US 7,228,879 B2Granted

Apparatus for dispensing paint and stain samples and methods of dispensing paint and stain samples

AssigneeFluid Management, Inc.

InventorsWilliam A. Miller, James A. Martin, Christopher K. Khoo, Jeffrey Mumford

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Abstract

An improved fluid dispenser specially adapted to provide sample-size amounts of a fluid mixture is shown and described. An automated closure and seal system is provided for the manifold that moves, on command from a controller, from a closed or sealed position thereby limiting exposure of the manifold and fluid outlet nozzles from the ambient atmosphere, to a dispense system where a sample-size container is held up against and engaging a lower end of the manifold for a sealing element disposed on a lower portion of the manifold. When the dispense is complete, the system automatically moves back toward a closed position where the filled container is held open and ready to be removed by a technician before it is capped and labeled.

Claims34

Dependent claims

A closure system for a fluid outlet of a fluid dispensing apparatus, the closure system comprising:

a pivot plate comprising a manifold opening for accommodating a manifold, the pivot plate also comprising a front portion and a rear portion with the manifold opening disposed therebetween, the front portion of the pivot plate being pivotally connected to a front link and the rear portion of the pivot plate being pivotally connected to a rear link,
the front and rear links also being pivotally connected to front and rear portions of a holder plate respectively to permit pivotal movement of the holder plate below and with respect to the pivot plate,
the front portion of the holder plate comprising a container holder, the holder plate also comprising a central opening for accommodating a plug,
an upper portion of the rear link being coupled to a motor shaft of a motor wherein axial rotational movement of the motor shaft results in rotational movement of the upper portion of the rear link,
the plug having a closed bottom and an open top, the container holder accommodating an open container having an upper rim,
the closure system being operable between at least two positions including a dispense position and a closed position,
in the closed position, the plug engaging the lower end of the manifold, and rotation of the motor shaft in a first direction results in plug and container being moved downward and rearward from the closed position followed by upward movement until the upper rim of the container engages the manifold and the plug is disposed rearwardly of the manifold thereby placing the system in the dispense position.

4 more elements

A paint or stain formulating and dispensing system, the system comprising:

a stationary pivot plate comprising a manifold opening mateably receiving a manifold having a lower end, the pivot plate also comprising a front portion and a rear portion with the manifold opening disposed therebetween, the front portion of the pivot plate being pivotally connected to an upper portion of a front link and the rear portion of the pivot plate being pivotally connected to a middle portion of a rear link,
lower portions of the front and rear links being pivotally connected to front and rear portions of a holder plate respectively to permit pivotal movement of the holder plate below and with respect to the pivot plate,
the front portion of the holder plate comprising a sample container holder, the holder plate also comprising a central opening for accommodating a plug,
an upper portion of the rear link being coupled to a motor shaft of a motor wherein spinning rotational movement of the motor shaft results in an arcuate movement of the upper portion of the rear link to provide horizontal and vertical movement to the holder plate,
the plug having a closed bottom and an open top, the container holder accommodating an open container having an upper rim,
at least one of the open top of the plug or the lower end of the manifold being connected to a sealing mechanism,
the holder plate being operable between at least two positions including a dispense position and a closed position,
in the closed position, the plug engaging the lower end of the manifold with the sealing mechanism disposed therebetween and rotation of the motor shaft in a first direction results in plug and container being moved downward and rearward followed by upward movement until the upper rim of the container engages the lower end of the manifold and the plug is disposed rearwardly of the manifold thereby placing the system in the dispense position, and wherein reverse movement of the motor returning the system to the closed position.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/844,166Filed 12 May 2004
Published: US 2005/0252934 A117 Nov 2005
Granted: 12 Jun 2007
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

F16K 23/00
Valves for preventing drip from nozzles
B01F 33/848
Mixing plants with mixing receptacles receiving material dispensed from several component receptacles, e.g. paint tins: using data, i.e. barcodes,…
B05B 15/50
Details of spraying plant or spraying apparatus not otherwise provided for; Accessories: arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing…
B01F 33/80
Other mixers; Mixing plants; Combinations of mixers: mixing plants; Combinations of mixers