Patent ID: 12201998

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is based on the technical-physical realization that the reading of the transponder in the bell plate according to WO 2018/020755 A1 described at the beginning is hindered by the fact that the metallic base body of the bell plate forms an electromagnetic shield for the transponder attached to the rear side of the bell plate. The disclosure therefore firstly provides that the transponder is arranged in or on the front side of the base body of the bell plate, so that the metallic material of the base body does not form an electromagnetic shield, since it is located behind the transponder. The transponder can therefore be reliably read by a transponder reader from the front side of the bell plate, since there are no metallic components between the transponder reader and the transponder that could form an electromagnetic shield.

Alternatively, within the scope of the disclosure, it is possible for the transponder to be embedded in the outer surface of the bell plate.

It should be mentioned here that the term bell plate used in the context of the disclosure is to be understood in a general sense and includes both bell plates in the narrower sense and the disc-shaped spray bodies of so-called disc atomizers.

In an example of the disclosure, the base body of the bell plate has an axially extending central bore in order to be able to accommodate a paint nozzle for axial supply of the coating agent to be applied. In addition, the bell plate preferably has an annular, circumferential spray-off edge on the front side, at which the coating agent is atomized and sprayed off. The coating agent to be applied passes from the paint nozzle in the central bore of the base body via a frontal overflow surface on the base body to the outer spray-off edge, where it is sprayed off. In addition, the bell plate preferably has a distributor disc which deflects the axially and centrally supplied coating agent at least partially radially outward onto the overflow surface and to the spray-off edge of the bell plate, which is in itself known from the prior art. Preferably, this distributor disc is mounted on a distributor disc receptacle which is fixed in the base body. For example, this fastening of the distributor disc to the distributor disc receptacle can be effected by several axially extending bolts, as is known per se from the prior art.

In this known design of the bell plate, the distributor disc and/or the distributor disc receptacle preferably cover the transponder on the front side in order to protect the transponder from contamination by the coating agent. However, the transponder is preferably not arranged directly under the distributor disc, but lies in the groove of the bell plate and is encapsulated in plastic or surrounded by a separate plastic ring. However, this covering of the transponder by the distributor disc and/or the distributor disc receptacle preferably does not cause any electromagnetic shielding, since the distributor disc and/or the distributor disc receptacle is preferably made of plastic, so that the readout process is not impeded by the distributor disc or the distributor disc receptacle.

For accommodating the transponder in the bell plate, there is preferably a frontal annular space in the base body of the bell plate, which is preferably formed as an annular groove, the transponder being arranged in this annular space.

The transponder itself preferably has at least one antenna, which is preferably arranged in the annular space in the base body of the bell plate.

The at least one antenna can, for example, be closed in a ring or form an open ring.

Alternatively, it is possible that the antenna is designed as a dipole with one or two legs. Furthermore, the antenna can also have several circular segments, be rectilinear or meander-shaped. Furthermore, it should be mentioned that the antenna can work inductively or with electromagnetic waves.

With regard to the structural design of the transponder and the mounting in the bell plate, various possibilities exist within the scope of the disclosure, of which two variants are described below.

In a first variant, the transponder with its ring-shaped antenna is embedded, in particular cast, in a plastic ring. This plastic ring is then inserted, in particular pressed, into the annular space (e.g. annular groove) of the base body. It should be mentioned here that the plastic ring with the embedded transponder is preferably balanced with respect to its axis of symmetry, the axis of symmetry of the plastic ring preferably running coaxially with the axis of rotation of the bell plate. This is important in view of the high rotational speeds of the bell plate occurring during operation, so that the transponder does not cause any unbalance.

In another variant of the disclosure, the annular antenna of the transponder is inserted into the annular groove in the base body of the bell plate, preferably with a washer located at least partially between the groove bottom of the annular groove and the annular antenna of the transponder. A washer is not required, in particular, if the annular groove is completely encapsulated with plastic. The annular antenna is then encapsulated in the annular groove with a casting compound together with the washer, whereby the casting compound is non-metallic in order not to electromagnetically shield the transponder inserted in the annular groove. In this variant of the disclosure, the bell plate with the transponder encapsulated therein is then balanced, as is known per se from the prior art.

