Lubricant hose, hose package, coating robot and coating system

Abstract

The invention relates to a lubricant hose (5) for supplying a lubricant (7) to a lubrication point. The invention provides at least one outlet opening (6) in the wall of the lubricant hose (5) for dispensing the lubricant (7) through the outlet opening (6), in particular in a hose package in a painting robot of a painting system for painting motor vehicle body components. The invention further relates to a hose package with such a lubricant hose (5). Moreover, the invention also relates to a coating robot having such a hose package and to a coating system having such a coating robot.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Lubricant hose, hose package, coating robot and coating system

[0003] Technical field of the invention

[0004] The invention relates to a lubricant hose for supplying a lubricant (e.g., Vaseline) to a lubrication point. Furthermore, the invention relates to a hose assembly comprising such a lubricant hose. Furthermore, the invention also encompasses a coating robot comprising such a hose assembly and a corresponding coating system.

[0005] Background of the invention

[0006] Modern painting systems for painting automotive body components typically use painting robots that use a rotary atomizer or, more recently, a so-called print head as the application device. Such painting robots typically feature serial robot kinematics with multiple robot arms that can pivot relative to one another. A hose package with a protective hose runs inside the robot arms, which accommodates several supply hoses for media (e.g., paint, rinsing agent, compressed air) and electrical cables. During operation of such a painting robot, the robot arms move relative to one another, which also leads to a corresponding deformation of the protective hose and the supply hoses and electrical cables contained therein.The deformation of the hose assembly that occurs during the painting robot's movements leads to friction between the supply hoses and electrical cables contained within, resulting in corresponding mechanical wear. In extreme cases, this wear can lead to total failure of the hose assembly. This problem can generally occur in all machines with moving bundles of hoses or cables. This problem is mitigated by various measures in the current state of the art.

[0007] On the one hand, plastics with good sliding properties and smooth surfaces are used for the supply hoses and electrical cables as well as for the surrounding protective hose.

[0008] Second, the supply hoses and electrical cables are laid loosely within the protective hose, preventing overloading. This reduces friction between adjacent supply hoses and electrical cables. Furthermore, the supply hoses and electrical cables within the protective hose are lubricated with a lubricant (e.g., Vaseline) to reduce friction and thus mechanical wear during the unavoidable relative movement of the supply hoses and electrical cables.

[0009] However, this state-of-the-art technical solution is not yet optimal for various reasons.

[0010] Firstly, the condition of the lubrication in the closed protective hose cannot be assessed visually because the protective hose is opaque.

[0011] Secondly, relubrication within the protective hose is only possible from the two ends of the relatively long protective hose. This means that even relubrication cannot be achieved across the entire length of the protective hose. However, to prevent mechanical wear along the entire length of the protective hose, good lubrication along the entire length of the hose is essential.

[0012] Alternatively, the supply hoses and electrical cables installed in the protective hose could be removed, lubricated, and reinstalled. However, this solution is time-consuming, requires manual labor, and thus requires a production interruption, meaning the painting process must be interrupted to change the hose.

[0013] The technical background of the invention also includes conventional lubricant hoses that carry the lubricant to a lubrication point. However, these known lubricant hoses are not suitable for solving the problems described above.

[0014] Description of the invention

[0015] The invention is based on the object of solving the problem described above.

[0016] This object is achieved by a lubricant hose according to the invention according to the main claim, wherein the lubricant hose according to the invention can be used in a hose package that is laid along the robot arms in a coating robot (e.g. painting robot). The invention provides a lubricant hose for conducting a lubricant (e.g. Vaseline) to a lubrication point. Such lubricant hoses are known per se from the prior art. The lubricant hose according to the invention differs from the prior art by at least one outlet opening in the wall of the lubricant hose for discharging the lubricant through the outlet opening. The lubricant is therefore preferably discharged through the outlet opening in the wall of the lubricant hose in a radially outward direction.

[0017] For this purpose, the lubricant hose is preferably laid together with flexible lines (e.g. electrical cables and supply hoses for media such as paint, detergent, compressed air) in a protective hose of a hose package, so that the lubricant emerging from the outlet openings of the lubricant hose reduces the friction between the adjacent lines (e.g. electrical cables, supply hoses).

[0018] In one variant of the invention, the lubricant hose is closed at one end and open at the opposite end, with an inlet opening there for feeding the lubricant into the lubricant hose. For example, the lubricant can be fed into the inlet opening at one end of the lubricant hose by a lubricant pump and then exits the lubricant hose through the outlet openings.

