Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6651902
-
Patent Number
6,651,902
-
Date Filed
Thursday, July 11, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, November 25, 200320 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Manoene; Gene
- Gorman; Darren
Agents
- Browdy and Neimark, P.L.L.C.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 239 104
- 239 112
- 239 305
- 239 392
- 239 303
- 239 304
- 239 583
- 239 390
- 239 391
- 239 397
- 239 408
- 239 413
- 251 1496
- 137 61404
- 222 148
- 222 1445
- 222 1455
- 222 143
-
International Classifications
- B05B128
- A62C3100
- A62C3102
-
Abstract
At least one spraying device (1) and several supply lines (8) for supplying the spraying device with a coating product, the lines being linked to a connecting assembly (3). Each downstream end (6) of a line is provided with a gate valve which can be controlled by an actuator (30) which is itself controlled and which is positioned at the entrance to a product supply pipe (2) for the spray device (1). The actuator (30) and the connecting assembly (3) can be displaced in relation to each other (F1-F4) in such a way that the actuator (30) can be positioned selectively facing a downstream end (6) of one of the supply lines (8) and can manoeuvre the valve of the line. The ends (6) of the lines are arranged in rows and columns and an assembly (30) composed of the actuator and connected to the supply pipe (2) is mobile parallel to a plane surface (5a) where these line ends (6) open out.
Description
The invention relates to a device for spraying coating product and, more specifically, to a device comprising at least one spraying device capable of selectively spraying different products on objects to be coated.
It is known to use a device called a unit for changing coating product or “colour changing unit” to supply one or more devices for spraying coating product from different lines each connected to a tank of coating product.
An installation is known from EP-A-0 274 322, in which a multi-axis robot bears a tank of coating product connected to a spraying device and allowing it to be supplied with product from connection means provided at a fixed station in a booth. Furthermore, WO-A99/52644 discloses a process and an installation for spraying coating product, in which a station for cleaning-filling a tank, borne by a multi-axis robot and associated with a spraying device, is disposed in a booth, this station comprising a product changing unit connected to supply circuits and a carrousel of tanks for the least used shades.
DE-A-42 14 779 discloses a manual device for changing colours in which an alignment between a downstream pipe and a plurality of upstream pipes is obtained by rotation of a deck. Controlled valves must be provided both upstream and downstream of this device, these valves having to be manoeuvred by hand or being constituted by electro-valves whose cost price is high.
The known systems therefore generally comprise a large number of controlled valves or electro-valves and numerous pipes and pneumatic connections for theses valves, which increases their cost price and renders the cleaning operations more complex insofar as these valves must be cleaned with considerable care in order to avoid a mixture of the coating products detrimental to a spraying of quality as required, in particular, in the domain of automobile vehicle construction.
U.S. Pat. No 3,240,225 discloses an apparatus for selecting paint in which paint pipe inlets are arranged in a circle, which imposes movements of considerable amplitude on the connection device which is associated therewith. This results in the compulsory use of relatively long supple pipes which must be drained and cleaned each time the product is changed, hence a relatively great consumption of paint and solvent. In addition, the circular movements imposed on the mobile members are long, hence a relatively long minimum cycle time for a paint changing operation.
It is a more particular object of the invention to overcome these drawbacks by proposing an installation comprising a reliable and economical coating product changing system while remaining easy to clean.
In that spirit, the invention relates to a device for spraying coating product comprising at least one spraying device and a plurality of lines for supplying this spraying device with coating product linked to a connecting assembly, in which each downstream end of a supply line is provided with a gate valve which can be controlled by a controlled actuator positioned at the entrance to a supply pipe for the spraying device, this actuator and this assembly being adapted to be displaced in relation to each other in such a way that the actuator can be selectively positioned opposite a downstream end of one of the supply lines and can manoeuvre the valve of that line. This device is characterized in that the ends of the lines are arranged in rows and in columns while an assembly comprising the actuator and connected to the supply pipe is mobile parallel to a plane surface of this plate where the line ends open out.
