WO2024165408A1 - Coating agent supply device and associated operating method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a coating agent supply device for supplying an application station of a coating system with a coating agent to be applied, in particular in a paint mixing chamber for supplying a pig system in a painting booth of a painting system for painting vehicle body parts with the paint to be applied. The coating agent supply device according to the invention comprises at least one coating agent storage container (18) for providing the coating agent to be applied, a transfer point (15) for transferring the coating agent to be applied to the application station, in particular to the pig system in the painting booth of the painting system, and a line arrangement (20, 21, 27, 37, 38) between the coating agent storage container (18) and the transfer point (15). According to the invention, the line arrangement (20, 21, 27, 37, 38) between the coating agent storage container (18) and the transfer point (15) contains at least one piggable line (27). Furthermore, the invention comprises an associated operating method.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Coating agent supply system and associated operating procedure

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to a coating agent supply device for supplying an application station (e.g. painting robot) of a coating system (e.g. painting system) with a coating agent to be applied (e.g. paint). In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the coating agent supply device is located in a paint mixing room for supplying a pigging system in a painting booth of a painting system for painting motor vehicle body components with the paint to be applied. The invention also relates to an associated operating method.

Background of the invention

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a conventional painting system for painting motor vehicle body components 1. The motor vehicle body components 1 to be painted are conveyed along a painting line through a painting booth in which four painting robots 2-5 are arranged on opposite sides of the painting line, each of which uses a rotary atomizer as an application device, although other types of application devices (e.g. print heads) can alternatively be used. A pig target module 6-9 is located on each of the individual painting robots 2-5, with the individual pig target modules 6-9 being connected to a pig source module 14 via piggable coating agent lines 10-13. The pig source module 14 is located at a transfer point 15 of a coating agent supply device, which is only shown schematically here and provides the paint to be applied. For this purpose, the coating agent supply device has a valve arrangement 16 at the transfer point 15, which is connected to a coating agent storage container 18 ("delivery container") via a non-piggable coating agent line 17. For the sake of simplicity, only the coating agent storage container 18 is shown as the only coating agent storage container. In practice, however, up to four coating agent storage containers 18 can be provided, which are connected to the transfer point 15 via a color changer.

Figure 2 also shows a schematic representation of such a conventional painting system, so that in order to avoid repetition, reference is made to the above description, with the same reference numerals being used for corresponding details. In this case, only three piggable coating agent lines 10-12 extend from the transfer point 15, whereas in Figure 1 four piggable coating agent lines 10-13 extend from the transfer point 15. It can also be seen from this drawing that the coating agent storage container 18 has a coating agent pump 19 in order to circulate the paint to be applied from the coating agent storage container 18 in a pump circuit, wherein the pump circuit has a feed line 20 from the coating agent pump 19 to the transfer point 15 and a return line 21 from the transfer point 15 to the coating agent storage container 18. The pump circuit with the feed line 20 and the return line 21 is also not piggable.

The concept of a conventional coating agent supply device for a painting system described above and shown schematically in Figures 1 and 2 has various disadvantages, which are described below.

One disadvantage is that previously only four of the coating agent storage containers 18 could be connected to the transfer point 15, so that only four different colors could be applied. If, on the other hand, a different color is to be applied, it is necessary to replace one of the coating agent storage containers 18 with another of the desired color. When replacing one of the coating agent storage containers 18 in this way, it is necessary to free the entire pump circuit with the feed line 20 and the return line 21 of paint residues, which requires a flushing process. This leads to high detergent consumption and correspondingly high disposal costs for the disposal of the paint and detergent residues. In addition, such a color change by replacing one of the coating agent storage containers 18 is very time-consuming.

A further disadvantage is that the paint must continuously circulate in the pump circuit in order to prevent paint from settling in the feed line 20 or the return line 21. This permanent paint circulation is associated with an undesirable shear stress on the paint. Another problem with the known coating agent supply device is the shear stress on the paint, which must circulate even when no application is taking place.

For the technical background of the invention, reference should also be made to DE 10006 310 Al, DE 10 2018 109 344 Al, DE 103 46 601 Al and EP 1 319 441 A2. Description of the invention

The invention is therefore based on the object of creating a correspondingly improved coating agent supply device and an associated operating method for such a coating agent supply device.

This object is achieved by a coating agent supply device according to the invention or by a corresponding operating method.

The coating agent supply device according to the invention is preferably located in a paint mixing room of a painting system for painting motor vehicle body components and provides the paint to be applied at a transfer point. However, the invention is not limited to paints with regard to the coating agent to be applied, but can also be implemented with other types of coating agents. Furthermore, the invention is not limited to motor vehicle body components with regard to the components to be coated, but can also be implemented with other types of coating systems that coat other types of components.

The coating agent to be applied is taken from a coating agent storage container ("delivery container") in the coating agent supply device, which usually has a large capacity sufficient to coat numerous components.

