EP1706641A1

EP1706641A1 - A self-supplied painting roller

Info

Publication number: EP1706641A1
Application number: EP04702023A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pierino Pistis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-01-14
Filing date: 2004-01-14
Publication date: 2006-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2024-01-14
Also published as: WO2005078283A1; CN1906415A; ATE443809T1; DE602004023328D1; EP1706641B1

Abstract

The painting roller according to the invention comprises a pump (21, 48), actuated by the rolling of the roller (5) for self-supply of the paint to the roller (5) itself. In a first embodiment, the pump (21) comprises two membrane valves (26, 27), which provide a good seal and enable the paint to be raised up to 6-8 metres in height. The pump (21) can be actuated with a desmodromic-cam system (36, 36, 37, 39), and the flow rate can be regulated with a sliding-block system (39B) by varying the 10 inclination of the pump (21) or else using a spring-knob system (47G). Alternatively, the pump (48) can be of a peristaltic type, actuated via a system with reversal of motion that enables actuation of the pump irrespective of the direction of rolling of the roller (5).

Description

A SELF-SUPPLIED PAINTING ROLLER Field of the invention

The subject of the present invention is concerned with a painting roller, which is seif-supplied without the aid of an electric motor or compressor or other sources of energy.

State of the art

It is known that painting rollers have to be repeatedly impregnated with paint, and it is moreover necessary for the paint to be spread uniformly on the roller, for example by means of a spreading grid. Said operations of course entail a considerable waste of time and hence reduce the productivity of the operator.

A purpose of the present invention is consequently to overcome the drawbacks inherent in self-supplied rollers of a known type.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention, the above purpose is achieved by a self- supplying painting roller having the characteristics referred to in Claim 1.

The advantages that can be obtained with the present invention will emerge clearly, to the person skilled in the art, from the ensuing detailed description of some particular non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the figures that are described below. List of the figures

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of the painting roller according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which has a piston pump, is without a half- shell for protection from the paint, and is viewed from the outer side. Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a filter of the painting roller of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a partially sectioned schematic front view of the roller of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a schematic axial view of the blocking end of the tubular rotating support of the painting roller of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a schematic view of some internal components of the painting roller of Figure 1 in a disassembled condition.

Figure 6 is a perspective side view of the painting roller of Figure 1 , viewed from the inside, with a portion of the system for flow regulation. Figure 7 is a schematic perspective side view of the painting roller of Figure 1 , viewed from the outside and with the half-shells for protection from the paint in an assembled condition.

Figure 8 is a schematic side view of a second embodiment of a self-supplied painting roller according to the present invention, equipped with a peristaltic pump.

Figures 9 and 10 are schematic side views of the system for one-directional transmission of motion of the roller of Figure 8 in two operating conditions.

Figure 11 is a schematic front view of the one-directional transmission system and of the speed reducer of the painting roller of Figure 8. Figure 12 is a schematic side view of the one-directional transmission system and of the speed reducer of the painting roller of Figure 8.

Figure 13 is a more detailed schematic side view of the painting roller of Figure 1 , without a half-shell for protection from the paint and viewed from the outside.

Figure 14 is a schematic side view of a third embodiment of a painting roller according to the present invention, without a half-shell for protection from the paint and viewed from the outside, provided with a tube with flexible bellows at intake of the piston pump.

Figure 15 is a schematic front view of the desmodromic cam-actuation of the painting roller of Figure 1. Figure 16 is a schematic side view of the cam actuation of Figure 15.

Figure 17 is an exploded, perspective, schematic view of the hollow piston pump , of the painting roller of Figure 1.

Figure 18 is a cross-sectional schematic side view of the pump of Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a schematic view, according to the direction of intake, of a detail of the fixing support of the intake membrane valve of the pump of Figure 17.

Figure 20 is a partially sectioned schematic front view of a fourth embodiment of a painting roller according to the present invention.

