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EP3725421B1 - Installation for applying a coating product and method for cleaning such an installation - Google Patents

Installation for applying a coating product and method for cleaning such an installation Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3725421B1
EP3725421B1 EP20169268.8A EP20169268A EP3725421B1 EP 3725421 B1 EP3725421 B1 EP 3725421B1 EP 20169268 A EP20169268 A EP 20169268A EP 3725421 B1 EP3725421 B1 EP 3725421B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
nozzles
printing
cleaning
cleaning station
printing nozzles
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP20169268.8A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3725421A1 (en
Inventor
Philippe Provenaz
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Exel Industries SA
Original Assignee
Exel Industries SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Exel Industries SA filed Critical Exel Industries SA
Publication of EP3725421A1 publication Critical patent/EP3725421A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3725421B1 publication Critical patent/EP3725421B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/21—Ink jet for multi-colour printing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
    • B41J2/14008—Structure of acoustic ink jet print heads
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B15/00—Details of spraying plant or spraying apparatus not otherwise provided for; Accessories
    • B05B15/50—Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter
    • B05B15/55—Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter using cleaning fluids
    • B05B15/555—Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter using cleaning fluids discharged by cleaning nozzles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2/16552—Cleaning of print head nozzles using cleaning fluids
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
    • B05B1/14—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means with multiple outlet openings; with strainers in or outside the outlet opening
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
    • B05B1/14—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means with multiple outlet openings; with strainers in or outside the outlet opening
    • B05B1/1421—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means with multiple outlet openings; with strainers in or outside the outlet opening the multiple outlet openings arranged in plural groups or rows
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
    • B05B1/14—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means with multiple outlet openings; with strainers in or outside the outlet opening
    • B05B1/1421—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means with multiple outlet openings; with strainers in or outside the outlet opening the multiple outlet openings arranged in plural groups or rows
    • B05B1/1422—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means with multiple outlet openings; with strainers in or outside the outlet opening the multiple outlet openings arranged in plural groups or rows with all groups or rows being identical
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
    • B05B1/14—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means with multiple outlet openings; with strainers in or outside the outlet opening
    • B05B1/16—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means with multiple outlet openings; with strainers in or outside the outlet opening having selectively- effective outlets
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B12/00—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area
    • B05B12/02—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area for controlling time, or sequence, of delivery
    • B05B12/04—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area for controlling time, or sequence, of delivery for sequential operation or multiple outlets
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B13/00—Machines or plants for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces of objects or other work by spraying, not covered by groups B05B1/00 - B05B11/00
    • B05B13/002—Machines or plants for applying coating liquids or other fluent materials by inkjet
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B15/00—Details of spraying plant or spraying apparatus not otherwise provided for; Accessories
    • B05B15/50—Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter
    • B05B15/52—Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter for removal of clogging particles
    • B05B15/531—Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter for removal of clogging particles using backflow
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2/1652—Cleaning of print head nozzles by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16585—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
    • B41J2/16588—Print heads movable towards the cleaning unit
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J25/00—Actions or mechanisms not otherwise provided for
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
    • B05B1/30—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages
    • B05B1/3033—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages the control being effected by relative coaxial longitudinal movement of the controlling element and the spray head
    • B05B1/304—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages the control being effected by relative coaxial longitudinal movement of the controlling element and the spray head the controlling element being a lift valve
    • B05B1/3046—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages the control being effected by relative coaxial longitudinal movement of the controlling element and the spray head the controlling element being a lift valve the valve element, e.g. a needle, co-operating with a valve seat located downstream of the valve element and its actuating means, generally in the proximity of the outlet orifice
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B13/00—Machines or plants for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces of objects or other work by spraying, not covered by groups B05B1/00 - B05B11/00
    • B05B13/02—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work
    • B05B13/04—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work the spray heads being moved during spraying operation
    • B05B13/0447—Installation or apparatus for applying liquid or other fluent material to conveyed separate articles
    • B05B13/0452—Installation or apparatus for applying liquid or other fluent material to conveyed separate articles the objects being vehicle components, e.g. vehicle bodies
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B15/00—Details of spraying plant or spraying apparatus not otherwise provided for; Accessories
    • B05B15/50—Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter
    • B05B15/55—Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter using cleaning fluids
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B15/00—Details of spraying plant or spraying apparatus not otherwise provided for; Accessories
    • B05B15/50—Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter
    • B05B15/58—Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage by recirculating the fluid to be sprayed from upstream of the discharge opening back to the supplying means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B16/00—Spray booths
    • B05B16/90—Spray booths comprising conveying means for moving objects or other work to be sprayed in and out of the booth, e.g. through the booth
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
    • B41J2002/14475—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads characterised by nozzle shapes or number of orifices per chamber