With regard to this disclosure variant, the washer is preferably essentially L-shaped in cross-section, a first leg of the washer, which is L-shaped in cross-section, preferably extending radially and being located between the annular antenna of the transponder and the groove bottom of the annular groove, while a second leg of the washer, which is L-shaped in cross-section, preferably extends axially and is located between the annular antenna and a radially inner groove flank of the annular groove.

Further antennas can be integrated in the distributor disc, which significantly increase the read/write range by coupling with the transponder and its antenna.

The distributor disc receptacle may cover the transponder on the front face to prevent contamination of the transponder. In this case, it is possible for the distributor disc receptacle to seal the annular groove in the base body that is open at the front face. For this purpose, an additional sealing ring can be provided, which is arranged in an annular sealing groove in the distributor disc receptacle and lies sealingly against the base body of the bell plate. The transponder is preferably encapsulated in plastic and the distributor disc does not necessarily seal the transponder.

The annular space (e.g. annular groove) in the base body of the bell plate preferably runs coaxially with the axis of rotation of the bell plate. This is advantageous because it largely prevents imbalance of the bell plate.

Furthermore, the annular groove may be exactly circular. However, there is also the possibility that the annular groove may not have an exact circular ring shape and be coaxial with the axis of rotation. Rather, there is also the possibility that the annular groove has deviations from the ideal annular shape and/or from the exact coaxial alignment, which can be used to balance the bell plate.

Regarding the transponder it can optionally be an active transponder with its own power supply or a passive transponder without its own power supply. Preferably, the transponder is an RFID transponder (RFID: Radio-Frequency Identification), which outputs an identification code when interrogated, whereby the identification code preferably identifies the bell plate.

Furthermore the transponder can optionally be a read-only transponder or a read-write transponder. In the case of a read-only transponder, the transponder can only be read, i.e. it is not possible to change the stored data content of the transponder wirelessly. With a read-write transponder, on the other hand, it is possible to read out the stored data content wirelessly and to change it wirelessly.

It is also possible for the transponder to operate at two different communication frequencies, for example in the UHF range (UHF: Ultra-high-frequency, i.e. in the frequency range 300 MHz-3 GHz, preferably 860-920 MHz) on the one hand and in the NFC frequency range (NFC: Near Field Communication) on the other (e.g. at 13.56 MHz).

For this purpose, the transponder can have two chips, each with its own antenna. This can also be advantageous regardless of the communication frequency, since the chips can then contain independent information.

However, the disclosure does not only claim protection for the above-described bell plate as a single component. Rather, the disclosure also claims protection for a complete rotary atomizer with such a bell plate according to the disclosure. As is known, such rotary atomizers have numerous other components which can also be provided with their own transponder. Thus, in addition to the bell plate, the following further rotary atomizer components can partially or all have their own trans-ponder:Shaping air ring for emitting a shaping air jet onto the spray jet of the coating agent,turbine for driving the rotary atomizer,paint tube,main needle valve controlling the coating agent delivery,housing of the rotary atomizer,connecting flange of the rotary atomizer,valve block in the rotary atomizer,valves.

Furthermore, the disclosure also claims protection for a complete painting robot with such a rotary atomizer, which contains at least one transponder. In such painting robots, as is known, there are further components which can also be partially or completely provided with a transponder, such as paint pressure regulator, metering pump, valve block, valves, color changer.

The arrangement of the transponder on the face of the bell platen enables—as already briefly mentioned above—the transponder to be read from the front side of the bell platen. For this purpose, the transponder reader can be integrated into an atomizer cleaning device, since the rotary atomizer is inserted axially into the atomizer cleaning device during a cleaning process, which allows the transponder to be read/written during the insertion process. The atomizer cleaning device according to the disclosure therefore has an integrated antenna of a transponder read/write device in order to be able to write/read the transponder of the rotary atomizer to be cleaned when the rotary atomizer is inserted into the atomizer cleaning device.

