Painting device and method for painting a component

Abstract

Painting device comprising a support structure and at least one first painting arrangement, which has at least two receptacles for arranging components to be painted, wherein the receptacles are each rotatably mounted on support elements of the support structure about axes of rotation, and wherein the receptacles each comprise a lever element which provides bearing points offset to the respective axes of rotation, on which a coupling element is rotatably arranged which connects the lever elements, thereby enabling a common rotation of the receptacles via a translational movement of the coupling element.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a painting device and a method for painting a component.

[0002] To save weight on motorcycles, it is advisable to paint any fairing parts inside and out, thus avoiding components that would otherwise cover the unsightly reverse sides of the painted parts, which may be a different color, have paint splatters, etc. Handling the components during painting is problematic in this context, as rigid painting racks are unsuitable for this purpose.

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a painting device and a method for painting a component which makes it possible to paint components on both sides or from different directions with low effort and high quality.

[0004] This problem is solved by a painting device according to claim 1 and by a method according to claim 9. Further advantages and features will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description, and the accompanying figures.

[0005] According to the invention, a painting device comprises a support structure and at least one first painting arrangement, which has at least two receptacles for arranging components to be painted. The receptacles are each rotatably mounted on support elements of the support structure about axes of rotation. Each receptacle includes a lever element which provides bearing points offset from the respective axes of rotation. A coupling element is rotatably arranged on these bearing points and connects the lever elements, thereby enabling the receptacles to rotate together via a translational movement of the coupling element. The axes of rotation are oriented parallel to each other and are perpendicular to the coupling element. In conjunction with the lever elements, a simple and robust mechanism is provided for simultaneously moving the receptacles via the coupling element.The mountings are advantageously designed so that one or more components can be arranged or suspended there. Multiple mountings can be provided for each support element, which are connected accordingly via a coupling element.

[0006] Such a painting device can conveniently be expanded without complications.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the painting device comprises a second painting arrangement, which is arranged above or below the first painting arrangement, in particular aligned above or below the first painting arrangement, meaning that the respective axes of rotation are aligned. Advantageously, the coupling elements of the superimposed painting arrangements are connected via a vertically oriented connecting element, thereby enabling the fixtures to rotate together. The force can be applied via one of the coupling elements or, preferably, via the vertically oriented connecting element. Advantageously, both the coupling elements and the connecting element can be simple tubes or rods. It should be noted here that the support structure, comprising the support elements as well as the coupling element(s), is...The connecting element is made of a metallic material according to a preferred embodiment.

[0008] Advantageously, the painting device includes an actuating device for actuating the connecting element or at least one coupling element. By pivoting the connecting element, the coupling elements and thus also the receptacles can be rotated. According to one embodiment, the actuating device includes a drive unit, for example an electric drive unit such as an electric motor, which interacts with the connecting element or one of the coupling elements in a suitable manner, for example via a gearbox.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment, the painting device comprises a robot, in particular an industrial robot, which is designed to move the coupling element or the connecting element. According to a preferred embodiment, the robot is designed to move the connecting element.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the painting device comprises a robot designed to paint the components and to move or reposition the coupling element of a painting arrangement, or preferably the connecting element. The robot is preferably a painting robot. The painting robot is preferably designed to move or reposition the coupling element of a painting arrangement, or preferably the connecting element. According to one embodiment, the robot can include a manipulator that comprises both a spraying or application unit for the actual painting and an actuating element designed to interact with at least one of the coupling elements, or preferably the connecting element. Alternatively, the robot can also be equipped with an interchangeable device and, for example, may initially function as a manipulator with the actuating element, and after an exchange, as the spraying or application unit.However, it is more practical to use or provide only one robot to enable both painting and rotating or repositioning of the components.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the actuating element is U-shaped or in the form of a tuning fork. This allows for optimal actuation of a rod or tubular element, such as the connecting element. Depending on the geometry of the connecting element or coupling elements, actuating elements of other shapes can also be provided.

[0012] According to one embodiment, at least one receptacle is mounted on the support element via a locking device designed to allow positioning of the receptacle in several stages or positions. Advantageously, the actual positioning does not need to be performed by the actuating device or the robot. These handle the "moving." Instead, the locking device or locking capability is provided by a mechanical system. This significantly reduces the control and programming effort.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the locking device has a first concave stop element and a second concave stop element, which bear in a form-fitting manner against the support element, which is at least partially round in cross-section. The first stop element is spring-loaded and biased against the support element. The first stop element is, for example, the upper stop element. When the receptacle is rotated, the first stop element is pressed indirectly against the support element against the spring bias via the support element. After a 180° rotation, the first stop element, biased by the spring element, again bears in a form-fitting manner against the support element. One of the stop elements is advantageously arranged to be rotationally fixed. The other stop element rotates together with the receptacle. This allows for simple positioning of the receptacles in two positions.Ideally, all fixtures should be equipped with such a locking device. However, depending on the size of the painting fixture, it may also be sufficient if only one fixture, or at least some fixtures, have such a locking device.

