SPRAY GUN, IN PARTICULAR A PAINT SPRAY GUN

Abstract

A spray gun includes first and second air outlet channel arrangements. At least one parameter, in particular pressure, volume flow and/or flow speed of air flowing through the first arrangement and at least one parameter, in particular pressure, volume flow and/or flow speed of air flowing through the second arrangement can be controlled independently of one another in an open and/or closed loop manner. The spray gun also includes a third air outlet channel arrangement and at least one parameter, in particular pressure, volume flow and/or flow speed of air flowing through the third arrangement can be controlled in an open and/or closed loop manner independently of at least one parameter of the first arrangement, and/or independently of at least one parameter of the second arrangement. Thus, three different types of air (atomisation, shaping, and transporting) can each be controlled independently providing increased flexibility in use for different painting tasks.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A spray gun having at least one first air outlet duct assembly and at least one second air outlet duct assembly, wherein at least one of a pressure, a volumetric flow and a flow rate, of air flowing through the at least one first air outlet duct assembly and at least one of a pressure, a volumetric flow and a flow rate, of air flowing through the at least one second air outlet duct assembly are controllable in a mutually independent manner, wherein the spray gun has at least one third air outlet duct assembly, and wherein at least one of a pressure, a volumetric flow and/or a flow rate of air flowing through the at least one third air outlet duct assembly is controllable independently of at least one of the pressure, the volumetric flow and the flow rate, of the air flowing through the at least one first air outlet duct assembly and/or independently of at least one of the pressure, the volumetric flow and/or the flow rate, of the air flowing through the at least one second air outlet duct assembly.

17. The spray gun of claim 16, wherein the at least one first air outlet duct assembly is designed such that a spray medium is able to be atomized by means of the air guided by the at least one first air outlet duct assembly, wherein the at least one second air outlet duct assembly is designed such that a shape of a spray jet is able to be changed by means of the air guided by the at least one second air outlet duct assembly, and/or wherein the at least one third air outlet duct assembly is designed such that an atomized spray medium is able to be moved away from the spray gun by means of the air guided by the at least one third air outlet duct assembly.

18. The spray gun of claim 16, wherein the spray gun has a material nozzle having a material outlet opening for delivering material to be sprayed, and an air cap having a central opening and two horns each having at least one horn air opening, wherein an outer wall of the material nozzle, conjointly with the region of the air cap that delimits the central opening of the air cap, forms an annular gap, and wherein the air cap on at least two mutually opposite sides of the central opening, next to the central opening, has in each case at least one control opening, wherein a spray medium is able to be atomized by means of the air flowing from the annular gap, wherein the shape of a spray jet is able to be changed by means of the air flowing from the horns, and wherein an atomized spray medium is able to be moved away from the spray gun by means of the air flowing from the control openings.

19. The spray gun of claim 16, wherein the spray gun has a material nozzle having a material outlet opening for delivering material to be sprayed, and a material outlet axis along which the material to be sprayed flows out, and wherein the spray gun is designed such that air for atomizing a spray medium upon exiting the at least one first air outlet duct assembly impacts the material to be sprayed and exiting the material nozzle in a manner substantially parallel to the material outlet axis and/or obliquely, wherein air for shaping a spray jet upon exiting the at least one second air outlet duct assembly impacts the atomized material obliquely, and wherein air for transporting the atomized material in the direction of an object to be coated upon exiting the at least one third air outlet duct assembly impacts the atomized material in a manner substantially parallel to the material outlet axis.

20. The spray gun of claim 16, wherein the controlling of at least one of the pressure, the volumetric flow and the flow rate, of the air flowing through the at least one first air outlet duct assembly takes place by means of a first control device disposed in the at least one first air outlet duct assembly and/or in an air distributor region, wherein the controlling of at least one of the pressure, the volumetric flow and the flow rate, of the air flowing through the at least one second air outlet duct assembly takes place by means of a second control device disposed in the at least one second air outlet duct assembly and/or in the air distributor region, and/or wherein the controlling of at least one of the pressure, the volumetric flow and the flow rate, of the air flowing through the at least one third air outlet duct assembly takes place by means of a third control device disposed in the at least one third air outlet duct assembly and/or in the air distributor region.

