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(11) | EP 1 535 659 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| published in accordance with Art. 158(3) EPC |
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| (54) | MODULE, SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DOSING AND MIXING PASTY PRODUCTS |
| (57) It comprises a hollow prismatic shaped tank (2) for pasty products and pushing means
for the pasty, formed of a vertical-action piston (4) which runs tight within the
tank coaxially to the tank. Opening and closing means, adapted for opening and closing
an outlet (3) of the said tank, comprise a lower metering valve (5), the body of which
(6) contains an internal space (7) for a vertical axle (8) which opens into the tank,
the sealing element (12) of the valve being a closing head (9), which is movable between
a maximum open position and a closed position, on which the main base (11) of the
seal remains essentially level with the valve outlet (31), closing the tank. The pasty
product, in particular paint ink, can be provided in a deformable container which
is introduced in the hollow prism. |
Technical field of the invention.-
[0001] The present invention relates to a module for the metering of pasty products, of the type comprising a tank for the pasty product, provided with pushing means for the pasty product and opening and closing means, adapted for opening and closing an outlet of aforementioned tank.
[0002] The present invention also relates to a system for mixing pasty products which is based on previous modules, and a process for using the metering module and the aforementioned mixing system.
[0003] The present invention is particularly, although not exclusively, for use in the metering and mixing of dyes in paint production.
State of the art.-
[0004] At present, the mixing of primary dyes used in the production of paint is mainly done manually, putting the previously measured amount of dye in a recipient. However, there are good number of automatic or semi-automatic metering systems in which the dye is poured from an upper tank onto a lower recipient with a loading cell which, once a predetermined weight of dye is captured, orders a valve on the higher tank to close and stop the pouring. This operation is repeated for each of the primary dyes until the mixture with the required proportions of each one has been made.
[0005] Although these existing automatic or semi-automatic systems work effectively, they are not completely devoid of problems and inconveniences, especially as they are extremely complex and very expensive and the fact that, when the valve closes, a last drop is formed which can harm the precise metering, dirty the installation and hamper the next operation.
[0006] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a system for metering pasty products, which offers an integral solution to all of these problems and inconveniences.
Explanation of the invention.-
[0007] To this end, the first aspect of the invention is a new module for metering pasty products, as mentioned above, which is basically characterized in that the tank is a hollow prism and the pushing means comprises a vertical-action piston which runs tight within the tank and coaxially with the same, the opening and closing means comprising a lower metering valve, the body of which contains an internal space for a vertical axle which opens into with the tank, the sealing element of the valve being a closing head, which is movable between a maximum open position and a closed position, on which the main base of the seal remains essentially level with the valve outlet, closing the tank.
[0008] Said sealing element can be built in to an actuating rod which passes inside said internal cylindrical space of the valve body and which is also activated by a trip dog, counter to the action of a spring.
[0010] According to another characteristic of the invention herein, the module comprises a device for purging the air remaining trapped inside the tank below the piston.
[0011] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, each module comprises a device for injecting air inside the tank, adapted so that the piston can be separated from the bottom of the tank or from the mass of pasty product in the tank.
[0012] The metering module of the invention can comprise a mechanism for opening a container packaging the pasty product, once it is placed inside the tank.
[0013] Preferably, said opening mechanism consists of a blade, whose cutting edge is situated on the side of a cylinder which circles, or at least partially circles, the outlet of aforementioned tank.
[0014] A second aspect of the invention is a system for mixing pasty products, comprising at least one module as described above.
[0015] More specifically, the system can comprise at least two of the earlier modules, placed consecutively adjacent to one another in a first horizontal plane with the corresponding and closely aligned metering valves, and a receive vessel displaceable ever a guide means, the vessel being adapted for positioning under each module and receiving a measured amount of the pasty product contained in the module for mixing the pasty products.
[0016] Preferably, the mixing system shall comprise control means for controlling the movement of the receive vessel and the corresponding measuring of each metering module that must pour pasty products into the vessel, with certain predetermined mixing parameters.
