Coating tool

Abstract

To provide an applicator capable of forming a coating mark having fixed film thickness even when used while be inclined.SOLUTION: An applicator has a coating liquid tank storing a coating liquid therein, and an application tip 1 connected thereto, and forms a discharge port 1a of the coating liquid and a projection 1c on the application tip 1, in which within an application angle range of the applicator where the projection 1c contacts a coated surface B, a distance where a perpendicular line 1cb at a contact point of the projection of the contact surface in a contact part 1ca with the coated surface of the projection 1c reaches a surface 1b formed with the discharge port 1a of the application tip 1 is 0.10 mm or more and 0.30 mm or less.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an applicator.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, various applicators have been disclosed. Patent Document 1 discloses an applicator provided with an application tip having protrusions on a surface where a discharge port of a coating liquid is formed.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Normally, in order to improve the visibility of the portion where the coating mark is formed on the surface to be coated, the applicator is tilted and used according to the user's dominant hand and the coating direction. In the one disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the surface where the discharge port of the coating liquid is formed is a flat surface and only the protruding length of the protrusion is defined, depending on the tilt of the applicator during coating use, the surface where the discharge port is formed may approach the surface to be coated too much or may move away too much, and the film thickness of the coating mark may not become constant. An object of the present invention is to provide an applicator capable of forming a coating mark with a constant film thickness even when the applicator is tilted and used.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The gist of the present invention is an applicator that has an application liquid tank for storing an application liquid therein, has an application destination connected thereto, forms a discharge port and a protrusion at the application destination, and has a distance from the perpendicular line at the contact point of the protrusion on the contact surface with the surface to be coated to the surface on which the discharge port of the application destination is formed within the range of 0.10 mm or more and 0.30 mm or less within the application angle range of the applicator where the protrusion contacts the surface to be coated.

Advantages of the Invention

[0006] When the applicator of the present invention is used for application, it tilts along the contact portion of the protrusion at the application destination with the surface to be coated. That is, the application angle range of the applicator where the protrusion contacts the surface to be coated is the application angle range of the applicator capable of applying the application liquid to the surface to be coated. The application liquid discharged from the discharge port of the application destination flows along the surface on which the discharge port is formed, and flows onto the surface to be coated along the moving direction of the applicator from the vicinity of the perpendicular line at the contact point of the protrusion on the contact surface at the contact portion, forming an application trace. Since the distance from the perpendicular line at the contact point of the protrusion on the contact surface at the contact portion to the surface on which the discharge port is formed is within a predetermined range of 0.10 mm or more and 0.30 mm or less, even when the applicator is tilted and used, the film thickness of the application trace is stable, and the film thickness of the dried application trace can also be made constant.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] The applicator of the present invention has a coating liquid tank that stores a coating liquid therein, and a coating destination that is directly connected to the coating liquid tank or connected via a connecting member. The coating liquid can be variously selected. For example, a coating liquid that contains a relatively large amount of solid components such as pigments, like a so-called correction fluid or paint, dries quickly on the coating mark, can be applied relatively thickly in multiple layers, or can be applied over a wider range than characters, etc., can be particularly preferably used.

[0009] The coating liquid tank is a member that stores the coating liquid inside. As a method of storing the coating liquid, a so-called direct liquid type in which the coating liquid is directly stored inside the coating liquid tank, a so-called cartridge type in which a separate member storing the coating liquid is replaceably stored inside the coating liquid tank, etc. can be appropriately selected. The material of the coating liquid tank is appropriately selectable in consideration of the reactivity and moldability with the coating liquid stored inside. For example, polycarbonate resin, acrylic resin, polyethylene resin, polyamide resin, polypropylene resin, polybutylene terephthalate resin, polybutylene naphthalate resin, polyethylene naphthalate resin, vinyl chloride resin, ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyacrylonitrile resin, fluororesin, polyacetal resin, polyethylene terephthalate resin, polystyrene resin, ABS resin, silicone resin, elastomer, or a composite material containing these resins, etc.

