveyed into the centrifugal cleaning installation 1 by means of a conveying device 11, in this case a roller track arranged below the component holders 4a, 4b, 5a-5d. In a transfer position P a lifting device 12, for example a simple lifting table, by means of which a component 7 can be lifted by the conveying device 11 and conveyed into a receiving position A in the centrifugal cleaning installation 1, is provided in the region of the conveying device 11. In this case, of course, the conveying device 11 can be arranged in any way, for example also above, transversely to or adjacent to the centrifugal cleaning installation 1, and can also be configured in any way, for example also as an overhead track or also as a robot.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment a sleeve 20 with a standardized shank taper 21 (which can also be configured as a hollow shank taper), such as is usual in the case of machine tools as tool holder, is provided on a component holder 4a, 4b, 5a-5d. A component holder 4a, 4b, 5a-5d is arranged in the component holder magazine 3a, 3b in a receptacle 13 provided on the turntable 8a, 8b. Therefore, for example, an axial guidance groove 22, which co-operates with a guide element 23, for example a ball, on the receptacle 13, can be provided on the sleeve 21. An engaging recess 24, in which the guide element 23 engages, can also be provided at the end of the guidance groove 22. In this way a component holder 4a, 4b, 5a-5d is retained securely in the receptacle 13 in the turntable 8a, 8b and simultaneously the guidance groove 22 also ensures a defined angular position of a component holder 4a, 4b, 5a-5d on the turntable 8a, 8b. The shank taper 21 can be grasped and clamped by a well-known (in particular from machine tools) and commercially available clamping unit 14, for example a SK clamping unit.

[0029] By means of the clamping unit 14 a component holder 4a, 4b, 5a-5d clamped therein can be rotated. For this purpose the drive 6 is for example connected by means of a belt 18 to the clamping unit 14, as indicated in FIG. 1. Therefore in this connection clamping means that the component holder 4a, 4b, 5a-5d is retained in the clamping unit 14 in order to be able to be rotated by means of the clamping unit 14 or by parts of the clamping unit 14. Of course other releasable clamping and drive systems are also possible and conceivable for connecting a component holder 4a, 4b, 5a-5d to the clamping unit 14 or to the drive 6. It would be conceivable, for example, that the component holder 4a, 4b, 5a-5d is driven directly by a drive 6, for example in the form of movable or pivotable gear wheels or friction wheels which co-operate with associated engaging elements on the component holder 4a, 4b, 5a-5d. In this context it is important that the clamping unit 14 and the drive 6 can be separated, individually or jointly, from the component holder 4a, 4b, 5a-5d. In this case the drive 6 can be separated indirectly from the component holder 4a, 4b, 5a-5d if the drive 6 drives a part of the clamping unit 14 (as in FIG. 1). The drive 6 can also be separated directly from the component holder 4a, 4b, 5a-5d if the drive 6 directly drives the component holder 4a, 4b, 5a-5d.

[0030] Each component holder 4a, 4b, 5a-5d, or respectively each set of related component holders 4a, 5a or 4b, 5b, etc., is prepared for a specific component 7, as illustrated in FIG. 4. For this purpose positioning devices 25 which are required at the component holder 4a, 4b, 5a-5d, for example locating pins or positioning bores, are provided, which when in use co-operate with mirror-inverted positioning devices on the component 7, in order to ensure a defined position of the component 7 on a component holder 4a, 4b, 5a-5d. Furthermore, the component holder 4a, 4b, 5a-5d is also prepared for a specific component 7 by the arrangement of balance weights 26.

[0031] A typical sequence in the centrifugal cleaning installation 1 according to FIG. 1 is described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. In this case the same reference signs relate to the same parts.

[0032] In FIG. 5 the component 7 has been conveyed by means of the conveying device 11 and the lifting device 12 into the centrifugal cleaning installation 1, so that the component 7 is now located in the receiving position A. Simultaneously the correct component holders 4c, 5c were brought into the correct position in the component holder magazines 3a, 3b. The clamping units 14 at both axially ends of the centrifugal cleaning installation 1 are moved out of a changeover position W away from the component holder magazines 3a, 3b in the direction of the facing sleeves 20 of the component holders 4c, 5c in the receptacles 13 of the turntables 8a, 8b. Receptacles 13 or component holders 4c, 5c arranged therein and clamping units 14 are oriented appropriately relative to one another, preferably with aligned longitudinal axes. Therefore the clamping units 14 are in each case arranged on a movable carriage 15a, 15b. The movable carriages 15a, 15b are guided and mounted on the support structure 2, for example on guide rails 16 on the support structure 2. The drive of the carriages 15a, 15b can be configured in any way, for example in the form of a linear drive 17 which is arranged on the carriage 15a, 15b and which is supported on a fixed point on the support structure 2, as indicated in FIG. 1. The drive 6 for the component holders 4c, 5c is also arranged on a carriage 15a.

