GB2462345A

GB2462345A - Paint application device and method for cleaning that device

Info

Publication number: GB2462345A
Application number: GB0911119A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Monika Renner
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2008-07-02
Filing date: 2009-06-26
Publication date: 2010-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 2029-06-26
Also published as: CN101618376A; DE102008040082A1; GB0911119D0; GB2462345B; FR2933320A1

Abstract

A paint application device 10 for applying paint 38 to an object, comprising a hose 12, a peristaltic pump 28, in which a region of the hose 12 can be inserted, and a paint application unit 24. The paint application device 10 has a scraper (23, figure 3), and the hose 12 is subdivided into at least two releasably connected hose portions 14, 16. The peristaltic pump (60, figure 4) may have an actuation device (72, figure 4), by means of which the peristaltic pump (60) can be moved from a conveying position, in which the hose region which is arranged therein is at least partially compressed, into a cleaning position, in which the hose region which is arranged therein is not compressed, and vice-versa. The scraper may be propelled along the hose by water pressure to and force unused paint back into a reservoir. Subdividing the hose and uncompressing the peristaltic pump allows the scraper to pass along the hose as necessary.

Description

Paint application device and method for cleaning a paint application device The present invention relates to a paint application device for applying paint to an object, such as, for example, a wall or the like, and a method for cleaning such a paint application device.

Prior Art

Various configurations of paint application devices of the above-mentioned type are already known. They normally comprise a hose, a peristaltic pump for conveying paint through the hose and a paint application unit for applying paint to an object. The hose acts as a connection line between a paint container containing paint and the paint application unit. The peristaltic pump is a positive-displacement pump in which a portion of the hose is usually received so as to be guided in a U-shaped manner. The hose is supported at the outer side on the inner housing of the pump and is compressed inside the pump by means of pressing elements which rotate on a rotor. When the pressing elements rotate, one or more pressing locations move along the hose and thereby drive forwards the paint which is guided in the hose. In this manner, the paint contained in the paint container can be conveyed through the hose as far as the paint application unit. The paint application unit may be, for example, a commercially available paint roller or the like.

In order to operate a paint application device having the construction described above, the free end of the hose is retained in a paint container. Subsequently, the peristaltic pump is switched on so that the paint contained in the paint container is conveyed through the hose to the paint application unit. The paint can now be applied to an object using the paint application unit.

In order to clean the hose of the paint application device, the hose end is removed from the paint container, whereupon it is connected to a water tap. Furthermore, the paint application unit is removed from the other end of the hose.

Water can now be directed through the hose in order to flush out the residual paint in the hose, the mixture comprising water and residual paint being usually disposed of in a drain. This flushing operation is carried out until no further traces of paint can be seen.

A disadvantage of this cleaning method is on the one hand that the residual paint in the hose is completely removed during the rinsing operation, whereby a large amount of paint is wasted, in particular with relatively long hoses.

Furthermore, a significant amount of water is consumed when the hose is cleaned. Finally, a very considerable amount of time is also required to carry out the hose cleaning operation.

Based on this prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide, for applying paint to an object, an application device which at least partially overcomes the

disadvantages described in the introduction.

In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides for a paint application device for applying paint to an object, comprising a hose, a peristaltic pump, in which a region of the hose can be inserted, and a paint application unit for applying the paint to an object.

According to the invention, the paint application device has a scraper, that is to say, a close-fitting member, which can be directed through the hose with the application of external pressure in order to clean it. The scraper advantageously comprises at least one sealing portion which, in a state in which the scraper is inserted into the hose, is in fluid-tight abutment against the inner wall of the hose, in order to build up pressure which is required to push the scraper through the hose. Furthermore, the scraper preferably comprises a brush-like portion for cleaning the inner wall of the hose.

Such a scraper could previously not be used with known paint application devices since it was unable to pass through the hose region which is arranged in the peristaltic pump and which is compressed by the pressing elements.

In order to solve this problem, the hose of the paint application device according to the invention, according to a first variant, is subdivided into two hose portions which are releasably connected to each other. Consequently, at least that hose portion which is not guided through the peristaltic pump can be cleaned using the scraper.

That is to say, the second hose portion can be released from the first hose portion in order to clean it using the scraper. To this end, the free end which was previously connected to the first hose portion is, for example, Connected to a water tap which acts as a pressure source to enable the scraper to be driven through the second hose.

