DK2312056T3

DK2312056T3 - Device for generating marking lines consisting of many single marking material parts

Info

Publication number: DK2312056T3
Application number: DK10186953.5T
Authority: DK
Inventors: Frank Hofmann
Original assignee: Hofmann Gmbh Maschf Und Vertrieb
Priority date: 2009-10-12
Filing date: 2010-10-08
Publication date: 2019-04-01
Also published as: DE102009045576A1; PL2312056T3; EP2312056B1; EP2312056A2; EP2312056A3

Description

Description [0001] The invention relates to devices for producing marking lines composed of many individual marking material portions, wherein the marking material portions can be discharged by means of compressed air from a nozzle array connected to a marking material source and having several discharge nozzles arranged side-by-side, transversely to a direction of movement of the device.

[0002] Such a device produces marking lines usually composed of two-component marking material, e.g., on roads, from row-wise applied small marking material portions. In a device that is known from relevant practice, the marking material portions are applied with nozzle bars equipped with a row of nozzles arranged transversely to the direction of movement of the device, which nozzles are filled with the mixed two-component marking material from a marking material source via feed ducts and are emptied in the direction of the surface to be coated, such as the road surface, at regular time intervals with the aid of blasts of compressed air fed via another duct that opens into the nozzle. Upstream of the nozzle bar of the device is a mixing device to which the two marking material components are fed, which form a chemically-reactive, viz., hardening, mixture during and after flowing through the mixer, which mixture may therefore have only a limited dwell time in the system until discharge from the nozzles. The dwell time is usually between 5 and 15 minutes, depending upon the marking material type and the adjusted mixing ratio.

[0003] Document WO 98/51864 A1 shows a marking device of the aforementioned kind with two spray guns for highly-viscous marking material. The guns discharge a continuous spray jet by means of compressed air. Various types of marking lines can be produced by varying the material pressure and air pressure. The compressed air and the marking material are always continuously discharged.

[0004] Documents WO 99/29964 A1 and US 2001/023876 A1 show marking devices with multiple spray guns for discharging the marking material, wherein the complete spray guns can be changed in their position relative to one another. In the device according to document WO 99/29964 A1, this is specifically carried out by arranging the spray guns on a rod, on which the spray guns can be displaced and fixed by means of clamping screws. According to document US 2001/023876 A1, individual spray gun modules are connected in series directly to each other or with the interposition of spacer plates, wherein a continuous material feed duct is formed. The spacing can be varied by spacer plates of different thickness.

[0005] Document US 3 589 612 A describes that two spray guns are arranged side-by-side on a rectangular hollow profile, which serves as a common material feed duct and is fluidically connected to the spray guns via bores. A change in the spacing of the spray guns relative to one another is not possible here on the hollow profile, since the bores define a fixed distance.

[0006] Document EP 0 632 166 A1 describes an applicator for road-marking machines for highly-viscous marking products. This known applicator is a device for applying highly-viscous marking products which are pressed through outlet openings. However, the housing elements comprising the outlet openings in this case are not nozzle elements which can be attached to and removed from a nozzle array.

[0007] From DE 103 61 531 A1 are known further devices for producing marking lines composed of a plurality of elements of highly-viscous marking material on a surface to be marked - in particular, a road surface. A first device has a housing bottom provided with outlet openings and a single or several slide(s) that can be displaced relative to the housing bottom and periodically change(s) the outlet cross-sections of the outlet openings during movement of the device relative to the surface. A second device has a hollow cylinder that is rotationally drivable inside a housing chamber provided with a passage opening in a housing wall, provided with passages in the cylindrical casing, and glidingly abutting with its cylinder casing against two passage opening edges. The known devices have a number of disadvantages. One of the disadvantages of some devices is that the spacing of the marking material portions transverse to the longitudinal direction of the marking line is unchangeable.

There are different opinions regarding the desirable width of the marking line and the diameter of the individual clusters for such lines among the individual contracting parties. The lines composed of marking material portions are often applied to previously-applied, sprayed flat lines of paint, and excess marking material portions projecting beyond the edges of these lines is frequently not tolerated. On the other hand, the full width of the previously-applied line is to be used up to the edges for the marking material portions to be applied subsequently. However, if a change in the material content of the individual marking material portions is desired, this is generally also accompanied by a change in their height and their diameter, and thus the total width of the marking lines composed of the marking material portions also changes because of the change in diameter of the outer rows of marking material portions. The solution to this problem would be a slight change in the nozzle spacing, which is, however, a time-consuming and expensive solution in the known devices, since it requires the production of a new nozzle bar or a new housing bottom and slide, or a new hollow cylinder. In order to satisfy various wishes, several device components often need to be provided, such as several nozzle bars or several housing bottoms and slides, or several hollow cylinders with slightly different nozzle spacings or outlet opening spacings. Different line widths, which require different nozzle bar lengths or housing bottom lengths, or hollow cylinder lengths with a different number of nozzles or outlet openings, also require the production of different corresponding device components. In addition, there are different wishes on the parts of the contracting parties as to the transverse spacings of the marking material portions. All these factors result in an almost unmanageable variety of nozzle bars or other corresponding device components to be produced, which makes stockpiling hardly sensible, and therefore results in too expensive and time-consuming single-item productions in the current case of need.

