ES2717116T3 - Coating agent supply device and corresponding operating procedure - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Coating agent supply device and corresponding operating procedure.

The invention relates to a coating agent supply device, in particular for a painting installation.

From WO 2004/037436 A1, a multi-axis painting robot is known which has, as an application apparatus, a rotary atomizer and which can be used, for example, for painting body parts of motor vehicles. The supply of the paint to be applied takes place, at the same time, by means of a piston metering device, which is arranged on an arm of the painting robot and which, during operation, is placed at a high voltage potential, so the paint applied by the rotating sprayer is electrically charged, which leads to a good application performance compared to electrically grounded vehicle body parts or other components to be painted. A color changer is also arranged on the same robot arm, which is fed through color feeds with paints of different colors, making it possible for the color changer to choose the desired color and fed in a piston feeder with the corresponding painting. During operation the color changer is set to an electrical ground potential, so that the numerous color feeds do not have to be made electrically insulating. The connection between the color changer and the piston metering device takes place, however, by means of an insulation hose which ensures an electrical insulation between the color changer set at the earth potential and the piston metering device set at high voltage potential for the painted The separation of electric potential between the color changer and the piston doser is achieved, at the same time, by rinsing and cleaning the insulation hose.

In this painting robot, on the one hand, the duration of the relatively long color change is disadvantageous, which leads, in particular in case of frequent color change, to a slowing down of the painting processes. On the other hand, the plunger dispenser must also be refilled without a color changer when the entire filling volume of the plunger dispenser of the rotary sprayer has been applied. The replenishment of the plunger metering device through the color changer also costs a relatively long time at the same time, which slows down the painting process.

From DE 699 17 411 T2, a painting robot is also known, in which a dosing pump and a color changer are arranged, together, on a robot arm of the painting robot, which is related to The disadvantages mentioned above.

Furthermore, it is known, from DE 697 14886 T2, a paint device with a sprayer and two piston feeders, the sprayer being able to be connected, optionally, with one of the two piston feeders, while the other doser Plunger is filled. The choice of the desired plunger dispenser takes place at the same time by means of an expensive turning mechanism.

DE 691 09 823 T2 and DE 690 01 744 T2 disclose an electrostatic color spraying system with two coating tanks, which are disposed, one after the other, in the direction of circulation and which are separated from each other by a section of insulation. The separation of the two coating agent tanks by means of an insulation section makes it possible to put the coating agent tank located downstream to the high voltage potential during the application of the paint, while the coating agent tank located upstream It is at ground potential and, therefore, it can be filled with paint in a simple way.

Other coating installations are known from DE 691 09949 T2, DE 19524853 C2, DE 201 18531 U1, DE 19961270 A1 and DE 69228249 T2.

Furthermore, reference is made in the state of the art to DE 101 03067, EP 0428435 A, EP 0487 378 A, EP 0467626 A, EP 1108474 A, US 4313475 A, US 5197676 A, US 5364035 A, GB 2282085 A, JP 6 154666, DE 19524853 A1, EP 0455 110 A, EP 0455 106 A, US 4020866 A, DE 3644536 C1, DE 102004 015117 A1 and EP 1475161 A. None of these memories disclose, however, an agent delivery device of coating, in which both the coating agent dispenser and the coating agent storage tank are arranged in one or more robot arms of a painting robot or in a spray guided by the painting robot. Therefore, known coating agent delivery devices have a relatively longer operating time in terms of dosage.

The invention therefore poses the problem of correspondingly improving the known painting robot described above.

This problem is solved by a coating agent supply device.

The invention comprises the general technical teaching of not filling the coating agent dispenser (eg a plunger dispenser) directly from the color changer, but indirectly through a coating agent storage container located between them. This offers the possibility that the coating agent storage container is already filled, during painting, with coating agent and not during the color change times, which contributes to a reduction of the color change times. The transfer from the coating agent storage container to the coating agent dispenser can take place, because of the short and direct connection, with a very large volumetric flow. Continuous filling of the coating agent storage container during painting also has the advantage that, because of the time available for filling, relatively small volumetric paint flows in the supply lines are sufficient (eg annular ducts of color and special color supply), so that the corresponding ducts can have a smaller cross section of duct, with which the expenses of the device are decreased.

