Treatment plant for treating workpieces, and method for treating workpieces
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023731943
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-06-08
- Filing Date
- 2023-06-01
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-16
AI Technical Summary
Existing painting systems require additional intermediate and clear coat drying stations for decorative paint application, leading to increased space and energy consumption, as well as complex control processes, especially when integrating decorative paint into existing top coat processes.
A treatment system with multiple treatment levels and transfer conveyor devices allows for the integration of a decorative paint application station within the existing top coat process, utilizing unused space and sharing drying stations, eliminating the need for additional intermediate drying stations.
This approach simplifies and compacts the process integration of decorative paint, saving space, reducing energy consumption, and enabling efficient operation by reusing existing drying stations, thus reducing costs and complexity.
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001] Treatment system for treating workpieces and method for treating workpieces
[0002] The present invention relates to a treatment system for treating workpieces, in particular for coating 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] Systems that enable more customized and varied paint applications are increasingly being used in practice. For example, decorative paints can be applied in addition to, or partially as an alternative to, regular topcoats. A decorative paint application can be integrated into a standard paint shop in various ways, with the standard paint shop typically having several treatment and / or intermediate levels.
[0004] A first option for such an integration is an inline process integration, in which the decorative coating application is fully integrated into a standard topcoat process. The station provided for the topcoat application is, for example, one of several stations arranged one behind the other in a defined sequence in a conveying direction. In detail, after the application of the basecoat and, if necessary, a subsequent intermediate drying of the respective workpiece in an intermediate drying station, the decorative coating application takes place on the same treatment level. Therefore, an additional intermediate drying station is required after the decorative coating application. A clear coat can then be applied subsequently. This first option for integrating a decorative coating station is preferred in a greenfield approach, i.e.a new treatment facility, since in principle all stations can still be arranged freely.
[0005] In a second option, the integration takes place in an offline process, for which the vehicle body is removed from the process for the application of the decorative paint, particularly after the application of the base coat with subsequent drying in an intermediate drying station, which is referred to as "transfer-out". The decorative paint application can therefore, for example, take place on a different treatment level of the painting system than that of the standard topcoat process. With offline process integration, an additional intermediate drying station is also required after the application of the decorative paint. After the intermediate drying of the vehicle body in the transfer-out area, it is reinserted into the standard topcoat process before the clearcoat station, which is referred to as "transfer-in". This option for integrating a decorative paint application is suitable for the brownfield approach, i.e.when integrating into an existing system where modification or direct integration into the standard topcoat process is no longer possible or is disproportionately expensive and complex.
[0006] A third and fourth option for decorative coating application requires a single-layer topcoat application, also called “mono layer coat” or “monocoat” for short, and also involves offline process integration.
[0007] In the third option, the vehicle body is first completely painted and dried. The vehicle body is then transported to a so-called overspray-free paint application booth or station (OFLA booth or station) where it receives the appropriate single-coat paint. This process does not require an additional intermediate drying station after the decorative paint application, but rather a new, separate drying station.
[0008] In the fourth option, the decorative coating and clearcoat application take place together in the OFLA station. Here, too, the vehicle body is transported to a separate OFLA station or line after completion of the standard topcoat process. This process option also requires an additional intermediate drying station after the decorative coating application and another clearcoat drying station after the clearcoat application.
[0009] In summary, it can be stated that the application of decorative paint in an OFLA station has so far only been integrated into the painting process if the entire topcoat process is depicted as a line, whereby it is known that the OFLA station is often located on the same level as the topcoat process. If an OFLA station in which a decorative paint is applied must or should be self-contained, an additional intermediate drying station and possibly a clearcoat drying station are required.
[0010] This means that several or additional intermediate drying stations and / or clear coat drying stations are required, which not only results in a large space requirement or a larger area compared to other systems, but also makes the control processes more complex and the energy consumption of such a painting system increases or is increased.
[0011] The present invention is based on the object of providing a treatment system which enables a simple and compact process integration of a decorative paint application.
[0012] This object is achieved according to the invention by a treatment plant having the features according to claim 1.
