A method applying a bead of a coating product to a surface by a print head equipped with nozzles, each centered on a central axis, the coating product application moves the print head and the surface relative to each other, by moving the print head along a fixed trajectory relative to the surface without rotating the print head about an axis parallel to the central axes of the nozzles. The method includes selecting certain nozzles for a point of the trajectory based on the trajectory direction at this point, and activating the selected nozzles at this point. The selected nozzles are arranged in a line, or form part of a nozzle group delimited by a line, whose regression line coincides with a line as close as possible to a line perpendicular to the trajectory direction from among lines that can be defined with nozzles of the print head.

The invention relates to a coating method for coating a component surface (4) with a coating agent, in particular for painting a motor vehicle body component with a paint, having the following steps: ⋅ emitting a spray jet (1) of the coating agent onto the component surface (4) of the component to be coated by means of an atomizer (2), said spray jet (1) having a main axis (5) and having an asymmetry with respect to the main axis (5) such that the spray jet (1) generates a spray pattern with a corresponding asymmetry on the component surface (4), and ⋅ at least partially compensating for the asymmetry of the spray jet (1) such that the asymmetry of the resulting spray pattern on the component surface (4) is reduced. The invention further relates to a corresponding coating device.

A method for coating objects starts with dispensing, by means of a first painting system, a first coating layer on a first object. A property of the first coating layer is measured to thereby obtain a first property value, and a coating variable of a second painting system is adjusted based on the first property value. A second coating layer is dispensed on the first coating layer by means of the second painting system which is different from the first painting system. By providing a measurement between the two painting systems, and by adjusting the coating parameters of the downstream painting system based on the measurement results, the overall coating can be corrected by compensating by means of the downstream painting system for a defective coating dispensed by the upstream painting system.

The invention relates to a surface-treatment facility (10) for surface-treating vehicle bodies (12), said facility comprising at least two floor-bound transport carriages (20), each of which comprises a fastening device (18), to which vehicle bodies (12) can be fastened. Each transport carriage (20) can be shifted by means of its own drive that can be carried therewith. The surface-treatment facility (10) also comprises a substantially gas-tight treatment chamber (14) that is delimited by a housing (15). The vehicle bodies (12) can be moved, at least temporarily, in the treatment chamber (12) by means of a relevant transport carriage (20). The surface-treatment facility (10) further comprises a travel region (22), arranged outside the housing (15), in which the transport carriages (20) can be moved, at least temporarily. Furthermore, the surface-treatment facility (10) comprises a gap (30) which is formed in the housing (15) between the travel region (22) and the treatment chamber (14) and through which the fastening device (18) of the relevant transport carriage (20) protrudes if the transport carriage (20) is in the travel region (22) A first atmosphere can be generated in the travel region (22) and a second atmosphere, which is different from the first atmosphere, can be generated in the treatment chamber (14).

A method for producing vehicles, wherein vehicle bodies are conveyed through multiple system zones of a production system in order to produce vehicles. Different types of work are carried out on the vehicle bodies in two respective system zones which follow each other. The vehicle bodies are conveyed through the system zones of the surface treatment system at least from a corrosion protection treatment to a final assembly using a single conveyor system in a surface treatment system for treating the surface of the vehicle bodies. A surface treatment system is provided for treating the surface of vehicle bodies, having multiple system zones, and the vehicle bodies are treated in a different manner in two respective system zones which follow each other. The surface treatment system is designed such that the vehicle bodies can be conveyed through the system zones of the system using a single conveyor system. A production system for producing vehicles using a surface treatment system is also provided, which is arranged between a corrosion protection system and a final assembly system, the production system including such a surface treatment system.

The disclosure relates to a print head for applying a coating agent to a component, in particular for applying a paint to a motor vehicle body component, having a nozzle plate, a nozzle in the nozzle plate for dispensing the coating agent, and a valve element movable relative to the nozzle plate for controlling the release of coating agent through the nozzle, the movable valve element closing the nozzle in a closed position, whereas the movable valve element releases the nozzle in an opened position, and having a seal for sealing the nozzle with respect to the movable valve element in the closed position of the valve element. The disclosure provides that the seal is not designed as an elastomer insert on the valve element.

The disclosure concerns a printhead for applying a coating agent to a component, in particular for applying a paint to a motor vehicle body component, having at least one outlet opening for dispensing the coating agent, a coating agent supply for supplying the coating agent to the outlet opening, a movable valve element, the valve element in the closed position closes the outlet opening, whereas the valve element in the open position opens the outlet opening, and with a valve actuator for moving the valve element between the opening position and the closed position. The disclosure additionally provides for a flexible membrane which separates the valve actuator from the coating agent supply, the actuator side of the membrane facing the valve actuator and the coating agent side of the membrane being exposed to the coating agent in the coating agent supply.

The disclosure concerns an applicator, in particular a printhead, for applying a coating agent, in particular a paint, to a component, in particular to a motor vehicle body component or an attachment for a motor vehicle body component, having a plurality of nozzles for applying the coating agent in the form of a coating agent jet, and a plurality of coating agent valves for controlling the release of the coating agent through the individual nozzles, and having a plurality of electrically controllable actuators for controlling the coating agent valves. The disclosure provides that a control circuit for electrically controlling the actuators is integrated in the applicator.

The coating machine is provided with an air motor (3), a rotational shaft (4) that is rotatably supported by the air motor (3), a feed tube (5) that extends to a tip end of the rotational shaft (4) through the inside of the rotational shaft (4), a rotary atomizing head (6) that is mounted to the tip end of the rotational shaft (4), and a shaping air ring (7) that surrounds an outer periphery of the rotary atomizing head (6) and an axial tip end of which is arranged in back of a paint releasing edge (6D) of the rotary atomizing head (6). The shaping air ring (7) includes a great number of first shaping air spurting holes (9), and a great number of second shaping air spurting holes (10). An inner diameter dimension (d1) of the first shaping air spurting hole (9) is set to be larger than an inner diameter dimension (d2) of the second shaping air spurting hole (10). The number (N2) of the second shaping air spurting holes (10) is set to be smaller than the number (N1) of the first shaping air spurting holes (9).

A coating device includes a rotary head, a power supply part that applies a voltage to the rotary head, and a control part that controls the power supply part. The rotary head is configured so that a coating material is electrostatically atomized. The control part is configured so as to calculate a discharge current based on a total current flowing from the power supply part to the rotary head and a leak current, and control the power supply part based on the discharge current.