Method of cleaning a paint feed line of a painting system
First Claim
1. A method of cleaning a paint feed line of a painting system in which the paint feed line connects at least one paint tank to at least one paint deposition device for the purpose of moving the paint during operational stages from the tank to the deposition device, said method comprising:
- moving a cleaning substance through the feed line during a cleaning stage between the operational stages; and
filling the feed line with an inert gas at the end of the cleaning stage and keeping the inert gas in the feed line until the next operational stage begins, thereby effectively preventing ambient air from entering the feed line in the time interval between the termination of the cleaning stage and the beginning of the next operational stage;
whereinsaid feed line includes first and second opposite ends connected to said tank and said deposition device, respectively;
an inert gas source of the inert gas is connected to the second end of the feed line via a first controlled valve;
a collection container is connected to the first end of the feed line though a second controlled valve;
the tank is connected to the first end of the feed line via a third, controlled valve; and
a cleaning substance source of the cleaning substance is connected to the second end of the feed line via a fourth, controlled valve;
said method further comprising;
at the beginning of the cleaning stage, first, opening the first controlled valve to force the residual paint in the feed line, by the inert gas, back into the tank;
then, closing the third valve and opening the second valve;
thereafter, opening the fourth controlled valve to force the cleaning substance though the feed line;
then, closing the fourth valve and allowing the cleaning substance to be removed from the feed line by the inert gas;
thereafter, closing the second valve after the residual cleaning substance has been removed and the feed line has been filled with the inert gas.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided to clean a paint feed-line (1) of a painting system, line running from at least one paint tank (2, 9) to a paint deposition device (3) and feeding paint in this direction during the operational stages. During cleaning stages between operational stages, a cleaning substance is forced through the feed line (1). An inert gas, for instance nitrogen, is used as the gas for this purpose, and at the end of the cleaning stages the feed line (1) is filled with the inert gas. The gas remains in the feed line (1) until the next operational stage begins.
-
Citations
10 Claims
-
1. A method of cleaning a paint feed line of a painting system in which the paint feed line connects at least one paint tank to at least one paint deposition device for the purpose of moving the paint during operational stages from the tank to the deposition device, said method comprising:
-
moving a cleaning substance through the feed line during a cleaning stage between the operational stages; and filling the feed line with an inert gas at the end of the cleaning stage and keeping the inert gas in the feed line until the next operational stage begins, thereby effectively preventing ambient air from entering the feed line in the time interval between the termination of the cleaning stage and the beginning of the next operational stage; wherein said feed line includes first and second opposite ends connected to said tank and said deposition device, respectively; an inert gas source of the inert gas is connected to the second end of the feed line via a first controlled valve; a collection container is connected to the first end of the feed line though a second controlled valve; the tank is connected to the first end of the feed line via a third, controlled valve; and a cleaning substance source of the cleaning substance is connected to the second end of the feed line via a fourth, controlled valve; said method further comprising; at the beginning of the cleaning stage, first, opening the first controlled valve to force the residual paint in the feed line, by the inert gas, back into the tank; then, closing the third valve and opening the second valve; thereafter, opening the fourth controlled valve to force the cleaning substance though the feed line; then, closing the fourth valve and allowing the cleaning substance to be removed from the feed line by the inert gas; thereafter, closing the second valve after the residual cleaning substance has been removed and the feed line has been filled with the inert gas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method of cleaning a paint feed line of a painting system in which the paint feed line connects at least one paint tank to at least one paint deposition device for the purpose of moving the paint during operational stages from the tank to the deposition device, said method comprising:
-
moving a cleaning substance through the feed line during a cleaning stage between the operational stages; thereafter, filling the feed line with an inert gas at the end of the cleaning stage; thereafter, completely closing both ends of said feed line to keep the inert gas under pressure in the feed line until opening of a nozzle of the deposition device, wherein said opening begins the next operational stage, thereby effectively preventing ambient air from entering the feed line in the time interval between the termination of the cleaning stage and the beginning of the next operational stage; wherein said feed line includes first and second opposite ends connected to said tank and said deposition device, respectively; an inert gas source of the inert gas is connected to the second end of the feed line via a first controlled valve; a collection container is connected to the first end of the feed line though a second controlled valve; the tank is connected to the first end of the feed line via a third, controlled valve; and a cleaning substance source of the cleaning substance is connected to the second end of the feed line via a fourth, controlled valve; said method further comprising; at the beginning of the cleaning stage, first, opening the first controlled valve to force the residual paint in the feed line, by the inert gas, back into the tank; and then, closing the third valve and opening the second valve upon detection of a boundary between the residual paint and the inert gas at a point adjacent the first end of said feed line. - View Dependent Claims (10)
-
Specification