Coating apparatus

Abstract

To provide a coating apparatus capable of coping with manual coating by a user.SOLUTION: A coating apparatus (1) includes a spray gun (20) having a switch (21) capable of switching between start and stop of spraying of a coating material, a driving unit (30) configured to drive the switch to be switched, a first receiving unit (41) configured to receive a user's instruction related to switching of the switch to the driving unit, and a fixing mechanism (50) configured to detachably fix the spray gun to a cart (10).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a coating device for coating the wall surfaces of buildings and the like. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a coating device that sprays paint onto a surface to be coated, such as a building wall. The coating device is suspended from above the surface to be coated so that it can be raised and lowered. The coating device also includes a spray unit that sprays paint onto the surface to be coated, and a spray unit drive unit that relatively displaces the spray unit in the vertical and horizontal directions. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-194626 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The painting device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is convenient in that it can paint large areas efficiently, but it may not be suitable for painting small areas in detail. If a user wants to paint in detail by hand, using a separate painting device will make the painting work inefficient.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a coating device that can perform both coating by the coating device and manual coating. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, a painting device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a cart capable of traveling on a floor surface, a spray gun mounted on the cart, capable of spraying paint, and having a switch that can switch between starting and stopping the spraying of the paint, a drive unit that drives the switch to switch, a first receiving unit that receives user instructions regarding the switch switching for the drive unit, and a fixing mechanism that fixes the spray gun to the cart, wherein the fixing mechanism detachably fixes the spray gun to the cart. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to conveniently switch between painting using a painting device and painting by hand, making it possible to simultaneously perform painting work that covers a large area and is highly efficient using a painting device and painting work that is detailed by hand. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a coating device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a coating device according to one embodiment of the present invention, taken from a different direction from that of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of a drive unit provided in the coating apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below. In each drawing, two directions perpendicular to each other on a horizontal plane are defined as the X direction and the Y direction. Also, a direction perpendicular to both the X direction and the Y direction is defined as the Z direction.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a coating apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the coating apparatus 1, taken from a different direction than that of FIG. 1. The coating apparatus 1 is an apparatus that paints an object by spraying paint onto the object. An example of the object is the exterior wall of a building. As shown in FIG. 1, the coating apparatus 1 includes a cart 10, a paint container 15, a spray gun 20, a drive unit 30, a first receiving unit 41, and a fixing mechanism 50.

[0011] The carriage 10 is a carriage that can travel on a floor surface. The carriage 10 can be equipped with components necessary for painting by the painting device 1. The carriage 10 has a plurality of fixed wheels 11a and swivel wheels 11b that contact the floor surface. The fixed wheels 11a are arranged at the four corners of the carriage 10. The swivel wheels 11b are arranged between two adjacent fixed wheels 11a.

[0012] The swivel 11b is configured to be able to change its height. Specifically, the swivel 11b can be switched between a state in which it is higher than the fixed wheel 11a and a state in which it is lower than the fixed wheel 11a. When the swivel 11b is higher than the fixed wheel 11a, the swivel 11b does not touch the ground, and the fixed wheels 11a on both sides of the swivel 11b do. When the swivel 11b is lower than the fixed wheel 11a, the swivel 11b touches the ground, and the fixed wheels 11a on both sides of the swivel 11b do not touch the ground.

[0013] During painting, the carriage 10 moves in a straight line using the fixed wheels 11a, without the swivel wheels 11b touching the ground. On the other hand, during movement, the carriage 10 moves in a curved line as required by keeping the swivel wheels 11b on the ground and the fixed wheels 11a on both sides of the swivel wheels 11b in a raised position.

[0014] The carriage 10 does not necessarily have to include the fixed wheels 11a and the swivel wheels 11b. For example, the carriage 10 may include wheels whose rotation direction can be switched between a fixed state and an unfixed state.

[0015] The cart 10 also has a handle 12. The handle 12 is a part that a user of the coating apparatus 1 holds to move the cart 10. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the coating apparatus 1 is a semi-automatic device in which the cart 10 is manually moved on a floor surface while spraying paint onto an object. In the coating apparatus 1, the swivel wheel 11b is located below the handle 12.