[0013] The treatment system is used to treat workpieces. Specifically, the treatment system is a painting system for coating vehicle bodies.
[0014] The treatment system preferably comprises the following: a plurality of treatment levels arranged at different heights, in particular one above the other; and / or one or more treatment lines, in particular arranged parallel to one another, which comprise a plurality of treatment areas arranged on one and / or more treatment levels; wherein each treatment area has one or more treatment stations for carrying out one or more treatment steps, and wherein each treatment line has one or at least two transfer conveyor devices by means of which the workpieces can be transferred between the treatment areas.
[0015] The present invention is based on the basic idea that in a treatment plant, in particular in a painting plant for vehicle bodies, in which the treatment of workpieces, i.e. in particular vehicle bodies, takes place on one or more levels, existing and unused plant space is used to integrate in particular an OFLA station for a decorative paint application into the topcoat process. For example, this unused space is located between the filter device of the basecoat station and the clearcoat station, with these filter systems preferably being arranged on the level below the topcoat process level. The topcoat process level is also called the "topcoat level" or "TC level". As a result, the workpieces can be conveyed from the intermediate drying station on the TC level by means of a transfer conveyor device into the processing area in which the decorative paint application takes place.As already mentioned, this processing area is preferably located below the TC level, with the workpieces being conveyed through the stations provided for decorative coating application on the other or lower level in the opposite direction to the conveying direction of the TC level. After decorative coating application, the workpieces are then conveyed to the TC level or into the topcoat process by means of another transfer conveyor, preferably before its intermediate drying station. This eliminates the need for an additional intermediate drying station after decorative coating application. Instead, the drying station for the topcoat process can be used, if necessary, even multiple times, if multiple decorative coating layers are desired or required for the respective workpiece.
[0016] Alternatively, a transfer with only one transfer conveyor device between the treatment areas can be provided, in particular if a transfer in both directions between one or more different positions of the one treatment area and one or more different positions of the other treatment area can be carried out by means of the one transfer conveyor device.
[0017] It may be advantageous if a treatment line has a primary treatment area with a primary conveying direction and a secondary treatment area with a secondary conveying direction.
[0018] Preferably, the primary treatment area corresponds to the topcoat process area, whereas the secondary treatment area preferably comprises a decorative coating station, in particular an OFLA station.
[0019] It can further be provided that the primary treatment area has a primary horizontal conveying device for conveying the workpieces in the primary conveying direction and that the secondary treatment area has a secondary horizontal conveying device for conveying the workpieces in the secondary conveying direction.
[0020] The horizontal conveyors can be conveyor lines, with the workpieces to be treated being mounted on a skid that is conveyed through the treatment areas. Alternatively, one or more skid-free conveyors can be provided locally or globally.
[0021] It may be particularly advantageous if the primary horizontal conveying device and / or the secondary horizontal conveying device comprises or is formed from driverless transport vehicles and / or transport systems.
[0022] The primary horizontal conveyor and the secondary horizontal conveyor can be different types of horizontal conveyors. However, it may be advantageous if the primary horizontal conveyor and the secondary horizontal conveyor are formed from the same type of horizontal conveyor, for example, a roller conveyor, a rail conveyor, or an automated guided vehicle.
[0023] It may be advantageous if the primary conveying direction and the secondary conveying direction are aligned in opposite directions and preferably at least approximately parallel to each other. In particular, the conveying directions are aligned antiparallel to each other.
[0024] As a result, the workpieces which are transferred back from the secondary treatment area to the primary treatment area can be integrated at a position in the primary treatment area in such a way that they pass through at least one treatment station of the primary treatment area again.
[0025] It can be particularly advantageous if the workpieces can be transferred from the secondary treatment area to the primary treatment area by means of a first transfer conveyor device, and if the workpieces can be transferred from the primary treatment area to the secondary treatment area by means of a second transfer conveyor device. The two transfer conveyor devices preferably enable circular conveying of the workpieces, in which the workpieces preferably pass through the entire secondary treatment area at least once and the primary treatment area at least in sections, i.e., at least one treatment station of the primary treatment area, multiple times, preferably twice.
