Patent Publication Number: US-2005141341-A1

Title: Apparatus for processing fluid products and method for the use thereof

Description:
The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing fluid products, in particular paints and the like, comprising: 
          a main structure which defines a housing space having an access opening,     door means which are coupled to the main structure and which can be selectively moved from a closed position to an open position of at least part of the access opening, and vice versa,     support means for at least one container of fluid products to be processed, which support means are housed in the main structure and which can be moved from an operating processing position to a position for loading/unloading the at least one container.        

      The invention also relates to a method for the use of the above-mentioned apparatus.  
      The apparatus has been developed with particular regard, though in a non-limiting manner, to an apparatus for mixing paints and the like, contained in tins, drums or the like, the application of the same inventive principle to other machines for processing the same types of product, such as, by way of example, machines for dispensing dyes, also being of particular interest.  
      It is known to construct the above-mentioned door means as a simple door which is hinged to the frame or to the body of the apparatus, or as a rolling shutter which runs in horizontal or vertical guides. In order to introduce or remove a container of fluid products into/from the apparatus, it is generally necessary for an operator to open the door and to introduce one or both hand(s) inside the apparatus, moving them, for example, in the case of mixing apparatuses, towards the members for supporting and moving the container. As well as being inconvenient, these operations can pose a risk to the safety of the operator in the event of a malfunction of the safety devices, which are generally sensors which inhibit the operation of the apparatus when the door is open.  
      EP-A-0.796.652, on which is based the preamble of the independent claims, discloses an apparatus for mixing liquids comprising door means and support means for the containers of the liquids. The support means move from the operating to the loading position when the doors are opened, and move back to the operating position when the doors are closed; however, the movement of the support means is linked through electrical switches, control circuitry and a motor to the movement of the doors.  
      An object of the present invention is to overcome the problems of the prior art and, in particular, to provide an apparatus which facilitates the operations for loading and unloading the containers of fluid products, and which makes them safer and more convenient for an operator.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which is simple and economical to produce, easy to use and highly reliable.  
      In order to achieve the above objectives, the invention relates to an apparatus for processing fluid products of the type mentioned in the preamble of the present description, characterized in that the door means comprise movement means which mechanically interact with the support means in order to move them from the operating processing position to the loading/unloading position as a result of selective opening of the door means. The invention further relates to a method, the features of which are set out in claim  12  below.  
      Owing to the features of the present invention, it is possible to construct an apparatus of the built-in type or which can be positioned in narrow locations without compromising the ease and convenience of the operations for introducing and removing a container of fluids.  
      According to an advantageous feature, the invention comprises sensor means for detecting the position of the support means during the operating phase. In this manner, it is possible to control the stopping of the support means within a desired zone which is predetermined relative Co the more general course taken by the support means during, for example, a mixing movement. This zone is selected so as to facilitate the operations for introducing and removing the container into/from the apparatus when the closure means are selectively opened.  
      A sector of particular interest for the application of the invention is that of machines for mixing fluid products which develop, during the operating phase, vibrations which may be substantial. In this case, another advantageous feature of the invention consists in that the movement means can be moved by way of the door means from a rest position, in which they are disengaged from the support means, to an engagement position, in which they engage with the support means in order to move them from an operating processing position to a loading/unloading position. In this manner, it is possible to isolate the door means from the means for supporting the container, and thereby to prevent the vibrations generated during the movement of the container from being transmitted to the door, and more generally to the body of the apparatus.  
      According to an additional advantageous feature, the apparatus comprises at least one device for absorbing the vibrations in order to absorb the vibrations produced when the support means are in the operating processing position. In a preferred embodiment, the support means in the operating phase are coupled and supported exclusively by a damping frame which is provided with dampers, which absorb the vibrations produced by, for example, mixing members, which are connected to the support means in such a manner that the vibrations are not transmitted to other parts of the structure. 
    
    
      Further characteristics and advantages will become clear from the following detailed description which is given with reference to the appended drawings which are provided purely by way of non-limiting example and in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic side view of an apparatus for mixing fluids according to the invention, in an operating position in which a side panel of the body has been removed for reasons of clarity of illustration,  
       FIG. 2  is a view similar to that in  FIG. 1 , in which the apparatus is in a loading/unloading position,  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective exploded view of the carrier structure of the apparatus in  FIG. 1 ,  
       FIG. 4  is a longitudinal section of the carrier structure, as in  FIG. 3 , in the assembled configuration,  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective exploded view of a variant of the apparatus in  FIG. 1 , in which, for reasons of clarity of illustration, the side panels of the apparatus and the relevant anti-vibration support feet have been removed, and  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the members in  FIG. 5  in the assembled state. 
    
