ES2241996T3 - DEPOSIT FOR SUITABLE LIQUID SAMPLES FOR USE WITH A SPRAYING DEVICE. - Google Patents

Abstract

A single use, disposable reservoir (30) of low volume for use in conjunction with a spray gun (1) for spray painting small areas, for example 'spray out' cards for colour matching a paint mix for spray painting a vehicle. The reservoir (30) is in the form of a syringe body (32) with a plunger (34) having a sealing member (54) slidable within the body (32) for drawing paint (57) into the body (32) via an open end (38). The body (32) has an aperture (42) adjacent to a closed end (36) and the plunger (34) can be moved to position the sealing member (54) between the aperture (42) and closed end (36) for releasing a partial vacuum created when the paint (57) is drawn into the body (32) and allow the paint (57) to be withdrawn, in use, when the reservoir (30) is connected to a spray gun (1) without actuating the plunger (34). In other embodiments, the reservoir (60;80) comprises a concertina-type body (66) or a pipette body (82).

Description

Liquid sample tank suitable for use With a spray device.

Technical field

This invention relates to containers. Plus particularly, but not exclusively, it refers to a container that constitutes a reservoir for liquid samples, suitable for use with an apparatus for spraying a liquid. Even more particularly, but not exclusively, it refers to a deposit for liquid samples of the class mentioned, make it disposable.

Background

Spray guns, such as those used, for example, in vehicle body shops, they are fine known and comprise a deposit in which a liquid to be delivered, and a spray nozzle to through which the liquid is delivered, typically under pressure, under the control of a firing mechanism, see, for example, the Figure 1. The liquid can be fed from the tank by gravity and / or can be dragged into a stream of fluid to pressure, for example air and water, which is supplied to the gun from an external source.

Often, before painting a whole vehicle, spraying test chips is done to make match the colors (also known as chips spraying), or small areas of vehicles. The tokens of test, see for example Figure 3, are typically made of cardboard, metal or plastic and can have a hole comparison of typically 7 mm in diameter that crosses them and an opacity check region. The painting that has to sprayed on the test sheet is pre-mixed to from commercially available colorants that are mixed, typically, in small volume containers such as, for for example, plastic or paper cups and an aliquot is loaded in the spray gun. A number is sprayed on the chip enough of layers of paint, which can be based on solvent or water-based, to completely obscure the region of opacity check. Then, the chip is dried by cooking and several layers of a varnish are applied on the paint that, Typically, it is solvent based. The varnish is then dried by cooking and the paint is compared to the desired color through the comparison hole by superimposing the tab on a panel of the painted vehicle of the desired color.

In general, small aliquots of paint test from large amounts of pigments mixed in order to improve the uniformity of the mixture, since any error incurred when mixing pigments to prepare the paint mixture multiplies when using small quantities in the mixture; so, for example, an error of 5 g at mixing 50 g of paint is a 10% error, while the same error in weight when mixing 500 g only represents a 1% error in the pigment mixture. It has been found that, with for mixing purposes, it is more accurate to perform measurements by weight than in volume However, if the spray gun is use a standard large volume paint container for spray a test piece and you don't get a good resemblance of the paint, to avoid cross contamination between two mixtures of painting, it is necessary to do a great job of cleaning the system before spraying another test piece with a mixture of new tinted paint. System cleaning is an operation which takes time and involves intense work, increases the amount of solvents used and which, also, can expose Users emanating harmful vapors from solvents. A solution to this problem, consisting of the use of a disposable coating for the paint tank, see for Example Figure 2, has been set out in PCT application no. PCT / US98 / 00796, published with no. WO 98/32539, which has been ceded to the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, and whose Content is incorporated into this document as a reference.

The use of glasses for standard size drinks for mixing, it also reduces the chance of produce cross contamination between colors, since the vessels they are easily discarded after use and, for each color,  Use a new glass. This can lead to marked variations. of the color between small volume paint mixes and masses of large volume paint that are ostensibly from the same color.

The use of small volume containers, such as, for example glasses, for mixing paints entails, not However, several associated problems. The containers, so typical, they are open to the environment, which can lead to contaminate the paint, usually with particles or, which is less Probably with water. Particles can block the flow path or the spray nozzle of the spray gun preventing therefore the spraying of the test sheet or the vehicle and demanding a complete disassembly of the spray gun, its Cleaning and tune up. The introduction of water into a mixture of paint that is not water based, may result in it forming a biphasic system or an emulsion, with the result that obtains an unequal flow due to the different properties hydrodynamics of the mixture of paint and water.

Another problem associated with the employment of small open containers, such as glasses, in order to mix the colors, it is required to transfer the pigments from storage containers to the container in order to get the desired tone This may involve the use of jugs that must thoroughly cleaned with solvents after each use in order to avoid cross contamination between pigments. Solvents employees in the cleaning process are often flammable, harmful and / or poisonous and, therefore, it is desired to reduce to the minimum its use whenever possible, both for reasons Environmental and health.

Different batches of one color prepared ostensibly with the same composition with, ostensibly, the same pigments will typically show slight variations in its coloration Therefore, the usual practice is to mix a large dough of a given color and introduce variations in the mixture of this great mass and transfer a small amount of it to the deposit of the spray gun in order to match the color. However, varying the paint mixture in the deposit to get the colors to match and move these variations, changing their scale, to the mass in order to try to get color matching in the large mass, no always successful, for the reasons stated in what precedes.

Another problem presented by current provisions to mix paint is that if a customer wants keep a small amount of the paint, for example to make possible touch-ups of any scratch that may occur subsequently in your vehicle, the paint must be transferred to a container that can be tightly closed. This makes it raise again the problems related to the contamination of particle paint and also the need to discard the deposit after use.

