Dispensing apparatus

• US 6,769,462 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2003
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (Corteva, Inc.), Rice Lake Weighing Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (Corteva, Inc.), Rice Lake Weighing Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Larson, John Charles, Burmester, Alan Arthur, Gibson, Travis Lynn, Weyek, Anthony Christopher, Genatempo, Vincent Fred Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Khoa D.
• Application Number:
  US10/397,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20030192616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 141/83, 141/129, 141/134, 141/131, 141/130, 222/318, 222/55, 222/1, 222/56, 222/57, 222/58, 222/135, 222/133, 222/134, 422/100, 422/101, 422/102, 738/633.2, 738/631
• US Class Current: 141/83
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/50 Circulation mixers, e.g. wherein at least part of the mixture is discharged from and reintroduced into a receptacle
• 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: B01F 33/846 using stored recipes for determining the composition of the mixture to be produced, i.e. for determining the amounts of the basic components to be dispensed from the component receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/1452 using fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/20 Measuring; Control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/881 by weighing, e.g. with automatic discharge
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/52 for removal of clogging particles
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/555 discharged by cleaning nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/24 for feeding
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/60 for feeding, e.g. end guides for the incoming material B29B7/7615 takes precedence; feeding predetermined amounts for mixing in general B01F35/714

Abstract

A dispensing apparatus includes recirculating systems though which the dispersants are recirculated to prevent settling of solid components, such as pigments that may be present in the dispersants. The apparatus includes dispensers located on a movable table positioned inside a frame assembly of the apparatus. The table is positioned to dispense a selected dispersant into a container placed atop a weighing scale through the dispenser selected in accordance with a recipe. The weight of the selected dispersant is monitored by the weighing scale and once a desired amount of the selected dispersant is dispensed, a signal is received by the apparatus from the weighing scale to switch off the dispensing of the dispersant. The table is then moved to deliver the next dispersant, required in the recipe. The process is continued until all the desired dispersants are dispensed in the container to form the composition, such as an automotive paint.

Claims

1. A dispensing apparatus comprising:

(1) a plurality of recirculating systems wherein each said recirculating system comprises a reservoir containing a dispersant, a closed loop of a tubing connected to said reservoir, pumping means positioned in said loop for recirculating said dispersant to and from said reservoir at an elevated pressure, and a dispersant dispenser positioned in said loop;

(2) a frame assembly comprising;

(a) a dispenser actuator assembly for actuating said dispersant dispenser, said assembly positioned above a platform having a weighing scale positioned thereon;

(b) a movable table positioned between said dispenser actuator assembly and said weighing scale, said table having said dispersant dispensers of said plurality of recirculating systems positioned thereon;

(c) a pneumatic linear positioning system for moving said movable table in X and Y directions; and

(3) a controller comprising;

(a) means for retrieving a recipe for a composition from a database, said recipe comprising predetermined quantities of said dispersants, which when mixed together result in said composition;

(b) means for signaling said pneumatic linear positioning system to move, upon processing an address location signal from a processor, said table for engaging said actuator assembly with one of said dispersant dispensers selected in accordance with said recipe;

(c) means for actuating said dispenser actuator assembly to open or to shut, upon processing a nozzle control signal from said processor, a nozzle on said selected dispersant dispenser to gravimetrically dispense said dispersant into a container placed on said weighing scale; and

(d) means for generating a weight monitoring signal from said weighing scale to direct said processor to shut off said nozzle on said selected dispersant dispenser once an amount of said dispersant determined in accordance with said recipe is dispensed into said container.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

one or more particulates metering devices positioned on said moving table wherein said means for signaling, upon processing said address location signal from said processor, direct said pneumatic linear positioning system to move said table for engaging said actuator assembly with one of said metering devices selected in accordance with said recipe comprising predetermined quantities of one or more particulates;

wherein, upon processing an auger control signal from said processor, said means for actuating dispenser actuator assembly initiate or terminate gravimetric release of particulates from said selected metering device into said container; and

wherein said means for generating weight monitoring signal direct said processor to terminate the release of the particulates into said container once an amount of the particulates determined in accordance with said recipe is dispersed into said container.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a gravity-fed nozzle cleaning system, said system comprising:

(1) a wash-fluid tank;