Between the coating agent storage container and the transfer point there is a line arrangement to guide the coating agent from the coating agent storage container to the transfer point.

In the known coating agent supply device described at the beginning, this line arrangement between the coating agent storage container and the transfer point cannot be pigged, which is associated with the disadvantages described at the beginning. The invention therefore provides that the line arrangement between the coating agent storage container and the transfer point contains at least one piggable line.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the coating agent supply supply device has several coating agent storage containers in order to provide different coating agents. For example, each coating agent storage container can contain paint of a certain color. The inventive design of the coating agent supply device, which is described in more detail below, enables more than four different coating agent storage containers to be provided. For example, 15 different coating agent storage containers can be provided in order to provide a correspondingly large number of different colored paints without it being necessary to replace one of the coating agent storage containers.

The individual coating agent storage containers are preferably each connected to a pig line system. The individual pig line systems each contain a pig station with a pig source module and a pig target module as well as a piggable line between the pig source module and the pig module. Such pig line systems are known from the prior art and therefore do not need to be described in more detail. However, such pig line systems have not yet been used in a coating agent supply facility to connect the coating agent storage containers to the transfer point.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the coating agent storage containers is assigned a pig line system. However, the invention also claims protection for a coating agent supply device in which a separate pig line system is provided for only some of the coating agent storage containers.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the pig source module and the pig target module are each plate-shaped and mechanically firmly connected to one another, with the pig source module and the pig target module lying parallel to one another. The pig source module and the pig target module are therefore both located in the pig station and thus in approximately the same place, which enables material circulation, as will be described in more detail below.

The piggable lines can be very long, since coating agent residues can be pigged back into the respective coating agent storage container during application breaks or when changing color ("reflow"), thereby avoiding the disruptive losses of rinsing agent and paint residues described above. This offers the possibility of the piggable lines having a length of more than 1 m, 2 m, 4 m, 10 m, 20 m, 50 m, 100 m or even more than 150 m. The longer line length between the transfer point made possible by the invention and the coating agent storage containers in turn allows for greater flexibility in the structural design of the coating agent supply system.

The connection between the individual coating agent storage tanks and the associated pigging line systems is preferably made by a pump circuit. For this purpose, a circulation line is provided in the circuit, which starts from the respective coating agent storage tank, leads to the associated pigging station and then goes back to the respective coating agent storage tank, whereby this circulation line is preferably not piggable. The circulation line therefore comprises a supply line from the coating agent storage tank to the pigging station and a return line from the pigging station to the coating agent storage tank.

In addition, the individual pump circuits preferably contain a circulation pump that takes the coating agent from the respective coating agent storage container and circulates it in the respective pump circuit. The circulation pump takes the respective coating agent from the respective coating agent storage container and conveys it through the feed line to the pigging station.

In addition, the individual pump circuits can each contain a return flow regulator, which is arranged in the pump circuit downstream behind the respective pigging station in the return line and regulates the coating agent pressure at the associated pigging station. Such a return flow regulator is particularly useful if several distribution stations are arranged in the paint mixing room circuit described below.

In addition, the individual pump circuits can each contain a controllable valve that is arranged in the respective pump circuit upstream of the pig station in the feed line and directs the coating agent flow either to the respective pig station or to a return line. This controllable valve is preferably a two-way valve. On the one hand, such a two-way valve enables the discarding of residual flushing agent from the circulation pump. On the other hand, the two-way valve also enables the pig source module to be filled without bubbles.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the individual pig target modules are connected to the associated pig source module not only by the piggable line, but also by an additional connecting line, which is not piggable in the preferred embodiment of the invention. On the one hand, this connecting line enables material circulation through the piggable line and the connecting line, whereby material circulation is also possible in a large circuit that includes the pump circuit and the pig line system (paint mixing room circuit). The material circulation then starts from the coating agent storage tank via the feed line to the pig source module, through the piggable line to the pig target module, via the connecting line back to the pig source module and then via the return line back to the coating agent storage tank.

On the other hand, the connecting line between the pig target module and the pig source module also enables unapplied coating agent to be returned from the piggable line via the pig target module through the connecting line and the pig source module and the pump circuit back into the respective coating agent storage container ("re-flow").

Furthermore, it should be mentioned that the individual pigging stations can each contain a controllable valve arrangement, whereby this valve arrangement, depending on its control, preferably enables one of the following flow patterns in the coating agent supply device:

• When pressed: The coating agent flows from the coating agent storage tank via the circulation line of the pump circuit to the pig source module and from there into the piggable line in order to fill the piggable line with the coating agent.

• In material circulation: The pump circuit and the associated pig line system (paint mixing room circuit) together form a large circuit with material circulation from the coating agent storage tank, via the pump circuit to the pig source module, through the piggable line to the pig target module, through the connecting line to the pig source module and through the pump circuit back to the coating agent storage tank.

• During material return: The coating agent remaining in the piggable line is pressed back into the coating agent storage container via the pig target module, the connecting line and the pump circuit.