[0008] Another disadvantage lies in the large consumption of rinsing agent in the removal of obstructions from individual nozzles during a marking operation and in the cleaning of the device after completing a marking operation.

[0009] In devices with many nozzles that are connected in parallel and supplied by only one marking material source, the probability of the marking process having to be interrupted because of obstructions of one of the many nozzles, and the entire system having to be freed in a time-consuming manner of reactive marking material mixture by rinsing with solvent, is relatively high. The risk of obstructions of one or more nozzles by incipient hardening of the marking material is also high in a multi-nozzle system because, when the obstruction starts, no noteworthy increase in pressure of the marking material counteracting the obstruction takes place, since the marking material travels through the other, non-clogged nozzles. An impediment to achieving a high average speed of the marking process is that an obstruction always must be removed immediately, because, otherwise, hardening of the marking material up to its final hardness occurs at the obstruction site. The marking material can then only be removed mechanically - in the worst case, by drilling.

[0010] The rinsing procedure is very time-consuming, because the marking material present in mixture, and thus in a hardening reaction, must be rinsed out of the entire system, for which purpose a lot of rinsing agent at a high flow rate is required. Rinsing agents are expensive and environmentally unfriendly, and must be collected below the nozzles and disposed of as hazardous material. During rinsing, the same disadvantage of the multi-nozzle system arises, which also promotes the tendency of the system to clog nozzles. The rinsing agent takes the easy route through the non-clogged nozzles and often leaves the clogged nozzles unrinsed, and thus frequently does not eliminate the obstructions.

[0011] In the device already mentioned above and known from relevant practice, a distributor provided with a marking material duct is connected upstream of the nozzle bar, each nozzle of the nozzle bar being supplied via its own line with marking material by said distributor. Arranged in each line is a commercially-available ball valve, by means of which the connection between the material distributor and the nozzle can be interrupted. Although ball valves have the advantage of straight passage in the open position, which is important for the marking material in reaction, marking material, trapped in the ball bore and between the seals, hardens in the locked position and renders the valve unusable. Moreover, a commercially-available ball valve needs a feed and a discharge line. After rinsing the device, i.e., after removing marking material mixture from the device, marking material mixture from the distributor duct enters the feed line when operations are resumed, and advances up to the shut-off valves and hardens after a short period of time. Because of their functional principle, and especially in the aforementioned arrangement as a selection valve, ball valves are, accordingly, unsuitable for turning the marking material supply for the individual nozzles on and off. The ball valves arranged in the known device in the marking material lines to the nozzles are suitable only for rinsing the system, viz., for completely rinsing all nozzles, wherein the rinsing process begins with all valves set to allow passage, and the valves from whose connected nozzles clean rinsing agent exits are closed, one after the other. The nozzles together with their feed lines can thus be sequentially flushed in the order of their resistance to the rinsing agent. The total available rinsing agent pressure then acts on the respectively remaining non-flushed nozzles until the lowest of the remaining resistances is respectively overcome, and, after flushing the affected nozzle, its upstream ball valve can be closed.

[0012] However, if the marking material mixture in the clogged nozzle has already hardened, this rinsing method no longer helps. The nozzle must then be freed of obstruction mechanically, e.g., with the aid of tools.

[0013] However, after removing an obstruction, the device is still not operational again for a long while. In order to resume work, the device, starting from the mixing device up to the nozzles, must again be completely filled with marking material mixture in the correct mixture, for which purpose a more or less large initial amount must generally be sprayed into a collecting vat until the correct mixture is reached.

[0014] The aim of the invention is therefore to create devices which avoid individual or, at the same time, several of the aforementioned disadvantages of the known devices, and by means of which, individually or in combination with one another, high delivery readiness, easy adaptability of the spacings of the marking material portions for the individual case of need, and adjustment of the spacings of the marking material portions by the operators of the device on-site, as well as the rapid provision of the device components necessary for the different line widths, are, in particular, achieved.

