Easy-to-clean spray gun, accessories therefor, and mounting and dismounting methods

Abstract

A spray gun includes a one-piece main body, a trigger, a paint needle operating element coupled to the trigger, a paint needle coupled to the paint needle operating element, and an exchangeable spray agent guiding unit, the inlet region of which is or can be connected to a material supply device for the material to be sprayed, wherein the main body has at least one opening for receiving the exchangeable spray agent directing unit. Also disclosed is a material supply device, a cover, a method for mounting an exchangeable spray agent guiding unit in or on a spray gun having a one-piece main body, and a method for removing an exchangeable spray agent directing unit from or out of a one-piece spray gun.

Claims

1. A spray gun usable with a material supply device, the spray gun having a spray medium outlet, and further comprising: a body including a recess proximate the spray medium outlet, the recess located on an upper side of the body, the recess forming an opening that does not face a spraying direction at a forward end of the body; a trigger; a paint needle-actuating element that is separate from the trigger and is coupled to the trigger, the paint needle-actuating element positioned within the body to form a part of the body; an exchangeable paint medium guide unit sized and dimensioned to be inserted into the body recess through the opening in the body; a paint needle that is moveably contained within the guide unit to form a part of the guide unit; the needle-actuating element moveable along a longitudinal axis of the paint needle-actuating element that is at least one of parallel and coaxial to an axis of movement of the needle, the paint needle-actuating element releaseably connected to the paint needle by a coupling formed between an end of the paint needle and an end of the paint needle-actuating element, the coupling formed from a receptacle on one of the paint needle-actuating element and needle, and a ball on the other of the paint needle-actuating element and needle.

2. The spray gun according to claim 1, wherein the recess is situated on an upper side of the base body.

3. The spray gun according to claim 2, wherein the recess extends from a spray medium inlet to the spray medium outlet of the base body.

4. The spray gun according to claim 3, wherein the recess is at least partially opened on a side that faces away from the spray medium outlet.

5. The spray gun according to claim 1, wherein the recess includes first and second concave walls which extend less than 180 around the recess, preferably between 100 and 179 around the recess.

6. The spray gun according to claim 1, wherein the recess is configured and dimensioned such that the exchangeable spray medium guide unit can be arranged in or on the recess by a positive fit, a taper or a restraint.

7. The spray gun according to claim 1, wherein the exchangeable spray medium guide unit can be radially or axially fixed in or on the recess by at least one contact region or of at least one element.

8. The spray gun according to claim 7, wherein the at least one element features a shoulder, a ring, a cone, a web, a hook and/or an eyelet.

9. The spray gun according to claim 8, wherein the at least one element is arranged on the exchangeable spray medium guide unit or on the base body.

10. The spray gun according to claim 9, wherein the at least one element is arranged on the exchangeable spray medium guide unit and a counter element is arranged on the base body.

11. The spray gun according to claim 1, wherein the base body has one or more compressed air conduits which extend in at least one part of the base body spaced a distance from the recess.

12. The spray gun according to claim 1, wherein the exchangeable spray medium guide unit can be locked on or in the base body with the aid of at least one fixing means.

13. The spray gun according to claim 12, wherein the at least one fixing means includes a catch mechanism.

14. The spray gun according to claim 1, wherein a nozzle is arranged or can be arranged on the exchangeable spray medium guide unit in a separable or inseparable fashion.

15. The spray gun according to claim 1, wherein the exchangeable spray medium guide unit includes a first component that can be placed into the base body or arranged thereon in the region of the spray medium outlet, and a second component that can be placed into the base body or arranged thereon in the region of the spray medium inlet.

16. The spray gun according to claim 1, wherein at least one sealing means is arranged or can be arranged in a connecting region of the exchangeable spray medium guide unit.

17. The spray gun according to claim 1, wherein the exchangeable spray medium guide unit extends beyond the recess in the region of the spray medium outlet or in the region of the spray medium inlet of the base body.

18. The spray gun according to claim 1, wherein the exchangeable spray medium guide unit ends before the recess or flush therewith in the region of the spray medium outlet or in the region of the spray medium inlet of the base body.

19. A material supply device, wherein the material supply device is attachable to a spray gun according to claim 1 and/or to an exchangeable spray medium guide unit arrangeable in or on the spray gun.

