JPH0471585B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention individually identifies cases that are cylindrical or prismatic, or have various heights, diameters, etc., to be transported to a painting room, and distinguishes between these various cases by their type and size. The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for coating objects to be coated, which are coated in an optimal state depending on the shape, etc.

[Prior art]

Conventionally, when painting a cylindrical or rectangular cylindrical case used in a power distribution transformer, an undercoat and a topcoat are usually applied in order to improve corrosion resistance. For the undercoating, the case is pre-treated by shot blasting and degreasing with a degreasing liquid, then the inner and outer surfaces of the case are spray painted, and after painting, the case is dried and the undercoat is completed.
Next, the case is painted by applying a top coat such as electrostatic coating to the surface of the undercoat film. However, in the above-mentioned painting process, electrostatic painting is often adopted as the top coat because it provides a beautiful finish and does not require human labor. This electrostatic coating is usually carried out by suspending the case coated with the undercoat from a hanger suspended from a conveyor and transporting it to the electrostatic coating room.
The case was painted by being rotated by a rotating mechanism (not shown) via a hanger in an electrostatic painting room and conveyed at a constant speed through an atmosphere of charged paint. However, cases used for distribution transformers, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, for example,
There are cylindrical and prismatic shapes. Cylindrical case 1
Since the case 1 has a relatively large number of flat parts on its circumferential surface and a heat dissipation plate 2 whose wave height is not too large is attached, electrostatic coating can be effectively performed by rotating the case 1. However, as shown in FIG. 12, in the case of a rectangular cylindrical case 3, a large number of heat radiation ribs 4 communicating with the inside of the case 3 are provided at relatively narrow intervals and with long wave height dimensions. Therefore, when painting is performed while rotating this square tubular case 3 in the electrostatic coating chamber as described above, the heat dissipating ribs 4 of the square tubular case 3 are narrowed deeply, so the coating film does not extend beyond the protrusion of the heat dissipating ribs 4. The edges and the surrounding areas are thick, whereas the deep parts between the heat dissipating ribs 4 are thin because it is difficult for paint to penetrate, making it difficult to apply a coating film to the entire case 3 with a uniform thickness. For this reason, before, during, or after the top coat of the square tubular case 3, the deep parts of the heat dissipating ribs 4, 4, where it is difficult to form a paint film, were corrected by spray painting, so the painting work was extremely difficult. This was time-consuming and labor-intensive, and this was a major factor preventing rationalization of the painting process. In addition, in electrostatic painting, regardless of whether there is an object to be painted in the painting room,
In addition, even if the shape, length, and diameter of the object to be coated varies, when the coating equipment is in operation, it always sprays a fixed amount of paint in a fixed range, filling the coating chamber with electrically charged paint. It was extremely uneconomical.

[Purpose of the invention]

To eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the present invention, and to determine the shape, height, diameter size, etc. of an object to be coated immediately before transporting it into a coating room, and to always perform painting that accurately corresponds to the object to be coated. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for painting an object to be painted, such as a cylindrical or prismatic transformer case, which enables rational and economical painting work.

[Summary of the invention]

