U.S. patent application number 13/806083 was filed with the patent office on 2013-11-28 for anti-drying device.
This patent application is currently assigned to CPS COLOR EQUIPMENT SPA CON UNICO SOCIO. The applicant listed for this patent is Mirko Bertoli. Invention is credited to Mirko Bertoli.
Application Number | 20130313134 13/806083 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43589622 |
Filed Date | 2013-11-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130313134 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bertoli; Mirko |
November 28, 2013 |
ANTI-DRYING DEVICE
Abstract
An anti-drying device (10) is to humidify a delivery unit (21)
for fluid and semi-fluid products, pastes, gels, creams such as for
example coloring products, pigments or paints, of a machine (75)
for the automatic delivery of a fluid product in a closed container
(11). A closed container or receptacle (79) inside which there is a
fluid, liquid and/or vapor. The container (79) is configured to
house, inside it, the delivery unit (21) to prevent the delivery
unit from drying out.
Inventors: |
Bertoli; Mirko; (Medolla,
IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bertoli; Mirko |
Medolla |
|
IT |
|
|
Assignee: |
CPS COLOR EQUIPMENT SPA CON UNICO
SOCIO
San Felice Sul Panaro
IT
|
Family ID: |
43589622 |
Appl. No.: |
13/806083 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
June 22, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB11/01419 |
371 Date: |
August 7, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/213.1 ;
53/432; 53/510 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B08B 17/00 20130101;
B08B 15/02 20130101; B05B 15/50 20180201; B65B 31/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/213.1 ;
53/510; 53/432 |
International
Class: |
B65B 31/04 20060101
B65B031/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 24, 2010 |
IT |
UD2010A000127 |
Claims
1. Anti-drying device to humidify delivery means for fluid and
semi-fluid products, pastes, gels, creams such as for example
coloring products, pigments or paints, of a machine at least for
the automatic delivery of at least a fluid product in a closed
container comprising: a container or receptacle hermetically closed
by a closing lid and which has an inner volume inside which there
is a fluid, liquid and/or vapor, said closing lid being configured
to confine the liquid and/or vapor inside said container and also
to introduce, at least through one portion, at least ends of said
delivery means inside said closed container, so that the delivery
means are in contact with said liquid and/or vapor to prevent from
drying up.
2. Anti-drying device as in claim 1, wherein said portion of the
closing lid is made, at least partly, with a membrane of an elastic
material able to dilate, when said delivery means are inserted
through the lid to be kept damp, during performance of anti-drying
action, and to re-compact, when said delivery means are extracted,
preventing the liquid contained therein from coming out.
3. Anti-drying device as in claim 1, comprises a support plate for
the container.
4. Anti-drying device as in claim 3, comprising a mechanical arm,
pivoted on a vertical pin which bears said support plate at one
end, said mechanical arm being rotatable between a first operating
position in which said container is in cooperation with said
delivery means for anti-drying action, and a second operating
position, rotated with respect to the first, where said container
is disengaged.
5. Anti-drying device as in claim 3, wherein said container
comprises releasable attachment means for attachment to said
support plate.
6. Anti-drying device as in claim 1, comprising heating means to
generate and maintain a desired quantity of liquid and/or vapor
inside said container.
7. Anti-drying device as in that claim 3, wherein said heating
means comprise an electric resistance integrated in said support
plate.
8. Anti-drying device as in claim 1, comprising a sponge cleaning
element associated above said closing lid.
9. Anti-drying device as in claim 1, comprising sensor means able
to signal presence or absence of the container.
10. Anti-drying device as in claim 1, wherein said container is
disposable and is located in a fixed external container.
11. Machine at least for the automatic delivery of at least a fluid
product in a closed container, comprising an anti-drying device as
in claim 1.
