EP0099252A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Apparatus for forming mixtures of fluids
Assignee: International Paint Ltd
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Filing: 1983-07-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-07-08
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for metering required proportions of different fluid ingredients to make a required mixture (e.g. a colored paint) includes a rack of storage containers (20) for the ingredients, each provided with a valve-controlled outlet (33) and a receiving container (42) mounted on a weighing means (40) which is presentable by a support (41) to a chosen sequence of storage containers in turn to receive the required contribution from each. Metering of the necessary ingredient additions is effected automatically by valve-actuating means (61) carried by the weighing means support (41). Data processing control to optimise operation is described.
Inventors
- 👤 William John Harrison
- 👤 Andrew John Reynolds
- 👤 Michael John Kellaway
- 👤 Donald Bruce Atherton Macmichael
- 👤 Anne Tregoning Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 07:16
CPC Classifications
B; B44; B44D; B44D3/00; B44D3/003; B01; B01F; B01F33/00; B01F33/80; B01F33/84; B01F35/00; B01F35/80; B01F35/88; B01F35/881; B01F2101/00; B01F2101/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus (11) for forming, in a receiving container (42) a mixture in selected proportions of fluid ingredients selected from a number of such fluid ingredients stored in an array of storage containers (20, 20a) each adapted to dispense a respective fluid ingredient, characterised in that the appratus (11) comprises weighing means (40) adapted to support and continuously monitor the weight of the receiving container (42), a movable support (41) for the weighing means (40) so that a receiving_ container (42) supported thereby can be moved to receive- fluid-from successive selected storage containers (20, 20a), means (61, 37, 35, 81, 82) for initiating dispensing of an ingredient from a slected storage container when the weighing means (40) and supported receiving container (42) are in a position to receive fluid from that storage container and means (61, 37, 35, 81, 82) for stopping the dispensing of fluid when a predetermined weight of that ingredient has been dispensed into the receiving container (42).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus (11) for forming, in a receiving container (42) a mixture in selected proportions of fluid ingredients selected from a number of such fluid ingredients stored in an array of storage containers (20, 20a) each adapted to dispense a respective fluid ingredient, characterised in that the appratus (11) comprises weighing means (40) adapted to support and continuously monitor the weight of the receiving container (42), a movable support (41) for the weighing means (40) so that a receiving_ container (42) supported thereby can be moved to receive- fluid-from successive selected storage containers (20, 20a), means (61, 37, 35, 81, 82) for initiating dispensing of an ingredient from a slected storage container when the weighing means (40) and supported receiving container (42) are in a position to receive fluid from that storage container and means (61, 37, 35, 81, 82) for stopping the dispensing of fluid when a predetermined weight of that ingredient has been dispensed into the receiving container (42).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 for forming mixtures of paint, characterised in that the storage containers (20, 20a) are paint cans each fitted with a dispensing head (25) having a dispensing outlet (33) for the paint which is controlled by a valve (81) and which can be opened by the means (61, 37) for initiating dispensing of paint so that dispensing of paint can be achieved without moving the paint can (20, 20a) and dispensing head (25).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that the dispensing head (25) has its dispensing outlet (33) facing generally downwards and the outlet (33) is controlled by a valve (81) mounted on a substantially vertical spindle (35, 37), and in that the means (61) engaging the spindle (35, 37) to raise the valve (81) to initiate dispensing of paint and to lower the valve (81) to stop the dispensing of paint, is mounted on the movable support (41) for the weighing means (40).
Claim 5
Independent Claim
72 words
An apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the dispensing of each fluid ingredient is controlled by a valve (81) comprising a cylindrical valve plug resting in a frusto-conical valve seat (82) when the valve is closed, the cylindrical valve plug (81) and the frusto-conical valve seat (82) being substantially coaxial and the plug being arranged to move along its axis away from the valve seat to open the valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that the valve plug (81) and valve seat (82) are arranged so that their contact line (85) when the valve is closed is near the lower tip of the frusto-conical valve seat (82).
Claim 7
Independent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the underside surface of the valve plug (81) is recessed (at 86) over at least half its surface area.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
75 words
An apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 6, characterised in that means (39) is provided on the valve spindle (35) to rotate the valve spindle and the plug (81Y and further means is mounted on the movable support (41) for the weighing means (40) so that the valve spindle (35) and plug (81) are rotated as the weighing means (40) and its support (41) are moved into position under the dispensing outlet (33).
Claim 9
Independent Claim
87 words
An apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 7, characterised in that a receptacle (63) for drips of the respective fluid ingredient is positioned under the dispensing outlet (33) of each storage container (20, 20a), the receptacle (63) being movable along a path defined by guide means (122) and having a wiping member (112) arranged so that when the receptacle (63) is moved along the path defined by the guide means (122) the wiping member (112) wipes away drips of fluid from the dispensing outlet (33).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, characterised in that the drip receptacle (63) is in the form of a dish having a substantially flat base arranged so that there is only a narrow gap between the top of the sides (113, 114t of the dish (63) and the dispensing outlet (33) so that the drip receptacle (63) forms a compartment around the dispensing outlet (33) when dispensing is not taking place.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that a data processor controls the movement of the weighing means (40) and its support (41) to successive storage containers (20, 20a), ascertains the correct diposition of the weighing means (40) and receiving container (42) relative to the desired storage container, emits a signal to the means (61) for initiating dispensing of the fluid when such correct disposition has been ascertained, and in that the data processor is adapted to receive information of the weight of the receiving container (42) from the weighing means (40) during dispensing of the fluid ingredient, and emits a signal to operate means (61) for stopping dispensing of the paint when the receiving container (42) has reached the required weight.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that dispensing is controlled by a data processor which continually receives, during dispensing, information from the weighing means (40) of the weight of the receiving container (42) and controls the degree to which the valve (81) is opened during the dispensing operation in response to the measured rate of increase in weight of the receiving container (42) during that dispensing operation and closes the valve (81) to stop dispensing the fluid ingredient when the receiving container (42) has reached the desired weight known from information stored by the data processor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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