• When flushing: Flushing agent and/or pulsed air is introduced at the pig source module and flows via the piggable line to the pig target module and from there via the connecting line to the pig source module and further into the circulation line and finally in a repatriation.

It has already been explained above that the individual coating agent storage containers are preferably each assigned a pig line system in order to guide the coating agent to be applied to the transfer point. The individual pig line systems are preferably connected to a common distribution station. The common distribution station is therefore connected to the piggable lines on the supply side in order to remove the coating agent from the piggable lines. On the application side, however, the distribution station is connected to the transfer point via at least one central channel. The common distribution station contains a controllable valve unit in order to optionally controllably connect the piggable lines to the at least one central channel on the application side.

It should be noted that the at least one central channel between the distribution station and the transfer point is not piggable in the preferred embodiment.

It should also be mentioned that several central channels can be provided between the distribution station and the transfer point, such as two, three or four central channels.

However, the central ducts preferably have a relatively short pipe length, which is preferably less than 1 m.

The distribution station preferably contains a distribution module for each of the pig line systems in order to remove the coating agent from the associated piggable line. The individual distribution modules are preferably plate-shaped and of identical construction, which enables a modular and expandable structure of the distribution station. The individual plate-shaped distribution modules are then preferably aligned parallel to one another and arranged in a row next to one another. In addition, the distribution modules are mechanically connected to one another, in particular by a screw connection. Depending on the number of coating agent storage containers to be connected and the correspondingly large number of pig line systems to be connected, a correspondingly large number of distribution modules can then be integrated into the distribution station.

It should be noted that the distribution station for each piggable line preferably has a passage channel through which a pig can pass, so that the piggable lines each pass through the distribution station. In the modular structure of the distribution station with several distribution modules described above, such a through channel is preferably provided in each of the distribution modules.

In general, it should be mentioned that the common distribution station has a number n of inputs for the piggable lines on the supply side. In addition, the common distribution station has a number m of outputs for the central channels to the transfer point on the application side. The number n of inputs for the piggable lines is preferably greater than the number m of outputs for the central channels. For example, the number m of outputs for the central channels can be two, three or four, while the number n of inputs for the piggable lines is greater than four.

Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one pig sensor is arranged on the individual piggable lines in order to detect a pig in the piggable line. Such pig sensors are known per se from the prior art and therefore do not need to be described in more detail. The pig sensor is preferably arranged on the pig station, in particular at a distance from the pig station of less than 50 cm, 20 cm, 10 cm or 5 cm. For example, a double pig sensor can be used that can monitor both the pig supply line and the pig return line. On the one hand, the double pig sensor can therefore detect whether a pig is entering the pig source module or leaving the pig source module. On the other hand, the double pig sensor can also detect whether a pig is moving into the pig target module or leaving the pig target module.

It was already mentioned at the beginning that the at least one coating agent storage container (delivery container) can be exchangeable and usually has a large capacity that is sufficient for coating numerous components. For example, this capacity can be at least 10 l, 50 l, 100 l, 250 l or 500 l.

Within the scope of the invention, the number of coating agent storage containers can be greater than two, three, four, five or even greater than ten. Due to the relatively large number of coating agent storage containers connected at the same time, many different coating agents can be applied without replacing a coating agent storage container, thereby avoiding the annoying color change losses described at the beginning. The coating agent supply device according to the invention, which provides the respective coating agent at the transfer point, has been described above. However, the invention also claims protection for a coating system which additionally has an application station which is connected to the transfer point of the coating agent supply device and has at least one application device (eg rotary atomizer) in order to apply the coating agent provided at the transfer point.

The transfer point can therefore have a pig source module on the application side, which is connected to a pig target module on an application device via at least one piggable line. The piggable line between the transfer point and the application device can have a relatively long line length, which can be in the range of 30 m to 200 m, for example.

It should also be mentioned that the individual pig target modules of the application station can each be connected to the pig source module at the transfer point via several parallel piggable lines. This facilitates the application of different coating agents.

In general, it should also be mentioned that the application device is preferably an atomizer (e.g. rotary atomizer). However, other application devices can also be used within the scope of the invention, such as so-called print heads.

Preferably, however, the application device is guided by an application robot, whereby several such application robots can be provided in an application station.

Finally, it should be mentioned that the invention also claims protection for a corresponding operating method which carries out at least one of the following steps in at least one of the pig line systems of the coating agent supply device:

• Filling the piggable line of the coating agent supply device, wherein the coating agent is pumped from the coating agent storage container through the circulation line of the pump circuit to the pig source module and flows there into the piggable line, wherein preferably the pig is conveyed together with the coating agent in the piggable line from the pig source module to the pig target module.

• Circulation of the coating agent in the large circuit, which is formed by the pump circuit and the associated pig line system, preferably located in the paint mixing room is formed, wherein the coating agent flows from the coating agent storage tank via the circulation line of the pump circuit to the pig source module, through the piggable line to the pig target module, through the connecting line to the pig source module and through the circulation line back to the coating agent storage tank.

