Spray gun, in particular a pressurised air atomisation paint spray gun, in particular a hand-held pressurised air atomisation paint spray gun

Abstract

The invention relates to a spray gun (1), in particular a pressurised air atomisation paint spray gun, in particular a hand-held pressurised air atomisation paint spray gun, which has at least one air valve (80, 82), in particular an air valve (80, 82) that can be actuated by means of at least one actuation element (18), in particular by means of at least one trigger, having at least one valve inlet region (62, 64) and at least one valve outlet region (92, 93), wherein the spray gun (1) has at least one material valve (96), in particular for material to be sprayed, and wherein the at least one material valve (96) is designed in such a way that it can be pneumatically actuated, in particular opened, in particular exclusively pneumatically actuated, in particular opened, in particular wherein it can be actuated, in particular opened, by means of air from the at least one valve outlet region (92, 93), in particular wherein it can be actuated, in particular opened, exclusively by means of air from the at least one valve outlet region (92, 93). With the embodiment according to the invention, the force to be exerted to actuate the actuation element by the user of the spray gun is significantly lower than in spray guns according to the prior art, which allows for effortless operation.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a spray gun, in particular a compressed air atomizing paint spray gun, in particular a hand-held compressed air atomizing paint spray gun, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Spray guns, especially paint spray guns, operate with various pressure processes. Conventional spray guns operate at relatively high spray pressures of several bar. So-called HVLP guns have a maximum internal nozzle pressure of 10 psi or 0.7 bar, which allows for transfer rates well over 65%. Compliant spray guns, on the other hand, have an internal nozzle pressure of more than 10 psi or 0.7 bar, but also achieve a transfer rate of more than 65%.

[0003] The internal nozzle pressure of a spray gun refers to the pressure prevailing in the air cap of the spray gun. The atomizing air zone is often separated from the horn air zone, and the pressure in the atomizing air zone may be different from that in the horn air zone. However, the pressures in the atomizing air zone and the horn air zone may also be the same.

[0004] According to the prior art, a spray gun, in particular a paint spray gun, in particular a compressed air atomizing paint spray gun, has a material nozzle on its head which is screwed into the gun body. The material nozzle often has a hollow cylindrical plug at its front end, from whose front opening the material to be sprayed emerges when the spray gun is operated. However, the material nozzle can also be conical in its front area. The gun head usually has an external thread via which an air nozzle ring with an air cap arranged therein is screwed onto the gun head. The air cap has a central opening whose diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the material nozzle plug or the outer diameter of the front end of a conical material nozzle. The central opening of the air cap and the plug or the front end of the material nozzle together form an annular gap.From this annular gap emerges the so-called atomizing air, which, in the nozzle arrangement described above, creates a vacuum at the end face of the material nozzle, sucking the material to be sprayed out of the material nozzle. The material to be atomized is fed into the atomizing air and torn into threads and ribbons. Due to their hydrodynamic instability, the interaction between the rapidly flowing compressed air and the ambient air, and aerodynamic disturbances, these threads and ribbons break up into droplets, which are blown away from the nozzle by the atomizing air.

[0005] The air cap often also has two horns, which are diametrically opposed to each other and extend beyond the aforementioned annular gap and the material outlet opening in the outflow direction. Two supply holes, i.e., horn air supply channels, run from the rear of the air cap to horn air holes in the horns. In As a rule, each horn has at least one horn air bore, but preferably each horn has at least two horn air bores from which the horn air exits. The horn air bores are generally oriented so that they point towards the longitudinal axis of the nozzle in the exit direction after the annular gap, so that the so-called horn air exiting the horn air bores can influence the air that has already escaped from the annular gap or the paint jet or the paint mist that has already at least partially formed. As a result, the paint jet or spray jet, which originally had a circular cross-section (round jet), is compressed on the sides facing the horns and extended in a direction perpendicular to this. This creates a so-called wide jet, which allows for high surface painting speeds. In addition to deforming the spray jet, the horn air serves to further atomize the spray jet.

[0006] In The gun body, i.e., the base body of the spray gun, usually contains air ducts. Air from one of the ducts, as described above, is directed to the aforementioned annular gap for use as atomizing air, and air from another duct, as described above, is directed to the aforementioned horn air openings for use as horn air. For this purpose, the air ducts open into an end face of the gun body head and are directed to the annular gap or horn air holes via an air distribution arrangement. The air distribution arrangement often includes an air distribution ring that separates the atomizing air area from the horn air area.

[0007] A so-called driver is usually arranged, particularly pressed, on the paint needle that closes the material nozzle or the material outlet of the material nozzle. When the trigger is pulled by the spray gun user, this driver engages the needle, thereby moving the material needle backward and out of the material outlet of the material nozzle, thus exposing the material outlet for the material to be sprayed. The harder the trigger is pulled, the further the paint needle is moved out of the material outlet. A stop usually limits the movement of the trigger and thus the movement of the paint needle. In In the so-called full trigger situation, the trigger is pulled to its maximum and the material nozzle is fully open so that the maximum possible amount of material to be sprayed can be sucked out of the material nozzle as described above and fed into the atomizing air. If the trigger is partially or fully released, the trigger and material needle usually move back to their unactuated starting position in the opposite direction to the actuation, each due to a compression spring. While this has the advantage that the trigger only needs to be actively moved, i.e. pressed, in one direction, the disadvantage is that the user of the spray gun must always pull the trigger against the force of the compression springs. This is very tedious, especially during longer painting jobs.

[0008] EP 2 127 758 A1 therefore proposes a spray gun in which, upon actuation of the trigger 5, a needle 4 is pushed rearward by the trigger 5, and air flows via a branch 21 into a cylinder 17 with a piston 16, wherein the piston 16 is connected to a needle 4. The piston 16 supports the trigger 5 in actuating the needle 4 by supplying it with air.

[0009] Further spray guns are disclosed in the documents US 2005 / 001060 A1 and DE 259621 C.

[0010] The disadvantage of this state of the art is that the design is relatively complicated and the trigger guard's operation, which is still mainly mechanical, continues to be tiring for the user.

[0011] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a spray gun which is of simple construction and by means of which a more fatigue-free working is possible than with spray guns according to the prior art.

[0012] This object is achieved by means of a spray gun, in particular by means of a compressed air atomizing paint spray gun, in particular by means of a hand-held compressed air atomizing paint spray gun, which has at least one air valve, in particular an air valve that can be actuated by means of at least one actuating element, in particular by means of at least one trigger, with at least one valve inlet region and at least one valve outlet region, wherein the spray gun has at least one material valve, in particular for material to be sprayed, and wherein the at least one material valve is designed such that it can be pneumatically actuated, in particular opened, in particular exclusively pneumatically actuated, in particular opened, in particular wherein it can be actuated, in particular opened, by means of air from the at least one valve outlet region,in particular that it can be actuated, in particular opened, exclusively by means of air from the at least one valve outlet area.,

[0013] The spray gun can be a gravity-feed gun, a suspended cup gun, a side-feed gun, or a pressure-feed gun. The spray gun can be used in particular for spraying liquid media, especially paint or varnish. A compressed air atomizing paint spray gun is a paint spray gun in which the spray medium is atomized using compressed air, as described above. This distinguishes compressed air atomizing paint spray guns from so-called airless guns, in which the spray medium is atomized by being forced through a very small opening, and so-called air-assisted airless guns, in which compressed air is used for post-atomization and / or to shape the spray jet.The present invention can of course also be used with airless guns and air-assisted airless guns, particularly because the trigger force required for the initial actuation of the trigger guard is very high with these types of guns. Handheld paint spray guns are those that a human user holds and controls during use. This distinguishes handheld paint spray guns from so-called automatic guns and robot guns, which are installed in a painting system and / or controlled by a painting robot. The spray gun can be designed to spray one component or multiple components. It can be an internally mixing or an externally mixing spray gun.

[0014] The spray gun according to the invention has an air valve, whereby an air valve is generally understood to be a component for controlling the flow of air. In this context, the term "valve" encompasses all types of shut-off devices, in particular slide valves, flaps, cocks, or other components by means of which a volume flow can be controlled.

[0015] The air valve can be actuated, in particular opened and / or closed, by means of at least one actuating element, in particular by means of at least one trigger. This means that an actuating element, which can preferably be designed like or similar to a spray gun trigger according to the prior art, but can also be in the form of a rotary knob, a lever, or another operating element, is actuated, in particular pressed, pulled, or rotated, whereupon the air valve performs an action, in particular opens or closes, either completely or partially.

[0016] The air valve has at least one valve inlet region and at least one valve outlet region, wherein the valve inlet region can generally be understood to mean a region, a section, a channel, a chamber or the like that is arranged upstream of the closure part of the air valve, in particular from which air is supplied from the closure part of the air valve, in particular from which air flows to the closure part of the air valve. The valve outlet region can generally be a region, a section, a channel, a chamber or the like that is arranged downstream of the closure part of the air valve, to which air is supplied from the open closure part of the air valve, in particular into which air flows from the open closure part of the air valve.

[0017] The spray gun according to the invention further comprises at least one material valve, in particular for material to be sprayed. The material valve can be designed like or similar to a material nozzle according to the prior art and / or comprise a material nozzle or a similarly designed component. The material valve preferably has a closure part which opens and / or closes the passage through the material valve, either completely or partially, and which can be designed, for example, as a material needle as known in the prior art or similarly thereto. However, the closure part can also be designed as an orifice, ball, slide, flap or the like, in particular as another shut-off device, and / or comprise such a component.The material valve is particularly designed such that the flow, in particular the volumetric flow, of a material to be sprayed through the spray gun can be controlled, in particular the quantity, in particular the volumetric flow, of the material to be sprayed leaving the material valve. The present material valve can form the material outlet of the spray gun, similar to the material nozzle of a prior art spray gun, but it can also be arranged upstream of a material outlet of the spray gun.

