Cleaning Device for Coating Equipment

Abstract

Even if a coating head has a limited number of available cleaning liquids, cleaning performance can be ensured. 【Solution means】 A cleaning device 30 for cleaning a coating device 10 equipped with an inkjet type coating head 31 includes a supply path 32, a return flow path 33, and a paint circulation path 34 having the coating head 31, and first and second head switching valves 35, 36 that connect a head section HS including the coating head 31 and a non-head outer section NS not including the same, a first cleaning liquid supply section 37 that supplies a first cleaning liquid to the head section HS, second cleaning liquid supply sections 38a, 38b, 38c that supply a second cleaning liquid to the non-head outer section NS, and a cleaning control section 39 that controls the first and second head switching valves 35, 36, the first cleaning liquid, and the second cleaning liquid. The cleaning control section 39 cuts off the connection between the head section HS and the non-head outer section NS and performs at least one of supplying the first cleaning liquid to clean the head section HS and supplying the second cleaning liquid to clean the non-head outer section NS.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning device for a coating device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses that in a coating device including a coating head, a paint circulation path composed of a supply path for supplying paint to the coating head and a return flow path for returning the paint from the coating head to the upstream side of the supply path is divided into a plurality of sections, and cleaning and paint filling are sequentially performed for each section.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When the above technology is applied to an inkjet coating device, the paint circulation path can be divided into a plurality of sections and independently cleaned for each section. However, in an inkjet coating device, the cleaning liquid that can be used in the coating head is limited to a low-irritant one. Therefore, if the cleaning liquid is selected according to the section including the coating head, sufficient detergency may not be obtained in other sections.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a cleaning device for an inkjet coating device that can ensure the detergency of other parts even when the coating head has a limited cleaning liquid that can be used.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The cleaning device for a coating device according to one aspect of the present invention cleans a coating device including an inkjet type coating head in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging paint to a coating part of a vehicle are arranged, and includes a supply path for supplying paint toward the coating head, a return flow path connected to the paint discharge side of the coating head for recovering the paint that has not been discharged from the nozzles, a coating head, a paint circulation path having the above, a head switching valve interposed in the paint circulation path connecting a head section including the coating head and a head outer section adjacent to the head section, a first cleaning liquid supply section for supplying a first cleaning liquid to the head section, a second cleaning liquid supply section for supplying a second cleaning liquid different from the first cleaning liquid to the head outer section, and a cleaning control section for controlling the switching state of the head switching valve and the supply states of the first cleaning liquid and the second cleaning liquid. When cleaning the paint circulation path, the cleaning control section cuts off the connection between the head section and the head outer section by switching the head switching valve, and performs at least one of supplying the first cleaning liquid to clean the head section and supplying the second cleaning liquid to clean the head outer section.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cleaning device for an inkjet type coating device that can ensure the cleanability of other parts even if the coating head has a limited amount of usable cleaning liquid.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] <First Embodiment> Hereinafter, the cleaning device 30 of the coating device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a coating robot 11 of the cleaning device 30 of the coating device 10 according to the present embodiment. The coating robot 11 is arranged near a coating line in an automobile manufacturing factory and coats a vehicle body FR conveyed along the coating line. In the present embodiment, the vehicle body FR of an automobile is exemplified as the object to be coated, but it may be other than the vehicle body FR of an automobile.

[0011] [Coating Robot] The coating robot 11 coats the vehicle body FR conveyed from the upstream side of the coating line. The coating process may be performed by coating the vehicle body FR while flowing it through the coating line, or may be performed by stopping the flow of the line at a predetermined position and then coating. The vehicle body FR coated by the coating robot 11 is conveyed toward the downstream side of the coating line.

[0012] In the present embodiment, the coating robot 11 is exemplified as the device for coating the vehicle body FR, but any device having a paint circulation path 34 (see FIG. 2) described later may be used instead of the coating robot 11. Further, the coating robot 11 is exemplified as one in which the coating head unit 24 can rotate in directions centered on three axes of the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, but the coating head unit 24 may rotate around any one of the X-axis, Y-axis, or Z-axis, or may rotate around two axes. Also, the coating robot 11 may be configured to move along a guide member such as a rail.

[0013] Coating is performed for the purpose of forming a coating film on the surface of the object to be coated and providing protection and aesthetics to the surface. The coating process may include only coating with a paint of a specific color or a paint having a specific function, or may include sequentially applying multiple colors of paint or a paint having a specific function.

[0014] The painting robot 11 exemplifies an articulated robot, but a scalar robot may also be used as long as it can perform painting. As shown in FIG. 1, the painting robot 11 includes a base 20, legs 21, a rotational drive unit 22, a robot arm 23, and a painting head unit 24.

[0015] The base 20 is a fixing member that fixes the painting robot 11 to the floor surface of the painting line and supports the painting robot 11. The base 20 may be movable on the floor surface of the painting line.

