System for treating, in particular, cataphoretically immersion painting vehicle bodies

Abstract

In a system for treating, in particular, cataphoretically immersion painting objects, the objects ( 4 ) to be treated pass through at least one bath ( 100 ) and a drip zone ( 101 ) located down from this bath ( 100 ) before being introduced into a dryer ( 105 ). The objects ( 4 ) are each moved by a conventional trolley ( 5 ) comprising a traveling mechanism that can travel along the movement path of the objects ( 4 ). This trolley also comprises at least one pivotal arm ( 50, 51 ) that is coupled to the traveling mechanism, and has a holding device ( 61 ) that is coupled in an end area of the pivotal arm ( 50, 51 ) and provided for holding the object ( 4 ). Like the pivotal movement of the pivotal arm ( 50, 51 ) and the pivotal movement of the holding device, the linear movement of this trolley ( 5 ) can also be independently controlled. The trolley ( 5 ) not only guides the objects ( 4 ) through the bath ( 100 ) but also through the drip zone ( 101 ). In the drip zone, the trolley ( 5 ) simultaneously serves as tilting device with which the objects ( 4 ) can be tilted into an angular position with regard to the horizontal, said angular position enabling the bath liquid to drip off. This eliminates the need for a separate tilting device as required in the prior art whereby simultaneously enabling the liquid to completely drip off of the objects ( 4 ) and thus preventing, to the greatest possible extent, the formation of fat edges that would have to be removed by grinding upon completion of the drying process effected inside the dryer ( 105 ).

1 . A system for treating articles, comprising 
 at least one bath, in which a treatment liquid is situated, into which the articles are to be dipped;    a feed device, which is adapted to convey the articles are conveyed through the system and in the process to dip into the at least one bath;    a dripping zone, which is disposed in direction of motion downstream of a last bath;    a tilting apparatus within the dripping zone, wherein the articles may be tilted into an angular position relative to the horizontal that is suitable for dripping-off;    a drier disposed downstream of the dripping zone, and,    the feed device comprises at least one feed carriage, which in turn comprises: 
 running gear movable along the path of motion of the articles;  
 at least one swivel arm coupled to the running gear;  
 a holding device coupled to the swivel arm for at least one article; and  
 mutually independently actuable drives for the translational movement, the swivelling motion of the at least one swivel arm and of the holding device;  
   wherein the at least one feed carriage simultaneously serves as a tilting apparatus and is movable over the dripping zone to a point in the vicinity of the drier.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one feed carriage is controllable in such a way that its holding device within the dripping zone is brought into at least two positions, in which it is tilted differently relative to the horizontal.