Powder-coating unit and station comprising such a powder-coating unit

Abstract

Feeding unit and powdering station comprising such a feeding unit This feeding unit (10) of a powdering station (2) in powder coating product includes a fluidized coating product reservoir (102), a support (120) for receiving a coating product container (118, 119), a pump (112) for feeding the reservoir from the container and a casing (104), which defines an internal volume (V104) for receiving the reservoir and which is provided with an opening (O104) for accessing the internal volume.The support (120) is mobile in rotation or circular translation about at least one axis of rotation (Z120), in both directions, between a first loading / unloading position, in which the support (120) protrudes outside the internal volume (V104) of the casing (104), through the access opening (O104), and a second coating product transfer position, in which the support and a container in place on the support are included within this internal volume. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Powdering unit and feeding station comprising such a feeding unit

[0001] The present invention relates to a supply unit for a powder coating station for powdered coating product.

[0002] The technical field of the invention is that of powder coating stations or installations, in which one or more sprayers project a powder coating product onto objects to be coated. This or these sprayers may be manual or automatic, in which case they are advantageously moved by a multi-axis or reciprocating robot.

[0003] In this type of station, it is known to provide a unit or central supply for the powder coating station, more specifically for its sprayer(s), with a powdered coating product. Such a unit generally comprises a casing or enclosure, installed near a coating booth, which defines an internal volume in which a fluidized coating product reservoir is located. This fluidized coating product reservoir is supplied by a pump that draws the powdered coating product into a container placed on a support, for example, a vibrating table.

[0004] The powder coating product is often available packaged in a carton or bag weighing approximately 20 kilograms (kg) or more. During a workday, several containers full of powder must be successively loaded onto the substrate, in a confined space near the fluidized coating product reservoir, within the internal volume of the casing. When a container has been completely or partially emptied, it must be unloaded from the substrate and removed from this confined space to allow for the placement of another container, for example, if the color of the coating product to be sprayed changes. Depending on the coating product consumption of the powder coating station, loading / unloading operations of coating product containers onto the substrate may occur up to ten times during an eight-hour shift.These operations take place in a confined space, which is likely to lead to increased fatigue and musculoskeletal disorders for an operator.

[0005] It is these problems that the invention intends to remedy more particularly by proposing a new feeding unit for a powder coating station whose loading with powdered coating product is facilitated.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a feeding unit for a powder coating station using powdered coating product, this feeding unit comprising a A fluidized coating product reservoir, a support for receiving a coating product container, a pump for supplying the fluidized coating product reservoir from the container carried by the support, and a frame that defines an internal receiving volume for the fluidized coating product reservoir and is provided with an access opening to this internal volume. According to the invention, the support is movable in rotation or circular translation about at least one axis, in both directions, at least between - a first loading / unloading position, in which the support protrudes outside the internal volume of the casing, through the access opening; and - a second coating product transfer position, in which the support and a container in place on the support are included in the internal volume of the frame.

[0007] Thanks to the invention, rotating or circularly translating the support allows it to be brought into its initial position, in which it is easily accessible to an operator since it protrudes outside the frame, thus facilitating the loading of the support with the container filled with powdered coating product. This prevents the operator from having to carry the coating product container into the feeding unit. This significantly reduces operator fatigue and prevents musculoskeletal disorders. The same advantages apply when unloading a container from the support, whether the container is empty or partially filled with powdered coating product, particularly in the case of a color change.In the second position, the support and the container placed on it are correctly positioned within the internal volume of the housing so that the pump can draw the coating product into the container. Because the support and container are contained within the internal volume of the housing, they do not obstruct the passage of operators or transport trolleys near the feeding unit, thus improving the safety of the powder coating station. The rotation or circular translation used to move the support between its two positions has the advantage of being a simple, well-controlled movement that does not create any obstruction outside the housing.

[0008] According to advantageous but not mandatory aspects of the invention, such a power supply unit may incorporate one or more of the following features taken in any technically permissible combination:

[0009] - The axis of rotation is vertical and, preferably, located, in part, within the volume internal to the carcass.

[0010] - The support is equipped with a vibrating table.