[0016] The carriage 10 further includes an indicator light 13 that indicates whether the traveling speed is appropriate. The indicator light 13 emits different colors when the traveling speed is appropriate, too fast, or too slow during painting by the painting device 1. This allows the user to refer to the color of the light emitted by the indicator light 13 and cause the carriage 10 to travel at an appropriate speed.

[0017] The painting device 1 may further include a speed sensor that measures the traveling speed of the carriage 10 and an auxiliary power source that assists the user to maintain a constant traveling speed of the carriage 10. In this case, it becomes easier to make the carriage 10 travel at an appropriate speed.

[0018] The painting device 1 is not limited to a semi-automatic device, but may be a fully automatic device that automatically moves the carriage 10 and sprays paint. Even in this case, the carriage 10 may be provided with a handle 12 that can be held by a user when moving the painting device 1 to a painting location, for example.

[0019] 1, the dolly 10 has two handles 12. The two handles 12 are located on one side and the other side in the traveling direction of the dolly 10. Therefore, whether the user is traveling the dolly 10 in one direction or the other in the traveling direction, the user can move the dolly 10 by pushing the corresponding handle 12.

[0020] Furthermore, the height of the handle 12 of the dolly 10 may be adjustable. This allows the height of the handle 12 to be adjusted to suit the height of the user, improving convenience.

[0021] The carriage 10 further includes a cover 14. The cover 14 covers the components mounted on the carriage 10. This reduces the possibility of paint sprayed by the painting device 1 scattering toward the painting device 1 and adhering to the components mounted on the carriage 10.

[0022] The paint container 15 stores paint to be used for painting by the painting apparatus 1. Providing the paint container 15 in the painting apparatus 1 eliminates the need to connect a pipeline for supplying paint from the outside to the painting apparatus 1. This improves the degree of freedom in moving the painting apparatus 1. However, the carriage 10 does not necessarily have to be provided with the paint container 15. In this case, the painting apparatus 1 receives paint supplied from the outside.

[0023] The spray gun 20 is mounted on the carriage 10 and is capable of spraying paint. In the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, the painting device 1 includes two spray guns 20. However, the painting device 1 may include one spray gun 20 or three or more spray guns 20.

[0024] The spray gun 20 has a switch 21 that can switch between starting and stopping spraying of paint. The spray gun 20 also has a main body 22 and a nozzle 23. In the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, the switch 21 is a lever. By operating the switch 21 so that it approaches the main body 22, paint is sprayed from the nozzle 23.

[0025] Spray gun 20 may further include a biasing member (not shown) that biases switch 21 in a direction that moves it away from main body 22. As a result, when switch 21 is not operated, the biasing member moves switch 21 away from main body 22, stopping spraying of paint.

[0026] The spray gun 20 is supplied with paint through a conduit (not shown). The conduit is flexible, which allows paint to be supplied to the spray gun 20 even when the spray gun 20 is removed from the carriage 10, as will be described later.

[0027] The spray gun 20 may spray paint using an airless spray method in which the paint itself is pressurized. This eliminates the need for a compressor compared to spraying paint using an air spray method, thereby reducing the cost of the coating device 1 and making the coating device 1 smaller and lighter. However, the spray gun 20 is not necessarily limited to one that sprays paint using an airless spray method, and may also be one that sprays paint using an air spray method.

[0028] The driving unit 30 drives the switch 21 of the spray gun 20 to switch it. The driving unit 30 includes a member having the shape of a part of a circle that is in contact with the switch 21, and a motor (not shown) that rotates the member around the center of the circle that includes the member. The driving unit 30 switches the switch 21 by being rotated by the motor (not shown).

[0029] Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the drive unit 30 provided in the coating apparatus 1 shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. In Fig. 3, in the state indicated by reference numeral 301, spraying of paint is stopped. When the drive unit 30 rotates, the switch 21 is operated toward the main body 22 as indicated by reference numeral 302, and spraying of paint from the nozzle 23 begins. When the drive unit 30 rotates in the reverse direction while spraying paint, the switch 21 returns to a state away from the main body 22 as indicated by reference numeral 301, and spraying of paint from the nozzle 23 is stopped.