21. The spray gun of claim 16, wherein the at least one first air outlet duct assembly opens into at least one first air outlet opening, wherein the at least one second air outlet duct assembly opens into at least one second air outlet opening, and wherein the at least one third air outlet duct assembly opens into at least one third air outlet opening.

22. The spray gun of claim 16, wherein the spray gun has a main body having a head region, wherein the head region has at least one first air outlet opening, at least one second air outlet opening and/or at least one third air outlet opening.

23. The spray gun of claim 16, wherein the spray gun has at least one nozzle assembly having at least one air nozzle, wherein the at least one air nozzle has at least one first air outlet opening designed as a central opening in an air cap of the at least one air nozzle, at least one second air outlet opening designed as a horn air opening incorporated in horns on the air cap of the at least one air nozzle, and/or at least one third air outlet opening designed as a control opening in the air cap.

24. The spray gun of claim 16, wherein the spray gun has at least one air connector at least one air inlet duct assembly and at least one air distributor region, wherein the at least one air inlet duct assembly extends from the at least one air connector to the at least one air distributor region, wherein the at least one first air outlet duct assembly extends from the at least one air distributor region to at least one first air outlet opening, wherein the at least one second air outlet duct assembly extends from the at least one air distributor region to at least one second air outlet opening, wherein the at least one third air outlet duct assembly extends from the at least one air distributor region to at least one third air outlet opening, and wherein the at least one first air outlet duct assembly, the at least one second air outlet duct assembly and the at least one third air outlet duct assembly are mutually separated in spatial terms.

25. The spray gun of claim 16, wherein the spray gun has at least one device for entering, detecting, adjusting, and/or displaying a parameter of at least one fluid flowing through the spray gun, and wherein the parameter is at least one of pressure, temperature, moisture, volumetric flow, viscosity and flow rate.

26. The spray gun of claim 16, wherein the spray gun has at least one separate first control device for controlling at least one of the pressure, the volumetric flow and the flow rate, of the air flowing through the at least one first air outlet duct assembly, at least one separate second control device for controlling at least one of the pressure, the volumetric flow and the flow rate, of the air flowing through the at least one second air outlet duct assembly, and at least one separate third control device for controlling at least one of the pressure, the volumetric flow and the flow rate, of the air flowing through the at least one third air outlet duct assembly.

27. The spray gun of claim 16, wherein the spray gun has at least one first control device for controlling at least one of the pressure, the volumetric flow and the flow rate, of the air flowing through the at least one first air outlet duct assembly, at least one second control device for controlling at least one of the pressure, the volumetric flow and the flow rate, of the air flowing through the at least one second air outlet duct assembly, and at least one third control device for controlling at least one of the pressure, the volumetric flow and the flow rate, of the air flowing through the at least one third air outlet duct assembly, wherein at least two of the first, second, and third control devices are designed as a module.

28. The spray gun of claim 16, wherein the spray gun has at least one air chamber proceeding from which the at least one first air outlet duct assembly, the at least one second air outlet duct assembly and/or the at least one third air outlet duct assembly extend.

29. The spray gun of claim 16, wherein the spray gun has at least one air chamber control and/or feedback-control device for controlling and/or feedback-controlling the air pressure prevalent in an air chamber within the spray gun.

30. The spray gun of claim 16, wherein the first air outlet duct assembly opens into a first air outlet opening of a substantially annular design, wherein the second air outlet duct assembly opens into a second air outlet opening of a substantially annular design, and/or wherein the third air outlet duct assembly opens into a third air outlet opening of a substantially annular design.

Description

[0051] The invention will be explained in more detail in an exemplary manner hereunder by means of four figures in which:

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a spray gun according to the invention;

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the main body of an exemplary embodiment of a spray gun according to the invention, including a schematic illustration of flow paths;

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the main body of a further exemplary embodiment of a spray gun according to the invention, including a schematic illustration of flow paths; and

[0055] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the main body of a further exemplary embodiment of a spray gun according to the invention, including a schematic illustration of flow paths as well as signal transmission paths and/or data transmission paths.

