EP1849527B1 - Atomiser and appropriate operating method - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a painting device with an atomizer, in particular a rotary atomizer, and an associated operating method.

In the coating of components (eg motor vehicle body parts), the respective coating agent (eg filler, basecoat, clearcoat) is usually atomized by atomizers (eg high-rotation air or ultrasonic atomizer) and applied by Lenkluft and electrostatic charging of the coating composition on the component to be coated , When applied with wet paint, the wet paint loses in the atomization and during the application especially volatile components, such as solvents in solvent-based paints or water in water-based paints, which evaporate into the ambient air. As a result, the percentage solids content of the applied wet paint changes compared to the percentage solids content of the wet paint before the atomization.

On the one hand, this increase in the solids content in the application is determined by the application parameters, such as rotational speed of the rotary atomizer, outflow quantity, directing air quantity and painting distance.

On the other hand, the increase in the solids content in the application of the ambient conditions is affected, such as humidity, Lufttsinkgeschwindigkeit and air temperature in the spray booth, as these environmental conditions affect the evaporation of the solvent content or the water content.

In the known paint shops for painting vehicle body parts, therefore, a great deal of effort is made to keep the air household in the spray booth constant so that the evaporation conditions and thus the increase in the solids content remain as constant as possible during the application. A disadvantage of the known paint shops so the great equipment cost for the air conditioning of the spray booth.

In the most frequently used variant for air conditioning of the paint booths, heating and humidifying takes place by means of a heating register and scrubber. In this case, the dependence on the weather is disadvantageous, due to irreversible weather conditions (for example, summer with humid air). In unsuitable environmental conditions, painting defects may therefore occur, e.g. Runners and strongly fluctuating painting results. In addition, this variant of the air conditioning requires a large amount of energy.

In contrast, in another variant of the air conditioning is a full air conditioning analog conventional air conditioning with a combined cooling and dehumidification, whereby the energy consumption, however, increases again.

Out US 2005/0181142 A1 It is known to surround the coating agent jet of a rotary atomizer with an enveloping stream of conditioned air, wherein the enveloping stream produces defined evaporation conditions on the outside of the coating agent jet, so that the expense for the air conditioning of the entire paint booth can be reduced. The sheath flow is delivered by a separate adapter, which is annular and sits in operation on the outside of the atomizer. However, this known type of envelope power generation has numerous disadvantages.

First, the additional adapter disturbs the otherwise smooth outer contour of the rotary atomizer, whereby the tendency to fouling increases and the cleaning of the rotary atomizer is difficult.

On the other hand, the supply of conditioned air to the adapter via additional hoses must be charged in frequent and rapid movements of the painting robot by material fatigue and eventually can tear.

In addition, the additional adapter obstructs the handling of the rotary atomizer, since the external dimensions and the inertia of the rotary atomizer increase by the additional adapter. For example, due to the larger external dimensions, the rotary atomizer with the additional adapter can no longer be inserted into small openings in order to coat surfaces located there.

A further disadvantage of the additional adapter is the relatively large axial distance between the sheath flow nozzles in the adapter and the bell-plate sputtering edge, so that energy and amount of the sheath flow are generally insufficient to achieve truly defined evaporation conditions.

WO 2005/110618 A1 discloses a painting device with a bell cup and Lenkluftdüsen to deliver a directing air flow, which directs particles applied by the bell cup to the object to be painted.

EP 1 362 640 A1 also discloses a rotary atomizer with shaping air nozzles, which in addition has in a mounted on the outer casing of the atomizer electrode ring a ring of air holes or an annular nozzle-like air gap, from which the air is passed over the surface of the outer casing like a shell.

Furthermore, the state of the art US 2004/81769 A1 . DE 197 49 072 C1 and DE 102 32 863 A1 to point.

The invention is therefore based on the object to improve the known painting.

This object is achieved by a painting device with an atomizer and a corresponding operating method according to the independent claims.

In the context of the invention, however, the sheath flow, unlike the prior art discussed above, is not delivered by a separate adapter, but by sheath flow nozzles that are structurally integrated into the atomizer.

