DE202018100950U1 - Apparatus for applying cyanoacrylate vapor to a surface - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (1) for applying cyanoacrylate vapor to a surface with:
a blower (11) for generating an air flow,
which is passed through a heating unit (13) and as hot air flow from the heating unit (13) emerges and
a control device (10) for controlling and / or regulating the airflow temperature and / or the airflow,
wherein the device (1) comprises a coupling interface (3, 16) for lockably coupling a removable evaporator arrangement (4), and the warm air flow via the coupling interface (3, 16) through the coupled evaporator arrangement (4) is feasible.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for applying cyanoacrylate vapor to a surface comprising a container for receiving cyanoacrylate and a heating device for heating the container so that the cyanoacrylate evaporates and exits through an outlet opening in the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In criminalist Daktyloskopie latent fingerprints on objects or surfaces are made visible, inter alia, by the sputtering with cyanoacrylate. In the laboratory, this process takes place in climate cabinets or climatic chambers in which cyanoacrylate is vaporized at a certain humidity by a boiling process. This vapor then settles on the object surfaces to be examined and forms visible traces on any existing fingerprints. In this "development" of existing fingerprints, a polymerization reaction occurs when the cyanoacrylate vapor contacts the residue of a latent fingerprint. Fingerprint chemicals trigger the polymerization of the cyanoacrylate, which then leaves a more visible image of the impression, which can then be visually captured and analyzed. In such climate chambers or climate cabinets, this process can take several hours and must be monitored and controlled according to the result. Only after extraction of the cyanoacrylate vapors the vaporized objects can be removed and further investigated. Cyanoacrylate evaporation in climate chambers or air conditioning cabinets is limited to smaller and moving objects that fit into these chambers or cabinets.

For on-site cyanoacrylate vapor deposition (ie, for example, for evaporation of walls, floors, surfaces of large objects such as vehicles, etc.), there are also handheld devices in which already polymerized cyanoacrylate is evaporated at about 300 ° C. The resulting vapors can be harmful to health (for example due to released hydrocyanic acid) and can in turn be used only outdoors or in conjunction with adequate respiratory protection. Such devices can therefore be used only to a very limited extent, for example in closed rooms. The cyanoacrylate in the form of pellets is vaporized with gas flames (see, eg US 2010/040764 A1 ) or is enriched in a porous carrier material and is evaporated and discharged by means of a burner (eg US 5,348,759 )

From the US 7,323,207 B2 a device is known in which a cyanoacrylate solution in a capillary tube is electrically heated and evaporated. The liberated Cyanacrylatnebel can then be applied more or less targeted to an object surface. As this fog precipitates following gravity, vapor deposition of vertical or downward facing surfaces is difficult or even impossible.

A device in which cyanoacrylate vapor can be applied to an object surface via a blower and a hose is known from US Pat US 5,395,445 known. During transport through the tube, however, the cyanoacrylate mist on its way to the object can already cool down so much here and possibly even cure that the polymerization reaction can already begin with the latent fingerprints before it hits the object surface and the optical visualization is only incomplete.

It is therefore the object to provide an improved device for cyanoacrylate evaporation, in which these disadvantages are at least partially eliminated.

In particular, the object is further to realize a handy portable device that is easy to use and possibly also reliably remotely controllable.

This object is achieved by the device according to claim 1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, the apparatus for applying cyanoacrylate vapor to a surface comprises a blower for generating an air flow, which is passed through a heating unit and exits the heating unit as hot air flow, and a control device for controlling and / or regulating the air flow temperature and / or the airflow. In this case, the device comprises a coupling interface for the lockable coupling of a removable evaporator arrangement. The hot air flow can be conducted via the coupling interface through the coupled evaporator arrangement. By separating the apparatus for applying cyanoacrylate vapor from a removable evaporator assembly, it is possible to couple replaceable evaporator assemblies to the apparatus for applying cyanoacrylate vapor. Thus, the highly reactive cyanoacrylate is completely separated from the apparatus for applying cyanoacrylate vapor. There can be no Contaminations or wetting with cyanoacrylate vapor take place. The evaporator assembly, which is formed, for example, cartridge-shaped with a liquid reservoir filled with cyanoacrylate, can be designed as a disposable part that can either be disposed of or recycled after each use (cleaning, new storage with cyanoacrylate). At the same time it is ensured that cyanoacrylate only comes into a reactive state when the device is coupled to the evaporator assembly. The cyanoacrylate mist is then applied in the reactive state (not yet polymerized) on any oriented surfaces. This is possible by the transport over the warm air flow. The actual evaporation of the cyanoacrylate solution also takes place in the evaporator arrangement and the steam generated can be fully utilized for object treatment (development of the fingerprint). The required polymerization takes place only on the object surface with the residues of the latent fingerprints.