[0019] In another variant of the invention, however, the lubricant hose is closed at its two opposite ends, with an inlet opening provided between the two hose ends to feed the lubricant into the lubricant hose. This is advantageous because the distance between the inlet opening and the individual outlet openings is on average shorter when the inlet opening is located midway between the two hose ends. This contributes to a uniform release of the lubricant because the average pressure drop between the inlet opening and the outlet openings is lower. In this variant of the invention, too, the lubricant can be fed into the lubricant hose through the inlet opening, for example by a lubricant pump.

[0020] Another variant of the invention, however, provides for the lubricant hose to be prefilled with lubricant and to have no feed opening. For example, the lubricant hose can be elastic, so that the lubricant hose, due to its elasticity, automatically presses the lubricant out through the outlet openings of the lubricant hose.

[0021] It has already been mentioned above that the feed opening of the lubricant hose can be connected to a lubricant source (e.g. lubricant pump) in order to feed the lubricant into the lubricant hose.

[0022] Alternatively, however, it is also possible for the lubricant hose to have a grease nipple at its inlet opening, allowing the lubricant to be manually fed into the lubricant hose, for example, using a conventional grease gun. The term "grease nipple" used in the context of the invention is to be understood in a general sense and is not limited to grease nipples in the narrower sense, as they are known per se from the prior art.

[0023] In the aforementioned variant of the invention with a grease nipple for filling the lubricant hose, a lubricant reservoir can be arranged between the grease nipple and the lubricant hose to hold a supply of the lubricant. This lubricant reservoir preferably has an elastic wall to automatically release the lubricant from the lubricant reservoir into the lubricant hose. Due to its elastic walls, the lubricant reservoir has a mechanical preload when filled, which forces the lubricant out of the lubricant reservoir and into the lubricant hose.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of outlet openings are arranged in the wall of the lubricant hose distributed over the length of the lubricant hose in order to discharge the lubricant through the outlet openings at various positions along the lubricant hose.

[0025] Preferably, the outlet openings are arranged evenly distributed over the length of the lubricant hose, in particular equidistantly.

[0026] The outlet openings are preferably arranged so closely that the lubricant is dispensed evenly over the entire length of the lubricant hose. The distance between the immediately adjacent outlet openings is preferably less than 50 cm, 25 cm, 10 cm, 5 cm, or even 3 cm in the longitudinal direction of the lubricant hose. A distance of 2 cm between the immediately adjacent outlet openings has proven advantageous.

[0027] It should also be noted that the outlet openings in the lubricant hose can be arranged at different angular positions to discharge the lubricant in different directions through the outlet opening. For example, the outlet openings adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the lubricant hose can each be offset by 90°.

[0028] In general, it should also be mentioned that the lubricant hose preferably has at least 5, 10, 20, 30, 40 or even 50 outlet openings in its wall per meter of hose length.

[0029] Furthermore, within the scope of the invention, it is also possible for the lubricant hose to have a porous or foam-like wall, in particular with a plurality of irregularly arranged outlet openings.

[0030] It should also be noted that the pressure of the lubricant in the lubricant hose depends on the distance from the feed point. This pressure gradient along the lubricant hose can lead to a different amount of lubricant being released through the individual outlet openings, resulting in a correspondingly uneven lubrication effect. Therefore, the individual outlet openings preferably have an opening cross-section that increases with the distance from the feed point in order to achieve the most uniform lubricant release possible over the length of the lubricant hose despite this pressure gradient along the lubricant hose. Alternatively or additionally, the number of outlet openings preferably increases disproportionately with the distance from the feed opening.For example, a hose section far away from the feed point may contain twice as many outlet openings as a hose section of the same size close to the feed point.

[0031] However, the aforementioned problem of the pressure gradient along the lubricant hose can also be solved by having a very large internal cross-section of the lubricant hose relative to the individual outlet openings. Thus, the internal cross-section of the lubricant hose is preferably larger than the opening cross-section of the individual outlet openings by a factor of at least 20, 200, 2,000, or 20,000. Relative to the sum of the internal cross-sections of the individual outlet openings, the internal cross-section of the lubricant hose should also be larger, preferably by a factor of at least 5, 20, 50, or 200, in order to minimize the disruptive pressure gradient along the lubricant hose.