[0011] - The support is mobile in rotation or circular translation, from one of its first and second positions, to a third position for purging the fluidized coating product tank, and vice versa from the third position to one of its first and second positions.

[0012] - In the third position of the support, the coating product container is located under the fluidized coating product tank.

[0013] - An angle of rotation of the support between its first and second positions is between 100 and 180°, preferably between 120° and 160°, preferably still around 135°. Preferably, a rotation angle of the support, between its first and third positions is between 70 and 110°, preferably between 80° and 100°, preferably still around 90°.

[0014] - The container is equipped with a lid having a tube through which a can passes suction of the coating product when the support is in its second position, while this tube is positioned under a drain opening of the fluidized coating product tank when the support is in its third position.

[0015] - The support is equipped with at least one support drive handle in rotation between its first and second positions, and possibly between these first and second positions and the third position.

[0016] - The support is configured to receive bin-type containers, in particular bin rigid for coating product bag, or cardboard type.

[0017] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a powder coating station which includes at least one powder coating product sprayer installed in a coating booth and supplied with coating product by a feeding unit as mentioned above.

[0018] Such a powdering station induces the same advantages as those mentioned above regarding the feeding unit, in particular in terms of reducing musculoskeletal disorders for the operator and safety.

[0019] The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will become more apparent in the light of the following description of two embodiments of a feeding unit and a powdering station according to its principle, given solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0020] [Fig-1] Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective representation of a station powder coating and a feeding unit according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0021] [Fig.2] The [Fig.2] represents, on two inserts A) and B), the feeding unit in front view and in vertical section according to plane B in the [Fig.1], in the configuration of the [Fig.1];

[0022] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a view analogous to [Fig.2], when a support of the unit power supply is in charging position;

[0023] [Fig.4] The [Fig.4] is a view analogous to the [Fig.2] when the support of the feed unit is in the position of purging a fluidized coating product tank;

[0024] [Fig.5] The [Fig.5] is a view analogous to the [Fig.1], for an installation and a power supply unit according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0025] [Fig.6] The [Fig.6] is a view analogous to the [Fig.2], for the second embodiment;

[0026] [Fig.7] Fig.6 is a view analogous to Fig.3, for the second embodiment; and

[0027] [Fig.8] The [Fig.8] is a view analogous to the [Fig.4], for the second embodiment.

[0028] Fig. 1 represents a powder coating station or installation 2 which includes a coating booth 4 in which objects not shown are moved along a conveying axis A4, by a conveyor, also not shown, whose swing arms pass through a longitudinal slot 42 provided in the ceiling 44 of the booth 4. The booth 4 contains one or more sprayers 6 of which only one is shown, very schematically, in Fig. 1 and which is oriented towards the objects moved by the conveyor, inside the booth 4.

[0029] In the example shown in the figures, the sprayer 6 is an automatic sprayer moved by a multi-axis robot (not shown) along the three axes X, Y, Z of an orthogonal XYZ coordinate system, the X axis being parallel to the conveyor axis A4. Alternatively, the robot is of the reciprocating type or another type, and the movement of the sprayer 6 took place along some or all of the X, Y, Z axes. In another alternative, the sprayer 6 is a manual sprayer carried by a painter standing in the booth 4.

[0030] The sprayer 6 can be of the electrostatic or triboelectric type.

[0031] The number of sprayers 6 in the cabin 4 is adapted to its volume and to the size of the parts to be coated.

[0032] The powder coating station 2 also includes a feed unit 10 which serves to supply each sprayer 6 with a mixture of air and powdered coating product, from a tank 102 disposed in the internal volume V104 of a casing 104 which constitutes the outer shell of the feed unit 10 and which, in the example of the figures, is parallelepiped-shaped and attached to the coating booth 4.

[0033] Unit 10 can also be called the powder coating unit.

[0034] A bracket 103 supports the tank 102 within the internal volume V104, in a fixed position relative to the frame 104. The tank 102 is thus relatively isolated from the external environment of the powder coating station 2 and mechanically protected. against shocks.

