US 5,203,387 AGranted

Process and apparatus for dispensing liquid colorants into a paint can, and quality control therefor

AssigneeDunn Edwards, Corp., & Fluid Management Ltd. Part.

InventorsPhilip Howlett, Larry Frederickson, Kenneth N. Edwards, Edward D. Edwards

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Abstract

An automated paint-batching system for producing paint cans of any size and color. The system includes a plurality of paint-batching cells, with each cell having a machine comprised of either one or two dispensing stations. When two dispensing stations are used, the two dispensing stations are: A first tint-station, where a small volumetric dispensing of the base, water-base or oil base, of the paint is dispensed, in order to wet the bottom of the can, at which first station, thereafter, is dispensed all of the liquid colorants making up the formula of the paint can, at which the remainder of the base of the formula of the paint is dispensed, and a second base-dispensing station. Each of the first and second stations of the paint-batching machine of the invention has operatively associated therewith a weighing platform upon which rests the paint can during the dispensing at the respective station used in quality-control weighing of each dispensing. When only one dispensing station is used, all of the above-steps are performed at the one station. Each paint can has attached to it a bar-code label which represents a relocatable memory-address of the computer which stores the color-formula from that can and other information. The computer operating system controls the guidance of the particular paint can along its conveyance, so that the paint can is designated to one of a plurality of paint-batching cells of the system of the invention, with the bar-code of the paint can being read at a plurality of stations along the entire manufacturing process.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A paint batching apparatus, comprising:

a first tint-dispensing station comprising first storage means for storing the paint ingredients for dispensing into a paint can, first nozzle means for dispensing the paint ingredients directly into the paint can positioned therebelow, first pump means for pumping the paint ingredients from said first storage means to said first nozzle means, and first control means for controlling the operations of said first nozzle means and said first pump means for dispensing desired ones of paint ingredients;
and
a second base-dispensing station comprising second storage means for storing the liquid base paint ingredients for dispensing into a paint can, second nozzle means for dispensing the paint ingredients directly into the paint can positioned therebelow, second pump means for pumping the paint ingredients from said second storage means to said second nozzle means, and second control means for controlling the operations of said second nozzle means and said second pump means for dispensing desired ones of paint ingredients;
said first storage means comprising a plurality of first supply-containers for storing therein a respective liquid-colorant paint ingredient, and said first nozzle means comprising a plurality of first dispensing nozzles;
said first pump means comprising a plurality of first conduit means for fluidly connecting each of said first supply-containers to a respective and unique one of said first dispensing nozzles, and a plurality of valves operatively associated with said plurality of first conduit means, one said valve for one said first conduit means, for controlling the flow through said first conduit means;
said first nozzle means further comprising at least one supplemental dispensing nozzle for dispensing liquid base paint ingredient at said first tint-dispensing station.

3 more elements

A paint batching apparatus, comprising:

a first tint-dispensing station comprising first storage means for storing the paint ingredients for dispensing into a paint can, first nozzle means for dispensing the paint ingredients directly into the paint can positioned therebelow, first pump means for pumping the paint ingredients from said first storage means to said first nozzle means, and first control means for controlling the operations of said first nozzle means and said first pump means for dispensing desired ones of paint ingredients;
a second base-dispensing station comprising second storage means for storing the liquid base paint ingredients for dispensing into a paint can, second nozzle means for dispensing the paint ingredients directly into the paint can positioned therebelow, second pump means for pumping the paint ingredients from said second storage means to said second nozzle means, and second control means for controlling the operations of said second nozzle means and said second pump means for dispensing desired ones of paint ingredients;
conveyer means for conveying a paint can from said first tint-dispensing station to said second base-dispensing station, and conveyer-control means controlling the operation of said conveyer means for periodic operation of transporting of cans;
said conveyor means comprising a first transport-section associated with said first tint-dispensing station, and a second transport-section associated with said second base-dispensing station upon which a paint can is supported and moved, each said section being mounted below a respective said nozzle means of the respective said station;
said conveyer means also comprising a first pair of adjustable, laterally-opposite guide-rails operatively associated with said first transport-section and positioned one along each edge-surface of said first transport-section, and a second pair of adjustable, laterally-opposite guide-rails operatively associated with said second transport-section and positioned one along each edge-surface of said second transport-section, each said guide-rail of each of said first and second pair of guide-rails being adjustably positionable toward and way from the other of the same said pair, whereby paint cans of different sizes may be accomodated, said guide-rails guiding the paint cans along said first and second transport-sections;
said conveyer means also comprising means for moving each said guide-rail toward and away from the other said guide-rail of the same said pair.

3 more elements

A paint batching apparatus, comprising:

a first tint-dispensing station comprising first storage means for storing the paint ingredients for dispensing into a paint can, first nozzle means for dispensing the paint ingredients directly into the paint can positioned therebelow, first pump means for pumping the paint ingredients from said first storage means to said first nozzle means, and first control means for controlling the operations of said first nozzle means and said first pump means for dispensing desired ones of paint ingredients;
and
a second base-dispensing station comprising second storage means for storing the liquid base ingredients for dispensing into a paint can, second nozzle means for dispensing the paint ingredients directly into the paint can positioned therebelow, second pump means for pumping the paint ingredients from said second storage means to said second nozzle means, and second control means for controlling the operations of said second nozzle means and said second pump means for dispensing desired ones of paint ingredients;
a first paint-can bar-code reading station located forwardly, upstream of said first tint-dispensing station;
and a second paint-can bar-code reading station located rearwardly, downstream of said first reading station between said first and second dispensing stations;
whereby informational bar-code on the paint can may be read in order to determine color-formula for that paint can, size of can, and other information;
each of said bar-code reading stations comprising means for rotating the paint can, and optical scanner means for scanning the bar-code on the can for the actual reading thereof.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/882,503Filed 13 May 1992 · division
Priority: 6 Nov 1989
Granted: 20 Apr 1993
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification17 codes

B01F 33/85
Mixing plants; Combinations of mixers: mixing plants with mixing receptacles or mixing tools that can be indexed into different working positions
B01F 33/84
Mixing plants; Combinations of mixers: mixing plants with mixing receptacles receiving material dispensed from several component receptacles, e.g.…
B01F 33/848
Mixing plants with mixing receptacles receiving material dispensed from several component receptacles, e.g. paint tins: using data, i.e. barcodes,…
B01F 35/2218
Of operational parameters, e.g. level of material in the mixer, temperature or pressure: weight of at least one component to be mixed