This structural integration of the Hüllstromdüsen in the atomizer has the advantage that the smooth outer contour of the atomizer housing is not disturbed by the enveloping current, so that the tendency to fouling and cleaning ease of the atomizer is not affected.

In addition, the structural integration of the sheath flow nozzles into the atomizer makes it possible to supply the conditioned air for the sheath flow via the normal connection flange of the atomizer. As a result, the separate hoses provided in the prior art for supplying the conditioned air can be dispensed with, eliminating the problem of hose breaks.

In addition, the invention advantageously allows for a reduction in the axial distance between the sheath flow nozzles and the bell cup spray edge so that the energy and amount of sheath flow are sufficient to produce truly defined flash conditions.

Another advantage of the invention integrating the Hüllstromdüsen in the atomizer is the better handling, since the outer dimensions and the inertia of the atomizer according to the invention over a conventional Atomizers without envelope current technology are hardly or not increased at all.

The structural integration of the Hüllstromdüsen in the atomizer can be achieved in the invention, for example, characterized in that the Hüllstromdüsen are arranged in the atomizer housing. However, there is also the alternative possibility that the Hüllstromdüsen are arranged in a shaping air ring or other integral component of the atomizer.

The invention encompasses the general technical teaching of influencing the evaporation conditions and thus the change in the solids content during application in that a defined microclimate is generated in the surroundings of the coating agent jet so that costly air conditioning of the entire paint booth is less important or even eliminated ,

However, the invention is not limited to those paint shops in which to dispense with a conventional air conditioning of the spray booth, but also includes painting, where in addition to the creation of a defined microclimate in the environment of the coating agent jet air conditioning of the entire spray booth takes place.

The invention provides an atomizer which, in addition to an application element (for example a bell cup) for applying a coating agent jet to a component to be coated, has at least one envelope flow nozzle via which a conditioned envelope flow is emitted which at least partially surrounds the coating agent jet and thereby in the environment the coating agent jet a defined Microclimate generated, which provides for predetermined evaporation conditions. Preferably, the conditioned envelope stream surrounds the coating agent jet in a jacket-like manner over its entire circumference and / or over its entire length between the application element and the component to be coated.

In the context of the air conditioning of the sheath flow, there is the possibility that the sheath flow is heated, cooled, dried or moistened with respect to the ambient air. Furthermore, there is the possibility of a combination of heating or cooling on the one hand and drying or humidifying the envelope flow on the other hand.

The heating of the sheath flow is preferably carried out by an air heater, which is preferably structurally separated from the atomizer. Alternatively, it is also possible to heat the enveloping flow through heating hoses or electrical heating elements, wherein the heating elements can also be arranged close to the outlet in the region of the sheath flow nozzle, which leads to low thermal losses. However, in the case of an electrostatic atomizer, the heating of the enveloping current is preferably carried out for reasons of explosion protection not by electric heating elements in the atomizer, but by the above-mentioned separate air heater.

Preferably, the sheath flow has an outlet temperature of more than + 40 ° C. and / or less than + 100 ° C. directly at the sheath flow nozzle, wherein any intermediate values within this range of values are possible.

The outlet temperature of the enveloping stream can here be varied depending on the coating agent used. For example, water as the solvent evaporates less than organic solvents, so that the exit temperature of the enveloping stream can be raised in the application of water-based paint to the application of solvent-based lacquer.

The sheath flow preferably has a volume flow of more than 500 l / min and / or less than 2500 l / min, with any intermediate values within this interval being possible.

It should also be mentioned that the sheath flow preferably consists of air, which are available anyway in the form of compressed air in paint shops. In the context of the invention, however, it is also possible to use a gas other than air for the sheath flow. Gases with a greater heat capacity, a greater electrical insulation capacity and / or a higher moisture saturation limit than air are particularly suitable for this purpose. The greater heat capacity offers the advantage here that the sheath flow only slightly loses its temperature after exiting the sheath flow nozzle, which ensures defined evaporation conditions. On the other hand, a larger electrical insulation capacity is advantageous in an electrostatic atomizer because the insulating capacity of the sheath current prevents a discharge of the electrostatically charged coating agent particles and thereby provides a high application efficiency. On the other hand, a high moisture saturation limit of the gas used for the sheath flow is advantageous if the sheath flow is to absorb a large amount of solvent from the coating agent jet. The sheath flow can therefore also consist, for example, of sulfur hexafluoride (SF ₆ ) or inert gases (eg carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) and nitrogen).