A document JP 11290728 describes a paint feed system comprising a couple of units of piston / cylinder that can be operated in tandem to provide a continuous supply of paint to a gun robotic sprayer The piston of each unit is driven by a servomotor under the control of a controller to connect alternatively the units with the paint supply and the spray gun In this way, a unit takes paint when the piston is retracted and the other unit delivers paint when the Piston is advanced. This system is designed to get Continued supply of one-color paint and not suitable to be able to make a quick change from one color to another due to the deep cleaning that would be necessary to perform the units and of Supply lines It is also designed to be used with a remote spray gun, such as mounted on the arm of a robot, and it is not designed to be used with a manual spray gun, nor can it be.

Summary

An object of the present invention is to provide a fluid reservoir that, in one of its embodiments, relieves, by at least partially, at least one of the problems before mentioned.

Another desired object of the present invention is provide a reservoir for fluid that is light, from simple construction and that facilitates the change of the device spray to spray different fluids causing the cleaning required to avoid cross contamination, be it reduced

Still another desired object of the present invention is to provide a reservoir for fluid that can be loaded manually with the fluid to be sprayed and that allows to remove the fluid without any user action or without to apply any other force, when the tank is connected with the spraying apparatus.

Still another desired additional object of the present invention is to provide a reservoir for single use fluid, disposable, for use with a spraying device for use manual, and whose deposit can be removed and discarded after use it

Another desired object of the present invention is provide a fluid reservoir, to supply a volume relatively small fluid, suitable for spraying an area small, such as when a test spray is performed with In order to achieve a color match.

Other objects and claims of the present invention will be evident from the description offered to continuation of illustrative embodiments.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a fluid reservoir for a gun is provided sprayer, the tank comprising a body with a first substantially closed end and a second open end, being able to connect the open end, in use, with a gun sprayer, and a vacuum generating element that can be made function to create at least a partial vacuum in the body to aspirate fluid into the reservoir through the open end when it is disconnected from the spray gun, characterized in that there are provided means to control said vacuum, at least partially, thanks to which, when the open end of the tank is connected to the spray gun, fluid can be removed from the tank through the open end to supply it to the spray gun, regardless of a force of drive applied to the vacuum generator element from the outside of the deposit.

Thanks to this invention, the generating element of vacuum can be operated to aspirate a required volume of fluid, typically paint, to the reservoir and partial vacuum as well created is controlled so that the fluid can be removed to supply it to a spray gun without operating the element Vacuum generator to expel fluid from the reservoir. This facilitates the use of the tank with a spray gun manual, of the type used in the repair shops of vehicle bodies, avoiding any manual action on the deposit by the operator to transfer the paint to the spray gun while the paint is applied by spray.

In a first embodiment, the body can be a syringe body and the vacuum generating element may be a piston with a sealing member resident in the body and a rod passing through an opening of the first end, to drive manually the plunger.

The sealing member is applied with friction to a body wall to divide the syringe body in two chambers and can be made to slide in axial direction in the body in response to the actuation of the plunger, to vary the relative volumes of the two chambers. Thus, in use, the movement of the sealing member separating from the second end open to go to the first end, create a partial void (a pressure difference in relation to atmospheric pressure) in the body, to aspirate fluid to the reservoir.

The means to control the partial vacuum can consist of an opening through the body wall. The opening will typically be near the first end of the body and, in use, can allow the passage of air to / from the body, when The plunger is inserted / removed from the body. The opening allows sufficient air intake / expulsion so that it does not occur vacuum / pressure build up to the point that the plunger sees limited displacement due to pressure difference. This is important because, in general, there will be a short distance between the opening of the first end and the plunger in order to limit the opportunity for particles to enter the deposit.

In use, the plunger can be taken to a first position, in which the shutter member is between the second open end of the body and the opening, to create the vacuum, at least partial, in order to aspirate fluid to the reservoir and retain the fluid in it. The plunger can then be taken to a second position, after joining with the spray gun, in which the sealing member is between the opening and the first end, substantially closed, to relieve the vacuum, at less partial This allows air to enter the syringe as the spray gun removes fluid from the tank, while Limit opportunities for paint to become contaminated. So, the spray gun can vacuum paint from the tank through of the open end without having to apply any force of drive to the piston from outside the tank, to move the sealing member towards the second open end. How result, the operator only has to actuate the trigger of the spray gun in the normal way and is not necessary no additional action on the deposit to transfer the paint the tank to the spray gun. This gives the operator free to put the spray gun in position to direct the spray on the surface to be coated without that this adversely affects the paint supply to the gun sprayer

Alternatively, or additionally, the means to controlling the vacuum, at least partial, may be constituted by One step through the plunger. The step can extend from the sealing member, inside the body, to a position located at body exterior The passage can be closed outside the body by a lid, so that it can be opened. Cover It can be applied with friction on the plunger. Alternatively, the Cap may be pivotally mounted with respect to the plunger. From this way, the step can be closed to create, in use, the vacuum at less partial in order to aspirate fluid to the reservoir when Remove the plunger. Then, the lid can be removed to open the passage and relieve at least partial emptiness. This lets air into the syringe as the spray gun removes fluid from the deposit, while limiting opportunities for it to contaminate the paint. In this way, the paint can be aspirated of the tank by the spray gun through the end open, without it being necessary to apply any force of actuation on the piston from outside the tank, to move the shutter member towards the second open end.

The second open end of the body may have a mount that extends from it. It can be planned a close to close the mount so that it can be opened. The closure It can consist of a lid. The mount and cover may have complementary threads so that, in use, they can be threaded together. Alternatively, in use, the closure can be applied with friction with an internal wall of the mount. These provisions of closing allow to store small volumes of paint for, for example, facilitate a subsequent color match or allow customers to save small amounts of paint from so that they can touch up small scratches or defects that appear After painting their vehicles.