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of the tip portion of the coating destination 1 as a component, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of FIG. 1 as viewed in the arrow direction. The coating destination 1 is a part that conducts the coating liquid stored inside the coating liquid tank and discharges it onto the surface to be coated. The coating destination 1 may be integrally formed with the coating liquid tank or attached as a separate member to one end of the coating liquid tank. As a discharge mechanism for the coating liquid, a valve mechanism that can block the outside air when not in use is particularly preferably used for a type of coating liquid that dries and solidifies, such as a correction fluid or paint.

[0011] The application target 1 is provided with a discharge port 1a for the coating liquid. The discharge port 1a is an opening for discharging the coating liquid that has passed through the inside of the application target 1 onto the surface to be coated. The surface 1b on which the discharge port 1a is formed is a curved surface that protrudes toward the surface to be coated side in the axial direction of the coating tool. Specifically, it is a curved surface that protrudes in the shape of the side wall of a cylinder having an axis in one direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the coating tool 1. Since the cross-section in the direction orthogonal to the axis is a perfect circle cylinder, except for the portion where the discharge port 1a is provided, it has a certain bending pattern over the axial direction of the axis. Although the curved surface can have an arbitrary bending pattern in relation to the protrusion 1c described later, it is preferably within a range where the radius R1 of the cross-section in the direction orthogonal to the axis of the cylinder is 1.5 mm or more and 4.5 mm or less.

[0012] The application target 1 is provided with protrusions 1c. The protrusions 1c are portions that extend in the axial direction of the coating tool 1, and in this embodiment, they are provided at two locations with the discharge port 1a in between. By the tip surface of the protrusion 1c coming into contact with the surface to be coated, a space is created between the surface 1b on which the discharge port 1a is formed and the surface to be coated, and a coating trace with a desired film thickness can be formed. The user appropriately rotates the coating tool 1 with respect to the coating direction so that, in view of the positional relationship between the protrusion 1c and the discharge port 1a, the protrusion 1c does not pass over the coating trace and scribble the coating trace.

[0013] When forming an application trace with a desired film thickness on the applicator 1, there exists an application angle range (hereinafter referred to as "application angle range") within which the coating liquid can be applied to the surface to be coated. The application angle range is the range of the angle formed between the axis of the applicator 1 and the surface to be coated, from which a sufficient amount of the coating liquid can be discharged from the discharge port 1a to form an application trace with a desired film thickness on the surface to be coated. The application angle range is designed by various factors such as the discharge mechanism of the coating liquid, the position and size of the discharge port 1a, etc. For example, when the discharge mechanism has a valve structure, the range in which situations such as the applicator being tilted too much and the valve stem not contacting the surface to be coated, or the valve stem not being able to be pushed in sufficiently and the opening state of the valve not being able to be formed do not occur is excluded from the application angle range. If the tip of the valve stem protrudes 0.3 mm or more from the tip of the protrusion 1c, it is preferable as a wider application angle range can be provided. Also, if the tip shape of the valve stem is a spherical curved surface, a smooth application feeling can be obtained within the application angle range, which is preferable.

[0014] Reference numeral 1ca is the contact portion 1ca of the protrusion 1c with the surface to be coated. The contact portion 1ca with the surface to be coated is the tip portion of the protrusion 1 that can actually contact the surface to be coated within the aforementioned application angle range. In the present embodiment, the contact portion 1ca with the surface to be coated is a curved surface protruding toward the surface to be coated side in the axial direction of the applicator, similar to the surface 1b on which the discharge port 1a is formed. Specifically, it is a curved surface protruding in the shape of the side wall of a cylinder having an axis in one direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the applicator 1. Since the cross-section in the direction orthogonal to the axis is a perfect circle cylinder, it has a certain bending pattern over the axial direction of the axis. Although it can have an arbitrary bending pattern in relation to the surface 1b on which the aforementioned discharge port 1a is formed, it is preferable that the radius R2 of the cross-section in the direction orthogonal to the axis of the cylinder is in the range of about 0.05 mm to 2.40 mm or less. The closer the value is to the radius R1 of the surface 1b on which the discharge port 1a is formed, the more the distance between the surface 1b on which the discharge port 1a is formed and the surface to be coated B in the vicinity of the perpendicular line 1cb described later is maintained within a certain range, and it is preferable because it is easier to make the film thickness of the application trace within a certain range. The user can use the applicator by tilting it along the contact portion 1ca with the surface to be coated.

