TREATMENT STATION, TREATMENT SYSTEM, AND CORRESPONDING TREATMENT METHOD

Abstract

In order to provide a treatment station for treating workpiecesin particular, for cleaning and/or coating vehicle bodieswhich allows efficient workpiece treatment, it is proposed that the treatment station comprise a treatment container which surrounds a treatment chamber for receiving the workpieces, wherein the treatment chamber can be flooded with a fluid, wherein the treatment container comprises at least one access opening for introducing the workpieces into the treatment chamber and/or for removing the workpieces from the treatment chamber, wherein the treatment container comprises a closing device which comprises a closing element for selectively closing and opening the at least one access opening.

Claims

1. Treatment station for treating workpiecesin particular, for cleaning and/or coating vehicle bodies wherein the treatment station comprises a treatment container which surrounds a treatment chamber for accommodating the workpieces, wherein the treatment chamber can be flooded with a fluid, wherein the treatment container includes at least one access opening for introducing the workpieces into the treatment chamber and/or for removing the workpieces from the treatment chamber, and wherein the treatment container includes a closing device which includes a closing element for selectively closing and opening the at least one access opening.

2. Treatment station according to claim 1, wherein the treatment station includes a guide device for guiding the closing element, wherein the guide device includes one or more vertical guide sectionsin particular, four vertical guide sectionsand one or more locking sectionsin particular, four locking sectionswherein the one or more locking sectionsin particular, the four locking sectionsrun transverselyin particular, obliquelyto the one or more vertical guide sectionsin particular, the four vertical guide sections.

3. Treatment station according to claim 2, wherein the one or more vertical guide sectionsin particular, the four vertical guide sectionsare arranged and/or aligned at least approximately parallel to a wall-side sealing surface of the treatment container.

4. Treatment station according to claim 2, wherein the one or more locking sectionsin particular, the four locking sections a) each connect to a lower endin the vertical directionof a vertical guide section; and/or b) extend starting from a vertical guide section in the direction of a wall-side sealing surface of the treatment container.

5. Treatment station according to claim 2, wherein the closing element is displaceably mounted on the one or more vertical guide sectionsin particular, the four vertical guide sectionsand/or on the one or more locking sectionsin particular, the four locking sectionsby a plurality of guide rollers and/or support rollers of the guide device.

6. Treatment station according to claim 2, wherein the closing element is displaceable unchanged in a uniform rotational alignment along the one or more vertical guide sectionsin particular, along the four vertical guide sectionsand/or along the one or more locking sectionsin particular, along the four locking sections.

7. Treatment station according to claim 2, wherein the closing element can be moved by the one or more locking sectionsin particular, the four locking sectionsonto a wall-side sealing surface of the treatment container to receive a sealing element in a clamping and/or sealing manner between the closing element and the treatment container.

8. Treatment station according to claim 2, wherein the guide device and/or the closing element are arranged on an inner side, facing the treatment chamber, of a side wallin particular, an end wallof the treatment container.

9. Treatment station according to claim 2, wherein the closing device includes a lifting device for raising and lowering the closing element of the closing devicein particular, for lifting the closing element to bring the closing element into an open position, and for lowering the closing element to bring the closing element into a closed position, wherein the lifting device in particular includes a winding drive, belt drive, or chain drive.

10. Treatment station according to claim 1, wherein the treatment station includes a sealing device for sealing a gap between the treatment container and the closing element in the closed state thereof.

11. Treatment station according to claim 10, wherein the sealing device includes one or more sealing elements designed as elastic profile seals.

12. Treatment station according to claim 10, wherein the sealing device includes one or more expandable sealing elements which can be selectively brought into a sealing expansion and into a release expansionin particular, by introducing an expansion materialwherein the one or more sealing elements are applied by expansion to the closing element, when the closing element is arranged in the closed position.

13. Treatment station according to claim 10, wherein the sealing device includes one or more primary sealing elements and one or more secondary sealing elements to functionally support the one or more primary sealing elements.

