MACHINE DE DISTRIBUTION DE PRODUITS FLUIDES

DISPENSING MACHINE FOR FLUID PRODUCTS

Abrégé français

Machine de distribution comportant un poste de distribution de produit muni d'un premier centre de distribution dans lequel convergent plusieurs ajutages dont chacun est associé à l'un des produits compris dans la gamme de produits à distribuer; ainsi qu'au moins un second centre de distribution dans lequel convergent plusieurs seconds ajutages dont chacun est associé à l'un des produits compris dans la seconde gamme de produits à distribuer. Le second centre de distribution se situe soit sur la première tête de distribution, soit sur une seconde tête de distribution différente de la première.

Abrégé anglais

A dispersing machine comprises a product dispensing station with a dispensing
head comprising a first distribution centre in which a plurality of nozzles
converges, one for each of the products of a series of products to be
dispensed and at least a second distribution centre in which is converging a
second plurality of nozzles, one for each of the second series of products to
be dispensed. The second distribution centre is provided either on the first
dispensing head or on a second dispensing head distinct from the first one.

Revendications

CLAIMS
1. Dispensing machine for fluid products in particular but not exclusively
colorants and the like for the formulation of varnishes and similar
comprising a dispensing station for said products with a dispensing head
comprising a dispensing centre for said products in which a plurality of
nozzles converges one for each product of a series of products to
dispense, characterised by the fact that the machine comprises at least a
second dispensing centre where a second plurality of nozzles converges,
one for each of the second series of products to dispensed.
2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least second dispensing
centre is disposed on a second dispensing head distinct from the first
dispensing head.
3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the second dispensing centre is
disposed on the first dispensing head.
4. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said distribution centres are
structurally and functionally independent one from the other and
reciprocally at some distance.
5. A machine according to claim 4, wherein for each of said distribution
centres it is provided a separate support for the corresponding plurality of
nozzles.
6. A machine according to claim 5, wherein for each of said distribution
centres it is provided a separate humidifier device of said nozzles.
7. A machine according to claim 6, wherein said humidifier device of said
nozzles comprises a punching device.

8. A machine according to claim 4 wherein for each of said distribution
centres it is provided a separate humidifier punch and plug device.
9. A machine according to claim 4 wherein for each of said distribution
centres it is provided a separate can hole centring device.
10. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said distribution centres are
controlled by and associated to one single control and user interface
system.
11. A method for dispensing fluid products by means of a machine according
to claim 1 wherein said distribution centres are activated in parallel to
dispense simultaneously the respective products in a corresponding
number of different containers.

Description

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Dispensinq machine for fluid products
The object of the present invention is a dispensing machine for fluid products, in
particular but not exclusively for colora,)ls and the like for the formulation of
var"ishes and similar according to the prea,llble of the principal claim.
This machine is mainly studied for the dispensing of two (or more) different series
of products, for example, products using v~/ater as their carrier (herein after
indicated as water-based products or colorants), products using various types ofsolvents as their carrier (herein after indica~ed as solvent-based products or
colorants) or products using as their carrier fluids compatible v~/ith both water and
solvents (herein after indicated as universal products or colorants). With the
general term "products" it is understood to comprise colorants, pigments, inks,
and also fluid basis for varnishes and similar of any of the three mentioned types.
The present invention may nevertheless be used to handle and dispense various
kinds of fluids other than those previously indicated, in many fields of the industry,
for example in the food, chemical, ,charl,laceutical industries and many others.
In the known realisations, when you wish to dispense water and solvent based
products with one single machine not a few problems arise which are frequently
the cause of serious inconveniences. In fact, the known machines have either a
plurality of moveable carousel canisters as to the distribution position and which
are therefore enabled to dispense one single product at the time with a
remarkable loss of time and productivity, or one single distribution centre in which
the piping and all dispensing nozles are converged, linked up to the respective
dispensing members (pumps and dosing electrovalves). To avoid that, betv~/een
one dispensing and the other, the products which are not frequently dispensed
get dried, obstructing or hov~lever inhibiting the correct functioning of the
collesponding dispensing centre, it is usually provided a nozle humidifier device
fitted to plug the collespo,lding distribution centre in order to maintain a status of
saturated vapour at the outlet of the nozles. For example, such device is
described in the co-pending patent application no. Ml96A000601 of the same
.

