Abstract:
To provide an intermediate storage unit for the intermediate storage of objects to be painted in the form of vehicle bodies and/or parts of vehicle bodies and/or for the transport of objects to be painted in the form of vehicle bodies and/or parts of vehicle bodies from one process section of a paint shop to another process section of the paint shop, which allows the objects to be painted to also be stored in the intermediate storage unit over a lengthy period of time, e.g. during a shift change, overnight or over a weekend, without impairment to the quality of the painting of the objects to be painted, it is proposed that the intermediate storage unit is configured as a clean-room area.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation application of PCT/EP2009/059102 filed Jul. 15, 2009, the entire specification of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an intermediate storage unit for the intermediate storage of objects to be painted in the form of vehicle bodies and/or parts of vehicle bodies and/or for the transport of objects to be painted in the form of vehicle bodies and/or parts of vehicle bodies from one process section of a paint shop to another process section of the paint shop. 
         [0003]    In this case, the parts of vehicle bodies can be in particular driver&#39;s cabins for lorries. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    The building dimensions of a paint shop for painting vehicle bodies are determined by the necessary process devices for painting the bodies such as, for example, dipping plants, driers, spray booths and work spaces, and also by the necessary transport and ventilation installations including the supply of materials and environmental management for waste water, waste materials and exhaust air. 
         [0005]    In this case, only the position of the process devices within the paint shop can be changed and not their dimensions. 
         [0006]    The transport installations are not themselves used for the surface treatment of the vehicle bodies, but solely for transporting the bodies between the individual process sections and/or for performing necessary functions such as colour sorting of the bodies and emptying process sections. 
         [0007]    In the paint shops known hitherto these transport installations are without exception erected on previously defined floor levels within the paint shop. These floor levels must be provided in the building of the paint shop. 
         [0008]    The position of the temporary storage areas for colour sorting and emptying process sections is determined both by the process sequence and by the free spaces available in the paint shop. The storage areas are arranged on a plurality of levels in order to keep the floor area of the paint shop building as small as possible. 
         [0009]    In the known paint shops the ventilation installations are erected on steel platforms specially provided for them or even on special floor levels of the paint shop (penthouse) inside the paint shop building. 
         [0010]    Pretreatment units and units for cataphoretic dip coating (abbreviated in the following to “CDC”) are usually erected on two levels. In this case the heavy dip tanks filled with process liquid generally are located above the respective associated containers. Heavy steel platforms or concrete ceilings are required for this. 
         [0011]    The driers and their heating units constantly emit heat to the surrounding area as a result of their radiant heat. This undesirable, but unavoidable, input of heat into the building of the paint shop must not have a negative influence on the work spaces. Therefore, in the known paint shops the driers and their heating units are respectively erected on platforms or building levels above the work spaces. 
         [0012]    To be able to perform the transport- and plant-related functions of the paint shop, the paint shop building in known paint shops is erected over up to four levels and also on a substantially larger floor area than would be necessary for the painting processes alone. 
         [0013]    The paint shop building must be designed statically according to the loads that are necessary as a result of the plant installations and transport installations with the bodies transported thereon as well as the steel or concrete levels necessary for erection. 
         [0014]    Dangerous areas are caused in the paint shop as a result of the transport of bodies in the paint shop and also the necessary moving transport installations for these such as e.g. hoisting stations, shuttle wagons, swivel tables or turntables. Therefore, safety installations must be provided on a large scale in order to comply with the corresponding legal requirements and to exclude risks to people. 
         [0015]    Compromises have to be made in many cases in designs of escape routes from the known paint shops because of the complexity of the paint shop building. 
         [0016]    The scheduling times in the erection of known paint shops are determined by the multistorey design of the buildings and the therefore difficult assembly and commissioning of the plant installations. 
         [0017]    Patent document DE 103 50 846 A1 discloses a processing assembly for the production of motor vehicles with a processing area, which consists of a base body finishing area, a painting area and an assembly area, and with a single central body storage unit as body logistics centre, into which bodies with different finishing status can be stored. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    The object forming the basis of the present invention is to provide an intermediate storage unit for the intermediate storage of objects to be painted of the aforementioned type, which allows the objects to be painted to also be stored in the intermediate storage unit over a lengthy period of time, e.g. during a shift change, overnight or over a weekend, without impairment to the quality of the painting of the objects to be painted. 
         [0019]    This object is achieved according to the invention with an intermediate storage unit for the intermediate storage of objects to be painted with the features of the preamble of claim  1  in that the intermediate storage unit is configured as a clean-room area. 
         [0020]    As a result of the configuration of the intermediate storage unit as a clean-room area, dirt and dust are prevented from moving from other areas of the paint shop to the objects to be painted located in the intermediate storage unit. 
         [0021]    As a result, the objects to be painted stored in the intermediate storage unit are protected from dust deposits, which simplifies the subsequent process steps. 
         [0022]    The intermediate storage unit according to the invention can be configured, for example, as a high-bay storage unit. 
         [0023]    To prevent the objects to be painted located in the intermediate storage unit from being fouled with contaminants from other areas of the paint shop, it can be provided that the intermediate storage unit is provided with a housing, which separates the intermediate storage unit from the building interior of a building shell, in which the intermediate storage unit (and other components of the paint shop, if necessary,) is arranged. 
         [0000]    In a preferred configuration of the intermediate storage unit it is provided that an excess air pressure (relative to the air pressure prevailing in the surrounding area of the intermediate storage unit) can be generated inside the intermediate storage unit. In this way, air can only flow out of the intermediate storage unit into the surrounding area and not from the surrounding area into the intermediate storage unit, thus preventing the introduction of contaminants into the intermediate storage unit by means of air flowing in from the surrounding area. 
         [0024]    To keep the exchange of air between the interior of the intermediate storage unit and its surrounding area as low as possible, it can be provided that the intermediate storage unit comprises at least one entry tunnel, through which objects to be painted can be transported into the interior of the intermediate storage unit, and/or comprises at least one exit tunnel, through which objects to be painted can be transported out of the intermediate storage unit. 
         [0025]    In a preferred configuration of the intermediate storage unit it is provided that this comprises at least one entry tunnel and at least one exit tunnel, wherein at least one entry tunnel and at least one exit tunnel of the intermediate storage unit lie on different levels. By moving transport-related functions into the intermediate storage unit, the extent of the transport installations required in the building shell of the paint shop outside the intermediate storage unit is significantly reduced. 
         [0026]    To separate the ventilation installations of the interior of the intermediate storage unit from the surrounding area of the intermediate storage unit, it is additionally favourable if the intermediate storage unit comprises at least one lock chamber and at least one device for generating an air current through the lock chamber. 
         [0027]    In this case, the air current passing through the lock chamber can be guided in particular in a recirculation circuit. 
         [0028]    Such a lock chamber can be provided in particular in an entry tunnel and/or an exit tunnel of the intermediate storage unit. 