14. Treatment station according to claim 10, wherein the sealing device includes a fluid collection device by which fluid exiting the gap can be received.

15. Treatment systemin particular, a cleaning system or painting systemcomprising one or more treatment stationsin particular, for cleaning and/or coating vehicle bodies wherein the treatment station includes a treatment container which surrounds a treatment chamber for accommodating the workpieces, wherein the treatment chamber can be flooded with a fluid, wherein the treatment container includes at least one access opening for introducing the workpieces into the treatment chamber and/or for removing the workpieces from the treatment chamber, and wherein the treatment container includes a closing device which includes a closing element for selectively closing and opening the at least one access opening.

16. Method for treating workpiecesin particular, for cleaning and/or coating vehicle bodies using a treatment station or a treatment system for treating workpiecesin particular, for cleaning and/or coating vehicle bodies wherein the treatment station includes a treatment container which surrounds a treatment chamber for accommodating the workpieces, wherein the treatment chamber can be flooded with a fluid, wherein the treatment container comprises at least one access opening for introducing the workpieces into the treatment chamber and/or for removing the workpieces from the treatment chamber, wherein the treatment container comprises a closing device which comprises a closing element for selectively closing and opening the at least one access opening, wherein the method comprises the following: introducing the workpieces through at least one access opening into a treatment chamber which can be flooded with a fluid and which is surrounded by a treatment container of a treatment station; and optionally closing and opening the at least one access opening by means of a closing element of a closing device of the treatment container.

17. Method according to claim 16, wherein the treatment station includes a sealing device for sealing a gap between the treatment container and the closing element in the closed state thereof, wherein the sealing device includes one or more expandable sealing elements which are selectively brought into a sealing expansion and a release expansion by introducing an expansion material, wherein the sealing element is expanded in the sealing expansion, and wherein the sealing element is relaxed in the release expansion.

18. Method according to claim 17, wherein a sensor device and/or control device is to monitor, control and/or regulate a pressure in an interior of the sealing elementin particular, to monitor and/or control and/or regulate a reliable sealing effect of the sealing element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0105] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspectival view of a treatment station of a treatment system in which a treatment container can be closed by means of at least one closing device;

[0106] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspectival view of an alternative embodiment of a closing device for use in the treatment station from FIG. 1;

[0107] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged representation of region III in FIG. 2;

[0108] FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspectival view of a locking section of a guide device of the closing device from FIG. 2;

[0109] FIG. 5 shows a schematic plan view of the locking section as shown in FIG. 4;

[0110] FIGS. 6 to 11 show various embodiments of sealing devices for sealing a gap between a closing element of the closing device and a side wall of the treatment container of the treatment station;

[0111] FIG. 12 shows a schematic section through an alternative embodiment of a closing device;

[0112] FIG. 13 shows a schematic section through an additional seal for sealing a gap in a ceiling region of the treatment container, wherein the closing element is arranged in an at least partially open state; and

[0113] FIG. 14 shows a view, corresponding to FIG. 13, of the additional seal, wherein the closing element is arranged in a closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0114] A treatment station shown in FIG. 1 and denoted as a whole by 100 is in particular a component of a treatment system 102 and serves to carry out cleaning and/or coating processes on workpieces 104for example, vehicle bodies 106.

[0115] In a treatment system 102, in particular a plurality of such treatment stations 100 can be provided.

[0116] The treatment station 100 comprises a treatment container 108 in which a workpiece 104 can be accommodated.

[0117] The treatment container 108 comprises a plurality of side walls 110, wherein an access opening 114 is formed in one or two of the side walls 110in particular, in opposite end walls 112.

[0118] The workpiece 104 can be introduced into and/or removed from a treatment chamber 116 of the treatment container 108 through the access opening 114.

[0119] A conveying device 118 is provided in particular for conveying the workpieces 104.

[0120] The treatment station 100 comprisesin particular, for each access opening 114a closing device 120 by means of which the corresponding access opening 114 can be closed.

