Abstract:
One or more techniques and/or systems (100) are disclosed for a way to dispense a variety of liquids, such as paint tinting liquids, while mitigating some problems associated with such systems (100). A system (100) can help to mitigate these issues by adjusting the temperature at the nozzle tip to match dew point temperature conditions of the ambient air. In controlling the nozzle (102) temperature and environment at the nozzle tip, for example, drying and condensation may be mitigated. A nozzle (102) can be coupled with a nozzle block (104) and temperature controller (106) to control the temperature of the nozzle (102). A variety of sensors can be used to detect environmental conditions, and a system controller can use the sensor readings to adjust the temperature of the temperature controller to match an ambient dew point.
Abstract:
A fluid dispenser is disclosed for dispensing multiple fluids and that includes valve assemblies with rotary recirculation and dispense valves. A table controlled by a motor and a controller moves all of the valve assemblies to either a dispense position or a recirculation position together. The controller selectively operates the pump motors associated with individual canisters of fluid so that the system can dispense a single fluid or multiple fluids at a time. When in the recirculation position, the fluids can be continuously, intermittently or periodically recirculated to maintain the fluids in a homogenous state.
Abstract:
An improved multi fluid dispenser for simultaneous dispensing of a plurality of fluids shown and described. The dispenser includes a controller that is linked to a coordinator board. The controller has a memory with a plurality of recipes stored in the memory. A coordinator board is linked to a first module, The first module may include one or two pumps, each connected to a fluid reservoir. The module is then linked in series to a plurality of other modules as well as a manifold module. Each module includes a module board for controlling the pump or pumps of that module. The controller, coordinator board and module boards are all programmed for the simultaneous or sequential pumping of multiple fluids from the reservoirs through outlet nozzles of the manifold in accordance with a recipe selected by the user and retrieved from the memory of the controller.
Abstract:
A clamping mechanism and method are disclosed for a mixing machine that detects when the upper clamping member engages the tops or lids of the containers loaded into the mixing machine. The disclosed clamping mechanism includes a lower base (26) and an upper plate (42) defining an adjustable clamping distance disposed there between. At least one of the lower base and upper plate is moveable to increase or decrease the clamping distance. The upper plate is pivotally connected to a cross member (46) so the upper plate is at least partially pivoted away from the cross member when nothing is clamped between the upper plate and lower base. At least one of the cross member and upper plate is associated with a sensor (100). The sensor is linked to a controller, which controls the movement of the upper plate or the lower base (or both) for clamping and unclamping articles (81) disposed on the lower base. The sensor is activated and sends a signal to the controller when the upper plate has been pressed against the cross member by a top surface of an article (81) clamped between the upper plate and lower cross member under movement controlled by the controller.
Abstract:
An apparatus for dispensing a plurality of liquids, in particular colorants for paints, comprising a support, such as a turntable (2) or a linear table, defining a plurality of positions and a plurality of containers holding a liquid, mounted on the support at the positions, and provided with a pump (4) and/or a valve (5) for dispensing the liquid from the container. At least some of the containers form, together with a respective liquid and pump and/or valve, a cartridge (3), which cartridge is releasably mounted in the apparatus.
Abstract:
An improved modular flavor dispenser for dispensing a plurality of different flavors is shown and described. One disclosed modular flavor dispenser includes a controller that is linked to a coordinator or interface with a controller associated with the food or beverage dispenser. For example, an automated coffee machine may include its own controller. The controller of the coffee machine communicates with the coordinator or interface of the modular flavor dispenser which, in turn, communicates with the motor control board or controller of the flavor dispenser. The flavor coordinator board may have a memory with a plurality of recipes stored therein or that information may be communicated from the controller of the coffee machine. The flavor coordinator board is linked to the motor control board which, in turn, is linked in parallel with the plurality of pumps used to dispense the variety of flavors. In the example of gourmet coffee, four or more pumps may be used: vanilla, hazelnut, cinnamon, caramel, chocolate as well as other flavors. Improved techniques for pumping chocolate syrup are also disclosed that involve the use of nutating piston-type pumps.
Abstract:
A dual chamber mixing pump design is disclosed which allows two different sources of fluid to be combined into one mixed product fluid. The pump is divided into two chambers, the proximal chamber and the distal chamber. The chambers are defined in part by a piston having proximal and distal ends and recessed sections. The pump utilizes one common driving mechanism to axially rotate and laterally reciprocate the piston to provide continuous pumping of fluids with reduced pulsations. Each fluid enters through its own pump inlet and outlet. For mixing applications, the outlets are joined together. The flow volume per stroke of each chamber is determined by the lateral stroke of the entire piston assembly and also by the annular areas of the proximal and distal ends of the piston. The flow volume per stroke may be altered by varying the piston and shaft diameters for each chamber. This allows mixing of two fluids in any ratio or proportion desired. Alternating pulses of the two chambers provide a stream which has small segments of alternating fluid from each inlet. Such segmented streams can become more thoroughly mixed through normal flow characteristics of the downstream flow path, providing more effective mixing.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a system and method for adequately seeming the currently available metal and plastic containers for paint and other fluids as well as other foreseeable containers in an automated fashion without crushing or damaging the containers, without using any special adapters for particular container types and without operator intervention. To avoid crushing a plastic container, the disclosed system and method takes advantage of the compressibility of these less rigid plastic containers. It has been found that a plastic paint container can be safely clamped in place without structural damage if the clamp plate travel after engagement with the top of the container is limited to a certain value, for example, about 5/16". When the compression amount is limited or controlled, the plastic container will not move or will move very little during a three minute violent shake cycle. Some conventional containers are not readily compressible, such a metal cans, drums or the larger (five gal) plastic buckets or pails. To address the issue of these containers being used with the same machine as the new plastic containers, an increase in current or voltage drawn by the clamping motor is monitored after initial contact with the top(s) of the container (s), and if the increase reaches a threshold value, the motion of the upper clamping plate is stopped and an appropriate holding force is maintained.
Abstract:
A bail retainer is provided for use with a fluid mixer having a clamping area adapted to receive at least one container (76) having a pivoting bail (78). The bail retainer includes an elastic member (82) having a first fixed portion retained by the fluid mixer and a first free portion (96). A fastener (84) is coupled to the elastic member first free portion. The elastic member is sufficiently elastic to move from a retracted position, in which the elastic member first free portion is outside of the clamping area, and an extended position, in which the elastic member first free portion is disposed within the clamping area so that the fastener may be coupled to the at least one container bail.
Abstract:
A tri-chamber nutating pump (120) is disclosed which includes two pump chambers (142,144) disposed within a pump housing (121) that accommodates a nutating piston (110). A reciprocating compensating piston (209) is also provided with its own compensating housing (206) that is connected to the outlet (136). As a cumulative output from the first two pump chambers (142, 144) reaches its maximum level, the compensating piston (209) is pushed into the outlet (136) or through a passage (307) to reduce the output of the first two chambers (142, 144) and avoid splashing. As the output from the first two chambers (142, 144) reaches its minimum level, the compensating piston (209) is withdrawn from the outlet (136) or through a passage (307) thereby increasing the output of the third chamber (207) to its maximum level when the output from the first two pump chambers (142, 144) reaches its minimum level.