12. Method to humidify delivery means for fluid and semi-fluid
products, pastes, gels, creams for coloring products, pigments or
paints, of a machine at least for automatic delivery of at least a
fluid product in a closed container, comprising a step of
introducing into a container or receptacle hermetically closed by a
closing lid and which has an internal volume in which there is a
fluid, liquid and/or vapor, at least the ends of said delivery
means through a portion of said closing lid, confining the liquid
and/or vapor inside said container so that at least the ends of
said delivery means are in contact with said liquid and/or vapor,
to prevent them from drying out.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention concerns an anti-drying device to
prevent the drying of fluid and semi-fluid products, pastes, gels,
creams such as for example coloring products, pigments or paints,
residues on delivery needles of a machine or device at least for
the delivery and possibly for the automatic preparation, mixing and
distribution of fluid coloring products, for example coloring
liquids, paint bases, varnishes, enamels, inks or other fluid
coloring substances.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Devices or machines to dispense or deliver fluid and
semi-fluid products, pastes, gels, creams such as coloring
products, pigments or paints are known, and are able to introduce a
measured quantity of a product into a receptacle, containing, for
example, a paint base to obtain the coloring product desired. Such
devices or delivery machines normally comprise a delivery unit, or
dispensing head, by means of which a desired quantity of one or
more fluid products is delivered into a receptacle, normally
containing a paint base. The delivery unit is typically mobile
between an idle position and an operating position in which it
cooperates with the container and traditionally comprises a
plurality of delivery needles by means of which the lid of the
container containing the paint base is perforated, and the fluid
product is delivered inside it. A known delivery unit is described
in the European patent application EP-A-2.040.830 in the name of
the Applicant. The residual fluid product on the tip of the
delivery needles, in contact with the air, tends to dry, usually in
the period of time between one delivery step and the next, with
negative effects on the performance of the delivery device or
machine. To overcome this disadvantage it is necessary to keep the
delivery needles damp and to this end the Applicant proposed, in
the past, a conditioning device described in the European patent
EP-B-1.494.959, or an anti-drying device described in the
aforementioned European patent EP-A-2.040.830.
[0003] Document US-A-2008/210774 describes an anti-drying device to
dampen the delivery nozzles of colorants which comprises a housing
which defines a first chamber to house a reserve tank for the water
and an open tray to hold a certain volume of water and in which a
heating element is provided to vaporize the water. The vapor passes
into a second open chamber of the tray, where the nozzles, when
they are idle, are exposed to the vapor. This solution has the
disadvantage that, as the tray and second chamber are open, it
needs excessive time and heat energy for the vaporization, as well
as a continuous consumption and topping up of water. Moreover, in
this solution the vapor exits from the dispensing machine creating
undesired humidity inside and outside it.
[0004] Purpose of the present invention is to achieve an
anti-drying device which has even greater performance and
efficiency than known anti-drying devices, which is economical,
rapid, functional, without negatively influencing the functioning
of other components of the associated dispensing machine.
[0005] The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present
invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and
to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is set forth and characterized in the
independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other
characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive
idea.
[0007] In accordance with the above purpose, an anti-drying device
according to the present invention can be used to humidify the
delivery means of fluid and semi-fluid products, pastes, gels,
creams such as for example coloring products, pigments or paints,
of a machine at least for the delivery and possibly for the
automatic preparation, mixing and distribution of at least a fluid
product into a closed receptacle, for example for the delivery of a
fluid coloring product into a receptacle which contains a paint
base.
[0008] The anti-drying device of the present invention comprises a
container or receptacle hermetically closed by means of a closing
lid and which has an inner volume inside which there is a fluid,
liquid and/or vapor, suitable to humidify possible residues of
fluid product on the delivery means.
[0009] The closing lid is configured both to confine the liquid
and/or the vapor inside the container and also to introduce and
house, through at least one of its portions, at least the ends of
the delivery means inside the closed container, so that they are in
contact with the liquid and/or vapor so as to prevent the drying
thereof.
[0010] When the delivery machine of the fluid product is idle, it
will be possible to insert the delivery means into the container in
which the liquid and/or vapor is present, preventing the drying of
possible residues of fluid product present thereon. With the
anti-drying device of the present invention, therefore, the
delivery means, for example the tips of the needles which deliver
the coloring substances, are prevented from drying during periods
of idleness.
