Method of applying metallic paint

A method of applying a metallic paint to an object conveyed by means of a conveyor, by reciprocating one or more rotary atomizing electrostatic painting machines at right angles to the direction in which the object is conveyed. The speed of the reciprocation of the painting machines is controlled according to the speed of the conveyor so that the pitch between the adjacent orbits of the strokes of the reciprocation of the machines drawn on the object may become a predetermined value.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a method of applying a metallic paint 
using a rotary atomizing electrostatic painting machine and, more 
particularly, to a method of applying a metallic paint by reciprocating a 
painting machine at right angles to the direction in which an object to be 
painted is conveyed at a constant speed. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Since rotary atomizing electrostatic paint spraying can apply paint at a 
higher transfer efficiency than air atomizing electrostatic spraying and 
airless atomizing electrostatic spraying, it has often been used to paint 
automotive bodies and the like in recent years. 
FIG. 4 shows the conventional rotary atomizing electrostatic spray 
equipment. The body of this equipment is indicated by numeral 1. A rotor 3 
is supported by an air bearing 2 inside the body 1 and extends out through 
the body 1. An atomizing head 4 is firmly fixed to the front end of the 
rotor 3 which is located outside the body 1. A head member 5 is mounted to 
the front end of the body 1 and provided with a multiplicity of blowoff 
holes 6 for ejecting shaping air toward the outer fringe of the atomizing 
head 4. A paint supply tube 7 extends along the axis of the body in such a 
way that it is not in contact with the rotor 3. 
In the operation of the conventional rotary atomizing electrostatic spray 
equipment constructed as described above, the atomizing head 4 is spun at 
a high speed by a drive means (not shown) and, at the same time, a high 
voltage is applied to the head 4. Under this condition, a paint is 
supplied through the paint supply tube 7. Then, the paint flows out to the 
front surface of the head 4 from a hole 4a formed in the head 4, runs 
across the front surface, and shifts to the outer periphery. Then, the 
paint is atomized by centrifugal force. Concurrently, the atomized paint 
is electrically charged and travels toward the object to be painted. At 
this time, the paint is applied in the desired pattern by the shaping air 
ejected from the blowoff holes 6. 
It is known that where a metallic paint including fragments of aluminum or 
mica is applied using the above-described rotary atomizing electrostatic 
spray equipment, the appearance of the finished object is much darker than 
the case in which it is painted by the use of an air atomizing spray 
machine. This phenomenon is understood in the manner described now. Since 
the particles of the paint are applied to the target surface mainly by 
electrostatic force, the speed of the paint particles colliding against 
the sprayed surface is lesser than in the air atomizing electrostatic 
spraying. Therefore, the fragments of aluminum or mica do not easily 
orient themselves parallel to the sprayed surface. Japanese Patent 
Laid-Open No. 315361/1989 discloses a painting method which solves the 
above problem. In particular, the pressure created by shaping air is 
increased to increase the speeds at which the paint particles collide 
against the object to be painted, for enhancing the lightness of the 
surface sprayed with the metallic paint. This technique yields 
considerably satisfactory results. 
Another painting method has been used in which a painting machine is 
reciprocated perpendicularly to the direction of conveyance of a painted 
object conveyed at a constant speed. This method is disclosed, for 
example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 165064/1982 and 255170/1985. In 
this reciprocating painting method, the reciprocating painting machine 
draws a sinusoidal orbit on the sprayed surface of the painted object, as 
shown in FIG. 5. This method permits an object having a wide painted area 
such as an automotive body to be painted efficiently. 
Accordingly, where an object having a wide coated area is painted with a 
metallic paint through the use of a rotary atomizing electrostatic 
spraying machine, this machine, of course, must be reciprocated. 
However, in the painting method disclosed in the above cited Japanese 
Patent Laid-Open No. 315361/1989, the pressure created by the shaping air 
is increased. As a result, a negative pressure is produced ahead of the 
atomizing head. The particles of the paint are attracted into the region 
where this negative pressure is developed. This reduces the width of the 
pattern in which the paint is applied. This reduction in the width of the 
depositional pattern means an improvement of the transfer efficiency of 
the paint. If the aforementioned painting method is directly applied to 
the reciprocating painting to spray a metallic paint, and if the speed of 
the conveyor varies at all, then the boundary between the adjacent orbits 
drawn by the spraying machine becomes conspicuous. That is, so-called 
nonuniform paint spraying tends to occur. It substantially follows that 
the utilization of this method is urged to be abandoned. Japanese Utility 
Model Laid-Open No. 13557/1987 discloses another rotary atomizing 
electrostatic spraying machine in which shaping air is tilted outward 
about the axis of the atomizing head to widen the spraying pattern. This 
machine also inevitably produces a negative pressure ahead of the 
atomizing head. Therefore, this machine is unsuccessful in essentially 
solving the above-described problem. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing problem with the prior art techniques, it is an 
object of the present invention to provide a method of painting an object 
with a metallic paint by the use of a rotary atomizing electrostatic 
painting machine in such a way that the produced paint film is certainly 
prevented from becoming nonuniform even if the machine is reciprocated and 
if the pressure of the shaping air is increased. 
