U.S. patent application number 15/152194 was filed with the patent office on 2016-09-01 for painting installation and method for operating a painting installation.
This patent application is currently assigned to Durr Systems GmbH. The applicant listed for this patent is Durr Systems GmbH. Invention is credited to Michael Baitinger, Sebastian Holler, Jens Holzheimer, Jan Scheerer, Wolfgang Tobisch, Dietmar Wieland.
Application Number | 20160250657 15/152194 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46051673 |
Filed Date | 2016-09-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160250657 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Holler; Sebastian ; et
al. |
September 1, 2016 |
PAINTING INSTALLATION AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A PAINTING
INSTALLATION
Abstract
In order to provide a painting installation for painting
workpieces, which is compact in configuration and allows a reliable
separation of paint overspray from a raw gas flow, the painting
installation includes the following: a painting booth, in which the
workpieces are paintable with paint; a conveying device, by means
of which the workpieces to be painted are conveyable in a conveying
direction through the painting booth; a separation and/or filter
system for cleaning a raw gas flow, which is leaving the painting
booth and has absorbed paint overspray in the painting booth,
wherein the separation and/or filter system includes at least one
filter device for separating the paint overspray from the raw gas
flow; and at least one clean gas line for a clean gas flow, which
is obtainable by cleaning the raw gas flow by means of the at least
one filter device.
Inventors: |
Holler; Sebastian; (Tamm,
DE) ; Scheerer; Jan; (Stuttgart, DE) ;
Holzheimer; Jens; (Tamm, DE) ; Wieland; Dietmar;
(Waiblingen, DE) ; Baitinger; Michael; (Marbach,
DE) ; Tobisch; Wolfgang; (Stuttgart, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Durr Systems GmbH |
Bietigheim-Bissingen |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Durr Systems GmbH
|
Family ID: |
46051673 |
Appl. No.: |
15/152194 |
Filed: |
May 11, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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14157092 |
Jan 16, 2014 |
9364845 |
|
|
15152194 |
|
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PCT/EP2012/058165 |
May 3, 2012 |
|
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14157092 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
427/189 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01D 2273/12 20130101;
B05B 16/40 20180201; B01D 46/0036 20130101; Y02P 70/10 20151101;
B05B 14/437 20180201; B05B 16/60 20180201; B01D 46/0041 20130101;
B01D 46/0057 20130101; B05D 1/12 20130101; B01D 46/0027 20130101;
B05B 14/43 20180201 |
International
Class: |
B05B 15/12 20060101
B05B015/12; B05D 1/12 20060101 B05D001/12; B01D 46/00 20060101
B01D046/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 27, 2011 |
DE |
102011079951.6 |
Jul 29, 2011 |
DE |
102011052298.0 |
Claims
1-17. (canceled)
18. A painting installation for painting workpieces, comprising: a
painting booth, in which the workpieces are paintable with paint
and conveyable in a conveying direction through the painting booth;
a filter system for cleaning a raw gas flow, which is leaving the
painting booth and has absorbed paint overspray in the painting
booth, wherein the filter system comprises at least one filter for
separating the paint overspray from the raw gas flow; and at least
one clean gas line positioned to receive a clean gas flow exiting
the at least one filter.
19. The painting installation according to claim 18, wherein the
filter system comprises at least one clean gas line which is
arranged, at least in portions, below a raw gas shaft.
20. The painting installation according to claim 18, wherein the
filter system comprises a clean gas line, which crosses and/or
traverses a raw gas shaft.
21. The painting installation according to claim 18, wherein at
least two filters, preferably all the filters of the filter system,
are arranged on the same side of a raw gas shaft with respect to a
vertical longitudinal centre plane of the painting booth.
22. The painting installation according to claim 18, wherein at
least one clean gas line extends through below the raw gas shaft
and runs here substantially transversely to the conveying
direction.
23. The painting installation according to claim 18, wherein the
filter system comprises at least one clean gas collecting channel,
into which at least two clean gas lines of the filter system
open.
24. The painting installation according to claim 23, wherein at
least one clean gas collecting channel, on the one hand, and at
least two filters, on the other hand, are arranged on mutually
opposing sides of the filter system with respect to a vertical
longitudinal centre plane of the painting booth.
25. The painting installation according to claim 18, wherein at
least one policing filter is provided in at least one clean gas
line in order to prevent an undesired penetration of auxiliary
filter material and/or overspray particles into the regions of the
filter system to be kept clean in the event of damage to a
filter.
26. The painting installation according to claim 18, wherein at
least one filter is configured to be walked on, so that a person
can enter an interior of the at least one filter.
27. The painting installation according to claim 18, wherein a
lower end of the raw gas shaft adjoins at least one inlet channel
of at least one filter of the filter system.
28. The painting installation according to claim 18, wherein at
least one clean gas line is arranged, at least in portions, within
an outer contour of at least one filter.
29. The painting installation according to claim 18, wherein the
filter system comprises at least one clean gas collecting channel,
into which at least two clean gas lines of the filter system open,
wherein the at least one clean gas collecting channel extends at
least approximately parallel to the conveying direction.
30. The painting installation according to claim 18, wherein the
filter system comprises at least one raw gas shaft, which is
arranged substantially centrally below the painting booth with
respect to a horizontal direction running perpendicular to the
conveying direction.
31. The painting installation according to claim 30, wherein an
inflow opening of the raw gas shaft is arranged substantially
centrally below the painting booth with respect to the horizontal
direction running perpendicular to the conveying direction.
32. The painting installation according to claim 18, wherein the
filter system comprises at least one clean gas line, at least one
fan, at least one conditioning device and/or at least one clean gas
collecting channel, which are arranged within a vertical projection
of the painting booth below the painting booth.
33. The painting installation according to claim 18, wherein the
filter system comprises at least one filter module, which comprises
at least one filter, at least one clean gas line, at least one
conditioning device and/or at least one fan.
34. The painting installation, in particular according to claim 18,
wherein at least one filter for the separation of paint overspray
from the raw gas flow containing overspray particles, comprises: a
housing, which delimits a raw gas chamber of the filter and in
which at least one filter element of the filter is arranged; at
least one inlet channel for letting the raw gas flow into the raw
gas chamber of the filter; and at least one auxiliary filter
material introduction mechanism for introducing auxiliary filter
material into the raw gas flow.
35. The painting installation according to claim 34, wherein at
least one auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism
comprises a treatment device for the mechanical treatment of
auxiliary filter material and/or a mixture of auxiliary filter
material and overspray particles.
36. The painting installation according to claim 34, wherein at
least one auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism
comprises a flow guidance device for influencing the flow of the
raw gas flow, which device comprises at least one flow element,
which is variable with respect to configuration and/or arrangement
and/or orientation.
37. The painting installation according to claim 34, wherein the
filter comprises a control device, by means of which an
introduction capacity of the at least one auxiliary filter material
introduction mechanism is configured to be controlled and/or
regulated.
38. The painting installation according to claim 18, wherein at
least one filter of the filter system comprises at least one flow
guidance device, which is arranged in the raw gas chamber of the
filter and by means of which the raw gas flow flowing through at
least one inlet channel of the filter into the raw gas chamber is
configured to be influenced.
39. The painting installation according to claim 18, wherein the
filter system comprises a conditioning device, which comprises a
cooling device, a humidifying device and/or a drop-separation
device as well as a common liquid handling system for the cooling
device, the humidifying device and/or the drop-separation
device.
40. A method for operating a painting installation, comprising the
following method steps: conveying the workpieces in a conveying
direction through the painting booth by means of a conveying device
and painting the workpieces in the painting booth; feeding a raw
gas flow from the painting booth of the painting installation,
which has absorbed paint overspray in the painting booth, to a
filter system; separating paint overspray from the raw gas flow
loaded with overspray particles by means of at least one filter of
the filter system, so that a clean gas flow is obtained, wherein
auxiliary filter material and/or a mixture of auxiliary filter
material and overspray particles is loosened by means of at least
one auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism, wherein at
least a part of the raw gas flow is introduced into at least one
auxiliary filter material receiving container of at least one
filter and wherein the loosened auxiliary filter material and/or
the loosened mixture of auxiliary filter material and overspray
particles is entrained by the raw gas flow and thereby mixes with
the raw gas of the raw gas flow.
41. The method according to claim 40, wherein the clean gas flow is
guided away by means of at least one clean gas line, which is
arranged, at least in portions, within an outer contour of at least
one filter and wherein at least one clean gas line is guided
through below a raw gas shaft of the painting installation and/or
wherein at least one clean gas line traverses the raw gas
shaft.
42. The method according to claim 40, wherein the raw gas flow is
guided by way of at least one inlet channel of at least one filter
into a raw gas chamber of the at least one filter, auxiliary filter
material being fed to the raw gas flow by means of at least one
auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application of
PCT/EP2012/058165, filed on May 3, 2012, the entire specification
of which is incorporated herein by reference. Further, this
application claims the benefit of German application number 10 2011
079 951.6, filed on Jul. 27, 2011 and German application number 10
2011 052 298.0, filed on Jul. 29, 2011, which are incorporated
herein by reference in their entirety and for all purposes.
FIELD OF DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present invention relates to a painting installation for
painting workpieces.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A painting installation is known, for example from WO
2010/069407 A1, which comprises a separation and/or filter system,
which is arranged below the painting booth.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention is based on the object of providing a
painting installation of the type mentioned at the outset, which is
compact in configuration and allows reliable separation of paint
overspray from the raw gas flow.
[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention in that
the painting installation comprises a painting booth, in which the
workpieces are paintable with paint, and a conveying device, by
means of which the workpieces to be painted are conveyable in a
conveying direction through the painting booth. Furthermore, the
painting installation comprises a separation and/or filter system
for cleaning a raw gas flow, which is leaving the painting booth
and has absorbed paint overspray in the painting booth, the
separation and/or filter system comprising at least one filter
device for separating the paint overspray from the raw gas flow,
and at least one clean gas line for a clean gas flow, which is
obtainable by cleaning the raw gas flow by means of the at least
one filter device.
[0006] The separation and/or filter system will be referred to
below as the "filter system" for simplification.
[0007] It is provided in one configuration of the invention that at
least one clean gas line is arranged, at least in portions within
an outer contour of at least one filter device.
[0008] An outer contour of the filter device is to be taken to
mean, in this description and the accompanying claims, the outer
delimitation of the spatial region, which, when each cross-section
of the filter device taken perpendicular to the conveying direction
is moved along the conveying direction up to the ends of the
painting installation, is passed through by at least one of these
cross-sections.
[0009] In particular when at least one clean gas line is arranged,
at least in portions, within an outer contour of at least one
filter device, the filter system can be compact in configuration.
In particular, it may be provided that no clean gas line projects
beyond lateral delimiting walls of the filter system.
[0010] The movement of a cross-section along the conveying
direction to determine the outer contour takes place in such a way
that the moved cross-section is always oriented perpendicular to
the local conveying direction. When a conveying direction is not
constant (in the case of a curved conveying path), a cross-section
is consequently rotated in accordance with the course of the
respective local conveying direction during the movement to the
ends of the painting installation.
[0011] In particular, the clean gas line is therefore, at least in
portions, arranged within a spatial region, which, in the case of
an imaginary extension of delimiting walls of the filter device
running at least approximately parallel to the conveying direction,
is delimited by these extended delimiting walls.
[0012] The at least one clean gas line is therefore preferably
arranged, at least in portions, within a horizontal projection of
at least one filter device along the conveying direction.
[0013] At least one outer delimiting wall, remote from a vertical
longitudinal center plane of the painting booth, of at least one
clean gas line is preferably spaced apart to the same extent or to
a lesser extent from the vertical longitudinal center plane of the
painting booth than an outer delimiting wall of the filter device
remote from the vertical longitudinal center plane of the painting
booth.
[0014] A clean gas flow is preferably guidable by means of at least
one at least approximately vertically oriented clean gas line along
at least one filter device, at least approximately vertically
downwardly.
[0015] In particular when the filter system comprises a plurality
of filter devices arranged one after the other in the conveying
direction, it may be provided that at least one clean gas line is
arranged between two filter devices arranged one after the other in
the conveying direction.
[0016] At least one filter device is preferably configured as a
regenerable filter device.
[0017] A regenerable filter device is to be taken to mean a
separation device for separating impurities from a gas flow guided
through the painting booth, in particular to separate paint
overspray from a gas flow containing overspray particles, in which
separated impurities can be cleaned off, without having to exchange
filter elements of the filter device.
[0018] Provided as a regenerable filter device (filter arrangement)
according to the invention is also, in particular, a filter device,
which has one or more dry filter elements and/or dry separation
devices, in which a gas flow is cleaned substantially without the
addition of a liquid to the filter elements. Depending on this,
subsequent or prior cleaning stages may in turn be provided using
(in normal conditions) liquid solvents or cleaning agents.
[0019] It may furthermore be provided in a regenerable filter
device that the filter device comprises at least one filter
element, which, during filter operation, is provided with a barrier
layer and/or a protective layer, which comprises auxiliary filter
material, for example rock flour.
[0020] The filter element can thus be prevented from becoming
clogged with impurities from the gas flow fed to the filter device
during filter operation of the filter device. By cleaning the
barrier layer or the protective layer from the filter element of
the filter device, a particularly easy regeneration of the filter
element can take place, which is then reusable by applying a fresh
barrier layer or a fresh protective layer.
[0021] Powder paint or fluid paint, in particular, can be
considered as the paint.
[0022] A paint with a flowable consistency, from liquid to pasty
(for example in the case of a PVC plastisol) is designated by the
term "fluid paint" here--in contrast to the term "powder paint".
The term "fluid paint" comprises, in particular, the terms "liquid
paint" and "wet paint".
[0023] When using fluid paint, the paint overspray from the
painting booth is therefore a fluid paint overspray and when using
wet paint it is a wet paint overspray.
[0024] In one configuration of the invention it is provided that
the filter system comprises at least one raw gas shaft, which is
arranged substantially centrally below the painting booth with
respect to a horizontal direction running perpendicular to the
conveying direction.
[0025] It may, in particular, be provided here that an inflow
opening of the raw gas shaft is arranged substantially centrally
below the painting booth with respect to a horizontal direction
running perpendicular to the conveying direction.
[0026] The raw gas shaft is preferably used to feed the gas flow
from the painting booth to at least one filter device of the filter
system.
[0027] A gas flow with a vertical movement component, in particular
in the substantially vertical direction, preferably flows through
the raw gas shaft during a filter operation of the filter system,
in which the gas flow coming from the painting booth is
cleaned.