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a spray gun 1 according to the invention, having a main body 3 on the lower end of which is disposed an air connector 4. The spray gun 1 furthermore has an air nozzle 5 which presently comprises an air cap 9 which by means of an air nozzle ring 11 is screwed to the main body 3 of the spray gun 1. The air cap 9 in the exemplary embodiment shown has two horns 13a, 13b having in each case to horn air openings. Moreover, said air cap 9 possesses a central opening 15 which, conjointly with a material nozzle screwed into the main body 3, presently forms an annular gap. A plurality of control openings 17 are in each case incorporated on two mutually opposite sides of the central opening 15, so as to be next to the central opening 15. A material quantity control which is able to be activated by way of a material quantity rotary control button 19 is disposed in the spray gun 1. A rear detent for a paint nozzle is able to be defined by way of the material quantity control, i.e. it can be adjusted by way of the material quantity control how far the paint needle can exit from the material outlet opening of the material nozzle when the trigger 18 is activated. As a result, the maximum flow cross section for the material flowing from the material outlet opening of the material nozzle, and thus the quantity of the material sprayed by the spray gun 1, is defined.

[0057] The spray gun 1 moreover has a device by way of which the quantity of air which from an air inlet duct assembly, which is not visible in FIG. 1 and from the air connector 4 extends upward through the handle of the spray gun 1, flows into an upper part of the gun body 3 is able to be adjusted. To this end, a so-called air micrometer may be used, the latter presently being able to be activated by means of an air micrometer rotary button 21. The air micrometer can be designed, for example, as a sleeve which in the wall thereof has an opening, the degree of overlap of the latter with the port of the air inlet duct assembly being adjustable. The flow cross section through which the air from the handle region of the spray gun 1 can flow into an upper part of the gun body 3 is able to be adjusted in this way.

[0058] The present exemplary embodiment of a spray gun according to the invention in the interior thereof has a first air outlet duct assembly, not visible in FIG. 1, a second air inlet duct assembly, likewise not visible in FIG. 1, and a third air outlet duct assembly, likewise not visible in FIG. 1, wherein at least one parameter, in particular a pressure, a volumetric flow and/or a flow rate, of the air flowing through the first air outlet duct assembly, at least one parameter, in particular a pressure, a volumetric flow and/or a flow rate, of the air flowing through the second air outlet duct assembly, and at least one parameter, in particular a pressure, a volumetric flow and/or a flow rate, of the air flowing through the third air outlet duct assembly, are able to be controlled in a mutually independent manner. A first rotary control button 23 for activating a control device for controlling at least one parameter of the air flowing through the first air outlet duct assembly, a second rotary control button 25 for activating a control device for controlling at least one parameter of the air flowing through the second air outlet duct assembly, and a third rotary control button 27 for activating a control device for controlling at least one parameter of the air flowing through the third air outlet duct assembly can be seen in FIG. 1.

[0059] The air flowing through the first air outlet duct assembly can be utilized as atomization air, i.e. for atomizing a spray medium, and flow out of the annular gap formed by the central opening 15 and the material nozzle screwed into the main body 3. The air flowing through the second air outlet duct assembly can be utilized as forming air. i.e. for changing the shape of a spray jet, and flow out of the horn air openings of the horns 13a, 13b. The air flowing through the third air outlet duct assembly can be utilized as transport air, i.e. for transporting an atomized spray medium away from the spray gun, and flow out of the control opening 17.

[0060] The spray gun 1 moreover has a device for detecting and displaying at least one parameter of at least one fluid flowing through the spray gun, said device having a display 29. A device of this type in all exemplary embodiments of the spray gun according to the invention preferably serves for detecting and/or displaying a parameter of air flowing through the spray gun 1, particularly preferably of different types of air; a device of this type serves in particular for detecting and/or displaying the pressure and/or the volumetric flow of the air flowing into the gun, the pressure and/or the volumetric flow of the air flowing through the first air outlet duct assembly, the pressure and/or the volumetric flow of the air flowing through the second air outlet duct assembly, and/or the pressure and/or the volumetric flow of the air flowing through the third air outlet duct assembly.

