Supply device for a sprayer, modules for such a supply device, and application facility of a coating product comprising such a supply device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023264219-A1
Application number	US-202318171349-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 18, 2023
Priority date	Feb 24, 2022
Publication date	Aug 24, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A feeding device for feeding coating and/or cleaning agents to a sprayer has an annular structure and includes an annular plate, a plurality of connection modules, a plurality of function modules and a plurality of inlet modules. Each connection module is removably mounted to bear against one side of the annular plate. Each function module is removably mounted on an outer face of a connection module. Each function module is fluidically coupled to the connection module onto which same is mounted. Each inlet module is removably mounted on an inlet face of a connection module. Each inlet module carries fluidic coupling elements accessible on a face of the inlet module, oriented opposite the connection module on the inlet face of which same is mounted.

First claim

1 . A feeding device, for feeding a coating and/or a cleaning product to a sprayer, the feeding device having an annular structure and comprising:
at least one pilot-operated valve; a conduit for bringing product to said at least one pilot-operated valve; at least one conduit for feeding the sprayer from said at least one pilot-operated valve; an annular plate equipped with through ports; a plurality of connection modules, each connection module being removably mounted, in contact by means of a contact face, against one side of said annular plate, and each connection module comprising at least one inlet conduit for bringing product to said at least one pilot-controlled valve; a plurality of function modules, each function module being removably mounted on an outer face of a connection module distinct from the face of contact thereof with said annular plate, each function module being fluidically coupled to the inlet conduit of the connection module on the outer face of which the function module is mounted, and each function module comprising either at least one pilot-operated valve and at least one conduit, or a section of conduit section intended for being grounded; and a plurality of inlet modules, each inlet module being removably mounted on an inlet face of a connection module opposite the contact face thereof, and each inlet module bearing fluidic coupling elements accessible on a face of the inlet module, oriented opposite the connection module on the inlet face of which the inlet module is mounted.

2 . The feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein bodies of said inlet modules, which are equipped with the fluidic coupling elements, are identical to one another.

3 . The feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one inlet module is provided with a label which bears marks for identifying the fluidic coupling elements thereof.

4 . The feeding device according to claim 3 , wherein the label is affixed to one face of the inlet module which extends the outer face of the connection module onto the inlet face of which the inlet module is mounted.

5 . The feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one function module, and/or said annular plate has a label for identifying valves, conduits or couplings, the label being removably mounted on a fixed part of the function module or of said annular plate.

6 . The feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein each connection module bears at least one function module on the outer face thereof and a single inlet module on the inlet face thereof.

7 . The feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein said connection modules together define an annular structure or a ring-portion structure, within which extends a control circuit which passes through each connection module.

8 . The feeding device according to claim 1 , further comprising parallel bars which support said annular plate, and wherein each connection module and/or each inlet module bears onto a pair of two adjacent parallel bars.

9 . The feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein said annular plate is made of electrically conducting material, and each connection module comprises at least one threaded insert made of electrically conducting material, each threaded insert being configured for receiving a screw for mounting a connection module onto said annular plate and/or onto an adjacent connection module, a function module onto a connection module, or an inlet module onto a connection module, and wherein the screws and the threaded inserts together form an equipotential path between said connection modules, said function modules, said inlet modules and said annular plate.

10 . A connection module forming a spare part for the feeding device according to claim 1 , comprising:
a contact face intended to bear, in a removable manner, against one side of said annular plate; an outer face, distinct from the contact face, for removably receiving at least one function module; and an inlet face opposite the contact face thereof and intended for removably receiving an inlet module.

11 . A function module forming a spare part for the feeding device according to claim 1 , comprising:
at least one pilot-operated valve; at least one internal conduit; and means for removably mounting on an outer face of a connection module.

12 . An inlet module forming a spare part for the feeding device according to claim 1 , comprising:
a first face intended for bearing, in a removable manner, against an inlet face of a connection module; and a second face, opposite the first face and through which inlets of fluidic coupling elements borne by the inlet module are accessible.

13 . An application installation for applying a coating product, comprising:
a robot; and a sprayer mounted on an arm of the robot and fed with a coating product and/or a cleaning product by the feeding device according to claim 1 .

14 . The application installation according to claim 13 , wherein air supply lines for the control of pneumatic valves, a connector and/or power cables for supplying said sprayer with high voltage, pass through or are housed in a central zone of the feeding device defined in said annular plate.

Assignees

• Exel Ind

Inventors

• Vanzetto Denis
• Tarantini Joseph

Classifications

• B05B13/0431 Primary

  with spray heads moved by robots or articulated arms, e.g. for applying liquid or other fluent material to three-dimensional [3D] surfaces · CPC title

• B25J11/0075 Primary

  Manipulators for painting or coating · CPC title

• B05B13/0452 Primary

  the objects being vehicle components, e.g. vehicle bodies · CPC title

• B05B5/0407

  with a spraying edge, e.g. like a cup or a bell · CPC title

• B05B5/053

  Arrangements for supplying power, e.g. charging power · CPC title