Preferably, the antenna of the transponder reader may be ring-shaped, in particular circular ring-shaped, in order to be able to generate a rotating detection field.

Atomizer cleaning devices are basically known from the prior art and therefore need not be described in detail. It is only to be mentioned here that the atomizer cleaning device preferably has an insertion opening in order to be able to insert the rotary atomizer to be cleaned through the insertion opening into the atomizer cleaning device. In the atomizer cleaning device, the rotary atomizer is then cleaned by spraying with cleaning liquid and/or by brushing. The annular antenna of the transponder reader thereby surrounds the insertion opening of the atomizer cleaning device preferably annularly and preferably also coaxially.

Furthermore, the atomizer cleaning device according to the disclosure preferably has a cover in which the insertion opening is located. Here, the antenna of the transponder read/write device can be arranged on the cover, for example on the inside of the cover or embedded in the cover.

It has already been briefly mentioned above that the disclosure also pursues a corresponding operating method for a painting installation. In the context of this operating method according to the disclosure, a writing/reading of the transponder at the bell plate, rotary atomizer or painting robot takes place, which is known in itself from the prior art. The operating method according to the disclosure is characterized by the fact that the painting robot positions the rotary atomizer for writing/reading the transponder in a cleaning station or also in front of a write/read point, which is not located in the area of the cleaning device, in or on an atomizer cleaning device, so that the transponder can then be read out. The transponder is therefore preferably written/read during a cleaning process that is necessary anyway, so that the cycle time of the painting installation does not have to be extended by the transponder writing/reading process.

During the normal painting process, the transponder does not normally have to be read out, since it is not possible to change the bell plate during the normal painting process. For example, the painting robots are usually operated in painting booths that have an access protection system that prevents access to the painting booth by persons when activated and only allows access to the painting booth by persons when deactivated. However, if the access protection system of the paint booth is deactivated, there is a possibility that persons may enter the paint booth and replace the bell plate. It therefore makes sense, when the access protection system is deactivated, for the transponder to be written to/read out in order to identify the bell plate or the other components provided with a transponder. This readout process preferably takes place after the access protection system has been reactivated.

Furthermore, it should be mentioned that the painting installation can usually be operated in different modes (operating modes), namely in an automatic mode, a cleaning mode or a maintenance mode. In the automatic mode, the painting robot operates automatically and program-controlled and paints components in the painting booth, for example motor vehicle body components. In the cleaning mode, on the other hand, the rotary atomizer is cleaned, as described briefly above. In the maintenance mode, on the other hand, maintenance of the painting installation is possible. In addition, the painting installation may have a manual operation mode in which manual operation is performed. When changing the mode (operating mode), it is useful to read out the transponder. This applies in particular to a change from cleaning/maintenance/manual mode to automatic mode.

It has already been mentioned above that in the automatic mode of the painting installation there is usually no need for a readout process, since no components can be changed during the automatic mode. However, during the automatic mode it is preferably checked whether one of the following trigger events occurs:Activation of an emergency stop, in particular by manual actuation of an emergency stop switch,detection of a person entering the paint booth,deactivation of the access protection system.

The transponder is then preferably written/read out if one of the aforementioned trigger events has been detected in the automatic mode. However, this write/read process does not have to take place immediately. For example, the write/read process can take place after a trigger event when the coating system next switches to automatic mode. Alternatively, it is possible that the partially painted painting module (e.g. fender of the motor vehicle body) is first finished on the component surface of the component to be coated and only then is the transponder read out. Alternatively, it is also possible for the currently partially painted component to be completely finished painted first, before the transponder is then written/read out.

