EP1246703B1 - Device for spraying a coating product - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a projection installation of coating product and, more specifically, to an installation including at least one projector capable of projecting selectively different products on objects to be coated.

It is known to use a device called a block of change of coating product or "change block of color "to power one or more product projectors of coating from different lines connected each to a coating product tank.

EP-A-0 274 322 discloses an installation in which a multi-axis robot carries a reservoir of product of coating connected to a projector and allowing its supply of product from connection means provided for a fixed position in a cabin. In addition, WO-A-99/52 644 discloses a method and a projection installation of coating product in which a cleaning-filling station of a tank, carried by a multi-axis robot and associated with a projector, is arranged in a cabin, this station including a connected product change block feeding circuits and tank carousel for less used shades.

DE-A-42 14 779 discloses a manual change device of colors in which an alignment between a conduit downstream and several upstream ducts is obtained by rotating a tray. Controlled valves must be provided at a time upstream and downstream of this device, these valves to be Maneuvered manually or consisting of electro-valves whose cost price is important.

The known systems therefore generally include a number of electro-valves or valves ordered important as well as many pneumatic hoses and fittings for these valves, which increases their cost price and makes more complex cleaning operations to the extent that these valves should be cleaned with the utmost care to to avoid a mixture of harmful coating products to a quality projection as required, in particular, in the field of motor vehicle construction.

US-A-3,240,225 discloses a selection apparatus of painting in which arrivals of paint ducts are arranged in a circle, which imposes amplitude movements important to the connection device associated with them. This results in the compulsory use of flexible hoses relatively long, which must be purged and cleaned during each product change, hence a consumption relatively large amount of paint and solvent. In addition, the circular movements imposed on the moving parts are long, resulting in a relatively large minimum cycle time for a paint change operation. Another apparatus of this type is described in US-A-3,674,207, in which the duct arrivals are arranged along a right, and the downstream duct is arranged on a moving carriage on along the said right.

It is these disadvantages that are particularly remedy the invention by proposing an installation comprising a reliable coating product change system and economic while it remains easy to clean.

In this spirit, the invention relates to an installation for projecting coating product comprising at least one projector and multiple power lines of this projector in coating product connected to a connection assembly, in which each downstream end of a line is equipped with a shut-off valve suitable for be controlled by an actuator piloted and arranged at the entrance of a projector supply duct, this actuator and this set being able to be moved one with respect to the other, so that the actuator can be arranged selectively opposite a downstream end of one of the lines feed and maneuver the valve from this line. This facility is characterized in that the ends of line are arranged in rows and columns while a together, including the actuator and connected to the conduit power supply, is mobile parallel to a flat face a plate where the ends of the line open.

Thanks to the invention, a single actuator is used to the selective connection of several supply lines with the projector and / or associated tank. It is therefore not no need to provide a large number of actuators, such as solenoid valves, as is the case in the case of systems of the prior art. The valves housed in the downstream ends of the feed lines are only ordered by the actuator only when it is correctly positioned relative to the corresponding end, so there is no risk of accidental opening when the connection assembly and the supply duct are not correctly positioned relative to each other. The risk of leakage coating product are therefore minimized and the installation is "anti-drip" by nature. Of 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 the feed duct on the other hand are compatible with a high velocity flow of the coating product. The ends of the supply lines and the supply duct are easy to clean, allowing a gain in product coating during product changes. Finally, because of the row layout and in columns of the ends of line, it is possible to freely move the whole comprising the actuator in two perpendicular directions between them and parallel to the plane face. This facilitates selection of the coating product to be sprayed.

• la vanne de chaque extrémité de lignes d'alimentation comprend des moyens de rappel élastique en position fermée, l'actionneur étant apte à ouvrir cette vanne à l'encontre de ces moyens de rappel.
• l'actionneur est apte à être partiellement engagé dans chaque extrémité de ligne d'alimentation et comprend une partie formant poussoir apte à déplacer un clapet de la vanne correspondante vers une position d'ouverture de cette vanne.
• l'ensemble de raccordement comporte des moyens d'alimentation en air et/ou en produit de nettoyage du conduit et/ou de l'actionneur, ces moyens étant connectés en continu sur l'ensemble mobile, au moyen de tubes souples.

