JPH11262696A - Rotary-atomizing head coater - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To apply paints in many colors while changing the colors and to make the coater small-sized and lightweight. SOLUTION: A housing 12 provided with a coating machine 19 is attached to the wrist 5 of a coating robot. Discrete feed units 29 for each color contg. a paint valve 40 and a solvent valve 41 are prepared, and each feed unit 29 is connected to a source of paint in each color and a solvent source through a paint hose 42 and a solvent hose 43. In coating, the units 29 are interchanged and attached to the housing 12 to supply the paint in each color to the coating machine 19. Consequently, the paints in many colors are applied by one coater 11 while changing the colors.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rotary atomizing head type coating apparatus suitable for use in coating an object such as an automobile body while changing colors.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a coating apparatus for coating an object such as an automobile body includes a housing, an air motor provided on the housing and having a rotating shaft, and a rotary atomizer provided at a tip of the rotating shaft of the air motor. And a feed tube for supplying paint to the rotary atomizing head. In the coating apparatus configured as described above, the rotary atomizing head is rotated by the air motor, and the paint is ejected from the feed tube toward the rotary atomizing head. Spraying paint. In such a painting operation, the color of the paint is changed as needed for the objects to be sequentially conveyed, and the color changing operation is frequently performed.

[0003] Therefore, in recent years, the amount of pre-color paint discharged at the time of color change has been reduced, the amount of cleaning solvent for cleaning the pre-color paint adhered to the rotary atomizing head, the flow path, and the like has been reduced, and the time required for color change work has been reduced. There is a coating apparatus which makes it possible to carry out the above.
No. 4,354, and JP-A-7-328493.

[0004] A coating apparatus of this type according to the prior art has a feed tube for each color and a feed tube for a solvent, and the plurality of feed tubes are arranged so as to be inserted axially through a rotating shaft. .

[0005] Thus, when performing color change, after the supply of the pre-color paint is stopped, the cleaning solvent is discharged from the solvent feed tube toward the rotary atomizing head, and the front color adhering to the rotary atomizing head is discharged. The next color can be applied only by washing the paint, eliminating the discharge of the paint of the previous color and reducing the amount of washing solvent used.

Further, as another prior art, there is a configuration in which a plurality of cartridges filled with paint for each color are provided, and these cartridges are exchanged and mounted on a housing. See, for example,
-229446.

[0007] In another conventional coating apparatus, when performing a coating operation, a cartridge to be used for coating is selected from cartridges for each color, and the cartridge is attached to a housing. The paint in the cartridge is supplied to the rotary atomizing head by supplying paint extruding air to the cartridge from the housing side.
When the color of the next color paint is changed, the whole cartridge is replaced. As a result, it is possible to omit the washing of the paint passage and the like which has been performed at the time of color change.

[0008]

In the above-described coating apparatus according to the prior art, a plurality of feed tubes are inserted through the rotary shaft. It is necessary to insert the feed tube into the rotating shaft.

However, in order to insert a large number of feed tubes into the rotating shaft, the diameter of the rotating shaft must be increased, and the size of the air motor must be increased as the diameter of the rotating shaft increases. Increases in size and weight. For this reason, the number of feed tubes that can be inserted into the rotary shaft is limited to a small number, and there is a problem that it is not possible to cope with paint of many colors.

Further, in a coating apparatus using a cartridge according to another conventional technique, the paint must be filled in the cartridge removed from the housing every time the color is changed, and the paint filling apparatus is arranged near the coating apparatus. In addition to the necessity, there is a problem that the filling operation requires time and effort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily change the color of a large number of paints and to reduce the size and weight of the coating machine. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a rotary atomizing head type coating device which can be used.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotary atomizing head type coating apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein a front side is a coating machine mounting portion for mounting a coating machine, and a rear side is a feed unit. A housing serving as a feed unit mounting portion for mounting, an air motor having a rotating shaft, and a rotary atomizing head provided on the rotating shaft located in front of the air motor, and mounted on a coating machine mounting portion of the housing. A coating machine, and a feed tube insertion hole formed in the rotation axis of the air motor constituting the coating machine in the axial direction, with a front end opening to the rotary atomizing head and a rear end opening to the feed unit mounting portion of the housing. A valve housing for accommodating a paint valve and a solvent valve, and a filter extending in the axial direction from the valve housing and supplying paint and solvent flowing out of the paint valve and the solvent valve to the rotary atomizing head. A feed tube, wherein the valve accommodating portion is replaceably attached to a feed unit mounting portion of the housing, and a feed tube is provided in the feed tube insertion hole. Respectively connected to the paint valve of the paint unit is supplied with paint from the paint source for each color, and connected to the solvent valve of the feed unit,
A solvent pipe through which a solvent from a solvent source is supplied.

