Paint shop for vehicle bodies in mass production

Abstract

Paint shop for vehicle bodies (102) in mass production, wherein vehicle bodies (102) of at least two different vehicle body types are fed to the paint shop (100) in mixed sequence, comprising a painting section (110) for filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat basecoat with at least one painting box (116) in which fully automatic interior and exterior painting with filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat basecoat of vehicle bodies (102) of at least two different vehicle body types can be carried out, wherein the dwell time of each vehicle body (102) in the paint box (116) is specified according to vehicle body type and wherein the painting system (100) comprises a body distribution device (144) to which vehicle bodies (102) painted in the painting section (110) for filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat basecoat are fed and from which vehicle bodies (102) are optionally discharged into one of at least two different continuous dryers (146, 148, 150).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a painting system for vehicle bodies in large-scale production, wherein vehicle bodies of at least two different vehicle body types are fed to the painting system in a mixed sequence.

[0002] In conventional painting systems for vehicle bodies in large-scale production, the vehicle bodies to be painted are conveyed cyclically or continuously along a feed line, along which cleaning devices, painting devices for filler, inspection stations for the filler coating, a continuous dryer for drying the filler coating, further cleaning devices, painting devices for the topcoat, inspection stations for the topcoat, and a continuous dryer for the topcoat follow one another sequentially. The processing time available at each of these successive stations is determined in the same way for all vehicle bodies by the continuous conveyor speed or, in the case of cyclical conveying, by the cycle time.The cycle time specified for intermittent conveying must therefore be based on the processing time required in the most processing-intensive processing station for the most processing-intensive vehicle body type. This may result in the continuous conveying speed having to be set to an inefficiently low value or the cycle time to an inefficiently high value.

[0003] EP 0 108 289 B1 discloses a device for painting vehicle bodies, comprising a transport device which moves a number of bodies one behind the other along a feed path, and comprising processing devices which are arranged stationary along the feed path and which process the bodies as they move past, wherein at least two parking spaces for the bodies are provided to the side of the feed path, each parking space being assigned a displacement device which transports a body from the feed path transversely to the latter to the parking space and, after a period of time thereon, back again transversely to the feed path, wherein processing devices are also arranged on the parking space and process the body which is stationary on the parking space, and wherein the body on the parking space releases the feed path so that bodies can be transported past the parking space along the feed path.This known device for painting motor vehicle bodies allows individual vehicle bodies to be removed from the feed line for individual, particularly complex and time-consuming processing steps, in particular for the interior painting of motor vehicle bodies, and then reinserted into the feed line after the particularly complex processing step has been completed. However, only a specific portion of the painting processes is carried out in the parking space to the side of the feed line, while all other painting processes are performed using the processing equipment arranged along the feed line. The problem that the conveying speed or cycle time of the conveying along the feed line must be adapted to the most processing-intensive vehicle body type therefore remains with this known device for painting motor vehicle bodies.

[0004] WO 98 / 51415 A1 discloses a painting system for vehicle bodies in large-scale production, wherein vehicle bodies of at least two different vehicle body types are fed to the painting system in a mixed sequence and wherein the painting system comprises a painting section with at least one painting box in which a fully automatic painting of vehicle bodies of at least two different vehicle body types can be carried out.

[0005] DE 23 06 851 A1 discloses a painting system for vehicle bodies in large-scale production, wherein the painting system comprises a painting section for filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat-basecoat with several spray chambers in which a fully automatic exterior painting with filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat-basecoat of vehicle bodies can be carried out.

[0006] The present invention is based on the object of creating a painting system for vehicle bodies in large-scale production of the type mentioned above, which works efficiently even when vehicle bodies of different vehicle body types are fed to the painting system in a mixed sequence, which require significantly different processing times for painting.

[0007] This object is achieved by a painting system according to claim 1.

