Loading device for a coating system and coating system

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a loading device for a coating system and a coating system.

[0002] Coating systems are used to coat parts, especially workpieces, with a coating agent such as varnish or paint. In these systems, the workpieces are sprayed with the coating agent and then cured in a heating unit, such as an oven.

[0003] In known coating systems, several workpieces are arranged on supports of a holding unit, and the thus-equipped holding unit is transferred to a conveyor system, through which the workpieces are fed to the coating unit and then to the heating unit. After the coating on the workpieces has cured, the holding unit is fed to an unloading device, where the holding unit is removed from the conveyor system, and the workpieces are then removed from the holding unit.

[0004] It has been found to be disadvantageous that by coating the workpieces with coating agent it can never be completely avoided that components of the holding unit are also coated with the coating agent and have to be cleaned before being used again.

[0005] This proves to be particularly disadvantageous when the coating system is designed in such a way that the workpieces are electrically energized by the holding unit during coating to improve adhesion of the coating agent. In such a case, it is disadvantageous if the holding unit is increasingly coated with the coating agent and thus electrically insulated. The conduction of electrical current through the holding unit to the workpieces is then prevented or at least reduced due to the increasing insulating effect of the coating agent.

[0006] Cleaning the individual components of the holding device proves to be cumbersome, time-consuming, and therefore expensive. To save costs, coating systems are known from the prior art in which the holding devices comprise wire-like hooks that are suspended from the supports of the holding device and onto which a workpiece is suspended. After each coating pass, the coated wire hooks are disposed of and replaced with new wire hooks. Arranging the wire hooks on the supports and arranging the workpieces on the wire hooks proved to be time-consuming.

[0007] Loading devices for a coating system with at least one holding device, which comprises at least one rack-like frame and at least one carrier made of a rod-like or wire-like endless material, which can be or is fixed to the frame at one end and on which at least one hook-like holding section is formed, on which a workpiece to be processed can be arranged, are known from US 4 243 146 A and US 5 769 949 A.

[0008] A supply device by means of which a carrier can be produced, which comprises an endless material carrier which provides the endless material forming the carrier, a deformation unit by means of which a hook-like holding section can be formed by a regionally plastic deformation of the provided endless material, and a cutting means by means of which the provided endless material can be separated from the remaining endless material carrier, is known from CN 112 692 189 A.

[0009] An object of an embodiment of the invention is to propose a placement device and a coating system in which the arrangement of workpieces on a holding device can be made more efficient.

[0010] This object is achieved by a loading device for a coating system with at least one holding device, which comprises at least one rack-like frame and at least one carrier made of a rod-like or wire-like continuous material, which can be fixed or is fixed to the frame at one end and on which at least one hook-like holding section is formed, on which a workpiece to be processed can be arranged, with at least one detection device, which comprises a detection means by which at least the dimensions of the frame and the workpiece can be detected, and which comprises at least one control unit by which, on the basis of the dimensions of the frame and the workpiece, the dimensions of the at least one hook-like holding section and a minimum distance between two hook-like holding sections of the carrier for contact-free arrangement of the workpiece as well as by which the total length of the continuous material for forming the carrier can be determined,and with at least one provision device which functionally cooperates with the detection device and by means of which the carrier can be produced, which provides an endless material carrier which provides the endless material forming the carrier, which comprises a deformation unit by means of which a hook-like holding section can be formed by a regionally plastic deformation of the provided endless material in accordance with the determined dimensions and the determined minimum distance, and which comprises a cutting means by means of which the provided endless material can be separated from the remaining endless material carrier when the total length is reached.

[0011] Because the placement device comprises a provisioning device in which the carrier and the hook-like holding sections made of a continuous material can be provided based on the data acquired by the detection means, the placement process can be made more efficient. In particular, the wire hooks known from the prior art and their arrangement on the carrier can be dispensed with, thus saving time.

[0012] Because the loading device includes a detection device that detects the dimensions of the frame and the workpiece, the carriers in the supply device can be optimally adjusted. This makes it possible to tailor the carrier and the hook-like holding sections provided therein to the respective workpiece. This improves the space- and location-optimized use of the holding device, allowing the number of workpieces to be processed, especially those to be coated, to be optimized.

