Instrument and method for inserting shuttle into circuit, and installation for spraying coating product comprising such instrument

Abstract

To provide an instrument and method for inserting a shuttle into a circuit, and an installation for spraying a coating product comprising such instrument.SOLUTION: An instrument 50 serves to insert a shuttle into a circuit for circulating a coating product. A chamber 56 for receiving the shuttle is sized for receiving the shuttle in a position where an axis of polarization of the shuttle is parallel to a longitudinal axis X56 of the chamber. A mouth 54 connects the chamber to a first end 52A of the body. A control lever 60 is movable with respect to the chamber 56 between a first position, in which a first magnet 62 is aligned with the longitudinal axis X56, with a pole oriented towards the chamber having a first polarity, and a second position, in which a second magnet 64 is aligned with the longitudinal axis, with a pole oriented towards the chamber 56 having a second polarity opposite the first polarity.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tool for inserting a shuttle with axial magnetic polarization into a circuit for circulating a coating product. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an installation for spraying a coating product, comprising such a tool. Finally, the present invention relates to a method for inserting a shuttle into a circulation circuit for a coating product by means of such a tool. [Background technology]

[0002] In the field of installations for spraying coating products, it is known, for example from WO 2021 / 009046, how to circulate a shuttle (i.e., scraper) inside a pipe belonging to a circuit for circulating the coating product intended to supply the sprayer. Such prior art installations are generally sufficient. In such installations, the shuttle is inserted into the circuit while the installation is in operation and then needs to be checked and / or replaced periodically, in particular during maintenance operations. Therefore, it is necessary to insert or reinsert the shuttle into the circuit in a simple manner, which is usually done at a station in the fluid circulation circuit by disconnecting a hose. The shuttle is magnetically polarized, with a positive and negative magnetic pole, and is intended to interact with magnetic elements of the installation, in particular to detect the shuttle in the circuit, and / or with a propulsion / discharge device, for example, at the station. Therefore, when the shuttle is inserted or reinserted into the circuit, it is necessary to orient the shuttle in a predetermined direction.

[0003] Such shuttles have relatively small dimensions, about 7 millimeters (mm) long and about 4 mm in diameter, which makes them relatively difficult to handle, especially when the operator is working with gloves. Therefore, there is a risk that the shuttle will fall to the ground or even be lost during operation of the equipment or during maintenance operations. There is also a risk of inserting the shuttle with the wrong polarity orientation relative to the circuit for circulating the coating product, which would cause a total or partial failure of the equipment.

[0004] From EP 0 666 448 it is known how to use a shuttle which has a spherical core and therefore has no axial magnetic polarization. Controlling such a shuttle is tricky. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In particular, the present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a new device, in other words a new tool, for inserting or reinserting a shuttle with axial magnetic polarization into a circuit for circulating a coating product. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a tool for inserting a shuttle with axial magnetic polarization into a circuit for circulating a coating product, the tool comprising: a receiving chamber for receiving the shuttle, the receiving chamber being formed of a body (52) of non-magnetic material and sized to receive the shuttle in a position where the axis of polarization of the shuttle is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the receiving chamber; a port connecting the receiving chamber to the first end of the body of the device; a control lever provided with at least two magnets, the control lever being movable relative to the receiving chamber between a first position in which a first magnet is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the receiving chamber with a pole oriented toward the receiving chamber having a first polarity, and a second position in which a second magnet is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the receiving chamber with a pole oriented toward the receiving chamber having a second polarity opposite the first polarity; Equipped with.

[0007] According to the present invention, the chamber for receiving the shuttle, provided in the body of the instrument, can be used to hold the shuttle in a predetermined position inside the body, and the operator can handle the shuttle by moving it near the shuttle inlet area of ​​the station of the fluid circulation circuit. The operator no longer needs to hold the shuttle by hand; he or she can use the shuttle handling instrument, especially to move the shuttle closer to the station of the fluid circulation. The mouth of the instrument of the present invention can be used to guide the shuttle into the receiving chamber. Meanwhile, the first and second magnets provided in the control lever can be used, for the first magnet, to apply an attractive force to the shuttle to maintain its position in the receiving chamber in a predetermined axial orientation, and for the second magnet, to apply a force to expel the shuttle out of the chamber toward the station of the fluid circulation circuit.

