AUTOMATIC BODY SPRAY SYSTEM
An embodiment of an automatic body spray control system may include an atomization nozzle, a linear slide coupled to the atomization nozzle and configured to move the atomization nozzle vertically up and down, a user interface, and a controller for controlling the operation of the linear slide and the user interface.
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This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/650,323 filed on Jan. 5, 2007, which claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/756,304 filed on Jan. 5, 2006, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUNDThere are many lotions and products applied to the human body for cosmetic purposes. These products include moisturizers, sunscreens, anti-aging treatments, UV tanning accelerators, sunless tanning products and much more. There are numerous forms of artificial tanning products currently available, including lotions, creams, gels, oils, and sprays. These products are typically mixtures of a chemically-active skin colorant or a bronzer, in combination with moisturizers, preservatives, anti-microbials, thickeners, solvents, emulsifiers, fragrances, surfactants, stabilizers, sunscreens, pH adjusters, anti-caking agents, and additional ingredients to alter the color reaction.
There exist many automated systems for applying artificial tanning products and often include a closed booth provided with a spraying system. The spraying systems typically use high pressure compressed air nozzles, along with a fluid supplied to the nozzle to create an atomized spray directed towards the body. Currently, these booths are mostly closed, are limited to applying only one product per session, and create a foggy closed environment for the user.
In the accompanying drawings and descriptions that follow, like parts are indicated throughout the drawings and description with the same reference numerals, respectively. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that one element can be designed as multiple elements or that multiple elements can be designed as one element. An element shown as an internal component of another element can be implemented as an external component and vice versa. The figures are not drawn to scale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated for convenience of illustration.
In a preferred embodiment, the system 100 can be employed to apply sunless tanning solutions as well as other solutions onto a human body 109. Exemplary sunless-tanning solutions include one or more colorants, such as dihydroxyacetone, crotonaldehyde, pyruvaldehyde, glycolaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, otho-phthaldehyde. sorbose, fructose, erythrulose, methylvinylketone, food coloring, or any other available colorant. The sunless tanning solutions can additionally or alternatively include one or more bronzers, such as lawsone, juglone, or any other available bronzer. It will be appreciated that the sunless-tanning solutions can include additional ingredients, such as moisturizers and scents, to make the solution more appealing to a user.
While the system 100 can be employed as a sunless tanning spray system, it can also be employed to spray other fluids onto the human body. For example, the system 100 can be configured to spray sunscreens, suntan lotions, moisturizing lotions, sunless tanning pre-spray treatments, tanning accelerators, sunburn treatments, insect repellants, skin toners, skin bleaches, skin lighteners, anti-microbial compositions, exfoliants, nutriments or vitamins, massage aides, muscle relaxants, skin treatment agents, burn treatment agents, decontamination agents, cosmetics, or wrinkle treatments or removers, or any other solution or lotion desired to be applied to the human body.
As shown in
Each HVLP nozzle 106a,b is coupled to a linear slide (not shown) that is configured to move the HVLP nozzles 106a,b up and down vertically, thereby adjusting the vertical of the HVLP nozzle 106a,b. In this configuration, the HVLP nozzles 106a,b are moveably mounted to the spray column 102, such that the spray pattern of the HVLP nozzles 106a,b is sufficient to completely coat the human body 109 with a desired fluid, solution, or lotion.
In an alternative embodiment as shown in
With reference back to
As shown in
As discussed in more detail above, the fluid containers 160a-c can hold sunless tanning solutions or other types of fluids. In one embodiment, each fluid container 160a-c can hold a different sunless-tanning solution. The different solutions can have different chemical compositions which affect the hue of the resulting tan. Alternatively, one fluid container (e.g., the first fluid container 160a) can contain water or another dilution agent to dilute a solution contained in the second solution container (e.g., the second fluid container 160b). The contents of the different fluid containers can be mixed in various combinations to provide a range of shades, thereby allowing the user to select a preferred tanning shade. Also, the fluid containers can hold other types of solutions to be applied to the human body. One control method for applying the solutions can be to apply a first atomized solution, dry the body with air only coming from the HVLP nozzles, apply a second atomized solution, dry the body with air only coming from the HVLP nozzles, apply a third atomized solution and then dry the body with air only coming from the HVLP nozzles.