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a coating product application installation comprising a set of nozzles each comprising an outlet channel opening downstream via a coating product ejection orifice.
  • the same applicator which generally includes several nozzles, is generally used to apply paints of different colors, which involves cleaning each nozzle when changing the coating product. that is, during a color change.
  • the invention more particularly intends to remedy by proposing a new coating product application installation which comprises printing nozzles and which can be easily cleaned.
  • the invention relates to a coating product application installation comprising a set of printing nozzles each comprising an outlet channel opening downstream via a coating product ejection orifice.
  • the installation further comprises several injectors provided for simultaneously cleaning several nozzles of a row of nozzles or all the nozzles of the set of nozzles, by injecting cleaning fluid into the outlet channels nozzles of the row or set of nozzles, through their ejection orifices.
  • simultaneous cleaning of the downstream part of several printing nozzles can be carried out in the opposite direction to the direction normal flow of coating material through each nozzle, defined as the direction of coating material flow during application.
  • This cleaning is particularly effective and not very time consuming, insofar as it can be simultaneous for a large number of nozzles of the set of printing nozzles, for example for all the nozzles of a row of nozzles in the case of a matrix arrangement of the nozzles.
  • the method of the invention comprises at least one additional step consisting of: b) directing a flow of cleaning fluid towards a front face of each printing nozzle, on which the ejection orifice of the printing nozzle is provided.
  • an additional step which consists of: c) injecting each printing nozzle with a cleaning fluid in a direction from a supply conduit, which is part of the printing nozzle assembly, towards the ejection orifice, passing through the output channel.
  • Installation I shown in figures 1 to 3 is provided for the application of paint on objects O moved by a conveyor 2 to which the objects O are suspended by hooks 4.
  • the objects O are generally planar panels. Alternatively, they may be motor vehicle body parts or complete motor vehicle bodies moved by a stop-and-go or continuous feed type conveyor.
  • the installation I comprises a set of nozzles 10 which is mounted at the end of the arm 22 of a multi-axis robot 20 placed in the vicinity of the conveyor 2.
  • the nozzle assembly 10 comprises eight nozzles 12 arranged in a row and each projecting from a front face 14 of the nozzle assembly, which front face faces an object to be painted O when the nozzles 12 are used to apply paint.
  • each nozzle 12 belongs to a printhead 13 which further comprises a control member 132, for example of the piezoelectric component type, and a rod 134.
  • Each nozzle 12 comprises a needle 122, driven by the control member 132 of the printhead 13 to which the nozzle belongs and connected to it by the rod 134.
  • the paint to be applied flows into a channel 16, made in a body 11 of the nozzle assembly 10, and flows in the direction of the arrows F2 at the figure 2 .
  • the nozzle assembly 10 is equipped with a supply valve 102, a purge valve 104 and a recirculation valve 106.
  • the purge valve 304 is provided to control the discharge of cleaning fluid to a collector not shown, after use during a cleaning sequence.
  • the valves 102, 104 and 106 are represented outside the body 11. In practice, they can be integrated into this body, which explains why they are not visible to the figure 1 .
  • a seat 125 is provided against which the needle 122 of the nozzle selectively bears, being controlled by the component 132.
  • An outlet channel 126 is made in each nozzle 12, downstream of its needle 122. This outlet channel 126 opens outwards, opposite the needle 122, through an ejection orifice 127 made in a front face 128 of the nozzle 12, more precisely in the front face 128 of its part 121.
  • nozzles 12 which are advantageously identical to each other, insofar as they comprise an outlet channel 126 and an ejection orifice 127.
  • the installation I also comprises a cleaning station 30 which is supplied with cleaning fluid by a pipe 40, connected to the station 30 by means of a connector 42 which constitutes the downstream end of the pipe 40.
  • the cleaning station 30 is located in the cabin where the paint application takes place, in an area reachable by the multi-axis robot 20.
  • the cleaning station 30 comprises a body 31 in which eight housings 32 are arranged in a row and configured to each receive, partially or totally, the part 121 of a nozzle 12.
  • a groove 322 is provided, in which is housed a seal 34 which is preferably of the O-ring type and made of elastomer.
  • Channels 36 are made in the body 31 and allow the cleaning fluid coming from the pipe 40 to be routed into each of the housings 32. More specifically, the set of channels 36 opens into each housing 32 via an injector 38, advantageously formed by a channel with a diameter d38 smaller than that of the channels 36. This makes it possible to distribute the flows of cleaning fluid to the various injectors 38 in an identical manner, by arranging pressure drops progressive on the flow paths of this fluid in the channels 36, which avoids preferential flow paths.
  • the cleaning station 30 is equipped with a supply valve 302 and a purge valve 304.
  • the purge valve 304 is provided to control the discharge of cleaning fluid to a manifold, not shown, after use during of a cleaning sequence.
  • the valves 302 and 304 are represented outside the body 31. In practice, they can be integrated into this body, which explains why they are not visible to the figure 1 .
  • the cleaning fluid passing through the pipe 40, the channels 36 and the injectors 38 can be a solvent-based or water-soluble cleaning liquid depending on the nature of the paint applied with the nozzles 12, or a gas, in particular air. , or a mixture of liquid and gas.
  • Each housing 32 opens onto the upper face 33 of the station 30 by a chamfer 324, which contributes to the guiding of the parts 121 during their simultaneous introduction into the housings 32, as emerges from the explanations which follow.
  • the set of nozzles 10 When applying paint to the objects O, the set of nozzles 10 is directed towards one of these objects and the nozzles 12 are supplied with coating product through the channels 16.
  • the supply valves 102 and recirculation 106 are open, while the purge valve 104 is closed.
  • Each needle 122 can be controlled individually by the associated component 132 of the printhead 13, to be selectively moved away from the corresponding seat 125. This makes it possible to supply or not supply the outlet channel 126 of each nozzle 12 with paint.
  • the paint flows in the direction of the arrows F3 at the figure 2 and emerges from the corresponding nozzle 12 via its ejection orifice 127, in the direction of the object O being coated.
  • the arrows F3 therefore represent the normal flow direction of the paint being applied to an object O.
  • the set of nozzles 10 is moved by the multi-axis robot 20, for the pre -position above the cleaning station 30, by arranging the front face 14 above, and parallel with, the upper face 33, as represented by the arrow F4 on the figure 1
  • the geometry of the parts 121, on the one hand, and of the orifices 32, on the other hand, is such that, at the end of the movement according to the arrow F5, the ejection orifice 127 of each nozzle 12 is aligned on an injector 38 from station 30.
  • the nozzles 12 engaged in the housings 32 are thus cleaned simultaneously.
  • the cleaning fluid that enters each outlet duct 126 can rise to the needle 122 and to the seat 125 of the nozzle which it also cleans.
  • This reverse flow in the nozzles 12 is possible because the purge valve 104 is open, while the supply 102 and recirculation 106 valves are closed.
  • each ejection orifice 127 and each front surface 128 are individually isolated from the outside by a gasket 34.
  • the injectors 38 constitute both members for cleaning the internal part of the nozzles 12, formed by the needles 122, the seats 125 and the channels 126, and members for cleaning the end faces 128 of the nozzles.
  • the O-ring 34 is disposed in a groove 32 formed not at the junction between the bottom and the side of the housing 32, but in the bottom 326 of this housing, so that the seal 34 fluidically isolates a smaller part of the front face 128 of the nozzle 12 whose part 121 is arranged in the housing 32.
  • the set of nozzles 10 comprises three rows of eight nozzles 12, the end faces 128 of which are flush with the front face 14 of the set of nozzles 10.
  • the ejection orifices 127 of the various nozzles 12 are thus distributed over the face before 14.
  • Each nozzle 12 belongs to a printhead, not shown, which is of the printhead 13 type of the first embodiment.
  • the cleaning station 30 is also fed by a pipe 40 and its downstream connection 42 and comprises twenty-four injectors 38 divided into three rows of eight injectors.
  • the various injectors 38 open directly into the upper face 33 of the body 31 of the station 30.
  • no housing is provided comparable to the housings 32 of the first and second embodiments. .
  • each injector 38 which is located in the surface 33, is surrounded by a groove 332 formed in the upper face 33 of the body 31 and in which is placed an O-ring 34.
  • the depth of the groove 332 and the torus diameter of seal 34 are chosen such that, when it is in place in groove 332, O-ring 34 protrudes from groove 382 over a height h34 of between 0.1 and 0.5 mm.
  • each ejection port 127 and each front surface 128 are individually isolated from the outside by a gasket 34.
  • supply, purge and recirculation valves are provided, as in the first embodiment.
  • the diameter d38 of the injectors 38 is adapted to the diameter d126 of the outlet channels 126 and to the diameter d127 of the ejection orifices 127.
  • the diameters d126 and d127 can be equal.
  • these diameters are between 50 ⁇ m and 300 ⁇ m, preferably between 100 ⁇ m and 200 ⁇ m, more preferably around 150 ⁇ m.
  • the diameter d38 of the injectors 38 can be between 0.5 mm and 2 mm, preferably of the order of 1 mm.
  • the d126/d38 ratio and/or the d127/d38 ratio is between 0.03 and 0.5, preferably between 0.05 and 0.2.
  • the invention is described above in the case where the product applied using nozzles 12 is paint.
  • Other coating products can be applied with an installation in accordance with the invention, in particular a primer or a varnish.
  • the invention is described above in the case where the set of nozzles 10 docks the cleaning station 30 from above.
  • this docking can take place via one side of the cleaning station, in which case the housings 32 or the outlets 382 of the injectors 38 are formed not in the upper face 33 of the body 31 but in a side face of this body.
  • the cleaning station 30 can be manufactured by three-dimensional printing, which makes it possible to adapt the distribution and routing of the channels 36 and the injectors 38 inside the body of this cleaning station, without having recourse to a mold with drawers or to complex machining ranges. However, it remains possible to manufacture the cleaning station by molding and/or machining.
  • the number of rows of printing nozzles 12 can be chosen, greater than or equal to one, depending on the size of the surface to be coated with each object O, the number of rows of injectors 38 being adapted accordingly.
  • the addition of the purge valves 104 and 304 makes it possible to collect the cleaning fluid after use of the latter to clean one or more nozzles 12, without risk of polluting the coating product or the fluid. cleaner not yet used.
  • the invention is shown in the figures in the case where all the nozzles 12 of the set 10 of nozzles are cleaned simultaneously. However, this is not mandatory.
  • the nozzles can be cleaned in groups, for example row by row in the case of an assembly 10 with several rows of nozzles.
  • the distribution of the injectors 38 of the cleaning station 30 is adapted, as well as the distribution of the seals 34 and that of the channels 36.

Landscapes

  • Coating Apparatus (AREA)
  • Application Of Or Painting With Fluid Materials (AREA)
  • Nozzles (AREA)
  • Spray Control Apparatus (AREA)
  • Details Or Accessories Of Spraying Plant Or Apparatus (AREA)
  • Inking, Control Or Cleaning Of Printing Machines (AREA)

Description

La présente invention a trait à une installation d'application de produit de revêtement comprenant un ensemble de buses comportant chacune un canal de sortie débouchant vers l'aval par un orifice d'éjection de produit de revêtement.The present invention relates to a coating product application installation comprising a set of nozzles each comprising an outlet channel opening downstream via a coating product ejection orifice.

La demande de customisation de la décoration apposée sur des objets tend à augmenter sensiblement. Par exemple, le revêtement de carrosseries de véhicule automobile bi-ton devient de plus en plus fréquent. En outre, la réalisation de motifs, avec une géométrie spécifique, est potentiellement intéressante pour certains autres marchés. Dans ce contexte, l'industrie du revêtement a récemment exploré des solutions consistant à « imprimer » de la peinture, au moyen de têtes d'impression, plutôt que de la pulvériser, au moyen de pulvérisateurs.The demand for customization of the decoration affixed to objects tends to increase significantly. For example, two-tone motor vehicle body coating is becoming more and more common. In addition, the realization of patterns, with a specific geometry, is potentially interesting for certain other markets. In this context, the coatings industry has recently explored solutions consisting of “printing” paint, using printheads, rather than spraying it, using sprayers.