[0026] It can be advantageous if the workpieces can be conveyed through the secondary treatment area in the same orientation as in the primary treatment area.
[0027] It can be particularly advantageous if the workpieces do not have to be rotated around their vertical axis in order to be transferred between the treatment areas by transfer conveyors.
[0028] In particular, it can be provided that the workpieces can be conveyed backwards through the secondary treatment area, relative to the primary conveying direction.
[0029] It may be advantageous if the primary treatment area has at least the following treatment stations arranged one after the other in the primary conveying direction: a base coat station; optionally a flash-off station; an intermediate drying station; optionally a cooling station; a clear coat station; and a drying station.
[0030] The evaporation station is optional because the position of the transfer conveyor in front of the intermediate drying station, which is otherwise overrun, can also be used for evaporation as long as the process cycle does not require the workpiece to be conveyed from the secondary treatment area to the primary treatment area.
[0031] The cooling station is optional because cooling is also conceivable within the intermediate drying station. Furthermore, the provision of a flash-off station and / or a cooling station depends on the specifications of the paint supplier or the requirements of the paint used.
[0032] It may be advantageous if the secondary treatment area has at least the following treatment stations arranged one after the other in the secondary conveying direction: optionally an intermediate storage station, in particular a first intermediate storage station; a topcoat station, in particular a paint mist-free topcoat station; optionally an evaporation station; and optionally an intermediate storage station, in particular a second intermediate storage station.
[0033] It should be understood that the listed treatment stations in the secondary treatment area can also be arranged in a different order in the secondary conveying direction. This list should therefore not be understood as the only possible order of treatment stations. The same applies analogously to the treatment stations in the primary treatment area.
[0034] One or more intermediate storage stations, in particular the first and / or second intermediate storage stations, serve, for example, as buffers in the process cycle. Alternatively or additionally, one or more intermediate storage stations, in particular the second intermediate storage station, can be used or utilized as an evaporation station.
[0035] It can further be provided that in the primary treatment area the first transfer conveyor device is arranged between the base coat station and the intermediate drying station and the second transfer conveyor device is arranged between the intermediate drying station and the clear coat station.
[0036] Furthermore, it can be provided that in the secondary treatment area, the first transfer conveyor device is arranged downstream of the topcoat station and / or downstream of an intermediate storage station, in particular a second intermediate storage station. The second transfer conveyor device is preferably arranged upstream of the topcoat station and / or upstream of an intermediate storage station, in particular a first intermediate storage station, in the secondary treatment area.
[0037] The workpieces can therefore preferably be conveyed several times through the intermediate drying station and the cooling station.
[0038] This advantageously allows the intermediate drying station of the primary treatment area to be used multiple times, meaning that an additional intermediate drying station is preferably not required for the secondary treatment area. This can save costs and equipment space, and it can also facilitate the easy integration of a decorative coating application into an existing primary treatment area, particularly a standard topcoat process.
[0039] In a further embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the secondary treatment area is arranged on a treatment level below or above a treatment level of the primary treatment area, wherein the first and the second transfer conveyor device are preferably vertical conveyor devices.
[0040] In a further embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the secondary treatment area is arranged on a lowest treatment level, in particular a zero level.
[0041] Such an arrangement of the secondary treatment area, which includes the decorative paint station, is preferably possible because the decorative paint application is preferably carried out without paint mist and therefore no washing or other air purification below the decorative paint station is necessary.
[0042] In a further embodiment of the invention, the primary treatment area and the secondary treatment area can be arranged side by side on a treatment level, with the first transfer conveyor and the second transfer conveyor preferably being transverse conveyors. Such an arrangement offers an alternative if there is insufficient system space available below or above the primary treatment area, particularly at the level of the intermediate drying station and the cooling station, to install or retrofit the secondary treatment area.
[0043] The present invention is further based on the object of providing a method which enables efficient operation of a treatment plant using a simple and compact design.
[0044] This object is achieved according to the invention by a method according to the independent method claim.
