FR2933320A1 - PAINT APPLICATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CLEANING SUCH A DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

A paint application device (10) for applying paint (38) to an object. It comprises: a pipe (12), a peristaltic pump (28) into which an area of the pipe (12) and a paint application unit (24) are introduced. The paint application device (10) comprises a sweeper (23), and the pipe (12) is subdivided into at least two pipe segments (14, 16) removably connected to one another, and or the peristaltic pump (60) comprises an actuating device (72) by means of which the peristaltic pump (60) can be passed from a transfer position in which the pump hose zone is at least partially crushed in a cleaning position in which the zone of pipe installed in the pump is not crushed and vice versa.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a paint application device for applying paint to an object. This device comprises a pipe, a peristaltic pump into which is introduced a zone of the pipe and a paint application unit for applying the paint on an object. The invention also relates to a method of cleaning such a paint application device. State of the art The paint application devices of the type defined above are already known in various embodiments. These devices typically include a hose, a peristaltic pump to transfer paint through the hose, and a paint application unit to apply paint to an object. The pipe serves as a connecting line between a container or reservoir containing the paint and the paint application unit. The peristaltic pump is a discharge pump in which a segment of the pipe is guided along a U-shaped path. The pipe is supported externally against the inner casing of the pump and is pinched inside the pump by crushing elements rotating on a rotor. The rotation of the crushing elements at several crushing points moves them along the pipe and thus displaces the painting of the pipe. This transfers paint from the paint tank through the pipe to the paint application unit. The paint application unit may be for example a conventional paint roller or such means. For commissioning a paint application device having the structure described above, the free end of the pipe is held in a paint tank. Then, the peristaltic pump is connected so that the paint contained in the paint tank is transferred through the pipe to the paint application unit. The paint can thus be applied to an object by the paint application unit. To clean the pipe of the paint application device, remove the end of the pipe from the paint tank. Then,

2 this end is connected to a water tap. The paint application unit is also removed from the other end of the pipe. Water can now be passed through the pipe to flush residual paint from the pipe; the mixture of water and residual paint can be discharged into the sewers. This rinsing operation is provided until no more traces of paint are visible. A disadvantage of this cleaning process is on the one hand to completely evacuate during the rinsing process, the paint residues that are still in the pipe which represents a mess of paint especially in the case of very long pipes. In addition, water consumption is important for cleaning the pipe. Finally, the time required to pass through the cleaning installation is very long. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION From this state of the art, the object of the present invention is to develop a device for applying the paint to an object remedying at least in large part the disadvantages mentioned above. DISCLOSURE AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION For this purpose, the invention proposes a paint application device for applying paint to an object comprising a pipe, a peristaltic pump used in the area of the pipe and an application unit of paint to apply the paint on an object. According to the invention, the paint application device comprises a sweeper, that is to say a passage member that is passed through the pipe by applying pressure from the outside to clean the pipe . Advantageously, the sweeper comprises at least one sealing segment or seal which is sealingly applied against the wall of the pipe when the sweeper is installed in the pipe to allow the rise in pressure required to push the sweeper through the pipe. . In addition, the chimney sweep preferably includes a brush-shaped segment for cleaning the inner wall of the pipe. Such a chimney sweep could not be used until now in the paint application devices because it could not pass the zone

