BULK MORTAR SYSTEM

• US 20100147880A1
• Filed: 12/16/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solomon Colors Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Solomon Colors Incorporated
• Inventors: Arisman, Mark T., Daw, Mike, Kreutzer, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 9,206,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/55
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/62 using a receptacle with a bottom discharge with oscillating or vibrating opening and closing elements; using a receptacle with a bottom discharge with elements fitted on moving chains
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/84 Mixing plants with mixing receptacles receiving material dispensed from several component receptacles, e.g. paint tins
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/30 Oxides other than silica ferrites C04B14/363
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2103/54 Pigments; Dyes

Abstract

A system and apparatus for preparing bulk quantities of dry colorant or pigment for blending with mortar are described. The system mixes the three primary pigments of black, red and yellow to prepare a batch of the dry colorant having a particular color. The pigments or dry colorant are generally a powder of metal oxide crystals. The system includes pigment dispensers, wherein each pigment dispenser includes a tote that is in flowing communication with a slider valve. The slider valve is in flowing communication with a transition piece, and the transition piece is in flowing communication with a vibratory tray having an exit opening. A receptacle receives pigments from the exit opening of the vibratory trays. A control unit serially operates the vibratory trays to dispense the pigment from each tote. A scale measures the weight of the pigments in the receptacle. The scale is in operational communication with the control unit.

Claims

1. A system for producing batches of a dry pigment of metal oxide crystals, comprising:

a plurality of pigment dispensers, wherein each pigment dispenser comprises a tote, the tote in flowing communication with a slider valve, the slider valve in flowing communication with the transition piece, and the transition piece in flowing communication with a vibratory tray having an exit opening;

a receptable to receive pigments from the exit opening of the vibratory trays;

a control unit to serially operate the vibratory trays to dispense the pigment from each tote; and

a scale to measure the weight of the pigments in the receptacle, the scale in operational communication with the control unit.

2. The system according to claim 1, where a first pigment dispenser contains black pigment, a second pigment dispenser contains yellow pigment, and a third pigment dispenser contains red pigment.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the vibratory trays are operated in a variable manner with the vibration of the vibrating trays reduced as the amount of pigment in the receptacle approaches a target amount.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control panel comprises one or more formulas for a specific color of a mortar colorant.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the formulas comprise a specific amount of at least two of black, red, and yellow pigments.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the formulas comprise a specific amount of black pigment by weight, a specific amount of red pigment by weight, and a specific amount of yellow pigment by weight.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein three pigments dispensers include three vibratory trays with the exit openings of the three vibratory trays positioned over the receptacle.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the dry pigments consist of metal oxide crystals.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the dry pigments consist of non-granulated, iron oxide crystals

10. A system for producing batches of a dry pigment of metal oxide crystals;

comprising;

a first pigment dispenser containing a black pigment of metal oxide crystals;

a second pigment dispenser containing a yellow pigment of metal oxide crystals;

a third pigment dispenser containing a red pigment of metal oxide crystals;

each of the pigment dispensers comprising a tote to individually hold the black, yellow, and red pigments;

a vibratory tray in flowing communication with each tote, wherein each vibratory tray comprises an exit opening;

a receptacle to receive pigments from the exit opening of the vibratory trays;

a control unit to serially operate the vibratory trays to dispense the pigment from each tote; and

a scale to measure the weight of the pigments in the receptacle, the scale in operational communication with the control unit.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the black, yellow and red pigments consist of iron oxide crystals.

12. A system for producing batches of non-granulated dry pigment comprising:

a first pigment dispenser containing a black pigment in a black pigment tote, a vibrator placed on the front wall of the black pigment tote;

a second pigment dispenser containing a yellow pigment in a yellow pigment tote, vibrators placed on a first sidewall and a second sidewall of the yellow pigment tote;

a third pigment dispenser containing a red pigment in a red pigment tote, a vibrator placed on the front wall of the red pigment tote;

a vibratory tray in flowing communication with each tote, wherein each vibratory tray comprises an exit opening;

a receptacle to receive pigments from the exit opening of the vibratory trays; and

a control unit to operate the vibratory trays to dispense the pigment from each tote.

13. A method for producing a batch of non-granulated, dry pigment;

comprising;

providing a plurality of pigment dispensers, wherein each pigment dispenser comprises a tote containing pigments, the tote in flowing communication with a slider valve, the slider valve in flowing communication with a transition piece, the transition piece in flowing communication with a vibratory tray having an exit opening;

providing a receptacle to receive pigments from the exit opening of the vibratory trays;

providing a control unit to serially operate the vibratory trays to dispense the pigment from each tote;

providing a scale to measure the weight of the pigments in the receptacle, the scale in operational communication with the control unit; and

dispensing pigments from each pigment dispenser to produce the batch of the dry pigment.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein a first pigment dispenser contains black pigment, a second pigment dispenser contains yellow pigment, and a third pigment dispenser contains red pigment.

15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising dispensing pigments from each pigment dispenser in a serial fashion.

16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising vibrating the vibratory trays to dispense the pigments.

17. The method according to claim 13, further comprising blending the batch of dry colorant with mortar.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the control unit comprises a database of a plurality of colors which may be produced.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising inputting a selected color for the dry colorant into the control unit.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising selecting one of the plurality of colors.

21. The method according to claim 13, further comprising measuring a weight of an amount of pigment dispensed into a receptacle.

22. The method according to claim 13, further comprising measuring a weight of an amount of pigment dispensed into a receptacle and comparing the weight to a formula.

23. The method according to claim 13, further comprising operating the vibratory trays in a variable manner and reducing the vibration of the vibrating trays as the amount of pigment in the receptacle approaches a target amount.

24. The system according to claim 13, wherein the dry pigments consist of metal oxide crystals.