The disclosure concerns a coating device and a corresponding coating process for coating components, in particular motor vehicle body components, with a coating agent (e.g. paint), with a coating robot with a first printhead which is mounted on the coating robot. The disclosure provides that the first printhead is exchangeably mounted on the coating robot and can be exchanged for a second printhead during a color change. Another variant of the disclosure, on the other hand, provides for a second printhead to be mounted on the coating robot in addition to the first printhead, the two printheads each applying a specific coating agent in order to enable a color change without changing the printhead.

A system for aerating a submerged membrane is provided. The system includes: a device for supplying compressed air; at least one orifice for aerating the submerged membrane; a pipe for feeding air from the air supplying device to the at least one aeration orifice; a first valve for opening or closing an orifice between the pipe and the surrounding air; a pressure sensor configured to measure the pressure in the pipe. The system is configured to perform at least one iteration of an operation to evacuate solid materials from the pipe, the said evacuation including at least: stopping supplying compressed air in the pipe and opening the first valve, causing reduction of the pressure in and penetration of liquid into the pipe; closing the first valve and resuming supplying compressed air in the pipe causing an increase in the pressure in and expulsion of liquid from the pipe through the at least one aeration orifice. The system is characterized in that it includes a processor configured to receive pressure measurements from the said pressure sensor that are performed during the said evacuation operation and to detect an anomaly of the aeration system on the basis of a comparison of the pressure measurements and at least one pressure threshold higher than or equal to the hydrostatic pressure of the column of liquid.

A system for aerating a submerged membrane is provided. The system includes: a device for supplying compressed air; at least one orifice for aerating the submerged membrane; a pipe for feeding air from the air supplying device to the at least one aeration orifice; a first valve for opening or closing an orifice between the pipe and the surrounding air; a pressure sensor configured to measure the pressure in the pipe. The system is configured to perform at least one iteration of an operation to evacuate solid materials from the pipe, the said evacuation including at least: stopping supplying compressed air in the pipe and opening the first valve, causing reduction of the pressure in and penetration of liquid into the pipe; closing the first valve and resuming supplying compressed air in the pipe causing an increase in the pressure in and expulsion of liquid from the pipe through the at least one aeration orifice. The system is characterized in that it includes a processor configured to receive pressure measurements from the said pressure sensor that are performed during the said evacuation operation and to detect an anomaly of the aeration system on the basis of a comparison of the pressure measurements and at least one pressure threshold higher than or equal to the hydrostatic pressure of the column of liquid.

The disclosure relates to a coating installation for coating components with a coating agent, in particular for painting motor vehicle body components, with a nozzle applicator, in particular a print head, with at least one nozzle for delivering a coating agent jet of the coating agent onto the component to be coated. The disclosure provides a device for preventing and/or detecting clogging of the nozzle.

The disclosure concerns a coating device and a corresponding coating process for coating components, in particular motor vehicle body components, with a coating agent (e.g. paint), with a coating robot with a first printhead which is mounted on the coating robot. The disclosure provides that the first printhead is exchangeably mounted on the coating robot and can be exchanged for a second printhead during a color change. Another variant of the disclosure, on the other hand, provides for a second printhead to be mounted on the coating robot in addition to the first printhead, the two printheads each applying a specific coating agent in order to enable a color change without changing the printhead.

The disclosure concerns a coating device and a corresponding coating process for coating components, in particular motor vehicle body components, with a coating agent (e.g. paint), with a coating robot with a first printhead which is mounted on the coating robot. The disclosure provides that the first printhead is exchangeably mounted on the coating robot and can be exchanged for a second printhead during a color change. Another variant of the disclosure, on the other hand, provides for a second printhead to be mounted on the coating robot in addition to the first printhead, the two printheads each applying a specific coating agent in order to enable a color change without changing the printhead.

An actuator for a container that includes a valve and retains a flowable product under pressure includes a valve coupler configured to be operatively coupled to the valve for selective opening and closing of the valve. A dispensing applicator is connected to the valve coupler and has proximal and distal ends with an applicator length extending there-between. The dispensing applicator defines an applicator chamber having a chamber length extending along the applicator length, a chamber inlet in communication with the applicator chamber, and a chamber outlet in communication with the applicator chamber. The chamber outlet extends in a direction generally transverse to the applicator length. The dispensing applicator is in fluid communication with the valve when the valve is selectively opened using the valve coupler such that the flowable product flows through the chamber inlet into the applicator chamber and exits the dispensing applicator through the chamber outlet in a direction that is generally transverse to the applicator length.

The nozzle cleaning method includes the following steps: a first cleaning step in which a pre-pressurization liquid is discharged from a dispensing nozzle in a first cleaning position so as to clean the inside wall thereof and a first cleaning liquid is applied to the outside wall of the dispensing nozzle so as to clean said outside wall; a second cleaning step in which a second cleaning liquid is suctioned into the dispensing nozzle in a second cleaning position so as to clean the inside wall thereof; and a third cleaning step in which the second cleaning liquid is discharged from the dispensing nozzle in a third cleaning position so as to clean the inside wall thereof and a third cleaning liquid is applied to the outside wall of the dispensing nozzle so as to clean said outside wall.

The nozzle cleaning method includes the following steps: a first cleaning step in which a pre-pressurization liquid is discharged from a dispensing nozzle in a first cleaning position so as to clean the inside wall thereof and a first cleaning liquid is applied to the outside wall of the dispensing nozzle so as to clean said outside wall; a second cleaning step in which a second cleaning liquid is suctioned into the dispensing nozzle in a second cleaning position so as to clean the inside wall thereof; and a third cleaning step in which the second cleaning liquid is discharged from the dispensing nozzle in a third cleaning position so as to clean the inside wall thereof and a third cleaning liquid is applied to the outside wall of the dispensing nozzle so as to clean said outside wall.

A liquid injection device includes a nozzle, a moving element and a control valve. The nozzle has a channel, a bypass passage and a suck back passage. The channel penetrates through the nozzle for injecting a working fluid. The channel has a liquid outlet. The bypass passage has a first opening, a switch-on position and a switch-off position. The suck back passage has a second opening between the first opening and the liquid outlet. The first opening and the second opening communicate with the channel. The moving element is disposed in the bypass passage. The control valve is disposed on the nozzle and controls the moving element to switch between the switch-on position and the switch-off position to open or close the channel. A suck back pump sucks the working fluid remaining between the first opening and the liquid outlet when the moving element is located at the switch-off position.