In another embodiment, the body may be a crushing body. The body may have a type arrangement accordion, for example, the body may be constituted as a bellows. The vacuum generating element can be an integral part of the body. The body can have an open end and an end closed. The closed end may constitute the generating element vacuum, allowing the open end to aspirate fluid to the body and be ejected from it. The open end may have a mount, as detailed above, to which you can set a releasable closure, as detailed above. This is a convenient, typically disposable, form of Provide a reservoir for liquids.

In use, the body can crush and, subsequently extend to create the void at least partial, necessary to aspirate fluid into the body to through the open end. The body can then join a spray gun and vacuum can be controlled by crushing the body as fluid is removed from the tank by the gun sprayer In this way, the fluid can be removed without  apply any driving force to the closed end (element vacuum generator) from outside the tank. In a modification, the closed end can be provided with an opening that is normally closed but can be opened to relieve the empty, at least partial, and facilitate the crushing of the body to as fluid is removed from the reservoir.

In yet another embodiment, the body can be a pipette The body may have a distended part between the first and second ends. The distended part can serve, in use, as deposit. The vacuum generating element may be a pipette bulb The bulb can be formed in one piece with the pipette. Alternatively, the vacuum generating element may be a safety filter of a pipette. The open end can have a mount, as detailed above, to the which can be set a closure, as detailed previously.

In use, the vacuum generating element may be actuated to create the vacuum, at least partial, inside the body in order to aspirate fluid into the body, through the open end The body can then join the gun sprayer and relieve the vacuum, at least partially, opening by example an air passage, in order to allow fluid to be removed from the body without any force applied to the element vacuum generator, from outside the tank.

An adapter may be provided to make it is possible that, in use, any of the embodiments detailed in The above, join a spray gun. The adapter can be detachably attached to the mount and be meant to be received, in use, detachably in a gun mount sprayer

The tank may have a filter. The filter can be positioned inside or outside the tank to eliminate particles when fluid is aspirated into the reservoir and / or when removed This fluid. The filter may be positioned on the end deposit open. The filter may or may not be removed from the tank. before attaching, in use, a spray gun. The employment of a filter serves to prevent the arrival of undesirable particles to the nozzle of the spray gun and, consequently, improves the uniformity of paint coverage while preventing nozzle lock.

The deposit can have a volume included between any pair of the following values: <25 ml, 25 ml, 30 ml, 50 ml, 75 ml, 100 ml, 150 ml, 250 ml or> 250 ml.

The deposit may be a disposable deposit, of single use, in the sense that it is intended to be discarded when the fluid has been used and it is not intended to be cleaned or reuse it with another fluid. However, the fluid contained in the deposit can be saved by closing the deposit, so that you can be open to allow the use of the fluid when necessary, for example, when applying multiple layers of the same fluid allowing a drying time between Applications. The deposit can substantially prevent leakage of solvent vapors.

The tank body can be manufactured substantially of a selected plastic material, for example, of the group comprising polyethylene and polypropylene. This together with the relatively low volume of the deposit that has previously been mentioned, it provides a simple deposit construction, compact and lightweight, especially suitable for use with hand spray guns. The plastic material can be opaque for use with photosensitive fluids. Alternatively, the plastic material can be substantially transparent or translucent or may be provided with a window, transparent or translucent, to inspect the contents of the tank and the body may have a marker scale to indicate the existence of a volume of fluid contained in the tank.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a fluid reservoir comprising means is provided fluid retention for detachable connection with a gun sprayer, and vacuum generating means to create a vacuum partial (pressure difference) within the retention means of fluid in order to, in use, aspirate a fluid to the means of retention and means to relieve partial vacuum in order to allow fluid to be aspirated from the reservoir when it is connected to the spray gun.

The fluid retention means can comprise a syringe body, the generating means of empty a plunger that can be slipped into the body to aspirate fluid to the body through an open end. The media to relieve partial emptiness they may be constituted by a step of air to communicate the partial vacuum with the pressure atmospheric prevailing outside the tank.

Preferably, the air passage is arranged to relieve partial vacuum without removing the plunger from the body. By For example, the air passage may be formed by an opening in the body wall and the plunger can be removed to relieve the vacuum partial through the opening. In this way, you can withdraw body fluid without applying any driving force on the plunger from outside the body, to move the plunger towards The open end.

Advantageously, the syringe body and the plunger they form a disposable, disposable, single-use tank Discard after use. Alternatively, the end open the syringe body can be closed so that you can opened by a removable lid so that it can be stored the fluid until it is necessary to use it.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a fluid reservoir for a gun is provided sprayer, the tank comprising a body having a first end, substantially closed and a second end open, being able to connect the open end, in use, with a spray gun, and a vacuum generating element that can be operated to create at least a partial vacuum within the body in order to aspirate fluid to the reservoir through the end  open when disconnected from the spray gun, characterized in that the vacuum generating element can be made operate by hand to aspirate fluid into the reservoir through the open end and the tank is adapted, when connected with a spray gun, so that fluid can be removed from the tank through the open end to supply it to the spray gun without operating the generator element of empty.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, a fluid reservoir for a gun is provided sprayer, the tank comprising a light syringe and compact, small volume, with a syringe body that can connect to a spray gun through an opening in one end, a plunger that can be reciprocated in the body for vacuuming fluid by hand in a fluid chamber of the body through the opening when disconnected from the gun sprayer, and an air passage that can be opened to put in communication the chamber for fluid with the atmosphere in order to allow, in use, the transfer of fluid from the chamber to fluid to the spray gun.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a spray gun intended for include a deposit according to any one of the aspects first, second, third and fourth of the present invention.

The spray gun can be a gun gravity fed sprayer. Alternatively, it can be a spray gun with pressure feed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a method is provided to provide a deposit for paint that can be adapted for use with a device spraying, which includes the operations of:

i)

provide an open body in a extreme;

ii)

provide a generator element of empty;

iii)

enter the open end in painting;

iv)

form a vacuum, at least partial (pressure difference) inside the body using the vacuum generating element;

v)

vacuum paint on the body thanks to partial vacuum;

saw)

retain the paint on the body until the moment when its use is necessary; Y

vii)

relieve partial vacuum to allow removal of paint from the reservoir when connected with the spraying apparatus.