For supplying the sheath flow, the atomizer according to the invention preferably has an inner housing and an outer housing, wherein between the inner housing and the outer housing a Hüllstromzuleitung for passing the air-conditioned envelope flow to the Hüllstromdüse runs. This has the advantage that the sheath flow is only relatively slightly cooled in the passage through the atomizer and therefore still has a sufficiently high temperature at the Hüllstromdüse. The atomiser according to the invention is therefore preferably designed so that the sheath flow within the atomizer in the sheath current supply up to the sheath flow nozzle only by less 140 ° C, 120 ° C, 100 ° C, 90 ° C, 80 ° C, 70 ° C, 60 ° C, 50 ° C, 40 ° C, 30 ° C, 20 °, 10 ° C or less than 5 ° C is cooled.

However, it is also possible within the scope of the invention alternatively to feed the sheath flow from the shaping air supply, so that the connection flange of the atomizer with the flange connections provided there does not have to be changed.

Furthermore, there is the possibility within the scope of the invention that the atomizer according to the invention has shaping air nozzles for the discharge of a shaping air jet, wherein the shaping air jet forms the coating agent jet. In a variant of the invention, only a single shaping air jet is emitted in this case. In another variant of the invention, on the other hand, an inner shaping air jet and an outer shaping air jet are provided, which offers greater flexibility in the shaping of the coating agent jet. In the latter variant, there is the possibility that the outer shaping air nozzles simultaneously form the sheath flow nozzles.

Preferably, however, the sheath flow nozzles are provided in addition to the shaping air nozzles and separated from them.

With such a combination of sheath flow nozzles and shaping air nozzles, the shaping air nozzles are preferably mounted inside, while the sheath flow nozzles are mounted on the outside. This means that the sheath flow not only sheaths or sheaths the coating agent jet, but also the guide air flow, so that the guide air flow runs between the sheath flow and the coating agent jet. This arrangement is advantageous because the jacket-shaped envelope of the coating agent jet is facilitated or made possible by the sheath flow in that the shaping air jet forms the coating agent jet.

The number of sheath flow nozzles is preferably greater than 20 and / or less than 60, with any intermediate values within this interval being possible.

Furthermore, the sheath flow nozzles preferably each have nozzle openings with a width or with a diameter of more than 1 mm and / or less than 8 mm. The sheath flow nozzles therefore preferably have larger nozzle openings than the shaping air nozzles.

In a variant of the invention, the envelope flow nozzle is designed as an annular gap nozzle. The gap nozzle preferably has a gap width in the range of 0.1-1 mm, while the gap diameter is preferably in the range of 50-100 mm. Such slit nozzles are as shaping air nozzles, for example EP 0 092 043 A2 known. The content of this document is therefore attributable to the structural design of the slit nozzle of the present description.

The application element mentioned at the outset for application of the coating agent jet may be, for example, a fixed spray nozzle. However, the term of an application element used in the context of the invention is It also includes, for example, ultrasonic atomisers, airless devices and airmix devices.

Preferably, however, the application element is a rotatable bell cup having a predetermined bell-shaped edge. In this case, an axial distance of more than 5 mm and / or less than 100 mm preferably lies between the Hüllstromdüse and the Glockentellerkante.

The term of an application element used in the context of the invention therefore has the meaning that a coating agent (for example wet paint or powder coating) can be applied to a component to be coated (for example a motor vehicle body part) by means of the application element.

Furthermore, the Hüllstromdüsen can be angled in the circumferential direction of the bell cup and thus have a predetermined helix angle, the Hüllstromdüsen can be angled either in the direction of rotation of the bell cup or counter to the direction of rotation of the bell cup. The helix angle of the sheath flow nozzles can in this case be in the range of 0-45 °, wherein in turn any intermediate values are possible.

