Apparatus for forming mixtures of fluids
First Claim
1. An apparatus for forming, in a receiving container a mixture in selected proportions of fluid ingredients selected from a number of such fluid ingredients stored in an array of storage containers each adapted to dispense a respective fluid ingredient, comprisingweighing means adapted to support and continuously monitor the weight of the receiving container,a movable support for the weighing means so that a receiving container supported thereby can be moved to receive ingredients from successive selected storage containers,means for initiating dispensing of an ingredient from a selected storage container when the weighing means and supported receiving container are in a position to receive fluid from that storage container,means for stopping that dispensing of fluid when a predetermined weight of that ingredient has been dispensed into the receiving container, anda data processor which controls the movement of the weighing means and its support to successive storage containers, ascertains the correct disposition of the weighing means and receiving container relative to the desired storage container, emits a signal to the means for initiating of the respective fluid ingredient when such correct disposition has been ascertained, is adapted to receive information of the weight of the receiving container from the weighing means during dispensing of the ingredient, and emits a signal to operate means for stopping dispensing of the fluid when the receiving container has reached the required weight.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for metering required proportions of different fluid ingredients to make a required mixture (e.g. a colored paint) includes a rack of storage containers for the ingredients, each provided with a valve-controlled outlet and a receiving container mounted on a weighing device which is presentable to a chosen sequence of storage containers in turn to receive the required contribution from each. Metering of the necessary ingredient additions is effected automatically by a valve actuator carried by the support for the weighing device. Data processing control to optimize operation is described.
54 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for forming, in a receiving container a mixture in selected proportions of fluid ingredients selected from a number of such fluid ingredients stored in an array of storage containers each adapted to dispense a respective fluid ingredient, comprising
weighing means adapted to support and continuously monitor the weight of the receiving container, a movable support for the weighing means so that a receiving container supported thereby can be moved to receive ingredients from successive selected storage containers, means for initiating dispensing of an ingredient from a selected storage container when the weighing means and supported receiving container are in a position to receive fluid from that storage container, means for stopping that dispensing of fluid when a predetermined weight of that ingredient has been dispensed into the receiving container, and a data processor which controls the movement of the weighing means and its support to successive storage containers, ascertains the correct disposition of the weighing means and receiving container relative to the desired storage container, emits a signal to the means for initiating of the respective fluid ingredient when such correct disposition has been ascertained, is adapted to receive information of the weight of the receiving container from the weighing means during dispensing of the ingredient, and emits a signal to operate means for stopping dispensing of the fluid when the receiving container has reached the required weight.
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13. An apparatus for forming, in a receiving container a mixture in selected proportions of fluid ingredients selected from a number of such fluid ingredients stored in an array of storage containers each adapted to dispense a respective fluid ingredient, comprising
weighing means adapted to support and continuously monitor the weight of the receiving container, a movable support for the weighing means so that a receiving container supported thereby can be moved to receive ingredients from successive selected storage containers, means for initiating dispensing of an ingredient from a selected storage container when the weighing means and supported receiving container are in a position to receive fluid from that storage container, means for stopping that dispensing of fluid when a predetermined weight of that ingredient has been dispensed into the receiving container, and in which the storage containers are paint cans, a dispensing head having a dispensing outlet for paint is fitted to each can, a valve is provided for each outlet which can be opened by the initiating dispensing means whereby dispensing of paint can be effected without moving the paint can and dispensing head, and the dispensing head has its dispensing outlet facing generally downwards and the valve is mounted on a substantially vertical spindle, means being provided on the movable support for the weighing means to engage the spindle to raise the valve to initiate dispensing of paint and to lower the valve to stop the dispensing of paint.
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19. An apparatus for forming, in a receiving container a mixture in selected proportions of fluid ingredients selected from a number of such fluid ingredients stored in an array of storage containers each adapted to dispense a respective fluid ingredient, comprising
weighing means adapted to support and continuously monitor the weight of the receiving container, a movable support for the weighing means so that a receiving container supported thereby can be moved to receive ingredients from successive selected storage containers, means for initiating dispensing of an ingredient from a selected storage container when the weighing means and supported receiving container are in a position to receive fluid from that storage container, and means for stopping that dispensing of fluid when a predetermined weight of that ingredient has been dispensed into the receiving container, and in which dispensing is controlled by a data processor which continually receives, during dispensing, information from the weighing means of the weight of the receiving container and controls the degree to which the valve is opened during the dispensing operation in response to the measured rate of increase in weight of the receiving container during that dispensing operation and closes the valve to stop dispensing of fluid when the receiving container has reached the desired weight known from information stored by the data processor.
Specification