Patents Examined by James A. Niegowski
  • Patent number: 3951054
    Abstract: A spiral meat slicer especially for cutting ham, wherein the ham is mounted vertically on a spiked platform which slowly revolves. A rotating disk blade is brought into engagement with the periphery of the ham to cut the ham to the bone. The blade support is mounted on a lead screw so that the blade steadily rises as the ham rotates. Thus an unbroken spiral cut of ham is produced. In order to permit selective manual control when cutting around the aitch bone, a manually manipulatable arm is provided, by which the blade may be selectively moved toward and away from the rotative axis of the ham. Once the aitch bone has been cleared, the arm is detented into an extreme position and thereafter the blade is automatically biased toward the ham with a predetermined spring force, by means of a biasing spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1974
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1976
    Assignee: Collins Foods International, Inc.
    Inventor: Herman E. Frentzel
  • Patent number: 3951057
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for removing the skins from shelled nuts. Nuts such as peanuts are fed into a hopper mounted to a carriage adjustably positioned above a horizontally moving conveyor belt. A plurality of spaced parallel baffles extends diagonally across and slightly above the upper reach of the conveyor with the working faces of the baffles being of an abrasive character. The nuts are fed from the hopper in individual streams between baffles and onto the conveyor where the combined action of the longitudinally moving belt and the diagonally extending fixed baffles will rotate the nuts and move them lengthwise along the baffle to one side of the conveyor, removing the nut skins in the process. The carriage is mounted on a first pair of tracks extending parallel to the baffles with a lead screw and crank provided for moving the carriage diagonally with respect to the belt in order to dispense the peanuts at different spaced points along the baffles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1974
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1976
    Inventor: James W. Gardner
  • Patent number: 3951389
    Abstract: A method for indicating the time integral of the electrical power consumed in elastomer mixing, working, warming or other processing and for controlling the processing in accordance therewith. An electrical signal, derived from the electrical power consumed by an electrical motor driven elastomer processing apparatus, is compensated for no-load operation of the apparatus and then continuously integrated with respect to time to provide an output which is employed to produce a digital readout of the energy consumed in the processing with control of the processing being effected in accordance therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1974
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1976
    Assignee: The B. F. Goodrich Company
    Inventor: John P. Porter
  • Patent number: 3949661
    Abstract: A safety means for a skinning and/or slashing machine having a frame means with a skinning blade means mounted thereon which provides skin from the meat product to be skinned as the meat product is moved therepast. A plurality of spaced apart slashing blades are rotatably mounted on the frame means adjacent the skinning blade means and are adapted to slash the meat product to permit the inspection thereof. The blades are supported by a pair of support arms which are pivotally connected to the frame means so that the blades may be moved upwardly away from the skinning blade means. A first normally closed switch means is provided on the frame means and is adapted to deactivate the machine power supply when the support arms are pivotally moved to their raised positions. A transparent safety shield is secured to the support arms and extends over the blades. An inverted U-shaped safety guard extends over the feed conveyor to prevent the machine operator from extending his hands too far towards the skinning blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1974
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1976
    Assignee: Townsend Engineering Company
    Inventor: Charles Austin Greider
  • Patent number: 3948491
    Abstract: Process for blending an additive such as colour pigment etc. with a plastic material, wherein the plastic material for instance in the shape of granules, pellets, grains or powder is introduced into a first hopper equipped with a stirrer. The first hopper is placed in a direct connection with a feed screw of a plastic moulding machine. The additive in the shape of granules, pellets, small tablets or big grains is charged into a second hopper which is joined to the first hopper by a dosing part including a dosing plate, which executes reciprocating motions and is equipped with at least one hole, and a dosing pipe, a dosing hose or the like. The amount of additive fed to the first hopper is intended to be regulated by varying the number of reciprocating motions of the dosing plate per unit of time and/or by varying the plate thickness and/or by varying the hole size of the dosing plate and/or by varying the number of holes in the dosing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1974
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1976
    Assignee: Perstorp AB
    Inventor: Kjell G. I. Karlsson
  • Patent number: 3948490
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for mixing and feeding a volatile liquid, such as liquid ammonia, with a non-volatile material, such as a fabric finisher; the method comprising the steps of feeding the liquid to a mixing vessel and, by volatilizing a portion of the liquid, cooling the vessel and, while continuing to feed the liquid and after the cooled liquid has reached a predetermined level in the vessel, adding to the liquid a measured amount of non-volatile material, continuing the liquid feed until the liquid level reaches the measured amount, agitating the liquid and material and, as the liquid volatilizes, adding additional of such liquid to maintain the liquid level at the measured amount; the apparatus comprising a mixing tank having a cover, a coolant coil in the mixing tank, first feed means having a valve for feeding a volatile liquid to the tank, second feed means having a valve for feeding a non-volatile material to the tank, a float and switch in the tank for controlling the liquid feed valve, a float a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1976
