Liquid color gravimetric metering apparatus and methods

• US 20070289659A1
• Filed: 06/16/2006
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen B. Maguire
• Original Assignee: Stephen B. Maguire
• Inventors: Maguire, Stephen B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,958,915 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/9
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/88 Adding charges , i.e. additives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/9218 Weight
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/926 Flow or feed rate
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/29 in liquid form
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/082 the tubular flexible member being pressed against a wall by a number of elements, each having an alternating movement in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the tubular member and each having its own driving mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 11/08 having means for controlling the rate of feed or discharge regulation of flow of fluent material G05D
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 13/00 Weighing apparatus with automatic feed or discharge for weighing-out batches of material for weighing a continuous stream G01G11/00; check-weighing G01G15/00; for fluids G01G17/04; apportioning by weight materials to be mixed G01G19/22; combinatorial weighing G01G19/387
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 13/247 Checking quantity of material in the feeding arrangement, e.g. discharge material only if a predetermined quantity is present
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 13/248 Continuous control of flow of material control of flow G05D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85978 With pump

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for delivering liquid color to a plastic resin processing machine include a scale for weighing a container of liquid color, a pump for removing liquid color from the container, controller for actuating pushers in the pump in a sequence whereby a first pusher is displaced to squeeze the delivery tube while a second and third pusher are not displaced thereby permitting liquid color to flow through the tube from the supply to a first position of tube squeezing, whereupon a second pusher is displaced to squeeze the tube and substantially trapped liquid color in the tube at the first and second position of tube squeezing, whereupon the first pusher permits liquid color to flow through the tube pass the first position of tube squeezing and the third pusher squeezes the tube and thereby forces at least a portion of the trapped liquid color material through the tube pass the first position of tube squeezing thereby supplying liquid color to the plastic resin processing machine at a predetermined rate according to a selected recipe to produce plastic parts having desired characteristics.

Claims

1. Apparatus for delivering liquid color to a plastic resin process machine, comprising:

a) a scale for continuously supporting and weighing a container of liquid color;

b) a pump for removing liquid color from the container, comprising;

i) a housing;

ii) three pushers within the housing, positioned side by side respecting one another;

iii) a compressible tube for transporting liquid color from the container to the machine;

iv) the tube being insertable into the housing in a position at which each pusher, when displaced, squeezes the tube against the housing interior, with the side by side positioning of the pushers resulting in the pushers serially contacting the tube when displaced; and

c) a controller for repeatedly actuating the pushers in sequence whereby a first pusher is displaced to squeeze the tube closed while a second and a third pusher are not displaced thereby permitting liquid color to flow through the tube from the supply to a first position of tube closure, then the second pusher is displaced to squeeze the tube closed and trap liquid color in the tube between the first position of tube closure and a second position of tube closure, then the first pusher is permitted to return to its undisplaced position thereby permitting liquid color to flow through the tube past the first position of tube closure and the third pusher is displaced to squeeze the tube and thereby force at least a portion of the trapped liquid color through the tube past the first position of tube closure, thereby supplying liquid color to a plastic resin material processing machine at a predetermined rate according to a selected recipe to produce plastic parts having desired color characteristics.

2. A method for supplying liquid color to a plastic resin material process machine, comprising:

a) weighing a container of liquid color; and

b) transporting liquid color from the container to the plastic resin process machine, responsively to changes in weight of the container

3. The method of claim 2 in which weighing the container further comprises continuously supporting the container.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the weighing is performed continuously.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the weighing is performed continuously.

6. Apparatus for delivering liquid color to a plastic resin process machine, comprising:

a) a scale for weighing a container of liquid color;

b) a pump for removing liquid color from the container and supplying the liquid color to the plastic resin process machine; and

c) a controller for regulating the pump to supply liquid color to the plastic resin process machine at a predetermined rate according to a selected recipe to produce plastic parts having desired characteristics, in response to changes in sensed weight of the container determined by the scale.

7. Apparatus of claim 6 wherein the scale continuously weighs the container.

8. Apparatus of claim 6 wherein the scale supports the container.

9. Apparatus of claim 7 wherein the scale supports the container.

10. A method for delivering liquid color to a plastic resin process machine, comprising:

a) weighing a container of liquid color;

b) removing liquid color from the container by actuating ones of a serially disposed set of pushers in sequence whereby a first pusher is displaced to squeeze the closed a compressible tube for transporting liquid color from the container to the machine while a second and a third pusher are not displaced thereby permitting liquid color to flow through the tube from the supply to a first position of tube closure, then the second pusher is displaced to squeeze the tube closed and trap liquid color in the tube between the first position of tube closure and a second position of tube closure, then the first pusher is permitted to return to its undisplaced position thereby permitting liquid color to flow through the tube past the first position of tube closure and the third pusher is displaced to squeeze the tube and thereby force at least a portion of the trapped liquid color through the tube past the first position of tube closure, thereby supplying liquid color to a plastic resin material processing machine at a predetermined rate according to a selected recipe to produce plastic parts having desired color characteristics.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising performing the weighing continuously.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising performing the actuating repeatedly.

13. A method for supplying liquid color to a plastic resin material process machine, comprising:

a) weighing liquid color; and

b) pumping the liquid color to the plastic resin process machine responsively to changes in weight of the liquid color.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the weighing is performed continuously.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the pumping is performed continuously.

16. Apparatus for delivering liquid color to a plastic resin process machine, comprising:

a) a scale for weighing a container of liquid color; and

b) a pump for removing liquid color from the container and supplying the liquid color to the plastic resin process machine in response to changes in sensed weight of the container determined by the scale.

17. Apparatus of claim 16 wherein the scale continuously weighs the container.

18. Apparatus of claim 16 wherein the scale supports the container.

19. Apparatus of claim 17 wherein the scale supports the container.

20. A method for delivering liquid color to a plastic resin process machine, comprising:

a. weighing a container of liquid color;

b. removing liquid color from the container by repeatedly actuating ones of a serially disposed set of pushers in sequence including;

i. displacing a first pusher to squeeze the closed a compressible tube for transporting liquid color from the container to the machine;

while

ii. retaining a second and a third pusher from displacement thereby permitting liquid color to flow through the tube from the supply to a first position of tube closure,

iii. displacing the second pusher to squeeze the tube closed and trap liquid color in the tube between the first position of tube closure and a second position of tube closure,

iv. returning the first pusher to its undisplaced position, thereby permitting liquid color to flow through the tube past the first position of tube closure, and

v. displacing the third pusher is displaced to squeeze the tube and thereby force at least a portion of the trapped liquid color through the tube past the first position of tube closure,

thereby supplying liquid color to a plastic resin material processing machine at a predetermined rate according to a selected recipe to produce plastic parts having desired color characteristics.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising performing the weighing continuously.