Coating agent supply device and related operating method

Abstract

The invention relates to a coating agent supply device for supplying a coating agent to be applied to an application station of a coating installation, in particular in a paint mixing chamber for supplying paint to be applied to a pig system in a spraying chamber of a spraying installation for spraying motor vehicle body parts. The coating agent supply device according to the invention comprises: at least one coating agent storage container (18) for providing a coating agent to be applied; a transfer point (15) for conveying the coating agent to be applied to a painting station, in particular a pigging system in a spray booth of a spray system; and a line arrangement (20, 21, 27, 37, 38) between the coating agent storage container (18) and the transfer point (15). According to the invention, the line arrangement (20, 21, 27, 37, 38) located between the coating agent storage container (18) and the transfer point (15) comprises at least one cleanable line (27). In addition, the invention also comprises a related operation method.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a coating agent supply device for supplying a coating agent (e.g. paint) to be applied to a coating station (e.g. a spraying robot) of a coating device (e.g. a spraying device). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the coating agent supply device is located in a paint mixing chamber and is used to supply the paint to be applied to a pigging system in a spraying chamber of the spraying device, wherein the spraying device is used for spraying motor vehicle body parts. The present invention also relates to a related operating method. Background Art

[0002] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a conventional spraying device for spraying a motor vehicle body part 1. The motor vehicle body part 1 to be sprayed is conveyed along a spraying line through a spraying chamber in which four spraying robots 2-5 are arranged on opposite sides of the spraying line, each robot having a rotary sprayer as an application device, but other types of application devices (e.g., printing heads) can also be used as an alternative. A pig target module 6-9 is located on each individual spraying robot 2-5, wherein the individual pig target module 6-9 is connected to a pig source module 14 via a piggable coating agent pipeline 10-13. The pig source module 14 is located at a transfer point 15 of a coating agent supply device, which is only schematically shown here and provides the coating to be applied. For this purpose, the coating agent supply device has a valve device 16 at the transfer point 15, which is connected to a coating agent storage container 18 ("transport container") via a non-pigable coating agent pipeline 17. For simplicity, the coating agent storage container 18 is only shown as a single coating agent storage container. In practice, however, up to four coating agent storage containers 18 can be provided which are connected to the transfer point 15 via a color changer.

[0003] FIG2 also shows a schematic diagram of such a conventional coating plant, so that, in order to avoid repetition, reference is made to the above description, wherein the same reference symbols are used for the corresponding details. Here, only three piggable coating agent lines 10-12 issue from the transfer point 15, while in FIG1, four piggable coating agent lines 10-13 issue from the transfer point 15. In addition, it can be seen from this figure that the coating agent storage container 18 has a coating agent pump 19 so that the coating material to be applied from the coating agent storage container 18 circulates in a pump circuit, which has a supply line 20 from the coating agent pump 19 to the transfer point 15 and a return line 21 from the transfer point 15 to the coating agent storage container 18. The pump circuit with the supply line 20 and the return line 21 cannot be pigged either.

[0004] The concept of a conventional coating agent supply device for a spraying device described above and schematically shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has various disadvantages, as described below.

[0005] One disadvantage is that, up to now, only four coating agent storage containers 18 could be connected to the transfer point 15 and therefore only four different colors could be applied. On the other hand, if a different color is to be applied, one of the coating agent storage containers 18 must be replaced by another one with the desired color. When replacing one of the coating agent storage containers 18 in this way, paint residues must be removed from the entire pump circuit, including the supply line 20 and the return line 21, which requires a flushing process. This leads to a high consumption of flushing agent and correspondingly high disposal costs for the disposal of paint and flushing agent residues. In addition, changing the color by replacing one of the coating agent storage containers 18 is very time-consuming.

[0006] Another disadvantage is that, in order to prevent the paint from settling in the supply line 20 or in the return line 21, the paint must be circulated continuously in the pump circuit. This continuous paint circulation is associated with undesirable shear stresses on the paint. Therefore, another problem of the known coating agent supply device is the shear stress on the paint, which must be circulated even if no application is taking place.

[0007] Regarding the technical background of the present invention, reference should also be made to DE10006310A1, DE102018109344A1, DE10346601A1 and EP1319441A2. Summary of the invention

[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to create a correspondingly improved coating agent supply device and an associated operating method for such a coating agent supply device.

[0009] This object is achieved by the coating agent supply device according to the invention and by a corresponding operating method.

[0010] The coating agent supply device according to the invention is preferably located in a paint mixing chamber of a spraying plant for spraying motor vehicle body parts, providing the paint to be applied at the transfer point. However, with regard to the coating agent to be applied, the invention is not limited to paint, but can also be implemented using other types of coating agents. Furthermore, with regard to the parts to be painted, the invention is also not limited to motor vehicle body parts, but can also be implemented using other types of painting plants for painting other types of parts.

[0011] The coating agent to be applied is taken from a coating agent storage container ("delivery container") in a coating agent supply device, which usually has a large capacity sufficient to meet the coating requirements of multiple components.

[0012] A pipeline arrangement is provided between the coating agent storage container and the transfer point for conducting the coating agent from the coating agent storage container to the transfer point.

