In Assignee's prior filed application U.S. application Ser. No. 11/065,915, there was disclosed novel Fluid dispensers, which use colorants or dyes to obtain a desired color. As was previously disclosed, the unique automatic fluid dispenser is easy to operate and provides precision mixing of a large number of colorants or dyes to make an almost infinite number of colors. The machines are relatively light in weight, easy to operate and maintain and the various components can be readily and easily replaced. This is principally due to the fact that the canisters are supported by a column assembly and the conventional use of a massive turntable supporting the canisters has been eliminated.
As disclosed in the previous application, a dispenser apparatus is provided and includes a plurality of dispensing units or canisters. Each dispensing unit has a receptacle for holding a fluid (such as paint colorants or hair dyes) and each receptacle has a corresponding pump for dispensing fluid held in the receptacle. The dispensing units are preferably cantilever-mounted to a vertical mounting assembly that support the dispensing units (eliminating the turntable). The dispensing units are engaged by a mechanism that moves the dispensing units such that a pump corresponding to a receptacle can be moved to a stationary dispensing station. The dispensing station has the ability to actuate the pump in order to dispense fluid.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided an embodiment built upon the disclosure of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/065,915. The vertical mounting assembly includes a vertical support column and includes bearing mounts to hold and support a radial inward side defined on the dispensing units. The bearing mounts are secured to the support column such that the dispensing units may move around the column.
Other features and advantages will be clear from the following drawings in which:
Referring now to the drawings there is shown in
In the preferred embodiment, there is provided a total of six canisters 12. Referring now to
As seen in
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 7-9, the basic support structure for the canisters 12 includes an upstanding, vertical mounting column assembly 24. The assembly 24 includes at least a column 26 supported on an upstanding hub 28 that is extending from a base plate 30. As described herein below, the base plate 30 is used to mount a driving mechanism, as well as the various components used at the dispensing station 14. Preferably, the base plate 12 with hub 20 is formed by an aluminum casting process, to form a one-piece unit.
The column 26 includes at least one rotatable bearing mount. Preferably, the column includes an upper bearing mount 32 and a lower bearing mount 34, positioned at opposite ends of the column 26. Each bearing mount includes an inner race 36 secured to the column 26 and includes an outer race 38 that is rotatable about ball bearings 40 in relation to the inner race 36. Each canister 12 is mounted to the outer race 38, such that the canisters 12 are able to rotate about the column 26.
Each canister 12 includes mounting hooks or brackets 42 positioned in lower and upper regions of the radially-inward side of the canister 12. The mounting brackets 42 are received in flanges 44 that are mounted to the outer race 38 to permit the canisters 12 to rotate about the column 26. Each canister 12 is, therefore, supported or suspended at its upper and lower ends in a cantilever-like fashion, wherein the series of canisters 12 are arranged circularly about the support column 24. Such a mounting arrangement allows for an easy and quick removal of any canister 12 and replacement thereof. Moreover, this mounting arrangement allows for a daisy-wheel type of operation of the apparatus where any canister may be located at a dispensing station 27 for measured or metered dispensing of its contents, as described hereinbelow. An important aspect of the invention is that a movable table is not required nor employed in the present invention.
To move the canisters such that a pump corresponding to a receptacle is positioned at the dispensing station, the present invention includes a drive mechanism 50. Best shown in
From the foregoing and as mentioned above, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific methods and apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.
This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. Nonprovisional application Ser. No. 11/065,915 filed Feb. 25, 2005, which claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/548,682 filed Feb. 27, 2004, both of which are incorporated by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11065915 | Feb 2005 | US |
Child | 11277159 | US |