[0045] The method is in particular a method for treating workpieces, in particular for painting vehicle bodies.
[0046] In particular, the method may have one or more of the features and / or advantages described in connection with the treatment plant.
[0047] Preferably, the method comprises the following:
[0048] Treating the workpieces in several treatment areas, in particular in a primary and a secondary treatment area, a treatment line, each of which has one or more treatment stations for carrying out one or more treatment steps.
[0049] In a further embodiment of the invention, the method may further comprise the following:
[0050] Transferring the workpieces between the treatment areas, wherein the treatment areas are arranged on one or more treatment levels of a treatment system and / or wherein the treatment areas have opposing conveying directions.
[0051] It may be advantageous if the workpieces are conveyed through at least one of the treatment areas multiple times, in particular at least twice. It may also be advantageous if the primary treatment area has an intermediate drying station, after which the workpieces are transferred to the secondary treatment area by means of a transfer conveyor, and if the workpieces are transferred from the secondary treatment area back to the primary treatment area before the intermediate drying station by means of another transfer conveyor.
[0052] It can further be provided that the workpieces are not changed in their orientation, in particular rotated, during transfer between the treatment areas. The orientation of the workpieces with respect to a main conveying direction of the treatment system thus preferably remains unchanged throughout the entire treatment in the primary and secondary treatment areas, and also during the transfer between the treatment areas.
[0053] Further preferred features and / or advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description and the drawings of exemplary embodiments.
[0054] The figures show:
[0055] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a treatment plant according to the invention;
[0056] Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the treatment plant according to the invention; and
[0057] Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a third embodiment of the treatment plant according to the invention.
[0058] Identical or functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.
[0059] A first embodiment of a treatment system, designated as a whole by 100, shown in Fig. 1, is used for treating workpieces. The treatment system 100 is, in particular, a painting system 102 for painting vehicle bodies.
[0060] The treatment system 100 comprises a primary treatment level 104 and a secondary treatment level 106, which are arranged one above the other.
[0061] The horizontal dashed line marked 108 schematically represents, by way of example, the floor of the primary treatment level 104 and / or the ceiling of the underlying secondary treatment level 106.
[0062] The treatment plant 100 further comprises a treatment line 110.
[0063] It is possible for the treatment plant 100 to comprise further treatment lines, which are preferably arranged parallel to the treatment line 110 shown.
[0064] The treatment line 110 comprises a primary treatment area 112, which is arranged on the primary treatment level 104, and a secondary treatment area 114, which is arranged on the secondary treatment level 106.
[0065] The primary treatment area 112 comprises, in a primary conveying direction 116, a basecoat station 118, a flash-off station 120, an intermediate drying station 122, a cooling station 124, a clearcoat station 126 and a drying station 128.
[0066] The evaporation station 120 and the cooling station 124 are optional in the primary treatment area 112, since their use depends, among other things, on the specifications of the paint suppliers.
[0067] In the embodiment of a treatment system 100 according to Fig. 1, a filter device 130 of the basecoat station 118 and a further filter device 132 of the clearcoat station 126 are arranged below the primary treatment area 112 on the secondary treatment level 106, preferably directly vertically below the basecoat station 118 and the clearcoat station 126. However, it is also possible to arrange the filter device 130 and / or the filter device 132 above the primary treatment area 112 or alternatively on the primary treatment level 104.
[0068] In the base coat station 118, a base coat is applied to the workpieces, whereas in the clear coat station 126, a clear coat is applied to the workpieces.
[0069] Basecoat application in basecoat station 118 can be done in-line or in a box. The same applies to clearcoat application in clearcoat station 126.
[0070] The primary treatment area 112 further comprises a horizontal conveyor device (not shown) with which the workpieces can be conveyed through the primary treatment area 112 along the primary conveying direction 116.
[0071] The horizontal conveyor device can be, for example, a roller conveyor, a rail conveyor or an automated guided vehicle system.
[0072] The secondary treatment area 114 is preferably located in the available space between the filter device 130 and the filter device 132.