[0016] The legs 21 have a lower part fixed to the base 20 and an upper part connected to the rotational drive unit 22, and extend to a vertical height suitable for performing painting by the painting robot 11.

[0017] The rotational drive unit 22 is connected to the upper end of the legs 21 and has a rotating shaft portion 25 and a rotating arm 26. The rotating shaft portion 25 rotates the rotating arm 26 about an axis parallel to the floor surface (the X-axis direction shown in FIG. 1) by a motor (not shown). The rotating arm 26 rotates the robot arm 23 connected to the rotating arm 26 about a straight line orthogonal to the rotation center of the rotating shaft portion 25 (the Z-axis direction shown in FIG. 1).

[0018] The robot arm 23 has a first rotating arm 27 and a second rotating arm 28. One end of the first rotating arm 27 is connected to the rotating arm 26, and the other end is connected to the second rotating arm 28. The first rotating arm 27 rotates about the Z-axis direction shown in FIG. 1 by a motor (not shown) mounted on the rotating arm 26. One end of the second rotating arm 28 is connected to the first rotating arm 27, and the other end has a wrist portion 29 described later. The second rotating arm 28 rotates about the Z-axis direction shown in FIG. 1 by a motor (not shown).

[0019] The painting head unit 24 is arranged at the most distal end side of the painting robot 11 and sprays paint onto the vehicle body FR of the automobile. A list part 29 is held between the painting head unit 24 and the second rotating arm 28. The list part 29 rotates the painting head unit 24 about at least one of the three axes (X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis) shown in FIG. 1.

[0020] The painting head unit 24 is supplied with paint by a supply path 32 (see FIG. 2) of a paint circulation path 34 for spraying the paint from the painting head, and sprays the paint onto the vehicle body FR flowing on the painting line at an appropriate timing.

[0021] Next, the cleaning device 30 of the painting device 10 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to the circuit diagram of FIG. 2. When the painting device 10 operates for painting, dirt gradually adheres to the paint flow path and the switching valve. Therefore, the cleaning device 30 periodically flows a cleaning liquid along the paint flow path for cleaning.

[0022] [Paint circulation path 34] The cleaning device 30 of the painting device 10 includes a paint circulation path 34 having a painting head 31, a supply path 32, and a return flow path 33, a first head switching valve 35 as a head switching valve, a second head switching valve 36 as a head switching valve, a head cleaning liquid tank 37 as a first cleaning liquid supply unit, a first cleaning liquid tank 38a as a second cleaning liquid supply unit and a section cleaning liquid supply unit, a second cleaning liquid tank 38b as a second cleaning liquid supply unit, a fourth cleaning liquid tank 38c as a second cleaning liquid supply unit, a cleaning control unit 39, and a drainage tank 40.

[0023] Also, a head cleaning liquid pump 37P as a respective pressurizing unit for pumping the cleaning liquid in each tank toward the paint circulation path 34, a first cleaning liquid pump 38aP as a pressurizing unit, a second cleaning liquid pump 38bP as a pressurizing unit, and a fourth cleaning liquid pump 38cP as a pressurizing unit are disposed in proximity to the head cleaning liquid tank 37, the first cleaning liquid tank 38a, the second cleaning liquid tank 38b, and the fourth cleaning liquid tank 38c.

[0024] In the following description, in the supply path 32, the paint supply direction refers to the paint tank side (not shown) as the upstream side and the painting head 31 side as the downstream side. Also, in the return path 33, the painting head 31 side is referred to as the upstream side and the paint tank side as the downstream side.

[0025] The painting head 31 is an inkjet type painting head in which a plurality of nozzles 52 for discharging paint to the painting part of the vehicle are arranged. The painting head 31 has a nozzle forming surface 48 on which a plurality of nozzles 52 are arranged, and forms a paint film on the surface of the vehicle body FR by discharging the paint supplied through the supply path 32 from each of the plurality of nozzles 52. A nozzle row (not shown) is configured by a predetermined number of nozzles 52.

[0026] The supply path 32 is a flow path for supplying the paint stored in a paint tank (not shown) toward the painting head 31. The supply path 32 is divided into flow paths 32a to 32h by a plurality of components interposed in the supply path 32. The paint in the supply path 32 is pumped by a first gear pump 41 interposed in the middle of the supply path 32.

[0027] In the supply path 32, in order from the upstream side, a first section switching valve 42 as a section switching valve, a removal filter 43, a second section switching valve 44 as a section switching valve, a first gear pump 41, a pressure gauge PS, a degassing module 45, a first head switching valve 35, and a first three-way valve 46 are arranged.

[0028] The return path 33 is a flow path for returning the paint not used by the painting head 31 to a paint tank (not shown). Details of the return path 33 will be described later.

