Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a tinting system for a kit-of-parts tinting system, containing a basic tinting composition and at least one color or extender composition. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing a tint- ed paint or plaster system with the tinting system and the use of the tinting sys-
tem.
[0002] The demand for a wide variety of paints or colored plasters for interior or exterior use is immense at a time when individual design and unique living con- cepts are very popular. Color palettes today are graduated very finely, so that it is not very contemporary and economical to produce large amounts of paint and plaster in every shade and keep them in stock. Rather, in recent years tinting systems which consist of a basic tinting composition, usually in white or trans- parent form, and one or more color or extender compositions, which are mixed together have become established on the market. The mixing of the individual components and the exact color adjustment are currently performed by software- controlled tinting systems. Many color or extender compositions are water- based. If these compositions do not contain preserving agents, which in addition to water also contain a plurality of organic compounds, there is a particularly — high risk of bacterial contamination and ultimately also mold growth, as there is generally contact with ambient air when filling the tinting system. The composi- tions contaminated in this way have to be disposed of and the tinting system has to be cleaned in a time-consuming and costly process. During this time the tint- ing system is at a standstill.
[0003] The problem of bacterial contamination and mold formation is minimized or solved in the prior art by adding biocides to tinting pastes. However, for health and also environmental reasons it is desirable to avoid the use of biocides. Therefore, it is necessary to find new ways and methods for keeping the tinting systems germ-free and thus help minimize the bacterial contamination in these systems and prevent the formation of mold in the compositions.
[0004] EP 3 395 454 A1 discloses a dispensing system for in particular coloring pastes free from preserving agents, wherein the dispensing system comprises cleaning agents and techniques which are intended to neutralize potential mi-
croorganisms. One option is to make the inner surface of the dispensing system in the form of canisters, dispensing nozzles and stirrers an ultrahydrophobic coated surface, in order to achieve a lotus effect. The coatings can comprise biocide agents, metallic powder, ANA (advanced nano solutions) additives or silicone coatings. Furthermore, EP 3 395 454 A1 mentions flushing the dispens- ing system with an inert gas, the addition of cleaning agents in the form of pre- serving agents in the paint pastes or basecoats and the use of anti- microbiological filters in the filling openings of the paint canisters.
[0005] However, the shown options have the already mentioned disadvantages that the environment and health are affected by the use of biocides in the com- positions. Furthermore, the filter systems used represent a further system com- ponent which could be susceptible to bacterial contamination and /or mold for- mation. The regular flushing of the system with inert gas is, in addition to the cost factor, also a system parameter which has to be monitored and maintained.
[0006] EP 2661320 B1 discloses a tinting system according to the preamble of Claim 1. US20180368558 discloses a cosmetics dispenser with a UV radiation source in the individual ingredient containers.
[0007] Therefore, the object underlying the present invention has been to pro- vide tinting systems that do not have the disadvantages of the prior art and are also suitable for water-based kit-of-parts tinting systems, in particular for biocide- free or nearly biocide-free water-based kit-of-parts tinting systems, without hav- ing to worry about bacterial contamination and/or mold formation, especially over a longer time period.
[0008] Accordingly, a point-of-sale or a point-of-use tinting system according to the wording of Claim 1 has been found for a kit-of-parts tinting system containing a basic tinting composition and at least one color or extender composition, com- prising a supply container for a color or extender composition or a plurality of supply containers for a plurality of color or extender compositions and if applica- ble one, two or more supply containers for a basic tinting composition or for components of a basic tinting composition, wherein the supply container(s) — has/have at least one container inlet, a container wall, comprising a container inner wall, a container bottom and a container outlet, characterized by at least one UV radiation source, in particular 2, 3, 4, or more UV radiation sources, which can be assigned to the one supply container or at least one UV radiation source, in particular 2, 3, 4, or more UV radiation sources, which can be as- signed to at least two supply containers, in particular all, of the plurality of supply containers or at least one UV radiation source, in particular 2, 3, 4, or more UV radiation sources, which can in each case be assigned to one of the plurality of supply containers, wherein the at least one, in particular 2, 3, 4, or more UV ra- diation sources is or are adapted and arranged to irradiate the inner wall of the container wall of at least one supply container, in particular of a supply container, with UV radiation, at least in sections and, if applicable, also to irradiate the con- tainer inlet, the container bottom, accessories present in the supply container, in particular a stirring tool, a color or extender composition present in the supply container and/or the container outlet, at least in sections, with UV radiation.