[0121] For this purpose, the closing device 120 comprises a closing element 122 which can be brought partially into a closed position or an open position by means of a closing drive 124.

[0122] The closing element 122 is in particular a gate 126.

[0123] The closing drive 124 is in particular a lifting device 128for example, an electric drive.

[0124] By means of the closing drive 124, the closing element 122 is preferably liftable in order to open the access opening 114 and lowerable in order to close the access opening 114.

[0125] The treatment station 100 further comprises a fluid tank 130 which is connected to the treatment chamber 116 by means of a fluid guide 132. Fluid from the fluid tank 130 can accordingly be supplied to the treatment chamber 116 via the fluid guide 132in particular, in order to flood the treatment chamber 116 at least sectionally.

[0126] By means of a control device 134 and/or a valve device 136 of the treatment station 100, the flooding process is preferably controllable and/or regulatable.

[0127] In order to avoid an undesired drainage of fluid from the treatment chamber 116, the closing device 120 preferably comprises a sealing device 138 by means of which in particular a gap can be sealed between the closing element 122 and the side wall 110.

[0128] Furthermore, the closing device 20 preferably comprises a guide device 140 by means of which the closing element 122 can be reliably brought into a predetermined closed position in order to ensure the sealing function of the sealing device 138.

[0129] In particular, the closing element 122 can be guided in contact along a sealing element, yet to be described, of the sealing device 138 in order to always ensure contact with the sealing element and thus correct positioning of the closing element 122 relative to the sealing element. However, this can result in increased wear of the sealing element, which can impair a long-term sealing effect.

[0130] By means of an optimized closing device 120, the sealing effect can preferably also be maintained long-term. For this purpose, the closing device 120 can be designed, for example, according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 5.

[0131] The embodiment of the closing device 120 shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 can in particular be provided instead of the closing device 120 shown in FIG. 1. Moreover, a treatment station 100 which is provided with the embodiment of a closing device 120 shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 preferably corresponds to the treatment station 100 shown in FIG. 1 with regard to individual or several features relating to the structure and/or the function, so that reference is made to the above description thereof in this respect.

[0132] The embodiment of the closing device 120 shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 comprises a guide device 140 which comprises a plurality of guide tracks 142 for guiding the closing element 122 from the open position into the closed position. Each guide track 142 comprises a vertical guide section 144 and a locking section 146. Each guide track 142 can optionally serve to reinforce the closing device 120 and/or to reinforce the treatment container 108.

[0133] The locking section 146 of each guide track 142 is arranged in particular on a lower end, with respect to the direction of gravity, of the vertical guide section 144 of the corresponding guide track 142.

[0134] The guide tracks 142 are arranged on the treatment container 108 on the wall sidein particular, on a side wall 110.

[0135] The guide device 140 further comprises a plurality of guide rollers 148, by means of which the closing element 122 is displaceably mounted on the guide tracks 142.

[0136] The guide rollers 148 are in particular rotatably arranged on the closing element 122 and roll on or in the guide tracks 142.

[0137] Preferably, each guide track 142 is assigned one or more, e.g., two, guide rollers 148. One of the guide rollers 148 forms, for example, a lateral support roller 150, by means of which the closing element 122 can be prevented in particular from tilting about an axis running parallel to a direction of introduction. The direction of introduction is in particular that direction in which a workpiece 104 can be introduced through the access opening 114 into the treatment chamber 116.

[0138] The further guide roller 148 forms in particular a pressure roller 152 by means of which, in combination with a slotted guide 154 of the locking section 146, the closing element 122 can be moved in the direction of the side wall 110in particular, onto a sealing element of the sealing device 138. A gap 156 between the closing element 122 and the side wall 110 can thus preferably be reduced by means of the pressure roller 152 and the slotted guide 154in particular, in order to make clamping and thus sealing contact with a sealing element 158 of the sealing device 138 (see in this regard, for example, FIG. 6).

[0139] As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 4 and 5, the locking section 146 of the guide track 142 runs obliquely to the vertical guide section 144 of the guide track 142.