With this configuration, when painting is performed, the feed unit is mounted on the feed unit mounting portion of the housing, and the feed tube of the feed unit is inserted into the feed tube insertion hole formed on the rotation shaft of the air motor. Insert it. In this state, by opening the paint valve in the feed unit, paint is supplied from the paint source to the feed tube via the paint pipe, and is ejected from the feed tube to the rotary atomizing head of the coating machine. Thus, the paint is atomized by the rotary atomizing head rotated by the air motor and sprayed toward the object to be coated.

On the other hand, when the paint is changed to a paint of another color, the solvent is supplied from the solvent source to the feed tube through the solvent pipe by opening the solvent valve in the feed unit. By spraying the solvent toward the rotary atomizing head, the precolor paint adhered to the rotary atomizing head is washed.

After the cleaning of the front color paint is completed, the feed unit of the front color is removed from the feed unit mounting portion of the housing, replaced with the front color feed unit, and the next color feed unit is mounted on the feed unit mounting portion. Then, as described above, the paint of the next color can be applied by opening the paint valve.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the housing is detachably attached to the arm tip side of the coating machine. Thus, the coating device can be easily replaced with another coating device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the housing may be provided with another feed tube insertion hole coaxially with the feed tube insertion hole provided on the rotating shaft.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a paint passage for connecting a paint pipe to a feed tube and a solvent passage for connecting a solvent pipe to a feed tube are provided in the valve accommodating portion of the feed unit. In addition, the solvent valve is configured to communicate and shut off the paint passage and the solvent passage, respectively.

With this configuration, when the paint valve is opened, the paint passage is communicated, and paint can be supplied from the paint pipe to the feed tube via the paint passage. On the other hand, when the paint valve is closed, the paint passage can be shut off, and the supply of paint to the feed tube can be stopped. Also, when the solvent valve is opened, the solvent can be supplied to the feed tube from the solvent conduit via the solvent passage by communicating with the solvent passage. On the other hand, when the solvent valve is closed, the supply of the solvent to the feed tube can be stopped by closing the solvent passage.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the paint valve is normally urged in the valve closing direction by a valve spring, and is opened by supplying pilot air from the outside via a pilot air pipe, thereby opening the paint pipe. The passage is configured as an air pilot type paint valve communicating with the feed tube.The solvent valve is normally urged in the valve closing direction by a valve spring, and pilot air is supplied from outside via a pilot air line. The valve is opened, and the solvent pipe is configured as an air pilot type solvent valve communicating with the feed tube.

With this configuration, the paint valve is normally closed by a valve spring, and is opened only when pilot air is supplied from the outside via a pilot air pipe. Feed from the channel to the feed tube. The solvent valve is normally closed by a valve spring, opened only when pilot air is supplied from outside via a pilot air line, and supplies the solvent from the solvent line to the feed tube.

As in the sixth aspect of the present invention, the pilot air line may be disposed along the paint line and the solvent line.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the feed tube of the feed unit is constituted as a double tube type feed tube having a paint supply path and a solvent supply path, Communicating with the solvent supply path,
The configuration is such that a valve body for shutting off is provided.

With this configuration, for example, when a painting operation is being performed, the solvent supply path can be closed by the valve provided at the end of the feed tube, and the solvent dripping during the painting operation. Prevent it from falling.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, a positioning engaging portion is provided on the feed unit mounting portion of the housing, and the feed unit is located on the front side of the valve housing portion and engages with the engaging portion. That is, the engaged portion is positioned.

With this configuration, when the feed unit is mounted on the feed unit mounting portion of the housing, the engaged portion of the feed unit is fitted into the engaging portion of the housing, and the feed unit is connected to the feed unit. It is positioned at a predetermined position on the mounting part.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a lock device for fixing the feed unit is provided on the housing, and a locked portion locked by the lock device is provided on the valve accommodating portion of the feed unit.

With this configuration, when the feed unit is attached to the housing, the locking device locks to the locked portion, and the feed unit can be held in the housing at this position. .

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the housing has an air passage for an air motor for driving an air motor therein and a shaping air for forming a pattern of paint sprayed from a rotary atomizing head. An air passage is provided. Thus, the air passage for the air motor and the air passage for the shaping air can be formed by utilizing the space inside the housing.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the housing,
A high voltage generator for applying a high voltage to the paint is provided. Thereby, the high voltage generator can be arranged using the housing.

[0031]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a rotary atomizing head type coating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

1 is a painting robot serving as a painting work machine,
The coating robot 1 includes a base 2, a first arm 3 rotatably and swingably provided on the base 2, and a first arm 3 swingably provided at a tip of the first arm 3. 2 arms 4,
It is roughly constituted by a wrist 5 provided at the tip of the second arm 4.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a rotary atomizing head type coating device (hereinafter referred to as a coating device 11) provided on the coating robot 1. As shown in FIG.
2, feed tube insertion holes 18, 28, coating machine 19,
Feed unit 29, paint hose 42, solvent hose 4
3. It is roughly constituted by the lock device 53 and the like.

Reference numeral 12 denotes, for example, PTFE, PEEK, PE
The housing 12 is formed of a high-performance resin material (engineering plastic) such as I, POM, PI, or PET. The housing 12 includes a neck portion 13 detachably attached to the tip of the wrist 5 of the painting robot 1 via a cylindrical fastening portion 13A, and the neck portion 1.
3 and a head part 14 integrally formed at the tip of the head 3.