A second aspect of the present invention is the cyanoacrylate vapor dispensing evaporator assembly comprising: a liquid reservoir for cyanoacrylate-containing liquid or other reactive liquid, an airflow channel for directing a stream of hot air from an inlet through a cyanoacrylate sputtering element and a lockable coupling port Coupling the evaporator assembly with a device. In this case, the sputtering takes on the coupling stored in the liquid reservoir cyanoacrylate and the sputtering element is formed and arranged in the air flow channel that flows during operation of the evaporator arrangement, the hot air flow through the sputtering element, the cyanoacrylate evaporated there, receives and directed from an outlet opening of the evaporator assembly promotes. This per se of the device independent evaporator assembly is interchangeable and to replace any new Ver- / evaporation process.

The highly reactive and strongly adhesive cyanoacrylate is stored exclusively in the evaporator arrangement and is also provided there only via the sputtering element for evaporation, and is applied via the outlet opening only on the surfaces to be vaporized. There is a defined fixed direction of conveyance in the evaporator assembly which prevents cyanoacrylate from entering the coupled evaporation apparatus (the cyanoacrylate vapor deposition apparatus) required for evaporation.

A third aspect of the present invention relates to an evaporation system having a device for applying cyanoacrylate vapor and a coupled evaporator arrangement.

Further aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the accompanying drawings and the following description of preferred embodiments.

list of figures

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows:

• 1 3 a perspective view of a device according to the invention (evaporator handpiece) for applying cyanoacrylate vapor and an evaporator arrangement according to the invention,
• 2 the evaporator handpiece off 1 in a partial sectional view, and
• 3 an outlet pipe in a device according to the invention for the application of cyanoacrylate vapor and an evaporator arrangement in a perspective longitudinal section view.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the 1 to 3 an embodiment in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. Before a detailed description first follows general explanations to the embodiments.

There are embodiments in which the air flow generated by the blower is directed and / or accelerated by means of a nozzle arrangement. Such a nozzle arrangement helps to design the air flow in such a way that it can enter a coupled evaporator arrangement in the desired manner, where it optimally absorbs the cyanoacrylate and leads it out of the actual evaporator arrangement. Thus, a desired uniform evaporation result can be achieved.

There are versions in which the heating of the air flow takes place via an electrically heatable resistance heating element. The device is designed in particular controllable, so that the heating power is controllable according to an inlet temperature, a desired outlet temperature and a desired flow volume.

The term "controllable" in this context means both a classic control (ie setting without feedback) and a rule in the strict sense, in which a Control circuit the desired temperature but also a volume flow is adjustable.

There are embodiments in which the control unit is coupled to a sensor for detecting at least one of the following variables. Ambient temperature, inlet / outlet temperature of the hot air flow and flow rate of the hot air flow. Thus, all essential parameters for the actual evaporation, the application and also for the control of a possible reaction time required parameters are adjustable (regular or controllable).

There are embodiments in which the control unit is designed to set an operating state of the blower and / or the heating unit on the basis of one of the detected sensor variables. There are devices in which the coupling interface comprises a bayonet connection and along a central axis has a mandrel which serves for emptying a liquid reservoir of a coupled evaporator arrangement. Over such a coupling interface a secure coupling with the removable evaporator arrangement is ensured. At the same time it is ensured by the mandrel that the emptying of a liquid reservoir of a coupled evaporator assembly takes place only when coupling itself - the cyanoacrylate so only immediately before the desired evaporation - is released so to speak when "focusing" the device, while protected in an unused evaporator assembly from reactions remains in the closed liquid reservoir.

