Various exemplary illustrations of an electrode assembly for an electrostatic atomizer, for example for a rotation atomizer, and exemplary methods of making and/or using the same, are disclosed. An exemplary electrode assembly may include an electrode holder arrangement for holding at least one electrode creating an electrostatic field about a symmetrical axis, wherein there is a dielectric material for influencing a discharge current component extending in the direction of the symmetrical axis.

A curved substrate with a film includes a substrate having a first main surface, a second main surface and an end surface, and an antiglare film provided on the first main surface. The substrate has a flat portion and a bent portion. A value obtained by dividing a reflected-image diffusibility index value R of the bent portion by the sum of the reflected-image diffusibility index value R of the bent portion and a reflected-image diffusibility index value R of the flat portion is 0.3 or higher and 0.8 or less.

The disclosure relates to a bell cup for a rotary atomizer for painting components, having the following features: a hub for rotatably mounting the bell cup on the rotary atomizer, so that the bell cup is rotatable about an axis of rotation, an annular circumferential spraying edge for spraying the paint in the form of a spray jet, and a circumferential outer lateral surface which widens along the axis of rotation in the distal direction towards the spraying edge,
The disclosure provides that the outer lateral surface of the bell cup is divided into different sections, which are angled differently. Furthermore, the disclosure comprises a rotary atomizer with such a bell cup, a painting installation and a corresponding painting method.

A shaping air ring for a rotary bell atomizer spray device includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced nozzles disposed in the shaping air ring, wherein each nozzle has a mix chamber, at least one inlet on an upstream end of the mix chamber, and an outlet at a downstream end of the mix chamber. First and second air flows are provided to the mix chamber through the at least one inlet and a combined air flow is discharged through the outlet. The combined air flow shapes the spray pattern of the liquid sprayed by the rotary bell atomizer spray device.

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.

A rotary atomizing head (4) is mounted on a fore end side of a motor (3). A shaping air ring (9) having a plurality of air outlet holes (10) at fixed intervals is provided on a rear side of the rotary atomizing head (4). Outer surfaces of the air motor (3) and outer surfaces of the shaping air ring (9) are enshrouded over the entire circumference by a cover member (7) formed of an electrically insulating material. An external electrode assembly (13) is provided radially outwardly of the cover member (7). An annular projecting portion (16) which projects forward is provided on the shaping air ring (9) over the entire circumference. The air outlet holes (10) are open in a fore distal end of this annular projecting portion (16). As a result, a corona discharge can be generated by allowing an electric field to be concentrated at the fore distal end of the annular protecting portion (16).

A rotary atomizing head (4) is mounted on a fore end side of a motor (3). A shaping air ring (9) having a plurality of air outlet holes (10) at fixed intervals is provided on a rear side of the rotary atomizing head (4). Outer surfaces of the air motor (3) and outer surfaces of the shaping air ring (9) are enshrouded over the entire circumference by a cover member (7) formed of an electrically insulating material. An external electrode assembly (13) is provided radially outwardly of the cover member (7). An annular projecting portion (16) which projects forward is provided on the shaping air ring (9) over the entire circumference. The air outlet holes (10) are open in a fore distal end of this annular projecting portion (16). As a result, a corona discharge can be generated by allowing an electric field to be concentrated at the fore distal end of the annular protecting portion (16).

A coating apparatus can include a spray applicator configured to discharge a coating material toward a surface of a workpiece, wherein the spray applicator includes an air shaping orifice, and wherein the spray applicator is configured to generate an electric field between the spray applicator and the workpiece, and a positioning system configured to adjust a position of the spray applicator relative to the surface of the workpiece. It can further include a control system configured to regulate operation of the spray applicator and/or the positioning system to: maintain the spray applicator within a coating distance, maintain a flow rate of shaping air through the air shaping orifice, and maintain an electrical potential of the electric field.

A current detection resistor is connected between an output terminal of a high voltage generator and an air motor. A coater current detector detects a coater current supplied to a coater based on a potential difference taking place on both terminals of the current detection resistor. The high-voltage control device serves to discriminate based on the coater current detected by the coater current detector whether the coater is caused to be close to a coating object. When it is discriminated that the coater is caused to be close to the coating object, the high-voltage control device outputs a shut-off signal for shutting off supply of the power supply voltage to the power supply voltage control device.

A rotary atomizing head (7) is provided with an outer peripheral surface washing passage (14) open onto anatomizing head outer peripheral surface (13) for causing wash fluid supplied from a feed tube (6) to flow out into an annular clearance (20) between the rotary atomizing head (7) and a shaping air ring (15). An outflow opening (14C1) of an outflow passage (14C) constituting the outer peripheral surface washing passage (14) is provided in a position closer to the backside into the annular clearance (20) by a length dimension (L1) than a front end surface (17A) of a front ring section (17) constituting the shaping air ring (15). Further, the outflow opening (14C1) opens to the annular clearance (20) in an angle (1) that is an acute angle to the atomizing head outer peripheral surface (13).