    Assignee: Cluett, Peabody & Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Walter S. Troope
  • Patent number: 3948161
    Abstract: A multi-lane machine for removing the seed cell from previously cored apples by selectively cutting a cavity therein. Various size apples are accommodated and the size of the seed cell cavity is varied depending on the size of the apple. The apples are conveyed along a path while the core hole is oriented relative to the path. Taking advantage of the alignment of the core hole, the apples are transferred onto a spindle and moved therealong by a pair of centering jaws to a seed cell station. The medial plane of the apple is positioned over a seed celling knife on the spindle while the size of the apple is measured as it is moved into the seed celling station. The knife is crescent-shaped and pivotally housed in and rotated by the spindle. A knife control mechanism extends the rotating knife into the seed cell a distance determinate of the size of the apple and in timed sequence with the movement of the jaws. Subsequently, the apple is displaced along the spindle and through a die to cut the apple in segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1974
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1976
    Assignee: Atlas Pacific Engineering Company
    Inventor: Sheldon E. Thorson
  • Patent number: 3946658
    Abstract: A peeling apparatus for fruit and vegetable articles, the skin of which has been treated to facilitate peeling. The apparatus comprises adjacent elongate rolls which are spaced from one another by a distance less than the diameter of the article to be peeled. One of the rolls has, extending therefrom, a plurality of studs of substantial length and the other has, extending therefrom, studs of relatively short length. The rolls are rotated as articles to be peeled are supported on and moved longitudinally of the rolls and, thus, the treated skin is abraded off by the studs. Because the studs are of different lengths, different amounts of force are applied to the skin and the relatively long studs reach otherwise inaccessible portions of the skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1973
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1976
    Assignees: Genevieve I. Hanscom (formerly Genevieve I. Magnuson), Genevieve I. Hanscom, Robert Magnuson, Louis J. Thomson (formerly Lois J. Duggan), as Trustees of Estate of Roy M. Magnuson
    Inventor: Traver J. Smith
  • Patent number: 3946996
    Abstract: Apparatus for mixing and granulating a finely divided solid material, preferably including a screening of the final granular product, said apparatus including a mixing drum or cylindrical vessel with closable feed and discharge means, a rotatably driven shaft on the drum axis carrying conveyance means for mixing, stirring and conveying the solid material being treated, and pivotal support means to adjustably tilt the drum such that the drum axis and the rotatable shaft are pivoted within a substantially vertical plane. There is preferably a tubular discharge member at one end of the drum to provide a suitable sieve or screening means at the point where the final granular product is withdrawn from the drum. The apparatus is particularly useful in the mixing and granulation steps required to form a multi-component powdery material into granules which can be directly pressed and shaped into tablets, pellets, pills or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1973
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1976
    Assignee: Barmag Barmer Maschinenfabrik Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerhard Gergely
  • Patent number: 3945616
    Abstract: A device for mixing glue or a like flowable substance with particulate material such as wood chips in which the chips are fed into one end of an elongated horizontal cylindrical chamber and are discharged from the other end while being caused to follow a rotary path in the chamber by a mixing member in the chamber having arms extending radially to near the periphery of the chamber. Glue feeding conduits extend into the chamber and into the ring of material therein between adjacent ones of said arms. The glue feeding conduits are connected in groups to manifolds and can be removed from the chamber in groups together with the respective manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1976
    Inventors: Wilheim Lodige, Fritz Lodige, Josef Lucke
  • Patent number: 3945312
    Abstract: A method is characterized by causing a container with grain loaded therein to perform two rotary motions, that is a rotary motion about its own axis and a rotary motion about an axis of rotation extending in parallel with and in the same plane as its own axis, with subsequent positive removal of seed covers. The method enables the separation of seed cover from endosperm of grain of various cereal crops without destructing endosperm. An apparatus for carrying out this method is provided with at least two containers mounted in a hollow casing in parallel relative to each other for rotation about their common axes and interconnected for combined rotation about a common axis of rotation extending in parallel with their own axes. The apparatus has means for charging grain communicated with the containers, as well as collectors for seed covers and endosperm of grain communicated with the containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1976
    Inventors: Vasily Nikolaevich Borisov, Evgeny Alexandrovich Akulov, Alexei Ivanovich Solovei
  • Patent number: 3944192
    Abstract: This plasticizer screw, for advancing molten plastic to an injection mold, has a row of balls behind the flights of the screw for agitating the plastic to promote better mixing and to eliminate dead regions along the screw. The balls in a continuous row run in a groove in the shank portion of the screw and extend radially beyond the circumference of the shank portion for substantially the same distance as the helical flights of the screw thread. The raceway groove, in which the balls are held, terminates at an abutment where the balls move into a passage within the shank portion of the screw, and they travel back through this passage to an outlet end where they pass back into the other end of the raceway groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1973