[0032] It was already mentioned above that the lubricant can be squeezed out of the lubricant hose by a lubricant pump generating a suitable lubricant pressure in the lubricant hose. However, it is also possible to provide an ejection mechanism to squeeze the lubricant out of the lubricant hose through the outlet openings.

[0033] This squeezing mechanism can be controlled by a controller, which then initiates a squeezing process. For example, such a squeezing process can be activated in a time-controlled manner, for example, at specific times, at specific intervals, or after a certain operating time of the painting robot. Another option for controlling a squeezing process is to have it be pressure-controlled. Furthermore, a squeezing process can also be controlled based on production volume, for example, after a certain number of vehicle body components have been painted or after a certain number of robot movements.

[0034] The above-mentioned squeezing mechanism may, for example, be adapted to reduce the internal volume of the lubricant hose.

[0035] For example, this can be achieved by rolling up the lubricant hose or by compressing it. When rolling up the lubricant hose, the lubricant hose can be pulled through a diaphragm, which compresses the lubricant hose as it is pulled through the diaphragm, thereby squeezing it out.

[0036] Another possibility for pressing the lubricant out of the lubricant hose is an elastic recovery, which is due to an expansion of the lubricant hose when the lubricant is absorbed, in particular by means of a fabric made of steel, plastic or Kevlar, which is integrated into the lubricant hose and is in particular anisotropic.

[0037] Furthermore, it is also possible to squeeze out the lubricant by shrinking the lubricant hose using a shrinking material, the shrinkage of which can be controlled, in particular, by humidity or oxygen content. Alternatively, however, it is also possible for the squeeze-out mechanism to be adapted to displace the lubricant contained in the lubricant hose from the lubricant hose and thereby press it out of the outlet openings of the lubricant hose. For this purpose, a displacement body can be inserted into the lubricant hose, which displaces the lubricant contained in the lubricant hose. For example, a flexible rod or a thick-walled hose can be used as the displacement body.To prevent the inserted displacement body from resting against one side of the lubricant hose and thereby obscuring outlet openings, the displacement body preferably has spacers that ensure the object runs in the center of the lubricant hose. This way, no opening is obscured and the pressure inside the lubricant hose can be evenly distributed over its entire length.

[0038] Furthermore, within the scope of the invention there is the possibility that the lubricant hose releases the lubricant passively from the outlet opening due to the deformation of the lubricant hose that occurs during operation and / or due to the inherent elasticity of the lubricant hose. For example, the robot arms of a painting robot move relatively frequently and also relatively strongly during operation, which leads to a corresponding deformation of a hose package laid through the robot arms. This deformation of the hose package then also acts on a lubricant hose running in the hose package, which, due to this deformation, forces the lubricant out of the outlet openings. Such passive dosing is particularly conceivable when there are lower requirements for the uniformity of the lubricant release, i.e. the movement of the hose package creates excess pressure and thus the lubricant is released (pressing, twisting, stretching).This passive method would require more frequent refilling (e.g., grease nipples), but would not require pumps, active mechanisms, or special materials / composites. Furthermore, lubricant delivery would be motion-controlled rather than time-controlled, which better correlates with actual lubrication needs.

[0039] Above, the lubricant hose according to the invention was described as a single component. However, the invention also claims protection for a hose package comprising such a protective hose, at least one line running within the protective hose (e.g., supply hose, electrical cable), and at least one lubricant hose according to the invention running within the protective hose. During operation, the lubricant hose can then release the lubricant from the outlet openings into the protective hose in order to improve lubrication between the lines located within the protective hose (e.g., supply hoses, electrical cables). It is also possible for several such lubricant hoses to be arranged within the protective hose.

[0040] It is also possible for the lubricant hose to be laid in the form of a loop in the protective hose, thus comprising a forward line and a return line.

[0041] Furthermore, the invention also claims protection for a coating robot (e.g. painting robot) for coating components (e.g. motor vehicle body components) with a coating agent (e.g. paint).

[0042] The coating robot according to the invention also comprises the above-described hose package according to the invention, which is laid along at least one of the robot arms, optionally inside the robot arms or on their exterior. The hose package can contain supply hoses for various media (e.g., paint, rinsing agent, compressed air) and / or electrical cables, as is known per se from the prior art.

