Abstract: Assembly for dispensing a liquid, in particular a colorant for paint, comprising a container for holding a liquid, a pump, a valve, at least one dispense opening, and comprising or associated with a controller arranged to operate the pump and the valve to withdraw liquid from the container and to dispense liquid via the opening and to operate the pump and the valve to purge liquid from the pump to the container via the dispense opening.

Abstract: Liquid dispenser and method for operating such a liquid dispenser, such as a dispenser for tinting pastes. The dispenser comprises at least one liquid container and at least one reciprocating pump. First, a suction stroke is carried out at a set pump speed. After the suction stroke, the pump is closed off. Then, a pressure stroke is started while the pump is closed.

Abstract: Liquid dispenser and method for operating such a liquid dispenser, such as a dispenser for tinting pastes. The dispenser comprises at least one liquid container and at least one reciprocating pump. First, a suction stroke is carried out at a set pump speed. After the suction stroke, the pump is closed off. Then, a pressure stroke is started while the pump is closed.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a plurality of liquids, in particular colorants for paints, comprising a support, such as a turntable or a linear table, defining a plurality of positions and a plurality of containers holding a liquid, mounted on the support at the positions, and provided with a pump and/or a valve for dispensing the liquid from the container. At least some of the containers form, together with a respective liquid and pump and/or valve, a cartridge, which cartridge is releasably mounted in the apparatus.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing tinting pastes comprising cleaning means for neutralizing microorganisms and/or preservatives. The cleaning means may for example include an actinic source (e.g., UV-C) and/or anti-microbiological coatings or liners and/or a dosing unit for agents neutralizing preservatives in the tinting paste and/or in the useds base paint.

Abstract: A mechanism for clamping a container, the clamping mechanism comprising a support structure on which a first clamping member and an opposing second clamping member defining an adjustable clamping distance therebetween are mounted, at least one of the first and second clamping member being controllably moveable to increase or decrease the clamping distance by an electrical actuator means, which electrical actuator means is controllable by a control means. A resilient compression means is mounted outside of the clamping distance and wherein the control means is configured to measure, in operation, an electrical characteristic of the electrical actuator means during a compression of the resilient compression means by at least one of the first and second clamping member. The mechanism also pertains to a fluid mixer for paints, colourants and the like, comprising such a clamping mechanism and to a method for calibrating a clamping mechanism.

Abstract: A container (1) for a viscous liquid, in particular a colorant for paint, may comprise a stirrer (2) having a rotatable shaft (3) and a plurality of paddles (4) connected to the shaft (3). At least one of the paddles (4) and/or the connections (5) between the paddles (4) and the shaft (4) is flexible.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of fluids, comprising a plurality of fluid containers and a carrier on which a plurality of pumps is mounted. Each one of said plurality of fluid containers is releasably connectable to an associated pump of said plurality of pumps via a connector assembly thereby forming a fluid connection between the fluid container and the associated pump. The connector assembly comprising a first connector to the associated pump and a mating second connector to the respective fluid container and wherein at least one of said plurality of fluid containers comprises a refill opening for refilling the fluid container.

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.

Abstract: Assembly for dispensing a liquid, in particular a colorant for paint, comprising a container for holding a liquid, a pump, a valve, at least one dispense opening, and comprising or associated with a controller arranged to operate the pump and the valve to withdraw liquid from the container and to dispense liquid via the opening and to operate the pump and the valve to purge liquid from the pump to the container via the dispense opening.

Abstract: Method of homogenizing a liquid, in particular a colorant for paint, in a container, comprising the steps of withdrawing liquid from the container at a first flow speed (S1) and then returning the liquid to the container at a second flow speed (S2), higher than the first flow speed (S1).

