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 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: An improved dispensing system and dispensing routine for multiple ingredient formulas is disclosed. The system includes a controller linked to an actuator, a scale and, a means for imparting movement to a plurality of pumps or conveyors and containers for dispensing the plurality of ingredients. After a formula is selected, the controller acts to at least partially load the pump with the first of said ingredients, reads the scale to account for the weight of the receptacle, calculates the motion of the pump required to dispense the target amount of said first ingredient, and either executes a percentage or portion of the motion of the pump required to dispense the target amount of said first ingredient, leaving a remaining amount or a safety factor in the form of a previously determined <maximum overshoot> value.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for accurately determining the position of a tool, for example an earthmoving bucket, mounted at the end of an arm which has a plurality of pivot points and is pivotally attached to the base of a machine, for example a piece of construction equipment like the platform of an excavator or other earthmoving machine. The present apparatus includes a plurality of reflectors mounted on the machine for indicating movement of the arm and the tool. Each reflector is operatively adapted for reflecting light back toward a light source. A light transceiver is mounted on the machine in a known relationship to the reflectors. The light transceiver is operatively adapted for transmitting a beam of light to illuminate each of the reflectors, thereby generating reflective light. The light transceiver detects the reflective light and the angular orientation of the reflective light it detects.