Here, a coating machine mounting portion 15 is formed in a concave cylindrical shape in front of the head portion 14, and a feed unit mounting portion 16 is formed in a concave cylindrical shape in the rear side of the head portion 14. The front side of the feed unit mounting portion 16 is a conical concave portion 17. The conical concave portion 17 is to be fitted with a conical convex portion 31 of a feed unit 29 described later, and serves as an engaging portion for positioning the conical convex portion 31 in the axial direction and the radial direction.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a housing-side feed tube insertion hole.
The head unit 14 is provided so as to communicate between the coating machine mounting part 15 and the feed unit mounting part 16, and is formed coaxially with a coating machine side feed tube insertion hole 28 described later.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a coating machine mounted in the coating machine mounting portion 15 of the head section 14. The coating machine 19 includes an air motor 20, a rotary atomizing head 21 rotated by the air motor 20, and the air motor 20. And a shaping air ring 22 provided on the front end side of the head.

Here, the air motor 20 is, as shown in FIG.
A, a stepped shaft hole 20B which is provided through the motor case 20A in the axial direction, and has a small diameter on the rear end side and a large diameter on the front side, and a large diameter portion of the shaft hole 20B in the axial direction. A hollow rotary shaft 20C having a distal end protruding from the motor case 20A, and an air turbine 20D provided at the base end of the rotary shaft 20C and fixed to the rotary shaft 20C. The motor case 2 is located around the large diameter portion of the shaft hole 20B with a minute gap from the rotation shaft 20C.
And a static pressure air bearing 20E provided at 0A.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a rotary atomizing head which is located at the front side of the air motor 20 and is attached to the tip end of the rotating shaft 20C. The rotary atomizing head 21 is rotated by the air motor 20. When the rotary atomizing head 21 rotates at a high speed, the rotary atomizing head 2 rotates.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a centrifugal atomization of the supplied paint to atomize it to form charged paint particles charged to a high voltage as described later, and the charged paint particles are formed along an electrostatic field formed between the charged paint particles and an object to be coated. It is caused to fly and to be coated on the object to be coated.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a shaping air ring. The shaping air ring 22 is formed of, for example, a high-performance resin material similar to the housing 12. The shaping air ring 22 is fitted to the coating machine mounting portion 15 of the head portion 14 in a state where the front end side of the air motor 20 is closed, and is fixed to the head portion 14. The shaping air ring 22 has a number of shaping air ejection holes 23 formed in an annular shape on the outer peripheral side thereof. The shaping air ejection holes 23 eject the shaping air toward the discharge edge of the rotary atomizing head 21. Then, pattern formation of the charged paint particles discharged from the rotary atomizing head 21 is performed.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a high-voltage generator provided on the neck portion 13 of the housing 12. The high-voltage generator 24 is constituted by, for example, a cockcroft circuit, and controls the voltage supplied through the power supply line 25 from -60 to-. The voltage is increased to 120 kV. The output side of the high voltage generator 24 is connected to the air motor 20 via a high voltage cable 26, for example.
It is connected to the. Thereby, the high voltage generator 24
A rotary atomizing head 21 via a rotary shaft 20C of the air motor 20
A high voltage is applied to the paint to directly charge the paint.
In the case of an external charging system in which an external electrode is provided on the shaping air ring 22 or the like, a high voltage output from the high voltage generator 24 is directly supplied to the external electrode.

Reference numeral 27 denotes a plurality of air passages provided in the neck portion 13. Each of the air passages 27 supplies turbine air, bearing air, brake air, shaping air, and the like. Typically, only one air passage is shown.

Here, the air passage for supplying turbine air supplies air to the air turbine 20D of the air motor 20. The air passage that supplies bearing air
The air is supplied to the static pressure air bearing 20E of the air motor 20. The air passage for supplying brake air supplies brake air for stopping rotation toward the air turbine 20D (not shown). Further, the air passage for supplying the shaping air supplies the air to the shaping air ejection hole 23 of the shaping air ring 22.

Reference numeral 28 denotes a rotating shaft 2 that constitutes the air motor 20.
0C and a coating machine side feed tube insertion hole provided through the motor case 20A in the axial direction, the base end side of the coating machine side feed tube insertion hole 28 is opened to the housing side feed tube insertion hole 18, The front end side is opened in the rotary atomizing head 21. Further, the feed tube insertion hole 28 on the coating machine side is formed coaxially with the feed tube insertion hole 18 on the housing side. Then, the feed tube 32 of the feed unit 29 is removably inserted into the feed tube insertion holes 18 and 28.

29a, 29b,... 29n are a color, b color,
.. Are feed units for individually supplying n-color paints (hereinafter collectively referred to as feed units 29).
8 and 28, the paint is supplied to the rotary atomizing head 21 independently for each color. The feed unit 29 includes a valve housing 30 and the valve housing 30.
And a feed tube 3 extending in the axial direction from the conical protrusion 31.
2 and a later-described paint valve 4 provided in the valve housing portion 30.
0 and the solvent valve 41.