Thanks to the invention, one sole actuator is used for the selective connection of a plurality of supply lines with the spraying device and/or a tank associated therewith. It is therefore not necessary to provide a large number of actuators, such as electro-valves, as is the case in the prior art systems. The valves housed in the downstream ends of the supply lines are controlled by the actuator only when the latter is correctly positioned with respect to the corresponding end, with the result that there is no risk of accidental opening when the connecting assembly and the supply pipe are not correctly positoned in relation to each other. The risks of leakage of coating product are therefore minimized and the installation is “anti-drip” by nature. Moreover, the device of the invention is substantially more compact than those of the state of the art while the angular position of the supply lines, on the one hand, and of the supply pipe, on the other hand, are compatible with a high-speed flow of the coating product. The ends of the supply lines and the supply pipe are easy to clean, which allows a saving of coating product during product changes. Finally, due to the arrangement of the line ends in rows and columns, it is possible to displace the assembly comprising the actuator freely in two directions perpendicular to each other and parallel to the plane surface. This facilitates selection of the coating product to be sprayed.
According to advantageous but non-obligatory aspects of the invention, the device incorporates one or more of the following characteristics:
the valve of each supply line end comprises a means for elastically returning into closed position, the actuator being adapted to open this valve against these return means.
the actuator is adapted to be partially engaged in each supply line end and comprises a part forming pusher adapted to displace a flap of the corresponding valve towards a position of opening of this valve.
the connecting assembly comprises means for supplying air and/or product for cleaning the pipe and/or the actuator, these means being continuously connected on the mobile assembly, by means of supple tubes.
According to a first advantageous embodiment of the invention, the actuator comprises a tubular sleeve adapted to penetrate in the gate valve of the supply line end and inside which is disposed a flap for closure of the pipe, this sleeve being adapted to immobilize the mobile assembly with respect to the plate by cooperation of shapes. In this way, the downstream end of the supply line and the pipe are obturated as soon as the actuator is spaced apart from the connecting assembly.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the actuator comprises a pneumatically controlled pusher mobile in translation in a chamber formed in a body fast with the spraying device and comprising a tank for storing coating product. This corresponds to the case of a tank borne at the end of the arm of a robot as described in EP-A-0 274 322 and WOA-99/52644. The body advantageously comprises means for connecting the chamber to a source of air and/or of cleaning product.
The invention will be more readily understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the light of the following description of two forms of embodiment of a spraying device in accordance with its principle, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
schematically shows a device in accordance with a first form of embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2
is a partial transverse section of a connecting assembly of the device of
FIG. 1
, before assembly.
FIG. 3
is a partial transverse section of the device of
FIG. 1
during a first stage of use.
FIG. 4
is a view similar to
FIG. 3
during a second stage of use.
FIG. 5
schematically shows a device in accordance with a second form of embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 6
is a partial section of the device of
FIG. 1
in a first configuration.
FIG. 7
is a partial section along line VII—VII in
FIG. 6
, and
FIG. 8
is a view similar to
FIG. 6
, while the device is in a second configuration of operation.
The device shown in
FIGS. 1
to
4
comprises a manual device for spraying coating product intended to be used by an operator inside a booth. This spraying device is supplied with coating product, air and cleaning product through a supple pipe
2
connected on an assembly
3
provided to be installed at the level of a partition
4
of the coating booth.
The assembly
3
comprises a base plate
5
pierced with thirty orifices
6
arranged in rows and columns while juxtaposed spacer members
7
define therebetween zones for receiving and immobilizing the downstream ends
10
of pipes
8
each connected to a source of coating product. The spacer members
7
are maintained in position with respect to one another by a strap retainer
9
. The number of spacer members
7
and the number of orifices in the plate
5
is adapted as a function of the number of coating products provided to be used in the device.
As is more clearly visible in
FIG. 2
, the downstream end
10
of a pipe
8
is received in a sleeve
11
provided with a flap valve
12
elastically loaded by a spring
1
3
in the direction of a seat
14
. Two O-rings
15
are arranged downstream of the flap valve
12
. In this way, the sleeve
11
constitutes an end stopper of the pipe
8
, this stopper being able to be opened by displacement of the flap valve
12
against an elastic effort E
1
exerted by the spring
13
and by the pressure of the product inside the pipe
8
.
The tight nature of the device formed the elements
11
to
15
makes it possible to position the different ends
10
of different pipes
8
between two spacer members
7
without risk of leakage. During assembly of the installation, the different ends
10
of the pipes
8
are immobilized between spacer members
7
and the strap
9
is used for maintaining the pipes
8
and the spacer members
7
in position.
Each orifice
6
in the plate
5
is equipped with a valve
16
provided with a fixed central element
17
and with an annular flap
18
adapted to come into abutment, against the element
17
forming seat, under the effect of an elastic effort E
2
exerted by a spring
19
. The body
20
of the valve
16
, which is connected to the element
17
by clips
21
, extends by a tubular part
22
intended to be engaged in an outlet bore
23
of the sleeve
1
.