The term "coating agent dispenser", used in the context of the invention, preferably designates a device with which the amount of coating agent (momentary flow) that can be changed during the coating can be varied. supplying the application apparatus depending on the needs, for example depending on the area of the corresponding work piece and other parameters, such as p. ex. it is explained in EP 1314483 A2 or in DE 691 03218 T2. This possibility does not exist in known systems, in which the filling volume of a container is adjusted only by controlled adjustment of a piston, as, for example, in DE 69001744 T2.

Preferably, the coating agent doser is set for painting at a high voltage potential, while the coating agent storage container is at a potential close to that of earth (preferably the ground potential), the container being connected for storage of coating agent by an insulation section with the dosing of coating agent, to isolate the coating agent dispenser set to the high voltage potential with respect to the storage container of coating agent connected to ground. The electrical potentials of the coating agent doser and the coating agent storage container are, however, preferably switchable so that the coating agent doser is set to the high voltage potential only for painting while, on the contrary , for the filling of the coating agent dispenser the high voltage can be switched off.

The insulation section may consist of an insulation hose, in which a scraper (for example, a removal piston or a watertight head) can be displaced, in order to move the residues of coating agent away from the inner wall of the insulation. insulation section. On the one hand, this cleaning of the insulation section prevents the insulation capacity of the insulation section from being altered by the remains of the coating agent, which remain in the insulation section. On the other hand, by cleaning the insulation section, it is avoided to generate dirt by the remains of coating agent that remain in the insulation section, which is particularly important in the case of heat exchange.

In a variant of the invention, the movement of the scraper in the insulation section in one direction or in both directions takes place by means of a piston rod, which, for example, can be driven electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically. The plunger rod preferably consists of an electrically insulating material, in order to achieve the desired insulation effect. As the material for the piston rod, the ceramic is particularly suitable, since the ceramic provides a good electrical insulation capacity and also has a high mechanical rigidity, which is important for the precision of the dosage. In addition, the ceramic presents a resistance to high abrasion and wear. By default, however, the plunger rod is made from steel. In this case, the scraper together with the plunger rod must be brought to a potential separation.

In another variant of the invention, the scraper is not firmly connected to the piston rod, but can move freely in the insulation section. The scraper can only be pushed by the plunger rod in the insulation section. The displacement of the scraper in the other direction occurs, on the other hand, by means of a lateral compressed air load of the scraper.

In addition, there is the possibility that the scraper can move completely freely in the insulation section, so that a piston rod is omitted to drive the scraper. The scraper displacement is also produced by a lateral compressed air load of the scraper on the desired side. In this variant of the invention, the scraper is loaded on both sides with compressed air.

In a further variant of the invention, the scraper is moved in a direction toward the coating agent doser by compressed air, while the scraper with the remaining coating agent is pushed back through the coating agent dispenser.

In another variant, on the other hand, the connection between the coating agent storage container and the coating agent dispenser is not carried out permanently by means of an insulation hose, but by means of a releasable coupling interface. During filling of the coating agent storage container, it is separated from the coupling interface at a near-ground potential and then for filling the coating agent dispenser is separated from the coating agent feed line and is connected to the coupling interface, so that the coating agent storage container is at the same high voltage potential as the coating agent dispenser. The coating agent storage container can be moved in this variant of the invention between the high voltage potential of the coating agent dispenser and the near-ground potential of the coating agent feed line.

Also, there is a possibility that the connection conduit between the coating agent storage container and the coating agent dispenser consists of a scraper hose, which after the transfer operation (coating agent storage container) coating agent) is emptied by a scraper. In this way, the potential separation also takes place.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the storage container for the coating agent has an adjustable storage volume, the storage volume being adjustable, for example, by means of a piston driven by compressed air. This offers, when the color is changed, the possibility that the new coating agent remaining in the coating agent storage container after filling of the coating agent doser is pushed back out of the coating agent storage container. coating back to the coating agent feed line, which is also referred to as "reflow". By means of this "reflow", the consumption of coating agent is reduced, on the one hand, since the new coating agent remaining in the coating agent storage container after filling of the coating agent dispenser can continue to be used. On the other hand, the cleaning of the coating agent storage container is facilitated thereby, so that less rinsing agent is needed.

In the case of metering of the coating agent, it is preferably a piston metering device, as described, for example, in the publication WO 2004/037436 A1 mentioned at the beginning. The content of this publication must therefore be added to the present description with regard to the structure and the manner of operation of a piston metering device. The invention is not, however, limited in terms of the type of coating agent dispenser to plunger dispensers, but can also be realized, essentially, also with other types of dispensers.