[0008] The solution according to the invention is therefore based on the concept of carrying out the complete interior and exterior painting of a vehicle body with filler, the complete interior and exterior painting of a vehicle body with topcoat and / or the complete interior and exterior painting of a vehicle body with topcoat-basecoat in a single work step in a single painting booth fully automatically, wherein the residence time of each vehicle body in the painting booth is predetermined depending on the vehicle body type and the type of painting process (filler, topcoat or topcoat-basecoat) and can therefore differ by any factor from vehicle body type to vehicle body type without this impairing the efficiency of the painting system.

[0009] As a rule, a small vehicle body will have a short residence time in the paint booth, while a larger vehicle body will have a longer residence time in the paint booth.

[0010] The differences in dwell times required in practice (for the same type of painting process) can be up to a factor of 2.

[0011] Particularly large differences in the required dwell times, specific to the vehicle body type, occur when painting vans, which - depending on the respective wheelbase - have very different loading space sizes and thus significant differences in the size of the area to be painted.

[0012] By carrying out the complete interior and exterior painting of a vehicle body in a single painting booth, the transport times between different painting stations on a painting line are eliminated.

[0013] In addition, the location of a vehicle body to be painted needs to be measured only once and not multiple times at several consecutive painting stations for the same type of paint.

[0014] It is particularly advantageous if the painting section for filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat basecoat comprises at least two painting boxes, which can be individually and flexibly occupied with vehicle bodies of different vehicle body types, depending on the current requirements.

[0015] By optimizing the number of painting boxes that can be operated in parallel and by optimizing the number of automatic painting machines in each painting box, the efficiency of the painting system according to the invention can be significantly increased compared to the classic line concept in which the automatic painting machines are arranged along a feed line traversed by all vehicle bodies.

[0016] It is preferably provided that the painting of all vehicle bodies which are fed to the painting section for filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat basecoat is carried out in a painting box, and that no painting process with filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat basecoat is carried out outside of such a painting box, on a conventional painting line.

[0017] Furthermore, the vehicle bodies are preferably shut down for painting within the paint booth.

[0018] The use of several painting booths connected in parallel has the additional advantage that, if the number of vehicle bodies to be painted per unit of time in the painting section is reduced, individual painting booths can be shut down, thereby significantly reducing energy and maintenance costs, whereas such a temporary shutdown of painting sections is not possible with the classic line concept of a painting system.

[0019] Conversely, the processing capacity of the painting section can be expanded in a simple and flexible manner by adding or commissioning additional painting boxes connected in parallel to increase the number of vehicle bodies that are to be painted in the painting section per unit of time.

[0020] Because the painting section for filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat basecoat has several painting boxes operated in parallel and independently of each other, a high level of technical availability of the painting section as a whole is ensured even in the event of malfunctions in individual painting boxes.

[0021] When changing vehicle body types, it is sufficient to reprogram the paint sprayers in a single paint booth for the new vehicle body type, for example, using a teach-in process, and then transfer the newly created programs in this one paint booth to the corresponding paint sprayers in the remaining paint booths. The necessary reprogramming can be performed in one paint booth while normal painting operations continue uninterrupted in the other paint booths. With the traditional line concept, however, a change in vehicle body type and the resulting reprogramming of the paint sprayers always affects the entire paint line.

[0022] Particularly efficient use of the painting capacities in the painting section for filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat basecoat is achieved if both fully automatic filler painting and fully automatic topcoat painting and / or fully automatic topcoat basecoat can be carried out in the at least one painting box of this painting section. In this case, the painting box can be occupied, as required, with a vehicle body to be painted with the filler or with a vehicle body to be painted with the topcoat or the topcoat basecoat, so that each vacant painting box can be immediately loaded with the next vehicle body fed to the painting section, regardless of whether this vehicle body is already coated with the filler coating or not.

[0023] The dwell time in the at least one painting box is preferably fixed for each vehicle body type and for each painting process type.

[0024] The invention provides that the painting system comprises a body distribution device, to which vehicle bodies painted in the painting section for filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat-basecoat are fed, and from which vehicle bodies are selectively discharged into one of at least two different continuous dryers. This makes it possible to paint the vehicle bodies with both filler and topcoat and / or topcoat-basecoat in the same painting section and subsequently distribute the thus painted vehicle bodies flexibly to various continuous dryers, each of which is optimally adapted to the drying process of a specific type of painting.

