Mixer for Viscous Fluids and Method of Mixing Viscous Fluids

Abstract

The invention relates to a mixer, in particular for mixing viscous fluids, such as paints and plasters, in a container, the mixer comprising a frame, a clamping mechanism for holding a container, which mechanism is translatably and/or rotatably mounted in the frame, a motor for translatably and/or rotatably driving the clamping mechanism a sensor for measuring vibrations of the clamping mechanism, and a controller connected to the sensor and the motor and arranged to control the motor to adjust translations and/or rotations of the clamping mechanism in dependence of the measured vibrations.

Claims

1. A mixer, in particular for mixing viscous fluids, such as paints and plasters, in a container, the mixer comprising a frame, a clamping mechanism for holding a container, which mechanism is translatably and/or rotatably mounted in the frame, and a motor for translatably and/or rotatably driving the clamping mechanism, a sensor for measuring vibrations of the clamping mechanism and a controller connected to the sensor and the motor and arranged to control the motor to adjust translations and/or rotations of the clamping mechanism in dependence of the measured vibrations.

2. The mixer according to claim 1, wherein the controller is arranged to increase the frequency of the translations and/or rotations until a parameter of the measured vibrations reaches a pre-selected threshold.

3. The mixer according to claim 1, wherein the controller is arranged to decrease the frequency of the translations and/or rotations when a parameter of the measured vibrations reaches a pre-selected threshold.

4. The mixer according to claim, wherein the controller is arranged to derive from the measured vibrations the weight and/or the size of the container held in de clamping mechanism

5. The mixer according to claim 4, wherein the controller is arranged to estimate the energy required for adequate mixing and to estimate, based on measured vibrations, the energy inputted into the container.

6. The mixer according to claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a memory and the controller is arranged to store one or more parameters of the measured vibrations over time.

7. The mixer according to claim, wherein the sensor comprises a strain gauge, an accelerometer and/or a gyroscope, preferably comprises an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

8. The mixer according to claim, wherein the sensor comprises at least two axes, preferably three axes, and wherein the axes are arranged normal to each other.

9. The mixer according to claim, wherein the sensor or at least one of the sensors is positioned on the frame or on the clamping mechanism.

10. The mixer according to claim, comprising a sub-frame that is resiliently mounted in the frame, wherein the clamping mechanism is mounted in a sub-frame and wherein the sensor or at least one of the sensors is positioned on the sub-frame.

11. A method of mixing viscous fluids, such as paints and plasters, in a container, by means of a mixer comprising a frame, a clamping mechanism for holding a container, which mechanism is translatably and/or rotatably mounted in the frame, the method comprising the steps of securing a container holding the fluid in the clamping mechanism, translating and/or rotating the mechanism and the container, measuring vibrations of the clamping mechanism and the container and adjusting driving of the clamping mechanism in dependence of the measured vibrations.

12. The method according to claim 11, comprising increasing the frequency of translating and/or rotating until a parameter of the measured vibrations reaches a pre-selected value.

13. The method according to claim 11, comprising decreasing the frequency of the translating and/or rotating or stopping the clamping mechanism when a parameter of the measured vibrations reaches a pre-selected value.

14. The method according to claim 11, comprising deriving from the measured vibrations the weight and/or the size of the container held in de clamping mechanism.

15. The method according to claim 14, comprising estimating the energy required for adequate mixing of the fluid in the container and estimating, based on measured vibrations, the energy inputted into the container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The disclosed invention will be further explained with reference to the accompanying drawings in which presently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown schematically.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a biaxial gyroscopic mixer according to the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view of the biaxial gyroscopic mixer shown in FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a clamping mechanism mounted of the biaxial gyroscopic mixer shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a perspective front view of a shaker according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a biaxial gyroscopic mixer 1 for mixing viscous fluids, such as paints and plasters, in a container (not shown). The mixer comprises a frame 2, metal sheets 3 attached to the frame and forming the exterior, a clamping mechanism 4 for receiving and securing a container, a sliding door 5 to screen off the clamping mechanism, and a motor (hidden from view) for driving the clamping mechanism. The clamping mechanism, shown in more detail in FIG. 3, comprises a horizontal first shaft 5 rotatably mounted in the frame by means of one or more bearings 6 about a first axis A1, a pulley 7, typically on the rear side of the bearing for driving the first shaft via a belt 8 and a further pulley on the motor, and, on the front side of the bearing and mounted on front end of the first shaft, a bracket, in this example a substantially c-shaped bracket 10, also known as “cradle”. The bracket comprises a central beam 11 and two arms 12, 13 extending perpendicular to the beam and parallel with the first axis. The arms carry clamping plates 14, 15 for securing containers of various sizes and shapes and, to this end, are slidable along the beam and towards each other, typically via a mechanism that maintains a substantially equal distance of both plates to first axis (so as to prevent introducing vibrations). The clamping plates are rotatable about a common second axis A2, e.g. by means of shafts 16, 17 mounted in the arms 12, 13 e.g. via bearings. The clamping mechanism further comprises, in a manner known in itself, bevel gears 20 and a set 21 of pulleys and a belt to couple rotation of the clamping plates and shafts about the second axis to rotation of the clamping mechanism about the first axis.

[0029] A controller 25 is mounted on the frame of the mixer. In this example, the controller comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) with components for driving the motor mounted on the PCB. A sensor, i.c. a motion tracking device combining a 3-axis gyroscope and a 3-axis accelerometer, is also mounted directly on the PCB.

[0030] FIG. 4 shows a shaker 1 for mixing viscous fluids, comprising a frame 2, a sub-frame 26 that is resiliently mounted in the frame via a plurality of springs 27 and dampers, a clamping mechanism 4 for receiving and securing a container mounted in the sub-frame, and a motor 28 plus eccenter for shaking the sub-frame and the clamping mechanism, all in principle similar to the shaker disclosed in U.S. Pat. No 5,268,620.

[0031] A controller is mounted on the frame 2 of the shaker and comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) 29 with components for driving the motor mounted on the PCB. A sensor 30, i.c. a motion tracking device combining a 3-axis gyroscope and a 3-axis accelerometer, is mounted on the sub-frame and connected to the controller.

[0032] During operation, a container holding the fluid is secured in the clamping mechanism, the clamping mechanism and the container are shaken (FIG. 4) and gyroscopically rotated (FIGS. 1 to 3), respectively, and vibrations of the clamping mechanism are measured, directly, i.c. on the sub-frame (FIG. 4) and clamping mechanism, or indirectly, i.c. on the frame (FIGS. 1 to 3). Driving of the clamping mechanism is adjusted in dependence of the measured vibrations.

[0033] As a matter of course, the invention is not restricted to the above-disclosed embodiment and can be varied in numerous ways within the scope of the claims.