Batching machine, in particular for dyes

• US 5,950,874 A
• Filed: 02/05/1997
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Italtinto Srl (Clariant AG)
• Original Assignee: Italtinto Srl (Clariant AG)
• Inventors: Sindoni, Giuseppe
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US08/795,975
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 222/132, 222/144.5, 222/325, 141/104
• US Class Current: 222/144.5
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/30 Mixing paints or paint ingredients, e.g. pigments, dyes, colours, lacquers or enamel
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/841 with component receptacles fixed in a circular configuration on a horizontal table, e.g. the table being able to be indexed about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7176 using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/71805 using valves, gates, orifices or openings
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/00 Apparatus requiring external operation adapted at each repeated and identical operation to measure and separate a predetermined volume of fluid or fluent solid material from a supply or container, without regard to weight, and to deliver it

Abstract

A dye batching machine which allows the dyes to be dispensed simultaneously within a limited diameter so that containers with a small opening can be employed with a large number of supply canisters.

Claims

1. A batching machine for dyes, the machine comprising:

a machine housing;

a central dispensing head having a top, at least one side wall and a bottom, the central dispensing head contained within the machine housing;

a plurality of canisters each containing a substance for dispensing and an agitating blade, the canisters oriented radially surrounding the dispensing head;

a plurality of chambers, one chamber connected to each canister at a first end of the chamber, each chamber containing a positive displacement pump means for suctioning the substance from the adjacent canister and expelling the substance into the dispensing head;

an outlet in the bottom of the dispensing head;

direct coupling means at least partly integral with the dispensing head for radially connecting a second end of each of the plurality of chambers through the at least one side wall of the dispensing head to the outlet;

pump means for simultaneously dispensing the substance from at least two of the plurality of canisters through the outlet, the pump means comprising a motor positioned concentric above the central dispensing head, a plurality of first rods, each first rod connected to the positive displacement pump in one of the plurality of chambers, a plurality of second rods, each second rod connected to a corresponding one of the agitating blades in the plurality of canisters, each of the first and second rods being oscillated by the motor.

2. A batching machine according to claim 1, wherein the direct coupling means comprises a plurality of ducts through the dispensing head connecting each of the plurality of chambers to the outlet, and sealing means between each of the plurality of chambers and a corresponding one of the plurality of ducts for making a direct, sealed connection between each chamber and corresponding duct.

3. A batching machine according to claim 2, wherein the sealing means comprises a male connector on each chamber, a corresponding female connector in each duct and an O-ring secured to one of the male and female connectors.

4. A batching machine according to claim 3, wherein the O-ring is attached to the male connector.

5. A batching machine according to claim 2, wherein the ducts are "L" shaped between the at least one side and the bottom of the dispensing head.

6. A batching machine according to claim 1, wherein the direct coupling means is activated by radial movement of the plurality of canisters relative to the dispensing head.

7. A batching machine according to claim 1, wherein the direct coupling means is activated by axial movement of the plurality of canisters relative to the dispensing head.