         [0029]    If the intermediate storage unit has at least one storage bay, which is provided with a cover to protect an object to be painted arranged on a storage space of the intermediate storage unit, this ensures that an object to be painted arranged on the storage space of the intermediate storage unit is protected from any falling dirt. 
         [0030]    Such a cover can comprise in particular a covering film or protective film. 
         [0031]    Such a covering film or protective film can be made in particular from a suitable plastic material, e.g. from a polyethylene material. 
         [0032]    The cover used preferably complies with the applicable fire protection regulations. 
         [0033]    The intermediate storage unit according to the invention is suitable in particular for use in a paint shop for painting objects to be painted in the form of vehicle bodies and/or parts of vehicle bodies, in particular driver&#39;s cabins for lorries. 
         [0034]    Such a paint shop preferably comprises a building shell, which encloses a building interior, in which at least one treatment area for treatment of an object to be painted and the at least one intermediate storage unit are arranged, wherein the intermediate storage unit is configured as a clean-room area separated from the remaining building interior. 
         [0035]    In a preferred configuration of the paint shop it is provided that the paint shop comprises a first transport level, on which objects to be painted can be transported through at least one open treatment area, and at least a second transport level, from which objects to be painted can be dipped into at least one dip tank, wherein at least one object to be painted can be transported from one transport level of the paint shop into the intermediate storage unit and can later be transported out of the intermediate storage unit into another transport level of the paint shop. 
         [0036]    In this case, the transport levels, from which the object to be painted is transported into the intermediate storage unit and into which the object to be painted is transported out of the intermediate storage unit, can be the same as the first or second transport level of the paint shop or, if necessary, also comprise further transport levels of the paint shop. 
         [0037]    The first and the second transport level of the paint shop lie on different levels in relation to the floor of the building shell of the paint shop. 
         [0000]    The first transport level preferably lies below the second transport level of the paint shop. 
         [0038]    The vertical spacing of the second transport level in relation to the first transport level is preferably greater than the greatest height of the objects to be painted. 
         [0039]    The vertical spacing between the second transport level and the first transport level preferably amounts to at least about 4 m. 
         [0040]    It is particularly favourable if the first transport level lies on the level of the ground floor level of the building shell of the paint shop. 
         [0041]    As a result of the above-described configuration of the paint shop, the paint shop is of a simple and clearly arranged structure, requires comparatively few transport-related installations and can be produced at a low expense in time and materials. 
         [0042]    The intermediate storage unit according to the invention can be arranged between at least two process sections of the paint shop so that at least one process section terminates at the intermediate storage unit and at least one subsequent process section starts at the intermediate storage unit. 
         [0043]    One or more of the following transport-related functions can preferably be performed in the intermediate storage unit:
       objects to be painted can be transported between different transport levels of the paint shop by lifting or lowering the objects to be painted;   objects to be painted can be placed in the intermediate storage unit for storage during emptying of treatment areas of the paint shop;   objects to be painted that are temporarily stored in the intermediate storage unit can be retrieved from the intermediate storage unit for treatment in the process section of the paint shop following the intermediate storage unit;   by changing the sequence of retrieval the objects to be painted in relation to their storage sequence, colour blocks can be formed for the subsequent painting of the objects to be painted by means of the intermediate storage unit;   objects to be painted that are to be subsequently processed can be sorted in a sequence-optimised manner in the intermediate storage unit;   the process sections of the paint shop located before or after the intermediate storage unit in the direction of passage of the objects to be painted can be decoupled from one another in the case of plant failures;   in addition, the process sections of the paint shop located before or after the intermediate storage unit in the direction of passage of the objects to be painted can be decoupled from one another in the case of different work times in the different process sections.       
 
         [0051]    The intermediate storage unit preferably comprises a plurality of storage bays for objects to be painted that can be selectively filled. In this case, the retrieval sequence of the objects to be painted can be changed in relation to the storage sequence of the objects to be painted in order to form colour blocks and/or to sort objects to be painted to be subsequently processed in a sequence-optimised manner. 
         [0052]    It is additionally possible to store those objects to be painted that are the next ones to be retrieved from the intermediate storage unit as closely as possible to a retrieval position of the intermediate storage unit. 
         [0053]    It is particularly favourable if objects to be painted on the second transport level can be transported through at least one drier of the paint shop. In this case, the heating units for heating the drier can be erected below the driers on the first transport level, preferably on the ground floor level of the building shell (height 0.0 m). 
         [0054]    It is preferred if at least one object to be painted can be transported out of a drier on the second transport level into the intermediate storage unit. As a result of this, the freshly painted and dried object immediately reaches the clean-room area in the interior of the intermediate storage unit before dust can be deposited on the object. 
         [0055]    It is additionally favourable if objects to be painted on the second transport level can be transported through at least one paint spray booth. In this case, the respective paint spray booth can be erected on a steel-framed platform, the platform level of which is consistent with the minimum structural height required for the paint spray wash-out unit. The paint spray wash-out unit can be arranged directly below the paint spray booth on the first transport level, preferably on the ground floor level of the building shell (height 0.0 m). The paint sludge disposal unit is preferably arranged in pits below the spray booth. 
         [0056]    It is additionally favourable if objects to be painted on the first transport level can be transported through at least one underseal application unit. Work places for human workers that are particularly easy to reach on the first transport level, preferably on the ground floor level of the building shell (height 0.0 m), are located in such an underseal application unit. 
         [0057]    The escape routes can also be kept particularly short when the work spaces for human workers are arranged on the first transport level. 
         [0058]    It is additionally favourable if at least one separation device for separating paint overspray from the exhaust air of a paint spray booth and/or at least one device for disposing of the paint sludge are arranged on the first transport level. 
         [0059]    In this case, a paint spray booth can be arranged directly above the separation device for separating paint overspray from the exhaust air of the paint spray booth and/or directly above the device for disposing of paint sludge on the second transport level of the paint shop. 
         [0060]    It is additionally favourable if at least one air supply unit for supplying at least one paint spray booth with inlet air is arranged on the first transport level. 
         [0061]    Because of the arrangement on the first transport level, the air supply unit is particularly easy to access for maintenance purposes (for a filter change, for example) and/or for repairs. 
         [0062]    The air supply unit is preferably arranged on the ground floor level of the building shell (height 0.0 m). The air supply unit can be connected to a spray booth supplied by the air supply unit with inlet air by means of an air inlet duct. 
         [0063]    It can also be provided that the paint shop comprises at least one exhaust air unit for removing exhaust air from at least one paint-spray booth, wherein the exhaust air unit is arranged outside the building shell on the level of the first transport level, preferably on the ground floor level of the building shell (height 0.0 m). Such an exhaust air unit can be connected to the paint-spray booth by means of at least one exhaust air duct, which preferably runs below the ground floor level of the building shell of the paint shop. 
         [0064]    The exhaust air unit can include at least one ventilator. 
         [0065]    Moreover, the exhaust air unit can be connected to an exhaust air flue by means of at least one further duct. 
