Coating apparatus and coating method

Abstract

To provide an application device which can apply paint to a rising part while suppressing a cost.SOLUTION: An application device 1 for applying paint to a road surface 50 or floor surface by a spray gun 3 comprises: a carriage 10 which includes wheels 11, 12 and can travel; a laterally-reciprocating mechanism 20 which is provided in the carriage and has a slider part 23 that can reciprocate in the width direction of the carriage; a shaking head 30a which is provided in the slider part and can perform the shaking operation to the further outer side from an operation end of the laterally-reciprocating mechanism; a spray gun which is provided in the shaking head; and a control unit 4 which controls at least the operation of the laterally-reciprocating mechanism. The application device can apply paint to not only a road surface or floor surface but also a rising part 51 of a side surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a coating device for applying paint to a road surface such as a road base or a floor surface such as a building rooftop using a spray gun.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for the purpose of facilitating transportation of the device by making it smaller during non-operation and applying a wider range than the width of the device during operation, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-000964 discloses a waterproof layer coating device disposed on a carriage and comprising an articulated robot operable over a wider range than the width of the carriage and a spray gun disposed at the tip of the manipulator of the articulated robot. Further, this waterproof layer coating device can also apply to vertical portions such as wall surfaces simultaneously with the road surface or the like.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the device disclosed in Patent Document 1, since an articulated robot is used, the device tends to be expensive. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a coating device that can apply to vertical portions while suppressing the cost of the device by adopting a left-right reciprocating mechanism instead of an articulated robot.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The coating device of the present invention is a coating device for applying paint to a road surface or a floor surface using a spray gun, comprising a carriage provided with wheels and capable of traveling, A left-right reciprocating mechanism provided on the trolley and equipped with a slider portion that can reciprocate in the width direction of the trolley, A swivel head is provided on the slider portion and is capable of swiveling outward from the operating end of the left-right reciprocating mechanism, A spray gun provided on the aforementioned swivel head, It comprises at least a control unit that controls the operation of the left and right reciprocating mechanism, A key feature is that it can be applied not only to the road surface or floor surface, but also to the raised sections on the sides.

[0006] According to the coating apparatus of the present invention, since the swivel head swivels outward, paint can be applied simultaneously to the raised edges of floorboards and side walls. Furthermore, the swivel head is provided on the slider part of the left-right reciprocating mechanism, allowing for a relatively simple configuration and offering cost advantages.

[0007] A preferred example of the coating apparatus of the present invention is: The swivel head is provided with a pivot shaft that supports it above the center of gravity of the swivel head, When the oscillating head reaches the operating end of the left-right reciprocating mechanism, it performs an oscillating motion due to its inertia.

[0008] According to a preferred example of the coating apparatus of the present invention, the swivel head performs a swivel motion due to its inertia, which allows for a simpler configuration of the apparatus.

[0009] A preferred example of the coating apparatus of the present invention is: The system includes an angle regulating unit that allows for adjustment of the angle of the swivel motion of the swivel head.

[0010] According to a preferred example of the coating apparatus of the present invention, the inclusion of an angle regulating unit prevents coating of unwanted areas in the rising portion. Furthermore, even when the rising portion is present on only one side, the angle regulating unit allows the device to swivel only on the side with the rising portion.

[0011] A preferred example of the coating apparatus of the present invention is: The slider section and the swivel head are equipped with a spring that is attached to the swivel head, thereby preventing the swivel head from oscillating at locations other than the operating end of the left-right reciprocating mechanism.

[0012] A preferred example of the coating apparatus of the present invention is: The device includes a damper attached to the slider and the swivel head, which prevents the swivel head from oscillating at locations other than the operating ends of the left-right reciprocating mechanism.

[0013] A preferred example of the coating apparatus of the present invention is: The damper is a fluid cylinder, One end of the fluid cylinder is rotatably supported on the slider, and the other end is rotatably supported on the swivel head.

[0014] A preferred example of the coating apparatus of the present invention is: The damper is a fluid cylinder, The fluid cylinder is mounted on a vertical line passing through the pivot axis with its axis oriented vertically, and one end of the fluid cylinder is rotatably supported on the slider portion, while the other end is rotatably supported on the swivel head.

[0015] A preferred example of the coating apparatus of the present invention is: The fluid cylinder is equipped with a speed adjustment mechanism for adjusting the extension and retraction speed of the piston rod, The aforementioned speed adjustment mechanism An outlet and an inlet are provided on the base end and tip end sides of the cylinder portion of the fluid cylinder, An extension pipe connecting the outlet at the tip and the inlet at the base, An extension side control valve for adjusting the flow rate of the extension side piping and A retractable pipe connecting the outlet on the base end and the inlet on the tip end, The system includes a retraction-side control valve for adjusting the flow rate of the aforementioned retraction-side piping.