There are embodiments of the evaporator arrangement in which the liquid reservoir is deformable and has an outlet opening through which the cyanoacrylate exits during compression of the reservoir and is conveyed to the atomizing element. This compression also takes place by means of the mandrel of the device, which acts on the reservoir, compressing it and thus building up a pressure inside which causes the cyanoacrylate to be conveyed to the atomizing element, where it is then conveyed further out of the device via the hot air becomes.

There are embodiments in which the outlet opening (initially) by a sealant, in particular paraffin, sealed and / or sealed. Upon compression of the liquid reservoir, an internal pressure is built up which removes the sealant, exposes the liquid reservoir opening, and delivers the cyanoacrylate-containing liquid to the atomization element.

The paraffin seal ensures on the one hand the airtight closure of the liquid reservoir and at the same time the exposure of the outlet opening at an already relatively low pressure, so that the compression and the exposure of the opening can be carried out easily with manual forces.

There are embodiments in which the sputtering element has an open-pored structure and in particular comprises a sponge, fiber, cell and / or textile material. The sputtering element is thus used as a more or less permeable cushion in the evaporator assembly, which fulfills several functions. On the one hand, the cyanoacrylate liquid emerging from the liquid reservoir is taken up, so that it can not drip out of the evaporator arrangement and, on the other hand, it is distributed in the atomizing element, so that it can be taken up by the penetrating hot air stream and be conveyed out of the evaporator arrangement as vapor or mist can. In this case, the structure is chosen so that it allows on the one hand a large-area distribution of the cyanoacrylate and on the other hand can also be flowed through well, so that a directed stream of hot air through the evaporator assembly and the sputtering can be performed.

There are embodiments in which the sputtering element is provided with an additional reagent, in particular with a fluorescer which is intended to be mixed with the cyanoacrylate. Thus, a two-component evaporation can take place, on the one hand with the cyanoacrylate itself and on the other with an additional dye (fluorescence agent) or another reaction liquid, which visually highlights the fingerprint traces and / or preserved so that they are more easily optically or to others Way can be detected.

There are embodiments in which the coupling connection is formed at the inlet opening of the evaporator arrangement as a bayonet connection. During operation of the device for steaming this promotes the flow of hot air through this inlet opening in the air flow channel. This ensures, on the one hand, a secure hold on the device and, on the other hand, the current is conducted through the evaporator arrangement without loss.

There are embodiments in which the liquid reservoir is arranged so that the mandrel of the device engages the coupled evaporator assembly when coupled to the cyanoacrylate vapor deposition apparatus by means of the bayonet fitting. In this case, the mandrel deforms the liquid reservoir more or less elastically, compresses it, builds up a pressure and thus promotes the cyanoacrylate from the reservoir to the sputtering element.

There are embodiments in which the liquid reservoir is designed as a spring element which thus holds the coupled evaporator arrangement in a detent position on the bayonet connection of the coupled device. This ensures that the evaporator assembly can not be accidentally or accidentally released from the device during operation, but only by deliberate and targeted release of the bayonet connection.

In one embodiment, in which the device is provided with an energy store, in particular an electric battery, the device can be used completely autonomously, mobile and independently of a line-connected energy supply. This is particularly desirable for compact handheld devices that should be readily usable outdoors.

In addition to the specified cyanoacrylate solution, other reactive substances can also be vaporized in the container and can be applied selectively to a surface with the aid of the device. The use of the device is not limited to dactyloscopy.

1 shows an embodiment of a device according to the invention for applying cyanoacrylate, here as evaporator handpiece 1 is trained. The evaporator handpiece 1 includes a housing 2 , which has an outlet opening at the front end 3 having, for receiving a tubular evaporator arrangement 4 is formed, in the direction of arrow P in the evaporator handpiece 1 can be used. The locking in the handpiece is done via a bayonet connection 5 comprising a guide groove and a locking pocket.

In the evaporator arrangement 1 is a sputtering element designed as a porous sponge 6 arranged through the cyanoacrylate vapor through the front outlet opening 7 the evaporator assembly can escape. The further expansion and the function of the evaporator handpiece 1 and the evaporator assembly 4 will now continue on the basis of the sectional view in 2 explained.