[0028] A lower end of the raw gas shaft preferably adjoins at least
one inlet channel of at least one filter device of the filter
system.
[0029] It may be favorable if at least two filter devices,
preferably all the filter devices of the filter system, are
arranged on the same side of the raw gas shaft with respect to a
vertical longitudinal center plane of the painting booth.
[0030] It may be advantageous if the raw gas shaft extends from
above at least one filter element of the at least one filter device
and/or to below at least one filter element of the at least one
filter device.
[0031] In one configuration of the invention, it is provided that
the filter system comprises at least one clean gas line, which is
guided, at least in portions, spatially below a raw gas shaft, in
particular is arranged under the raw gas shaft. A raw gas flow can
thus be guided particularly easily from the one side of the
vertical longitudinal center plane of the painting booth to the
opposing side. In particular, at least one clean gas line can cross
the raw gas shaft without a collision.
[0032] As an alternative or in addition to this, it may be provided
that at least one clean gas line is guided, at least in portions,
spatially above a raw gas shaft, in particular is arranged above
the raw gas shaft, and therefore crosses the latter, preferably
above it.
[0033] At least one clean gas line preferably extends through below
the raw gas shaft and preferably runs here substantially in the
horizontal direction and/or transversely, in particular
substantially perpendicularly, to the conveying direction.
[0034] It may furthermore be provided that at least one clean gas
line is arranged, at least in portions, within a vertical
projection of at least one filter device below and/or above the at
least one filter device.
[0035] It may be favorable if at least one clean gas line is
arranged, at least in portions, below, in particular under, at
least one auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism, at
least one auxiliary filter material receiving container and/or at
least one housing of at least one filter device.
[0036] It may be provided that the filter system comprises a clean
gas line, which crosses a raw gas shaft and/or traverses it.
[0037] The clean gas line comprises a portion which is arranged
within the raw gas shaft, and may comprise one or more further
portions, which are arranged outside the raw gas shaft.
[0038] In particular, it may be provided that the filter system
comprises a clean gas line, which is arranged in the region of the
upper end of the raw gas shaft and traverses it.
[0039] Raw gas therefore preferably flows around the clean gas line
during operation of the painting installation. By means of the
clean gas line, the clean gas flow can preferably be guided from
the one side of the vertical longitudinal center plane of the
painting booth to the opposite side.
[0040] It may, however, also be provided that at least one clean
gas line is arranged at another point between the lower end and the
upper end of the raw gas shaft or above the raw gas shaft,
preferably below the painting booth base.
[0041] The clean gas line preferably runs substantially in the
horizontal direction and/or transversely, in particular
substantially perpendicularly, with respect to the conveying
direction.
[0042] It may be favorable if the filter system comprises at least
one clean gas collecting channel, into which at least two clean gas
lines of the filter system open. The clean gas can then be guided
away particularly easily using only one line, which adjoins the
clean gas collecting channel downstream.
[0043] At least one clean gas collecting channel preferably extends
least approximately parallel to the conveying direction.
[0044] It is provided in one configuration of the invention that at
least one clean gas collecting channel, on the one hand, and at
least two filter devices of the filter system, on the other hand,
are arranged on mutually opposite sides of the filter system with
respect to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the painting
booth.
[0045] In particular, it may be provided that at least one clean
gas collecting channel of the filter system is divided along the
conveying direction, in particular by means of a partition wall
extending along the conveying direction, into two regions, namely
an upstream region and a downstream region.
[0046] At least two clean gas lines preferably open into the
upstream region, which therefore forms a mouth region of the two
regions of the clean gas collecting channel.
[0047] A mixing of the clean gas flows fed by means of the at least
two clean gas lines to the clean gas collecting channel preferably
already takes place in the mouth region of the at least two regions
of the clean gas collecting channel.
[0048] In one configuration of the invention it is provided that
the downstream region of the clean gas collecting channel is a
discharge region of the two regions of the clean gas collecting
channel, which is used to discharge the clean gas from the filter
system and, for example, has a fluid connection to a circulating
air guidance device for (renewed) feeding of the clean gas flow to
the painting booth and/or to an exhaust air guidance device to
remove the raw gas flow from the painting installation.
[0049] The mouth region of the clean gas collecting channel
preferably has a fluid connection to the discharge region of the
clean gas collecting channel by means of at least one fan. The gas
arranged in the mouth region of the clean gas collecting channel
can thus be particularly easily fed to the discharge region of the
clean gas collecting channel.
[0050] It may be advantageous if the mouth region of the clean gas
collecting channel is arranged, at least in portions, preferably
completely, below, in particular under, the discharge region of the
clean gas collecting channel.
[0051] It is provided in one configuration of the invention that at
least one fan (blower) is connected, directly or indirectly, by
means of a gas channel to a partition wall of at least one clean
gas collecting channel.
[0052] It may be advantageous if at least one fan is arranged on
the base, on which the painting installation is constructed in the
assembled state, and a gas channel is provided to connect the fan
to the partition wall.
[0053] It may furthermore be provided that at least one fan with a
receiving device (frame) is provided, the receiving device being
arranged on the base and the at least one fan being arranged at, in
particular on, the receiving device. A gas channel is preferably
provided to connect the fan to the partition wall.
[0054] It may be favorable if at least one fan is arranged on the
partition wall of at least one clean gas collecting channel and/or
is integrated in the partition wall. An additional gas channel to
connect the fan to the partition wall may thus be dispensable.
[0055] In a further configuration of the invention it is provided
that at least one fan is arranged at, in particular on, a receiving
device, which is arranged at, in particular on, a partition wall of
a clean gas collecting channel, at least one gas channel being
provided to connect the at least one fan to the partition wall.
[0056] The filter system preferably comprises at least one
conditioning device for conditioning at least one gas flow, in
particular at least one clean gas flow. In particular, it may be
provided that the conditioning device is configured as a heating
device, cooling device, humidifying device and/or dehumidifying
device.
[0057] At least one conditioning device is preferably arranged in a
clean gas collecting channel of the filter system or before a clean
gas collecting channel of the filter system with respect to a flow
direction of the gas flow, in particular the clean gas flow.
[0058] The filter system preferably comprises at least one fan, for
example at least one axial fan, to drive the gas flow.
[0059] The at least one fan may, for example, be arranged in the
clean gas line and therefore before a clean gas collecting channel
of the filter system with respect to a flow direction of the gas
flow, into which channel the at least one clean gas line opens.
[0060] As an alternative or in addition to this, it may be provided
that at least one fan is arranged downstream of the clean gas line
and/or of the clean gas collecting channel with respect to the flow
direction of the gas flow.
[0061] At least one fan may comprise an impeller, which is drivable
by means of a drive.
[0062] A rotational axis of the impeller of the fan may be oriented
substantially horizontally and transversely, preferably
substantially perpendicularly, to a longitudinal direction of the
painting booth and/or with respect to a conveying direction of the
painting installation.
[0063] The drive of the impeller may be arranged in a transverse
direction directed perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the
painting booth and/or perpendicular to a conveying direction,
laterally next to the fan, in particular laterally next to the
impeller.
[0064] The drive of the impeller may be at least partially
arranged, preferably substantially completely arranged, outside the
base area of the painting booth or outside a vertical projection of
the base face of the painting booth.
[0065] The rotational axis of the impeller of the fan may, however,
also be oriented differently, for example substantially
horizontally and substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction
of the painting booth and/or to a conveying direction. Furthermore,
the rotational axis of the impeller may also be oriented
substantially vertically.
[0066] The drive of the impeller may be arranged in a longitudinal
direction of the painting booth and/or in a conveying direction
before or behind the fan.
[0067] The drive of the impeller may also be arranged vertically
below or above the fan.
[0068] The drive of the impeller may be arranged, at least partly,
preferably substantially completely, within the base area of the
painting booth or within a vertical projection of the base face of
the painting booth.
[0069] It is favorable if the filter system comprises at least one
clean gas line, at least one fan, at least one conditioning device
and/or at least one clean gas collecting channel, which are
arranged within a vertical projection of the painting booth below
the painting booth.
[0070] The filter system preferably comprises at least one filter
module, which comprises at least one portion of at least one raw
gas shaft, at least one filter device, at least one clean gas line,
at least one conditioning device, at least one portion of at least
one clean gas collecting channel and/or at least one fan.
[0071] A filter module is a structural unit here, which comprises
the constituents mentioned at least partly preassembled, preferably
completely assembled, so the filter module can be preassembled or
finished at a site that is different from the assembly site of the
painting booth and can be connected to the remaining components of
the painting installation with a low assembly outlay after
transportation to the assembly site.
[0072] The filter system preferably comprises at least two filter
modules.
[0073] In particular when the filter module comprises at least one
portion of at least one clean gas collecting channel and/or at
least one raw gas shaft, the at least one clean gas collecting
channel or the at least one raw gas shaft can be completed by
arranging the filter modules in a row next to one another in the
conveying direction of the conveying device of the painting
installation and by a fluid-tight connection of the individual
portions of the at least one clean gas collecting channel or the at
least one raw gas shaft to one another.
[0074] It may be advantageous if at least one safety filter
(policing filter, emergency filter) is provided in at least one
clean gas line and/or in the clean gas collecting channel in order
to prevent an undesired penetration of auxiliary filter material
and/or overspray particles into the regions of the filter system to
be kept clean in the event of damage to a filter device, for
example damage to a filter element of a filter device.
[0075] The present invention furthermore relates to a filter module
for use in a filter system of a painting installation, the filter
module comprising at least one filter device, at least one clean
gas line, at least one conditioning device, at least one raw gas
shaft portion, at least one clean gas collecting channel portion
and/or at least one fan.
[0076] The present invention is based on the further object of
providing a painting installation, which allows a particularly
reliable separation of paint overspray from the raw gas flow.
[0077] This object is achieved according to the invention in that
in the painting installation, at least one filter device for
separating paint overspray from a raw gas flow containing overspray
particles comprises the following: [0078] a housing, which delimits
a raw gas chamber of the filter device and in which at least one
filter element of the filter device is arranged; [0079] at least
one inlet channel for letting the raw gas flow into the raw gas
chamber of the filter device; and [0080] at least one auxiliary
filter material introduction mechanism for introducing auxiliary
filter material into the raw gas flow.
[0081] Since at least one auxiliary filter material introduction
mechanism for introducing auxiliary filter material into the raw
gas flow is provided, auxiliary filter material can be fed to the
raw gas flow particularly easily, so an efficient and reliable
separation of paint overspray from the raw gas flow is possible. In
particular, a compressed air device for swirling auxiliary material
can thereby be dispensed with.
[0082] At least one inlet channel of at least one filter device is
preferably configured in such a way that the raw gas flow is
guidable at an acute angle to the horizontal into the raw gas
chamber.
[0083] It may be advantageous if at least one auxiliary filter
material introduction mechanism comprises a treatment device for
mechanically treating auxiliary filter material and/or a mixture of
auxiliary filter material and overspray particles.
[0084] A "mechanical treatment" of auxiliary filter material or a
mixture of auxiliary filter material and overspray particles is to
be taken to mean a treatment in such a way that the treatment
device comes into direct contact with the auxiliary filter material
or with the mixture of auxiliary filter material and overspray
particles in order, for example, to move, convey, to mix, to grind
and/or loosen the latter.
[0085] It may be favorable if the treatment device is configured as
a mixing device.
[0086] In particular, it may be provided that a mixing device is
used for mixing auxiliary filter material, which is loaded with
paint overspray, and auxiliary filter material, which is not
loaded, or only to a small extent, with paint overspray.
[0087] At least one treatment device for mechanical treatment
preferably comprises at least one treatment element, which is, for
example, configured as a paddle and is rotatable about an axis.
[0088] At least one treatment device is preferably used for
breaking up agglomerates of auxiliary filter material and paint
overspray.
[0089] At least one treatment device preferably comprises at least
one loosening element for loosening auxiliary filter material. In
particular, it may be provided here that at least one loosening
element be configured as a paddle and/or as a scoop.
[0090] At least one loosening element is, in particular, provided
to make the auxiliary filter material (or the mixture of auxiliary
filter material and overspray particles) carry out an inner
movement in such a way that a proportion of more than 10% of the
particles (auxiliary filter material particles and/or overspray
particles; based on the total mass, the particle number and/or the
total volume) are moved relative to adjacent particles. This
produces a loosening, mixing, conveyance and/or crushing. In the
case of the latter, at least one loosening element cooperates with
at least one counterpiece, the at least one loosening element and
the at least one counterpiece preferably having, during normal
operation, different speeds and the auxiliary filter material thus
being able to be mechanically processed between the at least one
loosening element and the at least one counterpiece.
[0091] At least one treatment device preferably comprises at least
one conveying element for conveying auxiliary filter material, for
example in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the
conveying device of the painting installation.
[0092] It may furthermore be provided that the at least one
treatment device comprises at least one treatment element, which is
rotatable about a rotational axis running, for example
horizontally, in particular substantial parallel, to the conveying
direction and which is configured, for example, as a loosening
element, a mixing element and/or conveying element.
[0093] A raw gas flow fed to the raw gas chamber is preferably
directed in such a way that it flows in transversely, in particular
substantially perpendicularly, with respect to the rotational axis
of the treatment device into the raw gas chamber. In particular, it
may be provided that the raw gas flow is directed substantially
perpendicularly to the rotational axis of at least one treatment
device.
[0094] It may be advantageous if at least one treatment device
cooperates with a removal device of the filter device, for example
with a removal opening to remove auxiliary filter material from the
raw gas chamber of the filter device. In particular, it may be
provided that the treatment device allows the conveyance of
auxiliary filter material or a mixture of auxiliary filter material
and overspray particles toward a removal opening.
[0095] As an alternative or in addition to this, it may be provided
that a uniform distribution of auxiliary filter material or a
mixture of auxiliary filter material and overspray particles is
achievable by means of at least one treatment device in an
auxiliary filter material receiving container of the filter
device.
[0096] At least one auxiliary filter material introduction
mechanism is preferably arranged in an auxiliary filter material
receiving container of at least one filter device.
[0097] The present invention furthermore relates to a painting
installation, which comprises a filter system, in which at least
one flow guidance device is provided to influence the flow of a raw
gas flow.
[0098] The invention is based, in this regard, on the object of
providing a painting installation, which comprises a filter system,
which allows a reliable separation of paint overspray from a raw
gas flow.