[0016] According to a preferred example of the coating apparatus of the present invention, since the swinging head does not perform an extra swinging operation at a position other than the operating end of the left-right reciprocating mechanism, uneven coating of the paint is reduced and the film thickness becomes stable.

[0017] A preferred example of the coating apparatus of the present invention is A weight is provided on the swinging head at a predetermined distance downward from the rotation axis, and the swinging operation and return speed of the swinging head are adjusted by the distance between the rotation axis and the weight and / or the weight of the weight.

[0018] According to a preferred example of the coating apparatus of the present invention, the speed and the like of the swinging operation of the swinging head can be adjusted to an arbitrary state by the weight.

[0019] A preferred example of the coating apparatus of the present invention is When the swinging head is in the neutral position, it includes a temporary holding portion that holds the swinging head with a force weaker than the inertial force when the swinging head reaches the operating end of the left-right reciprocating mechanism.

[0020] According to a preferred example of the swinging head of the present invention, the extra movement of the swinging head in the neutral position is suppressed by the temporary holding portion, and unevenness of the film thickness and the like are eliminated.

[0021] A preferred example of the coating apparatus of the present invention is a rotation axis that pivotally supports the swinging head, and a head actuator for causing the swinging head to perform a swinging operation, and when the slider portion reaches the operating end, the head actuator is operated to cause the swinging head to perform a swinging operation.

[0022] According to a preferred example of the coating apparatus of the present invention, since the swinging operation of the swinging head is performed by the head actuator, the swinging operation can be performed accurately and at an arbitrary timing.

[0023] The coating method of the present invention is a coating method using the coating apparatus according to the above invention, While the aforementioned trolley is in motion, The first horizontal coating step involves the slider moving toward the operating end while spraying paint from the spray gun onto the road surface or floor surface. A vertical coating process in which, when the slider reaches the end of its movement, the swivel head swivels outward to coat the rising portion, The process includes a second horizontal coating step in which, before the completion of the vertical coating step, the slider is moved to the opposite end of the operating mechanism, and the swivel head is gradually returned to the neutral position while coating the road or floor surface. The method is characterized by repeating the vertical coating step and the second horizontal coating step.

[0024] A preferred example of the coating method of the present invention is: The movement speed of the slider is reduced before the slider reaches the end of its movement to initiate the oscillating motion of the swivel head.

[0025] The coating method of the present invention is A coating method using the coating apparatus according to the above invention, While the aforementioned trolley is in motion, The first horizontal coating step involves the slider moving toward the operating end of the left-right reciprocating mechanism while spraying paint from the spray gun onto the road surface or floor surface. A vertical coating process in which, when the slider reaches the operating end, the head actuator causes the swivel head to swivel outwards to coat the rising portion, The process includes a second horizontal coating step in which, before the completion of the vertical coating step, the slider is moved toward the opposite operating end, and the swivel head is gradually returned to the neutral position while coating the road or floor surface. The method is characterized by repeating the vertical coating step and the second horizontal coating step.

[0026] A preferred example of the coating method of the present invention is: The oscillating motion of the swivel head is started before the slider part reaches the end of its movement.

[0027] These coating methods of the present invention can achieve the same effects as the coating apparatus described above. Furthermore, by moving to the second horizontal coating step without waiting for the vertical coating step to be completed, and by returning the swivel head to the neutral position while coating the road or floor surface, the film thickness of the rising portion can be adjusted, and abrupt changes in film thickness on the road or floor surface can be suppressed. Moreover, a configuration in which the swivel head oscillates before the slider reaches its operating end can also achieve the same effects. [Effects of the Invention]

[0028] As described above, the coating apparatus and coating method of the present invention make it possible to coat even the rising portion while keeping the cost of the apparatus down. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0029] [Figure 1] This is a front view of a coating apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a plan view of the coating apparatus. [Figure 3] This is a side view of the coating device. [Figure 4] This is a diagram illustrating the area around the swivel head. [Figure 5] This is another diagram illustrating the area around the swivel head. [Figure 6] This is another diagram illustrating the area around the swivel head. [Figure 7] This is another diagram illustrating the area around the swivel head. [Figure 8] This is another diagram illustrating the area around the swivel head. [Figure 9] This is another diagram illustrating the area around the swivel head. [Figure 10] This is another diagram illustrating the area around the swivel head. [Figure 11] This figure illustrates a coating method according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] This is another diagram illustrating the application method. [Figure 13] This is another diagram illustrating the application method. [Figure 14] This is another diagram illustrating the application method. [Figure 15] This is another diagram illustrating the application method. [Figure 16] This is another diagram illustrating the application method. [Figure 17] This figure illustrates a coating method according to another embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0030] Hereinafter, embodiments of the coating apparatus 1 and coating method of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The coating method of this embodiment will be carried out using the coating apparatus 1 according to this embodiment.

