COATING DEVICE AND METHOD

Description

Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a coating device according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a coating device is known from document KR 2013 0041439 A. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a method is known from document KR 2013 0041439 A. State of the art

[0002] In industrial furniture manufacturing, flat workpieces are coated with a coating material, particularly edge banding, along one narrow edge. In many cases, coating devices are designed to coat only one narrow edge of a workpiece per pass. By coating a single narrow edge, workpieces with different dimensions can be coated sequentially during operation. The corresponding coating materials are fed from storage containers. However, if flat workpieces are coated with a different material on multiple narrow edges, several passes are required. This results in a relatively low throughput for such a machine, even though the aforementioned approach offers a high degree of flexibility.

[0003] For some furniture manufacturers, this increased flexibility is not always necessary, as many workpieces with the same dimensions are processed. In this case, the focus is more on high throughput to achieve high production volumes. Description of the invention

[0004] The invention is based on the objective of providing a coating device and a method for coating a workpiece that offers increased flexibility at high throughput.

[0005] Such a coating device is described in claim 1. Further preferred embodiments are listed below or in the dependent claims. Furthermore, the invention provides a method, wherein preferred embodiments of the method are described in the dependent method claims. Features of the method claims can each be used individually to further describe the suitability of the device. Likewise, features of the device claims can each be applied individually within the scope of the method.

[0006] In particular, the coating device comprises a first application device for applying a first coating material to a first narrow surface of the workpiece, and a second application device for applying a second coating material to a second narrow surface of the workpiece. Furthermore, the coating device comprises a first printing device for printing on the first coating material.

[0007] The coating system offers the advantage of allowing each workpiece to be processed individually, in addition to high throughput. In particular, it enables changes to the decorative finish during operation. Furthermore, the need to keep large quantities of different coating materials on hand is eliminated. Instead, a compact coating system with high flexibility and high throughput can be provided.

[0008] The coating material in question is, in particular, a strip-shaped coating material, also known as edge banding.

[0009] The coating device can include a pretreatment device, in particular comprising a cleaning device, and / or a posttreatment device, in particular comprising a drying device, such as a UV drying device, arranged in such a way that the surface to be printed with the printing device or the printed surface can be pre- or post-treated.

[0010] Furthermore, the first and / or the second application device can be moved along a guide. This allows the coating device to be adjusted for workpieces of varying widths or coating materials of different thicknesses. In particular, a drive can be provided to move the first and / or the second application device along a guide.

[0011] The first application device, the second application device, the first printing device and / or the second printing device may be pivotable, in particular to apply and / or print coating material on one side of the workpiece, which side of the workpiece is inclined. For example, such a side may be a narrow side inclined at an angle other than 90° to the wide side.

[0012] It is preferred that the first application device and / or the second application device include a pressure roller or a pressure shoe. The pressure roller or pressure shoe allows the coating material to be pressed onto a narrow surface of a workpiece. Furthermore, forming rollers or forming shoes can be used.

[0013] According to a further embodiment, the first printing device is an inkjet printing device that enables precise color application. In one embodiment, the first printing device has printheads for different colors, so that a specific decoration can be printed on each individual workpiece.

[0014] The coating device can comprise a first format processing unit, in particular comprising a rotating processing tool, for processing the first coating material applied to the workpiece, and a second format processing unit, in particular comprising a rotating processing tool, for processing the second coating material applied to the workpiece. Furthermore, a trimming unit and a draw-off unit can be provided for each to trim a coating material applied to the workpiece and to process the transition to the broad side.

[0015] The coating device can be designed such that the first printing device is arranged upstream of the first application device in the direction of movement of the first coating material. This arrangement can be used to print on the coating material before it is applied to the workpiece. In particular, it is provided that the printed material, especially ink, dries during the movement of the coating material from the first printing device to the first application device, optionally using a drying device, so that pressing the printed coating material onto the workpiece with the first application device is ensured without damaging the printed areas.

[0016] Furthermore, the first printing device can be arranged downstream of the first application device in the direction of movement of the first coating material. According to this embodiment, the coating material is first applied to the workpiece and subsequently printed using the printing device. The printed area can be positioned with extreme precision according to this embodiment.

[0017] The coating device can further include a second printing unit for printing on the second coating material. Thus, a first coating material and a second coating material can be printed using the first and second printing units, respectively. This enables double-sided printing, allowing for high-volume production with a high degree of flexibility.

[0018] The second printing device can be designed and / or arranged in the same way as the first printing device. Reference is also made to the preceding explanations regarding the first printing device.

[0019] In particular, the second printing device can be an inkjet printing device, preferably having printheads for different colors.

[0020] Furthermore, the second printing device can be arranged upstream of the second application device in the direction of movement of the second coating material. This arrangement can be used to print on the coating material before it is applied to the workpiece. In particular, it is provided that the printed material, especially ink, dries during its movement from the second printing device to the second application device, optionally with the use of a drying device, so that pressing the printed coating material onto the workpiece with the second application device is ensured without damaging the printed areas.

