EP0803611A1 - Operating means for supply circuit specially adapted for road marking machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The road marker machine (1) has a paint applicator (2) mounted on a support chassis (11) displaceable on the road (10). The paint applicator is connected to paint supply circuit (3) provided with a circuit release (21). An alternative control for the opening and closing of the supply circuit is constituted by a lever (5) pivoted about a spindle (45) on the chassis. This lever carries a part (52) which activates the release by rotating the lever. Rotation of the lever is controlled by a supple link (63) wound on a pulley which can be rotated by a motor in either direction. The pulley is locked in an angular position corresponding to the lever open position by an indexing peg. The indexing peg has a point which can penetrate a pulley recess.

Description

The subject of the invention is a device for controlling a supply circuit specially applicable to a road marking machine for applying a paint.

To make signal lines on a roadway, marking machines are usually used comprising one or more spray guns connected to a paint supply system, the assembly being mounted on a support frame rolling on the roadway and directed by an operator so as to follow a line to be marked.

Generally, the paint supply system comprises a paint reservoir and a pressurizing member (pump or compressor) connected to one or more spray guns by a supply circuit provided with a trigger member allowing the opening or closing of the circuit for spraying the paint or stopping it.

Usually, the triggering of the opening and closing phases of the spray guns is controlled by an electronic unit, for example of the type with programmable automaton.

In some machines, spraying is carried out by means of compressed air supplied by a compressor and in this case, the triggering of the opening and closing phases of the spray guns can be carried out by means of solenoid valves connected in bypass to the system compressed air.

Other types of machines are associated with a source of electrical energy which can be the sector, in an urban site, or relatively large batteries. The guns can then be actuated by electromagnet.

Such solutions are only valid for large and fairly expensive marking machines. In some cases, however, it would be useful to have lighter marking machines, for example, for road maintenance by users and it is then desired to avoid the use of air compressor or large batteries for reduce the size and cost of the machine.

The object of the invention is to solve such a problem by means of a device for controlling spray guns having very low power consumption and therefore capable of being powered by small rechargeable batteries.

The invention therefore generally applies to a road marking machine comprising at least one paint application gun mounted on a support frame movable on a roadway along a line to be marked and connected to a paint supply circuit provided with a trigger member associated with an alternative control device for opening and closing the supply circuit.

According to the invention, the control device comprises an alternative means for controlling the opening and closing of the supply circuit consisting of a movable lever mounted pivoting about an axis on the chassis and carrying a means of actuation of the triggering member by pivoting of said lever around its axis, respectively in an opening direction and in a closing direction of the circuit, the pivoting of the lever being controlled by a flexible link winding on a pulley mounted rotatable around an axis on the chassis and capable of being driven in rotation by a motor, alternately in a winding direction of the flexible link determining the pivoting of the lever for opening the circuit and in the opposite direction for closing of the circuit, the lever being able to be detachably locked at least in the open position of the circuit, for maintaining the tripping member in the open position, without the action of the motor, during the time of application of the paint.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the lever is blocked by a locking means of the pulley in an angular position corresponding to the opening of the circuit.

This locking means may consist of at least one indexer having a tip capable of detachably penetrating into a recess in the pulley corresponding to the open position of the circuit.

Preferably, two indexers are used which are diametrically opposite with respect to the axis of the pulley and capable of engaging, on either side of the axis, in a diametrical groove of the pulley.

Each indexer is advantageously provided, at its end facing the pulley, with a crimped ball pushed back towards the outside by a spring for its removable engagement in a locking recess of the pulley.

According to another particularly advantageous characteristic, the locking of the pulley in the open position determines the stopping of the engine. Conversely, the rotation of the pulley in the direction of closing of the circuit can be stopped by an end-of-travel stop, the blocking of the pulley on said stop determining the stopping of the motor.

Thanks to these provisions, the engine operates only for very short times, to control the opening or closing of the paint supply and, moreover, the electromechanical system can be balanced so that the torque to be applied by the engine is reduced.

The electrical energy system needs are therefore very low and the motor can be powered by an inexpensive micro-battery, for example of the type commonly sold to the public.