[0009] Furthermore, the tinting system can contain at least one supply container for the basic tinting composition having a container inlet, a container wall, a con- tainer bottom and a container outlet. If the supply container for the basic tinting composition is also provided in the tinting system, the finished paint or plaster — can be mixed ready for use in the system. This embodiment of a tinting system according to the invention is particularly suitable for the industrial production of tinted coating materials.
[0010] In a further, particularly suitable embodiment of a tinting system accord- ing to the invention it is provided that the further fluid channels are, in each case, connected to the container outlets of the plurality of supply containers for the color or extender compositions or the dosing pumps assigned to the, in each case, one supply container are adapted and arranged to feed the color or ex- tender compositions to a mixing container for blending with a basic tinting com- position which can be made available therein or which is in particular present therein. In the embodiment described above, the tinting system according to the invention preferably does not have a supply container for the basic tinting com- position, which has a container outlet in addition to the container inlet, the con- tainer wall and the container bottom. This variant of a tinting system according to the invention advantageously no longer has a supply container for the basic tint-
ing composition, rather the basic tinting composition can be provided in the mix- ing container. For many applications it has proved to be particularly expedient that the mixing container also represents the container to be used on site or the sales container, for example a paint tin. Accordingly, the preceding embodiment is suitable in particular for use at the point-of-sale or point-of-use. This means the tinted coating compositions obtained with this embodiment of a tinting sys- tem according to the invention by mixing color or extender composition and basic tinting composition can be used directly.
[0011] In preferred embodiments of tinting systems according to the invention the plurality of supply containers for the at least one color or extender composi- tion and if applicable one, two or more supply containers for a basic tinting com- position or for components of a basic tinting composition are arranged on an, in particular rotatable, carousel. The addition of a plurality of different color or ex- tender compositions to the basic tinting composition can in this way be per- formed quickly and in a space-saving manner. Hereby the number of supply containers for the color or extender compositions in an expedient embodiment of the tinting system according to the invention can range from 16 to 32 supply containers, particularly preferably tinting systems according to the invention with 20 to 32 supply containers. With such tinting systems according to the invention a plurality of different colors can be created.
[0012] For mixing the basic tinting composition and color or extender composi- tion in the mixing container suitable mixing aggregates can be used. For exam- ple vibrating machines such as vibrating plates, gyroscopic mixers or mechanical — mixers such as stirrers are particularly suitable.
[0013] The tinting system according to the invention also comprises a container closure lid for a supply container for the color or extender composition, in par- ticular a plurality of container closure lids for the plurality of supply containers, — which are each adapted and arranged to reversibly close the supply container, comprising a lid edge having an inner and an outer side and, preferably, a lid side wall having an inner and outer side joining the lid edge, and a cover surface having an inner and an outer side connected to the lid edge or the lid side wall, wherein the inner side of the lid edge and/or the inner side of the lid side wall and/or the inner side of the cover surface, in particular the inner side of the cover surface, comprise(s) at least one UV radiation source, in particular 2, 3, or 4 UV radiation sources, which is or are adapted and arranged to irradiate the inner wall of the container wall of the supply container, at least in sections, and, if ap- plicable, also the container inlet, the inner side of the lid side wall, the container 5 bottom, accessories present in the container, in particular a stirring tool, a color or extender composition present in the supply container and/or the container outlet, at least in sections, in particular substantially over the whole surface, with UV radiation. Particularly preferably, the UV radiation source or sources in the container closure lid are adapted and arranged to irradiate the inner wall of the container wall of the supply container, at least in sections, accessories present in the container, in particular a stirring tool, and a color or extender composition present in the supply container, at least in sections, and, if applicable, also the container inlet, the inner side of the lid side wall, the container bottom and the container outlet, at least in sections, in particular substantially over the whole surface, with UV radiation.