Other advantageous further embodiments of the disclosure are indicated in the dependent claims or are explained in more detail below together with the description of the preferred embodiments of the disclosure with reference to the figures. Showing:

FIGS.1A and1Bshow various views of a bell plate1according to the disclosure, which in operation is mounted on a rotary atomizer and rotates about an axis of rotation2, as is known per se from the prior art.

The bell plate1essentially consists of a metallic base body3, a distributor disc4and a distributor disc receptacle5, the distributor disc4being fastened to the distributor disc receptacle5in a conventional manner by fastening bolts6.

The base body3of the bell plate1has a central bore7which, on the one hand, contains the distributor disc receptacle5and, on the other hand, is used for the axial feed-through of a paint nozzle, not shown here, which supplies the paint to be applied axially. The axially supplied paint then impinges on the distributor disc4, which directs part of the paint radially outward onto an overflow surface8that leads to an annular spray-off edge9. The paint is then sprayed off at the spray-off edge9in the conventional manner. In contrast, part of the paint supplied axially through the central bore7passes axially through a central bore in the distributor disc4and then flows radially outward at the front face of the distributor disc4.

In addition, the bell plate1conventionally has external rinsing channels10which start from the central bore7in the bell plate1and open radially outwardly into an annularly circumferential external rinsing chamber11, which is in itself known from the prior art. During a rinsing process, rinsing agent can thus pass through the external rinsing channels10into the external rinsing chamber11, from where the rinsing agent then flows radially outwards onto the outer circumferential surface12of the bell plate in order to clean the latter.

The bell plate1according to the disclosure is characterized by the fact that a transponder13is integrated into the bell plate1. For this purpose, the metallic base body3of the bell plate1has an annular groove14which runs coaxially with the axis of rotation2of the bell plate1. The annular groove14is open at the end in the base body3so that the readout of the transponder13is not impeded by the metallic material of the base body3. The transponder13can therefore be reliably read out from the face of the bell plate1.

A washer15is inserted in the annular groove14, which is essentially L-shaped in cross-section and has two legs16,17. The leg16of the washer15runs essentially radially and lies between the groove bottom of the annular groove14and the transponder13, while the other leg17runs essentially axially and lies between the radially inner groove flank of the annular groove14and the transponder13.

After the insertion of the washer15and the transponder13into the annular groove14, the annular groove14is sealed with the washer15and the transponder13with a casting compound, whereby the casting compound is non-metallic in order not to hinder the reading of the transponder13.

In the assembled state, the distributor disc receptacle5covers the annular groove14in a sealing manner, for which purpose a sealing ring18is provided, which is embedded in an annular groove in the outer lateral surface of the distributor disc receptacle5and rests against the base body3. The distributor disc receptacle5, together with the distributor disc4, thus prevents the transponder13from being contaminated by coating agent.

It should be mentioned here that the distributor disc receptacle5and the distributor disc4are made of plastic and therefore do not impede the reading of the transponder13, since they do not form an electromagnetic shield.

FIGS.2A and2Bshow an alternative embodiment of a transponder19having an antenna20and a chip21, both of which are molded into a plastic ring22. In this case, the plastic ring22may be made in two parts, one part of the plastic ring22being the distributor disc receptacle5. The antenna20may be molded in one part of the plastic ring22or the distributor disc receptacle5. The chip21may be molded into the second portion of the plastic ring22, wherein the second portion of the plastic ring22may be the washer15. The plastic ring22or the washer15, which contains the chip21, may be balanced with respect to its axis of symmetry, so that after insertion of the chip21on the base body3of the bell plate1, it is balanced and pressed in in an arranged manner. The ring-shaped transponder19is balanced with respect to its axis of symmetry, so that after insertion of the transponder19into the correspondingly suitable bell plate1, no renewed balancing of the bell plate1is necessary.

If the bell plate1loses the distributor disc receptacle5due to a defect, the read/write range of the chip21is reduced to 10 mm. The reduced range can be detected by the low received signal strength (RSSI: Received Signal Strength Indication). Thus, it can be detected that the distributor disc4is defective and the bell plate1is no longer complete.

