Spray coating system and method

A vehicle painting system, comprising:

• a paint line to carry a plurality of vehicle bodies to be painted;
• a robotic arm having a remote end region, the robotic arm being located adjacent the paint line;
• a painting head mounted on the remote end region, the painting head comprising:
• a housing that narrows and extends axially away from the remote end region, defining a paint delivery region;
• a first orifice located in the paint delivery region;
• and
• a paint supply connected to the first orifice;
• a ring portion, mounted in a sliding fit around the painting head, the ring portion having one or more second orifices connected to a fluid supply, the second orifices positioned for supplying a curtain of the fluid along the periphery of the housing toward the paint delivery region, the fluid curtain encircling the paint delivery region so as to reduce overspray of the coating;
• and
• a locking member, affixing the ring portion to an outer peripheral portion of the housing.

A robotic spray coating assembly, comprising:

• a robotic arm having a remote end region;
• a coating head, mounted on the remote end region, the coating head comprising:
• a housing that narrows and extends axially away from the remote end region, defining a coating delivery region;
• a first orifice, located in the coating delivery region;
• and
• a coating supply, connected to the first orifice;
• a ring portion, mounted in a sliding fit around an outer peripheral portion of the housing, radially outwardly from the coating head, the ring portion having one or more second orifices connected to a fluid supply, the second orifices positioned for supplying a curtain of the fluid along the periphery of the housing toward the coating delivery region, the fluid curtain encircling the coating delivery region so as to reduce overspray of the coating;
• and
• a locking member, affixing the ring portion to the housing.