Coating Equipment

Abstract

Provided is a coating device that is less susceptible to the effect of the viscosity of a coating material and can easily and stably supply the coating material to a surface to be coated. [Solution] A coating device comprising a storage section 4 provided with a coating material supply port 5, and leveling means 6 for leveling the surface of the coating material supplied to the surface 2 to be coated, wherein the leveling means 6 has a leveling surface 61a that slopes downward as it moves rearward in the direction of travel Y, and the coating material supply port 5 comprises a lower opening 51 at the lower end of the storage section 4 that opens directly toward the surface 2 to be coated, and a rear opening 52 that is connected to the lower opening 51 and is provided on the surface of the storage section 4 on the rearward side in the direction of travel Y, and the leveling means 6 has a flat or curved high inclined surface 61b that slopes upward and is connected to the end of the leveling surface 61a on the forward side in the direction of travel X, and the height of the highest point 62x of the high inclined surface 61b or one or more other flat or curved surfaces that are successively connected to the high inclined surface 61b is higher than the opening height of the rear opening 52.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an application device for painting floor surfaces. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a method of applying a coating material that imparts functionality to concrete floors in warehouses, factories, kitchens, etc., to provide such properties as abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, heat resistance, slip resistance, and dust resistance, has been known in which the coating material is poured and spread over the floor to provide the functionality.

[0003] Methods for applying a coated floor include pouring and spreading the uncured coating material onto the floor, leveling it to a certain extent, and then using a trowel to create a flat finish, or applying it to a specified film thickness using a simple applicator (see Patent Document 1).

[0004] However, achieving an even film thickness by hand requires skilled technique and physical strength. Also, if a material that dries or hardens quickly is used as the coating material, the coating material must be spread and finished evenly before it starts to dry or harden, which requires a lot of people. Furthermore, even more effort is required when the area to be coated is large.

[0005] Furthermore, when using a simple applicator, depending on the fluidity (viscosity) of the coating material, the floor coating material may have difficulty passing through the orifice (gap) in the film thickness setting section of the simple applicator due to its own weight. As a result, the required amount of coating material may not be able to pass through the orifice (gap) in the film thickness setting section, resulting in blurring and the risk of the coating material not being able to be spread evenly. As in the technology described in Patent Document 1, there are methods for improving the fluidity of the coating material by providing an agitator or the like in the simple applicator, but this is not effective enough and requires a separate drive source, resulting in problems with poor workability.

[0006] As a means for solving the above problems, a coating device has been disclosed that includes an applicator plate that slopes downward toward the rear in the direction of travel, an opening width of the coating material outlet that is narrower than the application width, an opening height of the coating material outlet that is higher than the application thickness, and an opening area of ​​the coating material outlet that is equal to or greater than the cross-sectional area of ​​the coating material 3 (see Patent Document 2). According to this technology, regardless of the viscosity of the coating material, the coating material easily flows out of the coating material outlet due to its own weight, and the coating material that flows out of the coating material outlet can be evenly spread by the applicator. Therefore, it is less affected by the viscosity of the coating material, and even a small number of people can stably apply the coating material to the specified application width and thickness.

[0007] However, with the technology described in Patent Document 2, the ease with which the coating material flows out of the coating material outlet (coating material supply port) is still insufficient, and there are cases in which the coating material cannot pass smoothly through the coating material outlet, which opens at the rear lower part of the main body in the direction of travel, resulting in smearing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Registered Utility Model No. 3151978 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-203092 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] The present invention aims to provide an application device that is less susceptible to the effect of the viscosity of the application material, can easily and stably supply the application material to the surface to be applied, and can apply the application material to the target application width and thickness. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The above object is achieved by the present invention as described below. That is, the coating device of the present invention is a coating device that applies a coating material to a surface to be coated so as to achieve a target application width A and a target application thickness B while traveling along the surface to be coated in a predetermined traveling direction, and includes a storage section that stores the coating material and is provided with at least one coating material supply port for supplying the coating material to the surface to be coated, and leveling means that is arranged rearward of the storage section in the traveling direction and that levels at least the surface of the coating material supplied from the coating material supply port to the surface to be coated, and the leveling means is inclined downward as it travels rearward in the traveling direction. The coating material supply port has an inclined leveling surface, and is composed of a lower opening at the lower end of the storage section that opens directly toward the surface to be coated, and a rear opening that is connected to the lower opening and is provided on the surface of the storage section rearward in the direction of travel, wherein the opening width C of the rear opening is narrower than the application width A, the opening height D of the rear opening is greater than the application thickness B, and the value (E / F) obtained by dividing the opening area E of the rear opening by the target cross-sectional area F (A × B) of the coating material to be applied to the surface to be coated is 1.0 or more and 2.0 or less.