[0061] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the main body 30 of an exemplary embodiment of a spray gun according to the invention, including a schematic illustration of flow paths. The air inlet duct assembly 45 can be seen in particular. The air inlet arrow 100 schematically shows the flow of the air flowing into the spray gun, or into the main body 30, respectively. An air micrometer receptacle bore 200 is incorporated in the main body 30 so as to be downstream of the air inlet duct assembly 45. The air micrometer receptacle bore 200 presently extends in a manner substantially parallel to a material outlet axis A and serves for receiving a control and/or feedback-control device which preferably controls or feedback-controls, respectively, air quantity, i.e. the volumetric flow that flows from the air inlet duct assembly 45 into an air chamber 50. This control and/or feedback-control device can be, for example, a conventional air micrometer, a feedback-controllable air micrometer or a similar device. The control and/or feedback-control device can be designed as a device for controlling and/or feedback-controlling the air pressure prevalent in an air chamber 50. An air distributor region 55 is disposed in the air chamber 50, or vice versa, the air chamber 50 forms an air distributor region 55, respectively. The air chamber 50 in the present exemplary embodiment as well as in all other exemplary embodiments advantageously acts as a buffer chamber for air in which a consistent air pressure is prevalent, in particular thanks to the device for controlling and/or feedback-controlling the air pressure prevalent in an air chamber 50.

[0062] A first air outlet duct assembly 101, indicated only schematically as a flow arrow, a second air outlet duct assembly 102, likewise indicated only schematically as a flow arrow, and a third air outlet duct assembly 103, likewise indicated only schematically as a flow arrow, extend so as to proceed from the air distributor region 55. The flow arrows indicate merely the potential approximate profile of the first air outlet duct assembly 101, the second air outlet duct assembly 102 and the third air outlet duct assembly 103 from the air distributor region 55 in the direction of the head region 33 of the main body 30. The exact profile, including the start and the end, the shape, the arrangement and the number of the first air outlet duct assembly 101, of the second air outlet duct assembly 102 and of the third air outlet duct assembly 103 can in particular differ from the illustration in the figures, in particular in FIG. 2.

[0063] The first air outlet duct assembly 101 is preferably designed for guiding atomization air, i.e. said first air outlet duct assembly 101 is designed in such a manner that a spray medium is able to be atomized by means of the air guided by said first air outlet duct assembly 101. The second air outlet duct assembly 102 is preferably designed for guiding forming air, i.e. said second air outlet duct assembly 102 is designed in such a manner that the shape of the spray jet is able to be changed by means of the air guided by said second air outlet duct assembly 102. The third air outlet duct assembly 103 is preferably designed for guiding transport air, i.e. said third air outlet duct assembly 103 is designed in such a manner that an atomized spray medium is able to be moved away from the spray gun by means of the air guided by said third air outlet duct assembly 103.

[0064] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the main body 300 of a further exemplary embodiment of a spray gun according to the invention, including a schematic illustration of flow paths. In a manner similar to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3 also has an air chamber 500 and an air distributor region 550. A first air outlet duct assembly 110, again indicated only schematically as a flow arrow, a second air outlet duct assembly 120, likewise indicated only schematically as a flow arrow, and a third air outlet duct assembly 130, likewise indicated only schematically as a flow arrow, extends so as to proceed from said air distributor region 550. Here too, the flow arrows indicate merely the potential approximate profile of the first air outlet duct assembly 110, the second air outlet duct assembly 120 and the third air outlet duct assembly 130 from the air distributor region 550 in the direction of the head region of 330 of the main body 300. The exact profile, including the start and the end, the shape, the arrangement and the number of the first air outlet duct assembly 110, of the second air outlet duct assembly 120 and of the third air outlet duct assembly 130 can differ from the illustration in the figures, in particular in FIG. 3.

[0065] Here too, the first air outlet duct assembly 110 is preferably designed for guiding atomization air, i.e. said first air outlet duct assembly 110 is designed in such a manner that a spray medium is able to be atomized by means of the air guided by said first air outlet duct assembly 110, the second air outlet duct assembly 120 is preferably designed for guiding forming air, i.e. said second air outlet duct assembly 120 is designed in such a manner that the shape of a spray jet is able to be changed by means of the air guided by said second air outlet duct assembly 120, and the third air outlet duct assembly 130 is preferably designed for guiding transport air, i.e. said third air outlet duct assembly 130 is designed in such a manner that an atomized spray medium is able to be moved away from the spray gun by means of the air guided by said third air outlet duct assembly 130.

