Device for the local application of an electrochemical coating

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (100) for the local electrochemical coating of a component (200), which is movable along the component (200) and comprises an application unit (102) configured to dispense an electrolyte liquid onto the component (200), wherein the application unit (102) has a first electrode and the component (200) is connected to a second electrode (105) of opposite polarity. Furthermore, the device (100) comprises a rinsing unit (106) which is arranged in the direction of movement (101) behind the application unit (102) and is designed to discharge a rinsing fluid onto the component (200), and includes an extraction chamber (111) which comprises at least one area which is arranged in the direction of movement (101) behind the rinsing unit (106), wherein the extraction chamber (111) is connected to a vacuum unit and has an open side which, during operation of the device (100), points towards the component (200).Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for the local electrochemical coating of a component (200) using a device (100).

Description

The invention relates to a device for locally applying a coating, in particular a protective layer, to a component. The device can be used, for example, on a robot arm.It is often necessary to provide components with a coating after processing in preceding working steps. In this case, provision can be made in particular for a protective layer to be applied to the surface of the component. However, other coatings are also known to the skilled person, which can be applied to a component for a large number of other purposes. Regardless of the type of coating, it may be sufficient to apply the coating not over the entire surface of the component, but only locally, i.e., in a limited area of the surface of the component. Depending on the specific application, this may already be the case when the coating is applied for the first time, if it is intended to be applied only locally to the component. Local coating is also often sufficient if a coating is applied again to partial regions of a component, as can be provided, for example, in the context of repair.In particular electrochemical coatings can be used for applying coatings to the surfaces of components. An electrochemical coating can be applied, for example, by electrolysis or by electroplating. In this case, the coating material contained in an electrolyte liquid is deposited on the component under the influence of an electric field. For this purpose, the component is connected via an electrode, which can be designed as an anode or cathode, to a DC voltage source, the electrode of which with opposite polarity is in electrical contact with the electrolyte liquid. An electric field forms between the cathode and the anode, in which ions of the coating material contained within the electrochemical substance are deposited on the component acting as cathode / anode, whereby a uniform layer forms on the component. The ions of the coating material can be supplied, for example, from the other electrode or can already be contained in the electrolyte liquid beforehand.An apparatus for locally applying such an electrochemical coating is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,389. The apparatus has a housing in which an electrode is arranged, wherein the electrode and the component to be coated are connected to the two terminals of an electrical current source. The housing is closed by a body which is permeable to gases and liquids and is brought into contact with the component to be coated. Furthermore, the housing has an electrolyte inlet and an electrolyte outlet, a first pump being attached to the inlet, and a second pump being arranged at the outlet, the flow rate of which pump is greater than that of the first pump, so that a negative pressure is generated in the housing. By means of the pumps, an electrolyte flow is generated through the housing, wherein a part of the electrolyte passes through the body and attaches itself to the component, so that the latter is coated in the region of the body.The device thus makes it possible to apply electrolyte in metered amounts to a component in order to subsequently coat the component by means of electrolysis. However, the apparatus has the disadvantage that after the application of the coating, excess electrolyte remains on the component when the apparatus is removed from the component. In order to carry out subsequent working steps with the component, the excess electrolyte must generally be removed in an additional step. In addition, there is a risk that the excess electrolyte may run out of the local coating area until it is removed and contaminate the vicinity of this area: as a result, the removal of the excess electrolyte is required in a larger vicinity of the coating area. In addition, regions of the component and its environment that are not intended to come into contact with the electrolyte must be covered or protected from contact with the electrolyte by other suitable measures. Therefore, the local coating with the aid of the known device is associated overall with a relatively high outlay.Against this background, it is an object of the invention to simplify the local electrochemical coating of components and in particular to prevent the electrolyte liquid used for coating from emerging from the coating region and excess electrolyte liquid remaining on the component after coating.According to a first aspect, the invention proposes a device