In this way, when the different spacer members
7
have been assembled, the plate
5
is positioned with respect to the assembly thus produced by introducing the tubular parts
22
of the different valves
16
in the bores
23
of the different sleeves
11
, the O-rings
15
guaranteeing tightness between the elements
22
and
23
. This has the effect of pushing the flaps
12
against the effort exerted by the springs
13
as represented in FIG.
3
. Each body
20
of valve
16
thus constitutes the downstream end of a supply line formed by a pipe
8
, a sleeve
11
and a valve
16
.
A selection member
30
is formed by a connection capable of being selectively mounted on one of the orifices
6
, except for two particular orifices
6
A and
6
B which are respectively connected to a source of pressurized air and to a source of product for cleaning the spraying device
1
. The selection member
30
is connected to the orifices
6
A and
6
B by two supple tubes
31
A and
31
B, tubes
31
A and
31
B being connected to the pipe
2
inside the member
30
. The member
30
includes a valve
32
comprising a substantially cylindrical body
33
and a flap
36
loaded by a spring
35
generating elastic effort E
3
in the direction of an inner truncated part of the body
34
, the flap itself being truncated.
As represented by arrows F
1
to F
4
, the member
30
may be displaced parallel to the planar end surface
5
a
of the plate so as to take the valve
32
selectively opposite one of the valves
16
. When a user wishes to use a coating product, it suffices for him to select, automatically or manually, the corresponding orifice
6
, which may be identified by a label (not shown), and to dispose the member
30
opposite this orifice by a movement in a vertical direction Z-Z′, in the direction of arrow F
2
or arrow F
4
, or in a horizontal direction X-X′, in the direction of one of arrows F
1
and F
3
. The directions X-X′ and Z-Z′ are parallel to the front surface
5
a
of the plate
5
.
Due to the arrangement of the orifices
6
in rows and columns, it is easy to reach each of them by a movement in the direction X-X′ and/or in the direction Z-Z′, without having to resort to a circular movement of great amplitude. It is noted that only the member
30
is displaced, the plate
5
remaining immobile.
It is then possible to displace the member
30
in the direction of this orifice as represented by arrow F
5
in
FIG. 3
, with the result that a front tubular part
34
of the body
33
of the valve
32
penetrates inside the valve
16
and thus pushes the flap
18
against the effort E
2
exerted by the spring
19
. The central element
17
also pushes the flap
36
against the effort E
3
due to the spring
35
.
This has the effect of placing the internal volume of valve
16
and the internal volume of valve
32
in communication, a flow in that case occurring between the end
10
of the pipe
8
and the pipe
2
as represented by arrows E in FIG.
4
.
Therefore the part
34
makes it possible both to immobilize the member
30
with respect to the plate
5
by cooperation of shapes and to manoeuvre the flap
18
of the end valve
16
of the supply line to which the pipe
8
belongs.
When the coating product is to be changed, the operator has only to displace the member
30
to another orifice
6
, the valve
32
being able to be cleaned at any moment as the member
30
remains permanently connected to the orifices
6
A and
6
B. The supple nature of the tubes
31
A and
31
B allows a continuous connection of the member
30
to the orifices
6
A and
6
B independently of the movements of the member
30
in the direction of arrows F
1
to F
4
.
In the second embodiment of the invention shown in
FIGS. 5
to
8
, elements similar to those of the first embodiment bear identical references increased by
100
. A spraying device
101
is mounted inside a spraying assembly
141
arranged at the end of the arm
142
of a multi-axis robot and comprising a tank
143
for temporarily storing coating product.
At the end of a coating operation, or when the tank
143
is empty or almost empty, the assembly
141
is moved towards a connecting assembly
103
comprising an interface plate
105
of which the substantially plane front surface
105
a
is provided with different orifices
106
connected to pipes
108
for supplying coating product.
A unit
150
is connected to a source of pressurized air and to a source of cleaning product by two supple pipes
151
A and
151
B. The unit
150
is mobile in translation, parallel to the front surface
105
a
and in two directions X-X′ and Z-Z′, as represented by arrows F
1
to F
4
.
When the tank
143
is to be filled with coating product, a unit for controlling the device determines which of the orifices
106
must be connected to this tank. Further to this determination, the unit
150
is displaced by any appropriate means, for example by a carriage controlled thanks to jacks, to be arranged immediately below the orifice
106
selected.