[0015] Reference symbol 1cb is the perpendicular line (hereinafter referred to as "perpendicular line") at the contact point of the projection of the tangent plane at the contact portion 1ca of the projection 1c with the coated surface B. The position of the perpendicular line 1cb is determined by how much the coating tool is tilted along the contact portion 1ca with the coated surface B. After the coating liquid is discharged from the discharge port 1a, it flows along the surface 1b on which the discharge port 1a is formed. Immediately after being discharged from the discharge port 1a, the coating liquid does not separate from the surface 1b on which the discharge port 1a is formed, and while receiving the gravity acting on the coating liquid and the pressure from the coating liquid continuously conducting from within the coating liquid tank, due to the influence of the surface tension of the coating liquid and the wettability of the surface 1b on which the discharge port 1a is formed, etc., it is temporarily held on the surface 1b on which the discharge port 1a is formed. Then, the coating liquid flows in the direction approaching the coated surface B side, and when it approaches the vicinity of the perpendicular line 1cb, it separates from the surface 1b on which the discharge port 1a is formed and flows onto the coated surface B, forming a coating trace. The vicinity of the perpendicular line 1cb means the vicinity of the locus when the perpendicular line 1cb is moved in a direction perpendicular to the coating direction on the surface 1b on which the discharge port 1a is formed, and it does not mean that the coating liquid flows toward the perpendicular line 1cb itself.

[0016] In this way, the film thickness of the coating trace is determined by the distance between the surface 1b on which the discharge port 1a is formed in the vicinity of the perpendicular line 1cb and the surface to be coated B, and that distance corresponds to the distance until the perpendicular line 1cb reaches the surface 1b on which the discharge port 1a is formed. The distance until the perpendicular line 1cb reaches the surface 1b on which the discharge port 1a is formed means the distance at which the perpendicular line 1cb reaches the virtual extension surface of the surface 1b on which the discharge port 1a is formed when the perpendicular line 1cb is extended from the surface to be coated B and extended toward the protrusion 1c while maintaining the curvature of the surface 1b on which the discharge port 1a is formed. In the present invention, that distance is within a predetermined range of 0.10 mm or more and 0.30 mm or less. That is, since the distance within the application angle range of the applicator is constant, even when the applicator is tilted and used, the film thickness of the coating trace is stable, and the film thickness of the dried coating trace can also be made constant. The fact that the film thickness of the dried coating trace is constant means a thickness within the range of 30 μm or more and 70 μm or less in the case where the coating liquid is a correction liquid, although it also depends on the type and physical properties of the coating liquid. Further, when the distance until the perpendicular line 1cb reaches the surface 1b on which the discharge port 1a is formed is 0.16 mm or more and 0.27 mm or less, the film thickness of the dried coating trace is more stable within a certain range, which is preferable.

[0017] If the distance until the perpendicular line 1cb reaches the surface 1b on which the discharge port 1a is formed is within the above-mentioned range, the shape of the surface 1b on which the discharge port 1a is formed, the contact portion 1ca between the protrusion 1c and the surface to be coated, etc., and the number and position of the protrusions 1c can be set as appropriate. Further, the material of the coating target 1 can also be appropriately selected in consideration of the reactivity, wettability, moldability, abrasion resistance, etc. with the coating liquid, for example, polyacetal resin, polybutylene terephthalate resin, polyethylene terephthalate resin, polyethylene naphthalate resin, polybutylene naphthalate resin, fluororesin, polyacrylonitrile resin, polyamide resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, polystyrene resin, ABS resin, methacrylic resin, polycarbonate resin, AS resin, fluororesin, silicone resin, elastomer, or a composite material containing these resins, etc.

