Patent ID: 7971805

Claim:
An atomizer for use in dispensing a spray of coating medium onto a component surface, the atomizer comprising; an application element positioned along a rotational axis for dispensing a spray of the coating medium in a direction away from the application element; a housing positioned adjacent the application element along the axis, the housing configured to enclose an atomizer motor configured to rotate the application element when the application element dispenses the spray; a shroud air nozzle integral with the housing positioned radially outward from the rotational axis, the shroud air nozzle adapted to dispense conditioned shroud air which at least partially surrounds the coating medium spray; a shroud air conditioner configured to condition shroud air upstream of the housing, wherein the conditioner includes at least one of a heater, a cooler, a humidifier, and a dehumidifier, and the conditioned air is at least one of heated, cooled, humidified, and dehumidified, respectively, with respect to the ambient air around the atomizer; and a control system in communication with the shroud air conditioner and configured to selectively activate the at least one of the heater, the cooler, the humidifier, and the dehumidifier, according to an operating condition associated with the application element when the application element is dispensing the spray wherein the control system is configured to detect the orientation angle if the component surface, wherein the control system is configured to condition the shroud air such that the shroud air includes at least one of a lower humidity content and a higher temperature when the component surface is substantially vertical compared with when the component surface is substantially horizontal.