for the local electrochemical coating of a component, which device is movable during operation in a direction of movement along the component and comprises an application unit which is configured to dispense an electrolyte liquid onto the component. The application unit has a first electrode and the component is connected to a second electrode with opposite poles. Furthermore, the device comprises a rinsing group which is arranged behind the application unit in the direction of movement and is designed to deliver a rinsing liquid to the component. Moreover, the device comprises a suction space comprising at least one region arranged behind the flushing group in the direction of movement, wherein the suction space is connected to a vacuum unit and has an open side which points towards the component during operation of the device.The device makes it possible to locally apply an electrochemical coating to a component without excess electrolyte solution remaining on the component. This is achieved in that the device comprises, in addition to the application unit, also a rinsing group and a suction chamber, which are arranged one behind the other and behind the application unit in the direction of the movement of the device along the component that takes place during operation. By means of the rinsing group, the previously coated surface of the component is first rinsed, whereby excess electrolyte liquid can be dissolved from the surface. The rinsing liquid used for this purpose and the excess electrolyte liquid are then removed via the suction chamber. This can ensure that the device leaves the coating region in such a way that substantially no residues of the coating process are left there.Using the device, the component is coated under the action of an electric field which forms between the two electrodes or an electric current which flows from one of the electrodes to the other electrode. While the first electrode-which can be both the cathode and the anode-is integrated into the application unit of the device, the two-pole second electrode can be provided separately from the device and, for example, firmly connected to the component. In this case, however, the distance between the electrodes changes during the coating process, which generally requires an adjustment of the voltage between the electrodes to the changed distance in order to achieve a uniform current flow and a uniform coating.In one embodiment, therefore, the second electrode is also part of the device, wherein it is arranged in front of the application unit in the direction of movement. The second electrode is positioned in such a way that it contacts the component during operation of the device and is preferably arranged at a fixed distance from the application unit or the first electrode contained therein. Because the device in this embodiment carries both electrodes, the distance between the electrodes and thus the length of the current path between the electrodes can be kept constant during the movement of the device along the component. As a result, a substantially constant current flow and uniform plating can be ensured without having to adjust the voltage between the electrodes.In a further embodiment, the suction chamber further comprises an area which, during operation of the device, is located below the rinsing group and / or below the application unit. This is advantageous in particular when the device is moved in a direction of movement with a horizontal component along a component surface whose orientation has a vertical component. In these cases, electrolyte and rinsing liquid can run down on the component surface under the influence of gravity. This liquid can then be sucked in via the aforementioned region of the suction chamber space. This prevents the run-down in this region by collecting or sucking in the rinsing liquid and / or the electrolyte.Furthermore, an embodiment is characterized in that the flushing group and the suction chamber are contained in a partitioning housing which has an opening which points towards the component during operation of the device and which is bounded by an edge which is separated from the component by a gap during operation of the device. If the gap is selected to be sufficiently small, it can be prevented by means of the partitioning housing that flushing liquid and / or electrolyte liquid leave the working region during the flushing and extraction processes carried out by means of the flushing group and the extraction chamber and contaminate the environment of the working region.A connected embodiment provides that a sealing lip is attached to a lower edge region of the partitioning housing, which sealing lip is configured to close the aforementioned gap between the partitioning housing and the component. If the device is moved in a movement direction with a horizontal component along a component surface, the orientation of which has a vertical component, it is possible by means of the sealing lip to prevent electrolyte liquid and / or flushing liquid from running down beyond the device on the component surface.Furthermore, in one embodiment, it is provided that a plurality of support elements are attached to the partitioning housing, which support elements are pressed against the component during operation of the device and support the edge of the housing relative to the component. In particular, the partitioning housing can have two edge regions which are situated opposite one another and extend in the direction of movement, and at least one support element can be attached to one