Figure 21 is an exploded, perspective, schematic view of the< hollow piston pump of a fifth embodiment of a painting roller according to the present invention. Figure 22 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the pump of Figure 21.

Figure 23 is a schematic partially sectioned front view of a sixth embodiment of a painting roller according to the present invention. Figure 24 is a perspective schematic view of a seventh embodiment of a painting roller according to the present invention.

Figure 25 is a schematic partially sectioned front view of a detail of the painting roller of Figure 24. Detailed description of the invention

Figures 1-7 and 13-19 show a first embodiment of a painting roller according to the present invention, which is referred to, as a whole, with the reference number 1 and comprises:

- a hollow grip 2 for insertion of an extensor tube 3, 3b in order to be able to paint at the desired height;

- a support substantially shaped like a goose neck 4; and

- a roller 5 fixed to the rotating tubular body or support 6 and on the threaded bushing 7 (see Figures 3, 5).

The tubular support 6 and the bushing 7 are screwed together by means of the female threaded surface 8 and male threaded surface 9, and are mounted on the fixed tubular support 6A (Figures 3, 5) or, more in general, on a pin-like support 6A.

Figure 4 is the front view of the threaded end 9 of the support 6. Said end has a plurality of radial projections 10 and a plurality of notches 12. Made on the fixed tubular support 6A is an annular groove 11 (see Figure 5). When the male threaded end 9 is screwed into the female threaded seat 8,' the notches are reduced and the side projections 10 are clinched and engaged in the annular groove 11 , fixing the rotating support 6 on the fixed support 6A in such a way that the former (together with the roller 5) can rotate with respect to the latter, without sliding out axially.

In the embodiment of Figures 3, 5 and 6, the rotating support 6 is provided, at its free end, with a gripping area 44, with which the user can disassemble and reassemble the rotating support 6 with his hands, without any need for tools. The roller 5 may be covered by an appropriate absorbent material 19. The paint is enclosed in the chamber 15 and is made to come out therefrom, for supplying and impregnating the absorbent material 19, via one or more holes 14 (see Figure 5) which communicate with the chamber 15 itself, and then through a plurality of small holes (not shown) made on the roller 5.

In order to prevent the paint from coming out of the chamber 15 through the threaded coupling 8, 9 and the notches 12, between the rotating support 6 and the roller 5 there can be inserted a seal gasket 13 (see Figure 3). In the present example of embodiment, the fixed support 6A (see Figure 5) has a seat 16b for the seal gasket 17, which communicates with a chamber 18. The paint is fed to the chamber 15 (see Figure 3) by means of a supply tube 22 (see Figure 1) via suction with a pump, designated, as a whole, by the reference number 21. The supply tube 22 is fixed by means of special clamps 23 to the goose-neck support 4 (Figures 13, 20). At the intake end, the tube 22 is immersed in the diluted paint in any suitable container, and blocked with a purposely provided clamp. Along the tube 22 there may possibly be set a filter 20 (see Figures 1 , 2) with the function of withholding possible impurities that could jeopardize the operation of the pump 21. The filter 20 can be equipped with a valve 20b (see Figure 2) to prevent any backflow, from above downwards, of the paint within the supply tube 22. Advantageously, as will emerge more clearly from what follows, said nonreturn valve is a membrane valve similar to the valves 26, 27 described hereinafter; said type of valve in fact is able to ensure a better seal also in the presence of high pressures of backflow of the liquid.

The pump 21 of Figure 18 comprises a hollow piston 33 in a position corresponding to its point of delivery.