[0031] An embodiment of the coating apparatus 1 will be described first with reference to Figures 1 to 4. In this embodiment, the coating apparatus 1 receives a two-component mixed paint consisting of a main agent and a hardener from a pressure feeding device (not shown) through a hose 2, and applies it by spraying it from a spray gun 3 onto the road surface 50 or floor surface and the rising portion 51 (see Figure 11). This paint also contains liquid agents such as waterproofing agents. The hose 2 that supplies the paint to the spray gun 3 is shown only in Figure 1, and is omitted in other figures for clarity. The coating apparatus 1 in this embodiment comprises a trolley 10, a left-right reciprocating mechanism 20, a swivel head 30a, a spray gun 3, a control unit 4, and a splash prevention cover 5.

[0032] The trolley 10 is equipped with wheels and is configured to travel on the road surface 50 or the floor surface. In this embodiment, it is roughly home plate shaped in plan view. The trolley 10 has one front wheel 11 on the side facing the direction of travel and two rear wheels 12 near the left and right ends opposite to the direction of travel. A drive motor 13 and a steering handle 14 are attached to the front wheel 11, and the handle 14 is equipped with an accelerator and a brake (not shown). However, travel and steering can also be performed automatically by the control unit 4. A hose support section 15 for supporting the hose 2 is erected near the center of the trolley 10.

[0033] The left-right reciprocating mechanism 20 is provided on the rear upper surface of the trolley 10 and includes a slider section 23 that can reciprocate in the width (left-right) direction of the trolley 10. It also includes a drive unit 21 and a slide rail 22. The drive unit 21 provides power for the slider section 23 to move in the width direction. The drive unit 21 employs mechanisms such as a rack and pinion gear mechanism, or a mechanism that uses one or more sprockets stretched in the width direction of the trolley 10 and a chain attached to the sprockets (none of which are shown). As already mentioned, the slider section 23 is driven by the drive unit 21 and reciprocates in the width direction of the trolley 10. A slide base 24 is provided on this slider section 23. In this embodiment, an angle restricting section 32 (see Figure 5) and a spring 35 (see Figure 6), which will be described later, are attached to this slide base 24. Furthermore, the hose 2 is secured to the slider section 23 or slide base 24 midway to the spray gun 3, preventing the weight and resistance of the hose 2 from hindering the movement of the swivel head 30a. The slide rail 22 is a member that spans the width direction of the trolley 10, and the slider section 23 slides on it. The left-right reciprocating mechanism 20 is also provided with operating ends 25a and 25b, which consist of limit switches and the like. In this embodiment, the operating ends 25a and 25b are provided on the slide rail 22, and the range of motion of the slider section 23 can be adjusted by setting these operating ends 25a and 25b to any position.

[0034] Next, the swivel head 30a and its surroundings will be described with reference to Figures 4(A) to 4(C). Figure 4(A) is a plan view of the slider section 23 and the surroundings of the swivel head 30a, Figure 4(B) is a front view, and Figure 4(C) is a side view (the same applies to Figures 5 to 10). The swivel head 30a is provided on the slider section 23 and is capable of swiveling outward from the operating ends 25a and 25b of the left-right reciprocating mechanism 20. In order to realize this swiveling motion, in this embodiment, a pivot shaft 31 that pivots the swivel head 30a above its center of gravity is provided on both the slider section 23 and the swivel head 30a. This pivot shaft 31 is arranged horizontally and in a direction along the direction of travel of the trolley 10, and pivotally supports the swivel head 30a relative to the slider section 23 so that it can swing. Then, when the slider section 23 reaches the operating ends 25a and 25b of the slide rail 22, the swivel head 30a swivels outward due to its inertia. Note that whether the slide base 24 or the swivel head 30a is fixed to the pivot axis 31 and which is rotatable varies depending on the embodiment and can be selected.

