The disclosure relates to a coating method for coating a component with a coating agent, comprising the following steps: moving an application device over a component surface of the component to be coated, delivering a coating agent jet (9) from the application device to the component surface that is to be coated, defining switching points on the component surface for initiating a switching action, in particular for switching on or switching off a coating agent jet, and performing the switching action when one of the switching points is reached. The disclosure provides the following steps: marking the switching points on the component surface by generating a switching marking on the component surface at the individual switching points, detecting the switching markings corresponding to the individual switching points during movement of the application device, and performing the switching actions when the switching markings are detected on the component surface. The disclosure further includes a corresponding coating installation.

A painting device includes a paint output part for outputting paint toward an object to be painted; an introduction pipe through which the paint flows and which introduces the paint into the paint output part; flowmeters placed outside the introduction pipe and measuring the flow rate of the paint in the introduction pipe; and a determination unit for determining whether the condition of the paint is normal on the basis of the result of measurement by the flow meters. The flow meter can be placed between an air motor and a valve. The flow meters can be placed downstream and upstream of the valve, respectively. The flow meters can be placed downstream and upstream of a joint, respectively. The flow meters can be placed downstream and upstream of a pump, respectively.

A rotary atomization head is provided, which prevents discharged threads of a coating material from making contact with each other and from being unified. A rotary head 1 includes: a diffusion surface 122 to diffuse the coating material toward an outer edge part 123 by centrifugal force; and a plurality of grooves 124 formed on the outer edge part 123. The plurality of grooves 124 extends in a radial direction. The adjacent grooves 124 have different depths. The grooves 124 have the same width.

An automated drone-based surface treatment material delivery system includes a drone having a body, at least one propeller rotatably supported by the body, at least one propeller motor supported by the body and configured to selectively apply motive power to the at least one propeller, and a controller supported by the body and configured to control a flight path of the drone at least by manipulating a speed of the at least one propeller. The drone also has a rotary atomizer supported by the body for movement therewith. The rotary atomizer includes a rotating dispersion structure configured to disperse a surface treatment material from a material supply.

The disclosure relates to a bell plate for a rotary atomizer for applying a coating agent (e.g. paint) to a component (e.g. motor vehicle body component). The bell plate according to the disclosure comprises a metallic base body and a transponder which can be read out wirelessly and is integrated in the bell plate. The disclosure provides that the transponder is arranged on the front side in the base body or is embedded in the outer outer circumferential surface of the bell plate, which facilitates the read-out of the transponder. Furthermore, the disclosure comprises a suitably adapted atomizer cleaning device having an antenna for reading out the transponder in the bell plate. Finally, the disclosure also comprises a correspondingly adapted operating method.

An atomizing disc, an atomizing device with the atomizing disc, and an unmanned aerial vehicle are provided. The atomizing disc includes: a bottom disc, an upper surface of the bottom disc being provided with a liquid inlet space; and a plurality of ribs, the plurality of ribs being disposed on the upper surface of the bottom disc and being spaced apart in a circumferential direction of the bottom disc. A centrifugal flow passage in communication with the liquid inlet space is defined between two adjacent ribs and the bottom disc. An end of a rib close to an edge of the bottom disc is provided with a first groove penetrating a side portion of the rib so as to cut fluid flowing through the centrifugal flow passage.

A spray system includes a spray applicator configured to apply a fluid to a target. The spray system also includes a rotary bell cup of the spray applicator, a splash plate of the spray applicator coupled to the rotary bell cup, and a fluid tip of the spray applicator. The fluid tip is configured to output the fluid onto the rotary bell cup. The fluid tip includes a fluid tip passage extending along a longitudinal fluid tip axis of the fluid tip. The longitudinal fluid tip axis intersects with the splash plate of the spray applicator. The fluid tip also includes a fluid exit port configured to output the fluid from the fluid tip passage onto the rotary bell cup. The fluid exit port extends along a fluid exit axis disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal fluid tip axis of the fluid tip.

The disclosure relates to a bearing system for a drive turbine of a rotary atomizer, having a rotatable turbine shaft for receiving a bell cup which is used for spraying off the paint, and having a radial bearing for rotatably supporting the turbine shaft. The disclosure provides that the radial bearing has at least one foil bearing or a spiral groove bearing.

A spreader for spreading a material including at least one pair of rotating discs having a plurality of generally radially oriented blades attached thereon for disbursing the material in a pre-selected pattern. The discs are rotatably positioned below an end of a funnel unit to receive material passing through the funnel units. The material, as it passes through the funnel units, is directed to a predetermined impact region on each of the rotating discs by a corresponding pair of deflecting vanes integrally fit and movably attached within each funnel of the pair of funnel units. Each deflecting vane is selectably movable by a corresponding actuator from a first position to a second position while the spreader is operating.

A process of creating an aerosol includes coating at least one of a pair of counter-rotating, adjacent rollers with a fluid, the pair of counter-rotating rollers defining a nip therebetween, rotating the counter-rotating rollers to cause the fluid to be drawn into an upstream side of the nip, causing fluid filaments of the fluid to form on a downstream side of the nip, the fluid filaments stretching between respective surfaces of the pair of counter-rotating rollers and breaking into droplets on the downstream side of the nip, and harvesting the droplets at the downstream side of the nip.