The method may also include removing paint of the tank during the use of the spraying apparatus. The method It may also include the operation of providing an adapter to adapt the body for connection to the spraying apparatus. He method may also include the operation of providing the tank in combination with the spraying device. The method it can also include closing so that the end can be opened Open the body with the paint inside, during use. He  Spraying apparatus can be a spray gun.

In accordance with a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of spraying a vehicle, which It includes the operations of:

to)

prepare a mixture of painting;

b)

remove part of the paint mixture to a disposable small volume tank;

C)

link the tank to a spray gun;

d)

spray on a chip proof;

and)

compare the test sheet with a vehicle to be spray painted;

F)

repeat operations (b) to (e) according to if necessary making adjustments to the paint mixture and use a new disposable container each time a token is prepared test, until the color match between the test card and vehicle;

g)

load the spray gun with the paint mix; Y

h)

spray on the vehicle.

The spray gun may have a reservoir separable and the method also includes providing the separable deposit of a removable and disposable liner when the gun is loaded sprayer with paint mixture in operation (g).

It will be understood that the term "painting" is use in this document to include all forms of paint-like coating materials that can applied to a surface using a spray gun, whether or not they are intended to color the surface. The term includes, for example, primers, basecoats, varnishes and similar materials.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be described, by way of example. only, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a prior art spray gun, illustrated in partially disassembled condition so that it can be filled with paint;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a alternative paint reservoir of the prior art;

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a "spray" tab;

Figure 4 represents a paint tank of the syringe type, according to an aspect of the present invention, in use, with a container for bulk painting;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the paint tank of Figure 4, in use, with a gun sprayer;

Figures 6a, 6b are representations schematics of alternative embodiments of a piston of the deposit of Figure 4;

Figure 7 shows a collapsible tank for paint according to another aspect of the present invention in a at least partially extended configuration, in use with a bulk paint container;

Figure 8 illustrates the collapsible tank for Figure 7 painting in its crushed configuration;

Figure 9 shows the paint tank of Figures 7 and 8, in use, with a spray gun;

Figure 10 represents a paint tank of the pipette type according to yet another aspect of the present invention, in use, with a container for bulk painting;

Figure 11 shows the paint tank of Figure 10, in use, with a spray gun;

Figures 12a, 12b, 12c are representations schematics of alternative closing mechanisms for a deposit for paint according to any aspect of the present invention; Y

Figures 13a, 13b, 13c are representations schematics of alternative adapters for a tank for paint according to the present invention.

Detailed description of the achievements preferred.

Figure 1 of the drawings illustrates a gun paint sprayer 1, typical of the prior art, of gravity fed type. The gun 1 comprises a body 2, a handle 3 extending downward from the rear end of the body, and a spray nozzle 4 at the front end of the body. The gun is operated by hand using a trigger 5 which is pivotally mounted on the sides of the gun. He tank or canister 6 for paint, containing paint (or material similar) to be unloaded by the gun, it is located in upper body 2 and communicates with an internal passage (not visible) for compressed air, which extends through the gun from a connector 7 on the lower end of the handle 3 up to the nozzle 4. In use, the connector 7 joins a source of compressed air (not shown) so that when the user pull the trigger 5, compressed air will be delivered through the gun, to the nozzle 4. Due to the atomizing effect of the air compressed, the paint that is essentially delivered by gravity from the canister 6, is supplied by the nozzle 4 and from She in the form of spraying.

The paint contained in the canister 6 is mixed, frequently, by hand (for which a receptacle is needed separated, for example, a jug) and poured into the pot. For ensure that the paint does not contain undesirable particles, which they would spoil the finish of the painted surface, the paint is poured into canister 6, usually, through a filter. The figure 1 shows the lid 8 of the canister 6 removed for this purpose and a conical filter 9 about to be placed at the open end of the boat. The filter 9 illustrated is a known type of conical filter disposable, with solid sides and a 10 mesh filter part in the pointed end of the cone. When it has been filled with paint the canister 6, filter 9 is removed and discarded and the lid 8 of the boat. If filter 9 is reusable, then, like that the gun must be thoroughly cleaned before using it with a different liquid (for example, a paint of different color or a liquid of different chemical composition).

Figure 2 illustrates the components in one way canister alternative 11 for paint, which can be used in the gun 1 of Figure 1 (or in any similar gun), in place of boat 6, as described in PCT application no. PCT / US / 98/00796, whose content is incorporated herein as reference.

The paint can 11 comprises a container 12 open, comparable in size to a usual paint can of manual spray gun, with a hole 12A for air in its base and provided with a disposable liner 13. The liner 13 has a shape that corresponds (and fits closely) with the inside the container 12 and has a narrow flange 14 in the open end that sits on the top edge of the container. The container 12 also has a disposable lid 15 that is mounted under pressure at the open end of the liner 13. The cover 15 has a central opening 16 from which a connecting tube 17 extends provided, at its end, with extensions 18 directed towards outside, which are part of a bayonet connection. Opening 16 it is covered by a filter mesh 19 that can be mounted to pressure in the opening or that can be integral part of the lid 15. The lid 15 is firmly held in place in the container 12 by means of an annular collar 20 that threads on the container, above the fold.

Paint can 11 is attached to the gun sprayer 1 using an adapter 21, shown separately from paint can, in Figure 2. The adapter 21 is a component tubular which, at one end 22, is formed internally with the another part of the bayonet connection to join the connector tube 17 of can 11 for painting. At the other end 23, the adapter It is shaped to match the standard jackpot joint for spray gun paint (typically a joint threaded).

The use of the collapsible liner 13 has the advantage that it is not necessary to clean canister 12 between uses in order to avoid cross contamination, and its use with canister 12 allows preserve rigidity and ease of handling associated with these systems

Figure 4 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein a reservoir 30 comprises a body 32 syringe, substantially circular cross section, and a piston 34.