         [0066]    In a preferred configuration of the paint shop it is provided that at least one heating unit for heating at least one drier is arranged on the first transport level. As a result of this, the heating units do not have to be erected on platforms or additional building levels above the work spaces. 
         [0067]    It is particularly favourable if all the process devices of the paint shop, i.e. all the devices, with which a treatment of the objects to be painted is conducted (treatment devices) or which are necessary for operation of these treatment devices, are assembled from the first transport level. 
         [0068]    As process devices in the sense of this description and the attached claims, dip tanks, driers, cooling zones, spray booths, sealing work spaces, underseal application units, inspection work spaces and finishing work preparation work spaces in particular are considered as treatment devices and also heating units, air supply units and paint spray wash-out units are considered as devices necessary for operation of these treatment devices. 
         [0069]    Transport devices are not considered as process devices of the paint shop in this description and in the attached claims. 
         [0000]    It is particularly favourable if at least one associated container of at least one dip tank is arranged next to the respective dip tank on the first transport level. 
         [0070]    Cylindrical upright containers are preferably to be used, since these are easier to manufacture and clean. 
         [0071]    It is particularly favourable if the paint shop does not have any further floor levels besides the first transport level on the ground floor level of the building shell. 
         [0072]    It is also advantageous if the paint shop comprises at least two intermediate storage units, by means of which objects to be painted can be transported from one transport level of the paint shop onto another transport level of the paint shop. 
         [0073]    In this case, the at least two intermediate storage units can be configured in particular as two decentralised high-bay storage units. 
         [0074]    By moving transport-related functions into the intermediate storage unit, the extent of transport installations required in the building shell of the paint shop outside the intermediate storage unit is significantly reduced. 
         [0075]    Moreover, the process sections of the paint shop can be configured so that each process section terminates at an intermediate storage unit and/or starts at an intermediate storage unit. 
         [0076]    The paint shop according to the invention is particularly easy to set up if every process device of the paint shop, i.e. every device, with which a treatment of the objects to be painted is conducted (treatment device) or which is necessary for operation of such a treatment device, is arranged either on the first transport level or is arranged on a framework, which extends upwards from a floor of the building shell arranged on the first transport level. In this case, there is no necessity to provide additional floor levels in the building shell of the paint shop besides the ground floor level. 
         [0077]    A particularly favourable layout of the process sections of the paint shop is obtained if at least one intermediate storage unit is arranged directly adjacent to a wall of the building shell. 
         [0078]    When a plurality of intermediate storage units are provided, these are preferably all arranged adjacent to the same external wall of the building shell. 
         [0079]    In a preferred configuration of the paint shop it is provided that all the process devices of the paint shop, i.e. all devices, with which a treatment of the objects to be painted is conducted (treatment devices) or which are necessary for operation of these treatment devices, is arranged either on the first transport level or on the second transport level of the paint shop. A particularly simple structure of the transport route of the objects to be painted through the paint shop is achieved as a result of this. 
         [0080]    In this case, the paint shop can also comprise further transport levels besides the first transport level, in particular a third transport level. However, in this case only transport devices of the paint shop and no process devices of the paint shop are arranged on this third transport level. 
         [0081]    The solution according to the invention allows a “lean” paint shop to be erected with a low equipment expenditure and small space requirement. 
         [0082]    A paint shop according to the invention can have the following advantages in particular: 
         [0083]    Because of the configuration of a paint shop according to the invention the volume of the building required for the paint shop is reduced to the dimension necessary for the painting process alone. 
         [0084]    Since only one building shell without additional floor levels is required, the structure of the building of the paint shop is simplified and cost reductions area achieved as a result. 
         [0085]    The extent of the transport-related installations necessary in the paint shop is significantly reduced. 
         [0086]    Compared to the conventional structure, additional transport levels with the steel structure, walkways, fire protection installations, lighting and ventilation systems necessary for these, are rendered unnecessary in the paint shop. 
         [0087]    The number and extent of protection installations for people can be significantly reduced as a result of the clearly arranged structure of the paint shop. 
         [0088]    The maintenance expenses are reduced as a result of the substantial reduction of the number of drive motors and sensor systems for the transport installations and also because of the significantly reduced distances as a result of the centralisation of the transport-related installations in the intermediate storage unit. 
         [0089]    The availability of the transport installations is clearly increased because of the significant reduction of the number of drive motors and sensor systems for the transport installations. 
         [0090]    A clear cost reduction is achieved as a result of the simplification of the building structure and the plant technology. 
         [0091]    The energy consumption is reduced as a result of the smaller number of drive motors for the transport installations. 
         [0092]    A further reduction in energy consumption results from a reduced expenditure for the lighting and ventilation of the building shell. 
         [0093]    In a paint shop according to the invention a plurality of identical process devices can be combined in connected areas of the first transport level, in which no process devices of a different type are arranged. 
         [0094]    A strict division of the interior of the paint shop into different function areas is achieved as a result of this. The areas for work spaces, machine areas and process areas no longer overlap one another. 
         [0095]    The interfaces between the building technology and the plant technology as well as within the plant technology, which comprises the steel structure, energy supply, ventilation installations and fire protection, are substantially simplified. 
         [0096]    Since only one building shell without any further functions needs to be built, the set-up of the building for the paint shop is substantially simplified and the completion times for the erection of the paint shop can be reduced. 
         [0097]    The assembly of the plant installations is clearly simpler if all the plants, in particular all the process devices, can be assembled from the 0.0 m level (ground floor level of the building shell). 
         [0098]    The commissioning of the plant installations is also simpler, since the individual process sections of the paint shop can be set in operation independently of other process sections of the paint shop because of the decoupling by means of the at least one intermediate storage unit. 
         [0099]    The paint shop design according to the invention is suitable in particular for paint shops in the automotive sector. 
         [0100]    Further features and advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description and the drawing representing an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTON OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0101]      FIG. 1  is a schematic plan view of a first transport level of a paint shop for painting vehicle bodies; 
           [0102]      FIG. 2  is a schematic plan view of a second transport level of the paint shop for painting vehicle bodies; 
           [0103]      FIG. 3  is a schematic plan view of a third transport level of the paint shop for painting vehicle bodies; 
           [0104]      FIG. 4  shows a schematic vertical cross-section through the paint shop in the region of a pretreatment dip tank, a CDC dip tank and open sealing work spaces and in the region of spray booths for filler, primer and clear coat, taken along the lines  4 - 4  in  FIGS. 1 to 3 ; 
           [0105]      FIG. 5  shows a schematic vertical cross-section through the paint shop in the region of a pretreatment dip tank, a CDC dip tank, two CDC driers, two underseal application units, two filler driers, a top coat drier, an open finishing work preparation work space, two top coat preparation booths and a further top coat drier, taken along the lines  5 - 5  in  FIGS. 1 to 3 ; 
           [0106]      FIG. 6  shows a schematic vertical cross-section through two high-bay storage units, taken along the lines  6 - 6  in  FIGS. 1 to 3 ; 
           [0107]      FIG. 7  shows a schematic vertical longitudinal section through a region of the paint shop with two high-bay storage units and a filler drier with heating units and cooling zone as well as an entry tunnel to a high-bay storage unit, taken along the lines  7 - 7  in  FIGS. 1 to 3 ; 
           [0108]      FIG. 8  shows a schematic vertical longitudinal section through a region of the paint shop with spray booths for clear coat, an air supply unit for the spray booths and paint coagulation units for water-based paint and solvent-based paint, taken along the lines  8 - 8  in  FIGS. 1 to 3 ; and 
           [0109]      FIG. 9  is a schematic representation of the ventilation installations for a high-bay storage unit of the paint shop with an entry tunnel comprising an entry lock chamber and an air circulation unit for generating an excess pressure in a housing of the high-bay storage unit. 