[0043] The hose package according to the invention can lead from a robot base of the coating robot through a proximal robot arm ("Arm 1") and a distal robot arm ("Arm 2") as well as a robot wrist axis to an application device guided by the coating robot (e.g., rotary atomizer, print head). Alternatively, it is possible for the hose package to lead from the robot base via the two robot arms only to a color changer in the distal robot arm. The invention is therefore not limited to a specific routing of the hose package in or on the coating robot.

[0044] Finally, the invention also claims protection for a coating system for coating components (e.g. motor vehicles, body components) with a coating agent (e.g. paint).

[0045] Here, the components to be coated are conveyed along a coating line through the coating system, as is known from the state of the art.

[0046] Several coating cells (e.g., paint booths) are arranged one after the other along the coating line, each of which contains at least one coating robot according to the invention. In practice, several painting robots are arranged in each of the individual coating cells (e.g., paint booths). For example, two painting robots can be arranged in each paint booth on either side of the paint line, i.e., four painting robots per paint booth.

[0047] In one variant of the invention, a central lubricant source is provided for the joint lubricant supply of the lubricant hoses in the hose packages of several of the coating robots.

[0048] For example, a central lubricant source can be provided for all coating robots in a coating cell (e.g., paint booth). Each coating cell (e.g., paint booth) has its own central lubricant source.

[0049] However, it is also possible to provide a central lubricant source for all lubricant hoses in the hose packages of all coating robots in the coating system. In this case, the entire coating system has a central lubricant source for all coating robots and all coating cells.

[0050] In another variant of the invention, however, several decentralized lubricant sources are provided for the independent supply of lubricant to the lubricant hoses in the hose packages of the individual coating robots. Thus, each coating robot can be provided with its own lubricant source.

[0051] When supplying lubricant to several coating robots from a central lubricant source, a multi-way valve is preferably provided to selectively connect the central lubricant source to one of the coating robots.

[0052] Furthermore, it should be noted that the invention is not limited to use with a specific lubricant (e.g., Vaseline). The invention can therefore be implemented with various types of lubricants.

[0053] Brief description of the drawings

[0054] Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view through a hose assembly with a lubricant hose according to the invention. Figure 2 shows a longitudinal view of the lubricant hose from Figure 1.

[0055] Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of a lubricant hose according to the invention, which is closed on one side and is fed with lubricant by a lubricant pump.

[0056] Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of a lubricant hose that is filled with lubricant via a grease nipple and a lubricant reservoir.

[0057] Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of a mechanism for squeezing the lubricant out of the lubricant hose by means of a displacement body.

[0058] Figure 6 shows a schematic representation of a painting system with a central lubricant source.

[0059] Figure 7 shows a modification of Figure 6 with numerous decentralized lubricant sources.

[0060] Detailed description of the drawings.

[0061] In the following, the embodiment of a hose package 1 according to the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 will be described, which can be used in a painting robot to transmit media (e.g. paint, rinsing agent, compressed air) and electrical current along the robot arms of the painting robot, as is known per se from the prior art.

[0062] The hose package 1 according to the invention initially has, in accordance with conventional hose packages, an outer protective hose 2 made of plastic (e.g. PVC - polyvinyl chloride).

[0063] Within the protective tube 2, several electrical cables 3 are arranged, which can carry electrical current.

[0064] In addition, several supply hoses 4 are arranged within the protective hose 2, which can carry media (e.g. paint, detergent, compressed air).

[0065] It should be noted that the illustrated configuration of the protective hose 2 with the electrical cables 3 and the supply hoses 4 is only an example and serves only to explain the invention. Thus, a different configuration of flexible cables can also be arranged in the protective hose 2.

[0066] The hose assembly 1 according to the invention differs from conventional hose assemblies in that a lubricant hose 5 according to the invention is additionally arranged within the protective hose 2, which allows lubricant (e.g., Vaseline) to be distributed evenly over its length into the protective hose 2. This lubrication by the lubricant released from the lubricant hose 5 reduces the friction between the electrical cables 3 and the supply hoses 4, thereby significantly reducing wear during operation.

[0067] The following describes the embodiment of such a lubricant hose 5 shown in Figure 3, which has a plurality of outlet openings 6 in its wall in order to discharge a lubricant 7 from the outlet openings 6 into the surrounding protective hose 2, as already described above.

[0068] The outlet openings 6 are arranged at a distance a=2cm along the lubricant hose 5, so that the lubricant is released evenly over the entire length of the lubricant hose 5.