[0033] The end of this feeding movement is illustrated in FIG. 6. In this clamping position C the clamping units 14 are now in engagement with the shank tapers 21 of the component holders 4c, 5c and clamp the component holders 4c, 5c. The two carriages 15a, 15b are now moved further relative to one another, so that the component holders 4c, 5c disengage from the receptacles 13 of the turntables 8a, 8b of the component holder magazines 3a, 3b and come into engagement with the component 7 (FIG. 7) by means of the positioning devices 25 in a centrifuging position S. Thus the component 7 is clamped and retained between the component holders 4c, 5c in a defined position. The lifting device 12 can now be moved downwards. Now the component 7 can be rotated by the drive 6, in order to clean and/or to dry the component 7 by centrifuging. In this case rotational speeds of greater than 400 min.sup.1, typically up to 600 min.sup.1, are typically achieved.

[0034] Thus centrifuging takes place here about a horizontal axis of rotation. Sufficient balancing (both static and also dynamic) is ensured from the outset by the component holders 4c, 5c adapted to the component 7.

[0035] After the centrifuging the component 7 is set down on the lifting device 12, which has been moved upwards again, as the carriages 15a, 15b are moved apart again, so that the component holders 4c, 5c are released from the component 7. The carriages 15a, 15b are preferably moved so far apart that in the clamping position C the component holders 4c, 5c engage again in the free receptacles 13 on the turntables 8a, 8b. Thus a defined angular position of the component holders 4c, 5c is ensured before each centrifuging operation. A new component 7 can now be brought into the centrifugal cleaning installation 1 and the centrifuging process can be repeated on the new component 7.

[0036] If a series of similar components 7 are centrifuged one after the other it is in principle not necessary, but possible, to retract the carriages 15a, 15b into the changeover position W (FIG. 5). However, if one component 7 is followed by another component 7, then a change of component holder must be carried out beforehand, as described below.

[0037] For this purpose, after conclusion of the centrifuging the carriages 15a, 15b initially moved into the changeover position W (FIG. 5), so that the component holders 4c, 5c are released from the clamping units 14 and thus also from the drive 6. The component holder magazines 3a, 3b can now be rotated with the magazine drive 9, so that the component holders 4a, 5b provided for the expected component 7 come to rest in the receiving position A, that is to say in the correct position, in order to be able to be grasped and clamped by the clamping units 14. Thus the sequence described above can be repeated.

[0038] Especially advantageously, the centrifuging position S and the clamping position C and optionally also the changeover position W are aligned with one another, for example along a guide path, in order to be able to approach the individual positions by a simple movement along the guide path, for example by the carriages 15a, 15b along the straight guide 16.

[0039] Of course, various alternative embodiments are conceivable. For example, instead of turntables 8a, 8b other forms of magazines could also be provided. It is also conceivable that a change of component holder is carried out manually or by means of a robot. In this connection a component holder magazine 3a, 3b can also be arranged at a different location, for example adjacent to the conveying device 11, or a discrete component holder magazine 3a, 3b in the centrifugal cleaning installation 1 can be completely omitted. Likewise it is conceivable that the component 7 is only grasped and retained on one side, for which a clamping device should then be provided to retain the component 7 on the component holder 4.

[0040] In the simplest case, in particular when no component holder magazine 3a, 3b or component holder magazine 3a, 3b is provided away from the support structure 2, the clamping unit 14 does not even have to be movably arranged, whereby the changeover position W, the clamping position C and the centrifuging position S coincide. A change of a component holder 4a, 4b, 5a-5d can then be carried out before a new component 7 is conveyed, for example by means of robots, into the centrifugal cleaning installation 1. Optionally also it is possible for only the movement between the clamping position C and the centrifuging position S to be provided.

[0041] During centrifuging, in order to achieve short processing times the component 7 is quickly accelerated to the required speed and after the centrifuging it is decelerated quickly to a standstill. During deceleration the braking energy can be recovered in the form of electrical energy using conventional, available current converter technology, which makes the centrifugal cleaning installation 1 more efficiently in terms of energy.

[0042] Safety functions can also be implemented. For example, an unacceptable unbalance may be detected by means of acceleration sensors on the component holders 4a, 4b, 5a-5d, on the clamping unit 14 or the support structure 2, which can lead to switching off of the centrifugal cleaning installation 1.

[0043] In order to prevent liquid adhering to the component 7 from splashing out into the surroundings during centrifuging, a splash guard 30 can also be provided, which can also be configured as a guard bracket for the component 7, in order to prevent the component 7 from being flung out of the centrifugal cleaning installation 1 in the event of a fault. Such a splash guard 30 is illustrated for example in FIG. 8. FIGS. 9a and 9b show an alternative splash guard 30. Here the upper half of the cylindrical casing surface 32 surrounds the component 7, as in FIG. 8. The lower half of the cylindrical casing surface 33 can be shifted in the circumferential direction by means of a splash guard drive 31. After the component 7 has been introduced into the centrifugal cleaning installation 1 and has been grasped and clamped by the component holders 4c, 5c, and after the lifting device 12 has been lowered, the lower half of the cylindrical casing surface can be rotated below the component 7 in order to achieve a cylindrical enclosure for the component 7.

[0044] Below the conveying device 11 a liquid collecting tray (not illustrated) can also be provided, in order to collect and to draw off liquid which is dripping down.