The syringe body 32 has an end 36 substantially closed and an open end 38. Closed end 36 has an annular closure face 39. A cavity 40 extends between the closed and open ends, 36, 38. The body 32 has a  small opening 42 that crosses a wall 44 thereof, leading into the cavity 40 near the closed end 36 of the body 32.

The open end 38 of the body 32 has a mount 46 extending from the body 32. The mount can have internal or external threads or interior surfaces and smooth outer (see, for example, Figures 12 and 13).

Plunger 34 has an upper plate 50, a elongated rod 52 and a sealing member 54. The sealing member 54 applies to sliding and in closing relation with the inner surface of the body 32.

The stem 52 passes through an opening of the face of annular closure 39 such that the upper plate 50 is located outside the body 32 and the sealing member 54 is in the inside of the body 32. The sealing member 54 may be displaced in axial direction to and from the open end 38 of the body 32 thanks to a driving force applied to the piston 34 through the upper plate 50, from the outside of the body 32.

The sealing member 54 is applied with friction to the wall of the body 32 and is usually made of a material elastomer Indeed, the sealing member 54 divides the cavity 40 in a paint chamber 40a and an air chamber 40b. The camera 40a of paint is between the open end 38 and the member shutter 54. The air chamber 40b is between the member shutter 54 and closed end 36. Longitudinal movement of the sealing member 54 in the cavity 40 causes the relative lengths, and therefore the volumes, of chamber 40a of paint and air chamber 40b.

The body 32 of the reservoir 30 is typically formed of a plastic material, for example polyethylene or polypropylene and can be transparent, translucent or opaque, and have any suitable size. Typically, body 32 is formed in an injection molding process. For use with a paint spray gun as an aliquot for color matching test, a tank with a capacity of 25 ml, 50 ml, 75 ml or 100 ml is typically used, although other capacities are considered for use depending on the application projected. Such other applications may include painting, for example, furniture or signs or spraying other fluids such as adhesives.
you.

The top plate 50 and the stem 52 are typically formed of plastic material, for example polyethylene or polypropylene and typically are formed in a injection molding procedure.

An adapter 55 is mounted in tank 30, typically by friction adjustment with mount 46 or by the use of complementary threads on adapter 55 and on the mount 46, as described in the following, see Figures 13a, b, c. The adapter 55 is arranged to be able to mount it directly on the spray gun 1, as shown in Figure 5.

The adapter 55 is typically formed of a plastic material, for example polyethylene or polypropylene or, alternatively, it can be a machined metal component formed, for example, of aluminum and anodized. The mount 46 can be equipped with adapter 55, to allow the tank 30 to mount on a spray gun 1, or a closure to close the paint chamber 40a as described in the following, see the Figures 12a, b, c.

In use, the piston 34 is advanced within the cavity 40 to position the sealing member 54 next to the open end 38. Open end 38 is placed in a paint container 56. The piston 34 is removed to separate the sealing member 54 of the open end 38, leading it towards the closed end 36. This removal of the sealing member 54 creates a partial vacuum, a negative pressure compared to the atmospheric, in chamber 40a of paint. This partial vacuum aspires paint 57 previously mixed from container 56 of Bulk paint to chamber 40a of paint.

The piston 34 is removed to a position in which the sealing member 54 is between the open end 38 and the opening 42 to aspirate the required volume of paint. He air from the air chamber 40b is expelled through the opening 42 of so that the movement of the shutter member 54 is not visible hindered by the compression of the air in the chamber 40b of air.

The tank 30 is then attached to the gun sprayer 1 and the piston 34 is removed to a position where the sealing member 54 is between the opening 42 and the closed end 36. This lets air into chamber 40a of paint through opening 42, relieving the partial vacuum formed in the body 32 and allows the chamber paint 40a to be aspirated from painting without forming a partial vacuum in it spray operation. In this way, the air that enters the paint chamber 40a makes it unnecessary for the piston 34 to be displaced to advance the sealing member 54 in order to eject the paint.

This is advantageous, since the difference of pressure associated with the drag of the paint in the air flow of the spray gun may not be enough, by itself, to drag the plunger 34 into the body due to the adjustment in shutter ratio of the shutter member 54 in the body. In addition, if the piston 34 had stuck to the body 32 after passing the opening 42, a partial vacuum could be formed that would reduce or prevent the drag of paint into the air flow of the spray gun, which would result in the spray gun 1 do not spray paint.

As will be appreciated now, plunger 34 may be operated manually to control vacuum formation partial to aspirate fluid to reservoir 30 and fluid can be aspirated from the tank 30 without manually actuating the piston 34. In addition, the tank 30 is of light and compact construction, which facilitates holding and positioning spray gun 1 to direct the Spray paint as desired. Consequently, the deposit 30 is easier and easier to use than it would be if a driving force were to be applied continuously external to the piston 34, for example the user with his hand, to eject paint from the tank 30.

If desired, you can include or mount a optional filter element 58 at the open end 38 of the body 32 syringe in order to prevent the entrainment of particles to the paint when it is aspirated to the body 32. This prevents the particles block spray gun 1 and prevents it from degrades the characteristics and finish of the paint 57.

In alternative embodiments, illustrated in the Figures 6a and 6b, the opening 42 can be omitted and the plunger 34 is equipped with a rod 52 with an internal passage 59 that includes a first opening 61 and a second opening 63. Step 59 provides an airway that puts the paint chamber 40a in communication with the atmosphere, outside the body 32, and that can be closed by a cover 59a located on the top plate fifty.

The cover 59a is typically joined in shutter ratio with the outer face of the top plate 50 of the plunger 34 in such a way as to cover the opening 63 of step 59. The cover 59a can be pivotally mounted on a hinge 59b attached to one side of the top plate 50 (Figure 6a) or applied with friction with the upper plate 50 (Figure 6b).