2 shows a housing half 2a with the following essential elements, the rear in the flow direction S along a longitudinal axis 8th in the housing shell 2a are arranged. At the back is a control panel 9 arranged with a control board 10 is coupled.

Through an entry opening in the control panel 9 is air by means of a fan component 11 by a funnel-shaped nozzle arrangement 12 passed through by the operation of the blower component 11 the air flow through a heating unit 13 is passed, which is an electrically heatable PTC element 14 includes.

The thus heated air flow passes through an outlet pipe 15 and through the exit opening 3 in the evaporator arrangement 4 , At the outlet 3 is a locking nose 16 formed, which compatible with the bayonet connection 5 (please refer 1 ) is designed and when inserting along the guide and subsequent rotation of the evaporator assembly 4 snaps into the locking pocket. In the 2 is the evaporator arrangement 4 shown in the decoupled state.

The sectional view in 3 shows the outlet pipe 15 and the evaporator assembly 4 in a longitudinal sectional view. Inside the evaporator arrangement 4 is a reservoir intake 17 arranged coaxially with the longitudinal axis 8th via carrying rails 18 in the tubular evaporator arrangement 4 is arranged. Between the support rails 18 run flow channels 18a ,

In the reservoir intake 17 is a liquid reservoir 19 arranged, which is formed of a transparent elastically deformable plastic, eg PELD. The liquid reservoir 19 includes a container 19a and an outlet nozzle 19b that with a stopper 19c is closed. The stopper 19c is made of paraffin (or other suitable material), which is solid up to a temperature of about 80 °. In the liquid container 19a a defined amount of a reaction liquid, in particular a cyanoacrylate liquid is provided. The rear end of the liquid reservoir 19 sticks out of the reservoir intake 17 out. Due to the transparent or semitransparent design of the liquid reservoir 19 the state of the liquid inside can be optically checked.

In the outlet pipe 15 is coaxial with the longitudinal axis 8th a pin-shaped thorn 20 arranged, which likewise over carrying ledges 21 is centered inside the riser tube. To the thorn 20 around a flow channel runs. The diameter of the spine 20 is chosen so that it is smaller than the inner diameter of the liquid reservoir 19 or the container part 19a , Both around the thorn 20 around and around the reservoir intake around air ducts are formed, through which a stream of hot air W can flow in the direction of the arrow. The hot air flow W occurs in the evaporator arrangement 4 and passes through a spongy sputtering element 6 in the flow direction W seen behind the liquid reservoir 19 is arranged and then passes through the front outlet opening 7 out.

When inserting the evaporator assembly 4 into the evaporator handpiece 1 or in the outlet opening 3 grips the locking nose 16 in the bayonet connection 5 and slides in the axial displacement of the evaporator assembly 4 in the outlet opening 3 into the locking pocket, where it engages by a slight rotation of the evaporator assembly. The mandrel inverts 20 the rear dome-like end 21 in the container 19a and compresses the liquid reservoir 19 , The change in volume becomes the interior of the fluid reservoir 19 put under pressure, which causes the paraffin plug 19c in the exit opening 19b is removed and the cyanoacrylate liquid in the sputtering element 6 is introduced, in which the liquid is distributed.

The warm air flow passes through the sputtering element 6 through, takes up liquid cyanoacrylate and brings this as cyanoacrylate vapor or mist through the front outlet opening 7 the evaporator arrangement 4 to the desired object.

Cyanoacrylate can therefore only through the front opening 7 get to the outside and it is ensured that no cyanoacrylate in the evaporator handpiece 1 or in the outlet pipe 15 can get.

After use, the evaporator assembly 4 from the outlet 3 removed and can be disposed of or recycled (provided with a new liquid reservoir and a new sputtering element).

The power supply of the device for applying cyanoacrylate vapor can be selected either by a mains connection or energy storage (battery capacitor or the like) not shown.