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~ppli~nt. This humidifier device can be further connected to punching devices
and cap-pluggers as described in the applicant's co-pending patent application
no. BO95A000591. Moreover, it is possible to ~-ssoci~te mechanical devices or
other kinds thereof for the hole cer,l, iny on the can into which the product is to be
dispensed.
The v~ater-based, the solvent-based or the universal products neve,ll,eless havedirrerenl drying times and it is thus possible that a humidifier device calibrated to
avoid the drying of the water-based products does not result to be efficient
enough to carr,v out the same task with the solvent-based or universal products
and vice versa.
Moreover, the mixture bet\~veen water-based, solvent-based and universal
products is a potential pollution or con~ar"ination cause of the dispensed
products. For example, drops may form at the nozle of a product (for example
solvent) which then are l(a,lsrer,ed into the container (can) destined to conlai,l the
dispensed product when a ~;Jirrerenl product is dispensed (for example water)
through the adjacel,l nozle. The pollution or conlalllination that results from it
can i" e~arably damage the paint altering both the chemical-physical and
colo, i"~el, ic characteristics.
Today, to avoid these inconveniences it is opportune and advisable to use two ormore separate disper,si,lg machines, one for each typology of product to
dispense. However, the solution is too expensive for the medium-small cuslomers,where dispensed quantities and/or available space do not justif,v the adoption of
more than one dispensi"g machine. Moreover, this solution does not permit to
obtain optimum productivity levels.
The problem at the heart of this invention is to provide a dispensing machine
structurally and functionally conceived to enable the overcoming of all complained
inconveniences v~/ith rererence to the above mentioned known technique.

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3 ~-
This problem is solved by the invention by means of a machine realised accordingto the appe"ded claims.
The use of the present invention advanlageously allov~/s to duplicate (or multiply
depending on the actual number of dispensing heads andlor dispensi"g celllles)
the hourly production of a certain fluid product. In case of dispensation of
coloured paints and va" ,ishes and the like the invention thus allov~/s to produce at
the same time two (or more) containers v~/ith the same coloured fluid or with
different coloured fluids). Ful Iller",ore the doubled or multiplied hourly production
capacily is achieved v~/ithout prejudice to the overall costs because it is onlyneeded a single machine bearing single computing unit and electronic control
devices the machine being easily integrated in a plant having a single conveyingline or where limitation in space is a major concerrl. It also an advanlaye of the
invention the fact that the delivery and shipping costs of the machine are
comparable to those of a traditionally knov~m machine of lower production
capacily. A machine according to the present invention also requires no more
than a single operator devoted thereto.
In the event that incoillpalible fluids are to be dispensed as in the case of v~ater-
based and solvent-based products it is possible to simply avoid any remotely
possible contami,-ation which might occur by dedicating each one of the
dispensing heads or dispensing ce"l,es to each one of said incompatible fluids.
This also col 1~, ibutes to eliminate any possible human error as far as the operalor
is concer"ed since distinct dispensing l"e",bers are clearly allocated which canalso be physically marked labelled or however unmistakably identified.
In the event that the fluid-receiving containers have small openings small
dispensing heads and/or dispensing centres are to be prerer,ed. The presenl
invention allows a user to split the fluids to be dispensed into two or more groups
vvhich converge to dirrererlt and separaled heads or centres however retaining
the adval)lages of a controlling the dispensing operations by means of a single
control unit processor and user interface.

