Device for restraining paint cans on paintcan stirring apparatus

Abstract: A device for restraining paint cans to be stirred comprises a restraining plate (1) having an obtuse-angle bent portion (2,2′) including a plurality of adjoining openings (5) adapted to allow paint cans to be arranged and locked on a stirring table of a paint can stirring apparatus.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for restraining paint cans on paint can stirring apparatus and, in particular, it relates to a device for restraining different-shape-cover paint cans to be stirred. As is known, paints are usually packaged in paint cans which can be mounted for stirring on a stirring apparatus, said paint cans being stirred through a small shaft projecting from the can cover and provided, at the top thereof, with a small fork the arms of which upward extends. There are also known paint can stirring apparatus, e.g. as known from EP-A-143 145, which comprise a plurality of paint can receiving shelves or tables, which are specifically designed to drive the mentioned paint stirring shaft arranged simultaneously in a plurality of paint cans which, in turn, are arranged in an adjoining relationship on the apparatus shelf elements. In this connection it should be pointed out that these paint stirring apparatus must be necessarily provided with paint can restraining members adapted to firmly lock the paint cans during the stirring operation thereof. These restraining elements, in particular, usually comprise cam elements adapted to firmly engage with the paint can covers: on the other hand, since the height of the paint cans can vary from can to can, conventional paint can stirring apparatus can be exclusively used with paint cans provided with like can covers. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawback by providing a device for restraining or locking paint cans on paint can stirring apparatus which is adapted to firmly restrain different types of covers. Another object of the present invention is to provide such a paint can restraining device which can be also easily fitted to different height paint cans. Another object of the present invention is to provide such a paint can restraining device which can be anchored on paint can stirring apparatus in a very quick and simple way. According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent thereinafter, are achieved by a device for restraining paint cans on paint can stirring apparatus, characterized in that said device comprises a restraining plate having an obtuse-angle bent portion including a plurality of adjoining openings, said openings being each provided with a front slanted portion adapted to arrange a respective paint can on a shelf element of a paint can stirring apparatus, and a horizontal portion adapted to firmly restrain a cover element of said paint can, means being moreover provided for anchoring said restraining plate to a top portion of a plurality of said shelf elements of said stirring apparatus. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further characteristics and advantages of the device for restraining paint cans on paint can stirring apparatus according to the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment thereof, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative but not limitative example, in the figures of the accompanying drawings where: Figure 1 is a bottom perspective view illustrating the restraining device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic partial view of a paint can stirring apparatus including a plurality of paint can restraining devices according to the invention; Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a front view and a side cross-sectional view showing a possible procedure for restraining a paint can; and Figures 5 and 6 are respective top views showing a possible procedure for locking the cover of a paint can, by using, respectively, a four or two cam elements. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, the device for restraining paint cans on paint can stirring apparatus according to the present invention essentially comprises a contoured plate, overally indicated at the reference number 1, which is provided with an obtuse-angle portion 2 from end parts of which longitudinally upward extend parallel portions 3 and 4 of different heights. Along the mentioned obtuse-angle portion, there are provided adjoining openings 5 which transversely extend with respect to said portion and have a specifically designed perimetrical profile. In this connection it should be pointed out that the mentioned upward extending parallel portions 3 and 4 allow the restraining plate 1 to be anchored at the top portions of the compartments 6 of a paint can stirring apparatus 7, said parallel portions being so designed that a surface 2′ of the obtuse-angle portion is arranged horizontally, whilst the other surface 2″ will be arranged at the front of the apparatus according to a suitably slanted configuration. In operation, the slanted front portion 5′ of the mentioned openings will allow a paint can 8 to be properly arranged on a shelf element 9 of the stirring apparatus, whereas the horizontal portion 5″ of the same opening will restrain or lock projecting portions formed on the cover 10 of the paint can. More specifically, the front portion of the mentioned opening has a substantially frustum of cone shaped profile 11, which extends on the front vertical portion of the plate and is adapted to fit a fork element 12 mounted on a shaft 13 and rotatively driven by a driving small plate 14. The horizontal portion 5″ of that same opening, on the other hand, has a profile which is defined by corresponding broken lines adapted to provide, in succession, corresponding rectangular seats indicated respectively at 15, 15′ and 15″ having suitably increasing widths. In operation, into the smallest seat, closed at the rear thereof, will be introduced a locking element 16 adapted to lock the can cover on the can whereas, against the corner portions of the subsequent seats will be respectively restrained two of the cam elements of a paint can provided with a four-cam cover, and the two cam elements of a paint can having a two cam cover. In this connection it should be moreover pointed out that, for the above mentioned inner-most seat, small width variations can be provided, by using suitable spacer elements, depending on requirements. The two vertical portions 3 and 4 of the restraining plate 1, in turn, are provided with a plurality of superimposed throughgoing holes 17 so as to allow said restraining plate to be restrained at a set height. Moreover, the number of the openings formed through each plate will vary depending on the width of said opening (which in turn will depend on the width of the paint cans) and the length of the plates (which will depend on the width of the paint can stirring apparatus). While the invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the disclosed embodiment is susceptible to several modifications and variations all of which will come within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims: A device for restraining paint cans on paint can stirring apparatus, characterized in that said device comprises a restraining plate (1) having an obtuse-angle bent portion (2) including a plurality of adjoining openings (5), said openings being each provided with a front slanted portion (2″) adapted to arrange a respective paint can on a shelf element (9) of a paint can stirring apparatus, and a horizontal portion (2′) adapted to firmly restrain a cover element of said paint can, means being moreover provided for anchoring said restraining plate to a top portion of said shelf element (9), said shelf elements belonging to a plurality of shelf elements of said stirring apparatus. A restraining device according to claim 1, wherein said obtuse-angle portion is provided with end portions therefrom longitudinally upward extend different heigth parallel portions, said adjoining openings extending transversely of said obtuse-angle portion. A restraining device according to claim 2, wherein said upward extending parallel portions restrain said plate at top portions of a plurality of shelf elements of said stirring apparatus said parallel portions being so arranged that a surface of said obtuse-angle portion is arranged horizontally, whereas another surface thereof is arranged at a front portion of said stirring apparatus, with a slanted configuration. A restraining device according to claim 3, wherein a front portion of said opening has a substantially frustum of cone shaped profile extending on a front vertical portion of said plate and fitting a fork element mounted on a driving shaft in turn driven by a driving plate. A restraining device according to claim 4, wherein said horizontal portion of said openings has a profile which define a plurality of rectangular seats, said seats having a width which outward increases. A restraining device according to claim 5, wherein said plate comprises a plurality of superimposed throughgoing holes for restraining said plate at a set level. A restraining device according to claim 1, wherein the number of said openings formed through said plate depends on the width of said openings, in turn related to the width of said paint cans, and the length of said plate, in turn depending on the width of said stirring apparatus.

Inventors: NERI GIUSEPPE, NERI, GIUSEPPE
Applicants: FAST SPA, FAST S.P.A.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: B44D3
IPC codes: B44D3