Here, the valve housing portion 30 is
For example, it is formed as a cylindrical body having a diameter that can be removably inserted into the feed unit mounting portion 16 by using a high-performance resin material similar to that described above, and a paint as shown in FIGS. A valve 40 and a solvent valve 41 are housed. Further, a joint 30A is provided on the rear end side of the valve housing portion 30,
A paint hose 42, a solvent hose 43, a pilot air hose 44 for a paint valve, and a pilot air hose 45 for a solvent valve are connected to the joint 30A.

The conical convex portion 31 is formed integrally with the valve accommodating portion 30, and the conical convex portion 31 connects the feed unit 29 to the feed unit mounting portion 16 of the housing 12.
In this state, the feed unit 29 is engaged with the conical concave portion 17 so as to be positioned in the axial direction and the radial direction.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the feed tube 32 is formed as a double tube type feed tube by an outer tube 33 and an inner tube 34, and the inside of the inner tube 34 becomes a paint supply path 35, and the outer tube 33 An annular solvent supply path 36 is provided between the inner cylinder 34 and the inner cylinder 34. Further, a rubber valve 37 is provided at the distal end side of the feed tube 32 as a valve body that closes the solvent supply passage 36 with an elastic force. In addition,
The length dimension of the feed tube 32 is such that the distal end of the inner cylinder 34 extends into the rotary atomizing head 21 with the valve housing portion 30 of the feed unit 29 attached to the feed unit attachment portion 16 of the housing 12. Is set.

Reference numeral 38 denotes a paint passage provided in the valve accommodating portion 30. The paint passage 38 connects the paint supply passage 35 of the feed tube 32 and the paint hose 42. In the middle of the paint passage 38, there is provided a valve seat 38A on which the valve element 40C of the paint valve 40 is detached and seated.

Reference numeral 39 denotes a solvent passage provided in the valve housing portion 30. The solvent passage 39 connects the solvent supply passage 36 of the feed tube 32 and the solvent hose 43. In the middle of the solvent passage 39, there is provided a valve seat portion 39A on which the valve body 41C of the solvent valve 41 is separated and seated.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a paint valve provided in the valve housing portion 30. The paint valve 40 includes a paint valve chamber 40A and a paint valve chamber 4A.
0A, a piston portion 40B slidably inserted in the inside, a base end side is attached to the piston portion 40B, a front end side protrudes into the paint passage 38, and a front end portion of the piston portion 40B is detachably seated on the valve seat 38A. The contacting valve body 40C and the piston portion 40B
And a valve spring 40D for urging the valve body 40C to be seated on the valve seat 38A via the valve spring 40D.

The paint valve 40 is normally a valve spring 40.
The valve body 40C is seated on the valve seat 38A of the paint passage 38 by the urging force of D, thereby closing the paint passage 38. On the other hand, when the pilot air is supplied via the paint valve pilot air hose 44 and the pilot air passage 40E, the valve body 40C is moved to the valve seat 38 against the valve spring 40D.
A paint is supplied to the paint supply passage 35 of the feed tube 32 by communicating with the paint passage 38 away from A. Thus, the paint valve 40 is configured as an air pilot type paint valve.

Reference numeral 41 denotes a solvent valve provided in the valve housing portion 30. The solvent valve 41 includes a solvent valve chamber 41A and a solvent valve chamber 4
1A, a piston portion 41B slidably inserted into the piston portion 41A, a base end side of the piston portion 41B is attached to the piston portion 41B, and a distal end side projects into the solvent passage 39. The contacting valve body 41C and the piston portion 41B
And a valve spring 41D for urging the valve body 41C to be seated on the valve seat 39A.

The solvent valve 41 is normally a valve spring 41
The valve body 41C is seated on the valve seat 39A of the solvent passage 39 by the urging force of D, and the solvent passage 39 is shut off. On the other hand, when pilot air is supplied via the pilot air hose 45 for the solvent valve and the pilot air passage 41E, the valve body 41C is moved to the valve seat 39 against the valve spring 41D.
A is separated from A and communicates with the solvent passage 39 to supply the solvent to the solvent supply passage 36 of the feed tube 32. Thus, the solvent valve 41 is configured as an air pilot type solvent valve.

, 42n are paint hoses of colors a, b,..., N forming paint channels connected to the feed units 29a, 29b,. The tip of the paint hose 42 is attached to the joint 30 </ b> A of the valve housing 30 and is connected to the paint passage 38.

43n are solvent hoses as solvent conduits (to be referred to as solvent hoses 43 as a whole).
The end of the solvent hose 43 is connected to the joint 3 of the valve housing 30.
0A and connected to the solvent passage 39.

