differential across the metering pump 2 and the starting values k 1 alt and k 2 alt for the control parameters k 1 and k 2 are initialized where the specifications are based on speculations about the conversion ratio u03b7 then a so called brush which lasts longer than one second is awaited this is a change in the volumetric flow in the stream of coating means dispensed which is based on the main needle of the atomizer 1 opening taking only relatively long lasting brushes with a duration of more than 1 second into consideration makes sense because the duration of shorter brushes is not sufficient to allow transient effects to die away then the adaptation unit 9 measures the pressure p v1 ahead of the metering pump 2 and the pressure p h1 behind the metering pump through the two pressure sensors 8 10 in addition the adaptation unit also registers the paint volume f m1 in this initial operating point the values p v1 p v2 and f m1 are available in the controls anyway and so do not have to be measured additionally then the next brush is awaited which lasts for longer than one second and is thus no longer affected by transient effects at this second operating point the values p v2 p h2 and f m2 for the pressure p v ahead of the metering pump the pressure p h after the metering pump and paint volume f m are again read out of the controls and saved here too the fact can be utilized that the values p v2 p h2 and f m2 are available anyway and so do not have to be measured.