[0018] The at least one material valve is designed such that it can be pneumatically actuated, in particular opened, in particular exclusively pneumatically actuated, in particular opened. This means in particular that the material valve and / or a closure part of the material valve experiences a change of state, in particular is moved, by air, in particular compressed air, in particular brought about or caused by air, in particular compressed air. The pneumatic actuation can also comprise holding the material valve and / or a closure part of the material valve. In particular, the air can generate a force, in particular on the material valve and / or a closure part and / or on a part connected thereto, whereby the material valve and / or the closure part of the material valve experiences a change of state, in particular is moved.The air can, for example, flow to a material valve, in particular a closure part and / or a part connected thereto, thereby actuating the material valve. Additionally or alternatively, air pressure can be applied to a material valve and / or a closure part and / or a part connected thereto, thereby actuating the material valve.In particular, if the force exerted by the air on the material valve and / or a closure part and / or on a part connected thereto is changed, in particular if the flow, in particular the volume flow, on the material valve and / or a closure part and / or on a part connected thereto is changed, in particular becomes larger or smaller, and / or if the air pressure applied to the material valve and / or a closure part and / or on a part connected thereto is changed, this usually causes a change in state, in particular a movement, in the material valve and / or the closure part of the material valve.If the force exerted by the air on the material valve and / or a closure part and / or on a part connected thereto remains constant, the material valve and / or the closure part of the material valve preferably remains in a certain state, in particular the material valve can remain in a certain actuation state.

[0019] Preferably, the material valve is actuated exclusively by air, in particular compressed air, in particular exclusively by the action of air. This means that only air brings about the change in state of the material valve and / or the closure part of the material valve, in particular that only air generates the force, in particular on the material valve and / or a closure part of the material valve and / or on a part connected thereto, whereby the material valve and / or the closure part of the material valve undergoes the change in state, in particular is moved.This means that in the chain of effects between the actuating element and the material valve, there is at least one section in which no mechanical components interact, but rather only air acts on the material valve and / or a closure part of the material valve and / or a part connected to it in such a way that the described change of state occurs, in particular that the material valve is actuated, in particular opened. Of course, the actuating element can certainly initially act on a mechanical component, and the material valve and / or a closure part of the material valve can also certainly be connected to a mechanical component that plays a role in the chain of effects. In between, however, an effect, in particular a force, is generated exclusively by air, in particular compressed air.

[0020] By actuating the material valve, wherein actuation in this case preferably means opening, in particular fully and / or partially opening, the valve, a passage for the material to be sprayed can be created. Actuating the material valve can additionally or alternatively lead to closing the material valve, i.e., blocking and / or throttling a passage for the material to be sprayed.

[0021] The material valve can preferably be actuated, in particular opened, by means of air from the at least one valve outlet region. It can particularly preferably be actuated, in particular opened, exclusively by means of air from the at least one valve outlet region. In particular, the material valve can be actuated, in particular opened, by means of air that is supplied to the material valve and / or a component connected to the material valve from or via the at least one valve outlet region. In particular, the material valve can be actuated, in particular opened, by means of air that flows from the at least one valve outlet region. The air can in particular flow into the material valve and / or into a component connected to the material valve in order to actuate, in particular open, the material valve. As already mentioned, actuating the material valve can additionally or alternatively mean closing the material valve.

[0022] The amount of air flowing from the at least one valve inlet region into the at least one valve outlet region can be determined by the position of the actuating element; in particular, the amount of air flowing from the at least one valve inlet region into the at least one first valve outlet region can be determined by the position of the actuating element within a first position section of the actuating element described in more detail below and / or within a second position section of the actuating element described in more detail below.

[0023] Due to the design according to the invention, the force required by the user of the spray gun to actuate the actuating element is significantly lower than with spray guns according to the prior art.

[0024] The spray gun according to the invention is designed such that the material valve can assume at least one first end position in which the material valve is closed and a second end position in which the material valve is fully open, in particular that it can assume at least one first end position in which the material valve is closed, a second end position in which the material valve is fully open, and at least one intermediate position in which the material valve is partially open, and that the actuating element can assume at least one first end position in which the actuating element is unactuated and a second end position in which the actuating element is fully actuated, in particular that it can assume at least one first end position in which the actuating element is unactuated, a second end position in which the actuating element is fully actuated, and at least one intermediate position,in which the actuating element is partially actuated, whereby the position of the actuating element determines the position of the material valve. In particular, this can mean that when the actuating element is not actuated, the material valve is closed, that when the actuating element is partially actuated, the material valve is partially open, and / or that when the actuating element is fully actuated, the material valve is fully open.

[0025] Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the subclaims.

[0026] The spray gun is particularly preferably designed such that the material valve can be adjusted continuously and / or in steps by means of the actuating element, at least in one position section of the actuating element. This means that the state, in particular the actuating state, in particular the degree of actuation, in particular the position of the actuating element determines the state, in particular the actuating state, in particular the degree of actuation, in particular the position of the material valve and / or a closure part of the material valve. In addition to the above statements about the material valve being closed when the actuating element is not actuated, partially open when the actuating element is partially actuated, and / or fully open when the actuating element is fully actuated, this means, for example,that when the actuating element is actuated to 20%, the material valve is also actuated to 20%, in particular open, that when the actuating element is actuated to 30%, the material valve is also actuated to 30%, in particular open, that when the actuating element is actuated to 70%, the material valve is also actuated to 70%, in particular open, and so on. The actuating element and the material valve can each change continuously, or they can each take on individual stages. It is conceivable that both change continuously or both in stages, and it is conceivable that the actuating element changes continuously and the material valve in stages or vice versa. 20%, 30%, 70% etc. actuation of the actuating element can be understood in particular to mean that the actuating element has covered 20%, 30%, 70% etc. of its actuating travel, in particular its travel between the unactuated position and the fully actuated position.20%, 30%, 70%, etc. actuation of the material valve can be understood in particular to mean that a material needle closing the material valve, in particular the material nozzle, has covered 20%, 30%, 70%, etc. of its actuation path, in particular its path between a first end position in which the material needle closes a material outlet opening of the material valve and the material valve is closed, and a second end position in which the material needle has protruded as far as it can from the material outlet opening of the material valve and the material valve is fully open. However, it can also mean that the flow cross-section of a material outlet opening of the material valve is open to 20%, 30%, 70%, etc.However, other characteristics of the states, in particular the actuation states, in particular the actuation degrees, in particular the positions of the material valve and / or a closure part of the material valve are also conceivable.

[0027] Particularly preferably, the material valve is continuously and / or stepwise adjustable by means of the actuating element only in a specific positional section of the actuating element. In particular, the material valve may not be adjustable by means of the actuating element in a first positional section of the actuating element, which is defined, in particular limited, by a first intermediate position of the actuating element in which the actuating element is unactuated, and a first intermediate position of the actuating element in which the actuating element is partially actuated. However, it may be continuously and / or stepwise adjustable in a second positional section of the actuating element, which is defined, in particular limited, by a first intermediate position of the actuating element in which the actuating element is partially actuated, and an end position of the actuating element in which the actuating element is fully actuated.Particularly preferably, the second position section of the actuating element directly follows the first position section in the actuating direction.

[0028] Preferably, the spray gun according to the invention is designed such that the position of the material valve changes continuously at least in one position section of the actuating element as a function of the change in the position of the actuating element, preferably changes substantially proportionally to the position of the actuating element, preferably in both actuating directions.

[0029] The fact that the position of the material valve changes continuously depending on the change in the position of the actuating element means, in this case, that the position of the material valve always changes when the position of the actuating element changes. This is preferably the case at least in one positional section of the actuating element, preferably in the second positional section of the actuating element described above.

[0030] The fact that the position of the material valve changes continuously in both actuation directions depending on the change in the position of the actuating element means that the position of the material valve changes continuously both when the actuating element is actuated and when the actuating element is released, depending on the change in the position of the actuating element. In this context, releasing is generally understood to mean the active or passive return of the actuating element to the unactuated position or state. This is accompanied by the active or passive return of the material valve to the closed state.

[0031] Preferably, the position of the material valve changes substantially proportionally to the position of the actuating element. This can mean, for example, that a material needle closing the material valve, in particular the material nozzle, moves 2 mm out of the material outlet opening when the actuating element is moved 2 mm, moves 4 mm out of the material outlet opening when the actuating element is moved 4 mm, moves 7 mm out of the material outlet opening when the actuating element is moved 7 mm, and so on, which corresponds to a proportionality factor of 1.However, it can also mean that the fluid needle moves 2 mm out of the fluid outlet when the actuator is moved 4 mm, 3 mm out of the fluid outlet when the actuator is moved 6 mm, 4 mm out of the fluid outlet when the actuator is moved 3 mm, and so on, which corresponds to a proportionality factor of 0.5. However, larger or smaller proportionality factors are also conceivable.

[0032] Instead of a linear relationship between the change in the position of the material valve and the change in the position of the actuating element, a curve that becomes steeper or flatter with increasing degree of actuation of the actuating element is also conceivable.

[0033] In the present case, as well as above, the position of the material valve and / or the position of the actuating element can be understood to mean, in addition to the actual position, a general state, in particular an actuating state, in particular a degree of actuation of the material valve or of the actuating element and / or a degree of actuation of a closure part of the material valve.