of the edge regions and at least two support elements can be attached to the other edge region. By means of the support elements, the partitioning housing can be supported on the component in such a way that the aforementioned gap remains between the housing and the component, which gap can optionally be closed by the sealing lip. The support elements can each have, for example, a roller or a sliding surface for contacting the component, so that they can be moved with little friction in contact with the surface of the component.In addition, one configuration provides that the application unit has an application element which is configured to contact the component during operation of the device and to deliver the electrolyte liquid to the component. In a connected embodiment, the support elements contact the component with a respective contact point during operation, wherein the contact points of the support elements define a plane and wherein the application element contacts the component with a contact surface which is arranged in the plane. The contact surface is provided with a fleece material in one embodiment. The fleece material makes it possible to compensate for small differences in height on the surface. The contact surface with the fleece material can project in the direction of the component beyond further components of the device, in particular the aforementioned partitioning housing, and can be located in the aforementioned gap between the housing and the component or bridge these gaps.In a development, the device additionally comprises a drying unit which is arranged outside the suction chamber and behind it in the direction of movement and is designed to conduct a drying fluid onto the component and / or to release heat to the component. With the aid of the drying unit, the surface of the component can be dried in order to remove residues of the rinsing liquid and of the electrolyte liquid which may still be present on the surface after the aspiration.Furthermore, an embodiment of the device is characterized in that the flushing group comprises at least two flushing units and wherein each of the flushing units has in each case at least one nozzle which is designed to deliver the flushing liquid onto the component. The flushing units can be separated by separating webs. In one embodiment, a first flushing unit has two nozzles and a second flushing unit has at least one nozzle, wherein the jet angle of the nozzles, i.e. the opening angle at which the liquid exits the nozzle, in the nozzles of the first flushing unit is smaller than the jet angle of the nozzle(s) of the second flushing unit. Such a configuration has proven to be particularly effective. It has furthermore been shown that it is advantageous if the first flushing unit discharges the flushing liquid at a higher outlet speed than the second flushing unit. Preferably, a third flushing unit can also be provided, which carries out a third flushing step in which any residual electrolyte present is removed.According to a further aspect, the invention proposes an arrangement comprising a motor-driven movement unit and an end effector attached thereto, wherein the end effector comprises a device according to one of the preceding embodiments. In one embodiment, the end effector is mounted on a robot arm, in particular a knuckle arm, which is arranged on a linear axis. The robot arm is preferably a lightweight robot arm, i.e. a robot which can cooperate without protection with workers. In a further embodiment, the end effector itself can be arranged on a linear axis or rail.According to yet another aspect, the invention proposes a method for the local electrochemical coating of a component using a device of the type described above, in which the device is guided along the component and electrolyte liquid is thereby dispensed onto the component by means of the application unit, rinsing liquid is dispensed onto the component by means of the rinsing group and rinsing liquid and electrolyte liquid are sucked in via the suction chamber. If the device also comprises the aforementioned drying unit, the method can also comprise drying the component by means of the drying unit.The aforementioned and further features of the invention will also become clear from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the figures. The figures show FIG. 1 schematically and by way of example a perspective view of a device for coating a component with an electrochemical coating, FIG. 2 is a schematic and exemplary front view of the device, FIG. 3 schematically and by way of example, a further view of the device according to the invention.The device 100 illustrated schematically and by way of example in the figures can be used to apply an electrochemical coating locally to a component 200 (the component is illustrated only in dashed lines in FIG. 1, it is not shown in the remaining figures in order to increase the clarity). In this case, electrolyte liquid in which ions of the coating material are contained is discharged onto the component 200 by means of the device 100 under the influence of an electric field, so that the coating material deposits on the component 200 and forms a layer which is as uniform as possible thereon. With the aid of the device, it is possible to locally anodizing and to apply a micrometer-thick layer to the surface to be treated.For example, the apparatus 100 may be used to coat aluminum components in which the natural oxide layer of the material has been weakened by a preceding welding process or during repair measures. By means