APPARATUS FOR SURFACE TREATMENT, PAINTING OF CAR RIMS, AND METHOD THEREFORE

Abstract

An apparatus as well as a method for painting of a rim or another rotational symmetric item is provided. The apparatus includes: a coating unit with a robot arm and one or more spray nozzles for applying a curable fluid, an item holder equipped with assembly bodies for disengageable securing of the item with the purpose of rotating it, coinciding with the item's center axis, during the coating with the curable fluid, a suspension bracket wherein the item holder is assembled, and which rotates the item holder around a pivot point, which runs perpendicularly on the axis of rotation, coinciding with a diameter through the item and to angle the item holder, as the item is being rotated, a curing unit, and a controller configured to positioning the coating unit in relation to the item for applying the fluid onto the item in accordance with a predetermined coating pattern.

Claims

1. An apparatus for painting of a rotational symmetric item, wherein the apparatus comprises: an openable paint booth with air inlet and air outlet and door for closing the paint booth during operation; a coating unit with one or more spray nozzles for applying a curable fluid onto the item; an item holder supplied with assembly bodies for disengageable securing of the item for rotation around an axis of rotation, coinciding with the item's center axis, during coating with the fluid; a suspension bracket wherein the item holder is mounted, and which bracket is configured to rotate the item holder around a pivot point, extending a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation, coinciding with a diameter through the item and to angle the item while the item is being rotated; a curing unit; and a controller connected to the apparatus' different elements in order to control these during operation.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the assembly bodies comprise at least three and preferably four rotating wheels for supporting the item at its circumference, wherein the item is a car rim.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the rotational wheels are assembled in a displaced manner toward each other and away from each other, for adjustment in accordance with differing item sizes, so that the item's center is coinciding with the intersection of the pivot axis and the axis of rotation.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one rotational wheel is connected to a motor for rotating the item when the apparatus is operating.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the suspension bracket and the spray nozzles are arranged in way which is mutually displaceable.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein spray nozzles and curing units are assembled on the same guide.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to position the coating unit in relative to the item for applying the fluid onto the item in accordance with a predetermined coating pattern.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coating unit comprises a gripping device configured to hold and activate one or more spray nozzles.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coating unit comprises a robot arm and one or more spray nozzles for applying the curable fluid onto the item.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein spray nozzles and curing unit is assembled on the same robot arm.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the curable fluid is Infrared curable, and the curing e units comprise an Infrared source.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the curable fluid is UV curable, and the curing units comprise one or more UV light sources.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the entire apparatus is provided in one housing.

14. An adjustable item holder for a rotational symmetric item, wherein the item holder is supplied with assembly bodies for disengageable securing of the item, in order to rotate it around an axis of rotation, coinciding with the item's center axis, where the assembly bodies comprise at least three and four rotating wheels to support the item at its circumference, and where the rotating wheels are assembled to allow for displacement toward each other and away from each other for adjusting to different item sizes, so that the item's center axis is coinciding with the axis of rotation, during assembly into the item holders.

15. A method for painting of a rotational symmetric item, wherein the method comprises: mounting the item in assembly bodies on an item holder, coating with curable fluid using a coating unit having a robot arm and one or more spray nozzles, rotating the item around an axis of rotation, coinciding with the item's center axis during coating with the fluid; angling the item holder where the angling is performed around a pivot point extending in a direction perpendicularly to the axis of rotation, coinciding with a diameter through the item; curing the fluid with a curing unit; and dismounting the item from the assembly bodies.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein mounting of the item in assembly bodies on the item holder further comprises, that the assembly bodies are displaced in a direction away from each other and/or toward each other, for accommodating different rim sizes, wherein the item is a car rim.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the coating unit further comprises a robot arm and one or more spray nozzles.

18. The method for controlling the robot arm and item holder for applying the curable fluid in accordance with the method in claim 17, where the method further comprises: receiving input concerning the item's diameter and design of the item's surface, which is to be painted; calculating a coating pattern for applying the fluid based on the item's diameter and design of the item's surface, to be painted; calculating mutual movement pattern for the item and the coating unit to achieve the calculated coating pattern and the item and the coating unit based on the calculated movement patterns.