When painting objects to be painted, the present invention includes a sign board that individually displays the type of object to be painted, a detection device that optically detects the type of the sign board, and a detection signal that is received from the detection device. It consists of a coating device and a control device that controls the operation of the paint spray gun attached to the coating device depending on the type of object to be coated.
The present invention is characterized in that a plurality of types of objects to be coated having different shapes, heights, diameters, etc. can be automatically coated in a state suitable for the objects to be coated without causing uneven coating.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B, 11 is a painting room, inside which is a conveyor 1 for suspending and conveying the objects to be painted.
2 is arranged in series with an external conveyor (not shown), and as shown in FIG. It consists of hangers 15, 15a that are movably suspended. The hanger 15 has a roller 14 at the top.
A connecting fitting 17 is connected to the lower side of the conveying fitting 16 which rotatably supports the hanging fitting 1.
8 is rotatably mounted via a thrust ball bearing (not shown), and rotation regulating plates a and b are disposed in a cross shape at the lower part of the hanging fitting 18 with an interval maintained in the vertical direction. Then, one rotation regulating plate a
A U-shaped support 19 is attached to the.
The difference between the hanger 15a and the hanger 15 is that a pinion 20 is provided on the upper part of the hanging fitting 18, and the rotation regulating plates a and b are not attached, and a plate is provided at the lower end of the hanging fitting 18. A support 19a is attached through the body. This hanger 1
A cylindrical case 1 shown in FIG. 11 is suspended from the hanger 5a, and a rectangular cylindrical case 3 shown in FIG. 12 is suspended from the other hanger 15. The hangers 15 and 15a are each held by a conveyance chain 21 at a required interval, and are moved by the drive of this conveyance chain 21. Reference numerals 22 and 22a denote coating devices arranged in the coating room 11, and each of these coating devices 22 and 22a includes a control device 23 and a paint spray gun 24, as shown in FIGS. 1A and B and FIG.
Each of the paint injection guns 24 to 27 is electrically connected to the control device 23, and is equipped with a compressor 28 and a paint pump 29.
It is connected with a pressure hose 30. The injection guns 24 and 25 are equipped with three nozzles, and each nozzle is formed with an appropriate injection angle set relative to the cases 1 and 3 that are the objects to be painted.
In addition, the injection guns 26 and 27 are equipped with two nozzles, and the injection angles are appropriately set as described above, and these injection guns 24 to 27 are controlled according to the type of the object to be coated by command signals from the control device 23. It moves back and forth by the required distance, and also moves up and down a certain distance to spray paint for a time corresponding to the object to be painted, and
The coating device 22 moves the conveyor 1 inside the coating room 11 according to a command from the control device 23 according to the type of the object to be coated.
2 to move a certain distance in the Y direction of the exit of the painting room 11. 31 and 32 are the 5th
As shown in the figure, the first and second detection devices detect the type of object to be painted and the sign board described below.
In the first detection device 31, detection members PH 1 to PH 3 each consisting of a light emitting tube and a light receiving tube for detecting the width portion of the object to be coated, for example, are attached to the support frame ₃₃ at _three locations in the vertical direction. , the second detection device 32 includes detection members PH ₄ to PH ₁₀ consisting of a light projecting tube and a light receiving tube for detecting the height portion of the object to be painted.
4 can be installed in 7 places vertically. In addition, the detection member
By installing at the same height as PH ₁ to PH ₄ ,
Even if the heights of the objects to be painted are different, the objects to be painted can be detected reliably by making the hanging positions the same. Also, the detection member
PH ₄ to _{PH 6} are used to detect the type of sign board 35 described later, and detection members PH ₁₁ and PH ₁₂ installed above the detection member PH ₄ are used to detect the presence or absence of the sign board 35. be. The first and second detection devices 31 and 32 are connected to the entrance X of the painting room 11.
It is installed in front of the control device 23 and is configured to send a detection signal to the control device 23. 35 is the above-mentioned sign board, and as shown in Fig. 4, the horizontal beams 3 are attached at intervals in the vertical direction of the frame body, which is made up of round bars etc. in the shape of a vertically long window frame.
The sign board is composed of a display frame 37 in which two numbers 6 and 36 are arranged, and display plates c to e that are engaged with hooks 38 attached to the upper part of the display frame 37 and the cross beams 36 and 36. A detection plate 35a for detecting the marker plate 35 by the detection members PH ₁₁ to _{PH 12} provided in the second detection device 32 is welded to the upper end of the marker plate 35 . As shown in FIG. 3A, reference numerals 40 and 41 are guides for the rotation regulating plates a and b provided on the hanging fitting 18 of the hanger 15, and these guides 40 and 41 are used to attach, for example, the detection devices 31 and 32. support frame 3
3, 34 or to a support member (not shown) hanging vertically from above the support frames 33, 34. The support frame 40 is provided slightly above the other support frame 41 in order to guide only the rotation restriction plate b, and the other support frame 41 guides only the rotation restriction plate a. It is provided at a position slightly below the support frame 40. In addition, just before the guides 40 and 41, the rotation regulating plates a and b are collided to prevent the hanging fitting 18 from colliding with the rotation regulating plates a and b.
Reception pins 42, 42a are installed to rotate the 90 degrees.