[0073] Alternatively, the secondary treatment area 114 may be located below the intermediate drying station 122 and / or the cooling station 124.
[0074] The secondary treatment area 114 comprises, in a secondary conveying direction 134, an optional first intermediate storage station 136, a decorative paint station 138 and an optional second intermediate storage station 140, wherein the sequence of the first intermediate storage station 136, the decorative paint station 138 and the second intermediate storage station 140 in the secondary conveying direction 134 is arbitrary.
[0075] It may also be the case that an optional (further) evaporation station is arranged between the decorative paint station 138 and the second intermediate storage station 140.
[0076] In addition, it can be provided that the first intermediate storage station 136 and / or the second intermediate storage station 140 are not only used for the preferably short-term intermediate storage of the workpieces, so that the workpieces can be easily clocked into the predetermined process cycle, in particular during reintegration into the primary treatment area 112, but can also serve as an evaporation station.
[0077] In the decorative coating station 138, a decorative coating is applied to the workpieces, with the coating application preferably being carried out without overspray or at least with reduced overspray. The decorative coating station 138 is, in particular, a so-called OFLA station (overspray-free coating application station).
[0078] Alternatively, the decorative paint can also be applied in the conventional way, i.e. with a so-called masking and demasking using atomization technology.
[0079] In the embodiment of the treatment system 100 according to Fig. 1, the secondary treatment level 106 is preferably the zero level, in particular the so-called concrete level. This is made possible in particular by the fact that the decorative paint application, in the form of a paint mist-free paint application, does not require any underlying washout or other complex air purification.
[0080] Furthermore, a first vertical conveyor 142 and a second vertical conveyor 144 are integrated into the primary and secondary treatment areas 112, 114 of the treatment line 110, by means of which the workpieces can be transferred between the primary and secondary treatment areas 112, 114.
[0081] The second vertical conveyor device 144 is arranged downstream of the cooling station 124 and conveys the cooled workpieces vertically along a first vertical conveyor line 146 to the secondary treatment level 106 in front of or into the first intermediate storage station 136.
[0082] In the event that the second vertical conveyor device 144 is not required depending on the process, the cooled workpieces can be conveyed directly to the clear coat station 126 after the cooling station 124.
[0083] In the secondary treatment area 114, a horizontal conveyor (not shown) also conveys the workpieces along the secondary conveying direction 134 through the treatment stations. From the second intermediate storage station 140 or from a position downstream of the second intermediate storage station 140, the workpieces coated with a decorative coating are conveyed by the first vertical conveyor 142 along a second vertical conveyor path 148 to the primary treatment level 104 in front of the intermediate drying station 122, in order to then dry the decorative coating in this intermediate drying station 122 in the next conveying cycle.
[0084] The intermediate drying station 122 is preferably designed for the resulting increased workpiece throughput.
[0085] The multiple, in particular double, use of the intermediate drying station 122 during the treatment of workpieces in the treatment line 110 saves not only space but also energy and thus costs.
[0086] Optionally, it can be provided that, starting from the primary treatment area 112, the secondary treatment area 114 can be passed through multiple times by the workpieces. This allows, in particular, very complex decorative coating applications to be realized using a multi-layer process.
[0087] The vertical conveying devices 142, 144 may be lifting devices, elevator devices or carousel conveying devices or the like, with which the workpieces can be conveyed along the vertical conveying paths 146, 148 individually one after the other or continuously.
[0088] The workpieces are preferably secured against falling during conveyance along the vertical conveying lines 146, 148.
[0089] Furthermore, it can be provided that one of the vertical conveying devices 142, 144 or both vertical conveying devices 142, 144 are additionally ventilated.
[0090] The vertical end position of the first vertical conveyor device 142 in front of the intermediate drying station 122, over which the workpieces are treated in the primary treatment area 112 pass, can replace the flash-off station 120 as a separate flash-off station, wherein this depends in particular on the flash-off time required for the basecoat applied in the basecoat station 118 in order to reduce the solvent input in the intermediate drying station 122.