[0029] When painting the vehicle body FR, the paint circulation path 34 is a circulation circuit that supplies the paint stored in the paint tank to the painting head 31 via the supply path 32 and returns the paint not used by the painting head 31 to the paint tank via the return flow path 33. Further, when the vehicle body FR is not painted, the paint circulation path 34 also functions as a circulation circuit that returns the paint stored in the paint tank from the supply path 32, via the bypass flow path 47 described later, to the paint tank via the return flow path 33.

[0030] The first head switching valve 35 is installed in the paint circulation path 34 (between the flow path 32f and the flow path 32g) that connects the head section HS including the painting head 31 and the supply path 32 adjacent to the head section HS. The second head switching valve 36 is installed in the paint circulation path 34 (between the return flow path 33b and the return flow path 33c) that connects the head section HS including the painting head 31 and the return flow path 33 adjacent to the head section HS.

[0031] The head cleaning liquid tank 37 supplies the head cleaning liquid to the head section HS when cleaning the head section HS including the painting head 31. In the inkjet type painting apparatus 10, since the painting head 31 is relatively weak against the stimulation of the cleaning liquid, the head cleaning liquid is stored in the head cleaning liquid tank 37 in advance according to the irritation resistance of the painting head 31. Note that the fact that the painting head 31 is relatively weak against the stimulation of the cleaning liquid means the following. That is, the painting head 31 is composed of laminated thin substrates, and the substrates are adhered to each other with an adhesive. Therefore, the fact that the painting head 31 is relatively weak against the stimulation of the cleaning liquid means that the above-mentioned adhesive is likely to be damaged when being cleaned with a cleaning liquid containing, for example, an organic solvent or the like as a component.

[0032] The first cleaning liquid tank 38a, the second cleaning liquid tank 38b, and the fourth cleaning liquid tank 38c pump the first cleaning liquid, the second cleaning liquid, and the fourth cleaning liquid, respectively, to the non-head section NS adjacent to the head section HS by the first cleaning liquid pump 38aP, the second cleaning liquid pump 38bP, and the fourth cleaning liquid pump 38cP according to the numbers of the flow paths leading to the valves during the cleaning of the non-head section NS. Since the painting head 31 that is less resistant to the stimulation of the cleaning liquid is not included in the non-head section NS, cleaning liquids with higher cleaning performance than the head cleaning liquid are stored in the first cleaning liquid tank 38a, the second cleaning liquid tank 38b, and the fourth cleaning liquid tank 38c in advance for improving the cleaning performance. The first cleaning liquid, the second cleaning liquid, and the fourth cleaning liquid may be the same, or may be different types of cleaning liquids according to the sections where the cleaning liquids are used.

[0033] The drain tank 40 discharges the cleaning liquid discharged from the paint circulation path 34 to a storage container through each switching valve. The drain tank 40 has a vacuum ejector 40E as a suction part that sucks the incoming cleaning liquid from the paint circulation path 34.

[0034] The cleaning control unit 39 cleans the paint circulation path 34 by operating the components installed in the paint circulation path 34 that leads from the supply path 32 through the painting head 31 to the return flow path 33 synchronously. The cleaning control unit 39 will be described later.

[0035] Although FIG. 2 shows the circuit of the paint circulation path 34 when painting is performed, since the present embodiment is the cleaning device 30 of the painting device 10, the flow of the cleaning liquid when cleaning is performed by flowing the cleaning liquid through the circuit will be described below. In particular, in the present embodiment, when cleaning the painting device 10 having the inkjet type painting head 31 that is not highly resistant to the cleaning liquid, the section including the painting head 31 is separated from other sections and cleaned with different cleaning liquids will be described in detail.

[0036] (Supply path 32) A description will be given of a plurality of components installed in the paint circulation path 34. In the following description, for each switching valve, the arrows connected from the head cleaning liquid tank 37 and the first, second, and fourth cleaning liquid tanks 38a, 38b, 38c via numbers 1 to 4 indicate the flow paths through which the cleaning liquid is supplied from the corresponding head cleaning liquid tank 37 and the first, second, and fourth cleaning liquid tanks 38a, 38b, 38c to each switching valve. Also, the arrows connected from each switching valve to the drain tank 40 via the number "5" indicate the flow paths through which the cleaning liquid flows from each switching valve to the drain tank 40. Note that the head cleaning liquid tank 37 and the first, second, and fourth cleaning liquid tanks 38a, 38b, 38c may have different types of cleaning liquids for each number.

[0037] The first section switching valve 42 installed on the most upstream side of the paint circulation path 34 has four valve parts 42a, 42b, 42c, and 42d.

[0038] The valve part 42a is connected to the flow path 32a, and the valve part 42b is connected to the flow path 32b. Therefore, during the cleaning of the paint circulation path 34, the cleaning control unit 39 opens the valve parts 42a and 42b, and the cleaning liquid from the flow path 32a flows toward the flow path 32c.