It should also be mentioned that the atomiser according to the invention can optionally be a powder atomizer or a wet paint atomizer.

In addition, the invention includes not only the above-described atomizer according to the invention as a single component, but also a painting device (eg, a painting robot or a paint shop) with such an atomizer.

The painting device according to the invention preferably has, in addition to the atomizer, an air-conditioning device for conditioning the enveloping flow, the air-conditioning device being connected downstream to the enveloping jet nozzle (s). For example, the air conditioning device may have a conventional air heater to heat the air flow. Furthermore, the air conditioning device may have a cooling device which cools the enveloping flow. In addition, there is also the possibility that the air conditioning device has a dehumidifying device, which dehumidifies the sheath flow. The air conditioning device can therefore be constructed like a conventional air conditioning system.

Furthermore, the invention comprises an operating method for an atomizer according to the invention, in which, in addition to the delivery of a coating agent jet, a conditioned envelope stream is dispensed, which at least partially surrounds the coating agent jet.

In the context of the operating method according to the invention, it is possible to influence the enveloping current as a function of the spatial position of the component surface to be coated. Thus, the applied paint during the painting of vertical component surfaces easier to run than in the painting of horizontal component surfaces, so that the solids content should be increased when painting vertical component surfaces over the paint of horizontal component surfaces. In the context of the operating method according to the invention, therefore, preferably the spatial position of the component surface to be coated is determined and the envelope current is influenced as a function of the determined spatial position. Instead of the spatial position of the component surface to be coated and the spatial Location of the atomizer can be determined, since the atomizer is usually performed according to the spatial position of the component surface to be coated.

When using a multi-axis painting robot, the spatial position of the atomizer can in turn be determined from the position control signals of the robot controller.

Depending on the spatial position of the component surface to be coated and / or the atomizer, the temperature, the moisture content and / or the volume flow of the sheath flow can then be influenced.

Preferably, in the case of a coating of a substantially vertical component surface, an enveloping flow having a lower moisture content, a greater temperature and / or a larger volume flow is emitted than in the case of a coating of a substantially horizontal component surface.

In this case, the sheath flow can be adjusted such that the solids content of the coating agent jet increases by more than 5%, 10%, 25% or even 50% between the delivery to the application element and the impingement on the component surface to be coated.

Figur 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Rotationszerstäubers mit zahlreichen Hüllstromdüsen,

Figuren 2a und 2b

schematische Darstellungen zur Variation des Hüllstroms bei einer Lackierung von vertikalen und waagerechten Bauteiloberflächen, sowie

Figur 3

ein stark vereinfachtes Blockschaltbild einer erfindungsgemäßen Lackiereinrichtung.

Other advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims or are explained in more detail below together with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the figures. Show it:

FIG. 1

a schematic representation of a rotary atomizer according to the invention with numerous sheath flow nozzles,

FIGS. 2a and 2b

schematic representations for the variation of the sheath flow in a painting of vertical and horizontal component surfaces, as well

FIG. 3

a highly simplified block diagram of a coating device according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows in simplified form a rotary atomizer 1, which is constructed largely conventional and can be used for example for painting automotive body panels.

As an application element, the rotary atomizer 1 a conventional bell cup 2, which is rotatably mounted about a bell-plate axis 3 and is driven by a turbine 4. At the bell-shaped edge, the bell-shaped plate 2 emits a coating agent jet 5, wherein the coating agent jet 5 is shown here only schematically.

Furthermore, the rotary atomizer 1 has numerous inner shaping air nozzles 6, which are arranged concentrically around the bell-plate axis 3 and emit an inner shaping air jet 7 onto the outer surface of the bell plate 2, wherein the inner shaping air jet 7 forms the coating agent jet 5.

In addition, the rotary atomizer 1 has a plurality of outer shaping air nozzles 8, via which an outer shaping air jet 9 is dispensed, which additionally forms the coating agent jet 5.

Furthermore, the rotary atomizer 1 on numerous Hüllstromdüsen 10, which are also arranged concentrically around the Glockentellerachse 3 and deliver an air-conditioned envelope stream 11, which surrounds the coating agent jet 5 shell-shaped and thereby ensures defined evaporation conditions.

