Automotive Paint Distribution Secondary Circuit for Rare Color Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current automotive paint application installations face challenges in efficiently managing and reducing the quantity of rare color paint used, leading to excessive paint consumption and quality issues, while also being complex and costly to implement.
Innovation Solution
A paint application installation with a main circuit for common colors and a secondary circuit for rare colors, featuring a scraper storage and circulation system with a departure and return station, and a connecting pipe with a flush three-way valve, allowing for precise paint consumption and recovery, reducing waste and simplifying the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If large-capacity paint tanks are used to supply rare colors, then the paint distribution circuit can be located far from application stations, but long lengths of pipes are necessary requiring large quantities of paint (1-3 tons) to fill them
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the paint distribution system into main circuits for common colors and secondary circuits for rare colors. The secondary circuits have reduced dimensions and are connected to main color changers via connecting lines, allowing separate management of paint quantities for different color frequencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a recovery system that collects excess rare color paint from the outlet of painting stations and stores it in dedicated tanks. This allows the paint to be reused in subsequent applications, significantly reducing waste of rare colors.
2Length of stationary object
If smaller paint tanks are moved closer to application stations to reduce distribution circuit length, then pipe length is reduced, but a non-negligible volume of paint (several hundred liters) is still necessary to load the distribution circuit and paint must be kept permanently in circulation
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments paint storage into main tanks for common colors located far from stations, and smaller secondary tanks for rare colors positioned closer to application stations. This reduces the volume of rare color paint that must be circulated while maintaining efficient distribution for common colors.
Solution Approach 2:
Excess rare color paint is recovered at the outlet of painting stations and returned to secondary tanks instead of being discarded. This eliminates the need to permanently maintain large volumes of rare color paint in circulation and allows reuse.
3Reliability
If paint is kept permanently in circulation to prevent deterioration, then paint quality is maintained, but disproportionate quantities of paint are required compared to actual application quantities leading to significant deterioration and waste
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers excess rare color paint from painting station outlets and stores it in dedicated secondary tanks. This recovered paint can be reused in subsequent applications, eliminating waste while maintaining quality through controlled circulation only when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous circulation of paint only in the quantities actually needed for application, rather than permanently circulating large volumes. The recovery system ensures paint remains in continuous useful action from application to recovery to reuse.
4Manufacturing precision
If automatic paint application installations are implemented for rare colors, then application quality is improved, but the system becomes complex and costly to implement and operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the automatic paint application system into main circuits for common colors and simplified secondary circuits for rare colors. The secondary circuits connect to main color changers via simple connecting lines with manual or automated valves, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining automation for quality consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows operators to manually control the opening of color changer valves for rare colors when automation is not required. This self-service approach simplifies the control system while still enabling automated application when needed, reducing complexity costs.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a facility for the application of motor vehicle paint allowing the application of low volumes of paint with rare colour shade by means of a secondary distribution circuit for paint with rare colour shades and a system for storage and circulating of scrapers (R1-R3) in the distribution line of the secondary circuit serving the paint stations, said system comprising a starting station (21) comprising a first scraper storage support (210) and an indexing mechanism (30) locking the scrapers in the indexed positions of the scrapers with respect to the first storage support, the starting station comprising a control member (40) mechanically interacting with the indexing mechanism (30) in order to successively release the scrapers from their corresponding indexed position and authorising their movement from said position to an outlet of the starting station connected to the distribution line (23) upstream from the painting stations.