Treatment facility for treating workpieces, and method for treating workpieces

Abstract

The invention relates to a treatment facility (100) for treating workpieces (102), in particular for drying vehicle bodies, comprising a treatment chamber (107) for receiving and treating one or more workpieces (102). The treatment chamber (107) comprises multiple treatment chamber sections (108) that are paired with a respective separate circulating air unit (118), by means of which a circulating air flow can be generated that is guided through each treatment chamber section (108) along a flow direction. The treatment chamber (107) has a conveying direction (114) through the treatment chamber sections (108) and a treatment chamber (107) transverse direction (115) running perpendicularly to the conveying direction (114), and each circulating air unit (118) comprises the following: - a ventilator (120) for driving the circulating air flow in each circulating air unit (118); - one or more temperature-control devices (122) for heating or cooling the circulating air flow; - one or more feed devices (126) and / or feed modules (127) for feeding the circulating air flow to the treatment chamber section (108); - one or more feed channels (142) for feeding the circulating air flow to the one or more feed devices (126) and / or feed modules (127); - one or more return channels (128) for returning the circulating air flow from the treatment chamber section (108) to the ventilator (120); and - one or more additional electric temperature-control devices (152) for reheating or re-cooling the circulating air flow in the feed channels (142) and / or return channels (128).

Description

[0001] Treatment system for treating workpieces and a method for treating workpieces

[0002] The present invention relates to a treatment system for treating workpieces, in particular for drying vehicle bodies. The treatment system is thus particularly a component of a painting system for painting vehicle bodies. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding method for treating workpieces.

[0003] Dryers are currently mostly centrally heated. Burner systems, gas turbines, or other gas-fired systems are particularly suitable for this. For gas-fired systems, central heating is often the preferred solution due to its flexibility, controllability, pre-assembly of fan units, and savings in electricity consumption. However, it can also pose disadvantages when it comes to installing external supply units and connecting them via gas ducts.

[0004] The present invention is based on the object of providing a treatment plant which is simple and compact in design and enables efficient operation.

[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention by a treatment plant having the features according to claim 1.

[0006] The treatment system is used to treat workpieces. Specifically, the treatment system is a dryer for drying vehicle bodies.

[0007] The treatment system preferably comprises the following: a treatment chamber for receiving and treating one or more workpieces, wherein the treatment chamber comprises a plurality of treatment chamber sections, each of which is assigned to a separate recirculation unit, by means of which a recirculation flow can be generated that is guided through the respective treatment chamber section along a flow direction. Preferably, the treatment chamber has a conveying direction through the treatment chamber sections and a transverse direction of the treatment chamber that runs perpendicular to the conveying direction.

[0008] Each recirculation unit comprises the following: a fan for driving the recirculation air flow in the respective recirculation unit; one or more temperature control devices for heating or cooling the recirculation air flow; one or more supply devices and / or supply modules for supplying the recirculation air flow to the respective treatment space section; one or more supply ducts for supplying the recirculation air flow to the one or more supply devices and / or supply modules; one or more return ducts for returning the recirculation air flow from the treatment space section to the fan.

[0009] Because the treatment plant preferably comprises one or more recirculation units, the treatment plant can preferably be constructed in a simple and compact manner.

[0010] It can be provided that each recirculation unit further comprises: one or more additional electrical temperature control devices for reheating or recooling the recirculation air flow in the one or more supply ducts and / or the one or more return ducts.

[0011] The treatment system preferably comprises several temperature control devices, which serve in particular to heat or cool different sections of the treatment chamber. The treatment system thus preferably comprises a decentralized system for adjusting the temperature. This allows interfaces and thus complexity in engineering and on the construction site to be minimized.

[0012] It may be advantageous if the one or more temperature control devices are electrically operated or gas-operated temperature control devices.

[0013] In the case of gas-powered temperature control devices, a central or decentralized clean gas heating system is preferably provided. The thermal energy contained in the clean gas is transferred to the circulating air of the recirculation units, with the clean gas preferably being provided by a thermal exhaust gas purification system (TAR). With centralized clean gas heating, heat transfer takes place through a central heat exchanger in the treatment system, whereas with decentralized clean gas heating, a corresponding clean gas heat exchanger is provided in each recirculation unit. It should be understood that with centralized clean gas heating, the central heat exchanger forms the temperature control device for each recirculation unit.

[0014] A gas-operated temperature control device can alternatively be designed as a single gas burner, so that each recirculation unit is heated decentrally by a single burner.

[0015] In the case of electrically operated temperature control devices, the required heat energy can be provided centrally by a purely electrically operated, particularly flameless, regenerative thermal oxidizer (F-RTO), or the temperature control devices can be decentralized and each comprise one or more electric heating registers for heating the circulating air. The latter, in particular, allows the temperature control devices to be quickly controllable and have a low pressure drop. Furthermore, compared to centrally gas-operated treatment plants, decentralized electrically operated temperature control devices can eliminate the need for complex duct systems.

[0016] By means of the one or more feed devices and / or feed modules, the circulating air can be directed or flowed in a targeted or directed manner to specific areas of the workpiece to be treated, wherein the feed devices can be designed as feed nozzles.

[0017] One or more supply channels can, for example, fluidically connect a distribution chamber arranged immediately downstream of the temperature control device with the supply devices or the supply modules.

[0018] It can further be provided that one or more supply channels fluidly connect, for example, a distribution chamber located directly downstream of the temperature control device with one or more supply modules arranged below, above, or to the side of the workpiece, i.e., in particular, the vehicle body. This allows sill areas or other heavy-duty parts of the workpieces to be targeted with circulating air.