• Stop the circulation of the coating agent in the large circuit before starting a coating process.

• Removal of the coating agent from the piggable line at the distribution station.

• Forwarding of the removed coating agent from the distribution station through the central channel to the transfer point.

• Forwarding the removed coating agent from the transfer point to the application device of the application station, preferably via a pigging system between the transfer point and the application station or directly and without a pigging system from the transfer point to the application station.

• Apply the removed coating agent using the application device.

• Return of the unapplied coating agent from the piggable line of the coating agent supply system via the pig source module and the circulation line of the pump circuit back to the coating agent storage tank.

• Flushing the piggable line, the pig source module and/or the pig target module with pulsed air and/or flushing agent.

It has already been mentioned above that it is possible within the scope of the invention to return coating agents to the coating agent storage containers. For this purpose, the following steps are preferably carried out within the scope of the invention:

• Introducing the compressed air at the pig target module into the piggable line, whereby the compressed air pushes the pig and the column of coating agent located in front of the pig in the piggable line to the pig source module.

• Pushing the coating agent column on the pig source module back from the piggable line into the circulation line of the pump circuit.

• Pushing the coating agent column back from the circulation line of the pump circuit into the coating agent storage tank.

In addition, it has already been mentioned above that the coating agent supply device can be played. To do this, the following steps are preferably carried out: • Introducing flushing agent and/or pulsed air at the pig source module into the piggable line of the coating agent supply device.

• Forwarding the flushing agent and/or the pulsed air from the pig source module through the piggable line to the pig target module.

• Forwarding the flushing agent and/or the pulsed air at the pig target module through the connecting line to the pig source module.

• Forwarding the flushing agent and/or the pulsed air at the pig source module into the circulation line of the pump circuit.

Other advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims or are explained in more detail below together with the description of the preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the figures.

Short description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the conventional painting system described above for painting motor vehicle body components.

Figure 2 shows a modification of the conventional painting system according to Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a modification of the painting system according to Figure 1 according to the invention.

Figure 4 shows a modification of the painting system according to Figure 2 according to the invention.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a pigging station of the painting system according to the invention according to Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 6 shows a sectional view of a pig source module of the painting system according to the invention.

Figure 7 shows a plan view of a distribution station of the painting system according to the invention.

Figure 8 shows a detailed view of a plate-shaped distribution module of the distribution station from Figure ?. Figure 9 shows the painting system according to Figure 4 in a basic position.

Figure 10 shows the painting system according to Figure 4 when applying a paint.

Figure 11 shows the painting system according to Figure 4, where the pressing is completed and material circulation takes place.

Figure 12 shows the painting system from Figure 12 pushing paint back into a coating agent storage container.

Figure 13 shows the painting system from Figure 4 during a rinsing process.

Finally, Figure 14 shows a flow chart to illustrate the operating method according to the invention.

Detailed description of the drawings

The exemplary embodiment of a coating agent supply device according to the invention is now described below, as shown in Figure 3 and in a slightly modified form in Figure 4. The exemplary embodiment according to the invention partially corresponds to the conventional coating agent supply device as shown in Figures 1 and 2. To avoid repetition, reference is therefore made to the above description, with the same reference numerals being used for corresponding details.

A special feature of this embodiment is that three parallel piggable coating agent lines 10-13 run between the pig target modules 6-9 and the pig source module 14 at the transfer point 15, so that three different paints can be provided at the pig target modules 6-9.

A further special feature of this embodiment is the structural design and the functioning of the coating agent supply device upstream of the transfer point 15.

The paint to be applied is provided by a total of 15 coating medium storage containers 18, whereby a larger or smaller number of coating medium storage containers 18 is also possible.

The coating agent storage containers 18 each have a coating agent pump 19, which removes the paint from the respective coating agent storage container 18 and conveys it to a pig source module 23 via a non-piggable feed line 20 and a dual valve 22. A non-piggable return line 21 leads from the pig source module 23 back to the coating agent storage container 18. The feed line 20 and the return line 21 therefore form a pump circuit that cannot be pigged and enables material circulation in the pump circuit.

To avoid misunderstandings, it should be mentioned that each of the 15 coating agent storage containers 18 is assigned a pump circuit, which leads to a pig source module 23. For the sake of simplicity, however, only a single pump circuit is shown in the drawings.

In addition, a return flow regulator 24 is arranged in the return line 21 of the pump circuit, which regulates the paint pressure at the pig source module 23 to a predetermined value.

The dual valve 22 can forward the paint supplied via the feed line 20 either to the pig source module 23 or via a return line 25 to a return line 26.

From the pig source module 23, a piggable coating agent line 27 leads through a distribution station 28 to a pig target module 29, wherein the pig target module 29 is mechanically connected to the pig source module 23, as can be seen from Figure 5.

