Modular dye meter and method of preparing compounds

• US 8,528,781 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2010
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hero Europe S.R.L.
• Original Assignee: Hero Europe S.R.L.
• Inventors: Sacchet, Alessandro
• Primary Examiner(s): Durand, Paul R
• Assistant Examiner(s): LONG, DONNELL ALAN
• Application Number:
  US12/916,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20110075510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 222/144.5, 222/129.1, 222/144, 222/145.1, 222/145.5, 222/138, 222/1
• US Class Current: 222/1
• 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 35/50 Mixing receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/561 the mixer being built-up from a plurality of modules or stacked plates comprising complete or partial elements of the mixer
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/714 for feeding predetermined amounts B01F35/88 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7176 using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/71775 using helical screws
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 13/00 Adaptations of machines or pumps for special use, e.g. for extremely high pressures of pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids F04C25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2/1071 the inner and outer member having a different number of threads and one of the two being made of elastic materials, e.g. Moineau type
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2/1073 where one member is stationary while the other member rotates and orbits
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2210/44 Viscosity
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2220/24 for metering throughflow
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 13/001 for fluent solid material
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 13/005 comprising a screw conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 13/006 measuring volume in function of time

Abstract

A method of preparing compounds comprising a plurality of components, the method comprising providing a modular dye meter, introducing component into one or more than one modular batching member of the modular dye meter, where the compound to be prepared comprises the one or more than one component, activating the internal rotor of one or more than one of the batching and delivering devices, thereby causing the internal rotors to rotate in the first direction, where rotation of the internal rotor moves component through the progressive recesses of the batching and delivering device through the corresponding delivery duct and through the dispenser, and thereby into a vessel for containing the compound, causing the rotation of the internal rotor in the first direction to cease, causing the internal rotor to rotate in a second direction, where the second direction is opposite to the first direction, thereby moving component back through the delivery duct into the corresponding batching and delivering device, and causing the rotation of the internal rotor in the second direction to cease.

Claims

1. A method of preparing compounds comprising a plurality of components, the method comprising:

a) providing a modular dye meter comprising;

i) one or more than one modular batching member, where each modular batching member comprises a container for storing one component of the compound and comprises a batching and delivering device for moving the component stored in the container, the batching and delivering device being equipped with fluid connecting means and second electric connecting means;

ii) a dispenser comprising a delivery head equipped with a plurality of delivery nozzles;

iii) a delivery duct corresponding to each batching and delivering device, and connecting each batching and delivering device to the dispenser, each delivery duct being able to be disconnected from the modular batching member; and

iv) a supporting structure equipped with a plurality of seats, each seat being adapted to operatively house one modular batching member and being equipped with fluid connecting means for an operative connection to the fluid connecting means and with electric connecting means for an operative connection to the electric connecting means, the connecting means being quick-connection electric connectors or pins;

where each batching and delivering device comprises a pump comprising an inlet end connected to the container, and comprises an outlet end connected to the delivery duct;

where each modular batching member is connected to one of the plurality of seats by a mechanical connector;

where each pump comprises an external stator housing and an internal rotor within the external stator;

where the internal rotor has an axis of rotation, and where the internal rotor is capable of rotating in a first direction around the axis of rotation, and is capable of rotating in a second direction that is around the axis of rotation, where the first direction is opposite of the second direction;

where each external stator housing comprises progressive recesses and each internal rotor is shaped as a worm screw and comprises progressive recesses; and

where rotation of the internal rotor relative to the external stator housing moves component inside the pump through the progressive recesses and toward the delivery duct corresponding to the batching and delivering device and therefore toward the dispenser when the internal rotor rotates in the first direction, or away from the delivery duct of the corresponding batching and delivering device and therefore toward the container when the internal rotor rotates in the second direction;

b) introducing component into one or more than one modular batching member of the modular dye meter, where the compound to be prepared comprises the one or more than one component;

c) activating the internal rotor of one or more than one of the batching and delivering devices, thereby causing the internal rotors to rotate in the first direction, where rotation of the internal rotor moves component through the progressive recesses of the batching and delivering device through the corresponding delivery duct and through the dispenser, and thereby into a vessel for containing the compound;

d) causing the rotation of the internal rotor in the first direction to cease; and

e) causing the internal rotor to rotate in a second direction, where the second direction is opposite to the first direction, thereby moving component from the dispenser back through the delivery duct into the corresponding batching and delivering device thereby preventing drips of component from exiting from the dispenser.

2. The method of claim 1, where the first direction is clockwise around the axis of the internal rotor.

3. The method of claim 1, where the first direction is counter-clockwise around the axis of the internal rotor.

4. The method of claim 1, where the second direction is clockwise around the axis of the internal rotor.

5. The method of claim 1, where the second direction is counter-clockwise around the axis of the internal rotor.