[0019] It is particularly advantageous if one or more additional electrical temperature control devices for reheating or recooling the circulating air flow are arranged in the one or more supply ducts and / or the one or more return ducts. This allows, in particular, an additionally heated or cooled partial volume flow of the circulating air flow to be generated and fed into the treatment chamber section, in particular directed onto the workpieces.

[0020] It may be advantageous if partial volume flows of the circulating air flow can be heated by means of one or more additional temperature control devices and can be directed by means of feed devices and / or feed modules to those sections of the workpiece to be treated which have an increased heat requirement for carrying out the treatment process.

[0021] It may be particularly advantageous if the one or more temperature control devices or the additional electrical temperature control devices are the only devices that serve primarily to heat the circulating air flow.

[0022] It may be advantageous if the treatment chamber comprises a conveying device by means of which one or more workpieces on a receiving unit can be conveyed along the conveying direction through the treatment chamber sections of the treatment chamber.

[0023] The treatment chamber sections are preferably arranged successively along the conveying direction of the conveying device of the treatment plant.

[0024] The workpieces can preferably be conveyed through the treatment chamber in a transverse orientation, wherein in the transverse orientation a longitudinal axis, in particular a vehicle longitudinal axis, of the workpieces is aligned transversely, in particular at least approximately perpendicularly, to the conveying direction and / or at least approximately horizontally.

[0025] It is also conceivable that the workpieces, ie in particular the vehicle bodies, are conveyed in the direction of their longitudinal axis.

[0026] The conveying device preferably comprises two rail units which extend through the treatment chamber sections and on which a receiving unit which receives at least one workpiece during the treatment is movable in the conveying direction.

[0027] By means of the fan, the circulating air flow can preferably be driven in such a way that it flows successively in the flow direction through, among other things, the temperature control device, a distribution chamber, one or more feed channels, one or more feed devices and / or feed modules, a treatment chamber section of the treatment chamber, one or more return channels and an intake chamber, in particular in this order, before it reaches the fan again.

[0028] The temperature control device is preferably a heating device for heating the circulating air flow. However, it is also conceivable that it is a cooling device for cooling the circulating air flow. It is also conceivable that the temperature control device can selectively heat or cool.

[0029] The one or more temperature control devices are preferably arranged downstream of the fan and / or upstream of a distribution chamber. The distribution chamber is preferably adjacent to the treatment chamber and serves to distribute the recirculating air flow to the one or more supply ducts.

[0030] It can be advantageous if an intake chamber is provided upstream of the fan.

[0031] It may be advantageous if the intake chamber is arranged between the treatment chamber section and the fan, particularly with respect to the transverse direction of the treatment chamber. Alternatively or additionally, the intake chamber may be arranged vertically at at least approximately the same height as a fan impeller.

[0032] In a further embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that an ejection area and / or an equalization area are provided downstream of the fan.

[0033] It may be advantageous if the discharge area and / or the equalization area are located directly above the fan and / or an intake chamber

[0034] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the ejection area and / or the equalization area are arranged in the horizontal direction at least approximately at the same height as the one or more temperature control devices.

[0035] Preferably, the fan is a radial fan, wherein a rotational axis of an impeller of the radial fan is aligned at least approximately horizontally and / or at least approximately perpendicularly to the conveying direction of the treatment chamber.

[0036] It can be provided that at least one feed module is arranged within the treatment chamber section below the receiving unit and / or horizontally at least approximately at the same height as the conveying device.

[0037] Preferably, at least one feed module is arranged between the rail units of the conveyor device.

[0038] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that at least one feed module is arranged on the side of the treatment chamber section opposite the fan.

[0039] Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that at least one feed module is arranged above the one or more workpieces. Preferably, the respective treatment chamber section is surrounded by a housing that is open on the side surfaces through which the conveying device extends. The at least one feed module can then be arranged on the ceiling surface of the housing above the workpieces conveyed through the treatment chamber section in order to supply a portion of the circulating air flow to the workpieces from above.

[0040] It can be provided that a feed module comprises one or more feed sections, and that each feed section has at least one, preferably at least two nozzles.

[0041] In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the one or more feed sections have a plurality of nozzles which are arranged within the respective feed section parallel and / or transversely to the conveying direction.

[0042] It can be advantageous if the nozzles are arranged in a row within the respective feed section.

[0043] In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that an arrangement and / or orientation of the at least one nozzle within the respective feed section can be adapted to the one or more workpieces to be treated.

[0044] This allows the nozzles to be directed to those sections of the workpiece to be treated that require a higher airflow rate. It is conceivable that there would be interchangeable nozzle arrangements for each feed section of a feed module and / or that, for example, apertured screens could be used to vary the position and / or size of the nozzle outlet openings.

[0045] It may be advantageous if the circulating air flowing through the nozzles of the feed sections can be fed directly, particularly unhindered, to at least a portion of the one or more workpieces. This prevents part of the circulating air flow, for example, from transferring heat, to the receiving unit on which the workpiece is conveyed.

[0046] In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the one or more return channels run below the treatment chamber section, in particular in a floor wall delimiting the respective treatment chamber section at the bottom.

[0047] Preferably, it can further be provided that each recirculation unit comprises at least one throttle for partially slowing down the recirculation air flow and / or at least one additional fan for partially accelerating the recirculation air flow.

[0048] The at least one throttle and / or the at least one additional fan can advantageously be arranged within the supply ducts in order to adjust the speed of the partial recirculating air flows flowing out into the treatment room section.

[0049] In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that one or more filter elements for filtering the circulating air are arranged within the distribution space.

[0050] This ensures that no dirt particles and / or solvents that are returned from the treatment room section are returned to the workpiece.

[0051] It may be advantageous if the one or more recirculation units, in particular all recirculation units, are arranged laterally adjacent to the respective treatment room section. In particular, scaffolding for elevated installation is then preferably unnecessary.

[0052] Preferably, the one or more recirculation units are fully accessible at ground level, in particular for assembly and / or maintenance work.

[0053] The treatment plant then preferably does not require a complex framework structure. The present invention is further based on the object of providing a method that enables efficient operation of a treatment plant using a simple and compact design.

[0054] This object is achieved according to the invention by a method according to the independent method claim.

[0055] The method is in particular a method for treating workpieces, in particular for drying vehicle bodies.

[0056] Preferably, the method comprises the following:

[0057] Feeding one or more workpieces to a treatment chamber of a treatment system, in particular a treatment system according to the invention; heating the one or more workpieces by means of one or more circulating air streams, wherein the one or more circulating air streams are generated by means of one or more circulating air units.

[0058] Optionally, the procedure further includes the following:

[0059] Heating or cooling the one or more circulating air streams by means of one or more electrical temperature control devices and / or one or more additional temperature control devices.

[0060] The method preferably has one or more of the features and / or advantages described in connection with the treatment plant.

[0061] Preferably, the treatment plant further comprises one or more of the features and / or advantages described in connection with the method.

[0062] It can be advantageous if conditioned fresh air is supplied to the treatment room and this fresh air is then circulated as a recirculation air flow in one or more recirculation units, with heat or cold being supplied in the recirculation units exclusively by electrical temperature control.

[0063] The conditioned fresh air is supplied, in particular, via one or two locks at one or both ends of the treatment chamber. The treatment system preferably further comprises an exhaust device for removing exhaust air. The exhaust air is removed, in particular, from a treatment chamber section located centrally with respect to the conveying direction, for example.

[0064] It may be advantageous if the exhaust air is fed to a purification device, such as a regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO), to remove contaminants contained in the exhaust air. The purification device is preferably located outside a building in which the treatment plant is installed.

[0065] In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the one or more recirculating air flows are supplied in at least approximately horizontal direction to one or more fans of the one or more recirculating air units.

[0066] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the one or more recirculating air flows are discharged upwards from the one or more fans in at least an approximately vertical direction.

[0067] Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the one or more circulating air flows are deflected in a spatial area arranged above the one or more fans and / or, in particular in at least approximately horizontal direction, are fed to the one or more electrical heating devices.

[0068] It may be advantageous if the circulating air flow downstream of a temperature control device forming a main temperature control device is divided into several partial volume flows and if one or more of the partial volume flows are additionally heated or cooled by means of one or more additional temperature control devices.

[0069] Both the main temperature control device and the one or more additional temperature control devices are preferably electrical devices, for example, electrical heating registers. Furthermore, the treatment system and / or the method can preferably have one or more of the features and / or advantages described below:

[0070] Optionally, it can be provided that one or more guide elements for targeted flow guidance and / or flow control are arranged in a room area directly adjacent to a fan, which in particular opens into a temperature control device.

[0071] By means of one or more guide elements, an at least approximately homogeneous flow to the tempering device can preferably be achieved.

[0072] Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, one or more cover elements can be provided that partially cover an inflow cross-sectional area of ​​the temperature control device. This can also contribute to a more homogeneous flow.

[0073] One or more cover elements can be designed, for example, as perforated sheets in order to locally throttle the flow.

[0074] The one or more cover elements are therefore preferably throttle elements.

[0075] It may be advantageous if the one or more temperature control devices, in particular heating registers, are dimensioned such that they can be removed from a receptacle for the respective temperature control device in a direction running at least approximately parallel to the conveying direction, in particular without the need to dismantle other components of the treatment plant.

[0076] For example, each recirculation unit can be assigned to several treatment chamber sections, but only extends over one of the treatment chamber sections, so that one or more adjacent treatment chamber sections, starting from the temperature control device along the conveying direction, provide a free space for maintenance and / or repair of the temperature control device. In particular, one or more electric heating registers are dimensioned such that their insertion depth is less than the extent of a treatment chamber along the conveying direction.

[0077] The arrangement of the temperature control devices is chosen in particular so that, in addition to each temperature control device, at least one adjacent treatment chamber section is not occupied by a temperature control device. Removal can then take place in or against the conveying direction (dryer flow direction). This preferably reduces the required space reserve perpendicular to the conveying direction to the removal space for the fan.

[0078] Heat exchangers, for example, can be provided to recover heat dissipated via the exhaust air. These transfer the heat, for example, to a fresh air stream being supplied. In particular, this can preferably achieve partial preheating of the fresh air stream.

[0079] Alternatively, heat recovery can preferably be achieved via waste heat boilers.

[0080] The one or more recirculation units can preferably be pre-assembled together with the associated one or more treatment room sections and transported as a unit to a final assembly location. This preferably eliminates the need for media interfaces; only a power connection is then required.

[0081] Preferably, one or more, in particular all, electrically operated heating components, such as the electrically operated additional temperature control device, the F-RTO, or the heating registers, can be supplied with a medium voltage of, for example, at least approximately 3 kV and / or at most approximately 8 kV, in particular 4,160 V to 6,600 V, instead of the usual 400 V. Although this may require special heating elements with corresponding additional costs, it offers great savings potential, preferably in the periphery, i.e. with regard to connections, cables, etc. In addition, a significantly lower voltage transformation factor from the supply network is necessary, which, among other things, reduces the size of the transformer station in favor of lower investment costs and saves space. Connecting an electrically operated heating component with this type of medium voltage also results in significantly smaller cable diameters.

[0082] Further preferred features and / or advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description and the drawings of exemplary embodiments.

[0083] The figures show:

[0084] Fig. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-section through a first embodiment of a treatment plant;

[0085] Fig. 2 is a schematic vertical partial cross-section of an isometric view of the first embodiment of the treatment plant;

[0086] Fig. 3 is a schematic horizontal cross-section of the first embodiment of the treatment plant;

[0087] Fig. 4 is a schematic vertical cross-section through a second embodiment of the treatment plant;

[0088] Fig. 5 is a schematic vertical partial cross-section of an isometric view of the second embodiment of the treatment plant;

[0089] Fig. 6 is a schematic partial view of an isometric representation of a third embodiment of the treatment plant;

[0090] Fig. 7 is a schematic partial view of an isometric representation of a treatment chamber section of a fourth embodiment of the treatment plant;

[0091] Fig. 8 is a further schematic partial view of an isometric representation of a fifth embodiment of the treatment plant; Fig. 9 is a schematic partial view of an isometric representation of a sixth embodiment of the treatment plant;

[0092] Fig. 10 is a schematic vertical cross-section through the sixth embodiment of the treatment plant; and

[0093] Fig. 11 shows a schematic horizontal longitudinal section through the sixth embodiment of the treatment plant.

[0094] Identical or functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

[0095] A first embodiment of a treatment system, designated as a whole by 100, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, serves to treat workpieces 102, in particular vehicle bodies 104. The treatment system 100 is in particular a dryer 106 for drying previously coated vehicle bodies 104.

[0096] The treatment system 100 comprises a treatment room 107, which serves to accommodate workpieces 102 for treatment thereof.

[0097] The treatment room 107 has several treatment room sections 108.

[0098] A housing 110 surrounds a treatment chamber section 108.

[0099] The workpieces 102 can be conveyed, in particular, by means of a conveying device 112 of the treatment system 100 along a conveying direction 114 through the treatment chamber 107, i.e., through the treatment chamber sections 108, and can be exposed to circulating air. The treatment chamber 107 preferably has a transverse direction 115 running perpendicular to the conveying direction.

[0100] The conveyor device 112 may comprise two rail elements 116 as shown.

[0101] The treatment system 100 comprises an air duct 117, which in particular comprises one or more recirculation units 118. By means of the one or more recirculation units 118, a recirculation volume flow can be passed multiple times through the respective treatment chamber section 108.

[0102] Each recirculation unit 118 preferably comprises a fan 120 for driving the recirculated air flow, a temperature control device 122 for heating or cooling the recirculated air flow, one or more feed devices 126 designed, for example, as feed nozzles 124, as well as one or more feed modules 127 for feeding the recirculated air flow to the treatment chamber section 108, and one or more return ducts 128 for discharging the recirculated air flow from the treatment chamber section 108.

[0103] A distribution chamber 130 is preferably arranged between the temperature control device 122 and one of the plurality of supply devices 126, which serves to distribute the heated circulating air flow to the supply devices 126 and / or supply modules 127. The distribution chamber 130 is preferably accessible to persons and also serves as a maintenance area 132 for performing cleaning and / or maintenance work within the respective recirculation unit 118.

[0104] The fan 120 is preferably a free-running built-in fan.

[0105] Preferably, the fan 120 is a radial fan. Alternatively, in an embodiment not shown, the fan 120 can also be a longitudinal flow fan (axial fan).

[0106] Upstream of the fan 120, an intake chamber 134 is preferably provided, which extends in particular transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to the conveying direction 114 over a depth that corresponds at least approximately to the diameter of an impeller of the fan 120. This enables efficient intake perpendicular to the conveying direction 114.

[0107] The intake chamber 134 is preferably arranged between the treatment chamber 110 and the fan 120, in particular in the transverse direction 115 of the treatment chamber 107. An ejection area 136 of the fan 120 is preferably formed above the fan 120. The fan 120 thus preferably draws in a horizontal direction and discharges upwards in a vertical direction.

[0108] The ejection area 136 is preferably followed by an equalization area 138, which serves to supply the circulating air flow to the temperature control device 122 as homogeneously as possible.

[0109] The workpiece 102 is received by a receiving unit 140, which is movable or conveyable on the rail elements 116 of the conveying device 112 along the conveying direction 114.

[0110] After passing through the tempering device 122, the circulating air is guided through one or more feed channels 142 to the feed devices 126 and / or the feed modules 127.

[0111] The feed module has several feed sections 144.

[0112] A feed section 144 includes at least one nozzle 146.

[0113] Downstream of the temperature control device 122, in particular in the distribution chamber 130 or adjacent thereto, for example directly upstream of the one or more feed devices 126 and / or the one or more feed modules 127, one or more filter elements 148 are preferably arranged. The one or more filter elements 148 serve in particular to separate

[0114] Contaminants from the circulating air stream before it is fed to the treatment room 107 or treatment room section 108.

[0115] The one or more return channels 128 are arranged, in particular integrated, for example, in a bottom wall 150 of the housing 108 of the treatment chamber section 107. Preferably, the one or more return channels 128 extend over more than half the width of the treatment chamber, i.e., in particular, in the transverse direction 115. The first embodiment of a treatment system 100 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 functions as follows:

[0116] First, one or more workpieces 102 are introduced into the treatment chamber 107 by means of the conveying device 112 along the conveying direction 114. The workpieces 102 are then exposed to heated or cooled circulating air from the one or more circulating air units 118 and are thereby dried, for example.

