I. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to paint formulation and dispensing apparatuses.
II. Description of Related Art
There are many situations where it is necessary to add relatively small amounts of pigmented paint to a base color in order to achieve the desired end color for the paint. Such paint mixing allows a wide variety of colors to be mixed as well as matched without the necessity of actually maintaining an inventory of each of the separate end colors.
In one application, paint mixers are utilized in automotive paint shops for mixing the precise color necessary to paint an automotive vehicle. In one such type of paint mixing system, a receiving can for receiving the paint is placed on an electronic scale which generates an electronic output signal representative of the weight within the receiving can. The electronic scale is electrically connected to a processor which, in turn, has access to a database of different paint colors. Consequently, after the operator inputs the desired color, the processor is able to access the database to determine both the color and weight of additional pigmented paint necessary to be added to the receiving can to achieve the desired end color.
After the type and amount of pigmented paint is determined, the processor activates a mechanism which engages and then tilts an open paint can of the pigmented paint thus pouring paint into the receiving can. When enough paint has been poured into the receiving can, the mechanism tilts the paint can to stop the paint pouring process.
A primary disadvantage of these previously known painting systems is that the overall paint mixing system is expensive to obtain and maintain. Furthermore, these previously known paint mixing systems are prone to inaccuracies and are fairly slow in operation since the amount of pigmented paint, and thus the amount of tilting of the paint can necessary to dispense the paint, varies from one pigmented color and to another. Another disadvantage is that these systems require periodic software upgrades, as they do not utilize the original formulation software provided by the paint manufacturer.
The present invention provides a paint formulation and dispensing apparatus for mixing paints from a paint can and to a receiving can which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the previously known devices.
In brief, the present invention includes a dispensing lid which is attached to the can of pigmented paint so that the lid overlies an open top of the paint can. In practice, each lid will be associated with a single can of pigmented paint until all of the paint from that can is dispensed.
The lid includes a dispensing spout, a paint reservoir, and a fluid passageway which is connected at one end to the open top of the paint can. A valve is disposed in the passageway and is movable between a first position and a second position. In its first position, the valve fluidly connects the passageway to the reservoir while in its second position, the valve fluidly connects the reservoir with the spout and disconnects the reservoir from the paint can.
A plunger is slidably disposed in and sealed to the reservoir. Consequently, the position of the plunger in the reservoir determines the volume of paint within the reservoir.
The mixing apparatus further includes a housing having an electronic weight scale which generates an output signal representative of the weight on the scale. The output from the scale is received by a programmed processor which also has access to a database containing paint mixing data for achieving different paint colors.
The housing also includes a lid support which supports the dispensing lid in an inverted position, i.e. with the paint can extending upwardly from the lid. Once the dispensing lid is positioned on the lid support, the lid spout is positioned in alignment and above a receiving can positioned on the weight scale. In addition, with the lid positioned on the lid support, an actuator engages the reservoir plunger such that the actuator controls the position of the plunger within the reservoir.
In operation, the lid is first positioned on the lid support and so that the actuator engages the plunger. The processor, after receiving the desired paint color as an input from the user, activates a control rod to move the valve to its first position so that the reservoir is fluidly connected to the open top of the paint can. The actuator then moves the piston upwardly which inducts paint from the paint can into the reservoir.
After the reservoir has been at least partially filled, the processor actuates the valve to its second position so that the reservoir is fluidly connected to the spout positioned above the receiving can on the weight scale. The processor then moves the actuator downwardly thus ejecting the paint from the reservoir, out through the spout and into the receiving can. As the paint is added to the receiving can, the scale generates an output signal representative of the increasing weight of the can.
When the desired amount of paint from the paint can in the dispensing lid has been dispensed into the receiving can, the processor generates an output signal to the actuator to not only stop the downward movement of the plunger, but also to elevate the plunger slightly which both accurately and abruptly stops the flow from the reservoir and into the receiving can. The processor then actuates the valve actuator to move the valve back to its first position thus fluidly connecting the reservoir to the open top of the paint can. Downward movement of the plunger by the actuator then pumps the paint from the reservoir back into the can.
The above process is repeated for each different paint color necessary to achieve the desired end color.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing includes two paint can receiving stations for alternatively loading, mixing, and unloading paint. The use of two receiving stations facilitates rapid paint mixing.