FIG.3shows a perspective view of an atomizer cleaning device23according to the disclosure, which is particularly adapted to read the transponder13of the bell plate1according toFIGS.1A and1B.

The atomizer cleaning device23first has, in a conventional manner, a cover24with an insertion opening25, wherein the rotary atomizer to be cleaned can be inserted into the atomizer cleaning device23through the insertion opening25, which is known per se from the prior art.

In this case, the insertion opening25is bypassed by an antenna26of a transponder reader, the antenna26being annular and capable of generating a rotating detection field.

FIG.4shows a top view of a painting installation according to the disclosure. Here, motor vehicle bodies27are conveyed through the painting installation by a linear conveyor28, which is in itself known from the prior art.

Handling robots29(door openers and hood openers) are arranged on both sides of the linear conveyor28in order to open doors and hoods of the motor vehicle bodies27for interior painting.

In addition, painting robots30are located on both sides of the linear conveyor28for painting the motor vehicle bodies27by rotary atomizers. Next to each of the painting robots30is the atomizer cleaning unit23with the integrated antenna26for reading the transponder13. The antenna26of the atomizer cleaning unit23is connected to a transponder reader31, which is arranged outside the painting booth,

FIG.5shows an exploded view of a rotary atomizer according to the disclosure with the bell plate1and numerous other components which are also provided with their own transponder, namely a housing32, a shaping air ring33, a turbine34, a paint tube35, a main needle valve36, valves37, valve blocks38and a connecting flange39.

FIG.6shows a distal robot arm40of a painting robot, whereby the robot arm40is also referred to as “arm2” in accordance with the usual technical terminology. The robot arm40carries various components, namely a paint pressure controller41, a metering pump42, valve blocks43, valves44, a paint changer45and a robot hand axis46. All or some of these components may also be provided with transponders.

The example shown inFIG.7will now be explained.

In step S1, the painting installation is operated in automatic mode with program-controlled painting of motor vehicle body components.

In step S2, the system then checks whether cleaning is required.

If no cleaning is required, the painting installation continues with the automatic mode in step S1.

If, on the other hand, cleaning is required, the system switches from automatic mode to cleaning mode in step S3.

In step S4, the rotary atomizer is then inserted into the atomizer cleaning device and then cleaned in step S5.

When the rotary atomizer is inserted or pulled out, the transponder of the bell plate can then be read in the step S6.

As in a normal cleaning process, the rotary atomizer is then removed from the atomizer cleaning device again in step S7.

Finally, in a step S8, it can then be switched back to automatic mode.

The transponder is thus read out as part of a normal cleaning process, so that no extension of the cycle time of the painting installation is required for this purpose.

The example shown inFIG.8is described below.

In a step S1, the painting installation is operated in automatic mode, in which motor vehicle body components are painted automatically by a painting robot under program control.

In a step S2, the system then continuously checks whether an emergency stop is triggered, for example by manually actuating an emergency stop switch.

If no emergency stop is triggered, the painting installation continues in automatic mode according to step S1.

If, on the other hand, an emergency stop is triggered, the coating system is switched off in step S3.

Then, in step S4, it is checked whether the automatic mode is resumed.

If this is the case, the rotary atomizer is inserted into the atomizer cleaning device in step S5and the transponder of the bell plate is read out in step S6.

Subsequently, in step S7, the rotary atomizer is then led out of the atomizer cleaning device again, and in step S8, automatic mode is resumed.

The embodiment according toFIG.9largely corresponds to the embodiment according toFIG.8, so that reference is made to the above description in order to avoid repetition.

A special feature of this embodiment is that after resumption of automatic mode, the already partially painted painting module (e.g. fender) is first finished in a step S6.

Only then does the transponder readout follow in steps S7-S9.

The embodiment according toFIG.10also largely corresponds to the embodiment according toFIGS.8and9, so that reference is made to the above description in order to avoid repetition.

A special feature of this embodiment is that after resumption of the automatic mode, the complete started motor vehicle body is first finished being painted before the transponder is then read out in steps S7-S9.