[0014] In the case of the supply container for the basic tinting composition in the tinting system, this can in an expedient embodiment also comprise at least one UV radiation source, which can be assigned or is assigned to the at least one — supply container for the basic tinting composition and which is adapted and ar- ranged to irradiate the container wall, at least in sections, with UV radiation and, if applicable, also the container inlet, the container bottom and/or the container outlet.
[0015] In order to keep the surfaces germ-free as effectively as possible, it has proved to be particularly suitable if the at least one UV radiation source is pre- sent in the upper third of the container wall of the storage container, in particular in the upper fifth of the container wall. This applies to the supply container of the basic tinting composition.
[0016] In an advantageous embodiment of the tinting system according to the invention the latter further comprises or contains at least one further flow chan- nel connected to the container outlet of the at least one supply container of the color or extender compositions. Particularly preferably, the tinting system com- prises or contains at least one further flow channel, each with inner walls, which is connected to the container outlets of the plurality of supply containers for the color or extender compositions. Furthermore, a flow channel with an inner wall in connection with the container outlet of the supply container for the basic tinting composition can also be provided.
[0017] Alternatively or additionally, the tinting machine according to the invention contains or comprises at least one mixing container with a container inlet, a con- tainer wall, a container bottom and a container outlet for blending the basic tint- ing composition with the at least one color or extender composition. In this em- bodiment, the mixing container is generally not a sales container or a container intended for use on site but is more suitable for industrial production and filling.
[0018] In an expedient embodiment the at least one color or extender composi- tion is mixed in the at least one mixing container with the basic tinting composi- — tion.
[0019] Particularly advantageous tinting systems according to the invention have at least one dosing pump, which is connected by way of a flow channel to the container outlet of the at least one supply container of a color or extender com- position. This dosing pump is connected expediently to the control unit. By means of the dosing pump a finely adjusted tinting of the basic tinting composi- tion with one or more color or extender compositions is regularly achieved.
[0020] For the effective control of bacterial contamination and/or the formation of mold, tinting systems which have at least one UV radiation source that can be assigned to the flow channel and are adapted and arranged to, at least in sec- tions, irradiate the inner wall of the flow channel with UV radiation, have been proven to be suitable.
[0021] Alternatively or additionally, it is particularly advantageous if the tinting system according to the invention comprises at least one further UV radiation source, which can be assigned to at least one of the further, in particular each of the further flow channels, and which is adapted and arranged to irradiate, at least in sections, the inner wall of the at least one further flow channel with UV radiation.
[0022] Likewise, in suitable embodiments tinting systems can be used in which alternatively or additionally at least one further UV radiation source can be as- signed to the mixing container and which is adapted and arranged to irradiate, at least in sections, the container wall of the mixing container with UV radiation.
[0023] In further expedient embodiments of the tinting systems according to the invention it can be provided alternatively or additionally that the at least one UV radiation source is arranged inside the supply container for the color or extender composition and, if applicable, also inside the supply container for the basic tint- ing composition in a location-variable manner and, for example, maintains a constant distance from the surface of the color or extender composition or basic tinting composition present in the respective supply container. This means that the at least one UV radiation source can also be adapted and arranged to adjust to the changing level of composition material present in the respective supply container.
[0024] The tinting system according to the invention can also be equipped in a very expedient embodiment with a control module for each UV radiation source or with a control module for the at least one UV radiation source, in particular the plurality of UV radiation sources. Particularly preferably, this is a control module for the UV radiation source or the UV radiation sources of the container closure lid of the supply container. Furthermore, it has proved to be very expedient to use a control module with which all UV radiation sources of the tinting system according to the invention can be controlled.
[0025] UV-LED radiation sources have proven to be suitable UV radiation sources . In addition to the lower energy consumption, which saves costs, they also generate less heat. As heat in particular promotes bacterial contamination and the formation of mold, it is advantageous to keep the heat generation as low as possible. It is also advantageous that the drying of the color or extender com- position and, if applicable, also of the basic tinting composition and the loss of quality regularly associated therewith, such as speck formation, can be reduced or prevented in the end product by a reduced heat input. Furthermore, organic compounds that may be contained in the color or extender composition may also be thermally or heat instable.