In FIG. 3A, 43 is a hanging rod for hanging the sign board 35 from the support 19, and 44 is a hanging rod 43a for hanging the object to be painted.
This is a flexible hanging device that is hung from the hangers 15, 15a via.

Further, the sign board 35 is hung on the hanger 15 in order to be detected by the detection device 32. Further, a pinion 20 attached to another hanger 15a meshes with a crack 45 disposed within the coating chamber 11 to rotate the object to be coated during coating. Furthermore, the painting room 11
At the lower position of the rack 45, although not shown, there is a
In order to rotate the object to be painted 180° → 90° → 180° between each paint spray gun 24 to 27, a third
As shown in FIG. A, guides 40, 41 and receiving pins 42, 42a similar to those shown in FIG.

Next, the operation will be explained.

First, when applying the top coat to the object to be coated shown in FIG. 11, that is, the case 1 equipped with the heat sink 2 with a small wave height on the outer periphery, as shown in FIG. 3A,
Place the sign board 35 that displays this case 1 on the hanger 1
5 (arrow A view). In this case, the case 1 corresponds to the case 1 shown in FIG.
A sign plate 35 corresponding to the case 1 is formed by being hung on the support 1 by a hanging rod 43 using a detection plate 35a, as shown in FIG. 3A.
9 and hang it from the hanger 15 (as viewed from arrow A in FIG. 3). Next, the rear side of the sign board 35 having only the sign board d (in the direction opposite to the direction of movement of the conveyor 12)
A hanging device 44 is attached to the hanger 15a (view from arrow C).
The case 1 is suspended via the suspension rod 43a. In this state, the conveyor 12 is moved in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3A (FIG. 9 flow F ₁ ). When the hanger 15 on which the signboard 35 is suspended approaches the guide 40 due to the movement of the conveyor 12, the rotation regulating plate b provided on the hanging fitting 18 of the hanger 15 (viewed by arrow A) collides with the retaining pin 42. to connect the hanging fitting 18 to the connecting fitting 1.
Rotate 90° clockwise around 7, and turn it to Fig. 3B.
As shown in , the rotation regulating plate b of the hanger 15 is made parallel to the guide 40. Therefore, the sign board 35 is rotated 90 degrees, and as shown in FIG.
2, it is transported in the direction of the arrow. At this point, the sign board 35 passes through the first detection device 31, but the sign board 35 is 90 degrees from the point at which the hanging starts.
Although the side surface of the sign board 35 is momentarily detected by the detection members PH ₁ to _{PH 3} as it rotates, the detection time is short because the side surface of the sign board 35 itself is thin.
Therefore, this detection signal is removed by the control device 23, and no command signal is sent to the coating devices 22, 22a. The hanger 15 (viewed by arrow A) is further conveyed by the movement of the conveyor 12, and then the rotation regulating plate a collides with the next receiving pin 42a, and the rotation regulating plate a is moved clockwise by the hanging fitting 18. Rotate 90°,
As shown in FIG. 3B, when the sign board 35 becomes parallel to the guide 41, the sign board 35 returns to the same position as when it started hanging, as shown in FIG. 2, and the hanger 15
It is suspended and conveyed at (B arrow view). When the sign plate 35 reaches the point where it passes the second detection device 32, the front side of the sign plate 35 faces the detection members PH ₄ to PH ₆ and PH ₁₁ and PH ₁₂ , as shown in FIG. , while passing through the second detection device 32, the detection member PH ₁₁ ,
PH ₁₂ detected that it was a sign board 35,
In addition, since the display board d is attached only to the central window of the display frame 37, this sign board 35 has a cylindrical shape as shown in FIG. 1, and the second detection device 3
2, it is detected that the object to be painted is the cylindrical case 1 with the heat sink 2 shown in FIG. 11 (flow F ₂ in FIG. 9), and this detection signal is sent by the control device , make the coating devices 22 and 22a remember that it is case 1 (see the flowchart in Figure 9).
_F3 ). In addition, when painting a cylindrical case in advance, only the painting device 22 operates, and this painting device 22 moves at the same speed as the conveyor 12 for a certain distance (when the case is painted). (distance traveled in a straight line while rotating once)
After tracking, it is set to quickly return to its original position.

