Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
In a dyestuff applicator comprising a nozzle for spraying dyestuff onto a substrate to be patterned, the improvement wherein said nozzle comprises: a housing forming a dyestuff chamber with an end wall provided with a discharge orifice centered on an axis; a valve needle in said housing having a tip receivable in said orifice; actuating means operatively coupled with said valve needle for selectively blocking and unblocking said orifice by displacing said valve needle along said axis; and mounting means for movably supporting said valve needle on a generally cylindrical part of said housing centered on said axis, said mounting means including at least one membrane of resilient foil material comprising an outer ring centered on said axis and a tongue integral with said outer ring projecting radially inwardly from a sector thereof toward a diametrically opposite sector, said tongue being split into two slender branches which diverge at an acute angle and are interconnected near said opposite sector by an integral web with a re-entrant strip extending radially in a generally triangular gap between said branches and terminating in an inner ring centered on said axis, said valve needle being engaged by said inner ring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
In a dyestuff applicator comprising a nozzle for spraying dyestuff onto a substrate to be patterned, the improvement wherein said nozzle comprises: a housing forming a dyestuff chamber with an end wall provided with a discharge orifice centered on an axis; a valve needle in said housing having a tip receivable in said orifice; actuating means operatively coupled with said valve needle for selectively blocking and unblocking said orifice by displacing said valve needle along said axis; and mounting means for movably supporting said valve needle on a generally cylindrical part of said housing centered on said axis, said mounting means including at least one membrane of resilient foil material comprising an outer ring centered on said axis and a tongue integral with said outer ring projecting radially inwardly from a sector thereof toward a diametrically opposite sector, said tongue being split into two slender branches which diverge at an acute angle and are interconnected near said opposite sector by an integral web with a re-entrant strip extending radially in a generally triangular gap between said branches and terminating in an inner ring centered on said axis, said valve needle being engaged by said inner ring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said branches decrease in width up to a region of intersection with a transverse plane passing through said axis and thereafter broaden up to their junction with said web.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement defined in claim 2 wherein said gap is of substantially constant width between said transverse plane and the free end of said tongue.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The improvement defined in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said mounting means includes a second membrane substantially identical with the first-mentioned membrane, said membranes being interconnected by a sleeve secured to their inner rings and traversed by said valve needle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said orifice has an entrance end lined with a thermoplastic bushing engageable by said tip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The improvement defined in claim 5 wherein said bushing consists of polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said orifice opens onto an outer surface of said end wall provided with an annular ridge surrounding an exit end of said orifice.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement defined in claim 7 wherein said outer surface is provided with an absorptive annular pad spacedly surrounding said ridge for picking up leaking dyestuff.