Abstract: A cartridge changer (41) is composed of a swing arm (48) with a cartridge gripper (48B) for gripping a paint cartridge (24), and an arcuate moving portion (46) for putting the swing arm (48) in swinging movements in a horizontal plane. The cartridge changer (41) is adapted to pick up a replenished paint cartridge (24) on the mount deck (42) by the cartridge gripper (48B) and transfer the swing arm (48) to a changing position “O” by the arcuate moving portion (46). By the operation, a used paint cartridge (24?) will be replaced by the replenished paint cartridge (24) between the mount deck (42) and a common body (15) which is located in the changing position “O” of the atomizing head changing and washing device (31).

Abstract: A common body (15) of a coater unit (14) is mounted on a robot device (13). A common body gripper (33) is fixedly mounted on a fixed plate (32) of an atomizing head changing and washing device (31). At the time of replacing a used atomizing head (19?) and a used paint cartridge (24?) by a washed atomizing head (19) and a replenished paint cartridge (24), respectively, the common body (15) is gripped and located in a predetermined position by the common body gripper (33). When the common body (15) is gripped by the common body gripper (33), the robot device (13) is put in a reduced power mode attenuating driving forces to leave said common body (15) in a freely movable state by application of an external force.

Abstract: A common body (15) of a coater unit (14) is mounted on a robot device (13). A common body gripper (33) is fixedly mounted on a fixed plate (32) of an atomizing head changing and washing device (31). At the time of replacing a used atomizing head (19?) and a used paint cartridge (24?) by a washed atomizing head (19) and a replenished paint cartridge (24), respectively, the common body (15) is gripped and located in a predetermined position by the common body gripper (33). When the common body (15) is gripped by the common body gripper (33), the robot device (13) is put in a reduced power mode attenuating driving forces to leave said common body (15) in a freely movable state by application of an external force.

Abstract: A cartridge changer (41) is composed of a swing arm (48) with a cartridge gripper (48B) for gripping a paint cartridge (24), and an arcuate moving portion (46) for putting the swing arm (48) in swinging movements in a horizontal plane. The cartridge changer (41) is adapted to pick up a replenished paint cartridge (24) on the mount deck (42) by the cartridge gripper (48B) and transfer the swing arm (48) to a changing position “O” by the arcuate moving portion (46). By the operation, a used paint cartridge (24?) will be replaced by the replenished paint cartridge (24) between the mount deck (42) and a common body (15) which is located in the changing position “O” of the atomizing head changing and washing device (31).

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge-type coating machine having a coating device for spraying paint, to which a simple, light and inexpensive cartridge for storing paint therein and for supplying the paint to the coating device is detachably attached. In a coating machine 11, a coating device having a rotary atomizing head 14 and the like is disposed at a front part of a housing 12, and a cartridge 21, in which paint is stored, is detachably attached to a rear part of the housing 12. Paint in the cartridge 21 is supplied to the rotary atomizing head 14 by pressurizing the cartridge 21 by liquid fluid, and a pressure solvent storage chamber 18b for storing the liquid fluid is formed by the housing 12 and the cartridge 21.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge-type coating machine having a coating device for spraying paint, to which a simple, light and inexpensive cartridge for storing paint therein and for supplying the paint to the coating device is detachably attached. In a coating machine 11, a coating device having a rotary atomizing head 14 and the like is disposed at a front part of a housing 12, and a cartridge 21, in which paint is stored, is detachably attached to a rear part of the housing 12. Paint in the cartridge 21 is supplied to the rotary atomizing head 14 by pressurizing the cartridge 21 by liquid fluid, and a pressure solvent storage chamber 18b for storing the liquid fluid is formed by the housing 12 and the cartridge 21.

Abstract: A paint cartridge is provided with a wash fluid passage in communication with a paint chamber, along with a wash fluid valve adapted to open and close the wash fluid passage. Provided on the side of a replenishing stool are a replenishing valve which supplies or discharges paint to or from the paint chamber, an extruding thinner feed/discharge valve which supplies or discharges paint-extruding thinner to or from an extruding thinner chamber, and a wash fluid supply valve which supplies a wash fluid to the paint chamber through the wash fluid passage. Accordingly, upon opening the replenishing valve, wash fluid supply valve and wash fluid valve, a wash fluid from the wash fluid supply valve is allowed to flow into the paint chamber through the wash fluid passage and discharged through a feed tube to wash away deposited paint therefrom.

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: 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: A paint cartridge (31) is provided with a wash fluid passage (43) which is in communication with a paint chamber (36), along with a wash fluid valve (45) which is adapted to open and close the wash fluid passage (43). Provided on the side of a replenishing stool (52) are a replenishing valve (61) which supplies or discharges paint to or from the paint chamber (36), an extruding thinner feed/discharge valve (86) which supplies or discharges paint-extruding thinner to or from an extruding thinner chamber (37), and a wash fluid supply valve (101) which supplies a wash fluid to the paint chamber (36) through the wash fluid passage (43). Accordingly, upon opening the replenishing valve (61), wash fluid supply valve (101) and wash fluid valve (45), a wash fluid from the wash fluid supply valve (101) is allowed to flow into the paint chamber (36) through the wash fluid passage (43) and discharged through a feed tube (34) to wash away deposited paint therefrom.

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: 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: 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 paint spraying apparatus on which a number of paint applicator units of different types can be selectively and replaceably mounted depending upon conditions of a paint coating operation required. A color changing valve assembly is provided in a valve casing which serves as a common base assembly for a number of paint applicator units to be chosen from, including rotary atomizing head type electrostatic paint applicator units and spray gun type electrostatic paint applicator units. Accordingly, depending upon conditions of coating operation, such as shape of a coating surface, nature of paint, properties of solvent etc., a suitable paint applicator unit, selected from the paint applicator units, can be easily and replaceably mounted in position on the valve casing. The color changing valve assembly which is provided within the valve casing can be shared as a common mount base by a plural number of paint applicator units of different types.

Abstract: A rotary atomizing head assembly employing a main body and a hub member which can be easily disassembled and reassembled whenever necessary. A ring engaging surface is provided on the inner peripheral side of a recessed hub socket on the main body, while a ring fitting groove is provided on the outer peripheral side of a cylindrical body portion of the hub member. With an O-ring set in the ring fitting groove, the cylindrical body portion of the hub member is fitted into the recessed hub socket, whereupon the hub member is resiliently retained on the main body of the rotary atomizing head by resilient retaining force of the O-ring. In this instance, the O-ring is pressed against the ring engaging surface to prevent dislocation of the hub member. On the other hand, the hub member can be disassembled from the main body by pulling the hub member in the axial direction to such a degree as to cause elastic deformation to the O-ring.