Apparatus for dispensing paint and stain samples and methods of dispensing paint and stain samples
First Claim
1. A closure system for a fluid outlet of a fluid dispensing apparatus, the closure system comprising:
- a pivot plate comprising an 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 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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. An improved shelving system is also provided for housing a large quantity of different ingredients conveniently within a relatively compact cabinet thereby making the system suitable for a retail environment. An improved method of preparing a sample quantity of a fluid mixture is also disclosed.
77 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A closure system for a fluid outlet of a fluid dispensing apparatus, the closure system comprising:
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a pivot plate comprising an 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A paint or stain formulating and dispensing system, the system comprising:
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a stationary pivot plate comprising an 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 of the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 38, 39)
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35. A method for preparing a paint or stain sample comprising:
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storing a plurality of paint or stain formulations in a memory of a controller, each formulation being associated with an identifier;
entering a selected identifier into an input device coupled to the controller;
dispensing a sample amount of the formulation associated with the selected identifier into a sample container;
printing a label with indicia identifying the formulation dispensed and adhering the label to the sample container;
at a later time, reading the indicia on the label of the sample container to identify the formulation previously dispensed; and
dispensing a larger quantity of the formulation into a larger container. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 40)
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41. A modular shelving system for housing and supporting flexible bags containing fluid components, the shelving system comprising:
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a cabinet comprising an interior with a pair of parallel cross beams, a plurality of brackets slideably and detachably mounted on the cross beams, each bracket comprising a u-shaped body comprising a rear wall disposed between and connected to two side walls, the rear wall and side walls comprising a pair of slots, each slot extending through the rear wall and into the side walls for receiving one of the cross-beams through the rear wall and accommodating the cross beam in the side walls, each slot further comprising a pair of shaped recesses disposed in the side walls for frictionally receiving one of the cross beams, one of the side walls also being connected to a forwardly extending arm, each arm being detachably connected to a holder for supporting a flexible bag. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A bracket for supporting a flexible bag containing a viscous fluid, the bracket comprising:
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a u-shaped body comprising a rear wall disposed between and connected to two side walls, the rear wall and side walls comprising a pair of slots, each slot extending through the rear wall and into the side walls for receiving a cross-beam through the rear wall and accommodating the cross beam in the side walls, each slot further comprising a pair of shaped recesses disposed in the side walls for frictionally receiving one of the cross beams, one of the side walls also being connected to a forwardly extending arm.
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Specification