[0021] According to a further embodiment, the second printing device is arranged downstream of the second application device in the direction of movement of the second coating material. In this configuration, the coating material is first applied to the workpiece and subsequently printed using the printing device. The printed area can be positioned with extreme precision according to this embodiment.

[0022] It is particularly preferred that the first and second printing units are arranged opposite each other. This allows for precise and simplified coordination of the printing processes, especially when, for example, the printed design is intended to imitate a wood grain. In this case, a design is created on the narrow surfaces that suggests wood structures, such as grain, knots, or growth rings, extend through the workpiece.

[0023] According to a further embodiment, the first and second printing devices are fluidly connected to a common reservoir of printing material, particularly ink. This allows for the pooling of resources. Furthermore, it ensures that both printing devices are supplied with printing material. When the reservoir is depleted, a user can be prompted to refill it. The shared reservoir also has the advantage of preventing batch variations in the printing material (especially ink), which could arise, for example, from different storage times. This avoids color variations.

[0024] The first and / or second printing unit can be configured to print coating materials of varying thickness, cross-sectional shape, and / or width. This gives the coating device a high degree of flexibility.

[0025] The coating device can include a conveying device, in particular a conveyor belt, conveyor chain or conveyor belt, for moving the workpiece. Such an arrangement ensures a high throughput.

[0026] According to a further embodiment, the first and second mounting devices are arranged opposite each other. This allows the workpiece to be supported against each other during the mounting process.

[0027] The first and / or second application unit can be moved along a guide. Alternatively, the group consisting of the first pressure unit and the first application unit, and / or the group consisting of the second pressure unit and the second application unit, can be moved along their respective guides. This allows the coating device to be adjusted for workpieces of varying widths. The movement can be achieved by means of a drive mechanism.

[0028] Furthermore, a method for coating narrow surfaces of a workpiece is provided, wherein the method comprises the following steps: applying a first coating material to a first narrow surface of the workpiece, and applying a second coating material to a second narrow surface of the workpiece, wherein at least the first coating material is printed.

[0029] The process has the advantage that, in addition to high throughput, each workpiece can be processed individually. In particular, it allows for a change of decor during operation. Furthermore, the need to keep large quantities of different coating materials in stock is eliminated.

[0030] Within the framework of the process, a coating device can be used in accordance with one of the preceding aspects.

[0031] It is preferred that the first narrow surface is arranged opposite the second narrow surface. This allows for coating of both sides of a workpiece.

[0032] Furthermore, it is preferred that the procedural steps be carried out in the order mentioned.

[0033] The process preferably includes the following step: formatting, capping of the coating material, and / or peeling off the first and second coating materials applied to the workpiece. This allows for the provision of a high-quality coating.

[0034] It is preferred that the first coating material is printed before being applied to the workpiece, and / or that the first coating material is printed after being applied to the workpiece.

[0035] If the coating material is printed before being applied to the workpiece, the printed material, in particular ink, can dry during the movement from the first printing device to the first application device, if necessary using a drying device, so that pressing down the printed coating material is ensured without affecting the printed sections.

[0036] If the coating material is printed on after being applied to the workpiece, the printed area can be positioned with extreme precision.

[0037] According to a further embodiment, the second coating material is printed. The printing of the second coating material can be carried out similarly to the printing of the first coating material. In this regard, reference is also made to the preceding descriptions regarding the printing of the first coating material.

[0038] Within the process, it is possible that the first coating material and the second coating material are identical in terms of color, pattern, thickness, cross-sectional shape and / or width.

[0039] However, the process can also be carried out in such a way that the first and second coating materials differ in color, pattern, thickness, cross-sectional shape, and / or width. For example, the workpiece can have different narrow sides, so that a coating material with a first width is applied to one narrow side and a coating material with a second width to another narrow side. Coating materials can also have different radii or indentations, resulting in different cross-sectional shapes.

[0040] In this way, the method can be used extremely flexibly.

[0041] It may be possible to print on a first coating material and a second coating material that have the same color, thickness, and / or width. This can further increase flexibility.

[0042] In particular, it is preferred that the second coating material is printed before being applied to the workpiece and / or that the second coating material is printed after being applied to the workpiece.

[0043] For example, the first coating material and the second coating material can be printed opposite each other. This allows for precise and simplified coordination of the printing processes, especially when, for instance, the printed design is intended to imitate a wood grain. In this case, a design is created on the narrow surfaces that suggests wood structures, such as grain, knots, or growth rings, extending through the workpiece.

[0044] It is preferred that the workpiece be moved using a conveyor system. This allows for the processing of high quantities.