Upon exiting the Hüllstromdüsen 10, the exiting sheath flow 11 tears a side stream 12 of ambient air, wherein the entrained side stream 12 0-50% of the outflowing from the Hüllstromdüsen 10 sheath flow 11 accounts.

The supply of the sheath flow 11, the coating agent and the shaping air takes place through a connection flange 13, to which two separate shaping air lines 14, 15 can be connected. In addition, jacket power lines 16, 17, 18 and an optional envelope current line 19 can be connected to the connection flange 13 in order to supply the conditioned envelope current 11 to the rotary atomizer 1. For this purpose, the sheath current lines 16-19 are connected to an air heater 20 and an air flow regulator 21, so that the volume flow and the temperature of the sheath flow 11 can be varied.

The supply of the enveloping flow 11 from the connection flange 13 to the enveloping flow nozzles 10 takes place by means of an enveloping flow passage between an inner housing 22 and an outer housing 23 of the rotary atomizer 1.

In this embodiment, the number of sheath flow nozzles 10 may be in the range of 20 to 60, wherein the individual sheath flow nozzles 10 each have nozzle openings with a width of 1-8 mm.

Furthermore, it should be mentioned that the axial distance between the Hüllstromdüsen 10 and the Bell plate edge of the bell cup 2 can be between 5 and 100 mm.

FIG. 2a schematically shows the painting of a vertical component surface 24 by the rotary atomizer 1. Due to the vertical alignment of the component surface 24 is due to the force acting on the applied paint particles gravity g the risk of runners. In order to avoid such runners, the solids content of the coating agent jet 5 impinging on the vertical component surface 24 is purposefully increased, in which the temperature T1 of the sheath flow 11 from the air heater 20 (cf. Fig. 1 ) is specifically increased. As a result, the coating agent jet 5 impinging on the vertical component surface 24 contains less liquid solvent portions and therefore has less tendency to bleed. The stronger evaporation of the solvent components from the coating agent jet 5 into the surrounding enveloping flow 11 is represented here by block arrows.

In FIG. 2b in contrast, the painting of a horizontal component surface 25 is represented by the rotary atomizer 1. Due to the horizontal alignment of the component surface 25, the risk of a running of the coating agent on the component surface 25 is lower, so that less liquid solvent components from the coating agent jet 5 must evaporate into the sheath flow 11. The sheath flow 11 therefore has a lower temperature T2 <T1 in the coating of the horizontal component surface 25 than in the coating of the vertical component surface 24.

FIG. 3 shows in a highly simplified form a block diagram of a painting device according to the invention with a robot controller 26, which has a multi-axis painting robot 27 with Actuates position control data, wherein the painting robot 27 leads the rotary atomizer 1.

The position control data are also passed on by the robot controller 26 to a computing unit 28, which determines therefrom the inclination α of the component surface to be coated.

The inclination α of the component surface is then passed on to an envelope current controller 29, which influences the envelope current 11 as a function of the inclination α of the component surface. For this purpose, the sheath flow controller 29 controls a sheath flow dryer 30, a sheath current heater 31 and a sheath flow valve 32. The sheath flow 11 is in this case influenced in dependence on the inclination α of the component surface to be coated in such a way that bleeding of the coating agent on the component surface is prevented. For this purpose, the coating stream is heated to a greater extent during a coating of vertically aligned component surfaces and dried than when coating horizontally aligned component surfaces.

It should be mentioned here that the robot controller 26, the arithmetic unit 28 and the envelope current controller 29 can be integrated in a common electronic control unit 33. In this case, there is also the possibility that the robot controller 26, the arithmetic unit 28 and / or the envelope current controller 29 are implemented as software modules.