[0069] It should also be noted that the outlet openings 6 in the wall of the lubricant hose 5 are arranged at different angular positions and thus discharge the lubricant 7 in different directions. The outlet openings 6 adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the lubricant hose 5 are each offset by 90°.

[0070] In this exemplary embodiment, the lubricant hose 5 is closed at its right-hand hose end 8 in the drawing, whereas the lubricant hose 5 is open at its opposite and left-hand hose end 9 in the drawing and has a feed opening there in order to feed the lubricant 7 into the lubricant hose 5.

[0071] A lubricant pump 10, shown only schematically here, is provided to feed the lubricant 7 into the lubricant hose 5. The lubricant pump 10 pumps the lubricant 7 into the lubricant hose 5, where the lubricant 7 then exits through the outlet openings 6 in the wall of the lubricant hose 5.

[0072] In the following, the embodiment of a lubricant hose 5 according to the invention shown in Figure 4 will now be described, which largely corresponds to the embodiment described above, so that in order to avoid repetition, reference is made to the above description, the same reference numerals being used for corresponding details.

[0073] A special feature of this embodiment is that both hose ends 8, 9 of the lubricant hose 5 are both closed. The lubricant 7 is fed into the lubricant hose 5 through an inlet opening between the two hose ends 8, 9. This is advantageous because the distance between the inlet opening and the individual outlet openings 6 is, on average, shorter when the inlet opening is located midway between the two hose ends 8, 9. This contributes to a uniform release of the lubricant because the pressure gradient between the inlet opening and outlet openings 6 is thus lower.

[0074] A further special feature of this embodiment is that the lubricant 7 is fed into the lubricant hose 5 via a lubrication nipple 11, which is only shown schematically and which first fills a lubricant reservoir 12 which has an elastic migration.

[0075] After filling the lubricant reservoir 12, a relatively high lubricant pressure prevails within the lubricant reservoir 12 due to the elastic walls of the lubricant reservoir 12, whereby the lubricant is automatically released into the lubricant hose 5 via a connecting hose 13. The filling of the lubricant hose 5 with the lubricant 7 thus occurs automatically due to the inherent elasticity of the lubricant reservoir 12.

[0076] The embodiment according to Figure 5 will now be described, which again partially corresponds to the embodiments described above, so that in order to avoid repetition, reference is made to the above description, the same reference numerals being used for corresponding details.

[0077] A special feature of this embodiment is that the lubricant 7 is pressed out of the lubricant hose 5 by inserting an inner hose 14 longitudinally into the lubricant hose 5 by means of a rolling mechanism 15. The inner hose 14 displaces the lubricant 7 contained in the lubricant hose 5, so that the lubricant 7 contained in the lubricant hose 5 is pressed out through the outlet openings 6.

[0078] The following describes the embodiment shown in Figure 6, which shows a simplified version of a paint booth 16 with multiple painting robots 17-19. For simplicity, only three painting robots 17-19 are shown in the drawing. In practice, however, a larger number of painting robots can be arranged in the paint booth 16. For example, two painting robots can be provided on each side of the painting line in the paint booth 16.

[0079] In each of the painting robots 17-19, a hose package 1 according to the invention runs, as described above, wherein a lubricant hose 5 also runs in the hose package 1, which is not shown here for the sake of simplicity.

[0080] To feed the lubricant 7 into the lubricant hose 5, a central lubricant source 20 is provided, which can be selectively connected to the lubricant hoses 5 of one of the painting robots 17-19 via a multi-way valve 21. The selection of the painting robot 17-19 to be relubricated is carried out by a controller 22.

[0081] Figure 7 shows a modification of the embodiment according to Figure 6, so that in order to avoid repetition, reference is again made to the above description, the same reference numerals being used for corresponding details.

[0082] A special feature of this embodiment is that no central lubricant source 20 is provided, but rather several decentralized lubricant sources 20.1-20.3 for the individual painting robots 17-19.

[0083] In addition, corresponding control valves 21.1-21.3 are provided to control the lubrication processes.

[0084] The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. Rather, a multitude of variants and modifications are possible, which also utilize the inventive concept and therefore fall within the scope of protection. In particular, the invention also claims protection for the subject matter and features of the subclaims, independently of the respective claims referred to, and in particular even without the features of the main claim. The invention thus encompasses various aspects of the invention that enjoy independent protection.

[0085] The terms coating or coating agent preferably refer not only to painting, but also to other types of coating that are used in particular on vehicle bodies, for example the application of adhesives, sealants or sealing materials.