       
    
    
       [0110]    Identical or functionally equivalent elements are given the same reference numerals in all Figures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0111]    A paint shop for painting vehicle bodies  102  shown in  FIGS. 1 to 9  and given the overall reference  100  comprises a plurality of treatment areas for the surface treatment of the vehicle bodies  102 , which are arranged on a first transport level  104  shown in  FIG. 1  and on a second transport level  106  shown in  FIG. 2  and through which the vehicle bodies  102  to be treated are successively transported. 
         [0112]    Each treatment area is an associated with a process section of the paint shop  100 , which terminates in one of three high-bay storage units  108 ,  110  or  112  of the paint shop  100  serving as intermediate storage unit  107  and/or starts in one of these high-bay storage units  108 ,  110  or  112 . 
         [0113]    The three high-bay storage units  108 ,  110  and  112  are arranged on a first face  114 , shown on the left in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , of a building shell of the paint shop  100  given the overall reference  116 . 
         [0114]    The building shell  116  of the paint shop  100  additionally comprises a second face  118  located opposite the first face  114  and two longitudinal sides  120  and  122  connecting the two faces  114  and  118  to one another as well as a horizontal floor  124  and a horizontal top wall  126  (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). 
         [0115]    The faces  114  and  118  of the paint shop  100  run substantially in a horizontal transverse direction  128  of the paint shop  100 , while the longitudinal sides  120  and  122 —that are configured longer than the faces  114  and  118 —run substantially in a horizontal longitudinal direction  130  of the paint shop running perpendicularly to the transverse direction  128 . 
         [0116]    The faces  114 ,  118 , the longitudinal sides  120 ,  122 , the floor  124  and the top wall  126  of the building shell  116  of the paint shop  100  jointly enclose a building interior  132 , in which are arranged the treatment areas and the high-bay storage units  108 ,  110 ,  112  of the paint shop  100 , through which the vehicle bodies  102  are transported one after the other along a transport route  134 . 
         [0117]    The transport route  134  of the vehicle bodies  102  through the paint shop  100  starts at an entry point  136  located on the second transport level  106  shown in  FIG. 2 . The vehicle bodies  102  from a body shell construction plant enter the paint shop  100  at this location. 
         [0118]    A pretreatment unit  138  with pretreatment dip tank  140  extends from the entry point  136  in the longitudinal direction  130  of the paint shop  100  towards the first face  114 . A turning area  142 , in which the transport direction  144  of the vehicle bodies  102  is rotated 180°, connects to the treatment line  138 . A CDC unit  146  (“CDC” stands for “cataphoretic dip coating”) with at least one CDC dip tank  148 , which extends in the longitudinal direction  130  of the paint shop  100  towards the second face  118 , connects to the turning area  142 . 
         [0119]    A number of, preferably four, substantially cylindrical containers  149  associated with the pretreatment dip tank  140  are arranged on the first transport level  104  next to the pretreatment dip tank  140 . 
         [0120]    A number of preferably two, containers  151  associated with the CDC dip tank  148  are arranged on the first transport level  104  next to the turning area  142 . 
         [0121]    A further turning area  150 , in which the transport direction  144  of the vehicle bodies  102  is once again turned 180°, follows the CDC unit  146 . 
         [0122]    After the turning area  150  the transport route  134  of the vehicle bodies  102  branches into two CDC continuous-flow driers  152 , which extend parallel to one another towards the first face  114  in the longitudinal direction  130  and respectively terminate in a cooling zone  154 . 
         [0123]    An air supply/exhaust air unit  155  for the respective cooling zone  154  is arranged above each cooling zone  154  (see  FIG. 7 ). 
         [0124]    A plurality of heating units  156 , which are located on the first transport level  104  and stand on the floor  124  of the building shell  116 , are respectively arranged below each of the CDC continuous-flow driers  152  (See  FIG. 5 ). 
         [0125]    These heating units  156  supply heated inlet air, which is fed into the drying tunnel of the CDC continuous-flow driers  152 . 
         [0126]    As may be seen from  FIG. 2 , following the cooling zones  154  of the CDC continuous-flow driers  152  is a cross conveyor  158 , which alternately transports vehicle bodies  102  from the two cooling zones  154  to a swivel table  160 , on which the vehicle bodies  102  are swivelled 90° around a vertical axis, so that they are then no longer oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction  130 , but parallel to the transverse direction  128  of the paint shop  100 . 
         [0000]    From the swivel table  160  the vehicle bodies  102  pass through one of two entry tunnels  162  into the first high-bay storage unit  108 , which is separated from the building interior  132  by an airtight housing  164 . 
         [0127]    The high-bay storage unit  108  comprises two storage shelves  166  for vehicle bodies  102 , which extend parallel to the transverse direction  128  of the paint shop  100  and are separated from one another by an aisle  168 , in which two storage and retrieval units  170  are arranged to travel in the transverse direction  128 . 
         [0128]    Each of the storage shelves  166  has a plurality of body storage bays  171 , which are arranged one above the other in a plurality of vertical columns  172  and next to one another in a plurality of horizontal rows  174  (see  FIG. 6 ). 
         [0129]    Two of the bays on the second transport level  106  serve as storage positions  176  for the first high-bay storage unit  108 . The vehicle bodies  102  are transported onto these positions through the entry tunnels  162 . 
         [0130]    One of the two storage and retrieval units  170  respectively picks up a delivered vehicle body  102  from one of these storage positions  176  and transports the vehicle body  102  into a free body storage bay  171  for intermediate storage. 
         [0131]    If the respective vehicle body  102  is to be further processed, it is removed from its body storage bay  171  and transported by a storage and retrieval unit  170  to one of two retrieval positions  178 , which are arranged on the level of the first transport level  104  of the paint shop  100 . 
         [0132]    It is also possible to transport a vehicle body  102  directly from a storage position  176  to a retrieval position  178  of the first high-bay storage unit  108  by means of a storage and retrieval unit  170 . 
         [0133]    From these retrieval positions  178  the vehicle bodies  102  on the first transport level  104  are transported out of the first high-bay storage unit  108  through exit tunnels  180  (see  FIG. 1 ) to swivel tables  182 , on which the orientation of the vehicle bodies  102  is rotated 90° around a vertical axis, so that the vehicle bodies  102  are oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction  130  of the paint shop  100  again. 
