Arrangement and method for the preferably automatic coating of objects

Abstract

An arrangement is disclosed for the preferably automatic coating of objects with a coating material, in particular coating powder. The arrangement includes at least one spray device having a spray nozzle via which the coating material is dispensable in a main spraying direction. An extension is further provided, wherein an end region of the extension facing the spray device is preferably detachably connected to an end region of the spray device associated with the extension opposite from the spray nozzle. The arrangement further includes a preferably horizontally extending guide via which the extension with the spray device connected thereto can be longitudinally moved in the direction of extension of the guide relative to the object to be coated. The main spraying direction of the spray nozzle may be implemented so as to deviate from the direction of extension of the guide by a predefined or definable angle.

Claims

1. An arrangement for coating of objects with a coating material, wherein the arrangement comprises: a first spray device having a first spray nozzle via which coating material is dispensable in a main spraying direction, and at least one further second spray device having a second spray nozzle via which coating material is dispensable in a main spraying direction; a first extension associated with the first spray device and a second extension associated with the at least one further second spray device, wherein the first extension and the second extension run parallel to each other and are vertically spaced from one another and/or run parallel to each other and are horizontally spaced from one another, wherein an end region of the first extension facing the first spray device is connected to an end region of the first spray device opposite from the first spray nozzle, and wherein an end region of the second extension facing the at least one further second spray device is connected to an end region of the at least one further second spray device opposite from the second spray nozzle; and a guide via which the first extension with the first spray device connected thereto and the second extension with the at least one further second spray device connected thereto can be longitudinally moved in a direction of extension of the guide relative to the object to be coated, wherein the first spray device comprises a main body extending substantially in the direction of extension of the guide and having a first and an oppositely disposed second end region, whereby a cascade circuit is accommodated in the main body of the first spray device which serves in electrostatically charging the coating material dispensed or dispensable by the first spray device, wherein the first end region of the main body of the first spray device is detachably connected or connectable to an oppositely disposed end region of the first extension associated with the first spray device, and wherein the second end region of the main body of the first spray device is detachably connected to the first spray nozzle via a first angled region; wherein the at least one further second spray device comprises a main body extending substantially in the direction of extension of the guide and having a first and an oppositely disposed second end region, whereby a cascade circuit is accommodated in the main body of the at least one further second spray device which serves in electrostatically charging the coating material dispensed or dispensable by the at least one further second spray device, wherein the first end region of the main body of the at least one further second spray device is detachably connected or connectable to an oppositely disposed end region of the second extension associated with the at least one further second spray device, and wherein the second end region of the main body of the at least one further second spray device is detachably connected to the second spray nozzle via a second angled region; wherein the first spray device with the first spray nozzle is implemented such that the main spraying direction of the first spray nozzle deviates from the direction of extension of the guide by a predefined or definable angle, and wherein the at least one further second spray device with the second spray nozzle is implemented such that the main spraying direction of the at least one further second spray nozzle deviates from the direction of extension of the guide by a predefined or definable angle; wherein a first extension piece is provided between the first angled region and the main body of the first spray device, and wherein a second extension piece is provided between the second angled region and the main body of the at least one further second spray device; and wherein the first extension piece associated with the first spray device and the second extension piece associated with the at least one further second spray device are implemented such that the first spray nozzle of the first spray device and the second spray nozzle of the at least one further second spray device lie in a common horizontal plane.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the extension is realized as a hollow body extending in the direction of extension of the guide in which supply lines necessary for the operation of the first spray device and of the at least one further second spray device are accommodated.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the guide extends in a horizontal direction, and wherein the main spraying direction of the first spray nozzle and the main spraying direction of the at least one further second spray nozzle deviate by 15 to 75 from the direction of extension of the guide.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a drive is further provided which is operatively connected to the first extension associated with the first spray device and to the second extension associated with the at least one further second spray device such that the drive can effect a longitudinal movement of the first extension with the first spray device connected to the first extension and a longitudinal movement of the second extension with the at least one further second spray device connected to the second extension in the direction of extension of the guide relative to said guide and relative to the object to be coated.

5. The arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the drive is assigned a guide carriage which is guided on the guide and longitudinally moveable in the direction of extension of the guide to which the first extension and the second extension are operatively connected, such that when the drive effects a longitudinal displacement of the guide carriage relative to the guide, the first extension and the second extension correspondingly move with it.

6. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the guide comprises at least one roller guide connected to the guide, via which the first extension with the first spray device connected to the first extension and the second extension with the at least one further second spray device connected to the second extension are guided in a longitudinally movable manner in the direction of extension of the guide relative to the guide and relative to the object to be coated.

7. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a lifting stand or axis system is operatively connected to the guide such that the guide is movable and positionable vertically.

8. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the guide further comprises at least one first roller guide via which the first extension with the first spray device connected to said first extension is movably guided longitudinally relative to the guide and relative to the object to be coated in the direction of extension of the guide, and wherein the guide further comprises at least one second roller guide via which the second extension with the at least one further second spray device connected to said second extension is movably guided longitudinally relative to the guide and relative to the object to be coated in the direction of extension of the guide.

9. A system for coating of workpieces with coating material, wherein the system comprises: a spray coating booth with a conveyor device for continuous transporting of objects to be coated through the spray coating booth; a lifting stand or axis system; and at least one arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one arrangement and the guide of the at least one arrangement are operatively connected to the lifting stand or axis system such that the guide with the at least one spray device supported so as to be longitudinally displaceable in the direction of extension of the guide along with the guide is movable and positionable in a direction orthogonal to the direction of extension of the guide.

10. A method for coating of a workpiece with coating material, wherein the method comprises: providing at least one arrangement according to claim 1; and moving the first spray device and the at least one further second spray device of the at least one arrangement relative to the workpiece to be coated by means of a lifting stand or axis system, wherein the first spray device and the at least one further second spray device of the at least one arrangement is moved in a horizontally oscillating motion relative to the workpiece to be coated.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: conveying the workpiece to be coated along a transport path through a coating area of a coating station via a conveyor device; and detecting a size, geometry and/or contour of at least one region of the workpiece to be coated in a monitored area situated on the transport path of the workpiece to be coated and upstream of the coating area in a conveyance direction of the conveyor; wherein the first spray device and the at least one further second spray device of the at least one arrangement are horizontally and/or vertically positioned and/or aligned in the conveyance direction with regard to the coating area via a positioning device in the coating station, after a delay contingent on a conveying speed and a distance between the monitored area and the coating area, such that when the workpiece to be coated is conveyed through the coating area, the first spray device and the at least one further second spray device of the arrangement are always at a predefined or definable distance from and/or a predefined or definable alignment to the surface of the workpiece to be coated.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the size, geometry and/or contour of the at least one region of the workpiece to be coated is/are detected via an at least partial scanning of the workpiece by means of at least one first laser beam running perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the conveyor device and by means of at least one second laser beam running obliquely to the conveyance direction of the conveyor device.

13. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the guide extends in a horizontal direction, and wherein the main spraying direction of the first spray nozzle and the main spraying direction of the at least one further second spray nozzle deviate by 25 to 65 from the direction of extension of the guide.

14. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the guide extends in a horizontal direction, and wherein the main spraying direction of the first spray nozzle and the main spraying direction of the at least one further second spray nozzle deviate by 40 to 50 from the direction of extension of the guide.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The following will reference the accompanying drawings in describing an exemplary embodiment of the disclosed arrangement in greater detail.

(2) Shown are:

(3) FIG. 1: a schematic and isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of the arrangement according to the present disclosure for the automatic coating of objects with coating powder;

(4) FIG. 2: a schematic and side view of the arrangement according to FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 3: a schematic and top view of the exemplary embodiment of the disclosed arrangement according to FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 4: a schematic cross-sectional view along the A-A line in FIG. 2; and

(7) FIG. 5: a schematic enlargement of the cross-sectional view according to FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) In addition to vertically oscillating axis systems fitted with coating guns, so-called horizontal gun axes or infeed axes are also normally used in the automatic coating of complex structural elements/objects, these likewise being fitted with suitable coating guns. The guns on the infeed axes are individually positioned according to the geometry of the parts to be coated so as to thereby be able to spray the varying depths of the parts of the object to be coated at the correct distance.

(9) Reference is in this context made to the system known from printed publication DE 10 2020 134 087 A1, for example.

(10) For example, in most coating systems, spray devices/coating guns spray a structural element hanging on the conveyor serving as a conveyor device from the left and from the right. The spray devices or coating guns thereby oscillate in a vertical plane next to the workpiece to be coated.

(11) In many cases this is sufficient since the coating material also reaches those parts of the structural element which are not directly situated in front of the spray device or coating gun.

(12) However, there is a limitation here and, particularly in the case of complex workpiece geometries, manual re-coating consequently follows.

(13) In some cases, horizontally oscillating coating devices or coating guns are also required. Meaning guns or spray devices oscillating e.g. below the workpiece and spraying upwards orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the workpiece to be coated. This requires utilizing the X-axes, on which the vertical axes stand, for this new horizontal oscillating movement.

(14) Disadvantageous in this regard is the large mass thereby needing to be moved as a result and the thereby resultant instability. In addition, X-axes of corresponding axis systems are usually not designed for this constant movement and take up a relatively large amount of space.

(15) The disclosed arrangement can effectively prevent these problems, as will be described below in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings based on an exemplary embodiment.

(16) In detail, the exemplary embodiment of the disclosed arrangement 1 for the automatic coating of objects with coating powder shown in the drawings comprises a plurality of spray devices 2 (here: three), each with a respective spray nozzle 3 via which the coating material can be dispensed in a main spraying direction.

(17) Each spray device 2 furthermore exhibits a respectively associated extension 4, wherein an end region of the extension 4 facing the spray device 2 is preferably detachably connected to an end region of the spray device 2 associated with the extension 4 opposite from the spray nozzle 3.

(18) The disclosed arrangement 1 is in particularly characterized in that it further comprises a preferably horizontally extending guide 5 via which the respective extensions 4 with the spray devices 2 connected to said extensions 4 can be longitudinally moved in the direction of extension of the guide 5 relative to the object to be coated.

(19) As can be seen particularly from the FIG. 2 illustration, the disclosed solution in particular provides for the spray devices 2 with the spray nozzles 3 to be implemented such that the main spraying direction of the spray nozzles 3 deviates by a predefined or definable angle from the direction of extension of the guide 5.

(20) In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the guide 5 extends horizontally, whereby the main spraying direction of the spray nozzles 3 deviates approximately 40 to 50 from the direction of extension of the guide 5, and does so in a vertical direction. Of course, however, other angled regions are also possible.

(21) To be noted in particular from the FIG. 2 side view is that each of the total three spray devices 2 comprises a main body 6 extending substantially in the direction of extension of the guide 5 and having a first and an oppositely disposed second end region. A high-voltage cascade circuit is or can be accommodated in the main body 6 of each spray device 2 which serves in electrostatically charging the coating material dispensed or dispensable by the respective spray device 2.

(22) The first end region of the main body 6 of each spray device 2 is, in particular detachably, connected to an oppositely disposed end region of the extension 4 associated with the spray device 2. On the other hand, the second end region of the main body 6 of each spray device 2 is preferably detachably connected to the spray nozzle 3 of the spray device 2 via a corresponding angled region 7.

(23) Further able to be noted from the side view according to FIG. 2 is that another extension piece 8 is provided between the angled region 7 and the main body 6 of each spray device 2.

(24) It can be seen from the cross-sectional view in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 that each extension 4 of the respective spray devices 2 is realized as a hollow body extending in the direction of extension of the guide 5. Preferably all of the supply lines necessary for the operation of the respective spray device 2 are accommodated in this hollow body.

(25) To be seen in particular in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 is that the disclosed arrangement 1 further comprises a drive 9, particularly an electromotive linear drive, which is operatively connected to the respective extensions 4 of the spray devices 2 such that the drive 9 can effect a longitudinal movement of the extensions 4 with the spray devices 2 connected to said extensions 4 in the direction of extension of the guide 5 relative to said guide 5 and relative to an object to be coated.

(26) The drive 9 is assigned a guide carriage 10 which is guided on the guide 5 and longitudinally movable in the direction of extension of the guide 5 to which the extension 4 is operatively connected such that when the drive 9 effects a longitudinal displacement of the guide carriage 10 relative to the guide 5, the extensions 4 correspondingly move with it.

(27) Further provided in the embodiment of the disclosed arrangement 1 shown in the drawings is for the guide 5 for each extension 4 to comprise a roller guide 11 connected to the guide 5 via which the respective extension 4 with the spray device 2 connected to said extension 4 is guided in longitudinally movable manner in the direction of extension of the guide 5 relative to the guide 5 and relative to the object to be coated.

(28) Although not depicted in the drawings, it is conceivable for the disclosed arrangement 1 to be used in conjunction with a lifting stand or axis system which is operatively connected to the guide 5 of the arrangement 1 such that the guide 5 can be preferably vertically moved and positioned by means of said lifting stand or axis system.

(29) To be noted particularly from the FIG. 2 side view is that the respective extension pieces of the spray devices 2 are selected such that the spray nozzles 3 of the spray devices 2 lie in a common, preferably horizontal, plane.

(30) On the other hand, the angled regions of the spray devices 2 are selected such that the main spraying direction of the individual spray nozzles 3 run parallel or at least substantially parallel to each other.

(31) The present disclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodiment depicted in the drawings but rather yields from an integrated overall consideration of all the features as disclosed herein.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(32) 1 arrangement 2 spray device 3 spray nozzle 4 extension 5 guide 6 main body of spray device 7 angled region 8 extension piece 9 drive 10 guide carriage 11 roller guide