[0066] The exemplary embodiment of a spray gun according to the invention shown in FIG. 3 has a separate first control and/or feedback-control device 66 for controlling and/or feedback-controlling at least one parameter, in particular a pressure, a volumetric flow and/or a flow rate, of the air flowing through the first air outlet duct assembly 110, a separate second control and/or feedback-control device 77 for controlling and/or feedback-controlling at least one parameter, in particular a pressure, a volumetric flow and/or a flow rate, of the air flowing through the second air outlet duct assembly 120, and a separate third control and/or feedback-control device 88 for controlling and/or feedback-controlling at least one parameter, in particular a pressure, a volumetric flow and/or a flow rate, of the air flowing through the third air outlet duct assembly 130.

[0067] The first control and/or feedback-control device 66, the second control and/or feedback-control device 77 and the third control and/or feedback-control device 88 in the simplest case can be simple mechanical adjustment elements, for example actuating elements known from the prior art, apertures, screws or similar which are able to be activated, for example by way of rotary buttons which can be designed like the first rotary control button 23, the second rotary control button 25 and the third rotary control button 27, for example, so as to be able to adjust the parameter, or the parameters, respectively, of the air flowing through the first air outlet duct assembly 110, the air flowing through the second air outlet duct assembly 120, and/or the air flowing through the third outlet duct assembly 130. A device for detecting the parameter does not necessarily have to be provided. The adjustment can also take place according to the intuition of the user of the spray gun.

[0068] The first control and/or feedback-control device 66, the second control and/or feedback-control device 77 and the third control and/or feedback-control device 88 can however also comprise a complete control loop in which a target value for at least one parameter is entered, an actual value for the parameter is determined, the actual value is compared with the target value, and the actual value of the parameter is thereupon aligned with the target value, in particular by way of at least one actuator, for example by way of an actuating elements known from the prior art, an aperture, a screw, a valve or similar.

[0069] The first control and/or feedback-control device 66, the second control and/or feedback-control device 77 and the third control and/or feedback-control device 88 can be present in all exemplary embodiments of the spray gun according to the invention and/or in all exemplary embodiments of the spray gun according to the invention can have a device for entering and/or detecting and/or displaying at least one parameter of at least one fluid flowing through the spray gun, in particular a pressure, temperature, a moisture, a volumetric flow, a viscosity and/or a flow rate, or be connected to a device of this type.

[0070] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the main body 333 of a further exemplary embodiment of a spray gun according to the invention, including a schematic illustration of flow paths as well as signal paths and/or data transmission paths. The main body 333 has an air chamber 505, an air distributor region 551, a first air outlet duct assembly 111, again indicated only schematically as a flow arrow, a second air outlet duct assembly 122, likewise indicated only schematically as a flow arrow, and a third air outlet duct assembly 133, likewise indicated only schematically as a flow arrow.

[0071] Here too, the first air outlet duct assembly 111 is preferably designed for guiding atomization air, i.e. said first air outlet duct assembly 101 is designed in such a manner that a spray medium is able to be atomized by means of the air guided by said first air outlet duct assembly 111, the second air outlet duct assembly 122 is preferably designed for guiding forming air, i.e. said second air outlet duct assembly 122 is designed in such a manner that the shape of a spray jet is able to be changed by means of the air guided by said second air outlet duct assembly 122, and the third air outlet duct assembly 133 is preferably designed for guiding transport air, i.e. said third air outlet duct assembly 133 is designed in such a manner that an atomized spray medium is able to be moved away from the spray gun by means of the air guided by said third air outlet duct assembly 133.

