Gantry tower spraying system with cartridge/receptacle assembly

• US 7,992,517 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2010
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SUNLESS Incorporated (Sunless Holding Co.)
• Original Assignee: MT Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Cooper, Steven C., Croft, Ricky C., Cooper, Troy H.
• Primary Examiner(s): KOCH, GEORGE R
• Application Number:
  US12/686,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20100175618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 118/679, 118/680, 118/681, 118/684, 118/685, 118/695, 118/696, 118/300, 118/323, 206/385, 215/100, 215/384, 215/43, 220/274, 220/540, 220/676, 222/165, 222/325, 222/326, 222/327, 222/89, 604/289, 604/290, 604/296
• US Class Current: 118/681
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/057 Spray nozzles; Generating atomised liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/207 Vibration, e.g. ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/0405 with reciprocating or oscillating spray heads B05B13/0436, B05B13/0442, B05B13/0447, B05B13/0468 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 16/00 Spray booths arrangements for collecting, re-using or eliminating excess spraying material in spray booths B05B14/40
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/03 characterised by the use of gas , e.g. electrostatically assisted pneumatic spraying B05B5/04, B05B5/043, B05B5/047 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/043 using induction-charging
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/08 Plant for applying liquids or other fluent materials to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/16 Arrangements for supplying liquids or other fluent material
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2408 characterised by the container or its attachment means to the spray apparatus

Abstract

A gantry tower spraying system with a cartridge/receptacle assembly includes a gantry and a spray assembly coupled to the gantry to allow for translational movement of the spray assembly along the gantry. The spray assembly includes a receptacle for receiving a cartridge containing a cosmetic liquid for skin treatment, and a spray nozzle coupled to the receptacle for receiving the cosmetic liquid and dispensing the cosmetic liquid in a spray. The receptacle has an inner surface of a size and shape to generally conform to a size and shape of a portion of an outer surface of the cartridge. The spraying system can further be provided with an oscillation mechanism adapted to cause oscillation of the spray nozzle. The bottle can be provided with a keying mechanism for engaging a corresponding key structure of the receptacle.

Claims

1. A spray system for dispensing a cosmetic liquid for skin treatment, the spray system comprising:

a bottle comprising;

a bottle body configured to contain a cosmetic liquid for skin treatment;

a neck including an opening for dispensing the cosmetic liquid from the bottle body; and

a seal affixed to the neck of the bottle and configured to close the opening; and

a receptacle comprising;

a receptacle body having an inner surface defined by a central bore, the inner surface being of a size and shape to generally conform to the size and shape of the bottle;

a hollow needle at a base of the central bore configured to puncture the seal affixed to the neck of the bottle; and

a tube coupled to the hollow needle and configured to supply air into the bottle through the hollow needle so as to facilitate draining of the cosmetic liquid into the receptacle body; and

a spray nozzle connected to a drain opening in the receptacle body by a fluid channel configured to convey the drained cosmetic liquid from the receptacle body to the spray nozzle.

2. The spray system of claim 1, wherein the bottle is a keyed bottle including a keying mechanism longitudinally extending along at least a portion of the bottle body, the keying mechanism comprising a longitudinal extending channel formed in an exterior surface the bottle body.

3. The spray system of claim 1, wherein the bottle is sized to contain a volume of the cosmetic liquid not to exceed an amount needed for a single spraying session use.

4. The spray system of claim 1, wherein the bottle is a keyed bottle including a keying mechanism longitudinally extending along at least a portion of the bottle body, the receptacle including a key structure extending along a portion of the inner surface of the receptacle body, the key structure configured to engage the keying mechanism of the keyed bottle;

the key structure comprising a cylindrical rod forming a ridge with an exposed hemispherical surface, the cylindrical rod being aligned with the key mechanism of the keyed bottle when the keyed bottle is inserted into the receptacle body.

5. The spray system of claim 1, wherein the central bore of the receptacle body defines a chamber portion located above the base of the central bore for receiving the cosmetic liquid drained from of the bottle upon insertion of the bottle into the receptacle body and puncturing of the seal.

6. The spray system of claim 5, further comprising a seal ring positioned within the chamber portion to seal against an outer surface portion of the keyed bottle upon insertion of the keyed bottle into the receptacle body.