A connecting line 30 also runs from the pig target module 29 to the pig source module 23, whereby the connecting line 30 cannot be pigged. The piggable coating agent line 27 between the pig source module 23 and the pig target module 29 thus forms a paint mixing chamber circuit together with the connecting line 30.

This enables paint circulation that includes both the pump circuit and the paint mixing room circuit. The paint is then taken from the coating agent reservoir 18 and flows via the feed line 20 and the dual valve 22 into the pig source module 23. From there the paint then flows further via the piggable coating agent line 27 through the distribution station 28 to the pig target module 29. From the pig target module 29, the paint then flows through the connecting line 30 to the pig source module 23 and from there via the return line 21 back to the coating agent storage container 18.

In addition, a double pig sensor 30 is provided, which can detect when a pig passes the double pig sensor 30 in the piggable coating agent line 27. On the one hand, the double pig sensor 30 can therefore detect whether a pig 32 enters the pig source module 23 or exits the pig source module 23. On the other hand, the double pig sensor 32 can also detect whether a pig 32 moves into the pig target module 29 or leaves the pig target module 29.

To avoid misunderstandings, it should be mentioned that each of the coating agent storage containers 18 is assigned not only a pump circuit, but also a paint mixing chamber circuit. However, for the sake of simplicity, only a single paint mixing chamber circuit is shown in the drawings.

Figure 6 shows a sectional view of the pig source module 23, wherein the pig target module 29 is of identical construction, so that a separate description of the pig target module 29 can be dispensed with.

In the drawing, a pig 32 is shown in the pig source module 23. The pig 32 can then be moved by compressed air drive from the pig source module 23 through the piggable coating agent line 27 to the pig target module 29.

To control this pig movement and to control the paint flow, the pig source module 23 has several valves 33-36. The functionality of the pig source module 23 is basically known from the state of the art and therefore does not need to be described in detail.

From Figure 4 it is also clear that the distribution station 28 is connected to the transfer point 15 via two central channels 37, 38. The central channels 37, 38 cannot be pigged.

From Figure 7 it can be seen that the distribution station 28 has numerous plate-shaped distribution modules 39, whereby the number of distribution modules 39 can be changed due to the modular structure of the distribution station 28. In Figure 7 the distribution station 28 has nine of the distribution modules 39. In Figure 4, however, the distribution station 28 has only three of the distribution modules 39. Figure 8 shows a sectional view through the distributor module 39. It can be seen that a through-channel 40 passes through the distributor module 39, whereby the through-channel 40 can be passed through by the pig 32.

In addition, the distribution module 39 has several valves 41-44 to control the removal of material from the passage channel 40.

The distribution station 28 has a certain number of input connections 45 on the supply side in order to be able to connect one of the piggable coating agent lines 27. In addition, the distribution station 28 has a certain number of output connections 46 on the application side in order to be able to connect one of the central channels 37, 38. In Figure 7, the distribution station 28 has nine input connections 45 and two output connections 46. In Figure 4, however, the distribution station 28 has only three input connections 45 and two output connections 46.

The basic position of the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 9 is now described below. In this basic position, the pig 32 is located in the pig source module 23.

Figure 10 now shows the pressing on with paint. The coating agent pump 19 then conveys the paint from the respective coating agent storage container 18 via the feed line 20 to the pig source module 23 into the piggable coating agent line 27, whereby the pig 32 is moved towards the pig target module 29. In front of the pig 32 there is flushing agent in order to flush the piggable coating agent line 27.

Figure 11 now shows the state when the pressing is completed and material circulation takes place. In this operating state, the coating agent pump 19 conveys the respective paint from the coating agent storage container 18 through the feed line 20 to the pig source module 23. From the pig source module 23, the paint then flows via the piggable coating agent line 27 to the pig target module 29. From there, the paint then flows through the connecting line 30 to the pig source module 23 and from there via the return line 21 back into the coating agent storage container 18. This material circulation therefore includes both the pump circuit and the paint mixing room circuit. Figure 12 shows a reflow operation in which paint is pressed back into the coating agent storage container 18. In this case, the pig 32 is moved by compressed air in the piggable coating agent line 27 back to the pig source module 23. In this case, the pig 32 pushes back the paint column located in the piggable coating agent line 27. The paint located in the piggable coating agent line 27 is then pressed out of the pig source module 23 via the return line 21 back into the coating agent storage container 18.

Finally, Figure 13 shows a flushing process. Pulsed air and flushing agent are introduced into the piggable coating agent line 27 at the pig source module 23 in order to clean it.

Finally, Figure 14 shows a flow chart to illustrate the operating method according to the invention. In a step S1, the painting system is first brought into the basic position, which is shown in Figure 9 and was described above.

In the next step S2, the paint is then pressed on, as shown in Figure 10 and described above.

The next step S3 then shows the state according to Figure 11, in which the pressing is completed and material circulation takes place.

The actual painting operation then takes place in step S4. The distribution station 28 takes the desired paint from the piggable coating agent line 27 and forwards it to the painting robots 2-5 via the transfer point 15.