[0034] Particularly preferably, the material valve of the spray gun according to the invention has at least one material needle and a material outlet opening that can be closed by means of the material needle, wherein the spray gun is designed such that the material needle can be moved out of the material outlet opening by actuating the actuating element, in particular the trigger guard, wherein actuating the actuating element, in particular the trigger guard, over a first distance generates a movement of the material needle over a second distance, and wherein the second distance is dependent on the first distance, in particular wherein the second distance is equal to the first distance, in particular wherein the second distance is dependent on and / or equal to the first distance at least within a position section of the actuating element. The above statements apply here accordingly.The said position section is preferably the second position section mentioned above.

[0035] The material valve preferably has at least one material needle and a material outlet opening that can be closed by the material needle. A material valve actuating element of a material valve actuating device, designed as a piston, is arranged on the material needle. The piston is movably arranged within a material valve actuating cylinder. The piston is designed such that it can be actuated by air, in particular by air from at least one valve outlet region, and in particular that it can be actuated exclusively by air, in particular by air from at least one valve outlet region. The material valve actuating device can be designed as part of the material valve or as a separate device.Air, in particular air from at least one valve outlet region, in particular from the valve outlet region described above, in particular air which is supplied to the piston from the valve outlet region, in particular air which flows from the valve outlet region to the piston, preferably exerts a force directly on the piston, whereupon the piston, together with the material needle on which it is arranged, moves in a direction facing away from the material outlet opening, as a result of which the material needle releases the material outlet opening and thus opens the material valve. The piston can preferably delimit an air chamber, in particular it can be designed as a movable wall of an air chamber. Air is supplied to this air chamber, the pressure in the chamber rises and the air piston is moved.

[0036] The spray gun according to the invention preferably has at least one second air valve with at least one second valve inlet region and at least one second valve outlet region, wherein the at least one second air valve can be actuated by means of at least one actuating element, in particular by means of the actuating element by which the first air valve. The second air valve can be designed, for example, as a separate air valve, in particular connected in series with the first air valve described above. The two air valves can share a common valve piston which moves the closure parts of the air valves when a common actuating element is actuated, in particular opens and / or closes them. Of course, a first air valve and a second air valve can also be connected in parallel and / or can be actuated by means of different actuating elements.

[0037] The spray gun according to the invention preferably has at least one second air valve, in particular a second air valve arranged upstream of the first air valve, with at least one second valve outlet region, in particular at least one second valve outlet region arranged between the first air valve and the second air valve, in particular at least one second valve outlet region opening into at least one air outlet opening of the spray gun, in particular into at least one atomizing air outlet opening and / or into at least one shaping air outlet opening and / or at least one transport air outlet opening. The above statements regarding the first air outlet region apply accordingly to the second air outlet region. The second valve outlet region can also generally be a region, a section, a channel, a chamber or the like, which is arranged downstream of the closure part of the second air valve, to which orthe air is supplied from the open closure part of the second air valve, in particular into which air flows from the open closure part of the second air valve. Preferably, the second air valve, like the first air valve, also has at least one valve inlet region, wherein this second valve inlet region can also generally be a region, a section, a channel, a chamber or the like, which is arranged upstream of the closure part of the second air valve, in particular from which air is supplied from the closure part of the second air valve, in particular from which air flows to the closure part of the second air valve. Particularly preferably, the first air valve and the second air valve share a common valve inlet region, at least in some areas. The second valve outlet region can preferably also be designed or serve, at least in some areas, as a first valve inlet region.Particularly preferably, the following components are arranged one after the other in the downstream direction: common first and second valve inlet region; closure part of the second air valve; second valve outlet region, which at least in the initial region is simultaneously designed or serves as an end region of the first valve inlet region and from which a continued second valve outlet region branches off; closure part of the first air valve; second valve outlet region.

[0038] The second valve outlet region preferably opens into at least one air outlet opening of the spray gun, in particular into at least one atomizing air outlet opening and / or into at least one shaping air outlet opening and / or at least one transport air outlet opening. The atomizing air outlet opening is an outlet opening, in particular in an air nozzle of the spray gun, which is designed such that a spray medium can be atomized by means of the air flowing out of it, the so-called atomizing air. The shaping air outlet opening is an outlet opening, in particular in an air nozzle of the spray gun, which is designed such that the shape of a spray jet can be changed by means of the air flowing out of it, the so-called shaping air.The transport air outlet opening is an outlet opening, in particular in an air nozzle of the spray gun, which is designed such that the air flowing out of it, the so-called transport air, can move an atomized spray medium away from the spray gun toward an object to be coated. Particularly preferably, the outlet openings are incorporated into the same air nozzle. The second valve outlet region is preferably designed, at least in part, as an air duct or as an air duct arrangement composed of several, in particular branching, air ducts.

[0039] Preferably, the spray gun according to the invention is designed such that when the actuating element is actuated within a first position section of the actuating element, a first air valve between at least one first valve inlet area and at least one first valve outlet area is closed and at least one second air valve between at least one second valve inlet area and at least one second valve outlet area is opened, and that when the actuating element is actuated within a second position section of the actuating element, the first air valve between the at least one first valve inlet area and the at least one first valve outlet area is open and the second air valve between the at least one second valve inlet area and the at least one second valve outlet area is open.

[0040] The said first position section of the actuating element is preferably the above-described first position section of the actuating element, which is defined, in particular limited, by a first end position of the actuating element, in which the actuating element is unactuated, and a first intermediate position of the actuating element, in which the actuating element is partially actuated.

[0041] The said second position section of the actuating element is preferably the above-described second position section of the actuating element, which is defined, in particular limited, by a first intermediate position of the actuating element in which the actuating element is partially actuated, and an end position of the actuating element in which the actuating element is fully actuated.

[0042] The first air valve is preferably the first air valve described above, the first valve inlet region is preferably the first valve inlet region described above, the at least one first valve outlet region is preferably the first valve outlet region described above, the second air valve is preferably the second air valve described above, the second valve inlet region is preferably the second valve inlet region described above and the second valve outlet region is preferably the second valve outlet region described above.

[0043] During actuation of the actuating element, the second air valve initially opens between at least one second valve inlet area and at least one second valve outlet area. The air flowing from the at least one second valve inlet area through the open second air valve into the at least one second valve outlet area can in particular serve as so-called pre-air. As already mentioned above, the second valve outlet area preferably opens into at least one air outlet opening of the spray gun, in particular into at least one atomizing air outlet opening and / or into at least one shaping air outlet opening and / or at least one transport air outlet opening. In this first position section of the actuating element, the spray gun only expels air but no paint. The pre-air flows in particular from the atomizing air outlet opening.The pre-air prevents large, insufficiently atomized paint drops from being thrown onto the object to be coated. The first air valve only opens when the actuating element is in a second position, whereupon air can flow from the at least one first valve inlet area through the open first air valve into the at least one first valve outlet area. The material valve can then be pneumatically actuated, in particular opened, in particular by air from the first valve outlet area. The second air valve also remains open in the second position of the actuating element, so that the material to be sprayed can be sucked out of the material outlet opening of the material valve and fed to the atomizing air. When the actuating element is released, the first air valve, and with it the material valve, closes first, while the second air valve remains open.This prevents large amounts of sprayed material from remaining at the material valve, especially in the material outlet opening, and clogging the material valve. The second air valve only closes when the actuating element has returned to its unactuated position, or shortly before.

[0044] Preferably, a first air valve is integrated into a second air valve. This may mean that a single component or a single arrangement can perform both the function of a first air valve, in particular the first air valve described above, and the function of a second air valve, in particular the second air valve described above.

[0045] Particularly preferably, a first air valve is formed by at least a part of the main body of the spray gun and a valve piston, in particular by a valve piston having at least one recess, in particular a recess which enlarges in the direction of at least one actuating element of the spray gun, which is arranged in particular between the actuating element and a closure part, in particular an air valve head, of a second air valve, and / or that a second air valve is formed by at least a part of the main body of the spray gun and a closure part, in particular an air valve head.

[0046] For example, an air valve can have a valve piston and a closure part arranged thereon, in particular an air valve head, wherein the valve piston is mounted so as to be movable in the axial direction in a valve piston receiving channel, in particular in a valve piston receiving bore. The valve piston receiving channel has approximately the same diameter as the valve piston, and the valve piston is sealingly arranged in the valve piston receiving channel. Upstream of the valve piston receiving channel there is a short channel section with a slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the valve piston receiving channel. An upstream edge of this channel section can function as a valve seat for the closure part, in particular the air valve head. This closure part, in particular this air valve head, and the valve seat formed by the base body of the spray gun can form a second air valve.Between the closure part and the recess in the valve piston there is a region of the valve piston which has no recess and preferably lies sealingly against the wall of the valve piston receiving channel. This region of the valve piston can form a first air valve with the wall of the valve piston receiving channel, which is part of the main body of the spray gun. To improve the tightness between the valve piston and the wall of the valve piston receiving channel, in particular of the main body of the spray gun, sealing elements can be arranged between the valve piston and the wall of the valve piston receiving channel, in particular directly upstream of the recess in the valve piston and in a region of the valve piston facing away from this sealing element.

