Paint shaker
AssigneeImperial Chemical Industries PLC
InventorsMichael R. Cane, Michael H. Groves
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A paint shaker (1) for use in in-store paint tinting operations comprising a platform (2) and clamping member (4) for accommodating a paint container (3) which is to be shaken wherein the shaker is provided with means for sensing resistance to downwards movement of the clamping member (4a or 34) and clamping member detection means (34) which do not allow the shaking operation to start until the container is clamped and the clamping member is in a pre-selected position chosen because it is a position that the clamping member must occupy if it is to clamp a container properly either directly or via a capsule from which colorant has been expelled.
Claims16
A paint shaker (1) which comprises
- (a) a shakeable platform (2) on which a paint container (3) can be positioned whereby paint (65) in a container on the platform can be shaken by shaking the platform,
- (b) agitating means (14 to 18, 23 and 24) for shaking the platform.
- (c) actuating means (32 and 36) for the agitating means,
- (d) a clamping member (4) moveable downwards to clamp a paint container in position on the platform,
- (e) clamping sensing means which can detect clamping by sensing a reaction to the clamping force and which on sensing the reaction produces a transducible response,
- (f) clamping member detection means (34) which can detect when the clamping member is in a pre-selected position and which on detecting the member in that position produces a transducible response and
- (g) transducing means (30, 31a, 31b, 36a and 36b) which transduces the responses to the actuating means
- wherein the actuating means is operable only when in receipt of responses transduced both from the clamping sensing means and from the clamp member detection means whereby the agitating means can be actuated only if a paint container is being clamped by the clamping member when in a pre-selected position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.