GB2060563A

GB2060563A - A distributor for a dye storage and preparation plant

Info

Publication number: GB2060563A
Application number: GB8026131A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-09-28
Filing date: 1980-08-11
Publication date: 1981-05-07
Also published as: IT1165450B; NL189754B; IT7926098A0; GB2060563B; NL8005405A; NL189754C

Abstract

A distributor for a dye storage and preparation plant comprises a plurality of rigid tubes 2, each tube pivoted at an upper inlet to a rigid circumferential support 4. Each tube has a lower outlet end with a valve 6 of the multiple differentiated consecutive openings type. A plurality of separate control elements 7, preferably pneumatic or hydraulic pistons, one to each tube, are selectively operable to pivot each tube from a first, inoperative, position located above a base 10 to a second, operative, position located above a central discharge opening 9 in the base. Each valve has a common valve actuating means located above the central discharge opening to engage a valve operation member when a selected tube 2 is in the second, operative, position. Each valve has an upper gripping element 11, which can be inserted into control pincers 12, which are connected to a plurality of pneumatic or hydraulic control devices 15, 16 and 17. These devices operate the multiple differentiated openings of the valve 6. The base 10 forms a collecting tub or drip tray. Thus, a desired amount of dye or like mixture component can be supplied through the tube to fall through the discharge opening 9. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A distributor for a dye storage and preparation plant This invention relates to a distributor for a dye storage and preparation plant.

A distributor is a device permanently connected to a number of separate sources of dye, water, thickener or like mixture components for successive selection of individual dyes, or other desired components.

Different types of distributor are already known.

In particular fixed centre distributors are known and comprise a plurality of pipes fitted with distributing valves at one end and grouped around a fixed circular structure seated above a rotating collecting tub with a discharge opening coming selectively into register with one or the other of the pipes, thereby allowing the discharge of dye into an underlying collector.

Other types comprise sectors or loops equiped around a given circumferential line with a plurality of pipes, each pipe being connected to a storage tank for a dye, thickener, water or the like. Each pipe leads to discharge valve. Rotation of the sectors or loops registers the pipes with an underlying container for the combination of the desired dyes. However, such distributors, though producing very good dye preparations, have several drawbacks. For example, it is difficult to eliminate completely dye drips which occur after the closing of successive valves. This results very often in the soiling of the floor near the plant and around the distributors, and leads to contamination of containers successively placed below the distributors, and to damage to the shoes of the operatives or anything else on the floor nearby.

Another drawback is the fact that such distributors must be provided with manually or power-driven rotating mechanisms, which obviously make the construction more complicated and more expensive.

It is the object of this invention to provide a distributor for a dye storage and preparation plant which obviates the above-mentioned drawbacks, by collecting any residual drips. A further object is to provide a distributor that does not require separate rotating mechanisms, and is at the same time characterised by safe and efficient operation.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a distributor for a dye storage and preparation plant comprises: a plurality of rigid tubes each pivoted at an upper inlet end suitable for connection to a tank of dye or like mixture component and each provided at a lower outlet end with a valve; a like plurality of separate control elements, one to each tube, selectively operabie to pivot each tube from a first, inoperative, position located above a shielding base member to a second, operative, position located above a central discharge opening in the base member; and a common valve actuating means, located above the central discharge opening to engage a valve operation member when a selected tube is in the second position, whereby a desired amount of dyeJor like mixture component can be supplied through the tube to fall through the discharge opening. - Preferably, all of the tubes are pivoted on a common peripheral support. Preferably, a container surrounds the tubes and supports the base member. It is also preferred that each control element and the common valve actuating means are actuated by fluid pressure.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a distributor for a dye storage and preparation plant comprises a plurality of rigid tubes, each connectable to a dye storage tank through flexible tubes, each tube being pivotable at an upper inlet end and being movable from a first, inoperative, position to a second, operative, position by pneumatic or hydraulic pistons; each rigid tube having a lower outlet end being provided with a valve of the multiple differentiated consecutive openings type; the second, operative, position being located above a central discharge opening in a base; each valve having an upper gripping element capable of being inserted into control pincers connected to a plurality of pneumatic or hydraulic control devices for operating the multiple differentiated openings of the valves; the control devices and the pincers being located above the central discharge opening.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a representative portion of a distributor according to the invention; Figure 2 is a top view of part of the distributor portion shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-section through a consecutive multiple opening valve; and Figure 4 is a side view of the distributor.

Figure 1 shows a distributor which comprises an external container 1 and a plurality of rigid pipes 2. The pipes are arranged in a circle and are connected at their upper end each to a flexible hose 3, each of which is connected to a separate tank for dye, water or thickener (not shown).

Each rigid pipe 2 is hinged at its upper end to a common rigid circular support 4 by pivots 5. The lower end of each pipe 2 has a valve 6 of the consecutive multiple opening type. Each valve 6 has an anchorage for the lower end of a pneumatic control element 7, each of which control element is fixed at its other end to the circular support 4.

Figure 1 shows for reasons of clarity only 2 control elements 7, but in practice each valve is provided with its own control element. Preferably the control elements are pneumatic, but they may alternatively be hydraulic or otherwise actuated.