[0013] The total length of the endless material separated from the endless material and forming the carrier is understood to be the length required to form the pure carrier sections and the hook-like holding sections.

[0014] In principle, it is conceivable for the hook-like holding sections to be cut to length from the continuous carrier material and attached to the carrier as additional, separate components. However, an embodiment of the assembly device is preferred in which the carrier and the at least one hook-like holding section form a common, one-piece component.

[0015] The deformation unit can, in principle, be designed in any desired technical manner, provided that it can provide the hook-shaped holding section. In one embodiment of the loading device, it is provided that the at least one deformation unit of the supply device comprises a contact means arranged parallel to the direction of extension of the provided continuous material and which comprises a through-opening, and that the at least one deformation unit of the supply device comprises a pulling means which engages behind the provided continuous material on a side facing away from the contact means and transfers the hook-shaped holding section to be formed through the opening transversely or obliquely to the direction of extension of the provided continuous material.

[0016] If the deformation unit of the supply device comprises a contact means through whose opening a region of the continuous material can be pushed through, this pushed-through region can be deformed without the other, in particular adjacent, regions of the continuous material being deformed.

[0017] In a further development of the latter embodiment, it proves to be advantageous if the at least one deformation unit of the provision device comprises at least one twisting means by which the hook-like holding section to be formed, which is transferred through the opening of the contact means, can be plastically deformed by twisting and / or if the at least one deformation unit of the provision device comprises at least one bending means by which the hook-like holding section to be formed, which is transferred through the opening of the contact means, can be deformed by bending.

[0018] If the deformation unit of the supply device comprises at least one twisting means, the continuous material can be twisted to form the hook-like holding section. This can increase the flexural rigidity of the hook-like holding section, allowing heavier workpieces to be arranged on the hook-like holding section without plastically deforming it.

[0019] If the deformation unit comprises a bending means, the hook-like holding portion can be deformed by bending, whereby a workpiece, which, for example, comprises a receptacle formed by a through-opening, can be arranged on a hook-like holding portion, forming a rear grip. This ensures that the workpiece cannot be inadvertently removed from the hook-like portion when the holding device is moved.

[0020] The arrangement of the carrier on the frame can basically be arbitrary. Embodiments of the loading device are conceivable in which at least one of the at least one hook-like holding portion formed on the carrier, in the arrangement of the carrier fixed on the frame, comprises a horizontal region that opens into the carrier and a vertical region that opens into the horizontal region and has a free end for arranging the workpiece on the side facing away from the horizontal region, wherein the hook-like holding portion is arranged with both the horizontal region and the vertical region running parallel to a plane spanned by the frame, or wherein the hook-like holding portion is arranged with the horizontal region or with the vertical region running perpendicular to a plane spanned by the frame.

[0021] If the hook-like holding sections are designed such that their horizontal and vertical sections extend in the plane of the frame, workpieces arranged on the hook-like holding sections can be arranged such that their largest surfaces extend transversely to the plane of the frame. As a result, the workpieces penetrate the frame.

[0022] This allows the number of workpieces that can be arranged on the frame to be increased.

[0023] If the hook-like holding sections are arranged such that either a horizontal region or a vertical region runs perpendicular to the plane spanned by the frame, the workpieces that can be arranged on the hook-like holding sections are arranged with their largest surface running essentially parallel to the plane of the frame.

[0024] Furthermore, embodiments of the placement device are conceivable in which two adjacent, hook-like holding sections formed on the same carrier are each arranged on an opposite side of the carrier. This allows the workpieces to be arranged to the left and right of the carrier, thereby increasing the placement density of the holding device.

[0025] The detection means can, in principle, be designed in any desired manner, provided it fulfills the technical function of detecting at least the dimensions of the frame and the workpiece. In embodiments of the assembly device, it is provided that at least one of the at least one detection means comprises at least one manually operable input means through which at least the dimensions of the frame and the workpiece can be entered and / or that at least one of the at least one detection means comprises at least one sensor means through which at least the dimensions of the frame and the workpiece can be detected automatically.