Les têtes d'impression actuelles sont configurées pour fonctionner avec des encres de très faible viscosité, en particulier inférieure à 20 milliPascal-seconde (mPas) contenant des particules de très faible taille, à l'échelle submicronique. Pour appliquer un produit de revêtement, tel que de la peinture, par une technique d'impression, des buses d'impression doivent être utilisées, qui présentent un orifice d'éjection de peinture avec un diamètre faible, typiquement de l'ordre de 150 à 200 micromètres (µm), ce qui est bien inférieur aux dimensions d'un orifice de sortie d'un pulvérisateur qui sont généralement supérieures à 800 µm. Dans le domaine de l'impression avec des encres, la couleur de la couche d'encre appliquée résulte de la combinaison de quatre couleurs de base, à savoir cyan, magenta, jaune et noire. Toutefois, dans le domaine de la peinture, la couleur de la couche appliquée est définie par des pigments dispersés dans la peinture.Current printheads are configured to work with inks of very low viscosity, in particular less than 20 milliPascal-second (mPas) containing very small particles, at the submicron scale. To apply a coating product, such as paint, by a printing technique, printing nozzles must be used, which have a paint ejection orifice with a small diameter, typically of the order of 150 at 200 micrometers (μm), which is much lower than the dimensions of a sprayer outlet orifice which are generally greater than 800 μm. In the field of printing with inks, the color of the applied ink layer results from the combination of four basic colors, namely cyan, magenta, yellow and black. However, in the field of paint, the color of the applied layer is defined by pigments dispersed in the paint.

Pour des raisons d'économie et de praticité, un même applicateur, qui comprend généralement plusieurs buses, est généralement utilisé pour appliquer des peintures de différentes couleurs, ce qui implique de nettoyer chaque buse lors d'un changement de produit de revêtement, c'est-à-dire lors d'un changement de couleur.For reasons of economy and practicality, the same applicator, which generally includes several nozzles, is generally used to apply paints of different colors, which involves cleaning each nozzle when changing the coating product. that is, during a color change.

Dans le cas de l'application de peinture par une technique d'impression, compte tenu des faibles dimensions des orifices de sortie des buses, il existe un risque de bouchage de ces buses car les techniques de nettoyage connues, qui consistent pour l'essentiel à faire circuler un liquide de nettoyage à la suite de la peinture dans chacune des buses, ne permettent pas un nettoyage efficace du canal de sortie de chaque buse, en particulier de son orifice d'éjection de produit de revêtement. Il en résulte un risque de mélange des peintures utilisées successivement dans un ensemble de buses.In the case of the application of paint by a printing technique, given the small dimensions of the outlet orifices of the nozzles, there is a risk of clogging of these nozzles because the known cleaning techniques, which essentially consist to circulate a cleaning liquid following the paint in each of the nozzles, do not allow effective cleaning of the outlet channel of each nozzle, in particular of its coating product ejection orifice. It there is a risk of mixing the paints used successively in a set of nozzles.

D'autre part, il est connu de WO-A-2018/108568 de rincer individuellement des buses, ce qui est consommateur de temps et difficilement applicable en pratique.On the other hand, it is known to WO-A-2018/108568 to rinse nozzles individually, which is time-consuming and difficult to apply in practice.

C'est à ces inconvénients qu'entend plus particulièrement remédier l'invention en proposant une nouvelle installation d'application de produit de revêtement qui comprend des buses d'impression et qui peut être facilement nettoyée.It is these drawbacks that the invention more particularly intends to remedy by proposing a new coating product application installation which comprises printing nozzles and which can be easily cleaned.

A cet effet, l'invention concerne une installation d'application de produit de revêtement comprenant un ensemble de buses d'impression comportant chacune un canal de sortie débouchant vers l'aval par un orifice d'éjection de produit de revêtement. Conformément à l'invention, l'installation comprend, en outre, plusieurs injecteurs prévus pour nettoyer simultanément plusieurs buses d'une rangée de buses ou toutes les buses de l'ensemble de buses, en injectant du fluide de nettoyage dans les canaux de sortie des buses d'impression de la rangée ou de l'ensemble de buses, à travers leurs orifices d'éjection.To this end, the invention relates to a coating product application installation comprising a set of printing nozzles each comprising an outlet channel opening downstream via a coating product ejection orifice. According to the invention, the installation further comprises several injectors provided for simultaneously cleaning several nozzles of a row of nozzles or all the nozzles of the set of nozzles, by injecting cleaning fluid into the outlet channels nozzles of the row or set of nozzles, through their ejection orifices.

Grâce à l'invention, un nettoyage simultané de la partie aval de plusieurs buses d'impression, c'est-à-dire de de leur conduit de sortie et de de leur orifice d'éjection, peut être effectué en sens inverse du sens d'écoulement normal du produit de revêtement dans chaque buse, défini comme le sens d'écoulement du produit de revêtement lors de l'application. Ce nettoyage est particulièrement efficace et peu consommateur de temps, dans la mesure où il peut être simultané pour un nombre important de buses de l'ensemble de buses d'impression, par exemple pour toutes les buses d'une rangée de buse dans le cas d'une disposition matricielle des buses..Thanks to the invention, simultaneous cleaning of the downstream part of several printing nozzles, that is to say of their outlet duct and of their ejection orifice, can be carried out in the opposite direction to the direction normal flow of coating material through each nozzle, defined as the direction of coating material flow during application. This cleaning is particularly effective and not very time consuming, insofar as it can be simultaneous for a large number of nozzles of the set of printing nozzles, for example for all the nozzles of a row of nozzles in the case of a matrix arrangement of the nozzles.

Selon des aspects avantageux mais non obligatoires de l'invention, une telle installation peut incorporer une ou plusieurs des caractéristiques suivantes, prises selon toute combinaison techniquement admissible :

  • La station de nettoyage est équipée d'un ou plusieurs joints d'étanchéité permettant d'isoler chacun l'orifice d'éjection d'une buse d'impression vis-à-vis de l'extérieur, lorsque l'ensemble de buses d'impression est en appui contre la station de nettoyage.
  • Le ou les joints d'étanchéité isolent individuellement chaque orifice d'éjection vis-à-vis de l'extérieur, lorsque l'ensemble de buses d'impression est en appui contre la station de nettoyage.
  • La station de nettoyage comprend des organes de nettoyage d'une face frontale d'au moins une buse d'impression, de préférence de chaque buse d'impression.
  • Les buses de l'ensemble de buses d'impression sont en saillie d'une face avant de cet ensemble et la station de nettoyage comprend des logements de réception au moins partielle des buses d'impression, lorsque la face avant de l'ensemble de buses est en regard de, ou en appui contre, une face supérieure ou latérale de la station de nettoyage dans laquelle débouchent les logements, alors qu'un injecteur de fluide de nettoyage débouche dans chaque logement.
  • Les orifices de sortie des buses d'impression affleurent avec une face avant de l'ensemble de buses d'impression, alors que la station de nettoyage comprend une face supérieure ou latérale dans laquelle débouchent les injecteurs de fluide de nettoyage et, lorsque la face avant de l'ensemble de buses d'impression est en appui contre la face supérieure ou latérale de la station de nettoyage, les orifices d'éjection des buses d'impression sont chacun alignés avec un injecteur de la station de nettoyage.
  • La station de nettoyage comprend un corps à l'intérieur duquel sont ménagés des canaux de circulation de fluide de nettoyage, alors que les injecteurs sont ménagés dans ce corps, en aval de ces canaux.
  • L'installation comprend, en outre, un robot multiaxe permettant de déplacer l'ensemble de buses d'impression entre une position de projection, où l'ensemble de buses d'impression est orienté vers un objet à revêtir, et une position de nettoyage, où l'ensemble de buses d'impression est en contact avec la station de nettoyage.
  • Chaque buse d'impression appartient à une tête d'impression et son orifice d'éjection présente un diamètre intérieur compris entre compris entre 50 et 300 µm, de préférence entre 100 et 200 µm, de préférence encore de l'ordre de 150 µm.
  • Le rapport entre le diamètre intérieur de l'orifice d'éjection d'une buse et le diamètre d'un injecteur est compris entre 0,03 et 0,5, de préférence entre 0,05 et 0,2.
  • Les buses d'impression de l'ensemble de buses d'impression sont disposées en au moins une rangée et les injecteurs de la station de nettoyage sont disposés dans le même nombre de rangée(s), l'écartement entre deux injecteurs adjacents d'une rangée d'injecteurs étant le même que l'écartement entre deux buses d'impression adjacentes d'une rangée de buses d'impression.
  • L'ensemble de buses est équipé d'une première vanne de purge et la station de nettoyage est équipée d'une deuxième vanne de purge, chacune de ces vannes de purge permettant d'évacuer le fluide de nettoyage après utilisation.
According to advantageous but not obligatory aspects of the invention, such an installation can incorporate one or more of the following characteristics, taken according to any technically admissible combination:
  • The cleaning station is equipped with one or more seals making it possible to each isolate the ejection orifice of a printing nozzle from the outside, when the set of nozzles d print is resting against the cleaning station.
  • The seal or seals individually isolate each ejection orifice vis-à-vis the exterior, when the assembly of printing nozzles is in contact with the cleaning station.
  • The cleaning station comprises members for cleaning a front face of at least one printing nozzle, preferably of each printing nozzle.
  • The nozzles of the assembly of printing nozzles project from a front face of this assembly and the cleaning station comprises housings for at least partial reception of the printing nozzles, when the front face of the assembly of nozzles faces, or bears against, an upper or lateral face of the cleaning station into which the housings open, while a cleaning fluid injector opens into each housing.
  • The print nozzle outlets are flush with a front face of the print nozzle assembly, while the cleaning station comprises a top or side face into which the cleaning fluid injectors open and, when the face front of the print nozzle assembly rests against the top or side face of the cleaning station, the print nozzle ejection ports are each aligned with an injector of the cleaning station.
  • The cleaning station comprises a body inside which cleaning fluid circulation channels are formed, while the injectors are formed in this body, downstream of these channels.
  • The installation further comprises a multi-axis robot for moving the assembly of printing nozzles between a spraying position, where the assembly of printing nozzles is oriented towards an object to be coated, and a cleaning position , where the print nozzle assembly contacts the cleaning station.
  • Each print nozzle belongs to a print head and its ejection orifice has an internal diameter of between 50 and 300 μm, preferably between 100 and 200 μm, more preferably of the order of 150 μm.
  • The ratio between the inside diameter of the ejection orifice of a nozzle and the diameter of an injector is between 0.03 and 0.5, preferably between 0.05 and 0.2.
  • The printing nozzles of the assembly of printing nozzles are arranged in at least one row and the injectors of the cleaning station are arranged in the same number of row(s), the spacing between two adjacent injectors of a row of injectors being the same as the spacing between two adjacent printing nozzles of a row of printing nozzles.
  • The nozzle assembly is equipped with a first purge valve and the cleaning station is equipped with a second purge valve, each of these purge valves allowing the cleaning fluid to be evacuated after use.