3 of pipe in the peristaltic pump, crushed by the crushing or settling elements. To solve this problem, the pipe of the paint application device according to the invention, and according to a first variant, is subdivided into two segments of pipe removably connected to one another. Thus, it is possible to clean with the chimney sweep at least the segment of pipe that does not pass through the peristaltic pump. In other words, the second pipe segment can detach from the first pipe segment for cleaning with the chimney sweep. For this, for example the free end which was previously connected to the first pipe segment will be connected to a water valve acting as a source of pressure to push the sweeper through the second part of the pipe. Then, the paint application unit is removed from the other free end of the second pipe to allow the pipe to be held on a paint tank. When the water tap is turned on, the water pressure pushes the chimney sweep through the second pipe segment to guide the paint residue from the pipe into the paint container. This effectively avoids wasting paint. The amount of water needed to move the sweeper from one end of the pipe to the other is very small, which is why this cleaning device is generally very favorable for the environment. The first pipe segment, on the other hand, is cleaned in the usual way; for this, the free end of the first segment of pipe is held in a water tank. Then we connect the peristaltic pump to pass the water from the water tank, to clean the first pipe. As a variant or in addition to the first variant described above, the invention develops a second variant. In this second variant, the peristaltic pump comprises an actuating installation for passing the peristaltic pump from its transfer position for which the accumulation zone equipping the pump is at least partially crushed in its cleaning position; in this position the segment of pipe which is in the pump will not be crushed but pinched; the reciprocal is possible. Correspondingly, the peristaltic pump can be passed

4 for cleaning the pipe with the mounting fixture in its cleaning position so that the chimney sweep can pass through the pipe area of the peristaltic pump without any difficulty. In other words, the chimney sweep is introduced through the free end of the pipe to carry out the cleaning operation; then, this free end is connected to a pressure source such as for example a water tap or similar means. The other end of the pipe is held above the paint container. When the pressure source is then connected, the sweeper travels from one free end of the hose to the other and pushes the paint residue from the hose back to the paint tank to evacuate it from the hose. A significant advantage over the first variant is that the entire pipe of the paint application device can be cleaned in a single pass.

Preferably, at least one end of the pipe or pipe segment is provided with a connection facility to another fluid-conducting part, for example to be connected to a water tap, another pipe or a pipe segment. hose or similar means. This makes it possible to carry out the fluid connections in a particularly simple manner. The free end of a pipe or a segment of pipe which is advantageously the end of the pipe immersed in the paint tank will preferably be provided with a locking device for the sweeper used to clean the pipe. can come out of the end of the pipe. Correspondingly, it can also avoid the exit of the liquid moving the sweeper so that for example it can not arrive in the tank or paint container. The connection installation and the locking installation are constituted according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the form of a single set. But they can also be made separately and / or interchangeably. In addition, the connecting installation and / or the locking installation are preferably removably attached to the pipe to be used when replacing the pipe. According to the second variant of the paint application device according to the invention, the actuating installation is advantageously designed to allow at least one of the elements of the peristaltic pump which crush the area of the pipe installed in the pump. peristaltic in the transfer position, to move away or bring the elements relative to each other for the segment of pipe installed in the peristaltic pump. Due to this relative movement between the crushing elements and the pipe, the peristaltic pump can be moved from its transfer position to its cleaning position and vice versa. The crushing elements can be made in the form of running gear or the like. Preferably, the crushing elements are however made in one piece, for example in the form of a plate with projecting crushing parts obtained by deep drawing. This reduces the number of components and reduces the cost of assembly. The actuating installation advantageously comprises an actuating element for manually actuating the installation such as for example an actuating lever or similar means; this means can be operated in a simple manner by the user of the paint applicator device. The present invention relates to a method of cleaning a paint application device such as that described above, this method comprising the following steps: a) installation of a sweeper in a pipe to be cleaned, b) connection of the end of the pipe to be cleaned on a source of pressure, in particular on a water tap, and c) displacement of the sweeper in the pipe to be cleaned by the action of the pressure generated by the pressure source. According to a variant of the process of the invention, the pipe segments which have been connected are separated from one another before the chimney sweep passes through a segment of pipe to be cleaned, under the effect of the pressure generated. by the source of pressure. Such separation of the second pipe is particularly necessary if the pump

6 Peristaltic does not allow the chimney sweep to cross the pipe area in the peristaltic pump. According to another variant of the method of the invention, the peristaltic pump of the paint application device has passed from a transfer position in which the crushing elements act on the zone of pipe installed in the pump, towards a position in which the crushing elements no longer crush the pipe, and this before the chimney sweep has passed through the pipe to be cleaned under the pressure generated by the pressure source.

