WO1996014162A1 - Micrometer adjusted airbrush - Google Patents

Micrometer adjusted airbrush Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1996014162A1
WO1996014162A1 PCT/US1995/014336 US9514336W WO9614162A1 WO 1996014162 A1 WO1996014162 A1 WO 1996014162A1 US 9514336 W US9514336 W US 9514336W WO 9614162 A1 WO9614162 A1 WO 9614162A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
needle
operating member
airbrush
improved
stepping motor
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1995/014336
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Kevin Kearns
Original Assignee
Becton, Dickinson And Company
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Becton, Dickinson And Company filed Critical Becton, Dickinson And Company
Priority to AU41026/96A priority Critical patent/AU4102696A/en
Publication of WO1996014162A1 publication Critical patent/WO1996014162A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
    • B05B1/30—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages
    • B05B1/3033—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages the control being effected by relative coaxial longitudinal movement of the controlling element and the spray head
    • B05B1/304—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages the control being effected by relative coaxial longitudinal movement of the controlling element and the spray head the controlling element being a lift valve
    • B05B1/3046—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages the control being effected by relative coaxial longitudinal movement of the controlling element and the spray head the controlling element being a lift valve the valve element, e.g. a needle, co-operating with a valve seat located downstream of the valve element and its actuating means, generally in the proximity of the outlet orifice

