Abstract: A robot arrangement, for example for a painting booth, and exemplary methods associated with the same, are disclosed. An exemplary robot arrangement may comprise a displacement rail, a plurality of robots, such as painting robots or handling robots, which can be displaced along the displacement rail, and a plurality of energy supply chains. The energy supply chains may supply one of the robots each, and may be associated with said robot, and each of the energy supply chains may run along the displacement rail in a particular track. The energy supply chains which are associated with the robots on the same displacement rail may run in discrete tracks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for smoothing a surface of a component, e.g., of large structures, as for example ship hulls for subsequent painting, is disclosed. An exemplary method may include measuring an unevennesses of the surface of the component, levelling the unevennesses by material removal and/or by material application of a levelling mass, adding reference markings at certain locations on the surface to be measured before the measurement of the surface, and taking account of the reference markings during the measurement of the unevennesses of the surface.

Abstract: An application robot, specifically a painting robot, for coating workpieces with a coating medium and an appropriate operating method. The painting robot has multiple movable axes and a spatially positionable end effector. Multiple application devices are attached to the end effector.

Abstract: A rotary atomizer is disclosed, comprising an atomizer bell and a shaft carrying the same. The rotary atomizer may further include a retainer between the atomizer bell and the shaft, said retainer preventing, e.g., by the action of a centrifugal force, the atomizer bell from detaching itself from the shaft.

Abstract: Exemplary illustrations of a fluid valve, e.g., a return valve for returning residual paint, rinsing agent, and compressed air from a paint line when changing color in a painting system, are disclosed. An exemplary fluid valve may be adjusted between an open position, in which the fluid valve is at least partially open, e.g., for rinsing a paint line with a rinsing agent and for pressurizing the paint line with a new color for the color change, and a closed position, in which the fluid valve is closed, e.g., for applying the new color after the color change. An exemplary fluid valve may switch to the closed position, upon actuation by the medium thereof, e.g., medium flowing through or present in the valve. In another example, a fluid valve may close depending on the fluid present at the input side.

Abstract: A coating system component which may be used to be wetted and/or flown through at least in some sections by a coating agent. The component may include a fastening base and at least one holding part which is arranged on the fastening base for being fastened to or in a coating system device. The holding part may be an external thread having a special configuration in order to meet the special requirements of painting facilities, according to various exemplary illustrations. Furthermore, a corresponding coating system device may be provided, to which the coating system component can be fastened in a detachable manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to an operating method for an atomiser (1) for the coating of structural components, particularly of vehicle body parts, with the following steps: Application of a spray jet of a coating agent through the atomiser (1); discharge of a first guide air flow (11) for the formation of a spray jet; determination of at least one application parameter (?, ?, T, BC/CC, Qvarnish, n, U,) which reproduces a property (?, ?, T, BC/CC) of the applied coating agent or an operating variable (Qvarnish, n, U) of the atomiser (1) as well as influencing of the first guide air flow (11) as a factor of the application parameter (?, ?, T, BC/CC, Qvarnish, n, U,). Within the framework of the invention, there is the alternative option that fluctuations of the application parameters and, based thereon, variations of the spray jet width are taken into account by means of an adaptation of the path spacing (d) between the adjacent coating agent paths for the purpose of keeping the path overlapping constant.

Abstract: In a paint plant which comprises at least one spray-painting device incorporating at least one application unit for painting workpieces and in particular motor vehicle bodies with a fluid paint, in order to enable the fluid paint overspray i.e. the paint particles which are not adhering to the workpieces that are to be painted and which are picked up and carried along in an air flow passing through the application area of the paint shop, to be re-separated from this air flow and also to enable the cleansed air flow to be returned to the application area in an air re-circulating system or else expelled into the environment of the plant, the paint shop comprises a device for separating fluid paint overspray from a stream of crude gas that contains overspray particles wherein this device comprises at least one filter element for separating the overspray from the stream of crude gas.

Abstract: Exemplary coating devices and exemplary coating methods for coating components with a coating agent, e.g., for painting motor vehicle body components with a paint, are disclosed. An exemplary coating device comprises an application device that applies the coating agent. The application device may include a paint head that discharges the coating agent out of at least one coating agent nozzle.

Abstract: A coating material supply device is disclosed, such as for a paint facility. An exemplary coating material supply device may include a coating material reservoir and a coating material meter. During application of coating material, the coating material reservoir may be at ground potential and may be located upstream from the coating material meter, which may be at a high-voltage potential. The reservoir may be connected via an insulating path to the coating material meter. The coating material meter may be at ground potential when the coating material reservoir supplies coating material to the coating material meter. Before the coating material meter is returned to a high-voltage potential for continued application of coating material, the insulating path may be emptied to insulate the coating material meter from the coating material reservoir.

Abstract: Exemplary production methods for producing a paint plant component, e.g., for producing a component of a colour changer, a colour valve, or a spray device, are disclosed. According to the exemplary illustrations, the paint plant component may be produced in a rapid prototyping method. The exemplary illustrations also include a paint plant component that is produced accordingly.

Abstract: Coating zones having guide elevated rails for coating and/or handling robots are disclosed. The coating zones may include walk-in control areas positioned one above the other on the outside of the side walls. In the upper control area, in which control and supply devices for robots on elevated guide rails may be provided, the side wall may generally slant inward. Load-bearing structures for the elevated guide rails may be braced by supporting members extending generally perpendicular to the line of conveyance of the application objects on or under the floor level or at the ceiling.

Abstract: Exemplary painting devices for painting components, e.g., motor vehicle bodies or parts thereof, and associated exemplary methods are disclosed. An exemplary painting device may include a multi-axis painting robot positioning an atomizer, a robot controller for controlling the painting robot, and a controls enclosure comprising the robot controller. An exemplary controls enclosure may be a load-bearing column that mechanically supports the painting robot.

Abstract: The invention relates to an atomizer and method of operation for an atomizer having an application element for applying a spray of coating medium on a component to be coated and at least one integrated shroud air nozzle for delivering conditioned shroud air which at least partially surrounds the spray of the coating medium.

Abstract: Exemplary coating devices and methods are disclosed. An exemplary coating device may include an atomizer for applying a spray jet of a coating means or material to a component, at least one directing air nozzle for outputting shaping or directing air in order to shape the spray jet, and a temperature-control device for controlling the temperature of the directing air. The coating device may further include a control unit which activates the temperature-control device as a function of at least one operating variable of the atomizer in order to set a predetermined directing air temperature.

Abstract: A painting station, e.g., for serially painting components such as motor vehicles, is disclosed. A painting station may include at least one painting cell in which components are coated, e.g., with a paint, that has a certain layer thickness. At least one measuring cell is provided for measuring the layer thickness of the paint, e.g., with a radiation source, a radiation detector, and a conveying path along which the components to be coated are conveyed through the painting and measuring cells. The radiation source may emit light in the visible wavelength range.

Abstract: The piston dispenser for the measured supplying of material to the atomizer of a painting robot is arranged in the hand joint of the robot. Various feasible embodiments of the dispensing cylinder of this piston dispenser are described.