[0039] The removal filter 43 is connected to the downstream end of the flow path 32b connected to the valve part 42b of the first section switching valve 42. The removal filter 43 is installed at a site where the operation of the painting robot 11, such as the leg part 21 of the painting robot 11 or the floor surface of the painting line, does not affect the removal performance of the removal filter 43.

[0040] The removal filter 43 removes foreign matter such as coarse foreign matter and pigment aggregates contained in the paint flowing through the supply path 32, as well as air bubbles in the paint that exceed a predetermined size. The removal filter 43 is a mesh-like body such as a wire mesh or a resinous mesh, a porous body, or a metal plate with fine through-holes drilled therein. As the mesh-like body, for example, a metal mesh filter, metal fibers, a felt-like material made of thin wires of a metal such as SUS (Steel Use Stainless), a compression-sintered metal sintered filter, an electroformed metal filter, an electron beam processed metal filter, a laser beam processed metal filter, etc. can be used.

[0041] The second section switching valve 44 is connected to the downstream end of the flow path 32c connected to the downstream side of the removal filter 43. The second section switching valve 44 has four valve parts 44a, 44b, 44c, and 44d, similar to the first section switching valve 42.

[0042] The valve part 44a is connected to the flow path 32c, and the valve part 44b is connected to the flow path 32d. Therefore, during the cleaning of the paint circulation path 34, the cleaning control unit 39 opens the valve part 44a and the valve part 44b, and the cleaning liquid from the flow path 32c flows toward the flow path 32d.

[0043] The first gear pump 41 draws in the cleaning liquid in the flow path 32d based on a command from the cleaning control unit 39, and pumps the drawn cleaning liquid toward the painting head 31. Therefore, the pressure inside the flow path 32d on the upstream side of the first gear pump 41 becomes negative pressure, and after the cleaning liquid is drawn into the flow path, it is pumped from the flow path 32d connected to the upstream side of the first gear pump 41 to the flow path 32e connected to the downstream side of the first gear pump 41.

[0044] The pressure gauge PS is connected to the flow path 32e on the downstream side of the first gear pump 41. The pressure gauge PS measures the pressure of the cleaning liquid in the flow path 32e pumped by the first gear pump 41. The first gear pump 41 is driven and controlled so that the pressure detected by the pressure gauge PS becomes constant. Note that the above pressure gauge PS is arranged in the flow path 32e on the upstream side of the deaeration module 45, but instead of arranging the pressure gauge PS in the flow path 32e, it may be arranged in the flow path 32f on the downstream side of the deaeration module 45, or it may be arranged in both the flow path 32e and the flow path 32f. Further, the pressure gauge PS may be arranged in at least one of the flow path 32b on the upstream side and 32c on the downstream side of the removal filter 43.

[0045] The deaeration module 45 is connected to the downstream end of the flow path 32e connected to the downstream side of the first gear pump 41. The deaeration module 45 is provided to remove (deaerate) the dissolved gas and bubbles dissolved in the paint. The deaeration module 45 can use, for example, a hollow fiber membrane bundle in which a plurality of hollow fiber membranes are bundled.

[0046] The first head switching valve 35 is connected to the downstream end of the flow path 32f connected to the downstream side of the deaeration module 45. The first head switching valve 35 has six valve parts 35a, 35b, 35c1, 35c2, 35d1, and 35d2.

[0047] The valve part 35a is connected to the flow path 32f, and the valve part 35b is connected to the flow path 32g. Further, the valve part 35d2 is connected to the valve parts 35a, 35c2, and the drain tank 40. The flow path of the valve part 35d2 is not connected to the valve parts 35b, 35c1, 35d1, and is connected to the valve parts 35a and 35c2. Therefore, during cleaning, the cleaning control unit 39 opens the valve parts 35a and 35d2, and the paint drainage in the flow path 32f flows to the drain tank 40 through the valve parts 35a and 35d2.

[0048] In addition, the valve portion 35c1 is connected to the head cleaning liquid tank 37. Therefore, during cleaning, the cleaning control unit 39 opens the valve portion 35c1 and the valve portion 35b, and the head cleaning liquid in the head cleaning liquid tank 37 flows from the valve portion 35c1 through the valve portion 35b into the flow path 32g.

[0049] Also, the valve portion 35c2 is connected to the fourth cleaning liquid tank 38c. Therefore, when the cleaning control unit 39 opens the valve portion 35c2 and the valve portion 35d2, the fourth cleaning liquid flows from the fourth cleaning liquid tank 38c through the valve portion 35c2 and the valve portion 35d2 to the drain tank 40, thereby cleaning the internal flow path of the first head switching valve 35.

[0050] The first three-way valve 46 is connected to the downstream end of the flow path 32g connected to the valve portion 35b of the first head switching valve 35. The first three-way valve 46 maintains a state in which the flow path 32g and the flow path 32h connected to the coating head 31 on the downstream side communicate with each other during cleaning of the coating head 31. The first three-way valve 46 can be switched to a state in which the flow path 32g and a first bypass flow path 47 described later communicate with each other when the coating head 31 is not being cleaned.

