Process and an apparatus for mixing substances

• US 4,836,685 A
• Filed: 07/23/1987
• Issued: 06/06/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Le Groupe Laperriere & Verreault Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Le Groupe Laperriere & Verreault Incorporated
• Inventors: Verreault, Laurent
• Primary Examiner(s): Hornsby, Harvey C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haugland, Scott J.
• Application Number:
  US07/076,904
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 366/141, 366/152, 366/153, 366/160, 366/189, 366/132, 222/56, 222/77, 177/116, 162/252, 162/348, 137/10, 137/403, 364/479, 364/502
• US Class Current: 366/141
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/881 by weighing, e.g. with automatic discharge

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process and an apparatus for blending substances in a highly accurate manner. The process consists of delivering an amount of a first substance into a mixing vessel and determining the weight of the amount of the first substance actually delivered. From the weight measured and the proportion of a second substance in the final blend an amount of the second substance is calculated and discharged in the mixing vessel, and same for each additional substance.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preparing a paper coloring solution by blending in accordance with a certain formula first and second substances, namely color pigments and a diluting agent, and for delivering said coloring solution to a paper machine, said apparatus comprising:

a mixing vessel for preparing a batch of said coloring solution;

a storage tank for said coloring solution;

first conduit means establishing a first fluid path from said mixing vessel to said storage tank for discharging a batch of coloring solution from said mixing vessel in said storage tank;

flow control means in said first fluid path;

second conduit means establishing a second fluid path from said storage tank to said paper machine for supplying coloring solution to said paper machine;

first weighing means operatively connected to said mixing vessel for generating a first signal representative of the weight of material present in said mixing vessel;

second weighing means operatively connected to said storage tank for generating a second signal representative of the weight of coloring solution in said storage tank;

discharge means adapted to be connected to a supply of color pigments and of diluting agent, said discharge means being in fluid communication with said mixing vessel for selectively discharging therein controlled amounts of color pigments and diluting agent;

electronic controller means in operative relation with said first and second weighing means, with said flow control means and with said discharge means, said electronic controller means comprising;

(a) memory means in which is stored said formula; and

(b) calculating means,

said controller means receiving said second signal and signaling said discharge means to deliver in said mixing vessel an amount of said first substance when said second signal indicates that the quantity of coloring solution in said storage tank is below a predetermined level,

said controller means receiving said first signal and determining the weight of said amount of said first substance actually delivered in said mixing vessel,

from the weight of said first substance actually delivered in said mixing vessel and from said formula stored in said memory means, said calculating means calculating an amount of said second substance to be delivered in said mixing vessel,

said controller means signaling said discharge means to deliver in said mixing vessel an amount of said second substance in accordance with the calculated amount of said second substance in the previous step,

upon completion of a batch of coloring solution in said mixing vessel, said controller means signaling said flow control means to enable discharge of said batch of coloring solution in said storage tank.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a tank for a cleaning agent and a third conduit means for establishing a third fluid path from said tank for a cleaning agent and said mixing vessel.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said cleaning agent is acid.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, further comprising pump means in said third conduit means.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising pump means in said second fluid path for metering coloring solution from said storage tank to said paper machine.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising agitator means in said mixing tank and in said storage tank.