In the present preferred embodiment of a painting roller according to the invention, the pump 21 is provided with at least one membrane valve, for intake 27 or delivery 26. In the example of embodiment of Figure 18, the pump 21 comprises two membrane valves 26, 27, each comprising a body made of elastic material, or in any case deformable material, substantially shaped like an umbreHa or cup, and provided underneath with a fixing appendix 28 and a fixing appendix 29, respectively (see Figure 18). The umbrella-shaped valve 27, which functions as intake valve, is fixed, via the respective bottom appendix 29, to the outer casing of the pump 21 , whilst the umbrella-shaped valve 26, which functions as delivery valve, is fixed, via the respective bottom appendix 28, within the hollow piston 33, so as to move fixedly therewith. More in particular, the valve 27 is fixed in the seat 30 of the annular support 31 (see Figures 18, 19), and the latter is screwed or restrained, via convenient assembly, on the edge 31 B (see Figure 18) of the hollow piston 33. Also fixed on the annular support 31 is the gasket with annular lip 25.

Fixing by means of the appendix 28, 29 enables the umbrella-shaped valves 26, 27 to be fixed in the respective seats without the aid of springs - for example, spiral metal springs -, which prove at times difficult to calibrate and call for a greater effort on the part of the user in actuating the pump 21 and the roller as a whole.

Furthermore, the membrane valves, in particular the umbrella-shaped valves, ensure a higher degree of tightness than do other types of valves - for example, ball valves - and thus enable the required suction pressures for intake. Using said umbrella-shaped valves, the present applicant has succeeded in building pumps 21 with a self-priming height greater than 6-8 metres.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the piston pump 21 can moreover be provided with a tubular sleeve substantially shaped like a bellows 24, or else other membrane or casing of an appropriate shape, having the function of preventing the liquid pumped from coming into contact with the hollow piston 33 and the gasket with annular lip 25, so as to eliminate substantially the problem of abrasion due to the sediments contained in the paint.

Another advantageous characteristic of the present example of embodiment (see Figures 1-8 and 13-19) of self-supplied painting roller is the cam-actuation system 34, 35, which enables actuation the pump 21 by rolling the roller 5.

With reference to Figures 15 and 16, in order to actuate the pump 21 with a reduced stress of the roller 5, on one end of the threaded bushing 7 there is made a furrow 36, in which a pin 37 made of anti-friction material - possibly equipped with a small roller 38 to facilitate sliding - can slide. By causing the roller 5 to roll, the furrow 36 and its raised edges 35, 35 actuate the pin 37, which, via the lever 39 (see Figures 13, 14, 16), actuates the hollow piston 33 of the pump 21. In fact, the lever 39 is fixed to the hollow piston 33 by means of the pins 42 (see Figures 17 and 18), which are engaged in the eyelet 39B (see Figure 13). The lever 39 moreover pivots about the fulcrum 41 (see Figures 13, 14), which in turn is fixed to the protective half-shell 16, described more fully in what follows. Finally, the lever 39 slides in the eyelet 40 (see Figure 13), which is made in the shell 16 and through which the lever can come out of the shell 16 itself. The stretch of tube 43 having the shape of a bellows, or in any case flexible (see Figure 13), enables connection of the delivery of the hollow piston 33 of the pump 21 within the roller 5 and supply of the latter with the paint delivered by the pump 21 irrespective of the inclination of the pump itself with respect to the shell 16, 16C.

Since the desmodromic-cam actuation 36, 37 just described does not require return springs for guiding both the delivery stroke and return stroke of the piston 33, it enables actuation of the pump 21 with a smaller effort on the part of the roller 5, and hence with greater convenience for the user. Furthermore, the system of levers and cams enables prevention of any risk of blocking of rotation of the roller 5.

The two half-shells 16, 16C (see Figures 1 , 7) have the function of protecting the pump 21 and the corresponding actuation mechanism from possible drops of paint.