of the device 100, a surface protection can be applied locally to the respective component in the region of the weld seam. The surface protection can be, for example, a new aluminum layer which forms a protective oxide layer. The electrochemical anodization process can produce an open-pored surface structure. This can ensure good wetting in subsequent process steps, such as a primer process for priming the coating or the component.To carry out the coating process, the apparatus 100 is moved along the component 200 in a direction of movement, which is illustrated in the figures by means of an arrow 101, wherein the front side of the apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 2 faces the component 200 during the movement. In one embodiment, the surface of the component 200 to be coated is oriented vertically and the apparatus 100 is moved along the component 200 in a motion which is preferably in the balance chest or at a smaller angle of no more than 45 degrees to the horizontal. In principle, however, the device 100 can be used in another manner, for example for coating components with a horizontally oriented surface or with movement directions which have a greater angle with respect to the horizontal.During operation, the device 100 is preferably guided in an automated manner on a linear axis on which the device 100 is attached. If the component is to be coated, for example in the region of straight and in particular longer welded seams, the device can be arranged on a carriage which moves on a rail which can be positioned next to the component in a suitable arrangement. In one embodiment, the device can also be connected to the linear axis by a connecting element. Furthermore, it is also possible in principle for the device to be moved manually by a user or to be attached to a manually guided movement unit. Furthermore, the device 100 is mounted, for example, on a robot arm, in particular on a robot arm, which is arranged on the linear axis and can be configured as a bending arm. The robot arm can be fastened directly on the linear axis or on a carriage which is arranged movably on the linear axis.During the coating operation, the apparatus 100 performs a process including applying the electrochemical coating to the component under the action of an electric field, rinsing the component to remove excess electrolyte liquid from the surface of the component by a rinsing liquid, and sucking the excess electrolyte liquid and the rinsing liquid. Moreover, the surface of the component is dried by means of the device in the embodiment shown here in order to remove, in particular, rinsing liquid which has remained on the component surface or in the pores of the coating or the component surface after rinsing.In order to apply the electrochemical coating to the component, the device 100 comprises an application unit 102. This has an application element 103, which is arranged on the aforementioned front side of the device 100 and is in contact with the component 200 by means of a contact surface during the coating process. The application element 103 is capable of absorbing the electrolyte liquid used for coating and delivering it to the component 200 via its contact surface. For this purpose, the application element can be designed as a sponge or a fleece pad. As will be described in more detail below, the apparatus 100 is supported by a plurality of support members 104 a- crelative to the component as it is moved along the component 200. The spacers 104 a- ccomprise contact points for contacting the component 200, which contact points lie in a plane. The contact surface of the application element 103 is also arranged substantially in this plane.The applicator element 103 may have various geometric shapes. In particular, the fleece pad can have various shapes that can be adapted to the respective application. The fleece pad is deformable and can thereby compensate for small height differences at the component surface and / or small fluctuations in the distance between the device 100 and the component 200. The fleece material is so flexible that it can be pressed in by a few millimeters, so that contact with the surface of the component 200 is ensured even in the case of variations in the distance, which can be caused, for example, by unevenness of the surface.Furthermore, the application unit 102 of the device 100 for local coating with surface protection can be configured in a similar manner to the device for local application of electrolyte described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,389. However, the application unit 102 can also be designed differently. In general, the application unit 102 is designed such that electrolyte can be conveyed onto the surface of the component to be coated. The application unit 102 can comprise in particular a pump, with which the electrolyte liquid is conveyed from a storage container, which can be contained in the device 100 or be connected thereto in terms of flow, via a feed line to the application element 103. Via a first, for example centrally arranged region of its inner surface opposite the contact surface, the application element 103 can then pick up the supplied electrolyte liquid in order to deliver it to the component 200 via the contact surface. Excess electrolyte liquid that is not discharged to the component 200 is preferably conveyed back to the storage container. For this purpose, the application unit 103 can have a further pump, with which the electrolyte liquid is suctioned out of the application element 103 via a second region