         [0134]    The pretreatment unit  138 , the CDC unit  146  and the CDC continuous-flow driers  152  with the cooling zones  154  together form a first process section  184  of the paint shop  100 , which starts at the entry point  136  of the paint shop  100  on the second transport level  106  and terminates at the entry tunnels  162  of the first high-bay storage unit  108  on the second transport level  106 . 
         [0135]    The treatment areas of the first process section  184  are all located on the second transport level  106 . 
         [0136]    From the swivel tables  182  on the first transport level  104  the transport route  134  of the vehicle bodies  102  extends in two parallel lines in the longitudinal direction  130  of the paint shop  100  towards the second face  118  and through a series of open treatment areas or work spaces, namely through a respective CDC inspection area  186 , through a respective seam sealing area  188 , through a respective underseal application unit  190  and through a respective fine sealing area  192  to a cross conveyor  193  and a hoisting assembly  194 . 
         [0137]    The underseal application units  190  comprise both underseal application booths  191  (see  FIG. 5 ) and treatment areas and work spaces open towards the building interior  132 . 
         [0138]    The hoisting assembly  194  transports the vehicle bodies  102  from the first transport level  104  shown in  FIG. 1  onto the second transport level  106  shown in  FIG. 2 . On the second transport level  106  a turning area  196  adjoins the hoisting assembly  194  and has two swivel tables  198 , in which the orientation of the vehicle bodies  102  is respectively rotated 90° around a vertical axis, so that the vehicle bodies  102  are rotated 180° in total in the turning area  196 . 
         [0139]    Adjoining the turning area  196  are a cleaning booth  200  and a filler spray booth  202 , in which the vehicle bodies  102  are provided with a coating of a filler material by means of paint robots. 
         [0140]    After the filler spray booth  202  the transport route  134  of the vehicle bodies  102  branches into two filler continuous-flow driers  204 , which extend parallel to the longitudinal direction  130  of the paint shop  100  towards the first face  114  and respectively terminate in a cooling zone  206 . 
         [0141]    As may best be seen from  FIG. 4 , a paint spray wash-out unit  208  located on the first transport level  104  and standing on the floor  124  of the building shell  116  is arranged under the filler spray booth  202 . 
         [0142]    As can also be seen from  FIG. 4 , an inlet air plenum system  210  is arranged above the filler spray booth  202 . 
         [0143]    An inlet air current is fed by the inlet air plenum system  210  to the filler spray booth  202  located below it and takes up paint overspray in the filler spray booth  202 , which is washed out of the air current in the paint spray wash-out unit  208  located below the filler spray booth  202 . 
         [0144]    As may best be seen from  FIG. 5 , heating units  212  are provided below the filler continuous-flow driers  204  for generating the hot air to be fed to the filler continuous-flow driers  204 . 
         [0145]    The heating units  212  are located on the first transport level  104  of the paint shop  100  and stand on the floor  124  of the building shell  116 . 
         [0146]    A cross conveyor  214 , by means of which the vehicle bodies  102  can be transported to a hoisting assembly  102  after passing through the cooling zones  206 , adjoins the cooling zones  206  of the filler continuous-flow driers  204  in the transport route  134  of the vehicle bodies  102 . 
         [0147]    The hoisting assembly  216  transports the vehicle bodies  102  from the second transport level  106  onto a third transport level  218  of the paint shop  100  shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0148]    The third transport level  218  lies above the second transport level  106 , which in turn lies above the first transport level  104 . 
         [0000]    For example, the third transport level  218  lies at a height of approximately 7.5 m above the floor  124 , while the second transport level  106  lies at a height of approximately 5.0 m above the floor  124  and the first transport level  104  lies at the level of the floor  124 . 
         [0149]    The vehicle bodies  102  are transported by the hoisting assembly  216  to a swivel table  220 , which rotates the vehicle bodies  102  around an angle of 90° around a vertical swivel axis, so that the vehicle bodies  102  are then oriented parallel to the transverse direction  128  of the paint shop  100 . 
         [0150]    In this orientation the vehicle bodies  102  are respectively transported to one of two entry tunnels  222  of the second high-bay storage unit  110 . 
         [0151]    The vehicle bodies  102  pass through the entry tunnels  222  to two storage positions  224  of the second high-bay storage unit  110  (see  FIG. 6 ) located on the level of the third transport level  218 . 
         [0152]    From these storage positions  224  the vehicle bodies  102  are transported by means of two storage and retrieval units  170  of the second high-bay storage unit  110  into a respective vacant body storage bay  171  and set down there. 
         [0153]    For the further treatment of a vehicle body  102  this is transported out of its body storage bay  171  by means of one of the storage and retrieval units  170  to one of two retrieval positions  226  of the second high-bay storage unit  110  located on the level of the second transport level  106  of the paint shop  100 . 
         [0154]    From these retrieval positions  226  the vehicle bodies  102  are respectively transported out of the second high-bay storage unit  110  through one of two exit tunnels  228  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0155]    The CDC inspection areas  186 , the seam sealing areas  188 , the underseal application units  190 , the fine sealing areas  192 , the cleaning booth  200 , the filler spray booth  202  and the filler continuous-flow driers  204  with their cooling zones  206  belong to a second process section  230  of the paint shop  100 , which starts at the first high-bay storage unit  108  on the first transport level  104  and terminates at the second high-bay storage unit  110  on the third transport level  218 . 
         [0156]    In this case, the CDC inspection areas  186 , the seam sealing areas  188 , the underseal application units  190  and the fine sealing areas  192  are located on the first transport level  104 , while the cleaning booth  200 , the filler spray booth  202  and the filler continuous-flow driers  204  with their cooling zones  206  are located on the second transport level  106 . 
         [0157]    All the treatment areas of the second process section  230  are therefore located on the first transport level  104  or on the second transport level  106  of the paint shop  100 . 
         [0158]    The second high-bay storage unit  110 , like the first high-bay storage unit  108  and the third high-bay storage unit  112  to be described below, is configured as a clean-room area. 
         [0159]    In particular, each of the high-bay storage units is enclosed by an airtight housing  164 , which separates the interior of the high-bay storage unit from the building interior  132  of the building shell  116 , so that no contaminants can pass from the building interior  132  into the interior of the housing  164  of the respective high-bay storage area. 
         [0160]    The interior of the housings  164  of the high-bay storage units is only accessible via the respective entry tunnels  162 ,  222  and via the respective exit tunnels  180 ,  228 . 
         [0161]    To prevent contaminants from passing through these tunnels into the interior of the housing  164 , the interior of each high-bay storage unit is placed under an excess pressure of at least approximately 100 Pa, preferably of at least approximately 50 Pa, relative to the air pressure in the building interior  132  by means of an air circulation unit  232  shown schematically in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0162]    As may be seen from  FIG. 9 , the air circulation unit  232  comprises an air supply device  234  with a fan  236 , which sucks air out of the building interior  132  through an intake  238  and transports it through an air filter  240  into an air inlet pipe  242 . 