[0008] According to advantageous but non-essential aspects of the invention, such an apparatus may incorporate one or more of the following features, taken individually or in any technically permissible combination: The mouth is shaped to converge between the first end of the body and the receiving chamber and is configured to guide the shuttle into the receiving chamber in a position where the axis of polarization of the shuttle is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the receiving chamber. When the control lever is in the first position, the two magnets of the control lever are aligned side by side along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the receiving chamber. The two permanent magnets of the control lever are attached to a face of the control lever positioned opposite the mouth relative to the receiving chamber and facing the receiving chamber. The two magnets on the control lever are flush with the face of the control lever. The body is provided with at least one opening for viewing the contents of the receiving chamber. The control lever is integral with a body made of a non-magnetic material, and the control lever is movable relative to the receiving chamber between a first position and a second position by elastic deformation. The device includes a withdrawal component at a second end opposite the first end for withdrawing the shuttle in a circuit for circulating the coating product. The extraction component is a magnetic material that contacts the pole of the first magnet opposite the pole oriented toward the receiving chamber in the first position of the control lever. The drawing element is disposed inside the tubular portion of the body, the external shape of which is configured to form one end of a pipe to which the fluid circulation circuit belongs.

[0009] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to an installation for spraying a coating product, comprising at least one sprayer supplied with a coating product, at least one source of the coating product, and a circuit for circulating the coating product, through which the sprayer of the coating product is fed from the source of the coating product and through which at least one shuttle circulates. According to the invention, such an installation comprises a device as described above and is arranged for inserting the shuttle into the circuit for circulating the coating product by means of the device.

[0010] The equipment of the present invention has substantially the same advantages as the above-described device.

[0011] According to advantageous but non-essential aspects of the invention, such equipment may incorporate one or more of the following features, taken individually or in any technically permissible combination: The equipment further comprises a tube for inserting the shuttle into a circuit for circulating the coating product, the tube having an internal diameter larger than the maximum diameter of the shuttle and smaller than the internal diameter of the receiving chamber of the device for inserting the shuttle into the circuit for circulating the coating product. The circuit for circulating the coating product comprises a circulation pipe for the shuttle and a tube for inserting the shuttle into the circuit for circulating the coating product, the tube and a portion of the tool for inserting the shuttle into the circuit for circulating the coating product having the same shape, and the portion of the tool having the same shape as the tube is configured to shape one end of the circulation pipe for the shuttle to attach it to the tube. The equipment comprises a tube for inserting the shuttle into a circuit for circulating the coating product, the tube being made of a material having a Brinell hardness strictly higher than the Brinell hardness of the non-magnetic material of the body of the tool for inserting the shuttle into the circuit for circulating the coating product.

[0012] According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a method for inserting a shuttle having an axial polarization into a circuit for circulating a coating product, the method comprising the steps of: a) moving the mouth of the instrument close to the shuttle, the control lever of the instrument being in a first position, allowing the shuttle to penetrate into the receiving chamber of the instrument under the effect of magnetic attraction exerted by a first magnet of the control lever, aligned with the longitudinal axis of the receiving chamber; b) placing a receiving chamber for the device opposite the inlet pipe of the circuit for circulating the coating product; and c) expelling the shuttle from the receiving chamber into the tube by moving the control lever of the instrument to a second control lever position to align the second magnet with the longitudinal axis of the receiving chamber such that the second magnet exerts a magnetically repulsive force on the shuttle toward the exterior of the receiving chamber. The present invention relates to a method comprising at least the steps of:

[0013] The method of the present invention is simple to implement and reliable for safely positioning the shuttle in the circuit with the polarized portions in a predetermined orientation.

[0014] The invention will be better understood and its advantages will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of an embodiment of an installation and apparatus for spraying a coating product in accordance with the principles of the invention, given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of the principle of an installation for spraying a coating product according to the invention, incorporating a device according to the invention; [Figure 2] 2 is an enlarged scale perspective view of the equipment shown in FIG. 1 and the shuttle shown in three possible spatial positions of the shuttle relative to the equipment. [Figure 3] 3 is an enlarged view of detail III of FIG. 2 with the front part of the device partially removed. [Figure 4] 1 is a longitudinal cross section of the device. [Figure 5] 5 shows detail V of FIG. 4 on an enlarged scale for two insets A) and B) when the shuttle is in position in the receiving chamber of the instrument, in two positions of use of the instrument. [Figure 6] 2 is a perspective view of part of the installation shown in FIG. 1 and of the device of the invention during the implementation of the method according to the invention; FIG. [Figure 7]7 is a perspective view of the equipment, shuttle and part of the tool from another angle, with the front part of the tool partially removed, at the end of the step of the method shown in FIG. 6. FIG. [Figure 8] 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but during use of an instrument different from that shown in FIG. 6; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The installation 2 shown diagrammatically in Figure 1 is intended to apply a coating product to an object O moved by a conveyor 4 along a conveying axis X4. In Figure 1, the object O is shown in the form of a car door. In practice, such an object may consist of all or part of the body of a car, as well as more generally any object to be coated, such as the housing of a household appliance, a bicycle frame or an ornamental item.

