Coating processes – Rumbling or tumbling
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-02
2002-07-16
Lamb, Brenda A. (Department: 1734)
Coating processes
Rumbling or tumbling
C427S435000, C427S425000, C118S416000, C118S322000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06419983
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The invention relates to a method of introducing and removing workpieces, particularly vehicle bodies, into or out of a tank or a treatment booth, whereby the workpieces inside the tank are treated either in a gaseous environment such as being coated with powder or wet paint, or the tank is a dip tank filled with a liquid medium suitable for the surface treatment of the workpieces. The invention also relates to an apparatus for the surface treatment of workpieces and to a system for the surface treatment of vehicle bodies.
In the subject matter according to the invention, the workpieces or vehicle bodies are continuously moved in a translational manner toward a treatment area such as a treatment bath, a treatment booth etc. and are transported to and from the treatment area while maintaining this movement.
2. Prior Art
Devices for the surface treatment of one or more vehicle bodies are generally divided into continuous and non-continuous conveyors.
In the case of non-continuous conveyors, so-called cyclical systems, the vehicle bodies on object supports are sequentially transported over successively arranged dip tanks where they are stopped. Lifting or rotating devices are used to dip the vehicle bodies into a bath medium suitable for surface treatment and located in the dip tank, and the vehicle bodies are lifted out again once the process time is over. These systems manage without inlet and discharge areas, allowing the treatment bath dip tanks to be shorter than in the case of continuous conveyors. These systems can only be used, however, at small production rates because system capacity depends on the desired process time and is therefore considerably restricted. The application range of such systems is consequently limited.
A rotating device for cyclically operating systems is known from DE 43 04 145 C1 which discloses a rotating device securely mounted above a dip tank and to which at least one vehicle body can be secured. Rotation through approximately 180° of the rotating device causes a vehicle body to be dipped into a treatment bath and a further rotation causes it to be guided out.
In the case of continuously conveying systems, vehicle bodies are continuously transported along the aligned treatment baths and are guided into and out of the treatment bath using lowering and raising means into and out of the bath medium. Due to the continuous conveyance of these systems, a treatment bath's inlet and outlet areas have to be designed at an angle. Each dip tank therefore requires a longer inlet and discharge area, which causes a dip tank and hence the entire system to be considerably extended. The known lowering means likewise do not ensure that air pockets remain in the workpieces dipped in the treatment bath. Due to cavities entailed by the structural design, this problem arises to an extreme degree particularly when vehicle bodies are dipped into the treatment bath. In the prior art, additional steps are therefore absolutely essential in order to reduce air pockets. It is for example proposed in GB 1 434 348 to move to and fro a lowered vehicle body that is dipped into the treatment bath.
A continuous conveyor for guiding workpieces in galvanic metallization and chromium-plating plants is known from German published document DE-AS 25 12 762. The system known from this document relates to a revolving conveyor device that continuously transports the workpiece to be treated. When the conveyor device rotates, the workpieces are each automatically dipped into a tank, guided underneath it while continuing the movement, moved out of the tank and again dipped into the next tank. Various options are mentioned in order to cause the workpieces to be dipped in or lifted out.
On the one hand, workpiece holders are rotatable by cams or by ramps and surfaces that extend downwards at an angle. When such a workpiece holder continues to move, however, only the rotation is initiated, the further rotational process takes place in an uncontrolled manner merely under the influence of gravity. Such a device suffers from the drawback that heavier workpieces fall into a treatment bath in an uncontrolled manner, which is totally unsuitable for larger, much heavier and more sensitive workpieces such as vehicle bodies. The system described therein also specifically focuses upon a design having current carrying means which simultaneously serve as an actuator for initiating a workpiece holder's rotation. The rotational process which is uncontrolled and hence indefinite in terms of time and place also makes it impossible to minimize the individual dip tanks' inlet and outlet areas. The system disclosed therein does not aim thereat either.
Finally, a container rotation device is known from German published document DE-OS 29 01 027; in this device, containers., preferably bottle containers, are intended to be rotated automatically and without manual action. The device comprises conveyance means, drivers that are rotatably supported in a mount, and a curved control surface which controls the drivers such that they secure the containers. chain wheels connected to the drivers engage with gear teeth.
The arrangement is such that the chain wheels, drivers and containers are rotated as a result of engagement with the teeth. Only the rotation by means of chain wheels is disclosed in the device shown therein. The container is also intended to be rotated only in order that various container parts are more effectively accessible. An insertion or removal process as a result of rotation is neither depicted nor in any way implied.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Technical Problem
The technical problem upon which the invention is based is to provide a method and an apparatus for the surface treatment of workpieces, in which on the one hand the treatment areas can be minimized in terms of their dimensions, while on the other hand, high production rates can also be achieved.
Solution of the Technical Problem
This technical problem is solved by a method of introducing and removing workpieces, particularly vehicle bodies, into and out of a treatment area suitable for the surface treatment of said workpieces, wherein said work pieces are detachably secured on mounting frames which each have a rotary axis vertically aligned in relation to the direction of movement of said workpieces, said rotary axes are continuously moved translationally and at a constant speed, and said workpieces at the start and at the end of said treatment area are simultaneously rotated through about 180° around one of these rotary axes in a controlled and always guided manner in the direction of the translational movement.
An apparatus solving the above technical problem for the surface treatment of workpieces in treatment for baths or treatment booths, particularly for the surface treatment of vehicle bodies, comprises at least one mounting frame for receiving one or more workpieces, said frame being continuously moveable along a direction of movement of said workpieces predetermined by the arrangement of said treatment bath or said booth, having receiving means with which said workpiece can be detachably fitted to said mounting frame, and having a rotary axis disposed across the direction of movement, actuating means for rotationally shifting said mounting frame around its rotary axis, said actuating means and said mounting frame being constantly coupled together during the process of rotation so that the rotation is always controlled and guided, guidance means with which said mounting frame can be guided in the direction of movement, and drive means with which said mounting frame is continuously moveable in the direction of movement.
The technical problem is also solved by a system for the surface treatment of vehicle bodies comprising a plurality of successively arranged treatment baths, a supply means for supplying said vehicle bodies individually in an inlet area, a device for the surface treatment of workpieces in said treatment baths, particularly for the surface treatment of vehicle
ABB Fläkt Aktiebolag
Dilworth & Barrese LLP
Lamb Brenda A.
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