[0015] This aim is achieved according to the invention with devices of the type mentioned at the beginning, with the characterizing features of one of claims 1 through 4 in each case.

[0016] In all devices according to the invention, the individual discharge nozzles are located in nozzle elements which can be individually attached to and removed from the nozzle array. The invention thus provides variable nozzle arrays which can still be varied on-site in the marking operation and which allow easy and rapid adaptation to different requirements in the production of different marking lines from a plurality of marking material portions.

[0017] In the device according to claim 1, the individual nozzle elements are or can be detachably mounted on a common holding device at a fixed lateral distance of the nozzles from one another, dispensing with a variability of the lateral distances between the nozzles. Various holding devices can be used in this case to change the distance of the nozzles from one another. In order to be able to dispense with individual feed lines to all nozzle elements, the common holding device has a continuous material feed duct and, per nozzle element, a first material discharge duct section extending approximately perpendicularly to and branching off from the material feed duct. Each nozzle element further has a second material discharge duct section capable of being brought selectively into and out of fluidic connection to the first material discharge duct section in the associated holding element or in the common holding device. Thus, nozzles can be connected and disconnected, both during the marking process and during the rinsing process. In addition, each nozzle element is displaceable or rotatable relative to the associated holding element or to the common holding device in such a way that the first material discharge duct section and the second material discharge duct section can be selectively brought into and out of alignment relative to one another, wherein a passage is cleared for those material discharge duct sections that are brought into alignment, and wherein the passage is completely blocked for those material discharge duct sections that are brought out of alignment. In this way, the open/closed valve function for the rinsing procedure described above with sequential blocking of the connection to the individual, already-flushed nozzles is, technically, very easily attained.

[0018] In the device according to claim 2, in order to be able to easily change the lateral spacing of the marking material portions within the marking lines, the individual nozzle elements can be assembled with variable lateral spacing from one another to form the nozzle array. Furthermore, each nozzle element is associated in a selectively exchangeable manner with an individual holding element that, with spacing pieces which provide a desired distance from adjacent holding elements, can be expanded to form a holding beam. In this way, a beam is formed from a variable number of holding elements that can be mounted at a variable distance from one another and respectively have one nozzle element. In this case, the nozzle elements and the holding elements can be rationally produced and kept ready in large numbers of units. In the case of a clogged nozzle, the nozzle element in question can be replaced within a few seconds by a non-clogged nozzle element, without a cumbersome rinsing procedure being necessary, and the clogged nozzle element can, at a given time, be supplied to a separate cleaning process, with very little rinsing agent consumption. This makes it possible to effectively reduce both the time required for rinsing processes and the consumption of rinsing agent in case of nozzle obstructions. The holding elements and the spacing pieces each have a material passage duct, the holding elements also each have a first material discharge duct section extending approximately perpendicularly to and branching off from the material passage duct, and the holding elements with the spacing pieces, held in a row against one another, can be clamped by a clamping device to the holding beam and form an outwardly tight material feed duct for the nozzle elements that is formed by the mutually-aligned material passage ducts. This makes supplying the nozzles with the marking material substantially easier, because an individual external feed line is now no longer required for each nozzle. Since each nozzle element has a second material discharge duct section capable of being brought selectively into or out of fluidic connection to the first material discharge duct section in the associated holding element or in the common holding device, nozzles can specifically be connected and disconnected, both during the marking process and during the rinsing process. It is further provided in this case that each nozzle element be displaceable or rotatable relative to the associated holding element or to the common holding device in such a way that the first material discharge duct section and the second material discharge duct section can be selectively brought into and out of alignment relative to one another, wherein a passage is cleared for those material discharge duct sections that are brought into alignment, and wherein the passage is completely blocked for those material discharge duct sections that are brought out of alignment. In this way, the open/closed valve function for the rinsing procedure described above with sequential blocking of the connection to the individual, already-flushed nozzles is, technically, very easily attained.

[0019] In the device according to claim 3, the individual nozzle elements are or can be detachably mounted on a common holding device at a fixed lateral distance of the nozzles from one another, dispensing with the variability of the lateral distances between the nozzles. Various holding devices can be used in this case to change the distance of the nozzles from one another. Each nozzle element further has a second material discharge duct section capable of being brought selectively into and out of fluidic connection to the first material discharge duct section in the associated holding element or in the common holding device. Thus, nozzles can specifically be connected and disconnected, both during the marking process and during the rinsing process. It is also provided in this case that each nozzle element be displaceable or rotatable relative to the associated holding element or to the common holding device in such a way that the first material discharge duct section and the second material discharge duct section can be selectively brought into and out of alignment relative to one another, wherein a passage is cleared for those material discharge duct sections that are brought into alignment, and wherein the passage is completely blocked forthose material discharge duct sections that are brought out of alignment. In this way, the open/closed valve function for the rinsing procedure described above with sequential blocking of the connection to the individual, already-flushed nozzles is, technically, very easily attained.

