Electrostatic painting method and apparatus

An electrostatic painting apparatus comprising:

• a paint feed channel for supplying an electrically conductive paint from a plurality of paint feed sections to a painting gun;
• a color changing valve mechanism for switching a color of the electrically conductive paint, the color changing valve mechanism being provided to the paint feed channel so as to connect to the paint feed sections;
• a reservoir, provided to the paint feed channel closer to the painting gun than the color changing valve mechanism, for temporarily storing the electrically conductive paint and propelling the stored electrically conductive paint towards the painting gun;
• an insulating section, provided to the paint feed channel, for electrically insulating the reservoir from the paint feed sections;
• and
• a fluid pathway provided to the color changing valve mechanism so as to face the paint feed sections,
• wherein the fluid pathway comprises:
• a paint valve connected to the color changing valve mechanism;
• a paint cartridge connected to the paint valve;
• a discharging channel capable of discharging the electrically conductive paint from the paint cartridge;
• and
• a flow rate measurement device for measuring the volume of flow of the electrically conductive paint when the electrically conductive paint flows through the discharging channel;
• the paint valve comprises:
• a first pathway connected to the paint cartridge;
• a second pathway connected to the discharging channel;
• and
• a third pathway connected to the color changing valve mechanism, the paint valve being capable of switching between a flow channel that flows from the paint cartridge to the discharging channel and a flow channel that flows from the paint cartridge to the color changing valve mechanism, and the flow rate measurement device, when the color of the electrically conductive paint is to be switched, measures the flow rate of electrically conductive paint when a determination is to be made of the quantity of electrically conductive paint to fill the paint feed channel in order for air to be expelled from the paint feed channel.