[0035] Next, with reference to Figures 5(A) to (C), a swivel head 30b according to another embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the swivel head 30b is equipped with an angle restricting section 32 that adjusts and restricts the angle of its swivel motion. As this angle restricting section 32, for example, a stopper plate 33 can be provided on the back surface of the swivel head 30b, and a pair of restricting bolts 34 can be provided on the slide base 24, so that the angle of the swivel motion is restricted when the stopper plate 33 contacts the restricting bolts 34. In this case, the swivel motion range of the swivel head 30b can be adjusted by changing the protruding length of the restricting bolts 34. Furthermore, when the swivel head 30b is in the neutral position shown in Figure 5(B), the protruding length of only one of the restricting bolts 34 can be increased and brought into contact with the stopper plate 33, thereby allowing the swivel head 30b to swivel only to the left or right. Note that cushioning material such as rubber can also be provided on the wide surface of the stopper plate 33 and the tip of the restricting bolt 34.

[0036] Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in Figure 5(D), the other angle restricting part 132 is provided so that the swivel head 30b stops in a neutral position where it is vertical. The angle restricting part 132 is provided with a temporary holding part 139 that holds the swivel head 30b with a force weaker than the inertial force when the swivel head 30b reaches the operating end of the left-right reciprocating mechanism 20 when it is in the neutral position. In this embodiment, a magnet 139 is used as this temporary holding part 139. As a result, when the swivel head 30b is in the neutral position, the stopper plate 33 is attracted by the magnet 139, and the swivel head 30b does not move unnecessarily. When the swivel head 30b reaches the operating end of the left-right reciprocating mechanism 20, its inertial force causes it to shake off the attraction of the magnet 139 and swivel outwards. In addition to the magnet described above, other methods can be used as the temporary holding part 139, such as fitting a sphere that protrudes from the slide base 24 by a spring into a recess on the back of the stopper plate 33 (not shown). In this case, even if the angle regulating unit 32 is arranged as shown in Figure 5(B), the temporary holding unit 139 can hold the swivel head 30b in the neutral position.

[0037] Next, with reference to Figures 6(A) to (C), a swivel head 30c according to another embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, a spring 35 and / or damper 36 are attached to the swivel head 30c to suppress unnecessary swiveling motion of the swivel head 30c at locations other than the operating ends 25a and 25b of the left and right reciprocating mechanism 20. More specifically, a pair of springs 35 are provided on the left and right sides of the slide base 24, with one end attached near the left and right ends of the slide base 24 and the other end attached to the back of the swivel head 30c. The force of the pair of springs 35 pulling against each other attempts to keep the swivel head 30c in the neutral position shown in Figure 6(B). In this embodiment, a rotary damper 36 is used as the damper 36, and it is provided at the mounting portion between the pivot shaft 31 and the swivel head 30c. The resistance of the rotary damper 36 causes the swivel head 30c to quickly return to the neutral position. As an example of rotary damper installation, the actuator 40 shown in Figures 10(A) to (C) can also be replaced with a rotary damper.

[0038] Next, with reference to Figures 7(A) and 7(B), a swivel head 30f according to another embodiment will be described. Note that the side view (C) is omitted in this figure. In this embodiment, a fluid cylinder 60 is used as a damper in the swivel head 30f. One end of the fluid cylinder 60 is rotatably supported on the slider portion 23, and the other end is rotatably supported on the swivel head 30f. Specifically, the base end of the cylinder portion 61 of the fluid cylinder 60 is rotatably supported by a pin member 63 on a slide base 24f which has a roughly inverted L-shape when viewed from the front. Also, the tip end of the piston rod 62 is rotatably supported on the swivel head 30f by a pin member 64. With these configurations, when the spray gun 3 swings to the left in Figure 7(B) (arrow a), the fluid cylinder 60 extends, and when it swings to the right (arrow b), the fluid cylinder 60 retracts. The resistance of this fluid cylinder 60 suppresses the excessive swivel motion of the swivel head 30f.

[0039] Next, with reference to Figures 8(B) and 8(C), a swivel head 30g according to another embodiment will be described. Note that the plan view (A) is omitted in this figure. In this embodiment, a fluid cylinder 60 is used as a damper in the swivel head 30g. The fluid cylinder 60 is mounted on a vertical line passing through the pivot axis 31, with its axis perpendicular to the line. Furthermore, one end of the fluid cylinder 60 is rotatably supported on the slider portion 23, and the other end is rotatably supported on the swivel head 30g. Specifically, the base end of the cylinder portion 61 of the vertically positioned fluid cylinder 60 is rotatably supported on the upwardly extended slide base 24g by a pin member 65. Also, the tip end of the piston rod 62 is rotatably supported on the swivel head 30g by a pin member 66.