[0140] In the closed position of the closing element 122 shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the pressure roller 152 is arranged laterally offset relative to the vertical guide section 144 of the guide track 142.

[0141] The locking section 146 is designed to be significantly shorter compared to the vertical guide section 144, e.g., its length is at most approximately one fifth, e.g., at most approximately one tenth, of a length of the vertical guide section 144. As a result, the pressing movement of the closing element 122 can be limited to the time point shortly before the closed position is reached. The sealing element 158 is thereby contacted only shortly before reaching the closed position in order to avoid or at least minimize abrasion and thus long-term impairment of the sealing effect.

[0142] Each guide track 142 preferably forms a guide unit together with the guide rollers 148 guided thereon or therein.

[0143] In the closing device 120, four such guide units 160 are preferably provided, which are in particular arranged such that the closing element 122, which is in particular designed to be rectangular, is guided at all four corners.

[0144] The guide units 160 are positioned relative to one another in such a way that the pressure rollers 152 of each guide unit 160 engage in a synchronized manner with one another in the respective locking section 146, and the closing element 122 can thus be pressed uniformly against the sealing element 158 or can be moved in the direction thereof.

[0145] The movement of the closing element 122 in the direction of the sealing element 158 results from a mere deflection of the pressure roller 152 due to the shape of the slotted guide 154 and due to the vertical movement of the closing element 122 achieved by means of the closing drive 124 and/or due to gravity. An additional pressing mechanism for pressing the closing element 122 against the sealing element 158 and/or a movement device for moving the closing element 122 in the direction of the sealing element 158 can thereby preferably be dispensed with.

[0146] Various embodiments of sealing devices 138 are shown in FIGS. 6 to 11.

[0147] Each of the sealing devices 138 is preferably suitable for use in combination with the guide device 140 according to FIG. 1 and/or according to FIGS. 2 to 5.

[0148] The sealing device 138 comprises a sealing element 158 by means of which the gap 156 between the closing element 122 and the side wall 110 of the treatment container 108 can be sealed.

[0149] For this purpose, the side wall 110 comprises a sealing surface 162in particular, a wall-side sealing surface 162.

[0150] The sealing surface 162 of the side wall 110 is in particular arranged on an inner side, facing the treatment chamber 116, of the side wall 110.

[0151] The closing element 122 can thus be applied to the side wall 110 from the inside.

[0152] A fluid pressure generated by the fluid during flooding of the treatment container 108 thereby causes the closing element 122 to be pressed against the side wall 110.

[0153] Alternatively to this, the closing element 122 can also be arranged on an outer side of the side wall 110. The sealing surface 162 would then accordingly be arranged on the outside of the side wall 110, and a force brought about by the fluid pressure would push the closing element 122 outwards from the side wall 110. Given a suitable design of the guide device 140 and the sealing device 138, this alternative arrangement of the closing element 122 can also be provided.

[0154] However, the inner arrangement of the closing element 122 is preferred.

[0155] In the embodiment of the sealing device 138 shown in FIG. 6, the sealing element 158 is preferably designed to be compressiblein particular, elastically deformable. Tolerances in the size of the gap 156 can preferably be compensated for in this way. In particular, tolerance compensation can preferably also be provided for a variation of the gap width of at least 3 mmpreferably at least approximately 5 mm.

[0156] The sealing surface 162 of the side wall 110 is in particular formed on a flange ring 164. The flange ring 164 preferably surrounds the access opening 114 in an annular or at least U-shaped manner and is preferably a component of the side wall 110.

[0157] The sealing element 158 can be formed, for example, from an elastomer material and/or from a foam materialfor example, a plastic foam.

[0158] The sealing element 158 preferably has an annularly closed shape or a U-shape.

[0159] The sealing element 158 preferably extends at least approximately along the entire flange ring 164.