Selon un deuxième aspect, l'invention concerne un procédé de nettoyage d'un ensemble de buses d'impression d'une installation telle que celle mentionnée ci-dessus, c'est-à-dire d'une installation d'application de produit de revêtement où chaque buse d'impression comprend un canal de sortie débouchant vers l'aval par un orifice d'éjection de produit de revêtement. Conformément à l'invention, ce procédé comprend au moins une étape consistant à :

  1. a) injecter simultanément, au moyen de plusieurs injecteurs, un fluide de nettoyage dans le canal de sortie de plusieurs buses d'impression d'une rangé ou de toutes les buses de l'ensemble de buses, à travers leurs orifices d'éjection.
According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for cleaning a set of printing nozzles of an installation such as that mentioned above, that is to say of a product application installation coating where each printing nozzle comprises an outlet channel opening downstream by a coating product ejection orifice. In accordance with the invention, this method comprises at least one step consisting of:
  1. a) simultaneously injecting, by means of several injectors, a cleaning fluid into the outlet channel of several printing nozzles of a row or of all the nozzles of the set of nozzles, through their ejection orifices.

Ce procédé permet d'atteindre les mêmes avantages que l'installation de l'invention.This method makes it possible to achieve the same advantages as the installation of the invention.

Avantageusement, le procédé de l'invention comprend au moins une étape supplémentaire consistant à :
b) diriger un écoulement de fluide de nettoyage vers une face avant de chaque buse d'impression, sur laquelle est ménagée l'orifice d'éjection de la buse d'impression.Advantageously, the method of the invention comprises at least one additional step consisting of:
b) directing a flow of cleaning fluid towards a front face of each printing nozzle, on which the ejection orifice of the printing nozzle is provided.

Selon un autre aspect avantageux, on peut prévoir que le procédé comprend au moins des étapes préalables à l'étape a) et, le cas échéant, à l'étape b) et consistant à :

  • y) déplacer l'ensemble de buses d'impression d'une position de projection, où l'ensemble de buses d'impression est orienté vers un objet à revêtir, vers une pré-position de nettoyage, où l'ensemble de buses d'impression est en regard d'une station de nettoyage et
  • z) amener l'ensemble de buses d'impression en appui étanche contre la station de nettoyage, dans une configuration où l'orifice d'éjection de chaque buse d'impression est aligné sur un injecteur de fluide de nettoyage appartenant à la station de nettoyage.
According to another advantageous aspect, provision may be made for the method to comprise at least steps prior to step a) and, where appropriate, to step b) and consisting in:
  • y) moving the print nozzle assembly from a spray position, where the print nozzle assembly is directed toward an object to be coated, to a cleaning pre-position, where the print nozzle assembly is print is next to a cleaning station and
  • z) bringing the assembly of printing nozzles into leaktight contact against the cleaning station, in a configuration where the ejection orifice of each printing nozzle is aligned with a cleaning fluid injector belonging to the cleaning station cleaning.

Selon un autre aspect avantageux de l'invention, une étape supplémentaire peut être prévue qui consiste à :
c) injecter dans chaque buse d'impression un fluide de nettoyage dans un sens allant d'un conduit d'alimentation, qui fait partie de l'ensemble de buses d'impression, vers l'orifice d'éjection, en passant par le canal de sortie.According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, an additional step can be provided which consists of:
c) injecting each printing nozzle with a cleaning fluid in a direction from a supply conduit, which is part of the printing nozzle assembly, towards the ejection orifice, passing through the output channel.

L'invention sera mieux comprise et d'autres avantages de celle-ci apparaîtront plus clairement à la lumière de la description qui va suivre de trois modes de réalisation d'une installation et d'un procédé conformes à son principe, donnée uniquement à titre d'exemple et faite en référence aux dessins annexés dans lesquels :

  • [Fig 1] la figure 1 est une représentation schématique d'une installation conforme à l'invention ;
  • [Fig 2] la figure 2 est une coupe partielle de principe d'un ensemble de buses et d'une station de nettoyage appartenant à l'installation de la figure 1 ;
  • [Fig 3] la figure 3 est une vue à plus grande échelle du détail III à la figure 2 ;
  • [Fig 4] la figure 4 est une vue analogue à la figure 3, pour une installation conforme à un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
  • [Fig 5] la figure 5 est une vue analogue à la figure 1 pour une installation conforme à un troisième mode de réalisation de l'invention ; et
  • [Fig 6] la figure 6 est une vue analogue à la figure 3 pour l'installation de la figure 5.
The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the light of the following description of three embodiments of an installation and of a method in accordance with its principle, given by way of example only and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
  • [ Fig 1 ] the figure 1 is a schematic representation of an installation according to the invention;
  • [ Fig 2 ] the picture 2 is a principle partial cut of a set of nozzles and a cleaning station belonging to the installation of the figure 1 ;
  • [ Fig.3 ] the picture 3 is a larger-scale view of detail III at picture 2 ;
  • [ Fig 4 ] the figure 4 is a view analogous to picture 3 , for an installation according to a second embodiment of the invention;
  • [ Fig.5 ] the figure 5 is a view analogous to figure 1 for an installation according to a third embodiment of the invention; and
  • [ Fig 6 ] the figure 6 is a view analogous to picture 3 for the installation of the figure 5 .

L'installation I représentée aux figures 1 à 3 est prévue pour l'application de peinture sur des objets O déplacés par un convoyeur 2 auquel les objets O sont suspendus par des crochets 4.Installation I shown in figures 1 to 3 is provided for the application of paint on objects O moved by a conveyor 2 to which the objects O are suspended by hooks 4.

Dans l'exemple des figures, les objets O sont des panneaux globalement plans. En variante, il peut s'agir de parties de carrosserie de véhicule automobile ou de carrosseries de véhicule automobile complètes déplacées par un convoyeur de type stop-and-go ou à avance continue.In the example of the figures, the objects O are generally planar panels. Alternatively, they may be motor vehicle body parts or complete motor vehicle bodies moved by a stop-and-go or continuous feed type conveyor.

L'installation I comprend un ensemble de buses 10 qui est monté à l'extrémité du bras 22 d'un robot multiaxe 20 disposé au voisinage du convoyeur 2.The installation I comprises a set of nozzles 10 which is mounted at the end of the arm 22 of a multi-axis robot 20 placed in the vicinity of the conveyor 2.

Sur la figure 1, l'effet de perspective est exagéré, afin de réduire la taille de la représentation du robot 20, qui est connu en soi.On the figure 1 , the perspective effect is exaggerated, in order to reduce the size of the representation of the robot 20, which is known per se.

L'ensemble de buses 10 comprend huit buses 12 disposées en une rangée et qui font chacune saillie d'une face avant 14 de l'ensemble de buses, laquelle face avant est dirigée vers un objet à peindre O lorsque les buses 12 sont utilisées pour appliquer de la peinture.The nozzle assembly 10 comprises eight nozzles 12 arranged in a row and each projecting from a front face 14 of the nozzle assembly, which front face faces an object to be painted O when the nozzles 12 are used to apply paint.

Comme il ressort de la figure 2, chaque buse 12 appartient à une tête d'impression 13 qui comprend, en outre, organe de commande 132, par exemple de type composant piézoélectrique, et une tige 134. Chaque buse 12 comprend un pointeau 122, piloté par l'organe de commande 132 de la tête d'impression 13 à laquelle appartient la buse et relié à celui-ci par la tige 134.As it appears from the figure 2 , each nozzle 12 belongs to a printhead 13 which further comprises a control member 132, for example of the piezoelectric component type, and a rod 134. Each nozzle 12 comprises a needle 122, driven by the control member 132 of the printhead 13 to which the nozzle belongs and connected to it by the rod 134.

La peinture à appliquer s'écoule dans un canal 16, ménagé dans un corps 11 de l'ensemble de buses 10, et circule dans le sens des flèches F2 à la figure 2.The paint to be applied flows into a channel 16, made in a body 11 of the nozzle assembly 10, and flows in the direction of the arrows F2 at the figure 2 .

Selon un aspect de l'invention représenté uniquement à la figure 2, l'ensemble de buses 10 est équipé d'une vanne d'alimentation 102, d'une vanne de purge 104 et d'une vanne de recirculation 106. La vanne de purge 304 est prévue pour contrôler la décharge de fluide de nettoyage vers un collecteur non représenté, après utilisation au cours d'une séquence de nettoyage. Sur cette figure, les vannes 102, 104 et 106 sont représentées à l'extérieur du corps 11. En pratique, elles peuvent être intégrées à ce corps, ce qui explique qu'elles ne sont pas visibles à la figure 1.According to one aspect of the invention shown only in figure 2 , the nozzle assembly 10 is equipped with a supply valve 102, a purge valve 104 and a recirculation valve 106. The purge valve 304 is provided to control the discharge of cleaning fluid to a collector not shown, after use during a cleaning sequence. In this figure, the valves 102, 104 and 106 are represented outside the body 11. In practice, they can be integrated into this body, which explains why they are not visible to the figure 1 .

On note 121 la partie d'une buse 12 qui est en saillie de la surface 14.We note 121 the part of a nozzle 12 which projects from the surface 14.

A l'intérieur de la partie 121 d'une buse 12, un siège 125 est ménagé contre lequel le pointeau 122 de la buse vient sélectivement en appui, en étant commandé par le composant 132.Inside the part 121 of a nozzle 12, a seat 125 is provided against which the needle 122 of the nozzle selectively bears, being controlled by the component 132.

Un canal de sortie 126 est ménagé dans chaque buse 12, en aval de son pointeau 122. Ce canal de sortie 126 débouche vers l'extérieur, à l'opposé du pointeau 122, par un orifice d'éjection 127 ménagé dans une face frontale 128 de la buse 12, plus précisément dans la face frontale 128 de sa partie 121.An outlet channel 126 is made in each nozzle 12, downstream of its needle 122. This outlet channel 126 opens outwards, opposite the needle 122, through an ejection orifice 127 made in a front face 128 of the nozzle 12, more precisely in the front face 128 of its part 121.

En variante, une structure différente peut être envisagée pour les buses 12, qui sont avantageusement identiques entre elles, pour autant qu'elles comprennent un canal de sortie 126 et un orifice d'éjection 127.As a variant, a different structure can be envisaged for the nozzles 12, which are advantageously identical to each other, insofar as they comprise an outlet channel 126 and an ejection orifice 127.

L'installation I comprend également une station de nettoyage 30 qui est alimentée en fluide de nettoyage par un tuyau 40, raccordé sur la station 30 au moyen d'un raccord 42 qui constitue l'extrémité aval du tuyau 40.The installation I also comprises a cleaning station 30 which is supplied with cleaning fluid by a pipe 40, connected to the station 30 by means of a connector 42 which constitutes the downstream end of the pipe 40.

La station de nettoyage 30 est située dans la cabine où a lieu l'application de peinture, dans une zone atteignable par le robot multiaxes 20.The cleaning station 30 is located in the cabin where the paint application takes place, in an area reachable by the multi-axis robot 20.

La station de nettoyage 30 comprend un corps 31 dans lequel huit logements 32 sont disposés en une rangée et configurés pour recevoir chacun, partiellement ou en totalité, la partie 121 d'une buse 12.The cleaning station 30 comprises a body 31 in which eight housings 32 are arranged in a row and configured to each receive, partially or totally, the part 121 of a nozzle 12.

A la jonction entre le fond 326 et la paroi circulaire 328 de chaque logement 32, une gorge 322 est prévue, dans laquelle est logé un joint d'étanchéité 34 qui est de préférence de type joint torique et en élastomère.At the junction between the bottom 326 and the circular wall 328 of each housing 32, a groove 322 is provided, in which is housed a seal 34 which is preferably of the O-ring type and made of elastomer.

Des canaux 36 sont ménagés dans le corps 31 et permettent d'acheminer le fluide de nettoyage provenant du tuyau 40 jusque dans chacun des logements 32. Plus précisément, l'ensemble de canaux 36 débouche dans chaque logement 32 par un injecteur 38, avantageusement formé par un canal de diamètre d38 inférieur à celui des canaux 36. Ceci permet de répartir de façon identique les débits de fluide de nettoyage vers les différents injecteurs 38, en aménageant des pertes de charges progressives sur les chemins d'écoulement de ce fluide dans les canaux 36, ce qui évite les chemins d'écoulement préférentiels.Channels 36 are made in the body 31 and allow the cleaning fluid coming from the pipe 40 to be routed into each of the housings 32. More specifically, the set of channels 36 opens into each housing 32 via an injector 38, advantageously formed by a channel with a diameter d38 smaller than that of the channels 36. This makes it possible to distribute the flows of cleaning fluid to the various injectors 38 in an identical manner, by arranging pressure drops progressive on the flow paths of this fluid in the channels 36, which avoids preferential flow paths.

Selon un aspect de l'invention représenté uniquement à la figure 2, la station de nettoyage 30 est équipée d'une vanne d'alimentation 302 et d'une vanne de purge 304. La vanne de purge 304 est prévue pour contrôler la décharge de fluide de nettoyage vers un collecteur non représenté, après utilisation au cours d'une séquence de nettoyage. Sur cette figure, les vannes 302 et 304 sont représentées à l'extérieur du corps 31. En pratique, elles peuvent être intégrées à ce corps, ce qui explique qu'elles ne sont pas visibles à la figure 1.According to one aspect of the invention shown only in figure 2 , the cleaning station 30 is equipped with a supply valve 302 and a purge valve 304. The purge valve 304 is provided to control the discharge of cleaning fluid to a manifold, not shown, after use during of a cleaning sequence. In this figure, the valves 302 and 304 are represented outside the body 31. In practice, they can be integrated into this body, which explains why they are not visible to the figure 1 .

Le fluide de nettoyage transitant par le tuyau 40, les canaux 36 et les injecteurs 38 peut être un liquide de nettoyage, solvanté ou hydrosoluble en fonction de la nature de la peinture appliquée avec les buses 12, ou un gaz, notamment de l'air, ou un mélange de liquide et de gaz.The cleaning fluid passing through the pipe 40, the channels 36 and the injectors 38 can be a solvent-based or water-soluble cleaning liquid depending on the nature of the paint applied with the nozzles 12, or a gas, in particular air. , or a mixture of liquid and gas.

Chaque logement 32 débouche sur la face supérieure 33 de la station 30 par un chanfrein 324, ce qui contribue au guidage des parties 121 lors de leur introduction simultanée dans les logements 32, tel que cela ressort des explications qui suivent.Each housing 32 opens onto the upper face 33 of the station 30 by a chamfer 324, which contributes to the guiding of the parts 121 during their simultaneous introduction into the housings 32, as emerges from the explanations which follow.

Lors de l'application de peinture sur les objets O, l'ensemble de buses 10 est dirigé vers l'un de ces objets et les buses 12 sont alimentées en produit de revêtement à travers les canaux 16. Les vannes d'alimentation 102 et de recirculation 106 sont ouvertes, alors que la vanne de purge 104 est fermée. Chaque pointeau 122 peut être commandé individuellement par le composant 132 associé de la tête d'impression 13, pour être sélectivement éloigné du siège 125 correspondant. Ceci permet d'alimenter ou non le canal de sortie 126 de chaque buse 12 en peinture. Lorsque tel est le cas, la peinture s'écoule dans le sens des flèches F3 à la figure 2 et débouche de la buse 12 correspondante par son orifice d'éjection 127, en direction de l'objet O en cours de revêtement.When applying paint to the objects O, the set of nozzles 10 is directed towards one of these objects and the nozzles 12 are supplied with coating product through the channels 16. The supply valves 102 and recirculation 106 are open, while the purge valve 104 is closed. Each needle 122 can be controlled individually by the associated component 132 of the printhead 13, to be selectively moved away from the corresponding seat 125. This makes it possible to supply or not supply the outlet channel 126 of each nozzle 12 with paint. When this is the case, the paint flows in the direction of the arrows F3 at the figure 2 and emerges from the corresponding nozzle 12 via its ejection orifice 127, in the direction of the object O being coated.

