ES2399882T3 - Paint color changer system and procedure to change a paint color - Google Patents

Abstract

Paint color changer system for the selective feeding of at least two paint colors to a device (9) for unloading the paint colors, with a first element (1) into which feed channels (3) for the at least two paint colors, a second element (2) that can be moved relative to the first element, in particular it can be rotated, tilted and / or displaced, at which at least one duct (10) can be joined that can be joined with the device (9) for the discharge of the paint colors, which represents a channel (6) that communicates with the duct, with a hole (6a) oriented towards the first element (1), which by means of the relative movement of the two elements (1, 2) can be connected selectively to one of the supply channels (3) of the first element (1) selectively, with paint connections (4) being assigned to the supply channels (3) that can selectively close and open, where in the channel (6) located in the second element (2) a cleaning product feed channel (13) flows out which can be closed by means of an insulating organ (15) for the feeding of cleaning product, characterized in that in the conduit (10) between the device (9) for the unloading of the paints and the channel (6) in the second element (2) a pump (8) is provided for the transport of the paint, which preferably can optionally mark forward and backward , the orifice (6a) of the channel (6) being fluidly connected with the pump (8) in such a way that no isolation device is provided downstream of the respective paint connection (4) and because before from the channel (6) located in the second element (2) and / or from the feed channel of the cleaning product (13) derives a return channel of cleaning product (14) which can eventually be closed by means of the isolation member ( 15), and that you can communicate with pump (8) to feed cleaning product to the pump (8).

Description

Paint color changer system and procedure to change a paint color

The invention relates to a paint color changer system for selective feeding of at least two paint colors to an installation for the discharge of paint colors, as well as the corresponding paint color change procedure.

In the automobile industry, for example, robots are frequently used in paint shops for painting body parts with paints. Paints are generally understood as generally liquid, tinted and colorless paints of paints, enamels, primers or similar fluids. In the known facilities, several robots are generally located in a paint booth, to whose robot arms the different colors of paints are conducted, on average about 20 colors of paints, in the form of a package of flexible tubes that are connected to a changing table paint color, to be able to glaze body parts following a random color order of paintings. The different colors of paints are frequently conducted at a pressure of up to 20 bars through ring ducts from large paint deposits, to the paint color changer. The paint color changer can be formed by a block with a central channel in which the feeding channels of the different paint colors flow. These feed channels are each closed by a selective opening valve or a similar paint color connection. A connection of a cleaning product also flows into the channel. The channel then leads through a paint or enamel metering pump to an installation for the discharge of the paints, for example to a pneumatic or electrostatic operating sprayer, to a spray gun or the like.

When a paint color change is made, the paint valve that was previously open corresponding to the paint color currently used is closed first, and the cleaning product from the cleaning product connection is conducted through the channel to the installation for the discharge of the paints from the connection of the cleaning product until the central channel of the paint color changer as well as all the pipes located downstream of this, including the paint or enamel metering pump as well as the installation for The discharge of the paints has been cleaned of the current paint color and partially dried. The paint that is in the paint color changer and in the conduits located downstream of this, are lost during this process and must be removed. This results in high costs. In addition, it is considered an inconvenience that the opening and closing of the valves of the feed channels that flow into the paint color changer does not always take place without effects, so that it can occur at the same time as an involuntary simultaneous exit of two colors of paintings

From EP 1 245 295 A2 a paint color changer system is known which has several feed valves of a paint color joined together with a paint color feed line as well as a spray valve on the side of the sprayer , the connection valve can be coupled with one of the paint feed valves.

For this purpose, a coupling installation is provided that allows a relative movement of the combined paint color feed valves, forming a paint feed unit to the connection valve.

When the connection valve is open, paint can be applied to adjacent application devices, such as the paint pressure regulator, the metering pump and the sprayer. To effect the cleaning scan when a paint color change is made, the paint color changing system comprises a scanning line corresponding to the spray valve on the side of the sprayer with an additional valve arrangement for the cleaning product or compressed air

From DE 199 62 220 A1 a changing system of a coating product is known in which different couplings can correspond to a paint consumer. The paint output of the paint consumer can lead to a paint pressure regulator and metering pumps. Holes for feeding a cleaning product and / or compressed air may be provided in the paint consumer.

Document DE 10 2006 005 341 A1 describes an enamelling device with a paint color change installation consisting of two parts attached to each other by sections that can be moved relatively together. A metering pump can be provided between the paint color change installation and a sprayer.