7. The spray system of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing adapted to contain at least a portion of the receptacle and at least a portion of the spray nozzle.

8. The spray system of claim 7 further comprising:

a translation mechanism coupled to the housing, the translation mechanism adapted to cause translational movement of the housing.

9. The spray system of claim 7, further comprising oscillation mechanism coupled to the spray nozzle, the oscillation mechanism adapted to cause oscillation of the spray nozzle.

10. A spray system for dispensing a cosmetic liquid for skin treatment, the spray system comprising:

a receptacle comprising a liquid chamber configured to receive a bottle containing a cosmetic liquid for skin treatment, the liquid chamber including a drain opening at a base thereof and a hollow needle extending from the base thereof, said hollow needle configured to puncture a seal of the received bottle, said hollow needle further passing air into the bottle through the hollow needle so as to facilitate draining of the cosmetic liquid from the received bottle and into the liquid chamber;

a spray nozzle coupled to the drain opening in the liquid chamber for receiving the drained cosmetic liquid from the receptacle and dispensing the cosmetic liquid in a spray;

a housing for containing at least a portion of the receptacle and at least a portion of the spray nozzle; and

a mechanism adapted to cause movement of the spray emitted of the spray nozzle.

11. The spray system of claim 10, wherein the mechanism produces a translational movement of the housing simultaneously with an oscillation movement of the spray nozzle.

12. The spray system of claim 10, wherein the mechanism produces a translational movement that comprises a bidirectional translational movement.

13. The spray system of claim 10, wherein the mechanism further comprises:

a guide rail; and

a trolley having a first side coupled to the guide rail and a second side coupled to the housing such that the trolley can slide along the guide rail to facilitate a translational movement of the housing.

14. The spray system of claim 13, further comprising:

a first pulley assembly coupled to a first end of the guide rail;

a second pulley assembly coupled to a second end of the guide rail;

a guide belt wrapped along the first pulley assembly and the second pulley assembly, the guide belt coupled to the trolley to facilitate the translational movement.

15. The spray system of claim 14, further comprising:

a motor drive coupled to the first pulley assembly, the first pulley assembly causing movement of the guide belt in response to actuation of the motor drive.

16. The spray system of claim 13 further comprising:

a wheel rotationally supported by the trolley, the wheel contacting an edge of the guide rail such that translational movement of the trolley imparts rotation to the wheel;

an actuation lever coupled to the spray nozzle;

a first arm axially mounted to the wheel;

a second arm coupled to the actuation lever; and

a bar coupling the first arm to the second arm,

wherein the rotation of the wheel imparts rotation of the first arm, the rotation of the first arm producing an oscillatory movement of the second arm.

17. The spray system of claim 16, wherein the oscillatory movement of the second arm imparts an oscillatory movement of the actuation lever, the oscillatory movement of the actuation level causing an oscillation of the spray nozzle.

18. The spray system of claim 10, wherein the receptacle comprises:

the liquid chamber having an inner surface defined by a central bore, the inner surface being of a size and shape to generally conform to the size and shape of a keyed bottle containing the cosmetic liquid; and

a key structure extending along a portion of the inner surface, the key structure for engaging a keying mechanism of the keyed bottle, the keying mechanism being of a size and shape to conform to the size and shape of the key structure.

19. The spray system of claim 18, wherein the key structure comprises a cylindrical rod forming a ridge with an exposed hemispherical surface, the cylindrical rod being aligned with the key mechanism of the keyed bottle when the keyed bottle is inserted into the receptacle body.

20. The spray system of claim 18, wherein the keying mechanism of the keyed bottle comprises a longitudinal extending channel formed in an exterior surface the keyed bottle.

21. The spray system of claim 18, wherein the keyed bottle is sized to contain a volume of the cosmetic liquid not to exceed an amount needed for a single spraying session use.

22. The spray system of claim 10, wherein the liquid chamber has an inner surface defined by a central bore, and further including a seal ring along the inner surface for sealing against the bottle upon insertion of the bottle into the receptacle body, said sealing precluding liquid drained from the bottle from overflowing out of the liquid chamber.

23. The spray system of claim 10, further comprising a vent tube coupled to the hollow needle for allowing the venting air to enter the bottle through the hollow needle to facilitate draining of the cosmetic liquid into the liquid chamber.