[0099] This object is achieved according to the invention in that
at least one flow guidance device comprises at least one flow
influencing element.
[0100] As a result, a raw gas flow can be influenced particularly
advantageously in order to be able to reliably separate paint
overspray from the raw gas flow.
[0101] A "flow influencing element" will be designated a "flow
element" below for simpler reference.
[0102] It is provided in one configuration of the invention that at
least one auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism
comprises a flow guidance device for influencing the flow of the
raw gas flow, which comprises at least one flow element.
[0103] It may be advantageous if at least one flow guidance device
comprises at least one flow element, which is variable with regard
to configuration and/or arrangement and/or orientation. The raw gas
flow can thus be used to loosen and/or swirl auxiliary filter
material and therefore to introduce auxiliary filter material into
the raw gas flow.
[0104] It may be provided, in particular, that at least one
variable flow element is configured as an adjustably and/or a
pivotably arranged guide plate.
[0105] It may be advantageous if at least one flow guidance device
is at least partly arranged in at least one inlet channel of the
filter device. In particular, it may be provided that at least one
flow guidance device forms a delimitation of the inlet channel.
[0106] At least one flow element of at least one flow guidance
device is preferably variable with regard to configuration and/or
arrangement and/or orientation before, during and/or after an
operation of the filter device. In particular, it may be provided
that at least one flow element is variable with regard to
configuration and/or arrangement and/or orientation before, during
and/or after a filter operation, in which a raw gas flow can be
cleaned by means of the filter device. Furthermore, it may be
provided that at least one flow element is variable with regard to
configuration and/or arrangement and/or orientation before, during
and/or after a cleaning operation of the filter device, in which at
least one filter element of the filter device can be cleaned, in
other words freed from adhering auxiliary filter material and paint
overspray.
[0107] At least one flow element of at least one flow guidance
device is furthermore preferably pre-adjustable before starting up
the filter device and/or automatically adjustable, in particular
self-adjusting, during an operation, in particular a filter
operation, of the filter device.
[0108] It may be particularly favorable if at least one variable
flow element of at least one flow guidance device is automatically
adaptable to different flow states during operation of the filter
device, in particular during filter operation of the filter
device.
[0109] It may be advantageous if at least one variable flow element
of at least one flow guidance device automatically adapts, owing to
its design, in particular owing to its own weight, to different
flow states during operation of the filter device, in particular to
a volume flow of the raw gas flow.
[0110] It may be provided, for example, that the mass of at least
one flow element is selected such that a varying opening
cross-section of the inlet channel in a direction perpendicular to
the flow direction of the raw gas flow is automatically produced in
the inlet channel by a raw gas flow that varies with respect to its
volume flow.
[0111] At least one flow element of at least one flow guidance
device is preferably configured in such a way that an angle, at
which the raw gas flow flows into the raw gas chamber, is
adjustable by means of the at least one flow element.
[0112] It may be advantageous if the speed of the raw gas flow
flowing into the raw gas chamber can be influenced, in particular
increased, by means of at least one flow element of at least one
flow guidance device. The speed of a gas flow is to be taken to
mean here the average speed of the gas flow, local speed
differences resulting, for example, from turbulences being
disregarded.
[0113] It may, in particular, be provided here that the speed of
the raw gas flow into at least one inlet channel of at least one
filter device is influenced, in particular increased, compared to
the speed of the raw gas flow into at least one raw gas shaft of
the filter system by means of at least one flow element of at least
one flow guidance device.
[0114] It may be favorable if a raw gas flow guided through at
least one raw gas shaft is guided away or deflected by means of at
least one flow guidance device and/or by means of at least one
inlet channel of at least one filter device, asymmetrically, in
particular only toward one side of the vertical longitudinal center
plane of the painting booth, with respect to the vertical
longitudinal center plane of the painting booth.
[0115] It may be advantageous if, by means of at least one flow
guidance device, the raw gas flow introduced into the raw gas
chamber is directed directly into at least one auxiliary filter
material receiving container of at least one filter device. It may
be advantageous if, as a result, auxiliary filter material is
swirled and/or picked up by the raw gas flow.
[0116] The raw gas flow loaded with auxiliary filter material and
with overspray particles is preferably deflected with a vertical
movement component, for example substantially vertically upwardly,
and/or fed flowing substantially vertically upwardly or at least
with a movement component directed vertically upwardly, to at least
one filter element of at least one filter device.
[0117] The use of at least one variable flow element of at least
one flow guidance device preferably provides the advantage that the
raw gas flow introduced into the raw gas chamber is feedable in a
specific manner to at least one auxiliary filter material receiving
container of at least one filter device.
[0118] It is provided in one configuration of the invention that at
least one flow element is configured as a guide plate. The raw gas
flow can thus be guided in a specific manner in a predetermined
direction.
[0119] It may be advantageous if at least one flow element is
manually adjusted and fixed in a preferred annular position.
[0120] As an alternative or in addition to this, it may be provided
that at least one flow element is configured as a self-adjusting
flow element. Thus, it may, for example, be provided that the at
least one flow element has a small mass so that it closes at least
one inlet channel of at least one filter device because of the
gravitational force, when no raw gas flow is fed to the filter
device, and therefore, in particular, prevents an escape of
auxiliary filter material from the filter device back into the
painting booth counter to a flow direction of the raw gas flow.
[0121] At least one flow element of at least one flow guidance
device is preferably rotatably arranged, for this purpose, about an
axis oriented transverse, in particular substantially
perpendicular, to the vertical direction.
[0122] The mass of at least one flow element of at least one flow
guidance device is preferably selected such that the at least one
flow element is movable by an inflow of the raw gas flow into a raw
gas chamber of at least one filter device by the raw gas flow from
a closed position into an open position.
[0123] A counter-pressure resulting from the mass (own weight) of
the at least one flow element is then preferably kept in balance by
a pressure exerted by the raw gas flow.
[0124] The pressure applied by the raw gas flow on at least one
flow element of at least one flow guidance device is preferably
proportional to the volume flow of the raw gas flow.
[0125] Depending on the volume flow of the raw gas flow, a
cross-section of at least one inlet channel of at least one filter
device is preferably adjustable, preferably automatically, in
particular by means of a variable flow element.
[0126] It may, in particular, be provided that, depending on the
volume flow of the raw gas flow, an inflow angle of the raw gas
flow into at least one raw gas chamber of at least one filter
device is automatically adjustable by means of at least one
variable flow element. An adaptation of the quantity of auxiliary
filter material, which is swirled by the raw gas flow and picked up
by the raw gas flow, can thus be automatically adjusted.
[0127] At least two flow elements of at least one flow guidance
device are preferably provided and form mutually opposing
delimiting walls of at least one inlet channel of at least one
filter device. In this manner, a specific influencing of the raw
gas flow flowing in through the inlet channel into the raw gas
chamber can take place.
[0128] In particular, it may be provided that at least two variable
flow elements are provided, which limit at least one inlet channel
of at least one filter device in the vertical direction. It may be
advantageous if a relative position of at least two flow elements
of at least one flow guidance device is adjustable relative to one
another.
[0129] In particular, it may be provided that at least one flow
element is displaceably and/or rotatably arranged relative to at
least one further flow element.
[0130] It is provided in one configuration of the invention that a
plurality of flow elements, which are arranged adjacent to one
another in the conveying direction of the conveying device of the
painting installation, of at least one flow guidance device are
provided, which are adjustable separately from one another, so that
at least one flow guidance device, and therefore one filter device,
are adaptable to different raw gas flows with volume flows varying
along the conveying direction. It can thus, in particular, be
ensured that, even in the case of different volume flows, at least
a desired minimum quantity of auxiliary filter material can always
be picked up by the raw gas flow when it flows into the filter
device.
[0131] Furthermore, it may be provided that at least one flow
element of at least one flow guidance device is displaceably
arranged in a horizontal direction. The raw gas flow guided through
at least one inlet channel of at least one filter device can thus
be fed in a specific manner to different regions of the raw gas
chamber, in other words different regions of an interior of the
filter device, in which the raw gas flow is present during the
filter operation, in particular different regions of the auxiliary
filter material receiving container of the filter device.
[0132] At least one flow guidance device is preferably configured
in such a way that a raw gas flow is feedable by means of the flow
guidance device to the filter device in such a way that the raw gas
flow flows above a treatment device of the filter device and/or
directed onto the treatment device into the raw gas chamber of the
filter device.
[0133] In a further configuration of the invention it may be
provided that at least one flow element of at least one flow
guidance device is rotatably and/or horizontally and/or vertically
movable by means of a drive device, for example by means of a
motor-controlled drive device.
[0134] It may be advantageous if a specific adjustment of an
orientation and/or positioning of at least one flow element is
configured to be carried out automatically by means of at least one
flow guidance device depending on an operation mode of at least one
filter device, for example a cleaning operation, in which at least
one filter device is cleaned, or a danger state, for example if a
fire alarm is triggered. At least one flow element can thus be used
as a safety device, for example as a fire protection element.
[0135] In one configuration of the invention it may be provided
that the auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism comprises
a control device, by means of which an introduction capacity of the
at least one auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism is
configured to be controlled and/or regulated.
[0136] The introduction capacity of the auxiliary filter material
introduction mechanism is to be taken to mean, in this description
and the accompanying claims, a measure of the quantity of auxiliary
filter material, which can be introduced in a predetermined time
into the raw gas flow by means of the auxiliary filter material
introduction mechanism.
[0137] It may be advantageous if the introduction capacity of the
auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism is configured to
be controlled and/or regulated by means of the control device in
such a way that the capability of the auxiliary filter material
introduced into the raw gas flow to absorb overspray particles from
the raw gas flow is at least approximately constant.
[0138] It may be advantageous if the quantity of introduced
auxiliary filter material is controlled and/or regulated depending
on the specific absorption capacity of the auxiliary filter
material. The specific absorption capacity then represents what
quantity of paint overspray can be absorbed by a predetermined
quantity of auxiliary filter material. The specific absorption
capacity therefore changes depending on a loading state of the
auxiliary filter material with paint overspray. In particular, the
specific absorption capacity reduces with an increasing operating
period of the filter device.
[0139] As an alternative or in addition to this, it may be provided
that the specific absorption capacity is controlled and/or
regulated by means of the treatment device, for example by means of
a regulated and/or controlled regular exchange of the auxiliary
filter material and/or by means of a control and/or regulation of a
mixing process and/or a grinding process. The capability of the
auxiliary filter material introduced into the raw gas flow to
absorb overspray particles from the raw gas flow can thus be kept
at least approximately constant, in particular in the case of a
constant introduction capacity of the auxiliary filter material
introduction mechanism.
[0140] Furthermore, it may be provided that a control and/or
regulation of the introduction capacity takes place by means of the
control device depending on the loading state of the auxiliary
filter material, on the quantity of auxiliary filter material in
the auxiliary filter material receiving container, on the mass of
the auxiliary filter material in the auxiliary filter material
receiving container, on the flow speed of the raw gas flow in the
inlet channel, on the difference between the pressure in the raw
gas chamber and in the clean gas line and/or a degree of
contamination of the raw gas flow with overspray particles.
[0141] In particular, it may be provided that an introduction
capacity of the auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism is
configured to be controlled and/or regulated by means of an
adjustment of at least one flow element. In particular, it may be
provided for this purpose that a position and/or an angular
position of at least one flow element is adapted, controlled and/or
regulated for this purpose.
[0142] As an alternative or in addition to this, it may furthermore
be provided that by means of at least one treatment device for
mechanically treating the auxiliary filter material and/or the
mixture of auxiliary filter material and overspray particles, the
introduction capacity is adaptable, in particular configured to be
controlled and/or regulated. In particular, it may be provided here
that a rotational speed of rotating (treatment) elements of at
least one treatment device is adjustable, in particular configured
to be controlled and/or regulated, to control and/or regulate the
introduction capacity.
[0143] It may be advantageous if at least one filter device of the
filter system comprises at least one flow guidance device, which is
arranged in the raw gas chamber of the filter device and by means
of which the raw gas flow flowing through at least one inlet
channel of the filter device into the raw gas chamber is configured
to be influenced. In this manner, a raw gas flow can be fed in a
specific manner to at least one filter element of at least one
filter device in order to obtain an advantageous separation of
overspray particles from the raw gas flow.
[0144] At least one flow guidance device preferably comprises, for
this purpose, at least one element that is different from
delimiting walls of at least one filter device, for example, an, in
particular variable, flow element.
[0145] It may be advantageous if the raw gas flow flowing through
at least one inlet channel of the filter device into the raw gas
chamber can be deflected toward at least one filter element of at
least one filter device by means of at least one flow guidance
device.
[0146] Furthermore, it may be provided that the raw gas flow
flowing through at least one inlet channel of the filter device
into the raw gas chamber can be swirled by means of at least one
flow guidance device. A turbulent flow within the raw gas chamber
can thus be obtained, so a better mixing of the overspray particles
and the particles of the auxiliary filter material, and therefore a
better separation of the overspray particles from the raw gas flow,
can be obtained.
[0147] In particular when a swirling of the raw gas flow fed to the
raw gas chamber is to be achieved by means of at least one flow
guidance device, it may be provided that at least one flow guidance
device comprises at least one flow element, for example configured
as a diffuser. In particular, at least one rod-shaped flow element
may be provided.
[0148] It may furthermore be provided that at least one flow
guidance device comprises at least one flow element, which is
configured, for example, as a guide plate and by means of which
projections and/or other points of the filter device, which disturb
a preferred flow of the raw gas flow in the raw gas chamber, can be
bridged.
[0149] It may be advantageous if at least one flow element of at
least one flow guidance device is provided with openings, through
which auxiliary filter material can pass during filter operation of
the filter device. In this manner, auxiliary filter material can be
applied to all the surfaces facing the raw gas chamber and a
reliable protection of these surfaces can be achieved against
undesired contamination with paint overspray.
[0150] It may furthermore advantageously be provided that at least
one flow element configured as a guide plate has a plurality of
openings and/or preferably serves as a diffuser.
[0151] A diffuser is to be taken to mean, in this description and
the accompanying claims, in particular an element, which promotes a
swirling of flows guided along it. In particular, this may be taken
to mean an element, by means of which a laminar flow can be
swirled, so that a turbulent flow is produced.
[0152] In one configuration of the invention, it is provided that
at least one flow element of at least one flow guidance device is
arranged, in particular fixed, in a laminar region of the raw gas
chamber, in which a substantially laminar flow prevails during
filter operation of the filter device, and/or extends into a
turbulence region of the raw gas chamber of the filter device, in
which a turbulent flow prevails or is to be produced during filter
operation of the filter device.
