Abstract: A main body (12) of a rotary atomizing head is provided with a hub fitting groove (13) on and around an inner peripheral surface (12F), while a hub member (14) is provided with a lid portion (15) of a circular disc-like shape, a plural number of leg portions (17) to be brought into fitting engagement with he hub fitting groove (13) through resilient deformation, and notched grooves (18) provided between the respective leg portions (17). Upon pushing in the hub member (14) against the main body (12), the leg portions (17) are fitted into the hub fitting groove (13) and the hub member (14) is mounted in position on the main body (12). In this assembled state, channel-like paint passages (19) are formed between the hub fitting groove (13) and the notched grooves (18), and an annular paint passage (20) is formed between the inner peripheral surface (12F) and the lid portion (15).

Abstract: Mounted on a wrist portion (10) of a single coating robot (6) is a common main assembly body (11) to which a plural number of bell-shape heads (42, 81, 83) are replaceably connectible. Further, a head changer (61) is provided within a working area of the coating robot (6), the head changer (61) being provided with head gripping mechanisms (63) to hold a plural number of bell-shape heads (42, 81, 83) thereon. By the use of the coating robot (6), one of the bell-shape heads (42, 81, 83) on the head changer (61) is replaceably connected to the common main assembly body (11) to form a complete sprayer (55, 101). Accordingly, the coating robot (6) can perform various coating operations by selectively picking up a suitable bell-shape head (42, 81, 83) from the head changer (61) and connecting same to the common main assembly body (11).

Abstract: When replacing a paint cartridge (25) on the coating apparatus (11), a replenished paint cartridge of a next paint color is picked up from one of paint replenisher units (55a to 55n) by one gripper member (101) of a cartridge gripper (100). In the next place, while the replenished paint cartridge (25) is being continuously gripped on one gripper member (101), a consumed or empty paint cartridge (25) is gripped and removed from the housing (12) by the other gripper member (102). Then, the replenished paint cartridge on one gripper member (101) is loaded on the housing (12), and the empty paint cartridge (25) is returned to a corresponding one of the paint replenisher units (55a to 55n). Thus, the paint cartridges (25) can be replaced in a significantly simplified manner.

Abstract: When replacing a paint cartridge (25) on the coating apparatus (11), a replenished paint cartridge of a next paint color is picked up from one of paint replenisher units (55a to 55n) by one gripper member (101) of a cartridge gripper (100). In the next place, while the replenished paint cartridge (25) is being continuously gripped on one gripper member (101), a consumed or empty paint cartridge (25) is gripped and removed from the housing (12) by the other gripper member (102). Then, the replenished paint cartridge on one gripper member (101) is loaded on the housing (12), and the empty paint cartridge (25) is returned to a corresponding one of the paint replenisher units (55a to 55n). Thus, the paint cartridges (25) can be replaced in a significantly simplified manner.

Abstract: An automatic coating apparatus which is arranged to guarantee higher operational reliability, particularly to preclude coating defects as caused by malfunctioning of a cartridge gripper (56) or by the use of an non-replenished or deficiently replenished paint cartridge. A cartridge gripper assembly (55) is constituted by a gripper member (56) with gripper claws for gripping a paint cartridge (25), a grip detector switch (67) which is adapted to detect whether or not the paint cartridge (25) is securely gripped by the gripper. (56), and a replenishment level detector switch (68) which is adapted to detect whether or not the paint cartridge (25) is replenished with paint to a predetermined extent. Therefore, as the paint cartridge (25) is gripped by the cartridge gripper (56), the grip condition on the paint cartridge (25) can be monitor by the grip detector switch (67).

Abstract: A rotary atomizing head type coating system capable of multiple color changes in the course of a coating operation. A housing (12) with a coating machine (19) is mounted on a wrist portion (5) of a coating robot. Provided for the coating system are a plural number of feeder units (29) which serve as separate sources for a variety of paint colors and which each accommodate a paint valve (40) and a solvent valve (41). Through paint hoses (42) and solvent hoses (43), the respective feeder unit (29) are connected to paint supply lines (49) of different colors and a solvent supply line (52). In order to supply paint of different colors to the coating machine (19) during a coating operation, the feeder units (29) are selectively and replaceably loaded into the housing (12).

Abstract: A paint cartridge replenisher (51) is constituted by a replenishing stool (52) having a feed tube passage hole (56) and a container support portion (57), a connector member (59) connectable to and communicable with a fore distal end of a feed tube (28), and a replenishing valve (61) operative to turn on and off paint supply from a paint source to the connector member (59). A paint cartridge (25) is set on the container support portion (57), thereby passing the feed tube (28) into the feed tube passage hole (56) on the side of the replenishing stool and bringing a fore distal end portion of the feed tube (28) into fitting engagement with the connector member (59). In this state, the replenishing valve (61) is opened, whereupon paint is supplied from the paint source to the connector member (59) and replenished into the container (26) of the paint cartridge (25), utilizing the opening at the fore distal end of the feed tube as a replenishing port of the paint cartridge (25).

Abstract: A coating system which is provided with a plural number of feeder units for different paint colors in such a way as to permit color changes within a shortened period of time. Unit waiting devices for different paint colors are located in the vicinity of a coating robot. The unit waiting devices each include a feeder unit loader adapted to load and unload one of feeder units into and out of a rotary atomizing head type coating machine, which is mounted on a fore end portion of the arm of the coating robot, and a hose gripper adapted to hand over or receive one of supply hoses to and from a hose gripper which is provided on the side of the arm. As a consequence, the paint color can be changed by replacing a paint feeder unit on the coating machine by a specified one of feeder units of different colors which are supported on the unit waiting devices.

