DISPENSER FOR TINTING PASTES

Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing tinting pastes comprising cleaning means for neutralizing microorganisms and/or preservatives. The cleaning means may for example include an actinic source (e.g., UV-C) and/or anti-microbiological coatings or liners and/or a dosing unit for agents neutralizing preservatives in the tinting paste and/or in the useds base paint.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing tinting pastes comprising cleaning means for neutralizing microorganisms and/or preservatives.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the neutralizing means include an anti-fouling surface contacting the tinting paste during storage or dispense, such as a canister, a stirrer within the canister, a cover of the canister, and all further contact surfaces contacting colorant.

3. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the anti-fouling surface is an ultrahydrophobic surface.

4. The dispenser of claim 2 or 3, wherein the anti-fouling surface comprises one or more biocidal agents.

5. The dispenser of claim 4, wherein the one or more biocidal agents comprise micropuncturing agents, e.g., polymeric microspheres with cationic needles, e.g., polymeric microspheres comprising hydrophylic blocks, e.g., of polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride (PHGC) and a hydrophobic block, e.g., of poly(styrene-co-glycidyl) methacrylate (PSGMA).

6. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the anti-fouling surface is at least partly formed by a liner or sleeve of an anti-microbiological material.

7. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the cleaning means comprise a neutralizer inlet for dosing an agent neutralizing a preservative agent in the tinting paste in a flow path of the tinting paste leaving the canister during dispensing.

8. The dispenser of claim 1, comprising at least one actinic radiation source directed to a dispense nozzle and/or to a refill opening of a canister, such as a UV, e.g., UV-C source, an IR source and/or a laser source.

9. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the cleaning means comprise an anti-microbiological filter, e.g., a HEPA filter, at a refill opening of the canister and/or in a lid covering the refill opening.

10. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the cleaning means comprise a gas inlet port of the canister connected or connectable to a source of a replacement gas, such as ozone or nitrogen, and a gas discharge port for discharging air from the canister.

11. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the cleaning means comprise temperature control means controlling the temperature in the canister.

12. The dispenser for claim 1 comprising at least one canister with an expander within the canister and control unit to expand the expander for volumetric compensation of tinting paste dispensed from the canister.

13. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the cleaning means comprise size adjustment means for at least one of the canisters.

14. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the cleaning means comprise means for providing an overpressure, e.g., in at least one of the canisters or in any other space of the dispenser containing colorant material.

15. A dispenser for dispensing tinting pastes, optionally according to claim 1, comprising one or more canisters, at least one of the canisters comprising one or more spectral imaging sensors, e.g., for imaging a surface of the tinting paste, e.g., a tinting paste top surface in the canister or a surface of the dispense nozzle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The above-described aspects will hereafter be more explained with further details and benefits with reference to the drawing showing an embodiments by way of example.

[0025] FIG. 1: shows schematically a dispenser according to the invention;

[0026] FIGS. 2A and B: shows a canister in cross section with an expander.

[0027] FIG. 3: shows a canister of adjustable length.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a dispenser 1 comprising a turntable 4 carrying a circular array of canisters 3, each canister 3 being filled or fillable with a tinting paste of a given colour. The dispenser 1 comprises a platform 10 for holding a paint can 6 below the canisters 3. Each canister 3 has a top end with a refill opening 11, and a bottom end with a dispensing nozzle 12. When a can is positioned on the platform 10 the turntable 4 can be activated to position a canister 3 holding a tinting paste of a selected colour above the paint can 6. The dispenser 1 may for example be provided with a user interface allowing input of a paint formulation by a user. Each canister 3 holding one of the tinting pastes used in the formulation is subsequently positioned above the paint can 6 and a pump (not shown) is driven to dispense an amount of the tinting paste into the can in accordance with the formulation. The dispenser 1 comprises a sensor 8 to detect whether or not a can 6 is present on the platform.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0029] The dispenser 1 comprises a first UV-C source 2 at a distance above the refill openings of the canisters 3. The UV-C source 2 can be activated to flash or to radiate for a longer period in order to sterilize at least the refill opening of the nearest canister.

[0030] The dispenser 1 further comprises a second UV-C source 5 at a distance below the dispense nozzles of the canisters 3. Like the first UV-C source, also this second UV-C source 5 can be activated to flash or to radiate for a longer period in order to sterilize the dispense nozzle of the nearest canister, and optionally of further canisters. The dispenser 1 also comprises a control unit 9 for controlling the dispenser, including the UV-C sources 2, 5.

[0031] Alternatively, part 2 and/or part 5 can be a camera for checking any fouling and/or other microbiological activity within its scope.

[0032] FIGS. 2A and 2B show a canister 15 with an expander 16, e.g., a balloon-type or bellows type expander under the control of a control unit programmed to expand the expander 16, e.g., by means of an expansion gas such as air, to compensate volumetrically for the dispensed amount of tinting paste 17. This prevents increase of the head space and reduces the risk of microbiological activity or contamination.

[0033] Another way of minimizing head space is to use a length adjustable canister 20, such as the one shown in FIG. 3, having a top end 21 which is telescopically movable relative to a lower end 22 of the canister.

[0034] Elements and aspects discussed for or in relation with a particular embodiment may be suitably combined with elements and aspects of other embodiments, unless explicitly stated otherwise.