[0017] The installation 2 comprises an electrostatic coating product sprayer 6 provided with a bowl 8, supplied with coating product by a pipe 10, which circulates the selected liquid coating product in a color change unit 12 connected to several sources 14 of coating product formed by reservoirs, of which only one is shown in Figure 1 for simplicity.

[0018] The sprayer 6 may be mounted on a multi-axis robotic arm or reciprocator.

[0019] The type of sprayer 6 is not limited. In one variation, the sprayer 6 does not have a bowl. According to another variation, the sprayer 6 is not electrostatic. According to yet another variation, the sprayer 6 is a manual gun.

[0020] In one variant, the installation 2 comprises a plurality of sprayers 6 supplied by a color change unit 12, such as a type of sprayer 6 or different types.

[0021] The color change unit 12 is fluidly connected to a first station 18 connected to the upstream end 10A of the pipe 10. The downstream end 10B of the pipe 10 is connected to a second station 20, referred to as the end station, which is integrated into the sprayer 6.

[0022] Elements 12 - 20 together form a circuit 22 for circulating the liquid coating product between source 14 and sprayer 6 .

[0023] Advantageously, at least the changing unit and the station 18 for coating products are at earth potential during operation of the installation 2 .

[0024] To provide galvanic isolation between the sprayer 6, which is energized during operation, and the color change unit 12, which is constantly held at earth potential, the shuttle 30 in the pipe 10 is circulated by pushing the shuttle 30 between stations 18 and 20 with a liquid, such as a solvent or cleaning product, to expel any coating product present in the pipe 10, thereby creating a volume sufficient to coat the surface of the object O. In this way, the pipe 10 and the sprayer 6 can be thoroughly rinsed, limiting loss of coating product.

[0025] The shuttle 30 is sometimes referred to by the term "scraper."

[0026] Advantageously, the pipe 10 is a hose made of a synthetic material, for example polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE, having good properties to allow it to be rinsed and a sufficient coefficient of friction with the shuttle, and is inserted between stations 18 and 20 in a configuration with a radius of curvature to accommodate the movement of the shuttle 30 between the ends 10A and 10B of the pipe 10.

[0027] As will be explained below, the material of the pipe 10 gives it a certain elasticity and the ability to deform plastically in the cold.

[0028] An electro-pneumatic control module 32 is associated with station 18 to selectively hold or release a shuttle parked at station 18. For this purpose, control module 32 is provided with a pin (not shown) for selectively blocking the shuttle, as well as a magnetic propulsion ejection device (also not shown). When the shuttle reaches end station 20 at the end of its travel between ends 10A and 10B of pipe 10, it is pushed against the bottom of station 20 by the liquid used to push it. Return of shuttle 30 to first station 18 is obtained by applying air pressure coming from sprayer 6 to the shuttle.

[0029] Stations 18 and 20 are each provided with an internal housing (not shown) forming a garage for receiving shuttle 30. The technical teachings of WO 2021 / 009046 may be applied here.

[0030] The ends 10A and 10B of the pipe 10 are adapted and connected to an outlet cannula 36 of the first station 18 and an inlet cannula 38 of the second station 20, respectively. X36 denotes the longitudinal axis and central axis of the cannula 36.

[0031] The tube is made of steel, preferably 303 grade stainless steel, or another rigid material, particularly metal. The tube has a first end portion 361 of a frusto-conical external shape that converges as it moves away from the body of the first station, and a second portion 362 of a cylindrical external shape with a circular base that connects the first portion to the threads 37 of a nut (not shown) used to secure the end 10A of the pipe 10 to the tube. The smallest internal diameter of the tube 36 is indicated by D36.

[0032] When the equipment 2 is started, the shuttle 30 is inserted into the circuit 22 for circulating the coating product by disconnecting the end 10A of the pipe 36 and inserting the shuttle 30 through the pipe 36 into the station 18.

[0033] To do so, in accordance with the present invention, the operator uses an instrument 50, which may also be referred to as a "tool," which belongs to the installation 2 and which comprises a body 52 made of a non-magnetic material, such as a polyamide, in particular PA12, etc. The body 52 extends along a longitudinal axis X50 of the instrument 50, and at a first longitudinal end 52A of the body 52, also referred to as the forward end, the body 52 defines a mouth 54 converging towards a chamber 56 dimensioned to receive a shuttle 30 having a longitudinal axis X30 of the shuttle overlapping a longitudinal axis X56 of the chamber.