The cover 59a is attached to the upper plate 50 to close step 59 when painting the body 32 with the in order to prevent air from entering the paint chamber 40a. The air of the air chamber 40b can escape between the stem 52 of the piston 34 and the opening of the closing face 39. Alternatively, for this purpose, an opening in the wall or face may have been provided of closing.

Once the desired level of filled with paint from chamber 32, reservoir 30 can be attached to a spray gun 1 as previously described and may remove cover 59a from upper plate 50. This puts the paint chamber 40a in communication with the atmosphere outside of body 34 and lets air into the paint chamber 40a relieving the partial emptiness formed in it. Again, this allows, advantageously, paint is removed from the reservoir 30 during the operation of spray gun 1 without applying any force external to the piston 34.

In use, trigger 5 of the gun is depressed sprayer and air is sucked from the compressed air source (no visible) through the connector 7, which atomizes the paint 57 and the it passes through the spray nozzle 4. When the spray painted, canister 30 be removed from the spray gun 1.

If paint 57 matches the desired color, paint 57 can be returned to bulk paint container 56 and the tank 30 can be discarded. Alternatively, the tank 30 can be closed to store the paint 57 contained in the chamber 40a  of paint for further use.

If paint 57 does not match the color desired, it is returned to container 56 of bulk paint and ink again. The tank 30 is discarded to avoid cross contamination between aliquots of paint. Is clean the spray gun 1 and then another aliquot part is aspirated of paint using another tank 30 to make a test spraying, in the same way, until the  desired color match.

In an alternative embodiment, illustrated in the Figures 7, 8 and 9, a collapsible tank 60, type is used accordion, comprising a handle 62 attached to a closed end 64 and a bellows 66 extending between the closed end and a open end 68.

The closed end 64 closes one end of the bellows 66 in order to form a cavity 69 leading to the surroundings thereof through the open end 68. The open end 68 includes a mount 70 that can be attached to an adapter 55a, such as It is shown in Figure 9, or it can have a lock mounted on it, similar to the mount 46 of the first embodiment.

Bellows 66 is typically made of a plastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene. The Tank capacity 60 is typically 25 ml, 50 ml, 75 ml or 100 ml, but it is considered that any volume could be used depending on the application to which the deposit was intended 60

In use, bellows 66 of tank 60 is initially found in a compressed configuration, see the Figure 8. The end section 68 is inserted into a container 72 with paint 74. Handle 62 of end section 68 is removed thus extending the bellows 66. As the bellows extends 66, a partial vacuum, a negative pressure is created inside in relation to atmospheric pressure. This partial vacuum aspires to paint 74 to cavity 69, see Figure 7. The extension of the Bellows 66 can be performed manually.

The bellows 66 can then be attached to a spray gun 1, see Figure 9 and, during operation of the spray gun 1, paint 74 is removed from the tank 60. In this embodiment, the accordion type construction of the tank 60 is such that the Bellows 66 is crushed and regains its compressed configuration as paint 74 is removed from reservoir 60, regardless of an external driving force applied to closed end 64. In this way, crushing bellows 66 controls the partial vacuum created when paint 74 is sucked into the tank 60 and ensures that the removal of the paint 74 during the operation of the spray gun 1 is not restricted or
prevented.

When the painting operation is completed by spraying, tank 60 can be removed from the gun sprayer 1. If paint 74 matches the desired color, the paint 74 can be returned to bulk paint container 72 and tank 60 can be discarded. Alternatively, tank 60 can be tightly closed to store the paint 74 contained in cavity 69, for further use.

If the color of the paint 74 does not match the desired color, it is returned to container 72 of bulk paint and ink again. The tank 60 is discarded to avoid cross contamination between aliquots of paints. Is clean spray gun 1 and then another aliquot part is aspirated of paint using another deposit 60 to make, of the same form, another test spray, until it can be done Match the colors.

If desired, an optional filter element 76 can be included or mounted on the open end 68 of the tank 60 in order to avoid the drag of particles in the paint 74 aspirated to reservoir 60. This prevents spray gun 1 is blocked by particles and / or that the characteristics and the paint finish 74 look degraded by particles dragged

In another alternative embodiment illustrated in the Figures 10 and 11, a tank 80 comprising a body is used 82 pipette and a filling element 84.

Pipette 82 has a cross section substantially circular and has an elongated upper section 86, a distended middle section 88, an elongated lower section 90 with an open end 91 and a mount 92.

Mount 92 is the same as described for previous embodiments and may be provided with a closure, such as described below, or it may be attached to an adapter 55b allowing the tank 80 to be mounted on a spray gun 1, see Figure 11.

The filling element 84 has a bulb 94 of elastomer, generally spherical, and a tube 96 that extends from bulb 94, which is open at one end 98 away from the bulb 94 and fits over upper section 86 of body 82. The tube 96 has a branch 100 that protrudes forming a right angle with the tube 96. The tube 96 has a valve 102 located between the end 98 and branch 100. Branch 100 has a valve 104 in he.

Pipette 82 is typically made of material plastic, for example, polyethylene or polypropylene. Alternatively, the pipette can be made of glass. The Tank capacity is typically 25 ml, 50 ml, 75 ml or 100 ml, but it is considered that any volume could be used depending on the application for which the deposit 80.

In use, valve 102 is closed and the valve 104 opens allowing air to be expelled from bulb 94 thanks to manual compression of bulb 94 to force the air out of the bulb 94 through branch 100 and valve 104 open. The valve  104 closes once the amount of air has been expelled desired forming a partial vacuum, a negative pressure on comparison with the atmospheric one, in bulb 94.

The open end 91 of the lower section 90 of the pipette 82 is introduced into a container 106 for paint 108 in bulk. Valve 102 is opened and the negative pressure of bulb 94 vacuum paint 108 in reservoir 80. Valve 102 is closed when the required volume of paint has been sucked into the tank 80 108. Typically, most of the paint stored in the Deposit 80 is stored in the middle section 88.

