Sprayer

Abstract

A sprayer which inhibits or prevents clogging from occurring in a nozzle when a liquid is ejected from the nozzle at least one liquid flow path through which a liquid passes, a gas flow path connectable to a source of gas and along which a gas passes for ejecting the liquid, a first liquid supply connected to the at least one liquid flow path, and a gas permeable film including a plurality of through holes disposed along at least a portion of a wall defining the at least one liquid flow path, the gas permeable film being impermeable to the liquid and permeable to the gas such that the gas introduced into the gas flow path flows through the gas permeable film and into the at least one liquid flow path, thereby atomizing the liquid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of applying a liquid to a living body part with a sprayer comprising:
 conveying the liquid along a liquid flow path of the sprayer;   conveying a gas along a gas flow path of the sprayer;   passing the gas through a gas permeable film possessing a plurality of through pores so that the gas in the gas flow path flows through the through pores and atomizes the liquid; and   applying the atomized liquid onto the living body part with the sprayer.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising preventing the liquid from flowing through the pores of the gas permeable film. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid comprises an adhesive material and said applying step comprises applying the adhesive material onto the living body part with the sprayer. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid comprises an anti-adhesive material and said applying step comprises applying the anti-adhesive material onto the living body part with the sprayer. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid is a first liquid conveyed along a first liquid flow path and the gas permeable film is a first gas permeable film, and further comprising:
 conveying a second liquid along a second liquid flow path that is separate from the first liquid flow path;   passing the gas through a second gas permeable film positioned between the second liquid flow path and the gas flow path, the second gas permeable film possessing a plurality of through pores so that the gas in the gas flow path flows through the through pores of the second gas permeable film and into the second liquid flow path to atomize the second liquid;   mixing together the atomized first liquid and the atomized second liquid to form a mixture which is applied to the living body part.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the gas is passed through a plurality of spaced apart first gas permeable films positioned between the first liquid flow path and the gas flow path, and wherein the gas is passed through a plurality of spaced apart second gas permeable films positioned between the second liquid flow path and the gas flow path. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid is a first liquid conveyed along a first liquid flow path, and further comprising:
 conveying a second liquid along a second liquid flow path that is separate from the first liquid flow path;   combining the first liquid and the second liquid in the interior of a merge part to form a combined liquid comprised of the first and second liquids; and   passing the gas through the gas permeable film positioned between the gas flow path and the merge part so that the gas passing through the through pores of the gas permeable film atomizes the combined liquid;   wherein applying the atomized liquid includes applying the atomized combined liquid to the living body part.   
     
     
         8 . A method of applying a liquid to a living body part with a sprayer comprising:
 providing a sprayer including at least one liquid flow path through which a liquid passes, and a gas flow path connectable to a source of gas and along which the gas passes for ejecting the liquid; a first liquid supply connected to the at least one liquid flow path; a gas permeable film including a plurality of through holes disposed along at least a portion of a wall defining the at least one liquid flow path, the gas permeable film being impermeable to the liquid and permeable to the gas such that the gas introduced into the gas flow path from the gas source flows through the gas permeable film and into the at least one liquid flow path thereby atomizing the liquid;   conveying the liquid along the at least one liquid flow path of the sprayer;   conveying the gas along the gas flow path of the sprayer;   passing the gas through the gas permeable film so that the gas in the gas flow path flows through the through holes and atomizes the liquid flowing along the at least one liquid flow path; and   applying the atomized liquid onto the living body part with the sprayer.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising preventing the liquid from flowing through the holes of the gas permeable film. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the liquid comprises an adhesive material and said applying step comprises applying the adhesive material onto the living body part with the sprayer. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the liquid comprises an anti-adhesive material and said applying step comprises applying the anti-adhesive material onto the living body part with the sprayer. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the liquid is a first liquid conveyed along a first liquid flow path and the gas permeable film is a first gas permeable film, and further comprising:
 conveying a second liquid along a second liquid flow path that is separate from the first liquid flow path;   passing the gas through a second gas permeable film positioned between the second liquid flow path and the gas flow path, the second gas permeable film possessing a plurality of through holes so that the gas in the gas flow path flows through the through holes of the second gas permeable film and into the second liquid flow path to atomize the second liquid;   mixing together the atomized first liquid and the atomized second liquid to form a mixture which is applied to the living body part.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the gas is passed through a plurality of spaced apart first gas permeable films positioned between the first liquid flow path and the gas flow path, and wherein the gas is passed through a plurality of spaced apart second gas permeable films positioned between the second liquid flow path and the gas flow path. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the liquid is a first liquid conveyed along a first liquid flow path, and further comprising:
 conveying a second liquid along a second liquid flow path that is separate from the first liquid flow path;   combining the first liquid and the second liquid in the interior of a merge part to form a combined liquid comprised of the first and second liquids; and   passing the gas through the gas permeable film positioned between the gas flow path and the merge part so that the gas passing through the through holes of the gas permeable film atomizes the combined liquid;   wherein applying the atomized liquid includes applying the atomized combined liquid to the living body part.   
     
     
         15 . A sprayer comprising:
 at least one liquid flow path through which a liquid passes;   a gas flow path connectable to a source of gas and along which a gas passes for ejecting the liquid;   a first liquid supply connected to the at least one liquid flow path; and   a gas permeable film including a plurality of through holes disposed along at least a portion of a wall defining the at least one liquid flow path, the gas permeable film being impermeable to the liquid and permeable to the gas such that the gas introduced into the gas flow path flows through the gas permeable film and into the at least one liquid flow path, thereby atomizing the liquid.   
     
     
         16 . The sprayer according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one liquid flow path comprises a first liquid flow path and the first liquid supply is connected to the first liquid flow path, and further comprising a second liquid supply connected to a second liquid flow path, the first and second liquid supplies containing respective liquids different in liquid composition. 
     
     
         17 . The sprayer according to  claim 16 , wherein the gas permeable film comprises a first gas permeable film, and further comprising a second gas permeable film including a plurality of through holes disposed along at least a portion of a wall defining the second liquid flow path, the second gas permeable film being impermeable to the liquid and permeable to the gas such that the gas introduced into the gas flow path flows through the second gas permeable film and into the second liquid flow path to atomize the second liquid. 
     
     
         18 . The sprayer according to  claim 17 , further comprising a merge part where the first and second liquid flow paths merge together, the first and second liquids mixing together within an interior of the merge part.