[0017] In particular, said control means comprises a microprocessor, a computer and/or a programmable logic controller, supplied with the relevant software, and a conventional interface with the user, which activate motor and timer means of the vessel and the metering valves of each of the metering modules.
[0018] With respect to a third aspect of the invention, a process for metering pasty products is disclosed, for application in conjunction with a metering module or a mixing system defined earlier, which includes the stage of providing a pasty product in a container packaging with deformable wall, and additional steps of: inserting the closed packaging and filling the tank with the pasty product; making the piston to descend and compress the packaging, with its sides deforming against the inner walls of the tank; and opening the container packaging by opening means, making an opening in the packaging, aligned with the outlet, allowing the pasty product contained in the packaging to exit towards the metering valve, via the subsequent compression of the piston.
Brief description of the drawings.-
[0019] Hereafter, a description will be given of a preferred, although not exclusive, embodiment of the invention herein, which is accompanied with drawings to help provide a better understanding, which are purely illustrative and non-limitative in rature, in which:
Fig. 1 is a section view of a valve of the metering module of the invention herein;
Fig. 2 is an elevation and part section view of a preferred embodiment of the metering module of the invention herein;
Fig. 3 is a front-elevation schematic view of a system for mixing pasty products, comprising seven modules like those in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a side-elevation schematic view of the metering system in Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a view similar to that in Fig. 2, of another embodiment of the invention modlue, with a packaging of the pasty product inserted in the tank, in the rest position; and
Fig. 6 is a view similar to that in Fig. 5, but with the piston in its operational position.
Description of a preferred embodiment.-
[0020] It can be seen in said drawings that the metering module 1 concerned, for pasty products, for example, for dyes or paints, comprises a cylindrical tank2, and a piston 4, essentially discoidal, for pushing the pasty product 34 in the tank 2. Some O-rings 19 ensure that the piston is adjusted 4 on the inside of the tank. The piston 4 is moved vertically along an axle 8, using a known method, via a built-in actuating rod 24, and hydraulically or pneumatically operated. The tank 2 sits on a lower base 27, connected to an upper support base 28 and guided by the actuator 24 via columns 23.
[0021] The lower central part of the tank 2 opens into an outlet 3, through which a bushing tube passes 29, in the lower end of which is a manual cut-off key 25, followed by a metering valve 5, located on the inside of an end piece 30.
[0022] The valve 5 has a valve body 6 with a space inside 7, whose axle 8 is, in this case, shown with the vertical axle 8 of the tank 2. This internal space 7 is open to the bushing 29 and, through this, to the inside of the tank 2. The valve 5 has a sealing element 12 made up of a closing head 9, which is preferably frustoconical in shape or in the form of a trumpet, although it may also be spherical.
[0023] The head 9 can be moved continually between a maximum open position and a closed position (represented in Fig.1), in which the main base 11 of the seal 12 is essentially level with the valve 5 outlet 31, closing the tank 2.
[0024] The sealing element 12 is built in to an actuating rod 13, which passes inside the aforementioned internal cylindrical space 7 of the valve body 6 and which is activated by a trip dog 14, counter to the action of a spring 10. The rod 13, and consequently the opening and closing of the valve 5, can therefore be operated mechanically or manually, in this case, for example, via the manual key 25.
[0025] Fig. 2 shows the metering module 1 for pasty products in the invention with a device for purging the air, which remains trapped inside the tank 2 below the piston 4. In the example embodiment given, such purging device comprises a hydraulic tube 20, connected to a flexible pipe 17 which passes through the piston 4 and has a manual key 21. The tube 20 is connected upstream from the manual key 21, with a relative vacuum source with respect to the internal pressure of the tank 2.
[0026] The module 1 also has a mechanism for injecting air inside the tank 2, adapted so that the piston 4 can be separated from the bottom of the tank or from the mass of pasty product in the tank. This injection mechanism also has an air injector 22 linked to another flexible pipe 18 which passes through the piston 4, allowing air to enter inside the tank 2 when the piston 4 is to beseparated and which may be trapped in the tank 2.