Abstract: A valve assembly for a dispenser for fluids including: a housing having at least an inlet opening and an outlet opening and a further opening connected or connectable to a fluid displacement mechanism, and a valve member including two parts translatably disposed within the housing, a first part for closing and opening the inlet and a second part for opening and closing the outlet.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser comprising a fluid container and a metering unit is disclosed. The container comprises a fluid level sensor and the dispenser comprises a control unit configured to determine a parameter value representative for an amount of fluid in the container after refill on basis of a signal from the sensor. The sensor can for example be configured to generate a signal at a predefined fluid level (B, C), while the control unit is configured to calculate a fluid level on basis of an input value indicative of the fluid level (A) after refill, and a dispense value indicative of amounts of fluid dispensed since the latest refill. The control unit can be configured to compare the signalled predefined fluid level (B, C) with the calculated fluid level to generate a correction factor.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a plurality of fluids, comprising a support, such as a turntable or a linear table, a plurality of containers for holding a fluid and mounted on the support, pumps and valves connected to respective containers, at least a common actuator for sequentially operating the pumps and a common actuator for sequentially operating the valves to dispense fluid and a drive mechanism for moving the support, and thus the containers, pumps, and valves on the one hand and the actuator on the other relative to each other. The common actuators for sequentially operating the pumps and valves and optionally the drive mechanism for relative motion of the support are integrated in a module, which module is releasably mounted in the apparatus.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser comprising a fluid container and a metering unit is disclosed. The container comprises a fluid level sensor and the dispenser comprises a control unit configured to determine a parameter value representative for an amount of fluid in the container after refill on basis of a signal from the sensor. The sensor can for example be configured to generate a signal at a predefined fluid level (B, C), while the control unit is configured to calculate a fluid level on basis of an input value indicative of the fluid level (A) after refill, and a dispense value indicative of amounts of fluid dispensed since the latest refill. The control unit can be configured to compare the signalled predefined fluid level (B, C) with the calculated fluid level to generate a correction factor.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a plurality of fluids, comprising a support, such as a turntable or a linear table, a plurality of containers for holding a fluid and mounted on the support, pumps and valves connected to respective containers, at least a common actuator for sequentially operating the pumps and a common actuator for sequentially operating the valves to dispense fluid and a drive mechanism for moving the support, and thus the containers, pumps, and valves on the one hand and the actuator on the other relative to each other. The common actuators for sequentially operating the pumps and valves and optionally the drive mechanism for relative motion of the support are integrated in a module, which module is releasably mounted in the apparatus.

Abstract: A grinding apparatus for dispensing a dose of ground frozen material starting from a frozen block includes a grinding unit for grinding the frozen block in order to provide an amount of ground frozen material and a feeding unit for feeding the frozen block to the grinding unit. In particular, the feeding unit includes a feeding member that is adapted for moving frozen block for a desired predetermined grinding stroke against grinding unit such that a grinding length of block is ground. A grinding unit provides at least one grater and one motor for causing the grater to rotate. In order to obtain a desired weight of the dose, a volume of frozen material is calculated that corresponds to said weight, since the density of the frozen material is known.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a plurality of fluids, includes a support, such as a turntable or a linear table, a plurality of containers for holding a fluid and mounted on the support, pumps and valves connected to respective containers, at least one common actuator for sequentially operating the pumps and valves to dispense fluid and a drive mechanism for moving the support, and thus the containers, pumps, and valves on the one hand and the actuator on the other relative to each other. The common actuator for sequentially operating the pumps and valves and the drive mechanism for relative motion of the support are integrated in a module, the module is releasably mounted in the apparatus.

Abstract: A grinding apparatus for dispensing a dose of ground frozen material starting from a frozen block. The apparatus comprises a grinding unit, for grinding the frozen block in order to provide an amount of ground frozen material and a feeding unit for feeding the frozen block to the grinding unit. In particular, the feeding unit comprises a feeding member that is adapted for moving frozen block for a desired predetermined grinding stroke against grinding unit such that a grinding length of block is ground. A grinding unit provides at least one grater and one motor for causing the grater to rotate. In order to obtain a desired weight of the dose, a volume of frozen material is calculated that corresponds to said weight, since the density of the frozen material is known.