[0011] In the present invention, it is preferable that the height of the end portion of the leveling surface of the leveling means on the front side in the traveling direction is higher than the opening height D of the rear opening. Alternatively, in the present invention, it is preferable that the leveling means has a planar or curved high inclined surface that is connected to the end of the leveling surface on the forward side in the direction of travel and slopes upward, and that the height of the highest point on the high inclined surface or one or more other planar or curved surfaces that are successively connected to it is higher than the opening height D of the rear opening.

[0012] In the present invention, it is preferable that the opening height D of the rear opening is 1.2 times or more and 3.5 times or less the construction thickness B. In the present invention, it is preferable that the height from the surface to be coated to the rear end of the leveling surface in the traveling direction is equal to the application thickness B.

[0013] In the present invention, it is preferable that the leveling means comprises a pair of side plates provided at both ends of the leveling surface in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction, and the distance between the pair of side plates is equal to the construction width A. In the present invention, the coating material can be a paint having a viscosity of 5 Pa·s or more in the environment during application. In the present invention, it is preferable that the storage section has a hopper-shaped portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the applicator of the present invention, by providing a rear opening with an appropriate shape and size, it is possible to provide an applicator that is less susceptible to the effect of the viscosity of the coating material, can easily and stably supply the coating material to the surface to be coated, and can apply the coating material to the target application width and thickness. Furthermore, by providing a lower opening that opens directly toward the surface to be coated, the coating material can pass through that area smoothly, significantly reducing the risk of smearing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a coating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing a coating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 2 is a partially enlarged view of the periphery of a coating material supply port of the coating device shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 2 is a list of vertical cross-sectional views of the leveling means of the coating device shown in FIG. 1 and leveling means of modifications thereof. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] A coating device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a coating device 1 according to this embodiment, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view thereof from the side. Fig. 1 shows a state in which a coating material is being applied to a surface to be coated by the coating device 1. Fig. 3 is a partially enlarged view of the periphery of a coating material supply port 5 in the coating device 1 shown in Fig. 1.

[0017] The applicator 1 according to this embodiment is an apparatus that applies a coating material 3 to a floor surface 2, which is a surface to be coated, while traveling along the floor surface 2, so as to achieve a target application width A and a target application thickness B. As shown in FIG. 1, the applicator 1 includes a storage section 4 that stores the coating material 3 and is provided with a coating material supply port 5 for supplying the coating material 3 to the floor surface 2, a leveling means 6 that levels at least the surface of the coating material 3 supplied to the floor surface 2, and a handle 7 for operating the applicator 1. In FIG. 1, the direction of travel of the applicator 1 is indicated by arrow X. The width direction refers to a direction that is perpendicular to the direction of travel X and parallel to the floor surface 2.

[0018] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, application width A refers to the target width of the application material 3 after the application material 3 flows out from the application material supply port 5 and is supplied to the floor surface 2 and spread over the floor surface 2 by the leveling means 6. Furthermore, application thickness B refers to the target thickness of the application material 3 after the application material 3 is supplied from the application material supply port 5 to the floor surface 2 and is spread over the floor surface 2 by the leveling means 6. Furthermore, application width A and application thickness B refer to the width and thickness after the application material 3 has been spread over the floor surface 2 and before it dries or hardens.

[0019] The coating material 3 is a viscous paint that is uncured and hardens after being applied to the floor surface 2 by drying, cross-linking reaction, etc., to form a coating film on the surface of the floor surface 2. This coating film imparts functions such as abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, heat resistance, slip resistance, and dust resistance to the floor surface 2. Examples of floor surfaces 2 include concrete floors in warehouses, factories, kitchens, etc.