[0025] It is particularly advantageous if the vehicle bodies are optionally delivered from the body distribution system to one of at least three continuous dryers.

[0026] In particular, it can be provided that the vehicle bodies can be fed from the body distribution device to a filler continuous dryer.

[0027] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the vehicle bodies can be fed from the body distribution device to a topcoat continuous dryer.

[0028] Alternatively or additionally, it may also be provided that the vehicle bodies can be fed from the body distribution device to a topcoat-basecoat intermediate continuous dryer.

[0029] A topcoat basecoat is a paint that is applied as a coloring layer after the filler has been applied.

[0030] Such a topcoat basecoat can, for example, be a metallic paint.

[0031] In this description and the appended claims, a continuous dryer is understood to mean a dryer through which vehicle bodies are conveyed continuously or intermittently, with several vehicle bodies being located in the same dryer simultaneously, one after the other. The term continuous dryer also includes, in particular, so-called "A-dryers" (i.e., those with an elevator lock at the entrance and exit).

[0032] In the painting system according to the invention, the filler continuous dryer and the topcoat continuous dryer can be different from each other, each adapted to the drying of the filler coating or the topcoat.

[0033] However, it is also entirely conceivable that the filler continuous dryer and the topcoat continuous dryer are identical to each other, ie that the vehicle bodies pass through the same continuous dryer after the filler coating as after the topcoat coating.

[0034] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the paint shop includes an inspection station located upstream of the body distribution system. Such an inspection station, which the vehicle bodies pass through before the body distribution system, can be used to perform a paint quality check after each paint application to a vehicle body, before drying. This means that only one common inspection station is required to inspect the primer, topcoat, basecoat, and clearcoat. In contrast, a traditional line paint shop requires separate inspection stations for the primer, topcoat, basecoat, and clearcoat.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment of the painting system according to the invention, the painting system comprises a clearcoat painting section comprising at least one clearcoat box in which fully automatic interior and exterior painting with clearcoat of vehicle bodies of at least two different vehicle body types can be carried out. By implementing the painting box concept in the clearcoat painting section as well, the advantages of greater flexibility and more efficient utilization of the painting system, which were described above in connection with the painting section for filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat basecoat, are also achieved with respect to the clearcoat painting section.

[0036] In particular, it can be provided that the residence time of the vehicle bodies in the at least one clear coat box is also specified in a vehicle body type-specific manner.

[0037] For the reasons already stated above in connection with the painting boxes of the painting section for filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat basecoat, it is also advantageous if the clearcoat painting section comprises at least two clearcoat painting boxes which can be operated in parallel and independently of one another.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment of the painting system, it is further provided that the vehicle bodies to be painted with clearcoat are conveyed from the painting section for primer and / or topcoat and / or topcoat-basecoat through a topcoat-basecoat intermediate dryer into the clearcoat painting section. This makes it possible to optimally coordinate the design and operation of the topcoat-basecoat intermediate dryer with the drying of the topcoat-basecoat applied before the clearcoat.

[0039] Furthermore, it can be provided that the vehicle bodies painted with clear coat are conveyed from the clear coat painting section to a body distribution device, from which the vehicle bodies are selectively delivered to one of at least two different continuous dryers. In this way, it is possible to use one and the same body distribution device both for distributing the vehicle bodies to the subsequent continuous dryers after passing through the painting section for filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat basecoat, and for further conveying the vehicle bodies to the topcoat continuous dryer after passing through the clear coat painting section.

[0040] Furthermore, it can be provided that the painting system comprises a continuous filler dryer, wherein the vehicle bodies that have passed through the continuous filler dryer are fed to the painting section for filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat basecoat. With such an embodiment of the painting system according to the invention, the vehicle bodies pass through the painting section for filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat basecoat again after the filler coating and the filler drying, so that both the filler coating and the painting with topcoat or topcoat basecoat can be carried out in the same painting section, whereby this painting section can be used particularly efficiently.

