Driving head for stirrer cans

Abstract

A driving head for a stirrer can is provided. The stirrer can includes a cover with a rotatable plate having upwardly projecting fingers and further includes a stirrer inside the stirrer can. The driving head is mounted beneath a hollow shelf, includes a driven shaft and a blade fixedly connected to the driven shaft. The blade engages the fingers for driving the stirrer inside the stirrer can. A swan-neck shaped body having an upper portion, connected to the shelf, and a lower portion is provided. The lower portion of the body comprises a grip for engaging the rotatable plate of the stirrer can. The driven shaft projects through the upper portion of the body. A device for preventing rotation of the stirrer can is provided.

1. A driving head for a stirrer can, the stirrer can comprising a cover with a rotatable plate having upwardly projecting fingers and further comprising a stirrer inside the stirrer can, said driving head mounted beneath a hollow shelf and comprising:
 a driven shaft;  
 a blade fixedly connected to said driven shaft;  
 said blade engaging the fingers for driving the stirrer inside the stirrer can;  
 a swan-neck shaped body having an upper portion connected to the shelf and a lower portion;  
 said lower portion of said body comprising a grip for engaging the rotatable plate of the stirrer can;  
 said driven shaft projecting through said upper portion of said body; and  
 means for preventing rotation of the stirrer can by engaging a portion of the cover of the stirrer can after placement of the stirrer can on a shelf below the hollow shelf to which said body is connected.  
 
     
     
       2. A driving head according to  claim 1 , further comprising anti-friction means positioned between said grip and the rotatable plate. 
     
     
       3. A driving head according to  claim 1 , wherein said body comprises a protecting hub of a substantially circular shape positioned closely above said blade. 
     
     
       4. A driving head according to  claim 3 , further comprising a drive pulley connected to said driven shaft, said drive pulley positioned within the hollow shelf, wherein said hub comprises a sleeve and a bearing member mounted in said sleeve and wherein said driven shaft is guided in said bearing member. 
     
     
       5. A driving head according to  claim 3 , further comprising a spindle connected to an end of said shaft below said hub, said blade pivotably connected to said spindle, said blade having a bottom portion with a concave cutout to prevent wedging the fingers of an operator. 
     
     
       6. A driving head according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for preventing rotation of the stirrer can is a pivotable stirrup connected to said body. 
     
     
       7. A driving head according to  claim 6 , wherein said body comprises a bearing member and wherein said stirrup is connected to said bearing member, said stirrup comprising a yoke with studs for connecting said stirrup to said bearing member. 
     
     
       8. A driving head according to  claim 1 , wherein said grip has means for supporting the cover and the stirrer can. 
     
     
       9. A driving head according to claims  8 , wherein said grip has a U-shape with two legs, wherein said means for supporting are lugs connected to the bottom side of said grip at said two legs, wherein said lugs project from said two legs inwardly into said U-shape. 
     
     
       10. A driving head according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover has a bottom portion and wherein the hollow shelf has a grip support for engaging the bottom portion of the cover. 
     
     
       11. A stirrer can for cooperation with a driving head mounted beneath a shelf, said stirrer can comprising:
 a can container;  
 a cover for closing said can container;  
 a rotatable plate mounted on said cover;  
 said rotatable plate having upwardly projecting fingers;  
 a stirrer connected to said rotatable plate and positioned inside said can container;  
 said fingers engaged by the driving head when said stirrer can is positioned on a shelf beneath the hollow shelf on which the stirrer head is mounted;  
 a spring with a first and a second end;  
 said stirrer comprising a shaft and a stirring screw at an end of said shaft remote from said cover;  
 said spring coaxially placed on said shaft and supported with said first end at a bottom side of said cover and with said second end at a said stirring screw.  
 
     
     
       12. A cabinet for stirrer cans, said cabinet comprising:
 a plurality of hollow shelves spaced one atop the other;  
 each hollow shelf having a smooth surface;  
 each hollow shelf having connected thereto a plurality of driving heads;  
 each one of said driving heads comprised of: 
 a) a driven shaft and a blade fixedly connected to said driven shaft, said blade engaging a stirrer of a stirrer can for driving the stirrer inside the stirrer can;  
 b) a swan-neck shaped body having an upper portion connected to said hollow shelf and a lower portion;  
 c) said lower portion of said body comprising a grip for engaging a rotatable plate of the stirrer can;  
 d) said driven shaft projecting through said upper portion of said body;  
 e) a drive pulley connected to said driven shaft and positioned inside said hollow shelf; and  
 f) means for preventing rotation of the stirrer can by engaging a portion of a cover of the stirrer can after placement of the stirrer can on a shelf below said hollow shelf to which said body is connected;  
 
 a drive means for driving at least one of said drive pulleys.  
 
     
     
       13. A cabinet according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one of said hollow shelves has a bottom portion with two levels, such that said driving heads connected to said bottom portion are at different levels. 
     
