Mixing structure for paint colorant in a dispensing apparatus

In a paint colorant dispenser and mixer apparatus including a plurality of colorant containers each having an open upper end, means for mounting an agitator for rotation within each colorant container for mixing colorant therein, a plurality of agitator drive cables each having a drive end and a driven end, and drive means for rotating the driven ends of the cables to thereby effect rotation of the drive ends of the cables, the improvement comprising:

• a plurality of container covers to close the open ends of the containers;
• rotatable coupling means carried on the covers for releasably engaging the agitator within a container enclosed by the cover and for disengaging the agitator when the cover is withdrawn from said container, and said rotatable coupling means further comprising connector means for connecting the drive ends of the cables to the rotatable coupling means on the covers to impart rotation to the rotatable coupling means;
• a turntable for rotatable mounting of said colorant containers;
• said drive means comprising a motor mounted on said turntable for rotation therewith;
• and
• motor connecting means for connecting the agitator drive cables to the drive motor.

In a paint colorant dispenser and mixer apparatus having first and second colorant containers each having an open upper end, means for mounting an agitator for rotation about a substantially vertical axis in each colorant container for mixing colorant therein, first and second cables each having a drive and a driven end, and means for rotating the driven ends of the cables to thereby effect rotation of the drive ends of the cables, the improvement in which:

• first and second container covers are provided to close the open ends of the first and second containers,
• there being cooperating means on each cover and container for releasably press fitting each cover into a closed position by moving each cover downwardly against it associated container,
• each said cover being movable upwardly relative to its associated container from its closed position to a separated position;
• rotatable means on the first cover for engaging and imparting rotation to the agitator associated with the first container with the first cover in its closed position and for disengaging the agitator associated with the first container with the first cover in its separated position;
• rotatable means on the second cover for engaging and imparting rotation to the agitator associated with the second container with the second cover in its closed position and for disengaging the agitator associated with the second container with the second cover in its separated position;
• means for connecting the drive ends of the first and second cables to the rotatable engaging means on the first and second covers to impart rotation to the rotatable engaging means;
• and
• a lid for biasing downwardly against the first and second covers to maintain the first and second covers in their closed position and the rotatable means engaged with the agitators with the lid in an operative position.

In a paint colorant dispenser and mixer having first and second colorant containers each having an open upper end, means for mounting an agitator for rotation about a substantially vertical axis in each colorant container for mixing colorant therein, first and second cables each having a drive and a driven end, and means for rotating the driven ends of the cables to thereby effect rotation of the drive ends of the cables, the improvement in which:

• first and second container covers are provided to close the open end of the first and second containers,
• each said cover being movable upwardly relative to its associated container from its closed position to a separated position;
• rotatable means on the first cover for engaging and imparting rotation to the agitator associated with the first container with the first cover in its closed position and for disengaging the agitator associated with the first cover with the first cover in its separated position;
• rotatable means on the second cover for engaging and imparting rotation to the agitator associated with the second container with the second cover in its closed position and for disengaging the agitator associated with the second container with the second cover in its separated position;
• and
• means for connecting the drive ends of the first and second cables to the rotatable engaging means associated with the first and second covers so that the drive ends of the first and second cables are substantially coaxial with the axes of the agitators in the container with which the cables are associated.

In a paint colorant dispenser and mixer apparatus having first and second colorant containers each having an open upper end, means for mounting an agitator for rotation about a substantially vertical axis in each colorant container for mixing colorant therein, first and second cables each having a drive end connected to an agitator and a driven end, and means for rotating the driven ends of the cables to thereby effect rotation of the agitator through the drive ends of the cables, the improvement in which:

• first and second container covers are provided to close the open end of the first and second containers,
• there being cooperating means on each cover and container for releasably fitting each cover into a closed position against its associated container;
• and
• a lid for simultaneously biasing downwardly against the first and second covers to maintain the first and second covers in their closed position.