[0034] Considering the materials from which the tube 36 and the body 52 are respectively made, the material of the tube 36 has a Brinell hardness strictly greater than the Brinell hardness of the non-magnetic material of the body 52. ​​In practice, the Brinell hardness of the material of the tube is greater than the Brinell hardness of grade 303 stainless steel (180 kg / mm 2 ), while the Brinell hardness of the material of the body 52 can be selected to be close to the Brinell hardness of PA12 polyamide (8 kg / mm 2 ) can be selected as close to

[0035] Conventionally, the front of the device 50 is considered to be located on the side of the forward end 52A of the body 52, and the rear of the device is considered to be located opposite that end.

[0036] The longitudinal axes X50 and X56 herein overlap, but this is not required.

[0037] In practice, the shuttle 30 has an elongated shape centered on the axis X30 and a circular cross section perpendicular to the axis X30. The shuttle 30 includes a magnet (not shown), in particular a permanent magnet, e.g., a neodymium magnet. The shuttle's non-magnetic casing includes a central portion 302 and end portions 302 and 304. The shuttle's magnet is embedded in the non-magnetic casing, with its negative and positive poles located inside the portions 304 and 306, respectively. The shuttle 30 thereby has an axial magnetic polarization, with two poles 304 and 306 of opposite polarization located at its two ends. The axis X30 is the shuttle's polarization axis. The shuttle is barrel-shaped, with the diameter of the end portions decreasing away from the central portion to prevent the shuttle from jamming in curved regions of the pipe 10.

[0038] 2, the shuttle 30 is shown in three possible positions relative to the instrument 50. In practice, the shuttle 30 can be placed in any position relative to the instrument 50.

[0039] The internal dimensions of the receiving chamber 56 are selected according to the length L30 and maximum diameter D30 of the shuttle 30, within operating clearance, so that the shuttle 30 can be received in the receiving chamber 56 only in a configuration in which the axes X30 and X56 overlap. In particular, the internal diameter D56 of the receiving chamber 56 is selected to be larger than the maximum diameter D30 of the shuttle 30, within a range of less than 15%.

[0040] In practice, the respective dimensions of the tube 36 and the receiving chamber 56 can be selected according to the maximum diameter D30 of the shuttle 30 so that the diameter D36 is larger, preferably strictly larger, than the diameter D30 and smaller, preferably strictly smaller, than the internal diameter D56.

[0041] For example, for a shuttle having a diameter D30 equal to 3.85 mm, the diameter D36 can be chosen equal to 4 mm and the diameter D56 can be chosen equal to 4.5 mm. The manufacturing tolerance for the value of the diameter D56 can be in the order of 0.3 mm.

[0042] The mouth 54 has a surface S54 that converges towards the axis X50 as it approaches the receiving chamber 56. In practice, the surface S54 may be chosen to be frustoconical and centred on the axis X50.

[0043] Surface S54 is configured to guide shuttle 30 towards receiving chamber 56 towards the overlap of axes X30 and X56, whatever the position of shuttle 30 at the entrance of port 54.

[0044] In one variation, receiving chamber 56 may be configured to receive shuttle 30 in a position where axes X30 and X50 are parallel and do not overlap.

[0045] Body 52 is provided with two openings 58 located on either side of a plane P52 defined by body 52 and containing axis X50. In Figures 3 and 7, a portion of front end 52A located to the right of plane P52 in Figure 2 has been omitted to allow viewing of mouth 54, chamber 56, and shuttle 30 therein.

[0046] The receiving chamber 56 is visible from the exterior of the body 52 through two openings 58, particularly for detecting the presence of the shuttle 30 in the receiving chamber 56 from one side of the instrument 50.

[0047] A portion of the body 52 defines a control lever 60. In other words, the control lever 60 is integral with the remainder of the body 52.

[0048] The control lever 60 is arranged essentially inside a cylindrical casing having a circular cross section that includes the outer surface S52 of the body 52. ​​The control lever is accessible from outside the body 52 via a notch 61 that opens into the outer surface S52.

[0049] Y50 denotes the lateral axis of the instrument 50, perpendicular to the axis X50 and passing through the center of the notch 61. The axes X50 and Y50 are contained in a plane P52. The control lever is movable inside the notch 61, in a plane parallel to the axes X50 and Y50, between a first unloaded position, shown in particular in Figures 2 to 4, 6 and 7 and in the inset A) of Figure 5, and a second position, shown in the inset B) of Figure 5, in which the bottom 61A of the notch 61 is reached when the operator presses the control lever. The first position of the control lever 60 corresponds to the rest configuration of the lever 60, i.e., the configuration in which no force is exerted on the lever 60 by the operator.

[0050] The control lever 60 defines a first magnet 62 and a second magnet 64. Herein, the magnets 62 and 64 are permanent magnets, preferably neodymium magnets.

[0051] The permanent magnets 62 and 64 are arranged side by side along a direction Δ60 that is parallel to the axis Y50 and perpendicular to the axis X56 when the control lever 60 is in its first position.