[0013] In the coating agent supply device described at the outset, such a pipeline arrangement between the coating agent storage container and the transfer point is not piggable, which leads to the disadvantages described at the outset. Therefore, the invention provides that the pipeline arrangement between the coating agent storage container and the transfer point comprises at least one piggable pipeline.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the coating agent supply device has a plurality of coating agent storage containers for providing different coating agents. For example, each coating agent storage container can contain a specific color of paint. The design of the coating agent supply device according to the invention will be described in more detail below, which makes it possible to provide more than four different coating agent storage containers. For example, 15 different coating agent storage containers can be provided, so that a correspondingly large number of different colors of paint can be provided without having to replace one of the coating agent storage containers.

[0015] Each coating agent storage container is preferably connected to a pig line system. Each pig line system comprises a pig station having a pig source module and a pig destination module and a piggable pipeline between the pig source module and the pig destination module. Such pig line systems are known in the prior art and do not need to be described in detail. However, such pig line systems have not been used in coating agent supply devices to connect coating agent storage containers and transfer points.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each coating agent storage container is assigned a pig line system. However, the present invention also protects such a coating agent supply device, in which only a separate pig line system is provided for some of the coating agent storage containers.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pig source module and the pig target module are both plate-shaped and mechanically fixed to each other, and the pig source module and the pig target module are placed in parallel with each other. Therefore, the pig source module and the pig target module are both located in the pigging station and are approximately in the same position, which makes material circulation possible, which will be described in detail below.

[0018] The piggable lines can be very long, since during interruptions in coating or color changes, the coating agent residues can be pushed back into the corresponding coating agent storage container by pigging ("return"), thereby avoiding the problems of losses of flushing agent and paint residues mentioned at the beginning. This allows the length of the piggable lines to exceed 1 m, 2 m, 4 m, 10 m, 20 m, 50 m, 100 m or even more than 150 m. The greater line lengths between the transfer point and the coating agent storage container made possible by the invention provide greater flexibility in the design of the coating agent supply device.

[0019] The connection between the individual coating agent storage containers and the associated pigging line system is preferably realized in each case via a pump circuit. For this purpose, a circulation line is provided in the circuit, which begins from the respective coating agent storage container, leads to the associated pigging station and then returns to the respective coating agent storage container, which circulation line is preferably non-pigable. The circulation line thus comprises a supply line from the coating agent storage container to the pigging station and a return line from the pigging station to the coating agent storage container.

[0020] Furthermore, each pump circuit preferably comprises a circulation pump, which takes coating agent from the corresponding coating agent storage container and circulates it in the corresponding pump circuit. Thus, the circulation pump takes coating agent from the corresponding coating agent storage container and conveys it to the pigging station via the supply line.

[0021] Furthermore, each pump circuit can also contain a return flow regulator, which is arranged in the return line downstream of the respective pigging station in the pump circuit and regulates the coating agent pressure at the relevant pigging station. Such a return flow regulator is particularly useful if a plurality of dispensing stations are provided in the paint mixing chamber circuit described below.

[0022] In addition, each pump circuit can also include a controllable valve, which is arranged in the supply line of the pump circuit upstream of the pigging station and is used to guide the coating agent flow to the corresponding pigging station or to the return system. The controllable valve is preferably a double valve. On the one hand, such a double valve can discharge residual flushing agent in the circulation pump. On the other hand, the double valve also enables bubble-free filling of the pig source module.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each pig target module is connected to the associated pig source module not only through a piggable pipeline, but also through an additional connecting pipeline, which is not piggable in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] On the one hand, the connecting line enables the material to circulate through the piggable line and the connecting line, so that the material can also circulate in a large loop, which includes the pump loop and the pig line system (paint mixing chamber loop). The material enters the pig source module from the coating agent storage container via the supply line, reaches the pig target module via the piggable line, returns to the pig source module via the connecting line, and finally returns to the coating agent storage container via the return line.

[0025] On the other hand, the connecting line between the pig target module and the pig source module also enables unapplied coating agent to be returned from the piggable line via the pig target module through the connecting line, the pig source module and the pump circuit to the corresponding coating agent storage tank ("return").

[0026] It should also be mentioned that the individual pigging stations can each contain a controllable valve device which, depending on the type of control, preferably implements one of the following process sequences in the coating agent supply device:

[0027] · Pressurization process: The coating agent flows from the coating agent storage container through the circulation line of the pump loop to the pig source module and then into the piggable line to fill the piggable line with the coating agent.

[0028] Material circulation process: The pump loop and the associated pig pipeline system (paint mixing chamber loop) together form a large loop, and the material goes from the coating agent storage tank via the pump loop to the pig source module, through the piggable pipeline to the pig target module, through the connecting pipeline to the pig source module, and back to the coating agent storage tank through the pump loop.

[0029] ●Material return process: The remaining coating agent in the piggable pipeline is pressed back into the coating agent storage container via the pig target module, connecting pipelines and pump circuit.

[0030] Flushing process: Flushing agent and / or pulse air are introduced at the pig source module, which flows through the piggable pipeline to the pig target module, and from there through the connecting pipeline to the pig source module, further into the circulation pipeline, and finally into the return system.