The present example of preferred embodiment is moreover, provided with means of regulation of the capacity of the pump 21 , thus exemplified (see Figures 6, 13, 14, 17, 18, 21 , 22):

- the outer body of the pump 21 is fixed to the shell 16 so as to be able to rotate about the two coaxial pins 47B, 47C (see Figures 13, 17, 18);

- by means of the system of micrometric-screw regulation 46, 46, 46B (see Figure 6), the position of the pin 47 is varied (see Figures 6, 17, 18), and consequently, with rotation of the pump 21 about the double fulcrum 47B, 47C, the inclination of the pump 21 is varied with respect to the shell 16, the pin 42 of the piston slides in the eyelet 39B (see Figures 13, 17, 18) or in an equivalent slide guide, moving towards or away from the fulcrum 41 of the lever 39, and consequently the stroke of the hollow piston 33 is reduced or increased at each oscillation of the lever 39.

The capacity of the pump is regulated, that is, by varying the position of the pin 47

(see Figures 6, 17, 18).

The above system for regulation of the capacity enables an adjustable flow to be obtained as desired, with considerable precision and according to the requirements of the moment. Thanks to the uniform and constant distribution, it is possible to save up to 30% on the amount of paint with respect to traditional systems.

Figures 8-12 refer to a second example of embodiment of a painting roller according to the present invention. In said embodiment, the supply means of the roiler 5 comprise a peristaltic pump, designated, as a whoie, by the reference number 48 (see Figure 8).

The peristaltic pump 48 can have two or more rollers 49 (see Figure 8) and is actuated by a series of gear wheels 50-58 (see Figures 9-12): - the gear wheel 57 (see Figures 9 and 10) is constantly meshed with the gear wheel 58;

- the gear wheel 54 is constantly meshed with the gear wheel 56, which is also constantly meshed with the gear wheel 55;

- the gear wheels 54 and 55 can slide along the respective shafts of rotation and are coupled, respectively, to the gear wheels 57 and 58 with a ratchet-gear coupling;

- the reference numbers 63, 64 designate spiral springs for recovery of any play. The rotor 60 is actuated by the driver shaft 59 (see Figure 8), and the system of gear wheels and of ratchet mechanisms 50-58, 63, 64 is such as to make it rotate always in the same direction of rotation, irrespective of the direction of rotation of the roller 5.

Figures 11 , 12 show the speed-reduction system (gear wheels 50-52), which, in the present example of preferred embodiment, connects the system of wheels and ratchet mechanisms 50-58, 61-64 to the roller 5, 19, to the threaded bushing 7, and to the rotating support 6.

Some important advantages of the use of a peristaltic pump of a rotary type for supplying a roller for painting are: - the simplicity of operation and the absence of valves;

- the capacity to pump and meter viscous fluids, such as paint;

- the fact that the liquid pumped is never in contact with the rotor or other moving parts, and does not wet the body of the pump; - problems of contamination and rinsing are prevented, in so far as it is sufficient to replace the tube 22B (see Figure 8) when the liquid to be transferred is changed;

- the pump is self-priming since it is able to recall the fluid by suction pressure, and does not present any backflow because one of the rollers keeps the tube constantly squeezed;

- in the present system, pumps of various types can be applied, since the rotational movement can be transformed into rectilinear movement.

According to other embodiments, the one-directional ratchet-gear couplings 61 , 62 can be replaced with other types of one-directional coupling; the coupling between the gear wheels 54, 56 and 55 can be replaced by other transmission means designed to turn the second driver coupling element 55 in the same direction of rotation as the first driver coupling element 54. The coupling between the gear wheels 57, 58 can be replaced by other reversal means suitable for rotating the first driven coupling element 62 in a direction of rotation opposite to that of the second driven coupling element 61. The position of the gear train for transmission 54, 55, 56 and of the gear train for reversal 57, 58 can be reversed with respect to Figures 9, 10 by setting the gear train for reversal further upstream, i.e., closer to the desmodromic cam actuation, and the gear train for transmission further downstream, i.e., closer to the rotor 60 (said variant requires the two one- directional couplings 61 , 62 to have concordant directions of rotation of uncoupling, unlike the example of Figures 9, 10, in which the two one-directional couplings 61 , 62 must have discordant directions of rotation of uncoupling). Figure 20 regards a fourth embodiment of a seif-suppiied painting roller according to the present invention. In said embodiment the roller 5 has a thinner frustoconical shape and is provided with an end washer 65 made of non- absorbent and non-transpirant material 65, which enables painting without dirtying doorposts, frames, etc. From the description of the foregoing embodiments, it can be seen that the parts that enable self-supply of the roller are readily interchangeable and readily accessible for cleaning.