of the inner surface of the application element 103, which is arranged, for example, in an outer edge region of the inner surface, and is conveyed back to the storage container via a discharge line. By means of the two pumps, the electrolyte liquid is conveyed in a circuit containing the application element 103, whereby it can be ensured that the application element 103 contains a substantially constant amount of electrolyte liquid.Moreover, the application unit 102 includes a first electrode for generating the electric field required for the coating process, which electrode can be designed as a cathode or anode. A two-pole second electrode 105, which is explained in more detail below in an exemplary embodiment, is connected to the component 200, wherein both electrodes are connected to a common, preferably controllable voltage source, so that a specific voltage is present between the two electrodes during operation. The first electrode is disposed in the application unit 102 so as to be in contact with the electrolyte liquid and a current may flow through the electrolyte liquid and the component 200 from the first electrode to the second electrode 105 or vice versa when the application member 103 of the application unit 102 is in contact with the component 200. In particular, the first electrode can be in electrically conductive contact with the application element 103 and / or the feed line for supplying the electrolyte liquid to the application element 103.In one embodiment, the second electrode 105 is a component of the device 100 and is arranged in front of the application unit 102 in the direction of movement 101. It is designed to come into an electrically conductive contact with the component 200 during operation of the device 100 and has a contact element for this purpose, which can be designed, for example, as a roller or a sliding element, which is pressed against the component 200 during operation of the device and in this case touches the component 200 at a contact point. The contact point can lie in a plane with the aforementioned contact points of the support elements 104 a- c. In this embodiment, the second electrode 105 serves as a further support element, as it were, with which the device 100 is supported with respect to the component 200 during operation. The fact that the second electrode in this embodiment is firmly connected to the device 100 also ensures that the length of the aforementioned current path between the two electrodes remains substantially constant, as a result of which a substantially constant current flow and a uniform coating of the surface of the component 200 are ensured.Furthermore, the device 100 comprises a rinsing group 106 which is arranged behind the application unit 102 in the direction of movement 101 and is designed to rinse the surface of the component 200 by means of a suitable rinsing liquid. For example, the rinsing liquid can be distilled water. By means of the flushing, excess electrolyte liquid which remains on the regions of the component 200 after they have been coated by means of the application unit 102 and the application unit 102 has been moved further along the component 200 is released from the component surface by means of the flushing liquid. For this purpose, the rinsing liquid is discharged onto the component 200 by means of at least one nozzle of the rinsing group 106. In one configuration, which has proven to be advantageous and is illustrated in the figures, the flushing group 106 comprises a plurality of flushing units arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement 101 and together form a flushing cascade. In particular, three flushing units 107 a- cmay be provided.The flushing units 107 a- ceach comprise a front wall which, during operation of the apparatus 100, faces the component 200 and into which one or more nozzles 108 a- daligned to the component are inserted. As can also be seen from the figures, the front walls of the flushing units 107 a- cand the nozzles 108 a- dinserted therein are at a distance from the component 200 during operation of the device, with the result that a free space remains between the nozzles 108 a- dand the component 200. In particular, the nozzles for this purpose are arranged offset to the rear, that is to say in a direction away from the component 200, with respect to the aforementioned application element 103 of the application unit 102. As a result, the nozzles 109 a- dmay evenly discharge the rinsing liquid into a larger area of the component surface. When using a plurality of flushing units 107 a- c, separating webs 109 a, bmay also be provided between the flushing units, which webs extend from the front walls of the flushing units 106 a- cin the direction of the component 200, such that their end section is at a small distance from the component 200 than the front walls and the nozzles 108 a- dof the flushing units. These separating webs 109 a, btherefore delimit the flushing units 107 a- cand the regions which the nozzles of the flushing regions can spray in each case.The individual flushing units 107 a- cmay be configured in the same way, but preferably they differ from one another. In particular, the flushing units 107 a- cmay differ from one another in principle in the number and configuration of their nozzles, in their operating parameters, such as for example the preliminary pressure with which the flushing liquid is slid through the nozzles, and / or with respect to the flushing liquid used. As illustrated in the figures, for example, a first flushing unit 107 acan have