[0031] As explained above, each coating agent storage container is preferably assigned a pig line system in order to guide the coating agent to be applied to the transfer point. The individual pig line systems are preferably connected to a common distribution station. Thus, the common distribution station is connected to the piggable line on the supply side in order to obtain the coating agent from the piggable line. On the application side, the distribution station is connected to the transfer point via at least one central channel. In this case, the common distribution station comprises a controllable valve unit, which connects the piggable line to at least one central channel on the application side in a selectively controllable manner.

[0032] It should be mentioned here that in a preferred embodiment at least one central channel between the distribution station and the transfer point is not piggable.

[0033] It should also be mentioned that multiple central passages, such as two, three or four central passages, can also be provided between the distribution station and the transfer point.

[0034] However, the line length of the central channel is preferably relatively short, preferably less than 1 m.

[0035] The dispensing station preferably comprises a dispensing module for each pig line system in order to remove the coating agent from the associated piggable line. The individual dispensing modules are preferably plate-shaped and identical in structure, which enables a modular and scalable design of the dispensing station. The individual plate-shaped dispensing modules are preferably arranged parallel to one another and arranged in a row next to one another. Furthermore, the dispensing modules are mechanically connected to one another, in particular by bolting. Depending on the number of coating agent storage containers to be connected and the number of pig line systems to be connected, a corresponding number of dispensing modules can be integrated into the dispensing station.

[0036] It should be mentioned here that the distribution station preferably has a through passage for each pig for each piggable pipeline, through which the pig can pass, so that the piggable pipeline passes through the distribution station respectively. In the modular design of the distribution station with a plurality of distribution modules, such a through passage is preferably provided in each distribution module.

[0037] In general, it should be noted that the common distribution station has a number n of inputs for piggable lines on the supply side. In addition, on the application side, the common distribution station has a number m of outputs for the central channel leading to the transfer point. The number n of inputs for piggable lines is preferably greater than the number m of outputs for the central channel. For example, the number m of outputs for the central channel can be two, three or four, while the number n of inputs for piggable lines is greater than four.

[0038] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that at least one pig sensor is provided on each piggable pipeline to detect a pig in the piggable pipeline. Such pig sensors are known in the prior art and therefore do not need to be described in detail. Preferably, the pig sensor is provided at a pigging station, in particular at a position less than 50 cm, 20 cm, 10 cm or 5 cm from the pigging station. For example, a dual pig sensor can be used, which is capable of monitoring a pig supply line and a pig return line. On the one hand, the dual pig sensor can therefore detect whether a pig enters a pig source module or leaves a pig source module. On the other hand, the dual pig sensor can also detect whether a pig enters a pig target module or leaves a pig target module.

[0039] As mentioned at the beginning, at least one coating agent storage container ("delivery container") may be replaceable and generally have a large capacity sufficient to meet the coating requirements of multiple components. For example, its capacity may be at least 10 liters, 50 liters, 100 liters, 250 liters or 500 liters.

[0040] Within the scope of the invention, the number of coating agent storage containers can be greater than two, three, four, five, or even greater than ten. Due to the relatively large number of coating agent storage containers connected simultaneously, a variety of different coating agents can be applied without having to change the coating agent storage containers, thus avoiding the troublesome losses caused by the color change mentioned at the beginning.

[0041] A coating agent supply device according to the invention has been described above, which provides a corresponding coating agent at a transfer point. However, the invention also protects a coating installation which additionally has an application station, which is connected to the transfer point of the coating agent supply device and has at least one application device (e.g. a rotary atomizer) for applying the coating agent provided at the transfer point.

[0042] Therefore, the transfer point can have a pig source module on the application side, which is connected to a pig target module on the application device via at least one piggable pipeline. The length of the piggable pipeline between the transfer point and the application device can be relatively long, for example in the range of 30 meters to 200 meters.

[0043] It should also be mentioned that each pig target module of the application station can be connected to a pig source module at the transfer point via multiple parallel piggable lines. This facilitates the application of different coating agents.

[0044] Generally speaking, it should also be mentioned that the application device is preferably an atomizer (eg a rotary atomizer). However, within the scope of the present invention, other application devices, such as so-called print heads, can also be used.

[0045] However, the application device is preferably guided by an application robot, a plurality of such application robots being able to be arranged in the application station.

[0046] Finally, it should be mentioned that the present invention also protects a corresponding operating method, which performs at least one of the following steps in at least one pig line system of a coating agent supply device:

[0047] ● A piggable pipeline of a coating agent supply device is filled, the coating agent is pumped from a coating agent storage container through a circulation pipeline of a pump loop to a pig source module, where it flows into the piggable pipeline, and the pig is preferably transported together with the coating agent in the piggable pipeline from the pig source module to the pig target module.

[0048] ● Make the coating agent circulate in a large loop formed by a pump loop and an associated pig pipeline system, which is preferably located in the paint mixing room. The coating agent flows from the coating agent storage container via the circulation pipeline of the pump loop to the pig source module, flows to the pig target module through the piggable pipeline, flows to the pig source module through the connecting pipeline, and returns to the coating agent storage container through the circulation pipeline.

[0049] ●Before starting painting, stop the circulation of coating agent in the large circuit.

[0050] • Remove coating agent from piggable pipelines at dispensing stations.

[0051] ●Transport the extracted coating agent from the distribution station through a central channel to the transfer point.