Thus, the chimney sweep will be able to cross without difficulty the zone of pipe installed in the peristaltic pump. The passage of the peristaltic pump from its transfer position to its cleaning position is preferably done manually by the user or is initiated by the user. The peristaltic pump may for example comprise auxiliary means such as for example a motor that makes the relative movement, a switch and / or a remote control so that the user can operate the engine. Drawings The present invention will be described below in more detail with the aid of preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of a device application of paint according to the invention, - Figure 2 is a schematic view for the description of the cleaning of the paint application device of Figure 1, - Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of a zone of 4 is an exploded schematic view showing the structure of a peristaltic pump of a paint application device corresponding to a second embodiment of the invention, and FIG. is a schematic view of the peristaltic pump of Figure 4 in the installed state, showing the transfer position and the cleaning position of the peristaltic pump.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION In the description given below, the same references will be used to designate the same elements or similar elements.

Figure 1 is a schematic view showing a paint application device corresponding to a first embodiment of the invention; in the figure, this device is designated generally by the reference 10. The paint application device 10 comprises a pipe 12 divided into two pipe segments 14 and 16. The pipe segments 14 and 16 are connected to one another. to the other removably by a connecting device 18; the connecting device 18 is constituted by connectors 20 fixed to each of the free ends of the pipe segments 14 and 16. At the other free end of the pipe segment 16, there is a locking device 22 which prevents the during the cleaning operation of the pipe segment 16, the sweeper 23 can not go out; this will be described in more detail below. In addition, the paint application device 10 includes a paint application unit 24 removably connected to the free end of the pipe segment 16. This paint application unit is constituted by a paint roller. A pipe segment zone 14 passes through a peristaltic pump 26 which also constitutes a component of the paint application device 10. The peristaltic pump 26 comprises clamping elements 28 in the form of rotating rollers themselves held by a rotor 32 rotating around an axis of rotation 30. As soon as the rotor 32 rotates about the axis of rotation 30, the crushing or pinching elements 28 roll successively on the pipe zone which is in the peristaltic pump 26 for that the paint 38 of the paint reservoir 36 into which the free end of the pipe segment 14 is immersed, is transferred from the reservoir or paint receptacle 36 in the direction of the arrow 40 through the pipe segments 14 and 16 until to the paint application unit 24. Thus, the paint application unit 24 makes it possible to continuously apply paint to an object such as for example a wall to be painted or a similar surface.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view for describing the cleaning of the segment 16 of the pipe 12 of the paint application device 10 shown in FIG. 1. In order to carry out a cleaning operation of the pipe segment 16, first of all the connectors 20 connecting the pipe segments 14 and 16. Then, a sweeper 23 is introduced more accurately in Figure 3 from the side of the connector 20 in the pipe segment 16; then, the connector 20 is connected to a water tap 42 as shown in FIG. 2. Then, the paint application unit 24 is removed from the other free end of the pipe segment 16 and this end is held. free in the paint tank 36. Then, after opening the water valve 42, the sweeper 23 is moved under the effect of the water pressure in the direction of the arrow 44 through the pipe segment 16 ; the sweeper 23 delivers the paint residues of the pipe segment 16 to empty in the paint tank 36. The blocking device 22 equipping the opening and which is smaller than the diameter of the sweeper 23 prevents it does not leave the pipe segment 16 as soon as it reaches the free end of the pipe segment 16. Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view giving an embodiment of a sweeper 23 placed in the pipe segment 16. The sweeper 23 comprises a seal segment 46 sealingly applied against the inner wall 48 of the pipe segment 16. The pressure of the tap water 42 acts in the direction of the arrow 50 to push the sweeper 23 through the pipe segment 16. The seal 46 prevents water from passing past the chimney sweep. In addition to the sealing segment 46, the sweeper 23 has a brush-shaped segment 42 for cleaning the wall 48 of the pipe. After emptying the paint residue contained in the pipe segment 16 by means of the sweeper 23 in the paint tank 36, the blocking device 22 and the sweeper 23 can be removed from the free end of the pipe segment. 16. Then, the pipe segment 16 can again be rinsed with water if necessary; the free end of the pipe segment 16 is placed for this in the sink 54 to evacuate the water.