[0040] As described above, since the pivot shaft 31 and the two pin members 65 and 66 are arranged on a vertical line, when the swivel head 30g attempts to swing outward from the neutral position shown in Figure 8(B), the fluid cylinder 60 operates in the direction of extension on either the left or right side. On the other hand, when the swivel head 30g attempts to return to the neutral position from the outward swing position, the fluid cylinder 60 operates in the direction of contraction on either the left or right side. This allows the fluid cylinder 60 to operate under the same conditions regardless of which direction the swivel head 30g swings from side to side. This is because the fluid cylinder 60 has a rod attached to one side of the internal piston, and the area receiving hydraulic pressure is reduced by the amount of the rod, resulting in a difference in resistance between the extension and contraction sides. In this embodiment, therefore, it is not necessary to consider the difference between the extension and contraction sides of the fluid cylinder 60. Furthermore, to adjust the internal volume when the piston rod 62 moves in and out of the cylinder section 61, a gas chamber (not shown) may be provided in the cylinder section 61 or in the piping of the speed adjustment mechanism 70. Alternatively, the piston rod 62 may be provided on both sides of the piston (not shown) and protrude from the base end side of the cylinder section 61.

[0041] Furthermore, the swivel head 30g of this embodiment is equipped with a speed adjustment mechanism 70 for adjusting the extension and retraction speed of the piston rod 62 of the fluid cylinder 60. This speed adjustment mechanism 70 comprises two outlets 75, 76 and inlets 77, 78, an extension-side pipe 71, an extension-side adjustment valve 72, a retraction-side pipe 73, and a retraction-side adjustment valve 74. The outlets 75, 76 and inlets 77, 78 are holes through which fluid (oil) enters and exits the cylinder section 61, and are provided on the base end and tip end sides of the cylinder section 61, respectively. The extension-side pipe 71 is a pipe that returns oil flowing out from the outlet 75 on the tip side of the cylinder section 61 to the cylinder section 61 through the inlet 77 on the base end side when the piston rod 62 moves in the extension side (arrow c), and connects the outlet 75 on the tip side and the inlet 77 on the base end side. The extension side adjustment valve 72 adjusts the flow rate of oil through the extension side piping 71, and in this embodiment, it is installed in the middle of the extension side piping 71. By changing the opening degree of this extension side adjustment valve 72, the extension side movement of the piston rod 62 can be adjusted.

[0042] The retraction-side piping 73 is a pipe that returns oil flowing out from the outlet 76 on the base end of the cylinder section 61 to the cylinder section 61 through the inlet 78 on the tip end when the piston rod 62 moves in the retraction direction (arrow d), and connects the outlet 76 on the base end and the inlet 78 on the tip end. The retraction-side adjustment valve 74 adjusts the flow rate of oil flowing through the retraction-side piping 73, and in this embodiment, it is provided in the middle of the retraction-side piping 73. By changing the opening degree of this retraction-side adjustment valve 74, the retraction-side movement of the piston rod 62 can be adjusted. The speed adjustment mechanism 70 is equipped with check valves (not shown) on either the outlet 75, extension-side piping 71, extension-side adjustment valve 72, or inlet 77, and on either the outlet 76, retraction-side piping 73, retraction-side adjustment valve 74, or inlet 78, so that oil flows from the outlets 75, 76 towards the inlets 77, 78. Furthermore, both the extension-side adjustment valve 72 and the compression-side adjustment valve 74 can be installed at the outlet 75, 76 or the inlet 77, 78, rather than in the middle of the piping. In addition, the above-described speed adjustment mechanism 70 can also be used in the fluid cylinder 60 shown in Figure 7.

[0043] Next, with reference to Figures 9(A) to (C), a swivel head 30d according to another embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, a weight 38 is provided on the swivel head 30d at a predetermined distance below the pivot shaft 31. More specifically, the swivel head 30d is equipped with a suspension rod 37 hanging down from the back side of the swivel head 30d and a weight 38 provided below the suspension rod 37. The distance between the weight 38 and the pivot shaft 31, and the weight of the weight 38, can be set to arbitrary values. The swivel speed and return speed of the swivel operation of the swivel head 30d can be adjusted by the distance between the pivot shaft 31 and the weight 38 and / or the weight of the weight 38. This is because, theoretically, the period and return speed of the swivel operation are determined by the distance between the weight 38, including the suspension rod 37, and the pivot shaft 31, but in reality, they are affected by the resistance of the hose 2 connected to the spray gun 3 and the pivot shaft 31. Therefore, by making the weight 38 heavier, the effects of these resistances can be reduced. Note that the suspension rod 37 alone may be used in place of the weight 38. Furthermore, it is possible to use any combination of at least two of the embodiments shown in Figures 5 to 9.