In the case of the coating agent storage container, it is preferably a cylinder with a storage piston, which is arranged with the possibility of displacement in the cylinder, the drive of the storage piston being possible, for example, of electromotive, hydraulic or pneumatic form. The position of the storage plunger then determines the storage volume of the coating agent storage container.

In an advantageous variant of the invention, the coating agent dispenser and the coating agent storage container are integrated into a common cylinder.

In an exemplary embodiment of this variant, the common cylinder is separated into two cylinder halves by a partition wall arranged in the cylinder, so that the cylinder half of the container storage stem can be displaced therein. of coating agent storage. The actuation of the dosing rod advantageously takes place by means of a piston rod, whereas the actuation of the storage rod preferably takes place pneumatically.

In a further exemplary embodiment of this variant with a common cylinder for the coating agent doser and the coating agent storage container, no separating wall is disposed in the common cylinder. The storage volume of the coating agent storage container is located on the rear side of the dosing rod, so that in that storage volume of the common cylinder the storage rod is arranged in a displaceable manner, the rod being driven of storage preferably pneumatically. The pneumatic pressure for actuating the storage piston, however, acts not only on the storage piston, but also on the rear side of the metering piston, so that the actuation of the metering piston is sufficiently rigid mechanically and therefore , preferably take place by means of a plunger rod.

The invention is suitable, in a particularly advantageous manner, for the application of water-based paint, although the invention is not limited to water-based paint as regards the coating agent to be applied, but it can also be carried out fundamentally with other coatings. types of coating agent.

The invention also comprises not only the coating agent delivery device according to the invention described above but also a complete painting robot with such a coating agent delivery device. In this case, the coating agent dispenser and the coating agent storage container are arranged in or on one or more robot arms of the painting robot.

Other advantageous refinements of the invention are characterized in the dependent claims or are described in greater detail, on the basis of the figures, below together with the description of the embodiments of the invention. It is shown, in:

Figure 1 shows a simplified representation of a coating agent supply device according to the invention for a painting robot, in which a coating agent storage container is connected, through an insulation section, with a dispenser coating agent,

Figures 2A, 2B show an alternative embodiment example of a coating agent supply device according to the invention in which the coating agent container can be moved between an earth potential and a high voltage potential and that it is connected, temporarily, through a coupling interface with the coating agent dispenser,

Figure 3 shows another example of an alternative embodiment of a coating agent supply device according to the invention, in which the coating agent storage container is integrated with the coating agent dispenser in a common cylinder, being in the common cylinder a partition wall,

Figure 4 shows a modification of the exemplary embodiment according to figure 3 without a partition wall in the common cylinder,

Figures 5A-5J show a painting installation with a color changer, a coating agent storage container, an insulation section, a coating agent dispenser and a rotating sprayer, different phases being represented during a color change , Figure 6 shows a flow chart to illustrate the different phases depicted in Figures 5a-5J during a color change,

Figure 7 shows a flowchart of an alternative operating procedure with a direct charge of paint to water, but without "Reflow" from the coating agent storage container,

Figure 8 shows a flowchart of an alternative operating procedure with an external load of water-based paint and with "Reflow" from the coating agent storage container,

Fig. 9 shows a flowchart of an alternative operating method with an external charge of paint to water, but without "Reflow" from the coating agent storage container,

Figure 10 shows a simplified representation of a painting robot with a mobile guided coating agent dispenser and a stationary mounted coating agent storage container,

Figure 11 shows a simplified representation of a painting robot for the application of a high-strength 1-component solvent paint with direct loading,

Figure 12 shows a simplified representation of a painting robot for the application of a 2-component solvent paint of high strength with direct loading,

Figure 13 shows a simplified representation of an insulation section with a scraping piston, which is guided in a forced manner by means of a plunger rod,

Figure 14 shows an example of an alternative embodiment of an insulation section, in which the scraper shaft is only pushed in one direction by the piston rod and in the other direction is moved by the application of compressed air,

Figure 15 shows another exemplary embodiment of an insulation section, in which the scraper shaft moves in both directions by charging compressed air.