[0091] The starting position of the second vertical conveyor device 144 after the cooling station 124, which is passed over by the workpieces to reach the clear coat station 126, can also be used as an evaporation station and / or intermediate storage station.
[0092] The decorative coating station 138 on the secondary treatment level 106 is preferably arranged below the intermediate drying station 122 and / or the cooling station 124, in particular in the vertical direction directly below the intermediate drying station 122 and / or the cooling station 124.
[0093] The workpieces, which are conveyed from the first processing area 112 to the second processing area 114 and back by means of the first and second vertical conveying directions 142, 144, do not change their orientation during the passage. This means, in particular, that no rotation about the vertical axis of the workpieces is required to be conveyed along the vertical conveying paths 146, 148, and that, moreover, the workpieces can pass through the secondary processing area 114 in reverse in the secondary conveying direction 134.
[0094] The treatment process of workpieces, in particular the painting of vehicle bodies, is described below by way of example using the embodiment of the treatment system 100 according to Fig. 1, wherein the description of the treatment process applies analogously to the second and third embodiments in Figs. 2 and 3.
[0095] A workpiece, in particular a vehicle body, which is conveyed by a horizontal conveyor device in the primary conveying direction 116 through the primary treatment area 112, first receives a base coat in the base coat station 118, wherein the base coat application may be preceded by greasing and / or phosphating.
[0096] The workpiece with the base coat then undergoes a flash-off process, also known as "flash-off." This occurs either in the flash-off station 120 or at the position of the first vertical conveyor 142 before the intermediate drying station 122. After flash-off, the workpiece is dried in the intermediate drying station 122 and subsequently cooled in the cooling station 124.
[0097] Following the cooling process, ie in the position before the clear coat station 126, the workpiece to be treated is conveyed along the vertical conveyor line 146 by means of the second vertical conveyor device 144 from the primary treatment level 104 to the secondary treatment level 106 in order to pass through the secondary treatment area 114 in the secondary conveying direction 134, which is opposite to the primary conveying direction 116.
[0098] The workpieces can initially be temporarily stored there in a first intermediate storage station 136, wherein both the first intermediate storage station 136 and the second intermediate storage station 140 simplify the removal or introduction of workpieces into the primary processing area 112 as part of the process timing.
[0099] A decorative coating is then applied to the workpieces in the decorative coating station 138, preferably in a paint mist-free process.
[0100] The workpiece can then be evaporated either in an additional evaporation station or in the second intermediate storage station 140 before it is conveyed along the second vertical conveyor line 148 by means of the first vertical conveyor device 142 in front of the intermediate drying station 122 in order to pass through this station again and to dry the applied decorative paint.
[0101] The workpiece, which has been dried again, is then cooled again in the cooling station 124 and is subsequently conveyed, ie at the end of the cooling cycle, to the clear lacquer station 126, unless a second decorative lacquer layer is provided.
[0102] If a second or further decorative coating layer is intended for the workpiece, the workpiece must pass through the secondary processing area 114, the intermediate drying station 122, and the cooling station 124 again. A clear coat is then applied to the workpiece in the clear coat station 126, and finally, the finished coated workpiece is preferably completely dried in a drying station 128.
[0103] The second embodiment of a treatment plant 100 according to the invention shown in Fig. 2 differs from the first embodiment according to Fig. 1 in that the secondary treatment area 114 of the treatment line 110 is arranged above the primary treatment area 112 of the treatment line 110, i.e. the secondary treatment level 106 of the treatment plant 100 is located above the primary treatment level 104 in this case.
[0104] The sequence of the treatment process remains unchanged, except that after the cooling station 124, the workpieces are conveyed by means of the second vertical conveyor device 144 along the first vertical conveyor line 146 from the primary treatment level 104 upwards to the second treatment level 106, where they pass through the secondary treatment area 114 in the secondary conveying direction 134, at the end of which they are conveyed back down along the second vertical conveyor line 148 to the primary treatment level 104. There, they then pass through the intermediate drying station 122 and optionally the cooling station 124 of the primary treatment area 112 again.