20. The spray gun of claim 1, the paint needle pressable against the spray medium outlet when the exchangeable spray medium guide unit is connected to the material supply device and not inserted into the spray gun, to thereby close the material supply device.

21. The spray gun of claim 1, wherein the spray gun includes a spring and a stopper connected to the paint needle-actuating element, the spring and the stopper configured to move the paint needle-actuating element to thereby press the paint needle into an outlet of an air nozzle when the trigger is not actuated.

22. A spray gun usable with a material supply device, the spray gun having a spray medium outlet and further comprising: a base spray gun body including a recess proximate the spray medium outlet; a trigger; a paint needle-actuating element that is separate from the trigger and is connected to form part of the body and is movable within the body along a longitudinal axis of the paint needle-actuating element, the longitudinal axis being at least one of parallel and coaxial to an axis of movement of the needle, in response to movement of the trigger; a removable spray medium guide unit having an inlet region which is connectable to the material supply device, a portion of the guide unit sized and dimensioned to be removably insertable into the spray gun body recess along a direction of insertion; a paint needle disposed within and forming a part of the removable spray medium guide unit; and a paint needle coupling having a first portion connected to the paint needle and a second portion connected to the paint needle-actuating element, one of the first and second portions having a receptacle opening facing the direction of insertion into which one of a ball or a prism shape of the other of the first and second portions is inserted during movement of the spray medium guide unit into the spray gun body, the first and second portions thereby mateably connectable to releasably couple and decouple the paint needle and the paint needle-actuating element, without a requirement of opening the base spray gun body.

23. The spray gun of claim 22, wherein the recess forms a curved non-linear path, and the guide unit has a curved non-linear shape conforming to the curved non-linear path.

24. The spray gun of claim 22, wherein the guide unit includes an elastically deformable catch surface, and the recess includes a surface mateable with the catch surface to releasably retain the guide unit in the recess.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Individual exemplary embodiments of the spray gun with one-piece base body are described in greater detail below with reference to 10 drawings. In these drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a side view of the with one-piece base body base body of a first exemplary embodiment of an inventive spray gun,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a top view of the base body of the first exemplary embodiment of an inventive spray gun with one-piece base body,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a sectioned side view of the first exemplary embodiment of an inventive spray gun with one-piece base body including attachments and cup,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a side view of the with one-piece base body base body of a second exemplary embodiment of an inventive spray gun,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a top view of the with one-piece base body base body of the second exemplary embodiment of an inventive spray gun,

(7) FIG. 6 shows a sectioned side view of the second exemplary embodiment of an inventive spray gun including attachments and cup, and

(8) FIGS. 7 to 10 show different exchangeable spray medium guide units that are suitable for use in different embodiments of the spray gun with one-piece base body and feature different coupling elements between the paint needle and the paint needle-actuating element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a one-piece base body 1a of an inventive spray gun that features a handle region 2 and a head region 3. These two regions 2 and 3 conventionally extend at an angle of approximately 104 degrees to one another. The base body 1a features several openings for different attachments that are not illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 such as, for example, an opening 100 for a compressed air connection, an opening 200 for an air micrometer, an opening 300 for a material volume control, openings 400, 401 for a trigger and an opening 500 for a circular/broad jet control. The base body 1a furthermore features a suspension hook 7, a spray medium inlet region 600, a spray medium outlet region 700 and a thread 10 for attaching an air nozzle ring.

(10) In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the recess 61a is situated on the upper side of the base body 1a in the region of the spray medium inlet 600 of the base body 1a. An exchangeable spray medium guide unit can be inserted into the base body 1a of the spray gun through this recess 61a from the upper rear by means of a pivoting motion. The rear boundary of the recess 61a is formed by a concave wall section 6a of the spray medium inlet region 600 that extends in the region of the openings 400, 401 for a trigger 40 that is not illustrated in these figures. On the other hand, the front boundary of the recess 61a is formed by a concave wall section 6b of the spray medium inlet region 600 that extends in the region of the beginning of the thread 10 for attaching an air nozzle ring. The bottom boundary of the recess 61a is formed by the bottom section 6c of the spray gun base body 1a. The recess 61a may also feature lateral boundaries that are formed by wall sections of the spray gun base body 1a. Alternatively, a lateral boundary can be at least partially eliminated. In contrast to a conventional spray medium inlet region, a U-shaped area is cut out of the spray medium inlet region in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. The recess 61a is in comparison with a conventional spray medium inlet region widened toward the front in the direction of the spray medium outlet and/or toward the rear in order to allow the insertion and removal of the exchangeable spray medium guide unit. In the region of the recess 61a, the base body 1a features a groove 6d that serves for fixing the exchangeable spray medium guide unit.