[0153] The use of at least one flow element of at least one flow
guidance device may, in particular, provide the advantage that the
raw gas flow containing overspray particles can flow substantially
uniformly against at least one filter element of at least one
filter device. Furthermore, undesired accumulations of auxiliary
filter material within the raw gas chamber can be reduced by this,
in particular completely avoided.
[0154] It is provided in one configuration of the invention that
the painting installation, in particular the filter system of the
painting installation, comprises a conditioning device, which
comprises a cooling device, a humidifying device and/or a drop
separation device. Furthermore, the conditioning device preferably
comprises an, in particular common, liquid handling system for the
cooling device, the humidifying device and/or the drop separation
device. A gas flow guided through the conditioning device can thus
be particularly efficiently cooled and/or humidified. Furthermore,
drops located in the gas flow can thus be easily separated.
[0155] It may be provided that the conditioning device comprises a
cooling device and a humidifying device, the humidifying device
being arranged downstream of the cooling device with respect to a
through-flow of the direction of the conditioning device.
[0156] It may furthermore be provided that the conditioning device
comprises a cooling device and a drop separation device, the drop
separation device preferably being arranged downstream of the
cooling device with respect to the through-flow direction of the
conditioning device.
[0157] It may be favorable if the conditioning device comprises a
heating device. A heating device of this type may, for example, be
arranged downstream of the cooling device and/or upstream of the
humidifying device with respect to the through-flow direction of
the conditioning device.
[0158] It may furthermore be favorable if the conditioning device
comprises at least two drop separation devices, one drop separation
device preferably being arranged upstream of a humidifying device
with respect to the through-flow direction of the conditioning
device and a further drop separation device being arranged
downstream of the humidifying device.
[0159] It is provided in one configuration of the invention that
the conditioning device comprises a liquid handling system, by
means of which condensate, which forms on the cooling device,
and/or liquid not absorbed by the gas flow, which is discharged by
the humidifying device, is receivable.
[0160] In particular, it may be provided that the liquid handling
system has a collecting trough, which is preferably arranged under
the cooling device, under the humidifying device and/or under the
drop separation device. The liquid handling system preferably
comprises a common collecting trough for the cooling device, the
humidifying device and/or the drop separation device, so that
substantially the entire liquid not absorbed by the gas flow and
accumulating in the conditioning device is collectable in the
common collecting trough.
[0161] It may be favorable if, by means of the humidifying device,
liquid is configured to be applied, in particular sprayed, on the
cooling device. As a result, the surface of the cooling device,
over which the gas flow flows, can be wetted with liquid to
increase the efficiency of the moistening. The cooling device may
thus be used as an addition or replacement for a phase interface
provider.
[0162] A substance transition from a liquid phase to the vapor
phase can be facilitated by means of a phase interface provider, in
particular for moistening. In particular, a surface of the liquid
can be increased here.
[0163] It may, for example, be provided that a phase interface
provider, for example the cooling device, is formed by a knitted
fabric with a large surface, for example a wire knitted fabric, to
which liquid is applied, in particular over which liquid is made to
flow or is sprayed. Alternatively or in addition to this, it may be
provided that liquid is applied to a filling body, for example made
of activated carbon, in particular made to flow over it or sprayed
thereon, and, simultaneously, the gas is made to flow through it,
in order to bring as large a surface of liquid as possible into
contact with the gas flow.
[0164] A phase interface provider can furthermore provide the
advantage that drops in the gas flow are separated. A phase
interface provider can therefore also be used as a drop separation
device.
[0165] It may be advantageous if the cooling device is
simultaneously used as a drop separation device.
[0166] It may furthermore be provided that the cooling device is
used as a homogenizing device to homogenize the gas flow in the
conditioning device. A homogenizing device of this type may also be
called a flow equalizer.
[0167] Preferably therefore, the functions of a phase interface
provider and/or a flow equalizer are therefore integrated into the
cooling device.
[0168] A conditioning device of this type may provide the advantage
that a pressure loss produced when the gas flow flows through the
conditioning device is reduced.
[0169] Furthermore, a conditioning device of this type may have a
compact structure, so a space requirement is reduced.
[0170] The number of components of the conditioning device can be
reduced by this.
[0171] The present invention is based on the further object of
providing a method for operating a painting installation, which
allows a reliable separation of paint overspray from a raw gas flow
loaded with paint overspray.
[0172] This object is achieved according to the invention in that
the following method steps are carried out: [0173] conveying the
workpieces in a conveying direction through the painting booth by
means of a conveying device and painting the workpieces in the
painting booth; [0174] feeding a raw gas flow from the painting
booth of the painting installation, which has absorbed paint
overspray in the painting booth, to a filter system; [0175]
separating paint overspray from the raw gas flow loaded with
overspray particles by means of at least one filter device of the
filter system, so that a clean gas flow is obtained.
[0176] The method according to the invention preferably has the
features and/or advantages described above in connection with the
painting installation according to the invention.
[0177] It may be advantageous if the clean gas flow is discharged
by means of at least one clean gas line, which is arranged, at
least partly, within an outer contour of at least one filter
device.
[0178] It may be advantageous if auxiliary filter material and/or a
mixture of auxiliary filter material and overspray particles is
loosened by means of at least one auxiliary filter material
introduction mechanism, in particular by means of a treatment
device for mechanically treating auxiliary filter material and/or a
mixture of auxiliary filter material and overspray particles.
[0179] It may be favorable if at least a part of the raw gas flow
is introduced into at least one auxiliary filter material receiving
container of at least filter device.
[0180] Furthermore, it may be favorable if the loosened auxiliary
filter material and/or the loosened mixture of auxiliary filter
material and overspray particles is entrained by the raw gas flow
and thereby mixes with the raw gas of the raw gas flow.
[0181] In particular when a loading of the raw gas from the raw gas
flow with auxiliary filter material and/or with a mixture of
auxiliary filter material and overspray particles already takes
place by means of the introduction of the raw gas flow into the at
least one auxiliary filter material receiving container of the at
least one filter device, compressed air blasts by means of at least
one compressed air device or similar devices to swirl the auxiliary
filter material can be dispensed with.
[0182] In particular, it may be provided that the clean gas flow is
guided through below a raw gas shaft of the painting installation.
A particularly advantageous gas flow guidance within the filter
system and a compact configuration of the filter system are thus
possible.
[0183] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for
operating a painting installation, which comprises the following
method steps: [0184] conveying the workpieces in a conveying
direction through the painting booth by means of a conveying device
and painting the workpieces in the painting booth; [0185] feeding a
raw gas flow from the painting booth of the painting installation,
which has absorbed paint overspray in the painting booth, to a
filter system; [0186] separating paint overspray from the raw gas
flow loaded with overspray particles by means of at least one
filter device of the filter system, so that a clean gas flow is
obtained.
[0187] The present invention is, in this regard, based on the
object of providing a method by means of which paint overspray can
be reliably separated from a raw gas flow loaded with paint
overspray.
[0188] This object is achieved according to the invention in that
the raw gas flow is guided by way of at least one inlet channel of
at least one filter device into a raw gas chamber of the at least
one filter device, auxiliary filter material being fed to the raw
gas flow by means of at least one auxiliary filter material
introduction mechanism.
[0189] The method according to the invention may preferably have
the features and/or advantages described above in conjunction with
the painting installation according to the invention and/or the
method described above.
[0190] In particular, it can be provided that auxiliary filter
material is swirled, mixed, conveyed and/or ground by means of the
auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism.
[0191] Furthermore, the painting installations according to the
invention and/or the methods according to the invention may have
the following described features and/or advantages.
[0192] It may be advantageous if the painting installation
comprises at least one auxiliary filter material introduction
mechanism, which is configured as a dispensing mechanism for the
specific feeding of auxiliary filter material, which is also called
precoat material, to a raw gas flow loaded with overspray
particles.
[0193] The filter system of the painting installation preferably
comprises at least one clean gas chamber, which is separated by
means of a filter element of at least one filter device from at
least one raw gas chamber, a cleaned gas flow being present during
the filter operation of the filter device in the at least one clean
gas chamber and a gas flow loaded with overspray particles being
present in the raw gas chamber.
[0194] The painting installation preferably has at least one gas
return system, for example a circulating air guide device, by means
of which the clean gas flow obtained by cleaning the raw gas flow
is feedable again, at least partly, to the painting booth.
[0195] The painting installation preferably comprises at least one
clean gas line, which is arranged, at least in portions, adjacent
to the at least one filter device and/or is oriented substantially
vertically, at least in portions. The clean gas adjacent to the at
least one filter device is preferably guidable, at least in
portions, substantially vertically downwardly by means of at least
one clean gas line.
[0196] Furthermore, it can be provided that the painting
installation comprises at least one clean gas line, which leads
through below the (raw gas) shaft and therefore allows the guidance
of the clean gas flow from the one side to the side opposing this
side, with respect to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the
painting booth.
[0197] Advantageously, the raw gas flow can be guided, in
particular made to flow in, at an acute angle to the horizontal
into at least one raw gas chamber of at least one filter device. It
may be advantageous here if at least one, in particular movably
configured, guide element (flow element) can be controlled and/or
regulated in order to deflect the mean flow direction of the raw
gas flow in the raw gas shaft asymmetrically with respect to the
longitudinal center plane of the painting booth and/or the
longitudinal center plane of the filter system (of the air cleaning
system) and feed it to the raw gas chamber, preferably in an
accelerated manner. In particular, it may be provided that the mean
flow direction of the raw gas flow in an entry region of the raw
gas shaft at the upper end of the raw gas shaft is transverse to
the mean flow direction of the raw gas flow in an inlet channel of
the filter device. The mean flow direction of the raw gas flow in
the inlet channel of the filter device furthermore preferably runs
transverse to the vertical longitudinal center plane of the
painting booth.
[0198] It may be advantageous if, in at least one raw gas chamber
of at least one filter device of the filter system, with the aid of
the raw gas flow and/or with the aid of a treatment device, for
example a rotating mixing unit (paddle mixer, screw mixer),
auxiliary filter material, which, for example, is arranged in an
auxiliary filter material receiving container configured as a
trough, can be swirled and fed (metered) to the raw gas flow. The
raw gas flow thus loaded with auxiliary filter material is
preferably deflected and fed with a vertically upwardly directed
flow component to at least one filter element of at least one
filter device.
[0199] It may be advantageous if the clean gas line leading through
under the raw gas shaft runs substantially transverse to the
conveying direction of the conveying device of the painting
installation and opens into a clean gas collecting channel, which
is also a component of the gas return system, in particular of the
circulating air guidance device, and from which clean gas can be
removed for feeding to the painting booth.
[0200] The auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism
configured, for example, as a mixing unit, preferably has a
rotational axis oriented substantially horizontally, about which at
least one treatment element can rotate, and allows the conveyance
of auxiliary filter material in a direction oriented substantially
parallel to the conveying direction of the conveying device of the
painting installation. It may be provided here that a feeding of
the raw gas flow takes place in a direction running transverse to
the rotational axis of the auxiliary filter material introduction
mechanism, in particular substantially perpendicular thereto and
that the clean gas line leading through below the raw gas shaft
also runs, at least partly, below, in particular under, the filter
device and/or below, in particular under, the auxiliary filter
material introduction mechanism.
[0201] The filter system of the painting installation preferably
allows a pressure build up by means of at least one fan within a
filter module.
[0202] In particular, when at least one auxiliary filter material
introduction mechanism is configured as a treatment device, it may
be provided, by means of at least one treatment element of the
treatment device, that an outlet arranged adjacent to the auxiliary
filter material introduction mechanism can be cleared to remove
auxiliary filter material from the filter device by means of the at
least one treatment element, so that this outlet cannot clog and
does not prevent the discharge of auxiliary filter material, in
particular highly loaded with overspray particles.
[0203] In one configuration of the invention, it may be provided
that at least one auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism
comprises at least one grinding ball and/or at least one grinding
plate, by means of which, in particular, agglomerates of auxiliary
filter material and overspray particles can be broken up.
[0204] It may be advantageous if an outlet in the filter device to
remove auxiliary filter material from the filter device is provided
with a safety device, for example with bars arranged in a
cross-shape, in order to prevent a blocking of the outlet with
large agglomerates of auxiliary filter material and overspray
particles.
[0205] In one configuration of the invention it is provided that at
least one treatment device comprises various treatment elements,
for example loosening elements, conveying elements, grinding
elements and/or mixing elements.
[0206] In particular, it may be provided that at least one
treatment element of at least one treatment device surrounds a
predetermined volume at least on five sides and auxiliary filter
material can be received therein during treatment operation, so
that during treatment operation of the treatment device, in which
auxiliary filter material, for example, can be swirled, a certain
quantity of auxiliary filter material can be captured by the at
least one treatment element, without this auxiliary filter material
immediately sliding off the at least one treatment element
again.
[0207] At least one treatment device preferably comprises a
grinder, grinding stone and/or grinding balls, which are formed,
for example, from ceramic.
[0208] In one configuration of a treatment device, it is provided
that at least one grinding ball is configured as a freely rolling
ball made of a high-density material, for example, metallic
material, in particular of steel.
[0209] It may be advantageous if at least one treatment device
comprises a grinder with grinding stones rubbing on one
another.
[0210] Furthermore, it may be advantageous if at least one
treatment device comprises a rotating screw conveyor.
[0211] In one configuration of the invention it may be provided
that the weight or the mass of the auxiliary filter material
arranged in the auxiliary filter material receiving container or
the mixture of auxiliary filter material and paint overspray
arranged in the auxiliary filter material receiving container is
determined by means of a weighing device.
[0212] In this case, the weighing device may, in particular, be
coupled to a lower portion of the auxiliary filter material
receiving container, which is mechanically decoupled from an upper
portion of the auxiliary filter material receiving container.
[0213] Furthermore, the weight or the mass of the lower portion of
the auxiliary filter material receiving container and the material
contained therein is preferably determined by means of the weighing
device.
[0214] In order to be able to assess the usability of the material
contained in the auxiliary filter material receiving container to
clean the raw gas flow, it may be provided that material from the
auxiliary filter material receiving container is loosened and/or
swirled in at least one swirling phase and a cleaning capacity or
efficiency of the material contained in the auxiliary filter
material receiving container is determined by a comparison of the
weight or the mass of the material contained in the auxiliary
filter material receiving container before the swirling phase and
after the swirling phase. In particular, the quantity of auxiliary
filter material adhering to at least one filter element of the
filter device during the swirling phase can be determined by this
in order to form a protective layer thereon.
