Method of changing color of paints for an electrostatic coating machine

Abstract

An electrostatic coating machine comprises a coating machine main body having a rotary atomizing head and a cleaning shroud, a plurality of color change valve mechanisms for feeding paints and cleaning fluids to the rotary atomizing head, a first change-over valve provided at a position close to the rotary atomizing head, paint feed passages respectively connected to each of the color change valve mechanisms and selectively communicating with the rotary atomizing head by way of the first change-over valve, a drain passage for recovering the drainage from the cleaning shroud and the first change-over valve, a discharging section for forcively discharging the drainage from the drain passage, and a second change-over valve provided in the midway of the drain passage communicating from the cleaning shroud to the discharging section. The cleaning shroud, the first and second change-over valves are disposed in a high voltage section that takes the same potential as that for the rotary atomizing head when a high voltage is applied to the rotary atomizing head, whereas each of the color change valve mechanisms and the discharging section are disposed on the side of the ground. The method of changing color of paints using the foregoing electrostatic coating machine is also disclosed.