[0027] Figs. 3 and 4 show a system for mixing pasty products 100 which has various modules 1, in this case seven, described above.
[0028] The modules 1 are placed consecutively and adjacently in a first horizontal plane with corresponding and essentially aligned metering valves 5, fixed to the vertical element 32 of a support structure 26.
[0029] The support structure 26 comprises a horizontal table 33, on which there are guides 16 for a receiving vessel 15 for the pasty products 34 contained in the modules 1.
[0030] On the upper part of the vessel 15 is a loading cell 35 (Fig. 4) and the vessel can be positioned under each module 1 and receive a measured amount of the pasty product contained in the module for mixing the pasty products.
[0031] The system 100 comprises a means of controlling the movement of the receive vessel and of the corresponding metering of pasty products of each metering module 1 that must be poured into the vessel 15, with certain predetermined mixing parameters.
[0032] Such control means can include a microprocessor, a computer and/or programmable logic controller, with the relevant software, and a conventional interface with the user which, being extensively known, are neither shown nor described in greater detail. The control devices activate a motor and timer of the vessel and the metering valves 5 of each of the metering modules 1.
[0033] The operational mode of the system for mixing and metering pasty products 100 is as follows. With the tanks 2 of the modules 1 completely or partially full of pasty product, the receive vessel 15 is moved along the guides 16 and is positioned successively below each of the modules 1 whose product is to be used in the mixture required. The vessel 15 can be moved manually or by a motor, in this case with stepped motors which is programmed when to move and stop.
[0034] Each time it is positioned below a module 1, the corresponding valve 5 opens via, for example, the manual key 25, with which the dye in the tank 2 in question starts to be poured, until the loading cell 35 detects that the quantity programmed or a quantity sufficiently close to the programmed quantity has been poured, which is when the valve 5 closes and the pouring of the pasty product is stopped. The aforementioned software can take into account the weight of the column of dye remaining between the valve 5 outlet 31 and the vessel 15, to close at the appropriate time in order to add the weight in this column to that detected by the loading cell 35 and to programme the measured amount ofdye, within a certain tolerance.
[0035] This operation is constantly repeated for each of the modules 1 containing dye used in the mixture.
[0036] In Figs. 5 and 6 an embodiment of the module 1 of the invention herein is shown. This module 1 is designed particularly to demonstrate the process of the invention in practice.
[0037] More specifically, the module 1 comprises a mechanism for opening a container packaging 36 with deformable walls, which contains the pasty product 34 for metering, consisting of a blade 37, whose cutting edge 38 is situated on the side of a cylinder which circles at least partially the outlet 3 of the aforementioned tank 2. The blade 37 can be in the form of a half shaft, or half bevel, for example, not with its upper edge or blade 38 perpendicular with respect to the axle 8.
[0038] The packaging 36, which may be a bag, for example made of a plastic material, with or without seams, or cardboard packaging, contains a measured amount of the pasty product to be administered and is inserted inside the tank 2 of the module 1 (Fig. 1). The packaging 36 could therefore be a recipient made of cardboard or paper whose measurements allow it to fit within the inner prismatic walls of the tank 2.
[0039] Once the packaging 36 is inside the tank, for metering the pasty product 34 via the valve 5, all that needs to be done is lower the piston 4, compressing the packaging 36 by collapsing its sides against the inner walls of the tank 2. For the compressing force exerted by the piston 4 to continue, the container packaging 36 is opened by the blade 37, which cuts it, making a opening 39 in the packaging (Fig. 6), aligned line with the outlet 3, to let out the pasty product 34 contained in the packaging 36 towards the metering valve 5, by the subsequent compression of the piston 4.
