Pigment cup with ventilation valve

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pigment cup (1) for a paint spray gun (2), the pigment cup comprising a pigment container (3) with a can wall portion (4) and a bottom (5). The bottom (5) is made of a natural fibrous material, particularly a cellulose-based fibrous material, in a puncture-proof manner, and has a puncture point or area for ventilation of the pigment cup (1). The invention also relates to a method of using the pigment cup (1) having a bottom (5) made of a natural fibrous material, the bottom being punctured to form a ventilation valve.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a pigment cup for a paint spray gun. Background Technology

[0002] The pigment cup for a paint spray gun has a typically sealable container for the pigment, which can be coupled to the spray gun via a pigment outlet, allowing the pigment to flow from the pigment cup into the spray gun (pigment flow cup), where it is atomized by compressed air. To prevent negative pressure from hindering pigment flow when extracting pigment from the pigment cup, this pigment cup usually has a vent valve on the side opposite the spray gun that allows the interior of the pigment cup to communicate with the surrounding environment at atmospheric pressure.

[0003] A balancing valve is known from DE 10 2011 008 316 A1, wherein the balancing valve is integrated into the bottom of the pigment cup, which is made of plastic. This vent valve requires significant production costs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of this invention is to provide a pigment cup with a balance valve that can be produced economically.

[0005] The pigment cup for a paint spray gun according to the invention comprises a pigment container with a canister wall and a bottom, wherein the bottom is made of a natural fibrous material in a puncture-resistant manner. The bottom has a puncture point or area for ventilation of the pigment cup, which is punctured to allow the spray gun to be used. The puncture point or area is preferably characterized optically and / or tactilely. For example, it can be characterized by printed or embossed markings. However, characterization can also be achieved in the form of an adhesive label.

[0006] Natural fibrous materials or plant materials can be understood as materials such as paper, thick paper, cardboard, corrugated cardboard, or composite materials containing one of the aforementioned material layers. In particular, they are cellulose-based fibrous materials. Natural fibrous materials are, for example, paper materials made from wood pulp, cellulose, semi-pulp, or waste paper by bonding or pressing. In particular, the can walls and bottom can be advantageously made of natural fibrous materials, especially when they are integrally, i.e., non-removably connected to each other.

[0007] In a favorable design, the puncture point or puncture area can be constructed identically to the rest of the bottom. In other words, the bottom thus has a continuous, uniform wall thickness. This minimizes production costs.

[0008] In one embodiment, the bottom can be configured substantially radially symmetrically, and the puncture point or puncture area can be advantageously eccentrically positioned, for example, in the edge region. Positioning in the edge region has the advantage that the bottom is harder near the edge than in the center, thus allowing the bottom to be constructed, for example, thinner than if it were centered at the puncture point or region.

[0009] In an advantageous embodiment, the puncture point or area may have a weakened portion. Alternatively, the bottom may have a reinforcing portion around the puncture point or area. The weakened portion may be introduced, for example, in the form of an imprinted predetermined fracture point. The reinforcing portion may be constructed, for example, as an additional, particularly annular, reinforcing portion applied around the puncture point or area, which is connected to the bottom material in a mating manner.

[0010] One feasible approach is to combine the marking and reinforcement elements together, for example, in the form of a circular adhesive label. The adhesive label surrounds the puncture area as a marker and simultaneously reinforces the area surrounding the puncture point or the puncture area.

[0011] The pigment cup may advantageously include a piercing pin, which is preferably substantially rotationally symmetrical and designed to penetrate the bottom. In particular, the piercing pin is designed to form a vent valve for establishing pressure balance by penetrating the bottom at the piercing point or area.

[0012] The piercing nail preferably has a penetrating tip, which allows it to pierce the bottom.

[0013] Alternatively, the piercing nail can also be threaded, which allows it to be screwed into the bottom.

[0014] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the piercing nail is designed to form at least one sealable ventilation channel by penetrating the bottom at the piercing point or piercing area.