Each rigid pipe 2 has a plate 8 parallel to its axis. Each plate 8 supports a pair of photoelectric cells for limiting and regulating the stroke of the control element 7.

The control elements 7 swing the pipes 2 between the rest position, which is more or less verticle and adjacent to the inner surface of the outside container 1, and a working position as shown by the pipe originating at the top left-hand side of Figure 1. When in its working position, the valve 6 is coaxial with a central vertical axis of the distributor and with a lower discharge opening 9 formed in a base 10. The base 10 also functions as a drip collector.

Each valve 6 is fitted with an upper coaxial gripping element 11, which inserts itself within control pincers 12 each time the valve is moved to the working position.

The end-of-stroke stop of the valve 6 in the working position causes the pincers 12 to grip the element 11. Subsequently, the pneumatic, hydraulic or other control devices provided inside the structure 13, cause the opening of the underlying valve 6 and the discharge of the chosen dye in the desired amounts.

In the embodiment shown, the pincers 12 are driven by pneumatic piston 14, while three differentiated consecutive openings of the valve 6 are controlled as described below by aligned pnaumatic pistons 15, 1 6 and 1 7.

Lateral guides 1 8 assure the smooth operation of the moving parts within the structure 13.

Figure 3 shows in section a valve 6 capable of three differentiated consecutive openings. Firstly, upward movement of the gripping element 11 raises a spool 19 which controls the opening of smallest nozzle 20. If a small amount of dye is required, the opening of the nozzle 20 will be sufficient. (The desired dye is weighed by known means, not shown.) Secondly, if larger amounts of dye are required, it is possible to open an intermediate nozzle otherwise closed by operating member 21. Finally, the nozzles show that 22 can be opened for a large-volume supply.

The pipe 2 in each case communicates with its associated nozzles through the duct 23 of the valve 6 and thence through slots 24 and 25.

At the end of each working phase, each valve 6 and the relative pipe 2 is returned to its rest position by operation of the control 7. Thus, residual drips are prevented from dropping on the floor or beneath the discharge opening 9 because they are collected inside the base 10.

Another advantage is that the containers for mixing the dyes are positioned below the discharge opening9, and so remain in the same position until the preparation phase is finished, thereby avoiding inconvenient handling by the personnel.

A further advantage is obtained by the easy positioning and return operations, and opening and closing of the dye-supplying valves. These operations can be carried out either manually or automatically with a programming card or the like.

For checking on the functioning of the distributor, the external container 1 has windows 26 corresponding each to a valve 6 (see Figure 4).

The back of each valve is marked with a code number or symbol or the like, which is visible through the windows 26.

In this way, an operator will know at any moment which valve is positioned at the discharge opening, because the window corresponding to this valve will be empty. The operator will also be sure that only this valve is positioned at the centre, because any particular control 7 can only function, when all the valves 6 and respective pipes 2 are in the rest position. This can be ensured by suitable circuitry governed by the photelectric cells 8.

Claims

1. A distributor for a dye storage and preparation plant comprising: a plurality of rigid tubes each pivoted at an upper inlet end suitable for connection to a tank of dye or like mixture component and each provided at a lower outlet end with a valve; a like plurality of separate control elements, one to each tube, selectively operable to pivot each tube from a first, inoperative, position located above a shielding base member to a second, operative, position located above a central discharge opening in the base member; and a common valve actuating means located above the central discharge opening to engage a valve operation member wherein a selected tube is in the second position, whereby a desired amount of dye or like mixture component can be supplied through the tube to fall through the discharge opening.

2. A distributor as claimed in claim 1, wherein all of the tubes are pivoted on a common peripheral support.

3. A distributor as claimed in claim 2, in which a container surrounds the tubes and supports the base.

4. A distributor as claimed in claim 1, wherein each control element and the common valve actuating means are actuated by fluid pressure.

5. A distributor for a dye storage and preparation plant comprising a plurality of rigid tubes, each connectable to a dye storage tank through flexible tubes, each tube being pivotable at an upper inlet end, and being movable from a first, inoperative, position to a second, operative position by pneumatic or hydraulic pistons; each rigid tube having a flower outlet end being provided with a valve of the multiple differentiated consecutive openings type; the second, operative position being located above a central discharge opening in a base; each valve having an upper gripping element capable of being inserted into control pincers connected to a plurality of pneumatic or hydraulic control devices for operating the multiple differentiated openings of the valves; the control devices and the pincers being located above the central discharge opening.

6. A distributor as claimed in claim 5, wherein two photoelectric cells for controlling the feed and return stroke of the rigid tube are positioned at the side of each of the said tubes.

7. A distributor as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein each distributor valve in the operative position is aligned with the opening and closing control devices, a rigid circumferential support and the discharge opening.

8. A distributor as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the external container is fitted with windows corresponding each to a valve arranged around its inside wall.

9. A distributor according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein each valve is marked on the side turned towards the window with a code or the like number or sign visible through the windows of the external container.

10. A distributor for a dye storage and preparation plant as described in claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.