BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a stirring assembly, particularly for use in modular apparatus for stirring the contents of a plurality of different inner volume tins.

As known, basic dye or paint tin stirring scaffold devices are usually designed for transmitting movement to a contents to be stirred of a tin, by a motion transmitting device which is connected with a horn or spout element arranged at a top portion of a stirring cover.

Such an apparatus is used, for example, for paint base dyes or coloring materials to be used in the car field, in which the target color is defined by a coloring formula comprising different mixed base color or dye materials, which must be perfectly homogenized by mixing.

An apparatus of the above type, which allows to perform stirring operations on any desired number of different contents paint tins, for example with a volume of from 0.5 to 4 liters, usually comprises an apparatus bed with a driving motor thereon are overlapped a plurality of stirring modules where the color or paint tins are arranged to be stirred.

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The stirring motor, through a pulley and a gear unit assembly, transmits a vertical motion to the stirring modules through driving shafts driving a plurality of gear wheels arranged on a horizontal plane of each module.

At the bottom portions of said gear wheels a pivot pin is provided, to which is coupled a rotary fan, which, as it is rotated, allows to engage or latch a fork element arranged at the top of the stirring covers .

Said stirring covers, clamped on to the paint tins or vessels to be stirred, comprise a central cover shaft, the bottom part of which, arranged inside the tin, comprises a plurality of stirring blades, whereas the top portion thereof, overlying the tin, ends with a U-shape fork element which, by contacting the fan, transmits rotary movement to underlying stirring blades .

To allow a user to stir discrete tin numbers, the modular system comprises modular system beds and modules of different widths: 760, 1125, 1500, 1850 and 2200 mm.

Thus, the plane of each tin module, provided for receiving 0.5/1 liter tins allows, to properly arrange 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 tins, depending on their width dimensions, whereas that of the modules for 2.5 and 4 liter tins will receive respective 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 tins .

To speed up the operation for assembling the modules on the bed and reducing the component number, some modules may comprise two or three supporting planes, depending on the commercially available paint requirements .

In particular, the tins, after coupling the stirring cover thereto, must be arranged on the module plane to be subjected to the stirring operations, and, accordingly, this arrangement must be very accurate at the stirring fan, and the tin positions must be held as stable as possible during the overall stirring operations .

Accordingly, it is very important that each stirring system has a specifically designed locating and latching mode of operation for each type of tins.

In this connection it should be pointed out that tins are commercially available which, while having a same contents capability, have different diameters, heights and base configurations.

Thus, it is also very important to design a stirring system which is very flexible from an operation standpoint, while always assuring the proper operating capabilities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide a paint tin stirring assembly, meeting the above requirements.

Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the invention is to provide such a system allowing to properly and firmly locate a paint tin on a dedicated stirring machine, while always holding the tin contents in a homogeneous condition.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a stirring assembly construction which, owing to its specifically designed features, is very reliable and safe in operation.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a stirring assembly, particularly for use in modular apparatus for stirring the contents of a plurality of different inner volume tins, characterized in that said stirring apparatus comprises a locating and latching device allowing to locate a tin to be stirred without any anchoring or location reference on a bottom bearing plane and allowing tins of different diameter and height to be located, a radial transmission element having vertical pivot pins and being arranged within an abutment element, said radial transmission element engaging with a top radial fin rotor which includes a plurality of latching and centering cavities at side wing portions thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not limitative, example in the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the stirring assembly according to the present invention used for 1 liter or 1/4 gallon tin modules, and specifically showing the locating and latching device therefor allowing paint tins having different diameters from 106 mm to 115 mm and 0.5 liters to be easily latched and stirred;

Figure 2 is a perspective view, similar to figure 1, showing the stirring assembly according to the present invention, used for larger height tin modules, and specifically showing a mode of using the locating and latching device for different diameter- paint tins having a width which may vary depending on the 2.5 liter to 3-3.5 liter or 1 gallon tins;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the stirring assembly according to the present invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing in a more detailed manner the tin locating and latching or locking device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures, the stirring assembly according to the present invention, which has been generally indicated by the reference number 100, comprises a tin locating and latching or locking device 101, clearly shown in figure 4, allowing to properly locate or arrange paint tins 16 to be stirred, without any anchoring or clamping reference on the bottom bearing plane 13 and allowing tins of different diameters and heights to be stirred.

As schematically shown in figure 1, for 1 liter or 1/4 gallon tins, the latching device 101 allows to stir and latch paint tins 16 having different diameters from 106 mm to 115 mm and also a 0.5 liter volume.

As shown in figure 2, for larger height tin modules, the locating and latching device 101 allows to stir and firmly arrange paint tins 16 having different diameters and heights which may vary depending on the tin contents capability, from 2.5 liters to 3-3.5 liters or 1 gallon.

A radial transmitting element 1, including vertically arranged pins 20, is located within an abutment element 2 and engages with a radially extending wing top rotor 3, having latching and centering cavities 33 on its side wings.

The transmitting or driving element 1, with its vertically arranged pins 20, comprises a hexagonal cavity and is arranged or engaged on a hexagonal stirring shaft 4 thereby assuring a perfect anti-rotary connection with the stirring shaft, and, upon having performed a set height adjustment operation, being clamped to said stirring shaft by a clamping dowel 5.

The location reference element 2 is anchored to the top transmission plane 6 through a key plug in element 17, and being then firmly connected to a counter-plate 14 by means of a self-threading screw 7.

A plurality of centering marks 30 on the counter-plate provide a safe connection for the rotary movement of the gear elements 9.

The key plug-in assembly or element 17 operates moreover for housing the locating element 2 therein is engaged a restraining metal rod 8 to be arranged on the right side of the stirring cover 15, thereby preventing the tin 16 from rotating. The top radially extending fin rotor 3, therein the two latching and centering cavities 33 are formed, is coupled to the gears 9 transmitting movement to the radial wing rotor 3 and being coupled to the latter by a hexagonal pin 10 having a perforated top end portion for housing therein a steel material peg 11 allowing the rotor to be swingably moved to either locate or withdraw the stirring vessel 13 with the machine either in a rest or operating condition.

The steel peg 11 rigidly coupling the radial wing or fin rotor 3 and the hexagonal pin 10 is restrained, to prevent it from disengaging from its seat, by a self-threading screw 12 arranged at the end portion of the radial wing rotor 3.

According to the present invention, the fork cylindric base is arranged in the recess of the device and clamped to the top portion of the module.

Then, a proper stability and coaxial arrangement between the cover shaft and fan will be assured by two asymmetrical cavities formed in the fan and operating as a guide for a respective fork vertical pin.

A further nail element, arranged at the rear portion of the locating device, tangentially crosses the right side of the cover spout so as to operate as a detent element for preventing any undesired rotary movement of the tin as the contents of the latter is stirred .

It has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.

In fact, the invention has provided a stirring assembly including a locating and latching device, inclu cl nCj pins 2 u 3. n cl 3. JT 3. cl 13. X w i n cj O IT f in z ¹ ot o IT 3 which, by engaging the cover, prevents any undesired effects due to the configuration of the underlying tin from occurring.

In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as the contingent size and shapes, can be any, depending on requirements.