In the next step S5, the reflow operation is carried out as shown in Figure 12 and described above.

Finally, in step S6, a rinsing operation is carried out as shown in Figure 13 and described above.

The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. Rather, the invention also includes a large number of variants and modifications that also make use of the inventive concept and therefore fall within the scope of protection. In particular, the invention also claims protection for the subject matter and the features of the subclaims independently of the respective claims referred to and in particular also without the features of the main claim. The invention therefore comprises various aspects of the invention which are protected independently of one another.

Advantages of the invention

The invention enables the connection of a large number of paint systems to the transfer point to the pigging system of the painting system, i.e. more than four coating agent storage containers ("delivery containers") with different paints can be provided.

The invention enables significantly faster color availability when more than four different paints are applied, since the different paints can be kept in the paint mixing room circuit without the need to replace one of the coating agent storage containers ("delivery containers").

Even when applying more than four different colored paints, the rinsing and pressing processes that would otherwise be required are no longer necessary, as no coating agent storage container ("delivery container") needs to be replaced.

The invention enables a reduction in conventional ring line systems so that in the case of paints that are rarely required ("low runner"), no additional paint waste is generated due to the shear stress on the paint.

Existing pigging systems can be used more efficiently.

The invention enables higher system availability, i.e. the necessary interruptions in application operation are shortened.

Reduction of paint losses by minimizing the replacement of coating agent storage containers ("delivery containers"). This means that the coating agent storage containers no longer need to be replaced when the color is changed, but only when the coating agent storage containers are empty.

Reduction in the amount of paint required compared to conventional ring pipeline systems (smaller filling quantity than with ring pipeline)

Automatic provision of paint material at the required time (without manual intervention). List of reference symbols

1 Motor vehicle body component

2-5 painting robots

6-9 Pig target modules

10-13 Coating agent lines (piggable) between the pig source module and the pig target modules

14 Pig source module at the transfer point

15 Transfer point

16 Valve arrangement at the transfer point

17 Non-piggable coating line of the pump circuit

18 Coating agent storage containers ("delivery containers")

19 Coating agent pump on the coating agent storage tank

20 Non-piggable flow line of the pump circuit

21 Non-piggable return line of the pump circuit

22 Double valve in the flow line of the pump circuit

23 Pig source module

24 Return flow regulator in the return line of the pump circuit

25 Return line from the double valve to the return

26 Repatriation

27 Piggable coating agent line between pig source module and pig target module

(Color mixing room circle)

28 Distribution station in the paint mixing room circuit

29 Pig target module

30 Connection line between pig source module and pig target module (paint mixing room circuit)

31 Double pig sensor in the paint mixing room circuit

32 newt

33-36 Valves in the pig source module

37, 38 Central channels from the distribution station to the transfer point

39 Distribution modules of the distribution station

40 Passage channel in the distribution module of the distribution station

41-44 Valves in the distribution module

45 input connections of the distribution station for the piggable lines

46 output connections of the distribution station for the central channels to the transfer point