[0011] The use of a liquid, typically water, which is partly
vaporized or heated, or exploiting the natural tension of vapor at
ambient temperature, creating an atmosphere saturated with vapor
inside the container in which the delivery means are at least
partly immersed, allows a more efficient humidifying action with
respect to known anti-drying devices.
[0012] Moreover, with the present invention, as the container is
hermetically closed by the closing lid, the vaporization times are
more rapid and, if necessary, there will be less heat energy
needed. Moreover, the vapor generated by heating, or in a natural
way by exploiting the vapor tension of the liquid at ambient
temperature, remains confined in the container, and this, as well
as eliminating the creation of undesired humidity on the components
of the dispensing machine and outside it, makes the integration of
liquid unnecessary.
[0013] In some forms of embodiment, the container is provided with
a closing lid which has a portion made, at least partly, with a
membrane of an elastic material able to dilate, when the delivery
means are inserted through it in order to be kept damp, during the
performance of the anti-drying action, and to re-compact, when the
delivery means are removed from the container, thus preventing the
fluid and vapor contained therein from leaking out.
[0014] The use of the membrane which acts as a closing element is
advantageous because it allows an optimal control of the humidity
inside the container.
[0015] Moreover, the presence of the membrane on the container has
the advantage that, when the delivery means are removed through it,
there is an effect of scraping the residues of fluid product
possibly present, contributing to increase the cleanliness of the
delivery means, obtaining a considerable improvement in the
delivery.
[0016] In some forms of embodiment, the anti-drying device of the
present invention comprises a mechanical arm, pivoted on a vertical
pin which bears a support plate of the fluid container at one end,
the mechanical arm being rotatable between a first operating
position in which the container is in cooperation with the delivery
means for the anti-drying action, and a second operating position,
rotated with respect to the first, where it is disengaged.
[0017] The present invention also concerns a method to humidify
delivery means for fluid and semi-fluid products, pastes, gels,
creams such as for example coloring products, pigments or paints,
of a machine at least for the automatic delivery of at least a
fluid product into a closed container. The method comprises a step
of introducing into a container or receptacle, hermetically closed
by means of a closing lid and which has an internal volume in which
there is a fluid, liquid and/or vapor, at least the ends of the
delivery means through a portion of the closing lid, confining the
liquid and/or vapor inside the container so that at least the ends
of the delivery means are in contact with the liquid and/or vapor,
so as to prevent them from drying out.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] These and other characteristics of the present invention
will become apparent from the following description of a
preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example
with reference to the attached drawings wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1 schematically shows a machine according to the
present invention for the automatic distribution of fluid coloring
products contained in receptacles;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a view from above, schematized, of the machine in
FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a partial plane view, enlarged and partly
sectioned, of the machine in FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a right lateral view, enlarged and partly
sectioned, of the machine in FIG. 1 in a first operating
condition;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a right lateral view, similar to the one in FIG.
4, of the machine in FIG. 1 in a second operating condition;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a rear view, enlarged and partly sectioned, of the
machine in FIG. 1 in the second operating condition of FIG. 5;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a variant of a part of the machine in FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 8 is another variant of the part in FIG. 7.
[0027] To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have
been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in
the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME FORMS OF EMBODIMENT
[0028] With reference to the attached drawings, an anti-drying
device 10 according to the present invention can be used to prevent
the drying of residues of fluid products in delivery needles 74 of
a delivery device 21 of a machine 75 to automatically deliver fluid
coloring products in closed receptacles 11. The anti-drying device
10 comprises a container or receptacle 79, hermetically closed by
means of a closing lid 82 and substantially similar to the
recipients 11, inside which a fluid or liquid is present, such as
water and/or aqueous vapor, and a support plate 78 on which the
container 79 is disposed, comprising heating means 81, in this case
an electric resistance integrated into it, by means of which to
heat-regulate the support plate 78 in order to generate and
maintain a desired quantity of liquid and vapor inside the
container 79. The heating means 81 can be set to a desired
temperature, to obtain the desired balance between liquid and vapor
inside the container 79. The closing lid 82 is configured both to
confine the liquid and/or vapor inside the container 79 and also to
allow the introduction, through at least one of its portions, of
the delivery needles 74 of the delivery device 21 inside the closed
container 79 so that they are in contact with the liquid and/or
vapor, so as to prevent them from drying out.
