Method and machine for batching coloring agents into paints and varnishes
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A machine for batching coloring agents into a paint or varnish medium by volume comprising:
- a housing;
a plurality of reservoirs mounted within said housing and adapted each to contain a liquid coloring agent, and stirring means disposed within each reservoir for stirring the coloring agent therein;
n nozzles for dispensing coloring agents into said medium;
n pumps and n solenoid valves;
conduit means for connecting each reservoir with a nozzle through a pump and solenoid valve whereby the pump will pump coloring agent from the reservoir through the valve and through the nozzle when the valve is open and for returning coloring agent to the reservoir when the valve is closed;
an electric stepping motor means operably coupled to each pump for driving said pumps; and
microprocessor control means coupled to said motor and to each of said valves for opening and closing only predetermined valves in a predetermined sequence and for stepping said motcr means in a predetermined number of steps during said sequence;
whereby when the microprocessor control means calibrates said machine to compare the pump flow rate for each pump, and corrects said flow rate comparison for the viscosity of each coloring agent and the time delay for opening and closing each solenoid valve, the quantity of agent dispensed through each nozzle first step of said motor is calculated so that only predetermined quantities of predetermined sequence as said microprocessor control means steps said motor and opens and closes aid valves.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A machine for automatically batching coloring agents for paint or varnish is disclosed. The machine includes a computerized method for calibrating the amount of coloring agent dispensed with solenoid valves which calculate the viscosity and the delay time for opening and closing the valves so that coloring agents are dispensed with a minimum of less than plus or minus 1% error.
212 Citations
6 Claims
-
1. A machine for batching coloring agents into a paint or varnish medium by volume comprising:
-
a housing;
a plurality of reservoirs mounted within said housing and adapted each to contain a liquid coloring agent, and stirring means disposed within each reservoir for stirring the coloring agent therein;n nozzles for dispensing coloring agents into said medium; n pumps and n solenoid valves; conduit means for connecting each reservoir with a nozzle through a pump and solenoid valve whereby the pump will pump coloring agent from the reservoir through the valve and through the nozzle when the valve is open and for returning coloring agent to the reservoir when the valve is closed; an electric stepping motor means operably coupled to each pump for driving said pumps; and microprocessor control means coupled to said motor and to each of said valves for opening and closing only predetermined valves in a predetermined sequence and for stepping said motcr means in a predetermined number of steps during said sequence; whereby when the microprocessor control means calibrates said machine to compare the pump flow rate for each pump, and corrects said flow rate comparison for the viscosity of each coloring agent and the time delay for opening and closing each solenoid valve, the quantity of agent dispensed through each nozzle first step of said motor is calculated so that only predetermined quantities of predetermined sequence as said microprocessor control means steps said motor and opens and closes aid valves. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A method for batching coloring agents into a paint or varnish medium by volume comprising the steps of:
-
providing a machine including a housing; n reservoirs mounted within said housing and adapted each to contain a liquid coloring agent, and stirring means disposed within each reservoir for stirring the coloring agent therein; n nozzles for dispensing coloring agents into a paint or varnish medium; n pumps and n solenoid valves; conduit means for connecting each reservoir with a nozzle through a pump and a solenoid valve whereby the pump will pump coloring agent from the reservoir through the valve and through the nozzle when the valve is open and for returning coloring agent to the reservoir when the valve is closed;
electric motor means operably couple to each pump for driving said pump; andmicroprocessor control means coupled to said motor and to each of said valves for opening and closing predetermined valves in a predetermined sequence and for stepping said motor in a predetermined number of steps during said sequence; calibrating said machine by comparing the pump flow rate for each pump and correcting said flow rate for the viscosity of each coloring agent and the time delay for opening and closing each solenoid valve so that the pump flow rate per step of the motor is calculated; dispensing predetermined quantities of predetermined agents is predetermined sequence through said nozzles by operating and closing predetermined valves as said motor steps.
-
Specification