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1976
    Inventor: John J. Farrell
  • Patent number: 3942428
    Abstract: In apparatus for removing roots from bulbs or the like corms, the bulbs are thrown upwards towards pairs of cooperating rollers, which catch the roots of the bulbs in the nips between the rollers and draw off the roots from the bulbs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1973
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1976
    Inventor: Claus Clausen
  • Patent number: 3942770
    Abstract: A device for stirring a liquid having two cup-shaped elements coaxially mounted on the end of a shaft. Radial vanes extend between the two elements to define liquid flow passages, the liquid entering from a hole at the apex of the outer cup. The outlet end of each of the vanes is bent at approximately a right angle to the rest of the vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1976
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Christian Belouet, Jacques Charles Louis Bunel
  • Patent number: 3942429
    Abstract: Baling apparatus including a baling chamber and a compression ram mounted for reciprocal movement therein and a bale strapping chamber positioned adjacent the baling chamber. The cycle is started by positioning a strapped bale in the strapping chamber between upper and lower platform members. Bale material such as newspapers and cardboard is introduced into the baling chamber and the compression ram is reciprocated to progressively form a bale against one end of the strapped bale in the strapping chamber. During such bale forming operation the newly formed bale is gradually pushed between the upper and lower platform members to thereby force the strapped bale out from between such platform members on to a take-away conveyor. A pair of pivotally mounted gate members are mounted on opposite sides of the baling chamber at the exit thereof. The take-away conveyor can be tilted to separate the adjacent ends of the unstrapped and strapped bales.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1976
    Assignee: Logemann Brothers Company
    Inventors: Roman Schmalz, Robert J. Wolf
  • Patent number: 3939674
    Abstract: A vertical axis washing machine characterized by a washing receptacle and drive means supported by three or more suspension element assemblies which each comprise a coil spring and an upper and lower mounting member each having a projection telescopically received in the respective end of the spring. During a washing cycle, the addition of washing liquid to the receptacle causes vertical displacement of the springs so that the projections on the upper and lower mounting members engage each other to provide a substantially solid support for the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1973
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1976
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: James I. Czech, Roy C. Oakley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 3938217
    Abstract: The specification discloses a surface cleaning apparatus having an air blast pickup head in which the suction in the exhaust chamber can be increased by the operator during operation of the apparatus to facilitate the ingestion of larger objects of debris and litter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1973
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1976
    Assignee: Clarke-Gravely Corporation
    Inventor: Jack L. Hommes
  • Patent number: 3936037
    Abstract: A gravity blender that discharges particulate material into a pressurized conveying system is provided with a conduit to substantially alleviate differential pressures between the blend chamber and the interior of the blender supply bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1976
    Assignee: Allied Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: James H. Leonard, Jr.
  • Patent number: 3935808
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for milling grain while simultaneously cooking the grain in which the grain is introduced between coaxial relatively rotatable grinding members and advances therebetween while being milled. The milling of the grain develops heat in the grain which converts the moisture therein to steam which effects cooking of the grain. Most, if not all, of the steam thus generated is reabsorbed by the milled grain as it emerges from the apparatus. In order to enhance the cooking effect on the grain, the outer one of the conical grinding members has a heated gaseous medium supplied thereto and the mill includes an impeller for forcing the gaseous medium through the inner one of the grinding members so that both of the grinding members are heated and thereby enhance the cooking of the grain being milled in the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1976
    Inventor: Fausto Celorio Mendoza
  • Patent number: 3934857
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for mixing and reacting materials that include at least one liquid while simultaneously transferring heat to or from the mixture. A rotating centrifugal impeller mounted in a lower chamber of a closed reactor vessel draws the materials to be mixed from an upper chamber through a short central inlet and mixes them with high energy while impelling them between spaced blades extending outward from the eye of the impeller to a high pressure region at its circumference. The mixture then returns to the upper chamber through a plurality of elongated conduits having thin walls. For maximum heat transfer area in relation to cross-sectional flow area, each conduit is arranged with a first inner portion of annular cross section and a second, reverse flow, outer portion separated from the inner portion by a double-walled tube, the tube having passages between its double walls for circulating heat exchanging fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1973
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1976
    Assignee: Hege Advanced Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas W. Hege