Cleaning device of a powder coating booth

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure A cleaning device for a powder coating booth, which moves transversely to a workpiece-conveying direction. The cleaning device has two separate pipes, each equipped with nozzles and each associated with one of the two longitudinal halves of the booth. Each pipe is moved by a drive transversely to the conveying direction initially roughly horizontally and then from top to bottom through the booth. During this movement the nozzles are supplied with a cleaning fluid, particularly compressed air, so that powder adhering to the inner surfaces can be blown off. A suction device is located on the bottom of the booth and constantly suctions the blown off powder and supplies it to a recovery or filtering device. When the two pipes have reached their lowed end position, the supply of cleaning fluid is switched off and the pipes are again conveyed into their upper end position located outside the booth.

1.  A cleaning device of a powder coating booth through which workpieces are conveyed and coated with powder and through which at least one pipe (20) fitted with nozzles (28) for blowing out a cleaning fluid against the inner wall (2, 4) of the booth (24) can be moved, characterized in that the at least one pipe (20) is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the booth (1) and can be moved at a substantially constant distance (c) from the wall transversely to the direction (F) in which the workpieces may be conveyed through the booth (1). 
   
   
       2.  The cleaning device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one pipe (20) extends horizontally across a length of the inner space of the booth. 
   
   
       3.  The cleaning device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the nozzles (28) are arranged at a uniform distance (b) from each other as measured in longitudinal direction of the at least one pipe (20), said uniform distance being in the range of 50 to 150 mm, and in that the distance (c) of the nozzles (28) from the wall (2, 4) of the booth is in the range of 30 to 100 mm. 
   
   
       4.  The cleaning device according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the nozzles (28) are arranged at a uniform distance (b) from each other as measured in longitudinal direction of the at least one pipe (20), said uniform distance being in the range of 50 to 150 mm, and in that the distance (c) of the nozzles (28) from the wall (2, 4) of the booth is about 50 mm. 
   
   
       5.  The cleaning device according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the nozzles (28) are arranged at a uniform distance (b) from each other as measured in longitudinal direction of the at least one pipe (20), said uniform distance being in the range of 50 to 150 mm, and in that the distance (c) of the nozzles (28) from the wall (2, 4) of the booth is in the range of 30 to 100 mm. 
   
   
       6.  The cleaning device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the nozzles (28) are inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the wall by an angle in the range of 10° to 30°. 
   
   
       7.  (Cancelled). 
   
   
       8.  (Cancelled). 
   
   
       9.  (Cancelled). 
   
   
       10.  (Cancelled). 
   
   
       11.  (Cancelled). 
   
   
       12.  (Cancelled). 
   
   
       13.  (Cancelled). 
   
   
       14.  (Cancelled). 
   
   
       15.  (Cancelled). 
   
   
       16.  (Cancelled). 
   
   
       17.  The cleaning device according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the nozzles (28) are inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the wall by an angle of about18°. 
   
   
       18.  The cleaning device according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the nozzles (28) are inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the wall by an angle in the range of 10° to 30°. 
   
   
       19.  The cleaning device according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the nozzles (28) are inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the wall by an angle in the range of 10° to 30°. 
   
   
       20.  The cleaning device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one pipe is guided along a guide (11, 11’; 12, 12’) which extends corresponding to the contour of the inner wall (2, 4) of the booth and is movable by drive means (25, 26) along said guide. 
   
   
       21.  The cleaning device according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the at least one pipe is guided along a guide (11, 11’; 12, 12’) which extends corresponding to the contour of the inner wall (2, 4) of the booth and is movable by drive means (25, 26) along said guide. 
   
   
       22.  The cleaning device according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the at least one pipe is guided along a guide (11, 11’; 12, 12’) which extends corresponding to the contour of the inner wall (2, 4) of the booth and is movable by drive means (25, 26) along said guide. 
   
   
       23.  The cleaning device according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the at least one pipe is guided along a guide (11, 11’; 12, 12’) which extends corresponding to the contour of the inner wall (2, 4) of the booth and is movable by drive means (25, 26) along said guide. 
   
   
       24.  The cleaning device according to  claim 20 , characterized in that the at least one pipe comprises two pipes (20) that are arranged parallel to each other within the booth, with one pipe in each longitudinal half (1a, 1b) of the booth and in that the pipes are movable synchronously each through its longitudinal half (1a, 1b). 
   
   
       25.  The cleaning device according to  claim 24 , characterized in that both ends of each of the two pipes (20) are guided by means of a guide (11, 11’ or 12, 12’) respectively, which are provided facing one another at the front ends of the booth, each guide having catching means (22) connected to the ends of said pipes, respectively, said catching means being guided along said guide and drivable by a common drive (25, 26). 
   
   
       26.  The cleaning device according to  claim 25 , characterized in that the catching means are chains (22) which can be driven by said drive (25, 26) synchronously via aligned shafts (24) and chain wheels (23) positioned thereon. 
   
   
       27.  The cleaning device according to  claim 25 , characterized in that the guides (11, 11’; 12, 12’) are provided on the insides of said front walls (9). 
   
   
       28.  The cleaning device according to  claim 26 , characterized in that the guides (11, 11’; 12, 12’) are provided on the insides of said front walls (9). 
   
   
       29.  The cleaning device according to  claim 25 , characterized in that said guides (11”, 12”) are positioned outside the inner space of the booth, particularly on the outsides of the front walls (9a). 
   