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an improved needle adjustment for an airbrush, wherein the improvement entails providing means by which the fluid needle of the airbrush can be adjusted in measurable increments making it possible to have repeatable settings so that a specific setting can be achieved repeatedly by different operators
  • Airbrushes were first used by artists and illustrators for selectively spraying colored dyes or pigments dissolved or dispersed in aqueous or other liquid solvent or carrier to form inks, paints or similar media (hereinafter referred to as "print") and have been used extensively in the preparation of advertisements and like commercial artwork Airbrushes are now being used for many different purposes outside of the application of paints and dyes Such uses have included the application o f emulsions for spray casting polymeric films and antibodies onto substrates Applications such as this have taken the airbrush from the hand of an artist whole work need not be exact or repeatably consistent as is often true of art to that of science and manufacturing where consistent and repeatability are of utmost importance
  • Airbrushes wherein the fluid needle movement is controlled by a lever which is manually manipulated to extend or retract without having a defined incremental movement Therefore the amount of fluid released by the airbrush may not be consistently or exact ly repeatable by a single skilled operator of the airbrush let alone by different operators of varying skill.
  • Airbrushes may be used for applying any biological reagent supported in an aqueous carrier. This may include particulate reagents, such as liposomes, latex particles, antibody and antigen solutions, stabilizing post coats or any other biological or chemical particulate or non-particulate material suspended in aqueous carriers.
  • the reagent could also be the aqueous carrier.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide an unproved airbrush, or more specifically, an improved means for controlling the movement of the needle in measured incremental units which could be consistently repeated.
  • Figure 1 is a diagram of a fragmentary side view of one embodiment of the airbrush of the present invention.
  • Figure 2 is a diagram of a fragmentary side view of another embodiment of the airbrush of the present invention.
  • the airbrush comprises a body (2) having a nozzle assembly ( 1 ) at one end.
  • a fluid inlet ( 13) which is removably connected to a fluid inlet line ( 13a ) which is in contact with a fluid reservoir (14).
  • an airline inlet (4) removably connected to an airline inlet coupler (4a) which is removably connected to a pressurized airline (10) having a solenoid operated air valve (12) which is controlled by a computer link (8).
  • the other end of the air valve is removably connected to an air regulator (9) and a pressurized air source.
  • the control means (6) of the present invention comprises a conical shaped fluid needle (5) which is linearly removably attached to an adjustable micrometer (6a) by means of a micrometer fluid needle assembly set screw (7)
  • the control means (6a) is slidably placed within the fluid needle guide (3), the fluid needle guide and control means (6a) are placed into the airbrush body (2) and in turn, into the nozzle assembly ( 1 )
  • the fluid needle guide(3) is solid with a precise hole bored into it to guide the needle guide pin (4b) into the nozzle assembly (1 )
  • the needle is set at zero by extending the fluid needle (5) through the nozzle assembly ( 1 ) until the fluid needle (5) and nozzle assembly ( 1 ) contact one another, then the micrometer is set to zero.
  • control means (6) described above makes it possible to achieve reproducible incremental adjustments to obtain precise repeatable movements in the positioning of the fluid needle (5) with respect to the nozzle assembly ( 1 ) and therefore, repeatable incremental amounts of fluid being released by the airbrush (2 )
  • Figure 2 depicts another embodiment of the present invention wherein the micrometer is replaced with a stepping motor assembly ( 1 15a) to permit the incremental repeatable movements of the fluid needle
  • the physical configuration of the connections between the fluid needle ( 103) and the stepping motor ( 1 15a) are depicted as follow s
  • the fluid needle ( 103) of the airbrush ( 102) is movably attached through the stepping motor support plate ( 1 15 ) to the fluid needle guide ( 104a ) which is attached to the fluid needle guide pin ( 104b )
  • the fluid needle guide pin ( 104b) is surrounded by a tension spring (105), the fluid needle guide pin is fitted through the stepping motor back plate (109a) and removably fitted into a fluid guide pin clamp (107) and held in place by a fluid needle locking nut (106).
  • a linear travel stepping motor (1 13) having extended from it a linear travel screw (1 14).
  • Fixed to the stepping motor support plate (115) relatively parallel to the stepping motor ( 1 13) is a home sensor contact pin (111), fixed in front of it is a "T"-shaped extension ( 1 15b) portion of the stepping motor support plate (1 15) attached to which is a home sensor (1 12).
  • the home sensor ( 1 12), the home sensor contact pin (1 1 1) and the linear travel stepping motor ( 1 13) are all electronically connected to a computer link ( 1 17) through an electrical terminal block (1 16) which is also attached to the "T"-shaped extension (1 15b) of this stepping motor support plate (1 15).
  • the stepping motor back plate (109a) has movably attached relatively parallel to the fluid guide pin clamp ( 107) a maximum travel stop pin ( 108), which can be extended to contact the stepping motor support plate (1 15), thus preventing further linear movement of the fluid needle ( 103) into the nozzle assembly (101) or withdrawn to avoid such contact, thus, allowing further linear movement of the fluid needle ( 103) into the nozzle assembly ( 101 ).
  • Affixed to the stepping motor back plate ( 109a) relatively parallel to the maximum travel stop pin ( 108) and in line with the positioning of the linear travel screw ( 1 14) on the stepping motor support plate ( 1 15 ) is a stepping motor screw rest ( 109).
  • the linear travel screw ( 1 14) rests on the stepping motor screw rest ( 109) of the stepping motor back plate ( 109a) and when moving toward the stepping motor back plate ( 109a). is responsible for the extending movement of the stepping motor back plate (109a) away from the stepping motor support plate ( 1 15). which acts to pull the fluid needle guide pin ( 104b) thus, withdrawing the fluid needle ( 103) from the nozzle assemble ( 101 )
  • a zeroing set screw ( 1 10) is also movably attached to the stepping motor back plate ( 109a ) and in line with the home sensor contact pine ( 1 1 1 ) on the stepping motor support plate ( 1 15 )
  • a zeroing set screw ( 1 10) which when set indicates to the linear travel stepping motor
  • the present invention is directed to an improved airbrush, more specifically, to an improved means for adjusting the fluid needle of an airbrush
  • the improved airbrush has a needle located coaxially of a nozzle and is retractable into the nozzle to dispose a media which is to be sprayed by the airbrush.
  • the improvement is contained in the form of an operating member The movement of the operating member effects the retraction and extension of the needle.
  • the operating member is connected through a coupling means to the needle so as to permit the coupling movement of the operating member to the needle in a linear manner
  • the operating member provides the ability to move the needle in repeatable measured increments.
  • micrometer may be described as an instrument for measuring minute distances. Such instrument is commonly found in use with a telescope or microscope.
  • Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to an embodiment wherein the operating member is a stepping motor.

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Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved airbrush, more specifically, to an improved means for adjusting the fluid needle of an airbrush. The improved airbrush has a needle (103) located coaxially of a nozzle (1) and is retractable into the nozzle (1) to dispose a media which is to be sprayed by the airbrush. The improvement is contained in the form of an operating member. The movement of the operating member effects the retraction and extension of the needle. The operating member is connected through a coupling means (6a) to the needle so as to permit the coupling movement of the operating member to the needle in a linear manner. The operating member provides the ability to move the needle in repeatable measured increments.

