EP1494959B1

EP1494959B1 - Conditioning equipment for a dispensing head in a colouring agent dispensing machine

Info

Publication number: EP1494959B1
Application number: EP03745373A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giorgio Manfredini
Original assignee: CPS Color Equipment SpA Con Unico Socio
Current assignee: CPS Color Equipment SpA Con Unico Socio
Priority date: 2002-03-28
Filing date: 2003-03-26
Publication date: 2006-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 2023-03-26
Also published as: DE60304190T2; WO2003082728A8; DE60304190D1; WO2003082728A1; ES2261955T3; AU2003215828A1; ITBO20020161A0; EP1494959A1; ITBO20020161A1; ATE321005T1

Abstract

Conditioning equipment for a dispensing head (10) of a colouring agent dispensing machine comprising a supporting body (16) which is capable when in use of being mounted on the colouring agent dispensing machine in a selectively movable way in relation to its dispensing head. The conditioning equipment also comprises at least one nozzle (31) mounted on the supporting body (16), means (33, 38, 39) for feeding at least one conditioning fluid to the nozzle (31), and means (27, 30) for collecting at least one conditioning fluid delivered from the nozzle during the conditioning operations, with an outlet opening (30a) located at the same level or below the level of at least one nozzle (31).

Description

This invention relates to conditioning equipment for a dispensing head in a colouring agent dispensing machine, of the type disclosed in EP 0 885 838A, corresponding to the preamble of claim 1.
In the field of machines dispensing or delivering colouring agents, it is particularly important to keep all the components of the machine in an optimum condition so that the accuracy and repeatability of colouring agent dispensing remain constant over time. One of the most critical factors in obtaining high accuracy in colouring agent dispensing machines is the dispensing head into which the dispensing pipes for colouring agent drawn from the tanks mounted in the machine open out. During waiting periods between one dispensing operation and another the fluid colouring agent products cease to flow in the dispensing head and the dispensing nozzles and tend to dry in contact with the air, forming encrustations which can reduce the outlet cross-sections of the nozzles or even block them or block the dispensing valves if the dispensing head is fitted with these. Various solutions have been proposed for maintaining some fluidity in the fluid colouring agent products in the outlet nozzles, among which mention may be made of devices which provide a closed moistened chamber around the outlet nozzles of the dispensing head when the dispensing machine is not in use. Among such systems of a known type mention may be made of those described in documents EP-B-0779241 and US-A-5842641 by the same Applicant. Both such systems of a known type provide that a supporting body of the container type is mounted on a moving structure so that it can be carried beneath the dispensing head when the colouring agent dispensing machine is not in use. A layer of absorbent or sponge material soaked with water or another solvent which keeps the closed environment beneath the dispensing head moist when the container supporting body is in its closed position is located within the container supporting body.
Moistening systems of the known type such as those indicated above have proved sufficiently effective where the dispensing head comprises a number of dispensing nozzles substantially consisting of the free ends of the pipes in the colouring agent feed circuits. However, in the case of applications which provide for the use of valves associated with the dispensing nozzles in the dispensing head, in particular needle valves, or in the case of particularly viscous colouring agent products which tend to dry out quickly, there has arisen a need to identify techniques and methods of conditioning the dispensing head which are more effective than those known hitherto.
In the remainder of this description we will use the term "conditioning" to mean a series of operations and treatments designed to maintain the dispensing head of a colouring agent dispensing machine in an efficient condition. Conditioning operations may include, by way of example but not in any restrictive way, washing, moisturising, drying and similar operations.
A device for cleaning a dispensing head in a colouring agent dispensing machine is known from document US-A-5524656. This device comprises a chamber with inclined side walls in which are made holes for discharge of the wash solution. For effective use of this device, and also for discharging the wash solution, it is necessary to have the dispensing nozzles for the wash product at precise distances from the dispensing head. Also, again in order to encourage discharge of the wash solution, it is necessary to apply negative pressure through an extractor downstream from the wash chamber. All in all this known device has a number of complications in its construction and layout which mean that its adoption and use are not very practical.
The purpose of this invention is to provide conditioning equipment for a dispensing head for a colouring agent dispensing machine which can operate effectively to maintain a variety of types of dispensing heads and dispensing nozzles and dispensing machines in perfect efficiency, while at the same time being simple and economical to manufacture and being highly reliable in use without the need for particular attention for maintenance.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective the invention relates to conditioning equipment of the type indicated in the preamble of this description having the characteristics indicated in the following claims.
In accordance with the invention the equipment is mounted on guides shaped in such a way that the supporting body defining a cup structure rises towards the dispensing head and comes into sealed contact at the end of its travel in such a way as to form a closed chamber in which the operations of conditioning the dispensing head are carried out.
In accordance with an advantageous feature of the invention the means for the supply of conditioning fluid comprise a number of spray nozzles equal to the number of nozzles dispensing colouring agents which in their working positions are arranged directly opposite a corresponding colouring agent dispensing nozzle. In this way the fluid fed to the spray nozzles can be effectively directed onto each colouring agent dispensing nozzle to effect complete washing.
In accordance with another advantageous feature of the invention a liquid fluid, for example water, which may contain additives, and compressed air are delivered to the spray nozzles in such a way as to encourage drying of the colouring agent dispensing nozzles and expulsion of the fluid collected by the collection means located in the supporting body.
In accordance with yet another advantageous feature of the invention the container body defined by the supporting body for the collection of conditioning fluid has an inclined base to encourage the conditioning fluid to flow away, partly as a result of the pressure exerted by the compressed air, and its collection in containers designed for the purpose of subsequent disposal.
In a particular embodiment, the conditioning equipment according to this invention is mounted on a colouring agent dispensing machine of the modular type which may incorporate a unit for the delivery and collection of conditioning fluid as an additional module incorporated into the machine as a whole, for example comprising an air compressor, a water tank pressurised by the compressed air, and a tank for the collection of spent fluids for the purpose of subsequent controlled disposal.
Other advantages and characteristics of the present invention 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:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-section through the conditioning equipment according to this invention in a working position beneath the dispensing head of a colouring agent dispensing machine,
Figure 2 is a view from above of the conditioning equipment in Figure 1,
Figure 3 is a view from above of the fluids feed circuit for the conditioning equipment in Figure 2,
Figure 4 is a cross-section on a magnified scale of a detail of Figure 1 illustrating the correspondence between a conditioning nozzle and a dispensing nozzle of the colouring agent dispensing machine,
Figure 5 is a perspective view on a magnified scale of a detail of the shaped guide for moving the supporting body according to this invention, and
Figure 6 is a diagrammatical view of the components of a conditioning fluids feed and collection circuit located within a modular structure of colouring agent dispensing machines.