   
       30.  The cleaning device according to  claim 26 , characterized in that said guides (11”, 12”) are positioned outside the inner space of the booth, particularly on the outsides of the front walls (9a). 
   
   
       31.  The cleaning device according to  claim 24 , characterized in that the two pipes (20) are arranged offset to each other such that they may pass successively through a slot (5) in the top wall (4) of the booth (1). 
   
   
       32.  The cleaning device according to  claim 25 , characterized in that the two pipes (20) are arranged offset to each other such that they may pass successively through a slot (5) in the top wall (4) of the booth (1). 
   
   
       33.  The cleaning device according to  claim 26 , characterized in that the two pipes (20) are arranged offset to each other such that they may pass successively through a slot (5) in the top wall (4) of the booth (1). 
   
   
       34.  The cleaning device according to  claim 27 , characterized in that the two pipes (20) are arranged offset to each other such that they may pass successively through a slot (5) in the top wall (4) of the booth (1). 
   
   
       35.  The cleaning device according to  claim 29 , characterized in that the two pipes (20) are arranged offset to each other such that they may pass successively through a slot (5) in the top wall (4) of the booth (1). 
   
   
       36.  The cleaning device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that at both sides of a bottom area of the booth (1) collection channels (7) for excess powder and connected to a suction line (8) are provided and in that each pipe (20) is exclusively moved along the side walls (2) and the top wall (4), but not over the bottom (3) of the booth. 
   
   
       37.  The cleaning device according to  claim 2 , characterized in that at both sides of a bottom area of the booth (1) collection channels (7) for excess powder and connected to a suction line (8) are provided and in that each pipe (20) is exclusively moved along the side walls (2) and the top wall (4), but not over the bottom (3) of the booth. 
   
   
       38.  The cleaning device according to  claim 3 , characterized in that at both sides of a bottom area of the booth (1) collection channels (7) for excess powder and connected to a suction line (8) are provided and in that each pipe (20) is exclusively moved along the side walls (2) and the top wall (4), but not over the bottom (3) of the booth. 
   
   
       39.  The cleaning device according to  claim 6 , characterized in that at both sides of a bottom area of the booth (1) collection channels (7) for excess powder and connected to a suction line (8) are provided and in that each pipe (20) is exclusively moved along the side walls (2) and the top wall (4), but not over the bottom (3) of the booth. 
   
   
       40.  The cleaning device according to  claim 24 , characterized in that at both sides of a bottom area of the booth (1) collection channels (7) for excess powder and connected to a suction line (8) are provided and in that each pipe (20) is exclusively moved along the side walls (2) and the top wall (4), but not over the bottom (3) of the booth. 
   
   
       41.  The cleaning device according to  claim 25 , characterized in that at both sides of a bottom area of the booth (1) collection channels (7) for excess powder and connected to a suction line (8) are provided and in that each pipe (20) is exclusively moved along the side walls (2) and the top wall (4), but not over the bottom (3) of the booth. 
   
   
       42.  The cleaning device according to  claim 26 , characterized in that at both sides of a bottom area of the booth (1) collection channels (7) for excess powder and connected to a suction line (8) are provided and in that each pipe (20) is exclusively moved along the side walls (2) and the top wall (4), but not over the bottom (3) of the booth. 
   
   
       43.  The cleaning device according to  claim 27 , characterized in that at both sides of a bottom area of the booth (1) collection channels (7) for excess powder and connected to a suction line (8) are provided and in that each pipe (20) is exclusively moved along the side walls (2) and the top wall (4), but not over the bottom (3) of the booth. 
   
   
       44.  The cleaning device according to  claim 29 , characterized in that at both sides of a bottom area of the booth (1) collection channels (7) for excess powder and connected to a suction line (8) are provided and in that each pipe (20) is exclusively moved along the side walls (2) and the top wall (4), but not over the bottom (3) of the booth. 
   
   
       45.  The cleaning device according to  claim 31 , characterized in that at both sides of a bottom area of the booth (1) collection channels (7) for excess powder and connected to a suction line (8) are provided and in that each pipe (20) is exclusively moved along the side walls (2) and the top wall (4), but not over the bottom (3) of the booth. 
   
   
       46.  A method for cleaning a powder coating booth (1) through which workpieces are conveyed and coated by powder, wherein the inner walls (2,4) of the booth are blown off with a cleaning fluid by at least one pipe (20) moved through said booth (1) and having nozzles (28), characterized in that each pipe (20) which is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the booth is advanced through the booth transversely to the conveying direction (F) of the workpieces and during conveying is supplied with cleaning fluid. 
   
   
       47.  The method according to  claim 46 , characterized in that the forward movement of the at least one pipe (20) within the booth is directed mainly from top to bottom. 
   
   
       48.  The method according to  claim 46 , characterized in that the at least one pipe is not moved along the bottom (3) of the booth and that excess powder deposited there is suctioned off separately. 
   
   
       49.  The method according to  claim 47 , characterized in that the at least one pipe is not moved along the bottom (3) of the booth and that excess powder deposited there is suctioned off separately. 
   
   
       50.  The method according to  claim 46 , characterized in that the at least one pipe (20) is moved back to its initial position when the supply of cleaning fluid has been blocked. 
   
   
       51.  The method according to  claim 47 , characterized in that the at least one pipe (20) is moved back to its initial position when the supply of cleaning fluid has been blocked. 
   
   
       52.  The method according to  claim 48 , characterized in that the at least one pipe (20) is moved back to its initial position when the supply of cleaning fluid has been blocked.