[0051] The coating head 31 is connected to the downstream end of the flow path 32h and the upstream end of the flow path 33a of the return flow path 33. That is, the coating head 31 is disposed between the downstream end of the supply path 32 and the upstream end of the return flow path 33. The cleaning liquid used for cleaning at the coating head 31 returns to the paint tank through the return flow path 33.

[0052] The first bypass flow path 47 connects the first three-way valve 46 and a second three-way valve 49 described later, and when the cleaning liquid is not circulated to the coating head 31, the cleaning liquid supplied from the supply path 32 bypasses the coating head 31 and is refluxed to the return flow path 33.

[0053] (Return flow path 33) The return flow path 33 is a flow path that flows the paint not used by the painting head 31 or the paint circulating in the paint circulation path 34 toward the downstream side of the return flow path 33, which is the upstream side of the supply path 32, and returns it to the paint tank. The return flow path 33 is divided into flow paths 33a to 33d by a plurality of components interposed in the return flow path 33. The cleaning liquid in the return flow path 33 is pumped by a second gear pump 51, which will be described later, interposed in the middle of the return flow path 33.

[0054] In the return flow path 33, a second three-way valve 49, a second head switching valve 36, and a second gear pump 51 are arranged in order from the upstream side.

[0055] The second three-way valve 49 is connected to the downstream end of the flow path 33a. The second three-way valve 49 maintains a state in which the flow path 33a and the flow path 33b connected to the valve portion 36a of the second head switching valve 36, which will be described later, on the downstream side communicate with each other during cleaning of the painting head 31. Further, the second three-way valve 49 switches to a state in which the first bypass flow path 47 and the flow path 33b communicate with each other when the painting head 31 is not being cleaned.

[0056] The second head switching valve 36 is connected to the downstream end of the flow path 33b connected to the downstream side of the second three-way valve 49. The second head switching valve 36 has six valve portions 36a, 36b, 36c1, 36c2, 36d1, and 36d2.

[0057] The valve portion 36a is connected to the flow path 33b, and the valve portion 36b is connected to the flow path 33c. Further, the valve portion 36d1 is connected to the drain tank 40. Therefore, during cleaning, the cleaning control unit 39 opens the valve portion 36a and the valve portion 36d1, and the cleaning liquid in the flow path 33b flows through the valve portion 36a and the valve portion 36d1 into the drain tank 40.

[0058] Also, the valve section 36c2 is connected to the fourth cleaning liquid tank 38c. The flow path of the valve section 36c2 is not connected to the valve sections 36a, 36c1, and 36d1, and is only connected to the valve sections 36b and 36d2. Therefore, the cleaning control unit 39 opens the valve section 36c2 and the valve section 36b, and the fourth cleaning liquid supplied from the fourth cleaning liquid tank 38c flows into the flow path 33c through the opened valve section 36b.

[0059] In addition, when the cleaning control unit 39 opens the valve section 36c2 and the valve section 36d2, the fourth cleaning liquid flows from the fourth cleaning liquid tank 38c through the valve section 36c2 and the valve section 36d2 to the drain tank 40, thereby cleaning the internal flow path of the second head switching valve 36.

[0060] The second gear pump 51 is connected to the downstream end of the flow path 33c. The second gear pump 51 draws in the cleaning liquid flowing through the flow path 33c and pumps it to the flow path 33d connected to the downstream side of the second gear pump 51.

[0061] (Control Unit) When cleaning the paint circulation path 34, the cleaning control unit 39 controls the switching of the first section switching valve 42, the second section switching valve 44, the first head switching valve 35, and the second head switching valve 36 to control the supply of the cleaning liquid from the head cleaning liquid tank 37 and the first, second, and fourth cleaning liquid tanks 38a, 38b, 38c, and the discharge of the cleaning liquid to the drain tank 40. At this time, the cleaning control unit 39 controls the pumps 37P, 38aP, 38bP, 38cP provided for each cleaning liquid to pump the cleaning liquid into each flow path. In addition, the cleaning control unit 39 controls the vacuum ejector 40E to suck the cleaning liquid and discharge it to the drain tank 40.

[0062] Also, the cleaning control unit 39 controls the switching of the first three-way valve 46 and the second three-way valve 49 to control the switching so that the cleaning liquid in the head section HS flows to the painting head 31 side or the side bypassing the painting head 31. In addition, the cleaning control unit 39 controls the rotational speeds of the first gear pump 41 and the second gear pump 51 to pump the cleaning liquid in the supply path 32 or the return flow path 33.