Example

[0018] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

[0019] (Example 1) FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the applicator 2. The applicator 2 is composed of a coating liquid tank 3, a front shaft 4, a coating valve tip 5, and an application tip 6. Inside the coating liquid tank 3, a correction liquid as a coating liquid and a stirring body 7 made of carbon steel in a rod shape are stored. The coating liquid tank 3 is a bottomed cylindrical blow-molded product made of polyamide resin, and has flexibility so that the internal pressure can be increased by gripping to discharge the coating liquid. A front shaft 4 whose internal space communicates with the coating liquid tank 3 is attached to the opening end side of the coating liquid tank 3. The outer wall of the opening end side of the coating liquid tank 3 and the inner wall of the opening end of the front shaft 4 on the coating liquid tank 3 side are detachably attached by screw engagement, which prevents the volatilization and leakage of the coating liquid such as the correction liquid, and also facilitates the filling of the coating liquid. The front shaft 4 is an injection-molded product of polybutylene terephthalate resin. The tip 5, which is a cut product of stainless steel, communicates the coating liquid tank 3 with the internal space by the front shaft 4 and has a valve structure as a discharge mechanism. An application tip 6 is attached to the front shaft 4 so as to cover the tip 5, and the outer wall of the opening end of the front shaft 4 on the application tip 6 side and the inner wall of the opening end of the application tip 6 on the front shaft 4 side are attached by a press-fitting relationship.

[0020] The formulation of the correction liquid as an example of the coating liquid to be contained is as follows, for example. TITONE R-7E (titanium oxide, manufactured by Sakai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) 30.00 parts by weight TITONE R-62N (titanium oxide, manufactured by Sakai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) 5.00 parts by weight Dianal BR-105 (acrylic resin, manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) 7.00 parts by weight Isohexane (solvent) 18.30 parts by weight Cyclopentane (solvent) 27.94 parts by weight SCHWEGO wett 6292 (surfactant, manufactured by Brend Schewegmann GmbH & Co.KG, Germany) 1.50 parts by weight Aerosil R972 (dry silica, manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) 0.25 parts by weight Whiskal A (calcium carbonate, major axis 20 μm, minor axis 1 μm, aspect ratio 20, specific gravity 2.86, manufactured by Maruo Calcium Co., Ltd.) 10.00 parts by weight Tilack D (lower titanium oxide, black pigment, manufactured by Akaho Kasei Co., Ltd.) 0.015 parts by weight Each compound was dispersed in a ball mill for 24 hours to obtain a correction fluid, which was then filled into the coating liquid tank 3.

[0021] Figure 4 is an enlarged view of part C in Figure 3. The chip 5 has a valve rod 5b disposed inside a valve cylinder 5a biased by a coil spring 5c and is circumferentially in contact with a valve seat portion 5aa, which is a reduced-diameter portion formed on the inner edge of the tip opening of the valve cylinder 5a. A part of the valve rod 5b protrudes from the discharge port 6a. When the coating tool 2 is used, as the protruding portion comes into contact with the surface to be coated, the valve rod 5b receives a pressing force toward the coating liquid tank 3 side, causing the valve rod 5b to retreat against the biasing force of the coil spring 5c and creating a gap between the valve seat portion 5aa and the valve rod 5b, thereby forming a conduction path for the correction fluid. When the pressing force on the valve rod 5b is released, the valve seat portion 5aa and the valve rod 5b come into circumferential contact again due to the biasing force of the coil spring 5c, closing the conduction path for the correction fluid.