(11) FIG. 3 shows a sectioned side view of the first embodiment of the inventive spray gun with one-piece base body including attachments.

(12) The base body 1a features a compressed air connection 20 on its lower end. Several air conduits that are not illustrated in their entirety extend from the compressed air connection 20 through the handle region 2 and through the head 3 and end at the spray medium outlet region 700 of the spray gun head 3. The volume and the pressure of the air flowing through these air conduits can be conventionally adjusted by means of an air micrometer 21. The spray medium outlet region 700 of the head 3 is equipped with an air nozzle 11 that features protruding horns with openings. The spray gun is furthermore equipped with an air nozzle ring 12.

(13) An exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27 is inserted into the recess 61a and extends beyond the recess 61a in the region of the spray medium inlet 600 and in the region of the spray medium outlet 700 of the base body 1a. The outlet region 27c of the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27 essentially extends up to the outer end of the outlet of the air nozzle 11. The exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27 is pressed against the front wall section 6b with the aid of a fixing means 29 and thusly locked in position. In the exemplary embodiment shown, essentially the entire upper front region of the recess serves as contact region for the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27. In this way, a firm seat of the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27 in the base body 1a is ensured.

(14) The paint needle 26 is arranged within the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27 and guided therein by means of webs 26a. When the trigger 40 is not actuated, the outlet region 27c of the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27 is closed by the paint needle 26.

(15) In the present exemplary embodiment, the spray medium guide unit 27 features a thread 27a for screwing in or screwing on a material supply device 28, namely a gravity-feed cup 28 that is only schematically indicated in FIG. 3. After the gravity-feed cup 28 filled with a spray medium has been screwed in or screwed on the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27, the spray medium flows from the gravity-feed cup 28 into the inlet region 27b of the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27, in which it remains as long as the outlet region 27c of the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27, which in this case is realized in the form of a nozzle, is closed by the paint needle 26.

(16) The air valve 4 is opened when the trigger 40 is actuated up to a first pressure point. This causes compressed air to be conveyed to the air nozzle 11 through the compressed air conduits. When the trigger 40 is additionally pulled back, the paint needle-actuating element 23 is moved and retracts the paint needle 26 from the outlet region 27c of the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27 by means of a coupling element 5a. At this point, the spray medium can exit the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27 and be atomized by the compressed air being discharged from the air nozzle 11.

(17) A spring 24 with a stopper 25 is regionally arranged around the paint needle-actuating element 23 and presses the paint needle 26 into the outlet of the air nozzle 11 when the trigger 40 is not actuated in order to close the outlet.

(18) FIGS. 4 to 6 show another embodiment of an inventive spray gun with one-piece base body. FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively show only the base body 1b while FIG. 6 shows the spray gun including attachments and cup.

(19) The base body of the second exemplary embodiment features a handle region 2 and a head 3 and is realized similar to the base body of the first exemplary embodiment. The base body 1b features openings for not-shown attachments such as, among other things, an opening 100 for a compressed air connection 20, an opening 200 for an air micrometer 21, an opening 300 for a material volume control 22, openings 400, 401 for a trigger 40 and an opening 500 for a circular/broad jet control that is not visible in FIG. 4. The base body 1b furthermore features a suspension hook 7, a spray medium inlet region 600, a spray medium outlet region 700 and a thread 10 for attaching an air nozzle ring.

(20) In the present exemplary embodiment, the base body 1b features a recess 61b with an inlet region 600 and an outlet region 700 that is suitable for accommodating an exchangeable spray medium guide unit. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6, the recess 61b is essentially arranged laterally on the base body 1b and extends up to the upper side of the base body 1b. In comparison with a conventional spray gun, a lateral region of the head 3 is partially removed. The boundaries of the recess are formed by a lateral section 6e and a bottom section 6f. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the partially opened concave lateral section 6e has an aperture angle of approximately 180. However, the aperture angle is preferably smaller and lies, in particular, between 100 and 179. In this way, the recess is suitable for accommodating a cylindrical exchangeable spray medium guide unit. An aperture angle of less than 180 makes it possible to positively arrange the exchangeable spray medium guide unit in the recess.