Subsequently, the paint application unit is removed from the other free end of the second hose so that it can be held over a paint container. When the water tap is turned on, the water pressure drives the scraper through the second hose portion so that the residual paint remaining therein is emptied into the paint container. In this manner, a waste of paint can be counteracted in an effective manner. The quantity of water which is required to move the scraper once from one end of the hose to the other is also very low, for which reason the cleaning device of the second hose is on the whole environmentally friendly. In contrast, the first hose portion is cleaned in conventional manner with a free end of the first hose portion being held in a water reservoir, whereupon the peristaltic pump is switched on in order to direct the water in the water reservoir through the first hose for the purposes of cleaning.

Alternatively or in addition to the first variant described above, the invention provides for a second variant in which the peristaltic pump has an actuation device, by means of which the peristaltic pump can be moved from a conveying position, in which the hose portion which is arranged therein is at least partially compressed, into a cleaning position, in which the hose portion which is arranged therein is not compressed, and vice-versa. Accordingly, in order to clean the hose, the peristaltic pump can be moved using the securing device into the cleaning position thereof so that the scraper can readily pass the hose region which is received in the peristaltic pump. That is to say, in order to carry out a cleaning operation, the scraper is inserted into a free end of the hose, whereupon this free end is connected to a pressure source, such as, for example, a water tap or the like. However, the other free end of the hose is held over a paint container. If the pressure source is now connected, the scraper moves from one free end of the hose to the other, urging the residual paint contained in the hose out of the hose in the direction of the paint container. A significant advantage with respect to the first variant therefore consists in that the entire hose of the paint application device can be cleaned in one operation.

Preferably, the hose or at least a hose portion is provided, at least at one free end, with a connection device for connecting an additional fluid-guiding component, for example, for connecting a water tap, an additional hose or hose portion, or the like. Accordingly, fluid connections can be readily produced.

Furthermore, at least one free end of a hose or a hose portion which is advantageously that hose end which is suspended in the paint container, is preferably provided with an arresting device which prevents the scraper which has been inserted into the hose for the purposes of cleaning from leaving this hose end. Accordingly, it is also possible to prevent the pressure medium which moves the scraper from being discharged so that, for example, no water can enter the paint container.

According to a preferred configuration of the invention, the connection device and the arresting device are constructed as a common unit. Naturally, they can also be provided so as to be separate and/or replaceable.

Furthermore, the connection device and/or the arresting device are preferably releasably secured to the hose so that they can continue to be used if the hose is replaced.

According to the second variant of the paint application device according to the invention, the actuation device is advantageously constructed in such a manner that, using the actuation device, at least one of the components of the peristaltic pump which compress the hose region which is arranged inside the peristaltic pump in the conveying position and the hose portion which is arranged in the peristaltic pump can be moved towards each other and away from each other. Owing to this relative movement between the pressing components and the hose, the peristaltic pump can be moved from the conveying position to the cleaning position, and vice-versa.

Pressing elements can be provided in the form of roller members or the like. However, the pressing elements are preferably constructed in one piece, for example, in the form of a plate-like deep-drawn component which has pressing projections. In this manner, the number of components can be reduced, whereby the assembly complexity is also reduced.

The actuation device advantageously has an actuation element for manual actuation thereof, such as, for example, an actuation lever or the like, which can be handled in a simple manner by a user of the paint application device.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for cleaning a paint application device of the above-described type, involving the steps of: a) inserting a scraper into a hose to be cleaned; b) connecting one end of the hose to be cleaned to a pressure source, in particular to a water tap; and c) moving the scraper through the hose to be cleaned under the action of the pressure produced by the pressure source.

According to a variant of the method according to the invention, connected hose portions of the hose are separated from each other before the scraper is moved through a hose portion to be cleaned under the action of the pressure produced by the pressure source. Such a separation of hose portions is required in particular when the peristaltic pump is constructed in such a manner that a scraper cannot pass the hose region arranged in the peristaltic pump.