Reference numeral 44 denotes a paint valve pilot air hose that forms a pilot air line. The paint valve pilot air hose 44 supplies pilot air for driving the paint valve 40. The paint valve pilot air hose 44 is disposed along the paint hose 42 and the solvent hose 43, and the distal end thereof is connected to the joint 30A of the valve housing 30.
It is connected to the.

Reference numeral 45 denotes a pilot air hose for a solvent valve, which constitutes a pilot air line. The pilot air hose 45 for the solvent valve supplies pilot air for driving the solvent valve 41. The pilot air hose 45 for the solvent valve is arranged along the paint hose 42 and the solvent hose 43 in the same manner as the pilot air hose 44 for the paint valve, and the distal end thereof is connected to the joint 30 </ b> A of the valve housing 30.

Here, the paint hoses 42a, 42b,.
2n, the paint pumps 46a,
46b,... 46n (hereinafter referred to as the paint pump 46 as a whole). In addition, each paint pump 46
Driven by a single drive motor 48 via clutches 47a, 47b,. The paint pump 46
, 46n are connected to paint supply lines 49a, 49b,... 49n as paint sources via regulators 50a, 50b,. The upstream side of each solvent hose 43 is connected to a solvent supply line 52 serving as a solvent source via a pressure reducing regulator 51.

Reference numeral 53 denotes a lock device provided on the housing 12. The lock device 53 includes a case 54 embedded on the outer peripheral side of the feed unit mounting portion 16 of the housing 12, as shown in FIG. The engagement member 55 is provided so as to be displaceable in the radial direction of the feed unit mounting portion 16 and the distal end side projects into the feed unit mounting portion 16.
And a coil spring 56 for urging the engagement member 55 radially inward.

The locking device 53 is provided with an engaging member 55
Is engaged with a lock hole 57 as a locked portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the valve housing portion 30 of the feed unit 29,
The feed unit 29 is held against the housing 12 in a retaining state. When the feed unit 29 is pulled out with a relatively large force, the engagement member 55
The feed unit 29 can be removed since it moves downward against the upward pressing force of the coil spring 56 to release the engagement with the lock hole 57.

The coating apparatus 11 according to the present embodiment has the above-described configuration, and its operation will be described below.

First, the case where the paint of the color a is applied to the object to be coated will be described. In this case, the feed unit 29a for supplying the paint of the color a is attached to the housing 12. Then, the feed unit 29a is connected to the housing 12
When the feed tube 32 is mounted on the feed tube 32, the conical recess 17, the feed tube insertion hole 18 on the housing side,
While inserting the feed tube through hole 28 on the coating machine side,
The valve accommodating portion 30 is inserted into the feed unit attaching portion 16 of the head portion 14.

When the feed unit 29a is mounted, the conical convex portion 31 formed on the feed unit 29a is fitted into the conical concave portion 17, so that the feed tube 32 is connected to the housing side feed tube insertion hole 18 and the coating machine side. It can be positioned at the center of the feed tube insertion hole 28 or the like.

When the valve accommodating portion 30 is pushed into the feed unit attaching portion 16 of the head portion 14 to a predetermined position, the engaging member 55 of the lock device 53 engages with the lock hole 57 formed in the valve accommodating portion 30. Therefore, the feed unit 29a can be held in the housing 12 in a state where the feed unit 29a does not come off.

After the feed unit 29a for supplying the color "a" is attached to the housing 12, the paint pump 46a is driven and the pilot air is supplied from the paint valve pilot air hose 44 to the paint valve 40, whereby the paint is supplied. The valve 40 is opened. Thus, the a-color paint supplied from the paint hose 42a flows through the paint passage 38, is supplied to the paint supply passage 35 of the feed tube 32, and is jetted from the paint supply passage 35 toward the rotary atomizing head 21. .

At this time, the rotary atomizing head 21 is rotated at a high speed by the air motor 20 and a high voltage is applied to the rotary atomizing head 21 by the high voltage generator 24. And atomized by centrifugal atomization,
It becomes charged paint particles charged to high voltage. The charged paint particles are formed into a desired spray pattern by the shaping air ejected from each shaping air ejection hole 23 of the shaping air ring 22, and along the electrostatic field formed between the charged paint particles and the object to be coated. Fly and apply to the substrate.

Next, a description will be given of a color changing operation when the application of the color a paint is completed and the color is changed to the color b paint.

At the time of this color changing operation, the supply of the high voltage is stopped, and the a-color paint adhered to the rotary atomizing head 21 is washed. In this case, while the rotary atomizing head 21 is rotated by the air motor 20, the pilot air hose 45 for the solvent valve is used.
Supplies pilot air to the solvent valve 41 from the
1 is opened. Thus, the solvent such as thinner supplied through the solvent hose 43 and the solvent passage 39 is supplied to the solvent supply path 36 of the feed tube 32. Therefore,
The solvent supplied to the solvent supply passage 36 is opened toward the rotary atomizing head 21 by opening the rubber valve 37, and is sprayed toward the rotary atomizing head 21.
Wash the a-color paint adhered to. And the rotary atomizing head 2
After the washing of 1, the solvent valve 41 is closed to stop the supply of the solvent. At this time, the rubber valve 37 closes the solvent supply path 36 by the elastic force to prevent the solvent from dripping.