The above object is achieved by a method of applying a metallic paint, said 
method comprising the steps of: reciprocating at least one rotary 
atomizing electrostatic painting machine at right angles to the direction 
in which an object to be painted is conveyed by a conveyor; detecting the 
speed of the conveyor by a sensor; and controlling the speed of the 
reciprocation of the painting machine according to the speed detected by 
the sensor in such a way that the pitch S between the adjacent orbits of 
the strokes of the reciprocation of the machine becomes a predetermined 
value. 
In one feature of the present invention, the number of said at least one 
rotary atomizing electrostatic painting machine which reciprocates as 
described above is arbitrary. Either one or plural painting machines can 
be used. In the latter case, the machines are arranged either in the 
direction of the conveyance of the object to be painted or perpendicularly 
to this direction of conveyance. Where the machines are arranged in the 
direction of the conveyance of the object, the pitch between the adjacent 
orbits of the strokes of the reciprocating motion is controlled to the 
predetermined value. 
In another feature of the invention, no limitations are imposed to the 
posture of the at least one rotary atomizing electrostatic painting 
machine. For instance, the machine can be reciprocated horizontally while 
it faces downward. Also, the machine can be reciprocated vertically while 
it is kept horizontal. Where the machine is reciprocated horizontally, it 
can paint horizontal surfaces such as the hood and the roof of an 
automotive body. Where the machine is reciprocated vertically, it can 
paint side surfaces such as the surfaces of side members and door surfaces 
of an automotive body. 
In a further feature of the invention, any arbitrary means can be adopted 
to reciprocate the rotary atomizing electrostatic painting machine. One 
example of this means is a reciprocator comprising a disk-shaped rotary 
cam and an electric motor which rotates the cam. The rotary movement of 
the motor is transformed into a rectilinear motion and transmitted to the 
painting machine. Another example is a reciprocator comprising an electric 
motor and a chain that is driven by the motor. The painting machine is 
carried on the chain. This motor is rotated forward and rearward to cause 
the machine to make rectilinear motion. In either case, the rotational 
speed of the motor is changed into a different speed to control the speed 
of the reciprocating motion of the painting machine. 
In the novel method of applying a metallic paint in the manner as described 
above, the speed of the reciprocating motion of the rotary atomizing 
electrostatic painting machine is controlled according to the speed of the 
conveyor such that the pitch between the neighboring orbits of the strokes 
of the reciprocating motion of the machine becomes the predetermined 
value. Therefore, if the pressure of the shaping air is increased to 
thereby reduce the width of the depositional pattern, the resulting paint 
film can be prevented from becoming nonuniform. 
Other objects and features of the invention will appear in the course of 
the description thereof which follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to FIG. 1, the body of an automobile is indicated by numeral 11. 
The side surfaces of this automotive body 11 are painted with a metallic 
paint by a method according to the invention. The body 11 is carried on a 
carriage 12 which is conveyed on a given conveyor line by a conveyor 13. A 
rotary atomizing electrostatic painting machine 14 is similar in structure 
to the painting machine already described in connection with FIG. 4. This 
machine 14 has an atomizing head 14a that is pointed at the side surface 
11a of the automotive body 11 on the conveyor line. The machine 14 is 
connected to a support arm 16 by a shaft 17. The arm 16 has a rear portion 
driven by a chain 15. 
The chain 15 is trained around a pair of sprockets 18 which are spaced 
apart from each other vertically. One of the sprockets is driven by an 
electric motor 19 to rotate the chain 15 right or left. The support arm 16 
is connected to one side of the chain 15 such that the arm is placed 
horizontally. Operation of the motor 19 rotates the chain 15 right or left 
to move the connected portion upward or downward. The painting machine 14 
follows this movement and makes reciprocating movement. The machine 14 is 
connected with a moving member 21 via a link 22. This moving member 21 
moves along a guide rail 20 which is curved in conformity with the 
curvature of the side-surface 11a of the automotive body 11. The posture 
of the machine is so controlled that the atomizing head 14a faces toward 
the side surface 11a of the automotive body 11 throughout the 
reciprocating movement described above. 