[0044] Next, with reference to Figures 10(A) to (C), a swivel head 30e according to another embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the swivel head 30e is supported by a pivot shaft 31 and a head actuator 40 for causing the swivel head 30e to oscillate. As an example of this head actuator 40, a head actuator 40 equipped with an electric motor or the like is placed on top of the slider part 23, and the output shaft 43 of this actuator and the pivot shaft 31 are connected by a belt 41 and a pulley 42. When the slider part 23 reaches the operating ends 25a, 25b of the left and right reciprocating mechanism 20, or when the slider part 23 is at any position, the head actuator 40 is operated to cause the swivel head 30e to oscillate. In this embodiment, in order to cause the swivel head 30e to oscillate without relying on inertia, it is not necessary to place the pivot shaft 31 above the center of gravity of the swivel head 30e, and it is preferable that the pivot shaft 31 be near the center of gravity of the swivel head 30. Furthermore, in addition to the belt 41 and pulley 42 described above, known methods such as gears and linkage mechanisms can be used to drive the swivel head 30e, or the fluid cylinder 60 shown in Figures 7(A) and 7(B) can be replaced with a cylinder-type actuator. Moreover, the output shaft 43 can be used directly as the pivot shaft 31.

[0045] Returning to Figures 1 to 3, the spray gun 3 has its tip attached downwards to a swivel head 30a, and mixes the main agent and hardener supplied from the two hoses 2 inside the gun before spraying them onto the road surface 50, etc.

[0046] The control unit 4 is a programmable controller equipped with, for example, a CPU, memory, input / output circuits, or a contact sequencer, and controls the operation of the coating apparatus 1 in this embodiment. The controlled objects include, for example, the operation of the left and right reciprocating mechanism 20, the operation of the head actuator 40, and the operation of the spray gun 3. In this embodiment, the control unit 4 is placed on the trolley 10, but it may be installed in another location and connected to each component with control wires, power wires, etc.

[0047] The splash-proof cover 5 covers the operating range of the slider 23 and prevents paint from splashing. In this embodiment, the left and right sides are open so as not to interfere when applying paint to the raised portion 51 on the sides. Alternatively, the left and right sides of the splash-proof cover 5 can be made detachable.

[0048] Next, based on the components of the coating apparatus 1 described above, an embodiment of the coating method using the coating apparatus 1 will be explained with reference to Figures 11 to 17. Figures 11 to 17 show the configuration of the coating apparatus 1 in a partially abbreviated form to make the operation of the swivel head 30 easier to see. In the explanation of the coating method, the swivel head is denoted as (30) (as in the drawings).

[0049] The coating method of this embodiment is carried out using a coating apparatus 1 equipped with a swivel head 30 as shown in Figures 4 to 9, which does not have a head actuator 40, and includes a first horizontal coating step, a vertical coating step, and a second horizontal coating step. The first horizontal coating step is a step in which paint is sprayed from the spray gun 3 onto the road surface 50 or floor surface while the slider part 23 (swivel head 30) moves toward the operating ends 25a and 25b of the left and right reciprocating mechanism 20, as shown in Figure 11. In this figure, the swivel head 30 is shown moving toward the left operating end 25a.

[0050] Next, the vertical coating process will be explained. As shown in Figure 12, the swivel head 30 reaches the operating end 25a of the left-right reciprocating mechanism 20. Then, as shown in Figure 13, the swivel head 30 swivels outward due to the inertia from its previous movement. The paint is then applied to the rising portion 51.

[0051] Next, as the second horizontal coating step, before the vertical coating step shown in Figure 13 is completed, the slider part 23 is moved to the opposite operating end 25b. Then, as shown in Figure 14, the road surface 50 or floor surface is coated while the swivel head 30 is gradually returned to the neutral position by the acceleration of the slider part 23. At this time, the slider part 23 may be moved toward the opposite operating end 25b of the slide rail 22 immediately after the first horizontal coating step is completed, or the movement of the slider part 23 may be stopped temporarily and moved while the swivel head 30 is swiveling outwards. Alternatively, the slider part 23 may be moved toward the opposite operating end 25b at the moment the swivel head 30 swiveles to its furthest outward position. This is to prevent the swivel head 30 from swiveling outwards again (returning) if the slider 23 is moved toward the opposite operating end 25b while the swivel head 30 is returning to the neutral position after swiveling outwards. Thus, in the coating method of this embodiment, the vertical coating process and part of the second horizontal coating process are performed simultaneously.