[0030] 1 and 2, the first reception unit 41 receives a user's instruction to the drive unit 30 regarding switching of the switch 21. That is, the first reception unit 41 is a switch operated by the user to switch the switch 21 by the drive unit 30. The first reception unit 41 is, for example, a B-contact switch whose circuit is open when operated. The first reception unit 41 is connected to the drive unit 30 by a signal line (not shown).

[0031] 1, the first reception unit 41 is provided on each of the two handles 12 of the cart 10. Therefore, the user can easily operate the first reception unit 41 regardless of which of the two handles 12 the user is holding.

[0032] The fixing mechanism 50 fixes the spray gun 20 to the cart 10. For example, the fixing mechanism 50 may include a member fixed to the cart 10 and having a groove into which a portion of the spray gun 20 is fitted, and a member that fixes the spray gun 20 while it is fitted in the groove. However, the fixing mechanism 50 is not limited to the above mechanism as long as it has a structure that can fix the spray gun 20 to the cart 10.

[0033] The fixing mechanism 50 fixes the spray gun 20 to the cart 10 in a detachable manner. In other words, the fixing mechanism 50 has a function of releasing the fixation of the spray gun 20 to the cart 10 without using tools or the like, and a function of re-fixing the removed spray gun 20 to the cart 10. For example, the end of the above-mentioned groove is open, and by sliding the spray gun 20 along the groove, it is possible to release the fixation of the spray gun 20 to the cart 10 and re-fix the removed spray gun 20 to the cart 10.

[0034] In the coating device 1 having the above configuration, while the carriage 10 travels on the floor surface, the spray gun 20 fixed to the fixing mechanism 50 can spray paint onto the object to coat it. At this time, the drive unit 30 switches the switch 21 to start and stop spraying of paint from the spray gun 20.

[0035] Furthermore, in coating apparatus 1, spray gun 20 can be detached from fixing mechanism 50. When spray gun 20 is detached from fixing mechanism 50, a user can start and stop paint spraying by grasping main body 22 and manually operating switch 21. This allows the user to manually paint an object using spray gun 20. Therefore, coating apparatus 1 allows spray gun 20 to be used for both efficient wide-area painting while traveling on cart 10 and for detailed manual painting.

[0036] The coating apparatus 1 further includes a second receiving unit 42 and a height change mechanism 60. The second receiving unit 42 receives a user instruction to change the height of the spray gun 20. The height change mechanism 60 changes the height of the spray gun 20 in accordance with the user instruction received by the second receiving unit 42. By including the second receiving unit 42 and the height change mechanism 60 in the coating apparatus 1, the user can change the height of the spray gun 20 more easily than if the user were to change the height of the spray gun 20 manually.

[0037] 1, the height changing mechanism 60 includes a support 61 erected on the cart 10, pulleys 62 and 63 arranged above and below the support 61, and a belt 64 looped around the pulleys 62 and 63. The height changing mechanism 60 also includes a motor 65 for driving the pulley 62 arranged above the support 61, and a control device (not shown) for controlling the motor 65.

[0038] In the coating device 1, the fixing mechanism 50 is attached to the belt 64. As a result, the fixing mechanism 50 moves up and down along the support 61 as the pulleys 62 and 63 rotate. As a result, the height of the spray gun 20 fixed to the fixing mechanism 50 is changed by the height changing mechanism 60. However, the configuration of the height changing mechanism 60 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 1 , and it is sufficient if the height of the spray gun 20 can be changed.

[0039] Height change mechanism 60 changes the height of spray gun 20 at a fixed pitch when second receiving unit 42 receives a user instruction to change the height of spray gun 20. For example, second receiving unit 42 is connected to a control device that controls motor 65 via a signal line (not shown). In response to a signal input from second receiving unit 42 via the signal line, the control device rotates motor 65 to change the height of spray gun 20 by a fixed pitch. The pitch may be set in advance taking into account the type of paint being used, etc.