[0117] For this purpose, the circulating air is circulated by means of the fan 120 and, starting from the fan 120, flows successively through the discharge area 134, the equalization area 138, the temperature control device 122, the distribution chamber 130, optionally one or more filter elements 148, the one or more feed devices 126 and / or feed modules 127, the treatment chamber section 108, and the one or more return ducts 128. Finally, the circulating air returns to the fan 120 via the intake chamber 134.

[0118] For example, the heat required to carry out the treatment process is generated by means of the temperature control device 122. The temperature control device 122 is or comprises an electrical heating register, which releases electrically generated heat to the circulating air stream as it flows through it.

[0119] The temperature control device 122 thus generates heat where it is needed. An additional heat source located outside the respective recirculation unit 118, which would otherwise take up too much space, is thus preferably unnecessary. The recirculation unit 118 can thus be designed to be particularly compact. In particular, complex piping for heating gas or other heat transfer media is eliminated.

[0120] It can be provided that each recirculation unit 118 comprises a single temperature control device 122.

[0121] Alternatively, each recirculation unit 118 may comprise multiple temperature control devices 122, with one temperature control device 122 then preferably being a main temperature control device supported by one or more additional temperature control devices 152, which are preferably electrically operated. The main temperature control device 122 is then the one located between the distribution chamber 130 and the fan 120.

[0122] The additional temperature control devices 152 are arranged in or on the supply channels 142 in order to reheat or recool part of the circulating air flow.

[0123] In the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the additional electrical temperature control devices 152 are connected to the bottom wall 150. The additional temperature control devices 152 are preferably resistance heating devices whose heating rods extend into the feed channel 142, which guides the circulating air to the feed module 127. Thus, additional heat is transferred to the portion of the circulating air flow that flows toward the underside of the workpiece 102, preferably the sill areas.

[0124] The temperature control devices 122, 152 can alternatively also be designed as cooling devices, in particular as Peltier elements or cold water registers, to cool the circulating air flow. This is particularly advantageous for the treatment chamber sections 108, which are arranged at the end of the treatment chamber 107 in the conveying direction 114.

[0125] Furthermore, the recirculation unit 118 may comprise one or more temperature sensors 154, which preferably detect the temperature in the supply channels 142.

[0126] In Fig. 3, the arrangement of the feed sections 144 or their nozzles 146 in the feed module 127 of the treatment chamber section 108 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 can be seen.

[0127] The feed module 127, which is arranged between the two rail elements 116 of the conveyor device 112, comprises four feed sections 144, each of which has five nozzles 146 arranged in the transverse direction 115, and three feed sections 144, each of which has two nozzles 146 arranged in the conveying direction 114. The feed sections 144 are positioned such that the outflowing circulating air toward the workpiece 102 is not obstructed by the receiving unit 140 or has to flow around it.

[0128] In the first embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the nozzles 146 of the supply sections 144 are arranged such that the air flows particularly onto the sill areas of vehicle bodies 104.

[0129] It is conceivable that the feed sections 144 are quickly and easily interchangeable so that the feed module 127 can be easily adapted to the workpieces to be treated.

[0130] Advantageously, the feed sections 144 may differ in number, dimension and orientation of the nozzles 146.

[0131] Figures 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of a treatment plant according to the invention.

[0132] In the second embodiment, the supply module 127 is arranged on the side of the treatment chamber section 108 opposite the fan 120 or the distribution chamber 130.

[0133] The recirculated air portion which is supplied to the supply module 127 is supplied via the supply channel 142, which is arranged on the ceiling surface of the housing 110 running in the transverse direction 115.

[0134] An additional temperature control device 152 heats or cools the circulating air flow guided through the supply channel 142.

[0135] The feed module 127 shown in Figs. 4 and 5 has a feed section 144 which comprises four nozzles 146.

[0136] The nozzles 146 are aligned such that they flow toward the rear of the workpiece 102, illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 and configured as a vehicle body 104. Furthermore, embodiments of the treatment chamber sections 108 are conceivable in which, for example, a feed module 127 is arranged on the side of the treatment chamber section 108 opposite the distribution chamber 130 and between the rail elements 116 of the guide device 112, whereby, in the case of a workpiece 102 configured as a vehicle body 104, the recirculating air flows toward both the rear area and the sill area as well as the front area of ​​the vehicle body 104.

[0137] Furthermore, depending on the extent of the treatment chamber sections 108 in the transverse direction 115, it may be advantageous if more than one additional temperature control device 152 and / or more than one temperature sensor 154 are arranged along the feed channels in order to ensure that the circulating air guided through the corresponding feed devices 126 and / or feed modules 127 has the correct temperature for the area of ​​the workpiece 102 to be treated that is to be flowed into.

[0138] In Fig. 6, a third embodiment of the treatment plant 100 is shown in a schematic partial view.

[0139] Fig. 6 shows three treatment chamber sections 108 of a treatment chamber 107, which are arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction 114 and which are supplied with circulating air by a fan 120 via a temperature control device 122 and a common distribution chamber 130.

[0140] Only selected elements of the treatment room sections 108 are shown in order to be able to recognize that a supply channel 142 supplies circulating air to the associated supply module 127 of a treatment room section 108.

[0141] The feed channel 142 preferably extends in the transverse direction 115 and is arranged at least approximately centrally in the respective treatment chamber section 108 with respect to the conveying direction 114.