two nozzles 108 a, b, while two flushing units 107 b, cwhich follow in the direction of movement 101 each have only a single nozzle 108 cor 108 d, wherein these nozzles 108 c, dmay be configured differently.Preferably, the two nozzles of the first flushing unit 107 acan be operated at a higher flushing pressure or a higher outlet speed of the flushing liquid and / or have a smaller jet angle than the nozzle of the second and third flushing units 107 b, c. Such a configuration has proven to be particularly effective. It ensures in particular that in the first rinsing step a large amount of rinsing liquid wets the surface with the first rinsing unit. The second flushing unit is capable of removing residual electrolyte liquid from the surface due to the nozzle with a larger jet angle. As illustrated in the figures, a third flushing unit 107 cmay also be provided, which releases any residual electrolyte liquid from the surface and may be configured for this purpose in the same way as the second flushing unit 107 c.The exact configuration of the flushing units can be adapted to the respective application. It may be necessary to determine the configuration by means of tests.By using a plurality of flushing units 107 a- carranged one behind the other in the direction of movement 101, the coated regions of the component 200 can be flushed in each case a plurality of times, as a result of which the flushing result can be improved. When using differently configured or operated flushing units 107 a- c, each of the flushing units 107 a- cmay be further adapted to a specific property of the component 200 or its surface, so that a flushing result that is as optimal as possible is achieved with regard to different properties. For example, the component surface can have pores with different sizes and the rinsing units 107 a- cmay each be adapted to a specific size range of the pores.The flushing group 106 explained above is contained in a partitioning housing 110 which has an opening on a side which faces the component 200 during operation of the device 100. The partitioning housing provides a partitioning of the flushing group 106 from the environment, which is designed such that the flushing liquid dispensed by the nozzles 108 a- dis only introduced into a limited region of the component 100, and the environment is not contaminated with flushing liquid. For this purpose, the partitioning housing 110 in particular bounds the aforementioned free space, which exists between the nozzles of the flushing group 106 and the component during operation of the device 100, at least partially (such that only a gap remains between the partitioning housing 110 and the component 200, which gap is described in greater detail below). The free space thus preferably comprises a cuboidal volume which is bounded on one side by the wall of the flushing group 106 in which the nozzles 108 are contained, is open on the opposite side facing the component 200 and is bounded on the remaining sides by the partitioning housing.In addition, the partitioning housing 110 comprises a suction chamber 111 which is connected to a vacuum unit (not shown in the figures) which can likewise be part of the apparatus 100 or be connected thereto. The vacuum unit is configured to generate a negative pressure in the suction chamber 111, so that air and liquid can be sucked out of the suction chamber 111. For this purpose, the vacuum unit can be designed, for example, as a suitable blower. The suction chamber 111 has an open side which faces the component during operation of the device 100, and comprises at least one region which is located behind the flushing group 106 in the direction of movement of the device and which preferably adjoins the flushing group 106 and the free space existing between the nozzles of the spraying group 106 and the component 200. The suction chamber is separated from the free space by an inner web 112 of the partitioning housing 111, so that the nozzles of the rinsing group 106 do not discharge any rinsing liquid directly into the suction chamber 111.During the movement which the device 100 performs along the component 200 during the coating process, the suction chamber reaches the coated regions of the component 200 after it has been rinsed by means of the rinsing group 106 and excess electrolyte liquid has been dissolved with the rinsing liquid. The mixture of rinsing liquid and electrolyte liquid formed during the rinsing process can thus be sucked into the suction chamber due to the negative pressure present therein and then be sucked out of the suction chamber.Furthermore, the partitioning housing 110 and the suction chamber 111 contained therein can also extend into a lower region 113 of the device, which is located below the flushing group 106 and preferably also below the application unit 102 during a movement of the device 100 along the component 200. This is advantageous in particular when the device 100 is moved in the horizontal direction of movement or at least in a direction of movement with horizontal component along a component surface which is oriented vertically or the orientation of which has a vertical component. In these cases, electrolyte and rinsing liquid may run down on the component surface under the influence of gravity. This liquid can then be sucked in via the aforementioned region of the suction space space which extends into the lower region 113 of the device.From the aforementioned free space in front of the nozzles of the flushing group 106, the part of the suction chamber 111 arranged in the lower region 