    
      With reference to the Figures, an apparatus  10  for mixing fluid products comprises a main structure  11  having a base portion  12 , an upper portion  13  and a front portion  14 . The main structure  11  defines and delimits a housing space  15  accessible from a front access opening  16  which can be closed at least partially, in a preferable but non-limiting manner, by a door  17  which is hinged to the main structure  11  so as to be coupled to the front portion  14 , by pivoting about a horizontal axis X-X, orthogonal to the plane of the sheet of paper in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  4 .  
      An opening stop abutment  26 , which is described in greater detail below, is arranged at the lower end of the access opening  14  so as to limit the opening of the door  17 , providing an abutment for the lower portion  17   a  of the door  17  (see  FIG. 1 ). A closing stop abutment, or turned-over stop portion  27 , can be arranged at the upper end of the access opening  14  and provides an abutment for a turned-over portion  28  formed at the top of the door  17  when the door  17  is closed (see  FIG. 2 ). As an alternative or in addition to this solution, an anti-vibration stop abutment can be arranged in the lower portion  12  of the main structure  11 , which abutment is produced by interposing damping devices  76  (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) between a plate  22 , connected to the door  17 , and flat portions  42  which are integral with the main structure  11  and which are described in greater detail below.  
      A mixing device  19  which operates in known manner is housed inside the housing space  15 . In the embodiment illustrated, reference is made, in a non-limiting manner, to a mixing device in which the fluid product container is subjected to a movement of conical revolution and, contemporaneously, of rotation about its own axis. In particular, the mixing device  19  comprises, in a preferable but non-limiting manner, a support member  20  of the drum type, or of any other type which is functionally suitable, in use, for supporting at least one container  21  of fluid products to be mixed. The mixing device  19  is mounted on the plate  22  which projects inside the housing space  15 .  
      The plate  22  divides the housing space  15  into a lower space  23  and an upper space  24 . Driving means  25  for operating the mixing device  19  are housed in the lower space  23  and are preferably connected to the lower side of the plate  22 , even though it is possible to provide alternative means of connection to the mixing device  19 , for example, of the coupling type, so that the driving means  25  can be connected to the lower portion  12  of the main structure  11  and selectively coupled to the mixing device when the mixing device is in the operating state illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The driving means  25  comprise, in a preferable but non-limiting manner, an electric motor.  
      In the example of the Figures, the mixing device  19  comprises a first gear  44  and a second gear  45  which form a gear train having a transmission ratio, in a preferable but non-limiting manner, of 2:1 and which can, in use, transmit a movement of rotation about two separate axes to the support member  20 . The two gears  44  and  45  are driven by the motor  25 , preferably by way of a transmission having gearing  46  without belts or pulleys being interposed. Sensor means  47  are also arranged inside the housing space  15  in order to detect, during the operating phase, the position of the support means  20 .  
       FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate in greater detail some structural features of the main structure  11 . In particular, a carrier structure  30  comprises a fixed portion  31  and a movable portion  32 . The fixed portion  31  contributes to the definition of the base portion  12  of the main structure  11  and provides support for the apparatus  10  by means, for example, of feet  31   a,  which are preferably of the adjustable type.  
      The fixed portion  31  is preferably produced by bending and/or welding a sheet, and comprises an upper side, which is at least partially open, a front portion, on which the abutment  26  is constructed or carried, and two lateral walls  35 , on which there are formed two fins  36  which project upwards and in which holes  37  for the insertion of rotation pins  33  are formed. Pads  26   a  or similar means can be mounted on the stop abutment  26  in order to deaden the impact of the lower portion  17   a  of the door  17  and/or to adjust the maximum opening position of the door  17 . One or more flat portions  42 , formed on the upper side of the fixed portion  31 , provide a support for the plate  22  in the operating position of the apparatus  10 , illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and in particular for an end edge  43  thereof.  
      The movable portion  32  contributes to the definition of the structure of the door  17  and is pivotally articulated to the fixed portion  31 , for example, by means of the rotation pins  33 , which are arranged parallel with axis X-X (see  FIG. 4 ). The movable portion  32  comprises the base plate  22  and two shaped lateral walls  38 , to which it is possible to attach panels of the desired shape (not illustrated) in order to close at least partially the access opening  16 . Plates  39  are connected to the shaped walls  38 ; the plates  39  project downwards and holes  40  formed therein are arranged so as to be coaxial with the holes  37  for the insertion of the rotation pins  33 . A plate  41 , which is bent at the end to form the abutment  28 , is connected to the upper portion of the shaped walls  38 .  
       FIG. 1  illustrates the relative position of the various parts of the apparatus  10  during the operating phase, wherein the door  17  closes at least partially the access opening  16  and the mixing device  19  is completely housed in the housing space  15 .  
      On the other hand,  FIG. 2  illustrates the apparatus  10  in the position for loading/unloading the at least one container  21 , which is brought about by opening the door  17  in the direction of arrow A, with pivoting about axis X-X. In this position, the access opening  16  is at least partially open and the support member  20  of the container  21  moves, at least partially, out of the opening.  