19. The method for controlling a robot arm and item holder for application of the curable fluid according to the method in claim 17 for painting of a rim, where the method further comprises: receiving input concerning the rim's size and number of spokes in the rim; calculating a coating pattern for applying the fluid based on the number of spokes and rim size; calculating mutual movement pattern for the rim and the coating unit to achieve the calculated coating pattern; and moving the rim and the coating unit based on the calculated movement patterns.

20. A method according to claim 15, wherein the method further comprises providing of the apparatus.

21. The method according to claim 15, wherein the method further comprises choosing a fluid among curable UV fluid and curable IR fluid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0131] Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with references to the following Figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

[0132] FIG. 1A depicts partial sectional views through an embodiment of an apparatus in various operating states for execution of the method:

[0133] FIG. 1B depicts partial sectional views through an embodiment of an apparatus in various operating states for execution of the method:

[0134] FIG. 1C depicts partial sectional views through an embodiment of an apparatus in various operating states for execution of the method:

[0135] FIG. 1D depicts partial sectional views through an embodiment of an apparatus in various operating states for execution of the method;

[0136] FIG. 2 illustrates further embodiments of the apparatus, where examples on the paint booth's possible design appear in more explicit detail;

[0137] FIG. 3 illustrates further embodiments of the apparatus, where examples on the paint booth's possible design appear in more explicit detail:

[0138] FIG. 4 illustrates further embodiments of the apparatus, where examples on the paint booth's possible design appear in more explicit detail:

[0139] FIG. 5A depicts further embodiments of the apparatus showing a controller connected to the apparatus' different elements to control these during operation:

[0140] FIG. 5B depicts further embodiments of the apparatus showing a controller connected to the apparatus' different elements to control these during operation:

[0141] FIG. 5C depicts further embodiments of the apparatus showing a controller connected to the apparatus' different elements to control these during operation:

[0142] FIG. 5D depicts further embodiments of the apparatus showing a controller connected to the apparatus' different elements to control these during operation:

[0143] FIG. 5E depicts further embodiments of the apparatus showing a controller connected to the apparatus' different elements to control these during operation:

[0144] FIG. 6A illustrates a further embodiment wherein the rim holder comprises two displaceable arms around a center point where each arm comprises two assembly bodies in the form of rotating wheels:

[0145] FIG. 6B illustrates a further embodiment wherein the rim holder comprises two displaceable arms around a center point where each arm comprises two assembly bodies in the form of rotating wheels:

[0146] FIG. 6C illustrates a further embodiment wherein the rim holder comprises two displaceable arms around a center point where each arm comprises two assembly bodies in the form of rotating wheels:

[0147] FIG. 6D illustrates a further embodiment wherein the rim holder comprises two displaceable arms around a center point where each arm comprises two assembly bodies in the form of rotating wheels:

[0148] FIG. 7 depicts further embodiments of the apparatus with a coating unit comprising a robot arm:

[0149] FIG. 8A depicts further embodiments of the apparatus with a coating unit comprising a robot arm; and

[0150] FIG. 8B depicts further embodiments of the apparatus with a coating unit comprising a robot arm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0151] In FIGS. 1-6 schematic illustration of an embodiment of the apparatus 1 with a coating unit 3 with spray nozzles and a rim holder 60, where the various figures illustrate different operating states for execution of the method, are illustrated.

[0152] FIGS. 1A-1D illustrates a schematic illustration of the apparatus 1 shown from a top- and side view respectively. The apparatus comprises a paint booth with air inlet and air outlet, as illustrated in FIGS. 1B-1D with the arrows in the top and bottom of the paint booth. The paint booth can comprise a door (not shown) for closing off the paint booth during operation.

[0153] The apparatus comprises a coating unit 3 with spray nozzles for application of a curable UV fluid 4 onto the rim. The coating unit is assembled to allow for displacement in a guide 80.