The aim of the present invention is to provide an economical and compact paint color change system, which can be easily cleaned. As well as a procedure to effect the change of a paint color, in which the least possible amount of paint will be used and that at the same time allows to perform a particularly safe operation without dragging paint.

This objective is solved according to the invention essentially with a paint color changing system according to

claim 1, which is suitable for selective feeding of at least two paint colors to an installation for unloading the paint colors. The paint color changer system presents as the first element in which the feed channels for the at least two paint colors flow, and a second element that can be rotated, tilted and / or moved relative to the first element, in which leads to at least one conduit that can be joined with the installation for the unloading of the paints and that has a channel connected with the conduction through an orifice that can be joined by turning, tilting and / or displacement of the two elements between yes selectively with one of the feed channels of the first element respectively, where the feed channels correspond to paint connections that can be selectively closed and opened or other similar closing systems, being provided in the conduction, between the installation for the unloading of the paintings and the channel located in the second element, a pump for the transport of the paint. According to the invention, the channel orifice is fluidly connected with the pump.

By means of the configuration of the paint color changer system according to the invention, it is possible on the one hand to be able to dispense with the relatively long central channel of the known paint color changers, so that it is only necessary to empty and clean the ducts downstream of the changer Paint color In this way, not only can the amount of discarded paint and necessary cleaning product be reduced, but the cleaning time required during a paint color change can also be significantly reduced. Since in the paint color changer system according to the invention there can only be one feed channel at a time connected to the channel leading to the installation for the discharge of the paint colors, the simultaneous output of several paint colors is excluded . The paint connections corresponding to the feed channels or similar closure arrangements also take care that paint does not escape involuntarily. The assignment of a feed channel to the conduit leading to the sprayer or similar installation for the discharge of the paints takes place by means of a rotational movement between the two elements. This can be done, for example, because the second element is lifted and separated from the first element, then moved and / or rotated in relation to it. In particular, in the case of the use of an electrostatic sprayer, the plates must be able to lift and separate from each other more than 200 mm. But in principle it is enough that during a change of paint color the plates only get up enough so that they do not rub. Alternatively, the two elements can be tilted and then rotated or moved. It is also possible to perform a pure rotation and / or displacement without previously lifting or tilting the two elements, although then there is a risk of stretch marks forming on the surfaces facing each other of the elements.

By means of the pump provided according to the invention in the conduction between the installation for the unloading of the paints and the channel located in the second element, paint can be pulled back to the respective paint feed channel when a paint color change is made. The orifice of the channel is fluidly connected with the pump, that is to say that downstream of the paint connection, no valves or similar isolation devices are provided before the pump. This allows the paint color changer system according to the invention to be able to reverse the paint from the ducts to the paint color feed channel. Due to the absence of a valve or the like in the duct or in the channel, there is no risk that a duct will burst through the duct if there is any valve that is not open or stuck or has any other defect.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second element comprises an actuator for opening and / or closing the paint connections. In this way the paint connections can be made, for example, by closing devices that close due to the pressure of the fluid in the feed channels and / or are loaded by an elastic element, so as to prevent an involuntary escape of painting. Paint connections or similar closure systems can therefore be opened only by means of the actuator when the corresponding feed channel is in a position corresponding to the channel, while all other paint color connections or paint systems Closure are always closed. The actuator is located in any position such that it can act in conjunction with the paint connections.

In a refinement of this idea of the invention it is provided that the second element comprises, for example, a pusher as an actuator, which is realized and arranged such that a pusher lifts a hollow needle, a ball or the like from a seat paint connection to open it overcoming the force of an elastic element that acts on the hollow needle, the ball or the like. For this, it is not essential that the actuator is made as a pusher but may be formed by any element that is suitable for opening a closure element or a paint connection, that is, for example, a servo linear element, such as a needle, an electro valve or similar.

According to the invention, the restoring force of the elastic element is less than the pressure force of the fluid acting on the ball or the hollow needle during the backward movement of the paint. In this way the paint connection acts at the same time as a safety valve that opens automatically to push back the

paint, even if the drive organ fails.