         [0163]    The air inlet pipe  242  branches into a number of, e.g. three, air inlet ducts  244 , which extend in vertical direction along an end wall  246  of a high-bay storage unit (see  FIG. 6 ). 
         [0164]    From these air inlet ducts  244  the inlet air discharges through inlet air openings  248  of the air inlet ducts  244  arranged one above the other in vertical direction into the interior  258  of the high-bay storage unit. 
         [0165]    Close to the opposite face of the high-bay storage unit, one or more exhaust air ducts  250  are provided, which also extend in vertical direction along a boundary wall of the housing  164  of the respective high-bay storage unit and have exhaust air openings  252  arranged vertically one above the other, through which air is sucked out of the interior  258  of the housing  164  of the high-bay storage unit into an exhaust air pipe  254  shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0166]    The connection between the exhaust air ducts  250  and the exhaust air pipe  254  is not shown in  FIGS. 6 and 9 . 
         [0167]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the two high-bay storage units  110  can be arranged in a common housing  164 , so that air can pass unhindered from the first high-bay storage unit  108  to the second high-bay storage unit  110  or in the reverse direction. 
         [0168]    Alternatively, it can also be provided that each of the high-bay storage units  108 ,  110  has its own housing  164 , which is separated in an airtight manner from the housing of the respective other high-bay storage unit. 
         [0169]    As may be seen from  FIG. 9 , each entry tunnel of a high-bay storage unit, e.g. the entry tunnel  222  of the second high-bay storage unit  110 , additionally comprises an entry lock chamber  256 , into which flows inlet air from the interior  258  of the housing  164  of the high-bay storage unit, e.g. the second high-bay storage unit  110 , standing under excess pressure. 
         [0170]    This inflowing inlet air prevents air from passing out of the building interior  132  through the entry tunnel  222  into the interior  258  of the housing  164 . 
         [0171]    The lock chamber air is sucked out of the entry lock chamber  256  into the exhaust air pipe  254  through air flaps  260 . 
         [0172]    The exhaust air pipe  254  opens into the air supply device  234  of the air circulation unit  232  on the suction side of the ventilator  236 , so that the air circulation circuit from the air supply device  234  through the interior  258  of the housing  164  of the high-bay storage unit and possibly through the entry lock chamber  256  of the high-bay storage unit is closed. 
         [0173]    Like the entry tunnels  222  of the second high-bay storage unit  110 , the entry tunnels of the remaining high-bay storage units are also provided with an entry lock chamber  256  with circulating air flowing through it. 
         [0174]    Similarly, the exit tunnels of all the high-bay storage units are likewise provided with a correspondingly configured exit lock chamber. 
         [0175]    To keep the excess pressure in the interior  258  of the housing  164  of the high-bay storage unit at the desired level, a portion of the inlet air supplied to the housing  164  is discharged directly into the building interior  132  through outlets  262  (see  FIG. 9 ) of the housing  164 . 
         [0176]    The air lost to the air circulation circuit as a result of this is replaced by suction through the intake  238  of the air supply device  234 . 
         [0177]    To prevent dirt from dropping onto the vehicle bodies  102  stored in the body storage bays  171  from above, each body storage bay  171  is provided with a cover  264  arranged above the respective storage space for a vehicle body  102  (see  FIG. 6 ). 
         [0178]    This cover  264  can in particular be configured as a protective film of a suitable plastic material, e.g. polyethylene. 
         [0179]    The protective film used as cover  264  complies with the respectively applicable fire protection regulations. 
         [0180]    The cover  264  in particular prevents contaminants from the storage and retrieval unit  170  or from a vehicle body transport skid, on which a vehicle body  102  is arranged, from being able to drop onto a vehicle body  102  stored in a lower body storage bay  171  when storing or retrieving a vehicle body  102  in a further body storage bay  171  arranged above the body storage bay  171 . 
         [0181]    From the exit tunnels  228  of the second high-bay storage unit  110 , the vehicle bodies  102  on the second transport level  106  are transported to a respective swivel table  266 , which swivels the vehicle bodies  102  around an angle of 90° around a vertical axis, so that the vehicle bodies  102  are then oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction  130  of the paint shop  100 . 
         [0182]    In this orientation the vehicle bodies  102  on the second transport level  106  of the paint shop  100  are transported to a cross conveyor  268 , which distributes the vehicle bodies  102  onto two top coat lines  270 . 
         [0183]    In each of these top coat lines  270 , a top coat preparation booth  272 , multiple primer spray booths  274  and an intermediate continuous-flow drier  276  respectively follow one another in the transport route  134  of the vehicle bodies  102  and all extend in the longitudinal direction  130  of the paint shop  100  towards the second face  118 . 
         [0184]    As may best be seen from  FIG. 4 , in this case a paint spray wash-out unit  208 , which is located on the first transport level  104  and stands on the floor  124  of the building shell  116 , is arranged under each primer spray booth  274 . 
         [0185]    Moreover, an inlet air plenum system  210  is respectively arranged above each primer spray booth  274 . 
         [0186]    A turning area  278  in the form of an air lock, in which the orientation of the vehicle bodies  102  is rotated around an angle of 180°, respectively adjoins the intermediate continuous-flow drier  276  of each top coat line  270 . 
         [0187]    A cooling zone  280 , a plurality of clear coat spray booths  282 , an evaporation zone  284 , a top coat continuous-flow drier  286  and a cooling zone  288  respectively adjoin the turning area  278  of each top coat line  270  in the transport route  134  of the vehicle bodies  102  and respectively extend in the longitudinal direction  130  of the paint shop  100  towards the first face  114  of the building shell  116 . 
         [0188]    As may best be seen from  FIG. 4 , in this case paint spray wash-out units  208  located on the first transport level  104  of the paint shop  100  and standing on the floor  124  of the building shell  116  are respectively arranged below the clear coat spray booths  282  in this case. 
         [0189]    An inlet air plenum system  210  is respectively arranged above each of the clear coat spray booths  282 . 
         [0190]    As can be seen from  FIG. 5  in particular, a plurality of heating units  290  located on the first transport level  104  of the paint shop  100  and standing on the floor  124  of the building shell  116  are respectively arranged under the top coat continuous-flow driers  286 . 
         [0191]    From the cooling zones  288  the vehicle bodies  102  are transported to a respective swivel table  292 , which swivels the vehicle bodies  102  around an angle of 90° around a vertical axis, so that the vehicle bodies  102  are then oriented parallel to the transverse direction  128  of the paint shop  100 . 
         [0192]    In this orientation the vehicle bodies  102  are respectively transported through one of two entry tunnels  294 , which are respectively provided with an entry lock chamber, on the second transport level  106  into the third high-bay storage unit  112  of the paint shop  100 . 
