Technical Field

The present invention concerns a mounting plate, on which a number of units are to be mounted. The invention also concerns units, such as spraying units, which may be used with the mounting plate.

Prior Art

The units may be used in many different environments and for many different purposes. Normally, the units are spraying units for fluids, powders and/or gases.

Previously it has been common to have for instance a number of nozzles on a relatively large assembly, which assembly with all the nozzles are to be taken out when needed for maintenance, repair etc. Often all the nozzles have separate conduits for fluid or gas and possible separate wires for control of the nozzles.

Summary

One purpose of the present invention is to provide a mounting plate at which separate units may be placed and removed in a simple way. The units are to be attached to and released from the mounting plate as single units.

By placing the units on a mounting plate it is relatively easy to replace existing units. The replacement may be due to maintenance, repair, amended setup of the unit etc. The units may have different functions, depending on the actual field of use.

In one embodiment the mounting plate and the units are used in a printing press for supply of fountain solution. The mounting plate with suitable units may be used in many different industries and fields of use. Examples of areas of use are agriculture, biological, medical, pulps, in paper machines, food processing and applying of different substances such as paint, coat, primer and pesticide.

As the units are easy to install and change it is feasible to adapt the installation to the specific needs at every instant, by installing units of a desired configuration.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be obvious to a person skilled in the art reading the detailed description below.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be described further below by way of examples and with reference to the enclosed drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a front side of a first embodiment of a mounting plate according to the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a unit to be mounted on the mounting plate of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a front side of a second embodiment of a mounting plate according to the present invention,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a unit to be mounted on the mounting plate of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the mounting plate of the second embodiment, indicating further parts attached to the mounting plate,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the mounting plate and units according to the second embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the mounting plate and units of Fig. 5 from a different angle, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an assembly comprising a mounting plate and units of the second embodiments of the mounting plate and units, respectively. Detailed Description

As used in this description the expressions "upper", "lower", and similar expressions are in relation to the Figs, referred to. As used in this description the expressions "rear", "front" and similar expressions are in relation to the mounting plate 1, whereby the "front" is the side at which a fluid or gas is sprayed out. In use the mount- ing plate and parts received on it may have any orientation.

In the shown embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 the mounting plate 1 is oblong, with a plane rear side 2. As seen in cross-section the mounting plate 1 has a relatively thin central part 3 and lower and upper slanted parts 4, 5. The inclination of the lower and upper slanted parts 4, 5 is such that the mounting plate 1 is thicker at the top and bottom as seen in cross-section. The lower and upper slanted parts 4, 5 incline forward. By means of the lower and upper slanted parts 4, 5 the thickest parts of the mounting plate 1 is at an upper side 6 and a lower side 7 of the mounting plate 1. The central part 3 and the lower and upper slanted parts 4, 5 all extend the total longitudinal length of the mounting plate 1. Channels 8, 9, 10, 11 are arranged going longitudinally through the lower and upper slanted parts 4, 5. Two of the channels 8, 9 are arranged in the lower slanted part 4 and two of the channels 10, 11 are arranged in the upper slanted part 5. In other embodiments there are other numbers of channels. The number of channels may differ between the upper slanted part and the lower slanted part. The channels 8-11 go all the way through the slanted parts 4, 5 of the mounting plate 1. In the shown embodiment the channels 8-11 have a rectangular cross-section form. In other embodiments the channels may have other cross-section forms. Near the front edge of the upper side 6 of the mounting plate 1 a longitudinal groove 12 is arranged. A corresponding groove 12 is also arranged near the front edge of the lower side 7 of the mounting plate 1. The function of the channels 8-11 and the grooves 12 will be explained further below.

In the central part 3 of the mounting plate 1 a number of through openings 13 are arranged at equal spacing. In other embodiments the openings are not arranged at equal spacing. In some embodiments the openings are closer to each other towards the middle of the mounting plate, and in other embodiments the openings are placed closer to each other at the ends or at one end of the mounting plate. The exact placing and spacing of the openings are adapted to the intended use. On the rear side 2 of the mounting plate 1 connections, that may be in the form of apertures, are arranged adjacent each opening 13 of the mounting plate 1, which connections open into one of the channels 8-11 of the mounting plate 1 each. Thus, in the shown embodiment there are four connections adjacent each opening 13

