Dedoes Industries, Inc.

John T Dedoes

Richard J Powers

Nancy D Amberger

An improvement in automatic paint stirring equipment is disclosed of the type having a rack adapted to removably receive and support a plurality of paint cans. Each paint can includes a cover, a stirring element contained within the can and a driven member positioned above the cover and mechanically connected to the stirring element. The driven member is rotatable about a predetermined axis and includes two upwardly extending pins spaced apart from each other by a preset distance. A drive shaft is rotatably mounted to the rack and rotatably driven by a motor about a generally vertical axis. A drive member is secured to the lower end of the shaft and rotates in unison with the shaft. The improved drive member includes two outer legs and a central leg. Each leg is substantially planar and the outer legs intersect the central leg at an obtuse angle such that the outer legs are substantially parallel to each other. Furthermore, the central leg is dimensioned so that the intersections of the outer legs with the central leg are spaced apart from each other by a distance substantially equal to the distance between the pins on the driven members.

Drive member for automatic paint stirring equipment

Automatic paint stirring equipment having a rack with a plurality of vertically spaced drive units wherein each drive unit has an interior. A closed loop belt is rotatably mounted within the interior of each drive unit and this belt has longitudinally spaced teeth on one side of it. A motor rotatably drives the drive belts in the drive units in unison with each other. The shelves support one or more paint cans in a side by side relationship with each can having a cover disposed across its open top. A stirring element is disposed within the interior of the paint can while a shaft is connected to the stirring element and rotatably mounted to the cover so that a portion of the shaft protrudes upwardly from the cover. A gear wheel is coaxially secured to the upwardly protruding portion of the shaft. A guide assembly is secured to the rack and engages the drive shaft to guide the drive shaft between an engaged position, in which the gear wheel on the drive shaft meshingly engages the drive belt from the drive unit, and a disengaged position in which the paint can with its attached cover is removed from the rack for use.

Automatic paint stirring equipment with improved driving means

An improved frame is disclosed for automatic paint stirring equipment of the type which stirs cans of paint in a side-by-side relationship. Each can includes a cover having a stirring element rotatably mounted to the cover and a driven member secured to the stirring element. The improved frame includes a plurality of substantially identical drive assemblies wherein each drive assembly includes a drive mechanism for engaging and rotatably driving the drive members on the paint can covers. Each drive assembly furthermore includes an elongated planar top having two ends and which forms a shelf for supporting the paint cans. At least one, and preferably two, connectors are secured to each end of each drive assembly. Each connector has an upper and lower cylindrical portion which extend respectively above and below its associated drive assembly. A plurality of elongated tubular cylindrical supports then secure the drive assemblies together in a spaced apart and parallel relationship. The lower end of each support slidably receives the upper cylindrical of one connector while, similarly, the upper end of each support slidably receives the lower cylindrical portion of the connector on the next higher drive assembly. A pin and channel arrangement between the supports and the connectors releasably locks the supports and connectors together.

Frame for automatic paint stirring equipment

A cover assembly as provided for a paint can having an open top and a tubular cylindrical sidewall. The cover assembly includes a lid dimensioned to overlie the open top of a paint can and having a spout for dispensing paint from the can. A closure assembly is also provided for selectably opening and closing the spout, and a paint stirrer is rotatably secured to the lid. An annular skirt extends downwardly from the lid and includes a portion which overlies the sidewall when the lid is positioned on top of the can. The skirt is compressed against the sidewall by a locking mechanism to thereby attach the lid to the can. A removable closure cover is provided for both the portion of the closure overlying the spout as well as a spout cover which overlies both the spout and the adjacent portion of the lid.

Paint can cover assembly

Automatic paint stirring equipment of the type having a rack adapted to removably receive and support a plurality of paint cans in which each paint can includes a cover having a paint stiffing assembly mounted to the cover with a paddle inside the can and a driven member positioned above the cover. A plurality of drive assemblies are also provided wherein each drive assembly includes a drive shaft rotatably mounted to the rack having a drive member secured to its lower end which mechanically engages the driven member on the paint can cover. A pulley is secured to the other end of the drive shaft while a motor rotatably drives the pulley via an endless belt. The paint stirring equipment includes an improved bushing for rotatably mounting the drive shafts to the rack. This improved bushing includes a one-piece housing having an axial throughbore adapted to receive the drive shaft therethrough. A flange is provided at one end of the bushing while a bayonet coupling is provided at the other end of the bushing. Upon insertion of the bayonet coupling through a like-shaped bayonet opening in the rack and rotation of the bushing to a locked position, a portion of the rack is entrapped between the bayonet coupling and the flange. Preferably, the bushing is of a one-piece plastic construction.