In the following, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 of a coating agent supply device which can be arranged, for example, on a robot arm of a painting robot, as described in FIG. WO 2004/037436 A1, already described at the beginning, for a coating agent delivery device. The coating agent supply device shown has a coating agent dispenser 1, which is an embodiment of a piston dispenser. The coating agent dispenser 1 has a cylinder 2 and a metering piston 3 which can be displaced in the cylinder 2 in the direction of the arrow, the metering piston 3 being driven mechanically by means of a push rod 4. , which can be operated, for example, electromotive, pneumatic or hydraulic. In the cylinder 2 of the coating agent dispenser 1, a metering volume 5 is located on the front side of the metering piston 3, which can be adjusted by a displacement of the metering piston 3 in the cylinder 2. The volume of dosing 5 with the coating agent (eg water-based paint) which is inside it is, during operation, at a high voltage potential, as symbolized by the high-voltage sign shown. The coating agent supplied by the coating agent supply device is therefore also at a high voltage potential, which in the case of electrostatic painting contributes to good application performance. The side of the cylinder 2 and of the push rod 4 opposite the dosing volume 5 is, on the contrary, at a ground potential, as symbolized by earthing symbol also represented. For the separation of electrical potential, the cylinder 2 and the push rod 4 are made, for this reason, of an electrically insulating material. The material of the cylinder 2 and of the push rod 4 must, however, be sufficiently rigid, in order to achieve a sufficient dosing precision. The materials required for the separation of potentials and the construction details are described, for example, in DE 10233633 A1.

The coating agent supply device according to the invention also has, in the exemplary embodiment, a coating agent storage container 6, which consists essentially of a cylinder 7 and of a storage piston 8 which can displacement in the cylinder 7, the storage piston 8 being pneumatically driven through a compressed air duct 9 and thus enclosing a storage volume 10 that can be adjusted in the cylinder 7. The entire storage container of coating agent 6 is, at the same time, at ground potential, as represented by the grounding symbol.

The supply of the coating agent storage container 6 takes place by means of a coating agent supply line 11, which opens into the storage volume 10 and which, for example, part of a conventional color changer or of a duct cancel. During the filling of the coating agent storage container 6 it is desirable that the annular duct be captured in a constantly low volumetric flow. This makes sense because a withdrawal with a rapidly increasing volumetric flow would lead to a drop in pressure, which would disturb tap-taking stations (eg hand-held sprayers) sensitive to pressure. To prevent pressure drops in the annular duct, the storage piston 8 can be charged through the compressed air duct 9 with a back pressure, which is adjusted in such a way that the outlet of the annular duct takes place with the desired volumetric flow .

At the same time it must be taken into account that the volumetric flow taken also depends on the viscosity of the coating agent taken. In this way, a small viscosity of the coating agent leads to a relatively large volumetric flow of the annular duct. A high viscosity of the coating agent leads, on the contrary, to a correspondingly small volumetric flow during the removal. During the adjustment of the pneumatic counterpressure in the storage piston 8, therefore, the viscosity of the coating agent is preferably taken into account, so that the filling of the coating agent storage container 6 always takes place with a constant volumetric flow. small, regardless of the viscosity of the coating agent. The filling of the coating agent storage container 6 takes place, at the same time, preferably until the storage piston 8 collides against a predetermined stop, whereby the maintenance of a defined filling quantity is ensured.

As an alternative to the back pressure regulation described above, there is the possibility that the pneumatic counter-pressure on the storage piston 8 is adjusted to a predetermined value at the beginning of the intake and is not regulated subsequently. During the filling of the coating agent storage container 6, the back pressure is then not regulated, but increases correspondingly with the increase in filling of the coating agent storage container 6, so that the back pressure is a measure of the filling level of the storage container of coating agent 6. During the filling of the coating agent storage container 6, the back pressure is measured constantly for this reason. After reaching a predetermined theoretical value for the back pressure, the filling of the coating agent storage container 6 is then completed. For an initial volumetric flow defined at the beginning of the filling, the coating agent storage container 6 is filled in this manner, with a defined amount of coating agent.

From the storage volume 10 of the coating agent storage container 6, an insulation hose 12 is furthermore derived, which opens into the metering volume 5 of the coating agent dispenser 1, isolating the insulation hose 12, at the The lining agent storage container 6 is electrically disposed with respect to the coating agent dispenser 1, which is known per se from WO 2004/037436 A1 already mentioned above. The insulation hose 12, however, has a larger cross-section of the duct than the coating feed 11, so that the coating agent dispenser 1 can be filled as quickly as possible from the coating agent storage container 6. , as will still be described in detail. The smaller conduit cross section of the coating agent feed line 11 is, on the contrary, innocuous since the filling of the coating agent storage container 6 takes place during painting, so that for the filling of the Lining agent storage vessel 6 is provided with sufficient time. In the smaller conduit cross section of the coating agent feed line 11, the lower costs are advantageous, however, since smaller pipes can be used.