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4 ~ _
Naturally, the principle of the present invention is applicable to- many kinds of
dispensing macl,ines, including those specifically designed to handle dangerous
fluids, such as those fluid which are fla"",lable or explosive, these machine being
known as Uexplosion proof' ",acl,i,-es.
The .;l ,a~a~e, istics and the advanla~es of the invention will result better from the
~let-;!cd des~;, iption that follo~,vs of a pr~re"~d example of a realisation illustrated,
for merely indicative and non-limiting purposes, with reference to the allached
dra~ngs, in which:
- figure 1 is a schematic front view of a dispensing machine according to the
present invention;
- figure 2 a side view of the same machine of figure 1;
- figure 3 is a scl,e",dlic top viewof the machine of the previous figures;
- figure 4 is a schematic enlarged scale view of one of the two distribution
ce"l~es of the machine of the previous figures.
In the figures, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a dispensing machine which
is re~lised according to the present invention. In an already known v~/ay machine 1
comprises a framework 2 with a clispe"sing head 3 that overtops a distribution
area of one or more products in a liquid state in a container (R and R').
Associated with the machine there is a processing unit v~ith a relevant user
inle, race 4 with a video display ~ and a keyboard 6. This processing unit and the
above l"enlioned ~ccessories thereof are needed to control the plurality of dosing
pumps all indicated by 7 and the relevant electrovalves 8 to dose the product
distribution in a way which will be clarified here after.
The only dispel~sing head 3 is provided with a first and second dispensing centre
10a,b respectively structurally identical, but physically sepa,~le and at some

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~lislance. Naturally, the structural details of the machine may vary v~/idely within
the framev"ork of the present invention which also covers machines having a
greater number of dispe"si"g ce,llles, the two or more di:,pel,sing centres being
placed on either the same single dispe-~sing head, or even on dirrerent d;spel ,sing
heads. In tum, should the ",acl,i"e be equipped with more than one d;spensing
head, these heads may be places at any distance the one from the others, lined
on the front of the ",acl,ine, as well as - acco,di,1g to aller"dli./e configu,dlions
and e",bodi",ents - one head on the front and the other on the rear side of the
machine body, and more generally on opposite sides of the n)achine body.
In every dispensing centre 10a,b a respective plurality of nozles 11 are
converged, which are connected to the respective electrovalves 8 by means of
pipings 12. The structure of each dispensing centre is known, for example the
type desclibed in the patent application no. Ml96A000601, and preferably
comprises a respective and independent support 13 for the nozles 11 (in the
example defined by the free extremities of the corresponding pipings 12) and a
respective and indepel ,dent humidifier device v"ith relevant cap, altogether
indicated v~/ith 14, of a known type. Moreover, each distribution centre can
co,),~,rise a punching device and/or a plugging device of the type described in the
co-pending patent application no. BO95A000591 in Italy, the co,1tenl of which ishereby expressly incorporated.
In this v~/ay it is possible to dispense, by means of the single and col"",on
d,spensing head 3, two or more dirrerenl series of products, for example v~/ater-
and solvent-based ones, through either the one or the other of the tv~/o dispensing
centres 10a,b or even simultaneously, in two dir~erenl containers, exploiting for
the other functions the common resources of the same machine 1, included also
the processing unit with the control system and the user inlel race.
In this way the invention solves the problem with a simple and col"pacl macl)ine,
able to guarantee the non-pollution between dispensed products of a dirrere,)l

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nature and also ca~able to prolect in a optimum v~/ay the dispensing nozles of
products of difrere, 1I nature from possi~le drying of the dispensed product.
Moreover it allov"s to dispe,)se simullaneously the produats of the same nature in
the same conta;ner or simult~.,eously products of a dirrer~"t nature in two or
various con~ainers ofreri,~g in this v,lay a high productivity level \,vithout cost
increase.
It is under~lood that it is likewise possible to equip the ~"acl,ine u/ith further
dispensi"g centres within the limits set by the co"li,lgent needs and by the
overall di."ensions thereof.

Dessin représentatif