However, the invention will be better understood from the description of a particular embodiment given by way of example and shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic overview of a marking machine provided with a control device according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view, on an enlarged scale, of the control device.

FIG. 3 is a top view, in partial section along the line AA in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the line BB in FIG. 3.

Figures 5 and 6 schematically show the control of the trigger member, respectively for closing and opening the power supply.

In Figure 1, there is shown schematically, and by way of simple example, a marking machine 1 comprising a chassis 11 carried by wheels, for example a carrying axle 12 and a steering wheel 13, for moving on a roadway 10 under the control of an operator walking with the machine, directing it by means of steering handles 14.

On the machine frame 11 are mounted one or more spray guns 2 connected by a circuit 3 to a supply system comprising a paint reserve 31 and a pump 32.

The assembly is well known and does not need to be described in more detail.

The opening or closing of the paint supply circuit 3 is controlled by a triggering member 21 mounted on the spray gun 2 and actuated by a control device 4 under the control of the operator or else of a box. control electronics 41, for example a programmable automaton which allows, without operator action, to control the opening or closing of the supply circuit, for example, for the production of lines of determined length.

The control device 4 is carried by a bar 42 fixed to the chassis 11 and essentially comprises a support piece 43 removably fixed to the rod 42, for example, by a jaw 44 and carrying a movable lever 5 articulated on a pivot 45 mounted on the support 43, at the end of a part extending downwards so as to be close to the member 21 for triggering the spray gun 2.

The movable lever 5 can consist of a triangular piece constituting an angled lever which comprises a substantially horizontal arm 51 carrying at its end a rod 52 for actuating the triggering member, and a vertical arm 53 for controlling the rotation of the lever 5 around the axis 45 under the effect of an actuating member 6 also fixed on the bar 42 secured to the chassis 11.

The actuating member 6, shown in more detail in FIGS. 3 and 4 essentially comprises a pulley 61 actuated by a motor 62 and on which is wound a cable 63 fixed to the end of the vertical arm 53 of the lever 5.

The pulley 61 is cantilevered at the end of a rotation shaft 64 driven by the motor 52 by means of an incorporated reduction gear, the assembly being placed inside a casing 71 and mounted on a support plate 7, itself fixed on the bar 42 by a clamp 46 which makes it possible to adjust the position of the actuating member 6 along the bar 42.

It is also possible to adjust the position of the support piece 43 by sliding the jaw 44 along the rod 42, so as to place the rod 52 at the trigger member 21. In addition, the cable length 63 can be adjusted by a tensioner 46 mounted on a cable clamp, so as to guarantee proper opening of the gun.

The relative positions of the various members can thus be adjusted so that, in the rest position shown in FIG. 5, the rod 52 is in contact with the trigger member 21 in the shape of a trigger in the closed position of the supply of paint and that the cable 63 is stretched by winding on a part of the pulley 61. This is associated with two indexers 73 each provided with a point on which is crimped a ball 74 pushed by a spring under a pressure adjustable by screw. The ball 74 is thus applied against the opposite face of the pulley 61 on which is formed a diametrical groove 65 substantially parallel to the cable 63, in the rest position shown in FIG. 5.

The motor 62 for driving the pulley 61 is a direct current micro-motor associated with an incorporated reducer making it possible to provide a high torque under very low consumption.

As indicated, the cable 63 is slightly stretched in the rest position of the pulley 61 blocked by an end of travel stop 75.

On the order of the control unit 41, or else of the operator, the motor 62 is supplied so as to control the rotation of the pulley 61 in the direction corresponding to the winding of the cable 63 which determines the rotation of the lever 5 and the lifting of the rod 52 and of the triggering member 21 thus controlling the opening of the paint supply.

A rotation of a quarter turn of the pulley 61 is sufficient and the groove 65 is placed in alignment with the two indexers 73, the balls 74 engaging in the groove to block the rotation of the pulley 61, in the position shown in FIG. 6.

The pulley 61 and, consequently, the lever 5 being thus locked, the power supply to the motor 62 can be cut, the paint remaining supplied by the spray nozzle 22 of the spray gun 2. The paint flow rate is defined by the dimensions of the nozzle and pressure applied.