In this way, the sign board 35 whose object to be painted is detected by the detection device 32 is moved into the coating room 11 by the conveyor 12 as it is. On the other hand, a hanger 15a immediately after the hanger 15 on which the signboard 35 is hung
While the object to be coated, that is, case 1, suspended in the direction of arrow C, passes through the first detection device 31, the lateral size of the case (if the detection time is long, the diameter of the case) The case is large or has a heat sink) is detected. This detection signal is sent to the control device 23, and the paint squirting guns 24, 25
A command signal setting the optimum injection distance and paint injection amount is sent from the control device 23 to the coating device 22 and stored (flow F ₃ in FIG. 9). Subsequently, while the case 1 passes through the second detection device 32, the height of the case 1 is detected. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, detection is performed by detection members PH ₄ to PH ₁₀ , and when the height is low, PH ₁₀ , PH ₉ , etc. do not operate. This detection signal is sent to the control device 23, and while the paint spray guns 24 and 25 move up and down a certain distance, a signal is sent to the coating device 23, which is set to spray paint in an amount corresponding to the height of the case 1. and stores it (Flow F ₃ in Figure 9). Furthermore, coating device 2
2 is a paint spray gun 24 after a certain period of time has elapsed since the case 1 was detected by the first detection device 31.
The paint is injected from the point where the case 1 is detected by the first detection device 31 and is conveyed to the position facing the paint spray gun 24. When the coating conditions for the case 1 are set as described above and the case 1 is transported into the coating chamber 11, the pinion 20 of the hanger 15a engages with the rack 45 in the coating chamber 11 to rotate the hanging fitting 18. Therefore, the case 1 also moves while rotating, and when it arrives in front of the paint spray gun 24 (see the flowchart in Figure 9).
F ₄ ), the coating device 22 follows (Fig. 9 flow F ₅ )
At the same time, an appropriate amount of paint is sprayed from the spray gun 24 toward the case 1. (Figure 9 flow
_F6 ). At this time, since the spray gun 25 does not face the case 1, no paint is sprayed. The injection gun 24 stops injection when the case 1 is conveyed while rotating one time (flow F ₇ in FIG. 9). Also, at this point, the tracking of the coating device 22 also stops (see the flowchart in Figure 9).
F ₈ ), after which the coating device 22 immediately returns to its original position (flow F ₉ in FIG. 9). When the coating device 22 returns to its original position, the case 1 has reached the position corresponding to the injection gun 25, so the coating device 22 restarts and repeats the above operation. At this point, if the next case 1 is suspended on the hanger 15a and has reached the position facing the paint spray gun 24, the coating device 22 is activated and the spray gun 24 paints the case in the same manner as described above. In this way, case 1 is the injection gun 2
4 and 25, and when the top coat is completed, the pinion 20 is removed from the rack 45, so the case 1 stops rotating and is moved to the outside of the coating room 11 by the conveyor 12.