[0041] Furthermore, it is advantageous if a cleaning device is arranged upstream of the painting section for filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat-basecoat, in which the vehicle bodies are cleaned before they first enter the painting section for filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat-basecoat and after passing through the filler continuous dryer. With this configuration, a common cleaning device can be used to perform the required cleaning of the vehicle bodies both before the filler coating and before the topcoat or topcoat-basecoat painting, in contrast to the classic line painting system, which requires separate cleaning stations for cleaning the vehicle bodies before the filler coating and before the topcoat.

[0042] The entry and exit of the vehicle bodies into or from the at least one painting box can take place on opposite sides of the respective painting box, which offers the advantage that at the same time as an already painted vehicle body exits the painting box, a vehicle body that is still to be painted can enter the same painting box, so that the vehicle body change is associated with minimal application downtimes in the painting box.

[0043] Alternatively, it can also be provided that the vehicle bodies enter and exit the paint booth on the same side of the paint booth. This design of the paint booth is particularly suitable for cases in which an additional automatic paint sprayer is used for painting the interior of a van's cargo area. This automatic paint sprayer is located behind the rear of the vehicle body, on the side of the paint booth opposite the entrance opening, so that the painted vehicle body cannot exit on this side.

[0044] Further features and advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description and the drawings of exemplary embodiments.

[0045] The drawings show: Fig. 1 shows a schematic layout of a first embodiment of a painting section for filler and topcoat of a painting system, with painting boxes in which the entry and exit of the vehicle bodies to be painted take place on opposite sides of the respective painting box; Fig. 2 a schematic floor plan of a painting box of the painting section Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a schematic layout of a second embodiment of a painting section for filler and topcoat of a painting system, with painting boxes in which the entry and exit of the vehicle bodies to be painted take place on the same side of the respective painting box; and Fig. 4 a schematic floor plan of a painting box of the painting section Fig. 3.

[0046] Identical or functionally equivalent elements are designated by the same reference numerals in all figures.

[0047] Of a painting plant for vehicle bodies 102 in large-scale production, designated as a whole with 100, there is Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shows a section 104 which serves to provide the vehicle bodies, which have already been provided with a base coat in a previous section of the painting system 100, with a filler and a top coat or with a filler, a top coat base coat and a clear coat.

[0048] The vehicle bodies 102 coming from the basecoat section (not shown) are fed to section 104 via an inlet conveyor line designated 106. The vehicle bodies 102 enter a painting section 110 for filler and topcoat via a cleaning device 108, in which the basecoated vehicle bodies 102 are cleaned for the upcoming filler painting.

[0049] After cleaning, the vehicle bodies 102 are conveyed from the cleaning device 108 via an intermediate conveyor 112 into a body feed device 114, which feeds the incoming vehicle bodies, depending on availability, to one of several, for example four, painting boxes 116 for filler and topcoat.

[0050] The entry direction 118 in which the vehicle bodies 102 are conveyed into the painting boxes 116 is oriented transversely to the conveying direction 120 of the vehicle bodies 102 in the conveyor line 106 and in the intermediate conveyor 112, which is why a rotating device 122 is provided at the entrance of the body feed device 114, which rotating device rotates the vehicle bodies 102 about a vertical axis such that their longitudinal direction 124, which is initially oriented parallel to the conveying direction 120, is subsequently oriented parallel to the entry direction 118.

[0051] The vehicle bodies 102 rotated in this way are conveyed by the body feed device 114 in the longitudinal direction of the body feed device 114 until the entrance gate 126 of the nearest free painting box 116 is reached.

[0052] The vehicle body 102 is then conveyed in the entry direction 118 into the painting box 116 and stopped there for the subsequent painting process.

[0053] Such a paint box 116 is in Fig. 2, is shown schematically, is essentially cuboid-shaped and comprises two spaced-apart side walls 128 extending parallel to the entry direction 118 and a roof (not shown), an entry opening facing the body feed device 114, which can be closed by means of the entry gate 126, and an exit opening opposite the entry opening, which can be closed by means of an exit gate 130.