[0015] Ventilation channels can be, for example, imprinted in the piercing nail as axially extending grooves. Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible to construct the ventilation channels as centrally extending tubes in the piercing nail, similar to hollow needles.

[0016] In one embodiment, the piercing pin passes through a sealable ventilation channel. Preferably, a valve may be provided in the ventilation channel, for example, through which the piercing pin passes at least partially centrally. Examples include: a beak valve, honeycomb valve, or membrane valve that automatically opens when a negative pressure is created inside the pigment cup and allows air to flow into the pigment cup reservoir in the open state for pressure equalization, which is, for example, made of an elastomer. It goes without saying that manually openable and closable valve constructions, such as on / off valves, plug-in valves, rotary valves, tilting valves, or rotary valves, can also be used.

[0017] A preferred variant is characterized by a simple and functionally reliable structure in which a sealable ventilation channel is guided at the outer circumference of the piercing nail.

[0018] The piercing pin is preferably equipped with two or more axially superimposed and graded diameters, such that the bottom contacts the first, second, or other stages of the piercing pin according to the axial relative position of the piercing pin with respect to the bottom. By allowing the bottom to be penetrated in two or more stages, different valve states can be achieved, for example, being unsealed in one stage to establish pressure balance (first penetration state) and sealed in another stage (second penetration state).

[0019] In addition to or supplementing the implementation of the piercing nail in achieving a (second) penetrating state of sealing, the ventilation opening in the bottom can also be closed by other elements, such as a sealing tab or sealing plug (optionally having a screw-in thread), which can be introduced into or applied to the opening after the piercing nail is removed.

[0020] Advantageously, the piercing nail has a ventilation channel that extends primarily axially. The ventilation channel can extend over one or more stages of the piercing nail. Gas exchange between the container interior and the environment can occur via the ventilation channel. For this purpose, the ventilation channel or piercing nail must be configured to extend through the bottom.

[0021] In some variations, multiple ventilation ducts can be provided. This allows for a reduction in the cross-sectional area of ​​each ventilation duct and / or an increase in the maximum gas throughput.

[0022] Piercing nails can be made of plant materials or plastic. They can also be constructed as composites of different materials, such as a hollow needle made of metal and encased in plastic. Piercing nails can be designed for single or multiple use. In particular, piercing nails are made of plastic in a single piece using an injection molding process.

[0023] Preferably, the piercing pin not yet inserted into the bottom can prevent loss of connection with the pigment container. Therefore, for example, the piercing pin can be provided integrally with the fuel container via a film hinge, tab, thread, etc.

[0024] The piercing stud may preferably have a modified sealing surface, which may take the form of one or more sealing rings or sealing surfaces connected to or at the piercing stud, and is preferably made of an elastomeric material.

[0025] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the piercing nail has a retaining mechanism to secure the piercing nail to the pigment container in at least one stage (penetration state), the retaining mechanism preferably being configured as a surrounding fastening groove.

[0026] Alternatively, the retaining mechanism can also be set as an expansion hook in the shearing area of ​​the piercing nail, based on the model of the expansion pin, and the retaining mechanism can reliably prevent the piercing nail from falling off after penetrating the bottom.

[0027] The piercing nail preferably has at least four axially following stages, wherein the first stage forms a penetrating tip, the second stage forms a ventilated top (especially having one or more grooved ventilation channels), the third stage forms a sealing top (especially having a surrounding spherical sealing surface), and the fourth stage forms an operating cap, which is preferably disposed on the outer side of the bottom.

[0028] A particularly preferred embodiment is the following variation, wherein a first circumferential fastening groove is disposed between the ventilated top and the sealing top, and / or a second fastening groove is disposed between the sealing top and the operating cap. In a first (unsealed, ventilated) penetrating state, the piercing nail is fastened by positioning its bottom in the first fastening groove. In a second (sealed) penetrating state, the piercing nail is fastened by positioning its bottom in the second fastening groove.

[0029] As already mentioned, what is advantageous for effective ventilation is that the piercing nail has one or more axially extending ventilation channels, which are preferably in the form of one or more axially extending grooves, and the ventilation channels are preferably located around the circumference of the ventilation top.