[0160] In the embodiment of the sealing element 158 shown in FIG. 6, this has, for example, a tubular cross-section, wherein in particular one or more, e.g., two, cylindricalin particular, circular-cylindricalcavities are arranged and/or formed within the sealing element 158. In particular, the compressibility of the sealing element 158 can thereby be ensured. A sealing effect is achieved in particular by sufficient compression of the sealing element 158 due to the pressing of the closing element 122.

[0161] In particular, in order to reduce a friction effect and thus to minimize abrasion on the sealing element 158, it can be provided that the sealing element 158 and/or a sealing surface 162 resting thereonin particular, a sealing surface 162 of the closing element 122be coatedfor example, with an adhesion-reducing and/or friction-reducing coating.

[0162] The sealing element 158 can, for example, be fixed to the sealing surface 162in particular, fixed in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting and/or materially bonded manner.

[0163] For example, it can be provided that a sealing element seat 166, e.g., a receiving groove or a receiving profile, be arranged and/or formed on the flange ring 164. In particular, the sealing element 158 can then be clamped in the sealing element seat 166for example, with a form fit by means of a pin profile.

[0164] As can be seen in particular from FIG. 7, in an alternative embodiment of the sealing element 158, this can have one or more lateral projections 168, by means of which the sealing element 158 is clamped to the side wall 110in particular, to the flange ring 164for example, by one or more clamping elements 170.

[0165] The clamping elements 170 can in particular be clamping rails.

[0166] The sealing element 158 can in particular have a T-shaped cross-section in order to be fixed on both sides by means of clamping elements 170.

[0167] An interior 172 of the sealing element 158 can, for example, be designed to be fillable. For example, a fluid can be introduced into the interior 172. For example, it can be provided that a pressure be able to be set in the interior 172 in order to be able to expand the sealing element 158.

[0168] In particular, the sealing element 158 can be designed in such a way that it can be applied to the closing element 122 only by its expansionfor example, as soon as the latter is arranged in the closed position. The gap 156 then preferably closes only by expanding the sealing element 158.

[0169] The fluid introduced into the interior 172 can be gas or liquid, for example. For example, compressed air can be used for this purpose.

[0170] It can be advantageous if the pressure in the interior 172 of the sealing element 158 is monitored by means of a sensor device and/or control device. A reliable sealing effect can thereby be ensured. Furthermore, an undesired escape of fluid, which could lead to impairment of the sealing effect, can preferably be detected in good time.

[0171] It can be advantageous if one or more clamping elements 170 for fixing the sealing element 158 simultaneously have a stabilizing functionin particular, in order to avoid an undesirably strong lateral deformation of the sealing element 158 during the expansion thereof.

[0172] In FIGS. 8 to 11, various embodiments of the sealing device 138 are shown in which a plurality of sealing elements 158 are provided.

[0173] A primary seal, facing the fluid in the interior of the treatment chamber 116, and a secondary seal facing away from the fluid are provided in each case.

[0174] Depending upon the arrangement of the closing element 122 on the inside or the outside of the side wall 110, a varying arrangement of the two sealing elements 158 between the closing element 122 and the side wall 110 preferably results. The two sealing elements 158 can in particular be designed to overlap one another, wherein in particular an expandable sealing element 158 acts against a further sealing element 158 in order to press it against the closing element 122 (see in particular FIGS. 8, 9, and 11).

[0175] Alternatively, it can also be provided that each of the sealing elements 158 act directly upon the closing element 122 (see FIG. 10).

[0176] A sealing edge geometry or sealing surface geometry of the respective sealing elements 158 is in particular adapted to the pressure conditions to be expected and to the gap size.

[0177] In principle, any of the embodiments of the sealing device 138 shown in FIGS. 6 to 11 are suitable for use in any of the described embodiments of treatment stations 100.

[0178] FIG. 12 shows a (further) alternative embodiment of a closing device 120 in which the guide device 140 is arranged outside the treatment chamber 116, and thus the guide rollers 148 do not come into contact with the fluid, or at least the guide tracks 142 are not flooded with the fluid.

