Paint spraying equipment and method of cleaning the same

US6037010A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Lactec Gesellschaft Fuer Moderne Lackiertechnik mbh · DE

Inventors

• Ralf Kahmann · Heusenstamm, DE
• Udo Klein · Dietzenbach, DE
• Winfried Ott · Rodgau, DE
• Volker Weiss · Langenfeld, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 26, 1998
• Grant date: Mar 14, 2000
• Expiry date: Jun 26, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B05B12/1481
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

In a method of cleaning a paint application system when switching between two different types or colors of paint, at least a predominant portion of the first paint (35) remaining in a paint line (3) is caused to flow back into its paint supply container (5). Then the entire paint line is flushed out using a flushing medium, before supplying the second paint through the paint line. In this manner, the paint remaining in the painting system at the end of a painting cycle is not wasted, but rather is saved to later be reused. A paint application apparatus includes a paint supply switching device (4), at least two paint supply containers (5 to 8), a paint spray nozzle (2), and a paint line (3) connecting the color switching device (4) to the spray nozzle (2). Two receiver stations (28) and (31) are interposed in the paint line (3), and a shuttle element in the form of a pipe cleaner swab (29) is arranged in the paint line (3) so as to be able to shuttle back and forth between the two receiver stations. A pressure medium or flushing medium can be introduced into the paint line (3) between the first receiver station (28) and the spraying nozzle (2), so as to push the pipe cleaner swab (2…