[0142] The circulating air, which is supplied to the respective feed module 127 via the supply channels 142, is directed from the distribution chamber 130 essentially through the respective lower filter elements 148 and filtered therein. The nozzles 146 of the feed modules 127 are preferably directed toward the sill areas or other heavy-duty parts of the workpieces 102 in order to direct circulating air toward them.

[0143] The width of the feed channels 142 is preferably between 700 mm and 750 mm, more preferably between 725 mm and 745 mm and particularly preferably 734 mm.

[0144] After flowing onto the workpiece 102, the circulating air in the respective treatment chamber section 108 is returned via two return ducts 128 (not shown in Fig. 6) to the intake chamber 134 (not shown in Fig. 6) and then to the fan 120. The circulating air is extracted into the return ducts 128, preferably on the side of the respective treatment chamber section 108 opposite the filter elements 130, in the floor area.

[0145] With respect to the conveying direction 114, one of the two return channels 128 is arranged in front of the feed channel 142 and the other of the two return channels 128 is arranged behind the feed channel 142, wherein the return channels 128 preferably touch the feed channel 142 or are directly adjacent to or adjacent to it.

[0146] The arrangement of a central supply duct 142 and two return ducts 128 located outside thereof has the advantage that the total pressure loss of the circulating air flow is lower than, for example, in the case of a reverse arrangement of a central return duct 128 and two supply ducts 142 located outside thereof. This advantage arises in particular from the fact that the return ducts, which are aligned essentially parallel to one another - similar to an exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine - are brought together in front of the intake chamber 134 of the fan 120.

[0147] In Fig. 7, a treatment chamber section 108 of a fourth embodiment of the treatment system 100 is shown in a schematic partial view.

[0148] Alternatively or in addition to the third embodiment in Fig. 6, an additional temperature control device 152 is arranged in the feed channel 142, which is preferably arranged below the feed module 127. As a result, the circulating air supplied via the feed channel 142 is reheated or cooled, and then, as reheated or cooled circulating air, flows via the nozzles 146 onto the workpiece 102 arranged above the feed module 127.

[0149] Thus, a further advantage of a centrally arranged feed channel 142 is that the circulating air supplied to the feed module 127 can be reheated or cooled with only one additional temperature control device 152.

[0150] In Fig. 8, a fifth embodiment of the treatment plant 100 is shown in a schematic partial view, wherein the representation has been reduced to the supply channels 142, the return channels 128 and a common intake space 134 of the fan 120.

[0151] The three central feed channels 142 shown each have a bevelled section 156 at their end opposite the suction chamber 134.

[0152] In the beveled section 156, the feed channel 142 is tapered, wherein both lateral walls of the feed channel 142 in the beveled section 156 each enclose an angle with the longitudinal axis of the feed channel 142, preferably of 20° to 40°, more preferably of 25° to 35° and particularly preferably of 30°.

[0153] The beveled section 156 of the supply channel 142 has the effect of reducing the pressure loss in the adjacent return channels 128 in the respective corresponding sections of the return channels 128.

[0154] It should further be understood that a feed module 127 can be designed in different variants.

[0155] Preferably, for each treatment chamber section 108, a feed module 127 is arranged between the two rail elements 116 of the conveyor device 112 of a treatment chamber 107, as shown, for example, in Figs. 1 to 3.

[0156] In height, the respective feed module 127 is limited by the receiving unit 140, on which at least one workpiece 102 is received. In width, i.e., in the transverse direction 115, the respective feed module 127 is limited by the spacing of the sliding elements 116 of the conveyor device 112, and in length, i.e., in the conveying direction 114, the respective feed module 127 preferably extends over the entire length of the respective treatment chamber section 108, as can be seen, for example, in Figs. 3 and 9.

[0157] The feed module 127 is preferably adaptable to the workpiece(s) 102 to be treated, so that the feed module 127 in a first embodiment can be designed as a pure base box without feed sections 144 and without nozzles 146.

[0158] The first embodiment of the feed module 127 is particularly suitable when the workpieces 102 are vehicle bodies 104 without their own floor, such as in so-called electric vehicles with batteries in the floor area. In this case, the feed module 127, designed as a floor box, serves as a flow guide element for the internal flow in the vehicle body 104, which is generated by the feed nozzles 124, which feed the recirculated air through the windshield opening of the vehicle body 104.

[0159] In the first embodiment, i.e. as a bottom box, the feed module 127 can be designed either as a hollow body or, for the purpose of flow guidance, simply as an intermediate or guide plate above the bottom wall 150 of the respective treatment chamber section 108.

[0160] In addition to the flow guidance property of the floor box, it can be provided that the floor box is configured in such a way that the supply or return of the recirculated air is possible via at least one of its surfaces.

[0161] In a second embodiment of the feed module 127, the feed module 127 comprises feed sections 144 with nozzles 146, allowing targeted airflow from below to high-mass parts of the workpieces 102 to be treated. In this case, the feed module 127 functions as a pressure chamber for the recirculating air supply to the nozzles 146.

[0162] The second embodiment of a feed module 127 is shown, for example, in Figs. 1 to 3. The extraction or recirculation of the circulating air takes place, relative to the vehicle body 104 oriented in the transverse direction 115, in the rear region of the vehicle body 104, specifically outside the conveyor device 112, i.e., in Figs. 1 to 3, to the left of the left rail element 116 of the conveyor device 112.