Next, when the cleaning of the rotary atomizing head 21 is completed, as shown in FIG. 9, the feed unit 29a is pulled out in the axial direction against the lock device 53 and returned to the predetermined standby position. Then, the feed unit 29b that supplies the b-color paint is taken out from the standby position, and the same as the above-described operation,
By attaching to the housing 12, the b-color paint can be applied to the object.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the housing 12 is attached to the second arm 4 of the painting robot 1, and the feed unit for supplying the a, b,... 29n are replaced and mounted. By preparing a feed unit 29 for supplying various kinds of paints in advance, a single painting apparatus 11 can cope with the color changing operation of many colors, thereby improving the reliability and increasing the use range. Can be spread. In addition, even if another color paint is added, it is possible to easily cope with the situation by simply providing a feed unit 29 for supplying the other color paint at the standby position without modifying the coating apparatus 11.

Further, one feed tube 3 is inserted into the feed tube insertion hole 28 on the coating machine side in the rotating shaft 20C.
Since only 2 is inserted, the diameter of the rotating shaft 20C can be reduced, and the size of the air motor 20 can be reduced. Therefore, since the coating apparatus 11 can be reduced in size and weight, the degree of freedom in mounting the coating apparatus 11 on the coating robot 1 or the like can be improved, and the operating performance during coating can be improved.

Further, since the paint hose 42 is connected to the feed unit 29, it is not necessary to fill the cartridge with paint every time the color is changed, as described above as another related art. It is possible to perform coating continuously by merely changing the, so that workability, productivity and the like can be improved.

Further, since the coating device 11 can be attached to and detached from the wrist 5 of the coating robot 1 via the fastening portion 13A provided on the neck portion 13 of the housing 12, the coating machine 19 can be changed by changing the object to be coated. Can easily be changed. As a result, it is possible to improve workability such as replacement work and maintenance work of the coating apparatus 11 by changing the object to be coated.

Further, since each air passage 27 for supplying turbine air, bearing air, brake air, shaping air and the like is formed in the neck portion 13 of the housing 12, each air passage 27 is formed by utilizing the space of the housing 12. The air passage 27 can be formed, the air hose and the like can be omitted, the workability in assembling can be improved, and the appearance can be reduced.

On the other hand, since the high voltage generator 24 is built in the neck portion 13 of the housing 12,
The high voltage generator 24 can be arranged using the space described above, and the whole can be reduced in size.

The feed tube 32 is a double tube type feed tube comprising an outer tube 33 and an inner tube 34.
Since the rubber valve 37 that closes the solvent supply path 36 with elastic force is provided at the end of the feed tube 32, the solvent can be prevented from dripping during the coating operation, and the coating quality can be improved.

Further, a conical concave portion 17 is provided at a position deep in the feed unit mounting portion 16 of the head portion 14, a conical convex portion 31 is provided on the feed unit 29, and the feed unit 29 is fitted by fitting the two. Housing 12
Can be positioned in the feed unit mounting portion 16 in the axial direction and the radial direction. Thereby, the workability at the time of assembling the feed unit 29 can be improved, and the color change work time can be shortened.

Further, the lock device 5 is provided on the housing 12 side.
3 is provided, and the valve housing portion 30 of the feed unit 29 is provided with the lock hole 57 that engages with the lock device 53. Therefore, simply by attaching the feed unit 29 to the housing 12, the lock device 53 is locked. 57
, And the feed unit 29 can be held in a retaining state.

In the embodiment, the case where the coating device 11 is attached to the wrist 5 of the coating robot 1 as a coating work machine has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a reciprocator. Coating equipment 1
1 may be applied.

Further, in the embodiment, the shaft hole 20B of the air motor 20 is formed in a stepped shape in which the rear end side has a small diameter and the front side has a large diameter, and the rotary shaft 20C is formed in the large diameter portion of the shaft hole 20B. The above description has been made by taking as an example the case in which it is provided. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as in a modification shown in FIG.
The air motor 61 may have a configuration in which the shaft hole 61B has substantially the same diameter in the axial direction, penetrates the motor case 61A, and the rotating shaft 61C is provided over the entire length of the shaft hole 61B.
In this case, a coating tube feed tube insertion hole 62 coaxial with the housing side feed tube insertion hole 18 is provided in the rotating shaft 61C.

Further, in the embodiment, the case where thinner is used as a cleaning solvent has been described as an example. However, other cleaning solvents such as water may be applied depending on the type of paint, the method of applying a high voltage, and the like. You may.

[0083]

As described above in detail, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when painting is performed, the feed unit is mounted on the feed unit mounting portion of the housing, and the feed tube of the feed unit is connected to the rotating shaft of the air motor. Through the feed tube insertion hole formed in the above. In this state, by opening the paint valve in the feed unit, the paint supplied from the paint source via the paint pipe can be jetted through the feed tube to the rotary atomizing head of the coating machine, The spray can be sprayed from the atomizing head toward the object to be coated.