[0047] The spray gun according to the invention and / or the material valve of the spray gun according to the invention have a material valve actuating device, wherein the material valve actuating device has at least one air inlet, one air outlet and an air chamber arranged therebetween, wherein the air chamber is delimited on at least one side by at least one material valve actuating element for actuating, in particular for opening and / or closing, the material valve, wherein the spray gun and / or the material valve actuating device are designed such that the pressure in the air chamber is determined at least by the amount of air supplied via the air inlet of the air chamber, in particular by the amount of air supplied via the air inlet of the air chamber that can be controlled via the actuating element,in particular that the pressure in the air chamber is determined at least by the amount of air supplied via the air inlet of the air chamber and by at least one air outlet valve, in particular an air outlet valve arranged in the air outlet, in particular a throttle valve and / or a pressure relief valve.,

[0048] When the actuating element is not actuated, the ambient pressure essentially prevails in the air chamber of the material valve actuating device. If the actuating element is actuated, in particular in a second position of the actuating element described above, air flows from the air inlet of the material valve actuating device into the air chamber of the material valve actuating device, whereby the pressure in the air chamber increases. The material valve actuating element for actuating, in particular for opening and / or closing, the material valve, which delimits the air chamber on at least one side, is therefore moved away from its unactuated end position. As a result of this movement, the material valve is actuated, in particular opened, and in particular a material needle can be moved out of the material outlet opening of a material nozzle.The more air flows into the air chamber, the greater the pressure in the air chamber and the further the material valve actuating element moves. Once the material valve actuating element has reached its second, in this case fully actuated, end position, the material valve is fully actuated, in particular fully open. Any further increase in pressure in the chamber would no longer have any effect on the material valve actuating element and the material valve. Therefore, the air outlet valve of the material valve actuating device is designed such that, once a certain pressure within the chamber has been reached, it releases air from the air chamber. In particular, an air outlet valve, in particular a throttle valve and / or a pressure relief valve, can be arranged in the air outlet for this purpose.Particularly preferably, the pressure in the air chamber at which the air outlet releases air from the air chamber, in particular the pressure in the air chamber at which the air valve of the air outlet opens, is slightly higher than the pressure by which the material valve actuating element is pressed into its fully actuated end position and held. This is the situation when the actuating element is fully actuated, in particular when the trigger guard is fully pulled, in which the maximum amount of air flows through the fully open air valve, in particular the fully open first air valve. In this case, the amount of air is in particular an air volume flow. In this situation, there is an equilibrium between the air flowing into the air chamber and the air flowing out of the air chamber, i.e. the volume flow of air flowing into the air chamber is equal to the volume flow of air flowing out of the air chamber.

[0049] The quantity of air supplied via the air inlet of the air chamber and the air outlet valve, in particular the air outlet valve arranged in the air outlet, here in particular the throttle valve, are coordinated with one another in such a way that when the actuating element is only partially actuated, in particular when the actuating element is in an intermediate position within the second position section of the actuating element, the pressure in the air chamber is so great that the material valve actuating element moves into an intermediate position between the unactuated end position and the fully actuated end position and is held there as long as the quantity of air flowing from the air inlet of the material valve actuating device into the air chamber of the material valve actuating device, i.e. the volume flow, does not change. Even in this intermediate position, there is an equilibrium between the air flowing into the air chamber and the air flowing out of the air chamber, i.e.the volume flow of air flowing into the air chamber is equal to the volume flow of air flowing out of the air chamber.

[0050] The material valve actuating element is preferably designed as or comprises at least one piston movably arranged within a cylinder.

[0051] The air outlet valve, in particular the throttle valve, is in the simplest case a constriction, especially in the air outlet, in particular a throttle, in front of which air accumulates and flows through in a throttled manner. The air outlet can have both a throttle valve and a pressure relief valve. Multiple air outlets, each with at least one identical or different air outlet valve, can also be provided.

[0052] Particularly preferably, the spray gun and / or the material valve comprise a material valve actuating device, wherein the material valve actuating device comprises at least one air inlet and one air outlet, wherein the material valve actuating device is designed such that the air flowing from the air inlet actuates a material valve actuating element for actuating, in particular for opening, the material valve, in particular exerts a force on the material valve actuating element in a first direction, wherein the material valve actuating element further comprises at least one material valve return device, in particular at least one spring element, in particular at least one compression spring and / or at least one tension spring, which is designed such that it counteracts the actuation of the material valve actuating element by the air, in particular that it exerts a force on the material valve actuating element in a second,different from the first direction, in particular in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

[0053] The material valve actuating device, the at least one air inlet, the at least one air outlet, and / or the material valve actuating element for actuating, in particular for opening, the material valve can be configured as described above and have the purposes and functionalities described above. In addition to the material valve actuating device described above, the present material valve actuating device has at least one material valve resetting device. This can, in particular, have at least one spring element, in particular at least one spring element, in particular a compression spring and / or at least one tension spring, or the material valve resetting device can be configured as a spring element, in particular as a compression spring and / or as a tension spring.The material valve reset device is designed such that it counteracts the actuation of the material valve actuating element by the air, in particular by exerting a force on the material valve actuating element in a second direction different from the first direction, in particular in a second direction opposite to the first direction. As described above, the pressure in the air chamber increases the more air flows into the air chamber. The greater the pressure in the air chamber, the further the material valve actuating element moves. The material valve reset device preferably counteracts this pressure in the air chamber, which acts on the material valve actuating element and moves it, by applying a counterforce to the material valve actuating element.When the actuating element is not actuated, as described above, the air chamber of the material valve actuating device is essentially at ambient pressure. In In this situation, the material valve reset device preferably holds the material valve actuating element in its unactuated end position. If the actuating element is actuated, in particular in a second position section of the actuating element described above, air flows from the air inlet of the material valve actuating device into the air chamber of the material valve actuating device, whereby the pressure in the air chamber increases. Above a certain pressure, the material valve reset device is no longer able to hold the material valve actuating element in the unactuated end position, whereupon the material valve actuating element moves, in particular in the direction of the material valve reset device.Particularly preferably, the material valve resetting device is designed such that the force which the material valve resetting device exerts on the material valve actuating element is variable, in particular increases with a certain parameter. If the material valve resetting device is designed, for example, as a spring element, in particular as a compression spring or as a tension spring, the force increases with the spring travel, i.e. with the distance by which the spring is pressed in. A material valve resetting device designed as a compression spring is expediently arranged on the side of the material valve actuating element facing away from the air chamber, while a material valve resetting device designed as a tension spring is expediently arranged on the side of the material valve actuating element facing the air chamber.

[0054] The quantity of air supplied via the air inlet of the air chamber, the air outlet valve, in particular the air outlet valve arranged in the air outlet, here in particular the throttle valve, and the material valve resetting device are coordinated with one another in such a way that when the actuating element is partially actuated, in particular when the actuating element is in an intermediate position within the second position section of the actuating element, the pressure in the air chamber is so great that the material valve actuating element is moved into an intermediate position between the unactuated end position and the fully actuated end position and is held there as long as the quantity of air flowing from the air inlet of the material valve actuating device into the air chamber of the material valve actuating device, i.e. the volume flow, does not change.The force exerted by the pressure in the air chamber on the material valve actuating element is therefore equal to the force exerted in the opposite direction by the material valve reset mechanism on the material valve actuating element. Thus, there is a force equilibrium between the pressure in the air chamber and the material valve reset mechanism. Even in this intermediate position of the trigger guard and the material valve actuating element, there is a balance between the air flowing into the air chamber and the air flowing out of the air chamber, i.e., the volume flow of air flowing into the air chamber is equal to the volume flow of air flowing out of the air chamber.

[0055] The spray gun, the material valve actuation device, the air outlet of the material valve actuation device, and / or the air outlet valve of the air outlet are generally designed such that, at a certain pressure, an equilibrium exists between the air flowing into the air chamber and the air flowing out of the air chamber, i.e., between the volume flow of air flowing into the air chamber and the volume flow of air flowing out of the air chamber. The more strongly the actuation element is actuated and the more air flows into the air chamber, the greater the pressure at which this equilibrium state is achieved.

[0056] If the actuating element is partially released after actuation (partial release in this case generally means bringing the actuating element into a less strongly actuated position or state), less air flows into the air chamber via the air inlet, and the pressure at which the aforementioned equilibrium state is reached decreases. This also reduces the force acting on the fluid valve actuating element from the pressure in the air chamber.The material valve reset device, which exerts a force in the opposite direction on the material valve actuating element, is thus able to move the material valve actuating element slightly further toward the air chamber. In particular, a material valve reset device designed as a spring element can relax slightly, in particular rebound, and thus move the material valve actuating element slightly further toward the air chamber. This causes the material valve to close again somewhat. If the material valve actuating element is arranged on a material needle, this generally means that the material needle moves slightly toward the material outlet opening of the material nozzle.

[0057] If the actuating element is completely released after actuation (where complete release in this case generally means bringing the actuating element into the unactuated position or state), no more air flows into the air chamber via the air inlet. The material valve reset device is now able to push the material valve actuating element into its unactuated end position. The air in the air chamber is partially expelled from the air outlet, so that the air chamber essentially returns to ambient pressure.

[0058] The spray gun can in particular be designed in such a way that air only flows through an open air valve, in particular from a valve inlet area into a valve outlet area, in particular that air only flows through the above-mentioned first air valve, in particular from the above-mentioned first valve inlet area into the above-mentioned first valve outlet area and / or to a material valve actuating device, in particular the one mentioned above, and / or to a material valve actuating element, in particular the one described above, when the actuating element experiences a change in state, in particular a change in position, in particular when the actuating element is actuated more forcefully.This is particularly advantageous in the case described above, in which the spray gun according to the invention has at least one first air valve and at least one second air valve, in particular a second air valve arranged upstream of the first air valve, with at least one second valve outlet region, in particular at least one second valve outlet region arranged between the first air valve and the second air valve. The air from the first valve outlet region is preferably used to actuate the material valve, in particular it is supplied to a material valve actuating element. The air from the second valve outlet region is preferably supplied to at least one air outlet opening of the spray gun, in particular at least one atomizing air outlet opening and / or at least one shaping air outlet opening and / or at least one transport air outlet opening.Preferably, the second valve outlet area can conduct a significantly larger amount of air than the first air outlet area. The air takes the path of least resistance, i.e. if the first air valve and the second air valve are open, it only flows into the first valve outlet area until a certain air pressure is reached in the first valve outlet area and / or in an air chamber connected to the first valve outlet area, in particular the air chamber with the material valve actuating element described above. Once this pressure is reached, the air only flows through the second valve outlet area. In the first valve outlet area or in the air chamber connected to it, the air is, so to speak, stationary and the constant air pressure prevailing there presses with constant force on the material valve actuating element.A material valve reset device, in particular the material valve reset device described above, exerts a counterforce on the material valve actuating element such that the material valve actuating element remains positionally stable. The material valve and / or a closure part of the material valve remain in a specific position, a specific location and / or in a specific state, in particular actuating state, in particular actuating degree. Only when the actuating element is actuated further, i.e. more strongly, i.e. the first air valve is opened further, in particular the flow cross-section is increased, does air flow again through the first air valve into the first valve outlet area, whereby the pressure in the first valve outlet area or in the air chamber connected to it increases, whereby a greater force acts on the material valve actuating element.The material valve actuating element moves, in particular, the material valve is actuated more forcefully, in particular, opened further. However, a state is quickly reached again in which a certain air pressure prevails in the first valve outlet area and / or in an air chamber connected to the first valve outlet area, in particular the air chamber with the material valve actuating element described above, causing the air to flow only through the second valve outlet area.