[0026] In principle, particularly suitable UV radiation sources include those which emit UV radiation in the wavelength range of 100 nm to 315 nm, preferably in the wavelength range of 250 nm to 290 nm. Hereby UV-C radiation sources are par- ticularly preferred, in particular those that emit in a wavelength range of 100 to 280 nm. In particular, UV-C-LED radiation sources have a very high energy effi- ciency, wherein they produce even less waste heat by reducing the amount of extraneous light.
[0027] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the UV radiation sources can be activated and/or, in particular and, deactivated independently of one another. In the event that a color or extender composition in the tinting system runs low and the supply container has to be refilled, the one or more UV radiation sources in this area can be selectively activated during interim cleaning and/or refilling. Not all UV radiation sources of the tinting system have to be switched off and on again, which saves time and costs and also minimizes the risk of bacterial con- tamination and/or mold formation in this refilling process.
[0028] Furthermore, tinting systems according to the invention have been shown to be particularly suitable, in which the one or more UV radiation sources have exchangeable covers which are permeable to UV radiation. These ensure a longer service life of the UV radiation source itself, as the covers protect against contamination or impact from the tiniest particles. The exchangeable covers permeable to UV radiation are preferably made of quartz glass, borosilicate glass or plastic. Suitable plastic materials for the cover permeable to UV radia- tion preferably includes polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate or tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymers. In the case of plastic, the covers can also be in the form of a flexible plastic film, for example made of fluorinated plastics such as tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymers. In one embodiment, the aforementioned covers permeable to UV radiation can also be part, in particular an integral part, of the container closure lid of the sup- ply container for the color or extender composition, and in particular also when the at least one UV radiation source is present in these container closure lids. Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided in a suitable embodiment that the aforementioned covers permeable to UV radiation are also adapted and ar- ranged to close the supply container themselves or to be able to be fitted into the filling opening of the supply container in such a way that slipping is prevented.
[0029] Particularly suitable tinting systems according to the invention further comprise or contain a color or extender composition, in particular a paste-like pigment preparation, in the at least one supply container for the at least one col- or or extender composition. Tinting systems are particularly preferred which con- tain color or extender compositions, in particular paste-like pigment preparations, in each case in the plurality, in particular in all of the plurality of supply contain- ers for the at least one color or extender composition. Tinting systems according to the invention are particularly preferred in which the plurality of supply contain- ers for the at least one color or extender composition is arranged on an, in par- ticular rotatable, carousel.
[0030] Alternatively or additionally, it is also particularly preferred when the tint- ing system also contains a basic tinting composition in the at least one supply container for the basic tinting composition, or also, in particular in point-of-sale or point-of-use systems, mainly those which do not rely on the at least one supply container for the basic tinting composition, when the tinting system contains a — basic tinting composition in the at least one mixing container for the basic tinting composition.
[0031] With the tinting system according to the invention, it is particularly easy to use the one or more color or extender compositions and possibly also the basic tinting composition, which are mixed and filled in the tinting system according to the invention, substantially free of preserving agents. In this way, the environ- mental guidelines mentioned above can be adhered to particularly reliably and health consideration can be taken into account when handling the tinting system. In particular, the one or more color or extender compositions and in particular also the basic tinting composition are free of organic biocidal preserving agents. It is also a particular advantage of the tinting system according to the invention, that thus coating materials obtained from basic tinting composition and color or extender composition can be provided free of preserving agents. These coating materials are regularly regarded as free from preserving agents within the mean- ing of the present invention in accordance with the “Basic Criteria for Award of
Environmental Labels” of RAL gGmbH concerning “Low-emission interior wall paints RAL-UZ 102” (January 2015 edition) if they do not contain any preserving agents or preserving agents based on the individual substance (including for- maldehyde), in an amount of less than 2 ppm, and with respect to CIT (5-chloro- 2-methyl-4-isothiazolineone) in an amount of less than 0.5 ppm.