[0014] According to one embodiment, several painting assemblies are arranged vertically and / or horizontally, with the painting assemblies being connected horizontally via coupling elements and vertically via connecting elements. The painting device can therefore be conveniently expanded while the basic principle of force transmission remains the same.

[0015] The invention also relates to a method for painting one or more components, comprising the steps: - Providing a painting device according to the invention; - Arranging at least one component on the painting device; - Painting an initial area of ​​at least one component; - Rotating at least one component; - Painting a second area of ​​at least one component.

[0016] Advantageously, the same robot is used for painting and rotating at least one component. The robot is preferably an industrial robot, in particular a painting robot, which, in addition to the actual painting task, can also adjust or move the painting fixture. The components are arranged on the fixtures and mounted to rotate freely. According to one embodiment, an actuating element, for example in the shape of a tuning fork, is installed on the robot. The actuating element can interact with the vertically oriented connecting element, which is connected at its ends to the horizontally oriented coupling elements. The horizontal coupling elements lead to the individual suspensions of the components to be painted. Using a spring-loaded clamp or locking device, the suspensions can be fixed, for example, at two target positions that are rotated up to 180° relative to each other, on the support elements of the support structure.The process and the painting device enable fast and efficient multi-sided painting of components, especially motorcycle fairing parts.

[0017] Further advantages and features will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment of a painting device with reference to the attached figures.

[0018] They show: Fig. 1: a perspective view of an embodiment of a painting device; Fig. 2: Two detailed views of the items from the Fig. 1 known painting device; Fig. 3: Another detailed view of the image from the Fig. 1 known embodiment of the painting device with a component arranged thereon in two positions.

[0019] Fig. Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a painting device in a perspective view. A total of four receptacles 30 are visible, each rotatably mounted on corresponding support elements 10. At their lower ends, the receptacles have lever elements 32 and bearing points 34, each with a coupling element 50 mounted on it. Two support elements 20 together with their associated coupling elements 50 form, in this case, an (upper) first painting arrangement 21 and a (lower) second painting arrangement 22. These are connected to each other via a vertically or perpendicularly oriented connecting element 60. By moving or, in particular, pivoting the connecting element 60, the receptacles 30 can be rotated indirectly via the coupling elements 50.The force is applied to the connecting element 60, which is designed as a round tube or rod, by means of a (painting) robot that, in addition to the actual painting task, can also adjust the mounts 30. For this purpose, the robot has, for example, a tuning fork-shaped or U-shaped actuating element on its manipulator, which is ideally suited to interact with such a connecting element 60. This provides a very simple and robust movement mechanism. The connection of the mounts 30 to the respective support elements 10 is shown in the figure below. Fig. 2 shown enlarged.

[0020] Fig. Figure 2 shows a detailed view of the painting device according to claim 1. In a larger view, the lower end of a receptacle 30 is visible. The shape of the lever element 32 and the bearing point 34 are clearly shown. The receptacles 30 extend along a longitudinal axis D, which is oriented parallel to the connecting element 60. A locking device is visible, comprising a first stop element 36 and a second stop element 38. These interact with the support element 10, which has a round cross-section, in particular a circular cross-section. The first, upper stop element 36 is biased against the support element 10 by a spring element 40. In the right half of the image, it can be seen that the second, lower stop element 38 remains stationary when the receptacle 30 is rotated, while the first stop element 36 rotates with it. After a rotation of 180°, the lower or second stop element 38 is again positively engaged with the support element 10.The bearing points 34 are designed as round extensions. The coupling elements 50 can be arranged, for example, using cotter pins or the like.

[0021] Fig. Finally, section 3 shows another detail from the Fig. Figure 1 shows a known painting device. The arrangement of a component 70 in two positions, each rotated by 180°, is shown. The component 70 is suitablely suspended from the mounting 30. The painting device enables the complete painting of such a component 70, which is, for example, a fairing part of a motorcycle. Reference symbol list 10 Supporting element 21 first painting arrangement 22 second painting arrangement 30 recordings 32 Lever element 34 storage location 36 first stop element 38 second stop element 40 spring element 50 coupling element 60 connecting element 70 components D axis of rotation

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