[0052] - An application device which transfers the extracted coating agent from the transfer point to the application station, preferably via a pigging system between the transfer point and the application station, or directly from the transfer point to the application station without a pigging system.

[0053] The extracted coating agent is applied by an application device.

[0054] • Returning unapplied coating agent from the piggable line of the coating agent supply device via the pig source module and the circulation line of the pump circuit into the coating agent storage container.

[0055] • Flushing the piggable pipeline, pig source module and / or pig target module with pulsed air and / or flushing agent.

[0056] As mentioned above, within the scope of the present invention, the coating agent can be returned to the coating agent storage container. To this end, within the scope of the present invention, the following steps are preferably performed:

[0057] Introducing compressed air into the piggable pipeline at the pig target module, the compressed air pushes the pig in the piggable pipeline and the coating agent column in front of the pig toward the pig source module.

[0058] • Push the coating agent column from the piggable line back into the circulation line of the pump loop at the pig source module.

[0059] Push the coating agent column from the circulation line of the pump circuit back into the coating agent storage container.

[0060] In addition, as mentioned above, the coating agent supply device can be flushed. To this end, the following steps are preferably performed:

[0061] • Introducing flushing agent and / or pulsed air into the piggable line of the coating agent supply device at the pig source module.

[0062] • Deliver flushing agent and / or pulse air from the pig source module to the pig target module through the piggable pipeline.

[0063] ● The flushing agent and / or pulse air at the pig target module is transmitted to the pig source module through the connecting pipeline.

[0064] • Deliver flushing agent and / or pulse air at the pig source module to the circulation line of the pump loop.

[0065] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims or will be explained in more detail below in conjunction with the description of preferred embodiments of the invention and with reference to the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0066] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the above-mentioned conventional spraying equipment for spraying vehicle body parts.

[0067] FIG. 2 shows a modification of the conventional spraying equipment shown in FIG. 1 .

[0068] Figure 3 A modification of the spraying device according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 is shown.

[0069] Figure 4 A modification of the spraying device according to the invention shown in FIG. 2 is shown.

[0070] Figure 5 Shows Figure 3 and Figure 4 A perspective view of a pigging station for a spraying device according to the present invention is shown in FIG.

[0071] Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of a pig source module of a spraying apparatus according to the present invention is shown.

[0072] Figure 7 A top view of a dispensing station of a spraying device according to the invention is shown.

[0073] Figure 8 Shows Figure 7 Individual view of a plate-shaped distribution module of a distribution station in.

[0074] Figure 9 shows the normal state according to Figure 4 Spraying equipment.

[0075] FIG. 10 shows the coating during application. Figure 4 The spraying equipment shown in .

[0076] FIG. 11 shows the Figure 4 Spraying equipment where pressurization is completed and material circulation occurs.

[0077] FIG. 12 shows the spraying device of FIG. 12 when paint is pressed back into the coating agent storage container.

[0078] Figure 13 shows the Figure 4 Spraying equipment.

[0079] at last, Fig.14 A flow chart is shown to illustrate the method of operation according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0080] Next, an embodiment of the coating agent supply device according to the present invention will be described. Figure 3 As shown, and Figure 4 The embodiment according to the present invention partially corresponds to the conventional coating agent supply device shown in Figures 1 and 2. Therefore, in order to avoid repetition, reference is made to the above description and the same reference symbols are used to indicate corresponding details.

[0081] A special feature of this embodiment is that at the transfer point 15, three parallel piggable coating agent pipelines 10-13 run between the pig target modules 6-9 and the pig source module 14 respectively, so that three different coatings can be provided at the pig target modules 6-9.

[0082] Another special feature of this embodiment is the design and function of the coating agent supply device upstream of the transfer point 15 .

[0083] A total of 15 coating agent storage containers 18 thus provide the paint to be applied, wherein a greater or lesser number of coating agent storage containers 18 is also possible.

[0084] Each coating agent storage container 18 has a coating agent pump 19, which takes coating material from the respective coating agent storage container 18 and conveys it to the pig source module 23 via a non-pigable supply line 20 and a double valve 22. A non-pigable return line 21 leads from the pig source module 23 back to the coating agent storage container 18. The supply line 20 and the return line 21 thus form a non-pigable pump circuit and enable material to circulate in the pump circuit.

[0085] In order to avoid misunderstandings, it should be pointed out that each of the 15 coating agent storage containers 18 is assigned a pump circuit, each of which leads to a pig source module 23. However, in order to simplify the matter, only a single pump circuit is shown in each figure.

[0086] Furthermore, a return flow regulator 24 is arranged in the return line 21 of the pump circuit, which regulates the paint pressure at the pig source module 23 to a predetermined value.

[0087] The dual valve 22 may direct the paint supplied via the supply line 20 to a pig source module 23 , or to a return system 26 via a return line 25 .

[0088] The piggable coating agent pipeline 27 leads from the pig source module 23 through a distribution station 28 to a pig destination module 29, which is mechanically connected to the pig source module 23, such as Figure 5 shown.

[0089] A connecting line 30 also extends from the pig destination module 29 to the pig source module 23, wherein the connecting line 30 is not piggable. Thus, the piggable coating agent line 27 between the pig source module 23 and the pig destination module 29 together with the connecting line 30 forms a paint mixing chamber loop.