Description

MICROMETER ADJUSTED AIRBRUSH
Background of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved needle adjustment for an airbrush, wherein the improvement entails providing means by which the fluid needle of the airbrush can be adjusted in measurable increments making it possible to have repeatable settings so that a specific setting can be achieved repeatedly by different operators
Airbrushes were first used by artists and illustrators for selectively spraying colored dyes or pigments dissolved or dispersed in aqueous or other liquid solvent or carrier to form inks, paints or similar media (hereinafter referred to as "print") and have been used extensively in the preparation of advertisements and like commercial artwork Airbrushes are now being used for many different purposes outside of the application of paints and dyes Such uses have included the application o f emulsions for spray casting polymeric films and antibodies onto substrates Applications such as this have taken the airbrush from the hand of an artist whole work need not be exact or repeatably consistent as is often true of art to that of science and manufacturing where consistent and repeatability are of utmost importance
The prior art discloses airbrushes wherein the fluid needle movement is controlled by a lever which is manually manipulated to extend or retract without having a defined incremental movement Therefore the amount of fluid released by the airbrush may not be consistently or exact ly repeatable by a single skilled operator of the airbrush let alone by different operators of varying skill. Airbrushes may be used for applying any biological reagent supported in an aqueous carrier. This may include particulate reagents, such as liposomes, latex particles, antibody and antigen solutions, stabilizing post coats or any other biological or chemical particulate or non-particulate material suspended in aqueous carriers.
The reagent could also be the aqueous carrier.
The Applicant was faced with having to use airbrushes in the preparation of antibody coated substrates. The airbrush would be used to apply a very thin antibody coat, by way of example the fluid being released by the airbrush may be 1-2 microliters, and this is for discrete characters, different amounts may be used for contiguous lines; all of which must be applied consistently each time whether or not the same operator used the airbrush and without requiring an airbrush operator of great skill and extensive experience in using an airbrush. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an unproved airbrush, or more specifically, an improved means for controlling the movement of the needle in measured incremental units which could be consistently repeated.
Brief Description of Figures
Figure 1 is a diagram of a fragmentary side view of one embodiment of the airbrush of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a diagram of a fragmentary side view of another embodiment of the airbrush of the present invention.
Detailed Description
As shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, an airbrush incorporating an embodiment of the improved control means of the present invention.
The airbrush comprises a body (2) having a nozzle assembly ( 1 ) at one end.
followed by a fluid inlet ( 13) which is removably connected to a fluid inlet line ( 13a ) which is in contact with a fluid reservoir (14). Also on the airbrush body (2) there is located an airline inlet (4) removably connected to an airline inlet coupler (4a) which is removably connected to a pressurized airline (10) having a solenoid operated air valve (12) which is controlled by a computer link (8). The other end of the air valve is removably connected to an air regulator (9) and a pressurized air source. Removably attached to the end of the airbrush body (2) opposite the nozzle assembly (1) is a fluid needle guide (3) The control means (6) of the present invention comprises a conical shaped fluid needle (5) which is linearly removably attached to an adjustable micrometer (6a) by means of a micrometer fluid needle assembly set screw (7) Once assembled as described, the control means (6a) is slidably placed within the fluid needle guide (3), the fluid needle guide and control means (6a) are placed into the airbrush body (2) and in turn, into the nozzle assembly ( 1 ) The fluid needle guide(3) is solid with a precise hole bored into it to guide the needle guide pin (4b) into the nozzle assembly (1 ) The needle is set at zero by extending the fluid needle (5) through the nozzle assembly ( 1 ) until the fluid needle (5) and nozzle assembly ( 1 ) contact one another, then the micrometer is set to zero.
The control means (6) described above makes it possible to achieve reproducible incremental adjustments to obtain precise repeatable movements in the positioning of the fluid needle (5) with respect to the nozzle assembly ( 1 ) and therefore, repeatable incremental amounts of fluid being released by the airbrush (2 )
Figure 2 depicts another embodiment of the present invention wherein the micrometer is replaced with a stepping motor assembly ( 1 15a) to permit the incremental repeatable movements of the fluid needle The physical configuration of the connections between the fluid needle ( 103) and the stepping motor ( 1 15a) are depicted as follow s In figure 1, the fluid needle ( 103) of the airbrush ( 102) is movably attached through the stepping motor support plate ( 1 15 ) to the fluid needle guide ( 104a ) which is attached to the fluid needle guide pin ( 104b ) The fluid needle guide pin ( 104b) is surrounded by a tension spring (105), the fluid needle guide pin is fitted through the stepping motor back plate (109a) and removably fitted into a fluid guide pin clamp (107) and held in place by a fluid needle locking nut (106). Attached to the stepping motor support plate parallel to the location of the fluid needle (103) is a linear travel stepping motor (1 13) having extended from it a linear travel screw (1 14). Fixed to the stepping motor support plate (115) relatively parallel to the stepping motor ( 1 13) is a home sensor contact pin (111), fixed in front of it is a "T"-shaped extension ( 1 15b) portion of the stepping motor support plate (1 15) attached to which is a home sensor (1 12). The home sensor ( 1 12), the home sensor contact pin (1 1 1) and the linear travel stepping motor ( 1 13) are all electronically connected to a computer link ( 1 17) through an electrical terminal block (1 16) which is also attached to the "T"-shaped extension (1 15b) of this stepping motor support plate (1 15).