[0029] Advantageously, in the present invention the same closed
container 79 which contains the liquid by means of which the
anti-drying vapor is generated also comprises the heating means 81,
achieving a more compact device.
[0030] Moreover, since the container 79 is hermetically closed by
the closing lid 82, the liquid which generates the vapor is not
wasted, but remains confined inside the volume of the container 79,
without needing topping up or integrations and also without
dispersing inside or outside the machine 75. Moreover, as the
container 79 is closed, even the heat energy required for
evaporation will be less, with obvious saving in terms of time and
costs.
[0031] The container 79 can be attached in a selectively removable
way to the support plate 78. In some forms of embodiment, the
container 79 is provided with releasable attachment means 72 (FIG.
6), of the bayonet type for example, able to cooperate with mating
counter attachment means provided on the support plate 78, for an
easy attachment to the support plate 78.
[0032] In this way, the container 79 can be easily removed from the
support plate 78 to guarantee easy access and cleaning by the
specialized operator, seeing that, normally, after a certain number
of hours of functioning, the liquid contained will have to be
removed and substituted. The cleaning operation will be indicated
by the operating system which manages the functioning of the device
10 by means of a suitable message.
[0033] The sizes of the container 79, which can, for example, be a
cylindrical shaped can, are configured to house inside it at least
the part or end of the needles 74 on which, normally, there can be
residue of fluid product which is delivered. As the container 79 is
closed, with a liquid, for example water, inside it, and during
normal functioning, an atmosphere saturated with vapor, drying
phenomena in contact with air do not occur, which normally happens
with residues of fluid products on the needles 74.
[0034] In the form of embodiment shown, the closing lid 82 with
which the container 79 is provided has a portion made, at least
partly, with a membrane 83 of an elastic material able to dilate,
when the delivery needles 74 are inserted through it in order to be
kept damp, during the performance of the anti-drying action, and to
re-compact, when the needles 74 are removed, preventing the liquid
contained therein from leaking out.
[0035] A membrane of this type is described in the cited
application EP-A-2.040.830.
[0036] The membrane portion 83 of the closing lid 82 of the
container 79 is sized in a manner coordinated with the overall
plane bulk of the plurality of needles 74, so as to guarantee that
each of them is inserted inside the container 79 for the
anti-drying action.
[0037] In the attached drawings, as an example of an application
that does not restrict the scope of protection of the present
invention, the anti-drying device is shown used in a machine 75 for
the automatic preparation and distribution of fluid coloring
products, contained in closed receptacles 11, which in this case
comprises a support structure 12, divided into substantially three
modular compartments 13, 14 and 15, integrated with each other, as
described in the co-pending patent application in Italy of the
Applicant n. UD2010A000126 with the same priority date and entitled
"MACHINE FOR THE AUTOMATIC PREPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FLUID
COLORING PRODUCTS CONTAINED IN CLOSED RECEPTACLES".
[0038] The receptacles 11 (FIG. 5) can be either metal, such as
steel, or plastic material and can be a cylindrical shape or any
other shape, such as for example a parallelepiped, with a square or
rectangular base. Each of them can contain a fluid paint base,
which can be for example transparent or white, to which a colorant
is then added, substantially consisting of pigments. Each
receptacle 11 can be closed by a lid provided at the center with a
membrane, of a known type, which has the characteristic of being
holed by one or more needles and closing automatically when each
needle is removed, as is the case of the membrane 83 of the
container 79.
[0039] In the first compartment 13, which is the one on the extreme
left in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of tanks 20 are disposed (FIG.
1), which can be of any known type, for example as described in the
European patent EP-B-1.744.826, in the name of the present
Applicant, in each of which a different coloring substance is
contained.
[0040] In the second compartment 14, that is, the central one, a
delivery device 21 is disposed, which can be of any known type, for
example as described in the Italian patent IT-B-1.370.076, in the
name of the present Applicant. The delivery device 21 is connected
to the tanks 20 by means of pipes 23 (FIGS. 4 and 5) of any known
type.