     
       14. A cabinet according to  claim 12 , wherein said shelves comprise raising members for raising the stirrer cans to a desired level. 
     
     
       15. A system for stirring paint in an insertable can, comprising:
   a can cover with a rotatable paint stirrer;        a can support shelf;        a stirring head positioned above the shelf that engages the stirrer when the can is inserted on the shelf, and        an interference arm extending from above the location of the can downwardly toward the shelf that mechanically interferes with the cover as a stop against rotation in a single direction to prevent rotation of the cover in the same direction of rotation of the stirrer,        a region between the stirring head and the shelf for inserting a can for stirring, the region being free of obstructions that would restrain insertion of the can or the cover to a single orientation on the shelf,        wherein the interference arm is pivotable with respect to the stirring head.     
     
     
       16. A system for stirring paint in an insertable can, comprising:
   a can cover with a rotatable paint stirrer;        a can support shelf;        a stirring head positioned above the shelf that engages the stirrer when the can is inserted on the shelf, and        an interference arm extending from above the location of the can downwardly toward the shelf that mechanically interferes with the cover as a stop against rotation in a single direction to prevent rotation of the cover in the same direction of rotation of the stirrer,        a region between the stirring head and the shelf for inserting a can for stirring, the region being free of obstructions that would restrain insertion of the can or the cover to a single orientation on the shelf,        wherein the can cover includes a pouring spout and the interference arm engages the spout to prevent rotation,        wherein the paint stirrer includes a rotatable drive shaft, and further including an engaging member connected to the stirring head, the engaging member engaging an upper portion of the drive shaft, and        wherein the engaging member is a collar.     
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16  wherein the collar is a resilient member. 
     
     
       18. A system for stirring paint in an insertable can, comprising:
   a can cover with a rotatable paint stirrer;        a can support shelf;        a stirring head positioned above the shelf that engages the stirrer when the can is inserted on the shelf, and        an interference arm extending from above the location of the can downwardly toward the shelf that mechanically interferes with the cover as a stop against rotation in a single direction to present rotation of the cover in the same direction of rotation of the stirrer,        a region between the stirring head and the shelf for inserting a can for stirring, the region being free of obstructions that would restrain insertion of the can or the cover to a single orientation on the shelf,        wherein the can cover includes a pouring spout and the interference arm engages the spout to prevent rotation,        wherein the paint stirrer includes a rotatable drive shaft, and further including an engaging member connected to the stirring head, the engaging member engaging an upper portion of the drive shaft        wherein the engaging member is connected to a downwardly extending body, and        wherein the interference arm is connected to the body adjacent the engaging member.     
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18  wherein the upper shaft portion includes upwardly extending fingers and the head includes a stirrer driver having a blade articulatable with the fingers to effect rotation. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19  wherein the upper shaft portion includes a plate and the engaging member engages the plate. 
     
     
       21. A system for stirring paint in a plurality of removable paint cans, comprising:
   a plurality of removable can covers for respective cans, each cover having a paint stirrer for the respective can that includes a rotatable drive shaft;        a can support shelf for a row of removable cans; and        a plurality of individual stirring heads, one for each can in the row, each individual stirring head being portioned above the shelf so as to engage the stirrer in the cover when the can is inserted with its cover on the shelf, each stirring head comprising a body carrying a rotational stirrer drive mechanism, a portion of said body being shaped to trap the cover in position when the can is inserted on the shelf so that the drive shaft of the stirrer in the cover is drivingly aligned with the rotational drive mechanism in the stirring head, said body further including an interference arm, separate from said portion of said body, that extends downwardly toward the shelf below said portion of said body and that prevents rotation of the cover as the stirrer rotates by mechanically interfering with the cover as a stop against rotation in a single direction to prevent rotation of the cover in the same direction of rotation of the stirrer and an engaging member for engaging a portion of the drive shaft extending above the can cover,        a region between each individual stirring head and the shelf for inserting a respective can for stirring, the region being free of obstructions that would restrain insertion of the respective can or its cover to a single orientation on the shelf.     
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 21  wherein the stirring head comprises a molded body. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 22  wherein the body is plastic. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 23  wherein the shaft portion includes a plate with upwardly extending fingers and the stirring head including a driver with a blade actuatable with the fingers to effect rotation, and the engaging portion engages the plate. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 22  or  24  wherein the interference arm is a single downwardly extending arm. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 22  or  24  wherein the interference arm comprises two downwardly extending arms. 
     
     
       27. The system of  claim 22  or  24  wherein the interference arm is pivotable with respect to the stirring head. 
     
     
       28. The system of any one of claims  22  or  24  wherein the can cover includes a pouring spout and the interference arm engages the spout to prevent rotation. 
     
     
       29. The system of  claim 22  or  24  wherein the shelf is free of pins. 
     
     
       30. The system of  claim 21  wherein the head is connected to a hollow shelf arranged above the can cover.