Method of Monitoring Cleaning of Coating Apparatus, Method of Cleaning Coating Apparatus, Coating Apparatuses, and Robot System

An apparatus for applying a coating medium to an object, the apparatus comprising:

• a rotatable deflecting element for atomizing the coating medium;
• a cleaning medium line for conducting a cleaning medium to the deflecting element;
• and
• a control system comprising at least one data processing device and at least one memory having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program including a program code which, when executed by the at least one data processing device, causes the at least one data processing device to perform the steps of:
• commanding performance of a cleaning operation including delivery of the cleaning medium through the cleaning medium line towards the deflecting element while commanding the deflecting element to rotate;
• collecting operational values of at least one operational parameter of the apparatus for the cleaning operation;
• comparing the operational values with reference values of the at least one operational parameter for the cleaning operation;
• and
• determining whether the cleaning operation was successful or unsuccessful based on the comparison.

An apparatus for applying a coating medium to an object, the apparatus comprising:

• a coating medium line;
• an outlet;
• a first coating medium source containing a first coating medium;
• a second coating medium source containing a second coating medium;
• a valve arrangement configured to independently bring each of the first coating medium source and the second coating medium source in communication with the outlet through the coating medium line;
• and
• a detection device configured to detect passing of a sealing member through the coating medium line;
• wherein the coating medium line is substantially unobstructed from the valve arrangement, through the detection device, and to a downstream point downstream of the detection device.

A robot system comprising an industrial robot and an apparatus for applying a coating medium to an object, the apparatus including:

• a rotatable deflecting element for atomizing the coating medium;
• a cleaning medium line for conducting a cleaning medium to the deflecting element;
• and
• a control system including at least one data processing device and at least one memory having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program including a program code which, when executed by the at least one data processing device, causes the at least one data processing device to perform the steps of:
• commanding performance of a cleaning operation including delivery of the cleaning medium through the cleaning medium line towards the deflecting element while commanding the deflecting element to rotate;
• collecting operational values of at least one operational parameter of the apparatus for the cleaning operation;
• comparing the operational values with reference values of the at least one operational parameter for the cleaning operation;
• and
• determining whether the cleaning operation was successful or unsuccessful based on the comparison.