[0090] In this way, the paint circulation is realized, including the pump circuit and the paint mixing chamber circuit. The paint is then taken out of the coating agent storage container 18 and flows into the pig source module 23 via the supply line 20 and the double valve 22. From there, the paint then flows further via the piggable coating agent line 27 through the distribution station 28 to the pig destination module 29. From the pig destination module 29, the paint then flows through the connecting line 30 to the pig source module 23 and from there returns to the coating agent storage container 18 via the return line 21.

[0091] Furthermore, a dual pig sensor 30 is provided, which can detect when a pig passes the dual pig sensor 30 in the piggable coating agent pipeline 27. The dual pig sensor 30 can thus detect, on the one hand, whether the pig 32 enters the pig source module 23 or whether it leaves the pig source module 23. On the other hand, the dual pig sensor 32 can also detect whether the pig 32 moves into the pig destination module 29 or whether it leaves the pig destination module 29.

[0092] To avoid misunderstandings, it should be pointed out that each coating agent storage container 18 is assigned not only a pump circuit but also a paint mixing chamber circuit. However, for simplicity, only one paint mixing chamber circuit is shown in the figure.

[0093] Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of the pig source module 23 is shown, and the structure of the pig target module 29 is the same, so a separate description of the pig target module 29 may be omitted.

[0094] In the figure, the pig 32 is shown in the pig source module 23. Then, the pig 32 can be moved from the pig source module 23 to the pig destination module 29 through the piggable coating agent line 27 by compressed air drive.

[0095] In order to control the pig movement and control the paint flow, the pig source module 23 has a plurality of valves 33 - 36. The mode of operation of the pig source module 23 is basically known from the prior art and therefore does not need to be described in detail.

[0096] Figure 4 It is also shown that the distribution station 28 is connected to the transfer point 15 via two central channels 37, 38. The central channels 37, 38 cannot be pigged.

[0097] Figure 7The dispensing station 28 is shown to have a plurality of plate-shaped dispensing modules 39, wherein the number of dispensing modules 39 can vary due to the modular construction of the dispensing station 28. Figure 7 In the embodiment, the distribution station 28 has nine distribution modules 39. On the other hand, in Figure 4 In the example shown, the dispensing station 28 has only three dispensing modules 39 .

[0098] Figure 8 A section through the distribution module 39 is shown, from which it can be seen that a passage 40 passes through the distribution module 39 , so that the pig 32 can pass through the passage 40 .

[0099] Furthermore, the dispensing module 39 has a plurality of valves 41 - 44 for controlling the extraction of material from the through-channel 40 .

[0100] The distribution station 28 has a number of input connections 45 on the supply side to enable the connection of a respective piggable coating agent line 27. In addition, the distribution station 28 has a number of output connections 46 on the application side to enable the connection of a respective central channel 37, 38. Figure 7 In FIG. 4 , the distribution station 28 has nine input connections 45 and two output connections 46. On the other hand, in Figure 4 In the example, the distribution station 28 has only three input connections 45 and two output connections 46 .

[0101] The normal state of the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 9 is described below. In this normal state, the pig 32 is located in the pig source module 23.

[0102] Figure 10 now shows the pressurization with paint. The coating agent pump 19 then delivers the paint from the corresponding coating agent storage container 18 via the supply line 20 to the pig source module 23, into the piggable coating agent pipeline 27, so that the pig 32 moves towards the pig target module 29. The flushing agent is located upstream of the pig 32 to flush the piggable coating agent pipeline 27.

[0103] Fig. 11 shows a state where pressurization is completed and material circulation occurs. In this operating state, the coating agent pump 19 delivers the corresponding paint from the coating agent storage container 18 to the pig source module 23 through the supply pipeline 20. Then, the paint flows from the pig source module 23 to the pig target module 29 via the piggable coating agent pipeline 27. Then, the paint flows from there to the pig source module 23 through the connecting pipeline 30, and from there flows back to the coating agent storage container 18 via the return pipeline 21. Therefore, this material circulation includes a pump loop and a paint mixing chamber loop.

[0104] FIG12 shows a return operation, in which the paint is pressed back into the coating agent storage container 18. At this time, the pig 32 is moved back to the pig source module 23 by the compressed air in the piggable coating agent pipeline 27. In this way, the pig 32 pushes back the paint column located in the piggable coating agent pipeline 27. Then, the paint in the piggable coating agent pipeline 27 is pressed back into the coating agent storage container 18 from the pig source module 23 via the return line 21.

[0105] Finally, the flushing process is shown in Figure 13. Pulsed air and flushing agent are introduced into the piggable coating agent line 27 at the pig source module 23 in order to clean it.

[0106] at last, Fig.14 A flow chart is shown to illustrate the operation method according to the present invention. In step S1, the spraying device is firstly brought into a normal state, which is shown in FIG. 9 and has been described above.

[0107] In the next step S2, the paint is pressurized, as shown in FIG. 10 and described above.

[0108] The next step S3 shows the state shown in FIG. 11 , in which pressurization is completed and material circulation occurs.

[0109] Then, the actual spraying operation is carried out in step S4. The dispensing station 28 takes the required paint from the piggable coating agent pipeline 27 and transfers it to the spraying robot 2-5 via the transfer point 15.

