Treatment plant and method for treating workpieces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11085695-B2
Application number	US-201916459988-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2019
Priority date	Jul 5, 2018
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

A treatment plant and method for treating workpieces, in particular for coating and/or drying vehicle bodies, having a treatment device with a housing in which a treatment space is accommodated. A conveyor system having a multitude of transport trolleys for conveying workpieces through the treatment space, wherein each transport trolley has a chassis and a fastening device for at least one workpiece, which are coupled together by means of a connecting device. Outside the treatment space, there is a guiding area with a travel space for the chassis. The travel space is connected to the treatment space via a connecting passage such that the chassis of a transport trolley can move in the travel space and at the same time the fastening device is entrained in the treatment space and the connecting device extends through the connecting passage. The travel space is defined by a travel space housing and a gas device is present to feed a throughflow gas, in particular air, to the travel space. At least a major part of the throughflow gas can again be discharged from the travel space as exhaust gas, without this throughflow gas reaching the treatment space through the connecting passage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A treatment plant for treating workpieces comprising:
a) a treatment device featuring a housing in which a treatment space is accommodated;
b) a conveyor system comprising a multitude of transport trolleys, by means of which workpieces can be conveyed through the treatment space, wherein each transport trolley comprises a chassis and a fastening device for at least one workpiece, which are coupled together by means of a connecting device;
wherein,
c) a guiding area with a travel space for the chassis is present outside the treatment space;
d) the travel space is connected to the treatment space via a connecting passage such that the chassis of a transport trolley can move in the travel space and while the fastening device is entrained in the treatment space and the connecting device extends through the connecting passage,
further wherein,
e) the travel space is defined by a travel space housing; and
f) a gas device is present, which is set up such that a throughflow gas can be fed to the travel space and at least a major part of the throughflow gas can again be discharged from the travel space as an exhaust gas, without the exhaust gas reaching the treatment space through the connecting passage.

2. The treatment plant according to claim 1 , wherein the gas device is set up such that the throughflow gas flows through the travel space with one directional component transverse to a direction of movement of the transport trolleys.

3. The treatment plant according to claim 2 , wherein the gas device is set up such that the throughflow gas flows through the travel space with one directional component parallel to a direction of movement of the transport trolleys.

4. The treatment plant according to claim 1 , wherein the travel space housing features one or more gas inlet ports and one or more gas outlet ports.

5. The treatment plant according to claim 4 , wherein the gas device is set up such that a volumetric flow rate of the throughflow gas is adjustable at one or more gas inlet ports and/or that a volumetric flow rate of the exhaust gas is adjustable at one or more gas outlet ports.

6. The treatment plant according to claim 4 , wherein
a) one or more gas inlet ports are connected to a feed pipe system of a feed system, through which throughflow gas can flow to the gas inlet ports, and the feed system features, in the feed pipe system, an active injection device and/or a passive inlet device;
and/or
b) one or more gas outlet ports are connected to a discharge pipe system of a discharge system, through which the exhaust gas can flow away from the gas outlet ports and can be discharged, and the discharge system features, in the discharge pipe system, an active suction device and/or a passive outlet device.

7. The treatment plant according to claim 6 , wherein
a) the active injection device comprises one or more feed blowers;
and/or
b) the passive inlet device comprises one or more inlet valve devices by means of which a flow cross section for the throughflow gas can be changed;
and/or
c) the active suction device comprises one or more discharge blowers;
and/or
d) the passive outlet device comprises one or more outlet valve devices by means of which a flow cross section for the exhaust gas from the travel space can be changed.

8. The treatment plant according to claim 7 , wherein
a) a feed blower is connected in each case to a single gas inlet port or in each case to multiple gas inlet ports of the one or more gas inlet ports;
and/or
b) an inlet valve device is connected in each case to a single gas inlet port or in each case to multiple gas inlet ports of the one or more gas inlet ports;
and/or
c) a discharge blower is connected in each case to a single gas outlet port or in each case to multiple gas outlet ports of the one or more gas outlet ports;
and/or
d) an outlet valve device is connected in each case to a single gas outlet port or in each case to multiple gas outlet ports of the one or more gas outlet ports.

9. Treatment plant according to claim 1 , further comprising a conditioning device to which the exhaust gas can be fed, wherein the conditioned gas can be fed to a fresh air feed for the treatment device.

10. A method for treating comprising:
passing workpieces through a treatment space by means of a conveyor system that comprises a multitude of transport trolleys, wherein each transport trolley comprises a chassis and a fastening device for at least one workpiece, which are coupled together by means of a connecting device, and wherein a guide region with a travel space for the chassis is present outside the treatment space, which guide region is connected to the treatment space through a connecting passage such that the chassis of a transport trolley can move in the travel space, while the fastening device is entrained in the treatment space and the connecting device extends through the connecting passage, wherein
the travel space is defined by a travel space housing; and
a gas device is present, which is set up such that a throughflow gas is fed to the travel space and at least a major part of the throughflow gas is again discharged from the travel space as an exhaust gas, without the exhaust gas reaching the treatment space through the connecting passage.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the throughflow gas flows through the travel space with one directional component transverse to a direction of movement of the transport trollies.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the throughflow gas flows through the travel space with one directional component parallel to a direction of movement of the transport trollies.

13. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the travel space housing features one or more gas inlet ports and one or more gas outlet ports.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein a volumetric flow rate of the throughflow gas can be adjusted at one or more gas inlet ports and/or a volumetric flow rate of the exhaust gas can be adjusted at one or more gas outlet ports.

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein
a) one or more gas inlet ports are connected to a feed pipe system of a feed system, through which throughflow gas flows to the gas inlet ports, and the feed system features, in the feed pipe system, an active injection device and/or a passive inlet device;
and/or
b) one or more gas outlet ports are connected to a discharge pipe system of a discharge system, through which the exhaust gas flows away from the gas outlet ports and is discharged, and the discharge system features, in the discharge pipe system, an active suction device and/or a passive outlet device.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein
a) the active injection device comprises one or more feed blowers;
and/or
b) the passive inlet device comprises one or more inlet valve devices by means of which a flow cross section for the throughflow gas can be changed;
and/or
c) the active suction device comprises one or more discharge blowers;
and/or
d) the passive outlet device comprises one or more outlet valve devices by means of which a flow cross section for the exhaust gas from the travel space can be changed.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein
a) a feed blower is connected in each case to a single gas inlet port or in each case to multiple gas inlet ports of the one or more gas inlet ports;
and/or
b) an inlet valve device is connected in each case to a single gas inlet port or in each case to multiple gas inlet ports of the one or more gas inlet ports;
and/or

Assignees

• Eisenmann Se

Inventors

• Von Bargen Jonas

Classifications

• F26B21/50

  Ducting arrangements from the source of air or other gases to the materials or objects being dried · CPC title

• F26B21/37

  Velocity of flow; Quantity of flow · CPC title

• F26B21/25 Primary

  partly outside the drying enclosure · CPC title

• F26B21/208

  by air valves, movable baffles or nozzle arrangements · CPC title

• B05C11/00

  Component parts, details or accessories not specifically provided for in groups B05C1/00 - B05C9/00 (means for manipulating or holding work B05C13/00; enclosures for apparatus, booths B05C15/00; spray booths B05B16/00) · CPC title