Patent ID: 6705545
Filing Date: 2004-03-16
Classification: B05B

Abstract:
A paint system comprising:at least one spray gun; a paint line changing assembly; a plurality of differently colored paint sources; the paint line changing assembly being configured to selectively connect the at least one spray gun with one of the plurality of differently colored paint sources; and a controller for maintaining at least one of the plurality of differently colored paint sources in a partially fluidized state when not connected to the at least one spray gun and for maintaining the one of the plurality of differently colored paint sources in an operative fluidized state when connected to the at least one spray gun; wherein a partially fluidized pressure of the at least one of the plurality of differently colored paint sources in the partially fluidized state is lower than an operative fluidized pressure of the one of the plurality of differently colored paint sources in the operative fluidized state; wherein the paint line changing assembly comprises: a first body including a plurality of first passageways, each first passageway being in fluid communication with a different one of the plurality of differently colored paint sources; and a second body including a second passageway, the second passageway of the second body being in fluid communication with the spray gun; wherein one of the first body and the second body is configured to move relative to the other of the first body and the second body to selectively index one of the first passageways in the first body with the second passageway of the second body, thereby fluidly connecting one of the plurality of differently colored paint sources to the at least one spray gun; a first vehicle connected to the first body moves the first body by linearly translating the first vehicle along a first track; and a second vehicle connected to the second body moves the second body by linearly translating the second vehicle along a second track; the first track being perpendicular to the second track.