[0035] The carcass 104 also has the function of limiting the diffusion of powder grains out of the feeding station 10.

[0036] A supply conduit 106 connects the reservoir 102 to each sprayer 6.

[0037] As seen in figures 2 to 4, a connection plate 108 is fixed to a bottom wall 110 of the casing 104 and a first part 106A of the conduit 106 extends between the tank 102 and the plate 108, in the internal volume V104, while a second part 106B of this conduit extends between the plate and the sprayer 6, outside the internal volume V104.

[0038] The tank 102 is supplied with powdered coating product by a pump 112 which also belongs to the supply unit 10 and which is fixed to the outside of a first side wall 114 of the casing 104. A second conduit 116 connects the outlet 112B of the pump 112 to the tank 102 and comprises a first part 116A which extends inside the internal volume V104, between the tank 102 and the plate 108, and a second part 116B which extends between the plate 108 and the pump 112, outside the internal volume V104.

[0039] The positioning of the pump 112 shown in the figures is not limiting. Alternatively, the pump 112 can be installed on the inside of the side wall 114, on the bottom 110, in particular on the side of this bottom facing outwards from the casing 104, opposite the volume V104, on the floor 111, on the ceiling 113 or on the second side wall 115 of the casing 104.

[0040] A front-to-back direction of the power supply unit 10 is defined as a direction parallel to the Y-axis and oriented in the same direction as this axis. An access opening 0104 to the volume 104 is defined by the front edges of the floor 111, the ceiling 113 and the side walls 114 and 115, these front edges being those visible in [Fig. 1] and in the insets B) of Figures 2 to 4.

[0041] The inlet 112A of the pump 112 is supplied with powdered coating product contained in a carton 118 arranged on a support 120.

[0042] In the configuration of [Fig. 1], the powdered coating product can be conveyed to the sprayer 6 in fluidized form. This position is therefore a coating product transfer position, from the carton 118 to the tank 102, and then from the tank 102 to the sprayer 6. In this position, the support 120 and the carton 118 are completely enclosed within the internal volume V104 of the frame 104. In other words, the carton 118 and the support 120 do not protrude outside the volume V104 through the opening 0104. Since the carton 118 and the support 120 do not extend beyond the volume V104, they are not likely to obstruct operators or transport trolleys moving in the vicinity of the powder coating station 2.

[0043] Advantageously, the support 120 is equipped with a vibrating table 121 which allows Shake carton 18 in the configuration shown in Figures 1 and 2 to facilitate the collection of the coating product in its lower corner. One upper face of the vibrating table 121 is inclined, allowing carton 118 to rest at an angle that facilitates the concentration of the coating product in a lower corner of carton 118.

[0044] In the configuration of the feeding unit 10 shown in figures 1 and 2, a suction tube 122 plunges into the carton 118 while being held in place by means of a bracket 124 fixed to the second side wall 115 of the carcass 104.

[0045] A third conduit 126 connects the upper end of the suction pipe 122 to the inlet 112A of the pump 112. A first part of the conduit 126 extends between the suction pipe 122 and a connection plate 128 fixed to the bottom wall 110, in the internal volume V104, while a second part of this conduit extends between the plate 128 and the inlet 112A of the pump 112, outside the internal volume V104.

[0046] A sleeve 130 is arranged on the inner face of the wall 115 facing the volume V104 and configured to receive the suction tube 122 when it is not in place on the bracket 124 to plunge into the carton 118.

[0047] For clarity of the drawing, conduits 106, 116 and 126 are shown as directly connecting parts 6, 102, 112 and 122 of the powder coating station 2 in [Fig. 1]. The different parts of these conduits are visible in insets A) of Figures 2 to 4 and are not shown in insets B) of these figures.

[0048] The tank 102 is equipped with means known per se for fluidizing the coating product from the pump 112, so that it can be easily conveyed with a controlled flow to, or to each of, the sprayer(s) 6. For this purpose, the tank 102 may include a porous plate not shown over which the coating product from the pump 112 is poured and through which an upward airflow extends, which has the effect of suspending the coating product in the air.