Next, after painting the case 1, when painting a cylindrical case 1a of the same shape but without a heat sink, the sign board 35 shown in FIG. 8A is detected by the second detection device 32 ( 9 flowchart F ₁₀ , F ₁₁ ), the coating conditions of this case 1a are detected by the first and second detection devices 31 and 32, and this is detected by the coating device 2.
2, 22a (flow F ₁₂ in FIG. 9). This case 1a is painted in the same manner as case 1. However, after painting Case 1, for example, the 12th
When painting the rectangular cylindrical case 3 shown in the figure, the sign board 35 shown in FIG. 8D is hung next to the case 1 to be painted last on the hanger 15 shown in FIG. 2 (in the direction of arrow A). As shown in FIG. 8D, this sign board 35 has a display board e attached to a window at the bottom of the display frame 37. After this sign board 35, the square tubular case 3 is suspended on the hanger 15. and,
The second detection device 32 detects the sign plate 35 (D in FIG. 8) that displays the rectangular cylindrical case 3 (FIG. 9 flows F ₁₀ and F ₁₁ ), and the case 3 is transferred to the coating devices 22 and 22a. Make it memorize that it will be painted (flow F ₁₃ in Figure 10). Next, the width and height of the case 3 are detected by the detection devices 31 and 32 as shown in FIG. 3B, and the coating conditions of the case 3 are determined by the coating devices 22 and
2a (flow F ₁₃ in FIG. 10). In addition, each paint spray gun 24 to 2 of the coating device 22, 22a
7 are set so that the paint is injected after a certain period of time from the time when the case 3 is detected by the first detection device 31. And, Figure 1B
As shown in FIG.
F ₁₄ ), the coating device 22 is started, and paint is injected from the injection gun 24 toward the case 3 (FIG. 10 flows F ₁₅ and F ₁₆ ). When one side of the case 3 is coated, the coating device 22 and the injection gun 24 are temporarily stopped (flows F ₁₇ and F ₁₈ in FIG. 10), and the case 3 is coated.
is transported to the next injection gun 25.
Rotates 180°. This rotation of the case 3 is carried out in the same manner as when the sign plate 35 is rotated 90 degrees in Fig. 2, and the case 3 is rotated in the same manner as the sign plate 35 is rotated 90 degrees in the painting room 11. Using pins, the hanger 15 is rotated twice by 90 degrees by the rotation regulating plates a and b, and the case 3 is rotated by 180 degrees while being transported to the front of the injection gun 25. Then, when the case 3 is transported in front of the injection gun 25, the side opposite to the previous side is painted (Fig. 10 flow F ₁₉ , F ₁₄ ~
_F18 ). When the coating by the spray gun 25 is finished, the case 3 is transported again and rotated by 90 degrees in the same manner as described above, and is transported to a position facing the spray gun 26 of the coating device 22a, and the other side is painted by the spray gun 26. (Flow F ₂₀ to _{F 24} in Figure 10). After this, the case 3 rotates 180° and the coating device 22a
is transported to a position facing the injection gun 27 of
Painting is performed on the side surface opposite to that described above (FIG. 10 flow steps F ₂₅ and F ₂₀ to _{F 24} ). After this, case 3
Once transported into the painting room 11, the painting process is performed in the same order as the previous time.

In addition, after painting the case 3, when painting the rectangular tube-shaped cases 3a, 3b, and 3c as shown in FIG. Hanger 1 in front of the case
5, the coating conditions of the case to be coated are stored in the coating apparatuses 22, 22a, and the coating process is performed in the same manner as described above. (Fig. 10 flow F ₂₆ to _{F 27} ,
F ₁₄ - _{F 19} , F ₂₈ - F ₂₉ , F ₂₀ - F ₂₅ ) Furthermore, if the cylindrical case needs to be painted again during the painting of the rectangular cylindrical case, the procedure shown in Fig. 9 as described above will be applied. Painting can be carried out according to the flowchart.

Incidentally, although the present invention has been described with reference to an embodiment of top coating, it is not limited thereto.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects.

In the case of painting different types of objects to be coated, the present invention provides a sign board that individually displays the shape of the object to be coated (cylindrical, rectangular tube, etc.) for each different type of object to be coated. Hang it in front of the object,
The coating equipment is equipped with an optical detection means that detects the size of each sign board and the object to be painted suspended behind it, and also detects what type and size of the object to be painted. It is possible to store the information in the control device and use the coating device to perform individual coating processes according to different types of objects to be coated, so that the coating work can be carried out efficiently and economically.

The detection means includes a first detection device including a light emitting and light receiving means for detecting the width of one side of the object to be painted, the width and height of the other side of the object to be painted, and the type of sign board. Since the present invention includes a second detection device consisting of light emitting and light receiving means for detection, the present invention can individually detect the size of the object to be painted and the type of the object to be painted. Two detection devices are installed at a distance from each other near the entrance of the painting room to ensure that the type and size of the object to be painted can be reliably detected, as well as to prevent uneven coating. This has the advantage that unnecessary spraying of paint can be accurately eliminated and the object to be painted can be coated effectively and smoothly using the minimum necessary amount of paint.