One unit 19 may be arranged at each opening 13 of the mounting plate 1. The units 19 have normally some kind of fixation means 20 for co-operation with fixation means on the rear side of the mounting plate 1. The units 19 will have different func- tions depending on the actual placing of the mounting plate 1, i.e. depending of for which kind of process the mounting plate 1 and its units 19 are intended. If not all openings 13 are receiving units 19, the openings 13 not receiving any unit 19 may be plugged. Each unit 19 has a plane front side 21, which is to abut on the rear side 2 of the mounting plate 1. On the front side 21 of each unit 19 four connections 22, 23, 24, 25 are arranged for co-operation with the four connections, that may be in the form of apertures, at each opening 13 of the mounting plate 1. The number of connections 22-25 of each unit 19 corresponds with the number of channels 8-11 of the mounting plate 1. By means of the connections of the mounting plate 1 and connections 22-25 of the unit 19, the unit 19 will be connected to the channels 8-11 of the mounting plate 1. The con- nections 14-17, 22-25 will have different designs depending on what is received inside the actual channel 8-11. Of the channels 8-11 two channels, often the lower channels 8, 9, are used for fluids or gases and the other channels are used for wires, such as electrical wires. Thus, the connections 14-17, 22-25 of the mounting plate 1 and the connections 22-25 of the units 19 are designed for handling fluids, gases or wires. In the shown embodiment the unit 19 has a nozzle 26 arranged in the centre of the front side 21 of the unit, which nozzle 26 will be placed in an opening 13 of the mounting plate 1. Thus, the nozzle 26 will open on the front side of the mounting plate 1. In some embodiments one or more of the units 19 have two or even further nozzles. The nozzle 26 is placed in the centre of a protruding part 46. The protruding part 46 is circular and is to be received inside one of the openings 13 of the mounting plate 1. The protruding part 46 normally protrudes a distance which is equal or smaller than the thickness of the central part 3 of the mounting plate 1. The protruding part 46 assists in guarantying that the unit is placed properly with the nozzle 26 inside the opening 13 of the mounting plate 1. In the shown embodiment the protruding part 46, with the nozzle 26, is placed in the centre of the front side 21 of the unit 19.

In Figs. 3-8 a further example of a mounting plate 34 is shown with cooperating units 41. Parts corresponding with parts of the earlier embodiment of the mounting plate are given the same reference number. Here only parts differing from the earlier embodiments will be described in detail.

The shown mounting plate 34 has five longitudinal through channels 35-39, of which two channels 35, 36 are placed in the lower slanted part 4, while the other three channels 37, 38, 39 are placed in the upper slanted part 5. The two channels 35, 36 placed in the lower slanted part 4 have a circular cross-section form. The other three channels 37-39 have a drop-like cross-section form. On the rear side of the mounting plate 34 there are connections 31, 32, 33, 53, 54 to the channels 35-39. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, the connections 31, 32, 33, 53, 54 have the form of apertures. The apertures are placed in a row above and under each through opening 13 of the mounting plate 34. Each unit 41 has five connections 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, which are to co-operate with the connections 31, 32, 33, 53, 54 of the mounting plate 34. On the front side of the unit 41, that is the side facing the mounting plate 34, a rod 30 protrudes. The rod 30 is part of a fixation means and will be explained further below.

On the rear side of the mounting plate 34, i.e. the side receiving the units a rail 40 is formed at the top. The rail 40 extends longitudinally along all of the mounting plate 34. The rail 40 is to co-operate with a protrusion 42 on each unit 41 in fastening of the units 41 to the mounting plate 34. The protrusion 42 is arranged longitudinally at the top of each unit 41, extending all of the length of the unit 41. On the rear side of the mounting plate 34 there is a longitudinal recess 44 in the position of the central part 3. On the side of each unit 41 to be facing the rear side of the mounting plate 34 there is a protruding part 45 adapted to the shape of the recess 44 on the rear of the mounting plate 34. Each unit 41 is fixed to the mounting plate 34 by means of a fixation means, including a knob 43 acting on the rod 30, the end of which projects from the front side of the unit 41. When attaching a unit 41 to the mounting plate 34 the protrusion 42 of the unit 41 is placed on the rail 40 of the mounting plate 34, whereby the protrusion 42 encloses the rail 40. The unit 41 is then pressed against the mounting plate 34, whereby the protruding part 45 of the unit 41 is received in the recess 44 of the mounting plate 34. Then the unit is fixed to the mounting plate 34, in that the rod 30 is pressed against the mounting plate 34 by means of the knob 43. A person skilled in the art realises that the fixation of the units to a mounting plate may be accomplished in many different ways.

In one example the fixation means is arranged in such a way that by turning the knob 43 a first distance the unit is locked to the mounting plate 34, and by turning the knob 43 a further distance the connections between the unit and the channels are opened. Thereby, the risk of spillage is strongly reduced.

Depending on the actual field of use of the mounting plate and the units, drain holes (not shown) may be arranged. The drain holes are normally arranged in at least one of the lower and upper shields, if present.

