ELEKTROSTATISCHES LACKIERVERFAHREN UND VORRICHTUNG

The invention provides an electrostatic painting method in which air inside a paint feed channel is expelled when a colour for painting is changed. An electrically conductive paint is channeled into a discharge channel (58) of a fluid pathway (122), and the flow rate of the paint is measured. The fluid pathway (122) is provided, via a paint valve (55), to a colour changing valve mechanism (51), and communicates with a paint cartridge (14). The changing valve mechanism (51) is provided in a distant position relative to a painting gun (12). Electrically conductive paint is channeled through a paint feed channel (108), which extends from the colour changing valve mechanism (51) to the painting gun (12), and air inside the paint feed channel (108) is expelled. The paint feed channel (108) is then filled with the electrically conductive paint according to the value measured for the flow rate. The invention also extends to an apparatus for carrying out the method.