The roller is easy to use for anybody, even for the least expert and for those persons who, for reasons of habit or practicality, do not like to use traditional rollers.

The embodiment previously described may undergo numerous modifications and variations, albeit without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the system for regulation of the capacity of the piston pump (21 ), instead of being a system of fine regulation 45, 46, 46B, 47 of the type of Figure 6, can be a system of coarser regulation, such as the system 47, 47C, 47D, 47E, 47F of the example of embodiment of Figures 21 , 22, in which the spring knob 47G, which may be gripped by the user, blocks inclination of the pump 21 with respect to the shell 16, pinching the edges of an appropriate eyelet (not shown and made in the shell 16 itself) against a contrast made in the pin 47.

The embodiment of Figures 21 , 22, with respect to that of Figures 17, 18, moreover presents the following improved characteristic: the variable-volume chamber is defined also by a cylindrical cavity 214', made within an outer body 213 obtained, for example by injection moulding, in a single piece, instead of assembling a number of pieces moulded separately. In the example of embodiment of Figures 17, 18, instead, the piston .33 slides within. a cylindrical cavity 214 defined by the two elements 211 , 212, which have been moulded separately and subsequently ultrasound welded along the joining surface 210. During operation of the pump, in the event of defects of production through the joining surface 210 there may be inleakages of air from outside, with consequent loss of head of the pump; said inleakages are instead absent in the pump of Figures 21 , 22, where the cylindrical chamber 214' is moulded in a single piece without lines of joining or welding. This contributes to increasing the maximum height of the column of liquid that the pump can suck.

It is to be noted that, in the example of Figures 21 , 22, for reasons of ease of assembly, it is the piston that is made up of two elements. 31 and 33, either screwed or welded together, but the surface of separation between said elements 31 , 33 is set downstream of the pump delivery, in any case preventing loss of head of the pump due to leakage of air from the outside inwards. In the embodiment of Figure 23, the coating made of absorbent material 19 is fixed on the roller 5 not via bonding, as in the example of embodiment of Figure 3, but by being pinched at the end between the roller 5 and the rotating tubular support 6. This enables removal or replacement of the absorbent coating 19, without having to dismantle or replace also the roller 5 and other pieces connected thereto. In the example of embodiment of Figures 24, 25, the rotating tubular support 6 is blocked axially on the fixed tubular support 6A, not via the system of clinching with the radial projections 10 and the notches 12 of Figure 4, but rather by means of the sliding tab 10B, which, in the inserted position can be engaged, for example, in the annular groove 11 of Figure 5, whilst, in the extracted position, it enables the roller 5 and the rotating tubular support 6 to be slid out of the fixed tubular support 6A, with a faster mode of operation as compared to the clinching system of Figure 4.

Any modification and variation that falls within the meaning and scope of equivalence of the claims is understood as being included therein.

Claims

1 ) A self-supplied painting roller, comprising a roller (5) having an outer surface (19) suitable for painting, said roller being characterized by comprising supply means (21 , 48, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 16, 17, 20, 21 , 34, 35, 36, 39, 43, 44, 45, 46, 46b, 47, 48) suitable for supplying the outer surface of the roller (5) with the paint so as to keep the outer surface of the roller continuously impregnated with paint.

2) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 1 , characterized in that said supply means comprise a pump (21 ) provided with at least one membrane valve (26, 27), for intake or delivery.

3) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 2, characterized in that said pump (21) is a piston pump, comprising at least one piston (33) forming part of a variable-volume chamber suitable for intaking said paint and for pumping it to said roller (5). 4) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, characterized in that said at least one membrane valve (26, 27) comprises a body made of deformable material and substantially shaped like an umbrella.

5) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 4, characterized in that said body made of deformable material is provided with a fixing appendix (28, 29), by means of which said body made of deformable material is fixed to the rest of the pump (21).

6) The self-supplied painting roller according to one or more of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that said pump (21 ) comprises at least two of said membrane valves (26, 27), an intake valve (27) and a delivery valve (26). 7) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 6, characterized in that said pump (21) comprises a hollow piston (33), and in that said delivery valve (26) is housed within said hollow piston (33) so as to define said variable-volume chamber. 8) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, characterized in that said pump (21) comprises a sleeve and/or membrane (24) set within said variable-volume chamber set downstream of said intake valve (27) and set upstream of said delivery valve (26) so as to prevent the paint enclosed in said variable-volume chamber from coming into contact with the walls of said variable- volume chamber on which said piston (33) slides.

9) The self-supplied painting roller according to one or more of Claims 2 to 8, characterized by comprising a system for regulation of the capacity of said pump (21), said system comprising:

- a drive lever (39) for driving said piston (33), said lever being suitable for driving said piston (33) turning about a point of fulcrum (41 ), said drive lever (39) being connected to said piston in a fixing area (47) and comprising a slide guide (39B), along which said fixing area of the piston (47) can slide so as to move towards and move away from said point of fulcrum (41 ), said slide guide (39B) being oriented transversely with respect to the sliding stroke of said piston (33);

- regulation means (45, 46, 46B, 47D, 47E, 47F, 47G) suitable for varying the inclination of said stroke of the piston (33) with respect to said slide guide (39B) so as to vary the stroke of said piston (33), bringing said fixing area of the piston (47) up to and/or moving it away from said point of fulcrum (41 ).

10) The self-supplied painting roller according to one or more of Claims 2 to 9, characterized in that said pump (21) is actuated by the rolling of said roller (5) by means of a cam actuation comprising at least one desmodromic coupling between the cam (36) and the driven element (37). 11 ) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 10, characterized in that said at least one coupling between cam and driven desmodromic element (36, 37) is substantially without springs suitable for actuating said driven element (37) in its to and/or from stroke.

12) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 1 , characterized in that said supply means comprise a peristaltic pump (48) suitable for pumping said paint.

13) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 12, characterized in that said peristaltic pump (48) comprises a stretch of deformable duct (22A) and a rotor (60) provided with at least one eccentric projection (49), suitable for compressing the sections of said stretch of deformable duct (22A) in the area of contact of said at least one eccentric projection (49) with said stretch of deformable duct (22A), so as to displace said area of contact along said stretch of deformable duct when said rotor turns, and to push a quantity of said paint along the stretch of duct (22A) itself.

14) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 12 or Claim 13, characterized in that said supply means comprise a ratchet-gear system (61 , 62) designed for turning said rotor (60) in one and the same direction of rotation, irrespective of the direction of rotation of said roller (5) thereon.

15) The self-supplied painting roller according to one or more of Claims 12 to 14, characterized in that said supply means comprise a one-directional transmission system suitable for rotating said rotor (60) in one and the same direction of rotation, irrespective of the direction of rotation of said roller (5), said one- directional transmission system comprising:

- a first (61 ) and a second one-directional coupling (62), comprising a first and a second driver coupling element (54, 55), respectively, and a first and a second driven coupling element (57, 62, 58, 61 ), respectively, and each being suitable for transmitting a rotation movement from the respective driver coupling element (54, 55) to the respective driven coupling element (57, 62, 58, 61) when the respective driven coupling element turns in a pre-determined direction of rotation, and suitable for uncoupling the respective driven coupling element from the respective driver coupling element when the latter turns in an uncoupling rotation direction opposite to said pre-determined direction of rotation, where said first driven coupling element (62) is suitable for. actuating said rotor (60), and said first driver coupling element (54) is actuated by said roller (5).

16) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 15, characterized in that said one-directional transmission system moreover comprises: - transmission means (56) suitable for rotating said second driver coupling element (55) in the same direction of rotation as that of said first driver coupling element (54); and

- reversal means (58, 59) suitable for rotating said first driven coupling element (57, 62) in a direction of rotation opposite to that of said second driven coupling element (61 ).

17) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 16, characterized in that said second one-directional coupling (55, 61 ) has a uncoupling rotation direction opposite to that of said first one-directional coupling (54, 62).

18) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 15, characterized in that said one-directional transmission system moreover comprises:

- transmission means (56) suitable for rotating said first driven coupling element (57, 62) in the same direction of rotation as that of said second driven coupling element (61); and

- reversal means (58, 59) suitable for rotating said first driver coupling element (54) in a direction of rotation opposite to that of said second driver coupling element (55). 19) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 18, characterized in that said second one-directional coupiing (55, 61) has an uncoupling rotation direction concordant with that of said first one-directional coupling.

20) The self-supplied painting roller according to one or more of Claims 15 to 19, characterized in that the driver (54) and the driven elements (62) of said first one- directional coupling are suitable for rotating about an axis of rotation different from the axis about which the driver (55) and the driven elements (61) of said second one-directional coupling rotate.

21 ) The self-supplied painting roller according to one or more of Claims 15 to 20, characterized in that at least one of said first one-directional coupling (61) and second one-directional coupling (62) comprise a ratchet-gear coupling.

22) The self-supplied painting roller according to .one or more of Claims 3 to. 11 , characterized by comprising a substantially cylindrical cavity (214'), which defines at least part of said variable-volume chamber and within which said piston (33) can slide, in which at least the part of said substantially cylindrical cavity by said variable-volume chamber subjected to pneumatic negative pressure during the operation of the pump is moulded in a single piece without joining or welding surfaces (210).

23) The self-supplied painting roller according to one or more of Claims 1 to 22, characterized by comprising: - a painting roller (5) fixed to a rotating tubular body (6);

- a pin-like support (6A), on which said rotating tubular body can rotate; and

- press-block coupling means (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12), which enable mounting of said painting roller (5) on said pin-like support (6A) in a removable way. 24) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 23, characterized by comprising a hermetic seal (13), which, after the means (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) have been mounted, prevents outlet of the fluid from the means (15). 25) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 23 or Claim 24, characterized in that said rotating tubular body (6) forms around said pin-like support (6A) a chamber (18) suitable for containing said paint, and characterised by comprising sealing means (16B, 17) suitable for preventing leakage of fluid paint from said chamber (18) even when said rotating tubular body (6) is displaced axially with respect to said pin-like support (6A).

26) The self-supplied painting roller according to one or more of Claims 1 to 11 , characterized by comprising the means (39) for reducing the forces of resistance that are generated during rotation of the roller.

27) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 26, characterized by comprising the fulcrum (41 ) and means (39) for reducing the forces that are generated during rotation of the self-supplied roller.

28) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 26 or Claim 27, characterized by comprising an eyelet (40) for enabling movement of the means (39) during rotation of the self-supplied roller. 29) The self-supplied painting roller according to one or more of Claims 1 to 28, characterized by by comprising a filter (20) for withholding possible impurities of the paint, in order not to jeopardize operation of the pump (21 , 48).

30) The self-supplied painting roller according to one or more of Claims 1 to 29, characterized by comprising at least one check valve (20b) for preventing any possible backflow of said fluid paint through the duct system that supplies said pump (21 , 48).

31) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 30, characterized in that said check valve (20b) comprises an appendix suitable for fixing (30) designed to fix said valve in its seat. 32) The self-supplied painting roller according to one or more of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said pump (21) comprises one or more membranes (24), suitable for preventing said fluid paint from coming into contact with said piston (33) in order to solve the problem of abrasion between said piston (33) and the cylinder (214, 214') within which said piston can slide.

33) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 1 , characterized by comprising the means (26, 27, 28, 29), having a shape suitable for enabling a good level of self-priming greater than 6-8 metres.

34) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 33, characterized by comprising the means (28, 29), which are housed in the means (30) so as to enable the means (26, 27, 28, 29) to be maintained always in seat and enable a self-priming greater than 6-8 metres. 35) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 1 , characterized by comprising the means (31 ), in which both the means (25) and the means (26) are housed, said means (31 , 25, 26) being suitable for providing a good seal during operation of the pump (21).

36) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 1 , characterized by comprising a cover (16), within which said pump (21 ) is housed, and a fixing pin

(47b) that is designed to fix said pump (21) to said shell (16).

37) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 1 , characterized by comprising the means (42) for enabling the means (39) to actuate the pump (21 ).

38) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 1 , characterized by comprising means (45, 46, 46B, 47, 47D, 47E, 47F, 47G) designed to regulate the desired flow rate of paint with which said roller (5) is to be supplied.

39) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 38, characterized by comprising the means (47) for enabling the means (45, 46, 46b) to position the means (42) within the eyelet (39b) in order to cause movement of the means (24, 25) within the pump (21) to increase or decrease, regulating in this way the amount of paint to be sent to the means (19).

40) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 39, characterized by comprising the means (39b) for causing the means (42) to slide within it in the desired position by the means (45, 46, 46b). 41 ) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 38 and/or Claim 39, characterized by comprising the means (43) for rendering more convenient the position of the pump (21 ) and the moving parts thereof suitable for supplying the roller.

42) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 1 , characterized by comprising the means (34, 35) and a hollow part (36) for housing the means (37, 38) that controls the means (39), which acts on the means (21). 43) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 42, characterized by comprising the means (37), provided with anti-friction materials so as it can slide with ease within the hollow part (36).

44) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 1 , characterized by comprising a peristaltic pump (48) and means (50, 51 , 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 61 , 62, 63, 64) suitable for driving the aforesaid pump.

45) The self-supplied painting roller, according to Claim 43, characterized by comprising means (50, 51 , 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 61 , 62, 63, 64) designed to reduce the resistance of rotation of the roller (49) when said roller actuates the means (22b). 46) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 43, characterized by comprising a speed reducer (50, 51 , 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 61 , 62, 63, 64) suitable for reducing the resistance of rolling of said roller (5) when the latter actuates said pump (48).

47) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 44, characterized in that said at least one projection of the rotor (60) of said peristaltic pump (48) is provided with a small roller (49) designed to compress said stretch .of duct.(22A) for supplying the roller (5).

48) The self-supplied painting roller according to one or more of Claims 43 to 47, characterized by comprising means (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 61 , 62, 63, 64) which enable rotation always in one direction of the means (49, 59, 60) even when rotation of the roller is reversed.

49) The self-supplied painting roller according to Claim 1 , characterized by comprising means (16, 16c) suitable for protecting the internal mechanism from possible drops of paint in order to prevent the mechanisms designed for supplying the roller (5) from getting dirty or becoming stiff in their operation.

50) The self-supplied painting roller according to one or more of Claims 1 to 11 , characterized by comprising means (44) for facilitating manual assembly and disassembly of the means (5, 6, 7) without the aid of external means and/or tools.

51 ) The painting roller according to one or more of Claims 1 to 50, characterized in that the roller (5) has an outer surface (19) and a non-absorbent part (65) shaped so as to enable painting without smears and without dirtying doorposts, frames, etc.

52) The painting roller according to one or more of Claims 1 to 51 , characterized in that at least part of the outer surface of said roller (5) is coated with an absorbent material (19), which is designed to be wetted and/or impregnated with said paint, and by comprising a pair of flanges (65) set at the ends of the roller (5) itself and shaped so as to enable painting without smears and without dirtying, for example, doorposts, frames, etc.