[0049] In the configuration of the feeding unit 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2, the carton 118 in place on the support 120 is arranged on one side of the volume V104, offset, parallel to the X axis, from the reservoir 102 and located below this reservoir, along the Z axis. In this configuration, the carton 118 is correctly positioned with respect to the bracket 124, being located completely inside the volume V104, so that the suction tube 122 can penetrate the internal volume of this carton.

[0050] In this configuration, carton 118 is relatively difficult to access. In particular, if an operator had to install carton 118 on the support in the configuration shown in Figures 1 and 2, they would have to contort themselves and work partly cantilevered, unless they entered volume V104 themselves, where they would be obstructed by the tank. 102 and by brackets 103 and 124 against which he could injure himself. By repeating this operation several times per workstation, the operator risks premature fatigue and suffering from musculoskeletal disorders.

[0051] To overcome this difficulty, the support 120 is mobile in rotation about an axis Z120, which is vertical and parallel to the Z axis in the example shown in the figures. Rotation is a simple movement, easy to implement with known means, such as bearings.

[0052] The axis Z120 passes through the floor 111, such that its portion located between the floor 111 and the ceiling 113 is located in the internal volume V104 of the frame 104. This gives good compactness to the power unit 10.

[0053] The support 120 can thus move from the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 to that shown in [Fig. 3], in which the support 120 protrudes outside the volume V104, through the opening 0104, so that a carton 118 is also positioned at least partially outside the volume V104 and is easily accessible to an operator, to load a carton onto the support 120 or unload a carton from the support 120. This position is therefore a loading / unloading position of the support 120 with containers which, in this embodiment, are cartons 118.

[0054] The transition of the support 120 from its transfer position in Figures 1 and 2 to its loading / unloading position in [Fig. 3] is reversible. It can take place in both directions.

[0055] To facilitate the operator's work and the rotation of the support 120 around the axis Z120, the support 120 is equipped with two handles 132 and 134 that extend upwards from the support, specifically over a carton placed on the support. Given their geometry, the handles are easily accessible without requiring the operator to bend over. They allow the operator to apply a driving torque to the support 120, rotating it around the axis Z120 without having to bend over significantly. This torque can be applied in the direction of arrow RI in [Fig. 3], to move from the loading / unloading position to the transfer position, or in the direction of arrow R2 in [Fig. 2], to move from the transfer position to the loading / unloading position.

[0056] The support 120 therefore takes, depending on its orientation around the axis Z120, a first position for loading / unloading the carton 118 onto the support 120, which is shown in [Fig.3], and a second position for transferring the coating product, which is shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0057] The operator's work is made easier because access to the support 120 for placing the carton 118 containing the powdered coating product is facilitated in the loading / unloading position of [Fig. 3], while the carton 118 and the support 120 do not protrude outside the volume 104 in the transfer position of the 120 support, which is advantageous in terms of safety and in terms of compactness of the 10 feed unit, therefore of the 2 powdering station.

[0058] In practice, the angle α of rotation of the support 120, in the counterclockwise direction as seen from the top view shown in insets B) of Figures 2 and 3, between its first and second positions can be between 100° and 180°, preferably between 120° and 160°, and even more preferably around 135°. Alternatively, the rotation of the support 120 between its first and second positions can be carried out in the counterclockwise direction as seen from the top view to reach the same point. In this case, the angle of rotation of the support has a value equal to the difference between 360° and the value of the angle in the case of a rotation in the counterclockwise direction.

[0059] Advantageously, a third position is provided for the support 120. This third position is shown in [Fig. 4]. In this third position, the carton 118 is located below the reservoir 102, which allows the reservoir to be purged by letting the powdered coating product it contains fall by gravity into the carton 118. A purge sleeve valve 105 is provided in the lower part of the reservoir 102 and allows the discharge of any remaining coating product present in the reservoir 102, through an opening controlled by the sleeve valve 105, into the carton 118 in place on the support 120 in its third position.

[0060] In this third purging position of the tank 102, the support 120 protrudes outside the casing 104, less markedly than in the loading / unloading position of [Fig. 3]. The carton 118 is not actually accessible, but this is not important since, in this configuration, the aim is not to load or unload the carton 118 onto the support 120, but to recover the powdered coating product remaining in the tank 102 and flowing through the opening controlled by the sleeve valve 105.