[0045] According to another embodiment, the workpiece can also be held or fixed, at least temporarily. This embodiment allows for highly variable manufacturing.

[0046] Furthermore, a first and / or second coating material can be made of a plastic material, or it can be a veneer, preferably real wood veneer. In particular, it is an edge banding material.

[0047] The first and / or second coating material can be a fully colored coating material, whereby a pattern is applied to the coating material by the first or second printing device.

[0048] A workpiece can be, for example, a workpiece made of wood, a wood-based material, or a composite material. Brief description of the drawings

[0049] Further features and advantages of a device, a use and / or a method will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a top view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 The first embodiment is shown. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment. Fig. 4 is a top view of the [description of the first embodiment]. Fig. 3 second embodiment shown. Description of embodiments

[0050] Identical reference symbols listed in different figures name identical, corresponding, or functionally similar elements.

[0051] According to the first embodiment, a coating device 1 is provided, which is designed as a continuous feed device. The coating device 1 comprises a conveying device (not shown), for example a conveyor belt, a conveyor belt or chain conveyor, with which workpieces are moved in a conveying direction. For illustration purposes, a first workpiece W and a second workpiece W-2 are shown in the figures.

[0052] The coating device 1 is configured to apply coating material to both sides of a workpiece. For this purpose, the coating device 1 is configured to feed a first coating material Ba and a second coating material Bb and apply them to a workpiece.

[0053] The coating device 1 comprises a first printing device 10a, which is arranged such that the first coating material Ba, fed in the direction of the workpiece W, can be printed. The printing device 10a is an inkjet printing device having several printheads 11a. The printheads 11a are designed to apply different colors. In particular, one printhead is to print black, one printhead magenta, one printhead yellow, and another printhead cyan. By combining the different colors, a multicolored pattern can be produced on the coating material Ba.

[0054] The printing unit 10a can include a pretreatment unit. In particular, mechanical pre-cleaning and / or primer application can be performed. In this way, printed images of excellent quality and high durability can be produced.

[0055] Furthermore, the coating device 1 comprises a first application device 20a with which the first coating material Ba can be applied to a first narrow surface of the workpiece. The application device 20a can include a pressure roller. Additional pressure rollers can also be provided with which the first coating material Ba applied to the workpiece is pressed onto the workpiece by applying further force.

[0056] The coating device 1 has a second printing device 10b, which is arranged such that the second coating material Bb, fed in the direction of the workpiece W, can be printed. According to the embodiment, the second printing device 10b is designed similarly to or identically with the first printing device 10a, wherein the second printing device 10b in particular has several printheads 11b for different colors.

[0057] Similar to the printing device 10a, the printing device 10b may include a pretreatment device set up for mechanical pre-cleaning and / or primer application.

[0058] Furthermore, the coating device 1 comprises a second application device 20b for applying the second coating material Bb to a second narrow surface of the workpiece W. The second application device 20b is arranged such that the second coating material Bb is applied to the workpiece W in such a way that opposite narrow surfaces of the workpiece are coated with the first coating material Ba and the second coating material Bb.

[0059] The first application device 20a and / or the second application device 20b is movable along a guide perpendicular to the conveying direction of the workpieces W, W-2. This allows the coating device 1 to be adjusted for workpieces of different widths. Furthermore, the first application device 20a and / or the second application device 20b can be pivoted to apply a coating material to an inclined narrow side.

[0060] The coating device 1 is further equipped with a first trimming unit, a first drawing unit and / or a first format processing unit (not shown), which comprises a rotating processing tool, in particular a milling cutter. The first format processing unit is intended for processing the first coating material Ba applied to the workpiece.

[0061] For processing the second coating material Bb applied to the workpiece, a second trimming unit, a second drawing unit, and / or a second format processing unit (not shown) is provided, which is mounted essentially opposite the first format processing unit. The second format processing unit comprises a rotating processing tool, in particular a milling cutter.

[0062] The format processing units allow for the post-processing of the coating materials. In particular, they are designed to cut off the sections of the coating material that protrude vertically beyond the main surface of the workpiece, thus creating a transition between the coating material and the main surfaces of the workpiece.

[0063] In the Figures 3-4A coating device 1` according to a second embodiment is illustrated. The coating device 1` according to the second embodiment differs from the coating device 1 of the first embodiment with regard to the arrangement of the application and pressure devices. For further features, reference is made to the explanations of the first embodiment.

[0064] The coating device 1` is designed and configured as a continuous-feed machine to coat both sides of a workpiece with coating material. For this purpose, the coating device 1` is configured to feed a first coating material Ba` and a second coating material Bb` and apply them to a workpiece.

[0065] The coating device 1` has a first application device 20a` with which the first coating material Ba` can be applied to a first narrow surface of the workpiece W`. The first application device 20a` can have a pressure roller and further pressure rollers with which the first coating material Ba` applied to the workpiece is pressed onto the workpiece W' by applying further force.