Even though the following parts are described in connection with the second shown embodiment, it also applies in mutual way for the first shown embodiment. At each end of the mounting plate 34 an end part 27 is received, having openings for the channels 35-39 at respective end of the mounting plate 34. A rear edge and an upper and a lower edge of each end part 27 coincide with the edges of the rear side 2, the upper side 6 and the lower side 7, respectively, of the mounting plate 34. The front edge of each end part 27 is placed at a distance from the mounting plate 34. Thus, the end parts 27 projects forward from the mounting plate 34. In the groove 12 of the upper side 6 of the mounting plate 34 an upper shield 28 is received. In a corresponding way a lower shield 29 is placed in the groove 12 of the lower side 7 of the mounting plate 34. The shields 28, 29 go all the way between the end parts 27. Only one end part 27 is shown in Fig. 5, in illustrative purpose. The grooves 12 of the upper and lower sides 6, 7 of the mounting plate 34 have an inclination being such that the shields 28, 29 will be posi- tioned along the upper and lower edges of the end parts 27. The shields 28, 29 project a distance from the mounting plate 34 similar to the distance the end parts 27 project from the mounting plate 34. The shields 28, 29 and the end parts 27 are used as a protection against splashes or the like. Depending on the intended use the size and form of the shields 28, 29 and the end parts 27 may be varied. It is also possible to vary the angles of the grooves 12 receiving the shields 28, 29. In some embodiments there is only one shield, either the upper shield 28 or the lower shield 29, in which case the mounting plate 34 may have only one groove 12. Typically one shield is used in embodiments where only parts of the appliance receiving the mounting plate 34 need protection against splashes.

One or both the end parts 27 have five connections 47, 48, 49, 50, 51. Each connection 47-51 is connected to one of the channels 35-38 of the mounting plate 34 each. In embodiments where the mounting plate has another number of channels one or both end parts 27 will have a corresponding number of connections. It is also possible for one of the end parts 27 to have connections connected to a limited number of chan- nels, whereby the other end part 27 would have connections connected to the remaining channels. Depending on the intended use the connections 47-51 of the end parts 27 and the channels 35-38 of the mounting plate 34 are directed to be used for different purposes. As one example the lowermost channel 35 may be used for air, whereby the lowermost connection 50 will be adapted to receive a tube or the like connected to an air supply. The next channel 36 may be used for a fluid, for example a fountain solution in a printing press, in which case the connection 51 arranged for that channel 36 is connected to a reservoir of fountain solution by means of a pipe or tube. The upper three channels 37-39 may be used for different cables or wires. Thus, two channels may be used for cables for power supply to the units 41, while the third channel is used for ca- bles transferring control signals, measuring signals etc. between the units 41 and/or to a remote control unit. In this case the connections 47-49 are given a form adapted to the specific use.

The connections 14-18 of each unit 41 are adapted to the content of the channel 35-39 to which a specific connection 14-18 is to be connected. In a co-operating pair of apertures 31, 32, 33, 53, 54 of the mounting plate 34 and connections 14-18 of each unit 41, one is normally a male connection and one a female connection. Even though the connections 14-18 of the unit 41 are shown as male connections in other embodiments they are female connections. At least the connections of the mounting plate 34 used for fluids or gases should close automatically when a unit 41 is disconnected, to avoid spill- age. Also the connections 14-18 of a unit 41 may close automatically. Depending on intended use the units 41 may contain different parts or may be set in different ways. The units 41 may for instance include a valve arrangement directing fluid or gas from one channel 35-39 of the mounting plate 34 to the nozzle 26 of the unit 41.

In Fig. 8 one example of an assembly according to the invention is shown. The shown assembly comprises a mounting plate 34, a number of units 41, two end parts 27, an upper shield 28 and a lower shield 29. On at least one of the end parts 27 a number of connectors 47-51 are connected to the channels 35-39 of the mounting plate 34. The shown upper three connectors 47-49 are each connected to one channel 37-39 each of the upper slanted part 5 of the mounting plate 34. In a corresponding way the shown two lower connectors 50, 51 are each connected to one channel 35, 36 each of the lower slanted part 4 of the mounting plate 34. A mounting shaft 52 is attached to each end part 27, on the side directed away from the mounting plate 34. One end of the mounting shaft 52 is attached to the end part 27. Thus, the mounting shaft 52 will project from the end part 27. The mounting shafts 52 may be fixed to the end parts 27 in many different ways, such as by welding, mechanical fasteners, soldering and gluing. The mounting shafts 52 are used to attach the assembly to an appliance. Each mounting shaft 52 projects a distance from the end part 27, which distance is adapted to the appliance to which the assembly is to be attached. Even though the mounting shafts 52 are shown having a rectangular cross-section and being hollow, the mounting shafts may have any cross-section form and may be solid. Depending on the actual use the mounting shafts may for instance have a round, polygonal or quadratic cross-section.