In the painting system described above, the automotive body 11 is conveyed 
at a certain speed by the conveyor 13. The motor 19 is operated to drive 
the chain 15, thus moving the painting machine 14 back and forth. The 
center of the atomizing head 14a of the reciprocating machine 14 draws a 
sinusoidal pattern on the sprayed surface of the body 11, as shown in FIG. 
2. In the present example, the pitch S between the adjacent orbits of the 
strokes of the reciprocating movement is controlled to a predetermined 
value. For this purpose, a sensor 25 for detecting the speed of the 
conveyance of the automotive body 11, or the speed of the conveyor 13, and 
a control unit 26 are installed separately from the painting machine. The 
output signal from the sensor 15 is supplied to the control unit 26 which 
delivers a signal for controlling the rotational speed of the motor 19. 
The control unit 26 comprises a calculator 27, a D/A converter 28 that 
converts the output digital signal from the calculator 27 into analog 
form, and an inverter 29. The calculator 27 receives the output signal 
from the sensor 25 and performs arithmetic operations described later. The 
inverter 29 produces a signal for providing control of the rotational 
speed of the motor 19 according to the output signal from the D/A 
converter 28. An ideal pitch S between the strokes of the reciprocation 
has been previously stored in the calculator 27. The calculator 27 
calculates the speed R of the reciprocation (the number of strokes per 
minute) of the painting machine 14 according to the formula R=C/S from the 
pitch S (cm) between the strokes of the reciprocation and from the speed C 
(cm/min.) of the conveyor detected by the sensor 25, and delivers a signal 
corresponding to the calculated speed R of the reciprocation to the D/A 
converter 28. The sensor 25 can be replaced by a pulse generator which 
produces pulses in response to the movement of the conveyor. In this case, 
the function of calculating the conveyor speed from the number of pulses 
is imparted to the calculator 27. 
In the present example, the pressure of the shaping air ejected from the 
painting machine 14 is set high enough to match the spraying of the 
metallic paint. The pitch S of the reciprocation which is ideal for 
painting under this condition is previously found empirically. This value 
is stored in the calculator 27 of the control unit 26. 
During the painting operation, the speed C of the conveyor 13 is monitored 
by the sensor 25. The output signal from the sensor 25 is supplied to the 
calculator 27 of the control unit 26. The calculator 27 computes the speed 
R of the reciprocation of the painting machine 14 according to the 
aforementioned formula R=C/S, and produces a signal corresponding to this 
reciprocation speed R to the D/A converter 28. This digital signal is 
converted into analog form by the converter 28 and sent to the inverter 
29. The output signal from the inverter 29 controls the rotational speed 
of the motor 19. As a result, the painting machine 14 reciprocates at the 
speed R with the predetermined pitch S relative to the automotive body 11 
conveyed by the conveyor 13. Under this condition, a metallic paint is 
supplied into the painting machine 14. It follows that the adjacent orbits 
of the strokes of the reciprocation of the machine on the side surface 11a 
of the automotive body 11 overlap with each other adequately. The produced 
paint film is prevented from becoming nonuniform. 
In the above example, only one painting machine 14 is used to apply a 
paint. The present invention is also applicable to the case in which a 
plurality of painting machines are regularly spaced from each other in the 
direction of the conveyance of the automotive body 11 to perform a 
painting operation using the plural machines simultaneously. We now give 
an example in which two painting machines A and B are employed to apply a 
paint. The interval P between the two machines is set to a value three 
times as large as the reciprocation pitch S, i.e., P=3S. The orbits of the 
strokes of the reciprocation of the two machines A and B overlap with each 
other with the pitch S of the reciprocation as shown in FIG. 3. At this 
time, the speed R' of the reciprocation of the painting machines A and B 
can be found from the equation R'=3C/2P. An ideal reciprocation pitch S 
and the interval P between the two machines A and B are previously stored 
in the calculator 27, and the speed R' is calculated according to the 
formula R'=3C/2P. Simultaneously with the start of the painting operation, 
the two painting machines A and B reciprocate at the speed R' with the 
predetermined reciprocation pitch S. This prevents the produced paint film 
from becoming nonuniform in the same way as in the above example.