DEVICE FOR DELIVERING AND DISPENSING COLOURS OR CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS IN GENERAL

Abstract: A device for delivering and dispensing colours or chemical compounds in general comprises a set (11) of valves (31) for dispensing colours, which are connected by means of pipes to respective colour storage tanks, and is equipped with an engaging and element (18) for opening the valves (31). The set (11) of dispensing valves (31) is housed on a supporting structure (19), and the supporting structure (19) is associated to a first carriage (13) equipped with means for enabling translation of the supporting structure (19) along a first horizontal axis. The first carriage (13) is in turn associated to a second carriage (14), which has means for enabling its own translation along a second horizontal axis, the entire apparatus being designed for setting the pre-selected dispensing valve (31) engaged by the engaging and element (18) for opening the valve (31) in a position corresponding to the container (20) in which the colour is to be poured.

Description: Device for delivering and dispensing colours or chemical compounds in general The subject of the present invention is a device for delivering and dispensing colours for the purpose of obtaining colour preparations to be used in the following fields: textiles, tanning, paints, inks, ceramics, spreading and coating, plastic materials, petroleum products, cosmetics, paper-making, and in general in the printing sectors. In the above-mentioned applications, the colours, which have previously been kept in the fluid state with or without the use of solvents or diluents, or suspension agents in storage tanks, are poured, by means of appropriate valves, into containers, which are set in or fed into a position beneath the colour-dispensing valve. By dispensing the colour or the chemical compounds in a controlled way, for example by means of consecutive multiple-opening valves operated by a valve-opening mechanism, and by mixing different colours or products in the same container in accordance with appropriate programs, it is possible to obtain the desired colour preparations . From what has been described above, there emerges clearly the need for positioning the valves of the dispensers of different colours one after the other in positions corresponding to the containers to be filled and corresponding to the valve-opening mechanism. In order to perform this function, a first known apparatus presents a plurality of valves connected by means of pipes to the corresponding colour storage tanks, which are arranged concentrically around the valve- engaging and opening elements and around a central hole, so as enable passage of the colour issuing from the valve into the container below. The valves are connected to a corresponding rod which is pivoted on a circular rigid support, with respect to which the valves can perform an oscillating movement when they are operated one at a time according to programs that are predetermined for the type of colour that is to be obtained, so as to be brought onto the vertical of the hole through which the colour passes and into a position corresponding to the valve-opening mechanisms. Operation of each of the said valves is obtained using respective pneumatic actuators, each of which is hinged both to the supporting structure and to the rod on which it acts. However, the considerable complexity of the mechanism described above is evident in that it must provide, for each of the different colour-dispensing valves, a dedicated actuator equipped with a pneumatic circuit and with a solenoid valve with corresponding electrical circuit . A second known apparatus is designed so that the individual colour-dispensing valves are brought into their operating position by means of an arm set radially with respect to the supporting structure and by means of a motor unit and corresponding means for transmitting motion, such as a toothed pulley. Also in this case, the considerable complexity of such a mechanism may be noted, in that it is equipped with one motor unit and one unit for transmitting motion for each one of the colour-dispensing valves. A third known apparatus is similar to the one just described but has just one actuator set on a rotating assembly which sets itself in a position corresponding to the arm to be moved. Also this apparatus is particularly complex in its structure and slow in its operation. The purpose of the present invention is therefore to provide a device for delivering and dispensing colours, which, at a low cost, presents considerable simplicity of construction and operation. A further purpose of the present invention is to propose a device for delivering and dispensing colours which has high operating flexibility in that it enables the number of valves used to be increased or decreased easily according to the particular requirements. These and other purposes are achieved by a device for delivering and dispensing colours according to Claim 1, to which the reader is referred for reasons of brevity. Advantageously, the apparatus according to the invention enables movement of the set of dispensing valves only according to two perpendicular cartesian axes in such a way as to simplify the overall structure of the device. In fact, to obtain such movements only two motors are necessary, one for each of the cartesian axes, and only two units for transmission of motion are required, with an evident reduction in the number of parts of the device . This reduction in the number of parts means a substantial reduction in the number of electric and