[0020] In the device according to claim 4, in order to be able to easily change the lateral spacing of the marking material portions within the marking lines, the individual nozzle elements can be assembled with variable lateral spacing from one another to form the nozzle array. Furthermore, each nozzle element is associated in a selectively exchangeable manner with an individual holding element that, with spacing pieces which provide a desired distance from adjacent holding elements, can be expanded to form a holding beam. In this way, a beam is formed from a variable number of holding elements that can be mounted at a variable distance from one another and respectively have one nozzle element. In this case, the nozzle elements and the holding elements can be rationally produced and kept ready in large numbers of units. In the case of a clogged nozzle, the nozzle element in question can be replaced within a few seconds by a non-clogged nozzle element, without a cumbersome rinsing procedure being necessary, and the clogged nozzle element can, at a given time, be supplied to a separate cleaning process, with very little rinsing agent consumption. This makes it possible to effectively reduce both the time required for rinsing processes and the consumption of rinsing agent in case of nozzle obstructions. Since each nozzle element has a second material discharge duct section capable of being brought selectively into or out of fluidic connection to the first material discharge duct section in the associated holding element or in the common holding device, nozzles can specifically be connected and disconnected, both during the marking process and during the rinsing process. It is further provided in this case that each nozzle element be displaceable or rotatable relative to the associated holding element or to the common holding device in such a way that the first material discharge duct section and the second material discharge duct section can be selectively brought into and out of alignment relative to one another, wherein a passage is cleared for those material discharge duct sections that are brought into alignment, and wherein the passage is completely blocked forthose material discharge duct sections that are brought out of alignment. In this way, the open/closed valve function for the rinsing procedure described above with sequential blocking of the connection to the individual, already-flushed nozzles is, technically, very easily attained.

[0021] The spacing pieces are preferably formed by sheet metal plates, as a result of which they are produced easily and cost-effectively.

[0022] In the simplest case, the clamping device which assembles all nozzle elements to form a nozzle bar can be formed by one or two clamping rods, onto which the nozzle elements having corresponding bores are slid. Spacing pieces can be arranged between the nozzle elements. Via their thickness and number, the distance between the nozzle elements, and thus the nozzle spacing, can be adjusted or changed. Clamping can then take place, for example, by clamping nuts screwed onto the clamping rods at the ends.

[0023] It is also possible, if the advantage of variable nozzle spacings is not to be dispensed with, to associate each nozzle element with a holding element which in turn can be mounted at a variable distance from adjacent holding elements on a common holding device. The common holding device can, for example, be a bar-shaped profile on which the holding elements can be mounted. Alternatively, the common holding device can also be formed by one or two rods connecting all the holding elements, onto which rods the holding elements having corresponding bores with interposed spacing pieces are slid. Via the thickness or number of the spacing pieces, the distance between the holding elements can be adjusted or changed as required.

[0024] In order to enable a desired fast and simple - in particular, tool-free - exchange of the nozzle elements, it is preferably provided that each nozzle element can be pressed by at least one retaining spring against the associated holding element or against the common holding device, and can thus easily be held detachably.

[0025] The hold is, expediently, supported by a positive fit between the nozzle element, on the one hand, and the associated holding element or the common holding device, on the other. For this purpose, it is provided according to the invention that each nozzle element, on the one hand, and each associated holding element or the common holding device, on the other, be equipped with interacting positioning means and/or guide means. It is thus ensured with little effort that the nozzle element, on the one hand, and the associated holding element or the common holding device, on the other, reliably assume their desired position or desired positions relative to one another and retain their positions during operation of the device, but that they also be easily displaceable relative to one another if required.

[0026] As described above, the marking material portions can be ejected from the individual discharge nozzles with the aid of blasts of compressed air. In this connection, it is preferably provided that each nozzle element have an air duct to feed the blasts of compressed air into the discharge nozzle, said air duct running directly through the nozzle element or through an air duct body inserted - preferably, releasably - into the nozzle element. The first alternative is especially simple, in terms of production technology. In the second alternative, a required replacement of the compressed air duct can be achieved by simply exchanging the air duct body, without an exchange of the entire nozzle element becoming necessary.

[0027] A further embodiment proposes that the compressed air duct be extended in the form of a pipe into the discharge nozzle. This embodiment of the compressed air duct prevents undesired intrusion of marking material from the discharge nozzle into the compressed air duct when no more blasts of compressed air are triggered, but a residue of marking material still flows into the discharge nozzle.