[0110] In the next step S5, a reflow operation is performed as shown in FIG. 12 and described above.

[0111] Finally, in step S6, a flushing operation is performed, as shown in FIG. 13 and described above.

[0112] The present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, the present invention also includes a large number of variations and modifications, which also utilize the concept of the present invention and therefore also fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. In particular, the present invention also claims the subject matter and features of the dependent claims that are independent of the claims mentioned in each case, in particular, also claims the dependent claims that do not contain the features of the main claim. Therefore, the present invention includes various aspects of the present invention, which enjoy protection independently of each other.

[0113] Beneficial Effects of the Invention

[0114] The invention makes it possible to connect a large number of spraying systems to a transfer point of the pigging system of the spraying plant, ie more than four coating agent storage containers ("transfer containers") with different paints can be provided.

[0115] When more than four different paints are applied, the invention makes it possible to significantly increase the paint availability, since the different paints can be stored in the paint mixing chamber circuit without having to replace one of the coating agent storage containers ("delivery containers").

[0116] - Even when applying more than four different paint colors, the previously necessary flushing and pressurizing processes are no longer necessary, because the coating agent storage container ("delivery container") does not need to be replaced.

[0117] - The present invention enables the reduction of conventional loop line systems so that in situations where little paint is needed ("low flow"), no additional paint waste is generated due to shear stress on the paint.

[0118] - Existing pigging systems can be used more efficiently.

[0119] The invention makes it possible to increase system availability, ie to shorten the interruption time required for coating operations.

[0120] -Reduces paint losses by minimizing the need to change the paint storage container ("delivery container"). This means that the paint storage container no longer needs to be changed when changing colors, but only when it is empty.

[0121] - Reduced paint application compared to traditional loop-and-wire systems (less filling volume than loop-and-wire)

[0122] - Automatically deliver paint materials when needed (without human intervention).

[0123] Reference Mark List

[0124] 1 Motor vehicle body parts

[0125] 2-5 Spraying Robot

[0126] 6-9 Pipeline Pig Target Module

[0127] 10-13 Coating agent pipeline between pig source module and pig target module (pigable)

[0128] 14Pig source module at transfer point

[0129] 15Transfer Points

[0130] 16 Valve arrangement at transfer point

[0131] 17 Non-pigable coating agent pipeline for pump circuit

[0132] 18 Coating agent storage container ("transport container")

[0133] 19Coating agent pump on the coating agent storage container

[0134] 20 Non-pigable supply lines for pump circuits

[0135] 21 Non-pigable return line of pump circuit

[0136] 22 Double valve in the flow line of the pump circuit

[0137] 23 Pipeline Pig Source Module

[0138] 24 Return regulator in the return line of the pump circuit

[0139] 25 Return line from double valve to return system

[0140] 26 Reflux system

[0141] 27 Piggable coating agent pipeline between pig source module and pig target module (color mixing chamber loop)

[0142] 28 distribution stations in the color mixing room circuit

[0143] 29 Pipeline Pig Target Module

[0144] 30 Connecting pipeline between pig source module and pig target module (color mixing chamber loop)

[0145] 31 Dual pig sensors in color mixing chamber circuit

[0146] 32 Pipe cleaning device

[0147] 33-36 Valves in the pig source module

[0148] 37, 38 Central channel from distribution station to transfer point

[0149] 39 Distribution module of distribution station

[0150] 40 Continuous pipes in the distribution module of the distribution station

[0151] 41-44 Valves in the distribution module

[0152] 45 Distribution station for pig pipeline input connection

[0153] 46 Distribution stations for output connections from central channels to transfer points

Claims

1. A coating agent supply device for supplying a coating agent to be applied to a coating station of a coating device, in particular for supplying paint to be applied to a pigging system in a spraying room of a spraying device in a paint mixing room, wherein the spraying device is used for spraying a motor vehicle body part, the coating agent supply device comprising: a) at least one coating agent storage container (18) for providing the coating agent to be applied, b) a transfer point (15) for transferring the coating agent to be applied to an application station, in particular to a pigging system in a spray booth of a spraying system, and c) a pipeline arrangement (20, 21, 27, 37, 38) between the coating agent storage container (18) and the transfer point (15), It is characterized in that d) The pipeline arrangement (20, 21, 27, 37, 38) comprises at least one piggable pipeline (27) between the coating agent storage container (18) and the transfer point (15).

2. The coating agent supply device according to claim 1, characterized in that: a) providing a plurality of coating agent storage containers (18) to provide different coating agents, b) each coating agent storage container (18) is connected to a pig pipeline system (23, 27, 29), and c) Each pig pipeline system (23, 27, 29) includes the following components: c1) a pigging station (23, 29) with a pig source module (23) and a pig target module (29); and c2) a piggable pipeline (27) between a pig source module (23) and a pig destination module (29), d) the pipeline length of each piggable pipeline (27) is preferably greater than 1 m, 2 m, 4 m, 10 m, 20 m, 50 m, 100 m or 150 m and / or less than 1 km, 500 m, 200 m or 100 m, e) the pig source module (23) and the pig target module (29) in the pigging station are preferably fixedly connected to each other, f) The pig source module (23) and the pig target module (29) are preferably plate-shaped and parallel to each other.