While the first and / or the second element are assigned a stepper motor or other suitable drive, for example a pneumatic drive to effect the relative rotation of the two elements with each other, and / or a servo linear or similar element to effect the relative movement between the two elements in an axial direction, however the rotation and translation necessary to make a paint color change can be done with very simple means. For this, the first element is preferably configured as a fixed plate as a circular disk into which the feed channels flow, while the second element is made as a second plate located for example under that plate, which with the motor step by step you can turn from 180º to 360º to the left or to the right. To separate the two elements from each other before making the rotation, one or more servo linear elements or similar arrangements can be provided to achieve a lifting stroke of, for example, about 20 mm to about 30 mm between the two elements. In principle, an even lower elevation may also be sufficient to move the two elements relatively together, without them reaching to rub against each other. For cleaning purposes it is preferred that it is possible to perform a higher elevation, for example of about 200 mm.

To clean the paint color change system and the conduits connected to it during the work, a cleaning product channel is made in the first and / or second element to feed a cleaning product through a connection of cleaning product, which is in communication with the channel located in the second element. For this purpose, the cleaning product channel is preferably made in such a way that, when cleaning, the closing element that had been used last was partly cleaned at the same time.

or the paint connection of the last paint color applied, as well as the actuator and all the channels, in particular those located in the second element. As a cleaning product, for example, a mixture of air and solvent can be used. In some applications, water is also suitable as cleaning products

or gases such as nitrogen. The liquid or gaseous cleaning product can be used at the same time to push the paint back by returning it to the paint feed channel. For this, the cleaning product is fed, for example, to the pump and / or the sprayer or the like. In this way, a pre-cleaning of the pump and the ducts can be carried out while pushing the paint back, so that in any case it is necessary to perform a brief subsequent cleaning.

If a paint or enamel metering pump is arranged near the two elements, which preferably can optionally run forward or backward, the path of the conduit between the paint or enamel metering pump and the two elements can be kept short, thereby the channel to be cleaned is shortened even more when a paint color change is made. At the same time, a paint or enamel metering pump that can run backwards allows the residual paint that is still in the ducts to be transported backwards during a paint color change, in the opposite direction to the flow direction during work, that is, when enameling, so that the paint used until then is returned to the feed channel. Therefore it is only necessary to clean the ducts that are largely empty of paint with the cleaning product. Not only does this simplify cleaning, but paint losses are almost reduced to zero when a paint color change is made. .This results in considerable cost savings. At the same time, the whole paint color change system can have a relatively simple and economical structure, since as a whole it is only necessary to provide a metering pump for paint or enamel, while all the supply lines are closed only by closure systems or similar.

According to a preferred form of the invention, the paint or enamel metering pump is made as a gear pump that can work both ways. However, other suitable pumps such as paint or enamel metering pump, other suitable pumps or pusher and cylinder units can also be used for transportation and dosing.

The paint or enamel metering pump is preferably fixed in one of the two elements, especially in the second element, the metering pump of paint or enamel can be driven by a drive shaft arranged in particular in a hollow shaft to effect rotation. relative to each other of the two elements. This allows to achieve an embodiment that occupies especially little space and is especially suitable for being installed in an arm of a robot. Alternatively, the drive shaft for the paint or enamel metering pump can also be driven out of the shaft intended to rotate both elements together. This is especially true if additional sensors or the like are foreseen that hinder the arrangement of the drive shaft in a hollow shaft. If the installation for the discharge of paint, which is, for example, a spray gun or a spray hood, is made as an electrostatic sprayer, sufficient distances must be maintained between the sprayer and the remaining system elements.

Alternatively, the paint or enamel metering pump may be located inside or next to the installation for the discharge of the paints, in particular it may be assigned to the spray head. The dosing pump

Paint or enamel preferably has a drive connection independent of the hollow shaft or the first and second element, for example a drive shaft or a hydraulic connection.

The paint color changer system according to the invention is realized in such a way that a cleaning product feed channel that can be closed with a closing member to feed the cleaning product flows into the channel of the second element. From the channel located in the second element and / or the cleaning product feed channel, a cleaning product return channel is also branched, which can eventually be closed by the closing member, and which can be put in communication with the pump for feeding cleaning product to the pump. In this way, the cleaning product feed channel also passes through the channel and through the cleaning product return channel feeds the pump with cleaning product so that the cleaning product column can be pushed backwards. paint from the pump and the pipes between the pump and the paint color connection.

In order to avoid an involuntary leakage of paint in the contact plane between the two elements formed for example by circular plates, the contact surfaces that seat each other during enamelling or the like are for example rectified. In addition, sealing elements are provided on the surfaces facing each other of the two elements that prevent the involuntary escape of paint. For this purpose, the intended channel of the second element may be surrounded by a joint and / or each of the feeding channels or paint connections may be assigned joints.