[0059] If the actuating element is partially released after actuation - partial release here also generally means bringing the actuating element into a less strongly actuated position or state - a lower pressure is applied to the first valve outlet area and to the actuating element than before the partial release. This also reduces the force acting on the material valve actuating element due to the pressure. The material valve resetting device, which exerts a force in the opposite direction on the material valve actuating element, is thus able to move the material valve actuating element somewhat further in the direction of the air chamber. In particular, a material valve resetting device designed as a spring element can relax somewhat, in particular rebound, and thus move the material valve actuating element somewhat further in the direction of the air chamber.This causes the fluid valve to close slightly again. If the fluid valve actuator is located on a fluid needle, this usually means that the fluid needle moves slightly toward the fluid outlet opening of the fluid nozzle.

[0060] If the actuating element is completely released after actuation (where complete release in this case generally means bringing the actuating element into the unactuated position or state), there is no longer any pressure at the first valve outlet area or at the actuating element. The material valve reset device is now able to push the material valve actuating element into its unactuated end position. The air in the air chamber is partially expelled from the air outlet, so that the air chamber essentially returns to ambient pressure.

[0061] The spray gun is preferably designed such that it functions by means of a mixture of the two modes of operation described above, ie both on an equilibrium between air flowing into the air chamber and air flowing out of the air chamber and on the path of least resistance.

[0062] Preferably, the second air valve is opened so wide throughout the entire actuation travel of the first air valve that the maximum possible amount of air can always flow through the second air valve. This means that the volume flow flowing through the second air valve is not restricted by the second air valve throughout the entire actuation travel of the first air valve, but rather by the aforementioned air outlet openings of the spray gun, to which the air is supplied from the second air valve or the second valve outlet area. This prevents pressure fluctuations in the area of the second air valve and thus pressure fluctuations in the atomizing air, the shaping air and / or the transport air when the actuation state, in particular the degree of actuation, in particular when the degree of actuation is increased, of the actuating element and the resulting air flows to the actuating element.

[0063] The material valve resetting device can therefore be designed for all modes of operation of the spray gun according to the invention, ie both for the mode of operation based on a balance between air flowing into the air chamber and air flowing out of the air chamber and for the mode of operation based on the path of least resistance and also for a mixture of the two modes of operation, in particular for resetting the material valve from a second end position in which the material valve is fully open to a first end position in which the material valve is closed and / or for resetting the material valve from at least one intermediate position in which the material valve is partially open to a first end position in which the material valve is closed and / or for holding the material valve in a first end position in which the material valve is closed.

[0064] In the spray gun according to the invention, in particular the first air valve, the material valve reset device and the air outlet downstream of the actuating element must be coordinated with one another.

[0065] In general, it is preferred that the spray gun according to the invention be designed such that a material valve of the spray gun according to the invention is opened pneumatically, i.e., by air, and closed mechanically, in particular by a spring force. The material valve is preferably held in an actuated state by the interaction of a pneumatically generated force and a mechanically generated force.

[0066] In particular, the above-described embodiments make it possible for the position of the material valve to change continuously, at least in one position section of the actuating element, depending on the change in the position of the actuating element, in both actuation directions of the actuating element, ie both during actuation and during partial and / or complete release.

[0067] Particularly preferably, the spray gun according to the invention is designed such that the air flowing from at least one valve outlet region and used to actuate the material valve, in particular the air flowing out of an air outlet of a material valve actuating device, is supplied to at least one air outlet opening of the spray gun, in particular at least one atomizing air outlet opening and / or at least one shaping air outlet opening and / or at least one transport air outlet opening. Particularly preferably, the air outlet of a material valve actuating device is the air outlet of the material valve actuating device described above. The air flowing out of the air outlet is supplied to at least one air outlet opening of the spray gun and is thus not lost but can be used effectively.In particular, the air can be supplied to at least one atomizing air outlet opening and / or at least one shaping air outlet opening and / or at least one transport air outlet opening, as described above.

[0068] The spray gun according to the invention preferably has at least one actuating element return device, in particular at least one spring element, in particular at least one compression spring and / or at least one tension spring. The actuating element return device is preferably designed such that it holds an actuating element in a non-actuated end position and, upon release of the actuating element after actuation, moves the actuating element back to its non-actuated end position. The force generated by the actuating element return device can be relatively low, so that the user of the spray gun only has to actuate the actuating element against a relatively low return force.

[0069] As already indicated above, the spray gun is preferably designed such that the material valve is reset by means of the material valve reset device in that air can escape from an air chamber via the air outlet, thereby reducing the air pressure in the air chamber.

[0070] An air inlet arranged upstream of the actuating element, in particular the above-mentioned air inlet to an air chamber, and / or an air outlet arranged downstream of the actuating element, in particular the above-mentioned air outlet from an air chamber, can each have a fixed and / or a variable valve, in particular the air inlet and / or air outlet can each have a regulated valve.

[0071] Particularly preferably, the spray gun according to the invention comprises at least one base body, at least one air nozzle with at least one air outlet opening, in particular at least one atomizing air outlet opening for discharging air for atomizing a material to be sprayed, at least one shaping air outlet opening for discharging air for changing the shape of a spray jet, and / or at least one transport air outlet opening for discharging air for transporting an atomized spray medium, at least one actuating element, in particular a trigger guard, at least one air valve, in particular at least one air valve coupled to the actuating element, in particular an air valve coupled, in particular spring-loaded, to the actuating element, in particular to the trigger guard, via a valve piston, at least one spray gun air inlet, at least one material needle, and at least one material nozzle with at least one material outlet opening.wherein the spray gun is designed such that upon actuation of the actuating element up to a first degree of actuation, the air valve opens, so that air, in particular compressed air, flows from the spray gun air inlet of the spray gun, in particular via a recess in the valve piston, via a first valve outlet region into a material valve actuating device, in particular into a material valve actuating device having at least one material valve actuating cylinder and at least one material valve actuating element movably arranged within the material valve actuating cylinder and designed as a piston, wherein the amount of air flowing into the material valve actuating device increases with increasing degree of actuation of the actuating element,wherein the air flowing into the material valve actuating device exerts a force in a direction away from the material nozzle on the material needle arranged in the material valve actuating device and / or on a part arranged on the material needle, in particular on the material valve actuating element designed as a piston, wherein the force exerted on the material needle and / or on the part arranged on the material needle increases with increasing actuation level of the actuating element, whereby the material needle is moved over a second distance in a direction away from the material nozzle and is thereby moved over this second distance out of the material outlet opening of the material nozzle, wherein the second distance is dependent on a first distance by which the actuating element is actuated upon actuation from the first actuation level,and wherein, at least when a maximum pressure is reached within the material valve actuating device, the air flows from the material valve actuating device, in particular from the material valve actuating device to the air nozzle, in particular from the material valve actuating device to at least one air outlet opening in the air nozzle. The above statements can apply accordingly here.

[0072] The spray gun according to the invention can have at least one continuous valve, which can be configured in particular as a proportional valve, control valve, and / or servo valve. Generally, the volume flow of air should be adjustable by means of at least one valve. In particular, an above-mentioned air valve, in particular the first air valve and / or the second air valve, can be configured in this way.

[0073] The spray gun according to the invention can have at least one actuation area and at least one triggering area, in particular at least one triggering area that can be separated from the at least one actuation area, wherein the at least one actuation area has at least one actuation element and / or the at least one triggering area has at least one material valve, in particular for discharging material to be sprayed, wherein the at least one actuation area and the at least one triggering area are and / or can be connected to one another by means of a connecting element designed, for example, as an air duct, hose and / or as a pipe. This can facilitate, for example, the cleaning of the spray gun.

[0074] The spray gun according to the invention can comprise at least one device which assists or initiates a breakaway, in particular a breakaway of the material needle, in particular from its unactuated position, i.e. when the material outlet opening of the material nozzle or the material valve is closed by the material needle, using mechanical means. This can be advantageous, for example, if residues of sprayed material remain in the material outlet opening after use of the spray gun and have dried out. This can lead to sticking of the material needle in the material outlet opening. In order to break this sticking, a relatively large force is required which may not be able to be applied by the pneumatic means described above.The functional reliability of the spray gun according to the invention can be increased by gently "pushing" the material needle by at least one mechanical device to break the material needle from its unactuated position. Nevertheless, the at least one material valve can be considered pneumatically actuated, in particular openable, in particular exclusively pneumatically actuated, in particular openable, since only the aforementioned first actuation of the material needle occurs mechanically, while the subsequent actuation is pneumatic.