         [0193]    From storage positions of the third high-bay storage unit  112 , which are located on the level of the second transport level  106 , the vehicle bodies  102  are transported to body storage bays  171  of the third high-bay storage unit  112  by means of storage and retrieval units  170 . 
         [0194]    From the body storage bays  171  the vehicle bodies  102  for further treatment are transported by means of the storage and retrieval units  170  to retrieval positions of the third high-bay storage unit  112  on the level of the first transport level  104  of the paint shop  100 . 
         [0195]    Viewed in the longitudinal direction  130  of the paint shop  100 , the third high-bay storage unit  112  is arranged behind the second high-bay storage unit  110  on the first face  114  of the building shell  116  and therefore between the first face  114  and the second high-bay storage unit  110 . 
         [0196]    From the retrieval positions of the third high-bay storage unit  112  the vehicle bodies  102  pass through exit tunnels  296  of the third high-bay storage unit  112 , which respectively comprise an exit lock chamber, on the first transport level  104  of the paint shop  100  (see  FIG. 1 ) to a respective cross conveyor  298 . 
         [0197]    The top coat lines  270  with the top coat preparation booths  272 , the primer spray booths  274 , the intermediate continuous-flow driers  276 , the cooling zones  280 , the clear coat spray booths  282 , the evaporation zones  284  and the top coat continuous-flow driers  286  with the cooling zones  288  belong to a third process section  300  of the paint shop  100 , which starts at the exit tunnels  228  of the second high-bay storage unit  110  on the second transport level  106  of the paint shop  100  and terminates at the entry tunnels  294  of the third high-bay storage unit  112  on the second transport level  106  of the paint shop  100 . 
         [0198]    All the treatment areas of the third process section  300 , i.e. the top coat lines  270  with the top coat preparation booths  272 , the primer spray booths  274 , the intermediate continuous-flow driers  276 , the cooling zones  280 , the clear coat spray booths  282 , the evaporation zones  284  and the top coat continuous-flow driers  286  with the cooling zones  288 , are located on the second transport level  106  of the paint shop  100 . 
         [0199]    In the manner already described above in association with the second high-bay storage unit  110 , the third high-bay storage unit  112  is configured as a clean-room area that is separated from the building interior  132  of the building shell  116 . 
         [0200]    From the cross conveyors  298  on the first transport level  104  of the paint shop  100 , the vehicle bodies  102  pass to swivel tables  302 , which swivel the vehicle bodies  102  around an angle of 90° around a vertical axis, so that the vehicle bodies  102  are then oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction  130  of the paint shop  100  again. 
         [0201]    In this orientation the vehicle bodies  102  on the first transport level  104  of the paint shop  100  are respectively transported through one of two finishing and inspection areas  304 . 
         [0202]    Adjoining the finishing and inspection areas  304  in the transport route  132  of the vehicle bodies  102  is a cross conveyor  306 , which transports the vehicle bodies  102  to an exit point  308  of the paint shop  100 , from where the finished painted vehicle bodies  102  pass to a final assembly plant. 
         [0203]    If finishing work is necessary on a vehicle body  102 , this is transported by the cross conveyor  306  to a finishing feed conveyor  319 , from where the respective vehicle body  102  passes into a finishing work preparation area  312  by means of a cross conveyor  314 . 
         [0204]    After the finishing work preparation has been concluded, the vehicle body  102  is transported by means of a cross conveyor  310  and a hoisting assembly  317  adjoining it to the entry of one of the top coat preparation booths  272  on the second transport level  106  to then be painted again. 
         [0205]    The finishing and inspection areas  304  as well as the finishing work preparation area  312  belong to a fourth process section  316  of the paint shop  100 , which starts at the exit tunnels  296  of the third high-bay storage unit  112  on the first transport level  104  and terminates at the exit point  308  of the paint shop  100  on the first transport level  104  of the paint shop  100 . 
         [0206]    All the treatment areas of the fourth process section  316 , i.e. the finishing and inspection areas  304  and the finishing work preparation area  312 , are located on the first transport level  104  of the paint shop  100 . 
         [0207]    As may best be seen from  FIG. 1 , a colour mixing chamber  318 , which is arranged between the fine sealing areas  192  of the second process section  230  and the second face  118  of the building shell  116 , is additionally located on the first transport level  104  of the paint shop  100 . 
         [0208]    Moreover, multiple air supply units  320  are located on the first transport level  104  that serve to supply the inlet air plenum systems  210  of the filler spray booths  202 , the primer spray booths  274  or the clear coat spray booths  282  and are arranged between the paint spray wash-out units  208  of these spray booths, on one side, and the second face  118  of the building shell  116 , on the other side. 
         [0209]    The air supply units  320  are connected to the respectively associated inlet air plenum systems  210  of the spray booths via air inlet ducts (see  FIG. 8 ). 
         [0210]    Moreover, in the same area on the first transport level  104  of the paint shop  100  a paint sludge disposal area  322  is provided for further processing of the paint overspray washed out of the booth exhaust air by the paint spray wash-out units  208  and is arranged between the air supply units  320 , on the one side, and the paint spray wash-out units  208 , on the other side. 
         [0211]    The paint sludge disposal area  322  can comprise paint coagulation units  323  for water-based paint and/or paint coagulation units  325  for solvent-based paint arranged under the floor  124  of the building shell  116 . 
         [0212]    Adjacent to the air supply units  320  an exhaust air unit  324 , which sucks exhaust air out of the spray booths through exhaust air ducts  327  arranged under the floor  124  of the building shell  116  and discharges it to an exhaust air flue  326 , is arranged outside the building shell  116  on the second face  118  of the building shell  116 . 
         [0213]    The air supply units  320  all lie inside a substantially rectangular cohesive area  328  of the first transport level  104 , in which no other process devices of the paint shop  100  are arranged. 
         [0214]    Similarly, the paint spray wash-out units  208  lie in a substantially rectangular cohesive area of the first transport level  104 , given the reference  330 , in which no other process devices of the paint shop  100  are arranged. 
         [0215]    The heating units  156  of the CDC continuous-flow driers  152  all lie in a substantially rectangular cohesive area  331  of the first transport level  104  of the paint shop  100 , in which no other process devices of the paint shop  100  are arranged. 
         [0216]    The heating units  212  of the filler continuous-flow driers  204  also all lie in a substantially rectangular cohesive area  332  of the first transport level  104  of the paint shop  100 , in which no other process devices of the paint shop  100  are arranged. 
         [0217]    The heating units  290  of the top coat continuous-flow driers  286  also all respectively lie in a substantially rectangular cohesive area  333  of the first transport level  104  of the paint shop  100 , in which no other process devices of the paint shop  100  are arranged. 
         [0218]    Because of the clear division of the first transport level  104  of the paint shop and the grouping of process devices of like type in the respective cohesive areas  328 ,  330 ,  331 ,  332  and  333  of the first transport level  104 , areas for open work spaces, machine areas and process areas do not overlap one another, and in particular the radiation of heat from the heating units  156 ,  212  and  290  of the continuous-flow driers do have an adverse effect on the other process devices and work spaces. 
