Abstract: A dispensing tool will mix and dispense viscous material having first and second parts or constituents. The tool has a handheld elongated tube with a nozzle on one end. A blender is located adjacent the nozzle. The first constituent is located within a chamber in the tube. The second constituent is located in a reservoir mounted to the tube. The blender has an inlet receiving first and second constituents and a rotary member for mixing the constituents and delivering them through an outlet to the nozzle. A piston driven by a wheel delivers the first constituent to the blender. The wheel rotates when the nozzle end of the tube is advanced along an application surface, causing the piston to move and the blender to rotate. A pump, also driven by the wheel, supplies a second constituent from the reservoir to the blender.

Abstract: An automated interior finishing apparatus has an upper section for mixing material, and a lower section for conveying the material. The upper section has a mixing compartment and a separate washing/storage compartment. Each compartment has a hinged lid that forms an air-tight seal. The mixing compartment has a shaft with an auger for mixing compound with water. The lower section has a motor for driving a progressive cavity pump, which receives mixed material from the mixing compartment. The pump delivers a smooth and uniform supply of material through an external supply hose. The apparatus is used as one component of an overall automated interior finishing system and method for completing surface finishes. For example, one end of the supply hose is connected to the outlet end of the pump for delivering mixed material to a hand tool at the opposite end, such as a flat taper.

Abstract: A tape and wallboard compound dispenser is a handheld unit that has a separate compound channel and tape channel, both of which terminate slightly rearward of a blade located on the forward end of the unit. The unit has a housing with a compartment for containing a roll of tape. A flexible strap is mounted to the side of the housing to provide a loop for insertion of a hand of a user to carry the dispenser. In a manual mode, a single lever controls flow of compound from a pump to the compound channel as well as severing the tape at the end of the stroke. The lever has an off position that shuts off flow of compound to the compound channel. It has an on position that allows flow of compound to the compound channel. It has a cutting position that actuates a cutting mechanism to cut the tape and simultaneously to shut off flow of compound to the compound channel.

Abstract: A tape and compound dispenser for wall surfaces automatically matches the delivery of the compound to the feed of the tape. The system has a compartment or tank that contains compound. A pump supplies compound from the tank through a flexible conduit to an applicator, which dispenses tape and compound. A sensor measures the rate of speed of the tape as it is being dispensed and provides a signal to a controller. The controller will vary the flow rate by varying the speed of the motor that drives the pump. An auger is rotated within the tank for prefeeding compound to the pump as well as for mixing compound.

Abstract: A dispensing system for dispensing wall board compound has a tank on wheels. A helical mixing blade is located in the tank. The tank has an open top and a lid. A sensor detects when the lid is open. The sensor is connected to a controller which in turn controls the motor that rotates the mixing blade. A primary mixing switch will cause the motor to rotate the mixing blade unless the sensor detects that the top is open. A pair of override switches are available for overriding the sensor and causing the motor to rotate the blade even though the lid is open. Both override switches must be physically held in the on position for the mixing motor to remain on. The override switches are spaced apart so that two hands are required to hold them in the on position. This allows the user to observe the mixing while the lid is open.

Abstract: A system for cleaning both the exterior and the interior of drywall tools uses a standard bucket, a metal frame, and a set of brushes. The brushes are rigidly mounted to the frame, and the brush/frame assembly is placed inside the bucket. The system also has a foot-actuated pump having a supply hose that mounts to the bucket and a delivery hose that mounts to a tool to be cleaned. The system is used to clean both the exterior surfaces of the soiled tool and its interior chambers. The bucket is filled with water and the delivery hose is attached to an inlet port of the tool. The tool is lowered into the bucket and scrubbed against the brushes to clean the exterior of the tool. Simultaneously, the pump is actuated by the user to force water through the tool to clean compound out of its interior chambers.

Abstract: An automated interior finishing system utilizes an apparatus having an upper section for mixing material, and a lower section for conveying the material. The upper section has a mixing compartment and a separate washing/storage compartment. Each compartment has a hinged lid that forms an air-tight seal. The mixing compartment has a shaft with an auger for mixing compound with water. The lower section has a motor for driving a progressive cavity pump, which receives mixed material from the mixing compartment. The pump delivers a smooth and uniform supply of material through an external supply hose. The apparatus is used as one component of an overall automated interior finishing system and method for completing surface finishes. For example, one end of the supply hose is connected to the outlet end of the pump for delivering mixed material to a hand tool at the opposite end, such as a flat taper.

Abstract: An automated interior finishing apparatus has an upper section for mixing material, and a lower section for conveying the material. The upper section has a mixing compartment and a separate washing/storage compartment. Each compartment has a hinged lid that forms an air-tight seal. The mixing compartment has a shaft with an auger for mixing compound with water. The lower section has a motor for driving a progressive cavity pump, which receives mixed material from the mixing compartment. The pump delivers a smooth and uniform supply of material through an external supply hose. The apparatus is used as one component of an overall automated interior finishing system and method for completing surface finishes. For example, one end of the supply hose is connected to the outlet end of the pump for delivering mixed material to a hand tool at the opposite end, such as a flat taper.

Abstract: A tape and wallboard compound dispenser is a handheld unit that has a separate compound channel and tape channel, both of which terminate slightly rearward of a blade located on the forward end of the unit. The unit has a housing with a compartment for containing a roll of tape. A flexible strap is mounted to the side of the housing to provide a loop for insertion of a hand of a user to carry the dispenser. In a manual mode, a single lever controls flow of compound from a pump to the compound channel as well as severing the tape at the end of the stroke. The lever has an off position that shuts off flow of compound to the compound channel. It has an on position that allows flow of compound to the compound channel. It has a cutting position that actuates a cutting mechanism to cut the tape and simultaneously to shut off flow of compound to the compound channel.