Patents by Inventor Bruno Gmuer

Bruno Gmuer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5627346
    Abstract: The new invention is directed to a continuous mixing and homogenizing plant, particularly for mill products. In so doing, the simultaneity of the mixing of all raw components in a pre-mixing space 8 is ensured in particular, so that subsequent continuous homogenization is also possible so as to meet the strictest demands. The utilized component weigher 4 and the assigned screw discharge 25 are constructed so as to be substantially tubular and together form a differential flow regulator 6. The inner surface of the entire system contacted by the product is accordingly tubular and is subjected to a continuous self-cleaning as a result of the movement of the product. Further, it is possible to arrange a plurality of component weighers 4 in a geometrically identical manner with respect to a collecting point 17 and a very high quality of mixing is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Buhler AG
    Inventors: Roman Weibel, Bruno Gmuer, Peter Naef
  • Patent number: 5579954
    Abstract: The new invention is directed to a metering device (1) which can be constructed as a differential weigher. The product is stored in a weighing-container (2) which is possibly cylindrical and comprises a flat base (15, 18). A uniform product feed is ensured by means of a cleaning device (13, 19) acting in two horizontal planes, wherein a relief base (15) with fall-through opening (16) is preferably arranged between the two planes in such a way that a pre-metering space (17) is formed in the lower part of the weighing container. The product is conveyed out of the pre-metering space (17) through the lower cleaning device (19) to the metering screw (4) and discharged in a metered manner by the latter by means of controllable speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Buehler AG
    Inventors: Bruno Gmuer, Peter Naef
  • Patent number: 5527107
    Abstract: The new invention is directed to a continuous mixing and homogenizing plant, particularly for mill products. In so doing, the simultaneity of the mixing of all raw components in a pre-mixing space 8 is ensured in particular, so that subsequent continuous homogenization is also possible so as to meet the strictest demands. The utilized component weigher 4 and the assigned screw discharge 25 are constructed so as to be substantially tubular and together form a differential flow regulator 6. The inner surface of the entire system contacted by the product is accordingly tubular and is subjected to a continuous self-cleaning as a result of the movement of the product. Further, it is possible to arrange a plurality of component weighers 4 in a geometrically identical manner with respect to a collecting point 17 and a very high quality of mixing is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Buehler AG
    Inventors: Roman Weibel, Bruno Gmuer, Peter Naef
  • Patent number: 5497907
    Abstract: The new invention is directed to a metering device (1) which can be constructed as a differential weigher. The product is stored in a weighing container (2) which is possibly cylindrical and comprises a flat base (16, 18). A uniform product feed is ensured by means of a cleaning device (13, 19) acting in two horizontal planes, wherein a relief base (16) with fall-through opening (15) is preferably arranged between the two planes in such a way that a pre-metering space (17) is formed in the lower part of the weighing container. The product is conveyed out of the pre-metering space (17) through the lower cleaning device (19) to the metering screw (4) and discharged in a metered manner by the latter by means of controllable speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Buehler AG
    Inventors: Bruno Gmuer, Peter Naef
  • Patent number: 5435189
    Abstract: A new device and method for measuring large production flows of e.g., one to fifty tons per hour with products such as mill products having unfavorable flow behavior. The production flow is directed intermittently into an upright weighing container for a brief time and is compulsorily discharged from the latter substantially horizontally so as to be controlled with respect to speed. The production flow is periodically monitored volumetrically and gravimetrically by means of differential weighing.The use of the method suggests that the production flow in a mill be measured by means of differential weighing for the purpose of controlling, e.g., monitoring the work process prior to wetting, e.g. as mill input capacity, e.g. for monitoring in the milling process, e.g. for the flour weigher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Buhler AG
    Inventors: Bruno Gmuer, Peter Naef, Roman Weibel
  • Patent number: 5337541
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatic bag hanging allows far more than 1000 bag hangings per hour. A bag is removed from a bag bucket conveyor by its closed end and is guided, bottom forward, at an approximately right angle around a roller deflection device. The bag is grasped, first in an upright position and so as to be slightly opened already by bag opening claw pairs 23, opened, and simultaneously guided via a double-lever system to a bag filling sleeve and automatically clamped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Buehler AG
    Inventor: Bruno Gmuer
  • Patent number: 5150758
    Abstract: The new invention proposes a rotary receptacle scale, wherein the weighing receptacle 2 is moved with a rotating drive by 180.degree. from the filling position into the emptying position. The weighing receptacle 2 is enclosed by a casing 1. The weighing receptacle 2 and the casing 1 are constructed in a manner similar to a lock rotor and lock wheel housing with respect to the movement function. The receptacle scale itself accordingly corresponds to increased hygienic requirements and can also be provided with a pressure-resistant casing at low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Buehler AG
    Inventor: Bruno Gmuer
  • Patent number: 4191004
    Abstract: In a bag folding apparatus, a filled bag is moved through a bag closing station with the open end of the bag passing through a space bounded on the opposite sides by a pressure application band and a countersurface of a folding ledge. The open end of the bag projects above the folding ledge and a folding device turns the open end downwardly over the folding ledge against the side opposite the counter surface. The folding ledge is coextensive in the direction of the bag extending between its closed and open ends with the pressure application band, and the folding ledge is elastically supported from an overhead bar by stirrups so that a free space is available for folding the open end of the bag downwardly against the folding ledge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1980
    Inventors: Bruno Gmuer, Willy Grundbacher