Automated paint production apparatus
AssigneeFluid Management Limited Partnership
InventorsKenneth N. Edwards, Edward D. Edwards, Philip C. Howlett, Niles M. Dwyer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automated apparatus for mixing ingredients stored in closed containers includes a gyroscopically mounted frame with a clamping arrangement for clamping a container therein. A shuttle moves back and forth between a conveyor and the frame carrying containers to and from the frame. An injection arm carried on the shuttle moves the container into the frame, and an ejection arm moves the container from the frame to the shuttle, for return to the conveyor. A braking alignment mechanism orients the frame to receive a container.
Claims33
An automated apparatus for mixing ingredients stored in closed containers, comprising:
- a frame means defining a container receiving cavity;
- frame support means for movably supporting the frame means for movement in a mixing motion;
- shuttle means for carrying a container to said frame, including a shuttle platform for supporting the container and shuttle moving means for moving said shuttle platform toward and away from said frame means;
- inserting means for inserting a container carried by said shuttle platform into the cavity of said frame means;
- clamping means for clamping the container within said frame means to maintain engagement therewith during a mixing operation;
- drive means for moving said frame means with a mixing motion so as to agitate the contents of a container clamped therein;
- and
- ejecting means for ejecting the container from said frame means onto said shuttle platform.
An automated apparatus for use in an automated production facility to mix the liquid ingredients stored in series of closed containers, comprising:
- conveyor means for transporting a series of containers through the production facility, the conveyor means including first and second portions spaced apart to form a gap therebetween;
- a frame means adjacent the main conveyor defining a container receiving cavity;
- frame support means for movably supporting the frame means for movement in a mixing motion;
- shuttle means for carrying a container from said main conveyor to said frame means, including a shuttle platform in the gap between the first and second conveyor portions for receiving the container from the first conveyor portion, for supporting the container for movement to and from the frame means and for returning the container to the second conveyor portion, and said shuttle means further comprising shuttle moving means for moving said shuttle platform between said conveyor and said frame means;
- inserting means for inserting a container carried by said shuttle means into the cavity of said frame means;
- clamping means for clamping the container within said frame means to maintain engagement therewith during a mixing operation;
- drive means for moving said frame means with a mixing motion so as to agitate the contents of a container clamped therein;
- and
- means for ejecting the container from said frame means onto said shuttle platform.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.