FIG.11shows a further embodiment of a bell plate1according to the disclosure, which largely corresponds to the bell plate1according toFIG.1A, so that to avoid repetition reference is made to the above description, the same reference signs being used for corresponding details as inFIG.1A.

A feature of this embodiment is that the transponder13is here covered only by the distributor disc4, but not by the distributor disc receptacle5. The transponder13is here namely located radially outside the distributor disc receptacle5. The distributor disc receptacle5can therefore in this embodiment also be made of a metallic material, since the distributor disc receptacle5does not here shield the transponder13.

It should also be mentioned that the annular groove14for receiving the transponder13is located in an area of the overflow surface8that is aligned at right angles to the axis of rotation2.

A further feature of this embodiment is that the outer circumferential surface12of the bell plate1is divided here into two sections which follow one another in the axial direction and enclose different angles to the axis of rotation2.

FIG.12shows a further embodiment of a bell plate1according to the disclosure, which largely corresponds to the bell plate1according toFIG.11, so that in order to avoid repetition reference is made to the above description, the same reference signs being used for corresponding details as inFIG.11.

A feature of this embodiment is that the annular groove14for receiving the transponder13is located here in an obliquely extending region of the overflow surface8.

FIG.13shows a further embodiment of a bell plate1according to the disclosure, which largely corresponds to the bell plate1according toFIG.11, so that to avoid repetition reference is made to the above description, the same reference signs being used for corresponding details as inFIG.11.

A feature of this embodiment is that the outer circumferential surface12of the bell plate1here encloses a substantially smaller angle with the axis of rotation2of the bell plate1.

FIG.14shows a further embodiment of a bell plate1according to the disclosure, which largely corresponds to the bell plate1according toFIG.13, so that in order to avoid repetition reference is made to the above description, the same reference signs being used for corresponding details as inFIG.13.

A feature of this embodiment is that the transponder13is recessed here in the outer circumferential surface12of the base body3of the bell plate1.

FIG.15shows a further embodiment of a transponder19according to the disclosure, where this embodiment largely corresponds to the embodiment according toFIG.2A, so that to avoid repetition reference is made to the above description ofFIG.2A, the same reference signs being used for corresponding details.

A feature of this embodiment is that the antenna20of the transponder19is not closed in a ring, but is formed as a dipole with two legs.

FIG.16shows a further embodiment of a transponder19according to the disclosure, where this embodiment largely corresponds to the embodiment according toFIG.2A, so that to avoid repetition reference is made to the above description ofFIG.2A, the same reference signs being used for corresponding details.

A feature of this embodiment is that the antenna20is not closed in a ring shape, but is designed as a dipole with a limb.

FIG.17shows a further embodiment of a transponder19according to the disclosure, where this embodiment largely corresponds to the embodiment according toFIG.2A, so that reference is made to the above description ofFIG.2Ain order to avoid repetitions, whereby the same reference signs are used for corresponding details.

A feature of this embodiment is that here two chips21.1,21.2are embedded in the plastic ring20of the transponder19, each of which has an antenna20.1,20.2. The two antennas20.1,20.2are designed as dipoles with two legs each, as shown inFIG.14.

Furthermore, it should be mentioned that the two chips21.1,21.2can have different frequency ranges. For example, chip21.1may operate in the ultra-high-frequency (UHF) range (i.e., in the frequency range 300 MHz-3 GHz, preferably 860-920 MHz), while the other chip21.2operates in the near field communication (NFC) frequency range (e.g., at 13.56 MHz).

The disclosure is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. Rather, a multitude of variants and variations are possible, which also make use of the inventive idea and therefore fall within the scope of protection. In particular, the disclosure also claims protection for the subject matter and the features of the dependent claims independently of the claims referenced in each case. Thus, the features of the dependent claims also enjoy independent protection independently of the features of the independent claims. Thus, the disclosure comprises various aspects of the disclosure, each of which is individually eligible for protection.