According to a variant of the invention (not shown), the assembly
141
may be brought into the same position for each cleaning-filling operation. The unit
150
is in that case mobile essentially in a direction perpendicular to the surface
141
b
between two positions respectively in abutment against this surface and at a distance from the assembly
141
. The assembly
103
is in that case mounted on a carriage mobile along three orthogonal axes, with the result that it may bring, as a function of needs, one of the orifices
106
opposite the actuator
132
. In other words, the relative position of the actuator and of the orifices is adjusted by displacement of the assembly
103
, while the assembly
141
conserves the same position for each cleaning-filling operation.
The assembly
141
is then displaced by the arm
142
, likewise in the direction of arrows F
1
to F
4
, to arrive in the position of
FIG. 6
where an orifice
130
for inlet of the coating product in the assembly
141
is disposed opposite the orifice
106
in question, while a second orifice
131
, made on a face
141
b
of the assembly
141
substantially perpendicular to the surface
141
a
in which the orifice
130
is made, is made opposite an outlet orifice
152
of the unit
150
.
Each orifice
106
is equipped with a valve
112
undergoing an elastic effort E
2
generated by a spring
113
in the direction of a seat
114
formed by a truncated part integral with the plate
105
. An O-ring
115
is arranged around each orifice
106
and is intended to ensure tightness of the contact between the surfaces
105
a
and
141
a
around the orifices
106
and
130
.
The valve
112
is guided in translation, in an inner pipe
111
of the plate
105
opening out at the level of the orifice
106
, thanks to a washer
112
a
itself immobilized with respect to the pipe
111
by a circlip
112
b
and against which the spring
113
abuts. The elements
111
to
114
thus constitute an end valve
116
of a line supplying coating product, comprising a pipe
108
and which is obturated by default under the effect of the effort E
2
.
Downstream of the orifice
130
, a chamber
133
is formed inside which is mobile a pusher
134
forming an end of an actuator
132
of which the other end comprises a piston
136
undergoing an elastic effort E
3
generated by a spring
135
and directed so that it tends to move the pusher
134
away from the orifice
130
.
A pipe
137
connects the orifice
131
and the chamber
133
, with the result that air and/or a cleaning product coming from unit
150
can be directed towards the chamber
133
.
Opposite the pipe
137
, the housing
133
is connected to a pipe
102
for supplying the tank
143
and, through it, the spraying device
101
.
X-X′ denotes the axis of symmetry of the orifice
106
and of the elements
111
and
115
. This axis X-X′ is also that of the orifice
130
and of elements
132
to
136
in the positions of
FIGS. 6
to
8
. As is more particularly visible in
FIG. 7
, the pipe
137
and the pipe
102
are offset with respect to axis X-X′ so that a flow of pressurized air and/or of streams of air and cleaning product, flows in eddies around the actuator
132
in chamber
133
, as represented by arrow F
6
in FIG.
7
. This ensures an efficient cleaning of the actuator
132
, particularly in the case of coating product being changed.
When the element
141
has been moved towards the plate
105
and unit
150
, pressurized air is directed towards the piston
136
through a pipe
138
, as represented by arrow F
7
in
FIG. 8
, which has the effect of displacing the actuator
132
as represented by arrow F
8
, a front part or nose
139
of the valve
134
in that case penetrating inside the orifice
106
and pushing the valve
112
against the return effort E
2
exerted by the spring
113
. This has the effect of moving the flap
112
away from the seat
114
and thus allowing a flow of the coating product from the pipe
108
towards the pipe
102
, as represented by arrows E.
When the tank
143
is filled, the air pressure on the piston
136
is released and the actuator
132
is returned into the position of
FIG. 6
under the effect of the effort E
3
due to the spring
135
.
Furthermore, a step of cleaning may be provided, in which the assembly
141
is at a distance from the plate
105
. In that case, the air pressure on the piston
136
is taken to a value such that the actuator is displaced against the effort E
3
to the point that the truncated part
134
a
of the pusher
134
comes into sealed abutment against a likewise truncated seat
130
a
bordering the orifice
130
. This makes it possible to isolate the chamber
133
from the end during circulation of a cleaning fluid. This also makes it possible to isolate the chamber
133
from pollutions coming from the ambient atmosphere.
According to a variant of the invention (not shown), a single control may be provided of the displacement of the actuator
132
by the piston
136
, a stop being provided on the front surface
105
a
of the plate
105
. In that case, as soon as the assembly
141
is moved away from the plate
105
, the part
134
a
is applied against the seat
130
a.