In one embodiment, the fluid containers 160a-c are removable. Alternatively, the spray column 102 can house fixed fluid containers that can be filled with solution while still in spray column 102 when the solution level falls below a predetermined threshold.
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the controller 122 is configured to control the operation of the system 100. Specifically, the controller 122 is configured to operate the HVLP nozzles, HVLP turbine, pumps, valves, and other electrical or electro-mechanical devices in the system 100. Suitable controllers can include a processor, a microprocessor, a control circuit, a PLC, or any other appropriate control device.
With continued reference to
With reference back to
The mist extraction column 103 also provides for an internal column wash down nozzle 147. This column wash down nozzle 147 can be used to clean the inside of the mist extraction column 103 to eliminate the buildup of any spray residue that may occur. This internal column wash down nozzle 147 can have a water supply line connected to it with a solenoid valve (not shown). This solenoid valve can be activated by the controller 122 to provide for a mist extraction column 103 cleansing cycle after each spray session or at desired intervals. In another embodiment, a manual valve could be used to control the water supply to the internal column wash down nozzle 147. The number of fans, filters, and nozzles or orientation of the fans, filters, and nozzles can be modified as needed.
The fluid spraying system 100 can include additional components without departing from the scope of the present application. For example, the system 100 can include fluid detection sensors (not shown) disposed near the bottom of each fluid container 160a,b,c. The fluid detection sensors can be configured to sense the solution level in each fluid container 160a,b,c. When the solution level falls below a predetermined threshold, the fluid detection sensors can be configured to transmit a signal to the controller 122. Upon receipt of the signal, the controller 122 can deactivate the fluid spraying system 100 to prevent air from being pulled into one or all of the fluid flow paths F1, F2, and F3. Exemplary fluid detection sensors that can be employed include capacitive solution detection switches, optical sensors, or piezoelectric sensors.
Also, the fluid spraying system 100 can include a heating element (not shown), such as a heating coil or other heating device, that can be placed around or adjacent to the first and/or second and/or third fluid flow paths F1, F2, F3 thereby creating a warm, atomized mist of fluid that can be ejected from the nozzles 106a,b. Additionally, a heating element can be placed around or inside the air flow path A1. Alternatively, heating elements can be placed around or adjacent to one or all of the fluid containers 160a,b,c.
In one specific method to coat the human body, the method can include spraying can the atomized mixture of HVLP air and fluid onto the body and then turning off the fluid supply and moving the nozzles up and down with the HVLP air still on to dry the body. The speed, volume, and temperature natural to the HVLP air source is ideal for drying the body. Hence, the same nozzles that apply the atomized solution can also be used as a drying source when the solution is turned off and the air is turned on.
The system 100 described above and illustrated in the figures provides one or more of the following benefits: (1) the system does not require a large external air compressor for air delivery method, (2) the atomized spray using an HVLP air supply does not produce a lingering fog of mist and over spray, because of the lack of fog and over spray, (3) the system does not need to be completely enclosed to capture excess mist and keep it from escaping into the surrounding environment, (4) the user is not subjected to breath or be surrounded by excess fog or mist, and the transfer efficiency of the atomized fluid onto the human body is much higher than with compressed air systems, (5) the system allows many different types of products to be applied to the human body in one application session, (6) the system employs the use of a convenient slide out drawer to access the solution containers for multiple products to be applied, and (7) the system can be programmed to apply a fluid to only user specified areas of the body.
While the present application has been illustrated by the description of embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the application, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the specific details, the representative apparatus, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures can be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general inventive concept. The system is not designed solely for sunless tanning products or for the purpose for spraying a human body. It can accommodate almost any type of product being sprayed.