[0075] It can be provided that the material needle is always broken off mechanically or by mechanical means, in particular by at least one mechanical device for breaking off the material needle, in particular from its unactuated position. However, it can alternatively also be provided that this is only the case if the pneumatic means described above cannot generate the force required for breaking off. For example, it can be provided that the actuating element, in particular the trigger guard, or a part thereof, engages a driver on the paint needle when the actuating element has reached a certain degree of actuation without the material needle having moved out of the material outlet opening.If the pneumatic means described above have been able to generate the force required to break the fluid needle from its unactuated position and the fluid needle has moved out of the fluid outlet opening, the mechanical device is not activated; in particular, the actuating element or part of it does not engage a driver on the fluid needle. This functionality can be achieved, in particular, by appropriately positioning the driver on the fluid needle in the axial direction.

[0076] Of course, the above-described or at least one further mechanical device for breaking away, in particular the material needle, can also assist or initiate the breaking away of the material needle from its fully actuated position, i.e., when the material needle has completely moved out of the material outlet opening of the material nozzle or material valve. This can be advantageous in the event that the paint needle has become stuck in its fully actuated position, in particular in its rear end position.

[0077] The above-described or at least one further mechanical device for breaking away, in particular the fluid needle, can also assist or initiate the fluid needle breaking away from its partially actuated position, i.e., when the fluid needle has partially moved out of the fluid outlet opening of the fluid nozzle or fluid valve. This can be advantageous in the event that the fluid needle has become jammed during its movement from the front to the rear end position or back.

[0078] The invention is explained in more detail below using four figures as examples. These show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of an embodiment of a spray gun according to the invention, Fig. 2 a representation of the schematic functional principle of an embodiment of a spray gun according to the invention with an unactuated actuating element, Fig. 3 a representation of the schematic functional principle of an embodiment of a spray gun according to the invention with a partially actuated actuating element, and Fig. 4 a representation of the schematic functional principle of an embodiment of a spray gun according to the invention with a fully actuated actuating element.

[0079] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a spray gun 1 according to the invention, with a base body 3, at the lower end of which a spray gun air inlet 4 is arranged. The spray gun 1 further has an air nozzle 5, which in the present case comprises an air cap 9, which is screwed to the base body 3 of the spray gun 1 by means of an air nozzle ring 11. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the air cap 9 has two horns 13a, 13b, each with two shaping air outlet openings 20. It also has a central opening, which in the present case, together with a material nozzle screwed into the base body 3, forms an atomizing air outlet opening 15 designed as an annular gap. On two opposite sides of the atomizing air outlet opening 15, next to the atomizing air outlet opening 15, a plurality of transport air outlet openings 17, which are also referred to as control openings and can function as such, are provided. In The spray gun 1 is equipped with a material flow regulator, which can be operated via a material flow regulator knob 19. A rear stop for a paint needle can be defined via the material flow regulator, i.e., the material flow regulator can be used to adjust how far the paint needle can protrude from the material outlet opening of the material nozzle when the actuating element 18, which is designed here as a trigger guard, is fully actuated. This defines the maximum flow cross-section for the material flowing out of the material outlet opening of the material nozzle and thus the amount of material sprayed by the spray gun 1.

[0080] The spray gun 1 also has a device by which the amount of air coming from a Fig. 1 non-visible air inlet duct arrangement, which extends from the spray gun air inlet 4 upwards through the handle of the spray gun 1 and flows into an upper part of the gun body 3, is adjustable. For this purpose, a so-called air micrometer can be used, which in this case is actuated by means of an air micrometer rotary knob 21. The air micrometer can be designed, for example, as a sleeve having an opening in its wall, the degree of overlap of which with the opening of the air inlet duct arrangement is adjustable. In this way, the flow cross-section through which the air can flow from the handle area of the spray gun 1 into an upper part of the gun body 3 is adjustable.

[0081] The present embodiment of a spray gun 1 according to the invention has in its interior a Fig. 1 invisible first air outlet duct arrangement and one in Fig. 1 likewise not visible second air outlet duct arrangement. The first air outlet duct arrangement can in particular be an air outlet duct arrangement for conducting air to atomize a material to be sprayed. This air outlet duct arrangement can be referred to as an atomizing air duct arrangement or as an atomizing air duct. The air conducted by it or it can flow out of the atomizing air outlet opening 15 formed by the central opening and the material nozzle screwed into the base body 3 and designed as an annular gap, and can be referred to as atomizing air. The second air outlet duct arrangement can in particular be an air outlet duct arrangement for conducting air to change the shape of a spray jet. This air outlet duct arrangement can be referred to as a shaping air duct arrangement or as a shaping air duct. The air conducted by it or itThe air directed to it can flow out of the shaping air outlet openings 20 of the horns 13a, 13b and is referred to as shaping air. In . Fig. 1 Visible is a round-wide jet rotary knob 23 for actuating a control device for distributing the air flowing from the air inlet duct arrangement between the atomizing air duct arrangement and the shaping air duct arrangement.

[0082] The spray gun 1 also has a device with a display 29 for inputting and / or adjusting and / or detecting and / or determining and / or displaying the air pressure prevailing in an air chamber during operation of the spray gun 1. In the present exemplary embodiment, this is a device for determining and displaying the air pressure prevailing in an air chamber during operation of the spray gun, which further has a device for detecting an air pressure, in particular a pressure sensor.

[0083] The Fig. 2 , the Fig. 3 and the Fig. 4 each show a representation of the schematic functional principle of an embodiment of a spray gun 1 according to the invention.

[0084] The spray gun 1 has an actuating element 18 designed as a trigger guard, via which a valve piston 78 can be actuated, i.e. in this case is mounted so as to be movable in the axial direction in a valve piston receiving channel 79 in the base body 3 of the spray gun 1. The valve piston receiving channel 79 has approximately the same diameter as the valve piston 78 and the valve piston 78 is arranged in a sealing manner in the valve piston receiving channel 79. In the present case, the valve piston 78 has a recess 90 which, in the exemplary embodiment shown, becomes larger, in particular deeper, in the direction of the actuating element 18. Adjacent to the recess 90 in the valve piston 78 is a region of the valve piston 78 which has no recess and preferably bears sealingly against the wall of the valve piston receiving channel 79.This region of the valve piston 78 forms a first air valve 80 with the wall of the valve piston receiving channel 79, which is part of the base body 3 of the spray gun 1. Upstream of the valve piston receiving channel 79 is a short channel section with a slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the valve piston receiving channel 79. This channel section can be configured as at least part of a first valve inlet region 62. An upstream edge of the first valve inlet region 62 can be configured as a valve seat for the closure part, in particular the air valve head, of a second air valve 82.

[0085] In order to improve the tightness between the valve piston 78 and the wall of the valve piston receiving channel 79, in particular of the base body 3 of the spray gun 1, sealing elements can be arranged between the valve piston 78 and the wall of the valve piston receiving channel 79, in particular directly upstream of the recess 90 in the valve piston 78 and in a region of the valve piston 78 facing away from this sealing element.

[0086] The Fig. 2 , the Fig. 3 and the Fig. 4 each further show a material valve 96 having a material nozzle 40. The material nozzle 40 or the material valve 96 has a material outlet opening 28 and a material needle 42. A material valve actuating element 43, in this case designed as a piston, is fixedly arranged on the material needle 42 for actuating, in particular for opening and / or closing, the material valve 96, in particular immovably in the axial direction. The material valve actuating element 43 is mounted in a material valve actuating cylinder 44 so that it can move in the axial direction. A material valve resetting device 48, designed as a compression spring, bears against the side of the material valve actuating element 43 facing away from the material nozzle 40. On the side of the material valve actuating element 43 facing away from the material valve resetting device 48 there is an air chamber 50 which is supplied with air via an air inlet 98. The material valve 96 orThe air chamber 50 further has an air outlet 99 from which air can flow out of the air chamber 50. The arrangement of the material valve actuating element 43, the material valve reset device 48, the air chamber 50, the air inlet 98, and the air outlet 99 can be configured as a material valve actuating device 49, which is preferably arranged within the base body 3 of the spray gun 1, but can also be arranged outside.

[0087] The air inlet 98 is connected, in this case via a connecting element 8, to a first valve outlet region 92. However, the first valve outlet region 92 and the air inlet 98 can also be directly adjacent to one another and / or be designed as a common channel.

[0088] The present embodiment of a spray gun 1 according to the invention further comprises a second valve outlet region 93 and a spray gun air inlet 4. The second valve outlet region 93 and the first valve inlet region 62 are configured, at least in some areas, as a common channel. Furthermore, the spray gun 1 according to the invention can comprise an actuating element return device 94, which can be configured, in particular, as one or more compression springs, and which returns the actuating element 18 to its unactuated end position upon release and / or holds it there.

[0089] In Fig. 2 a schematic functional principle of an embodiment of a spray gun 1 according to the invention with a non-actuated actuating element 18 is shown, i.e. the actuating element 18 is in a first end position. Both the first air valve 80 and the second air valve 82 are closed. This means that air, in particular compressed air, which flows into the spray gun air inlet 4 of the spray gun 1, from the valve inlet area, in particular from the second valve inlet area 64 of the second air valve 82, cannot flow through the second air valve 82 and thus also cannot reach the first air valve 80. The material valve 96 is non-actuated, i.e. in this case, the material outlet opening 28 of the material nozzle 40 or the material valve 96 is closed by the material needle 42.A medium to be sprayed, which is supplied to the material nozzle 40 by means of a material supply (not shown here), cannot leave the material outlet opening 28. Also, from the air outlet openings of the nozzle shown in . Fig. 1 shown air nozzle 5 of the spray gun 1 flows into this in Fig. 2 shown condition no air.

