Liquid color closed loop refill method and apparatus

A method for furnishing process machines with liquid color from a supply thereof, comprising:

• a. providing a loop conduit having respective ends receiving liquid color from the supply and discharging liquid color back into the supply;
• b. pumping liquid color through the loop conduit;
• c. mixing liquid color in the supply;
• d. discharging liquid color from the loop conduit into a reservoir associated with a process machine by opening at least one valve in the loop conduit upon the process machine signaling a need for liquid color;
• e. halting discharge of liquid color from the loop conduit;
• f. increasing pumping speed upon sensed reservoir weight decreasing to within a preselected amount of the preselected level and decreasing pumping speed upon sensed reservoir weight increasing to at least the predetermined level.

Apparatus for furnishing process machines with liquid color from a supply thereof, comprising:

• a. a loop conduit for carrying liquid color from the supply to the process machine(s) and back to the supply;
• b. a pump for circulating liquid color around the loop conduit;
• c. a detector for sensing when additional liquid color is needed by an associated process machine;
• d. a valve in the loop conduit for diverting liquid color from the loop to the associated process machine upon the detector sensing the need for replenishment.

A method for furnishing a plurality of process machines with liquid color from a supply thereof, consisting of:

• a. providing a loop conduit having outbound and inbound segments with respective ends receiving liquid color from the supply and discharging liquid color back into the supply;
• b. continuously pumping liquid color through the loop conduit;
• c. providing a plurality of liquid color discharge positions in the outbound segment;
• d. discharging liquid color from the loop conduit at one of the liquid color discharge positions on the outboard segment into a respective reservoir connected by a supply conduit to a respective process machine upon liquid color level in the respective reservoir being at a gravimetrically determined low level limit or upon a detector connected to the respective process machine signaling the need for liquid color by the machine.

Apparatus for furnishing process machines with liquid color from a supply thereof, consisting of:

• a. a loop conduit for carrying liquid color from the supply to the process machine(s) and back to the supply;
• b. a pump for circulating liquid color around the loop conduit;
• c. a detector for sensing when additional liquid color is needed by an associated process machine;
• d. a valve in the loop conduit for diverting liquid color from the loop to the associated process machine upon the detector sensing the need for replenishment.

Apparatus for furnishing process machines with liquid color from a supply thereof, consisting essentially of:

• a. a loop conduit for carrying liquid color from the supply to the process machine(s) and back to the supply;
• b. a pump for circulating liquid color around the loop conduit;
• c. a detector for sensing when additional liquid color is needed by an associated process machine;
• d. a valve in the loop conduit for diverting liquid color from the loop to the associated process machine upon the detector sensing the need for replenishment.