For the exact and synchronized actuation of the different components of the paint color changing system according to the invention there is preferably a control system corresponding at least to the actuator and / or the paint or enamel metering pump. This can also possibly control the necessary drives for the rotary movement of the two elements, the closing systems of the heat system and / or the cleaning product feed.

During operation, the paint connections may become dirty or be defective for other reasons. The replacement of the paint connection is facilitated because the feed channels are connected to the first element each by means of a quick coupling device, where each feed channel also corresponds to the paint connection with another closing element. A paint feed channel can thus be quickly separated from the first element without a paint leak, when it is necessary to repair or replace one of the paint connections.

The objective that forms the basis of the invention is further resolved by means of a method according to claim 12 or 14 to change a paint color, especially between two enamelling phases (or similar phases for the discharge and / or application of a fluid) , especially by means of a paint color changing system of the aforementioned class. For this, the procedure according to the invention has the following steps:

Feeding a first paint color from a paint reservoir to an installation for unloading the paint, for which the paint flows into a first element through a first feed channel, the paint connection being open, passes to through the channel to a second element that sits tightly against the first element, and which is conducted through a conduit to a paint or enamel metering pump that works in a first sense of work, and from there to an installation for the unloading of the paints, reversal of the working sense of the paint or enamel metering pump for a period of time until the paint has been driven back essentially in its entirety from the pipes located downstream of the paint connection, to the first feed channel, closure of the paint connection corresponding to the first paint color, realization of at least one movement or relative between the two elements until a second paint connection of a second paint color is faced with the channel, and the two elements or at least their joints are attached to each other, opening the paint color connection corresponding to the second paint color and feed of the second paint color from a paint reservoir to the installation for unloading the paints, for which the paint flows through the second feed channel into the first element, the paint connection being open , passes through the channel located in the second element that sits tightly against the first element and passes through the conduit to the paint or enamel metering pump that again works in the first sense of work, and from there to the installation for the Download of the paintings. The relative movement between the two elements may comprise in particular first the separation, the rotation or the separation of the two elements from each other, then the rotation and / or the displacement and then a new approach between the two elements.

By emptying according to the invention the paint debris found in the duct system in the feed channel not only saves paint but also facilitates and shortens the cleaning time of the ducts, that is the channels which extend during the enamelling downstream of the respective paint connection, including the paint and enamel metering pump as well as the sprayer or discharge device or the like. This takes place especially when after the reversal of the working direction of the paint or enamel metering pump, the paint is pushed back from the ducts downstream of the connection of

paint, to the first feed channel, for which the pump is drawn from a cleaning product channel corresponding to the pump and / or a cleaning product channel corresponding to the installation for the unloading of the paints, a product of liquid or gas cleaning in at least some of the ducts.

Alternatively, according to the invention, it is possible to change the paint color between two enamelling phases or similar phases for the discharge and / or for the application of a fluid, to close the paint connection corresponding to the first paint color before the end of the first enamelling phase and continue in the first enamelling phase until at least a portion of the first paint color has been discharged from the pipes downstream of the installation paint connection for the download of the paintings. For this purpose, the actuator and / or the paint or enamel metering pump are preferably controlled by means of a control system, such that the first phase of enamelling is continued after closing the paint connection corresponding to the first color of paint until the paint has essentially completely discharged from the ducts downstream of the paint connection of the installation for the unloading of the paints. Therefore, the paint does not have to be discarded or thrown back, but during the first enamelling phase it can be discharged from the ducts downstream of the paint connection, until these ducts are almost free of paint debris.

According to the invention, it is provided that, after closing the paint connection corresponding to the first paint color and before finishing the first enamelling phase, cleaning product is introduced into the ducts downstream of the paint connection, during the continuation of the first phase of enamelling. In this way, the ducts are already cleaned during the first enamelling phase and filled with cleaning product. This greatly facilitates and shortens the process of changing paint color.

In order to eliminate disturbing influences of air inclusions in the duct it is provided, in accordance with an improvement of the described procedure, that an inclusion of air in the conduit is forced by expelling it from the duct to a return channel of cleaning product that flows into the channel drive for example to the pump. The expulsion can be carried out both through the use of cleaning products as well as with paint or enamel.