[0090] In Fig. 3 However, a schematic functional principle of an embodiment of a spray gun 1 according to the invention with partially actuated actuating element 18 is shown. The actuating element shown in dashed lines represents the Fig. 2 shown position of the actuating element 18 in the unactuated position. The Fig. 2 shown first end position of the actuating element 18, in which the actuating element 18 is not actuated, and in Fig. 3 shown first intermediate position of the actuating element 18, in which the actuating element 18 is partially actuated, define, in particular delimit, a first position section A of the actuating element 18. If the actuating element 18 is actuated within this first position section A, the second air valve 82 opens, whereupon air from the spray gun air inlet 4 of the spray gun 1 can flow into the second valve inlet region 64 of the second air valve 82, through the second air valve 82 and out of the second valve outlet region 93. The air from the second valve outlet region 93 is preferably air outlet openings in the Fig. 1 shown air nozzle 5 of the spray gun 1, preferably at least one atomizing air outlet opening 15, but optionally also transport air outlet openings 17 and / or shaping air outlet openings 20. In particular, the air flowing from the atomizing air outlet opening 15 serves as the pre-air described above, before it can fulfill its purpose as atomizing air after the material valve 96 or the material nozzle 40 has been actuated, in particular opened, and the material to be sprayed can emerge from the material outlet opening 28.

[0091] In the in Fig. 3 In the situation shown, the first air valve 80 is still just closed, so that no air can flow from the first valve inlet region 62, which, as already mentioned, is simultaneously part of the second valve outlet region 93, through the first air valve 80 into the first valve outlet region 92. The material valve 96 remains inactive, i.e., in this case, the material outlet opening 28 of the material nozzle 40 or of the material valve 96 is still closed by the material needle 42. A medium to be sprayed, which is supplied to the material nozzle 40 by means of a material supply (not shown here), can still not leave the material outlet opening 28.

[0092] Fig. 4 shows a representation of the schematic functional principle of an embodiment of a spray gun 1 according to the invention with a fully actuated actuating element 18. The actuating element shown in dashed lines represents the position of the actuating element 18 in the Fig. 3 shown partially actuated position. The Fig. 3 shown partially actuated position of the actuating element 18 and the Fig. 4 The end position of the actuating element 18 shown, in which the actuating element 18 is fully actuated, defines, in particular delimits, a second position section B of the actuating element 18. Within this second position section B of the actuating element 18, both the second air valve 82 and the first air valve 80 are open. Air flows through the spray gun air inlet 4 of the spray gun 1, into the second valve inlet region 64 of the second air valve 82 and from there into the second valve outlet region 93, which, as already mentioned, is simultaneously part of the first valve inlet region 62. In In this area, the air splits up. The significantly larger portion of the air flows out of the second valve outlet area 93, while a smaller portion of the air flows through the first air valve 80 into the first valve outlet area 92. From there, it flows, in this case via a connecting element 8, via the air inlet 98 into the air chamber 50. The air outlet 99 of the air chamber preferably has a throttle, in particular a throttle valve. The air can therefore only escape from the air chamber very slowly, if at all, which is why the pressure within the air chamber 50 increases. This pressure exerts a force on the material valve actuating element 43, which moves the material valve actuating element 43 backward in the direction away from the material nozzle 40, counter to the force exerted on the material valve actuating element 43 by the material valve return device 48. In Fig. 4 the material valve actuating element 43 has reached its fully actuated position, ie it rests against a rear stop. This stop or another stop against which the material needle 42 itself strikes can be adjustable in all embodiments, in particular via a material quantity regulation which is controlled by a Fig. 1 material quantity control knob 19 shown. Since the material valve actuating element 43 is fixedly arranged on the material needle 42, in particular immovably in the axial direction, the material needle 42 moves with the material valve actuating element 43 backward and out of the material outlet opening 28. In the in Fig. 4 In the situation shown, the actuating element 18 is fully actuated, the material valve actuating element 43 is also fully actuated and the material valve 96 or the material nozzle 40 are fully open. In In this situation, the maximum possible amount of material to be sprayed flows out of the material outlet opening 28 or the maximum possible amount of material to be sprayed is sucked out of the material outlet opening 28 by the atomizing air or the negative pressure generated by the atomizing air at the front end of the material nozzle 40.

[0093] Preferably, the spray gun 1 according to the invention is designed in all embodiments in such a way that, under otherwise identical conditions, in the Fig. 3 shown situation, in which the actuating element 18 is partially actuated, the same amount of air flows from the spray gun air inlet 4 of the spray gun 1 into the second valve outlet area 93 as in the Fig. 4 The situation shown is that the actuating element 18 is fully actuated. Even when the actuating element 18 is actuated within the second position section B of the actuating element 18, this air quantity, in particular this volume flow, does not change. As already described above, pressure fluctuations that could negatively affect the painting result can thus be avoided.

[0094] If the actuating element 18 is moved by the Fig. 4 position shown in dashed lines, ie from the partially actuated position in which the first air valve 80 is just not yet open, to the position shown in Fig. 4 shown in solid lines, ie in the fully actuated position, the material valve actuating element 43 moves from the position shown in Fig. 3 shown end position, the unactuated position, into which Fig. 4 shown position, the fully actuated end position. In this second position section B, the material valve 96 can therefore be actuated pneumatically, in particular opened. In the present case, it can even be actuated exclusively pneumatically, in particular opened, i.e. only air brings about the change in state in the material valve 96 and / or in the closure part of the material valve 96 and not, as in the prior art, exclusively or additionally an actuating element coupled to the material valve or a material valve actuating element. In the prior art, the actuating element, as already described above, usually acts on a driver arranged on a material needle, as a result of which the material needle is pulled backwards out of the material outlet opening of a material nozzle and the material valve is thus actuated mechanically. This is not the case here.In the present case, the material valve 96 can be actuated, in particular opened, by means of air from at least one valve outlet region, here the first valve outlet region 92, and specifically exclusively by means of air from the first valve outlet region 92. The actuating element 18 and the material valve 96 do not touch each other.

[0095] At least in the second position section B, the position of the actuating element 18 determines the position, or state, of the material valve 96.

[0096] The spray gun 1 according to the invention is designed such that the material valve 96 can be adjusted by means of the actuating element 18 at least in one position section of the actuating element 18, in the present case in the second position section B, preferably continuously, but possibly also in steps.

[0097] The position or state of the material valve 96 changes at least in one position section of the actuating element 18, in the present case in the second position section B, continuously as a function of the change in the position of the actuating element 18, preferably substantially proportional to the position of the actuating element 18, preferably in both actuation directions, ie both when actuating and when releasing in the sense described above.

[0098] If the actuating element 18 is moved by the Fig. 4 from the position shown in dashed lines, ie from the partially actuated position in which the first air valve 80 is just not yet open, and is actuated a little further, ie moved a little further in the direction of full actuation, the first air valve 80 is opened a little so that air flows from the spray gun air inlet 4 of the spray gun 1 into the second valve inlet area 64, through the first air valve 82. As already mentioned, most of the air flows from the second valve outlet area 93, but a smaller part of the air flows through the slightly open first air valve 80 into the first valve outlet area 92 and from there into the air chamber 50.Since the amount of air flowing into the air chamber 50 is relatively small, the pressure in the air chamber 50 increases only slightly, causing the material valve actuating element 43 to move only slightly backward in the direction away from the material nozzle 40, counter to the force exerted on the material valve actuating element 43 by the material valve reset device 48. The material needle 42 is thus also only slightly moved out of the material outlet opening 28. The material valve 96 is only slightly actuated, and a relatively small amount of material to be sprayed can leave the material nozzle 40.

[0099] If the actuating element 18 is held in the slightly actuated position, a small amount of air continues to flow through the first air valve 80 into the air chamber 50. InIn this situation, however, the air outlet 99, or the throttle of the air outlet 99, allows approximately the same amount of air to flow out of the air chamber 50 through the air outlet 99 as flows into the air chamber 50 through the first air valve 80 and the air inlet 98, so that the pressure in the air chamber 50 is kept constant at a relatively low level. Only when the actuating element 18 is actuated a little further, i.e. the first air valve 80 is opened a little further, does a little more air flow into the air chamber 50, whereby the pressure in the air chamber 50 increases and the material valve actuating element 43 is pushed a little further back and the material needle 42 is moved a little further out of the material outlet opening 28, whereupon a little more material can leave the material outlet opening 28.

[0100] If the actuating element 18 is moved from a slightly actuated position within the second position section B to a more easily actuated position within the second position section B, i.e., if the actuating element 18 is slightly released, less air flows through the first air valve 80 and the air inlet 98 into the air chamber 50. The pressure in the air chamber 50 drops, and the material valve reset device 48 pushes the material valve actuating element 43 slightly further in the direction of the material nozzle 40.

[0101] If the actuating element 18 is completely released from a slightly actuated position within the second position section B, the first air valve 80 closes upstream of the second air valve 82, whereupon no more air flows through the first air valve 80 into the air chamber 50. The material valve reset device 48 and the material valve actuating element 43 force the air still present in the chamber 50 out of the air outlet 99 of the air chamber 50 until the air chamber 50 is again at approximately ambient pressure and the material valve 96 is deactivated.

[0102] The area below the connecting element 8 can be considered and / or configured as an actuation area 95. The actuation area 95 can be separable from a trigger area, which here can be considered a material valve 96 or can include the material valve 96.

[0103] In general, the individual components mentioned in the exemplary embodiments can be used in all exemplary embodiments. The statements regarding the exemplary embodiments can also apply to all exemplary embodiments.