[0063] As described above, when cleaning the paint circulation path 34, when the cleaning liquid is flowed from the upstream side of the supply path 32 through the painting head 31 to the downstream side of the return flow path 33, the paint circulation path 34 is separated into a head section HS and a non-head section NS by the first head switching valve 35 and the second head switching valve 36. That is, the cleaning control unit 39 switches and controls the first head switching valve 35 and the second head switching valve 36 to divide the cleaning liquid into either the head section HS including the painting head 31 or the non-head section NS not including the painting head 31 so that the cleaning liquid can flow, and the cleaning liquid in the supply path 32 is pumped from the upstream side to the first head switching valve 35 by the first gear pump 41, and the cleaning liquid in the return flow path is pumped from the second head switching valve 36 to the downstream side by the second gear pump 51.

[0064] <Second Embodiment> Next, the cleaning device 30 of the painting device 10 in the second embodiment will be described with reference to the circuit diagram of FIG. 3. Note that the same components as those in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and their description is omitted.

[0065] [Paint Circulation Path 34] In this embodiment, when cleaning the non-head section NS not including the painting head 31, it is different from the first embodiment in that the non-head section NS is divided into a plurality of sections and cleaned with different cleaning liquids. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing the flow of the cleaning liquid for cleaning the paint circulation path 34 of the cleaning device 30 of the painting device 10 according to this embodiment.

[0066] (Supply Path 32 - S1) The second section switching valve 44 has a valve section 44c connected to the second cleaning liquid tank 38b. Therefore, during cleaning, the cleaning control unit 39 opens the valve section 44b and the valve section 44c, and the cleaning liquid supplied from the second cleaning liquid tank 38b flows through the opened valve section 44c into the flow path 32d connected to the valve section 44b. The cleaning liquid that has flowed in this way flows downstream along the supply path 32, and the cleaning liquid is discharged from the valve section 35d2 to the drain tank 40 through the valve section 35a connected to the flow path 32f of the supply path 32 as shown in the first embodiment.

[0067] As a result, the section between the second section switching valve 44 and the first head switching valve 35 is divided into a first section S1, and the flow path in the first section S1, the first gear pump 41, the degassing module 45, etc. can be intensively cleaned.

[0068] (Supply path 32 - S2) The first section switching valve 42 has its valve part 42c connected to the first cleaning liquid tank 38a. Therefore, the cleaning control unit 39 opens the valve part 42b and the valve part 42c, and the cleaning liquid supplied from the first cleaning liquid tank 38a flows through the opened valve part 42c into the flow path 32b connected to the valve part 42b. The cleaning liquid that has flowed in this way flows into the flow path 32c through the removal filter 43.

[0069] The second section switching valve 44 has its valve part 44d connected to the drain tank 40. Therefore, the cleaning control unit 39 opens the valve part 44a and the valve part 44d, and the cleaning liquid that has flowed through the flow path 32c connected to the opened valve part 44a is discharged into the drain tank 40 through the valve part 44d.

[0070] As a result, the section between the first section switching valve 42 and the second section switching valve 44 is divided into a second section S2, and the flow paths 32b, 32c between the first section switching valve 42 and the second section switching valve 44, the removal filter 43, etc. can be intensively cleaned.

[0071] (Supply path 32 - S3) The first section switching valve 42 has its valve part 42d connected to the drain tank 40. Therefore, when the cleaning control unit 39 opens the valve part 42a and the valve part 42d, the cleaning liquid that has flowed through the flow path 32a connected to the opened valve part 42a is discharged into the drain tank 40 through the valve part 42d.

[0072] As a result, the section upstream of the first section switching valve 42 is divided into a third section S3, and the section up to the paint tank can be intensively cleaned.

[0073] [Modification example] In the above-described embodiment, when cleaning the head section HS, the cleaning liquid is caused to flow to the coating head 31. However, the cleaning liquid may be appropriately caused to flow to a bypass passage 47 that bypasses the coating head 31. Thereby, the bypass passage 47 can be cleaned.

[0074] Further, in the above-described second embodiment, the outer head section NS is further divided into three sections, and cleaning is performed independently in each section. However, it is not necessary to switch all the switching valves for the division, and adjacent sections sandwiching the switching valve may be combined into one section. Thereby, for sections where the types of cleaning liquid used are the same, by making them into one section, the cleaning liquid can be caused to flow to the location passing through the inside of the switching valve when the paint circulates, and the cleanability can be improved.

[0075] Further, in the above-described embodiment, in the paint circulation path 34, forward cleaning is performed in which the supply path 32 is cleaned from the upstream side, the coating head 31 is cleaned from the supply path 32 side toward the return flow path 33 side, and the return flow path 33 is cleaned toward the downstream side. However, reverse cleaning in which the direction of flow of the cleaning liquid is all reversed may be performed. In this case, the cleaning control unit 39 changes the combination of valve portions to be opened of each switching valve.

