Method and apparatus for tinting paint

Claim 2

In a method of batch tinting paint by adding individually preselected amounts of selected paint colorants to a batch of base paint in a paint vessel at a mixing station to produce a paint of a selected color, the steps of storing a plurality of different paint colorants in paint colorant reservoirs at a storage station, delivering individually preselected amounts of the selected paint colorants to be used in tinting the batch of base paint to the inlet end of a single tube delivery line extending from the storage station to the mixing station and discharging the paint colorants from the delivery line into the paint vessel, and purging the paint colorant from the single tube delivery line after the preselected quantities of the selected paint colorants have been delivered to the inlet end of the delivery line by forcing a purging fluid including a purging liquid compatible with the paint colorant into the inlet end of the delivery line while continuing discharge of paint colorant and purging fluid from the delivery line into the paint vessel until substantially all of the paint colorant has been delivered from the line into the paint vessel.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the purging fluid includes a gaseous purging fluid and said purging liquid is introduced into the gaseous fluid for passage therewith through the delivery line.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein purging of the line is effected by first introducing a gaseous fluid under pressure into the inlet end of the line to force a substantial portion of the colorant from the line into the paint vessel, and thereafter continuing passage of gaseous fluid into the inlet end of the line while slowly introducing said purging liquid into the gaseous fluid for passage therewith through the line.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 including the step of thereafter removing any contamination producing traces of paint colorant that may remain in the line by passing a cleaning fluid through the line and discharging the cleaning fluid to waste before passing different colorants through the line for tinting a different batch of paint.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 wherein the several selected paint colorants used in tinting each batch of paint are delivered in succession to the inlet end of the line.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 wherein the several selected paint colorants used in tinting each batch of base paint are delivered concurrently to the inlet end of the line.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 including the steps of thereafter mixing the base paint and paint colorant in the paint vessel, color testing the mixture to ascertain deviation of the tint of the mixture from the preselected color, delivering additional amounts of the selected colorants into the inlet end of the line to correct deviation of the tint of the mixture from the selected color, purging substantially all such additional colorant from the line with purging fluid while delivering the additional colorant and purging fluid from the outlet of the line to the mixing vessel, followed by remixing the re-color testing of the mixture.

Claim 9

In a method of batch tinting of paint by adding preselected amounts of selected paint colorants to a batch of base paint in a paint mixing vessel at a mixing station to produce paint of a selected color, the steps of storing a plurality of different paint colorants in paint colorant reservoirs at a storage station remote from the mixing station, deliveRing a charge of paint colorant consisting of preselected amounts of one or more selected paint colorants to be used in tinting a batch of base paint to the inlet end of a single tube delivery line extending from the storage station to the mixing station and discharging colorant into the paint mixing vessel at the mixing station, passing a gaseous fluid under pressure into the inlet end of the delivery line after the charge of paint colorant has been delivered to the line while continuing discharge of the colorant into the mixing vessel to discharge a substantial portion of the charge of colorant from the line, and thereafter dispersing a purging liquid compatible with the colorant in a gaseous fluid carrier and introducing the purging liquid and gaseous fluid carrier under pressure into the line for passage through the line, and discharging the purging liquid and colorant from the line into the paint mixing vessel until substantially all the charge of paint colorant has been delivered from the line to the mixing vessel.

Claim 10

In a method of batch tinting of paint by adding preselected amounts of selected paint colorants to a batch of base paint in a paint mixing vessel at a mixing station to produce paint of a selected color, the steps of storing a plurality of different paint colorants in paint colorant reservoirs at a storage station remote from the mixing station, deliveRing a charge of paint colorant consisting of preselected amounts of one or more selected paint colorants to be used in tinting a batch of base paint to the inlet end of a single tube delivery line extending from the storage station to the mixing station and discharging colorant into the paint mixing vessel at the mixing station, passing a gaseous fluid under pressure into the inlet end of the delivery line after the charge of paint colorant has been delivered to the line while continuing discharge of the colorant into the mixing vessel to discharge a substantial portion of the charge of colorant from the line, and thereafter dispersing a purging liquid compatible with the colorant in a gaseous fluid carrier and introducing the purging liquid and gaseous fluid carrier under pressure into the line for passage through the line, and discharging the purging liquid and colorant from the line into the paint mixing vessel until substantially all the charge of paint colorant has been delivered from the line to the mixing vessel.