[0061] This third position makes purging the tank 102 and recovering the remaining coating product from it easier and faster, thus facilitating a coating product changeover. Indeed, the previously used coating product can be recovered in its original carton 118, which can be stored until the next powder coating operation during which this product will be used. Changes of coating product, particularly color changes, are therefore made easier.

[0062] The third position shown in [Fig.4] is an intermediate position between the first position shown in [Fig.3] and the second position shown in Figures 1 and 2, in the sense that, when moving from the first position to the second position with a rotation in the trigonometric direction, and vice versa from the second position to the first position with a rotation in the anti-trigonometric direction, the support 120 passes through the third position.

[0063] This third position of the support 120 can be reached by rotating the support 120 in the direction of arrow RI from the first loading / unloading position, with a smaller amplitude than that corresponding to the transition from the first loading / unloading position to the second transfer position. A rotation in the opposite direction moves the support 120 from its third purging position to its first loading / unloading position. This third position of the support 120 can also be reached by rotating the support 120 in the direction of arrow R2 from the second transfer position, with a smaller amplitude than that corresponding to the transition from the second transfer position to the first loading / unloading position. A rotation in the opposite direction moves the support 120 from its third purging position to its second transfer position.

[0064] In practice, the angle [3] of rotation of the support 120, in the trigonometric direction in the top view shown in insets B) of figures 2 and 4, between its first and third positions can be between 70 and 110°, preferably between 80° and 100°, and even more preferably in the order of 90°. Alternatively, the rotation of the support 120 between its first and third positions can be carried out in the anti-trigonometric direction in the top view to reach the same point.

[0065] In the above, when an angle is defined as being of the order of a value, it is equal to that value to within 5°.

[0066] Regardless of the position of the support 120, at least one of the handles 132 and 134 is accessible to the operator from outside the frame 104, through the opening 0104, in order to exert a rotational torque around the axis Z120, in the direction of arrow RI or in the direction of arrow R2, according to the desired movement.

[0067] In the second embodiment shown in Figures 5 and following, the elements analogous to those of the first embodiment bear the same reference numerals and are not described in detail. In what follows, if a reference numeral is mentioned in the description but not shown in a figure, or if it is shown in a figure but not mentioned in the description, it corresponds to the same element as the one bearing the same reference numeral in the first embodiment. The following primarily describes what distinguishes the second embodiment from the first.

[0068] This embodiment differs from the previous one in that a rigid container 119 is mounted on the support 120 to receive a bag of coating product, which corresponds to certain coating product packaging configurations sometimes called "big bags". The container 119 is preferably made of welded polymer, lacquered steel, or polished stainless steel. This container 119 is closed by a lid 139 equipped with a tube 141 that forms a chimney through which a suction tube 122 plunges into the tank 119, in order to collect the sprayed coating product aspirated by the pump 112 through the conduit 126, in the configuration of figures 5 and 6 where the support 120 is in a transfer position defined as in the first embodiment.

[0069] Parts 102 to 116 and 121 to 134 of the powdering station 2 are identical to those of the first embodiment.

[0070] In particular, the support 120 is mobile in rotation, in the two directions represented by the arrows RI and R2 respectively in figures 7 and 6, between a first position of loading / unloading a bag of coating product into the tank 119 and a position of transferring coating product from the internal volume of the tank 119 to the sprayer 6, passing through the fluidized coating product reservoir 102.

[0071] In the first loading / unloading position of the support 120 shown in [Fig.7] and according to an aspect which is not shown, the cover 139 is removed before evacuation of a bag of coating product partially or totally consumed and before placing a new bag of coating product in the bin 119. After this operation, the cover 139 is put back in place on the bin 119, still in this position.

[0072] The lid 139 and the tube 141 allow the internal volume of the container 119 to be confined. This prevents powdered coating product from being deposited on the internal parts of the feed unit 10. This limits the risk of contamination of this powdered coating product by external particles.