With reference now to the figures, a dispensing head 10 of a colouring agent dispensing machine of a known type comprises a group of dispensing nozzles 11 including a plurality of valves 12 which are selectively controlled in order to dispense fluid colouring agent products fed through pipes (not illustrated) connected to inlet holes 14 via corresponding nozzles 13. In the particular embodiment illustrated in the figures, valves 12 are of the three-way, two-position type, arranged in such a way that the fluid products arriving via pipes 14 are caused to recirculate towards the corresponding tanks through a recirculation pipe connected to a recirculation opening 15 provided in the group of dispensing nozzles 11.
Conditioning equipment comprising a slide 16 moving on longitudinal guides 17, preferably through wheels 18 mounted on the sides of slide 16 and inserted within a guide channel 19 of each of the two longitudinal lateral guides 17, is mounted on dispensing head 10 beneath the group of dispensing nozzles 11. As can be better seen in Figure 5, longitudinal groove 19, which is substantially straight, has in its end portion 19a a ramp 20 which causes wheels 18 to be raised when slide 16 is in a forward position, that is when it is brought up against a group of dispensing nozzles 11 so as to encourage leaktight mating between slide 16 and the lower wall 21 of the group of nozzles, as will be better specified below in this description.
Slide 16 comprises a main body 22 from which there extend laterally supports 23 for wheels 18 and which has a posterior appendage 24, extending from the part opposite the front 10a of the dispensing head, to which a movement bar 25 controlled by an actuator device 26 to selectively move slide 16 towards or away from group of dispensing nozzles 11 is attached via an articulation. A container 27 with a substantially cylindrical side wall around which is fitted an annular seal 28 housed in a groove made in the upper wall 22a of main body 22 is provided on part of main body 22. The bottom part 29 of container 27 is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane towards a posterior portion of container 27 and communicates with a discharge pipe 30 through an outlet opening 30a. Conditioning nozzles 31, each of which is substantially positioned in vertical alignment with the nozzles of dispensing valves 12 of group of nozzles 11 when slide 16 is in the forward position, are mounted on the bottom wall 29 of container 27. As can be better seen in Figure 4, each conditioning nozzle 31 comprises a body screwed onto bottom wall 29 of container 27, through which passes an ejector pipe 32 communicating with a fluid feed pipe 33 constructed in a flat portion 34 fixed beneath main body 22 of slide 16 by means of securing bolts 35. A pair of annular seals 36, 37 ensures that there is a seal between bottom plate 34 and main body 22.
Pipe 33 provided in plate 34 communicates with two pipes 38, 39 providing independent and separate feeds for two conditioning fluids to the same pipe 33 and, as a consequence, to conditioning nozzles 31. In the particular embodiment illustrated, sources of supply for pressurised water and pressurised air respectively are connected to the two pipes 38, 39 as indicated diagrammatically in Figure 6 which illustrates a service module for servicing the equipment according to this invention.
In particular, the aforesaid service module, which is indicated as a whole by reference number 40, can be constructed in the form of a module which is incorporated in the dispensing machine unit and which has a frame structure 41 closed by a housing 42 within which are located an air compressor 43 for generating and feeding compressed air to pipe 33 and to the conditioning nozzles of slide 16 through one of the two pipes 38, 39. Within module 40 there is also a tank 44 for pressurised water which feeds pipe 33 and the conditioning nozzles through the other two pipes 38, 39. A collection tank 45 communicates with discharge pipe 30, which, as described previously, communicates with the interior of container 27 provided on main body 22.
When the colouring agent dispensing machine is in operation and when it is necessary to dispense preset quantities of fluid colouring agent products into a container placed beneath dispensing head 10, slide 16 is caused to move backwards, controlled by actuator 26, into a waiting position away from the front 10a of dispensing head 10, so as to leave the space underlying group of dispensing nozzles 11 free. As it is known, valves 12 are selectively activated so that the colouring fluid fed through openings 14 is directed towards the exterior of the corresponding dispensing nozzle to effect the known dispensing of colouring agents in accordance with preset proportions. When dispensing is complete, valves 12 are returned to a closed position in such a way that the colouring agent delivered from openings 14 is diverted towards recirculation openings 15, in ways which are wholly known in the art of the dispensing and delivery of colouring agents.
