Automation of the painting cycle

How to independently set up and control the entire painting cycle to avoid waste of material and time

The Roux family began working in the wood trade over 150 years ago. Based in the heart of the Alps between Geneva and Chamonix, Roux company is one of the leaders in wood construction in France. Rich in its long history, in the mastery of ancestral techniques mixed with new technologies, Roux is today able to respond in supply and installation (and if requested in exclusive supply) to structural carpentry, joinery and construction projects in all types of markets.

With a view to automating and internalizing the painting cycle which was largely entrusted to external laboratories, the Roux company got in touch with Finiture for the study of its new robotic painting system. The plant consists of a Power&Free conveyor with 37 x 4 m. bars, two 'Superjet' impregnation tunnels installed on a carriage: one of the tunnels is equipped with a single suction tube and is therefore set up for the white colour, while the second is equipped with three floats to be able to use three different colors. The installation of the two tunnels on a trolley allows them to be moved easily in line with the conveyor, so as to be able to carry out the cleaning and washing operations of the machines in masked time, therefore without having to interrupt the painting cycle for this. The spray booth, totally closed and isolated from the external environment, is equipped with a vertical suction wall with automatic doors for the entry and exit of the bars, in order to contain the overspray. Additionally, the suction system features a motorized shutter that closes the discharge duct during non-spraying phases for energy savings. A humidification system allows the maintenance of the correct level of humidity in the dripping area foreseen after the flow-coating, as well as in the spraying area and in the consequent drying area that precedes the drying tunnel.

For the application of the finish, Roux Entreprise has chosen to rely on Finiture's RAS anthropomorphic robot, equipping it with an automatic color change system for the management of four different products and a washing circuit.

There is also a drying tunnel with Finiture's LDP system and axial fans, for drying windows and doors painted with water-based products via dehumidification at controlled and constant temperature and humidity values. The extraction of humidity from the air guarantees faster drying times compared to conventional tunnels, while the operation with air movement in a closed circuit guarantees considerable energy savings.

To complete the whole, a washing water clarifier, which allows, through the use of a chemical substance called flocculant, to clean the processing water. This element is indispensable, combined with flow coatings, to facilitate the management of waste water deriving from machine cleaning cycles.

Fundamental to the automation of the plant was the new Supervision system, which makes it possible to set the individual operations of the painting cycle when the elements are loaded onto the plant, and automatically control the entire process.

In addition to the vertical line, Roux Entreprise has also chosen to rely on Finiture for the treatment of the profiles, also equipping itself with a Pro Flow for the impregnation of the disassembled elements.