(21) FIG. 6 shows a sectioned side view of the second embodiment of the inventive spray gun with one-piece base body including attachments.

(22) Similar to the first exemplary embodiment, the base body 1b in this embodiment features a compressed air connection 20 on its lower end. Several air conduits that are not illustrated in their entirety also extend from the compressed air connection 20 through the handle region 2 and the head 3 and end at the spray medium outlet region 700 of the spray gun head 3 in this case. In addition, this exemplary embodiment also features an air micrometer 21, an air nozzle 11 with protruding horns that contain openings and an air nozzle ring 12.

(23) An exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27 is inserted into the recess 61b and extends beyond the recess 61b in the region of the spray medium inlet 600 and in the region of the spray medium outlet 700 of the base body 1b. The outlet region 27c of the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27 essentially extends up to the outer end of the outlet of the air nozzle 11. The exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27 is held by a not-shown fixing means. This fixing means preferably consists of an integral hinge, one end of which is permanently connected to the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27, preferably injection-molded thereon, and the other end of which can be separably connected to the base body 1b, preferably by means of a plug connection or clip connection. In the exemplary embodiment shown, essentially one entire lateral half of the recess serves as the contact region for the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27. In this way, a firm seat of the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27 in the base body 1b is ensured.

(24) The paint needle 26 is arranged within the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27 and guided therein by means of webs 26a as in the first exemplary embodiment. When the trigger 40 is not actuated, the outlet region 27c of the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27 is closed by the paint needle 26.

(25) As in the first exemplary embodiment, the spray medium guide unit 27 in the present exemplary embodiment also features a thread 27a for screwing in or screwing on a material supply device 28, namely a gravity-feed cup 28 that is only schematically indicated in FIG. 6. After the gravity-feed cup 28 filled with a spray medium has been screwed in or screwed on the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27, the spray medium flows from the gravity-feed cup 28 into the inlet region 27b of the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27, in which it remains as long as the outlet region 27c of the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27, which in this case is realized in the form of a nozzle, is closed by the paint needle 26.

(26) The air valve 4 is opened when the trigger 40 is actuated up to a first pressure point. This causes compressed air to be conveyed to the air nozzle 11 through the compressed air conduits. When the trigger 40 is additionally pulled back, the paint needle-actuating element 23 is moved and retracts the paint needle 26 from the outlet region 27c of the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27 by means of a coupling element 5b. At this point, the spray medium can exit the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27 and be atomized by the compressed air being discharged from the air nozzle 11.

(27) A spring 24 with a stopper 25 is regionally arranged around the paint needle-actuating element 23 and presses the paint needle 26 into the outlet of the air nozzle 11 when the trigger 40 is not actuated in order to close the outlet.

(28) Sealing elements 28a and 28b are arranged on the cup 28 schematically indicated in FIG. 6 by means of predetermined breaking points. If the cup is not completely empty after its use, such an element can be broken off the cup and placed on the outlet region thereof in order to seal this outlet region. In this way, the spray medium situated in the cup can be preserved for subsequent use.

(29) The sealing elements 28a and 28b can be eliminated if the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27 can be sealed by the paint needle 26, wherein the paint needle 26 may be held in the outlet region 27c of the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27, for example, by means of friction.

(30) FIG. 7 shows a simple example of an exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27 without details regarding the fixing means and the coupling element. It essentially has a biaxial design and consists at least of several assembled cylinders, cylinder sections and cones. A component of the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27 that extends along an axis A is penetrated by the paint needle 26. This component essentially consists of an elongated cylinder, an additional cylinder that has a smaller diameter and a smaller length than the nozzle and may also be realized in the form of a cone and a cone that is arranged between the two cylinders and forms the transition between the two cylinders. Two additional cylinders are arranged along an axis B that preferably intersects the axis A at an angle of approximately 110 and have diameters that are similar to one another, but larger than the diameters of the cylinders on the axis A. The larger of the two cylinders preferably features a thread for screwing in a cup. The thinner cylinder corresponds to a threadless connection of the cup and serves for the additional guidance thereof. It would naturally also be possible to utilize all other types of connections. The cylinders arranged along the axes A and B are connected by means of at least one asymmetric cone in such a way that a spray medium can flow from a cup into the cylinders arranged along the axis A through the cylinders arranged along the axis B with the least interference possible. In order to mechanically support the transition region between the axes A and B, a support element 9 in the form of a small triangular plate is arranged in the small angle between the axes.