[0020] As the coating material 3, various types of paint can be used without any particular restrictions, and paints that have been conventionally used as floor paints are preferably used. The paint used as the coating material 3 is prepared by appropriately selecting and blending resin components, inorganic color pigments, organic color pigments, extender pigments, fillers, aggregates, and other additives (plasticizers, hardening accelerators, pigment dispersants, wetting agents, antifoaming agents, anti-precipitation agents, surface conditioners, rheology control agents, etc.).

[0021] The viscosity of the coating material 3, measured at 23°C using a Brookfield viscometer (a B-type viscometer), is preferably 5 Pa·s or higher, and more preferably 10 Pa·s or higher. It can also be used with mortar materials with low fluidity that contain a large amount of filler or aggregate. Even when using a coating material 3 with such a viscosity, it is less susceptible to the effects of viscosity and can be applied stably to the target application width A and application thickness B.

[0022] The storage section 4 is a container for storing the coating material 3, and is composed of a lower section 41 in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped container and an upper section 42 in the shape of a truncated quadrangular pyramid that narrows at the bottom. The upper section 42 is shaped like a hopper. A coating material supply port 5 is provided at the lower end of the lower section 41. 2, the coating material supply port 5 is composed of a lower opening 51 that opens directly toward the floor surface 2 at the lower end of the lower part 41, and a rear opening 52 that is connected to the lower opening 51 and is provided on the rear surface (rear part 41a) of the storage part 4 in the traveling direction X. In other words, the lower opening 51 and the rear opening 52 are connected to each other to form the coating material supply port 5 as a whole.

[0023] The rear opening 52 is a substantially rectangular opening that is provided in the widthwise center of the back surface portion 41a. As shown in FIG. 3, the rear opening 52 has an opening width C and an opening height D. The opening width C is narrower than the target construction width A. The opening height D is greater than the target construction thickness B, and is preferably 1.2 to 3.5 times the construction thickness B, and more preferably 1.5 to 3.0 times the construction thickness B. Even if the back surface portion 41a is at an angle to the floor surface 2, the opening height D refers to the actual height from the floor surface 2 to the top of the rear opening 52.

[0024] The opening area E (C x D) of the rear opening 52 is set so that the value (E / F) obtained by dividing the opening area E (C x D) by the target cross-sectional area F (A x B) in the direction perpendicular to the direction of travel X of the coating material 3 when it is applied to the floor surface 2 to achieve the target application width A and application thickness B is 1.0 or more and 2.0 or less. It is preferable that this value (E / F) is 1.0 or more and 1.7 or less.

[0025] The lower opening 51 is in a state where the bottom of the lower portion 41 is substantially removed, and in particular, the opening length G in the traveling direction X is the same as the length of the bottom of the lower portion 41. This opening length G may be shorter than the length of the bottom of the lower portion 41. Even if the opening length G is very short, the effects of the present invention can be expected depending on the length, but to fully exert the effects of the present invention, specifically, it is preferably 3 cm or more, more preferably 5 cm or more, and even more preferably 8 cm or more.

[0026] On the other hand, if the opening length G is too long, the coating device 1 will move slowly and the coating work will become hard work, but there is no limit to the opening length G as long as it is within a range that does not impose too much strain on the coating work. The strain on the coating work is greatly affected by the viscosity of the coating material 3, the opening width C, the opening height D, etc., so it is not possible to generalize about the upper limit or appropriate value of the opening length G. An appropriate value should be determined each time.

[0027] The opening width H of the lower opening 51 in the direction (width direction) perpendicular to the traveling direction X is the same as the width of the bottom of the lower portion 41, and is the same as the target construction width A (also the same as the distance between a pair of side plates 62, 62, which will be described later). This opening width H is preferably set to the target construction width A as an upper limit and to be equal to or larger than the opening width C of the rear opening 52. When the opening width H is made narrower than the width of the bottom of the lower portion 41, it is sufficient to leave both sides of the bottom of the lower portion 41 open.