         [0219]    As may best be seen from  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the top wall  126  of the building shell  116  is supported by vertical posts  334  that extend from the floor  124  of the building shell  116  as far as the top wall  126 . 
         [0220]    Under the floor  124  a concrete foundation  336  is respectively provided in the region of each post  334 . 
         [0221]    The paint shop  100  described above operates as follows: 
         [0222]    Vehicle bodies  102  assembled in a shell assembly area are transported at the entry point  136  of the paint shop  100  into the first process section  184  of the paint shop  100  and pretreated in this first process section  184  and provided with a cataphoretic dip coating. In addition, the applied dip coating is dried in the first process section  184 . 
         [0223]    In this case, the vehicle bodies  102  are transported through the pretreatment dip tank  140  and the CDC dip tank  148  suspended from an overhead conveyor, wherein the vehicle bodies  102  are dipped into the said dip tanks by lowering the overhead conveyor track from the second transport level  106 . 
         [0224]    Alternatively, the vehicle bodies  102  could also be transported through the first process section  184  on rotary carriers, wherein the vehicle bodies  102  can be dipped into the dip tanks  140  and  148  of the first process section  184  by a rotation around a horizontal axis from the second transport level  106  and can be removed from this tank again by a further rotation around this axis. 
         [0225]    From the first process section  184  the vehicle bodies  102  pass into the first high-bay storage unit  108 , into which the vehicle bodies  102  on the second transport level  106  are transported and from which the vehicle bodies  102  on the first transport level  104  are transported out again. 
         [0226]    Before leaving the first high-bay storage unit  108  the vehicle bodies  102  can be temporarily stored in a body storage bay  171 . 
         [0227]    The vehicle bodies  102  can be retrieved from the first high-bay storage unit  108  in a retrieval sequence differing from the storage sequence, so that the treatment sequence of the vehicle bodies  102  can be changed between the first process section  184  and the second process section  230 . 
         [0228]    In this way, paint blocks can be formed for the subsequent painting operation and/or bodies for finishing work can be sorted in a sequence-optimised manner. 
         [0229]    The transport of the vehicle bodies  102  from the second transport level  106  onto the first transport level  104  occurs within the first high-bay storage unit  108  by means of the storage and retrieval units  170 . 
         [0230]    After leaving the first high-bay storage unit  108  on the first transport level  104 , the vehicle bodies  102  are sealed in the second process section  230  of the paint shop  100 , provided with underbody protection, then hoisted from the first transport level  104  to the second transport level  106  and on the second transport level  106  are painted with a filler that is then dried. 
         [0231]    After the filler has dried, the vehicle bodies  102  are hoisted from the second transport level  106  onto the third transport level  218  of the paint shop and transported into the second high-bay storage unit  110 . 
         [0232]    Only transport devices of the paint shop  100  and no process devices or treatment areas are located on the third transport level  218  of the paint shop. 
         [0233]    Before the vehicle bodies  102  leave the second high-bay storage unit  110  on the second transport level  106  again, they can be temporarily stored in body storage bays  171  of the second high-bay storage unit  110 . 
         [0234]    A change of the treatment sequence of the vehicle bodies  102  can also be made in the second high-bay storage unit  110  in the same manner as in the first high-bay storage unit  108 . 
         [0235]    The vehicle bodies  102  are transported from the third transport level  218  onto the second transport level  106  of the paint shop  100  within the second high-bay storage unit  110  by means of the storage and retrieval units  170 . 
         [0236]    After the vehicle bodies  102  have left the second high-bay storage unit  110  on the second transport level  106 , these are prepared for the top coat painting operation in the third process section  300  of the paint shop  100 , e.g. by sanding, and are then provided with a primer. The primer is intermediately dried before the vehicle bodies  102  are painted with a clear coat and the entire top coat is dried. 
         [0237]    The application of primer and clear coat can be performed by means of paint robots or manually or partly by means of paint robots and partly manually. 
         [0238]    The vehicle bodies  102  on the second transport level  106  are then transported into the third high-bay storage unit  112 . 
         [0239]    Before the vehicle bodies  102  on the first transport level  104  are transported out of the third high-bay storage unit  112 , these can be temporarily stored in body storage bays  171  of the third high-bay storage unit  112 . 
         [0240]    In this case, the treatment sequence of the vehicle bodies  102  in the third high-bay storage unit  112  can be changed in the same way as in the first high-bay storage unit  108  and in the second high-bay storage unit  110 . 
         [0241]    The vehicle bodies  102  are transported in the third high-bay storage unit  112  from the second transport level  106  onto the first transport level  104  by means of the storage and retrieval units  170  of the third high-bay storage unit  112 . 
         [0242]    After the vehicle bodies  102  have left the third high-bay storage unit  112  on the first transport level  104 , the vehicle bodies  102  are finished in the fourth process section  316  of the paint shop  100  and inspected, refinished, if necessary, and then moved to a subsequent final assembly plant at the exit  308  of the paint shop  100 . 
         [0243]    Most treatment areas arranged on the first transport level  104  of the paint shop  100 , in particular the seam sealing areas  188 , the open work spaces of the underseal application units  190 , the fine sealing areas  192 , the finishing and inspection areas  304  and the finishing work preparation area  312  are open treatment areas and open work spaces, which are open towards the building interior  132  of the building shell  116  and are not separated from the building interior  132  by partition walls. 
         [0244]    The underseal application booths  191  on the first transport level  104  of the paint shop and the treatment areas arranged on the second transport level  106  of the paint shop, in particular the pretreatment unit  138 , the CDC unit  146 , the CDC continuous-flow drier  152  with the cooling zone  154 , the filler spray booth  202 , the filler continuous-flow driers  204  with the cooling zones  206 , the top coat preparation booths  272 , the primer spray booths  274 , the intermediate continuous-flow driers  276 , the cooling zones  280 , the clear coat spray booths  282 , the evaporation zones  284  and the top coat continuous-flow driers  286  with the cooling zones  288  are closed treatment areas, which are separated from the building interior  132  of the building shell by booth or drier walls. 
         [0245]    Transport of the vehicle bodies  102  through the pretreatment unit  138 , the CDC unit  146  and the underseal application units  190  can be conducted by means of overhead conveyors, transport of the vehicle bodies  102  through the remaining open or closed treatment areas and between the treatment areas as well as to and from the high-bay storage units  108 ,  110  and  112  can be conducted by means of roller conveyors. 
         [0246]    In the paint shop  100  described above the transport of the vehicle bodies  102  from one of the high-bay storage units  108  or  110  into the respective following high-bay storage unit  110  or  112  is always conducted via the respective process section  230  or  300  located between these; no direct transport of vehicle bodies  102  from one of the high-bay storage units into another high-bay storage unit or return transport of vehicle bodies  102  against the flow direction of the transport route  132  is provided.