[0030] To ensure that one or more ventilation channels are guided through the bottom at least in the first penetration state, it is advantageous that the piercing nail has one or more axially extending ventilation channels that continue in one or more radially extending ventilation channels at the end face of the piercing nail, preferably at the end face of the sealing top.

[0031] In practice, variations in which the can walls and / or bottom are made of cardboard (weighing more than 200 g / m2 per square meter) have proven advantageous, wherein, for use with a paint spray gun, the can walls and / or bottom preferably have a liquid-resistant, preferably solvent-resistant, coating, particularly a coating made of plastic and / or aluminum, at least on the inside.

[0032] For example, advantageous paper materials for the can walls and / or bottom can be paperboard made of one, two or three layers, especially paperboard that has been glued once or twice.

[0033] In one design, the bottom can be integrated into a cap system that is detachably connected to the can wall. This means that the bottom, with its puncture point or area, is independent of the rest of the pigment container, allowing, for example, the bottom to be made of one material while the pigment container is made of another.

[0034] A particular advantage is that the lid system, or at least other parts thereof, is made of the same material as the bottom, such as plant material. In particular, the manufacturing process can be significantly simplified when the lid system is manufactured as a whole, compared to a mixed lid system.

[0035] In one variant, the second end of the pigment cup facing the paint spray gun can be tapered, i.e., a tapered segment or a similar tapered segment. The second bottom may optionally be equipped with an interface for connection to the paint spray gun or for connection to an adapter, the adapter being used for connection to the paint spray gun.

[0036] Advantageously, the second bottom is conveniently designed as a lid that can be detachably attached to the paint cup. In this case, the paint cup is suitable for use as an inverted cup.

[0037] Optionally, the pigment cup has an additional opening on the side opposite to the paint spray gun, which can be closed by another cap for refilling pigment.

[0038] According to the method of the present invention, in one embodiment, the pigment cup is used such that its bottom is punctured for ventilation. This method saves the cost of manufacturing a valve integrated into the bottom. Attached Figure Description

[0039] Advantageous designs and other features of the invention are derived from the accompanying drawings and the following description of the drawings. Identical or at least similar features are given the same reference numerals herein.

[0040] This is shown here:

[0041] Figures 1 to 3 The illustration shows a side view, front view, or cross-sectional view of a pigment cup according to the invention for use with a paint gun, the pigment cup having an opening closed by a cap including a pierceable bottom.

[0042] Figures 4 to 6 Show Figures 1 to 3 Detailed, exploded side views, front views, and sectional views of the cover system.

[0043] Figure 7 A detailed diagram of the cap system in its connected state to the pigment container is shown.

[0044] Figure 8 A detailed diagram of the puncture needle in its first state is shown.

[0045] Figure 9a and Figure 9b Detailed diagrams of the piercing nail in the first and second states are shown.

[0046] Figures 10 to 11 The diagram shows a front view and a cross-sectional view of the pigment cup according to the invention as an inverted variant, and...

[0047] Figures 12 to 14 A front view and a cross-sectional view of the pigment cup according to the invention, as an embodiment of an inverted variant, are shown. Detailed Implementation

[0048] according to Figures 1 to 7 An embodiment shows a pigment container 3 for containing pigment, having a bottom 5 and a pigment cup 1, the pigment cup having a piercing stud 7 penetrating the bottom 5. Here, the pigment container 3 includes an outer, cylindrical can wall portion 4, with a funnel-shaped extension for a pigment outlet 20 connected to the lower side of the can wall portion. The outlet 26 is detachably connected to a paint spray gun 2 via a corresponding connection. Due to gravity, the pigment in the pigment container 3 flows into the paint spray gun 2 and remains there until the pigment is carried and atomized by the compressed air flow provided by the paint spray gun 2.

