Reciprocating Closure Patents (Class 177/78)
  • Patent number: 10836624
    Abstract: A container filling valve may include a shuttle and a drive sleeve that are magnetically coupled. Movement of the drive sleeve may move the shuttle from a position in which the filling valve is closed to a position in which the filling valve is open. A container handling arm may include a distal end configured to hold a container and a proximal end that includes a load cell. A low flow setpoint system may be configured to arrest closing of a filling valve when that filling valve is partially closed. A pressure control system may be configured to maintain a desired pressure in a reservoir or in a flow path from that reservoir. A product recirculation system may be configured to adjust flow rate in the product recirculation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: PepsiCo, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Eaton, David William Martin, David Jay Warburton, Nathan John Coleman, Samuel Frank Feller, Thomas John Evans, Jason Karl Sorge, Randy A. Straub
  • Patent number: 4180136
    Abstract: A weight actuated dispensing mechanism including a bracket adapted to be attached to a conveyor system and having an inlet opening therein for receiving material from the conveyor system, and an outlet opening for allowing the material to exit from the bracket by gravity. A valving mechanism is pivotally attached along an axis to the bracket for movement between a first position wherein the valve mechanism closes the outlet opening of the bracket and a second position wherein the valve mechanism is open to allow material to pass from the conveyor system, through the bracket, to a container disposed below the bracket. A projection on the valve mechanism is provided for automatically increasing the closing force on the valve mechanism as it closes. One end of a flexible line is attached to the valve mechanism and extends over the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1979
    Assignee: Intraco, Inc
    Inventor: Robert D. Jones