On the other hand, when the paint is changed to another color paint, the solvent supplied from the solvent source via the solvent pipe is rotated through the feed tube by opening the solvent valve in the feed unit. It can be supplied to the atomizing head, and the pre-color paint adhered to the rotary atomizing head can be washed. And when the painting of this front color paint is finished,
Remove the feed unit of the front color from the feed unit mounting part of the housing, replace it with the feed unit of the front color, attach the feed unit of the next color to the feed unit mounting part, and open the paint valve to obtain the paint of the next color. Can be painted.

Therefore, by preparing in advance a feed unit for supplying various kinds of paints, one rotary atomizing head type coating apparatus can cope with the color changing operation of many colors, and the reliability is improved. To increase the range of use. In addition, since it is sufficient to wash the front color paint only at the vicinity of the rotary atomizing head at the time of color change, it is possible to greatly reduce the amount of the washing solvent used. In addition, since only one feed tube is inserted into the feed tube insertion hole in the rotating shaft, the diameter of the rotating shaft can be reduced, and the size of the air motor and the like can be reduced to reduce the size and weight of the entire coating device. The degree of freedom in mounting can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the housing is detachably attached to the tip of the arm of the coating machine, the coating device can be easily replaced with another coating device, and the coating object can be easily replaced. It is possible to improve the workability such as the replacement work and the maintenance work of the coating apparatus due to the change.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the housing is provided with another feed tube insertion hole coaxially with the feed tube insertion hole provided on the rotating shaft, the housing extends over these feed tube insertion holes. To feed the feed tube.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a paint passage connecting the paint line to the feed tube and a solvent passage connecting the solvent line to the feed tube are provided in the valve accommodating portion of the feed unit. The paint passage and the solvent passage are connected and blocked by a valve and a solvent valve, respectively. Thus, the paint supplied from the paint pipe can be supplied to the feed tube through the paint passage by opening the paint valve and communicating the paint passage. On the other hand, when the paint valve is closed, the paint passage can be shut off and the supply of paint to the feed tube can be stopped. Further, the solvent supplied from the solvent pipe can be supplied to the feed tube through the solvent passage by opening the solvent valve to connect the solvent passage.
On the other hand, when the solvent valve is closed, the solvent passage is shut off,
The supply of the solvent to the feed tube can be stopped.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the paint valve is configured as an air pilot type paint valve which is normally closed and opened when pilot air is supplied from outside via a pilot air line. The solvent valve is configured as an air pilot type solvent valve which normally closes and opens when pilot air is supplied from outside via a pilot air line. As a result, the paint valve is normally closed, and the supply of paint from the paint pipeline to the feed tube is stopped.
The paint valve opens only when pilot air is supplied from outside via the pilot air pipe, and paint is supplied from the paint pipe to the feed tube.
Even when the feed unit is on standby, it is possible to prevent paint leakage. The solvent valve is normally closed to stop supplying the solvent from the solvent pipe to the feed tube. The solvent valve opens only when pilot air is supplied from outside via the pilot air line,
Since the solvent is supplied from the solvent conduit to the feed tube, it is possible to prevent the solvent from leaking even when the feed unit is on standby.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since each pilot air line is disposed along the paint line and the solvent line, each pilot air line is arranged together with the paint line and the solvent line. Can be arranged in a bundle.

According to the invention of claim 7, the feed tube of the feed unit is constituted as a double tube type feed tube having a paint supply path and a solvent supply path, and the solvent supply path is connected to the tip side of the feed tube. Since the valve element for shutting off is provided, for example, at the time of a painting operation, the solvent supply path can be blocked by the valve element to prevent the solvent from dripping, and the coating quality can be improved.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the feed unit mounting portion of the housing is provided with a positioning engaging portion, and the feed unit is located on the front side of the valve housing portion and is provided with the positioning portion. Since the engaged portion to be engaged and positioned is provided, when the feed unit is mounted on the feed unit mounting portion of the housing, the engaged portion on the feed unit side is fitted to the engaging portion on the housing side. In addition, the feed unit can be positioned at a predetermined position of the feed unit mounting portion, so that the workability at the time of assembling the feed unit can be improved, and the color changing work time can be reduced.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when the feed unit is attached to the housing, the locking device can be locked to the locked portion, and the housing can hold the feed unit in a locked state.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, by providing the air passage for the air motor and the air passage for the shaping air inside the housing, these air passages are formed by utilizing the space inside the housing. Therefore, it is possible to improve the assembling workability by omitting the air hose and the like, and to make the appearance clear.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, since the high voltage generator for applying the high voltage to the paint is provided in the housing, the high voltage generator is disposed by utilizing the space inside the housing. Thus, the entire coating apparatus can be reduced in size.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a state in which a rotary atomizing head type coating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a coating robot.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a rotary atomizing head type coating apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a main part of a coating machine, a feed unit, and the like in FIG. 2 in an enlarged manner.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a feed unit.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a feed unit.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part, showing the distal end side of the feed tube in an enlarged manner.