[0054] The entrance gate 126 and the exit gate 130 can, for example, be designed as a roller shutter.

[0055] On both sides of the conveyor path of the vehicle bodies 102 through the painting box 116 there are several, for example two, automatic painting machines 132 in the form of painting robots, which are capable of carrying out a complete, fully automatic painting of all interior and exterior surfaces of the vehicle bodies 102 to be painted, optionally with a filler, with a topcoat or with a topcoat basecoat.

[0056] When a vehicle body 102 first passes through the primer and topcoat painting section 110, it is painted inside and out with primer in the paint box 116.

[0057] In order to be able to carry out a complete interior and exterior painting, the automatic painting machines 132 are able to move painting devices into the interior of the vehicle bodies 102, if necessary after the doors, the hood or the trunk lid of the vehicle bodies 102 have been opened.

[0058] Furthermore, the automatic painting machines 132 are preferably movable back and forth in the longitudinal direction 133 of the painting box 116.

[0059] The type and extent of the fully automatic interior and exterior painting in the paint box 116 depends on the type of vehicle body 102 to be painted.

[0060] At least two different vehicle body types are fed to section 104 of the painting system 100 in a randomly mixed order.

[0061] As the vehicle bodies 102 enter the paint booth 116, a system control of the paint booth uses a sensor provided for this purpose to identify the body type based on an identifier attached to the vehicle body 102 (for example, a sheet metal plate provided with a hole code or a transponder), so that the painting program assigned to that body type can then be executed. Alternatively, it is also possible for a higher-level central system control to inform the control of the paint booth 116 of the type of vehicle body 102 currently entering the respective paint booth 116.

[0062] Since the interior and exterior painting of the vehicle bodies 102 requires different amounts of time depending on the type of vehicle body, the dwell time of the vehicle bodies 102 varies depending on the respective vehicle body type, but is fixed for each body type.

[0063] At the end of the predetermined dwell time, the exit gate 130 is opened and the vehicle body 102 is conveyed out of the painting box 116 in the exit direction 134 running parallel to the entry direction 118 onto a body removal device 136, which collects the vehicle bodies 102 exiting from the painting boxes 116 and feeds them to an inspection station 141 via an intermediate conveyor 138.

[0064] In this case, at the same time as an already painted vehicle body 102 exits a painting box 116, a vehicle body 102 to be painted can enter the same painting box 116.

[0065] The body removal device 136 is provided at its output with a rotating device 140 which rotates the vehicle bodies 102 about a vertical axis such that their longitudinal direction 124, which is aligned transversely to the conveying direction 142 of the intermediate conveyor 138 when moving out of the painting boxes 116, subsequently runs parallel to the conveying direction 142.

[0066] Inspection station 141 checks whether the paintwork performed in the primer and topcoat painting section 110 has been properly completed. During the first pass of a vehicle body 102 through the painting section 110, it is checked whether the primer paintwork has been properly completed.

[0067] Subsequently, the vehicle bodies 102 are conveyed from the inspection station 141 to a body distribution device 144, from which each vehicle body 102 is delivered to one of three subsequent continuous dryers, depending on the process stage reached, namely to a filler continuous dryer 146, to a topcoat continuous dryer 148, or to an intermediate continuous dryer 150.

[0068] After the first pass through the painting section 110 for filler and topcoat, in which the vehicle bodies 102 have been painted with filler, the body distribution device 144 delivers the vehicle bodies 102 via an intermediate conveyor 152 to the filler continuous dryer 146, through which the vehicle bodies 102 are then conveyed parallel to the conveying direction 142, wherein the filler coating is dried.

[0069] A cooling zone 154 may be provided at the outlet of the filler continuous dryer 146.

[0070] After leaving the filler continuous dryer 146, the dried vehicle bodies 102 are fed again to the inlet conveyor line 106 via an intermediate conveyor line 156 and thus conveyed for the second time into the cleaning device 108 at the entrance to the painting section 110 for filler and topcoat.