[0041] In the third compartment 15 (FIG. 1), which is the one on
the extreme right, a mixing device 22 is disposed in this case,
which can be of any known type, for example of the type described
in the European patent EP-B-1.417.024 granted on 21.09.2005 to the
Applicant. In the front part or front-piece of the central
compartment 14 a loading station 25 (FIGS. 1 and 3) is disposed,
which comprises a plate 26, of a circular shape for example, which
acts as a support element and centering member for one receptacle
11 at a time. The loading station 25 has a first vertical axis Z1
(FIGS. 3-5).
[0042] Around the plate 26 and coaxial to the axis Z1 an access
door 29 is disposed, of a semi-circular shape and comprising, in
some forms of embodiment, two panels 29a and 29b, each of which has
an angular development of 90.degree. to act as a rotating
bushing.
[0043] In this case, transfer means 30 (FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5) are
able to selectively and automatically transfer the receptacle 11,
together with the plate 26, both from the loading station 25 to the
delivery device 21, along a first horizontal axis X, and from the
delivery device 21 to the mixing device 22, along a second
horizontal axis Y, perpendicular to the axis X, and vice versa, to
return them to the loading station 25.
[0044] On the front part of the right-hand compartment 15 (FIG. 2)
data input means 50 are disposed, connected to a central control
unit 59 (FIG. 1) and able to be actuated by the user in order to
choose the sizes and the capacity of the receptacle 11, the type of
paint base and/or the color of the fluid coloring product to be
obtained.
[0045] The delivery device 21 (FIGS. 4 and 5) comprises a plate 73
on which the needles 74 are mounted, disposed parallel and
concentric to the vertical axis Z2 and each connected to a
corresponding pipe 23. The plate 73 is mobile vertically along the
vertical axis Z2 by means of an electric motor, of a known type and
not shown in the drawings, which is also controlled by the central
control unit 59.
[0046] In some forms of embodiment, the anti-drying device 10
(FIGS. 3-6) used in the machine 75 comprises a mechanical arm 76,
pivoted on a vertical pin 77 which bears the support plate 78 at
one end, which can be heat-regulated with the electric resistance
81 integrated in it, on which the container 79 is removably
disposed. The mechanical arm 76 is rotatable by means of an
electric motor 80, controlled by the central control unit 59,
between a first operating position in which it is aligned with the
horizontal axis Y (FIGS. 3 and 4) and a second operating position,
rotated by 90.degree. with respect to the first, that is, parallel
to the horizontal axis X (FIGS. 5 and 6 and shown by dashes in FIG.
3).
[0047] In the first operating condition (FIGS. 3 and 4) the
container 79 is coaxial to the second vertical axis Z2 and the
plate 73 is lowered against the container 79 (FIG. 4), so that the
tips of the needles 74 are inside the latter, remaining damp thanks
to the liquid and/or vapor contained therein. In the second
operating position (FIGS. 3, 5 and 6) the container 79 is coaxial
to a fourth vertical axis Z4, outside the bulk of the plate 26 and
of the plate 73.
[0048] The method with which the anti-drying device 10 as described
heretofore is used functions in the machine 75 as follows.
[0049] First of all, there is a step in which the user, by means of
the data input means 50, chooses and selects the characteristics of
the specific fluid product that he intends to purchase. The user
takes the type of receptacle 11 from a store or shelf which
contains the type of paint base for example and which has the
capacity he has chosen, and positions it in the loading station 25
(FIG. 1), centering it on the plate 26. The access door 29 (FIGS. 2
and 3) is closed so that the two panels 29a and 29b are disposed in
front of the receptacle 11 (position shown by dashes in FIGS. 2 and
3) and therefore so that nobody can access the loading station 25,
until the end of the operating cycle.
[0050] The central control unit 59 can automatically carry out a
step to verify that the receptacle 11 is the type chosen by the
user, and also that it is centered on the plate 26, possibly
inviting the user to correct the positioning or substitute the
receptacle 11.
[0051] The central control unit 59, moreover, sets and activates
the functioning of the heating means 81, in order to have the
desired atmosphere saturated with vapor inside the container 79.