Les flèches F3 représentent donc le sens d'écoulement normal de la peinture en cours d'application sur un objet O.The arrows F3 therefore represent the normal flow direction of the paint being applied to an object O.

Au terme d'une phase d'application, lorsqu'il convient de nettoyer les buses 12, par exemple à cause d'un changement de couleur de peinture, l'ensemble de buses 10 est déplacé par le robot multiaxe 20, pour le pré-positionner au-dessus de la station de nettoyage 30, en disposant la face avant 14 au-dessus de, et parallèle avec, la face supérieure 33, comme représenté par la flèche F4 à la figure 1 At the end of an application phase, when it is appropriate to clean the nozzles 12, for example because of a change in paint color, the set of nozzles 10 is moved by the multi-axis robot 20, for the pre -position above the cleaning station 30, by arranging the front face 14 above, and parallel with, the upper face 33, as represented by the arrow F4 on the figure 1

Ensuite, l'ensemble de buses 10 est amené en appui étanche contre la station de nettoyage 30, en introduisant chaque partie 121 d'une buse 12 dans un logement 32, dans le sens de la flèche F5 à la figure 2.Then, the set of nozzles 10 is brought into sealed contact against the cleaning station 30, by introducing each part 121 of a nozzle 12 into a housing 32, in the direction of the arrow F5 at the figure 2 .

La géométrie des parties 121, d'une part, et des orifices 32, d'autre part, est telle que, au terme du mouvement selon la flèche F5, l'orifice d'éjection 127 de chaque buse 12 est aligné sur un injecteur 38 de la station 30.The geometry of the parts 121, on the one hand, and of the orifices 32, on the other hand, is such that, at the end of the movement according to the arrow F5, the ejection orifice 127 of each nozzle 12 is aligned on an injector 38 from station 30.

Il est alors possible d'alimenter les conduits 36 en fluide de nettoyage, en actionnant une pompe de gavage du tuyau 40 ou un autre moyen d'alimentation de celui-ci, la vanne d'alimentation 302 étant ouverte et la vanne de purge 304 étant fermée, de telle sorte que du fluide de nettoyage sort de chaque injecteur 38, dans le sens de la flèche F6 à la figure 3, et pénètre dans le canal de sortie 126 de la buse 12 dont la partie 121 est disposée dans le logement 32, en passant par son orifice d'éjection 127, c'est-à-dire en sens inverse de la direction normale d'écoulement de la peinture dans les buses, en cours d'application, cette direction normale étant représentée par les flèches F3, comme indiqué ci-dessus.It is then possible to supply the ducts 36 with cleaning fluid, by actuating a booster pump for the pipe 40 or another means of supplying the latter, the supply valve 302 being open and the purge valve 304 being closed, so that cleaning fluid leaves each injector 38, in the direction of the arrow F6 at the picture 3 , and enters the outlet channel 126 of the nozzle 12 whose part 121 is arranged in the housing 32, passing through its ejection orifice 127, that is to say in the opposite direction to the normal direction of flow of the paint in the nozzles, during application, this normal direction being represented by the arrows F3, as indicated above.

Les buses 12 engagées dans les logements 32 sont ainsi nettoyées simultanément. Le fluide de nettoyage qui pénètre dans chaque conduit de sortie 126 peut remonter jusqu'au pointeau 122 et au siège 125 de la buse qu'il nettoie également. Cet écoulement en sens inverse dans les buses 12 est possible car la vanne de purge 104 est ouverte, alors que les vannes d'alimentation 102 et de recirculation 106 sont fermées.The nozzles 12 engaged in the housings 32 are thus cleaned simultaneously. The cleaning fluid that enters each outlet duct 126 can rise to the needle 122 and to the seat 125 of the nozzle which it also cleans. This reverse flow in the nozzles 12 is possible because the purge valve 104 is open, while the supply 102 and recirculation 106 valves are closed.

On note 123 une arête de jonction entre la face frontale 128 d'une buse 12 et la surface périphérique 129 de sa partie 121. Dans la configuration d'injection du fluide de nettoyage dans les canaux de sortie 126 à travers les orifices d'éjection 127 respectifs des différentes buses 12, l'arête de jonction 123 est en appui contre le joint 34 correspondant, qui isole ainsi la face frontale 128 de l'extérieur. Ainsi, chaque orifice d'éjection 127 et chaque surface frontale 128 sont isolés individuellement de l'extérieur par un joint 34.Note 123 a junction edge between the front face 128 of a nozzle 12 and the peripheral surface 129 of its part 121. In the configuration of injection of the cleaning fluid into the outlet channels 126 through the ejection orifices 127 respective different nozzles 12, the junction edge 123 bears against the corresponding seal 34, which thus isolates the front face 128 from the outside. Thus, each ejection orifice 127 and each front surface 128 are individually isolated from the outside by a gasket 34.

Il en résulte que l'écoulement de fluide de nettoyage sortant d'un injecteur 38 se répartit contre la face frontale 128 de la buse 12 correspondante, ce qui contribue au nettoyage de cette face frontale. Ainsi, les injecteurs 38 constituent à la fois des organes de nettoyage de la partie interne des buses 12, formée par les pointeaux 122, les sièges 125 et les canaux 126, et des organes de nettoyage des faces frontales 128 des buses.As a result, the flow of cleaning fluid leaving an injector 38 is distributed against the front face 128 of the corresponding nozzle 12, which contributes to the cleaning of this front face. Thus, the injectors 38 constitute both members for cleaning the internal part of the nozzles 12, formed by the needles 122, the seats 125 and the channels 126, and members for cleaning the end faces 128 of the nozzles.

Dans les deuxième et troisième modes de réalisation de l'invention représentés aux figures 4 à 6, les éléments analogues à ceux du premier mode de réalisation portent les mêmes références. Dans ce qui suit, on décrit principalement ce qui distingue ces deuxième et troisième modes de réalisation du précédent.In the second and third embodiments of the invention shown in figures 4 to 6 , elements similar to those of the first embodiment bear the same references. In what follows, we mainly describe what distinguishes these second and third embodiments from the previous one.

Dans le deuxième mode de réalisation représenté à la figure 4, le joint torique 34 est disposé dans une gorge 32 ménagée non pas à la jonction entre le fond et le côté du logement 32, mais dans le fond 326 de ce logement, de sorte que le joint 34 isole fluidiquement une plus petite partie de la face frontale 128 de la buse 12 dont la partie 121 est disposée dans le logement 32.In the second embodiment shown in figure 4 , the O-ring 34 is disposed in a groove 32 formed not at the junction between the bottom and the side of the housing 32, but in the bottom 326 of this housing, so that the seal 34 fluidically isolates a smaller part of the front face 128 of the nozzle 12 whose part 121 is arranged in the housing 32.

Dans le troisième mode de réalisation représenté aux figures 5 et 6, l'ensemble de buses 10 comprend trois rangées de huit buses 12, dont les faces frontales 128 affleurent avec la face avant 14 de l'ensemble de buses 10. Les orifices d'éjection 127 des différentes buses 12 sont ainsi répartis sur la face avant 14.In the third embodiment shown in figure 5 and 6 , the set of nozzles 10 comprises three rows of eight nozzles 12, the end faces 128 of which are flush with the front face 14 of the set of nozzles 10. The ejection orifices 127 of the various nozzles 12 are thus distributed over the face before 14.

A la figure 5, seule une buse 12 est représentée, par arrachement. Chaque buse 12 appartient à une tête d'impression, non représentée, qui est du type de la tête d'impression 13 du premier mode de réalisation.To the figure 5 , only one nozzle 12 is shown, broken away. Each nozzle 12 belongs to a printhead, not shown, which is of the printhead 13 type of the first embodiment.

La station de nettoyage 30 est également alimentée par un tuyau 40 et son raccord aval 42 et comprend vingt-quatre injecteurs 38 répartis en trois rangées de huit injecteurs.The cleaning station 30 is also fed by a pipe 40 and its downstream connection 42 and comprises twenty-four injectors 38 divided into three rows of eight injectors.