113 is preferably separated off by a further inner web 114 of the partitioning housing 110. The application unit 102 is preferably located outside the partitioning housing 110. Therefore, the aforementioned part of the suction chamber 111 is separated from the application unit 102 by an outer wall of the partitioning housing. This prevents the applicator unit from being contaminated with rinse liquid. In particular, it is possible to prevent a fleece pad of the application unit 102 from being impregnated with rinsing liquid.The opening of the partitioning housing 110 facing the component during operation of the device 100 is delimited by an edge which is separated from the component 200 by a gap during operation of the device 100. The edge is formed by the edges of the outer walls of the partitioning housing 110, which preferably lie in one plane. The gap is dimensioned such that the edge of the partitioning housing 110 does not contact the component surface and at the same time a sufficient fluidic separation between the suction chamber 111 and the environment is achieved in order to be able to generate a vacuum that is as homogeneous as possible within the suction chamber 111. In particular, the gap can have a width for this purpose of between 0.1 and 4 millimeters, preferably between 1 and 3 millimeters, particularly preferably between 2 mm and 4 mm. With such a distance, a secure distance from the component 200 is ensured, and at the same time a sufficiently strong negative pressure for suctioning the liquid can be generated.In order to support the partitioning housing 110 with respect to the component 200 while forming the gap, a plurality of support elements 104 a- care attached to the partitioning housing, which support elements are pressed against the component 200 during operation of the device 100. The support elements 104 a- cin this case contact the component 200 with a respective contact point, wherein the contact points of the various support elements 104 a- cin one embodiment lie in a common plane which is preferably arranged parallel to the plane containing the edge of the partitioning housing 110. This results in a uniform distance between the component 200 and the edge of the partitioning housing 110. The support elements 104 a- cmay be configured in particular as rollers or sliding elements, so that they may be moved over the component surface with little friction while being pressed against the surface of the component. Damage to the component surface is thereby avoided, and the device 110 can also be moved with little force. In one embodiment, three support elements 104 a- care attached to mutually opposite edge regions of the partitioning housing 110 running in the direction of movement 101, in particular to the upper and lower edge of the partitioning housing 110. In this case, a support element 104 acan be arranged, for example, on the upper edge, and two support elements 104 b, cmay be arranged on the lower edge.As shown in the figures, an optional sealing lip 115 can also be attached to the lower edge of the partitioning housing 101, said sealing lip consisting of an elastically deformable material. The sealing lip 115 can be fastened on the outside of the partitioning housing 101 approximately in the region of the lower housing edge. During operation, the sealing lip 115 is preferably pressed against the component 200, as a result of which the gap between the partitioning housing 101 and the component 200 is closed in the region of the lower edge of the partitioning housing. This likewise makes it possible to prevent electrolyte liquid and / or rinsing liquid from running down beyond the lower edge on the surface of the component 200 when the device 100 is moved in the horizontal direction of movement or at least in a direction of movement with a horizontal component along a component surface which is oriented vertically or the orientation of which has a vertical component.In one embodiment, a further sealing lip is attached to an upper edge region of the partitioning housing 101. Thus, two sealing lips parallel to the direction of movement of the device 100 can be arranged on the outside at the edge regions of the partitioning housing 101. In a further embodiment, the device comprises only the optional sealing lip. However, if the distance of the partitioning housing 101 from the component 200 is less than 4 mm, the sealing lip is generally not necessary in order to prevent electrolyte and / or rinsing liquid from leaking out.In addition, in an embodiment also illustrated in the figures, the apparatus 100 comprises a drying unit 116 which is arranged behind the suction chamber 111 in the direction of movement 101. The drying unit 116 is configured to dry the surface of the component 200 in order to remove residues of the rinsing liquid and the electrolyte liquid that may still be present on the component surface after the suction. For this purpose, the drying unit 116 can be a blower which feeds a drying fluid stream, in particular an air stream, to the component surface. Alternatively or additionally, the drying unit can comprise a heat radiator which heats the surface of the component 200.The device 100 described above makes it possible to locally apply a coating to a component 200 while it is moved along the component 200 in the direction of movement 101. The second electrode 105 leads and establishes an electrical contact with the component 200. Furthermore, by means of the application unit 102, an electrochemical coating is first applied in a region to the surface of