[0052] Next, as the second horizontal coating process progresses, as shown in Figure 15, the swivel head 30 gradually returns to the neutral position while coating the road surface 50 or floor surface. As the second horizontal coating process progresses further, as shown in Figure 16, the swivel head 30 returns to the neutral position and continues to coat the road surface 50 or floor surface in that state. When the swivel head 30 reaches the right-hand operating end 25b shown in the figure, the vertical coating process and the second horizontal coating process can be repeated. Note that the swivel operation of the swivel head 30 and the vertical coating process may be performed on both sides of the operating ends 25a and 25b of the left and right reciprocating mechanism 20, or on only one side. The timing of the swivel head 30 returning to the neutral position may be anywhere during the second horizontal coating process, for example, at the end of the second horizontal coating process.

[0053] Furthermore, in other embodiments, as shown in Figures 6 to 8, if the return operation can be improved by using a spring or damper (fluid cylinder), or by suppressing the acceleration at the start of movement of the slider part 23, the slider part 23 may be moved toward the opposite operating end 25b when the swivel head 30 is returning to the neutral position after swiveling outwards. Alternatively, in the state shown in Figure 13, it is also possible to keep the slider part 23 stopped, wait until the swivel operation of the swivel head 30 is finished, and then move the slider part 23 toward the opposite operating end 25b of the slide rail 22 after the swivel head 30 has returned to the state shown in Figure 12.

[0054] In yet another embodiment, as shown in Figure 17, the movement speed of the slider 23 is reduced just before it reaches the left operating end 25a, and the inertia of the swivel head 30 at that time allows the swivel operation to begin even before the slider 23 reaches the operating end 25a. In this case, after the slider 23 reaches the operating end 25a, the operation described in Figure 13 and later is performed.

[0055] In this way, by stopping or decelerating the slider section 23 at the operating ends 25a and 25b, it is possible to adjust the film thickness of the rising section 51. For example, depending on the circumstances, if the slider section 23 is immediately reversed at the operating ends 25a and 25b, the film thickness of the rising section 51 and its vicinity will be reduced. On the other hand, by increasing the stopping time at the operating ends 25a and 25b, or by increasing the degree of deceleration, the film thickness of the rising section 51 and its vicinity will be increased. Furthermore, by adjusting the acceleration of the slider section 23 at the beginning of the second horizontal coating process shown in Figures 13 to 14, the return speed of the swivel head 30 can be adjusted, and the film thickness of the rising section 51 and its vicinity can be adjusted.

[0056] Next, an embodiment of the coating method using the swivel head 30e shown in Figure 10, which is equipped with a head actuator 40, will be described. The coating method of this embodiment basically operates the same as the coating method described above, but the swivel motion is performed by the head actuator 40 instead of by the inertia of the swivel head 30 due to the movement of the slider part 23. As a result, the swivel motion of the swivel head 30e does not depend on the speed of the slider part 23, and it is possible to increase or decrease the overall speed of the movement of the slider part 23. Furthermore, the timing for starting the second horizontal coating process can also be freely determined regardless of the position of the swivel head 30e. Also, when using the embodiment shown in Figure 17, it is no longer necessary to decelerate the slider part 23 before it reaches the operating end 25a. As a result, it is possible to adjust the film thickness of the coating area, including the rising portion 51 and its vicinity, more precisely.

[0057] As described above, the coating apparatus 1 of this embodiment allows for the simultaneous application of paint to the road surface 50 or floor surface as well as the side rising portion 51, despite its simple configuration. In particular, in the configuration in which the swivel heads 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d swivel using their inertia, the head actuator 40 is unnecessary, resulting in an even simpler configuration. Even in this case, the angle regulating part 32, spring 35, damper 36, fluid cylinder 60, speed adjustment mechanism 70, and weight 38 stabilize the swivel motion, making it possible to move at a desired angle and speed. Furthermore, the temporary holding part (magnet) 139 can keep the swivel head in a neutral position.

[0058] On the other hand, in a configuration equipped with a head actuator 40, the oscillating motion does not need to rely on the inertia of the oscillating head 30e. Therefore, the speed of the oscillating motion, the degree of deceleration near the operating ends 25a and 25b of the slider section 23, the time of the brief stop, and the timing of the return can be set and adjusted more precisely and at any desired speed and timing, making it easier to control the film thickness.

[0059] Furthermore, according to the coating method of this embodiment, a second horizontal coating step is performed in which the slider section 23 is folded back and moved during the vertical coating step. Therefore, when the swivel head 30 returns to the neutral position, the slider section 23 has already moved. As a result, the momentary stopping of the swivel head 30 when it returns to the neutral position does not occur, and unevenness in film thickness can be prevented.

[0060] Furthermore, in an embodiment in which the swivel head 30 oscillates before the slider section 23 reaches the operating ends 25a and 25b, even when the slider section 23 reaches the operating ends 25a and 25b, the swivel head 30 does not momentarily stop, and unevenness in film thickness can be prevented.