[0049] The pigment cup 1 has an opening 30 configured as a refill opening on its upper side, for example, on the side facing the paint spray gun 2, which is closed via a cap system 9. Even when the cap system 9 is removed, the pigment cup 1 can be refilled with pigment at any time via the opening 30. The refill opening 30 is formed from the end 4' of the can wall portion 4. The opening 30 is closed via the cap system 9, which includes a cap 10 and a locking ring 14.

[0050] The cover 10 includes a bottom 5 with a piercing area 6, the piercing area being in Figures 1 to 3 The illustration shows a piercing needle 7 piercing the pigment cup 1 in a non-sealed (ventilated) first penetration state. The piercing area 6 can be visually characterized, for example, by a printed ring. The piercing needle 7 establishes an atmospheric connection between the interior of the pigment cup 1 container and the environment via a ventilation channel 8 (not shown). Figure 8 and 9a The explanation up to 9b discusses further details of the piercing needle 7 and the bottom 5.

[0051] exist Figures 4 to 6 The concise and decomposed diagrams and in Figure 7 The cover system 9 described in the installation state is constructed as follows:

[0052] The cover 10 includes a hollow retaining ring 15 with a U-shaped structure having an inner retaining ring and an outer retaining ring 16 or 17. The locking ring 14 and the end portion 4' of the can wall portion 4 are received in the hollow retaining ring in a tensioned manner. The locking ring 14 and the hollow retaining ring 15 are detachably connected by a corresponding pitch 18 or 19 located at the outer circumference of the end portion 4d of the can wall portion and at the inner circumference of the outer retaining ring 17. The inner retaining ring 16 is wedge-shaped, such that a narrowed gap is formed between the inner retaining ring and the outer retaining ring 16 or 17, in which the locking ring 14 and the end portion 4' of the can wall portion 4 are radially clamped or tensioned as they are screwed on.

[0053] The bottom 5 is molded onto the hollow card ring 15, and extends in a disc shape above the surface surrounded by the hollow card ring 15. The bottom is either molded as a single piece onto the hollow card ring 15 or integrally formed with the hollow card ring 15. Like the hollow card ring 15 itself, the bottom is made of natural fibers such as paper or cardboard.

[0054] The cover 10 may, for example, be composed of a mixture of fiber particles pressed together. The fiber particle mixture may advantageously be enriched with reinforcing compounds or fillers, such as adhesives for extruded resins (similar to composite particleboard). This increases strength and, for example, enables the introduction of a resistant thread into the outer retaining ring 17 of the hollow retaining ring 15 of the cover 10.

[0055] In an alternative embodiment, however not shown in the figures, the hollow retaining ring 15 and the bottom 5 are manufactured as two or more pieces. For example, the hollow retaining ring 15 can be made of suitable plastic as an injection molded part, on which the bottom 5, made of natural fibrous material, is glued to the upper side (the side facing away from the paint spray gun 2) or lower side (the side facing the paint spray gun 2) or on the hollow retaining ring 15. The bottom 5, made of natural fibrous material, attached in this way has greater stability compared to a similarly attached bottom 5, for example, made of plastic film.

[0056] Although natural fibrous materials must always appear opaque at first glance, the bottom 5 can also be made opaque, translucent, or transparent. Suitable materials made from cellulose or plant materials, as well as binders that tend to bond such materials, such as resin-based adhesives, are known to those skilled in the art.

[0057] The stability of the bottom 5 is achieved by using a piercing pin 7, which can pierce the piercing point or area 6 of the bottom 5. The piercing point or area 6 is centrally or radially located on the bottom 5 and can be characterized, for example, by color marking. However, the piercing point or area can also be non-centrally located, and particularly near the edge, to reduce the flexibility of the bottom 5 and increase resistance during penetration. Alternatively or additionally, the area of ​​the bottom 5 can also be reinforced around the piercing point or area 6, for example, by a glued annular second layer. This prevents or at least reduces the risk of tearing of the bottom 5 during penetration.

