Vibrational paint shaker with managed can detection and clamping features

A method of clamping at least one liquid-containing can in a mechanical can agitator comprising a clamping plate driveable using an electrical motor, the method comprising the steps of:

• establishing a baseline reference current draw for the electrical motor when driving the clamping plate through a reference distance;
• detecting an actual current draw for the electrical motor when driving the clamping plate through a driven distance;
• subtracting the baseline reference current draw from the actual current draw to produce a current draw margin;
• and
• detecting a can height for the at least one can based upon the value of the current draw margin.

A method of retaining a clamped liquid-containing can in a mechanical can agitator during agitation, wherein the mechanical can agitator comprises an inner frame driven by a drive motor to agitate the can, a clamping plate, means for supporting and driving the clamping plate, an encoder for detecting the height of the clamping plate, and a clamping motor operable to drive means for supporting and driving the clamping plate to exert an initial clamping pressure on the can, the method comprising the steps of:

• driving the clamping plate to exert and initial clamping pressure on the can;
• detecting a reference position of the clamping plate at which the initial clamping pressure is exerted on the can;
• driving the inner frame member to agitate the can while clamped by the initial clamping pressure;
• monitoring the encoder for detecting a deviation of the clamping plate from the reference position indicating a loss of clamping pressure on the can;
• and
• upon the detecting of the deviation of the clamping plate, increasing the clamping pressure on the can to a level incrementally higher than the initial clamping pressure.