Abstract: An apparatus and method for painting a workpiece while switching paint colors between successive painting cycles includes a paint supply switching device, a paint feed line connected to the paint supply switching device, a separating element adapted to move back and forth in at least a portion of the paint feed line, first and second receiver stations adapted to receive the separating element at the end positions of its travel in the paint feed line, and a paint spray nozzle at a terminal end of the paint feed line. The separating element is actively held in the first receiver station while paint of a first color is supplied through the paint feed line and sprayed from the nozzle onto a workpiece.

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.