The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. Rather, a variety of variants and modifications is possible, which also make use of the inventive idea and therefore fall within the scope.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

rotary atomizers

2

A bell plate

3

A bell plate axis

4

turbine

5

Coating midstream

6

Inner shaping air nozzles

7

Inner shaping air jet

8th

External shaping air nozzles

9

Outer direct air jet

10

Hüllstromdüsen

11

sheath flow

12

sidestream

13

flange

14

Steering air line

15

Steering air line

16-19

enveloping flow

20

Air heaters

21

Air volume regulator

22

inner housing

23

outer casing

24

Vertical component surface

25

Horizontal component top

26

robot control

27

Painting robots

28

computer unit

29

Hüllstromsteuerung

30

Hüllstromtrockner

31

Hüllstromerhitzer

32

Hüllstromventil

33

control unit

Claims (28)

1. Painting device comprising an atomiser (1), in particular a rotary atomiser, with

   a) an application element (2) for application of a coating medium spray (5) onto a component (24, 25) to be coated,

   b) an atomiser housing,

   c) shaping air nozzles (6) for dispensing a shaping air jet (7) for shaping the coating medium spray (5),

   d) at least one shroud stream nozzle (10), provided in addition to the shaping air nozzles (6) and arranged in the atomiser housing, for dispensing a conditioned shroud stream (11), which surrounds the coating medium spray (5) in form of a jacket on its entire circumference, wherein

   e) the at least one shroud stream nozzle (10) is supplied by a shroud stream supply line running within the atomiser housing between an inner housing (22) and an outer housing (23), and

   f) for conditioning the shroud stream (11), a conditioning device (20, 21, 30 - 32) with an air heater in connected downstream to the at least one shroud stream nozzle (10),

   g) and with a connecting flange (13) provided for mounting the atomiser (1) on a robot, through which the coating medium and the shaping air are supplied to the atomiser,

   h) wherein the conditioned shroud stream (11) is also supplied to the atomiser (1) through the connecting flange (13) thereof.
2. Painting device comprising an atomizer (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the shroud stream (11) is, with respect to the ambient air,

   a) heated,

   b) cooled,

   c) dried or

   d) humidified.
3. Painting device comprising an atomiser (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that shroud stream lines (16 - 19) are connected to an air amount regulator (21).
4. Painting device comprising an atomiser (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterised by external shaping air nozzles (8) to dispense an external shaping air jet (9) for shaping the coating medium spray (5).
5. Painting device comprising an atomiser (1) according to claim 4,
   characterised in that the external shaping air nozzles form the shroud stream nozzles.
6. Painting device comprising an atomiser (1) according to claim 4,
   characterised in that the shroud stream nozzles (10) are provided in addition to the external shaping air nozzles (8).
7. Painting device comprising an atomiser (1) according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that the application element is

   a) a fixed spray nozzle,

   b) an ultrasonic atomiser,

   c) an airless device or

   d) an air mix device.
8. Painting device comprising an atomiser (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6,
   characterised in that the application element (2) is a rotatable bell cup having a given bell cup edge.
9. Painting device comprising an atomiser (1) according to claim 8,
   characterised in that there is an axial space between the shroud stream nozzle (10) and the bell cup edge of

   - more than 2, 5, 10, 15 mm and/or

   - less than 150, 100, 75 or 50 mm.
10. Painting device comprising an atomiser (1) according to one of claims 8 to 9,
    characterised in that the shroud stream nozzles (10) are positioned in an angled orientation in the circumferential direction and have a predetermined twist angle.
11. Painting device comprising an atomiser (1) according to claim 10,
    characterised in that the shroud stream nozzles (10) are angled either

    a) in the rotational direction of the bell cup (2) or

    b) opposite to the rotational direction of the bell cup (2).
12. Painting device comprising an atomiser (1) according to claim 10 or 11,
    characterised in that the twist angle of the shroud stream nozzles (10) is in the range of 0 - 45°.
13. Painting device comprising an atomiser (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each of the shroud stream nozzles (10) has a nozzle opening with a width of

    - more than 1, 2 or 5 mm and/or

    - less than 15, 10, 8 or 6 mm.
14. Painting device comprising an atomiser (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the number of shroud stream nozzles (10) is