the component 200. While the device 100 continues to move, the region is then rinsed by means of the rinsing group 106, and subsequently excess electrolyte liquid and rinsing liquid are suctioned out of the region via the suction chamber 111 of the device 111. Subsequently, the drying unit 116 of the apparatus 100 is moved over the region in order to dry the surface of the component 200 in the region.List of reference characters100 Device 101 direction of movement 102 application unit 103 application element 104 a- csupport element 105 second electrode 106 flushing group 107 a- cpurge unit 108 a- dnozzle 109 a,bdividle web 110 partitioning housing 111 suction chamber 112 inner web 113 lower region 114 further inner web 115 sealing lip 117 drying unit 200 componentReferences included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedU.S. Pat. No. 5,571,389 [0004, 0028]

Claims

Device (100) for locally electrochemically coating a component (200), which is movable in a direction of movement (101) along the component (200) during operation and comprises an application unit (102), which is configured to dispense an electrolyte liquid onto the component (200), wherein the application unit (102) has a first electrode and the component (200) is connected to a second electrode (105) with opposite poles, characterized in that the device (100) comprises a rinsing group (106), which is arranged behind the application unit (102) in the direction of movement (101) and is configured to dispense a rinsing liquid onto the component (200), and in that the device (100) further comprises a suction space (111), which comprises at least one region, which is arranged behind the rinsing group (106) in the direction of movement (101), wherein the suction chamber (111) is connected to a vacuum unit and has an open side which points to the component (200) during operation of the device (100).The device (100) according to claim 1, further comprising the second electrode (105), wherein the second electrode (105) is arranged before the application unit (102) in the direction of movement (101).The device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the suction chamber (106) further comprises an area (113), which is located below the rinsing group (106) and / or below the application unit (102) during operation of the device (100).The device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flushing group (106) and the suction chamber (111) are contained in a partitioning housing (110), which has an opening which, during operation of the device (100), points towards the component (200) and which is bounded by an edge which, during operation of the device (100), is separated from the component (200) by a gap.Device (100) according to claim 4, wherein a sealing lip (115) is attached to a lower edge region of the partitioning housing (110), which sealing lip is configured to close the gap between the partitioning housing (110) and the component (200).Device (100) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein a plurality of support elements (104a-c) are attached to the partitioning housing (110), which support elements are pressed against the component (200) during operation of the device and support the edge of the partitioning housing (110) with respect to the component (200).Device (100) according to one of Claims 4 - 6, wherein the partitioning housing (110) has two mutually opposite edge regions which extend in the direction of movement (101), and at least one support element (104a) is attached to one of the edge regions and at least two support elements (104b, c) are attached to the other edge region.The device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the application unit (102) comprises an application element (103) configured to contact the component (200) and to discharge the electrolyte liquid onto the component (200) during operation of the device (100).The apparatus (100) of claim 8 and any of claims 6 and 7, wherein the support members (104a-c) contact the component (200) with a respective contact point, in operation, wherein the contact points of the support members (104a-c) define a plane, and wherein the application member (103) contacts the component (103) with a contact surface disposed in the plane.The device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a drying unit (117) which is arranged outside the suction space (111) and behind it in the direction of movement (101) and is designed to conduct a drying fluid onto the component (200) and / or to release heat to the component (200).The device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rinsing group (106) comprises at least two rinsing units (107a-c) and wherein each of the rinsing units (107a-c) comprises at least one nozzle (108a-d) each, which is configured to discharge the rinsing liquid onto the component (200).An assembly comprising a motor driven movement unit and an end effector attached thereto, wherein the end effector comprises a device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims.Method for the local electrochemical coating of a component (200) using a device (100) according to one of Claims 1 - 11, in which the device (100) is guided along the component (200) and electrolyte liquid is thereby dispensed onto the component (200) by means of the application unit (102), flushing liquid is dispensed onto the component (200) by means of the flushing group (106), and flushing liquid and electrolyte liquid are sucked in via the suction chamber (111).

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