The pipe segment 14 may for example be cleaned by holding the free end which was previously placed in the paint tank 36 (as shown in FIG. 1) in a water tank. Then, the peristaltic pump 26 is connected to transfer water from the reservoir through the pipe segment 14 and flush the residual paint from the pipe segment 14. The other free end 40 of the pipe can be placed again in the wash basin 54 to allow to evacuate the water with the paint that has been rinsed. The structure of the paint application device 10 according to the invention shown in FIG. 1, furthermore has the advantage that at least the residual paint retained in the pipe segment 16, which is normally very long, can be recovered. In addition, much less water is required than in the known paint application devices for cleaning the pipe segment 16. The division of the pipe 12 in segments 14 and 16 allows for easy replacement of the pipe segment 14 passing through the peristaltic pump 26 and which is exposed to very pronounced wear due to the significant stresses exerted by the crushing or pinching elements 28. Figures 4 and 5 are schematic views showing the main components of a peristaltic pump variant 60 used in place of the peristaltic pump 26 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is an exploded view showing the main components of the peristaltic pump 60. Figure 5 is a top view of the components of Figure 4; the left side of Figure 5 shows a transfer position and the right position of Figure 5, a cleaning position. The peristaltic pump 60 includes a first disk 62 and a second disk 64 substantially parallel to the first disk; between the two disks, passes the pipe 12 in a U-shape. The first disk 62 is made in the form of a part obtained by deep drawing; the first disc comprises raised areas which, starting from the center of rotation 68 around which the first disc 62 can be driven by means of a motor not shown, extend radially outwards towards the second disc 64 These raised zones 66 serve as crushing or pinching elements which act on the pipe 12 during the rotation of the first disk 62 around

10 of the center of rotation 68, to transfer the liquid from the pipe 12 in the direction of the arrows 70. The second disk 64 is substantially parallel to the first disk 62 and is held firmly in rotation in the non-detailed housing of the peristaltic pump 60. On the outer side of the second disk 64, there is an actuating installation 72 in the form of a lever which can be operated by the user of the paint application device 10. Using this installation of In operation 72, the second disk 64 can be moved alternately and also in the direction of the arrow 74 between two predefined positions, namely between a transfer position in which the zone of the pipe 12 which lies between the disks 62 and 64 will be crushed by the raised areas 66 of the first disk 62 and a cleaning position in which the area of the pipe 12 placed between the disks 62 and 64 will not be crushed by the raised area 66 of the first disk 62; this will be described below in more detail with the help of Figure 5. Figure 5 is a top view of the device shown in Figure 4; the left side of Figure 5 (to the left of the center line 76) corresponds to the transfer position and the right side of Figure 5 (to the right of the center line 76) represents the cleaning position. In the transfer position, the actuating device 72 is arranged to push the second disk 64 towards the first disk 62 so that the pipe area 12 between the disks 62 and 64 would be crushed by one or more zones. in this position, the liquid in the pipe 12 will be transferred in the direction of the arrow 70 shown in Figure 4 as soon as the first disk 62 rotates about the point of rotation 68, driven by the motor not shown in detail, the peristaltic pump 60. If starting from the transfer position shown in the left part of Figure 5, the actuating installation 72 is rotated by the user around the center of rotation 78 in the direction of the arrow 80, the second disk 64 moves in the direction of the arrow 74 to move away from the first disk 62; the crushing of the pipe zone 12 between the two disks 62 and 64 by the relief zones 66 of the

