Paint spraying equipment and method of cleaning the same

A method of using a paint application system including a paint switching device connected to a first paint container containing a first paint and to a second paint container containing a second paint different from said first paint, a paint applicator, a paint line connecting said paint switching device and said paint applicator, and a shuttle element arranged to be movable back and forth in said paint line, said method comprising the following steps:

• a) flowing said first paint from said first paint container through said paint line to said paint applicator in a forward flow direction, and then ceasing said flowing of said first paint;
• b) moving said shuttle element through said paint line in a return direction from said paint applicator toward said paint switching device and thereby pushing at least a predominant portion of said first paint remaining in said paint line after said step a) back into said first paint container;
• and
• c) flowing said second paint from said second paint container through said paint line to said paint applicator in said forward flow direction.

A paint application system comprising:

• a paint supply switching device including at least one paint supply line;
• a paint applicator;
• a paint line connecting said paint supply switching device to said paint applicator;
• first and second receiver stations interposed in said paint line, with said first receiver station adjacent said paint applicator and said second receiver station adjacent said paint supply switching device;
• a shuttle element arranged to be received in and movable through said paint line between said first and second receiver stations;
• and
• a connector arrangement that is incorporated into said first receiver station, connected to said paint line at said first receiver station, and adapted to supply an auxiliary medium into said paint line at said first receiver station.