[0028] A device according to the prior art and exemplary embodiments of the device according to the invention are described below with reference to a drawing. The figures of the drawing show:

Fig. 1 a device known from the prior art in cross-section, together with a marking line formed from individual marking material portions in side view and in plan view,

Fig. 2 the device according to the prior art from Fig. 1 in plan view,

Fig. 3 a first example of the device according to the invention in a first operating state, in cross-section,

Fig. 4 the device from Fig. 3 in a second operating state, in cross-section,

Fig. 5 the device from Fig. 3 in plan view,

Fig. 6 the device from Fig. 3 through Fig. 5 in side view, according to the arrow VI in Fig. 3, Fig. 7 a second example of the device according to the invention in a first operating state, in cross-section,

Fig. 8 the device from Fig. 7 in a second operating state, in cross-section,

Fig. 9 the device from Fig. 7 in plan view,

Fig. 10 the device from Fig. 7 through Fig. 9 in side view, according to the arrow X in Fig. 7,

Fig. 11 a third example of the device according to the invention in a first operating state, in cross-section,

Fig. 12 the device from Fig. 11 in a second operating state, in cross-section,

Fig. 13 the device from Fig. 11 in plan view,

Fig. 14 the device from Fig. 11 through Fig. 13 in side view, according to the arrow XIV in

Fig. 11,

Fig. 15 a fourth example of the device according to the invention, in cross-section,

Fig. 16 the device from Fig. 15 in plan view,

Fig. 17 the device from Fig. 15 and Fig. 16 in the view according to the arrow XVII in Fig. 15, and

Fig. 18 a fifth example of the device according to the invention, in cross-section.

[0029] Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 of the drawing show in cross-section and in plan view a device 1' known from the prior art for producing marking lines 10 composed of many individual marking material portions 11. In the known device 1' shown, the connection between a distributor bar 2, which has a marking material duct 2', and a nozzle bar 3 is produced by flexible lines 4 and 5. Between the lines 4 and 5, there is in each case an interrupt valve 6 - typically, in the form of a ball valve.

[0030] The components of a two-component marking material flow through a mixing device (not shown) and enter the marking material duct 2' in the direction of the arrow as a mixture in a hardening reaction and flow therefrom via lines 4 and 5 into the nozzles 7 of the nozzle bar 3.

[0031] At regular time intervals, the marking material filler continuously newly-forming in the nozzles 7 is expelled by blasts of compressed air supplied via compressed air lines 8. By a certain timing of the blasts of compressed air, the marking line 10 composed of a plurality of marking material portions 11 is produced.

[0032] Fig. 3 through Fig. 18 of the drawing show various exemplary embodiments of the devices 1 according to the invention. Identical parts of the device 1 in Figures 3 through 18 are provided with the same reference numbers so that not all reference numbers in each figure of the drawing must be described anew.

[0033] Fig. 3 through Fig. 6 show a first example of the device 1. This device 1 has a continuous holding device 15 onto which nozzle elements 17 are clamped side-by-side in a detachable and vertically-displaceable manner, but at fixed distance from one another, by means of a respective retaining spring 26.

[0034] The marking material is fed to the individual nozzle elements 17 via individual feed lines 23 and, after flowing through a respective first material discharge duct section 24 in the holding device 15, arrives in the second material discharge duct section 25, adjacent to and in alignment with the first discharge duct section 24 in Fig. 3, of the nozzle element 17 pressed against the holding device 15 by the retaining spring 26, and then, through this second material discharge duct section 25, to the discharge nozzle 18.

[0035] By moving the nozzle element 17 into an upper position shown in Fig. 4, the two material discharge duct sections 24 and 25 are offset relative to each other and are brought out of alignment with each other in such a way that the transition from a material discharge duct section 24 to another material discharge duct section 25 is completely interrupted.

[0036] In this case, the force of the retaining spring 26 is selected such that the pressure of the marking material in the material discharge duct sections 24 and 25 is not able to remove the nozzle element 17 from the holding device 15 while forming a gap.

[0037] Projections 28, which are formed on the continuous holding device 15, shown in Figs. 3 and 4 by dashed lines and visible in Fig. 5 between the nozzle elements 17, serve to guide the nozzle elements 17 during the displacement. The displacement path is predetermined and limited to the necessary degree by further guide means in the form of one nose 27 per nozzle element 17 on the holding device 15 and one associated groove 27' on each nozzle element 17.

[0038] The nozzle elements 17 are easily exchangeable in this case and, in interaction with the holding device 15, assume the function ofreleasing and interrupting the supply of marking material or rinsing agent to the individual discharge nozzles 18.