Automatic paint stirring equipment with improved bushing

An improved drive mechanism is provided for use with automatic paint stirring equipment of the type having a rack adapted to removably receive and support paint cans wherein each paint can has a cover, a stirring element contained within the can and a driven member positioned above the cover and mechanically connected to the stirring element. The improved drive mechanism includes a drive shaft having a diametric cross bore at a position spaced from the first end of the shaft. A diametrically extending opening extends from the cross bore to the first end of the shaft and this opening has a smaller cross-sectional area than the shaft cross bore. The shaft is rotatably mounted to the rack so that the first end of the shaft is positioned adjacent the driven member on the paint can. A drive member is then secured to the first end of the shaft which drivingly engages the driven member on the paint can during rotation of the shaft. This drive member has an axle and a drive plate secured to the axle. Additionally, the axle includes a diametrically extending through slot dimensioned so that, upon inward compression of the axle causing reduction in the size of the size of the slot, the axle has a cross-sectional shape smaller than the shaft opening so that the axle is slidable through the shaft opening and to the shaft cross bore. With the axle positioned in the crossbore, the slot expands such that the axle has a cross-sectional shape greater than the shaft opening thereby securing the axle to the shaft.

Automatic paint stirring equipment of the type having a rack adapted to removably receive and support a plurality of paint cans in which each paint can includes a cover having a paint stirring assembly mounted to the cover with a paddle inside the can and a driven member positioned above the cover. A plurality of drive assemblies are also provided wherein each drive assembly includes a drive shaft rotatably mounted to the rack and having a drive member secured to a lower end of the drive shaft which mechanically drivably engages the driven member on the paint can cover. A pulley is secured to the other end of the drive shaft while a flexible endless belt is positioned around the pulley as well as the output from a motor. The paint stirring equipment includes an improved idler wheel having a cylindrical outer surface and which is constructed of a plastic material. One idler wheel is secured to the rack between every other drive pulley so that an outer surface of the idler wheel engages and tensions the endless belt.

Paint stirring equipment with improved idler wheel

A cover assembly is provided for a paint can. The cover assembly includes a lid which is dimensioned to overlie the open top of the paint can and the lid includes a spout for dispensing paint from the can. Locking feet detachably secure the lid to the paint can chime. The cover assembly further includes a stirring assembly having an elongated shaft which extends through the lid so that a lower end of the shaft is positioned within the interior of the paint can while an upper end of the shaft extends upwardly above the lid. A paddle is secured to the lower end of the shaft so that rotation of the shaft stirs the paint within the paint can. A driven member is secured to the upper end of the shaft and this driven member cooperates with a drive mechanism in a paint can rack. Furthermore, a resilient locking dog is mounted to the driven member which cooperates with transversely extending and axially spaced slots formed along the drive shaft. The cooperation between the locking dog and the shaft slot enables the driven member to be axially manually adjusted by the user and, when positioned to its adjusted actual position, the locking dog locks the driven member to the shaft against axial movement.

A cover assembly for a paint can having an open top and an inwardly extending chime is disclosed. The cover assemble includes a lid dimensioned to overlie the open top of the can and the lid has a spout for dispensing the contents of the can. Similarly, a paint stirrer is connected to the lid and extends downwardly into the paint can when the lid is secured to the paint can. A pair of locking feet are also provided detachably securing the lid to the paint can and each locking foot includes an elongated shank pivotally mounted to the lid and a laterally outwardly extending portion which extends under the paint can chime thus locking the lid to the paint can. Each locking foot, furthermore, includes a metallic inner core and an outer sheath constructed of a material which is non-oxidizable by water.

A paint can lid is disclosed which is particularly suited for automatic stirring machines. The lid includes a body which is dimensioned to cover to open top of the can while locking feet removably secure the body to the can. A pouring spout is formed to the body for dispensing paint from the can and this pouring spout has a generally flat upper surface with an opening formed through it. The lid further includes a closure which is adapted to overlie and cover the pouring spout while an operating lever selectively moves the closure between an open and a closed position. The operating lever is selectively connected to the closure so that, upon actuation of the operating lever, the lever alternatively moves the closure between a closed position and an upwardly pivoted open position or, alternatively, a closed position and a radially inwardly retracted position.

Lid with selectable type of spout closure

A cover assembly is disclosed for a paint can having an open top. The cover assembly includes a lid dimensioned to over-lie the open top of the paint can having a spout attached along one side of the lid to provide access to the contents of the paint can. A closure selectively opens and closes the spout while locking tabs detachably lock the lid across the top of the can. With the lid secured to the top of the can, a paint stir extends down into the interior of the can to continually mix the paint. The lid and spout are constructed of a material which does not react to water-based paint.

The present invention provides an adapter for use inconjunction with a paint can having an opening at one end and an inwardly extending rim adjacent the open end of the can. A continuous groove is provided around the rim and this groove has a preset width and a preset depth. The adapter includes an annular body which is dimensioned to be insertable into the can groove and to form a seal between the adapter and the paint can rim. The precise dimension of the body may vary between different can manufacturers. An annular channel is provided around an outwardly facing side of the body and this channel is adapted to receive and sealing engage a sealing flange on a standardized lid for the can.

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Brighton, MI, United States of America

John T Dedoes