With regard to this exemplary embodiment and the following exemplary embodiments, it should be mentioned further that, before and after the coating agent storage container 6 and the coating agent dispenser 1, other construction elements can be arranged, such as example, controllable valves which, for simplicity, are not represented in the drawing.

Figures 2A and 2B show an alternative embodiment of a coating agent supply device according to the invention, which broadly coincides with the embodiment described previously and represented in Figure 1, so that to avoid repetitions, refers to the previous description of Figure 1.

A particular feature of this embodiment is that the coating agent storage container 6 is not permanently connected to the coating agent dispenser 1 through the insulation hose 12. Instead from it the coating agent storage container 6 can be moved between two positions, which are shown in Figures 2A and 2B.

In the position shown in Figure 2A, the coating agent storage container 6 is connected to the coating agent feed line 11, but separated from the coating agent dispenser 1 and is then placed at an electrical ground potential. In this position filling of the coating agent storage container 6 takes place through the coating agent feed line 11.

In the position shown in Figure 2B, the coating agent storage container 6 is connected, on the other hand, through a coupling interface 13, to the coating agent dispenser 1, but is separated from the supply line. of coating agent 11 and is then placed at the same high voltage potential as the coating agent dispenser 1. In this position the transfer of the coating agent takes place from the coating agent storage container 6 to the coating agent dispenser. coating agent 1.

For a change of color, the storage container for coating agent 6 is filled at the same time, via the coating agent supply line 11, with the new coating agent, the container being storage agent 6 separated from the coupling interface 13, as shown in Figure 2A. During this filling of the coating agent storage container 6 the coating agent doser 1 can continue to dose the old coating agent, so that for the filling of the coating agent storage container 6 no interruption of the process is necessary of painting and, therefore, sufficient time for filling.

After filling of the coating agent storage container 6, the coating agent storage container 6 is then connected, after other intermediate steps, to the coupling interface 13, which is shown in FIG. 2 ^b . After the establishment of the connection with the coupling interface 13, the new coating agent contained in the storage volume 7 can then be transferred to the dosing volume 5 of the coating agent dispenser 1.

Figure 3 shows another example of a preferred embodiment of a coating agent delivery device, which partially coincides with the embodiment example described above and shown in figure 1, so that to avoid repetitions, partial reference is made to the previous description of figure 1.

A particular feature of this embodiment example is that the coating agent storage container 6 in the cylinder 2 of the coating agent dispenser 1 is integrated in the rear part of the dosing piston 3. For this purpose, a wall of separation 14 is arranged in the cylinder 2, which separates the cylinder into 2 cylinder halves, the storage piston 8 which is on the right of the drawing being able to be moved by compressed air in the partial cylinder. Figure 4 shows a modification of the embodiment example according to figure 3, so that to avoid repetitions for the most part reference is made to the previous description of figure 3.

A particular feature of this embodiment example is that the separation wall 14 is omitted to separate the two cylinder halves. The compressed air for actuating the storage piston 8 acts, in this case, also on the rear side of the metering piston 3, which requires a sufficiently rigid mechanical drive of the metering piston 3.

Figures 5A to 5J show a painting installation with a coating agent supply device according to the invention in different phases of a color change, the color change process being represented in the flow diagram in figure 6 and subsequently It is described in more detail. The painting installation shown in FIGS. 5A to 5J shows the coating agent storage container 6 and the coating agent dispenser 1, its construction and operation being described for the most part with reference to FIG. 1.

On the inlet side, the coating agent storage container 6 is connected by a valve arrangement 15 to a color changer 16, the color changer 16 being able to be made in a conventional manner, as described, for example , in the memory DE 103 35 358 A1. On the outlet side, the coating agent dispenser 1 is connected by an additional valve arrangement 17 to a rotary sprayer 18, a recirculation conduit 19 coming out of the rotary sprayer 18, through which the agent can be rinsed. remaining coating.

Another recirculation conduit 20 leaves the valve arrangement 15, the remaining coating agent being diverted through the recirculation conduit 20.

Next, the individual phases represented in FIGS. 5A to 5J are described during a color change, the fluid guiding ducts being represented in the references.