[0028] As described above, since the coating material supply port 5 has the lower opening 51 and the rear opening 52, the coating material 3 stored in the storage unit 4 is supplied directly to the floor surface 2 from the lower opening 51 by its own weight, and when the coating device 1 moves in the traveling direction X, the thickness (height) and width of the coating material 3 supplied to the floor surface 2 are regulated by the opening width C and opening height D of the rear opening 52. Therefore, the coating material 3 stored in the storage unit 4 passes smoothly through the coating material supply port 5 and is supplied with an appropriate thickness (height) and width.

[0029] The leveling means 6 is disposed rearward of the storage section 4 (more specifically, the coating material supply port 5), and is provided for the purpose of leveling at least the surface of the coating material 3 supplied to the floor surface 2. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the leveling means 6 includes a leveling plate 61 having a leveling surface 61a that spreads the coating material 3 over the floor surface 2, and a pair of side plates 62, 62 provided on both sides of the leveling plate 61 in the width direction.

[0030] The leveling plate 61 is a plate-like member that is elongated in the width direction and is bent halfway (at a bent portion 61f) in the short side direction (travel direction X). As shown in FIG. 2, the leveling plate 61 has a leveling surface 61a that slopes downward toward the rear of the travel direction (direction of arrow Y), and a flat high inclined surface 61b that is connected to the end (bent portion 61f) of the leveling surface 61a on the front side in the travel direction X and slopes upward and toward the rear side in the travel direction X. In this embodiment, the end of the high inclined surface 61b opposite the bent portion 61f is the highest position from the floor surface 2 (this position is referred to as the "upper end portion 61x").

[0031] The leveling plate 61 is arranged such that a bent portion f, which corresponds to the front end in the traveling direction X, is spaced apart from the rear opening 52 (coating material supply port 5). An upper end 61x of the leveling plate 61 is arranged at a position higher than the opening height D of the rear opening 52. Furthermore, a rear end 61y of the leveling surface 61a is arranged so that the height from the rear end 61y to the floor surface 2 is the same as the target application thickness B.

[0032] The pair of side plates 62, 62 are plate-shaped members perpendicular to the floor surface 2, and are provided standing parallel to the traveling direction X from both widthwise ends of the lower part of the storage section 4 toward the rear side in the traveling direction X. The pair of side plates 62, 62 have a base portion near the back surface portion 41a formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape, and the upper edge thereof slopes downward as it moves toward the rear in the traveling direction Y. The distance between the pair of side plates 62, 62 is formed to be the same as the target construction width A. The leveling plate 61 is suspended between the pair of side plates 62, 62.

[0033] The handle 7 is used to operate the coating device 1, and the coating device 1 can be manually guided in the traveling direction X by holding the handle 7.

[0034] Next, an example of the operation of the coating apparatus 1 described above will be described with reference to FIGS. When the previously prepared uncured coating material 3 is placed in the storage section 4, the coating material 3 begins to flow out of the coating material supply port 5 at the bottom of the storage section 4 (Fig. 3). At this time, the coating material 3 first flows out from the lower opening 51 and blends with the floor surface 2, and as the coating device 1 advances in the traveling direction X, the thickness and width of the coating material 3 are regulated and the coating material 3 is supplied to the floor surface 2 from the rear opening 52.

[0035] The amount of coating material 3 supplied to the floor surface 2 is necessary and sufficient to apply the coating material 3 to the target application width A and application thickness B. The supplied coating material 3 flows into the area surrounded by the leveling surface 61a and the pair of side plates 62, 62, and spreads over the floor surface 2. When the handle 7 is held and the coating device 1 is advanced in the traveling direction X, the leveling plate 61 also advances in the traveling direction X, and the leveling plate 61 spreads and levels the coating material 3 over the floor surface 2. In addition, the pair of side plates 62, 62 restrict the coating material 3 from spreading in the width direction, and the coating material 3 is formed to the target application width A. The applied coating material 3 is hardened by a hardening means such as drying, and a coating film with predetermined functions is formed on the floor surface 2, completing the painting application.

[0036] In the coating device 1 according to this embodiment, the opening of the rear opening 52 is formed with an opening width C and an opening height D, with the opening width C being narrower than the target application width A and the opening height D being higher than the target application thickness B. In addition, the value (E / F) obtained by dividing the opening area E (C×D) of the rear opening 52 by the cross-sectional area F (A×B) of the coating material 3 applied to the floor surface 2 is 1.0 or more and 2.0 or less.