[0026] If at least one of the at least one detection means comprises at least one manually operable input means, the data for the frame and the workpiece can be entered manually. This allows the assembly device to be designed in a technically simple manner.

[0027] If at least one of the at least one detection means comprises at least one sensor, the dimensions of the frame and the workpieces can be detected automatically. This increases the degree of automation of the loading device and allows for more efficient loading of the holding device or provision of the carrier comprising the at least one hook-shaped holding section.

[0028] The detection means can be functionally assigned to the control unit.

[0029] Furthermore, it proves to be advantageous if the control unit comprises a calculation means by which the dimensions of the at least one hook-like holding section, the minimum distance between two hook-like holding sections and the total length of the endless material can be calculated and / or if the control unit comprises a storage means in which the values ​​for the dimensions of the at least one hook-like holding section, the minimum distance between two hook-like holding sections and the total length of the endless material are stored.

[0030] If the control unit includes a computing device, it can always calculate the necessary data depending on the situation.

[0031] If the control unit comprises a storage means in which the values ​​for the dimensions of the at least one hook-like holding section, the distance between two hook-like holding sections and the total length of the endless material are stored, the control unit can be of simple design.

[0032] In addition, the control unit can comprise both computing means and storage means and can store calculations once performed in the storage means and access them.

[0033] The endless material can in principle be designed in any way as long as it fulfils the function that the hook-like holding section can be formed from the carrier and is not plastically deformed when the workpiece is arranged on the hook-like holding section.

[0034] In order to ensure that current flows through the workpieces during processing, in particular during coating, in order to improve the adhesion of the coating agent, it proves to be advantageous if the holding device, in particular the endless material forming the carrier and the at least one holding section, is designed to be electrically conductive and in particular comprises a metal, such as iron, steel or copper.

[0035] If the continuous material forming the carrier and the at least one holding section is electrically conductive and in particular comprises a metal, it can be provided and deformed in a simple manner by the provision device and by the deformation unit.

[0036] In addition, the metal construction allows for the absorption of sufficiently high forces caused by the weight of the workpieces to be mounted on it.

[0037] In order to allow current to flow through the supports comprising at least one hook-like holding section, it proves to be advantageous if the holding device comprises at least two receptacles fixed to the rack-like frame, which are assigned to a support, to which the support can be detachably fixed and by means of which the support can be connected to a power source and supplied with current when fixed.

[0038] Furthermore, embodiments of the loading device are conceivable in which the holding device comprises at least two supports which can be or are fixed to the rack-like frame running essentially parallel to one another.

[0039] In particular, if the holding device comprises at least two supports, the arrangement of the hook-like holding sections with the horizontal areas and vertical areas in the plane of the frame or transversely thereto is decisive for the number of workpieces that can be arranged, depending on the number and dimensions of the workpieces to be arranged.

[0040] In particular, if the holding device comprises at least two carriers, it can be provided in a further development of the assembly device that a vertical minimum distance between two hook-like holding sections of a carrier for contact-free arrangement of the workpiece and / or a horizontal minimum distance between two hook-like holding sections of two adjacent carriers can be detected by the detection means of the detection device, wherein the minimum distance between two hook-like holding sections for contact-free arrangement of the workpiece determined by the control unit comprises a vertical minimum distance between two holding sections on the same carrier and a horizontal minimum distance between two holding sections of two adjacent carriers.

[0041] Since the detection means of the detection device can detect both a minimum vertical distance between two hook-shaped holding sections of a carrier and a minimum horizontal distance between two hook-shaped holding sections of two adjacent carriers, it can be ensured that the workpieces do not touch each other during processing, in particular during coating, and thus an insufficient or even absent coating occurs in areas of the workpieces.

[0042] In principle, it is conceivable for the carrier produced by the supply device to be manually secured to the frame. The degree of automation of the assembly device can be increased if the assembly device comprises at least one handling unit, which includes at least one supply handling means, by means of which the carrier produced by the supply device can be received on the supply device and arranged on the frame of the holding device.

[0043] Furthermore, it is conceivable for the workpieces to be manually positioned on the hook-like support sections by operating personnel. The degree of automation can be further increased if the handling unit comprises at least one loading and unloading device, by which a workpiece can be picked up and arranged on a holding section of a carrier attached to the frame and / or by which a holding device loaded with at least one workpiece can be transferred to a coating system.