[0061] The coating apparatus and coating method described above are illustrative examples of the present invention, and their configurations can be appropriately modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, instead of the speed adjustment mechanism 70 with exposed piping as in this embodiment, a fluid cylinder with a built-in speed adjustment mechanism can be used. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1. Coating device, 2. Hose, 3. Spray gun, 4. Control unit, 5. Splash prevention cover. 10. Cart, 11. Front wheels, 12. Rear wheels, 13. Motor, 14. Handle, 15. Hose support, 20... Reciprocating mechanism (left and right), 21... Drive unit, 22... Slide rail, 23... Slider unit, 24, 24f, 24g... Slide base, 25a, 25b... Operating end, 30, 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 30e, 30f, 30g... Swivel head, 31... Rotating shaft, 32, 132... Angle regulating part, 33... Stopper plate, 34... Regulating bolt, 35... Spring, 36... Damper (rotary damper), 37... Suspension rod, 38... Weight, 139... Magnet (temporary holding part), 40. Actuator for head, 41. Belt, 42. Pulley, 43. Output shaft, 50... Road surface (floor surface), 51... Rising section, 60... Fluid cylinder, 61... Cylinder section, 62... Piston rod, 63, 64, 65, 66... ​​Pin members, 70...Speed ​​adjustment mechanism, 71...Extension side piping, 72...Extension side adjustment valve, 73...Retraction side piping, 74...Retraction side adjustment valve, 75, 76...Outlet, 77, 78...Inlet,

Claims

1. A coating device for applying paint to a road surface or floor surface using a spray gun, A trolley equipped with wheels that can move, A left-right reciprocating mechanism provided on the trolley and equipped with a slider portion that can reciprocate in the width direction of the trolley, A swivel head is provided on the slider portion and is capable of swiveling outward from the operating end of the left-right reciprocating mechanism, A spray gun provided on the aforementioned swivel head, At least a control unit that controls the operation of the left and right reciprocating mechanism, The swivel head is supported by a pivot shaft located above the center of gravity of the swivel head, A coating apparatus characterized in that when the swivel head reaches the operating end of the left-right reciprocating mechanism, it swivels due to its inertia, enabling coating not only the road surface or floor surface but also the rising portion of the side.

2. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an angle regulating unit that adjusts and restricts the angle of the swivel motion of the swivel head.

3. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a spring attached to the slider and the swivel head, wherein the swivel head is prevented from swiveling at locations other than the operating ends of the left-right reciprocating mechanism.

4. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a damper attached to the slider and the swivel head, wherein the swivel head is prevented from swiveling at locations other than the operating ends of the left-right reciprocating mechanism.

5. The damper is a fluid cylinder, The coating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein one end of the fluid cylinder is rotatably supported on the slider portion and the other end is rotatably supported on the swivel head.

6. The damper is a fluid cylinder, The coating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the fluid cylinder is provided on a vertical line passing through the pivot axis with its axis oriented vertically, one end of the fluid cylinder is rotatably supported on the slider portion, and the other end is rotatably supported on the swivel head.

7. The fluid cylinder is equipped with a speed adjustment mechanism for adjusting the extension and retraction speed of the piston rod, The aforementioned speed adjustment mechanism An outlet and an inlet are provided on the base end and tip end sides of the cylinder portion of the fluid cylinder, An extension pipe connecting the outlet at the tip and the inlet at the base, An extension side adjustment valve for adjusting the flow rate of the extension side piping, A retractable pipe connecting the outlet on the base end and the inlet on the tip end, The coating apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a shrink-side adjustment valve for adjusting the flow rate of the shrink-side piping.

8. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a weight is provided on the oscillating head at a predetermined distance below the pivot axis, and the oscillating motion and return speed of the oscillating head are adjusted by the distance between the pivot axis and the weight and / or the weight of the weight.

9. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a temporary holding section that, when the swivel head is in the neutral position, holds the swivel head with a force weaker than the inertial force when the swivel head reaches the operating end of the left-right reciprocating mechanism.

10. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a head actuator for causing the swivel head to swivel.

11. A coating method performed using a coating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, While the aforementioned trolley is in motion, The first horizontal coating step involves the slider moving toward the operating end while spraying paint from the spray gun onto the road surface or floor surface. A vertical coating process in which, when the slider reaches the end of its movement, the swivel head swivels outward to coat the rising portion, The process includes a second horizontal coating step in which, before the completion of the vertical coating step, the slider is moved to the opposite end of the operating mechanism, and the swivel head is gradually returned to the neutral position while coating the road or floor surface. A coating method characterized by repeating the vertical coating step and the second horizontal coating step.

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