3. The coating agent supply device according to claim 2, characterized in that: a) the connection between each coating agent storage container (18) and the associated pig pipeline system (23, 27, 29) is realized by a pump circuit, b) Each pump circuit contains the following components: b1) a circulation line (20, 21) in a circulation which starts from the respective coating agent storage container (18), leads to an associated pigging station (23, 29) and returns to the respective coating agent storage container (18), wherein the circulation line (20, 21) is preferably non-pigable, wherein the circulation line (20, 21) comprises a supply line (20) and a return line (21), b2) a circulation pump (19) which draws coating agent from a corresponding coating agent storage container (18) and circulates the coating agent in a corresponding pump circuit, and / or b3) a return flow regulator (24) which is arranged downstream of the respective pigging station (23, 29) in the pump circuit and regulates the coating agent pressure at the associated pigging station (23, 29), and / or b4) A controllable valve (22) which is arranged in the supply line (20) upstream of the respective pigging station in the pump circuit and which selectively directs the coating agent flow to the respective pigging station (23, 29) or to the return system (26).

4. The coating agent supply device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: In at least one pig line system (23, 27, 29), a pig target module (29) is connected to a pig source module (23) via a connecting line (30), such that: a) returning unapplied coating agent from the piggable line (27) via the pig destination module (29) through the connecting line (30) and via the pig source module (23) through a pump loop to the corresponding coating agent storage container (18), and / or b) enabling the material to circulate in a large loop consisting of a pump loop and a pig line system (23, 27, 29), starting from a coating agent storage container (18), via a pump loop to a pig source module (23), through a piggable line (27) to a pig destination module (29), via a connecting line (30) to the pig source module (23), and from the pig source module (23) back to the coating agent storage container (18) via a pump loop.

5. The coating agent supply device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The connecting pipeline (30) between the pig source module (23) and the pig target module (29) cannot be pigged.

6. The coating agent supply device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that: a) Each pigging station (23, 29) comprises a controllable valve device, b) The valve device selectively implements one of the following process sequences in the coating agent supply device, depending on its activation: b1) Pressurization: The coating agent flows from the coating agent storage container (18) via the circulation line of the pump circuit to the pig source module (23) and then into the piggable line to fill the piggable line (27) with the coating agent, b2) Material circulation: pump circuits and associated pigging line systems (23, 29, 27) Together, they form a large loop, where the material circulates from the coating agent storage container (18) via a pump loop to the pig source module (23), and circulates to the pig target module (29) via a piggable pipeline (27). Circulate to the pig source module (23) through the connecting pipeline (30), and then circulate back to the coating agent storage container (18) through the pump loop, b3) Material return: The remaining coating agent in the piggable pipeline (27) is pressed back into the coating agent storage container (18) via the pig target module (29), the connecting pipeline (30) and the pump circuit, b4) Flushing: Flushing agent and / or pulse air is introduced at the pig source module (23) and flows to the pig target module (29) via the piggable pipeline (30), and then flows from the pig target module (29) to the pig source module (23) via the connecting pipeline (30), further flows into the circulation pipeline, and finally flows into the return system (26).

7. The coating agent supply device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that: a) a coating agent supply device comprising a common distribution station (28) for the pig line system (23, 27, 29), b) a dispensing station (28) connected to the piggable line (27) on the supply side to remove the coating agent from the piggable line (27), c) the distribution station (28) is connected on the application side to the transfer point (15) via at least one central channel (37, 38), and d) The common distribution station (28) comprises a controllable valve unit to connect the piggable line (27) to at least one central channel (37, 38) on the application side in a selectively controllable manner.

8. The coating agent supply device according to claim 7, characterized in that: a) at least one central channel (37, 38) between the distribution station (28) and the transfer point (15) is not piggable, and / or b) the distribution station (28) is connected to the transfer point (15) via one, two, three or four central passages (37, 38), and / or c) At least one central channel (37, 38) preferably has a line length greater than 5cm, 10cm, 25cm, 50cm, 75cm or 100cm and / or less than 100m, 50m, 25m, 10m, 5m, 2m or 1m.

9. The coating agent supply device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that: a) the dispensing station (28) comprises a plurality of dispensing modules (39), b) each pig line system (23, 27, 29) is assigned a dispensing module (39) for removing the coating agent from the associated piggable line (27), c) Each distribution module (39) is in the shape of a plate, d) the distribution modules (39) are arranged parallel to each other and adjacent to each other in a row, e) the distribution modules (39) are connected to one another, in particular by screw connections, and / or f) The structure of the distribution module (39) is the same.

10. The coating agent supply device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that: The distribution station (28) has passages (40) for each piggable pipeline (27) through which a pig (32) can pass, so that the piggable pipelines (27) pass through the distribution station (28).

11. The coating agent supply device according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that: a) the common distribution station (28) comprises, on the supply side, a number n of inputs (45) for piggable lines (27), b) the common distribution station (28) comprises, on the application side, a number m of outputs (46) for central channels (37, 38) leading to the transfer point (15), c) at the distribution station (28), the number n of inputs (45) for the piggable lines (27) is greater than the number m of outputs (46) for the central channels (37, 38), and / or d) at the distribution station (28), the number m of outputs (46) for the central channel is two, three or four, and / or e) At the distribution station (28), the number n of inputs (45) for piggable lines (27) is greater than four.