[0044] Furthermore, the degree of automation of the placement device can be further increased if the placement device comprises at least one feeding means on which workpieces can be placed, fed to the handling unit and grasped by the placement handling means.

[0045] Furthermore, the object is achieved by a coating system for coating workpieces, with at least one loading device with at least one of the aforementioned features, with a conveyor system for transporting the at least one holding device of the loading device loaded with workpieces, with a coating unit in which a holding device loaded with workpieces, which is fed by the conveyor system, can be coated with coating agent, with a heating unit which is arranged downstream of the coating unit and in which the coating agent can be cured, and with at least one unloading device for removing the holding device from the conveyor system and for removing the workpieces from the holding device.

[0046] Further features, details and advantages of the invention emerge from the appended patent claims, from the drawings and the following description of a preferred embodiment of the assembly device and the coating system.

[0047] The drawing shows: Figure 1: A schematic plan view of an embodiment of a placement device according to the invention; Figure 2: A schematic plan view of a deformation unit of the placement device in different process stages of the deformation; Figure 3: A schematic plan view of an embodiment of a coating system according to the invention.

[0048] Figure 1 shows a loading device, generally designated by the reference numeral 2, for a coating system 4 ( Figure 3 ). The assembly device 2 comprises holding devices 6, which are Figure 1 and Figure 3are only shown schematically and each comprise at least one rack-like frame 8 and at least one support 10 made on the frame 8 from a rod-like or wire-like endless material.

[0049] The supports 10, made of the wire-like continuous material, are secured at both ends to the frame 8. Hook-like holding sections 12 are formed on the supports 10. A workpiece 14 to be machined can be arranged on the hook-like holding sections 12. Furthermore, the loading device 2 comprises a detection device 16, which includes a detection means 18, by which at least the dimensions of the frame 8 and the workpiece 14 can be detected.

[0050] Furthermore, the detection device 16 comprises a control unit 20, by means of which, on the basis of the dimensions of the frame 8 and the workpiece 14, the dimensions of the at least one hook-like holding section 12 of the carrier 10 for the contact-free arrangement of the workpiece 14 and by means of which the total length of the continuous material for forming the carrier 10 can be determined.

[0051] Furthermore, the assembly device 2 comprises a provision device 22 that functionally interacts with the detection device 16. The carrier 10 can be produced by the provision device 22.

[0052] The supply device 22 comprises a continuous material carrier 34, which supplies the continuous material forming the carrier 10. Furthermore, the supply device 22 comprises a deformation unit 36, by which a hook-like holding section 12 can be formed by plastically deforming the provided continuous material in certain regions according to the determined dimensions and the determined minimum distance. Furthermore, the deformation unit 36 ​​comprises a cutting device 38, by which the provided continuous material can be separated from the remaining continuous material carrier 34 once the total length is reached.

[0053] Figure 1shows an embodiment of the placement device 2, in which the detection means 18 of the detection device 16 comprises a sensor means 40. In order to transport workpieces 14 to the holding device 6, the placement device 2 comprises a feed means 42, on which workpieces 14 can be placed and fed to the holding device 6. For arranging the workpieces 14 arriving at the holding device 6, the placement device 2 comprises a handling unit 44, which comprises a placement handling means 46, by means of which a workpiece 14 can be picked up and arranged on a holding section 12 of a carrier 10 fixed to the frame 8.

[0054] In addition, the handling unit 44 comprises a provision handling means 48, by means of which the carrier 10 produced by the provision device 22 can be received on the provision device 22 and arranged on the frame 8 on the holding device 6.

[0055] In the Figure 1In the embodiment shown, the frame 8 of the holding device 6 is received by the assembly handling means 46 and arranged on a conveyor system 50 of the coating system 4.

[0056] Figure 2 shows a continuous material during the production of a carrier 10 by the supply device 22. The deformation unit 36 ​​of the supply device 22 comprises a support means 51 arranged parallel to the direction of extension of the provided continuous material. The support means 51 comprises a through opening 52.