The liquid reservoir 19 can also be formed accordion-like. The evaporator arrangement 4 may also be provided with a label when inserting into the evaporator handpiece 1 is detected by a sensor. Thus, for example, expiration dates but also differently filled evaporator arrangements can be detected and appropriate operating programs for the air flow in the control board 10 be retrieved.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Evaporator handpiece

2

casing

3

outlet opening

4

evaporator assembly

5

bayonet

6

atomisation

7

front outlet

8th

longitudinal axis

9

Control panel

10

control board

11

blow part

12

nozzle assembly

13

heating unit

14

PTC element

15

outlet pipe

16

locking tab

17

reservoir recording

18

air duct

19

liquid reservoir

19a

container

19b

outlet opening

19c

Graft

20

mandrel

21

The End

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 2010040764 A1 [0003]
• US 5348759 [0003]
• US 7323207 B2 [0004]
• US 5395445 [0005]

Claims (15)

Device (1) for applying cyanoacrylate vapor to a surface with: a blower (11) for generating an air flow, which is passed through a heating unit (13) and as hot air flow from the heating unit (13) emerges and a control device (10) for controlling and / or regulating the airflow temperature and / or the airflow, wherein the device (1) comprises a coupling interface (3, 16) for lockably coupling a removable evaporator arrangement (4), and the warm air flow via the coupling interface (3, 16) through the coupled evaporator arrangement (4) is feasible. Device (1) according to Claim 1 in which the air flow generated by the blower (11) is directed and / or accelerated by means of a nozzle arrangement (12). Device (1) according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the heating unit (13) comprises an electrically heatable, in particular controllable resistance heating element (14). Device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the control unit (10) is coupled to a sensor for detecting one of the following variables: ambient temperature, inlet / outlet temperature of the hot air flow and flow rate of the hot air flow. Device (1) according to Claim 4 wherein the control device (10) is adapted to set an operating state of the fan and / or the heating unit based on a detected sensor size. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling interface (3, 16) comprises a bayonet connection and has a mandrel (20) which is suitable for emptying a liquid reservoir (18) of a coupled evaporator arrangement (4). Evaporator arrangement (4) for the delivery of cyanoacrylate vapor with: a liquid reservoir (18) for a cyanoacrylate-containing liquid, an air flow channel for guiding a stream of hot air from an inlet opening, a sputtering element (22) for the cyanoacrylate and a coupling connection (5) for lockably coupling the evaporator arrangement (4) to a device (1), wherein the sputtering element (6) accommodates cyanoacrylate stored in the liquid reservoir (18) when coupled, and the sputtering element (6) is formed and disposed in the airflow channel such that upon operation of the device (4) the stream of hot air passes through the sputtering element (6), the cyanoacrylate evaporates, receives and directed from an outlet opening (23) promotes the evaporator assembly. Evaporator assembly (4) according to Claim 7 , wherein the liquid reservoir (18) is deformable and has an outlet opening (22) through which the cyanoacrylate exits upon compression of the reservoir (18) and is conveyed to the atomizing element (6). Evaporator assembly (4) according to Claim 8 in that the outlet opening (22) is sealed and / or closed by a sealing means (19), in particular paraffin, and upon compression of the liquid reservoir (18) an internal pressure is built up which removes the sealing means (19) and opens the outlet opening (22) and promotes the cyanoacrylate-containing liquid on the sputtering element (6). Evaporator assembly (4) according to Claim 7 . 8th or 9 wherein the sputtering element (6) has an open-pore structure and in particular comprises a sponge, fiber-cell and / or a textile material. Evaporator assembly (4) according to Claim 7 . 8th . 9 or 10 wherein the sputtering element (6) carries a reagent, in particular a fluorescer, for mixing with the cyanoacrylate. Evaporator assembly (4) according to one of Claims 7 . 8th . 9 . 10 or 11 , wherein the coupling connection (5) is formed at the inlet opening as a bayonet connection and the connected device (1) promotes the warm air flow through the inlet opening into the air flow channel during operation. Evaporator assembly (4) according to one of Claims 8 to 12 wherein a mandrel (20) in the coupled evaporator assembly when coupling the evaporator assembly by means of the bayonet fitting (5) deforms and compresses the liquid reservoir (18), and so promotes cyanoacrylate from the reservoir to the sputtering element (6). Evaporator assembly (4) according to one of Claims 8 to 12 , wherein the liquid reservoir (18) is designed as a spring element, which holds the coupled evaporator arrangement (4) in a detent position on the bayonet connection of a coupled device (1). Evaporation system with a device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 6 and one coupled evaporator arrangement (4) according to one of Claims 7 to 14 ,

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