According to another variant of the method according to the invention, the peristaltic pump of the paint application device is moved from a conveying position, in which pressing elements act on the hose region which is arranged therein, into a cleaning position, in which compression by the pressing elements is stopped before the scraper is moved through the hose to be cleaned under the action of the pressure produced by the pressure source. In this manner, the scraper can readily pass the hose region arranged in the peristaltic pump. The change of the peristaltic pump from the conveying position to the cleaning position is preferably carried out manually by a user or is initiated by a user. To this end, the peristaltic pump may have appropriate auxiliary means, such as, for example, a motor, which carries out the relative movement, a switch and/or a remote control for actuation of the motor by a user, etcetera.

The present invention is described in greater detail below with reference to preferred embodiments and the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a first configuration of a paint application device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view, with reference to which the cleaning of the paint application device illustrated in Figure 1 is explained; Figure 3 is a schematic section of a hose region in which a scraper is arranged; Figure 4 is a schematic exploded view, with reference to which the construction of a peristaltic pump of a paint application device is explained in accordance with a second configuration of the present invention; and Figure 5 is a schematic view of the peristaltic pump illustrated in Figure 4 in the assembled state, illustrating a conveying position and a cleaning position of the peristaltic pump.

The same reference numerals are used below to refer to components which are identical or similar.

Figure 1 is a schematic view and illustrates a paint application device according to a first configuration of the present invention, which is generally designated 10 in the Figure. The paint application device 10 comprises a hose 12 which is subdivided into two hose portions 14 and 16. The hose portions 14 and 16 are releasably connected to each other using a connection device 18, the connection device 18 being formed by means of connection elements 20 which are secured to the respective free ends of the hose portions 14 and 16. At the other free end of the hose portion 16, an arresting device 22 is provided and prevents a scraper 23 from leaving during a cleaning operation of the hose portion 16, which will be explained in greater detail below. Furthermore, the paint application device 10 comprises a paint application unit 24 which is releasably connected to the free end of the hose portion 16 and is constructed as a paint roller. A region of the hose portion 14 is guided through a peristaltic pump 26 which also forms a component of the paint application device 10. The peristaltic pump 26 comprises pressing elements 28 in the form of rotatable rollers which in turn are retained on a rotor 32 which can be rotated about a rotation axis 30. As soon as the rotor 32 is rotated about the rotation axis 30, the pressing elements 28 successively roll on the hose region which is arranged in the peristaltic pump 26 so that paint 38, which is contained in a paint container 36 and in which the free end of the hose portion 14 is immersed, is conveyed from the paint container 36 in the direction of the arrows 40 through the hose portions 14 and 16 to the paint application unit 24. Accordingly, using the paint application unit 24, paint can be continuously applied to an object, such as, for example, to a wall to be painted or the like.

Figure 2 is a schematic view, with reference to which the cleaning of the hose portion 16 of the hose 12 of the paint application device 10 illustrated in Figure 1 is described.

In order to carry out the cleaning operation of the hose portion 16, the connection elements 20 which connect the hose portions 14 and 16 to each other are first separated from each other. Subsequently, a scraper 23 which is illustrated in greater detail in Figure 3, is inserted into the hose portion 16 from the side of the connection element 20, whereupon the connection element 20 is connected to a water tap 42, as illustrated in Figure 2. Subsequently, the paint application unit 24 is removed from the other free end of the hose portion 16, whereupon this free end is retained in the paint container 36. The scraper 23 is now moved in the direction of the arrows 44 through the hose portion 16 after the water tap 42 has been turned on owing to the water pressure acting thereon, the scraper 23 driving forward the residual paint contained in the hose portion 16 so that it is emptied into the paint container 36. The arresting device 22, which has an opening which is smaller than the diameter of the scraper 23, prevents the scraper 23 from leaving the hose portion 16 as soon as the scraper 23 has reached the free end of the hose portion 16.

Figure 3 is a schematic cross-section illustrating an exemplary configuration of a scraper 23 which is inserted into the hose portion 16. The scraper 23 comprises a sealing portion 46 which is in fluid-tight abutment against the inner hose wall 48 of the hose portion 16. The water pressure produced using the water tap 42 acts on this sealing portion 46 in the direction of the arrows 50 so that the scraper 23 is pushed through the hose portion 16.

The sealing portion 46 prevents the water from being able to pass the scraper. In addition to the sealing portion 46, the scraper 23 further comprises a brush-like portion 52 which is used for cleaning the hose wall 48.