The stepping motor back plate (109a) has movably attached relatively parallel to the fluid guide pin clamp ( 107) a maximum travel stop pin ( 108), which can be extended to contact the stepping motor support plate (1 15), thus preventing further linear movement of the fluid needle ( 103) into the nozzle assembly (101) or withdrawn to avoid such contact, thus, allowing further linear movement of the fluid needle ( 103) into the nozzle assembly ( 101 ). Affixed to the stepping motor back plate ( 109a) relatively parallel to the maximum travel stop pin ( 108) and in line with the positioning of the linear travel screw ( 1 14) on the stepping motor support plate ( 1 15 ) is a stepping motor screw rest ( 109). The linear travel screw ( 1 14) rests on the stepping motor screw rest ( 109) of the stepping motor back plate ( 109a) and when moving toward the stepping motor back plate ( 109a). is responsible for the extending movement of the stepping motor back plate (109a) away from the stepping motor support plate ( 1 15). which acts to pull the fluid needle guide pin ( 104b) thus, withdrawing the fluid needle ( 103) from the nozzle assemble ( 101 ) Also movably attached to the stepping motor back plate ( 109a ) and in line with the home sensor contact pine ( 1 1 1 ) on the stepping motor support plate ( 1 15 ) is a zeroing set screw ( 1 10), which when set indicates to the linear travel stepping motor
(113) which position is the zero position for the fluid needle ( 103). The zero position stops the linear travel stepping motor ( 1 13) from further moving the linear travel screw 14 away from the stepping motor back plate(109a). The movement of the linear travel screw
(1 14) away from the stepping motor back plate (109a) results in movement of the stepping motor back plate (109a) toward the stepping motor support plate (115) until such time as the zeroing set screw ( 1 10) contacts the home sensor contact pin (111) or the maximum travel stop pin ( 108) contacts the stepping motor support plate (1 15). During movement of the stepping motor back plate ( 109a) toward the stepping motor support plate ( 1 15) the tension spring ( 105) is being compressed allowing for the linear movement of the fluid needle guide pin resulting in the movement of the fluid needle (103) into the nozzle assembly ( 101).
The present invention is directed to an improved airbrush, more specifically, to an improved means for adjusting the fluid needle of an airbrush The improved airbrush has a needle located coaxially of a nozzle and is retractable into the nozzle to dispose a media which is to be sprayed by the airbrush. The improvement is contained in the form of an operating member The movement of the operating member effects the retraction and extension of the needle. The operating member is connected through a coupling means to the needle so as to permit the coupling movement of the operating member to the needle in a linear manner The operating member provides the ability to move the needle in repeatable measured increments.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the coupling movement of the operating member to the needle is in a linear manner The linear connection permits one to one movement of the connected parts and provides for an immediate response by way of fluid needle movement upon movement of the operating member
Another preferred embodiment of the present inv ention is directed to the operating member being in the form of a micrometer. A micrometer may be described as an instrument for measuring minute distances. Such instrument is commonly found in use with a telescope or microscope.
Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to an embodiment wherein the operating member is a stepping motor.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. An improved needle adjustment for an airbrush having a needle located coaxially of a nozzle and retractable in the nozzle to dispense a media to be sprayed, wherein the improvement comprises:
an operating member movable to affect retraction and extension of the needle and coupling means coupling movement of the operating member to the needle, wherein the operating member provides the ability to move the needle in repeatable measured increments.
2. An improved needle adjustment as in Claim 1, wherein the operating member is a micrometer.
3. An improved needle adjustment as in Claim 1, wherein the operating member is a stepping motor.
4. An improved airbrush having a needle located coaxially of a nozzle and retractable in the nozzle to dispense a media to be sprayed, wherein the improvement comprises:
an operating member movable to affect retraction and extension of the needle and coupling means coupling movement of the operating member to the needle, wherein the operating member provides the ability to move the needle in repeatable measured increments
5 An improved airbush as in Claim 4, wherein the operating member is a micrometer.
6. An improved airbrush as in Claim 5, wherein the coupling movement of the operating member to the needle is in a linear manner
7. An improved airbrush as in Claim 4, wherein the operating member is a stepping motor
8. An improved airbrush as in Claim 7, wherein the coupling movement of the operating member to the needle is in a linear manner
9. An improved needle adjustment for an airbrush having a needle located coaxially of a nozzle and retractable in the nozzle to dispense a media to be sprayed, wherein the improvement comprises:
an operating member movable to affect retraction and extension of die needle and coupling means coupling movement of the operating member to the needle in a linear manner, wherein the operating member provides the ability to move the needle in repeatable measured increments.
10. An improved needle adjustment as in Claim 9, wherein the operating member is a micrometer.
1 1. An improved needle adjustment as in Claim 9, wherein the operating member is a stepping motor.
PCT/US1995/014336 1994-11-02 1995-11-02 Micrometer adjusted airbrush WO1996014162A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU41026/96A AU4102696A (en) 1994-11-02 1995-11-02 Micrometer adjusted airbrush