[0086] Advantages of

[0087] The invention enables lubrication within the protective hose of a hose package, in particular of a painting robot, whereby the friction between the flexible lines (e.g. electrical cables, supply hoses) of the hose package is reduced, which also reduces wear.

[0088] The lubrication can advantageously be carried out evenly over the entire length of the hose package.

[0089] In addition, it is advantageous that a lubrication process does not require any manual work or interruption of operation.

[0090] This enables an extension of the service life, a reduction in maintenance effort, an extension of inspection intervals and an improvement in the technical availability of the painting system.

[0091] List of reference symbols

[0092] 1 hose package

[0093] 2 protective hose

[0094] 3 electrical cables

[0095] 4 supply hoses (e.g. for paint, detergent, compressed air)

[0096] 5 Lubricant hose

[0097] 6 outlet openings in the wall of the lubricant hose

[0098] 7 Lubricants (e.g. Vaseline)

[0099] 8 Hose end of the lubricant hose

[0100] 9 Hose end of the lubricant hose

[0101] 10 Lubricant pump

[0102] 11 grease nipples

[0103] 12 Lubricant reservoir with elastic walls

[0104] 13 Connecting hose

[0105] 14 Inner tube for displacing the lubricant

[0106] 15 Rolling mechanism

[0107] 16 paint booths

[0108] 17-19 Painting robots

[0109] 20 Lubricant source

[0110] 20.1-20.3 Lubricant sources

[0111] 21 Multi-way valve

[0112] 21.1-21.3 Valves

[0113] 22 Control a Distance between the adjacent outlet openings of the lubricant hose

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Lubricant hose (5) for supplying a lubricant (7) to a lubrication point, characterized by at least one outlet opening (6) in the wall of the lubricant hose (5) for discharging the lubricant (7) through the outlet opening (6), in particular in a hose package (1) in a painting robot (17-19) of a painting system for painting motor vehicle body components.

2. Lubricant hose (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that a) the lubricant hose (5) is closed at one end (8) thereof and is open at the opposite end (9) thereof and has a feed opening there for feeding the lubricant (7) into the lubricant hose (5), or b) the lubricant hose (5) is closed at its two opposite ends (8, 9) thereof and has a feed opening between its two ends (8, 9) thereof for feeding the lubricant (7) into the lubricant hose (5), or c) the lubricant hose (5) is pre-filled with the lubricant (7) and has no feed opening.

3. Lubricant hose (5) according to claim 2, characterized in that a) the lubricant hose (5) is connected at its feed opening to a lubricant source (10), in particular to a lubricant pump (10), in order to feed the lubricant (7) into the lubricant hose (5), or b) that the lubricant hose (5) has a grease nipple (11) at its feed opening in order to be able to feed the lubricant (7) manually into the lubricant hose (5), in particular by means of a grease gun.

4. Lubricant hose (5) according to claim 3, characterized in that a) a lubricant reservoir (12) is arranged between the grease nipple (11) and the lubricant hose (5) in order to hold a supply of the lubricant (7), and b) that the lubricant reservoir (12) preferably has an elastic wall in order to automatically release the lubricant (7) from the lubricant reservoir (12) into the lubricant hose (5).

5. Lubricant hose (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a) in the wall of the lubricant hose (5), a plurality of outlet openings (6) are arranged distributed over the length of the lubricant hose (5) in order to discharge the lubricant (7) at various positions along the lubricant hose (5) through the outlet openings (6), and / or b) in that the outlet openings (6) are arranged evenly distributed over the length of the lubricant hose (5), in particular equidistantly, and / or c) in that the outlet openings (6) along the lubricant hose (5) have a distance (a) from one another that is less than 50 cm, 25 cm, 10 cm, 5 cm or 3 cm, and / or d) in that the outlet openings (6) adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the lubricant hose (5) are each arranged offset by an angle, in particular by an angle of 90°,to discharge the lubricant (7) in different directions through the outlet openings (6), and / or e) that the lubricant hose (5) has at least 5, 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 outlet openings (6) in its wall per meter of hose length.

6. Lubricant hose (5) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the lubricant hose (5) has a porous or foam-like wall, in particular with a plurality of irregularly arranged outlet openings (6).