[0052] Each of the permanent magnets 62 and 64 extends along a longitudinal axis X62 and X64, respectively, parallel to the axis X50 when the control lever 60 is in its first position. The axis X64 is parallel to the axis X62 but offset laterally relative to the axis X62. The axes X62 and X64 are perpendicular to the direction Δ60. The axes X62 and X64 are parallel to the axis X50 when the control lever 60 is in its first position.

[0053] Magnet 62 has an axial polarization, with a negative or minus pole N62 oriented along axis X62 toward mouth 54 and toward receiving chamber 56, i.e., toward the front of instrument 50, and a positive or plus pole P62 oriented toward the rear of instrument 50, facing the mouth and receiving chamber. Furthermore, second magnet 64 also has an axial polarization, with a positive or plus pole P62 oriented toward the front of instrument 50, and thus toward mouth 54, and a negative or minus pole N64 oriented toward the rear of the instrument, facing the mouth.

[0054] Thereby, the negative pole N62 of the first permanent magnet 62 is oriented towards the front of the instrument 50, while the positive pole P64 of the second permanent magnet 64 is oriented towards the front of the instrument 50, so that the two permanent magnets 62 and 64 are axially polarized in opposite directions along the two axes X62 and X64.

[0055] 2-4, 6, and 7, and inset A) of FIG. 5, the control lever 60 holds the first magnet 62 in a configuration generally aligned with the receiving chamber 56. In other words, in the first position of the control lever 60, the axes X62 and X56 are substantially aligned. By "substantially aligned" is meant that the axes of interest are either aligned or parallel, or form an angle of less than 5 degrees between them, or are laterally offset from each other by a distance of less than 10% of the diameter D30.

[0056] Here, axes X62, X56 and X50 overlap when control lever 60 is in its first position.

[0057] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the bottom 66 of the receiving chamber 56 opposite the mouth 54 is pierced by an orifice 68 opposite which the negative pole N62 of the permanent magnet 62 is disposed in the first position of the control lever 60.

[0058] In such a position, the permanent magnet 62 emits a magnetic field that propagates particularly in the receiving chamber 56 and the mouth 54 .

[0059] First and second permanent magnets 62 and 64 are received in first and second housings 63 and 65, respectively, provided at end 60A of control lever 60 nearest end 52A of body 52. ​​Housings 63 and 65 face end face 60B of control lever 60, which is perpendicular to axis X50 and parallel to axis Y50 when control lever 60 is in its first position. End face 60B is oriented toward the front of instrument 50, and therefore end face 60B is sometimes referred to as the front face of lever 60.

[0060] The front surface 60B faces the receiving chamber 56 and is positioned opposite the mouth 54. Preferably, the permanent magnets 62 and 64 are flush with the front surface 60B.

[0061] Opposite the front surface 60B, the first and second housings 63 and 65 extend along ducts 67 and 69, respectively, and open to the rear of the body 52.

[0062] A duct 67 connects the housing 63 to the rear end 52B opposite the forward end 52A of the body 52, and the duct 67 is provided in a tube 52C which is integral with the rest of the body 52, the outer diameter D52 of the tube 52C being strictly greater than the inner diameter of the pipe 36, which allows the tube 52C to be engaged with the pipe 36 if necessary.

[0063] A rod 70 made of a magnetic material, for example steel, is arranged in the duct 67 and faces the pole P62 of the permanent magnet 62 opposite to the pole arranged on the front face 60B, i.e. opposite the pole N62. In other words, the rod 70 faces the positive pole P62 of the permanent magnet 62 via a first end 70A. Such a rod extends to an end 52B at which its second end 70B is located, opposite the first end 70A.

[0064] Rod 70 plastically deforms in an intermediate region 70C between its ends 70A and 70B. Given the scale of Figure 4, such deformation is not visible. This local deformation of rod 70 in region 70C results in a shape that is not perfectly aligned with axis X50, which causes clogging of rod 70 in duct 67.

[0065] Furthermore, the rod 70 made of metal forms a reinforcing element for the control lever 60, in the sense that the rod tends to elastically return the control lever to its aforementioned first position, whereby the control lever 60 is movable between its first and second positions by elastic deformation of the body 52 and the rod 70 relative to the receiving chamber 56.

[0066] When the lever 60 is in its first position, the duct 69 is empty and is arranged in continuity with a duct 71 formed in another part of the body 52 along a direction parallel to the axis X50.

[0067] The ducts 69 and 71 can receive a needle having a shape corresponding to that of the rod 70, when it is appropriate to extract the second permanent magnet 64 from its housing 65 by exerting a thrust on the side of the second permanent magnet 64 that defines its negative pole N64 and that lies opposite the face 60B. This may be necessary if, during the assembly of the device 50, an error occurs regarding the orientation of the assembly of the second permanent magnet 64.