[0154] Likewise, the apparatus in the illustrated embodiment comprises a rim holder 60 supplied with assembly bodies 62 to secure the rim and to rotate it around an axis of rotation 13. The axis of rotation is coinciding with the rim's center axis during the application of the curable UV fluid. The rim is secured to allow for disengagement, so that the rim can easily be mounted and dismounted.

[0155] The rim holder is assembled in a suspension bracket 64. The suspension bracket is adapted to rotate the rim holder around a pivot point 66. The pivot point runs perpendicular on the axis of rotation and is coinciding with a plane for the diameter through the rim. One purpose behind the suspension bracket is to allow for angling the rim holder as it is being rotated simultaneously. This angling of the rim during operation is illustrated in FIGS. 1B-D.

[0156] The apparatus likewise comprises a light unit 12 supplied with UV curing light for curing the curably UV fluid after application onto the rim.

[0157] A controller 70, see FIG. 5A-E, is connected to the apparatus' different elements to control these during operation, to thereby ensure coating with UV fluid on all the desired surfaces on the rim, by ensuring rotation and angling of the rim in accordance with the coating unit's placement and activation. This also pertains to the light unit which must be activated based on whether the UV fluid is applied, and that it is sufficiently cured in all the coated areas.

[0158] FIGS. 2-6 illustrate further embodiments of the apparatus, where examples on the paint booth's possible design appear in more explicit detail.

[0159] FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the apparatus with the rim assembled in the rim holder and suspended in the suspension bracket with the rim angled in a vertical and horizontal orientation respectively.

[0160] The illustrated embodiments display the use of assembly bodies 62 in the form of rotating wheels for support and rotation respectively, of the rim at its circumference. The rotating wheels are illustrated as being placed on the rim's outer circumference and to work an area, where rim, during use, will be covered by a tyre. Thus, the wheels work an area where coating with paint or lacquer is not required while the wheel is in use.

[0161] Particularly in FIG. 4, a possible guide for the coating- and light units 3,12 is illustrated, where the units can be displaced in a vertical and horizontal direction respectively, upon guides arranged in equivalent directions.

[0162] FIGS. 5A-E and 6A-D illustrate a further embodiment wherein the rim holder comprises two displaceable arms around a center point where each arm comprises two assembly bodies 62 in the form of rotating wheels. Thus, it is accomplished that the rotating wheels can be displaced toward and away from each other, so that the rim holder can be adjusted for use with different rim sizes. As it appears in FIG. 6B, the rim holder is adapted to be suspended in a suspension bracket so that the rim can be angled. FIG. 6D shows a motor 6 to operate at least one of the rotating wheels, so that the rim can be rotated. The rim can be rotated at a specific angle corresponding with the angling between each spoke, so that the coating unit can run in a horizontal movement along a spoke for applying curable UV fluid on the specific spoke, whereafter the rim is once again rotated at the specific angle to allow for coating with UV fluid onto the next spoke. This approach continues until the rim has undergone a full 360-degree rotation. Then, the rim can be angled at 180 degrees to allow for coating with UV fluid on the other side. Alternatively, the UV fluid can be cured using the light unit prior to angling the rim 180 degrees, for coating with UV fluid on the other side.

[0163] In FIGS. 7 and 8A-B a further embodiment is illustrated, with a coating unit 3 comprising a robot arm 80 and one or more spray nozzles 82 for applying a curable fluid onto the rim. Thereby, an apparatus with a greater freedom of movement for the coating unit is achieved, so that the likelihood of achieving a complete coverage of the item (the rim) with the curable fluid is increased.

[0164] The robot arm can, for instance, be a cobot, which can be trained by a skilled professional in the art of applying spray paint.

[0165] The embodiment with the robot arm further comprises a controller 70, configured to position the coating unit in relation to the rim for applying the fluid onto the rim in accordance with a predetermined application pattern.

[0166] Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0167] For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of a or an throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and comprising does not exclude other steps or elements. The mention of a unit or a module does not preclude the use of more than one unit or module.