[0058] To put the paint cup 1 or paint spray gun 2 into use, the bottom 5 is pierced in a non-sealed manner at the piercing point or piercing area 6 using a piercing pin 7 (first penetration state). For example, from... Figure 8It is derived that the piercing nail 7 with a substantially rotationally symmetric structure consists of a piercing tip 21, a ventilation top 22 with a first diameter d1, a sealing top 23 with a second diameter d2, and a gripping area (manipulation cap) with a gripping disc along its longitudinal axis. Four ventilation channels 8 each constructed as axial grooves extend along the ventilation top 22. Ventilation channels 8' constructed as radial grooves are formed at the sealing top 23 such that the ventilation channels 8 are fluid-connected to the atmosphere, where the sealing top can be constructed slightly spherically. The piercing nail 7 is held in the first penetration state by engaging the bottom 5 in the fastening groove 26.

[0059] To stop the paint cup 1 or the paint spray gun 2 from working, the piercing nail 7 is moved from the non-sealed position to the sealed position (second penetration state). For this purpose, the sealing top 23 of the piercing nail 7 is further pushed into the bottom 5 of the cover 10 or pushed past the bottom until the side surface of the sealing top 23 is in sealing abutment with the outer edge of the piercing area 6. Thereby, the fluid connection between the ventilation channels 8 and the atmosphere is prohibited. The side surface of the sealing top 2 absorbs the piercing area 6. The piercing nail 7 is held in the second penetration state by engaging the bottom 5 in the fastening groove 27.

[0060] To put the paint cup 1 or the paint spray gun 2 back into use, the piercing nail 7 can be reset from the second penetration state to the first penetration state. However, it is self-evident that there is a complete risk that due to the widening of the hole in the bottom 5, the piercing nail 7 is not held in the first penetration state in a relatively stable manner.

[0061] To prevent the piercing nail 7 from being inadvertently removed or dropped from the bottom 5, the piercing nail 7 can also have one or more barbs or barb-like shaping elements, for example, provided at the side surface of the first stage.

[0062] In Figure 9a Figures 9a (first penetration state) and 9b (second penetration state), a second embodiment of the piercing nail 7 is shown, where in addition to the ventilation top 22 and the sealing top 23, the piercing nail 7 also has a third top 24 with a third diameter d3 within the handle 25, where for the diameter ratio, d1 < d2 < d3 applies. Different from the piercing nail 7 described in Figure 8 In the case of the piercing nail 7 in Figure 9, the bottom 5 of the cover 10 is sealed not only by the sealing abutment of the side surface of the sealing top 23 in the second penetration state, but also by means of the end side of the third top 24 facing the bottom 5 or the piercing area 6. Higher sealing performance is thus achievable through the third top 24. The end side of the third top 24 can include other sealing mechanisms, such as a sealing ring made of an elastomeric material inserted into an annular groove.

[0063] Finally, in <{0000149}>Two further embodiments of the inverted variant are shown in 12 to 14. The inverted configuration indicates that the opening 4 of the pigment container 3 is positioned on the side facing the spray gun 2, wherein the opening 4 is closed or can be closed by a cap 10' having an outlet 20 for connection to the paint spray gun 2. In this embodiment, the cap system 9 is configured as a clip-on cap having a fixing element 11 that is hinged to the cap 10' and engages around the sealing protrusion 12 of the pigment container 3. Figure 10 , 11 ), or similar to according to Figures 1 to 7 The first embodiment of the cover system 9 is constructed as a cover 10' having a locking ring 14. Figures 12 to 14 Similar to the previous embodiment, the bottom 5 of the pigment cup 1 can be penetrated by the piercing nail 7, wherein the bottom 5 is not constructed to be removable, but is integrally formed with the can wall portion 4 of the pigment container 3. Here, the can wall portion 4 is made of the same material as the bottom 5.

[0064] Advantageously, the pigment container 3 is equipped with a vertical retaining ring 13 on the bottom side, see Figure 11 The upright retaining ring ensures that the pigment container 3 remains upright on its bottom 5 even when pierced by the piercing nail 7.

[0065] It goes without saying that components described as columns or cylindrical shapes in the accompanying drawings may also have (slightly) different shapes, such as cones, truncated cones, spheres, etc.

