Electrostatic rotary atomizing spray device with improved atomizer cup

An atomizer cup for an electrostatic rotary atomizing spray device for spraying a liquid coating material, comprising:

• a body formed primarily of a non-conductive material, having an outer surface and an inner surface;
• and
• at least one elongate conductive pathway embedded within the body for conducting an electrical charge from a first end of the conductive pathway at an outer surface of the cup terminating proximate a source of electrical energy through the body of the cup to an opposite end of the conductive pathway having first and second opposite ends, wherein said first opposite end which terminates at said outer surface of the body and said second opposite end terminates at said inner surface of the body .

A method of removing a rotary cup from an electrostatic rotary atomizing spray device, the spray device having an atomizer housing which defines an interior chamber therein, a drive shaft within the interior chamber of the atomizer housing, the drive shaft being attached at a first end to a motor within the atomizer housing and at a second opposite end to the rotary atomizer cup, comprising the steps of:

• inserting a rigid elongate tool through an access hole in the atomizer housing so that an end of the rigid elongate tool enters a recess in the drive shaft, thereby preventing the drive shaft from freely rotating;
• and
• unscrewing the rotary atomizer cup from the drive shaft with the rigid elongate tool preventing the drive shaft from freely rotating.

A rotary atomizer system including a rotary atomizer and a robot mounting, the system comprising:

• an atomizer housing defining an interior chamber therein having a rotary drive shaft extending therethrough and mounted to an atomizing cup located outside of the atomizer housing, the cup having a high voltage electrostatic charge transferred thereto, a fluid type being disposed within the drive shaft for directing a flow of the liquid coating material to the atomizer head where electrical charge is transferred to the liquid coating material passing through the atomizer cup, a robot mounting ring having an electrically grounded liquid supply control device by an elongated spiral passageway to increase the electrical resistance between the atomizer and the liquid supply so that a very small electrical charge will be present in the passageway carrying paint to the rotary cup.

An atomizer cup for an electrostatic rotary atomizing spray device for spraying liquid coating material, the cup being comprised of a first material and a second material which is electrically more conductive than the first material, the cup being principally comprised of the first material and having and outer surface and an inner flow surface, the cup being embedded with elongated pathways of the second material, one or more of the pathways having a first end which terminates proximate a source of electrical energy and a second end which terminates at the outer surface of the cup.

A rotary atomizer, comprising:

• a housing formed of an electrically nonconductive material having an interior chamber, and air turbine disclosed within the interior chamber, the air turbine having a output shaft, an atomizer cup mounted on the output shaft, a paint feed tube which supplies paint to the atomizer cup, the cup being comprised of a first material and a second material which is electrically more conductive than the first material, the cup being principally comprised of the first material and having and outer surface and an inner flow surface, the cup being embedded with elongated pathways of the second material, one or more of the pathways having a first end which terminates proximate a source of electrical energy and a second end which terminates at the outer surface of the cup.