[0032] The object of the invention is also achieved by a supply container for a color or extender composition, in particular containing a color or extender com- position for a tinting system, in particular the tinting system according to the in- vention, comprising at least one container inlet, a container wall comprising a container inner wall, a container bottom and a container outlet and at least one, in particular 2, 3, 4, or more, UV radiation sources, which can be assigned to the supply container, wherein the at least one UV radiation source is adapted and arranged to irradiate, at least in sections, the inner wall of the container wall and, if applicable, also the container inlet, the container bottom, accessories present in the container, in particular a stirring tool, a color or extender composition pre- sent in the supply container and/or the container outlet, all at least in sections, in particular substantially over the whole surface, with UV radiation. This supply container according to the invention is equipped with a container closure lid, — which is adapted and arranged to reversibly close the supply container, compris- ing a lid edge having an inner and an outer side and, preferably, a lid side wall having an inner and an outer side joining the lid edge, and a cover surface hav- ing an inner and an outer side connected to the lid edge or the lid side wall, wherein the inner side of the lid edge and/or the inner side of the lid side wall and/or the inner side of the cover surface, in particular the inner side of the cover surface, comprise(s) at least one UV radiation source, in particular 2, 3, or 4 UV radiation sources, which is or are adapted and arranged to irradiate the inner wall of the container wall of the supply container, at least in sections, and, if ap- plicable, also the container inlet, the inner side of the lid side wall, the container — bottom, accessories present in the container, in particular a stirring tool, a color or extender composition present in the supply container and/or the container outlet, with UV radiation.
[0033] The object of the invention is further achieved according to a first embod- iment by a method for producing a tinted paint or plaster system, utilizing the tinting system according to the invention, comprising the steps of: i) providing at least one color or extender composition in the at least one supply container for the color or extender composition, in particular providing a plurality of color or extender compositions, in each case in one of the plurality of supply containers for the color or extender compositions, wherein the latter are preferably arranged on an, in particular rotatable, carousel, li) providing the basic tinting composition in the supply container for the basic tinting composition, lii) combining at least one of the color or extender compositions from the at least one supply container for the color or extender composition with the basic tinting composition, in particular by way of the dosing pumps and fluid channels downstream of the supply containers in each case, in the mixing container, iv) blending the combined color composition or color compositions and the basic tinting composition in the mixing container obtaining a tinted paint or plaster system, in particular using a vibratory plate or a gyroscopic mixer, and v) if applicable, extracting the tinted paint or plaster system by way of the container outlet of the mixing container,
wherein the UV radiation source or the UV radiation sources, which can be assigned to the at least one supply container for a color or extender composition, in particular by way of the container closure lid thereof, or the UV radiation source or the UV radiation sources, which can in each case be assigned to a supply container of the plurality of supply contain- ers for a color or extender composition, in particular by way of the corre- sponding container closure lid in each case, prior to, during and/or follow- ing the filling, of the supply container(s) with the color or extender compo- sition, emit UV radiation.
[0034] The object of the invention is further achieved according to a further em- bodiment by a method for producing a tinted paint or plaster system utilizing the tinting system according to the invention, comprising steps of: a) providing at least one color or extender composition in the at least one supply container for the color or extender composition, in particular providing a plurality of color or extender compositions, in each case in one of the plu- rality of supply containers for the color or extender compositions, wherein the latter are preferably arranged on an, in particular rotatable, carousel, b) providing the basic tinting composition in a mixing container for the basic tinting composition, c) filling at least one of the color or extender compositions, in particular by way of the dosing pumps and/or fluid channels downstream of the respective supply containers, in the mixing container and d) blending the color composition according to a) and the basic tinting com- position according to b) in the mixing container, obtaining a tinted paint or plaster system, in particular using a vibratory plate or a gyroscopic mixer, wherein the UV radiation source or the UV radiation sources, which can be assigned to the at least one supply container for a color or extender compo- sition, in particular by way of the container closure lid thereof, or the UV radiation source or the UV radiation sources, which can in each case be assigned to a supply container of the plurality of supply containers for a color or extender composition, in particular by way of the corresponding con- tainer closure lid in each case, prior to, during and/or following the filling, of the supply container(s) with the color or extender composition, emit UV radi- ation.
[0035] A method has been shown to be particularly suitable in which the one or more UV radiation sources, which can be assigned to the at least one supply container for a basic tinting composition, emit UV radiation prior to, during and/or after filling the supply container with the basic tinting composition.
