摘要 |
<p>An apparatus for transferring electrically conductive coating material comprises a filling station having a first coupling element (34) connected to a source of the coating material (12) and a shuttle (42) carrying a second coupling element (50) which is movable with respect to the filling station between a paint transfer position in which the coupling elements (34,50) engage and a neutral position physically spaced from the filling station. The shuttle (42), in turn, is connected to the reservoir of a piston pump (54) which communicates with one or more air operated or air assist spray guns (64). A high-voltage power supply (68) is connected to the metal body of the piston pump (54) to charge the electrically conductive coating material immediately before it is supplied to the spray gun (64). A pneumatic/mechanical control system controls the operation of the shuttle (42), pump (54) and electrostatic power supply (68) to ensure that a voltage block (30) is maintained between the source of coating material (12) and the electrostatically charged coating material which is discharged from the spray gun (64). <IMAGE></p> |