According to advantageous but not obligatory aspects of the invention, the installation incorporates one or more of the following characteristics:

• the valve of each end of supply lines comprises elastic return means in the closed position, the actuator being able to open this valve against these return means.
• the actuator is adapted to be partially engaged in each end of the supply line and comprises a pusher portion adapted to move a valve of the corresponding valve to an open position of this valve.
• the connection assembly comprises means for supplying air and / or cleaning agent for the conduit and / or the actuator, these means being connected continuously to the mobile assembly, by means of flexible tubes.

According to a first advantageous embodiment of the invention, the actuator comprises a suitable tubular sleeve to enter the shutter valve from the end of the feeding line and inside which is disposed a valve closing the duct, this sleeve being adapted to immobilize the moving assembly with respect to the plate by cooperation of forms. So the downstream end of the line supply and the duct are closed as soon as the actuator is removed from the connection assembly.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the actuator comprises a pneumatically controlled pusher and mobile in translation in a chamber formed in a body secured to the projector and comprising a storage tank of coating product. This corresponds to the case of a tank embedded at the end of a robot's arm like described in EP-A-0 274 322 and WO-A-99/52 644. The body advantageously comprises means for connecting the chamber to a source of air and / or cleaning product.

• la figure 1 est une représentation schématique de principe d'une installation conforme à un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une coupe transversale partielle d'un ensemble de raccordement de l'installation de la figure 1 avant assemblage ;
• la figure 3 est une coupe transversale partielle de l'installation de la figure 1 lors d'une première étape d'utilisation ;
• la figure 4 est une vue analogue à la figure 3 lors d'une seconde étape d'utilisation ;
• la figure 5 est une représentation schématique de principe d'une installation conforme à un second mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• le figure 6 est une coupe partielle de l'installation de la figure 1 dans une première configuration ;
• la figure 7 est une coupe partielle selon la ligne VII-VII à la figure 6 et
• la figure 8 est une vue analogue à la figure 6, alors que l'installation est dans une seconde configuration de fonctionnement.

The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the light of the following description of two embodiments of a projection installation according to its principle, given solely as an example. and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a principle of an installation according to a first embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 2 is a partial cross section of a connection assembly of the installation of Figure 1 before assembly;
• Figure 3 is a partial cross section of the installation of Figure 1 in a first step of use;
• Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 in a second step of use;
• Figure 5 is a schematic representation of principle of an installation according to a second embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 6 is a partial section of the installation of Figure 1 in a first configuration;
• FIG. 7 is a partial section along the line VII-VII in FIG.
• Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6, while the installation is in a second operating configuration.

The installation shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 comprises a manual projector 1 of coating product intended to be used by an operator inside a cabin. This projector is supplied with coating material, air and cleaning product through a flexible conduit 2 connected on a set 3 intended to be installed at a level of partition 4 of the coating booth.

The assembly 3 comprises a base plate 5 pierced with thirty orifices 6 arranged in rows and columns whereas spacers 7 juxtaposed define between them reception and immobilization zones of the downstream ends 10 8 pipes each connected to a source of coating product. The spacers 7 are held in position some compared to others by a tightening band 9. The number of spacers 7 and the number of orifices of the plate 5 is adapted according to the number of coating products to be used in the installation.

As is clear from Figure 2 the downstream end 10 of a pipe 8 is received in a sleeve 11 provided with a valve 12 resiliently loaded by a spring 13 towards a seat 14. Two O-rings 15 are disposed downstream of the valve 12. Thus, the sleeve 11 constitutes an end plug of the pipe 8, this plug being open by displacement of the valve 12 against an elastic force E ₁ exerted by the spring 13 and by the pressure of the product inside the pipe 8.

The waterproof nature of the device formed of the elements 11 at 15 allows to set up the different ends 10 different pipes 8 between two spacers 7, without risk leak. When assembling the installation, the different ends 10 of the pipes 8 between spacers 7 and the band 9 is used to hold the pipes 8 and the spacers 7 in position.

Each orifice 6 of the plate 5 is equipped with a valve 16 provided with a fixed central element 17 and an annular valve 18 adapted to bear against the element 17 forming a seat, under the effect of a elastic force E ₂ exerted by a spring 19. The body 20 of the valve 16, which is connected to the element 17 by lugs 21, is extended by a tubular portion 22 intended to be engaged in an outlet bore 23 of the sleeve 11.