Furthermore, the sign board indicating the type of object to be painted can be produced by using a required number of display boards in a display frame body equipped with a plurality of windows and changing the combination of the open part and the closed part of the windows. , multiple types of objects to be painted can be easily displayed by simply using a plurality of the above-mentioned display boards, and this display can be done using one display frame with a plurality of windows and a plurality of panels corresponding to the number of windows. Since this is possible with a single sign board that uses only one sign board, the sign board that indicates the type of object to be coated can be produced with a simple structure and at low cost.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a detection means for detecting the type of sign board and the size of the object to be painted, which has a simple structure combining a light projecting member and a light receiving member as described above, and is located at the entrance of the painting room. It is only necessary to arrange them in correspondence with the sign boards and objects to be painted.
The detection means itself has a simple structure and can be manufactured at low cost, similar to the marker plate.

Further, the coating device installed in the coating room is configured to be able to move according to the type and size of the object to be painted, depending on the detection signal sent from the detection means. Therefore, even if the object to be painted is of a different type, such as a cylindrical or rectangular case, the painting process can be performed in a manner that ensures that it corresponds to the object to be painted.This ensures that there will be no uneven coating or unnecessary spraying of paint during the painting process. to avoid,
It is possible to always accurately correspond to the object to be coated and perform the process quickly and reliably.

As described above, the present invention allows the object to be painted to match the individual coating conditions by rotating or rotating the angle depending on the type of the object to be painted, and also makes it possible to control the paint. The spray time, spray amount, and spray position are simultaneously controlled so that painting can be performed under optimal conditions, so there is no uneven coating or unnecessary spraying of paint. It has the excellent feature of being able to effectively coat different objects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic configuration diagrams of the present invention apparatus for coating different types of objects to be coated, and FIGS. 2 and 3A are front views showing a sign board and a part of the conveyor device that conveys the objects to be coated. Figure 3B is A of Figure 3A
4 is a perspective view of a sign board used in the device of the present invention, FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic diagrams of a detection device also used in the device of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a diagram of the detection device of the present invention. 8A to 8F are explanatory diagrams illustrating a combination of a sign board and a corresponding object to be painted;
10 to 10 are flowcharts for implementing the method of the present invention, and FIGS. 11 to 12 are perspective views of objects to be coated used to implement the present invention. 15, 15a... Hanger, 22, 22a...
Painting device, 23...control device, 31, 32...detection device, 35...sign board, c, d, e...display board.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Sign boards for individually displaying different types of objects to be coated are hung on the conveyor, and on the rear side of each of the sign boards, a predetermined number indicated by the sign board is provided. The objects to be painted are hung on a conveyor, and the type and size of each sign board hung on the conveyor are determined by lighting and lighting while the objects to be painted are being conveyed to the painting room. Detected by a detection means comprising a light receiving means, the detection signal detected by the detection means is transmitted to a coating apparatus installed in a coating room so as to be movable a predetermined distance depending on the type of the object to be coated. Sending to a control device, the type of sign board to be transported into the painting room and the size of the object to be painted to be displayed on the sign board are stored in the painting device, and the type of sign board to be transported to the painting room together with the sign board is stored in the painting device. The coating device is driven and controlled by the detection signal stored in the control device, so that different types of objects to be painted are individually and continuously coated. A method of painting objects to be painted. 2. A first detection device and a second detection device for respectively detecting the object to be painted and a sign board that individually displays the type of the object to be painted while the object is being transported to the painting room. are arranged side by side at a certain interval, the first detection device includes detection means including a light emitting and light receiving means for detecting the width of the object to be painted, and the second detection device The sign board, which individually displays the type of object to be painted, has a plurality of windows and is equipped with detection means consisting of a light emitting and light receiving means, etc., for individually detecting the height of the object to be painted and the type of the sign board. The type of object to be painted can be displayed individually by changing the combination of the open portion and the closed portion of the window of the display frame with a display board attached to each window of the display frame framed in the shape. Further, the coating room into which the object to be coated is transported includes:
A coating device that includes a control device that receives and stores detection signals output from the first detection device and the second detection device, and a spray gun that can appropriately set the paint spray angle. is installed movably to follow the object to be painted in the front and rear and up and down directions in response to a detection signal that detects the size of the object to be painted and the type of signboard stored in the control device, and the painting device A device for coating an object to be painted, characterized in that after a certain period of time after detection signals from the first and second detection devices are sent to a control device, the drive control is performed so as to follow the object to be painted. .