COMBINATION GRAVIMETRIC AND VOLUMETRIC DISPENSER FOR MULTIPLE FLUIDS

摘要

A combination gravimetric and volumetric fluid dispenser is disclosed which includes a scale (15) linked to a controller (21). The controllar is linked to a plurality of two stage valves (14) which control the dispensing of larga quantities of base materials. The controllar is also linked to a plurality of nutating pumps (34) which together with the controllar controls the dispensing of smallar quantities of additive materials. The dispensing system dioclosed is particularly useful for paints or other liquid formulations where larger quantities of base materials are added and which can be added br weight and whereby precise measurements of the larger base materials is not particularly required. However, the incorporation of nutating pumps and the addition of smallar amounts of additives by volume using the nutatïng pumps enables precise dispensing of the additives, such as colorants for paint. The larger containers or reservoirs of base material may be disposed at a remote location from the dispensing apparatus. The dispensing apparatus is also preferably designed with a modular configuration as shown and described. For viscous materials, an improved dispensing rnethod is disclosed whereby viscous base material is added to the container first followed by smaller amounts of additives followed by additional dispensing of viscous base materials. By sandwiching the smallar amounts of additives between layers of base materials, an improved mix ability results for viscous materials such as base materials of paints and colorants.