Claims
1. An automatic body spray control system comprising:
- at least one fluid reservoir;
- at least one fluid pump fluidly coupled to the at least one fluid reservoir;
- an atomization nozzle;
- a linear slide coupled to the nozzle and configured to move the nozzle vertically up and down;
- a user interface; and
- a controller for controlling the operation of the fluid pump, the linear slide, and the user interface.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller has pre-programmed parameters stored therein including fluid pump values, linear slide speed, nozzle position, and number of spray passes.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the pre-programmed parameters are adjustable via the user interface.
4. The system of claim 1, further including a height sensor in signal communication with the controller and configured to automatically adjust nozzle position for the sensed height.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured to received input from a user to allow the user to adjust nozzle position.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to input spray variables, such spray variables comprising:
- entire body spray or a portion of the body to be sprayed; and
- a desired solution or combination of solutions to be sprayed.
7. An automatic body spray control system comprising:
- an atomization nozzle;
- a linear slide coupled to the atomization nozzle and configured to move the atomization nozzle vertically up and down;
- a user interface; and
- a controller operably connected to the linear slide and the user interface for controlling the operation of the linear slide and the user interface.
8. The system of claim 7, the controller configured to receive data from the user interface indicating a selected body portion to spray, where the controller in turn causes the linear slide to move the atomization nozzle to spray the selected body portion.
9. The system of claim 8, the controller configured to receive data from the user interface indicating height of the selected body portion, where the controller in turn causes the linear slide to move the atomization nozzle to a start spraying position corresponding to the height of the selected body portion.
10. The system of claim 7, the controller configured to receive data from the user interface indicating height of a subject, where the controller in turn causes the linear slide to move the atomization nozzle to a start spraying position corresponding to the height of the subject.
11. The system of claim 7, comprising a height monitoring sensor in signal communication to the controller and configured to sense height of a subject and communicate the height of the subject to the controller for the controller to cause the linear slide to move the atomization nozzle to a start spraying position corresponding to the height of the subject.
12. The system of claim 7, the controller configured to receive data from the user interface indicating selection of a single spray application within a session.
13. The system of claim 12, the controller configured to receive data from the user interface indicating a user selected solution to spray during the single spray application.
14. The system of claim 12, comprising at least one fluid pump fluidly coupled to the atomization nozzle, the controller configured to receive data from the user interface indicating a user selected spray intensity level corresponding to a pre-programmed fluid pump speed.
15. The system of claim 7, the controller configured to receive data from the user interface indicating selection of one or more of multiple spray applications and multiple drying air passes within a session.
16. The system of claim 15, the controller configured to receive data from the user interface indicating a first user selected solution to spray during a first application within the session and a second user selected solution to spray during a second application within the session.
17. The system of claim 15, comprising at least one fluid pump fluidly coupled to the atomization nozzle, the controller configured to receive data from the user interface indicating a first user selected spray intensity level corresponding to a first pre-programmed fluid pump speed and a second user selected spray intensity level corresponding to a second pre-programmed fluid pump speed.
18. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller has pre-programmed parameters stored therein, the pre-programmed parameters selected from the group consisting of spray intensity level, linear slide speeds, nozzle start spraying positions, number of spray passes, and number of drying air passes.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the pre-programmed parameters are adjustable via the user interface.
20. The system of claim 7, the controller configured to receive from the user interface data representing one or more spray variables, the one or more spray variables selected from the group consisting of:
- entire body spray or a portion of the body to be sprayed;
- linear slide speed;
- nozzle start spraying position;
- nozzle stop spraying position;
- a number of spray passes;
- a number of drying air passes;
- a desired solution or combination of solutions to be sprayed; and
- a desired fluid flow rate.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 23, 2009
Publication Date: Jun 10, 2010
Applicant: MT Industries, Inc. (Macedonia, OH)
Inventors: Scott Thomason (Macedonia, OH), Nicholas J. Mastandrea (Chardon, OH)
Application Number: 12/623,687
International Classification: G05D 7/00 (20060101); B05B 15/12 (20060101);