Method of and apparatus for cleaning paint spray guns

Abstract

Paint spray guns are cleaned in respective cleaning tanks. In each of the cleaning tanks, a cleaning fluid is ejected to the nozzle end of the paint spray gun by a plurality of cleaning guns disposed in the cleaning tank. The paint spray guns and the cleaning tanks are relatively movable so that the cleaning tanks are retracted away when the paint spray guns spray a paint coat over a desired object such as a vehicle body. Each of the cleaning tanks includes two flexible cover members having holes for inserting the paint spray gun therethrough. The cover members and the inserted paint spray gun close a cleaning chamber defined in the cleaning tank to prevent the cleaning fluid from leaking out. Each cleaning tank comprises a base plate and a casing detachably mounted on the base plate and defining the cleaning chamber. Nozzles or an annular pipe is mounted on and outside of each cleaning tank for ejecting air under pressure to the paint spray gun which has been displaced out of the cleaning tank, thereby to dry any remaining cleaning solution on the paint spray gun. Pipes for supplying paint to the paint spray guns are also cleaned by air under pressure and a solvent which are introduced into the pipes to produce air bubbles for removing paint deposits from within the pipes.