[0215] The efficiency (specific absorption capacity) is a measure
of the ability of the auxiliary filter material to adhere to the
filter element and be able to bind the paint overspray.
[0216] An efficiency of this type may, in particular, be determined
as a quotient of the reduction in the weight or the mass of the
material contained in the auxiliary filter material receiving
container by the swirling, on the one hand, and the net swirling
time, on the other hand.
[0217] For a more precise determination of the effectiveness, it
may be provided that a swirling cycle is carried out with a
plurality of swirling phases separated from one another by swirling
breaks and the weight or the mass of the material contained in each
case in the auxiliary filter material receiving container before
the first swirling phase of the swirling cycle and after the last
swirling phase of the swirling cycle is compared to determine the
effectiveness. The greater the value of this effectiveness, the
more suitable is the material from the auxiliary filter material
receiving container to form a protective layer on the at least one
filter element.
[0218] It is therefore favorable if material is removed from the
auxiliary filter material receiving container when the determined
efficiency and/or the weight or mass difference falls below a
predetermined minimum value.
[0219] The material removed, in particular a mixture of auxiliary
filter material and paint overspray, is then preferably replaced by
fresh auxiliary filter material, which is not, or only to a small
extent, loaded with paint overspray.
[0220] In a preferred configuration, it may be provided that an
amplitude of a weight curve is determined by means of a weighing
device, said weight curve representing the time course of the total
weight of the mixture of auxiliary filter material and overspray
particles arranged in the auxiliary filter material receiving
container.
[0221] It may, for example, be provided when a predetermined limit
weight is fallen below and/or exceeded, that at least a part of the
mixture of auxiliary filter material and overspray particles is
removed from the auxiliary filter material receiving container and
replaced by fresh auxiliary filter material, which is not, or only
to a small extent, loaded with overspray particles.
[0222] A high degree of efficiency of the auxiliary filter material
over a long period can thus be maintained.
[0223] In particular, by means of an auxiliary filter material
introduction mechanism, a continuous pre-coating, in other words a
continuous introduction of auxiliary filter material into the raw
gas flow during filter operation of at least one filter device, can
be realized.
[0224] A compressed air device for mixing, loosening and/or
swirling auxiliary filter material is preferably dispensable.
[0225] In an alternative embodiment or in addition to an auxiliary
filter material introduction mechanism as described above, a
compressed air device may be provided for mixing, loosening and/or
swirling auxiliary filter material.
[0226] A continuous addition of auxiliary filter material to the
raw gas flow from a storage tank (auxiliary filter material
receiving container) preferably takes place. This produces a
(short-term) continuous loss of mass between two cleaning processes
on the filter cartridges (filter elements). In the medium term, an
increase in the mass of auxiliary filter material and overspray
particles is produced in the auxiliary filter material receiving
container and there is also a decrease again from a specific
instant. The mass of auxiliary filter material and overspray
particles in the auxiliary filter material receiving container is
preferably monitored continuously for this. In particular, the
development of the mass of auxiliary filter material and overspray
particles in the auxiliary filter material receiving container is
compared at fixed time intervals with a reference value, for
example a reference value for unused auxiliary filter material, in
other words auxiliary filter material not contaminated with paint
overspray particles.
[0227] It can preferably be determined whether a mixture of
auxiliary filter material and paint overspray arranged in the
auxiliary filter material receiving container is capable of
fluidizing. For this purpose, for example, the development with
respect to time of the total mass of auxiliary filter material and
paint overspray present in the auxiliary filter material receiving
container can be determined and compared with reference values,
wherein it must be possible to detect, in particular, a mass change
in the auxiliary filter material receiving container occurring
within a cleaning and swirling cycle in order to be able to infer
the ability of the mixture of auxiliary filter material and paint
overspray to fluidize. Too low a mass difference in the course of a
cycle of this type means that the quantity of auxiliary filter
material necessary for reliable filter operation of the filter
device is not capable of fluidizing.
[0228] By means of at least one treatment device, the auxiliary
filter material arranged in the auxiliary filter material receiving
container or the mixture of auxiliary filter material and overspray
particles arranged in the auxiliary filter material receiving
container can be kept in a loosened state, for example fluidized,
so that the auxiliary filter material or the mixture of auxiliary
filter material and overspray particles can be swirled particularly
easily and fed to the raw gas flow.
[0229] Furthermore, the auxiliary filter material arranged in the
auxiliary filter material receiving container or the mixture of
auxiliary filter material and overspray particles arranged in the
auxiliary filter material receiving container can be thrown up by
means of at least one treatment device, in particular continuously,
so that it can be entrained particularly easily by the raw gas flow
and therefore picked up by the raw gas flow.
[0230] An electric motor may be provided, for example, to drive at
least one treatment device. A rotational speed of a rotating
(treatment) element of at least one treatment device can, in
particular, be controlled and/or regulated particularly easily in
this manner.
[0231] An introduction capacity, in particular, can be influenced
by controlling and/or regulating a rotational speed (frequency) of
at least one treatment device.
[0232] At least one flow guidance device and/or at least one inlet
channel of at least one filter device is preferably arranged in
such a way that a raw gas flow guided into the raw gas chamber in
the region of the treatment device, in particular just above the
treatment device, flows into the raw gas chamber, so that already a
small throwing height of the treatment device is sufficient to feed
auxiliary filter material to the raw gas flow, in other words, even
when the material arranged in the auxiliary filter material
receiving container is conveyed by the at least one treatment
device vertically upwardly over a small distance, the auxiliary
filter material or the mixture of auxiliary filter material and
overspray particles can be picked up by the raw gas flow.
[0233] In particular when at least one treatment device comprises a
grinding device for grinding the material (auxiliary filter
material or a mixture of auxiliary filter material and overspray
particles) arranged in the auxiliary filter material receiving
container, agglomerates of overspray particles and auxiliary filter
material can be pulverized particularly easily so that a constant
grain size distribution can be ensured.
[0234] Alternatively or in addition to this, it may be provided
that at least one auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism
comprises an acoustic device, for example an ultrasonic device, by
means of which the mixture of overspray particles and auxiliary
filter material can be acted upon by sound, so that agglomerates of
overspray particles and auxiliary filter material can be
comminuted.
[0235] At least one treatment element of at least one treatment
device preferably comprises a metallic material or is preferably
formed from a metallic material in order to minimize the abrasion
during continuous operation. As an alternative or in addition to
this, it may, however, also be provided that at least one treatment
element of at least one treatment device comprises a plastics
material, for example a fiber-reinforced plastics material, and/or
a ceramic material or is formed from a plastics material, for
example a fiber-reinforced plastics material or from a ceramic
material.
[0236] In particular when non-metallic materials are selected for
the treatment elements of at least one treatment device, higher
rotational speeds can be achieved, without a spark formation having
to be feared.
[0237] It may be advantageous if at least one auxiliary filter
material introduction mechanism is provided by means of a safety
device configured, for example, as a coarse separator, in
particular as a grid, as a magnetic matrix or as a comb, in order
to catch items inadvertently sucked into the filter device, in
particular metallic items. In particular, a treatment device can
thereby be protected from damage.
[0238] In particular when the efficiency (specific absorption
capacity) of the mixture of auxiliary filter material and overspray
particles arranged in the auxiliary filter material receiving
container reduces in the course of a filter operation of the at
least one filter device, it may be provided that a partial emptying
of the at least one auxiliary filter material receiving container
is carried out and very fine auxiliary filter material is fed in.
For example, auxiliary filter material with a grain size
distribution is fed, which has a median D.sub.50 of about 1 .mu.m
to about 10 .mu.m, in other words 50% of the particles are greater
and 50% of the particles are smaller than the predetermined value
between about 1 .mu.m and about 10 .mu.m.
[0239] It may furthermore be provided that material from a silo, in
which auxiliary filter material loaded with overspray particles and
discharged from the auxiliary filter material receiving container
can be stored, is mixed with fresh auxiliary filter material not
loaded with overspray particles and fed again to the auxiliary
filter material receiving container. It may furthermore be provided
here that the mixture of fresh auxiliary filter material and
auxiliary filter material loaded with overspray particles is
processed, for example ground, before it is fed to the auxiliary
filter material receiving container.
[0240] It may be provided in the painting installation according to
the invention and/or in the method according to the invention that
a filter area at least of one filter device is extended by adding
further filter elements, so that preferably only one row of filter
devices extending along the conveying direction of the conveying
device of the painting installation is provided and the total air
coming from the painting booth, in other words the total raw gas
flow, is fed to this row of filter devices.
[0241] The painting installation preferably comprises at least one
clean gas collecting channel constructed "in two stories", the two
"stories" preferably being connected to one another by means of at
least one fan, which, for example, is configured as an axial fan
and is arranged in the intermediate floor separating the two
"stories".
[0242] The air (clean gas) collected in the clean gas collecting
channel is preferably guided parallel to the conveying direction of
the conveying device of the painting installation to an end face of
the painting installation and guided at least approximately
perpendicularly upwardly to a plenum of the painting installation
in the region of a sluice of the painting booth. A channel of this
type for feeding the clean gas collected by means of the clean gas
collecting channel to the plenum may, for example, be provided
after four or more respective filter devices.
[0243] At least one filter device preferably comprises at least
one, for example vertically suspended, filter element, which is
arranged within a vertical projection of the painting booth under
the painting booth and can be disassembled from the filter
device.
[0244] It is provided in one configuration of the painting
installation that the painting installation comprises at least one
compressed air tank, which, for example, is arranged above, in
particular over, at least one filter device.
[0245] It may be advantageous if various clean gas lines, which
feed clean gas from various filter devices to a clean gas
collecting channel, are provided with different conditioning
devices. Thus, for example, it may be provided that at least one
clean gas line of at least one filter device is provided with a
conditioning device configured as a cooling device and that at
least one further clean gas line of another filter device is
provided with a conditioning device configured as a dehumidifying
device. The necessary heat to operate the painting installation, of
the gas flow to be fed to the painting booth is preferably fed to
said gas flow by means of at least one fan, in other words this
heat preferably comes from the compressive heat of the at least one
fan.
[0246] In particular, when various conditioning devices are
provided in various clean gas lines, it may be provided that the
required temperature and/or air humidity of the gas flow to be fed
to the painting booth is obtained by mixing differently conditioned
clean gas flows coming from different clean gas lines.
[0247] At least one filter device preferably comprises at least one
funnel.
[0248] At least one filter device is advantageously configured to
be walked on, in other words a person can enter an interior of the
at least one filter device.
[0249] It may be favorable if at least one filter device can be
supplied with auxiliary filter material (for example rock flour)
and/or auxiliary filter material can be disposed of from the filter
device.
[0250] Basically, a 2.5 m module may be provided as the filter
device, which allows a volume flow of, for example, between about
15,000 m.sup.3/h and about 30,000 m.sup.3/h. In particular, it may
be provided that, at a pressure of 1,200 Pa, a volume flow of, for
example, about 22,000 m.sup.3/h is realizable and a volume flow of,
for example, about 20,000 m.sup.3/h is realizable at about 1,000
Pa. This corresponds to substantially twice the volume flow of the
previously known 2 m module.
[0251] Further features and/or advantages of the invention are the
subject of the following description and the graphical view of
embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0252] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a painting
installation, with a view of a maintenance side of the painting
installation;
[0253] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the painting
installation from FIG. 1, with a view of a rear side of the
painting installation opposing the maintenance side of the painting
installation;
[0254] FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a filter module
of a filter system of the painting installation from FIG. 1;
[0255] FIG. 4 shows a schematic vertical cross-section through the
painting installation from FIG. 1;
[0256] FIG. 5 shows a schematic plan view of the maintenance side
of the painting installation from FIG. 1;
[0257] FIG. 6 shows a schematic sectional view of an inlet channel
of a filter device of the filter system of the painting
installation from FIG. 1;
[0258] FIG. 7 shows a schematic perspective view of the inlet
channel from FIG. 6;
[0259] FIG. 8 shows a schematic perspective view of an auxiliary
filter material introduction mechanism of a filter device of the
filter system of the painting installation from FIG. 1;
[0260] FIG. 9 shows a schematic side view of the auxiliary filter
material introduction mechanism from FIG. 8, with a view of the
side of the auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism facing
the maintenance side of the painting installation in the assembled
state of the auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism;
[0261] FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of a vertical section through
the auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism from FIG. 8
along the line 10-10 in FIG. 9;
[0262] FIG. 11 shows a sectional view of an alternative embodiment
of an auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism, comprising
grinding plates, which corresponds to FIG. 10;
[0263] FIG. 12 shows a sectional view of a further alternative
embodiment of an auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism,
in which grinding balls are provided, which corresponds to FIG.
10;
[0264] FIG. 13 shows a schematic sectional view of a conditioning
device of the painting installation from FIG. 1;
[0265] FIG. 14 shows a schematic vertical cross-section,
corresponding to FIG. 4, through an alternative embodiment of a
painting installation, in which a conditioning device is arranged
downstream of a fan;
[0266] FIG. 15 shows a schematic plan view from above of the
painting installation from FIG. 14;
[0267] FIG. 16 shows a schematic plan view, corresponding to FIG.
15, from above of a further alternative embodiment of a painting
installation, which comprises two filter devices;
[0268] FIG. 17 shows a schematic vertical cross-section,
corresponding to FIG. 14, through an alternative embodiment of a
painting installation, in which a clean gas channel traverses a raw
gas shaft;
[0269] FIG. 18 shows a schematic plan view, corresponding to FIG.
15, of the painting installation from FIG. 17;
[0270] FIG. 19 shows a schematic plan view, corresponding to FIG.
18, of a further alternative embodiment of a painting installation,
which comprises three filter devices; and
[0271] FIG. 20 shows a schematic view of the mode of functioning of
various embodiments of painting installations.
[0272] The same or functionally equivalent elements are provided
with the same reference numerals in all the figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0273] A painting installation designated 100 as a whole and shown
in FIGS. 1 to 10 comprises a painting booth 102, in which
workpieces 104 are paintable, for example, with fluid paint, in
particular with wet paint, and a filter system 106, with which an
air flow guided through the painting booth 102 can be cleaned.
[0274] The painting booth 102 comprises a conveying device 108, by
means of which the workpieces 104, for example vehicle bodies, can
be conveyed in a conveying direction 110 thorough the painting
booth 102 (see, in particular, FIG. 4).