After the residual paint contained in the hose portion 16 has been emptied into the paint container 36 using the scraper 23, the arresting device 22 can be removed from the free end of the hose portion 16 together with the scraper 23. Subsequently, the hose portion 16 can be flushed with water again, if required, the free end of the hose portion 16 then being retained in the wash basin 54 so that the water can flow away.

The hose portion 14 can be cleaned, for example, by the free end, which was previously retained in the paint container 36, as shown in Figure 1, being arranged in an appropriate water reservoir. Subsequently, the peristaltic pump 26 can be switched on so that the water contained in the water reservoir is directed through the hose portion 14 in order to flush out the residual paint contained in the hose portion 14. The' other free end of the hose portion 40 can then in turn be retained in the wash basin 54 so that the water can be discharged together with the flushed paint.

The Construction of the paint application device 10 according to' the present invention illustrated in Figure 1 is advantageous in that at least the residual paint which is contained in the normally very long hose portion 16 can be recovered. Furthermore, significantly less water is required to clean the hose portion 16 than in conventional paint application devices. In addition, the division of the hose 12 into the hose portions 14 and 16 allows problem-free replacement of the hose portion 14 which is guided through the peristaltic pump 26 and which, owing to the pressing elements 28, is subject to significant levels of stress and consequently a correspondingly high level of wear.

Figures 4 and 5 are schematic views and illustrate significant components of an alternative peristaltic pump which can be used in place of the peristaltic pump 26 illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 4 is an exploded view illustrating significant components of the peristaltic pump and Figure 5 is a plan view of the components illustrated in Figure 4, the left-hand side in Figure 5 illustrating a conveying position and the right-hand side in Figure 5 illustrating a cleaning position.

The peristaltic pump 60 comprises a first disc 62 and a second disc 64 which is arranged substantially parallel therewith, between which the hose 12 extends in a U-shaped manner. The first disc 62 is constructed as a deep-drawn component and comprises raised regions 66 which, starting from a rotation point 68, about which the first disc 62 can be driven by means of a motor which is not illustrated in greater detail, extend radially outwards and protrude in the direction of the second disc 64. These raised regions 66 act as pressing elements which act on the hose 12 when the first disc 62 revolves around the rotation point 68 in order to convey a fluid which is provided in the hose 12 in the direction of the arrows 70. The second disc 64 is arranged substantially parallel with the first disc 62 and is retained in a rotationally secure manner in the housing of the peristaltic pump 60 which is not illustrated in greater detail. At the outer side of the second disc 64, an actuation device 72 is arranged in the form of a lever which can be actuated by a user of the paint application device 10. Using this actuation device 72, the second disc 64 can be moved back and forth in the direction of the arrow 74 between two predefined positions and secured, that is to say, between a conveying position, in which the region of the hose 12 arranged between the discs 62 and 64 is compressed by the raised regions 66 of the first disc 62, and a cleaning position, in which the region of the hose 12 arranged between the discs 62 and 64 is not compressed by the raised regions 66 of the first disc 62, which will be described in greater detail below with reference to Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the arrangement illustrated in Figure 4, the left-hand side in Figure 5 (left of the centre line 76) illustrating the conveying position and the right-hand side in Figure 5 (right of the centre line 76) illustrating the cleaning position. In the conveying position, the actUation device 72 is arranged in such a manner that it presses the second disc 64 in the direction of the first disc 62, whereby the region of the hose 12 arranged between the discs 62 and 64 is compressed by one or more of the raised regions 66 of the first disc 62. In this position, a fluid provided in the hose 12 is accordingly conveyed in the direction of the arrows 70 illustrated in Figure 4 as soon as the first disc 62 is rotatably driven about the rotation point 68 by means of the motor of the peristaltic pump 60 which is not illustrated in greater detail.

If the actuation device 72, starting from the conveying position illustrated in the left-hand portion of Figure 5, is rotated by a user about the rotation point 78 in the direction of the arrow 80, the second disc 64 moves away from the first disc 62 in the direction of the arrow 74, whereby the compression of the region of the hose 12 arranged between the discs 62 and 64 by the raised regions 66 of the first disc 62 is stopped. This state is illustrated in the right-hand portion of Figure 5 and is referred to as the cleaning position.