24. The spray system of claim 10, wherein the receptacle body further comprises a fluid channel for conveying the cosmetic liquid from the drain opening to the spray nozzle.

25. The spray system of claim 10 further comprising:

a controller to control the movement of the spray emitted from the spray nozzle.

26. The spray system of claim 10 further comprising:

a spray booth for containing the receptacle, the spray nozzle, the housing, and the mechanism.

27. A spray system for dispensing a cosmetic liquid for skin treatment, the spray system comprising:

a gantry;

a spray assembly coupled to the gantry and adapted for translational movement along the gantry, the spray assembly comprising;

a receptacle configured to receive a cartridge having an outer surface, the cartridge for containing a cosmetic liquid for skin treatment;

the receptacle defining a chamber having an inner surface of a size and shape to generally conform to a size and shape of a portion of the outer surface of the cartridge, the chamber having a base, a drain opening in the base and a hollow needle extending from the base, the hollow needle configured to puncture a seal on the cartridge in a manner permitting the cosmetic liquid to drain from the cartridge and fill the chamber of the receptacle, said hollow needle further passing air from external to the cartridge to enter the cartridge through the hollow needle; and

a spray nozzle coupled to the drain opening in the chamber for receiving the drained cosmetic liquid from the receptacle and dispensing the cosmetic liquid in a spray.

28. The spray system of claim 27 further comprising:

an oscillation mechanism coupled to the spray nozzle, the oscillation mechanism adapted to cause oscillation of the spray nozzle.

29. The spray system of claim 27, wherein the gantry further comprises:

a translation mechanism coupled to the spray assembly, the translation mechanism adapted to cause the translational movement of the spray assembly.

30. The spray system of claim 27, wherein the chamber has an inner surface defined by a central bore, and further including a seal ring along the inner surface for sealing against the cartridge upon insertion of the cartridge into the receptacle, said sealing precluding liquid drained from the cartridge from overflowing out of the chamber.

31. The spray system of claim 27, wherein the cartridge is sized to contain a volume of the cosmetic liquid not to exceed an amount needed for a single spray session use.

32. The spray system of claim 27, wherein the cartridge comprises a reusable cartridge.

33. The spray system of claim 27, wherein the cartridge comprises a refillable cartridge.

34. A spray system for dispensing a cosmetic liquid for skin treatment, the spray system comprising:

a gantry; and

a spray assembly coupled to the gantry and adapted for translational movement along the gantry in a first direction, the spray assembly comprising;

a housing;

a receptacle contained within at least a portion of the housing, the receptacle configured to receive a cartridge containing a cosmetic liquid for skin treatment, the receptacle including a liquid chamber having an inner surface of a size and shape to generally conform to a size and shape of a portion of the outer surface of the cartridge;

wherein the liquid chamber includes a base, a drain opening formed in the base and a hollow needle extending from the base, the hollow needle configured with a shape to puncture a seal of the received cartridge in a manner permitting cosmetic liquid to drain from the cartridge around an outer surface of the hollow needle and into the liquid chamber while passing air from external to the cartridge into the cartridge through the hollow needle; and

a spray nozzle mounted within at least a portion of the housing, the spray nozzle being coupled to the receptacle for receiving the cosmetic fluid from the receptacle and dispensing the cosmetic fluid in a spray in at least a second direction.

35. The spray system of claim 34 further comprising:

an oscillation mechanism coupled to the spray nozzle, the oscillation mechanism adapted to cause an oscillating dispensing of the cosmetic fluid by the spray nozzle.

36. The spray system of claim 34, wherein the gantry further comprises:

a translation mechanism coupled to the spray assembly, the translation mechanism adapted to cause the translational movement of the spray assembly in the first direction.

37. The spray system of claim 34, wherein the liquid chamber has an inner surface defined by a central bore, and further including a seal ring along the inner surface for sealing against the cartridge upon insertion of the cartridge into the receptacle, said sealing precluding liquid drained from the cartridge from overflowing out of the liquid chamber.

38. The spray system of claim 34, wherein the cartridge is sized to contain a volume of the cosmetic liquid not to exceed an amount needed for a single use.

39. The spray system of claim 34, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.