7. Lubricant hose (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a) the individual outlet openings (6) each have an opening cross-section which increases with the distance from the feed opening, and / or b) the number of outlet openings in a length section of the lubricant hose (5) located closer to the feed opening is smaller than in a length section of the lubricant hose (5) of the same size which is located further away from the feed opening, in order to achieve the most uniform possible lubricant delivery over the length of the lubricant hose (5) despite the pressure gradient along the lubricant hose (5).

8. Lubricant hose (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a) the lubricant hose (5) has a specific internal cross-section, b) that the outlet openings (6) each have a specific opening cross-section, and c) that the internal cross-section of the lubricant hose (5) is substantially larger than the opening cross-section of the individual outlet openings (6), in particular by a factor of at least 20, 200, 2000 or 20000, in order to minimize the pressure gradient along the lubricant hose (5), and / or d) that the internal cross-section of the lubricant hose (5) is substantially larger than the sum of the internal cross-sections of the individual outlet openings (6), in particular by a factor of at least 5, 20, 50 or 200, in order to minimize the pressure gradient along the lubricant hose (5).

9. Lubricant hose (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a) a squeezing mechanism (15) for squeezing the pre-filled lubricant hose (5) so that the lubricant (7) is pressed out of the outlet openings (6) of the lubricant hose (5), and b) preferably a controller (22) for controlling the squeezing mechanism (15) for squeezing the lubricant (7) out of the outlet openings (6) of the lubricant hose (5), in particular b1) time-controlled at specific times, at specific time intervals or after operating times, b2) pressure-controlled and / or b3) production quantity-dependent.

10. Lubricant hose (5) according to claim 9, characterized in that a) the squeezing mechanism (15) is adapted to reduce the internal volume of the lubricant hose (5), in particular a1) by rolling up the lubricant hose (5) and / or a2) by compressing the lubricant hose (5), in particular by means of a diaphragm which compresses and squeezes out the lubricant hose (5) when it is pulled through the diaphragm, and / or a3) by elastic recovery, which is due to an expansion of the lubricant hose (5) when the lubricant is absorbed, in particular by means of a fabric made of steel, plastic or Kevlar which is integrated into the lubricant hose (5), in particular anisotropic, and / or a4) by shrinking the lubricant hose (5) by means of a shrinking material, the shrinkage of which is controllable in particular by air humidity or oxygen content, and / or b) that the squeezing mechanism (12) is adapted to displace the lubricant (7) located in the lubricant hose (5) from the lubricant hose (5) and to press it out of the outlet openings (6) of the lubricant hose (5) by inserting a displacement body (14) into the lubricant hose (5), in particular a flexible rod or a thick-walled hose (14).

11. Lubricant hose (5) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the lubricant hose (5) releases the lubricant (7) passively from the outlet opening (6) due to the deformations of the lubricant hose (5) occurring during operation and / or due to the inherent elasticity of the lubricant hose (5).

12. Hose package (1) with a) an outer protective hose (2), b) at least one line (3, 4) running in the protective hose (2), in particular as a hose (4) or electric cable (3), and c) at least one lubricant hose (5) running in the protective hose (2) according to one of the preceding claims for delivering the lubricant (7) into the protective hose (2).

13. Hose package (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that a) a plurality of lubricant hoses according to one of claims 1 to 11 are arranged in the protective hose (2), or b) that the lubricant hose (5) forms a loop in the protective hose (2) with a forward line and a return line.

14. Coating robot (17-19) for coating components with a coating agent, in particular painting robot (17-19) for painting motor vehicle body components, with a) several robot arms which are movable relative to one another, and b) a hose package (1) according to one of claims 12 to 13, wherein the hose package (1) is laid along at least one of the robot arms.

15. Coating system for coating components with a coating agent, in particular a painting system for painting motor vehicle body components with a) at least one coating cell (16), in particular a painting booth (16), which contains at least one coating robot (17-19) according to claim 14, and b) a coating line for conveying the components to be coated through the coating cell (16).

16. Coating system according to claim 15, characterized by a) a central lubricant source (20) for the common lubricant supply of the lubricant hoses (5) in the hose packages (1) of several of the coating robots (17-19), namely a1) in each case jointly for all coating robots (17-19) of a respective coating cell or a2) jointly for all coating robots (17-19) of the coating system, or b) several decentralized lubricant sources (20.1-20.3) for the independent lubricant supply of the lubricant hoses (5) in the hose packages (1) of the coating robots (17-19).

17. Coating system according to claim 16, characterized by a multi-way valve (21) for the selectable connection of the central lubricant source (20) with the individual lubricant hoses (5).

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