So when the different spacers 7 were assembled, the plate 5 is put in place with respect to the assembly thus produced by introducing the 'parts tubular 22 of the different valves 16 in the bores 23 different sleeves 11, the seals 15 guaranteeing a between elements 22 and 23. This has the effect of push the valves 12 against the force exerted by the springs 13 as shown in Figure 3. Each body 20 of valve 16 thus constitutes the downstream end of a line feed tube formed of a pipe 8 of a sleeve 11 and a valve 16.

A selection member 30 is formed by a connection that can be selectively mounted on one of the orifices 6, with the exception of two particular orifices 6A and 6B which are respectively connected to a source of air under pressure and to a projector cleaning product source 1. The selection member 30 is connected to the orifices 6A and 6B by two flexible tubes 31A and 31B the tubes 31A and 31B being connected to the conduit 2 inside the member 30. L member 30 includes a valve 32 comprising a generally cylindrical body 33 and a valve 36 loaded by a spring 35 generating elastic force E ₃ in the direction of an internal frustoconical portion of the body 34, the valve itself being frustoconical.

As shown by the arrows F ₁ to F _4, the member 30 can be moved parallel to the planar end face 5a of the plate 5 so as to selectively move the valve 32 facing one of the valves 16. When a user wishes to use a coating product, it is sufficient for him to select, automatically or manually, the corresponding orifice 6, which can be identified by a label not shown, and to arrange the member 30 opposite this orifice by a movement in a vertical direction Z-Z ', in the direction of the arrow F ₂ or the arrow F ₄ , or in a horizontal direction X-X', in the direction of one of the arrows F ₁ and F ₃ . Directions XX 'and ZZ' are parallel to the front face 5a of the plate 5.

Due to the arrangement of the orifices 6 in rows and in columns, it is easy to reach each one of them by a movement in the direction X-X 'and / or in the direction Z-Z', without resorting to a large circular motion amplitude. Note that only the member 30 is moved, the plate 5 remaining motionless.

It is then possible to move the member 30 towards this orifice as represented by the arrow F ₅ in FIG. 3, so that a front tubular portion 34 of the body 33 of the valve 32 enters the interior of the chamber. the valve 16 and thus pushes the valve 18 against the force E ₂ exerted by the spring 19. The central element 17 also pushes the valve 36 against the force E ₃ due to the spring 35.

This has the effect of communicating the volume internal of the valve 16 and the internal volume of the valve 32, a flow then taking place between the end 10 of the pipe 8 and the duct 2 as represented by the arrows E at the figure 4.

Part 34 thus makes it possible both to immobilize the organ With respect to the plate 5 by cooperation of shapes and Maneuvering the valve 18 of the end valve 16 of the line supply to which the pipe belongs 8.

When it is necessary to change the coating product, the operator has only to move the member 30 to another orifice 6, a cleaning of the valve 32 can take place at any time because the member 30 remains permanently connected to ports 6A and 6B. The flexible nature of the tubes 31A and 31B allows a continuous connection of the member 30 to the orifices 6A and 6B independently of the movements of the member 30 according to the arrows F ₁ to F ₄ .

In the second embodiment of the invention 5 to 8, the elements similar to those of the first embodiment carry references identical ones increased by 100. A 101 projector is mounted to inside a projection assembly 141 arranged to the end of the arm 142 of a multi-axis robot and including a tank 143 temporary storage of coating product.

After a coating operation, or when the reservoir 143 is empty or nearly empty, the set 141 is approached to a connector assembly 103 comprising an interface plate 105 which the substantially planar front surface 105 a is provided different orifices 106 connected to pipes 108 for supplying coating material.

A unit 150 is connected to a source of pressurized air and a source of cleaning product by two flexible conduits 151A and 151B. The unit 150 is movable in translation, parallel to the front face 105 a and in two directions XX 'and ZZ', as shown by the arrows F ₁ to F _4.

When it is necessary to fill the tank 143 with product of coating, a control unit of the installation determines which of the orifices 106 must be connected to this tank. Following this determination, unit 150 is moved by any appropriate means, for example by a trolley commanded by jacks, to be arranged immediately below the selected orifice 106.