[0040] The paint sprayed by the spray gun 20 is applied to the surface of the object at a constant interval in the height direction. The degree to which the paint sprayed by the spray gun 20 overlaps is determined by the amount of height change of the spray gun 20. The greater the overlap of the paint, the thicker the paint will be, and the greater the overlap of the paint, the thinner the paint will be. This eliminates the need to manually adjust the height of the spray gun 20 at the painting site. This makes it easy to paint at a constant height interval depending on the type of paint.

[0041] 1 and 2, the coating apparatus 1 further includes a display panel 45 that displays the height of the spray gun 20. The second reception unit 42 is a touch panel superimposed on the display panel 45. This allows the user to intuitively change the height of the spray gun 20 while visually checking the height of the spray gun 20 on the display panel 45. When the second reception unit 42 is a touch panel, the touch panel may be operated by the user's hand or by a touch pen.

[0042] 1 and 2, the second reception unit 42 and the display panel 45 are provided on the upper surface of the cover 14. However, the second reception unit 42 and the display panel 45 may be provided at positions other than the upper surface of the cover 14 depending on the structure of the coating apparatus 1. In addition, the second reception unit 42 does not necessarily have to be superimposed on the display panel 45. In addition, the coating apparatus 1 does not necessarily have to include the display panel 45.

[0043] Furthermore, the second receiving unit 42 is not limited to a touch panel. Another example of the second receiving unit 42 is a dial or button for instructing the spray gun 20 to stop, raise, or lower.

[0044] The height changing mechanism 60 also includes a cylindrical body 66 that houses the support column 61, and a support column lifting mechanism 67 that raises and lowers the support column 61 relative to the cylindrical body 66. For example, the support column 61 is provided with a rack gear (not shown). The support column lifting mechanism 67 also includes a gear that is fixed to the cylindrical body 66 and meshes with the rack gear. In this case, the support column 61 rises and lowers relative to the cylindrical body 66 as the gear of the support column lifting mechanism 67 rotates.

[0045] Pulleys 62, 63, belt 64, and motor 65 rise and fall together with support column 61. At this time, fixing mechanism 50 attached to belt 64 and spray gun 20 fixed to fixing mechanism 50 also rise and fall together with support column 61. That is, in coating apparatus 1, spray gun 20 rises and falls in two stages using height changing mechanism 60 and support column lifting mechanism 67. This widens the range over which the height of spray gun 20 can be changed compared to a coating apparatus 1 not including cylinder 66 and support column lifting mechanism 67. However, cylinder 66 and support column lifting mechanism 67 are not essential to height changing mechanism 60 and may be omitted.

[0046] The coating device 1 may also be equipped with a speaker or a warning light that emits a warning sound to the surrounding area while coating is in progress, reducing the possibility that other workers will enter the path of the coating device 1 without realizing that coating is in progress.

[0047] Furthermore, the object to be painted by the painting device 1 is not limited to the exterior wall of the building described above, but may be the inside of the exterior wall or an interior wall. Also, by changing the direction of the spray gun 20, the object can be the floor or ceiling of the building.

[0048] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1. Painting equipment 10 carts 20 spray gun 21 Switch 30 Drive unit 41 First Reception Section 42 Second Reception Section 45 Display Panel 50 Fixing mechanism 60 Height change mechanism

Claims

1. A cart that can travel on the floor; a spray gun mounted on the carriage, capable of spraying paint, and having a switch capable of switching between starting and stopping spraying of the paint; a driving unit that drives the switch to switch it; a first receiving unit configured to receive a user's instruction regarding switching of the switch for the driving unit; a fixing mechanism for fixing the spray gun to the carriage, The fixing mechanism detachably fixes the spray gun to the carriage.

2. a second receiving unit that receives a user's instruction to change the height of the spray gun; The coating device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a height changing mechanism that changes the height of the spray gun in response to a user instruction received by the second receiving unit.

3. The coating device according to claim 2 , wherein the height changing mechanism changes the height of the spray gun at a constant interval when a second receiving unit receives a user instruction to change the height of the spray gun.

4. Further provided is a display panel that displays the height of the spray gun, The coating device according to claim 2 , wherein the second reception unit is a touch panel superimposed on the display panel.

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