In this cleaning position, a scraper 23 can now be directed through the region of the hose 12 arranged in the peristaltic pump 60 so that, in contrast to the peristaltic pump 26 illustrated in Figure 1, it is possible to clean this hose region using a scraper 23. The arresting device 22 which, as described above, prevents the scraper 23 from falling out of the hose 12, is constructed in this instance as a compression clamp which presses together the end of the hose. Such a compression clamp is particularly advantageous in that it can be produced at low cost and can be readily assembled and disassembled.

The peristaltic pump 60, the schematic construction of which is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, has the advantage, in comparison with the peristaltic pump 26 illustrated in Figure 1, that the entire hose 12 can be cleaned in one operation using a scraper 23. Furthermore, it is possible to recover all of the paint which remains in the hose 12 after the paint application device 10 according to the invention has been used. Furthermore, it is not absolutely necessary to subdivide the hose 12 into hose portions 14 and 16 a single-piece hose 12 can therefore be used. If experience shows that the region of the hose 12 guided through the peristaltic pump 60 is subject to significantly greater wear than other hose regions of the hose 12, however, it may naturally be advantageous to subdivide the hose 12 into hose portions 14 and 16 in order to be able to replace the worn hose portion in the most cost-effective manner possible.

It should be clear that the configurations of the paint application device according to the invention described above are purely exemplary and are in no way limiting.

Instead, modifications and changes are possible without departing from the protected scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Patent Claims 1. Paint application device (10) for applying paint (38) to an object, comprising a hose (12), a peristaltic pump (28, 60), in which a region of the hose (12) can be inserted, and a paint application unit (24) for applying the paint (38) to an object, characterised in that the paint application device (10) has a scraper (23), the hose (12) being subdivided into at least two releasably connected hose portions (14, 16), and/or the peristaltic pump (60) having an actuation device (72), by means of which the peristaltic pump (60) can be moved from a conveying position, in which the hose region which is arranged therein is at least partially compressed, into a cleaning position, in which the hose region which is arranged therein is not compressed, and vice-versa.
2. Paint application device (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the scraper (23) has at least one sealing portion (46) which, in a state in which the scraper (23) is inserted into the hose (12), is in fluid-tight abutment against the inner wall of the hose.
3. Paint application device (10) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the scraper (23) has a brush-like portion (52) for cleaning the inner hose wall.
4. Paint application device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the hose (12) or at least a hose portion (14, 16) is provided at one free end with a connection device (18) for connecting an additional fluid-guiding component.
5. Paint application device (10) according to any one of thepreceding claims, characterised in that at least one free end of the hose (12) or at least a hose portion (14, 16) is provided with an arresting device (22) which prevents a scraper (23) which has been inserted into the hose (12) from leaving the hose (12).
6. Paint application device (10) according to claim 4 and claim 5, characterised in that the connection device (18) and the arresting device (22) are constructed as a common unit.
7. Paint application device (10) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the connection device (18) and/or the arresting device (22) is/are releasably secured to the hose (12).
8. Paint application device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the actuation device (72) is constructed in such a manner that, using the actuation device, at least one of the components (62, 64) of the peristaltic pump (60) which compress the hose region which is arranged inside the peristaltic pump (60) in the conveying position and the hose region which is arranged in the peristaltic pump (60) can be moved towards each other and away from each other.
9. Paint application device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that integral pressing elements are provided.
10. Paint application device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the actuation device (72) has an actuation element for manual actuation thereof.
11. Method for cleaning a paint application device, in particular a paint application device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, involving the steps of: a) inserting a scraper (23) into a hose (12) to be cleaned; b) connecting one end of the hose (12) to be cleaned to a pressure source, in particular to a water tap (42); and C) moving the scraper (23) through the hose (12) to be cleaned under the action of the pressure produced by the pressure source.
12. Method according to claim 11, characterised in that, before step c) is carried out, releasably connected hose portions (14, 16) are separated from each other.
13. Method according to claim 11, characterised in that, before step c) is carried out, a peristaltic pump (60) of the paint application device (10) which is provided for conveying paint (38) through the hose (12) is moved from a conveying position, in which pressing elements act on the hose region arranged therein, into a cleaning position, in which compression by the pressing elements is stopped.
14. Method according to claim 13, characterised in that the change of the peristaltic pump (60) from the conveying position into the cleaning position is carried out manually or is initiated by a user.
15. A paint application device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
16. A method of cleaning a paint application device substantially as herein described.