[0022] Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the tip of the application tip 6. The application tip 6 is provided with a discharge port 6a. A part of the valve rod 5b protrudes from the discharge port 6a, enabling the discharge of the correction fluid. The surface 6b on which the discharge port 6a is formed is a curved surface protruding toward the surface to be coated side in the axial direction of the coating tool 2, and is a curved surface protruding in the shape of the side wall of a cylinder with its axis taken in one direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the coating tool 2. The cross-section in the direction perpendicular to the axis is a perfect circle cylinder, and it has a constant bending pattern in the axial direction of the axis. Specifically, the radius R of the cross-section in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder, excluding the part where the discharge port 6a is provided, is 2.0 mm. The application target 6 is detachably attached to the front shaft 4. By removing the application target 6, the tip portion of the chip 5 is exposed, and a coating feeling different from the state through the application target 6 can be obtained, and coating on fine parts is also facilitated.

[0023] The application target 6 is provided with protrusions 6c. The protrusions 6c are portions extending in the axial direction of the applicator 2, and in this embodiment, they are provided at two locations sandwiching the discharge port 6a. When the tip surface of the protrusion 6c comes into contact with the surface to be coated, a space is generated between the surface 6b where the discharge port 6a is formed and the surface to be coated, and a coating trace with a desired film thickness can be formed.

[0024] The tip surface of the protrusion 6c is provided with a contact portion 6ca with the surface to be coated. The contact portion 6ca with the surface to be coated is a curved surface protruding toward the surface to be coated side in the axial direction of the applicator 2, similar to the surface 6b where the discharge port 6a is formed, and is a curved surface protruding in the shape of the side wall of a cylinder having an axis in one direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the applicator 2. The cross-section in the direction orthogonal to the axis is a perfect circle cylinder with a radius R of 2.0 mm, and it has a constant bending manner over the axial direction of the axis. The axes of the contact portion 6ca of the surface 6b where the discharge port 6a is formed and the surface to be coated of the "cylinder having an axis in one direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the applicator 2" are parallel and overlap in the axial view of the applicator 2. Thereby, a space for the correction fluid to flow around the discharge port 6a can be provided, and it is preferable to provide a wide coating angle range.

[0025] In this embodiment, the distance from the perpendicular line at the contact point of the protrusion 6c of the contact surface with the surface to be coated within the coating angle range of the applicator 2 to the surface 6b where the discharge port 6a is formed is 0.13 mm.

[0026] FIG. 6 is a view of the application target 6 viewed in the axial direction of the applicator 2 from the tip side. The outer shapes of both outer walls of the protrusion 6 and the surface 6b where the discharge port 6a is formed are generally elliptical, and since there are no corner portions, the visibility of the state where the coating trace is formed during use is improved, which is preferable. Both inner walls of the protrusion 6 are flat surfaces parallel to each other. This forms a space surrounded by the surface to be coated, both inner walls, and the surface 6b where the discharge port 6a is formed during use, so that not only the film thickness but also the width of the coating trace can be made constant, which is preferable. Further, since the contact portion 6ca with the surface to be coated is a curved surface in the shape of the side wall of a cylinder having a true circle with a radius R of 2.0 mm as a cross section as described above, a slight gap is formed between the contact portion 6ca with the surface to be coated and the surface to be coated before and after the coating direction with the perpendicular line at the contact portion 6ca as a boundary. The correction liquid flowing into this gap is less likely to spread to the outside of the protrusion 6 due to surface tension between the surface to be coated and the contact portion 6ca with the surface to be coated, so that the width of the coating trace can be made more constant, which is preferable.

[0027] Examples 2 to 7, Comparative Example 1, and Comparative Example 2 are examples in which only the distance until the perpendicular line at the contact portion 6ca with the surface to be coated within the coating angle range of the coating tool 2 reaches the surface 6b where the discharge port 6a is formed is changed from Example 1, and the values and the results of the following tests in each example and comparative example are shown in Table 1.