[0068] Similarly, if an error occurs in the orientation of the magnet assembly, a needle slightly longer than the rod 70 can be used to move the first permanent magnet 62 out of its housing 63 before the rod 70 is inserted or after the rod 70 is withdrawn.

[0069] During manufacture of the device 50, the orifice 68 can be used to insert the permanent magnets 62 and 64 through the receiving chamber 56 and into the housings 63 and 65, respectively.

[0070] The operation of the instrument is as described below.

[0071] When the front end 52A of the body 52 is moved close to the shuttle 30, and when the control lever is in its first position, the shuttle penetrates the mouth 54 and is attracted by the magnetic field created by the first permanent magnet 62 until it reaches the receiving chamber 56 in the position shown in FIG. 5A, where, under the effect of the magnetic attraction of the negative pole N62 of the permanent magnet 62, the positively polarized portion 306 of the shuttle 30 faces the bottom 66 of the receiving chamber 56. Such magnetic attraction is represented by the arrow A0 in FIG. 5A.

[0072] In other words, when the lever 60 is in its first position, the first permanent magnet 62 is capable of attracting and placing the shuttle into the receiving chamber 56 in a position where the axes X30 and X56 are aligned and with a given orientation of the polarized portions 304 and 306 of the shuttle along those axes.

[0073] This phenomenon occurs when the instrument 50 is moved closer to the shuttle 30, regardless of the orientation of the portions 304 and 306 and regardless of the direction of the axis X30, as shown in Figure 2 by the three possible positions of the shuttle 30.

[0074] Thereby, for example when the shuttle is held in the palm of an operator's hand, moving the instrument 50 closer to the shuttle 30 moves the shuttle to a given position relative to the body 52 of the instrument 50 inside the receiving chamber 56. Subsequent handling of the shuttle 30 by the operator is thus facilitated by the instrument 50, which is easier than handling the shuttle 30 alone. In other words, regardless of the initial position of the shuttle 30, it is sufficient to move the instrument 50 close to the shuttle, which is received by the instrument 50 and guided by the surface S54 of the mouth 54 into the chamber 56, where it is received and fixed in a given orientation by the action of the first permanent magnet 62.

[0075] When the shuttle 30 has been received by the instrument 50 as described above, and after confirming the presence of the shuttle 30 in the receiving chamber 56 by looking through one of the openings 58, the operator, actually holding the instrument 50 in his hand, can align the axis X50 with the axis X36 and move the instrument 50 closer to the station 18 in an axial translational movement indicated by the arrow A1 in FIG. 6.

[0076] This has the effect of moving the instrument 50 to the configuration of Figure 7, in which the end 52A of the body 52 surrounds the tube 36, the shuttle 30 is positioned at the entrance to the tube 36, and the axes X30, X56 and X36 are then aligned.

[0077] 7, the shape of surface S54 prevents any direct interaction with tube 36. In other words, centering of shuttle 30 on tube 36 is not hindered by untimely contact between tool 50 and station 18.

[0078] In this configuration, the operator exerts a force on the end 60A of the lever 60 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X50, as indicated by arrow A2 in FIG. 7. In reality, such force is parallel to the axis Y50 and to the direction Δ60. This force has the effect of moving the control lever 60 to its second position, as shown in inset B of FIG. 5, where the second permanent magnet 64 faces the orifice 68 and the positively polarized portion 306 of the shuttle 30. Because the pole of the magnet 64 exposed at the front face 60B is the positive pole P64 of the second permanent magnet 64, moving the second permanent magnet 64 closer to the shuttle 30 has the effect of exerting a magnetic repulsive force on the shuttle 30, i.e., a force that ejects the shuttle toward the outside of the chamber 56, as indicated by arrow A3 in inset B of FIG. 5. Such magnetic repulsion forces move shuttle 30 away from bottom 66 and along axis X56, ie, towards the interior of tube 36, along axis X36.

[0079] Thus, the shuttle 30 is inserted through the tube 36 into the station 18 in a predetermined orientation, which is a direct result of the orientation of the shuttle 30 in the receiving chamber 56 following receipt of the shuttle 30 by the instrument 50.

[0080] Arrows A0 and A3 are aligned along axis X56 and oriented in two opposite directions toward and away from base 66, respectively.

[0081] Thus, the tool 50 is effective for receiving the shuttle 30 and for inserting the shuttle 30 into the circuit 22 in a given orientation.

[0082] This allows the shuttle 30 to circulate through the pipe 10 while maintaining its orientation, which is useful for interacting with other magnetic elements incorporated into the stations 18 and 20 .