    - more than 5, 10, 20, 30 and/or

    - less than 100, 60, 50 or 40.
15. Painting device comprising an atomiser (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the shroud stream nozzle is an annular circumferential slot nozzle.
16. Painting device comprising an atomiser (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the shroud stream (11) consists at least partially of one of the following gases:

    a) air,

    b) a gas other than air having a higher heat capacity than air,

    c) a gas other than air having a higher electrical insulating capacity than air,

    d) a gas other than air having a higher humidity saturation limit than air.
17. Painting device comprising an atomiser (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the shroud stream (11) has an outlet temperature immediately at the shroud stream nozzle (10) of

    - more than +30 °C, +40 °C or +60 °C and/or

    - less than +200 °C, +150 °C, +100 °C or +75 °C.
18. Painting device comprising an atomiser (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that shroud stream (11) comprises a volumetric flow of

    - more than 250 l/min, 500 l/min, 750 l/min and/or

    - less than 2.500 l/min, 2.000 l/min, 1.500 l/min or 1.000 l/min.
19. Painting device comprising an atomiser (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the atomiser housing (23) has a smooth outer contour.
20. Operation method for an atomiser (1), in particular for a rotary atomiser, comprising the following steps:

    a) Dispensing a coating medium spray (5) onto a component (24, 25) to be coated and

    b) dispensing a shaping air jet (7) for shaping the coating medium spray (5)

    c) additionally and simultaneously dispensing a conditioned shroud stream (11) through at least one shroud stream nozzle (10), which is arranged in an atomiser housing and which is supplied by a shroud stream line running within the atomiser housing between an inner housing (22) and an outer housing (23),

    d) wherein, for conditioning the shroud stream (11), a conditioning device (20, 21, 30 - 32) with an air heater (20) is connected downstream to the at least one shroud stream nozzle (10),

    e) the shroud stream (11) surrounds the coating medium spray (5) in form of a jacket on its entire circumference,

    f) the coating medium and the shaping air are supplied to the atomiser (1) through a connecting flange (13) of the atomiser (1), which is provided for mounting the atomiser (1) on a robot, and

    g) the conditioned shroud stream (11) is also supplied to the atomiser (1) through the connecting flange (13) thereof.
21. Operation method according to claim 20, characterised in that the shroud stream (11) is, in the context of the conditioning,

    a) heated or

    b) cooled and/or

    c) dried or

    d) humidified.
22. Operation method according to claim 20 or 21, characterised by following steps:

    a) Determining a process parameter which affects the coating process,

    b) affecting the shroud stream (11) as a function of the process parameter.
23. Operation method according to claim 22, characterised in that the process parameter is one of the following parameters:

    a) The spatial location (α) of the component surface (24, 25) to be coated,

    b) the type of the component (24, 25) to be coated,

    c) the type of the coating medium to be applied,

    d) the solids content of the coating medium to be applied and/or

    e) the solvent content of the coating medium to be applied and/or

    f) the spatial location of the atomiser (1).
24. Operation method according to claim 22 or 23, characterised in that, as function of the process parameter,

    a) the temperature and/or

    b) the humidity content and/or

    c) the volumetric flow

    of the shroud stream (11) is affected.
25. Operation method according to one of claims 20 to 24,
    characterised by following steps:

    a) Guiding the atomiser (1) by means of a painting robot (27),

    b) controlling the painting robot (27) by means of position control signals from a robot control (26) in order to define the position and the spatial location of the atomiser (1),

    c) determining the spatial location (α) of the atomiser (1) on the basis of the position control signals of the robot control (26).
26. Operation control according to one of claims 20 to 25,
    characterised in that, when coating a substantially vertical component surface (24), a shroud stream (11) with

    a) a lower humidity content and/or

    b) a higher temperature and/or

    c) a greater volumetric flow

    is dispensed than when coating a substantially horizontal component surface (25).
27. Operation method according to one of claims 20 to 26,
    characterised in that the coating medium spray (5) has a solids content and a solvent content, wherein the solids content of the coating medium spray (5) increases between the dispensing at the application element (2) and the impact on the component surface (24, 25) to be coated by partial evaporation of the solvent content from the coating medium spray (5) into the shroud stream (11).
28. Operation method according to claim 27, characterised in that the solids content increases by more than 5 %, 10 %, 25 % or 50 % by the partial evaporation of the solvent content into the shroud stream (11).

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