[0076] Further, in the above-described embodiment, when cleaning the head section HS, the coating head 31 remained open. However, a cap may be attached to the nozzle forming surface 48 (nozzle 52) to seal the surface. Thereby, when cleaning the head section HS, dripping of the cleaning liquid from the nozzle 52 can be reduced. Further, since the nozzle forming surface 48 is sealed by the cap, the internal flow path of the coating head 31 can be placed in a pressurized state, and the cleanability can be improved.

[0077] [Supplementary Explanation of the Embodiment] Each of the above-described embodiments shows a preferred specific example of the present invention. The numerical values, components, arrangement positions of the components, order of connection forms, etc. shown in the above embodiments are examples, and are not intended to limit the present invention. Also, each drawing is not necessarily drawn precisely.

[0078] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above embodiments merely show a part of the application examples of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention to the specific configurations of the above embodiments.

[0079] The above-described series of processes can be executed by hardware or by software. When the series of processes are executed by software, the program constituting the software is installed from a program recording medium into a computer in which the program is incorporated into dedicated hardware, or a general-purpose computer, for example, that can execute various functions by installing various programs.

[0080] Note that the program executed by the computer may be a program in which processing is performed in time series in accordance with the order described in this specification, or may be a program in which processing is performed in parallel or at a necessary timing such as when a call is made.

[0081] In addition, in each of the above-described embodiments, although the cleaning liquid is used for cleaning, air for cleaning may be used instead of the cleaning liquid. Note that the cleaning liquid and the air for cleaning may be interpreted together as "cleaning liquid".

[0082] [Supplementary Note] The content described in some of the above embodiments is understood as follows, for example.

[0083] (1) Different cleaning liquids A cleaning device 30 for a coating device 10 that cleans the coating device 10 including an inkjet coating head 31 in which a plurality of nozzles 52 for discharging paint to a painted portion of a vehicle are arranged, a supply path 32 for supplying paint toward the coating head 31, a return flow path 33 connected to the paint discharge side of the coating head 31 for collecting the paint that has not been discharged from the nozzles 52, and the coating head 31, and a paint circulation path 34 having the same; A first and a second head switching valves 35, 36 are installed in a paint circulation path 34 that connects a head section HS including a painting head 31 and a non-head section NS adjacent to the head section HS. A head cleaning liquid tank 37 that supplies a first cleaning liquid to the head section HS. First, second, and fourth cleaning liquid tanks 38a, 38b, 38c that supply a second cleaning liquid different from the first cleaning liquid to the non-head section NS. A cleaning control unit 39 that controls the switching states of the first and second head switching valves 35, 36 and the supply states of the first and second cleaning liquids. It is equipped with When cleaning the paint circulation path 34, the cleaning control unit 39 cuts off the connection between the head section HS and the non-head section NS by switching the first and second head switching valves 35, 36, supplies the first cleaning liquid to clean the head section HS, and supplies the second cleaning liquid to clean the non-head section NS, and performs at least one of these operations.

[0084] Thereby, when cleaning the inkjet type coating apparatus 10, the head section HS including the painting head 31 with low irritation resistance can be separated and cleaned from the non-head section NS including other flow paths. Therefore, a cleaning liquid with relatively low irritation can be used in the head section HS including the painting head 31, while a cleaning liquid with high irritation can be used in the other non-head section NS. Thus, when all sections are cleaned with a low-irritation cleaning liquid according to the painting head 31, the cleaning power will not be insufficient, the cleanability of the entire coating apparatus 10 can be improved, and the cleaning time can be shortened.

[0085] (2) Non-head section zoning Also, one or more first and second partition switching valves 42, 44 installed in the paint circulation path 34 in the outer head section NS to divide the paint circulation path 34 into a plurality of predetermined regions, and first, second, and fourth cleaning liquid tanks 38a, 38b, 38c that supply different partition cleaning liquids for each predetermined region as the second cleaning liquid to the plurality of predetermined regions. The cleaning control unit 39 can divide a part of the paint circulation path 34 into predetermined regions by switching the first and second partition switching valves 42, 44 during cleaning of the paint circulation path 34, and supply and clean the partition cleaning liquid to the predetermined regions divided by the first, second, and fourth cleaning liquid tanks 38a, 38b, 38c.

[0086] Thereby, a section different from the section including the coating head 31 can be further divided into a plurality of sections, so that cleaning can be performed using cleaning liquids with different irritations for each of the plurality of sections. Therefore, cleaning can be performed using an optimal irritating cleaning liquid based on the different irritation resistances for each section, so that the cleaning performance can be improved and the cleaning time can be shortened for each section. As a result, the cleaning performance of the entire coating apparatus 10 can be improved and the cleaning time can be shortened.