      With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a variant of the apparatus  10  provides for the mixing device  19  to be mounted on a plate  22  which is rigidly connected to a movable frame  50 , constructed, for example, from bent sheet metal. The movable frame  50  is pivotally mounted on a damping frame  52  in order to absorb the vibrations which are generated when the mixing device  19  is operating. The damping frame  52  comprises, in a preferable but non-limiting manner, a bottom side  54  which is substantially parallel with the ground and two lateral wings  56  which project so as to be orthogonal to the bottom side  54 . The damping frame  52  is fixed relative to the fixed portion  31  and is connected to the bottom side  57  thereof by means of dampers  53 . The articulation between the movable frame  50  and the damping frame  52  can be brought about, for example, by introducing pins  58  which are mounted on two lateral fins  60 , which are formed at the sides of the movable frame  50 , into corresponding holes  62  produced in the two lateral wings  56  of the damping frame  52 .  
      The door  17  comprises two L-shaped parts  64  which are connected to a handle  66  so as to have faces  68  parallel with each other and with sufficient spacing to enclose externally the movable frame  50 . A pin  33  is mounted on each face  68  and projects substantially orthogonally to the face  68  towards the interior of the apparatus. The door  17  is pivotally mounted on the fixed portion  31  by the coupling of the pins  33  in the respective holes  37  formed in the wings  36  of the fixed portion  31 . At least one of the two L-shaped parts  64  extends, at one end  72  thereof, by means of an extension  70 , on which a lifting pin  74  is mounted, which is intended to engage with the movable frame  50  during the opening of the door  17 . However, the lifting pin  74  remains spaced from the movable frame  50  during the mixing phase.  
      Damping devices  76 , such as, for example, rubber pads, can be mounted under the movable frame  50  and are intended to rest, during the mixing movement, on flat portions  42  which are formed on the fixed portion  31 , for greater stability and absorption of the vibrations, or in addition, in a preferable but non-limiting manner, in order to provide an abutment for stopping the pivoting of the door  17  in the opposite direction to that of arrow A ( FIG. 2 ).  
      The result which is obtained by the measures adopted in the variant described is that of rendering the mixing means  19  completely free of the door  17  during the operating phase, by providing for their support only by means of the damping frame  52  and optionally by means of the fixed portion  31 , so that the vibrations generated by the operation of the mixing means are absorbed by the dampers  53  and  76  without affecting the door  17  or the body of the apparatus  10 . During the opening of the door  17 , by pivoting about the pin  33 , the pin  74  moves into abutment with the lower portion of the movable frame  50  so as to lift it, causing the movable frame  50  to pivot about the pin  58 . The movable frame  50  thereby moves from the operating position to the loading and unloading position, in which the support member  20  can readily be reached by the operator.  
      According to a preferred method for use of the apparatus  10 , after opening the door  17 , an operator places at least one container  21  on the support member  20 , which is readily accessible because it is partially protruding from the access opening  16 . In closing the door  17  in the opposite direction to arrow A in  FIG. 2 , the apparatus  10  is moved into the operating position illustrated in  FIG. 1 . At this point, it is possible to start the mixing phase, preferably by activating the motor  25  in accordance with an acceleration gradient, in order to achieve a desired operating state, which is maintained for the time required for mixing. At the end of the mixing phase, the motor  25  and consequently the support member  20  are stopped. If sensor means  47  are provided, the motor  25  is arranged to be switched off when those sensor means  47  detect that the support  20  has reached a desired position.  
      The stopping of the support member  20  in a predetermined position, preferably in the position indicated by arrow S in  FIG. 2 , can be brought about by mechanical means or arresting brake means, or even by determining beforehand the distance travelled by the support member  20  owing to inertia following the deactivation of the motor  25 . In a preferable but non-limiting manner, the preferred stop position S is located in a front sector which is equal to approximately 20°. In order to promote reaching of the preferred stop position S, it is possible to operate the motor  25  at reduced speed at the end of the mixing cycle, in a preferable but non-limiting manner, by reducing the speed to a level suitable for ensuring stopping within the predefined limits.  
      When the mixing device  19  is stopped, it is possible to open the door  17  in the direction of arrow A in  FIG. 2  in order to move automatically the support member  20  into the loading/unloading position, in which the operator can readily and conveniently remove the container  21  from the apparatus  10 .  
      A person skilled in the art will have no difficulty in applying the principle of the invention to devices which operate according to mixing methods which are different from that described and illustrated, such as, for example, to vibration or gyroscope type devices. Furthermore, the configuration and arrangement of the elements of the present invention must not be taken to be limited to the above-mentioned example, but instead can be modified according to the specific requirements of use. Accordingly, the access opening  16  and the relevant closing means, such as the door  17 , can also extend partially to other portions of the structure, in addition to the front portion. In particular, it is possible for the access opening  16  also to extend, in part, to the upper side  13   a  of the upper portion  13 , in such a manner that access to the support member  20  of the container can be brought about partially from above, this being particularly advantageous from an ergonomic point of view in the case of a mixer which is relatively low.  
      The door  17  mentioned in the above detailed description can naturally be replaced by any device which can provide at least partial closure of the housing space  15 , such as, for example, systems having shutters, gates or the like.  
      Although the above description is given with reference to a device for mixing fluid products, the invention does not have to be considered to be limited to the scope of application of the example, but may also be employed in apparatuses of different types, for example, machines for dispensing dyes for paints and the like.  
      Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the characteristics of construction and forms of embodiment may be varied widely with respect to those described and illustrated, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.