Method of introducing and removing workpieces, particularly vehicle bodies, an apparatus and system for the surface treatment of workpieces

A method of introducing and removing workpieces into and out of a treatment area suitable for the surface treatment of said workpieces, comprising the steps of

• detachably securing at least one of said workpieces on a mounting frame which has a rotary axis aligned across the direction of movement of said workpieces,
• arranging said rotary axis such that by a turning movement around said rotary axis, said at least one workpiece is completely introduced into said treatment area and is completely removed out of said treatment area, respectively;
• continuously moving said rotary axis translationally and at a constant speed;
• simultaneously rotating said at least one workpiece at the start and at the end of said treatment area through about 180° around said rotary axis in a controlled and always guided manner in the direction of the translational movement;
• and
• when introducing and removing said workpiece into and out of the treatment area, coordinating the rotational speed and the movement speed with one another such that after completing the rotational process, while observing a safety gap, the front section of said workpiece is positioned at a first end wall of said treatment area and said workpiece now with the front section is in turn moved, while observing a safety gap, as far as the other end wall before this workpiece is removed in the treatment area by another rotation to about 180°.

A device for the surface treatment of workpieces in a treatment area constituted by treatment baths or treatment booths, comprising

• at least one mounting frame for receiving one or more workpieces, said frame being continuously moveable along a direction of movement of said workpieces predetermined by the arrangement of said treatment bath or said booth, having receiving means with which said workpiece can be detachably fitted to said mounting frame and having a rotary axis disposed across the direction of movement, and arranged such that by a turning movement around said rotary axis, said at least one workpiece can be completely introduced into said treatment area and can be completely removed out of said treatment area respectively;
• actuating means for rotationally shifting said mounting frame around its rotary axis, said actuating means and said mounting frame being constantly coupled together during the process of rotation so that the rotation is always controlled and guided;
• guidance means with which said mounting frame can be guided in the direction of movement;
• drive means with which said mounting frame is continuously moveable in the direction of movement;
• and
• wherein said mounting frame has at least one laterally secured lever interacting with said actuating means to cause said mounting frame to rotate.

A device for the surface treatment of workpieces in a treatment area comprising treatment baths or treatment booths, comprising;

• at least one mounting frame for receiving one or more workpieces, said frame being continuously moveable along a direction of movement of said workpieces predetermined by the arrangement of said treatment bath or said booth, having receiving means with which said workpiece can be detachably fitted to said mounting frame, and having a rotary axis disposed across the direction of movement, and arranged such that by a turning movement around said rotary axis, said at least one workpiece can be completely introduced into said treatment area and can be completely removed out of said treatment area respectively;
• actuating means for rotationally shifting said mounting frame around its rotary axis, said actuating means and said mounting frame being constantly coupled together during the process of rotation so that the rotation is always controlled and guided;
• guidance means with which said mounting frame can be guided in the direction of movement;
• drive means with which said mounting frame is continuously moveable in the direction of movement;
• and
• wherein said actuating means comprises at least one directional rail and said directional rail comprises suitable guide surfaces in the inlet and outlet area of the treatment area for rotationally shifting said mounting frame.

A device for the surface treatment of workpieces in a treatment area composing treatment baths or treatment booths, comprising:

• at least one mounting frame for receiving one or more workpieces, said frame being continuously moveable along a direction of movement of said workpieces predetermined by the arrangement of said treatment bath or said booth, having means with which said workpiece can be detachably fitted to said mounting frame, and having a rotary axis disposed across the direction of movement, and arranged such that by a turning movement around said rotary axis, said at least one workpiece can be completely introduced into said treatment area and can be completely removed out of said treatment area respectively;
• actuating means for rotationally shifting said mounting frame around its rotary axis, said actuating means and said mounting frame being constantly coupled together during the process of rotation so that the rotation is always controlled and guided;
• guidance means with which said mounting frame can be guided in the direction of movement;
• drive means with which said mounting frame is continuously moveable in the direction of movement;
• and
• wherein said mounting frame has receivers to detachably connect workpieces directly or indirectly to said mounting frame, and comprising at least one of the following (i)-(iii):
• (i) said receivers comprise catch means which engage with corresponding receiving seats;
• (ii) said receivers are attached to said mounting frame such that their position is variable with respect to a vertical direction;
• and
• (iii) said receivers assume a position which remains unaltered with respect to a vertical direction during the translational movement of sub-mounting frame.

A system for the surface treatment of workpieces comprising

• a plurality of successively arranged areas comprising baths or booths;
• a supply means for supplying said workpieces individually in an inlet area;
• a device for the surface treatment of workpieces in said treatment areas, with at least one mounting frame for receiving one or more workpieces, said frame being continuously moveable along a direction of movement of said workpieces predetermined by the arrangement of said treatment area, having receiving means with which said workpiece can be detachably fitted to said mounting frame, and having a rotary axis disposed across the direction of movement, and arranged such that by a turning movement around said rotary axis, said at least one workpiece can be completely introduced into said treatment area and can be completely removed out of said treatment area respectively;
• actuating means for rotationally shifting said mounting frame around its rotary axis, said actuating means and said mounting frame being constantly coupled together during the process of rotation so that the rotation is always controlled and guided;
• guidance means with which said mounting frame can be guided in the direction of movement;
• and
• drive means with which said mounting frame is continuously moveable in the direction of movement;
• wherein such plurality of spaced apart mounting frames is continuously moved above said plurality of successively arranged treatment areas;
• such supply means comprise means for individually supplying the workpieces in said inlet area in accordance with the movement speed of said mounting frames;
• and
• in an outlet area of said system, means are provided for detaching and moving the now treated workpieces from said mounting frames while continuously moving said frames.

A system for the surface treatment of workpieces comprising

• a plurality of successively arranged treatment booths;
• a supply means for supplying said workpieces individually in an inlet area;
• a device for the surface treatment of workpieces in said treatment booths, having at least one mounting frame for receiving one or more workpieces, said frame being continuously moveable along a direction of movement of said workpieces predetermined by the arrangement of said treatment booths, having receiving means with which each said workpiece can be detachably fitted to said mounting frame, and having a rotary axis disposed across the direction of movement, and arranged such that by a turning movement around said rotary axis, said at least one workpiece can be completely introduced into said treatment booth and can be completely removed out of said treatment booth respectively;
• actuating means for rotationally shifting said mounting frame around its rotary axis, said actuating means and said mounting frame being constantly coupled together during the process of rotation so that the rotation is always controlled and guided;
• guidance means with which said mounting frame can be guided in the direction of movement;
• and
• drive means with which said mounting frame is continuously moveable in the direction of movement;
• wherein said plurality of spaced apart mounting frames is continuously moved above said plurality of successively arranged treatment booths;
• said supply means comprise means for individually supplying the workpieces in said inlet area in accordance with the movement speed of said mounting frames;
• and
• in an outlet area of said system, means are provided for detaching and removing the now treated workpieces from said mounting frames while continuously moving said frames.