[0163] The feed sections 144 and / or the nozzles 146 of a feed module 127 can preferably be arranged freely within the feed module 127, with an arrangement of the nozzles 146 in the transverse direction 115 along the sill regions of a workpiece 102 designed as a vehicle body 104 being preferred. In addition, it is advantageous if additional nozzles 146 are arranged in the rear region of a workpiece 102 designed as a vehicle body 104, aligned in the conveying direction 114, since this region faces away from the feed nozzles 124 in the front region of the workpiece 102 designed as a vehicle body 104 and is thus located in the flow shadow of the main flow.

[0164] The orientation of the nozzles 146 is preferably perpendicular to the floor assembly of a workpiece embodied as a vehicle body 104, i.e., in particular vertically. However, it is also conceivable for one or more nozzles 146 to have an angular position so that sections of the vehicle body 104 in the front and / or rear area can be exposed to air flow that otherwise cannot be directly reached.

[0165] The nozzles 146 are preferably arranged as close as possible to the workpiece 102 to be treated, which is achieved by the feed module 127 having the maximum available height up to the receiving unit 140.

[0166] A feed module 127 in the second embodiment, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, is preferably used in a treatment chamber section 108 which serves for pre-drying and / or main drying, ie in a section of the treatment chamber 107 in which the workpiece 102 to be treated has not yet initially reached the maximum treatment temperature.

[0167] The use of the second embodiment of a feed module 127 in a treatment chamber section 108, which serves as a so-called holding zone, appears to be appropriate when it can be assumed that massive parts of the workpiece 102 to be treated have not yet been sufficiently heated and thus still represent a heat sink. An advantage of the second embodiment of a feed module 127 is that the feed sections 144 and / or the nozzles 146 are easily replaceable, and accordingly, the flow characteristics of the feed module 127 can be easily adapted to the workpiece 102 to be treated.

[0168] In a third embodiment of the feed module 127, which can be seen in Figs. 9 to 11, an additional temperature control device 152, also called booster, is arranged in an inflow area 158 of the feed module 127.

[0169] In Figs. 9 to 11, a part of a treatment room section 108 of a treatment room 108 of a treatment system 100 is shown.

[0170] The additional temperature control device 152 in the supply module 127 preferably enables a temperature increase of the supplied circulating air in the range of 5 K to 15 K and / or 15 K to 25 K and / or 25 K to 35 K.

[0171] The aim is to achieve a homogeneous heating of the workpiece 102 to be treated, which is preferably designed as a vehicle body 104.

[0172] The additional temperature control device 152 can preferably be switched on and off, whereby the additional temperature control can be selected depending on the workpiece 102 to be treated. Furthermore, the temperature of the additional temperature control device 152 is adjustable, so that the additional temperature control can be adapted to the workpiece 102 to be treated and / or the treatment process in the respective treatment chamber section 108.

[0173] The arrangement of the additional temperature control device 152 in the inflow area 158 of the feed module 127 also enables precise temperature control due to the shortened flow path between the additional temperature control device 152 and the workpiece 102 to be treated.

[0174] The arrangement of the additional temperature control device 152 in the inflow area 158 increases the flow cross-section compared to an arrangement in the supply channel 142. Furthermore, the additional temperature control device 152 in the inflow area 158 is easier to access for maintenance activities, and access to the underside of the treatment chamber section 108 is also not necessary.

[0175] The use of an additional temperature control device 152 arranged in this way is particularly advantageous in the first few minutes of a treatment chamber section 108 provided as a heating zone, ie during pre-drying and / or main drying, since the workpiece 102 to be treated initially still has a temperature that is too low and thus high temperature gradients prevail between the workpiece 102 and the circulating air.

[0176] The following is an example of the tempering sequence of an additional tempering device 152 during the main drying process as part of a cathodic dip coating process, whereby the so-called baking window, according to the specifications of the respective paint supplier, is, for example, at 213 °C for a maximum of 15 minutes and at 165 °C for a minimum of 15 minutes, and the circulating air temperature for this example is 190 °C:

[0177] - 5 minutes at 230 °C,

[0178] - 2:30 minutes at 205 °C, and

[0179] - 2:30 minutes at 200 °C.

[0180] The additional temperature control device 152 is preferably electrical, with the associated cable terminal board and the individual temperature control elements 160, which are preferably designed as heating elements 162, being arranged within the hot zone of the treatment chamber section 108 and therefore designed for temperatures up to approximately 250°C. The associated control cabinet of an additional temperature control device 152 is arranged in the so-called cold zone of a treatment chamber section 108 or a treatment chamber 107 and includes a contactor and / or a power controller, such as a thyristor controller. A three-wire cable connects the terminal board of the additional temperature control device 152 to the control cabinet, whereby these connecting cables must also be temperature-stable up to approximately 250°C. List of Reference Symbols

[0181] Treatment plant

[0182] workpiece

[0183] vehicle body

[0184] dryer

[0185] treatment room

[0186] Treatment room section

[0187] Housing

[0188] Conveyor device

[0189] Conveying direction

[0190] Transverse direction

[0191] Rail element

[0192] Air duct

[0193] Recirculation unit

[0194] fan

[0195] Tempering device

[0196] Feed nozzle

[0197] Feeding device

[0198] Feed module

[0199] Return channel

[0200] Distribution room

[0201] Maintenance area

[0202] Intake chamber

[0203] Ejection area

[0204] Compensation area

[0205] Recording unit

[0206] Feed channel

[0207] Feed section

[0208] nozzle

[0209] filter element

[0210] floor wall

[0211] Additional temperature control device

[0212] Temperature sensor bevelled section inflow area tempering element heating element