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US33318094A 1994-11-02 1994-11-02
US08/333,180 1994-11-02

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1996014162A1 true WO1996014162A1 (en) 1996-05-17

Family

ID=23301671

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1995/014336 WO1996014162A1 (en) 1994-11-02 1995-11-02 Micrometer adjusted airbrush

Country Status (2)

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AU (1) AU4102696A (en)
WO (1) WO1996014162A1 (en)

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4390127A (en) * 1980-04-14 1983-06-28 Paul Behrend Spraying gun for metal spraying
US4720801A (en) * 1984-06-22 1988-01-19 J. Wagner Gmbh Method and apparatus for setting a throughput quantity control valve of a paint spraygun
US4723712A (en) * 1985-05-13 1988-02-09 Jean Egli Variable colorant blender
FR2668722A1 (en) * 1990-11-06 1992-05-07 Bayelec Sarl Mechanism for driving and for positionally controlling a long thin element, such as the rod for positionally actuating the needle of the nozzle of a spray gun
FR2683162A1 (en) * 1991-10-30 1993-05-07 Kremlin Electrostatic spray apparatus
DE9302730U1 (en) * 1993-02-25 1993-06-09 Toma-Maschinenbau GmbH, 7450 Hechingen Device for spraying or dispensing adhesives

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4390127A (en) * 1980-04-14 1983-06-28 Paul Behrend Spraying gun for metal spraying
US4720801A (en) * 1984-06-22 1988-01-19 J. Wagner Gmbh Method and apparatus for setting a throughput quantity control valve of a paint spraygun
US4723712A (en) * 1985-05-13 1988-02-09 Jean Egli Variable colorant blender
FR2668722A1 (en) * 1990-11-06 1992-05-07 Bayelec Sarl Mechanism for driving and for positionally controlling a long thin element, such as the rod for positionally actuating the needle of the nozzle of a spray gun
FR2683162A1 (en) * 1991-10-30 1993-05-07 Kremlin Electrostatic spray apparatus
DE9302730U1 (en) * 1993-02-25 1993-06-09 Toma-Maschinenbau GmbH, 7450 Hechingen Device for spraying or dispensing adhesives

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU4102696A (en) 1996-05-31

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