[0037] With this configuration, even when the viscosity of the coating material 3 is high, the coating material 3 easily flows out of the coating material supply port 5 under its own weight, and a sufficient amount of coating material 3 for coating at the target application width A and application thickness B can be stably flowed out of the coating material supply port 5 under its own weight. If the value (E / F) is less than 1.0, the amount of coating material 3 flowing out of the coating material supply port 5 will be less than the amount required for coating at the specified application width A and application thickness B. On the other hand, if the value (E / F) exceeds 2.0, the amount of coating material 3 supplied will be excessive for the target application width A and application thickness B, and there is a possibility that the coating material 3 will overflow from the leveling means 6.

[0038] The concepts (definitions) of the opening width C, opening height D, and opening area E (C×D) when the rear opening 52a of the coating material supply port 5 in the storage unit 4 is divided into multiple openings will be described with reference to Fig. 4. For example, when the rear opening 52a is divided into three openings as shown in Fig. 4, the total value (C1+C2+C3) of the opening width C1, opening width C2, and opening width C3 of each opening of the rear opening 52a is defined as the opening width C. Furthermore, the height from the upper side to the lower side is defined as the opening height D. Furthermore, the total of the three opening areas of the rear opening 52a is defined as the opening area E.

[0039] In the coating device 1 according to this embodiment, the leveling surface 61a of the leveling means 6, which is provided rearward of the coating material supply port 5, is provided so as to slope downward as it moves rearward in the traveling direction X (direction of arrow Y). With this configuration, by moving the coating device 1 in the traveling direction X, the coating material 3 supplied from the coating material supply port 5 to the floor surface 2 can be evenly spread and flattened so that the leveling surface 61a reaches the target application thickness B.

[0040] Furthermore, in the coating device 1 according to this embodiment, the leveling means 6 includes a pair of side plates 62, 62 provided on both sides of the leveling plate 61 in the width direction, and the distance between the pair of side plates 62, 62 is formed to be the same as the target application width A. With this configuration, when the coating material 3 supplied from the coating material supply port 5 is spread by the leveling means 6, it is possible to prevent the coating material 3 from spreading outward from the pair of side plates 62, 62, and to coat the coating material 3 to the target application width A. Furthermore, the edges of the coating material 3 in the width direction after application can be formed straight without waving or meandering.

[0041] In this embodiment, the supply amount of coating material 3 is close to the amount appropriate for achieving a coating finish with the target application width A and application thickness B, so even if side plates 62 were not present, the coating material would be leveled by the leveling surface 61a and spread to a width close to the target application width A. Therefore, the coating device 1 according to this embodiment is less susceptible to the effect of the viscosity of the coating material 3, and even with a small number of people, the coating material 3 can be stably applied to achieve the target application width A and application thickness B.

[0042] Furthermore, in the coating device 1 according to this embodiment, the opening height D is set higher than the target application thickness B, and is set to be 1.2 to 3.5 times the application thickness B. This configuration makes it less susceptible to the influence of the viscosity of the coating material 3, and enables the coating material 3 to be applied more stably to the target application width A and application thickness B. When the opening height D is 1.2 times the target application thickness B or more, even when the viscosity of the coating material 3 is high, the coating material 3 easily flows out of the lower opening 51 due to its own weight, and the coating material 3 can be applied more stably to the target application width A and application thickness B. When the opening height D is 3.5 times the target application thickness B or less, the coating material 3 does not overflow from the coating material supply port 5, and the coating material 3 can be applied more stably to the target application width A and application thickness B.

[0043] In the coating device 1 according to this embodiment, the upper end 61x of the leveling plate 61 is positioned higher than the opening of the coating material supply port 5. With this configuration, the leveling means 6 can prevent the coating material 3 supplied from the coating material supply port 5 from exceeding the leveling plate 61. In addition, the height from the floor surface 2 to the rear end 61y of the leveling surface 61a of the leveling plate 61 is arranged to be the same as the target application thickness B. With this configuration, the leveling means 6 can apply the coating material 3 to the target application thickness B.