[0071] After cleaning in the cleaning device 108, the vehicle bodies 102, which have already been painted with filler, are conveyed in the manner described above via the body feed device 114 into a painting box 116, which is currently unoccupied, and are provided in the respective painting box 116 fully automatically with an interior and exterior coating with a topcoat or with a topcoat basecoat during a dwell time predetermined for the vehicle body type.

[0072] Subsequently, the vehicle bodies 102 provided with the topcoat or the topcoat-basecoat are fed by the body removal device 136 to the inspection station 141, in which the applied topcoat or topcoat-basecoat is checked.

[0073] When an applied topcoat forms the final coat of paint to be applied to the vehicle bodies 102, the vehicle body 102 is then delivered from the body distribution device 144 via an intermediate conveyor 156 to the topcoat continuous dryer 148.

[0074] However, a clear coat must still be applied to an applied topcoat basecoat, especially a metallic paint. In this case, the vehicle body 102 in question is delivered from the body distribution device 144 via an intermediate conveyor 158 to the intermediate continuous dryer 150, through which the vehicle body 102 in question is conveyed parallel to the conveying direction 120, drying the applied topcoat basecoat.

[0075] A cooling zone 160 can be arranged at the outlet of the intermediate continuous dryer 150.

[0076] From the intermediate continuous dryer 150, the vehicle bodies 102 pass into a painting section 162 for clear coat, which comprises several, for example two, painting boxes 164 for clear coat, which are constructed in the same way as the painting boxes 116 of the painting section 110 for filler and top coat.

[0077] The vehicle bodies 102 leaving the intermediate continuous dryer 150, which are provided with the topcoat basecoat, are fed to an unoccupied painting box 164 for clear coat by means of a body feed device 166 downstream of the intermediate continuous dryer 150.

[0078] Since the entry direction 168, along which the vehicle bodies enter the painting boxes 164 for clear coat, is aligned transversely to the conveying direction 120 of the intermediate continuous dryer 150, the body feed device 166 comprises two rotating devices 170, by means of which the vehicle bodies 102 are rotated about a vertical axis such that their longitudinal direction 124, which is initially aligned parallel to the conveying direction 120, then runs parallel to the entry direction 168.

[0079] After driving into one of the painting boxes 164 for clear coat with the entrance gate 126 open and after stopping within the painting box 164, a fully automatic interior and exterior painting of the vehicle bodies 102 with clear coat is carried out in the painting box 164 with the entrance gate 126 and the exit gate 130 closed, wherein the respective residence time of a vehicle body 102 in one of the painting boxes 164 for clear coat is fixed depending on the respective vehicle body type.

[0080] After the specified dwell time has elapsed, the exit gate 130 is opened and the vehicle body 102 in question is moved out of the painting box 164 for clear coat in the exit direction 172 parallel to the entry direction 168 and thus reaches a body removal device 174 which conveys the vehicle bodies 102 provided with the clear coat in the conveying direction 142 oriented transversely to their longitudinal direction 124 to an end region of the body removal device 174, from where the vehicle bodies 102 are conveyed further via an intermediate conveyor 176 along a conveying direction 178 directed antiparallel to the exit direction 172 to an initial region of the body removal device 136 of the painting section 110 for filler and top coat.

[0081] This body removal device 136 conveys the vehicle bodies 102 provided with the clear coat, while rotating in the rotating device 140, to the inspection station 141, in which the applied clear coat is checked.

[0082] From the inspection station 141, the clear-coated vehicle bodies 102 pass via the body distribution device 144 and the intermediate conveyor 156 into the topcoat continuous dryer 148.

[0083] The vehicle bodies 102 are conveyed in the conveying direction 142 through the topcoat continuous dryer 148 and dried in the process.

[0084] A cooling zone 180 may be provided at the outlet of the topcoat continuous dryer 148.

[0085] After leaving the topcoat continuous dryer 148, the clear-coated vehicle bodies 102, as well as the vehicle bodies 102 provided only with a topcoat without subsequent clearcoating, are conveyed further to the production stages following the painting.