The processes according to the above-described embodiment preferably work in such a way that a residual amount of paint remaining in the conduits when making a paint color change is less than 10 ml, in particular less than 5 ml.

This is possible, for example, by a time-controlled control system and / or by a sensor, of the paint or enamel metering pump and / or at least one of the closing systems.

Before separating the two elements from each other, a cleaning product is preferably conducted through the cleaning product feed channel to clean the first paint connection and the conduit located downstream of it. It can be a mixture of air and solvent.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the cleaning product is not only used to clean the ducts downstream of the paint connection but also to clean the sprayer or the like. For this, it is preferred that the cleaning product is first conducted together with any paint residue of the first paint color to a valve arranged before the installation for the unloading of the paints, and from there it is led to a collection container, and only after cleaning the ducts located downstream of the paint connection are conducted by switching the valve located in or through the installation for the discharge of the paints. In this way the sprayer or the like is cleaned with a cleaning product that largely does not carry any load of the previous paint color.

In order to be able to push back the residual paint in the ducts located downstream of the paint duct, the paint or enamel metering pump is operated at a pressure higher than the pressure prevailing in the feed channel. For example, the paint or enamel metering pump can create a pressure of for example about 70 bar, while in the ring ducts and in the feed channels they only reign up to about 20 bar.

Improvements, advantages and possibilities of application of the invention are also deduced from the following description of embodiments and drawings.

These show schematically:

Fig. 1, in a partially sectioned view, the paint color change system according to the invention according to a first embodiment,

Fig. 2, a view of the paint color changer system, seen in the direction of arrow A of fig. one,

Fig. 3, a scheme of principle of the paint color changing system according to the invention, and

Fig. 4, in a partially sectioned view, the paint color changer system according to the invention according to a second embodiment.

The paint color changer system comprises two elements in the form of a circular disk 1 and 2 which in the representation of fig. 1 are attached to each other. In the element 1 that remains in the figure at the top, several feed channels 3 flow, of which in fig. 1 only one of them is represented. Each of the feeding channels 3 corresponds in the first element 1 a paint color connection 4 formed by a closing device. As can be seen from the representation of fig. 2, several feed channels and paint connections are arranged on a circular track of the first element 1.

On the other hand, the second element 2 is only provided with a single hole that can be carried respectively to coincide with one of the paint connections 4. In this hole a pusher 5 is located that can lift the ball of the connection paint 4 overcoming the spring force of the paint connection 4, to establish a fluid connection between the feed channel 3 and the orifice of the second element 2.

In the channel 6 there is a hole 6a oriented towards the first element 1, such that the paint connection 4 assigned in each case to the second element 2 is directly facing the hole 6a made as a hole in the front face of the second element. In the second element 2 there is also a channel 6 with free passage which is in communication with the hole 6a of the actuator 5. The hole 6a forms a connecting section of the channel 6 for selective communication with one of the paint connections 4. A cleaning product connection 7 also flows into this channel 6 which is in communication with a cleaning product feed channel shown in fig. 3 to feed a cleaning product, leading to the hole 6a and the channel

6. In addition, an isolation valve 15 can be provided for the cleaning product channel 7, which, however, does not influence the free passage of channel 6. Alternatively, channel 7 can also be used as a return or bypass channel for cleaning product and / or residual paint, for example if during the cleaning phase the cleaning product is driven from the sprayer 7 or from the pump 8 in the direction towards the paint connection 4.

Through a conduit 10, the channel 6 is connected to a metering pump of paint or enamel 8, which in turn is communicated through a conduit that is not represented, with a device for unloading the paints, which in The embodiment shown is formed by a sprayer 9. The paint or enamel metering pump 8 is rigidly connected with the second element 2, and with a drive shaft 11 for the paint or enamel metering pump 8 that passes through the central hole in both elements 1 and 2.

The drive shaft 11 of the paint or enamel metering pump 8 is driven through a hollow shaft 12 which is rigidly connected to the second element 2 and which is rotatably driven through a hole located in the first element 1. In this way, the hollow shaft 12 allows the second element 2 to rotate in relation to the first element 1. For this purpose, the hollow shaft is assigned, for example, a stepper motor that is not shown in the figures. A device, also shown in the figures, is also provided for separating the elements 1 and 2 relative to each other in the axial direction of the hollow shaft 12. This device can be formed, for example, by a suitable linear drive.