Once dispensing has taken place, actuator 26 is activated in such a way as to return slide 16 to its forward position, against the front 10a of dispensing head 10. When slide 16 reaches its most forward position ramp 20 of guides 17 encourages sealing contact between the upper part 22a of main body 22 and the bottom wall 21 of group of dispensing nozzles 11. In this way, walls 21 and the walls of container 27 made in main body 22 of slide 16 constitute and define a closed chamber with a substantially cylindrical side wall and an inclined base, which is sealed off from the outside environment through annular seal 28, and within which conditioning nozzles 31 are each vertically aligned with a corresponding dispensing nozzle of valves 12 of dispensing unit 11.
At this point the pressurised water feed is activated and from tank 44 of service module 40 this reaches pipe 33 provided in plate 34 through one of the two pipes 38, 39, and, as a consequence, each of conditioning nozzles 31. In passing through ejection pipes 32 the pressurised water is sprayed and directed as a washing jet shown diagrammatically by the number 46 in Figure 4 in such a way as to wash the dispensing nozzles of valves 12 and remove the residues of fluid colouring agent products therefrom. The wash water spray sprayed through conditioning nozzles 31 is collected at the bottom of container 27 and transported to discharge pipe 30 through outlet opening 30a, partly as a result of the inclination of base 29 of container 27, and then to collection tank 45 of service module 40.
The feed of pressurised water to conditioning nozzles 31 is continued for a preset period of time, at the end of which the water feed is cut off while the compressed air feed is activated from compressor 43 of service module 40, passes through the other two feed pipes 38, 39 reaching pipe 33 and as a consequence conditioning nozzles 31, from which it exits blowing directly against the nozzles of each of dispensing valves 12. The compressed air encourages drying of the nozzles of dispensing valves 12 and also, as a result of the leaktight seal in the chamber defined by container 27 and bottom wall 21 of group of dispensing nozzles 11, contributes to expelling any residual wash water in container 27 for final collection in collection tank 45.
The device according to this invention can also be used in a different manner, for example in the case of special applications in which the type of colouring agents, or the fluid products used in the machine, makes it desirable to keep the dispensing nozzles moist. In this case only pressurised water is delivered to conditioning nozzles 31, and most of this collects in container 27 and is evacuated through outlet opening 30a. The wash cycle for the dispensing nozzles is concluded with this single operation. The residual water in container 27, which is held with a leaktight seal against group of dispensing nozzles 11, maintains a moist atmosphere within the closed chamber which prevents the fluid product from drying out at the dispensing nozzles.
The conditioning equipment described above makes it possible to achieve washing and if necessary subsequent drying of the colouring agent dispensing nozzles - or, as an alternative, to keep them moist - effectively and quickly, partly due to the construction of a leaktight closed chamber or space beneath group of dispensing nozzles 11 within which all the operations for conditioning of the nozzles are performed and completed. Complete collection of the conditioning fluids, and in particular the wash water and the colouring agent residues removed by the same encouraged by the inclination of bottom wall 29 of container 27, the delivery of pressurised water into container 27 following the washing of the nozzles of valve 12, and the provision of a dedicated collection tank 45, contribute to the provision of conditioning equipment and a colouring agent dispensing machine which have a low environmental impact and which are safe as regards protection of the health of the operators using them.
The particular conformation of guides 17 and their coupling to slide 16, and in particular the interaction between wheels 18 and ramp 20, makes it possible to provide a closed chamber below the group of dispensing nozzles 11 in a simple manoeuvre, controlled by an economical linear actuator or directly - in simple cases - by hand.
Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the forms of embodiment and details of construction may be varied widely with respect to those described and illustrated, which have been given purely by way of example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Conditioning equipment for a dispensing head (10) of a colouring agent dispensing machine, wherein said dispensing head (10) has a group of dispensing nozzles (11), said conditioning equipment comprising:
- a supporting body (16) adapted, in use, to be mounted selectively movable on the colouring agent dispensing machine between a waiting position away from said dispensing head (10) so as to leave free the space underlying said group of dispensing nozzles (11) and a working position in substantial vertical alignment with said dispensing head (10), wherein said supporting body (16) comprises a container or cup defining a conditioning area,