Tank 80 is mounted on the gun sprayer 1 and trigger 5 is pressed. Air is drawn in from the source of compressed air (not visible) through the connector 7 and is passed to the spray nozzle 4, where form a spray of spray paint with paint 108 withdrawal from reservoir 80. Valves 102, 104 open during spray procedure to relieve partial vacuum formed  in body 82 of the pipette and avoid the formation of a vacuum in the tank 80 that could eventually prevent the withdrawal of the paint 108 of the tank 80. In addition, the opening of the valves 102, 104 allows the paint to be removed from the pipette 82 without applying any external force to bulb 94 during painting by spray.

When the painting operation is completed by spraying, canister 80 can be removed from the gun sprayer 1. If paint 108 matches the desired color, paint 108 can be returned to container 106 for paint a bulk and canister 80 be discarded. Alternatively, the reservoir 80 can be sealed tightly in order to store the Paint 108 contained therein, for further use.

If paint 108 does not match the color desired, return it to container 106 for bulk paint and It ink again. The tank 80 is discarded to avoid cross contamination between aliquots of paints. Is clean spray gun 1 and then another aliquot part is aspirated of paint using another tank 80 to make, of the same form, another test spray, until it can be done Match the colors.

If desired, an optional filter element 109 can be included or mounted on the open end 91 of the tank 80 to prevent entrainment of particles in the paint 108 aspirated to the reservoir 80. This prevents spray gun 1 from being blocked by particles and / or that the characteristics and finish of Paint 108 looks degraded by dragged particles.

In each of the embodiments above mentioned, the respective mounts 46, 70, 92 may have a internal thread 110 that can be coupled with an external thread 120 complementary to a closure 118 (see Figure 12a) to store tightly the fluid in the tank until necessary use it

Alternatively, mounts 46, 70, 92 respective can have an external thread 112 that can be coupled with an internal thread 124 complementary to a closure 122 (see Figure 12b) to store fluid tightly in the tank until it is necessary to use it.

Alternatively, mounts 46, 70, 92 can have internal surfaces 114 and external 116 smooth, without threads, and provides a closure 126 with a smooth outer face 128 that mounts to pressure applied with friction with the inner surface 114 (see Figure 12c) to hermetically seal the fluid in the deposit 30, 60, 80.

Figures 13a, 13b and 13c illustrate the mounts 46, 70, 92 of Figures 12a, 12b and 12c with closures 118, 122 and 126 separate and mounts 46, 70, 92 connected to adapter 55, 55a, 55b suitable for connection to the spray gun one.

In Figure 13a, the adapter has a thread external 130 that can be coupled with the internal thread 110 of the mount 46, 70, 92 and with an internally threaded part of the mount (not shown) of the spray gun.

In Figure 13b, the adapter has a thread internal 132 attachable with external thread 112 of mount 46, 70, 92 and an external thread 134 attachable with a threaded part inside the mount (not shown) of the gun sprayer

In Figure 13c, the adapter has a smooth outer surface 136 that is pressure mounted within the smooth interior top 114 of mount 46, 70, 92 and a thread external 134 arranged outside the mount 46, 70, 92. The thread external 134 can be coupled with an internally threaded part of the mount (not shown) of the spray gun.

Alternatively, deposits 30, 60, 80 can join the spray gun using the arrangement of threaded bayonet described in PCT application no. PCT / US98 / 00796 or in any other way that ensures a interoperability between the system described in that document and the tanks manufactured in accordance with the present invention.

The tank according to the invention can be used in cases where only a small one is needed amount of paint, in order to minimize use and waste of paint. For example, when painting by spray a test tab to get a match of colors or when spray painting small areas of A vehicle or other object.

It will be appreciated that the disposable nature of a deposit according to this invention greatly reduces the cleaning work associated with technical systems previous, thus making it much easier and more Quick change of colors. This has an importance particular when trying to get a color match that it may require repeating the tinting many times to get the coincidence.

It will also be appreciated that nature disposable of a tank according to this invention and the associated Reduction of cleaning work will reduce the amount of solvents used, with the benefits that are expected so much for the health of the users as for the environment.

For those skilled in the art will result obvious other uses of a deposit to deliver small volumes of a fluid to a spray gun in a diversity of applications

It will also be appreciated that the embodiments illustrative described in this document are intended to illustrate the varied scope and various applications of the invention and that the characteristics of the embodiments can be used by separately or in combination with any other features of the same or other different embodiments in order to produce any deposit and / or combination of deposit and gun Sprayer desired.

In addition, although it is believed that the configuration and / or the specific materials of the tanks described and illustrated they represent the best means currently known by the applicant, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to them and that various modifications and improvements can be made within of the scope of the claims.

Claims (20)