In this working position, no electrical energy is consumed and the application of the paint can be carried out by advancing the machine 1 for the necessary time.

On an order given by the control unit 41, the motor 62 is supplied in the opposite direction.

The lever 5 is returned to the rest position of FIG. 5, either by a counterweight or by an elastic member acting on the lever 5 or on the trigger 21 and exerting a sufficient action to assist in the rotation of the pulley 61 by disengaging from the two indexers 73. The assembly therefore returns to the position of FIG. 5, the pulley 61 being stopped by the stop 75 and the supply of paint being stopped. The motor power supply can still be removed.

The assembly is balanced so that the release of the indexers requires only a low torque.

The electromechanical system which has just been described therefore requires only a small energy to control the rotation of the pulley 61 in one direction or the other and, thanks to the indexers, avoids any electrical consumption during the phases of displacement of the machine with or without application of paint, the micro-motor being supplied only for the very short time necessary for controlling the opening or closing of the triggering member 21.

Therefore, it is possible to associate with the control device an autonomous and weak source of energy, for example, one or two rechargeable micro-batteries on the sector, which can easily be mounted or dismounted. Such batteries can, in particular, be of the type used in portable camcorders intended for the public.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the details of the embodiment which has just been described by way of simple example, equivalent means which can be used without departing from the protective framework defined by the claims.

In particular, the marking machine has only been described by way of example, the control device being able to easily adapt to other arrangements of the various members and, in particular, means for spraying paint and means for initiating the opening or closing of the supply.

Furthermore, the invention is specially intended for road marking machines but could find other applications each time that a mobile member has to be controlled for a very short time, using low energy.

The reference signs inserted after the technical characteristics mentioned in the claims have the sole purpose of facilitating the understanding of the latter and in no way limits their scope.

Claims (9)

Control device for a paint supply circuit in a road marking machine (1) comprising at least one paint application means (2) mounted on a support frame (11) movable on a roadway (10) along a line to be marked and connected to a paint supply circuit provided with a triggering member (21) associated with a paint supply circuit (3), characterized in that it comprises a means for alternately controlling the opening and closing of the supply circuit consisting of a movable lever (5) pivotally mounted around an axis (45) on the chassis (11) and carrying a means (52) d actuation of the trigger member (21) by pivoting of said lever (5) about its axis, respectively in an opening direction and in a closing direction of the circuit (3), the pivoting of the lever (5) being controlled by a flexible link (63) winding on a pulley (61) rotatably mounted around an axis on the chassis s (11) and capable of being driven in rotation by a motor (62), alternately in a direction of winding of the flexible link (63) determining the pivoting of the lever (5) for the opening of the circuit (3) and in the opposite direction for closing the circuit (3), the lever (5) being able to be removably locked at least in the open position of the circuit (3), for maintaining the triggering member (21) in the open position, without the action of the motor (62), during the paint application time. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a member (73) for locking the pulley (63) in an angular position corresponding to the open position of the lever (5). Control device according to claim 2, characterized in that the locking member of the pulley (63) consists of at least one indexer (73) comprising a point (74) capable of detachably penetrating into a recess (65) of the pulley (63) corresponding to the open position of the circuit ( 3). Control device according to claim 3, characterized in that the locking means comprises two indexers (73, 73 ') diametrically opposite with respect to the axis of the pulley (63) and capable of engaging, on both sides and on the other side of the axis, in a diametrical groove (65) of the pulley (63). Control device according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that each indexer (73) is provided, at its end facing the pulley, with a crimped ball (74), elastically pushed outwards to its removable engagement in a recess (65) of the pulley (63). Control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pulley (63) is associated with a motor control means (62) determining the stopping of the latter in the angular position of the pulley corresponding to opening of the circuit (3). Control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotation of the pulley (63) is stopped, in the closing direction of the circuit, by an end-of-travel stop (75) in a determining angular position stopping the engine (62). Control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the motor (62) is supplied with electrical energy by a battery. Road marking machine comprising a control device according to one of the preceding claims for the application of paint on a roadway.

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