[0036] Likewise, an embodiment of the method according to the invention is particularly advantageous in which the at least one UV radiation source, which can be assigned to the flow channel, emits UV radiation during and/or after passing through the basic tinting composition and/or in which the at least one UV radiation source, which can be assigned to at least one of the further flow chan- nels, in particular each of the further flow channels, emits UV radiation, during and/or after passing through the at least one color or extender composition, and/or in which the at least one UV radiation source, which can be assigned to the mixing container, emits UV radiation prior to, during and/or after the mixing of the tinted paint or plaster system.
[0037] In an expedient embodiment of the method according to the invention, the UV radiation sources emit UV radiation continuously. In a preferred embodi- ment of the method according to the invention the UV radiation sources emit UV radiation intermittently. In the case of an intermittent process, this is preferably matched to the operating cycle of the tinting system so that particular attention can be paid to a high level of sterility during the start-up and commissioning of the system.
[0038] It has proven to be particularly effective with regard to achieving the ob- ject of the invention if the UV radiation source or the UV radiation sources emit UV radiation in intervals. A pulse rate in the range from 0.1 Hz to 100 MHz, par- ticularly preferably in the range from 0.1 MHz to 10 MHz, has proved to be par- ticularly preferred in this respect. Alternatively, it is of course also possible to allow the UV radiation source or sources to emit radiation in continuous opera- tion.
[0039] The object of the invention is further achieved by a method for storing at least one color or extender composition in a tinting system according to the in- vention, wherein the color or extender compositions present in the at least one supply container for the color or extender composition, in particular the color or extender compositions present in the plurality of supply containers for color or extender compositions, is/are exposed to UV radiation in intervals, preferably with a pulse rate in the range of 0.1 Hz to 100 MHz, particularly preferably with a pulse rate in the range of 0.1 MHz to 10 MHz.
[0040] The object of the invention is further achieved by the use of the tinting system for a kit-of-parts tinting system for the production of tinted paint or plaster systems, which are free of preserving agents, in particular of tinted aqueous glazes, water varnishes, solvent-containing glazes, solvent-based varnishes, paints, in particular dispersion paints, particularly preferably interior dispersion paints, limewash paints, silicate paints, silicone resin paints, silicate dispersion paints, sol silicate paints and/or nano-hybrid paints, in particular based on an aqueous organosilicate hybrid dispersion, floor coatings or plasters, in particular silicone resin plasters, silicate plasters, sol silicate plasters, lightweight plasters, organosilicate hybrid dispersion plasters and/or synthetic resin plasters. Tinting systems are particularly suitable for use which are configured as a point-of-sale or point-of-use tinting system.
[0041] The tinting system according to the invention for a kit-of-parts tinting sys- tem, the method according to the invention for producing a tinted paint or plaster system with the tinting system according to the invention and the use of the tint- ing system according to the invention are accompanied by the surprising finding that individual paints or plasters can be provided without having to store them in large quantities and at high cost. Furthermore, the tinting system according to the invention prevents the risk of bacterial contamination and ultimately also the formation of mold, in particular even in the more susceptible water-based paints and varnishes. A pragmatic advantage associated with the tinting system ac- cording to the invention thus also consists in the fact that a very effective storage stability can be ensured combined with a high degree of processing safety with regard to the color and extender compositions. The tinting system according to the invention allows the provision of paints and plasters over a longer period of — time without the use of biocides. In addition, the tinting systems according to the invention make it surprisingly possible to provide tinted coating compounds of consistently good quality.
[0042] Further features and advantages of the invention are given in the follow- ing description, in which an exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained by means of a schematic drawing, without thereby limiting the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a device containing a first embodiment of a tinting system according to the inven- tion, Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a device containing a second embodiment of a tinting system according to the in- vention, Figure 3 shows a schematic view of a third embodiment of a tinting system according to the invention, Figure 4 shows a schematic sectional view of a supply container ac- cording to the invention for a color or extender composition, and Figure 5 shows a schematic plan view of the inner side of a container closure lid of a supply container according to the invention.