[0083] Release of shuttle 30 into station 18 is effected by simple pressure by the operator on control lever 60 after instrument 50 is properly positioned relative to tube 36. Opening 58 allows the operator to visualize such release to verify that the desired operation has indeed occurred.

[0084] Handling of the device 50 is therefore particularly simple and essentially involves three steps.

[0085] In a first step, illustrated by pictogram 51 on body 52, the operator moves mouth 54 close to shuttle 30. This may be one of the positions shown in FIG. 2 or another position, and then allows the shuttle to penetrate into receiving chamber 56 under the influence of first permanent magnet 62 aligned with longitudinal axis X 56. The shuttle is automatically positioned correctly for the remainder of the operation.

[0086] In a second step, the operator moves the receiving chamber 56 near the station 18 according to the direction of the arrow A1 in Figure 6 until the receiving chamber 56 is positioned facing the pipe 36. This is indicated by a second pictogram 53 attached to the body 52.

[0087] In a third step, the operator exerts a force indicated by arrow A2, which corresponds to pictogram 55. The control lever 60 is thereby moved to its second position, so that the second permanent magnet 64 is aligned with the longitudinal axis X56 of the chamber 56, which has the effect of ejecting the shuttle 30 in the direction of arrow A3 due to magnetic repulsion between the positively polarized portion 306 and the positive pole P64 of the second permanent magnet 64, which is located on the front face 60B of the control lever.

[0088] When shuttle 30 is in station 18, tube 52C can be used as a template for shaping end 10A of tube 10 to the external dimensions of pipe 36. For this purpose, the connecting region between tube 52C and the main portion of body 52 is provided with a bulge 52D, which gradually increases the diameter of tube 52C as it approaches the main portion. Such a bulge is identical to the external shape of pipe 36 and comprises a frusto-conical portion 52D1 having an external shape identical to that of first end portion 361 of the pipe, and a cylindrical portion 52D2 with a circular base having an external shape identical to that of second portion 362 of the pipe. Thus, by inserting tube 52C into pipe 10 up to its end 10A until it is covered by bulge 52D, end 10A can be expanded and plastically shaped to form it into an internal shape approximating the external shape of pipe 36, which facilitates subsequent placement of end 10A around the pipe.

[0089] When it is necessary to retrieve the shuttle 30 located in the station 18, the tool 50 is used in the opposite direction to that shown in FIG. 6, as shown in FIG.

[0090] In such a case, the positively polarized portion 306 of the shuttle 30 is either flush with the free end of the tube 36 or is accessible through the tube.

[0091] Then, after aligning axis X50 with axis X36, tube 52C can be moved closer to pipe 36 as shown by arrow A4 in FIG.

[0092] Because end 70B of rod 70 is made of a magnetic material, end 70B is magnetized to some extent by polarized portion 306. This exerts a magnetic attraction force between portions 70B and 306, which exerts an axial pulling force on instrument 50 in a direction opposite to the aforementioned approaching movement indicated by arrow A4, thereby enabling shuttle 30 to be withdrawn from station 18.

[0093] The second end 70B of the rod 70 thereby forms a component for withdrawing the shuttle 30 from the circuit 22 for circulating the coating product. The tool of the invention can therefore not only be used to insert the shuttle 30 into the circuit, but also, when necessary, to withdraw it from the circuit, for example for maintenance operations.

[0094] In one variation, magnets 62 and 64 are electromagnets. In such a case, instrument 50 includes means for actuating the electromagnets. Such an approach is less economical and more prone to failure than approaches based on permanent magnets.

[0095] In one variation, the polarity of the first and second permanent magnets 62 and 64 is reversed relative to the polarity shown in the figure. In such a case, the shuttle 30 is inserted into the tube 36 in the opposite direction relative to the direction shown in the figure.

[0096] In one alternative variant, the insertion of the shuttle 30 into the circuit 22 may take place at the second station 20 .

[0097] In one further variation, the control lever 60 comprises more than two magnets, which may or may not be permanent magnets.

[0098] In one alternative variation, the control lever may consist of a part that is not integral with the body 52 but is added to the body 52 .

[0099] The foregoing variations can be combined to produce new embodiments within the scope of the inventive concept.

