Patent ID: 12201739

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows a preferred embodiment of a metering system for mixing a dispersion paint with a cleaning apparatus in a schematic plan view. It goes without saying that, in principle, the same structure can also be used for metering and/or mixing other materials.

The metering system ofFIG.1specifically comprises a plurality of containers1, in the present case in the manner of a carousel, arranged on a plate X3, which is indicated by a dash-dotted line, each container1being connected to a metering unit X1via a supply line. The drive of the plate X4is connected to a control computer12via a control line L1. Furthermore, the metering units X1are each connected to the control computer via control lines L11. As can be seen in the plan view ofFIG.1, the metering unit X1of one of the paint containers1is arranged above a receiving container, in this case a bucket9, so that the dispersion stored in this container1can be metered into the bucket9via the associated metering unit X1. The bucket9, in turn, is positioned on a scale10, which is connected to the control computer12via a control line L2. The control computer12, in turn, is connected to a label printer13via a control line L3.

As also shown schematically inFIG.1A, the cleaning apparatus X2is connected, via a supply line, to an ozone generator3, into which air or oxygen, in turn, is introduced via a membrane pump14. Ozone is generated in the ozone generator3, for example by means of a corona discharge, which ozone is introduced, via the supply line X24(only shown schematically inFIG.1A), into the cleaning apparatus X2for the purpose of acting on the rotating brush X29.

The metering unit X1, which is adjacent to the metering unit X1positioned above the bucket9in the clockwise direction, is positioned above a cleaning apparatus X2in such a way that the cleaning apparatus X2, which is described in detail inFIGS.1B to4B, can clean the pump head X6(cf.FIG.3) of the metering unit X1. As will be explained in more detail below, the cleaning apparatus X2comprises a mechanical cleaning element in the form of a rotating cylindrical brush X29with a cylindrical cleaning surface X31designed as a brush surface, with the aid of which the pump head X6of each metering unit X1can be cleaned of paint residue.

When the metering system is in operation, the control computer12calculates the proportions of the primary paints stored in the containers1, after the customer has entered a desired color tone and the desired volume, and controls the drive of the plate X4in such a way that the metering units X1of the container1with the required basic colors are positioned over the bucket9, and the calculated amount is dispensed into the bucket9so as to obtain the desired color tone in the bucket9. This is monitored by means of the scales10connected to the control computer via the line L2. The drive of the plate X4is controlled in such a way that it always rotates clockwise. As a result, the pump head X6of each metering unit X1involved in the paint mixing process is cleaned by the cleaning apparatus X2immediately after use and thus cleared of dispersion residue. The appropriate label for the paint mixture is printed via the label printer13.

FIGS.2and3show the cleaning apparatus X2of the metering system ofFIG.1in a perspective view and in cross-section according to section line III-III fromFIG.2.

According toFIG.3, the cleaning apparatus X2comprises a brush X29rotating clockwise X32in the present view as a central element, which brush cleans the pump head X6of dispersion residue with the bristles of the brush surface X31arranged at the top during operation, while the bristles at the bottom of the brush X29, which are immersed in a cleaning bath X34, can be cleared of paint residue in the cleaning bath X34. The cleaning bath X34is formed in the present case by a water bath, which is located in a container X33.

As can be seen inFIGS.2-3, an ozone-containing gas flow as an oxidizing agent is blown, via the supply line X24, onto the brush X29by means of a plurality of outlet openings X28(cf.FIG.4B) arranged in an outlet region X26of the supply line (cf.FIG.4B), in which the gas flow is blown into the brush essentially parallel to the bristles of the brush surface X31, i.e. essentially radially. In the present case, the container X33of the cleaning bath X34is connected to a housing X21via a fastening profile X22.

The fastening rail X22together with the supply line X24for the ozone-containing gas flow is shown again in two perspective views inFIGS.4A and4B. In the view inFIG.4B, the outlet openings X28for the gas flow are clearly visible in the outlet region X26of the supply line X24, which outlet region is aligned parallel to the axis of the brush X29(cf.FIG.3).

The particular advantage of the cleaning apparatus and the cleaning method is that there is no risk of microbial attack with bacteria and fungi in either the cleaning bath X34or in the brush X29, as this is effectively prevented by the ozone being blown in as an oxidizing agent by the supply line X24. Accordingly, the method according to the invention for avoiding the microbial attack of the cleaning apparatus X2has proven to be extremely effective. In addition, the risk of a contamination of other pump heads X6is minimized by the cleaning apparatus X2, even if it cleans a microbially contaminated pump head X6—and thus corresponding contaminants collect on the bristles of the cylindrical brush surface X31and in the cleaning bath X34—and then further pump heads X6are cleaned.