Bulk mortar system

• US 9,057,640 B1
• Filed: 12/16/2009
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solomon Colors Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Solomon Colors Incorporated
• Inventors: Kreutzer, Charles, Arisman, Mark T., Daw, Michael J., Brown, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): NICHOLS II, ROBERT K
• Application Number:
  US12/639,571
• Time in Patent Office: 2,008 Days
• Field of Search: 222/132, 222/135, 222 55- 56, 222/129, 222/561, 366/21, 366/18, 177/70
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/1445 involving vibrations B05B7/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/30 Oxides other than silica ferrites C04B14/363
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2103/54 Pigments; Dyes
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 40/0028 Aspects relating to the mixing step of the mortar preparation
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 11/08 having means for controlling the rate of feed or discharge regulation of flow of fluent material G05D

Abstract

A system and apparatus for preparing bulk quantities of dry colorant or pigment for blending with mortar are described. The system mixes pigments of black, red, white and yellow to prepare a batch of the dry colorant having a particular color. The pigments or dry colorant are generally a powder of metal oxide crystals. The system includes pigment dispensers, wherein each pigment dispenser includes a tote that is in flowing communication with a valve. A receptacle receives pigments from the exit opening of the vibratory trays. A control unit serially operates the vibratory trays to dispense the pigment from each tote. A scale measures the weight of the pigments in the receptacle. The scale is in operational communication with the control unit.

Claims

1. A system for producing batches of a dry pigment of metal oxide crystals, comprising:

a plurality of pigment dispensers, wherein each pigment dispenser comprises a tote, a first vibrator positioned on a wall of the tote, the tote in flowing communication with a valve, the valve in flowing communication with a transition piece, a second vibrator positioned on a wall of the transition piece, and the transition piece in flowing communication with a vibratory tray having an exit opening;

a receptacle to receive pigments from the exit opening of the vibratory trays, wherein the receptacle is movably positioned underneath the exit openings of the vibratory trays, and wherein the receptacle slides or withdraws from underneath the exit openings;

a control unit to operate the vibratory trays to dispense the pigments from each tote; and

a scale to measure the weight of the pigments in the receptacle, the scale in operational communication with the control unit.

2. The system according to claim 1, where a first pigment dispenser contains black pigment, a second pigment dispenser contains yellow pigment, a third pigment dispenser contains dark red pigment, and a fourth pigment dispenser contains light red pigment.

3. The system according to claim 1, where a first pigment dispenser contains black pigment, a second pigment dispenser contains yellow pigment, a third pigment dispenser contains dark red pigment, and a fourth pigment dispenser contains white pigment.

4. The system according to claim 1, where a first pigment dispenser contains black pigment, a second pigment dispenser contains yellow pigment, a third pigment dispenser contains dark red pigment, a fourth pigment dispenser contains light red pigment, and a fifth pigment dispenser contains white pigment.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the vibratory trays are operated in a variable manner with the vibration of the vibrating trays reduced as the amount of the pigments in the receptacle approaches a target amount.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises two, three, four or five pigment dispensers.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control panel comprises one or more formulas for a specific color of mortar colorant, wherein the formulas comprise a specific amount of at least two of black, dark red, light red, white and yellow pigments.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the formulas comprise a specific amount of black pigment by weight, a specific amount of dark red pigment by weight, a specific amount of light red pigment by weight, a specific amount of white pigment by weight, and a specific amount of yellow pigment by weight.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein four pigments dispensers include four vibratory trays with the exit openings of the four vibratory trays positioned over the receptacle.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the dry pigments consist of metal oxide crystals.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the dry pigments consist of non-granulated, iron oxide crystals.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the totes are mounted to a tote frame.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein a bag handler frame is removably mounted on top of the tote frame, and the bag handler frame receives a bag of the pigment.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the tote frame is mounted on top of a feeder frame.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the feeder frame supports a feeder motor and the vibratory tray.

16. The system according to claim 12, wherein the tote frame forms a box-like frame to support the tote.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the tote comprises a first wall at an angle of approximately 20 degrees to approximately 40 degrees and a second wall at an angle of approximately 1 degree to approximately 8 degrees.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the second wall faces the receptacle.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the first vibrator is placed on the second wall.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second vibrator is positioned on the wall of the transition piece, and the wall of the transition piece faces the receptacle.

21. A system for producing batches of a dry pigments, comprising:

a plurality of pigment dispensers, wherein each pigment dispenser comprises a tote, a first vibrator positioned on a wall of the tote, the tote in flowing communication with a valve, the valve in flowing communication with a transition piece, a second vibrator positioned on a wall of the transition piece, and the transition piece in flowing communication with a vibratory tray having an exit opening;

a receptacle to receive pigments from the exit opening of the vibratory trays;

a control unit to operate the vibratory trays to dispense the pigments from each tote; and

a scale to measure the weight of the pigments in the receptacle, the scale in operational communication with the control unit.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the tote comprises a first wall at an angle of approximately 20 degrees to approximately 40 degrees and a second wall at an angle of approximately 1 degree to approximately 8 degrees.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the first vibrator is placed on the second wall.