An O-ring
153
is arranged around the orifice
152
and ensures seal between the unit
150
and the surface
141
b
of the assembly
141
. Centering lugs
161
,
162
and
163
allow a satisfactory relative positioning of the elements
105
,
141
and
150
.
This embodiment presents the particular advantage that the flap
112
of each of the valves
116
formed in the pipes
111
by the elements
112
to
114
can be manoeuvred by the actuator
132
only if the orifices
130
and
106
are correctly aligned, which avoids any risk of
10
leakage at the level of these orifices.
The plates
5
and
105
may be arranged in horizontal planes, their respective front surfaces
5
a
and
105
a
being oriented downwardly while an optical detector is arranged beneath the assembly
3
or
103
. In this way, a possible leakage of product at the level of an orifice
6
or
106
is immediately detected, the adjacent orifices not being soiled by a flow of product along the surface
5
a
or
105
a.
In the second embodiment, valves for draining excess coating product may be provided.
Whatever the embodiment in question, the coating product circulating in the pipes
8
or
108
is advantageously filtered in order to reduce the risks of leakage at the level of the bearing surfaces of the flaps on the corresponding seats.
Claims
- 1. Device for spraying coating product comprising at least one spraying device (1; 101) and a plurality of lines (8; 108) for supplying this spraying device with coating product linked to a connecting assembly (3; 103), device in which each downstream end (6; 106) of a supply line is provided with a gate valve (16; 116) which can be controlled by a controlled actuator (32; 132) positioned at the entrance to a supply pipe (2; 102) for the spraying device, said actuator and said assembly being adapted to be displaced (F1-F4) in relation to each other in such a way that said actuator can be selectively positioned opposite a downstream end of one of said supply lines (8; 108) and can manoeuvre the valve of said line, characterized in that said ends of the lines (6; 106) are arranged in rows and in columns while an assembly (30; 141) comprising said actuator (32; 132) and connected to said supply pipe (2; 102) is mobile parallel to a plane surface (5a; 105a) where said line ends open out.
- 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said assembly (30; 141) is adapted to be freely displaced, in two directions (X-X′; Z-Z′) parallel to said plane surface (5a; 105a) and perpendicular to each other, to be disposed Opposite one of said line ends (6; 106).
- 3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said valve (16; 116) comprises means (13; 113) for elastically returning (E2) into closed position, said actuator (32; 132) being adapted to open said valve against said return means.
- 4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said actuator (32; 132) is adapted to be partially engaged in each end (6; 106) of supply line (8; 108) and comprises a part forming pusher (34; 134) adapted to displace a flap (12;112) of said valve (16; 116) towards a position of opening of said valve.
- 5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said connecting assembly (3) comprises means (6A; 6B) for supplying air and/or product for cleaning said pipe (2) and/or said actuator (32), said air and/or cleaning product supply means being continuously connected to said mobile assembly (30), by means of supple tubes (31A, 31B).
- 6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said actuator (32) comprises a tubular sleeve (34) adapted to penetrate in said gate valve (16) and inside which is disposed a flap (36) for closure of said pipe (2), said sleeve being adapted to immobilize said mobile assembly (30) with respect to a plate (5) forming said plane surface (5a) by cooperation of shapes.
- 7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the downstream end (10) of a supply line (8) is received in a sleeve (11) forming end stopper of a line adapted to be manoeuvred by a part (22) of a body (20) of valve (16) provided in an orifice (6) of a plate (5) forming said plane surface (5a).
- 8. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said actuator (132) comprises a pusher (134) pneumatically controlled (136) and mobile in translation in a chamber (133) formed in a body (141) fast with said spraying device (101) and comprising a tank (143) for storing coating product.
- 9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said body (141) comprises means (137) for connecting said chamber (133) to a source (150) of air and/or of cleaning product.
- 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that said connecting means comprise a pipe (137) for circulation of air and/or of coating product, said pipe being offset with respect to an axis (X-X′) of symmetry of said actuator (132).
- 11. Device according to claim 1, wherein said assembly is movable manually parallel to and perpendicular to the plane surface.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
00 00489 |
Jan 2000 |
FR |
|
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/FR01/00072 |
|
WO |
00 |
Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
WO01/51216 |
7/19/2001 |
WO |
A |
US Referenced Citations (13)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0 274 322 |
Jul 1988 |
EP |