A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:
With reference first to
A receiving can 28 is positioned on the weight scale 24. The receiving can 28 typically will be either empty or contain a first color. As such, pigmented paint or other colors must be added to the receiving can 28 in order to achieve the desired end color. Furthermore, as each pigmented color is added to the receiving can 28, the weight scale 24 changes the output signal to the processor 26 to reflect the increased weight in the receiving can 28.
In a fashion that will be subsequently described in greater detail, a dispensing lid 30 is attached to a dispensing can 32 containing the desired pigment, or at least one of the desired pigments, necessary to be added to the receiving can 28 in order to achieve the end color. The construction and operation of the dispensing lid 30, furthermore, may be more clearly understood by reference to
With reference then to
Any conventional means may be used to removably attach the dispensing lid 30 to the can 32 so that the dispensing lid overlies the open top of the dispensing can 32. However, as shown, the dispensing lid 30 includes snap locks 36 which are described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 7,540,652, which is incorporated herein by reference. Other mechanisms for attaching the lid 30 to the can 32, however, may be utilized without deviation from the spirit or scope of the invention.
With reference now to
A passageway 44 is formed in the dispensing lid 30 which is open at one end to the open top of the dispensing lid 30 and thus to the pigmented paint contained in the paint can 32. As shown in
Referring now to
A plunger 52 is slidably mounted within the reservoir 40 so that the plunger sealingly engages the reservoir walls 42. Preferably, the plunger 52 includes fluid seals 54 to enhance a fluid-tight seal between the plunger 52 and the reservoir walls 42.
The plunger is movable within the reservoir 40 between the position shown in
With reference now to
With reference now to
The actual configuration of the plunger handle 72 is unimportant. For example, as shown in
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As shown in
With reference now to
The machine operator inputs the desired end color to the processor 26. Any conventional means, such as a touch pad 86, may be used to input this information to the processor 26. Once inputted, the processor 26 accesses the database containing paint color information and the amount or weight of each different paint pigment required to achieve the desired end color.
The processor 26 then actuates both the valve actuator 76 to move the valve to its first position (
When a sufficient amount of paint has been dispensed into the receiving can 28 as the processor determines from the output signal from the scale 24, the processor 26 terminates the downward movement of the piston actuator 70.
The processor 26 then rotates the valve 48 to its first position (
With reference now to
The housing 102 includes at least one and preferably two receiving stations 104, each of which is laterally spaced from the weight scale 24 and so that the stations 104 are positioned on opposite sides of the weight station 24. The operation of each station 104 is a mirror image of the other. Consequently, the operation and construction of only a single receiving station 104 will be described in detail, it being understood that a like mirror description shall also apply to the other receiving station 104.
With reference now particularly to
With the clamp assembly 110 in its open position, the movable part 114 of the clamp assembly 110 slidably receives the dispensing lid 30 when attached to the can 32 when in the non-inverted position, i.e. the lid 30 on top of the can 32. Although any mechanism may be used to slidably receive the paint can lid 30, preferably, the clamp assembly 12 includes spaced apart rails 111 which slide in slots formed in the lid 30.
With reference to
With reference now particularly to
As best shown in
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With reference now particularly to
Although the operation of the paint formulation and dispensing apparatus 100 should be clear, in summary the lid with its attached paint can is first loaded into the movable part of the clamp assembly 110 when in its open position. The movable part 114 of the clamp assembly 110 is then rotated to its closed position and the paint can 32 and lid 30 are manually slid into the fixed part 112 of the clamp assembly 110 until locked in place by the escapement 115. Simultaneously, the actuators 122 and 124 on the drive 120 drivingly connect with both the valve 82 as well as the plunger 52 on the lid 30.
The inverter 140 then rotates the fixed part 114 clamp assembly 112 with its attached lid and paint can to an inverted position over the weight scale 24 and thus over the can 28 positioned to receive the paint. Once in its mixing position, the actuator drives 150 and 152 automatically engage the input drive pinions 128 and 130 on the drive 120 to control the position of both the valve on the paint can lid as well as the position of the plunger, all under program control of the processor 26.
When the desired amount of paint has been dispensed, the valve is closed and the inverter 140 returns the paint can to its non-inverted loading position where that process is repeated.
The provision of the second receiving station allows a second can of paint to be mixed while the previous can of paint is removed from the clamp assembly 110 on the other receiving station and replaced with a different paint can and lid. This effectively increases the amount of paint that can be mixed with the mixing apparatus 100.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention provides a simple yet highly effective means for mixing paints to achieve desired end paint colors. Having described our invention, however, many modifications thereto will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.