Les différents injecteurs 38 débouchent directement dans la face supérieure 33 du corps 31 de la station 30. En d'autres termes, dans ce mode de réalisation, il n'est pas prévu de logement comparable aux logements 32 des premier et deuxième modes de réalisation.The various injectors 38 open directly into the upper face 33 of the body 31 of the station 30. In other words, in this embodiment, no housing is provided comparable to the housings 32 of the first and second embodiments. .

L'orifice de sortie 382 de chaque injecteur 38, qui est situé dans la surface 33, est entouré par une gorge 332 ménagée dans la face supérieure 33 du corps 31 et dans laquelle est disposé un joint torique 34. La profondeur de la gorge 332 et le diamètre de tore du joint 34 sont choisis de telle façon que, lorsqu'il est en place dans la gorge 332, le joint torique 34 dépasse de la gorge 382 sur une hauteur h34 comprise entre 0,1 et 0,5 mm. Ainsi, lorsqu'il convient de nettoyer les buses 12 au terme d'une phase d'application de peinture, l'ensemble de buses 10 est déplacé, dans le sens de la flèche F4 à la figure 5, pour l'amener en pré-position de nettoyage, avec sa face avant 34 en regard de la surface supérieure 33 de la station de nettoyage 30. Puis, l'ensemble de buses 10 est amené en appui étanche contre les différents joints 34, par un déplacement dans le sens de la flèche F5 à la figure 5.The outlet orifice 382 of each injector 38, which is located in the surface 33, is surrounded by a groove 332 formed in the upper face 33 of the body 31 and in which is placed an O-ring 34. The depth of the groove 332 and the torus diameter of seal 34 are chosen such that, when it is in place in groove 332, O-ring 34 protrudes from groove 382 over a height h34 of between 0.1 and 0.5 mm. Thus, when it is appropriate to clean the nozzles 12 at the end of a paint application phase, the set of nozzles 10 is moved, in the direction of the arrow F4 at the figure 5 , to bring it into the cleaning pre-position, with its front face 34 facing the upper surface 33 of the cleaning station 30. Then, the set of nozzles 10 is brought into leaktight contact against the various seals 34, by moving in the direction of the arrow F5 at the figure 5 .

Dans ce cas également, chaque orifice d'éjection 127 et chaque surface frontale 128 sont isolés individuellement de l'extérieur par un joint 34.Also in this case, each ejection port 127 and each front surface 128 are individually isolated from the outside by a gasket 34.

Il est alors possible d'injecter du fluide de nettoyage dans les différents canaux de sortie 126 des buses 12, à travers leurs orifices de sortie 127, en alimentant les injecteurs 38 avec du fluide de nettoyage, ce qui permet de faire circuler ce fluide de nettoyage dans le sens des flèches F6 à la figure 6, jusqu'à l'intérieur des canaux de sortie 126 des buses 12, en direction des pointeaux et des sièges de ces buses. Compte tenu du positionnement des joints 34, ceci permet également de nettoyer les faces frontales 128 des buses 12.It is then possible to inject cleaning fluid into the various outlet channels 126 of the nozzles 12, through their outlet orifices 127, by supplying the injectors 38 with cleaning fluid, which makes it possible to circulate this cleaning fluid. cleaning in the direction of the arrows F6 at the figure 6 , to the interior of the channels of outlet 126 of the nozzles 12, towards the needles and the seats of these nozzles. Given the positioning of the seals 34, this also makes it possible to clean the front faces 128 of the nozzles 12.

Dans les deuxième et troisième mode de réalisation, des vannes d'alimentation, de purge et de recirculation, non représentées, sont prévues, comme dans le premier mode de réalisation.In the second and third embodiments, supply, purge and recirculation valves, not shown, are provided, as in the first embodiment.

En pratique, quel que soit le mode de réalisation, le diamètre d38 des injecteurs 38 est adapté au diamètre d126 des canaux de sortie 126 et au diamètre d127 des orifices d'éjection 127. Les diamètres d126 et d127 peuvent être égaux. A titre d'exemple, ces diamètres sont compris entre 50 µm et 300 µm, de préférence entre 100 µm et 200µm, de préférence encore de l'ordre de 150 µm. Dans ce cas, le diamètre d38 des injecteurs 38 peut être compris entre 0,5 mm et 2 mm, de préférence de l'ordre de 1 mm. Avantageusement, quel que soit le mode de réalisation, le rapport d126/d38 et/ou le rapport d127/d38 est compris entre 0,03 et 0,5, de préférence entre 0,05 et 0,2.In practice, whatever the embodiment, the diameter d38 of the injectors 38 is adapted to the diameter d126 of the outlet channels 126 and to the diameter d127 of the ejection orifices 127. The diameters d126 and d127 can be equal. By way of example, these diameters are between 50 μm and 300 μm, preferably between 100 μm and 200 μm, more preferably around 150 μm. In this case, the diameter d38 of the injectors 38 can be between 0.5 mm and 2 mm, preferably of the order of 1 mm. Advantageously, whatever the embodiment, the d126/d38 ratio and/or the d127/d38 ratio is between 0.03 and 0.5, preferably between 0.05 and 0.2.

L'invention est décrite ci-dessus dans le cas où le produit appliqué à l'aide de buses 12 est de la peinture. D'autres produits de revêtement peuvent être appliqués avec une installation conforme à l'invention, notamment un apprêt ou un vernis.The invention is described above in the case where the product applied using nozzles 12 is paint. Other coating products can be applied with an installation in accordance with the invention, in particular a primer or a varnish.

L'invention est décrite ci-dessus dans le cas où l'ensemble de buses 10 accoste la station de nettoyage 30 par le dessus. En variante, cet accostage peut avoir lieu par un côté de la station de nettoyage, auquel cas les logements 32 ou les débouchés 382 des injecteurs 38 sont ménagés non pas dans la face supérieure 33 du corps 31 mais dans une face latérale de ce corps.The invention is described above in the case where the set of nozzles 10 docks the cleaning station 30 from above. As a variant, this docking can take place via one side of the cleaning station, in which case the housings 32 or the outlets 382 of the injectors 38 are formed not in the upper face 33 of the body 31 but in a side face of this body.

Quel que soit le mode de réalisation, la station de nettoyage 30 peut être fabriquée par impression tridimensionnelle, ce qui permet d'adapter la répartition et le cheminement des canaux 36 et des injecteurs 38 à l'intérieur du corps de cette station de nettoyage, sans avoir recours à un moule à tiroirs ou à des gammes d'usinage complexes. Toutefois, il demeure possible de fabriquer la station de nettoyage par moulage et/ou usinage.Whatever the embodiment, the cleaning station 30 can be manufactured by three-dimensional printing, which makes it possible to adapt the distribution and routing of the channels 36 and the injectors 38 inside the body of this cleaning station, without having recourse to a mold with drawers or to complex machining ranges. However, it remains possible to manufacture the cleaning station by molding and/or machining.

Le nombre de rangées de buses d'impression 12 peut être choisi, supérieur ou égal à un, en fonction de la taille de la surface à revêtir de chaque objet O, le nombre de rangées d'injecteurs 38 étant adapté en conséquence.The number of rows of printing nozzles 12 can be chosen, greater than or equal to one, depending on the size of the surface to be coated with each object O, the number of rows of injectors 38 being adapted accordingly.

On note e12 l'écartement entre deux buses d'impression 12 au sein d'une rangée de buses d'impression et e38 l'écartement entre deux injecteurs 38 au sein d'une rangée d'injecteurs. Quel que soit le mode de réalisation, ces écartements e12 et e38 sont choisis identiques au sein de deux rangées de buses et d'injecteurs destinées à coopérer ensemble.We note e12 the spacing between two printing nozzles 12 within a row of printing nozzles and e38 the spacing between two injectors 38 within a row of injectors. Whatever the embodiment, these spacings e12 and e38 are chosen to be identical within two rows of nozzles and injectors intended to cooperate together.