[0275] During the painting of workpieces 104 in the painting booth
102, overspray is produced, for example, when using wet paint, wet
paint overspray, which is absorbed by the air guided through the
painting booth 102 and therefore contaminates it.
[0276] The filter system 106, by means of which the overspray can
be removed from the air guided through the painting booth 102, is
therefore arranged under the painting booth 102 of the painting
installation 100.
[0277] Reference will be made below to the air loaded with
overspray particles and guided through the painting booth 102 as
the raw gas flow.
[0278] In order to be able to feed the raw gas flow from the
painting booth 102 to the filter system 106, a painting booth base
111 of the painting booth 102 is provided with an opening 112
extending in the conveying direction 110, which is arranged
centrally in the painting booth base 111 with respect to a
horizontal direction extending perpendicular to the conveying
direction 110.
[0279] A substantially cuboidal raw gas shaft 114 of the filter
system 106 is arranged under the opening 112.
[0280] The raw gas shaft 114 of the filter system 106 extends in
the conveying direction 110 and in the vertical direction and is
arranged substantially centrally in the filter system 106 with
respect to a direction running horizontally and perpendicularly to
the conveying direction 110.
[0281] An upper end 116, in the vertical direction, of the raw gas
shaft 114 faces the opening 112 of the painting booth 102 and forms
an inflow opening 118 of the raw gas shaft 114, through which the
raw gas flow can enter the raw gas shaft 114.
[0282] An end 120 of the raw gas shaft 114, which is the lower end
in the vertical direction and arranged opposing the upper end 116,
adjoins a plurality of inlet channels 122 of a plurality of
regenerable filter devices 124, so that the raw gas flow is
feedable by means of the raw gas shaft 114 to the filter devices
124.
[0283] As can be derived, in particular from FIG. 4, the filter
system 106 can be divided by means of a vertical longitudinal
center plane 126 of the painting booth 102 into a left-hand side
128 with respect to the conveying direction 110 of the conveying
device 108 of the painting booth 102 and a right-hand side 130
arranged opposite the left-hand side 128 with respect to the
vertical longitudinal center plane 126 of the painting booth
102.
[0284] Arranged on the left-hand side 128 of the filter system 106
is a row of filter devices 124, which are arranged one behind the
other in the conveying direction 110 and, in each case, have an
inlet channel 122 adjoining the lower end 120 of the raw gas shaft
114.
[0285] Each of the filter devices 124 is substantially cuboidal
here and comprises a housing 134, which is formed by delimiting
walls 132 inclined at an angle of preferably at least about
80.degree. with respect to the horizontal. The delimiting walls 132
delimit a raw gas chamber 136.
[0286] The housing 134 of each filter device 124 can be divided
into a filter portion 138 and a funnel portion 140.
[0287] The filter portion 138 is substantially cuboidal and is used
to receive a plurality of filter elements 142.
[0288] The funnel portion 140 arranged below the filter portion 138
has a substantially triangular cross-section and is used to feed
the raw gas flow to the filter elements 142 and to enrich the raw
gas flow with auxiliary filter material.
[0289] A clean gas chamber 142, which is separated by means of the
filter elements 142 from the raw gas chamber 136, is arranged above
the filter elements 142 of the filter device 124.
[0290] The filter device 124 furthermore comprises an auxiliary
filter material receiving container 146, which is arranged at a
lower end of the funnel portion 140 and is used to receive
auxiliary filter material.
[0291] An auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism 148, by
means of which auxiliary filter material can be introduced into the
raw gas flow flowing in through the inlet channel 122, is arranged
in the auxiliary filter material receiving container 146.
[0292] The auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism 148 is,
for example, configured as a treatment device 150 for the
mechanical treatment of the auxiliary filter material arranged in
the auxiliary filter material receiving container 146 or a mixture
of auxiliary filter material and overspray particles arranged in
the auxiliary filter material receiving container 146.
[0293] Auxiliary filter material can be swirled in the raw gas
chamber 136 by means of the auxiliary filter material introduction
mechanism 148 and deposited on the filter elements 142, whereby a
protective layer is formed on the filter elements 142.
[0294] In order to remove the protective layer of auxiliary filter
material from the filter elements 142, a compressed air device 152
is provided in the clean gas chamber 144, by means of which device
compressed air is feedable to the filter elements 142.
[0295] The compressed air is feedable, in this case, by means of
the compressed air device 152 to the filter elements 142 in a
direction, which is opposed to the flow direction of the gas to be
cleaned in a filter operation of the filter device 124, so a
protective layer of auxiliary filter material can be removed
particularly easily from the filter elements 142 by means of the
compressed air device 152.
[0296] In particular, to be able to feed fresh auxiliary filter
material to the funnel portion 140 of the filter device 124, a feed
device 154 is provided in the region of the funnel portion 140 of
the filter device 124.
[0297] The inlet channel 122, through which the raw gas flow is
feedable to the raw gas chamber 136 of the filter device 124, is
provided with a flow guidance device 156, which has at least one
flow element 158 and is used to influence the flow direction and/or
the flow speed of the raw gas flow guided through the inlet channel
122 of the filter device 124.
[0298] Furthermore, provided in the raw gas chamber 136 is a
further flow guidance device 156, which comprises a flow element
158a configured as a guide plate and a plurality of, for example
four, rod-shaped flow elements 158b (see FIG. 4), which are used
for turbulence formation and the specific feeding of the raw gas
flow to the filter elements 142.
[0299] By cleaning the raw gas flow by means of the filter devices
124, a clean gas flow can be obtained, which firstly flows through
the clean gas chamber 144.
[0300] A clean gas line 160, by means of which the clean gas flow
from the clean gas chamber 144 adjacent to the filter device 124
can be guided vertically downwardly, adjoins the clean gas chamber
144. Basically, a separate clean gas line 160 can be provided for
each filter device 124. However, it may be advantageous if the
cleaned gas flow is discharged from two filter devices 124, in
particular between the two filter devices 124, by means of a common
clean gas line 160.
[0301] The clean gas line 160, for this purpose, comprises
delimiting walls 162, which are substantially aligned with the
delimiting walls 132 of the filter device 124, which run at least
approximately parallel to the vertical longitudinal center plane
126 of the painting booth 102. The clean gas line 160 therefore
does not project beyond the filter device 124 in the horizontal
direction and perpendicular to the conveying direction 110 in this
portion and is therefore arranged within an outer contour 163 of
the filter device 124.
[0302] In particular, it is provided here that an outer delimiting
wall 164 of the filter device 124 remote from the vertical
longitudinal center plane 126 of the painting booth 102 is arranged
spaced apart at least to precisely the same extent from the
vertical longitudinal center plane 126 of the painting booth 102 as
an outer delimiting wall 166 of the clean gas line 160 remote from
the vertical longitudinal center plane 126 of the painting booth
102.
[0303] The delimiting walls 132, 162 of the filter device 124 or
the clean gas line 160, which face the longitudinal center plane
126 of the painting booth 102, preferably align with one another in
such a way that a substantially level delimiting wall 168 of the
raw gas shaft 114 is formed by these delimiting walls 132, 162.
[0304] The clean gas line 160 extends through from the clean gas
chamber 144 to below the funnel portion 140 of the filter device
124 and proceeding from there substantially perpendicular to the
conveying direction 110 in the horizontal direction below the raw
gas shaft 114 to the right-hand side 130 of the filter system 106
opposing the left-hand side 128 of the filter system 106.
[0305] A clean gas collecting channel 170, into which the clean gas
line 160 opens, is arranged on this right-hand side 130 of the
filter system 106.
[0306] At least one conditioning device 172, which, for example, is
configured as a heating device, as a cooling device, as a
humidifying device and/or as a dehumidifying device, can be
provided in the clean gas line 160 to condition the clean gas flow
guided in the clean gas line 160.
[0307] Arranged before, in other words upstream, of the
conditioning device 172 with respect to the flow direction of the
clean gas flow is a safety filter 174, which, in the case of
undesired damage to a filter element 142 of a filter device 124,
can prevent auxiliary filter material reaching the conditioning
device 172 and thus damaging it.
[0308] The clean gas flow conditioned by means of the conditioning
device 172 is then fed to a mouth region 176 of the clean gas
collecting channel 170, into which open a plurality of clean gas
lines 160 of the various filter devices 124.
[0309] The clean gas collecting channel 170, apart from the mouth
region 176, comprises a discharge region 178, by means of which the
cleaned and conditioned gas flow can be discharged from the filter
system 106 for reuse in the painting booth 102.
[0310] The clean gas collecting channel 170 is therefore divided
into two parts, the mouth region 176 being arranged under the
discharge region 178 and being separated by means of a partition
wall 180 extending along a horizontal plane from the latter.
[0311] Arranged in the partition wall 180 are a plurality of fans
182, by means of which the clean gas can be moved out of the mouth
region 176 into the discharge region 178 of the clean gas
collecting channel 170 and which therefore also drive, as a whole,
the clean gas flow and/or the raw gas flow in the painting
installation 100.
[0312] As can be derived, in particular from FIG. 3, it may be
provided that the filter device 124, the clean gas line 160, a
portion of the clean gas collecting channel 170, the conditioning
device 172, the safety filter 174 and a portion of the raw gas
shaft 140 together form a filter module 184.
[0313] A filter module 184 is, in this case, in particular, a
preassembled unit, which can be assembled separately from an
erection site of the painting installation 100 and only has to be
connected to other components, in particular to further, in
particular identically formed, filter modules 184, to complete the
painting installation 100.
[0314] As can be derived in particular from FIGS. 6 and 7, the flow
guidance device 156, in the region of the inlet channel 122 of the
filter device 124, comprises, for example, three flow elements
158c, by means of which the direction and/or the speed of the raw
gas flow to be fed by way of the raw gas shaft 114 to the raw gas
chamber 136 can be controlled and/or regulated.
[0315] The flow elements 158c are movable, for this purpose, in the
horizontal and/or vertical direction and/or rotatable about a
rotational axis 186.
[0316] In the embodiment of the flow guidance device 156 shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7, the flow elements 158c are configured, in the region
of the inlet channel 122, as guide plates 188 and form delimiting
walls 190 of the inlet channel 122.
[0317] A cross-section of the inlet channel 122 may thus be varied,
in particular by a movement of the flow elements 158c relative to
one another, so the speed of the raw gas flow guided through the
inlet channel 122 can be adjusted, in particular.
[0318] Furthermore, an adjustment can be made by means of the flow
elements 158c regarding at which point the raw gas flow is guided
into the raw gas chamber 136 and how deeply the gas flow enters the
funnel portion 140 of the filter device 124. It can thus also be
adjusted to what extent auxiliary filter material from the
auxiliary filter material receiving container 146 is swirled by the
raw gas flow and entrained by the raw gas flow.
[0319] By changing the angle, which the flow elements 158c enclose
with one another and/or with the further delimiting walls 190 of
the inlet channel 122 and/or with delimiting walls 132 of the
filter device 124 and/or with delimiting walls 168 of the raw gas
shaft 114, the development of return flows during filter operation
of the filter device 124 along the flow elements 158c can be
prevented or promoted.
[0320] Return flows may be used to accumulate auxiliary filter
material on at least one of the flow elements 158c up to a
break-off edge, in order to protect at least this flow element 158c
from contamination with overspray particles. Preventing the return
flow, on the other hand, may be favorable for maintenance operation
of the filter device 124, since, as a result, an automatic cleaning
off of adhering auxiliary filter material can take place, without a
manual cleaning having to be carried out.
[0321] A change in the position and/or orientation of at least one
flow element 158c, which then forms a variable flow element 158c,
can, for example, take place by means of a drive device (not
shown), for example by means of an electric motor. Furthermore, it
may be provided that at least one flow element 158c can be
lengthened and/or shortened, for example by a motor.
[0322] At least one of the flow elements 158c configured as guide
plates 188 are preferably configured in such a way that the inlet
channel 122 of the filter device 124 can optionally be completely
closed. In this manner, in particular a return flow of auxiliary
filter material into the raw gas shaft 114 and then into the
painting booth 102 can be, in particular, prevented.
[0323] Furthermore, an undesired penetration of cleaning agents
and/or other fluids into the raw gas chamber 136 of the filter
device 124 can thus be prevented, which, for example, may be
advantageous during a wet cleaning operation of the painting booth
102 or in the event of a sprinkler being triggered in the event of
a fire.
[0324] In particular, a horizontal displacement of at least one
flow element 158 is preferably carried out independently of the
remaining components of the filter device 124.
[0325] In this manner, for example by means of a flow element 158
arranged offset with respect to the funnel portion 140 of the
filter device 124, it can be brought about that the raw gas flow
does not flow along the delimiting wall 132 of the funnel portion
140 of the filter device 124, but directly into the center of the
auxiliary filter material receiving container 146, in particular
directly into the center of the auxiliary filter material
introduction mechanism 148, so that a particularly large amount of
auxiliary filter material is received and can be transported to the
filter elements 142 of the filter device 124.
[0326] FIG. 8 shows an enlarged perspective view of the auxiliary
filter material receiving container 146 and the auxiliary filter
material introduction mechanism 148, arranged therein, of the
painting installation 100.
[0327] As can be derived from FIGS. 9 and 10, the auxiliary filter
material introduction mechanism 148 comprises a shaft 194, which is
rotatable by means of a drive device 192, comprising, for example,
an electric motor, and which extends substantially parallel to the
conveying direction 110 of the conveying device 108 of the painting
installation 100 and is rotatable about a rotational axis 196,
which is also oriented parallel to the conveying direction 110 of
the conveying device 108 of the painting installation 100.
[0328] A rotational speed of the shaft 194 of the auxiliary filter
material introduction mechanism 148 is controlled and/or regulated
here by means of a control device 198.
[0329] A large number of treatment elements 200, which are
configured, for example, as paddles 202, are arranged on the shaft
194 of the auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism 148, so
the auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism 148 can be
called a paddle mixer 204.
[0330] The auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism 148 is
a treatment device 150 for the mechanical treatment of auxiliary
filter material arranged in the auxiliary filter material receiving
container 146 or a mixture of auxiliary filter material and
overspray particles arranged in the auxiliary filter material
receiving container 146.
[0331] The treatment device 150 is used here to convey auxiliary
filter material within the auxiliary filter material receiving
container 146. The treatment elements 200 of the treatment device
150 are therefore conveying elements 206.