According to a not shown variant of the invention, the assembly 141 can be brought into the same position for each cleaning-filling operation. The unit 150 is then movable substantially in a direction perpendicular to the surface 141 b between two positions, respectively bearing against this surface and at a distance from the set 141. The assembly 103 is then mounted on a carriage movable along three orthogonal axes , so that it can bring, as needed, one of the orifices 106 facing the actuator 132. In other words, the relative position of the actuator and the orifices is adjusted by displacement of the assembly 103 while the assembly 141 keeps the same position for each cleaning-filling operation.

Then, the assembly 141 is moved by the arm 142, also according to the arrows F ₁ to F ₄ , to arrive at the position of FIG. 6, where a port 130 for the entry of the coating product into the assembly 141 is arranged. opposite the orifice 106 in question, while a second port 131, provided on a face 141 b of the assembly 141 generally perpendicular to the face 141a in which is provided the orifice 130 is disposed opposite of an outlet port 152 of the unit 150.

Each orifice 106 is equipped with a valve 112 undergoing an elastic force E ₂ generated by a spring 113 in the direction of a seat 114 formed by a frustoconical portion integral with the plate 105. An O-ring 115 is disposed around each port 106 and is intended to seal the contact between the surfaces 105a and 141 a around the orifices 106 and 130.

The valve 112 is displaceably guided in an internal conduit 111 of the plate 105 emerging at the orifice 106 through a washer 112 is itself immobilized with respect to the conduit 111 by a circlip 112 b and against which takes The elements 111 to 114 thus constitute an end valve 116 of a coating product supply line, comprising a pipe 108 and which is closed by default under the effect of the force E ₂ .

Downstream of the orifice 130, a chamber 133 is formed inside which is movable a pusher 134 forming an end of an actuator 132 whose other end comprises a piston 136 undergoing an elastic force E ₃ generated by a spring 135 and directed so that it tends to move the pusher 134 away from the orifice 130.

A duct 137 connects the orifice 131 and the chamber 133, such that air and / or a cleaning product from unit 150 can be directed to the chamber 133.

In contrast to the duct 137, the housing 133 is connected to a conduit 102 for supplying the reservoir 143 and, through him, the projector 101.

XX 'is the axis of symmetry of the orifice 106 and elements 111 and 115. This axis XX' is also that of the orifice 130 and elements 132 to 136 in the positions of Figures 6 to 8. As it more particularly in Figure 7, the duct 137 and the duct 102 are eccentric with respect to the axis XX 'so that a flow of pressurized air and / or trains of air and cleaning product flows in vortices around the actuator 132 in the chamber 133, as represented by the arrow F ₆ in Figure 7. This ensures effective cleaning of the actuator 132, especially in case of change of coating product.

When the element 141 has been approached from the plate 105 and the unit 150, air under pressure is directed towards the piston 136 through a conduit 138 as represented by the arrow F ₇ in FIG. which has the effect of moving the actuator 132 as represented by the arrow F ₈ , a front portion or nose 139 of the valve 134 then penetrating inside the orifice 106 and pushing the valve 112 against the return force E ₂ exerted by the spring 113. This has the effect of moving the valve 112 away from the seat 114 thus allowing a flow of the coating product of the pipe 108 to the conduit 102 as represented by the arrows E.

When the reservoir 143 is filled, the air pressure on the piston 136 is released and the actuator 132 is returned to the position of FIG. 6 under the effect of the force E ₃ due to the spring 135.

In addition, it is possible to provide a cleaning step in which the assembly 141 is at a distance from the plate 105. In this case, the air pressure on the piston 136 is brought to a speed such that the actuator is moved to the against E ₃ to point effort the frustoconical portion 134a of the pusher 134 comes to bear sealingly against a frustoconical seat 130 also has bordering the opening 130. This allows to isolate the chamber 133 from the end at the circulation of a cleaning fluid. This also makes it possible to isolate the chamber 133 from pollutions originating from the ambient atmosphere.

According to a not represented variant of the invention, one can provide a single control movement of the actuator 132 by the piston 136, a stop being provided on the front face 105a of the plate 105. In this case, as soon as the assembly 141 is moved away from the plate 105, the portion 134 a is pressed against the seat 130 a.