[0028] <Film thickness measurement test> For each example and comparative example, a 50-mm straight coating trace was drawn on ordinary paper (WP001PEP, A.P.P. Japan Co., Ltd.) one by one at three angles of coating angles of 55°, 70°, and 85°. After each coating trace was sufficiently dried, the film thicknesses at the positions of 10 mm, 20 mm, and 30 mm from the start of drawing were measured with a thickness gauge (SM-528, Techlock Co., Ltd.).

[0029]

Table 1

[0030] In Examples 1 to 4, where the distance until the perpendicular line at the contact point of the protrusion 6c on the contact surface at the contact portion 6ca with the surface to be coated within the coating angle range of the coating tool 2 reaches the surface 6b where the discharge port 6a is formed is within the range of 0.10 mm or more and 0.30 mm or less, the film thickness at all points is within the range of 30 μm or more and 70 μm or less, and a coating trace with a constant film thickness could be formed. In Examples 5 to 7, where the distance from the point of contact of the projection 6c on the contact surface at the contact portion 6ca with the surface to be coated within the coating angle range of the coater 2 to the surface 6b on which the discharge port 6a is formed is in the range of 0.16 mm or more and 0.27 mm or less, the film thickness is within the range of 40 μm or more and 60 μm or less at all points, and the film thickness is within a narrower range compared to Examples 1 to 4. Furthermore, there is no change in the film thickness for each coating angle, and a coating trace with a more constant film thickness could be formed. In Comparative Example 1, where the distance from the point of contact of the projection 6c on the contact surface at the contact portion 6ca with the surface to be coated within the coating angle range of the coater 2 to the surface 6b on which the discharge port 6a is formed is less than 0.10 mm, a measurable coating trace of the film thickness could not be formed. Also, in Comparative Example 2, where the distance from the point of contact of the projection 6c on the contact surface at the contact portion 6ca with the surface to be coated within the coating angle range of the coater 2 to the surface 6b on which the discharge port 6a is formed exceeds 0.30 mm, there is a large variation in the film thickness at each coating angle and each point, and a coating trace with a constant film thickness could not be formed.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0031] 1 Coating Target 1a Discharge Port 1b Surface on which the Discharge Port is Formed 1c Projection 1ca Contact Portion with the Surface to be Coated 1cb Perpendicular Line 2 Coater 3 Coating Liquid Tank 4 Front Shaft 5 Coating Valve Chip 5a Valve Cylinder 5aa Valve Seat Portion 5b 5b 5c Coil Spring 6 Coating Target 6a Discharge Port 6b Surface on which the Discharge Port 6a is Formed 6c Projection 6ca Contact Portion with the Surface to be Coated B Surface to be Coated R1 Radius R2 Radius

Claims

A coating tool comprising at least a coating liquid tank, a coating liquid, and a coating target. The coating liquid tank stores the coating liquid inside and has a coating target. The coating target has a coating liquid discharge port and a protrusion on the end face on the coated surface side in the axial direction. The end faces of the coating target and the protrusion on the coated surface side in the axial direction are curved surfaces protruding toward the coated surface side in the axial direction. The curved surface protruding toward the coated surface side in the axial direction of the coating target has a radius of curvature R1 within a predetermined range in a cross section orthogonal to the axial direction and one direction orthogonal to the axial direction. The curved surface protruding toward the coated surface side in the axial direction of the protrusion has a radius of curvature R2 within a predetermined range in the same cross section as the curved surface protruding toward the coated surface side in the axial direction of the coating target. There is a range where R1 and R2 are the same. Coating tool. According to claim 1, R1 is 1.5 mm or more and 4.5 mm or less. According to claim 1, R2 is 0.05 mm or more and 2.40 mm or less. The coating tool according to claim 1. According to claim 3, the coating liquid tank and the coating target are separate members. The coating tool according to claim 1 or claim 2.

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