[0087] (3) Vacuum ejector Also, a head cleaning liquid pump 37P, a first cleaning liquid pump 38aP, a second cleaning liquid pump 38bP, and a fourth cleaning liquid pump 38cP for pressurizing the cleaning liquid supplied to the paint circulation path 34, and a vacuum ejector 40E for sucking and discharging the cleaning liquid supplied by the head cleaning liquid pump 37P, the first cleaning liquid pump 38aP, the second cleaning liquid pump 38bP, and the fourth cleaning liquid pump 38cP from the paint circulation path 34 can be provided.

[0088] As a result, the cleaning liquid pumped from each cleaning liquid tank into the paint circulation path 34 by the pumps 37P, 38aP, 38bP, and 38cP returns to the drain tank 40 by the pressure at the time of supply after cleaning the flow path. In addition to this, by operating the vacuum ejector 40E to suck the cleaning liquid, the discharge performance of the cleaning liquid can be improved. Therefore, even if the return flow path 33 and the supply path 32 have a long specification, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the cleanability of the paint circulation path 34 and an increase in the cleaning time.

[0089] (4) Alternate cleaning Also, in the paint circulation path 34, forward cleaning in which at least one of the first cleaning liquid and the second cleaning liquid flows from the supply path 32 to the return flow path 33, and reverse cleaning in which at least one of the first cleaning liquid and the second cleaning liquid flows from the return flow path 33 to the supply path 32 can be alternately performed.

[0090] Thus, even when dirt that cannot be removed only by the flow of the cleaning liquid from one direction adheres to the paint circulation path 34, there is a possibility that it can be removed by the flow of the cleaning liquid from the reverse direction. Therefore, by alternately performing forward cleaning and reverse cleaning, the cleanability of the paint circulation path 34 can be improved.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0091] 10 Painting apparatus 30 Cleaning apparatus 31 Painting head 32 Supply path 33 Return flow path 34 Paint circulation path 35 First head switching valve (head switching valve) 36 Second head switching valve (head switching valve) 37 Head cleaning liquid tank (first cleaning liquid supply unit) 37P Head cleaning liquid pump (pressurizing unit) 38a First cleaning liquid tank (second cleaning liquid supply unit, sectional cleaning liquid supply unit) 38aP First cleaning liquid pump (pressurizing unit) 38b Second cleaning liquid tank (second cleaning liquid supply unit, sectional cleaning liquid supply unit) 38bP Second cleaning liquid pump (pressurizing unit) 38c Fourth cleaning liquid tank (second cleaning liquid supply unit, sectional cleaning liquid supply unit) 38cP Fourth cleaning liquid pump (pressurizing unit) 39 Cleaning control unit 40E Vacuum ejector (suction unit) 42 First section switching valve (section switching valve) 44 Second section switching valve (section switching valve) 52 Nozzle HS Head section NS Outer head section

Claims

1. A cleaning device for a coating device that cleans a coating device equipped with an inkjet type coating head in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged to eject paint onto a coating portion of a vehicle, comprising: a paint circulation path including a supply passage for supplying the paint toward the paint head, a return flow path connected to a paint discharge side of the paint head for recovering the paint not discharged from the nozzle, and the paint head; a head switching valve interposed in the paint circulation path connecting a head section including the paint head and an outside-head section adjacent to the head section; a first cleaning liquid supply unit that supplies a first cleaning liquid to the head section; a second cleaning liquid supply unit that supplies a second cleaning liquid different from the first cleaning liquid to the outer section of the head; a cleaning control unit that controls a switching state of the head switching valve and a supply state of the first cleaning liquid and the second cleaning liquid; Equipped with The cleaning control unit, when cleaning the paint circulation path, switches the head switching valve to cut off connection between the head section and the head outside section, and performs at least one of supplying the first cleaning liquid to clean the head section and supplying the second cleaning liquid to clean the head outside section. A cleaning device for a coating device.

2. 2. The cleaning device for a coating device according to claim 1, one or more division switching valves interposed in the paint circulation path in the head outer section to divide the paint circulation path into a plurality of predetermined regions; a divided cleaning solution supply unit that supplies different divided cleaning solutions to the plurality of predetermined regions as the second cleaning solution; Equipped with The cleaning control unit, when cleaning the paint circulation path, divides a part of the paint circulation path into the predetermined area by switching the division switching valve, and supplies the divided cleaning liquid to the predetermined area divided by the divided cleaning liquid supply unit to clean the paint circulation path. A cleaning device for a coating device.

3. 2. The cleaning device for a coating device according to claim 1, A pressurizing unit that pressurizes the cleaning liquid supplied to the paint circulation path; A suction unit that suctions and discharges the cleaning liquid supplied by the pressurizing unit from the paint circulation path. A cleaning device for a coating device.

4. 2. The cleaning device for a coating device according to claim 1, forward cleaning in which at least one of the first cleaning liquid and the second cleaning liquid flows from the supply passage to the return passage in the paint circulation path; and reverse cleaning in which at least one of the first cleaning liquid and the second cleaning liquid flows from the return flow path to the supply path in the paint circulation path. A cleaning device for a coating device.

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