Work piece processing arrangements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spray booths designed for larger vehicles are inefficient and costly when used for smaller objects, such as vehicle components, due to high energy requirements and organizational issues, and lack tailored environments for optimal processing.
Innovation Solution
A compact spray booth arrangement with two ovens and a transport rail, providing a controlled environment for spraying, baking, and curing, where the air input flow rate exceeds the output flow rate to create an air curtain, preventing contamination and allowing for parallel processing of workpieces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spray booth designed for whole vehicles is used for smaller objects, then the spraying environment is controlled, but energy requirements become excessively high and the booth size significantly exceeds what is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the spraying system into separate modules: a compact spray booth for small objects, a transport rail system, and individual ovens for baking and curing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function and size, rather than using an oversized integrated system for all operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport rail system serves multiple functions: it transports workpieces between the spray booth and ovens, and can also serve as a support structure for the workpieces during processing. The ovens can independently handle baking or curing operations, providing flexible multi-functional capability.
2Reliability
If a spray booth designed for whole vehicles is used for smaller objects, then the spraying environment is controlled, but the booth size significantly exceeds that required for smaller objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the spraying system into separate modules: a compact spray booth for small objects, a transport rail system, and individual ovens for baking and curing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function and size, rather than using an oversized integrated system for all operations.
3Reliability
If a spray booth designed for whole vehicles is used for smaller objects, then the spraying environment is controlled, but organizational issues arise for the spray booth operator
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the spraying system into separate modules: a compact spray booth for small objects, a transport rail system, and individual ovens for baking and curing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function and size, rather than using an oversized integrated system for all operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport rail system provides dynamic flexibility, allowing workpieces to be easily moved between different processing stations (spray booth, baking oven, curing oven) in various sequences. This dynamic arrangement enables efficient organizational workflows for different production scenarios.
4Productivity
If parallel processing is enabled with multiple ovens, then productivity increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transport rail system serves multiple functions: it transports workpieces between the spray booth and ovens, and can also serve as a support structure for the workpieces during processing. The ovens can independently handle baking or curing operations, providing flexible multi-functional capability that reduces overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions the ovens at similar levels and uses a common transport rail system, creating an equipotential arrangement that simplifies workpiece transfer and reduces the need for complex positioning mechanisms. This balanced layout makes the parallel processing system easier to operate and maintain.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances processing efficiency by enabling parallel operations, reducing energy consumption, and maintaining a clean environment for smaller objects, thereby improving operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
The input volume flow rate may be greater than the output volume flow rate... The roof portion defines a plenum into which the airflow is supplied
Implementation Method 2
the first oven defining an internal zone, and being operable to heat that internal zone to a desired temperature, a second oven located adjacent a second end of the work space, the second oven defining an internal zone, and being operable to heat that internal zone to a desired temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A workpiece processing arrangement comprises a spray booth (2) defining a work space (21), and operable to provide a controlled environment for spraying of material, a first oven (4) located adjacent a first end of the spray booth, the first oven defining an internal zone, and a second oven (5) located adjacent a second end of the spray booth, the second oven defining an internal zone (51). The arrangement also includes a transport rail (6) which extends from the internal zone (41) of the first oven (4), through the work space (21) of the spray booth (2) into the internal zone (51) of the second oven (5), the transport rail (6) being adapted for transport of a workpiece (10) between the work space (21) of the spray booth (2) to the internal zone of the first or second oven (4, 5). A corresponding method of processing a work piece in such an arrangement indicates the steps to be used when processing a first and a second workpiece The ovens may have both a baking and a curing zone. A ventilation system with an air curtain (23) may be included.