Selon un aspect avantageux de l'invention applicable à tous les modes de réalisation, et afin d'améliorer encore le nettoyage de buses d'impression 12, on peut prévoir que, avant ou après l'injection de fluide de nettoyage dans les canaux de sortie 126, à travers les orifices d'éjection 127, dans le sens des flèches F6, on injecte dans chaque buse d'impression un fluide de nettoyage dans le sens d'écoulement normal du produit de revêtement, c'est-à-dire dans un sens allant du canal d'alimentation 16 vers l'orifice d'éjection 127 en passant par le canal de sortie 126, ce qui revient à injecter le fluide de nettoyage dans le sens des flèches F3 à la figure 2. Dans ce cas, en supposant que le fluide de nettoyage est injecté dans le canal 16 en amont de la vanne d'alimentation 102, la vanne d'alimentation 102, la vanne de purge 104 et la vanne de purge 304 sont ouvertes, alors que la vanne de recirculation 106 et la vanne d'alimentation 302 sont fermées. Lorsque cet aspect optionnel de l'invention est mis en œuvre, le nettoyage des buses d'injection 12 a lieu successivement dans les deux sens, à savoir dans le sens des flèches F6, avec les vannes 302 et 104 ouvertes et les autres vannes fermées, et dans le sens des flèches F3, avec les vannes 102, 104 et 304 ouvertes et les autres vannes fermées.According to an advantageous aspect of the invention applicable to all embodiments, and in order to further improve the cleaning of printing nozzles 12, provision can be made that, before or after the injection of cleaning fluid into the channels of outlet 126, through the ejection orifices 127, in the direction of the arrows F6, is injected into each printing nozzle a cleaning fluid in the direction of normal flow of the coating product, that is to say in a direction going from the supply channel 16 towards the ejection orifice 127 via the outlet channel 126, which amounts to injecting the cleaning fluid in the direction of the arrows F3 at the figure 2 . In this case, assuming cleaning fluid is injected into channel 16 upstream of supply valve 102, supply valve 102, purge valve 104 and purge valve 304 are open, while recirculation valve 106 and supply valve 302 are closed. When this optional aspect of the invention is implemented, the cleaning of the injection nozzles 12 takes place successively in both directions, namely in the direction of the arrows F6, with the valves 302 and 104 open and the other valves closed. , and in the direction of the arrows F3, with the valves 102, 104 and 304 open and the other valves closed.

Quel que soit le mode de réalisation, l'ajout des vannes de purge 104 et 304 permet de collecter le fluide de nettoyage après utilisation de celui-ci pour nettoyer une ou des buses 12, sans risque de polluer le produit de revêtement ou le fluide de nettoyage non encore utilisé.Whatever the embodiment, the addition of the purge valves 104 and 304 makes it possible to collect the cleaning fluid after use of the latter to clean one or more nozzles 12, without risk of polluting the coating product or the fluid. cleaner not yet used.

L'invention est représentée sur les figures dans le cas où toutes les buses 12 de l'ensemble 10 de buses sont nettoyées simultanément. Ceci n'est toutefois pas obligatoire. Les buses peuvent être nettoyées par groupes, par exemple rangée par rangée dans le cas d'un ensemble 10 à plusieurs rangées de buses. Dans ce cas, la répartition des injecteurs 38 de la station de nettoyage 30 est adaptée, de même que la répartition des joints 34 et celle des canaux 36.The invention is shown in the figures in the case where all the nozzles 12 of the set 10 of nozzles are cleaned simultaneously. However, this is not mandatory. The nozzles can be cleaned in groups, for example row by row in the case of an assembly 10 with several rows of nozzles. In this case, the distribution of the injectors 38 of the cleaning station 30 is adapted, as well as the distribution of the seals 34 and that of the channels 36.

Les modes de réalisation et variantes envisagées ci-dessus peuvent être combinés pour générer de nouveaux modes de réalisation de l'invention.The embodiments and variants contemplated above can be combined to generate new embodiments of the invention.

Claims (16)

  1. A facility (I) for applying a coating product comprising a set (10) of printing nozzles (12) each including an outlet channel (126) emerging in the downstream direction by a coating product discharge orifice (127), characterized in that the facility (I) further comprises a cleaning station (30) comprising several injectors (38) provided to simultaneously clean several nozzles (12) of a row of nozzles or all of the nozzles of the set of nozzles (10), by injecting cleaning fluid into the outlet channels (126) of the printing nozzles of the row or the set of nozzles, through their discharge orifices (127).
  2. The facility according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning station (30) is equipped with one or several sealing gaskets (34) making it possible to isolate each discharge orifice (127) of a printing nozzle (12) with respect to the outside, when the set (10) of printing nozzles bears against the cleaning station.
  3. The facility according to claim 2, characterized in that the sealing gasket(s) (34) individually isolate each discharge orifice (127) with respect to the outside, when the set (10) of printing nozzles (12) bears against the cleaning station (30).
  4. The facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning station (30) comprises members (38) for cleaning a front face (128) of at least one printing nozzle (12), preferably each printing nozzle.
  5. The facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nozzles (12) of the set (10) of printing nozzles protrude from a front face (14) of this assembly and the cleaning station (30) comprises housings (32) for at least partially receiving printing nozzles, when the front face of the set of nozzles is across from, or bearing against, an upper or side face (33) of the cleaning station in which the housings emerge, and in that a cleaning fluid injector (38) emerges in each housing.
  6. The facility according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the outlet orifices (127) of the printing nozzles (12) are flush with a front face (14) of the set (10) of printing nozzles, in that the cleaning station comprises an upper or side face (33) in which the cleaning fluid injectors (38) emerge and in that, when the front face of the set (14) of printing nozzles bears against the upper or side face of the cleaning station, the discharge orifices (127) of the printing nozzles are each aligned with an injector (38) of the cleaning station.
  7. The facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning station (130) comprises a body (31) inside which cleaning fluid circulation channels (36) are arranged, and in that the injector(s) (38) are arranged in this body, downstream from these channels.
  8. The facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a multiaxial robot (20) making it possible to move (F4, F5) the set (10) of printing nozzles (12) between a spraying position, where the set of printing nozzles is oriented toward an object (O) to be coated, and a cleaning position, where the set of printing nozzles is in contact with the cleaning station (30).
  9. The facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each printing nozzle (12) has a printhead (13) and its discharge orifice (127) has an inner diameter (d127) of between 50 and 300 µm, preferably between 100 and 200 µm, still more preferably in the order of 150 µm.
  10. The facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ratio (d127/d38) between the inner diameter (d127) of the discharge orifice (127) of a nozzle and the diameter (d38) of an injector (38) is between 0.03 and 0.5, preferably between 0.05 and 0.2.
  11. The facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printing nozzles (12) of the set of printing nozzles are positioned in at least one row and the injectors (38) of the cleaning station are positioned in the same number of row(s), the spacing (e38) between two adjacent injectors (38) of a row of injectors being the same as the spacing (e12) between two adjacent printing nozzles (12) of a row of printing nozzles.
  12. The facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the set (10) of nozzles is equipped with a first bleed valve (104) and the cleaning station (30) is equipped with a second bleed valve (304), each of these bleed valves making it possible to discharge the cleaning fluid after use.
  13. A method for cleaning a set (10) of printing nozzles (12) of a facility (I) for applying coating product, each printing nozzle comprising an outlet channel (126) emerging in the downstream direction by a coating product discharge orifice (127), characterized in that the method comprises at least one step consisting of:
    a) simultaneously injecting (F6), via several injectors (38) a cleaning fluid into the outlet channel (126) of several printing nozzles (12) of one row or of all of the nozzles of the set of nozzles (10), through their discharge orifices (127).
  14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises at least one additional step consisting of:
    b) orienting (F6) a flow of cleaning fluid toward a front face (128) of each printing nozzle (12), on which the discharge orifice (127) of the printing nozzle is arranged.
  15. The method according to one of claims 13 or 145 [sic], characterized in that it comprises at least steps prior to step a), and if applicable, to step b) and consisting of:
    y) moving (F4) the set (10) of printing nozzles (12) from a spraying position, where the set of printing nozzles is oriented toward an object (O) to be coated, toward a cleaning pre-position, where the set of printing nozzles is across from a cleaning station (30), and
    z) bringing (F5) the set of printing nozzles to bear tightly against the cleaning station, in a configuration where the discharge orifice (127) of each printing nozzle (12) is aligned on a cleaning fluid injector (38) belonging to the cleaning station.
  16. The method according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that it comprises at least one additional step consisting of:
    c) injecting, in each printing nozzle, a cleaning fluid in a direction going from a supply duct (16), which is part of the set (10) of printing nozzles (12), toward the discharge orifice (127), while passing through the outlet channel (126).
EP20169268.8A 2019-04-15 2020-04-14 Installation for applying a coating product and method for cleaning such an installation Active EP3725421B1 (en)

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EP (1) EP3725421B1 (en)
JP (1) JP7609564B2 (en)
KR (1) KR102881707B1 (en)
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FR3134341B1 (en) 2022-04-11 2024-04-19 Exel Ind PRINT HEAD INCLUDING MAINTENANCE CIRCUIT AND COATING INSTALLATION
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US20200324549A1 (en) 2020-10-15
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FR3094899B1 (en) 2022-10-07
KR102881707B1 (en) 2025-11-05
CN111823718B (en) 2023-06-02
CN111823718A (en) 2020-10-27
EP3725421A1 (en) 2020-10-21
KR20200121244A (en) 2020-10-23
US11331921B2 (en) 2022-05-17
JP7609564B2 (en) 2025-01-07
ES2913877T3 (en) 2022-06-06

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