[0179] In order nevertheless to use a fluid pressure within the treatment chamber 116 for pressing the closing element 122 against the sealing element 158, the closing element 122 preferably comprises a projection 174 engaging behind or around the sealing element 158. The projection 174 is in particular arranged and/or designed such that the sealing element 158 is arranged between the projection 174 and the guide tracks 142. In particular, the projection 174 projects, on an inner side facing the treatment chamber 116, beyond the sealing element 158.

[0180] For example, it can be provided that the sealing element 158 project, with a sealing element seat 166 bearing the sealing element 158, into a spatial region arranged between the projection 174 and the guide tracks 142.

[0181] The sealing element seat 166 can optionally comprise a stopper 176 and/or a spacer 178 in order to be able to limit a maximum deformation of the sealing element 158.

[0182] Moreover, the embodiment of a closing device 120 shown in FIG. 12 preferably corresponds to one or more of the other embodiments with regard to individual or several features relating to the structure and/or the function, so that reference is made to their description above in this respect.

[0183] FIGS. 13 and 14 show an optional development of the closing device 120 in which an additional seal 180 is provided on an upper end, with respect to the direction of gravity, of the closing element 122. Such an additional seal 180 can be advantageous in particular if the closing element 122 is guided in a gap or through a gap in a ceiling region 181 of the treatment container 108, and, under certain circumstances, vapors or other media could escape through this gap.

[0184] The additional seal 180 can in particular comprise an additional sealing element 182 which is arranged, for example, on the treatment container 108 and acts against the closing element 122. Alternatively, the additional sealing element 182 can be arranged on the closing element 122 and act against the treatment container 108.

[0185] The closing element 122 can comprise, for example, a pressing section 184in particular, a pressing projection 186against which the additional sealing element 182 can be pressed or is pressedin particular, in a closed state of the closing element 122.

[0186] The additional sealing element 182 can, for example, comprise a sealing lip part 188 or brush part 190 which, in each position of the closing element 122, covers or bridges a gap between the treatment container 108 and the closing element 122, and thus at least largely closes the same.

[0187] Alternatively or additionally thereto, it can be provided that the additional sealing element 182 comprise a pressed part 192 which is sealingly pressed against the closing element 122in particular, exclusivelywhen it is in a closed position. The pressed part 192 is in particular a rubber lip or another elastic seal.

[0188] Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that a pressing section 184in particular, a pressing projection 186form the additional sealing element 182 and, in particular, act against the treatment container 108 in the closed state of the closing element 122 in order to at least largely close a gap between the treatment container 108 and the closing element 122.

List of Reference Signs

[0189] 100 Treatment station [0190] 102 Treatment system [0191] 104 Workpiece [0192] 106 Vehicle body [0193] 108 Treatment container [0194] 110 Side wall [0195] 112 End wall [0196] 114 Access opening [0197] 116 Treatment chamber [0198] 118 Conveying device [0199] 120 Closing device [0200] 122 Closing element [0201] 124 Closing drive [0202] 126 Gate [0203] 128 Lifting device [0204] 130 Fluid tank [0205] 132 Fluid guide [0206] 134 Control device [0207] 136 Valve device [0208] 138 Sealing device [0209] 140 Guide device [0210] 142 Guide track [0211] 144 Vertical guide section [0212] 146 Locking section [0213] 148 Guide roller [0214] 150 Support roller [0215] 152 Pressing roller [0216] 154 Slotted guide [0217] 156 Gap [0218] 158 Sealing element [0219] 160 Guide unit [0220] 162 Sealing surface [0221] 164 Flange ring [0222] 166 Sealing element seat [0223] 168 Projection [0224] 170 Clamping element [0225] 172 Interior [0226] 174 Projection [0227] 176 Stopper [0228] 178 Spacer [0229] 180 Additional seal [0230] 181 Ceiling region [0231] 182 Additional sealing element [0232] 184 Pressing section [0233] 186 Pressing projection [0234] 188 Sealing lip part [0235] 190 Brush part [0236] 192 Pressed part