Claim 11

In a method of batch tinting of paint wherein a first charge of paint colorant consisting of one or more preselected amounts of selected paint colorants are added to a batch of base paint in a paint mixing vessel at a mixing station; the paint and colorant then mixed and compared to a color standard; and at least one succeeding charge of paint colorant then added to the base paint in the mixing vessel consisting of one or more selected paint colorants in amounts to correct deviation of the paint colorant mixture from the color standard; the steps of storing a plurality of different paint colorants in paint colorant reservoirs at a storage station, delivering said charges of paint colorant to the inlet end of a single tube delivery line extending from the storage station to the mixing station and discharging the colorant from the line into the mixing vessel and, after delivery of said first charge and each succeeding charge of colorants to the line, purging the charge previously delivered to the line by dispersing a purging liquid compatible with the colorant in a gaseous fluid carrier and introducing a purging and gaseous carrier under pressure into the inlet end of the line while delivering the purging fluid and colorant from the line into the mixing vessel to thereby discharge substantially all of each charge of colorant to the mixing vessel before a succeeding charge is delivered to the line.

Claim 12

In a method of batch tinting of paint wherein a first charge of paint colorant consisting of one or more preselected amounts of selected paint colorants are added to a batch of base paint in a paint mixing vessel at a mixing station; the paint and colorant then mixed and compared to a color standard; and at least one succeeding charge of paint colorant then added to the base paint in the mixing vessel consisting of one or more selected paint colorants in amounts to correct deviation of the paint colorant mixture from the color standard; the steps of storing a plurality of different paint colorants in paint colorant reservoirs at a storage station, delivering said charges of paint colorant to the inlet end of a single tube delivery line extending from the storage station to the mixing station and discharging the colorant from the line into the mixing vessel and, after delivery of said first charge and each succeeding charge of colorants to the line, purging the charge previously delivered to the line by dispersing a purging liquid compatible with the colorant in a gaseous fluid carrier and introducing a purging and gaseous carrier under pressure into the inlet end of the line while delivering the purging fluid and colorant from the line into the mixing vessel to thereby discharge substantially all of each charge of colorant to the mixing vessel before a succeeding charge is delivered to the line.

Claim 13

The method of claim 9 including passing a cleaning fluid through the line after all of the charges of colorant required to tint a batch of paint have been delivered to the tank and discharging the cleaning fluid to waste.

Claim 14

In a paint manufacturing facility for batch tinting paint by adding preselected amounts of selected paint colorants to a batch of base paint in a paint mixing tank to produce a selected paint tint, the paint manufacturing facility including at least one mixing station having a paint mixing tank and a remote paint colorant storage station having a plurality of colorant reservoirs containing different paint colorants, the improvement comprising a common flow conduit extending from the storage station to the mixing station for conveying the several colorants to be utilized in tinting a batch of paint from the storage station to the mixing tank at the mixing station, means at the storage station operable to deliver preselected amounts of selected colorants to the inlet end of the common flow conduit, and means at the storage station operable after termination of delivery of the preselected amounts of the selected colorants to the inlet end of the line for dispersing a purging liquid compatible with the colorant in a gaseous fluid carrier and for introducing the purging liquid and gaseous fluid carrier under pressure into the inlet end of the conduit for flow through the line to purge substantially all of the colorant from the line and effect delivery of substantially all of the preselected amounts of colorant to the mixing tank.

Claim 15

In a paint manufacturing facility for batch tinting paint by adding preselected amounts of selected paint colorants to a batch of base paint in a paint mixing tank to produce a selected paint tint, the paint manufacturing facility including at least one mixing station having a paint mixing tank and a remote paint colorant storage station having a plurality of colorant reservoirs containing different paint colorants, the improvement comprising a common flow conduit extending from the storage station to the mixing station for conveying the several colorants to be utilized in tinting a batch of paint from the storage station to the mixing tank at the mixing station, means at the storage station operable to deliver preselected amounts of selected colorants to the inlet end of the common flow conduit, and means at the storage station operable after termination of delivery of the preselected amounts of the selected colorants to the inlet end of the line for dispersing a purging liquid compatible with the colorant in a gaseous fluid carrier and for introducing the purging liquid and gaseous fluid carrier under pressure into the inlet end of the conduit for flow through the line to purge substantially all of the colorant from the line and effect delivery of substantially all of the preselected amounts of colorant to the mixing tank.

Claim 16

The Combination of claim 11 wherein said means for delivering colorant to the line includes a plurality of colorant metering means each having a separate outlet, and means on the inlet end of the delivery line adapted for selective connection to the outlets of each metering means to enable sequential delivery of measured quantities of different paint colorants to the line.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 11 including a colorant manifold connected to the inlet end of the delivery line, said means for delivering colorant including means operable to simultaneously deliver measured amounts of selected ones of the colorants to the manifold for flow to the delivery line, said means for introducing said purging liquid into the line including means connected to the manifold at a point remote from the connection of the delivery line thereto to pass the purging fluid through the manifold into the delivery line.

Claim 18

The combination of claim 11 wherein the facility has more than one mixing station and a separate delivery line extends from the colorant storage station to each mixing station.