[0073] The tube 141 is positioned on the cover 139 so that it is aligned with the suction pipe 122 in the second transfer position shown in Figures 5 and 6, as well as with the outlet opening of the tank 102 controlled by the sleeve valve 105, in the third configuration shown in [Fig.8], which is optional as in the first embodiment.

[0074] In this third position, the tube 141 guides the coating product towards the internal volume of the tank 119 and limits the risks of pollution of the volume V104.

[0075] Regardless of the embodiment, the number of handles 132, 134 or equivalent equipping the support 120 to apply a rotational torque between its positions mentioned above may be different from two, in particular equal to one or greater than or equal to three. Furthermore, these handles may have a geometry different from that shown in the figures.

[0076] Alternatively, the frame 104 may have a different geometry than that shown in the figures and its opening may be oriented differently.

[0077] Alternatively, the movement of the support between its first and second positions and, possibly, between these positions and the third position, is a circular translational movement about two axes of rotation. In this case, the angle of rotation The range between the different positions is limited to 180°.

[0078] Whether with a rotational or circular translational movement, the movement of the support between its positions is well controlled and does not induce any obstruction of space outside the frame 104, which would be the case with a translational movement.

[0079] According to another variant not shown, applicable to a rotational or circular translational movement, means are provided for indexing, i.e. stopping, the support in each of its first and second positions, and possibly in its third position.

[0080] According to yet another variant not shown, the support 120 is driven electrically, by a motor, or pneumatically, by a rotary cylinder, between its positions. In this case, the handles 132 and 134 can be omitted.

[0081] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described. In particular, the embodiments and variants envisaged above may be combined with each other.

Claims

Claims

1. Supply unit (10) of a powder coating station (2) with powder coating product, this supply unit comprising - a reservoir (102) of fluidized coating product; - a support (120) for receiving a container (118, 119) of coating product; - a pump (112) for supplying the reservoir with fluidized coating product, from the container carried by the support;and - a carcass (104) which defines an internal volume (VI04) for receiving the fluidized coating product reservoir and which is provided with an opening (0104) for access to this internal volume, characterized in that the support (120) is movable in rotation or in circular translation around at least one axis of rotation (Z120), in both directions (RI, R2), at least between - a first loading / unloading position, in which the support (120) protrudes outside the internal volume (V104) of the carcass (104), through the access opening (0104); and - a second coating product transfer position, in which the support and a container (118, 119) in place on the support are included in the internal volume of the carcass.;

2. Power supply unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the axis of rotation (Z120) is vertical and, preferably, arranged, in part, in the internal volume (V104) of the carcass (104).

3. Feeding unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (120) is equipped with a vibrating table (121).

4. Supply unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (120) is movable in rotation or in circular translation, from one of its first and second positions, towards a third position for purging the reservoir (102) of fluidized coating product, and vice versa from the third position to one of its first and second positions.

5. Supply unit according to claim 4, characterized in that, in the third position of the support, the container (118, 119) of coating product is arranged under the reservoir (102) of fluidized coating product.

6. Power supply unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an angle (a) of rotation of the support (120) between its first and second positions is between 100 and 180°, preferably between 120° and 160°, more preferably of the order of 135°, and in that, preferably, an angle (|3) of rotation of the support, between its first and third positions is between 70 and 110°, preferably between 80° and 100°, more preferably of the order of 90°.

7. Supply unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (119) is equipped with a cover (139) provided with a tube (141) for passing a rod (122) for suctioning the coating product when the support is in its second position and in that this tube is arranged under an opening (105) for emptying the fluidized coating product reservoir when the support is in its third position.

8. Power supply unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (120) is equipped with at least one handle (132, 134) for driving the support in rotation (RI, R2) between its first and second positions, and possibly between these first and second positions and the third position.

9. Supply unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (120) is configured to receive containers of the tray type (119), in particular a rigid tray for a bag of coating product, or of the cardboard type (118).

10. Powder coating station (2) comprising at least one sprayer (6) of powder coating product installed in a coating booth (4) and supplied with coating product by a supply unit (10), characterized in that the supply unit (10) is according to one of the preceding claims.

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