pneumatic cables, with a consequent reduction also in costs and with an increase in machine reliability. The system of movement along cartesian axes enables greater machine speed, at the same time keeping programming of the movements simple. In addition, it is to be noted that the fact that the set of dispensing valves is accommodated on a supporting structure makes it possible for valves to be added to the device or removed from it easily, so as to increase or reduce the overall number according to the requirements. Further purposes and advantages of the present invention will emerge clearly from the ensuing description and from the annexed drawings, which are provided purely to furnish an explanatory and non-limiting example, and in which: - Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the device for delivering and dispensing colours according to the present invention, illustrated in the resting position; - Figure 2 presents a top view of the device of Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a side elevation of the device for delivering and dispensing colours according to the present invention, illustrated in one possible operating position; and - Figure 4 shows a top view of the device according to the present invention in the position of Figure 3. With particular reference to the figures mentioned above, the device for delivering and dispensing colours according to the present invention is indicated, as a whole, by the reference number 10. The device 10 comprises a set 11 of valves 31 for dispensing colours, each of the valves being connected in a known way by means of a corresponding pipe (not shown for reasons of simplicity) to a respective colour storage tank, the pipe passing through a pump. The device 10 is moreover equipped with an engaging element 18 for opening the valves 31 when the latter are in the operating position. The set 11 of dispensing valves 31 is housed in a supporting structure 19 which is supported and transported by a first carriage 13. The supporting structure 19 has four sides, the opposite sides being parallel, made up of elements of metal framing, on which the valves 31 are rigidly fixed. The first carriage 13 enables translation of the supporting structure 19 with the valves 31 fixed to it along a first horizontal axis. The first carriage 13 is supported by a first support 29, which is equipped with guides 27, 28 to enable translation of the first carriage 13 along the first horizontal axis. Translation of the supporting structure 19 along the first horizontal axis is performed by means of a first motor 12 and a first driving belt 30, these being members which co-operate to act on the first carriage 13. In addition, the first carriage 13 is in turn associated to a second carriage 14, which supports it (and hence supports also the supporting structure 19 with the valves 31 fixed to it) and enables translational movement thereof along a second horizontal axis. Such second horizontal axis is substantially perpendicular to the first horizontal axis. In a way similar to what was seen previously, the translation of the second carriage 14 along the second horizontal axis is obtained by means of a second motor 15 and a second driving belt 24, which co-operate to act on the second carriage 1 . Furthermore, the second carriage 14 is supported by a second support 23 equipped with guides 25, 26 to enable translation of the second carriage 14 along the second horizontal axis. Preferably, the device 10 is supported in a position where it is raised off the ground by a supporting frame 16, which is in turn connected to a platform 17. In addition, the device 10 is contained inside a guard 22 which has a hole 32 for passage of the colour. Preferably, the valves 31 are consecutive multiple- opening valves designed to dispense the colour in an accurate manner. The containers 20 that are to be filled are fed in succession to the device 10, for example by means of a roller conveyor 21, so as to position the containers one after the other underneath the hole 32 of the guard 22. Operation of the device 10 for delivering and dispensing colours according to the present invention is described in what follows. The first carriage 13 carries the supporting structure 19 on which all the valves 31 are present. Thanks to the first motor 12 and the first driving belt 10, the carriage 13, the supporting structure 19, and hence the set 11 of valves 31, is made to translate according to a first cartesian axis. This translation is performed along the guides 27, 28. The ensemble of elements comprising the first carriage 13, the supporting structure 19, and the set 11 of valves 31 can translate also along a second cartesian axis thanks to the use of the second motor 15 co-operating with the second driving belt 24, which moves the second carriage 14 along the guides 25, 26. The combination of the above movements appropriately co- ordinated by means, for example, of a control program, enables the position each time the chosen dispensing valve 31 as required in a position that enables its engagement by the engaging and element 18 for opening the valve 31. In this position, the valve 31 is opened in a position corresponding to the container 20, which is fed by the roller conveyor 21, so as to pour the correct amount of colour into the container 20. The fact that consecutive multiple-opening valves 31, which are in themselves known, are used enables the colour to be dispensed in an accurate way. The containers 20 are fed in by the roller conveyor 21 so that they occupy a position corresponding to the hole 32 of the guard 22 in