Figure 5A shows, in principle, normal painting operation, when the coating agent dispenser 1 is filled with the old filling agent and dosed to the rotary sprayer 18. The rotary sprayer 18 and the agent dispenser Coating 1 are in a high voltage potential, in order to allow the coating of electrostatic components. To electrically insulate the coating agent dispenser 1 from the coating agent storage container 6, the insulation hose is cleaned and emptied, which produces a potential separation. The coating agent storage container 6, on the other hand, is initially still empty, so that only a voltage relatively less than 2 bar is applied to the storage piston 8 via the compressed air line 9. A Through the color changer 16 and the valve arrangement 15, the coating agent storage container 6 is already filled with the new coating agent during the painting operation.

After finishing the painting operation with the old colors, the high voltage is switched off in the rotary sprayer 18 and the coating agent dispenser 1 and the old color remaining in the coating agent dispenser 1 is transported through the recirculation duct 19, which is shown in Figure 5B.

After transporting the old colors remaining in the coating agent dispenser 1, the coating agent dispenser 1 is rinsed together with the rotary sprayer 18 and the insulation hose 12, which is shown in FIG. 5C.

In the following steps according to Figure 5B, the valve arrangement 15 opens the connection between the coating agent storage container 6 and the coating agent dispenser 1, so that the coating agent dispenser 1 and the main conduit they are pressed with the new colors.

Subsequently, in the operation phase shown in FIG. 5E, the coating agent dispenser 1 is filled with the new colors from the coating agent storage container 6 through the insulation hose 12 and the valve arrangement 17.

After filling of the coating agent dispenser 1, the color that is still in the insulation hose is received in the coating agent dispenser 1, which is shown in FIG. 5F. This emptying of the insulation hose 12 is important, so that, thereafter, the insulation hose 12 a during the painting operation can electrically insulate the coating agent dispenser 1 from the coating agent storage container 6.

After this emptying of the insulation hose 12, in the phase shown in FIG. 5G, the high voltage is switched on for the rotary sprayer 18 and the coating agent dispenser 1, so that the insulation hose 12 electrically insulates the dispenser of coating agent with respect to the coating agent storage container 6.

In the next operating phase shown in FIG. 5H, the new colors are applied to the main needle of the rotary sprayer 18 and the painting operation is started, which is shown in FIG. 5H. In the operating phase shown in FIG. 5I, the new colors remaining in the coating agent storage container 6 are pushed back into the coating agent supply line 11 through the valve arrangement 15 and the color changer 16, which is also called "Reflow".

In the last operating phase of a color change according to FIG. 5J, the coating agent storage container 6 is rinsed together with the valve arrangement 15 and the color changer 16, in order to subsequently enable filling with a new color without the remains of color generate dirt. Figure 7 shows an example of alternative embodiment of an operating method according to the invention, which for the most part coincides with the example of embodiment represented in figure 6 and described above, so that to avoid repetitions it is made reference to the previous description. A particular feature of this embodiment example is that the so-called "Reflow" according to FIG. 5I is omitted. No coating agent from the coating agent storage container 6 is pushed back into the coating agent supply line 11. This allows filling of the filling agent storage container 6 according to FIG. exactly the amount of color needed, which is checked by a sensor.

This example of an embodiment, in particular, is suitable for painting with water-based paint and direct loading.

Figure 8 shows an example of an alternative embodiment of an operating method according to the invention, which for the most part coincides with the example of embodiment shown in figure 6 and described above, so as to avoid repetitions reference to the previous description. In this sense, the painting operation is carried out with water-based paint and external load and "Reflow". Regarding the direct loading of the coating agent, the external load provides the advantage that it is possible to do without the aeration of the insulation section 12 (see FIG. 5g), since the insulation capacity of the insulation section 12 is only necessary in the case of direct loading of the coating agent.

Figure 9 shows an example of an alternative embodiment of an operating method according to the invention, which for the most part coincides with the example of embodiment represented in figure 6 and described above, so as to avoid repetitions reference to the previous description. In this sense, an operation of painting with water-based paint is carried out with an outer card and without "Reflow", so that in FIGS. 5G and 5I the operating phases are omitted.

10 shows a simplified representation of a painting robot 21 with a coating agent supply device, which broadly coincides with the coating agent supply installations described above, so that to avoid repetitions it is referred to the previous description .