[0086] A vehicle body 102, which is painted with a primer and a topcoat, thus passes, coming from the base coat, successively through the cleaning device 108, one of the painting boxes 116 for primer and topcoat, in which the vehicle body 102 is painted with primer, the inspection station 141, in which the primer coating is checked, the primer continuous dryer 146, again through the cleaning device 108, again through one of the painting boxes 116 for primer and topcoat, whereby this painting box 116 can be the same painting box 116 as in the first pass or a different one, whereby the vehicle body 102 is painted with a topcoat, again through the inspection station 141, in which the topcoat coating is checked, and finally through the topcoat continuous dryer 148.

[0087] A vehicle body 102, which is painted with filler, with a topcoat basecoat and with a clearcoat, passes, coming from the basecoat, successively through the cleaning device 108, one of the painting boxes 116 for filler and topcoat, wherein the vehicle body 102 is painted with filler, the inspection station 141, in which the filler coating is checked, the filler continuous dryer 146, again through the cleaning device 108, one of the painting boxes 116 for filler and topcoat, wherein this painting box 116 can be the same painting box 116 as in the first pass or a different painting box 116, wherein the vehicle body 102 is painted in the painting box 116 with a topcoat basecoat, again through the inspection station 141, in which the topcoat basecoat is checked, the intermediate continuous dryer 150, one of the painting boxes 164 for clear coat, in which the vehicle body 102 is painted with clear coat,again the control station 141, in which the clear coat is checked, and finally the top coat continuous dryer 148.

[0088] The vehicle bodies 102 are conveyed outside the painting boxes 116 or 164 continuously or in cycles, with a predetermined cycle time.

[0089] In the painting boxes 116 and 164, however, the vehicle bodies 102 are stopped for the duration of the respective painting process, wherein the residence time in the respective painting box 116 and 164 is predetermined depending on the type of the respective vehicle body and depending on the type of the respective painting process, and wherein the residence times in the painting boxes 116 and 164 can be predetermined completely independently of any cycle times with which the conveyor devices outside the painting boxes 116 and 164 operate.

[0090] One in the Fig. 3 and Fig. The second embodiment of a painting system 100 shown in Figure 4 differs from the first embodiment described above in that the painting boxes 116 for filler and topcoat do not each have an entrance gate 126 and an exit gate 130 arranged on the opposite side of the painting box, but only a single access gate 182 which is arranged on the side of each painting box 116 for filler and topcoat facing the body feed device 114.

[0091] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the painting boxes 116 for filler and topcoat are not arranged between the body feed device 114 and the body discharge device 136 of the painting section 110 for filler and topcoat, but rather on the side of the body feed device 114 facing away from the body discharge device 136.

[0092] In this embodiment, the vehicle bodies 102 to be provided with the filler or topcoat are accordingly moved through the access gate 182 into the painting box 116 for filler and topcoat in an entry direction 118 directed transversely to the conveying direction 120, stopped in the painting box 116 and painted by means of the automatic painting machines 132 arranged therein, and after the predetermined dwell time in the painting box 116 for filler and topcoat and after opening the access gate 182, moved out of the painting box 116 in the exit direction 134 opposite to the entry direction 118 and conveyed via the body feed device 114 to the body discharge device 136, which moves the vehicle bodies 102, as in the first embodiment, to the inspection station 141.

[0093] The painting boxes 116 for filler and topcoat of this embodiment have an extension 184 on their end facing away from the access opening, which receives an additional automatic painting machine 186 in the form of a painting robot, which is particularly intended to move into the loading space of the van body in a transporter vehicle after the rear loading flap has been opened and to paint the inner surfaces of the loading space with filler or with topcoat or topcoat basecoat.

[0094] This embodiment therefore offers the advantage that, particularly in the case of painting vans, the dwell times in the painting boxes 116 for filler and topcoat can be reduced.

[0095] The painting boxes 164 for clear coat in the painting section 162 for clear coat are also designed in the second embodiment as in Fig. 4, that is, with only one access gate 182 arranged on the side of the body feed device 166.

[0096] Furthermore, the painting boxes 164 for clear coat are also equipped with an additional automatic painting machine 186 for painting the interior of the loading area.