[0104] The described embodiments describe only a limited selection of possible embodiments and therefore do not represent a limitation of the present invention, which is defined by the claims.

Claims

1. Spray gun (1), in particular a compressed air atomizing paint spray gun, in particular a hand-held compressed air atomizing paint spray gun, comprising at least one first air valve (80, 82) that can be actuated by means of at least one actuating element (18), in particular by means of at least one trigger, and that has at least one first valve inlet region (62, 64) and at least one first valve outlet region (92, 93), wherein the spray gun (1) has at least one material valve (96), in particular for material to be sprayed, and wherein the at least one material valve (96) is designed such that it can be pneumatically actuated, in particular opened, in particular exclusively pneumatically actuated, in particular opened, in particular that it can be actuated, in particular opened, by means of air from the at least one first valve outlet region (92, 93), in particular that it can be actuated, in particular opened, exclusively by means of air from the at least one valve outlet region (92, 93), wherein the spray gun (1) is designed such that the material valve (96) can assume at least one first end position in which the material valve (96) is closed, a second end position in which the material valve (96) is fully open, and at least one intermediate position in which the material valve (96) is partially open, and that the actuating element (18) can assume at least one first end position in which the actuating element (18) is unactuated, a second end position in which the actuating element (18) is fully actuated, and at least one intermediate position in which the actuating element (18) is partially actuated, wherein the position of the actuating element (18) determines the position of the material valve (96), characterized in that the spray gun (1) and / or the material valve (96) have a material valve actuating device (49), wherein the material valve actuating device (49) has at least one air inlet (98), one air outlet (99) and an air chamber (50) arranged therebetween, wherein the air chamber (50) is delimited on at least one side by at least one material valve actuating element (43) for actuating, in particular for opening and / or closing, the material valve (96), wherein the spray gun (1) and / or the material valve actuating device (49) are designed such that the pressure in the air chamber (50) is determined at least by the amount of air supplied via the air inlet (98) to the air chamber (50), in particular by the amount of air supplied via the air inlet (98) to the air chamber (50) that can be controlled via the actuating element (18), and by at least one air outlet valve, in particular an air outlet valve arranged in the air outlet (99), in particular a throttle valve and / or a pressure relief valve.

2. Spray gun (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the spray gun (1) is designed such that the material valve (96) by means of the actuating element (18), at least in one position portion (A, B) of the actuating element (18), can be adjusted steplessly and / or in steps.

3. Spray gun (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spray gun (1) is designed such that the position of the material valve (96), at least in one position portion (A, B) of the actuating element (18), changes continuously depending on the change in the position of the actuating element (18), preferably changes substantially proportionally to the position of the actuating element (18), preferably in both actuating directions.

4. Spray gun (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material valve (96) has at least one material needle (42) and a material outlet opening (28) that can be closed by means of the material needle (42), wherein the spray gun (1) is designed such that the material needle (42) by actuating the actuating element (18), in particular the trigger, can be moved out of the material outlet opening (28), wherein an actuation of the actuating element (18), in particular of the trigger, over a first distance produces a movement of the material needle (42) over a second distance, and wherein the second distance is dependent on the first distance, in particular wherein the second distance is equal to the first distance, in particular wherein the second distance at least within a position portion (A, B) of the actuating element (18) is dependent on and / or equal to the first distance.

5. Spray gun (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material valve (96) has at least one / the material needle (42) and one / the material outlet opening (28) that can be closed by means of the material needle (42), wherein on the material needle (42) a material valve actuating element (43) of a material valve actuating device (49) designed as a piston is arranged, wherein the piston is arranged to be movable within a material valve actuating cylinder (44), and wherein the piston is designed such that it can be actuated by air, in particular by air from at least one valve outlet region (92, 93), in particular that it can be actuated exclusively by air, in particular by air from at least one valve outlet region (92, 93).

6. Spray gun (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has at least one second air valve (82) with at least one second valve inlet region (64) and at least one second valve outlet region (93), wherein the at least one second air valve (82) by means of at least one actuating element (18), in particular by means of the actuating element (18) by which the first air valve (80) can be actuated.

7. Spray gun (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has at least one second / the second air valve (82), in particular a second air valve (82) arranged upstream of the first air valve (80), with at least one second valve outlet region (93), in particular at least one second valve outlet region (93) arranged between the first air valve (80) and the second air valve (82), in particular at least one second valve outlet region (93) opening into at least one air outlet opening of the spray gun (1), in particular into at least one atomizing air outlet opening (15) and / or into at least one forming air outlet opening (20) and / or at least one transport air outlet opening (17).

8. Spray gun (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is designed such that, upon actuation of the actuating element (18) within a first position portion (A) of the actuating element (18), the first air valve (80) between the at least one first valve inlet region (62) and at least the at least one first valve outlet region (92) is closed and at least one second / the second air valve (82) between at least one second valve inlet region (64) and at least one second valve outlet region (93) is open, and that, upon actuation of the actuating element (18) within a second position portion (B) of the actuating element (18), the first air valve (80) between the at least one first valve inlet region (62) and the at least one first valve outlet region (92) is open and the second air valve (82) between the at least one second valve inlet region (64) and the at least one second valve outlet region (93) is open.

9. Spray gun (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first air valve (80) is integrated into a second / the second air valve (82).

10. Spray gun (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first air valve (80) is formed by at least a part of a main body (3) of the spray gun (1) and a valve piston (78), in particular by a valve piston (78) having at least one recess (90), in particular a recess (90) enlarging in the direction of at least one actuating element (18) of the spray gun (1), which is arranged in particular between the actuating element (18) and a closure part, in particular an air valve head, of a second / the second air valve (82), and / or in that a second / the second air valve (82) is formed by at least a part of the main body (3) of the spray gun (1) and a closure part, in particular an air valve head.

11. Spray gun (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air flowing from the air inlet (98) actuates the material valve actuating element (43) in order to actuate, in particular to open, the material valve (96), in particular exerts a force on the material valve actuating element (43) in a first direction, wherein the material valve actuating element (43) further comprises at least one material valve return device (48), in particular at least one spring element, in particular at least one compression spring and / or at least one tension spring, which is designed such that it counteracts the actuation of the material valve actuating element (43) by the air, in particular that it exerts a force on the material valve actuating element (43) in a second direction different from the first direction, in particular in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

12. Spray gun (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is designed such that the air flowing from at least one valve outlet region (92, 93) and used to actuate the material valve (96), in particular the air flowing out of the air outlet (99) of the material valve actuating device (49), is supplied to at least one air outlet opening of the spray gun (1), in particular at least one atomizing air outlet opening (15) and / or at least one forming air outlet opening (20) and / or at least one transport air outlet opening (17).

13. Spray gun (1) according to any of the preceding claims 1-10, characterized in that it has at least one actuating element return device (94), in particular at least one spring element, in particular at least one compression spring and / or at least one tension spring.

14. Spray gun (1) according to claim 11 or a claim dependent thereon, characterized in that it is designed such that a return of the material valve (96) by means of the material valve return device (48) occurs, by allowing air to escape via the air outlet (99) from an air chamber (50) while reducing the air pressure in the air chamber (50).

15. Spray gun (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises - at least one main body (3), - at least one air nozzle (5) having at least one air outlet opening, in particular at least one atomizing air outlet opening (15) for discharging air for atomizing a material to be sprayed, at least one forming air outlet opening (20) for discharging air for changing the shape of a spray jet, and / or at least one transport air outlet opening (17) for discharging air for transporting an atomized spray medium, - at least the one actuating element (18), in particular a trigger, - at least the one first air valve (80, 82), in particular at least one air valve (80, 82) coupled to the actuating element (18), in particular to the trigger, in particular an air valve (80, 82) coupled to the actuating element (18), in particular to the trigger, in particular spring-loaded, via a valve piston (78), - at least one spray gun air inlet (4), - at least one / the material needle (42) and - at least one material nozzle (40) having at least one material outlet opening (28) wherein the spray gun (1) is designed such that upon actuation of the actuating element (18) up to a first degree of actuation, the first air valve (80, 82) opens, so that air, in particular compressed air, flows from the spray gun air inlet (4) of the spray gun (1) via at least one / the second valve outlet region (93) to the air nozzle (5) and out of the at least one air outlet opening of the air nozzle (5), and that upon actuation of the actuating element (18) further than up to the first degree of actuation, additional air, in particular compressed air, flows from the spray gun air inlet (4) of the spray gun (1), in particular via a recess (90) in the valve piston (78), via the first valve outlet region (92) into the material valve actuating device (49), in particular into a material valve actuating device (49) having at least one material valve actuating cylinder (44) and at least one material valve actuating element (43) movably arranged within the material valve actuating cylinder (44) and designed as a piston, wherein the amount of air flowing into the material valve actuating device (49) increases with increasing degree of actuation of the actuating element (18), wherein the air flowing into the material valve actuating device (49) exerts a force in a direction facing away from the material nozzle (40) on the material needle (42) arranged in the material valve actuating device (49) and / or on a part arranged on the material needle (42), in particular on the material valve actuating element (43) designed as a piston, wherein the force exerted on the material needle (42) and / or on the part arranged on the material needle (42) increases with increasing degree of actuation of the actuating element (18), whereby the material needle (42) is moved over a second distance in a direction facing away from the material nozzle (40) and is thereby moved over this second distance out of the material outlet opening (28) of the material nozzle (40), wherein the second distance is dependent on a first distance which the actuating element (18) is actuated upon actuation from the first degree of actuation, and wherein the air at least upon reaching a maximum pressure within the material valve actuating device (49) flows from the material valve actuating device (49), in particular from the material valve actuating device (49) to the air nozzle (5), in particular from the material valve actuating device (49) to at least one air outlet opening in the air nozzle (5).

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