Normally, at the beginning, the needles 74 of the delivery device
21 are inserted in the container 79, to prevent drying.
[0052] If the verification step is positive, the central control
unit 59 automatically carries out a step of preparing the delivery
device 21, lifting first the plate 73 (FIG. 5) and then rotating
the mechanical arm 76 by 90.degree. in a clockwise direction (FIG.
3), by means of the electric motor 80, to bring it together with
the container 10 into the second operating position, aligned with
the vertical axis Z4.
[0053] A positioning step is then carried out, under the control of
the central control unit 59, by means of the transfer means 30, to
position the receptacle 11 aligned to the vertical axis Z2, instead
of the container 79, and to deliver coloring substances inside the
receptacle 11. The plate 73 of the delivery device 21 is lowered
until the needles 74 have their tips inside the receptacle 11
(position shown by dashes in FIG. 5). The pipes 23 then convey into
the receptacle 11, by means of volumetric pumps of a known type and
not shown in the drawings, the necessary quantity of coloring
substance contained in the tanks 20, so as to achieve the shade of
color chosen by the user. When delivery is complete, the plate 73
is raised.
[0054] The central control unit 59 automatically carries out a
second step of transferring the receptacle 11 (FIGS. 10 and 11)
from the delivery device 21 (vertical axis Z2) to the mixing device
22 (vertical axis Z3), by means of the transfer means 30. The
central control unit 59 then carries out a step of mixing the
product contained inside the receptacle 11 (paint base plus
coloring substances), commanding, in a known way, the mixing device
22, which stirs the receptacle 11 for a predetermined time. When
the mixing step is finished, the central control unit 59 commands
the inverse operations, until the receptacle 11 is returned to the
loading station 25. In particular, the electric motor 80 returns
the container 79 to the first operating position, aligned with the
vertical axis Z2, and the plate 73 of the delivery device 21 is
lowered to return the tips of the needles 74 inside the container
79 and thus prevent the possible residues from drying out, such as
coloring pigments. The panels 29a and 29b (FIGS. 2 and 3) can then
be returned (manually or automatically) to their initial condition
behind the plate 26. At this point the user can remove the
receptacle 11 containing inside it the coloring product he
requested.
[0055] It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may
be made to the anti-drying device 10 as described heretofore,
without departing from the field and scope of the present
invention.
[0056] According to a variant, the hermetically sealed container 79
can be the disposable type, and comprise inside it a liquid that
has its own vapor tension, advantageously water or a suitable
aqueous mixture, so as to generate a desired quantity of vapor
which, thanks to the closing lid 82, stays confined inside the
volume of the container 79, where the needles can be introduced for
damping (FIGS. 7 and 8). In this solution, it might not be
necessary to supply additional heat energy for vaporization, and
therefore the heating means 81 might not be provided, as in FIG. 8,
or they could be included, integrated in the support plate 78, to
function as an auxiliary for the vaporization as in FIG. 7. In this
variant, the disposable container 79 is housed in a fixed external
container 85 which advantageously has attachment means, for example
bayonet type, for releasable attachment to the support plate 78
(FIG. 8).
[0057] Advantageously, sensor means 87 can be provided, able to
recognize the presence or absence of the container 79, so as to
transmit a correlated warning signal by means of the central
control unit 59 of the machine 75, so that it provides for the
correct positioning of the container 79: this may be advantageous
in the case of a disposable container 79 as described above. In the
solution shown in FIG. 7 the sensor means 87 are for example
embedded on the internal upper edge of the external fixed container
85.
[0058] Furthermore, in some variants, in order to improve the
cleaning of the needles, a sponge element 84 is provided (FIG. 8),
preferably of the disposable type, associated above the container
79, for example interposed between the closing lid 82 with the
membrane 83 and the container itself, the function of which is to
collect any possible drops of colorant or dirt that remain on the
surface of the needles 74 after the membrane 83 has been
scraped.
[0059] It is also clear that, although the present invention has
been described with reference to examples, a person of skill in the
art will be able to achieve other equivalent forms of anti-drying
device, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and
hence all coming within the field of protection defined
thereby.
* * * * *