such a way as to prevent undesirable splashes of colour outside the device 10 or outside the container 20. From the above description there emerge clearly the characteristics and advantages of the device for delivering and dispensing colours which forms the subject of the present invention. in the first place, the movement of the set 11 of dispensing valves 31 takes place only according to two perpendicular cartesian axes in such a way as to simplify both the overall structure of the device and execution and programming of the displacements. These displacements are obtained using just the two motors 12 and 15, one for each of the cartesian axes, and the two units for transmitting motion 24 and 30, with evident reduction in the number of parts of the device 10. This reduction in the number of parts leads to a substantial reduction in the number of electric and pneumatic cables, with a consequent reduction in costs and increase in reliability of the device 10. The system of displacement along cartesian axes enables higher machine speed, whilst at the same time keeping programming of the displacements simple. It should moreover be noted that the fact that the set 11 of dispensing valves 31 is accommodated on a supporting structure 19 means that valves may be added to or taken away from the device 10 easily, i.e., increasing or reducing the total number, according to the requirements. Finally, it is clear that numerous variations may be made to the device 10 for delivering and dispensing colours, which is the subject of the present invention, without thereby departing from the principles of novelty inherent in the inventive idea, and likewise it is clear that, in the practical implementation of the invention, the materials, shapes and sizes of the items illustrated may be any whatsoever according to the requirements, and the said items may be replaced with other ones that are technically equivalent.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A device for delivering and dispensing colours or chemical compounds in general, comprising a set (11) of valves (31) for dispensing colours, which are connected by means of pipes to respective colour storage tanks, and being equipped with an engaging and element (18) for opening the aforesaid valves (31), the device being characterized in that the said set (11) of dispensing valves (31) is housed on a supporting structure (19), the supporting structure (19) being associated to means for enabling its own translation along a first horizontal axis, and being associated to means for enabling its own translation along a second horizontal axis, said device being designed for setting the pre-selected dispensing valve (31) engaged by the engaging and element (18) for opening the valve (31) in a position corresponding to the container (20) in which the colour is to be poured. 2. Device for delivering and dispensing colours according to Claim 1, characterized in that the means for enabling translation of the said supporting structure (19) along a first horizontal axis comprise a first carriage (13), the said first carriage (13) being in turn associated to a second carriage (14), which has means for enabling its own translation along a second horizontal axis. 3. Device for delivering and dispensing colours according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said second horizontal axis is substantially perpendicular to the said first horizontal axis. . Device for delivering and dispensing colours according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means for enabling translation of the said supporting structure (19) along the first horizontal axis comprise a first motor (12) and a first driving belt (30) which co-operate to act on the said first carriage (13) . 5. Device for delivering and dispensing colours according to Claim 4, characterized in that the said first carriage (13) is supported by a first support (29) equipped with guides (27, 28) for enabling translation of the first carriage (13) along the said first horizontal axis. 6. Device for delivering and dispensing colours according to Claim 5, characterized in that the said means for enabling translation of the said second carriage (14) along a second horizontal axis comprise a second motor (15) and a second driving belt (24) which co-operate to act on the said second carriage (14) . 7. Device for delivering and dispensing colours according to Claim 6, characterized in that the said second carriage (14) is supported by a second support (23) equipped with guides (25, 26) for enabling translation of the second carriage (14) along the said second horizontal axis. 8. Device for delivering and dispensing colours according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is supported, in a position raised up off the ground, by a supporting frame (16), which is in turn connected to a platform (17). 9. Device for delivering and dispensing colours according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is contained inside a guard (22) provided with a hole (32) for passage of the colour. 10. Device for delivering and dispensing colours according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the said valves (31) are consecutive multiple-opening valves designed for dispensing the colour accurately. 11. Device for delivering and dispensing colours or chemical compounds in general, the foregoing as substantially described and as illustrated in the attached drawings.

Inventors: SOMENZI ENRICA, SOMENZI, ENRICA
Applicants: SOMENZI ENRICA, SOMENZI, ENRICA
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B01F13
IPC codes: B01F13