[0043] Figure 1 shows a tinting system 1 according to the invention with a supply container 28 for a basic tinting composition 2 with an container inlet 30, a con- tainer wall 32, a container bottom 34 and a container outlet 36 and, purely by way of example, three supply containers 6, 8 and 10 for here three different color or extender compositions 4, each with — but only shown for example with supply container 6 — a container inlet 12, a container wall 14, a container bottom 16 and a container outlet 18. By way of example, here, the three supply containers 6, 8 and 10 represent in an expedient embodiment of the tinting system 1 according tothe invention a plurality of supply containers, for example in the range of 16 to 32 or 20 to 32 supply containers. The container outlets 36 and 18 of the supply containers 28, 6, 8, and 10 open into the flow channels 40, 44, 46, and 50, which all have an inner wall (here 42 shown as example for flow channel 40). In the upper region of the depicted supply containers 28, 6, 8, and 10 or above the — supply containers 28, 6, 8, and 10, preferably in such a way that in each case at least the surfaces of the color or extender compositions 4 in these containers are irradiated with UV radiation, the UV-radiation lamps 38, 20, 22, and 24 are at- tached, which in the shown embodiment are protected by UV radiation- transmissive covers 82, 80, 78, and 76. The flow channels 40, 44, 46 and 50, which in the shown embodiment can preferably each have a separate pump device, open into the mixing container 56, which also has a container inlet 58, a container wall 60, a container bottom 62 and a container outlet 64. In the mixing container the basic tinting composition 2 and the three color or extender compo- sitions 4 are mixed by means of stirring systems and can then be filled. In the — region of the mixing container a UV radiation source 74 with UV radiation per- meable cover 92 is also installed. Furthermore, UV radiation sources can also be installed in the filling channel. The UV radiation source, the pump and the stirring systems of the tinting system 1 can be controlled by computer software. The embodiment of the tinting system 1 according to the invention according to Figure 1 is preferably used as a large- scale industrial production plant for the manufacture of large guantities of a tint- ed paint material, which can then be divided into smaller containers for sale.
[0044] Figure 2 shows a tinting system 1 according to the invention with three supply containers 6, 8 and 10 for three different color or extender compositions 4 with in each case, but shown for example only for supply container 6, a container inlet 12, a container wall 14, a container bottom 16 and a container outlet 18. The three supply containers 6, 8 and 10 of the tinting system 1 according to the invention according to Figure 2 also represent here by way of example, in an appropriate embodiment of the tinting system 1 according to the invention, a plurality of supply containers, for example in the range of 16 to 32 or 20 to 32 supply containers. The embodiment of the tinting system 1 according to the in- vention according to Figure 2 does not require, unlike the tinting system accord- ing to Figure 1, the supply container 28 for a basic tinting composition 2. Rather, — in one variant the basic tinting composition 2 can be provided in the mixing con- tainer 56, for example a bucket or similar vessel. The embodiment of the tinting system 1 according to the invention according to Figure 2 is preferably used as a point-of-sale or point-of-use-tinting system. The container outlets 18 of the sup- ply containers 6, 8, and 10 open into the flow channels 44, 46, and 50, which all have an inner wall. In the upper region of the illustrated supply containers 6, 8 and 10 or above the supply containers 6, 8, and 10, the UV radiation lamps 20, 22, and 24 are mounted preferably in such a way that at least the surfaces of the color or extender compositions 4 in these containers are irradiated with UV radi- ation, which UV radiation lamps in the shown embodiment are protected by UV radiation- permeable covers 80, 78, and 76.
[0045] The flow channels 44, 46, and 50, which in the shown embodiment can preferably each have a separate pump device, open into the mixing container 56, which in the shown embodiment has a container inlet 58, a container wall 60, a container bottom 62, and which may for example be a container such as a bucket, which can be transported after mixing the color or extender composi- tion(s) and basic tinting composition by the user or purchaser to the place of use. Accordingly, in an expedient embodiment, as indicated in Figure 2, the basic tinting composition 2 is preferably already present in the mixing container 56 and the three color or extender compositions 4 can be added via the flow channels 44, 46, and 50. In the variant shown, the mixing of the components mentioned is carried out by means of vibrating or shaking. The vibrating plate 94 can be used for this purpose. In the region of the mixing container, a UV radiation source 74 can be installed with a UV-radiation-permeable cover 92. Also in the embodi- — ment according to Figure 2 the UV radiation source, the pump and stirring sys- tems of the tinting system 1 can also preferably be controlled by computer soft- ware.