Claims

Claims Treatment system (100) for treating workpieces (102), in particular for drying vehicle bodies, comprising a treatment chamber (107) for receiving and treating one or more workpieces (102), wherein the treatment chamber (107) comprises several treatment chamber sections (108), each of which is assigned to a separate recirculation unit (118), by means of which a recirculation air flow guided through the respective treatment chamber section (108) along a flow direction can be generated, wherein the treatment chamber (107) has a conveying direction (114) through the treatment chamber sections (108) and a transverse direction (115) of the treatment chamber (107) extending perpendicular to the conveying direction (114), and wherein each recirculation unit (118) comprises the following: - a fan (120) to drive the recirculated air flow in the respective recirculation unit (118); - one or more temperature control devices (122) for heating or cooling the circulating air stream; - one or more feed devices (126) and / or feed modules (127) for supplying the recirculated air flow to the treatment room section (108); - one or more feed channels (142) for supplying the recirculated air flow to the one or more feed devices (126) and / or feed modules (127); and - one or more return channels (128) for returning the recirculated air flow from the treatment chamber section (108) to the fan (120). Treatment system (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that a) each recirculated air unit (118) comprises one or more electrical auxiliary temperature control devices (152) for reheating or recooling the recirculated air flow in the one or more supply channels (142) and / or the one or more return channels (128); and / or b) the one or more temperature control devices (122) are electrically operated or gas-operated temperature control devices. Treatment system (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the treatment chamber (110) comprises a conveying device (114) by means of which one or more workpieces (102) on a receiving unit (140) can be conveyed along the conveying direction (114) through the treatment chamber sections (108) of the treatment chamber (110). Treatment system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the one or more temperature control devices (122) are arranged downstream of the fan (120) and upstream of a distribution chamber (130), wherein the distribution chamber (130) adjoins the treatment chamber (110) and serves to distribute the recirculated air flow to the one or more feed channels (142).Treatment system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that an intake chamber (134) is provided upstream of the fan (120), wherein a) the intake chamber (134) is arranged between the treatment chamber section (108) and the fan (120), in particular with respect to the transverse direction (115) of the treatment chamber (107); and / or b) the intake chamber (134) is arranged in the vertical direction at least approximately at the same height as an impeller of the fan (120).Treatment system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a discharge area (136) and / or a homogenization area (138) are provided downstream of the fan (120), wherein a) the discharge area (136) and / or the homogenization area (138) are arranged directly above the fan (120) and / or an intake chamber (134); and / or b) the discharge area (136) and / or the homogenization area (138) are arranged in the horizontal direction at least approximately at the same height as the one or more temperature control devices (122). Treatment system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the fan (120) is a radial fan, wherein an axis of rotation of an impeller of the radial fan is at least approximately The treatment system (100) according to any one of claims 3 to 7 is characterized in that at least one feed module (127) is arranged within the treatment chamber section (108) a) below the receiving unit (140) and / or horizontally at least approximately at the same height as the conveying device (112); or b) on the side of the treatment chamber section (108) opposite the fan (120); or c) above the one or more workpieces (102). The treatment system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is characterized in that a feed module (127) comprises one or more feed sections (144), and that each feed section (144) has at least one nozzle (146), preferably at least two nozzles (146).Treatment system (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that the one or more feed sections (144) have several nozzles (146) which are arranged within the respective feed section (144) parallel and / or transversely to the conveying direction (114), wherein, in particular, sill areas or other heavy parts of the workpieces (102) can be supplied with flow by means of the nozzles (146). Treatment system (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that an arrangement and / or orientation of the at least one nozzle (146) within the respective feed section (144) is adaptable to the one or more workpieces (102) to be treated, in particular to sill areas or other heavy parts of the workpieces (102).Treatment system (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that the recirculated air flowing through the nozzles (146) of the feed sections (144) can be fed directly, in particular unhindered, to at least a part of the one or more workpieces (102), in particular to sill areas or other mass-rich parts of the workpieces (102). Treatment system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the one or more return channels (128) run below the treatment chamber section (108), in particular in a floor wall (150) that bounds the respective treatment chamber section (108) downwards. Treatment system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that each recirculation unit (118) comprises at least one throttle for decelerating the recirculation flow section by section and / or at least one auxiliary fan for accelerating the recirculation flow section by section. Treatment system (100) according to any one of claims 4 to 14, characterized in that one or more filter elements (148) for filtering the recirculation air are arranged within the distribution chamber (130).Treatment system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the one or more recirculating air units (118) are arranged laterally adjacent to the respective treatment chamber section (108) and / or are fully accessible at ground level, in particular for assembly and / or maintenance work. Method for treating workpieces (102), in particular for drying vehicle bodies (104), wherein the method comprises the following: - Feeding one or more workpieces (102) to a treatment room (107) of a treatment system (100), in particular a treatment system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 16; - Heating or cooling one or more workpieces (102) by means of one or more recirculating air streams, wherein the one or more recirculating air streams are generated by means of one or more recirculating air units (118). Method according to claim 17, characterized in that the method further comprises: Heating or cooling one or more recirculated air streams by means of one or more temperature control devices (122) and / or one or more additional temperature control devices (152), wherein the one or more additional temperature control devices (152) are preferably arranged in one or more supply channels (142) of the one or more recirculated air units (118). A method according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that conditioned fresh air is supplied to the treatment chamber (108) and this fresh air is subsequently circulated as a recirculated air stream in one or more recirculated air units (118), wherein heat is supplied to the recirculated air units (118) exclusively by electric heating.

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