- at least one conditioning nozzle (31) mounted on said supporting body (16),

- feeding means (33, 38, 39) for feeding at least one conditioning fluid to said conditioning nozzle (31) for being directed in said conditioning area, and

- collecting means (27, 30) for collecting said conditioning fluid emerging from said conditioning nozzle (31) during the conditioning operations, said collecting means (27, 30) including an outlet opening (30a) located on the same level or below the level of said conditioning nozzle (31), characterised in that the conditioning equipment further comprises guides (17) for guiding said supporting body (16) from said waiting position to said working position, said guides (17) comprising raising means (20) for raising said supporting body (16) towards said dispensing head (10) to automatically bring said supporting body (16) into sealing contact with said dispensing head (10) at the end of its travel from said waiting position to said working position.
Conditioning equipment according to Claim 1, characterised in that said container or cup has a side wall (27) and a bottom wall (29) which is substantially inclined with respect to a horizontal plane when in use.
Conditioning equipment according to Claim 2, characterised in that said outlet opening (30a) is located in the proximity of said bottom wall (29) in the zone which when in use is at the lower level.
Conditioning equipment according to Claim 3, characterised in that said outlet opening (30a) is made in the side wall (27) of said container.
A Conditioning equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said raising means (20) comprises a ramp portion (20) in such a way that said supporting body (16) rises and at the end of its travel has an upper wall in leaktight contact with said dispensing head (10).
A Conditioning equipment according to Claim 5, characterised in that said conditioning nozzles (31) are in a number equal to that of said dispensing nozzles (11) and are each arranged directly opposite a corresponding one of said dispensing nozzles (11) when in said working position
A colouring agent dispensing machine comprising a conditioning equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises pressurised water means for the feed of pressurised water communicating with said at least one conditioning nozzle (31) and selectively activatable to deliver sprayed water towards a corresponding one of said dispensing nozzles (11).
A colouring agent dispensing machine according to Claim 7, characterised in that it comprises pressurised air feed means for the delivery of pressurised air communicating with said at least one conditioning nozzle (31) and selectively activatable to deliver compressed air to a corresponding one of said dispensing nozzles (11).
A colouring agent dispensing machine according to Claim 7 or 8, characterised in that it comprises a modular structure housing feed means.
A colouring agent dispensing machine according to Claim 9, characterised in that said modular structure also includes means for the collection of spent fluids communicating with said outlet opening (30a).
Process for the conditioning of a dispensing head in a colouring agent dispensing machine according to any one of Claims 7 to 10, characterised in that it comprises the stages of:
- causing said supporting body (16) to move towards said dispensing head (10) to define a substantially leaktight closed chamber beneath said dispensing nozzles (11),

- activating said pressurised water feed means communicating with said at least one conditioning nozzle (31) to send a jet of sprayed water towards a corresponding one of said dispensing nozzle (11) of the dispensing machine.
Process according to Claim 11, characterised in that said supporting body (16) is moved away from said dispensing head (10) only when fluid products are selectively dispensed, in such a way as to maintain a moist atmosphere within the substantially closed chamber beneath said dispensing head (10).
Process according to Claim 11, characterised in that it comprises a stage following activation of the water feed means in which the said pressurised air feed means communicating with said at least one conditioning nozzle (31) are activated to send a jet of pressurised air towards the corresponding dispensing nozzle (11) of the dispensing machine and to encourage the residual water delivered in the previous stage to flow out towards said outlet opening (30a).