(31) The paint needle 26 is preferably connected to the paint needle-actuating element 23 in a separable fashion by means of a coupling element 5. The paint needle-actuating element 23 features a stopper 25, wherein a spring 24 that is not illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 10 is braced against said stopper.

(32) The exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27 may naturally also consist of a greater or smaller number of cylinders and cones and of different shapes and combinations that may transform into one another, for example, in a stepped or smooth fashion. The mechanical support may also be realized differently and be arranged on a different side.

(33) Such a simple exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27 can be fixed in the base body, for example, by means of an integral hinge. One end of this integral hinge is permanently connected to the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 27, preferably injection-molded thereon, and its other end can be separably connected to the base body 1b, preferably by means of a plug connection or clip connection.

(34) FIGS. 8 to 10 show enhancements of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 that are based on this basic shape of an exchangeable spray medium guide unit.

(35) The exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 10 feature an attached nozzle 8 that can be arranged on the exchangeable spray medium guide unit. For example, the nozzle 8 may be attached to or inserted into the original nozzle, bonded thereto or arranged thereon otherwise, but it may also be attached to or arranged on an exchangeable spray medium guide unit that originally did not feature a nozzle.

(36) In the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 8, the coupling element between the paint needle 26 and the paint needle-actuating element 23 is realized in the form of a ball coupling 51. One of the two elements to be coupled features a ball that can be inserted into a corresponding counterelement in such a way that the two elements are positively connected in at least one direction. The counterelement is opened in that at least one other direction in order to allow a simple disengagement of the coupling. The fixing element 291 of the exchangeable spray medium guide unit features a counterelement 291a for engaging into the groove 6d illustrated in FIG. 1. When the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 271 is inserted into the recess 61a of the base body 1a of a spray gun, this counterelement 291a snaps into the groove 6d and positively fixes the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 271 in the base body 1a. For the removal, flexible regions of the fixing element are compressed such that the counterelements 291a are inwardly pressed out of the groove 6d and release the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 271. The exchangeable spray medium guide unit can then be pulled out of the recess 61a. The counterelement 291a and the groove 6d may naturally also be realized differently such as, for example, in the form of a hook and eyelet and arranged at different locations of the recess 61a and the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 271. The base body 1b illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 may also feature a groove for accommodating the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 271.

(37) The coupling element in FIG. 9 consists of a bolt coupling 52. Two bolts laterally protrude from one element to be coupled and can engage into a corresponding receptacle on the other elements to be coupled. The fixing means 292 of the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 272 features a catch mechanism 292a. This catch mechanism consists of an elastic region, the outer edge of which is under the influence of a force situated flush with the outer edge of the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 272. A step 292b is formed when the elastic region is not actuated. The elastic region is pressed inward when the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 272 is inserted into the recess. The recess is realized in such a way that the elastic region springs back into its original position after the complete insertion and a step of the base body abuts on the step 292b in order to thusly fix the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 272. The elastic region is provided with two tabs that can be pressed inward in order to remove the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 272 from the recess. Other catch mechanisms and removal mechanisms may also be considered.

(38) Another option for coupling the paint needle 26 to the paint needle-actuating element 23 is schematically illustrated in FIG. 10. In this case, the connection is realized in the form of a prism coupling 53. The first half of the coupling element consists of a prism that can be inserted into a corresponding counterelement from above. The exchangeable spray medium guide unit 273 features a fixing means 293 with an eccentric element 293a. The eccentric element 293a can be turned by means of a lever that is not visible in FIG. 10. During the insertion of the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 273 into the recess, the lever is situated in a position in which the narrow side of the eccentric element 293a points outward. After the insertion, the lever is turned such that the broad side of the eccentric element 293a points upward and clamps the exchangeable spray medium guide unit 273 in the recess.

(39) The fixing element may naturally also be realized differently such as, for example, with a slide that tensions the exchangeable spray medium guide unit when it is inserted into slots on the fixing element. Combinations of different fixing elements may also be considered.

(40) Essentially identical components, particularly the paint needle-actuating element 23 and the stopper 25, are identified by the same reference symbols in FIGS. 7 to 10.

(41) In conclusion, it should be noted that the described exemplary embodiments merely represent a limited selection of potential embodiments and therefore do not restrict the present invention in any way.