[0057] In addition, the deformation unit 36 ​​comprises a pulling means 54 which engages behind the provided continuous material on a side facing away from the contact means 51 and transfers it transversely or obliquely to the direction of extension of the provided continuous material to the hook-like holding section 12 to be formed through the opening 52.

[0058] In addition, the deformation unit 36 ​​comprises a twisting means 56, by means of which the hook-like holding section 12 to be formed, which is transferred through the opening 52 of the contact means 51, can be twisted.

[0059] Finally, the deformation unit 36 ​​comprises a bending means 58, by means of which the hook-like holding section 12 to be formed, which is transferred through the opening 52 of the contact means 51, can be deformed by bending.

[0060] Figure 3 shows a coating system 4. The elements of the assembly device 2 shown there correspond to the illustration according to Figure 1 , which is why reference is made to the explanations and reference symbols shown there. The coating system 4 comprises a coating unit 60, in which workpieces 14 fed by the conveyor system 50 are coated with coating agent.

[0061] From the coating unit 60, the coated workpieces 14, in particular the holding device 6, on which the workpieces 14 are attached to the hook-like holding sections 12 of the carriers 10, which are fixed to the frame 8 of the holding device 6, are transferred to a heating unit 62 by the conveyor system 50. There, the coating agents cure.

[0062] Subsequently, the conveyor system 50 transports the holding device 6 to an unloading device 64, at which the holding device 6 is removed from the conveyor system 50 and at which the coated workpieces 14 are removed from the holding device 6.

[0063] The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, in the claims and in the drawings can be essential both individually and in any combination in the realization of the invention in its various embodiments within the scope of the following claims. List of reference symbols

[0064] 2 Loading device 4 Coating system 6 Holding device 8 Frame 10 Carrier 12 Holding section 14 Workpiece 16 Detection device 18 Detection means 20 Control unit 22 Provision device 34 Endless material carrier 36 Deformation unit 38 Cutting-to-length means 40 Sensor means 42 Feeding means 44 Handling unit 46 Loading handling means 48 Provision handling means 50 Conveyor system 51 Contact means 52 Opening 54 Pulling means 56 Twisting means 58 Bending means 60 Coating unit 62 Heating unit 64 Unloading device

Claims

1. Loading device (2) for a coating system (4) with at least one holding device (6) which comprises at least one rack-like frame (8) and at least one carrier (10) made of a rod-like or wire-like continuous material, which can be or is secured with one end to the frame (8) and on which at least one hook-like holding section (12) is formed, on which a workpiece (14) to be coated can be arranged, with at least one detection device (16) which comprises a detection means (18), by which at least the dimensions of the frame (8) and of the workpiece (14) can be detected, and which comprises at least one control unit (20), by which, on the basis of the dimensions of the frame (8) and the workpiece (14), the dimensions of the at least one hook-like holding section (12) and of a minimum distance between two hook-like holding sections (12) on the carrier (10) for contact-free arrangement of the workpiece (14) and by which the total length of the continuous material for forming the carrier (10) can be determined, and with at least one provisioning device (22) which interacts functionally with the detection device (16), by which the carrier (10) can be produced, which provides a continuous material carrier (34), which provides the continuous material forming the carrier (10), which provides a deformation unit (36), by which a hook-like holding section (12) can be moulded by a region-wise plastic deformation of the provided continuous material in accordance with the determined dimensions and the determined minimum distance, and which provides a cutting means (38), with which the provided continuous material can be cut once the total length of the remaining continuous material carrier (34) is achieved.

2. Loading device (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the carrier (10) and the at least one hook-like holding section (12) form a common one-piece component.

3. Loading device (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the at least one deformation unit (36) of the provisioning device (22) comprises a contact means (51) which is arranged parallel to the direction of extension of the continuous material provided and which comprises a continuous opening (52), and in that the at least one deforming unit (36) of the provisioning device (22) comprises a pulling means (54) which engages behind the continuous material provided on a side facing away from the contact means (51) and transfers the hook-like holding section (12) to be formed through the opening (52) transversely or obliquely to the direction of extension of the continuous material provided.

