Abstract: A coating nozzle for a high-viscosity paint is equipped with an introduction passage, an inner space, and a nozzle slit, which communicate with one another, and sprays a coating body with the high-viscosity paint from the nozzle slit in a radial direction. The nozzle slit is constructed in a sectional shape having a predetermined angle in a plan view. When the nozzle slit is regarded as having the sectional shape, an arc of the sectional shaped nozzle slit serves as a nozzle slit outlet. The nozzle slit outlet has a nozzle slit outlet width equal to or larger than 35 mm and a flattening equal to or smaller than 0.01 where a slit height represents a clearance of the nozzle slit outlet, the nozzle slit outlet width represents a chord of the arc, and the flattening represents a ratio of the slit height to the nozzle slit outlet width.

Abstract: A rotary atomizing electrostatic coating apparatus includes an atomizing head having bores for self-cleaning the atomizing head, a center nozzle, and surrounding nozzle or nozzles. In the apparatus, an intersection of paint expelled from the paint nozzle or nozzles with the rear surface of the hub is offset from the rear openings of the bores.

Abstract: A rotary atomizing electrostatic coating apparatus includes air feed passages connected to an air bearing, a turbine, and a shaping air cap, respectively. In any one of air feed passages, a divergence portion for causing a portion of air flowing in the one air feed passage to diverge from the one air feed passage is formed so that a diverging air flows into an interior of the drive shaft. As a result, it is not necessary to provide an additional, air feed passage and an air source therefor for preventing paint from entering a bearing clearance between the drive shaft and the air motor. As a result, a size of the apparatus will not be large and a cost of the apparatus will not substantially increase.

Abstract: A rotary atomizing electrostatic coating apparatus includes a plurality of paint nozzles and a solvent nozzle. Each paint nozzle communicates uniquely with a respective paint source separate by respective paint passages which are pathwise separate from each other. In each paint passage, a respective paint valve is installed. When changing a painting color according to the present invention, the paint filling the operating paint nozzle and the paint passage connected thereto is not washed out by a washing solvent, so that the amount of paint wasted when changing the painting color is decreased to substantially zero and the working time period for changing the painting color is also shortened. A corresponding method of use of such an apparatus is also disclosed which reduces the amount of paint wasted and the amount of solvent used during a step of switching from a first paint to a second paint.

Abstract: An OFF/OFF valve including a fluid passage formed in the valve body, and having a valve seat, a smaller diameter portion extending from the valve seat on a downstream side of the valve seat, and a larger diameter portion extending from the smaller diameter portion on a downstream side of the smaller diameter portion. A valve element is disposed so as to be movable between a position adjacent the valve seat and a position within the larger diameter portion. The valve element is driven by a valve element driving assembly. When the valve is closed, the valve element moves toward the valve seat. When the valve element moves within the smaller diameter portion, the fluid which has passed through the valve element is drawn back due to the pumping effect of the valve element before the valve element finally reaches the valve seat and the valve is completely closed.