The coating agent dispenser 1 is, at the same time, designed as a piston feeder and is integrated in a sprayer 22, which is mounted on a hand shaft 23 and which is guided by a very mobile robot arm 24.

The coating agent storage container 6 is instead arranged stationary outside the painting robot 21 and can be connected via the coupling interface 13 to the coating agent dispenser 1. For this purpose the robot The paint roller 21 moves the sprayer 22 in such a way that the coupling interface 13 is coupled to the coating agent storage container 6, after which the coating agent dispenser 1 is filled from the coating agent storage container. 6

The drawing also shows an alternative variant in which the coating agent dispenser 1, drawn by dashed line, is integrated in the robot arm 24.

The painting robot 21 shown in figure 11 partially coincides with the painting robot 21 shown in figure 10 and described above, so that to avoid repetitions reference is made to the above description, and the same reference signs will be used for the corresponding components.

In this regard, the coating agent dispenser 1, the coating agent storage container 6 and a color changer 25 are integrated in the robot arm 24, so that the color changer is assembled without an isolation section. directly in front of the coating agent container 6 and the coating agent dispenser 1.

The painting robot 21 serves in this embodiment example to apply a high-strength 1-component solvent paint with an electric direct paint charge or to paint without high voltage (high pure-rotation spray).

The painting robot 21 shown in the figure shown in figure 12 coincides for the most part with the painting robot 21 shown in figure 11 and described above, so that to avoid repetitions reference is made to the previous description, being used for the corresponding components the same reference signs.

A particular feature of the painting robot 21 is that the 2-component solvent paint is applied with an electric direct charge, so that one paint component is dosed by the coating agent dispenser 1, while the other paint components are dosed by a piston metering device 26 via a hose line 27. The additional piston metering device 26, in this case, is arranged on the outside of the painting robot 21 in a fixed manner.

Figure 13 shows a simplified representation of an insulation section 28, which can be used in place of the insulation hose 12 shown in figures 5A-5J.

The insulation section 28 consists substantially of an electrically conductive tube 29, which runs between the two valve arrangements 15 and 17.

In the tube 29, a scraping piston 30 can be moved linearly, so that the actuation of the scraping piston 30 is produced by a piston rod 31, on the ends of which a drive piston 32 is fixed. The drive piston 32 it is guided in a displaceable manner to a pressure cylinder 33, with two compressed air connections 34, 35 flowing into the pressure cylinder 33 on both sides of the actuating piston 32, through which the actuating piston 32 can be loaded by one side with compressed air, in order to move the actuating piston 32 with the piston rod 31 and the scraper piston 30.

On the one hand, the displacement of the scraping piston 3 serves to eliminate the residues of coating agent in the inner wall of the tube 29, in order to achieve the desired insulation capacity of the insulation section.

On the other hand, the elimination of the color remains of the inner wall of the tube 29 during a color change, prevents the remains of color generate dirt.

The coating agent is transferred in the ground state via an inlet A and an outlet B, so that the scraper piston 30 is in its rest position, which is shown in figure 13. After filling the coating agent dispenser 1 outside the coating agent storage container 6, the coating agent remaining in the tube 9 is pushed out by the scraping piston 30 out of the tube 29.

In the event that the piston rod 31, on the contrary, consists of an electrically insulating material, the piston rod 31 is withdrawn from the tube 29 before the connection of the electric voltage for the coating agent charge.

In the event that the piston rod 31, on the contrary, consists of an electrically conductive material, the piston rod 31, in the case of activated voltage, remains in the pushed state remains and can be removed after the voltage is deactivated. This is advantageous, since the elimination of the scraping piston 30 can generate grooves in the inner wall of the tube 29, which impairs the insulation capacity.

Figure 14 shows an example of an alternative embodiment of an insulation section that coincides for the most part with the example of embodiment shown in figure 13 so that to avoid repetitions reference is made to the previous description, being used for the corresponding components the same reference signs.

A particular feature of the exemplary embodiment is that the scraper piston 30 is not fixedly connected to the piston rod 31, so that the piston rod 31 can move the separating piston 16 only in one direction; say, on the left side of the drawing.

The movement of the scraping piston 30 in the other direction (ie to the right of the drawing) takes place, on the other hand, by a compressed air load on one side of the scraping piston 30 through another compressed air connection. 36, which empties into the tube 29.