[0097] After entering in the entry direction 168, painting with clear coat in the respective painting box 164 for clear coat and after exiting in the exit direction 172 opposite to the entry direction 168, the clear-coated vehicle bodies 102 are conveyed via the body feed device 166 directly to the body discharge device 136 of the painting section 110 for filler and top coat, from where the clear-coated vehicle bodies 102 then reach the top coat continuous dryer 148 via the inspection station 141 and the body distribution device 144.

[0098] Furthermore, the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the second embodiment of a painting system 100 is similar in structure and function to the one shown in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, to the above description of which reference is made in this regard.

Claims

[1] Painting system for vehicle bodies (102) in large-scale production, wherein vehicle bodies (102) of at least two different vehicle body types are fed to the painting system (100) in a mixed sequence, comprising a painting section (110) for filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat basecoat with at least one painting box (116), in which a fully automatic interior and exterior painting with filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat basecoat of vehicle bodies (102) of at least two different vehicle body types can be carried out, wherein the residence time of each vehicle body (102) in the painting box (116) is predetermined according to the vehicle body type and wherein the painting system (100) comprises a body distribution device (144) to which vehicle bodies (102) painted in the painting section (110) for filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat basecoat are fed and from which vehicle bodies (102) are selectively discharged into one of at least two different continuous dryers (146, 148, 150). [2] Painting system according to claim 1, characterized by that the painting section (110) for filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat basecoat comprises at least two painting boxes (116). [3] Painting system according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by that in the at least one painting box (116) both a fully automatic filler painting and a fully automatic topcoat painting and / or a fully automatic topcoat basecoat can be carried out. [4] Painting system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized bythat the vehicle bodies (102) are selectively delivered from the body distribution device (144) into one of at least three continuous dryers (146, 148, 150). [5] Painting system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the vehicle bodies (102) can be fed from the body distribution device (144) to a filler continuous dryer (146). [6] Painting system according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the vehicle bodies (102) can be fed from the body distribution device (144) to a topcoat continuous dryer (148). [7] Painting system according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the vehicle bodies (102) can be fed from the body distribution device (144) to a topcoat-basecoat intermediate continuous dryer (150). [8] Painting system according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized bythat the painting system (100) comprises a control station (141) arranged upstream of the body distribution device (144). [9] Painting system according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the painting system (100) comprises a clear coat painting section (162) which comprises at least one clear coat box (164) in which a fully automatic interior and exterior painting with clear coat of vehicle bodies (102) of at least two different vehicle body types can be carried out. [10] Painting system according to claim 9, characterized by that the residence time of the vehicle bodies (102) in the at least one clear coat box (164) is predetermined in a vehicle body type-specific manner. [11] Painting system according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized bythat the vehicle bodies (102) to be painted with clear lacquer are conveyed from the painting section (110) for filler and / or top coat and / or top coat base coat through a top coat base coat intermediate dryer (150) into the clear lacquer painting section (162). [12] Painting system according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized by that the vehicle bodies (102) painted with clear varnish are conveyed from the clear varnish painting section (162) to a body distribution device (144), from which vehicle bodies (102) are selectively delivered into one of at least two different continuous dryers (146, 148, 150). [13] Painting system according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized bythat the painting system (100) comprises a filler continuous dryer (146), wherein the vehicle bodies (102) which have passed through the filler continuous dryer (146) are fed to the painting section (110) for filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat basecoat. [14] Painting system according to claim 13, characterized by that upstream of the painting section (110) for filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat basecoat, a cleaning device (108) is arranged, in which the vehicle bodies (102) are cleaned before first entering the painting section (110) for filler and / or topcoat and / or topcoat basecoat and after passing through the filler continuous dryer (146). [15] Painting system according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized by that the vehicle bodies (102) are moved into or out of the painting box (116) on opposite sides of the painting box (116). [16] Painting system according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized by that the vehicle bodies (102) are moved into and out of the painting box (116) on the same side of the painting box (116).

Images