[0039] Fig. 7 through Fig. 10 show a second example of the device 1. This device 1 also has a continuous holding device 15, onto which nozzle elements 17 are again mounted side-by-side in a detachable and vertically-displaceable manner by means of a respective retaining spring 26. The holding device 15 in this case has a continuous material feed duct 30 extending in the said holding device's longitudinal direction and one first material discharge duct section 24 per nozzle element 17 branching off approximately perpendicularly from this material feed duct 30.

[0040] In the position of the nozzle element 17 shown in Fig. 7, the first material discharge duct section 24 respectively transitions congruently into a second material discharge duct section 25 in this nozzle element 17 at the separating surface to the nozzle element 17 placed in a clamped manner on the holding device 15. From the second material discharge duct section 25, the marking material passes to the discharge nozzle 18.

[0041] By displacing the nozzle element 17 relative to the holding device 15 into an upper position shown in Fig. 8, the two material discharge duct sections 24 and 25 are offset relative to each other in such a way that they are out of alignment and that the transition from one material discharge duct section 24 to the other material discharge duct section 25 is thus completely interrupted. Projections 28 of the holding device 15 serve to guide the nozzle elements 17 during this displacement. A displacement path limitation in each case is effected by a nose 27 on the holding device 15 and an interacting elongated groove 27' on the nozzle element 17.

[0042] Via the front ends of the holding device 15, the marking material is respectively fed to the material feed duct 30 via a common feed line 23', which is shown only in a rudimentary manner. Alternatively, the one feed line 23' may also serve to supply the marking material, and the other feed line 23' may serve to supply rinsing liquid.

[0043] In this case, the compressed air is also fed by means of individual compressed air lines 19' and one compressed air duct 19 per nozzle unit 17 to each discharge nozzle 18.

[0044] Fig. 11 through Fig. 14 show a third example of the device 1. This device 1 has a number of holding elements 20 which are slid with corresponding bores onto two clamping rods 21. The desired distance of the holding elements 20 from one another is adjusted in this case with interposed spacing pieces 22 - in this case, spacer plates. On each holding element 20, a nozzle element 17 is detachably arranged - in this case, again clamped by means of one retaining spring 26 each.

[0045] The holding elements 20 and the interposed spacing pieces 22 are held against each other to form a composite in the form of a holding beam 15 by the clamping nuts 21' screwed onto the clamping rods 21 at the ends.

[0046] In this embodiment of the device 1, both the desired variable adjustability of the nozzle spacing in the transverse direction of the marking line and an easy exchangeability of the nozzle elements 17 are attained.

[0047] In this case, the marking material is fed to the individual holding elements 20 via individual feed lines 23 and, after flowing through a first material discharge duct section 24 in holding element 20, arrives in the second material discharge duct section 25, adjacent to and in alignment with the first discharge duct section 24 in Fig. 11, of the nozzle element 17, and then, through this second material discharge duct section 25, to the discharge nozzle 18.

[0048] By displacing the nozzle element 17 sufficiently far into an upper position shown in Fig. 12, the two material discharge duct sections 24 and 25 are offset relative to each other in such a way that the transition from one material discharge duct section 24 to the other material discharge duct section 25 is completely interrupted.

[0049] It can be seen in Figs. 11, 12, and 13 that the spacing pieces 22 used for adjusting the nozzle spacing between the holding elements 20 have a projection 28 which projects beyond the holding elements 20 and serves to laterally guide the nozzle elements 17 during their displacement relative to the holding elements 20.

[0050] Fig. 15 through Fig. 17 show a fourth example of the device 1. The holding elements 20 and spacing pieces 22 in this case have a respective material passage duct 29, e.g., in the form of a bore, and a respective first material discharge duct section 24 branching off approximately perpendicularly from this material passage duct 29.

[0051] In the position of the nozzle element 17 according to Fig. 15, the first material discharge duct section 24 transitions at the separating surface to the clamped nozzle element 17 into the second material discharge duct section 25 of this nozzle element 17. From the position shown in Fig. 15, each nozzle element 17 can be displaced individually upwards, in order to bring the material discharge duct sections 24 and 25 out of alignment, and thus block the passage.

[0052] By clamping nuts 21' screwed onto the clamping rods 21 at the ends, the holding elements 20 and the interposed spacing pieces 22 are held against each other to form a marking-material-tight and rinsing-liquid-tight composite in the form of a holding beam 15'. The holding elements 20 and spacing pieces 22, held in a row against one another, form, from the material passage ducts 29, a continuous material feed duct 30 in the holding beam 15'.