12. The coating agent supply device according to any one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that: a) arranging at least one pig sensor (31) on each piggable pipeline (27) to detect a pig (32) in the piggable pipeline (27), and / or b) The pig sensor (31) is arranged at the pig station (23, 29), in particular, less than 50 cm, 20 cm, 10 cm or 5 cm from the pig station (23, 29).

13. The coating agent supply device according to claim 1, characterized in that a) the coating agent storage container (18) is replaceable, and / or b) the coating agent storage container (18) has a capacity of at least 10 liters, 50 liters, 100 liters, 250 liters or 500 liters, and / or c) The number of coating agent storage containers (18) is greater than two, three, four, five or ten.

14. Painting equipment for coating parts with a coating agent, in particular for spraying motor vehicle body parts with paint, comprising: a) A coating agent supply device according to one of the preceding claims, and b) An application station (2-5) which is connected to a transfer point (15) of the coating agent supply device and has at least one application device arranged at the transfer point (15) for applying the coating agent.

15. The coating equipment according to claim 14, characterized in that: a) The transfer point (15) of the coating agent supply device comprises a pig source module (14), b) A pig target module (6-9) is provided on the coating device, c) the pig source module (14) of the transfer point (15) is connected to the pig destination module (6-9) via the piggable pipeline (10-13), d) The pipeline length of the piggable pipeline (10-13) between the transfer point (15) and the application device (2-5) is preferably greater than 1 m, 2 m, 3 m, 5 m, 10 m, 25 m, 50 m, 100 m, 150 m or 200 m and / or less than 1 km, 500 m, 250 m or 200 m.

16. The coating equipment according to claim 15, characterized in that: The pig source module (14) is connected to the pig target modules (6-9) on the coating device through multiple parallel piggable pipelines (10-13) at the transfer point (15) to enable the supply of different coating agents.

17. The coating equipment according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that: a) the application device is a printing head or an atomizer, in particular a rotary atomizer, and / or b) the coating device is guided by a coating robot (2-5), and / or c) the coating station is arranged in the spraying room, and / or d) The coating station comprises a plurality of coating devices, each of which is guided by a coating robot.

18. An operating method of a coating agent supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 13 or a coating equipment according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that: For at least one pig pipeline system, the steps include: a) filling a piggable line (27) of a coating agent supply device, the coating agent being pumped from a coating agent storage container (18) via a circulation line (20, 21) of a pump circuit to a pig source module (23) and from there into the piggable line (27), the pig (32) preferably being transported together with the coating agent in the piggable line (27) from the pig source module (23) to the pig destination module (29), b) circulating the coating agent in a large loop formed by a pump circuit and an associated pig line system, which is preferably located in a paint mixing room, wherein the coating agent circulates from the coating agent storage container (18) via the circulation line (20, 21) of the pump circuit to the pig source module (23), via the piggable line (27) to the pig destination module (29), via the connecting line (30) to the pig source module (239) and back via the circulation line (20, 21) to the coating agent storage container (18), c) Before starting the coating process, stop the circulation of coating agent in the large circuit, d) removing the coating agent from the piggable pipeline (27) at a dispensing station (28), e) transferring the removed coating agent from the dispensing station (28) via a central channel (37, 38) to a transfer point (15), f) transferring the extracted coating agent from the transfer point (15) to an application device of an application station, preferably: f1) via a pigging system between the transfer point (15) and the application station, or f2) Directly from the transfer point (15) to the application station, without pigging system, g) applying the extracted coating agent by means of an application device, h) returning unapplied coating agent from the piggable line (27) of the coating agent supply device via the pig source module (23) and the circulation line (20, 21) of the pump circuit to the coating agent storage container (18), and / or i) Flushing the piggable pipeline (27), the pig source module (23) and / or the pig target module (29) with pulsed air and / or flushing agent.

19. The operating method according to claim 18, characterized in that: When the piggable line (27) of the coating agent supply device is filled, the coating agent circulates in the pump circuit.

20. The operating method according to any one of claims 18 or 19, characterized in that The following steps are included for recovering the coating agent: a) introducing compressed air into the piggable pipeline (27) at the pig target module (29), whereby the compressed air pushes the pig (32) and the column of coating agent located upstream of the pig (32) in the piggable pipeline (27) toward the pig source module (239), b) pushing the column of coating agent at the pig source module (23) from the piggable line (27) back into the circulation line (20, 21) of the pump circuit, and c) Pushing the coating agent column from the circulation line (20, 21) of the pump circuit back into the coating agent storage container (18).

21. The operating method according to any one of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that The method comprises the following steps for flushing the coating agent supply device: a) introducing flushing agent and / or pulsed air into the piggable line (27) of the coating agent supply device at the pig source module (23), b) passing a flushing agent and / or a pulse of air from a pig source module (23) through a piggable line (27) to a pig target module (29), c) transferring the flushing agent and / or pulse air at the pig target module (29) to the pig source module (23) through the connecting line (30), and d) delivering flushing agent and / or pulse air to the circulation lines (20, 21) of the pump circuit at the pig source module (23).

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