Claims

1. A pigment cup (1) for a paint spray gun (2), the pigment cup comprising a pigment container (3) having a can wall portion (4) and a bottom portion (5), wherein, The bottom is made of a puncture-resistant natural fiber material and has a puncture point or puncture area (6) for ventilation of the pigment cup, wherein the pigment cup includes a puncture stud (7) designed to form a ventilation valve for establishing pressure balance by penetrating the bottom at the puncture point or puncture area, and wherein the puncture stud has a retaining mechanism to secure it to the pigment container during both the ventilation and sealing phases, wherein the pigment cup is connected to the atmosphere during the ventilation phase and is not connected to the atmosphere during the sealing phase, wherein the puncture stud has at least one puncture point or puncture area (6). The device comprises at least four axially aligned stages, wherein the first stage forms a penetrating tip (21), the second stage forms a venting top (22), the third stage forms a sealing top (23), and the fourth stage forms an operating cap. The retaining mechanism has a surrounding first and second fastening groove, the first fastening groove being disposed between the venting top and the sealing top, and the second fastening groove being disposed between the sealing top and the operating cap. In the venting stage, the bottom occupies the surrounding first fastening groove to retain the piercing nail, and in the sealing stage, the bottom occupies the surrounding second fastening groove to retain the piercing nail.

2. The pigment cup (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fiber material is a cellulose-based fiber material.

3. The pigment cup (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The puncture point or puncture area (6) is constructed in the same manner as the rest of the bottom, the puncture point or puncture area (6) having a weakened portion, or the bottom (5) having a reinforcing portion surrounding the puncture point or puncture area (6).

4. The pigment cup (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The puncture point or puncture area (6) is characterized in an optical and / or tactile manner.

5. The pigment cup (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The piercing nail (7) is designed to form at least one sealable ventilation channel (8) by penetrating the bottom (5) at the piercing point or piercing area (6), wherein the piercing nail (7) passes through the ventilation channel (8) at the outer circumference of the piercing nail (7) and / or axially.

6. The pigment cup (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The piercing nail (7) for penetrating the bottom (5) is equipped with a diameter of two or more stages, and the piercing nail (7) is capable of penetrating the piercing point or piercing area (6) in two or more stages, wherein the piercing nail (7) penetrates non-sealed in one stage to establish pressure balance and penetrates sealed in another stage.

7. The pigment cup (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The piercing nail (7) has one or more axially extending ventilation channels (8), which are in the form of one or more axially extending grooves arranged around the circumference of the ventilation top (22).

8. The pigment cup (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The piercing nail (7) has one or more axially extending ventilation channels (8) that extend at the end face of the piercing nail (7) into one or more radially extending ventilation channels.

9. The pigment cup (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The piercing nail (7) has one or more axially extending ventilation channels (8) that extend at the end face of the sealing top (22) into one or more radially extending ventilation channels.

10. The pigment cup (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The tank wall (4) is made of the fibrous material.

11. The pigment cup (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The tank wall (4) and / or the bottom (5) are made of a weight greater than 200g / m². 2 Made of cardboard.

12. The pigment cup (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The tank wall (4) and / or the bottom (5) are provided with a liquid-resistant coating on at least the inner side.

13. The pigment cup (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that, The can wall (4) and / or the bottom (5) are provided with a solvent-resistant coating on at least the inner side, the coating being made of plastic and / or aluminum.

14. The pigment cup (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The can wall (4) and / or the bottom (5) are made of cardboard made of one, two or three layers.

15. The pigment cup (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that, The can wall (4) and / or the bottom (5) are cardboard that has been glued once or twice.

16. The pigment cup (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The end of the pigment cup (1) facing the paint spray gun (2) has an output port (20) for connecting to the paint spray gun (2) or for connecting to an adapter for connecting to the paint spray gun (2).

17. A method for using a pigment cup (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that, In order to form a ventilation valve, the bottom (5) made of natural fibers is pierced.

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