[0044] In addition, the upper part 42 of the storage section 4 is shaped like a hopper. With this configuration, the upper opening for adding the coating material 3 is wide, making it easy to add the coating material 3, and the coating material 3 tends to collect at the bottom of the storage section 4 and flow out of the coating material supply port 5.

[0045] The coating device 1 according to this embodiment is advanced by manual pulling. With this configuration, the operator can determine the coating state of the coating material 3 applied to the floor surface 2 and adjust the speed and direction of advancement.

[0046] The above-described embodiment merely shows a typical form of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. That is, a person skilled in the art can implement various modifications in accordance with conventionally known knowledge without departing from the gist of the present invention. As long as such modifications still have the configuration of the coating device of the present invention, they are of course included in the scope of the present invention.

[0047] For example, in the above embodiment, the shape of the opening of the rear opening 52 is one or three rectangles, but it is not limited to this as long as it is a shape that allows the applying material 3 to easily flow out. For example, it may be a semi-elliptical shape as shown in Fig. 5, or a triangular shape as shown in Fig. 6.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 5, when the rear opening 52b has a plurality of semi-elliptical openings, the sum of the maximum widthwise lengths C1, C2, and C3 of the respective openings when the rear portion 41a is viewed from the front (in the example of FIG. 5, the distance between the intersections of each elliptical arc and the lower side of the rear portion 41a) of the respective openings is defined as the opening width C. The height from the highest point (top) of the elliptical arc of each opening to the lower side of the rear portion 41a is defined as the opening height D. If the openings have different sizes or shapes, the height at the highest point is defined as the opening height D. The sum of the opening areas of the three semi-elliptical openings of the rear opening 52b is defined as the opening area E.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 6, when the rear opening 52c has multiple triangular openings, the sum of the maximum widthwise lengths C1, C2, and C3 of the respective openings when viewed from the front of the rear portion 41a (in the example of FIG. 6, the distance between the left and right vertices of each triangle) of the respective openings is defined as the opening width C. The height from the upper vertex of the triangle of each opening to the position of the lower side of the rear portion 41a is defined as the opening height D. Note that when the openings have different sizes or shapes, the height at the highest position is defined as the opening height D. The sum of the areas of the three triangular openings of the rear opening 52c is defined as the opening area E.

[0050] In the above embodiment, the leveling means 6 is configured to include a pair of side plates 62, 62 provided on both sides of the leveling plate 61 in the width direction, but this is not limited to this, and the leveling means 6 may not include the pair of side plates 62, 62, or may include only one of the side plates 62 instead of a pair. Furthermore, the distance between the pair of side plates 62, 62 does not have to be the same as the target construction width A, and may be wider than the target construction width A.

[0051] In addition, in the above embodiment, the leveling plate 61 is configured such that the front end portion (bent portion 61f) in the traveling direction X is arranged with a gap between it and the storage portion 4, but this is not limited to this, and the leveling plate 61 may be abutted against the storage portion 4 without leaving a gap, or both may be fixed together.

[0052] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the leveling means 6 is configured to consist of a leveling plate 61 having a leveling surface 61a and a high inclined surface 61b, but is not limited to this as long as it has a leveling surface 61a that slopes downward as it moves rearward in the traveling direction X and can spread the coating material 3 supplied to the surface to be coated (floor surface 2).

[0053] Other aspects of the leveling means 6 will be described below with reference to several modified examples. Figure 7 shows various modified examples of the leveling means in the coating apparatus of the present invention, along with the leveling means of the examples, in relation to the surface to be coated. In Figure 7, (A) is a vertical cross-sectional view of a leveling plate 61, which is the leveling means in the above embodiment, taken in the same direction as Figure 2, and (B) to (L) are the same vertical cross-sectional views of modified examples of the leveling means. In all of these figures, the right-hand direction in the drawing corresponds to the direction of travel X of the coating apparatus.

