Multi-container dyeing machine with individual container temperature control and quantitative chemical-feeding control

Abstract

A multi-container dyeing machine includes a machine frame base, a heating and cooling module having multiple temperature-controlled heating and cooling devices each consisting of a housing, a container, a heating unit, a temperature sensor, a transmission wheel and an electric fan and a mounting plate mounted in the machine frame base to carry the temperature-controlled heating and cooling devices, an automatic quantitative feeder for selectively feeding an auxiliary agent to the containers of the temperature-controlled heating and cooling devices selectively without interrupting the machine and a swinging mechanism controllable to tilt the mounting plate of heating and cooling module and the temperature-controlled heating and cooling devices.

1 . A multi-container dyeing machine, comprising:
 a machine frame base having opposing first sidewall and second sidewall; and   at least one heating and cooling module mounted in said machine frame base, each said heating and cooling module comprising a mounting plate coupled between the opposing first sidewall and second sidewall of said machine frame base and a plurality of temperature-controlled heating and cooling devices mounted on said mounting plate, each said temperature-controlled heating and cooling device comprising a housing, a container, a heating unit, a temperature sensor, a transmission wheel and an electric fan, said heating unit, said temperature sensor and said electric fan being electrically connected together, said housing being mounted on said mounting plate, said container being set in said housing, said container comprising a chamber, a feeding port in communication between said chamber and the space outside said container and a recessed portion in communication between said chamber and the space outside said container, said heating unit being mounted in a bottom side inside said housing and adapted for heating said container, said temperature sensor being inserted through said recessed portion into said chamber and adapted for sensing the temperature in said chamber, said transmission wheel being connected with said container and coupled to an external drive means through a belt for rotating said container upon operation of said external drive means, said electric fan being mounted on said mounting plate and controllable to cool down said container.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-container dyeing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said container is provided with a hollow wheel cover, said hollow wheel cover being joined to one end of said container; said feeding port has one end thereof inserted through the center of said wheel cover so that said container is rotatable with said hollow wheel cover relative to said feeding port; said transmission wheel comprises a shaft and a wheel said shaft being fixedly connected to the center of one side of said wheel, said wheel being disposed inside said housing in mesh with said wheel cover such that said shaft and said wheel are driven to rotate said hollow wheel cover and said container synchronously when said external drive means is started up to rotate said transmission wheel. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-container dyeing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said housing has one side thereof covered with an openable cover. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-container dyeing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said housing is provided with a handle operable to open said openable cover. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-container dyeing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one automatic quantitative feeder respectively and movably mounted on the mounting plate of said at least one heating and cooling module for selectively feeding an auxiliary agent to the containers of said temperature-controlled heating and cooling devices. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-container dyeing machine as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said automatic quantitative feeder comprises a pumping device, a link belt and a dispensing nozzle, said pumping device being mounted on the mounting plate of one said heating and cooling module and adapted for pumping an auxiliary agent to said dispensing nozzle for output, said link belt being mounted on the mounting plate of the respective heating and cooling module for moving said pumping device into alignment with one said temperature-controlled heating and cooling device of the respective heating and cooling module selectively for enabling said pumping device to pump the auxiliary agent through the feeding port into the container of the selected temperature-controlled heating and cooling device via said dispensing nozzle. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-container dyeing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a swinging mechanism mounted on said machine frame base and coupled with the mounting plate of each said heating and cooling module and controllable to tilt the respective heating and cooling modules. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-container dyeing machine as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said machine frame base comprises a plurality of through holes symmetrically located on said first sidewall and said second sidewall; the mounting plate of each said heating and cooling module comprises a locating groove located on a bottom side thereof; said swinging mechanism comprises a set of eccentric wheels, a set of second links, a set of third links, a transmission shaft, a gear wheel, a motor and a lower locating rod, each said second link having one end thereof hinged to one said eccentric wheel and an opposite end thereof hinged one said third link, each said third link having one end thereof connected to said lower locating rod, said lower locating rod being inserted through one respective through hole on each of the opposite first sidewall and second sidewall of said machine frame base and coupled to the locating groove of the mounting plate of one said heating and cooling module, said transmission shaft being connected with said eccentric wheels, said gear wheel being mounted on said transmission shaft and rotatable by the motor said swinging mechanism such that rotating said gear wheel by the motor of said swinging mechanism causes rotation of said eccentric wheels with said transmission shaft for causing said second links to move said third links and said lower locating rod in carrying said heating and cooling modules to one of a forwardly tilted position, a horizontal position and a backwardly tilted position. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-container dyeing machine as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising at least one automatic quantitative feeder respectively and movably mounted on the mounting plate of said at least one heating and cooling module for selectively feeding an auxiliary agent to the chamber of the container of one said temperature-controlled heating and cooling device. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-container dyeing machine as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said swinging mechanism comprises a motor, a transmission member, an eccentric member, a set of swinging plates, at least one rod member and a rack, said rod member being transversely connected between the topmost edge of each of two opposite upright lateral sides of said rack, said swinging plates being respectively pivotally connected to two distal ends of said rod member, said transmission member being rotatable by the motor of said swinging mechanism to rotate said eccentric member, said eccentric member being adapted for causing said swinging plates to swing upon rotation of said transmission member, said swinging plates being joined with the mounting plate of each said heating and cooling modules for moving said temperature-controlled heating and cooling devices to one of a forwardly tilted position, a horizontal position and a backwardly tilted position. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-container dyeing machine as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of automatic quantitative feeders for selectively feeding an auxiliary agent to the containers of said temperature-controlled heating and cooling devices, wherein said swinging mechanism is mounted inside said machine frame base and coupled with said heating and cooling modules and said automatic quantitative feeders symmetrically.