Claims

1. A tool (50) for inserting a shuttle (30) having axial magnetic polarization (304, 306) into a circuit (22) for circulating a coating product, comprising: a receiving chamber (56) for receiving the shuttle (30), the receiving chamber (56) being formed from a body (52) of non-magnetic material and sized to receive the shuttle in a position where the axis of polarization (X30) of the shuttle is parallel to the longitudinal axis (X56) of the receiving chamber; a port (54) for connecting the receiving chamber to a first end (52A) of the body of the device; A control lever (60) provided with at least two magnets (62, 64), the control lever (60) being movable relative to the receiving chamber (56) between a first position in which a first magnet (62) is aligned with the longitudinal axis (X56) of the receiving chamber with a pole (N62) oriented toward the receiving chamber (56) having a first polarity, and a second position in which a second magnet (64) is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the receiving chamber with a pole (P64) oriented toward the receiving chamber with a second polarity opposite to the first polarity. An apparatus comprising:

2. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the mouth (54) has a converging shape between the first end (52A) of the body (52) and the receiving chamber (56) and is configured to guide the shuttle into the receiving chamber to a position where the axis of polarization (X30) of the shuttle is parallel to the longitudinal axis (X56) of the receiving chamber.

3. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that when the control lever (60) is in the first position, the two magnets (62, 64) of the control lever (60) are arranged side by side along a direction (Δ60) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X56) of the receiving chamber.

4. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the two permanent magnets (62, 64) of the control lever (60) are attached to a face (60B) of the control lever facing the receiving chamber (56), on the side opposite the mouth (54) with respect to the receiving chamber (56).

5. 5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the two magnets (62, 64) of the control lever (60) are flush with the face of the control lever.

6. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the body (52) is provided with at least one opening (58) for viewing the contents of the receiving chamber (56).

7. 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control lever (60) is integral with the body (52) made of a non-magnetic material, and wherein the control lever is movable relative to the receiving chamber (56) between the first position and the second position by elastic deformation.

8. 6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising, at a second end (52B) opposite to the first end (52A), a withdrawal element (70B) for withdrawing the shuttle (30) from the circuit (22) for circulating the coating product.

9. 9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the extraction component is an element (70) of magnetic material in contact with a pole (P62) of the first magnet (62) opposite to the pole (N62) oriented towards the receiving chamber (56) in the first position of the control lever (60).

10. 9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that the drawing component (70) is arranged inside a tubular portion (52C) ​​of the body (52), the external shape (52D) of which is configured to shape one end (10A) of a pipe (10) belonging to the fluid circulation circuit (22).

11. 1. An installation (2) for spraying a coating product, comprising at least one sprayer (6) for a coating product, at least one source (14) of coating product, and a circuit (22) for circulating the coating product, by means of which the sprayer (6) of the coating product is fed from the source (14) of the coating product and through which at least one shuttle (30) circulates, characterized in that the installation comprises a device (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and the installation is arranged for inserting the shuttle (30) into the circuit (22) for circulating the coating product by means of the device (50).

12. 12. The installation according to claim 11, characterized in that the installation further comprises a pipe (36) for inserting the shuttle (30) into a circuit (22) for circulating the coating product, and the internal diameter (D36) of the pipe is larger than the largest diameter (D30) of the shuttle and smaller than the internal diameter (D56) of the receiving chamber (56) of the device (50) for inserting the shuttle (30) into a circuit (22) for circulating the coating product.

13. 12. The installation according to claim 11, characterized in that the circuit (22) for circulating the coating product comprises a circulation pipe (10) for the shuttle and a tube (36) for inserting the shuttle (30) into the circuit (22) for circulating the coating product, the tube and the part of the tool (52D) for inserting the shuttle (30) into the circuit (22) for circulating the coating product have the same shape (361, 362, 52D1, 52D2), and the part of the tool (52D) having the same shape as the tube is configured to shape one end (10A) of the circulation pipe (10) for the shuttle in order to attach the one end (10A) to the tube.

14. 12. The installation according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises a tube (36) for inserting the shuttle (30) into the circuit (22) for circulating the coating product, and that the tube is made of a material having a Brinell hardness strictly higher than the Brinell hardness of the non-magnetic material of the body (52) of the tool (50) for inserting the shuttle (30) into the circuit (22) for circulating the coating product.

15. A method for inserting a shuttle (30) having an axial magnetic polarization into a circuit (22) for circulating a coating product, comprising: a) moving the mouth (54) of the device (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 close to the shuttle (30), allowing the shuttle to enter the receiving chamber (56) of the device under the effect of magnetic attraction exerted by the first magnet (62) of the control lever (60) in the first position and aligned with the longitudinal axis (X56) of the receiving chamber (56); b) positioning the receiving chamber for the device opposite the inlet pipe (36) of the circuit for circulating the coating product (A1); and c) releasing (A3) the shuttle (30) from the receiving chamber (56) into the tube (36) by moving (A2) the control lever (60) of the device to the second position of the control lever and aligning the second magnet (64) with the longitudinal axis (X56) of the receiving chamber so that the second magnet (64) exerts a magnetic repulsive force (A3) on the shuttle towards the outside of the receiving chamber. A method comprising at least the steps of:

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