[0054] 7(A) to 7(L), the lowest horizontal line represents the surface to be coated (floor surface). In addition, in each of Figures 7(A) to 7(L), the surface corresponding to the leveling surface is designated as "leveling surface 61a," the surface corresponding to the high inclined surface is designated as "high inclined surface 61b," other surfaces are designated as "other surfaces 61c," and the highest point on the leveling means is designated as upper end portion 61x.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 7(A), the above embodiment has a leveling surface 61a and a high inclined surface 61b, but in the present invention, the high inclined surface 61b is not an essential component of the leveling means, and it is sufficient to have the leveling surface 61a. 7(B) shows a configuration consisting of only the leveling surface 61a. In this case, the end of the leveling surface 61a that is farther from the surface to be coated (the end of the leveling surface 61a that is forward in the direction of travel) becomes the upper end 61x. As described in the embodiment, it is desirable that the height of this upper end 61x be higher than the opening height D of the rear opening 52 (this also applies to the following examples, so description will be omitted hereinafter).

[0056] However, as shown in Fig. 7(B), in the case of a configuration having only the leveling surface 61a, if the height of the upper end portion 61x is to be made sufficiently high, the length of the leveling means in the direction of travel X becomes long, which leads to an increase in the size of the coating device and makes it difficult to handle. Therefore, it is preferable to have a high inclined surface 61b as shown in Fig. 7(A).

[0057] As shown in Fig. 7(C), the high inclined surface 61b may be configured to be inclined toward the front side in the traveling direction X. In this case, the end of the high inclined surface 61b opposite the leveling surface 61a becomes the upper end 61x. The configuration shown in Fig. 7(A) according to the above embodiment is preferable in that the volume of the area (between the rear surface 41a of the storage unit 4 and the leveling means 6) where the Applying Material 3 accumulates before being spread by the leveling means 6 when it is supplied to the surface to be applied (floor surface 2) and spread thereon is larger.

[0058] In addition, the "highly inclined surface" in the present invention means a surface that forms a larger angle with the surface to be coated (floor surface 2) than the leveling surface 61a, and includes cases where the surface is inclined either forward or backward in the traveling direction X, as in the above embodiment and the example shown in Figure 7c.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 7(D), the other surface 61c may be flat and connected to the high inclined surface 61b. In this example, the other surface 61c is horizontal (parallel to the surface to be coated). In this case, the entire other surface 61c becomes the upper end portion 61x. The angle of the other surface 61c is not limited to being horizontal, and it may be inclined upward or downward toward the end opposite the high inclined surface 61b. When the other surface 61c is inclined upward, the end opposite the high inclined surface 61b becomes the upper end portion 61x, and when the other surface 61c is inclined downward, the end (bent portion) on the high inclined surface 61b side becomes the upper end portion 61x.

[0060] 7(E), the other surface 61c may have an end opposite to the highly inclined surface 61b inclined in the opposite direction to the traveling direction X. That is, in this case, the other surface 61c is bent back from the highly inclined surface 61b. In this case, the end (bent portion) on the highly inclined surface 61b side becomes the upper end 61x.

[0061] The other surface 61c is not limited to a flat surface, but may be curved as shown in Figures 7(F) and 7(G). In Figure 7(F), the other surface 61c is curved so that it gradually approaches an angle parallel to the surface to be coated, while in Figure 7(G), it is curved so that it gradually approaches an angle perpendicular to the surface to be coated. In both Figures 7(F) and 7(G), the end opposite the highly inclined surface 61b is the upper end 61x.

[0062] As shown in Fig. 7(H), the high inclined surface 61b may be curved. Also, as shown in Fig. 7(I), the end of the curved high inclined surface 61b opposite the leveling surface 61a may be shaped to describe an arc extending in a direction opposite to the traveling direction X. In both cases of Fig. 7(H) and Fig. 7(I), the end of the high inclined surface 61b opposite the leveling surface 61a becomes the upper end 61x.

[0063] 7(J), the end of the curved highly inclined surface 61b opposite the leveling surface 61a may be shaped to describe an arc that wraps around toward the surface to be coated. In this case, the position on the arc of the highly inclined surface 61b that is farthest from the surface to be coated is the upper end 61x.

[0064] As shown in Fig. 7(K), the structure may have another curved surface 61c continuing from the curved highly inclined surface 61b. In this case, the end opposite to the highly inclined surface 61b becomes the upper end 61x. In the example of Fig. 7(K), the other surface 61c continuing from the curved highly inclined surface 61b is curved, but the other surface 61c may be flat.