[0053] The front ends of the holding beam 15' are formed by the two end pieces 32 and 33. Via at least one of the end pieces 32, 33, the marking material is fed to the material feed duct 30 through one or two feed lines 23'.

[0054] In the embodiment of the device 1 shown in Fig. 15 through Fig. 17, the distributor function of the material feed duct 30 is, advantageously, compactly combined - in a manner that saves space and marking material content, and thus also rinsing agent - with the function of holding elements 20 mountable with variable distance, and with the blocking function for interrupting the supply of the marking material or rinsing agent to the individual nozzle elements 17.

[0055] Fig. 18 shows a fifth and last example of the device 1. It again has a continuous holding device 15 - here, for example, an extruded profile made of aluminum. Onto the holding device 15, individual nozzle elements 17 are replaceably placed side-by-side easily, one of which is visible in cross-section. Each nozzle element 17 has an individual marking material feed line 23 which continues inside the nozzle element 17 as a duct 25 up to a discharge nozzle 18 pointing downwards. Blasts of compressed air can be fed, in a controlled manner from above, to each discharge nozzle 18 via its own compressed airline 19' and a compressed airduct 19, which continues said compressed airline 19' downwards in order to respectively discharge a marking material portion 11 from the discharge nozzle 18 onto the substrate to be marked, such as a road.

[0056] Unlike in the above-described examples, the compressed air duct 19 of the example of Fig. 18 does not directly extend through the interior of the nozzle element 17, but through an air duct body 34, which is inserted - preferably, detachably screwed -as a separate part from above into the nozzle element 17. Accordingly, in this case, the compressed air line 19' is connected to the upper end of the air duct body 34. A replacement of the compressed airduct 19 - as required, for example, in the case of obstruction or wear, or in order to change the cross-section of the compressed air duct 19 - can thus be achieved by simply exchanging the air duct body 34, without an exchange of the entire nozzle element 17 becoming necessary.

[0057] It is also provided in the example according to Fig. 18 that the compressed air duct 19 be extended in the form of a pipe into the discharge nozzle 18. In this case, the pipe-shaped lower part 19.1 of the compressed airduct 19 projects into the discharge nozzle 18 far enough that the free end of the compressed air duct 19 is at the level of the outlet of the duct 25 in the discharge nozzle 18. In this case, the outer diameter of the pipe-shaped part 19.1 of the compressed airduct 19 is so small in relation to the inner diameter of the discharge nozzle 18 that the pipe-shaped part 19.1 of the air duct 19 does not impede feeding the marking material from the duct 25 into the discharge nozzle 18.

[0058] This embodiment of the compressed airduct 19 prevents intrusion of marking material from the discharge nozzle 18 upwards into the compressed air duct 19 when no more blasts of compressed air are triggered, but a residue of marking material still flows into the discharge nozzle 18. As a result, impairments of the device 1 as a result of marking material entering the compressed airduct 19 and hardening therein, which would lead to blockage of the compressed airduct 19 and thus to interruption of the ejection of marking material, no longer occur. Complicated cleaning of blocked compressed air ducts 19 is therefore, practically, no longer necessary during ongoing operation of the device 1, and the productivity of device 1 is improved.

Reference number list:

Claims

A device (1) for generating marking lines (10) consisting of many single marking material parts (11), with a nozzle device connected to a marking material source, with multiple discharge nozzles (18) arranged side by side on transverse to a direction of movement (12) of the device (1), for ejecting marking material parts (11) by means of compressed air shock, characterized in that the individual discharge nozzles (18) are in nozzle elements (17) which can be individually mounted on the nozzle device and it is taken by the nozzle device that the individual nozzle elements (17) are arranged or can be spaced apart at the side which cannot be changed, on a common holder (15), that the common holder (15) comprises a passage in the longitudinal direction of the holder material supply channel (30) and per. nozzle element (17) each having a first material discharge section (24) extending approximately perpendicular to the material supply channel (30) and branching therefrom, each nozzle element (17) comprising a second material discharge section (25) which may optionally be inserted or taken out of flow connection with the material discharge section (24) of the common holder (15) and each nozzle element (17) can be displaced or rotated relative to the common holder (15) in such a way that the first material discharge section (24) and the other material discharge sections (25) relative to each other can be brought into or taken out of cover, where through material discharge sections (24 and 25) covered, a passageway is released and the passageway is completely blocked when the material discharge passages (24) and 25) are taken out of coverage.