Abstract: A rotary atomizing head type coating machine which is arranged to prevent occurrence of spark discharges, including a rotational shaft (9) which is formed of an insulating material, a rotary atomizing head (11) which is likewise formed of an insulating material and mounted on a fore end portion of the rotational shaft (9). An on-head semi-conductive coat film (14) is formed on outer peripheral surfaces of the rotary atomizing head (11). On the other hand, a first arcuate coat film (16) is formed on a first limiter ring (15) which is provided on a motor body (6), and a second arcuate coat film (18) is formed on a second limiter ring (17) which is provided on the rotary atomizing head (11). Further, a power supply semi-conductive coat film (19) is formed on and around outer peripheral surfaces of the rotational shaft (9) between the arcuate coat films (16) and (18).

Abstract: An automatic coating apparatus. A rotary atomizing head is washed with the fluid supplied from its front side by a washing nozzle. A coating machine is mounted on a coating robot for moving in arbitrary directions, while an atomizing head washer is located in the vicinity of the coating robot. At the time of a washing operation, the coating robot is actuated to put the rotary atomizing head into a waste liquid collecting container of the atomizing head washer. In this state, thinner is discharged from the washing nozzle toward the front side of the hub member of the rotary atomizing head. Thinner is then allowed to flow into the rotary atomizing head through solvent outlet holes in the hub member to wash off deposited paint from the rotary atomizing head.

Abstract: A coating method by the use of a rotary atomizing head type coating system (21), permitting to make multiple color changes in the course of a coating operation by providing a plural number of paint cartridges (35) of different colors which can be replaceably and removably loaded on the coating system. The coating method for the coating system includes: a paint cartridge loading step of setting a paint cartridge (35) of a specified color in a housing (22); a coating step of supplying paint in the loaded paint cartridge to a rotary atomizing head (30); a paint cartridge unloading step of unloading the paint cartridge (35) from the housing (22) after finishing a predetermined coating operation; and a washing step of feeding a washing fluid from an atomizing head washing device (57) to the front side of the rotary atomizing head (30) to wash away deposited residues of a previous color therefrom.

Abstract: By provision of paint cartridges of different colors which are detachably mounted on a coating system, the paint can be changed from one color to another in a multi-color coating operation without necessitating to discharge residues of a previous color. The paint cartridge of each color is replaceably mounted on a housing. Each cartridge is provided with a paint valve (46) which functions to communicate and shut off a paint supply passage in a feed tube. In addition, a thinner valve which serves to communicate and shut off a thinner passage on the housing is provided either on the side of the housing or on the side of the cartridge. These arrangements make it possible to cope with multiple color changes on one coating system. Since both of the paint valve and thinner valve are opened and closed by spray-on and spray-off command signals, respectively, the paint spray can be turned on and off immediately in response to these command signals.

Abstract: A rotary atomizing head type coating machine which is capable of washing deposited paint from fore end portions of outer peripheral surface of a bell cup. Thinner passages are provided on the bell cup to communicate a paint reservoir with the outer peripheral surface of the bell cup. Thinner which flows out onto the outer peripheral surface of the bell cup through the thinner passages is guided toward the marginal releasing edge of the bell cup. To this end, assist air is spurted out through assist air outlet holes which are provided in the fore end face of a shaping air ring at positions radially on the inner side of shaping air outlet holes. Accordingly, at the time of a washing operation, the thinner which has come out onto the outer peripheral surface of the bell cup is forcibly pushed on the outer peripheral surface by the actions of assist air and shaping air as the thinner is guided toward the fore end of the bell cup to wash away deposited paint therefrom.

Abstract: A Deglor furnace includes heating elements each having a heater rod being surrounded by a protective tube. The protective tube is mounted on a ceiling of the Deglor furnace and is run through an opening in the ceiling into the interior of the Deglor furnace. Heat insulation of the ceiling which borders the opening is protected against corrosive gases from the interior by a shield.

Abstract: A Deglor furnace includes a ceiling and at least one heating module integrated into the ceiling for heating. The heating module has an electric heater.

Abstract: A melting furnace for thermal treatment of heavy metal-containing and/or dioxin-containing special wastes, including a clog preventing system including a principal furnace vessel, which exhibits a melting tank for holding a melt; at least one feeder for feeding the material to be treated; a discharge chamber, which is at a spatial distance from the feeder, the feeder being connected gas-tight via a siphon to the melting tank; the principal furnace vessel and the discharge chamber having third heating elements in the form of bath electrodes, by means of which an electric current can be run through the melt and the siphon for additional heating of the melt.

Abstract: A melting furnace for melting residues from refuse incineration plants, in particular filter dust melting furnaces, contains a furnace substructure and a furnace superstructure lined with different refractive material compositions. The lining in the substructure, the melting region, is a refractory material which, in addition to other metal oxides, contains 10-70% wt. % Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3. The lining in the superstructure, the gas atmosphere region, is a refractory material which contains 80 wt. % or more of MgO and is low in Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 or is virtually Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 -free. A furnace constructed in this manner exhibits long endurance and does not form toxic chromium compounds in the chromium-free gas region.