FIG. 7 is a system diagram showing a paint system and a solvent system used in the rotary atomizing head type coating apparatus.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part showing the lock device.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part showing a state where a feed unit is detached from a housing.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part showing a rotary atomizing head type coating apparatus according to a modification.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Coating robot (coating work machine) 3 1st arm 4 2nd arm 11 Rotary atomization head type coating device 12 Housing 13 Neck part 14 Head part 15 Coating machine attachment part 16 Feed unit attachment part 17 Conical concave part 18) Housing side feed tube insertion hole (other feed tube insertion hole) 19 Coating machine 20, 61 Air motor 20A, 61A Motor case 20B, 61B Shaft hole 20C, 61C Rotary shaft 20D, 61D Air turbine 20E, 61E Static pressure Air bearing 21 Rotary atomizing head 24 High voltage generator 27 Air passage 28, 62 Coating machine side feed tube insertion hole 29a, 29b, ... 29n Feed unit 30 Valve accommodating part 31 Conical convex part (engaged part) 32 Feed Tube 33 Outer tube 34 Inner tube 35 Paint supply path 36 Solvent supply path 37 Rubber valve (valve element) 38 Paint passage 39 Solvent passage 40 Paint valve 41 Solvent valve 42a, 42b, ... 42n Paint hose (paint line) 43a, 43b, ... 43n Solvent hose (solvent line) 44 Pilot air hose for paint valve (Pilot air line) 45 Pilot air hose for solvent valve (Pilot air line) 49a, 49b, ... 49n Paint supply line (Paint source) 52 Solvent supply line (Solvent source) 53 Lock device 57 Lock hole (Locked portion)

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A housing having a coating unit mounting part for mounting a coating machine on the front side and a feed unit mounting part for mounting a feed unit on the rear side, an air motor having a rotating shaft, and a rotating shaft provided at a front side of the air motor. A coating machine attached to a coating machine mounting portion of the housing, and a rotating shaft of an air motor constituting the coating machine is formed in an axial direction, and a front end of the coating machine is formed by a rotary atomizing head. A feed tube insertion hole having an opening and a rear end opening into the feed unit mounting portion of the housing; a valve housing for housing a paint valve and a solvent valve; and an axial extension extending from the valve housing and flowing out of the paint valve and the solvent valve. And a feed tube for supplying paint and solvent to the rotary atomizing head, wherein the valve accommodating portion is replaceably attached to a feed unit attaching portion of the housing. A separate feed unit for each color in which a feed tube is inserted into the feed tube insertion hole, and a paint that is connected to a paint valve of each feed unit and that is supplied with paint from a paint source for each color. A rotary atomizing head type coating apparatus comprising a pipe and a solvent pipe connected to a solvent valve of the feed unit and supplied with a solvent from a solvent source. 2. The rotary atomizing head type coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said housing is detachably attached to an arm tip side of a coating work machine. 3. The rotary atomizing head type coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein another feed tube insertion hole is provided in the housing coaxially with the feed tube insertion hole provided in the rotating shaft. . 4. A paint passage connecting the paint conduit to a feed tube and a solvent passage connecting the solvent conduit to a feed tube are provided in a valve accommodating portion of the feed unit. 4. The rotary atomizing head type coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the solvent valve is configured to communicate and shut off the paint passage and the solvent passage, respectively. 5. The paint valve is normally urged in a valve closing direction by a valve spring, and is opened when pilot air is supplied from outside via a pilot air pipe to open the paint pipe. The solvent valve is normally urged in a valve closing direction by a valve spring, and is opened by supplying pilot air from the outside via a pilot air line. 5. The rotary atomizing head type coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the solvent pipe is configured as an air pilot type solvent valve communicating with a feed tube. 6. The rotary atomizing head type coating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each of the pilot air lines is arranged along the paint line and the solvent line. 7. The feed tube of the feed unit is configured as a double tube type feed tube having a paint supply path and a solvent supply path, and the solvent supply path is provided at a tip side of the double tube type feed tube. The rotary atomizing head type coating apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, wherein a valve body for communicating and shutting off is provided. 8. A feed unit mounting portion of the housing is provided with a positioning engaging portion, and the feed unit is positioned on the front side of the valve housing portion and is engaged with the engaging portion to position the feed unit. Wherein the engaged portion is provided.
The rotary atomizing head type coating apparatus according to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7. 9. The housing is provided with a lock device for fixing the feed unit, and the valve accommodating portion of the feed unit is provided with a locked portion locked by the lock device. , 3,4,5
9. The rotary atomizing head type coating apparatus according to 6, 7, or 8. 10. An air passage for driving the air motor inside the housing, and an air passage for shaping air for forming a pattern of paint sprayed from the rotary atomizing head. 10. The method of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9.
2. The rotary atomizing head type coating apparatus according to 1. 11. A high voltage generator for applying a high voltage to the paint is provided in the housing.
The rotary atomizing head type coating apparatus according to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10.