4. Loading device (2) according to claim 3, characterised in that the at least one deformation unit (36) of the provisioning device (22) comprises at least one twisting means (56), by means of which the hook-like holding section (12) to be formed, which is transferred through the opening (52) of the contact means (51), can be plastically deformed by twisting and / or in that the at least one deformation unit (36) of the provisioning device (22) comprises at least one bending means (58) by means of which the hook-like holding section (12) to be formed, which is transferred through the opening (52) of the contact means (51), can be deformed by bending.

5. Loading device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one of the at least one hook-like holding section (12) formed on the carrier (10) comprises, in the arrangement of the carrier (10) fixed to the frame (8), a horizontal region which opens into the carrier (10), and a vertical region which opens into the horizontal region and has a free end for arranging the workpiece (14) on the side facing away from the horizontal region, wherein the hook-like holding section (12) is arranged with both the horizontal region and the vertical region extending parallel to a plane spanned by the frame (8), or wherein the hook-like holding section (12) is arranged with the horizontal region or with the vertical region extending perpendicular to a plane spanned by the frame (8).

6. Loading device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one of the at least one detection means (18) comprises at least one manually operable input means, by which at least the dimensions of the frame (8) and of the workpiece (14) can be entered and / or in that at least one of the at least one detection means (18) comprises at least one sensor means (40), by which at least the dimensions of the frame (8) and of the workpiece (14) can be detected automatically.

7. Loading device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the control unit (20) comprises a calculating means by means of which the dimensions of the at least one hook-like holding section (12) of the minimum distance between two hook-like holding sections (12) and the total length of the continuous material can be calculated and / or in that the control unit (20) comprises a memory means in which the values for the dimensions of the at least one hook-like holding section (12), the minimum distance between two hook-like holding sections (12) and the total length of the continuous material are stored.

8. Loading device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the holding device (6), in particular the continuous material forming the carrier (10) and the at least one holding section (12), is electrically conductive and in particular comprises a metal, such as iron, steel or copper.

9. Loading device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the holding device (6) comprises at least two receptacles which are fixed to the rack-like frame (8) and are assigned to a carrier (10), to which the carrier (10) can be detachably fixed and through which the carrier (10) can be connected to a power source and energised when fixed.

10. Loading device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the holding device (6) comprises at least two carriers (10) which can be fixed or are fixed to the rack-like frame (8) running essentially parallel to one another.

11. Loading device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a vertical minimum distance between two hook-like holding sections (12) of a carrier (10) for contact-free arrangement of the workpiece (14) and / or a horizontal minimum distance between two hook-like holding sections (12) of two adjacent carriers (10) can be detected by the detection means (18) of the detection device (16), wherein the minimum distance determined by the control unit (20) between two hook-like holding sections (12) for the contact-free arrangement of the workpiece (14) comprises a vertical minimum distance between two holding sections (12) on the same carrier (10) and a horizontal minimum distance between two holding sections (12) of two neighbouring carriers (10).

12. Loading device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by at least one handling unit (44), which comprises at least one loading-handling means (48), by means of which the carrier (10) produced by the provisioning device (22) can be picked up at the provisioning device (22) and can be arranged on the frame (8) of the holding device (6).

13. Loading device (2) according to claim 12, characterised in that the handling unit (44) comprises at least one loading-handling means (46), by means of which a workpiece (14) can be picked up and arranged on a holding section (12) of a carrier (10) fixed to the frame (8) and / or by means of which a holding device (6) loaded with at least one workpiece (14) can be transferred to a coating system (4).

14. Loading device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by at least one feed means (42), on which workpieces (14) can be deposited, fed to the handling unit (44) and gripped by the loading-handling means (46).

15. Coating system (4) for coating workpieces (14), having a loading device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 14, having a conveyor system (50) for transporting the at least one holding device (6), loaded with workpieces (14), of the loading device (2), having a coating unit (60), in which a holding device (6) loaded with workpieces (14) and fed by the conveyor system (50) can be coated with coating agent, with a heating unit (62) which is arranged downstream of the coating unit (60) and in which the coating agent can be cured, and with at least one unloading device (64) for removing the holding device (6) from the conveyor system (50) and for removing the workpieces (14) from the holding device (6).