During operation, paint is conducted from a ring duct from a paint reservoir at a pressure of for example up to 20 bar, to the first element 1 through the feed channel 3. The actuator 5 opens the paint connection 4 of so that the paint passes through the channel 6 to the paint or enamel metering pump 8. From there the paint is subjected to a pressure greater than the sprayer 9, by means of which it is applied, for example, on body parts. With the exception of the paint connection 4 that has been opened by the actuator 5, all other paint connections are closed, on the one hand by the force of the spring and on the other by the pressure of the fluid existing in the feed channels , so that these remaining feed channels cannot leave paint.

To effect a paint color change, the paint or enamel metering pump 8 is operated in the opposite direction, so that the rest of the paint remaining in the conduits 10 between the paint connection 4 and the sprayer 9 is transported again through the paint connection 4 returning it to the feed channel 3. In doing so, a gas, for example air or nitrogen and / or a liquid cleaning product is sucked into these ducts 6, 10 located downstream of the paint connection 4. In this way a preliminary cleaning of the ducts takes place. Once these ducts have been emptied, the cleaning product is first conducted through the cleaning product connection 7, which cleans not only the face of the paint connection 4 in the figure at the bottom, that is the ball, but also the elements of the actuator 5 that enter the channel 6, as well as all the ducts located downstream of the paint connection 4. For this purpose

It can be provided between the paint or enamel metering pump 8 and the sprayer 9 a multi-way distribution valve that allows first cleaning product with paint debris to be taken to a collection container and only afterwards to conduct cleaning product that essentially no longer contain traces of paint, through sprayer 9 for cleaning it.

Alternatively, there is also the possibility that a cleaning product is already aspirated into the ducts, when to effect a paint color change, the paint or enamel pump 8 works in the opposite direction and thus re-transport it feed 3 the residual paint that remains in the ducts between the paint connection 4 and the sprayer 9, through the paint connection 4. Therefore, after ejecting the paint debris, the connections are already filled with the product of cleaning and can then be cleaned by feeding more cleaning product, can be dried by feeding air or can be filled directly with new paint.

Prior to this cleaning process, the drive member 5 is removed until the paint connection 4 that is located in front of the drive shaft 5 is closed, due to the fluid pressure in the feed channel 3 as well as the elastic element of the paint connection 4. In this case the pressure of the cleaning product is lower than the pressure prevailing in the feed channel 3, so that the paint connection 4 remains closed during the cleaning process.

After cleaning, the first element 1 is separated first from the second element 2 or vice versa, a reduced stroke of for example about 30 mm being sufficient to distance the two elements 1 and 2 from each other. Next, the second element 2 with respect to the first element 1 by actuating the stepper motor, until the feed channel and the paint connection of the next paint color required are located in front of the actuator 5. Then the two elements 1 and 2 are repositioned together and the actuator 5 can open the paint connection to carry out a new enamelling process.

For clarity it has been represented in fig. 3 a principle scheme of the duct system. The duct system comprises the feed channel 3, which is closed by the closing device 4. By means of the drive 5, which is not shown, the closing system 4 can be opened so that through the hole 6, which It is not shown in fig. 3, paint can be passed to channel 6. From a feed channel of a cleaning product 13, cleaning product can be introduced through the connection of cleaning product 7 to channel 6 and it is possible to continue driving, for example, to the pump 8 through the return channel of the cleaning product 14. The cleaning product connection 7 corresponds to an insulation organ 15 that blocks or allows the cleaning product feed as needed.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 4, the first element 1 is not formed as a circular disk but as a longitudinal profile, the paint connections 4 may be located on the profile in one or several rows. In this way, an especially large number of paint connections can be provided on the first element 1. The feed channels 3 corresponding to the paint connections 4 can flow from above or from one side of the first element 1, in which case the device Closing 4 does not have to be provided on the same side as the feed channels.

In this embodiment, the second element 2 can be kept compact and has the channel 6 with the hole 6a as well as possibly the actuation element 5. As indicated by broken lines in fig. 4, the drive element 5 can also be placed on the face of the first element away from the hole 6, in order to be able to open and close the closing systems in a defined manner.

