IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,026,015
Granted Patent B2
US 7,026,015 · App. 10/400,721 · Granted Apr 11, 2006

Device and method for the surface treatment of workpieces

Assignee: ABB Technology FLB Aktiebolag
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,026,015
App. No.
10/400,721
Granted
Apr 11, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the surface treatment of workpieces ( 12 ) such as vehicle bodies. One such device has a plurality of successive treatment stations ( 1–9 ), a guiding system ( 16, 17 ) having a first guiding section ( 16 ) extending in the region of the treatment stations ( 1–9 ), and a plurality of rotational mounts ( 13 ) which can move individually on said guiding system ( 16, 17 ). Each rotational mount ( 13 ) has a holding device ( 14 ) for at least one workpiece ( 12 ) and a rotational axis ( 15 ) which is arranged in such a way that the workpeice ( 12 ) in the holding device ( 14 ) can be brought into, or taken out of, one of the treatment stations ( 1–9 ) by rotation about the rotational axis ( 15 ).

Claims (37)

1. System for the surface treatment of workpieces ( 12 ), comprising:

a plurality of successive treatment stations ( 1 to 9 ),

a guiding system having a first guiding section ( 16 ) disposed in the region of the treatment stations ( 1 to 9 ), and

a plurality of rotational mounts ( 13 ) which can move individually on the guiding section ( 16 ), each of which is provided with a holding device ( 14 ) for at least one workpiece ( 12 ) and which has a rotational axis ( 15 ) extending parallel to the direction of movement of workpieces ( 12 ), and arranged

such that the workpiece ( 12 ) can be brought into one of the treatment stations ( 1 to 9 ) and moved out of it by turning about the rotational axis ( 15 ).

2. System according to claim 1 , characterized in that each rotational mount ( 13 ) is equipped with its own drive for moving the rotational mount ( 13 ) along the guiding section ( 16 ).

3. System according to claim 2 , characterized in that each rotational mount ( 13 ) is equipped with its own drive for performing the turn about the rotational axis ( 15 ).

4. System according to claim 2 , characterized in that the guiding system has a second guiding section ( 17 ) which forms a closed loop with the first guiding section ( 16 ).

5. System according to claim 1 , characterized in that each rotational mount ( 13 ) is equipped with its own drive for performing the turn about the rotational axis ( 15 ).

6. System according to claim 1 , characterized in that each rotational mount ( 13 ) has a drive which may optionally be used by a switching device to move the rotational mount ( 13 ) along the guiding section ( 16 ) or for carrying out the turn about the rotational axis ( 15 ).

7. System according to claim 1 , characterized in that the guiding system has a second guiding section ( 17 ) which forms a closed loop with the first guiding section ( 16 ).

8. System according to claim 7 , characterized in that the second guiding section ( 17 ) of the guiding system for returning the rotational mounts ( 13 ) runs from an output region to an input region of the system above, below or laterally to the treatment stations ( 1 to 9 ).

9. System according to claim 1 , characterized in that the guiding system is formed as a rail ( 16 ).

10. System according to claim 1 , characterized in that each rotational mount ( 13 ) has a lever arm coupled with the rotational axis ( 15 ) which interacts with a stationary lever guidance such that the rotary motion is effected by a longitudinal travel of the rotational mount ( 13 ) in the guiding section ( 16 ).

11. System according to claim 1 , characterized in that a feeding device, by which the workpieces ( 12 ) may be mounted on the rotational mounts ( 13 ), and a take-up device are present, by which the treated workpieces ( 12 ) may be taken out from the rotational mounts ( 13 ).

12. System according to claim 1 , characterized in that the rotational mounts ( 13 ) are equipped with a power accumulator which stores the energy required for driving the rotational mounts ( 13 ).

13. Method for the surface treatment of the workpieces ( 12 ) in a system for the surface treatment of workpieces ( 12 ) according to claim 1 , comprising the steps of

providing the system for the surface treatment of workpieces ( 12 ) according to claim 1 ; moving the rotational mounts ( 13 ) independently of each other to the desired position on a plurality of successive treatment stations ( 1 to 9 ), and

bringing the at least one workpiece ( 12 ) into a treatment station ( 1 to 9 ) or moved out of it by turning the rotational mount ( 13 ) about the rotational axis ( 15 ) during the movement or after standstill of the rotational mount ( 13 ).

14. Method for the surface treatment of workpieces ( 12 ), comprising the steps of

providing moveable rotational mounts ( 13 ) each have one holding device ( 14 ) for at least one workpiece ( 12 ) and a rotational axis ( 15 ) extending parallel to the direction of movement of workpieces ( 12 ),

moving said rotational mounts independently from one another to a desired position on a plurality of successive treatment stations ( 1 to 9 ), and

bringing the at least one workpiece ( 12 ) is brought into a treatment station ( 1 to 9 ) or moved out of it by turning a rotational mount ( 13 ) about the rotational axis ( 15 ) during the movement or after standstill of the rotational mount ( 13 ),

wherein the rotational mounts ( 13 ) are moved on a guiding system ( 16 , 17 ) at various speeds.

15. Method according to claim 14 , characterized in that the rotational mounts ( 13 ) loaded with workpieces ( 12 ) are moved above the treatment stations ( 1 to 9 ) at a lower speed as compared with the speed when the rotational mounts ( 13 ) are returned to a loading station not being loaded with workpieces ( 12 ).

16. Method according to claim 14 , characterized in that the rotational mounts ( 13 ) are moved on the guiding system ( 16 , 17 ) by their own drives.

17. Method for the surface treatment of workpieces ( 12 ), comprising the steps of

providing moveable rotational mounts ( 13 ) each have one holding device ( 14 ) for at least one workpiece ( 12 ) and a rotational axis ( 15 ) extending parallel to the direction of movement of workpieces ( 12 ),

moving said rotational mounts independently from one another to a desired position on a plurality of successive treatment stations ( 1 to 9 ), and

bringing the at least one workpiece ( 12 ) into a treatment station ( 1 to 9 ) or moved out of it by turning a rotational mount ( 13 ) about the rotational axis ( 15 ) during the movement or after standstill of the rotational mount ( 13 ),

characterized in that the rotational mounts ( 13 ) loaded with workpieces ( 12 ) are moved above the treatment stations ( 1 to 9 ) at a lower speed as compared with the speed when the rotational mounts ( 13 ) are returned to a loading station not being loaded with workpieces ( 12 ).

18. Method according to claim 17 , characterized in that the rotational mounts ( 13 ) are moved on a guiding system ( 16 , 17 ) by their own drives.

19. Method for the surface treatment of workpieces ( 12 ), comprising the steps of

providing moveable rotational mounts ( 13 ) each have one holding device ( 14 ) for at least one workpiece ( 12 ) and a rotational axis ( 15 ) extending parallel to the direction of movement of the workpieces ( 12 ),

moving said rotational mounts independently from one another to a desired position on a plurality of successive treatment stations ( 1 to 9 ), and

the at least one workpiece ( 12 ) into a treatment station ( 1 to 9 ) or moved out of it by turning a rotational mount ( 13 ) about the rotational axis ( 15 ) during the movement or after standstill of the rotational mount ( 13 ),

characterized in that the rotational mounts ( 13 ) are moved on a guiding system ( 16 , 17 ) by their own drives.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 28, 2003
From: KREUZER, BERND
To: ABB TECHNOLOGY FLB AKTIEBOLAG
Reel/Frame 014326/0674 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 100 47 968 · Sep 27, 2000 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP010918800 · Sep 27, 2000
Related Publication 20030213429A1 · Nov 20, 2003