An O-ring 153 is disposed around the orifice 152 and seals between the unit 150 and the face 141 b of the assembly 141. Centering pins of 161, 162 and 163 permit an adequate relative positioning of the elements 105 , 141 and 150.

This embodiment has the particular advantage that the valve 112 of each of the valves 116 formed in the conduits 111 by the elements 112 to 114 can not be operated by the actuator 132 that if the orifices 130 and 106 are correctly aligned, which avoids any risk of leakage level of these orifices.

The plates 5 and 105 may be disposed in horizontal planes, their respective front faces 5 a and 105 a being oriented downwards so that an optical detector is disposed under the assembly 3 or 103. Thus, any leakage of product at a port 6 or 106 is detected immediately, the neighboring orifices is not soiled by the product flow along the surface 5 a or 105 a.

In the second embodiment, purge valves excess coating material may be provided.

Whatever the embodiment considered, the coating product flowing in the pipes 8 or 108 is advantageously filtered to reduce the risk of leakage at the seating surfaces of the flaps on the seats correspondents.

Claims (10)

1. Installation for spraying coating product, comprising at least one spraying device (1; 101) and several lines (8; 108) for supplying the said spraying device with coating product, which lines are linked to a connecting assembly (3; 103), in which installation each downstream end (6; 106) of a line is equipped with a stop-valve (16; 116) capable of being controlled by a governed actuator (32; 132) disposed at the entrance to a pipe (2; 102) for supplying the said spraying device with product, the said actuator and the said assembly being capable of being displaced (F₁-F₄) in relation to one another in such a way that the said actuator is capable of being selectively disposed opposite a downstream end of one of the said supply lines (8; 108) and of operating the valve of the said line, characterised in that the said line ends (6; 106) are disposed in rows and columns, while an assembly (30; 141), which comprises the said actuator (32; 132) and is linked to the said supply pipe (2; 102), is movable in a manner parallel to a flat face (5a; 105a) of a plate (5 ; 105) where the said line ends emerge.
2. Installation according to claim 1, characterised in that the said movable assembly (30; 141) is capable of being displaced freely in two directions (X-X'; Z-Z') parallel to the said flat face (5a; 105a) and perpendicular to one another, so as to be disposed opposite one of the said line ends (6; 106).
3. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said valve (16; 116) comprises means (13; 113) for returning it elastically (E₂) to the closed position, the said actuator (32, 132) being capable of opening the said valve against the said returning means.
4. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said actuator (32; 132) is capable of being partially fitted into each supply-line (8; 108) end (6; 106) and comprises a part forming a push-rod (34; 134) which is capable of displacing a poppet (12; 112) belonging to the said valve (16; 116) towards a position for opening the said valve.
5. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said connecting assembly (3) has means (6A; 6B) for supplying the said pipe (2) and/or the said actuator (32) with air and/or cleaning product, the said means for supplying air and/or cleaning product being continuously connected to the said movable assembly (30) by means of flexible tubes (31A; 31B).
6. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said actuator (32) comprises a tubular sleeve (34) which is capable of penetrating into the said stop-valve (16) and inside which is disposed a poppet (36) for closing the said pipe (2), the said sleeve being capable of immobilising the said movable assembly (30) in relation to the said plate (5) by the interaction of shapes.
7. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the downstream end (10) of a supply line (8) is received in a sleeve (11) forming a stopper for the end of a line, which stopper is capable of being operated by a part (22) of a body (20) of a valve (16), which body is provided in an orifice (6) in a plate (5) forming the said flat face (5a).
8. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said actuator (132) comprises a push-rod (134) which is controlled pneumatically (136) and is movable in translation in a chamber (133) formed in a body (141) which is integral with the said spraying device (101) and comprises a reservoir (143) for storing coating product.
9. Installation according to claim 8, characterised in that the said body (141) comprises means (137) for connecting the said chamber (133) to a source (150) of air and/or of cleaning product.
10. Installation according to claim 9, characterised in that the said connecting means comprise a pipe (137) for circulating air and/or cleaning product, the said pipe being located eccentrically in relation to an axis (X-X') of symmetry of the said actuator (132).

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