Reference List

1 First plate-shaped element

2 Second plate-shaped element

3 feed channel

4 Paint connection (closing device)

5 Drive body (pusher)

6 Channel

6th hole

7 Cleaning product connection (or return) 8 Paint or enamel metering pump 9 Sprayer 10 Duct

5 11 Drive shaft 12 Hollow shaft 13 Cleaning product feed channel 14 Cleaning product return channel 15 Insulation body

Claims (17)

1.- Paint color changer system for the selective feeding of at least two paint colors to a device (9) for unloading the paint colors, with a first element (1) into which feed channels flow (3) for the at least two paint colors, a second element (2) that in relation to the first element can be moved, in particular it can be rotated, tilted and / or moved, at which at least one duct flows (10) that can be joined with the device (9) for the discharge of the paint colors, which has a channel (6) that communicates with the duct, with a hole (6a) oriented towards the first element (1) , that by means of the relative movement of the two elements (1, 2) with each other, one of the feeding channels (3) of the first element (1) can be joined selectively, being assigned to the feeding channels (3 ) paint connections (4) that can close and open them or selective, where in the channel (6) located in the second element (2) a cleaning product feed channel (13) flows out which can be closed by means of an insulating organ (15) for the feeding of cleaning product, characterized in that in the conduit (10) between the device (9) for the discharge of the paints and the channel (6) in the second element (2) a pump (8) is provided for the transport of the paint, which preferably can March optionally forward and backward, the orifice (6a) of the channel (6) being fluidly connected with the pump (8) such that no isolation device is provided downstream of the respective paint connection (4) from the pump (8) and because before the channel (6) located in the second element (2) and / or the feed channel of the cleaning product (13) derives a return channel of cleaning product (14) which eventually can be closed by the isolation body (15), and that you can communicate with the pump (8) to feed cleaning product to the pump (8). 2. Paint color changing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the second element (2) comprises an actuator (5) for opening and / or closing the paint connections (4). 3. Paint color changing system according to claim 2, characterized in that the second element (2) comprises a pusher (5) as an actuator, which is realized and arranged in such a way that the pusher (5) lifts off a seat a hollow needle or a ball of one of the paint connections (4) to open it overcoming the force of an elastic element acting on the hollow needle or on the ball. 4. Paint color changer system according to claim 3, characterized in that the recoil force of the elastic element is less than the pressure force of the channel fluid (6) that acts on the pump during operation of the pump (8). ball or hollow needle. 5. Paint color changing system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and / or the second element (1, 2) corresponds to a stepper motor or a pneumatic drive to effect the relative rotation of the two elements (1, 2) with each other, and / or a servo linear element for the relative displacement of the two elements (1, 2) with each other in an axial direction. 6. Paint color changer system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a dosing pump (8) of paint or enamel is located near the two elements (1, 2) which can optionally operate forward and backward. 7. Paint color changer system according to claim 6, characterized in that the paint or enamel metering pump (8) is fixed to one of the two elements (2), the paint or enamel metering pump can be operated (8) by a drive shaft (11) arranged in particular within a hollow shaft (12) for the relative rotation of the two elements (1, 2). 8. Paint color changer system according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the paint or enamel metering pump (8) is located in the device (9) for unloading the paints, in particular in a head sprayer (9). 9. Paint color changer system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the surfaces facing each other of the two elements (1, 2) are provided joint elements surrounding the channel (6) and / or the feed channels (3). 10. Paint color changer system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control or control dosing pump (8) corresponds to a control and control installation. 11. Paint color changing system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the feed channels (3) is connected to the first element (1) by means of a quick coupling device, having the power channel (3) assigned in addition to the paint connection (4), other isolation body 12. Method for changing a paint color, in particular between two enamelling phases, in a color changing system according to one of the preceding claims, with the following steps:

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 feeding a first paint color from a paint tank to an installation (9) for the discharge of the paintings, for which the paint flows through a first feed channel (3), the paint connection being open ( 4) in a first element (1), it passes through a hole (6a) in a channel (6) in the second element (2), which sits tightly in the first element (1), and passes through a conduit (10) to a paint or enamel metering pump (8) that acts in a first working direction, and from there to the installation (9) for the unloading of the paints,

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 inversion of the working direction of the paint or enamel metering pump (8) for a period of time until at least essentially all the paint located in the ducts (6, 8, 9, 10) located downstream of the paint connection (4), push back to the first feed channel (3) again,

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 closure of the paint connection (4) corresponding to the first paint color,

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 realization of at least one relative movement between the two elements (1, 2) with each other until a second paint connection of a second paint color faces the hole (6a) of the channel (6), and that the two elements (1, 2) or at least their boards, are attached to each other,