The first disk 62 is thus neutralized. This state is shown in the right part of FIG. 5 and will hereinafter be referred to as the cleaning position. In this cleaning position, a sweeper 23 can be passed through the zone of the pipe 12 installed in the peristaltic pump 60 so that, unlike the peristaltic pump 26 shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to clean the zone of the pipe using The blocking installation 22 which avoids as described above that the sweeper 23 does not come out of the pipe 12, is constituted here as a crushing clamp which compresses the end of the pipe. Such a clamp is particularly advantageous because economic to manufacture and easy to install / uninstall. The peristaltic pump 60 whose principle construction appears in Figures 4 and 5 offers the advantage over the peristaltic pump 26 of Figure 1 that the entire pipe 12 can be cleaned by a single passage of the sweeper 23. In addition , all the paint that after use of the paint application device 10 still remains in the pipe 12, can recover. In addition, it is not essential to subdivide the pipe 12 into segments 14 and 16; in other words, one can use a pipe 12 in one piece. If experience shows that the zone of the pipe 12 passing through the peristaltic pump 60 is subjected to a much greater wear than the other zones of the pipe 12, it may be advantageous to divide the pipe 12 into segments 14 and 16 to replace the a more economical way the used pipe segment.25

Claims (1)

1) Painting application device (10) for applying paint (38) to an object, comprising: a pipe (12), a peristaltic pump (28, 60) into which a zone of the pipe (12) is introduced; ) and a paint application unit (24) for applying the paint (38) to an object, characterized in that the paint application device (10) comprises a sweeper (23), and the pipe (12) is subdivided into at least two detachably connected pipe segments (14, 16) and / or the peristaltic pump (60) includes an actuating device (72) with which the peristaltic pump (60) can be passed from a transfer position in which the pump pipe area is at least partially crushed to a cleaning position in which the pipe area installed in the pump is not overwritten and vice versa. 2) paint application device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sweeper (23) comprises at least one sealing segment (46) which, when the sweeper (23) is placed in the pipe (12), applies sealingly against the inner wall of the pipe. 3) A paint application device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sweeper (23) comprises a segment (52) shaped brush to clean the inner wall of the pipe. Painting application device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pipe (12) or at least one pipe segment (14, 16) has at one free end a connection device for connecting a other component driving liquid. 13 5 °) paint application device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one free end of the pipe (12) or at least one pipe segment (14, 16) is provided with a blocking device (22) preventing a sweeper (23) placed in the pipe (12) from coming out of the pipe (12). 6 °) paint application device (10) according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the connection (18) and the connecting installation (22) constitute a single element. 7 °) paint application device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the connecting device (18) and / or the locking device (22) are removably attached to the pipe (12) . 8 °) paint application device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating installation (72) is carried out so that at least one of the components (62, 64) of the pump peristaltic (60) crushes the pipe area in the peristaltic pump (60) for the transfer position and that these elements of the peristaltic pump (60) can move away from or approach the pipe area placed in the peristaltic pump ( 60). 9 °) paint application device (10) according to claim 1, characterized by crushing elements made in one piece. 10 °) paint application device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating installation (72) comprises an actuating element to be operated manually. 14 11 °) A method of cleaning a paint application device including a paint application device (10) according to the preceding claims, the method comprising the following steps: a) installation of a chimney sweep ( 23) in a pipe (12) to be cleaned, b) connection of the end of the cleaning pipe (12) to a pressure source, in particular to a water tap (42), and c) displacement of the chimney sweep (23). ) in the pipe (12) to be cleaned by the action of the pressure generated by the pressure source. Cleaning method according to claim 11, characterized in that before proceeding with step c), the pipe segments (14, 16) connected to each other are separated from each other. the other in a removable way. 13 °) A cleaning method according to claim 11, characterized in that prior to performing step c), a peristaltic pump (60) of the paint application device (10) intended to transfer the painting (38) through the pipe (12), a transfer position in which crushing elements act on the pipe area associated therewith, in a cleaning position in which the crushing by the elements d overwriting is deleted. 14 °) Cleaning method according to claim 13, characterized in that the transfer of the peristaltic pump (60) from the transfer position to the cleaning position is done manually by the user or is launched by him.30