[0040] Once the container packaging is empty 36, all that needs to be done is raise the piston 4, leaving the rest of the packaging 36 empty, so that it can be removed. In this way, an exact and measured quantity of the paste material is administered, without staining the tank walls 2.
[0041] An expert skilled in the art will understand that the valve design and, in particular, the shape of the sealing element 12, ensures that the metering of dye with this system produces no drops around the outlet 31. It also significantly reduces wastage of the raw material and consequently the environmental problems related to managing the waste, compared to earlier techniques.
1. Metering module (1) for pasty products, of the type comprising a tank (2) for pasty
products, provided with pushing means for pushing the pasty product and opening and
closing means, adapted for opening and closing an outlet (3) of the aforementioned
tank, characterized in that the tank is a hollow prism and the pushing means comprises a vertical-action piston
(4) which runs tight within the tank coaxially to the same, the opening and closing
means comprising a lower metering valve (5), the body of which (6) contains an internal
space (7) for a vertical axle (8) which opens into the tank, the sealing element (12)
of the valve being a closing head (9), which is movable between a maximum open position
and a cbsed position, on which the main base (11) of the seal remains essentially
level with the valve outlet (31), closing the tank.
2. Metering module (1) for pasty products according to claim 1, characterized in that said sealing element (12) is built in to an actuating rod (13) which passes inside
said internal cylindrical space (7) of the valve body (6) and which is also activated
by a trip dog (14), counter to the action of a spring (10).
3. Metering module (1) for pasty products according to claim 1, characterized in that said closing head (9) is frustoconical.
4. Metering module (1) for pasty products according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the tank (2) is cylindrical.
5. Metering module (1) for pasty products according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that it comprises a device for purging the air which remains trapped inside the tank (2)
below the piston (4).
6. Metering module (1) for pasty products according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that it comprises a mechanism for injecting air inside the tank (2), adapted so that the
piston (4) can be separated from the bottom of the tank or from the mass of pasty
product in the tank.
7. Metering module (1) for pasty products according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a mechanism for opening (37, 38) a packaging (36) containing the pasty
product inserted inside the tank (2).
8. Metering module (1) for pasty products according to claim 7, characterized in that said opening mechanism consists of a blade (37), whose cutting edge (38) is situated
on the side of a cylinder which circles, at least partially, the outlet (3) of the
aforementioned tank.
9. System (100) for mixing pasty products, characterized in that it comprises at least one module (1) according to any of the previous claims.
10. System (100) for mixing pasty products, in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that it comprises at least two modules (1) according to the previous claims, located consecutively
adjacent in a firsthorizontal plane with the corresponding and closely aligned metering
valves (5), and a receive vessel (15) which is displaceable over guide means (16),
the vessel being adapted for positioning under each module and receiving a measured
amount of the pastyproduct contained in the module for the mixing of the pasty products.
11. System (100) for mixing pasty products according to claim 9 or claim 10, characterized in that it comprises control means for controlling the movement of the receive vessel (15)
and the corresponding metering of each metering module (1) that must be poured into
the vessel, with certain predetermined mixing parameters.
12. System (100) for mixing pasty products according to claim 11, characterized in that said control means comprises a microprocessor, a computer and/or a programmable logic
controller, supplied with the relevant software, and a conventional interface with
the user, which act on motor and timer means of the vessel and the metering valves
(5) of each of the metering modules (1).
13. Metering process for pasty products, for use in conjunction with a metering module
in accordance with any of claims 1 to 8 or in conjunction with a mixing system in
accordance with any of claims 9 to 12, characterised in that it comprises the stage of providing a pasty product (34) in a container packaging
(36) with deformable walls, and additional steps of: inserting the closed packaging
and filling the tank (2) with the pasty product; making the piston (4) to descend,
compressing the packaging (36), by deforming its sides, against the inner walls of
the tank; and opening the container packaging by opening means, making an opening
(39) in the packaging, aligned with the outlet (3), allowing the pasty product contained
in the packaging to exit towards to the metering valve (5), via the subsequent compression
of the piston (4).