[0066] The coating device 1` further comprises a first printing device 10a', which is arranged such that the first coating material Ba` applied to the workpiece W` can be printed on. The printing device 10a' is designed as an inkjet printing device, which has several printheads 11a' which, similar to the printheads according to the first embodiment, are provided for applying different colors in order to produce a multicolored pattern on the first coating material Ba`.

[0067] The coating device 1` has a second application device 20b` for applying the second coating material Bb` to a second narrow surface of the workpiece W', which is arranged substantially opposite the first application device 20a'.

[0068] The coating device 1` further comprises a second printing device 10b', which is arranged substantially opposite the first printing device 10a'. According to the second embodiment, the second printing device 10b' is designed similarly to or identically with the first printing device 10a', wherein the second printing device 10b in particular has several printheads 11b' for different colors.

[0069] According to this embodiment, the first printing device and the second printing device utilize a common supply (not shown) of printing material, in particular ink. Accordingly, the first printing device and the second printing device are fluidly connected to this supply.

[0070] The first printing unit 10a' and the first application unit 20a', and / or the second printing unit 10b' and second application unit 20b, are movable along a respective guide perpendicular to the conveying direction of the workpieces W', W-2'. This allows the coating unit 1' to be adjusted for workpieces of different widths. Furthermore, the first application unit 20a' and / or the second application unit 20b' can be moved along a guide. The first printing unit 10a', the first application unit 20a', the second printing unit 10b', and / or the second application unit 20b can also be pivoted to apply and / or print a coating material on an inclined narrow side.

[0071] The coating device 1' is, similar to the coating device 1 of the first embodiment, equipped with format processing units to rework the coating materials.

[0072] Even if the coating device is designed as a continuous flow machine in which a workpiece is moved, according to the embodiments described above, a coating device can also be designed as a stationary machine in which a workpiece is held or fixed at least temporarily.

Claims

1. Coating apparatus (1, 1') comprising: a first application device (20a, 20a') for applying a first coating material (Ba, Ba') to a first narrow surface of the workpiece (W, W') and second application device (20b, 20b') for applying a second coating material (Bb, Bb') to a second narrow surface of the workpiece (W, W'), characterised in that the coating apparatus comprises a first printing device (10a, 10a') for printing the first coating material (Ba).

2. Coating apparatus (1, 1') according to claim 1, wherein the first application device (20a, 20a') and / or the second application device (20b, 20b') has a pressure roller.

3. Coating apparatus (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first printing device (10a, 10a') is an inkjet printing device, it being preferred that the first printing device (10a, 10a') has print heads (11a, 11a') for different colours.

4. Coating apparatus (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a first format processing unit, in particular comprising a rotating processing tool, for processing the first coating material (Ba, Ba') applied to the workpiece (W, W'), and a second format processing unit, in particular comprising a rotating processing tool, for processing the second coating material (Bb, Bb') applied to the workpiece.

5. Coating apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first printing device (10a) is arranged upstream of the first application device (20a) in the direction of movement of the first coating material (Ba).

6. Coating apparatus (1') according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first printing device (10a') is arranged downstream of the first application device (20a') in the direction of movement of the first coating material (Ba').

7. Coating apparatus (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a second printing device (10b, 10b') for printing the second coating material (Bb).

8. Coating apparatus (1, 1') according to claim 7, wherein the first printing device (10a, 10a') and the second printing device (10b, 10b') are in fluid connection with a common supply of printing material, in particular ink.

9. Coating apparatus (1, 1') according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the first application device (20a, 20a') and / or the second application device (20b, 20b') is / are movable along a guide and / or pivotable, or the first printing device (10a') and the first application device (20a') and / or the second printing device (10b') and the second application device (20b') are movable along a respective guide and / or pivotable.

10. Coating apparatus (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a conveying device, in particular a transport belt, a conveyor chain or a conveyor belt, for moving the workpiece (W, W').

11. Coating apparatus (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first application device (20a, 20a') and the second application device (20b, 20b') are arranged opposite one another.

12. Method for coating narrow surfaces of a workpiece (W, W') using a coating apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of: applying a first coating material (Ba, Ba') to a first narrow surface of the workpiece (W, W'), and applying a second coating material (Bb, Bb') to a second narrow surface of the workpiece (W, W'), wherein at least the first coating material (Ba, Ba') is printed.

13. Method according to claim 12, comprising: format processing, trimming the coating material and / or removing the first coating material (Ba, Ba') applied to the workpiece and the second coating material (Bb, Bb') applied to the workpiece.

14. Method according to any one of claims 12 to 13, wherein the first coating material (Ba) is printed before it is applied to the workpiece, or the first coating material (Ba') is printed after it has been applied to the workpiece.

15. Method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the second coating material (Bb, Bb') is printed.