Figure 15 shows an example of an alternative embodiment of an insulation section that coincides for the most part with the example of embodiment shown in figure 14 so that to avoid repetitions reference is made to the previous description, being used for the corresponding components the same reference signs.

A particular feature of this exemplary embodiment is that the scraper piston 30 is pneumatically driven on both sides so that an additional compressed air connection 37 emerges in the tube, so that the actuating piston 30 can be loaded in both sides with compressed air. This provides the advantage that it is possible to dispense with the plunger rod 31 for driving the scraper shank 30.

List of reference signs

1 Coating agent dispenser

2 cylinder

3 dosing plunger

4 push rod

5 dosage volume

6 coating agent storage container

7 cylinder

8 storage plunger

9 compressed air duct

10 storage volume

11 coating agent feeding line

12 insulation hose

13 coupling interface

14 partition wall

15 valve arrangement

16 color changer

17 valve arrangement

18 rotary sprayer

19 recirculation duct

20 recirculation duct

21 painting robot

22 sprayer

23 hand shaft

24 hand robot

25 color changer

26 plunger dispenser

27 hose duct

28 insulation section

29 tube

30 scraping piston

31 plunger rod

32 actuator piston

33 pressure cylinder

34 compressed air connection

35 compressed air connection

compressed air connection compressed air connection

Claims (15)

1. Coating agent supply device, in particular for a painting installation, with a) a coating agent dispenser (1), which doses the coating agent to be applied to an application device, and b) a coating agent storage container (6) for the temporary housing of the coating agent and for the delivery of the coating agent to the coating agent dispenser (1), wherein the coating agent storage container (6), which is arranged upstream of the coating agent dispenser (1) and which is connected on the outlet side with the coating agent dispenser (1), characterized by that, c) the coating agent dispenser (1) and the coating agent storage container (6) is arranged in one or more robot arms (24) of a painting robot (21) or in a sprayer (22) guided by the painting robot (21). The coating agent supply device according to claim 1, characterized in that a) the coating agent storage container (6) is connected to the coating agent dispenser (1) through an insulation section ( 12), and / or b) the insulation section (28) has a conduit (12, 29), in which a scraper (30) or a doctor blade can be moved, in order to eliminate the residues of coating agent from the conduit (12, 29). ), and / or c) the scraper (30) is driven by a plunger rod (31) and / or d) the plunger rod (31) consists of an electrically conductive material. The coating agent supply device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coating agent dispenser (1) is at least temporarily at a high voltage potential, while the storage agent storage container is at least temporarily at a high voltage potential. Siding (6) is at a potential close to ground. 4. The coating agent supply device according to claim 3, characterized in that the coating agent storage container (6) is movable between the high voltage potential and the near-ground potential. The coating agent supply device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a coupling interface (13) which is connected to the coating agent dispenser (1) for the detachable connection of the coating agent dispenser (1). ) with the coating agent storage container (6). 6. Coating agent delivery device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coating agent storage container (6) has an adjustable storage volume (10). 7. A coating agent supply device according to claim 6, characterized in that the storage volume (10) of the coating agent storage container (6) is adjustable by means of a plunger (8). 8. A coating agent supply device according to claim 7, characterized in that the plunger (8) of the coating agent storage container (6) is driven with compressed or hydraulically-driven air. The coating agent supply device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coating agent dispenser (1) is a piston dispenser, which has a cylinder (2), and a metering plunger (3) displaceable in the cylinder (2). 10. The coating agent supply device according to claim 9, characterized in that the coating agent storage container (6) is located in the cylinder (2) on the rear side of the dosing piston (3), the storage volume (10) adjustable by means of a storage piston (8) movable in the cylinder (2). 11. Coating agent delivery device according to claim 10, characterized in that the cylinder (2) has a separation wall (14), which separates the coating agent dispenser (1) from the coating agent storage container. (6) The coating agent supply device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coating agent storage container (6) has a feed line (11) with a smaller linear cross section than the agent dispenser. of coating (1). 13. Coating agent supply device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a) for coating with a coating agent of different colors, a color changer (25) is provided, which is connected to the coating agent container on the outlet side, b) the color exchanger (25) it is arranged together with the coating agent dispenser (1) and the coating agent storage container (6) in the painting robot (21). 14. The coating agent supply device according to claim 13, characterized in that the color changer (25) is connected to the coating agent storage container (6) and the coating agent dispenser (1) without a Intermediate insulation section. 15. Paint installation with a coating agent supply device according to one of the preceding claims.