[0105] Such an arrangement of the treatment system 100 is possible, among other things, because the decorative paint application in the decorative paint station 138 of the secondary treatment area 114, due to its absence of paint mist, does not require any washing or other complex air purification arranged below the decorative paint station 138.
[0106] It is conceivable that an intermediate level is arranged between the primary treatment level 104 and the secondary treatment level 106, in which support modules or support units necessary for the stations of the secondary treatment area 114, such as washing devices or filter devices, can be arranged.
[0107] Fig. 3 shows a third embodiment of the treatment system 100, in which the primary treatment area 112 and the secondary treatment area 114 of the treatment line 110 are arranged on a common, in particular primary, treatment plane 104. Accordingly, instead of two vertical conveyors, the treatment line has a first transverse conveyor 152 and a second transverse conveyor 154 to transfer the workpieces between the primary and secondary treatment areas 112, 114, respectively.
[0108] The dashed horizontal line 150 in Fig. 3 marks a real or virtual spatial separation on the primary treatment level 104 between the primary treatment area 112 and the secondary treatment area 114.
[0109] In the third embodiment, the workpieces are conveyed after the cooling station 124 by a second transverse conveyor device 154 along a first transverse conveyor path 156 into the secondary treatment area 114 of the treatment line 110, in order to have the decorative paint applied there in particular in the decorative paint station 138.
[0110] Following the decorative coating application and possible intermediate storage in the second intermediate storage station 140, the workpieces are conveyed along a second transverse conveyor line 158 by means of the first transverse conveyor device 152 back to the primary treatment area 112 on the same, in particular the primary, treatment level 104. There, they are returned to the topcoat process of the primary treatment area 112 before the intermediate drying station 122, in order to again pass through the intermediate drying station 122 and the cooling station 124 before the application of a clearcoat in the clearcoat station 126.
[0111] It is conceivable that several treatment lines 110 according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, ie with transverse conveyance on one treatment level, are arranged in the treatment levels of the treatment plant 100 arranged one above the other.
[0112] 100 treatment plant
[0113] 102 Painting system
[0114] 104 primary treatment level
[0115] 106 secondary treatment levels
[0116] 108 Level Floor Ceiling
[0117] 110 treatment lines
[0118] 112 primary treatment area
[0119] 114 secondary treatment area
[0120] 116 primary conveying direction
[0121] 118 Basecoat station
[0122] 120 evaporation station
[0123] 122 Intermediate drying station
[0124] 124 Cooling station
[0125] 126 Clear coat station
[0126] 128 drying station
[0127] 130 Filter device of the base coat station
[0128] 132 Filter device of the clear coat station
[0129] 134 secondary conveying direction
[0130] 136 first interim storage station
[0131] 138 Decorative paint station
[0132] 140 second interim storage station
[0133] 142 first vertical conveyor device
[0134] 144 second vertical conveyor device
[0135] 146 first vertical conveyor line
[0136] 148 second vertical conveyor line
[0137] 150 (virtual) spatial separation
[0138] 152 first cross conveyor device
[0139] 154 second cross conveyor device
[0140] 156 first cross conveyor line
[0141] 158 second cross conveyor line
Claims
Claims Treatment system (100) for treating workpieces, in particular for coating vehicle bodies, wherein the treatment system (100) comprises: several treatment levels (104, 106) arranged at different height levels, in particular one above the other; and / or one or more treatment lines (110), in particular arranged parallel to each other, which comprise several treatment areas (112, 114) arranged on one or more treatment levels (104, 106); wherein each treatment area (112, 114) has one or more treatment stations (118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 136, 138, 140) for carrying out one or more treatment steps and wherein each treatment line (110) has one or at least two transfer conveying devices (142, 144, 152, 154) by means of which the workpieces can be transferred between the treatment areas (112, 114).Treatment system (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that a treatment line (110) has a primary treatment area (112) with a primary conveying direction (116) and a secondary treatment area (114) with a secondary conveying direction (134). Treatment system (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the primary treatment area (112) has a primary horizontal conveying device for conveying the workpieces in the primary conveying direction (116) and that the secondary treatment area (114) has a secondary horizontal conveying device for conveying the workpieces in the secondary conveying direction (134). Treatment system (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that the primary horizontal conveying device and / or the secondary horizontal conveying device are of the same type of conveying device. in particular by roller conveyors, rail conveyors or an automated guided vehicle system. Treatment system (100) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the primary conveying direction (116) and the secondary conveying direction (134) are oriented in opposite directions and preferably at least approximately parallel to each other. Treatment system (100) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the workpieces can be transferred from the secondary treatment area (114) to the primary treatment area (112) by means of a first transfer conveying device (142, 152) and that the workpieces can be transferred from the primary treatment area (112) to the secondary treatment area (114) by means of a second transfer conveying device (144, 154).Treatment system (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the workpieces can be conveyed through the secondary treatment area (114) in the same orientation as in the primary treatment area (112). Treatment system (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the workpieces can be conveyed backwards through the secondary treatment area (114) with respect to the primary conveying direction (116). Treatment system (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the primary treatment area (112) has at least the following treatment stations arranged successively in the primary conveying direction (116): a basecoat station (118); and / or optionally a flash-off station (120); and / or an intermediate drying station (122); and / or optionally a cooling station (124); and / or a clearcoat station (126); and / or a drying station (128). Treatment system (100) according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the secondary treatment area (114) in the secondary conveying direction (134) has at least the following treatment stations arranged successively: a first intermediate storage station (136); and / or a topcoat station (138), in particular a paint mist-free topcoat station; and / or an evaporation station; and / or a second intermediate storage station (140).Treatment system (100) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that in the primary treatment area (112) the first transfer conveying device (142, 152) is arranged between the basecoat station (118) and the intermediate drying station (122) and the second transfer conveying device (144, 154) is arranged between the intermediate drying station (122) and the clearcoat station (124) and that in the secondary treatment area (114) the first transfer conveying device (142, 152) is arranged after the topcoat station (138) and / or a, in particular a second, intermediate storage station (140) and the second transfer conveying device (144, 154) is arranged before the topcoat station (138) and / or a, in particular a first, intermediate storage station (136), so that the workpieces can be conveyed multiple times through the intermediate drying station (122) and / or the cooling station (124).Treatment system (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 11, characterized in that the secondary treatment area (114) is arranged on a treatment level (106) below or above a treatment level (104) of the primary treatment area (112), wherein the first and the second transfer conveying device (142, 144) are preferably vertical conveying devices. Treatment system (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 12, characterized in that the secondary treatment area (114) is arranged on a lowest treatment level (106), in particular a zero level. Treatment system (100) according to one of claims 2 to 11, characterized in that the primary treatment area (112) and the secondary treatment area (114) are arranged side by side on a common treatment plane (104), wherein the first and the second transfer conveying device (152, 154) are preferably transverse conveying devices. Method for treating workpieces, in particular for coating vehicle bodies, wherein the method comprises the following: Treating the workpieces in several treatment areas (112, 114), in particular in a primary and a secondary treatment area (112, 114), a treatment line (110), each of which has one or more treatment stations (118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 136, 138, 140) for carrying out one or more treatment steps. The method according to claim 15, wherein the method further comprises: Transferring the workpieces between the treatment areas (112, 114), wherein the treatment areas (112, 114) are arranged on one or more treatment levels (104, 106) of a treatment system (100) and / or wherein the treatment areas (112, 114) have opposing conveying directions (116, 134). A method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the workpieces are conveyed multiple times, in particular at least twice, through at least one of the treatment areas (112, 114), in particular a section of the first treatment area (112).Method according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the primary treatment area (112) has an intermediate drying station (122), after which the workpieces are transferred to the secondary treatment area (114) by means of a transfer conveyor device (144, 154), and that the workpieces are transferred from the secondary treatment area (114) back to the primary treatment area (112) in front of the intermediate drying station (122) by means of a further transfer conveyor device (142, 152). Method according to one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that the workpieces are not changed in their orientation, in particular not rotated, when being transferred between the treatment areas (112, 114).