(2) a nozzle cleaning module kept wet with a wash-fluid from said tank, said module being positioned adjacent to said dispenser actuator assembly such that said nozzle of said dispersant dispenser passes through said nozzle cleaning module to clean said nozzle before and after said dispersant dispenser dispenses said dispersant.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein a pad of said nozzle-cleaning module comprises bristles.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said pad comprises substantially equal numbers of interspersed soft and stiff bristles.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said soft bristles are made of nylon and said stiff bristles are made of brass.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus has 70 said recirculating systems.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reservoirs from said plurality of recirculating systems are positioned on a rack assembly.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said pumping means from said plurality of recirculating systems are positioned on said rack assembly.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pumping means include a low pulse double acting piston pump.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 or 10 wherein said loop includes a surge suppressor for reducing pressure fluctuations in said elevated pressure.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elevated pressures range from 5 to 70 psig.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said dispersant dispenser is provided with a tapered needle valve to increase dispensing accuracy of said dispersant dispenser.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said dispersant dispenser is provided with a threaded valve head to adjust a rate at which said dispersant is dispensed through said nozzle.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 or 14 wherein said means for actuating provide a fast-fill, slow-fill or a jog-fill modes.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein said pneumatic linear positioning system comprises a movable framework connected to a plurality of X pneumatic cylinders mounted on said frame assembly, and a plurality of Y pneumatic cylinders connected to said movable table and mounted on said movable framework, such that upon processing a signal from said means for signaling, said movable table is moved in said X and Y directions to engage said selected dispersant dispenser with said dispenser actuator assembly or to position said movable table in a home position.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said X and Y pneumatic cylinders are of different fixed stroke lengths such that by extending or retracting said cylinders, said table is moved to an address on said table that corresponds to said selected dispersant dispenser or particulates metering device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said movable framework is provided with a wire cable guide assembly to prevent jamming of said framework during motion.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said frame assembly is provided with a sloped drip pan to collect spills and a sensor positioned in said pan for detecting the presence of said spills.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said platform is provided with a dampening block to prevent vibrations from reaching said weighing scale.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said weighing scale has a weighing accuracy ranging from ±

0.001 to ±

0.01 grams.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein components of said apparatus that carry electrical currents are segregated from other components to meet the Class I, Division I Electrical Classification Codes 30, 33 and 70 specified by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Quincy, Mass.

23. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said composition comprises dispersants, particulates or a combination thereof.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said composition is a paint;

nail polish;

lip stick;

eye shadow;

adhesive;

perfume;

fragrance;

caulk;

masonry wall repair kit;

catalyst blend;

pharmaceutical drug;

printing ink;

ink jet ink;

food additive;

polymer blend;

blend of reactants;

or a point-of-purchase consumer product.

25. A method of producing a composition comprising:

(1) recirculating a plurality of dispersants thorough recirculating systems of an apparatus wherein each said recirculating system comprises a reservoir containing said dispersant, a closed loop of a tubing connected to said reservoir, pumping means positioned in said loop for recirculating said dispersant to and from said reservoir at an elevated pressure, and a dispersant dispenser positioned in said loop;

(2) retrieving a recipe for said composition from a database, said recipe comprising predetermined quantities of said dispersants, which when mixed together result in said composition;

(3) directing a pneumatic linear positioning system of a frame assembly of said apparatus to move in X and Y directions, upon processing an address location signal from a processor of said apparatus, a movable table to engage a dispenser actuator assembly with one of said dispersant dispensers selected in accordance with said recipe, wherein said table is positioned between said dispenser actuator assembly and a weighing scale of said frame assembly, said table having a plurality of said dispersant dispensers positioned thereon;

(4) actuating said dispenser actuator assembly to open or to shut, upon processing a nozzle control signal from said processor, a nozzle on said selected dispersant dispenser to gravimetrically dispense said dispersant into a container placed on said weighing scale; and

(5) generating a weight monitoring signal from said weighing scale to direct said processor to shut said nozzle on said selected dispersant dispenser once an amount of said dispersant determined in accordance with said recipe is dispensed into said container.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

(1) directing, upon processing said address location signal from a processor, said pneumatic linear positioning system to move said table for engaging said actuator assembly with one of one or more particulates metering devices positioned on said moving table, said metering device selected in accordance with said recipe comprising predetermined quantities of one or more particulates; and

(2) actuating said dispenser actuator assembly to initiate or to terminate, upon processing an auger control signal from said processor, gravimetric release of particulates from said selected metering device into said container, wherein said means for generating said weight monitoring signal direct said processor to terminate the dispensing of said particulates into said container once an amount of said particulates determined in accordance with said recipe, is dispensed into said container.

27. The method of claim 25 comprising traversing said nozzle of said dispersant dispenser through a nozzle cleaning module to clean said nozzle before and after said dispersant dispenser dispenses said dispersant.

28. The method of claim 25 or 26 wherein said recipe is retrieved from said database located at a remote location.

29. The method of claim 25 or 26 wherein said recipe is retrieved by accessing said database via a website.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said processor stores data on amounts of the dispersants dispensed by the dispersant dispensers.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said processor sends the data collected on the amounts of the dispersants dispensed by the dispersant dispensers to a recipe developer to monitor the rate of consumption of the dispersants dispensed by the dispersant dispensers.

32. A composition produced by the method of claim 25 or 26, wherein said composition is a paint;

nail polish;

lip stick;

eye shadow;

adhesive;

perfume;

fragrance;

caulk;

masonry wall repair kit;

catalyst blend;

pharmaceutical drug;

printing ink;

ink jet ink;

food additive;

polymer blend;

blend of reactants;

or a point-of-purchase consumer product.