Automatic color change paint spray system

Claim 1

An automatic color change paint spray apparatus for painting vehicle bodies passing along a production line comprising a carriage located adjacent to the production line; said carriage including a vertical portion and a boom portion extending from the vertical portion to adjacent to the vehicle bodies passing along the production line; a paint sprayer mounted on the boom portion; first color change manifold means for supplying any one of a plurality of paints selectively to the paint sprayer and including cleaning and drying means for cleaning and drying the first color change manifold means during a paint change; conduit means connecting the first color change manifold means to the paint sprayer; second color change manifold means for supplying any one of a plurality of paints selectively to the paint sprayer; the second color change manifold means being interposed in the conduit means and located on the boom portion in proximity to the paint sprayer such that a distance between the second color change manifold means and the paint sprayer is shorter than a distance between the first color change manifold means and the paint sprayer and a number of paint sources available from the second color change manifold means being less than a number of paint sources available from the first color change manifold means; the second color change manifold means including cleaning and drying means for cleaning and drying the second color change manifold means, the paint sprayer and that portion of the conduit means extending from the second manifold means to the paint sprayer, and the second color change manifold means including at least one paint different from those of the first color change manifold means.