[0072] The second air outlet duct assembly 122 and the third air outlet duct assembly 133 separate in the present exemplary embodiment, which may also be the case in all other exemplary embodiments. The spray gun in the present case has a feedback-control device for feedback-controlling at least one parameter, in particular a pressure, a volumetric flow and/or a flow rate, of the air flowing through the first air outlet duct assembly 111, through the second air outlet duct assembly 122 and through the third air outlet duct assembly 133. The feedback-control device is disposed in part in the air chamber 505, or in the air distributor region 551, respectively, in part in the first air outlet duct assembly 111, the second air outlet duct assembly 122 and the third air outlet duct assembly 133, and in part outside the spray gun. The feedback-control device comprises in particular a first device 166 for detecting a parameter of the air flowing through the first air outlet duct assembly 111, a second device 177 for detecting a parameter of the air flowing through the second air outlet duct assembly 122, a third device 188 for detecting a parameter of the air flowing through the third air outlet duct assembly 133, a feedback-controller 777 which can also be designed as a data processing device or be part of a data processing device, a device 888 for displaying a parameter, which likewise can be part of a data processing device, a first actuator 266, a second actuator 277, and a third actuator 288. The spray gun can furthermore have a fourth device 255 for detecting a parameter, in particular the pressure prevalent within the air chamber 505. Moreover, said spray gun can have a device for entering a parameter, or be connected to such a device. The device for entering a parameter can be part of a data processing device, for example of a PC or of a mobile phone. The different components can be connected to one another in a communicating manner by cable and/or wirelessly. The signal and/or data transmission link 555 illustrated with dashed lines for reasons of clarity is presently provided with a reference sign as the only signal and/or data transmission link. The other dashed lines presently are likewise wired and/or wireless signal and/or data transmission links. This combination and arrangement of a feedback-control device, or the components thereof, respectively, can be present in all exemplary embodiments of the spray gun according to the invention.

[0073] In all exemplary embodiments of the spray gun according to the invention it is possible for at least one parameter, in particular a pressure, a volumetric flow and/or a flow rate, of the air flowing through the first air outlet duct assembly 101, 110, 111, at least one parameter, in particular a pressure, a volumetric flow and/or a flow rate of the air flowing through the second air outlet duct assembly 102, 120, 122, and at least one parameter, in particular a pressure, a volumetric flow and/or a flow rate, of the air flowing through the third air outlet duct assembly 103, 130, 133 to be adjusted, in particular to be controlled and/or feedback-controlled in a mutually independent manner.

[0074] In this way it is possible, for example, to set a pressure of 0.7 bar for the atomization air flowing through the first air outlet duct assembly 101, 110, 111, a pressure of 0.6 bar for the forming air flowing through the second air outlet duct assembly 102, 120, 122, and a pressure of 0.3 bar for the transport air flowing through the third air outlet duct assembly 103, 130, 133. The value of the parameter can be measured, for example, in the respective air outlet duct assembly or in an air nozzle 5, shown in FIG. 1, close to a first air outlet opening into which the first air outlet duct assembly 101, 110, 111 opens, or close to a second air outlet opening into which the second air outlet duct assembly 102, 120, 122 opens, or close to a third air outlet opening into which the third air outlet duct assembly 103, 130, 133 opens, respectively.

[0075] With reference to the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 4, the user of the spray gun, by means of a device for entering a parameter, can for example communicate a desired target value for a parameter of the through the first air outlet duct assembly 111, the desired target value for a parameter of the through the second air outlet duct assembly 122, and a desired target value for a parameter of the through the third air outlet duct assembly 133 to the spray gun, or to the feedback-control device, in particular to the feedback-controller 777, in particular enter the target value. The first device 166 for detecting a parameter of the air flowing through the first air outlet duct assembly 111, the second device 177 for detecting a parameter of the air flowing through the second air outlet duct assembly 122, and the third device 188 for detecting a parameter of the air flowing through the third air outlet duct assembly 133 determines the actual value of the parameter and communicates the latter to the feedback-control device, in particular to the feedback-controller 777. In the event of a variance between the target value and the actual value, the feedback-controller 777 activates the first actuator 266, the second actuator 277, or the third actuator 288, respectively, as required, whereupon for example more or less air flows from the air chamber 505 into the first air outlet duct assembly 111, into the second air outlet duct assembly 122, or into the third air outlet duct assembly 133, respectively. The desired target value for the parameter is also maintained when the target value and thereupon the actual value for the parameter is changed in another air outlet duct assembly, and/or also when pressure variations are present at the gun inlet. The fourth device 255 for detecting a parameter, in particular the pressure prevalent within the air chamber 505, likewise reports the determined actual value to the feedback-controller 777 which compares said actual value with a target value which can likewise be specified by the user of the spray gun, and if required activates an actuator, for example at the gun inlet or at the compressor, so as to increase or reduce the air supply to the gun, respectively.

[0076] In general, the components mentioned individually in the exemplary embodiments can be used in all exemplary embodiments. The explanations pertaining to the exemplary embodiments can also apply to all exemplary embodiments.

[0077] The described exemplary embodiments describe only a limited selection of potential embodiments and thus do not represent any limitation of the present invention.