Claims

1. Coating agent supply device for supplying an application station of a coating system with a coating agent to be applied, in particular in a paint mixing room for supplying a pigging system in a paint booth of a paint shop for painting motor vehicle body components with the paint to be applied, with a) at least one coating agent storage container (18) for providing the coating agent to be applied, b) a transfer point (15) for transferring the coating agent to be applied to the application station, in particular to the pigging system in the paint booth of the paint shop, and c) a line arrangement (20, 21, 27, 37, 38) between the coating agent storage container (18) and the transfer point (15), characterized in that d) the line arrangement (20, 21, 27, 37, 38) between the coating agent storage container (18) and the transfer point (15) has at least one piggable line (27) contains. 2. Coating agent supply device according to claim 1, characterized in that a) several coating agent storage containers (18) are provided in order to provide different coating agents, b) the individual coating agent storage containers (18) are each connected to a pig line system (23, 27, 29), and c) the individual pig line systems (23, 27, 29) each have the following components: c1) a pig station (23, 29) with a pig source module (23) and a pig target module (29) and c2) a piggable line (27) between the pig source module (23) and the pig target module (29), d) the piggable lines (27) preferably each have a line length that is greater than 1 m, 2 m, 4 m, 10 m, 20 m, 50 m, 100 m or 150 m and/or less than 1 km, 500 m, 200 m or 100 m, e) that the pig source module (23) and the pig target module (29) in the pig station are preferably firmly connected to one another, f) that the pig source module (23) and the pig target module (29) are preferably plate-shaped and lie plane-parallel to one another. 3. Coating agent supply device according to claim 2, characterized in that a) the connection between the individual coating agent storage containers (18) and the associated pig line systems (23, 27, 29) is made by a pump circuit, b) the individual pump circuits each contain the following components: bl) a circulation line (20, 21) in circulation, which starts from the respective coating agent storage container (18), leads to the associated pig station (23, 29) and leads back to the respective coating agent storage container (18), wherein the circulation line (20, 21) is preferably not piggable, wherein the circulation line (20, 21) has a feed line (20) and a return line (21), b2) a circulation pump (19) which takes the coating agent from the respective coating agent storage container (18) and in the respective pump circuit circulates, and/or b3) a return regulator (24) which is arranged in the pump circuit downstream behind the respective pig station (23, 29) and regulates the coating agent pressure at the associated pig station (23, 29), and/or b4) a controllable valve (22) which is arranged in the pump circuit upstream of the respective pig station in the feed line (20) and directs the coating agent flow optionally to the respective pig station (23, 29) or into a return line (26). 4. Coating agent supply device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that in at least one of the pig line systems (23, 27, 29) the pig target module (29) is connected to the pig source module (23) by a connecting line (30), a) in order to return unapplied coating agent from the piggable line (27) via the pig target module (29) through the connecting line (30) and the pig source module (23) through the pump circuit into the respective coating agent storage container (18), and/or b) in order to enable material circulation in a large circuit which connects the pump circuit and the pig line system (23, TI , 29), namely starting from the coating agent storage container (18) via the pump circuit to the pig source module (23), through the piggable line (27) to the pig target module (29), via the connecting line (30) to the pig source module (23) and from there via the pump circuit back to the coating agent storage container (18). 5. Coating agent supply device according to claim 4, characterized in that the connecting line (30) between the pig target module (23) and the pig source module (29) is not piggable. 6. Coating agent supply device according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that a) the individual pigging stations (23, 29) each contain a controllable valve arrangement, b) the valve arrangement, depending on its control, optionally enables one of the following flow courses in the coating agent supply device: bl) Pressing: The coating agent flows from the coating agent storage container (18) via the circulation line of the pump circuit to the pig source module (23) and there into the piggable line in order to fill the piggable line (27) with the coating agent, b2) Material circulation: The pump circuit and the associated pig line system (23, 29, 27) together form a large circuit with a material circulation from the coating agent storage container (18), via the pump circuit to the pig source module (23), through the piggable line (27) to the Pig target module (29), through the connecting line (30) to the pig source module (23) and through the pump circuit back to the coating agent storage container (18), b3) Material return: The coating agent remaining in the piggable line (27) is pressed via the pig target module (29), the connecting line (30) and the pump circuit back into the coating agent storage container (18), b4) Flushing: Flushing agent and/or pulsed air is introduced at the pig source module (23) and flows via the piggable line (30) to the pig target module (29) and from there via the connecting line (30) to the pig source module (23) and further into the circulation line and finally into a return (26). 7. Coating agent supply device according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that a) the coating agent supply device for the pig line systems (23, 27, 29) has a common distribution station (28), b) the distribution station (28) is connected on the supply side to the piggable lines (27) in order to remove the coating agent from the piggable lines (27), c) the distribution station (28) is connected on the application side to the transfer point (15) via at least one central channel (37, 38), and d) the common distribution station (28) has a controllable valve unit in order to selectively controllably connect the piggable lines (27) to the at least one application-side central channel (37, 38). 8. Coating agent supply device according to claim 7, characterized in that a) the at least one central channel (37, 38) between the distribution station (28) and the transfer point (15) is not piggable, and/or b) the distribution station (28) is connected to the transfer point (15) by one, two, three or four central channels (37, 38), and/or c) the at least one central channel (37, 38) preferably has a line length that is greater than 5 cm, 10 cm, 25 cm, 50 cm, 75 cm or 100 cm and/or less than 100 m, 50 m, 25 m, 10 m, 5 m, 2 m or 1 m. 9. Coating agent supply device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that a) the distribution station (28) has a plurality of distribution modules (39), b) each of the pig line systems (23, 27, 29) is assigned one of the distribution modules (39) in order to remove the coating agent from the associated piggable line (27), c) the individual distribution modules (39) are each plate-shaped, d) the distribution modules (39) are aligned parallel to one another and arranged next to one another in a row, e) the distribution modules (39) are connected to one another, in particular by a screw connection, and/or f) the distribution modules (39) are of identical construction. 