[0332] Furthermore, the treatment elements 200 of the treatment
device 150 are used to swirl auxiliary filter material or a mixture
of auxiliary filter material and overspray particles, so the
treatment elements 200 of the treatment device 150 form loosening
elements 208.
[0333] Finally, the treatment elements 200 of the treatment device
150 are also used for mixing auxiliary filter material arranged in
the auxiliary filter material receiving container 146 or a mixture
of auxiliary filter material and overspray particles arranged in
the auxiliary filter material receiving container 146, so the
treatment elements 200 of the treatment device 150 also form mixing
elements 210.
[0334] Basically, the treatment elements 200 of the treatment
device 150 may have different forms depending on the task.
[0335] However, a substantially uniform form of the treatment
elements 200 is provided in the embodiment of the auxiliary filter
material introduction mechanism 148 shown in FIGS. 8 to 10.
[0336] Only the orientation of the treatment elements 200 in a
treatment device 212 relative to the rotational axis 196 of the
auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism 148 is not uniform
for all the treatment elements 200. Rather, the treatment elements
200 in the treatment regions 212 are arranged rotated with respect
to the rotational axis 196 of the auxiliary filter material
introduction mechanism 148 in such a way that by means of a
rotation of the shaft 194, and therefore of the treatment elements
200, about the rotational axis 196, auxiliary filter material
arranged in the auxiliary filter material receiving container 146
or a mixture of auxiliary filter material and overspray particles
can be conveyed to an outlet 214 of the auxiliary filter material
receiving container 146 arranged substantially centrally on the
auxiliary filter material receiving container 146.
[0337] Auxiliary filter material or a mixture of auxiliary filter
material and overspray particles can be removed from the auxiliary
filter material receiving container 146 by means of the outlet 214
of the auxiliary filter material receiving container 146. This
takes place, in particular, when the specific absorption capacity
of the auxiliary filter material or the mixture of auxiliary filter
material and overspray particles, which is a measure of what
quantity of overspray can still be absorbed by means of the
auxiliary filter material or the mixture of auxiliary filter
material and overspray particles, is no longer sufficient for
reliable filter operation of the filter device 124.
[0338] In order to avoid a blocking of the outlet 214 when
discharging auxiliary filter material or a mixture of auxiliary
filter material and overspray particles, for example because of
agglomerate formation, the outlet 214 is provided with a safety
device 216, which is formed, for example, by two bars 218 arranged
in a cross shape. The safety device 216 may, in particular, prevent
excessively large agglomerates of auxiliary filter material and
paint overspray reaching the outlet 214 and blocking it.
[0339] As can be derived, in particular from FIG. 10, the auxiliary
filter material receiving container 146 furthermore comprises a
compressed air connection 220, by means of which compressed air is
feedable to the outlet 214. On the one hand, this can be used to
remove a blockage in the outlet 214 and, on the other hand, to
drive auxiliary filter material to be discharged by way of the
outlet 214 or a mixture of auxiliary filter material and overspray
particles.
[0340] The above-described painting installation 100 functions as
follows.
[0341] In the painting booth 102 of the painting installation 100,
a workpiece 104 is conveyed by means of the conveying device 108 in
the conveying direction 110 and painted by means of a painting
robot (not shown).
[0342] An air flow guided through the painting booth 102 is loaded
thereby with overspray and fed together the overspray as a raw gas
flow by way of the raw gas shaft 114 to the filter system 106. The
raw gas shaft 114 guides the raw gas flow to the filter devices
124.
[0343] The raw gas flow is then distributed by means of inlet
channels 122 over the raw gas chambers 136 of the filter devices
124.
[0344] The flow guidance devices 156 of the filter devices 124 are
used for the specific feeding of the raw gas flow to the raw gas
chambers 136, a specific feeding of the raw gas flow to the
auxiliary filter material receiving containers 146 and the
auxiliary filter material introduction mechanisms 148 arranged
therein taking place, in particular, by means of the adjustable
flow elements 158.
[0345] As a result, auxiliary filter material from an auxiliary
filter material receiving container 146 can be swirled and picked
up by the raw gas flow.
[0346] Overspray particles present in the raw gas flow already
accumulate while flowing through a raw gas chamber 136 on particles
of the auxiliary filter material. These agglomerates and overspray
particles not yet accumulated on auxiliary filter material
particles are then fed to the filter elements 142 of the filter
devices 124 and deposited there on a protective layer formed from
auxiliary filter material.
[0347] The raw gas flow thus freed of overspray particles is guided
as a clean gas flow by way of the clean gas line 160 from the clean
gas chamber 144 to the clean gas collecting channel 170 and, in
this case, conditioned, for example heated, cooled, humidified
and/or dehumidified by means of the conditioning device 172.
[0348] The clean gas flows from various filter devices 124 already
mix in the mouth region 176 of the clean gas collecting channel
170.
[0349] By means of the fans 182 in the partition wall 180 of the
clean gas collecting channel 170, clean gas is then fed to the
discharge region 178 of the clean gas collecting channel 170 and
then fed by means of a circulating air guidance device (not shown)
to the painting booth 102 of the painting installation 100
again.
[0350] In particular, during a circulating air operation of this
type, in which the gas flow is repeatedly guided through the
painting booth 102, the feeding of the raw gas to the raw gas
chamber 136 can be influenced by means of the flow guidance device
156 in order to adapt the raw gas flow in the filter devices 124 to
an instantaneous volume flow of the raw gas flow in the raw gas
shaft 114.
[0351] At least one variable flow element 158 is, in particular,
adapted for this purpose.
[0352] It may, in particular, be advantageous if at least one
variable flow element 158 is configured to rotate about the
rotational axis 186 and has a mass, which makes it possible for the
raw gas flow guided through the inlet channel 122 to deflect the
flow element 158 from a rest position, in which the flow element
158 is oriented vertically, for example.
[0353] The flow element 158 is then automatically moved by means of
the raw gas flow while flowing through the inlet channel 122, so a
cross-section of the inlet channel 122 is automatically adapted,
without a separate control, to a currently prevailing volume flow
of the raw gas flow.
[0354] As a result, in particular, an advantageous swirling of
auxiliary filter material from the auxiliary filter material
receiving container 146 and an advantageous flow though the raw gas
chamber 136 can be achieved for the reliable separation of
overspray particles from the raw gas flow.
[0355] The auxiliary filter material arranged in the auxiliary
filter material receiving container 146 or a mixture of auxiliary
filter material and overspray particles is mixed and swirled by
means of the auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism 148
configured as a treatment device 150 by rotating the treatment
elements 200 of the treatment device 150 by means of the shaft 194
about the rotational axis 196 and simultaneously conveyed to the
outlet 214 of the auxiliary filter material receiving container
146.
[0356] By mixing the auxiliary filter material arranged in the
auxiliary filter material receiving container 146 or the mixture of
auxiliary filter material and overspray particles, a constant
quality, in particular a constant specific absorption capacity, of
the auxiliary filter material fed to the raw gas flow can be
ensured.
[0357] By swirling the auxiliary filter material or the mixture of
auxiliary filter material and overspray particles, it can be
ensured that an adequate quantity of auxiliary filter material is
always fed to the raw gas flow.
[0358] By the conveyance of the auxiliary filter material or the
mixture of auxiliary filter material and overspray particles to the
outlet 214 of the auxiliary filter material receiving container
146, auxiliary filter material excessively contaminated with
overspray particles can be fed particularly easily to the outlet
214 and removed by way of this outlet 214 from the auxiliary filter
material receiving container 146.
[0359] In particular, when auxiliary filter material has been
removed from the auxiliary filter material receiving container 146,
it may be provided that fresh auxiliary filter material not loaded
with overspray particles is fed by means of the feed device 154 to
the funnel portion 140 of the filter device 124, and therefore to
the auxiliary filter material receiving container 146.
[0360] An alternative embodiment of an auxiliary filter material
introduction mechanism 114 shown in FIG. 11 differs from the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 substantially in that, in
addition to the treatment elements 200, which form conveying
elements 206, loosening elements 208 and simultaneously mixing
elements 210, grinding plates 222 are provided, by means of which
agglomerates of auxiliary filter material and overspray particles
can be broken up and thus an average grain size of the mixture of
auxiliary filter material and overspray particles can be
reduced.
[0361] A grinding plate 222 is, for example, a disc mounted
eccentrically on the shaft 194.
[0362] By using grinding plates 222 as additional treatment
elements 200 of the treatment device 150, a mixture of auxiliary
filter material and overspray particles can be used over a longer
time period for filter operation of the filter device 124.
[0363] Otherwise, the embodiment of the auxiliary filter material
introduction mechanism 148 shown in FIG. 11 coincides with respect
to structure and function with the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to
10, so that, to this extent, reference can be made to the above
description thereof.
[0364] A further alternative of the auxiliary filter material
introduction mechanism 148 shown in FIG. 12 differs from the
embodiment shown in FIG. 11 in that, to comminute agglomerates of
auxiliary filter material and overspray particles, no grinding
plates 222 are provided, but grinding balls 224 not connected to
the shaft 194. These grinding balls 224 are moved back and forth by
the rotation of the treatment elements 200 of the treatment device
150 about the rotational axis 196 of the shaft 194 in the auxiliary
filter material receiving container 146, so that the desired effect
of the mechanical treatment of the mixture of auxiliary filter
material and overspray particles is produced by an abrasive action
of the grinding balls 224.
[0365] Otherwise, the embodiment of an auxiliary filter material
introduction mechanism 148 shown in FIG. 12 coincides with respect
to structure and function with the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to
10, so that, to this extent, reference is made to the above
description thereof.
[0366] An embodiment of a conditioning device 172 shown in FIG. 13
comprises a cooling device 230, two drop-separation devices 232 and
a humidifying device 234.
[0367] The cooling device 230, one drop-separation device 232, the
humidifying device 234 and the further drop-separation device 232
are arranged one after the other with respect to a through-flow
direction 240 of the conditioning device 172.
[0368] A collecting trough 236 is arranged under the cooling device
230, the drop-separation devices 232 and the humidifying device 234
with respect to a gravitational force direction 238.
[0369] Condensate accumulating during operation of the conditioning
device 172 in the cooling device 230, liquid drops separated by
means of the drop separation device 232 and liquid, which is
discharged from the humidifying device 234, but not absorbed by the
gas flow, can be collected by means of the collecting trough
236.
[0370] The collecting trough 236 is therefore a common collecting
trough 236 for all the condition elements of the conditioning
device 172.
[0371] The conditioning device 172 therefore comprises a common
liquid handling system 242 for handling the liquids accumulating or
used during operation of the conditioning device 172, which system
comprises the collecting trough 236.
[0372] The conditioning device 172 shown in FIG. 13 functions as
follows.
[0373] When a gas flow flows through the conditioning device 172 in
the through-flow direction 240, the latter is cooled by means of
the cooling device 230. A condensate may form here, which flows in
the gravitational force direction 238 along the cooling device 230
downwardly into the collecting trough 236.
[0374] The gas flow cooled by means of the cooling device 230 is
then guided through a first drop-separation device 232, in order to
be able to separate drops located in the gas flow.
[0375] Liquid, which flows downwardly into the collecting trough
236 in the gravitational force direction 238 also collects
here.
[0376] The gas flow is moistened by means of the humidifying device
234 arranged in the through-flow direction 240 downstream of the
first drop-separation device 232. For example, liquid is sprayed
into the gas flow. The liquid not absorbed by the gas flow is also
collected in the collecting trough 236.
[0377] The further drop-separation device 232 arranged downstream
of the humidifying device 234 with respect to the through-flow
direction 240 is again used to separate drops from the gas flow.
Liquid drops, which flow downwardly into the collecting trough 236
in the gravitational direction 238 also collect on this
drop-separation device 232 during operation of the conditioning
device 172.
[0378] The total liquid accumulating or used during operation of
the conditioning device 172 can therefore be collected by means of
the collecting trough 236. The collecting trough 236 therefore
forms a constituent of the common liquid handling system 242 of the
conditioning device 272.
[0379] In a further embodiment (not shown) of a conditioning device
172, the humidifying device 234 is arranged directly downstream of
the cooling device 230. The cooling device 230 can also be wetted
with liquid here by means of the humidifying device 234. As a
result, the efficiency of the conditioning device 172 can be
increased during the humidifying of the gas flow guided through the
conditioning device 172.
[0380] The above-described embodiments of conditioning devices 172
are suitable, in particular, for use in a painting installation
100, in particular a filter system 106 of a painting installation
100, for example in a filter module 184 of a filter system 106.
[0381] An alternative embodiment of a painting installation 100
shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS.
1 to 13 substantially in that the conditioning device 172 is
arranged downstream of the fan 182 with respect to a flow direction
of the clean gas flow.
[0382] The conditioning device 172 is, in particular, arranged here
above a partition wall 180 of the clean gas collecting channel
170.
[0383] The filter system 106 of the embodiment of a painting
installation 100 shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 preferably has a height H
from a base 244, on which the painting installation 100 is
arranged, up to a grid plane 246, which separates the painting
booth 102 from the filter system 106, of about 6 m. A width B of
the filter system 106 is preferably about 5 m.
[0384] As can be derived, in particular from FIG. 15, it is
provided in the embodiment of a painting installation 100 shown in
FIGS. 14 and 15 that the filter system 106 comprises four filter
devices 124.
[0385] The clean gas lines 160 of the individual filter devices 124
open into the clean gas collecting channel 170 below the partition
wall 180 of the clean gas collecting channel 170 and are guided by
means of a fan 182 into the region above the partition wall 180 of
the clean gas collecting channel 170. For this purpose, the fan 182
comprises an impeller 247, which is drivable by means of a drive
249.
[0386] The rotational axis of the impeller 247 of the fan 182 may
be oriented substantially horizontally and transversely, preferably
substantially perpendicularly, to the longitudinal direction of the
painting booth 102 and/or to the conveying direction 110.
[0387] The drive 249 of the impeller 247 may be arranged in a
transverse direction directed perpendicular to the longitudinal
direction of the painting booth 102 and/or perpendicular to the
conveying direction 110, laterally next to the fan 182, in
particular laterally next to the impeller 247.
[0388] The drive 249 of the impeller 247 may be arranged at least
partly, preferably substantially completely, outside the base area
of the painting booth 102 or outside a vertical projection of the
base face of the painting booth 102.
[0389] The rotational axis of the impeller 247 of the fan 182 may,
however, also be oriented differently, for example substantially
horizontally and substantially parallel to the longitudinal
direction of the painting booth 102 and/or to the conveying
direction 110. Furthermore, the rotational axis of the impeller 247
may also be substantially vertically oriented.