1. A fluid reservoir for a spray gun, the reservoir (30; 60; 80) comprising a body (32; 66; 82) having a substantially closed first end (36; 64) and a second end (38; 68 ; 91) open, being able to connect the open end (38; 68; 91) open, in use, to a spray gun (1), and a vacuum generator element (34; 64; 84) that can be operated to create the minus a partial vacuum in the body (32; 66; 82) to aspirate fluid (57; 74; 108) into the reservoir (30; 60; 80) through the open end when disconnected from the spray gun (1), characterized in that there are provided means (42; 59; 59a; 66; 104) to control said vacuum, at least partially, so that when the open end (38; 68; 91) of the tank (30; 60; 80) is connected With the spray gun (1), fluid (57; 74; 108) can be removed from the reservoir (30; 60; 80) through the open end (38; 68; 91), to be delivered to the spray gun (1) i Dependently on a driving force applied to the element (34; 66; 84) vacuum generator from outside the tank (30; 60; 80). 2. A fluid reservoir as claimed in the claim 1, wherein the body (32) is a syringe body and the vacuum generator element (34) is a plunger that has a sealing member (54) resident in the body (32) and a rod (52)  passing through an opening of the first end (36). 3. A fluid reservoir as claimed in the claim 2, wherein the sealing member (54) is applied to sliding and sealing relationship with a wall (44) of the body (32) to divide the syringe body (32) into two chambers (40a and 40b), and the movement of the plunger (34) separating from the second end (38) open towards the first end (36), creates the minus a partial vacuum in the body (32) to aspirate fluid (57) in the deposit (30). 4. A fluid reservoir as claimed in the claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the means (42) to control the vacuum, at least partially, comprise an opening (42) through a body wall (32) next to the first end (36) of the body (32), such that, in use, the member shutter (54) can move away from the second end (38) open, to a first position between the second open end (38) and the opening (42) to aspirate fluid (57) into the tank (30) and to a second position located between the opening (42) and the first end (36) closed in order to allow fluid is withdrawn from the reservoir (30) through the second open end (38). 5. A fluid reservoir as claimed in the claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the means (59) to control the vacuum, at least partially, they comprise a step (59) extending through the plunger (34) from the sealing member (54) inside the body (32), to a position outside the body  (32), and a removable closure (59a) to open / close the passage (59) of such that, in use, the passage (59) is closed by the closure (59a) in order to allow fluid to be aspirated (57) into the body (32) by virtue of the movement of the shutter member (54) separating from the second end (38) open, and be open by removing the closure (59a) to allow fluid (57) to be removed from the second open end (38). 6. A fluid reservoir as claimed in the claim 1, wherein the body (66) is a body (66) crushing, accordion type, whose first end (64) closed constitutes the vacuum generating element, such that fluid (74) can be sucked into the body (66) by the partial vacuum created by the closed end movement (64) separating from the end (68) open, and the means (66) for controlling the partial vacuum are provided by the collapsible body (66). 7. A fluid reservoir as claimed in the claim 1, wherein the body (82) is a pipette (82) which It has a filling element (84) at the first closed end, which provides the vacuum generating element to aspirate fluid (108) in the body (82), and valve means (102, 104) for control the partial vacuum in order to allow it to withdraw body fluid (108) (82). 8. A fluid reservoir as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second end (38; 68; 91) open body (32; 82) is provided with a mount (46; 70; 92) intended to connect so separable, in use, the second end (38; 68; 91) open with a spray gun (1) or a closure (118; 122; 126) to close Hermetically sealed tank (30; 60; 80). 9. A fluid reservoir as claimed in the claim 8, wherein an adapter is provided (55; 55a; 55b) for releasing, in use, the mount (46; 70; 92) to a spray gun (1). 10. A fluid reservoir as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reservoir (30; 60; 80) has a volume of at least 100 ml. 11. A fluid reservoir as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the deposit (30; 60; 80) is a disposable deposit (30; 60; 80), of a only use. 12. A fluid reservoir as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tank (30; 60; 80), in use, substantially prevents the escape of solvent vapor from a solution or mixture. 13. A fluid reservoir as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body (32; 82) is made substantially of a material plastic. 14. A fluid reservoir as claimed in claim 13, wherein the body (32; 82) is substantially transparent or translucent or has a window transparent or translucent and has a dial scale to indicate a volume of fluid contained in the body (32; 82). 15. A spray gun that includes a fluid reservoir (30; 60; 80) according to any one of the preceding claims. 16. A spray gun according to the claim 15, whose spray gun (1) is a gun manual sprayer (1), pressure-fed or powered by gravity. 17. A method of providing a deposit for paint, for use with a spray gun, which includes the operations of:

i)

provide a body (32; 66; 82) open at one end (38; 68; 91);

ii)

provide an element (34; 64; 84) vacuum generator;

iii)

introduce the open end (38; 68; 91) in paint;

iv)

form a vacuum, at least partial (pressure difference) in the body (32; 66; 82) using the element (34; 64; 84) vacuum generator;

v)

vacuum paint (57; 74; 108) in the body (32; 66; 82) by partial vacuum;

saw)

retain the paint (57; 74; 108) in the body (32; 66; 82) until necessary use it; Y

vii)

control the partial vacuum to allow the paint (57; 74; 108) to be removed from the tank when connected with a spray gun (1) without operating the element (34; 64; 84) vacuum generator to eject paint (57; 74; 108).

18. A method according to claim 17, which between operations (vi) and (vii) includes closing the body (32; 66; 82) so that it can be opened, to retain the paint (57; 74; 108) in the body (32; 66; 82) until necessary use it 19. A method of spraying a vehicle, which It includes the operations of:

to)

prepare a mixture of paint (57; 74; 108);

b)

form a vacuum, at least partial, inside a disposable tank (30; 60; 80) of small volume and remove part of the paint mixture (57; 74; 108) to the tank (30; 60; 80) by means of an element (34; 64; 84) generator empty;

C)

link the tank (30; 60; 80) to a spray gun (1);

d)

control the vacuum, at least partially, to allow paint (57; 74; 108) to be removed from the reservoir (30; 60; 80) without activating the element (34; 64; 84) vacuum generator, to eject the paint (57; 74; 108) and spray a chip proof;

and)

compare the test sheet with a vehicle to be spray painted;

F)

repeat operations (b) to (e) according to if necessary making adjustments to the paint mixture (57; 74; 108) and use a new disposable tank (30; 60; 80) when prepare each test sheet, until the match is obtained the color between the test sheet and the vehicle;

g)

load the spray gun (1) with the paint mixture (57; 74; 108); Y

h)

spray on the vehicle.

20. a method according to claim 19, in which the spray gun has a reservoir (11) separable and the method also includes providing the deposit (11) detachable from a liner (13) removable, disposable, when loaded the spray gun (1) with the paint mixture (57; 74; 108) in the operation (g).