Device (1) for generating marking lines (10) consisting of many single marking material parts (11), with a nozzle device connected to a marking material source, with multiple discharge nozzles (18) arranged side by side on transverse to a direction of movement (12) of the device (1), for ejecting marking material parts (11) by means of compressed air shock, characterized in that the individual discharge nozzles (18) are in nozzle elements (17) which can be individually mounted on the nozzle device and it is taken by the nozzle assembly that the individual nozzle members (17) can be assembled with mutually spaced sides that can be changed to the nozzle device, that each nozzle member (17) can be selectively interchangeably assigned to an individual holder member (20) which can be expanded by spacers (22) forming a desired distance from neighboring holding elements (20), to a holding beam (15 '), the holding elements (20) and spacers (22) each having a material furthermore, each holding comprises a first material discharge section (24) extending approximately perpendicular to the material passage channel (29) and branching therefrom, and the holding elements (20) with spacers (22), in series towards each other, by means of a clamping device (21, 21 ') can be clamped to the support beam (15') and forms a material supply channel (30) formed by the material passage channels (29) which are flush with each other and close to the nozzle elements (17), that each nozzle element (17) has a second material discharge portion (25) which, with the first material discharge portion (24) of the associated holder element (20), can optionally be brought in or taken out of flow connection and that each nozzle element (17) may is displaced or rotated relative to the associated holding member (20) in such a way that the first material discharge portion (24) and the second material discharge portion (25) of cover to each other can be brought in or taken out of cover, where a material release section (24 and 25) covered is released and where the passage is completely blocked when the material discharge sections (24 and 25) are taken out .

3. Device (1) for generating marking lines (10) consisting of many single marking material parts (11), with a nozzle device connected to a marking material source, with several discharge nozzles (18) arranged side by side on transverse to a direction of movement (12) of the device (1), for ejecting marking material parts (11) by means of compressed air shock, characterized in that the individual discharge nozzles (18) are in nozzle elements (17) which can be individually mounted on the nozzle device and it is taken by the nozzle device that the individual nozzle elements (17) are arranged or can be spaced apart at the side which cannot be changed, on a common holder (15), that the marking material can be applied to the individual nozzle elements (17) via individual supply lines (23) and in each case a first material discharge section (24) in the holder (15) that each nozzle element (17) comprises a second material discharge section (25) which may optionally be is dialed in or taken out of flow communication with the first material discharge section (24) of the common holder (15) and each nozzle element (17) can be displaced or rotated relative to the common holder (15) in such a way that the first material discharge section (24) and second material discharge section (25) can be brought into or removed from cover relative to each other, where a material release section (24 and 25) covered and a review complete blocked when the material discharge sections (24 and 25) are taken out of cover.

4. Device (1) for generating marking lines (10) consisting of many single marking material parts (11), with a nozzle device connected to a marking material source, with multiple discharge nozzles (18) arranged side by side on transverse to a direction of movement (12) of the device (1), for ejecting marking material parts (11) by means of compressed air shock, characterized in that the individual discharge nozzles (18) are in nozzle elements (17) which can be individually mounted on the nozzle device and it is taken by the nozzle assembly that the individual nozzle members (17) can be assembled with mutually spaced sides that can be changed to the nozzle device, that each nozzle member (17) can be selectively interchangeably assigned to an individual holder member (20) which can be expanded by spacers (22) forming a desired distance from neighboring holding elements (20) to a holding beam (15 ') so that the marking material can be applied to the individual nozzle elements (17) via individual supply lines (23) and in each case a first material discharge section (24) in the holding element (20) that each nozzle element (17) comprises a second material discharge section (25) which can optionally be brought in or taken out of flow with the first material discharge section (24) ) in the associated holding member (20) and each nozzle member (17) can be displaced or rotated relative to the associated holding member (20) in such a way that the first material discharge portion (24) and the second material discharge portion (25) are proportional can be brought into or removed from each other where a passage is released at material discharge sections (24 and 25) which are covered and where the passage is completely blocked when the material discharge sections (24 and 25) are taken out.

Device according to claim 2 or 4, characterized in that the spacers (22) are formed by spacer plates.

Device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each nozzle element (17) can be pressed against the associated holder element (20) or common holder (15) by means of at least one holding spring (26).

Device according to claim 6, characterized in that each nozzle element (17) on the one hand and each associated holding element (20) or the common holder (15) on the other hand is provided with cooperating positioning means and / or guide means (27, 27 ').

Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the marking material parts (11) which can be ejected by the discharge nozzles (18) by means of compressed air shocks can be ejected at regular time intervals.

Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that each nozzle element (17) for supplying the compressed air shocks to the discharge nozzle (18) comprises a compressed air duct (19) running directly through the nozzle element (17) or through an air duct body (34). which is inserted, preferably releasably, into the nozzle element (17).

Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the compressed air duct (19) is extended tubular into the discharge nozzle (18).