[0065] 7(L), another surface 61c may be connected to the highly inclined surface 61b, and another surface 61c may be connected to the other surface 61c, i.e., two other surfaces 61c may be connected. In this case, the end of the other surface 61c that is not directly connected to the highly inclined surface 61b, opposite to the highly inclined surface 61b, becomes the upper end 61x. 7(L) shows an example in which the highly inclined surface 61b and the two other surfaces 61c, 61c are all flat, but it is optional whether one is flat or curved. Also, the number of other surfaces 61c is not limited to one or two, and three or more may be connected together.

[0066] In the above embodiment, the coating material 3 is configured to form a coating film and impart functions such as abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, heat resistance, slip resistance, and dust resistance to the floor surface 2, but is not limited to this and may also impart functions other than those mentioned above.

[0067] In the above embodiment, the storage unit 4 has a hopper shape formed by turning upside down a roughly square pyramid whose tip is cut off at a plane roughly parallel to the bottom, but this is not limited to this. For example, the storage unit 4 may not have a hopper shape on the outside but may have a hopper shape inside, or may not have a hopper shape at all. Furthermore, the storage unit 4 does not have to be roughly square pyramid-shaped, and may have a triangular pyramid shape, a cone shape, a square prism shape, a triangular prism shape, or the like.

[0068] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the coating device 1 is configured to include a handle 7, but this is not limited to this and the coating device 1 may not include a handle 7. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the coating device 1 is configured to be moved by hand, but this is not limited to this and the coating device 1 may be configured to be self-propelled by being provided with a drive source such as a motor and wheels, for example.

[0069] In the above embodiment, the coating material supply port 5 is exemplified as one having a predetermined opening formed therein, but in the present invention, the coating material supply port 5 may be provided with a sliding or detachable cover for the purpose of sealing, or for the purpose of adjusting the size of the opening, or for both purposes.

[0070] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the coating target of the coating device 1 is the floor surface 2, but the coating may be applied to a surface other than the floor surface 2. For example, a plate-shaped member may be placed on the floor surface 2 and the coating material 3 may be applied to the surface of the plate-shaped member, or the coating material may be applied to a road, or to a flat roof or other building. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 1...applicator, 2...floor surface (surface to be coated), 3...coating material, 4...storage section, 41...lower portion, 41a...back portion, 42...upper portion, 5...coating material supply port, 51...lower opening, 52, 52a, 52b, 52c...rear opening, 6...leveling means, 61...leveling plate, 61a...leveling surface, 61b...high inclined surface, 61f...bending portion, 61x...upper end, 61y...rear end, 62...side plate, 7...handle, A...application width, B...application thickness, C...opening width (rear opening 52), D...opening height, E...opening area, F...cross-sectional area, G...opening length, H...opening width (lower opening 51)

Claims

1. A coating device that applies a coating material to a surface to be coated while moving in a predetermined direction on the surface to be coated so that the target application width A and the target application thickness B are achieved, The coating material is a coating device used when coating using a paint having a viscosity of 5 Pa s or more in the coating environment, A storage section that stores the coating material and has at least one coating material supply port for supplying the coating material to the surface to be coated; and a leveling means arranged behind the storage section in the traveling direction and leveling at least the surface of the coating material supplied to the coating surface, The leveling means has a leveling surface that inclines downward at a constant angle toward the rear in the traveling direction, and whose height from the surface to be coated at the end on the rear side in the traveling direction is equal to the application thickness B, and a pair of side plates provided on both ends of the leveling surface in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction, the leveling means has a high inclined surface that is continuous with an end portion of the leveling surface on the front side in the traveling direction and is inclined upward in a flat or curved shape, The coating material supply port comprises a lower opening at the lower end of the storage section that opens directly toward the surface to be coated, and a rear opening that is connected to the lower opening and is provided on a surface of the storage section at the rear in the traveling direction, The height of the highest point on the high inclined surface or one or more other flat or curved surfaces successively connected to the high inclined surface is higher than the opening height D of the rear opening, A coating device characterized in that the distance between the pair of side plates is equal to the application width A.

2. 2. The coating device according to claim 1, wherein an opening width C of the rear opening is narrower than the application width A.

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