[0046] Figure 3 shows a tinting system 1 according to the invention with, by way of example, thirteen supply containers | to XIII for thirteen different color or ex- tender compositions 4 with in each case, but shown for example only for supply container VI, a container inlet 12, a container wall 14, a container bottom 16, a container outlet 18 and a stirring tool 92. By way of example, here, the thirteen supply containers | to XIII represent in an expedient embodiment of the tinting — system 1 according to the invention a plurality of supply containers, for example in the range of 16 to 32 or 20 to 32 supply containers. The embodiment of the tinting system 1 according to the invention according to Figure 3 shows the ar- rangement of the supply containers | to XIII in a carousel, wherein the different color or extender compositions 4 are added one after the other to a basic tinting composition 2 (not shown). By rotating the carousel by a computer software or by a control device on the carousel itself (not shown) the various container out- lets 18 in connection with the respective flow channel 44 can be controlled one after the other, expediently by activating the respective pump device. Alternative- ly, carousel or plate systems are possible, in which the two, three, or more dif- ferent color or extender compositions 4 are added essentially at the same time, wherein in this case a plurality of pump devices are activated at the same time.
[0047] Figure 4 shows a schematic sectional view of a supply container 6 ac- cording to the invention for a color or extender composition 4. Hereby the supply container 6 has a container inlet 12, a container wall 14, a container bottom 16, a container outlet 18, a stirring tool 92 and a container closure lid 96. In addition, as an optional component, the shown embodiment shows a branch 18' of the container outlet 18, containing a pump device. Especially with color or extender compositions 4, that stand for a longer period, the latter can thus - in combina- tion with the stirring tool 92 — also be mixed by the activation of the pump device, which is preferably provided in the upper section of the branch 18', in that the color or extender compositions 4 are drained and pumped again from above onto the surface of the color or extender compositions 4.
[0048] Figure 5 shows a schematic plan view of the inner side of a container closure lid 96 of a supply container 6 according to the invention. In the shown embodiment of the container closure lid 96 four UV radiation lamps 20 are inte- grated, which can also have a UV radiation-transmissive cover (not shown).
List of reference numerals
[0049] 1 tinting system 2 basic tinting composition 4 color or extender composition 6 supply container for color or extender composition 8 supply container for color or extender composition 10 — supply container for color or extender composition 12 container inlet of the supply container 6 of the color or extender composi- tion 14 container wall of the supply container 6 of the color or extender composi- tion 16 container bottom of the supply container 6 of the color or extender compo- sition 18 container outlet of the supply container 6 of the color or extender composi- tion UV radiation source of the supply container 6 20 22 UV radiation source of the supply container 8 24 UV radiation source of the supply container 10 26 UV radiation 28 supply container for basic tinting composition 2 30 container inlet of the supply container 28 of the basic tinting composition 32 container wall of the supply container 28 of the basic tinting composition 34 container bottom of the supply container 28 of the basic tinting composition 36 container outlet of the supply container 28 of the basic tinting composition 38 UV radiation source of the supply container 28 40 flow channel of supply container 28 42 inner wall of the flow channel 40 44 flow channel of supply container 6 46 flow channel of supply container 8 48 flow channel of supply container 10 50 inner wall of the flow channel 44 52 inner wall of the flow channel 46
54 inner wall of the flow channel 48 56 mixing container 58 container inlet of the mixing container 56 60 container wall of the mixing container 56 62 container bottom of the mixing container 56
64 container outlet of the mixing container 56 66 UV radiation source of the fluid channel 40 68 UV radiation source of the flow channel 44 70 UV radiation source of the flow channel 46
72 UV radiation source of the flow channel 48 74 UV radiation source of the mixing container 56 76 cover for UV radiation source 20 78 cover for UV radiation source 22 80 cover for UV radiation source 24
82 cover for UV radiation source 38 84 cover for UV radiation source 66 86 cover for UV radiation source 68 88 cover for UV radiation source 70 90 cover for UV radiation source 72
92 cover for UV radiation source 74 94 stirring tool 96 container closure lid [- XIII supply container for color or extender composition