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 opening of the paint connection corresponding to the second paint color and feeding the second paint color from a paint tank to the installation (9) for the discharge of the paintings, for which the paint flows into the first element (1) through the second feed channel, when the paint connection (4) is open through the hole (6a) in the channel (6) in the second element (2), which sits tightly on the first element, and which is conducted through the duct to the paint or enamel metering pump (8) that acts in the first direction of work, and from there to the installation (9) for unloading the paints, characterized in that after the inversion of the direction working of the paint or enamel metering pump

(8)

 paint is drawn back from the ducts (6, 8, 9, 10) located downstream of the paint connection (4), to the first feed channel (3), for which it is aspirated at least in some of the ducts (6, 8, 9, 10) by means of the pump (8) of a cleaning product channel (14) corresponding to the pump (8) and / or of a cleaning product channel assigned to the installation (9 ) for the discharge of paints, a liquid cleaning product

or gas

13. Method for changing a paint color according to claim 12, characterized in that before the relative movement of the two elements (1, 2) is carried out for cleaning the first paint color connection (4) and of the ducts (6, 8, 9, 10) located downstream of this, cleaning product is fed through a feed channel of a cleaning product (7), which at least in part time is in fluid communication with the channel (6). 14. Method for changing a paint color, in particular between two enamelling phases, in a paint color change system according to one of claims 1-11, with the following steps:

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feeding a first paint color during a first phase of enamelling from a paint tank to an installation (9) for the discharge of the paintings, for which the paint flows through a first feed channel (3), being open the paint connection (4), in a first element (1), passes through a hole (6a) in a channel (6) in the second element (2), which sits tightly in the first element (1) , and passes through a conduit (10) to a metering pump of paint or enamel (8) that acts in a first sense of work, and from there to the installation (9) for the discharge of the paints,

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 close the paint connection (4) assigned to the first paint color before the end of the first enamelling phase, and continue the first enamelling phase until at least a portion of the first paint color has been discharged from the ducts (6, 8 , 9, 10) located downstream of the paint connection (4) of the installation (9) for the discharge of the paints.

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 realization of at least one relative movement of the two elements (1, 2) with each other until a second paint connection of a second paint color faces the channel (6), and the two elements (1, 2) or at least their boards, be attached to each other,

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opening of the paint connection corresponding to the second paint color during a second phase of enamelling and feeding the second paint color from a paint tank to the installation (9) for the unloading of the paints, for which the paint flows into the first element (1) through the second feed channel, when the paint connection (4) is open through the hole (6a) in the channel (6) in the second

element (2), which sits tightly in the first element, and which is conducted through the conduit (10) to the paint or enamel metering pump (8) that acts in the first direction of work, and from there to the installation (9) for unloading the paints, characterized in that after closing the paint connection (4) corresponding to the first paint color before the end of the first enamelling phase and during the continuation 5 of the first enamelling phase, cleaning product is introduced into the ducts (6, 8, 9, 10) located downstream of the paint connection (4). 15. Method for changing a paint color according to claim 14, characterized in that the actuator (5) and / or the paint or enamel metering pump (8) are controlled by means of a control installation such that in the first phase of enamelling it is prolonged after closing the paint connection (4) 10 corresponding to the first paint color, until essentially all the paint has been discharged from the pipes (6, 8, 9) located downstream of the paint connection (4) of the installation (9) for unloading the paints . 16. Method for changing a paint color according to one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the relative movement of the two elements (1, 2) comprises the following steps: 15 - separate the two elements (1, 2) from each other and then rotate and / or move the two elements (1, 2) relative to each other until in front of the channel (6) there is a second paint connection of a second paint color,

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 approximation of the two elements (1, 2) until these or at least their joint (s) are attached to each other.

17. Method for changing a paint color according to one of claims 13, 14 or 15, characterized 20 because the cleaning product is first conducted along with any paint residue of the first paint color to a valve arranged before installation (9) for the unloading of the paints, and from there to a collection container, and only afterwards If the ducts (6, 8, 9 10) located downstream of the paint connection (4) have been cleaned, the discharge of the paints is carried out, switching the valve located in and / or through the installation (9) ). 18. Method for changing a paint color according to one of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that the paint or enamel metering pump (8) works with a higher pressure, preferably up to about 70 bar, than the pressure prevailing in the feed channels, preferably up to about 20 bar.