[0390] The drive 249 of the impeller 247 may be arranged in the
longitudinal direction of the painting booth 102 and/or in the
conveying direction 110 before or behind the fan 182.
[0391] The drive 249 of the impeller 247 may also be arranged
vertically under or above the fan 182.
[0392] The drive 249 of the impeller 247 may be arranged at least
partly, preferably substantially completely, within the base area
of the painting booth 102 or within a vertical projection of the
base area of the painting booth 102.
[0393] The conditioning device 172, by means of which the clean gas
flow guided in the clean gas collecting channel 170 can be
conditioned, is arranged in the region above the partition wall 180
of the clean gas collecting channel 170.
[0394] The total length L of the filter system 106 of the painting
installation 100, according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 and
15, is, for example, about 10 m.
[0395] Otherwise, the embodiment of a painting installation 100
shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 coincides with respect to structure and
function with the painting installation 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 13,
so that, to this extent, reference is made to the above description
thereof.
[0396] An alternative embodiment of a painting installation 100
shown in FIG. 16 differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 and
15 substantially in that only two filter devices 124 are provided
and the filter system 106 of the painting installation 100 has a
length L of about 6 m.
[0397] Otherwise, the alternative embodiment of a painting
installation 100 shown in FIG. 16 coincides with respect to
structure and function with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 and 15
so that, to this extent, reference is made to the above description
thereof.
[0398] A further embodiment of a painting installation 100 shown in
FIGS. 17 and 18 differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 and
15 substantially in that the clean gas lines 160 of the filter
devices 124, proceeding from the clean gas chambers 144 of the
filter devices 124 are guided in the substantially horizontal
direction and substantially perpendicular to the conveying
direction 110 of the filter device 108 to the clean gas collecting
channel 170.
[0399] The clean gas lines 160 are therefore not arranged below the
raw gas shaft 114 in the embodiment of a painting installation 100
shown in FIGS. 17 and 18.
[0400] Rather, the clean gas lines 160 traverse the raw gas shaft
114 in the region of the upper end 116 of the raw gas shaft
114.
[0401] A clean gas line 160 traversing the raw gas shaft 114
comprises a portion, which is arranged inside the raw gas shaft
114, and may comprise one or more portions, which are arranged
outside the raw gas shaft 114.
[0402] The clean gas lines 160 open here into the region of the
clean gas collecting channel 170, which is arranged above the
partition wall 180 of the clean gas collecting channel 170.
[0403] However, it may also be provided that at least one of the
clean gas lines 160 is arranged at a different point between the
lower end 120 and the upper end 116 of the raw gas shaft 114 or
above the raw gas shaft 114, preferably below the painting booth
base 111.
[0404] The clean gas flow collected in the region above the
partition wall 180 of the clean gas collecting channel 170 is
conveyed by means of the fan 182 into the region below the
partition wall 180 of the clean gas collecting channel 170.
[0405] The conditioning device 172 is arranged below the partition
wall 180 in the clean gas collecting channel 170, so that the clean
gas flow guided below the partition wall 180 of the clean gas
collecting channel 170 can be conditioned by means of the
conditioning device 172.
[0406] As can be derived, in particular from FIG. 18, five filter
devices 124 are provided in the embodiment of the painting
installation 100 shown in FIGS. 17 and 18.
[0407] Otherwise, the embodiment of a painting installation 100
shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 coincides with respect to structure and
function with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, so that, in
this respect, reference is made to the above description
thereof.
[0408] A further alternative of the painting installation 100 shown
in FIG. 19 differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 and 18
substantially in that only three filter devices 124 are
provided.
[0409] The length L of the filter system 106 of the painting
installation 100 is about 6 m here.
[0410] Otherwise, the embodiment of a painting installation 100
shown in FIG. 19 coincides with respect to structure and function
with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, so reference is made,
in this respect, to the above description thereof.
[0411] FIG. 20 shows a schematic view to illustrate the mode of
functioning of the different embodiments of painting installations
100.
[0412] The air required to operate the painting installation 100 is
guided in a circulating air guide.
[0413] The air is firstly guided as a clean gas flow through a
plenum 248 of the painting installation 100 into the painting booth
102.
[0414] A workpiece 104 is painted in the painting booth 102, so the
clean gas flow is loaded with paint overspray.
[0415] The gas flow contaminated by this is fed as a raw gas flow
to the filter system 106 and freed there of wet paint overspray, so
a clean gas flow is obtained again.
[0416] The cleaning takes place here by means of three filter
devices 124, for example.
[0417] The obtainable clean gas flows are fed by way of clean gas
lines 160 to a clean gas collecting channel 170.
[0418] The collected clean gas flow is finally fed by means of a
single, or by means of two, collecting channels 170 to a
conditioning device 172 and conditioned in order to be able to be
fed again by way of the plenum 248 to the painting booth 102 to the
painting installation 100.
[0419] In order to prevent the penetration of auxiliary filter
material into the conditioning device 172 in the event of damage to
a filter device 124, at least one safety filter 174 is
provided.
[0420] The safety filter 174 can also be called a policing filter
because of its function and is used, in particular, for safety in
the event of a filter rupture.
[0421] Basically, it may be provided that safety filters 174 are
arranged in each clean gas line 160. The safety filters 174 may be
arranged here on the side of the filter device 124 with respect to
the vertical longitudinal center plane 126 of the painting
installation 100, in other words before a crossing 250 of the
vertical longitudinal center plane 126, or on the side of the clean
gas collecting channel 170, in other words after the crossing 250
of the vertical longitudinal center plane 126.
[0422] As an alternative or in addition to this, it may be provided
that at least one safety filter 174 is arranged in the clean gas
collecting channel 170.
[0423] A safety filter 174 may be arranged here, depending on the
configuration of the clean gas collecting channel 170, before or
after the crossing 250 of the vertical longitudinal center plane
126 of the painting installation 100.
[0424] In particular, when the painting installation 100 comprises
a channel connection 252, which may be configured as a channel
piece or a connecting opening, it may be provided that a safety
filter 174 is arranged before or after the channel connection
252.
[0425] The channel connection 252 may be arranged here before or
after the crossing 250 of the vertical longitudinal center plane
126.
[0426] The details "before" and "after" always relate here to the
flow direction of the clean gas flow or raw gas flow.
[0427] To drive the air flow, in particular the clean gas flow and
the raw gas flow, a common fan 182 may be provided, for example in
the clean gas collecting channel 170.
[0428] As an alternative or in addition to this, it may be provided
that a fan 182 is arranged in a channel connection 252 within a
crossing 250 of the vertical longitudinal center plane 126 and/or
in a clean gas line 160. It may be provided, in particular, that a
fan 182 is arranged in each clean gas line 160.
[0429] The conditioning device 172 may be arranged in the clean gas
collecting channel 170 to condition the entire clean gas flow.
[0430] As an alternative or in addition to this, it may be provided
that a conditioning device 172 is arranged in each clean gas line
160.
[0431] In particular, when a plurality of conditioning devices 172
are provided, it may be provided that each conditioning device 172
conditions all the parameters of the gas flow, in other words, that
the gas flow is conditioned, in particular, with regard to its
temperature and its air humidity. As an alternative to this, it may
be provided that different parameters are conditioned by means of
the conditioning devices 172; this means that, for example, a
humidifying process is carried out by means of a conditioning
device 172 and a heating of the clean gas flow is carried out by
means of a further conditioning device 172. By feeding the clean
gas flows to the clean gas collecting channel 170, a completely
conditioned total air flow is then preferably obtained.
[0432] In particular when the painting installation 100 comprises a
channel connection 252, it may be provided that the filter system
106 comprises two clean gas collecting channels 170, namely a clean
gas collecting channel 170 before the channel connection 252 and a
clean gas collecting channel 170 after the channel connection
252.
[0433] Other advantageous embodiments are the following.
[0434] 1. Painting installation for painting workpieces (104),
comprising: [0435] a painting booth (102), in which the workpieces
(104) are paintable with paint; [0436] a conveying device (108), by
means of which the workpieces (104) to be painted are conveyable in
a conveying direction (110) through the painting booth (102);
[0437] a separation and/or filter system (106) for cleaning a raw
gas flow, which is leaving the painting booth (102) and has
absorbed paint overspray in the painting booth (102), wherein the
separation and/or filter system (106) comprises at least one filter
device (124) for separating the paint overspray from the raw gas
flow; and [0438] at least one clean gas line (160) for a clean gas
flow, which is obtainable by cleaning the raw gas flow by means of
the at least one filter device (124).
[0439] 2. Painting installation according to embodiment 1,
characterized in that the filter system (106) comprises at least
one raw gas shaft (114), which is arranged substantially centrally
below the painting booth (102) with respect to a horizontal
direction running perpendicular to the conveying direction
(110).
[0440] 3. Painting installation according to either of embodiments
1 or 2, characterized in that the filter system (106) comprises at
least one clean gas line (160) which is arranged, at least in
portions, below a raw gas shaft (114).
[0441] 4. Painting installation according to any one of embodiments
1 to 3, characterized in that the filter system (106) comprises a
clean gas line (160), which crosses and/or traverses a raw gas
shaft (114).
[0442] 5. Painting installation according to any one of embodiments
1 to 4, characterized in that the filter system (106) comprises at
least one clean gas collecting channel (170), into which at least
two clean gas lines (160) of the filter system (106) open, at least
one clean gas collecting channel (170), on the one hand, and at
least two filter devices (124), on the other hand, being arranged
on mutually opposing sides (128, 130) of the filter system (106)
with respect to a vertical longitudinal center plane (126) of the
painting booth (102).
[0443] 6. Painting installation according to any one of embodiments
1 to 5, characterized in that at least one clean gas line (160) is
arranged, at least in portions, within an outer contour (163) of at
least one filter device (124).
[0444] 7. Painting installation according to any one of embodiments
1 to 6, characterized in that the filter system (106) comprises at
least one clean gas line (160), at least one fan (182), at least
one conditioning device (172) and/or at least one clean gas
collecting channel (170), which are arranged within a vertical
projection of the painting booth (102) below the painting booth
(102).
[0445] 8. Painting installation according to any one of embodiments
1 to 7, characterized in that the filter system (106) comprises at
least one filter module (184), which comprises at least one filter
device (124), at least one clean gas line (160), at least one
conditioning device (172) and/or at least one fan (182).
[0446] 9. Painting installation, in particular according to any one
of embodiments 1 to 8, characterized in that at least one filter
device (124) for the separation of paint overspray from the raw gas
flow containing overspray particles, comprises: [0447] a housing
(134), which delimits a raw gas chamber (136) of the filter device
(124) and in which at least one filter element of the filter device
(124) is arranged; [0448] at least one inlet channel (122) for
letting the raw gas flow into the raw gas chamber (136) of the
filter device (124); and [0449] at least one auxiliary filter
material introduction mechanism (148) for introducing auxiliary
filter material into the raw gas flow.
[0450] 10. Painting installation according to embodiment 9,
characterized in that at least one auxiliary filter material
introduction mechanism (148) comprises a treatment device (150) for
the mechanical treatment of auxiliary filter material and/or a
mixture of auxiliary filter material and overspray particles.
[0451] 11. Painting installation according to either of embodiments
9 or 10, characterized in that the at least one auxiliary filter
material introduction mechanism (148) comprises a flow guidance
device (156) for influencing the flow of the raw gas flow, which
device comprises at least one flow element (158c), which is
variable with respect to configuration and/or arrangement and/or
orientation and is, in particular, configured as an adjustably
and/or pivotably arranged guide plate (188).
[0452] 12. Painting installation according to any one of
embodiments 9 to 11, characterized in that the filter device (124)
comprises a control device (198), by means of which an introduction
capacity of the at least one auxiliary filter material introduction
mechanism (148) is configured to be controlled and/or
regulated.
[0453] 13. Painting installation according to any one of
embodiments 1 to 12, characterized in that at least one filter
device (124) of the filter system (106) comprises at least one flow
guidance device (156), which is arranged in the raw gas chamber
(136) of the filter device (124) and by means of which the raw gas
flow flowing through at least one inlet channel (122) of the filter
device (124) into the raw gas chamber (136) is configured to be
influenced.
[0454] 14. Painting installation according to any one of
embodiments 1 to 13, characterized in that the filter system (106)
comprises a conditioning device (172), which comprises a cooling
device (230), a humidifying device (234) and/or a drop-separation
device (232) as well as a common liquid handling system (242) for
the cooling device (230), the humidifying device (234) and/or the
drop-separation device (232).
[0455] 15. Method for operating a painting installation (100),
comprising the following method steps: [0456] conveying the
workpieces (104) in a conveying direction (110) through the
painting booth (102) by means of a conveying device (108) and
painting the workpieces (104) in the painting booth (102); [0457]
feeding a raw gas flow from the painting booth (102) of the
painting installation (100), which has absorbed paint overspray in
the painting booth (102), to a filter system (106); [0458]
separating paint overspray from the raw gas flow loaded with
overspray particles by means of at least one filter device (124) of
the filter system (106), so that a clean gas flow is obtained,
characterized in that auxiliary filter material and/or a mixture of
auxiliary filter material and overspray particles is loosened by
means of at least one auxiliary filter material introduction
mechanism (148), in particular by means of a treatment device (150)
for the mechanical treatment of auxiliary filter material and/or a
mixture of auxiliary filter material and overspray particles, in
that at least a part of the raw gas flow is introduced into at
least one auxiliary filter material receiving container (146) of at
least one filter device (124) and in that the loosened auxiliary
filter material and/or the loosened mixture of auxiliary filter
material and overspray particles is entrained by the raw gas flow
and thereby mixes with the raw gas of the raw gas flow.
[0459] 16. Method according to embodiment 15, characterized in that
the clean gas flow is guided away by means of at least one clean
gas line (160), which is arranged, at least in portions, within an
outer contour (163) of at least one filter device (124) and in that
at least one clean gas line (160) is guided through below a raw gas
shaft (114) of the painting installation (100) and/or in that at
least one clean gas line (160) traverses the raw gas shaft
(114).
[0460] 17. Method according to either of embodiments 15 or 16,
characterized in that the raw gas flow is guided by way of at least
one inlet channel (122) of at least one filter device (124) into a
raw gas chamber (136) of the at least one filter device (124),
auxiliary filter material being fed to the raw gas flow by means of
at least one auxiliary filter material introduction mechanism
(148).
* * * * *