US 2003/0192616 A1Published application

Dispensing apparatus

AssigneesE. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company, Rice Lake Weighing Systems, Inc.

InventorsJohn Charles Larson, Vincent Fred Genatempo JR., Alan Arthur Burmester, Anthony Christopher Weyek, Travis Lynn Gibson

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Abstract

The present invention is directed to a dispensing apparatus used in gravimetrically dispensing accurate predetermined amounts of dispersants, particulates, or a combination thereof. The apparatus includes recirculating systems though which the dispersants are recirculated to prevent settling of solid components, such as pigments that may be present in the dispersants. The apparatus includes dispensers located on a movable table positioned inside a frame assembly of the apparatus. The table is positioned to dispense a selected dispersant into a container placed atop a weighing scale through the dispenser selected in accordance with a recipe. The weight of the selected dispersant is monitored by the weighing scale and once a desired amount of the selected dispersant is dispensed, a signal is received by the apparatus from the weighing scale to switch off the dispensing of the dispersant. The table is then moved to deliver the next dispersant, required in the recipe. The process is continued until all the desired dispersants are dispensed in the container to form the composition, such as an automotive paint. The apparatus can operate under flammable conditions, such as those present during the dispensing of solvent-borne automotive paints. The apparatus can also include metering devices for delivering desired amounts of particulates, such as aluminum or mica flakes used in metallic automotive paints.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A dispensing apparatus comprising:

(1) a plurality of recirculating systems wherein each said recirculating system comprises a reservoir containing a dispersant, a closed loop of a tubing connected to said reservoir, pumping means positioned in said loop for recirculating said dispersant to and from said reservoir at an elevated pressure, and a dispersant dispenser positioned in said loop;
(2) a frame assembly comprising:
(a) a dispenser actuator assembly for actuating said dispersant dispenser, said assembly positioned above a platform having a weighing scale positioned thereon;
(b) a movable table positioned between said dispenser actuator assembly and said weighing scale, said table having said dispersant dispensers of said plurality of recirculating systems positioned thereon;
(c) a pneumatic linear positioning system for moving said movable table in X and Y directions;
and
(3) a controller comprising:
(a) means for retrieving a recipe for a composition from a database, said recipe comprising predetermined quantities of said dispersants, which when mixed together result in said composition;
(b) means for signaling said pneumatic linear positioning system to move, upon processing an address location signal from a processor, said table for engaging said actuator assembly with one of said dispersant dispensers selected in accordance with said recipe;
(c) means for actuating said dispenser actuator assembly to open or to shut, upon processing a nozzle control signal from said processor, a nozzle on said selected dispersant dispenser to gravimetrically dispense said dispersant into a container placed on said weighing scale;
and
(d) means for generating a weight monitoring signal from said weighing scale to direct said processor to shut off said nozzle on said selected dispersant dispenser once an amount of said dispersant determined in accordance with said recipe is dispensed into said container.

9 more elements

A method of producing a composition comprising:

(1) recirculating a plurality of dispersants thorough recirculating systems of an apparatus wherein each said recirculating system comprises a reservoir containing said dispersant, a closed loop of a tubing connected to said reservoir, pumping means positioned in said loop for recirculating said dispersant to and from said reservoir at an elevated pressure, and a dispersant dispenser positioned in said loop;
(2) retrieving a recipe for said composition from a database, said recipe comprising predetermined quantities of said dispersants, which when mixed together result in said composition;
(3) directing a pneumatic linear positioning system of a frame assembly of said apparatus to move in X and Y directions, upon processing an address location signal from a processor of said apparatus, a movable table to engage a dispenser actuator assembly with one of said dispersant dispensers selected in accordance with said recipe, wherein said table is positioned between said dispenser actuator assembly and a weighing scale of said frame assembly, said table having a plurality of said dispersant dispensers positioned thereon;
(4) actuating said dispenser actuator assembly to open or to shut, upon processing a nozzle control signal from said processor, a nozzle on said selected dispersant dispenser to gravimetrically dispense said dispersant into a container placed on said weighing scale;
and
(5) generating a weight monitoring signal from said weighing scale to direct said processor to shut said nozzle on said selected dispersant dispenser once an amount of said dispersant determined in accordance with said recipe is dispensed into said container.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/397,116Filed 26 Mar 2003
Priority: 3 Apr 2002
Published: 16 Oct 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

B01F 35/881
By feeding the materials batchwise: by weighing, e.g. with automatic discharge
B01F 33/84
Mixing plants; Combinations of mixers: mixing plants with mixing receptacles receiving material dispensed from several component receptacles, e.g.…
B01F 33/846
Mixing plants with mixing receptacles receiving material dispensed from several component receptacles, e.g. paint tins: using stored recipes for…
B01F 35/1452
Washing or cleaning mixers not provided for in other groups in this subclass; Inhibiting build-up of material on machine parts using other means:…