10. Coating agent supply device according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the distribution station (28) for the individual piggable lines (27) a passage channel (40) through which a pig (32) can pass, so that the piggable lines (27) each pass through the distribution station (28). 11. Coating agent supply device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that a) the common distribution station (28) has a number n of inputs on the supply side (45) for the piggable lines (27), b) that the common distribution station (28) has a number m of outputs on the application side (46) for the central channels (37, 38) to the transfer point (15), c) that at the distribution station (28) the number n of inlets (45) for the piggable lines (27) is greater than the number m of outlets (46) for the central channels (37, 38), and/or d) that at the distribution station (28) the number m of outlets (46) for the central channels is two, three or four, and/or e) that at the distribution station (28) the number n of inlets (45) for the piggable lines (27) is greater than four. 12. Coating agent supply device according to one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that a) at least one pig sensor (31) is arranged on the individual piggable lines (27) in order to detect a pig (32) in the piggable line (27), and/or b) that the pig sensor (31) is arranged on the pig station (23, 29), in particular at a distance from the pig station (23, 29) of less than 50 cm, 20 cm, 10 cm or 5 cm. 13. Coating agent supply device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a) the coating agent storage container (18) is exchangeable, and/or b) the coating agent storage container (18) has a capacity of at least 10 l, 50 l, 100 l, 250 l or 500 l, and/or c) the number of coating agent storage containers (18) is greater than two, three, four, five or ten. 14. Coating system for coating components with a coating agent, in particular a painting system for painting motor vehicle body components with a paint, with a) a coating agent supply device according to one of the preceding claims, and b) an application station (2-5) which is connected to the transfer point (15) of the coating agent supply device and has at least one application device for applying the coating agent provided at the transfer point (15). 15. Coating system according to claim 14, characterized in that a) the transfer point (15) of the coating agent supply device has a pig source module (14), b) a pig target module (6-9) is provided on the application device, c) the pig source module (14) of the transfer point (15) is connected to the pig target module (6-9) via a piggable line (10-13), d) the piggable line (10-13) between the transfer point (15) and the application device (2-5) preferably has a line length that is greater than 1 m, 2 m, 3 m, 5 m, 10 m, 25 m, 50 m, 100 m, 150 m or 200 m and/or less than 1 km, 500 m, 250 m or 200 m. 16. Coating system according to claim 15, characterized in that the pig source module (14) at the transfer point (15) is connected to the pig target module (6-9) on the application device by several parallel piggable lines (10-13) in order to be able to supply different coating agents. 17. Coating system according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that a) the application device is a print head or an atomizer, in particular a rotary atomizer, and/or b) the application device is guided by an application robot (2-5), and/or c) the application station is arranged in a painting booth, and/or d) the application station has a plurality of application devices, each of which is guided by an application robot. 18. Operating method for a coating agent supply device according to one of claims 1 to 13 or for a coating system according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized by the following steps for at least one of the pig line systems: a) filling the piggable line (27) of the coating agent supply device, wherein the coating agent is pumped from the coating agent storage container (18) through the circulation line (20, 21) of the pump circuit to the pig source module (23) and flows there into the piggable line (27), wherein preferably the pig (32) is conveyed together with the coating agent in the piggable line (27) from the pig source module (23) to the pig target module (29), b) circulating the coating agent in the large circuit formed by the pump circuit and the associated pig line system preferably located in the paint mixing room, wherein the coating agent flows from the coating agent storage container (18) via the circulation line (20, 21) of the pump circuit to the pig source module (23), through the piggable line (27) to the pig target module (29), through the connecting line (30) to the pig source module (239) and through the circulation line (20, 21) back to the coating agent storage container (18), c) ending the circulation of the Coating agent in the large circuit before the start of coating, d) removal of the coating agent from the piggable line (27) at the distribution station (28), e) forwarding of the removed coating agent from the distribution station (28) through the central channel (37, 38) to the transfer point (15), f) forwarding of the removed coating agent from the transfer point (15) to the application device of the application station, preferably fl) via a pig system between the transfer point (15) and the application station or f2) directly and without a pig system from the transfer point (15) to the application station, g) applying the removed coating agent by the application device, h) returning the unapplied coating agent from the piggable line (27) of the coating agent supply device via the pig source module (23) and the circulation line (20, 21) of the pump circuit back to the Coating agent storage container (18), and/or i) flushing the piggable line (27), the pig source module (23) and/or the pig target module (29) with pulsed air and/or flushing agent. 19. Operating method according to claim 18, characterized in that the coating agent circulates in the pump circuit when filling the piggable line (27) of the coating agent supply device. 20. Operating method according to one of claims 18 or 19, characterized by the following Steps for returning coating agent: a) introducing the compressed air at the pig target module (29) into the piggable line (27), the compressed air pushing the pig (32) and the column of coating agent located in front of the pig (32) in the piggable line (27) to the pig source module (239), b) pushing the column of coating agent at the pig source module (23) back from the piggable line (27) into the circulation line (20, 21) of the pump circuit, and c) pushing the column of coating agent back from the circulation line (20, 21) of the pump circuit into the coating agent storage container (18). 21. Operating method according to one of claims 18 to 20, characterized by the following steps for flushing the coating agent supply device: a) introducing flushing agent and/or pulsed air at the pig source module (23) into the piggable line (27) of the coating agent supply device, b) forwarding the flushing agent and/or the pulsed air from the pig source module (23) through the piggable line (27) to the pig target module (29), c) forwarding the flushing agent and/or the pulsed air at the pig target module (29) through the connecting line (30) to the pig source module (23), and d) forwarding the flushing agent and/or the pulsed air at the pig source module (23) into the circulation line (20, 21) of the pump circuit.