Multizone clamping system for paint mixer
First Claim
1. A method of selecting one of a plurality of predetermined forces for a clamping mechanism to apply to a paint container in a paint mixing machine without using a force measuring sensor and without using a distance measuring sensor, the method comprising:
- a. monitoring a voltage applied to and a current conducted through a clamp motor;
b. determining when a rise in current occurs and calculating the distance the clamping mechanism has traveled based on the voltage and time of energization of the clamp motor; and
c. selecting a clamping current corresponding to one of a plurality of clamping forces, based on the distance the clamping mechanism has traveled until the current rise.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for automatically determining which of at least two forces to apply to a paint container in a mixing apparatus that is capable of clamping various sized paint containers. A clamp motor drives a clamping apparatus toward a paint container and a current rise signals engagement of the clamp with the container, whereupon a selection is made from a predetermined set of forces to apply to the container based on the time of energization and voltage applied to the clamp motor.
42 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of selecting one of a plurality of predetermined forces for a clamping mechanism to apply to a paint container in a paint mixing machine without using a force measuring sensor and without using a distance measuring sensor, the method comprising:
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a. monitoring a voltage applied to and a current conducted through a clamp motor;
b. determining when a rise in current occurs and calculating the distance the clamping mechanism has traveled based on the voltage and time of energization of the clamp motor; and
c. selecting a clamping current corresponding to one of a plurality of clamping forces, based on the distance the clamping mechanism has traveled until the current rise. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. Apparatus for automatically applying one of a plurality of clamping forces via a clamping mechanism to a paint container in a paint mixing machine, without a force measuring sensor and without a distance measuring sensor, the apparatus comprising:
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a. voltage monitoring means for monitoring a clam p motor voltage applied to a clamp motor;
b. current monitoring means for monitoring a clamp motor current conducted through the clamp motor;
c. clamp detecting means for determining when a rise in clamp motor current occurs and for calculating the distance the clamping mechanism has traveled until the rise in clamp motor current occurs, based on the clamp motor voltage aid a time it is applied; and
d. clamp force selection means for selecting a clamping current corresponding to one of a plurality of clamping forces based on the distance traveled by the clamping mechanism until clamping is detected by the clamp detecting means. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification