Patents Examined by Robert W. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 5471910
    Abstract: An automatic coffee machine, has a heating device (5), which has a heating chamber (6), which is formed from a stationary arranged pipe section (4) with a vertical axis (9) as well as two stoppers (7, 8). An axial drive for moving the upper stopper (7) on a turning arm (29) into and out of the pipe section (4) is provided. A pivot drive serves to move the upper stopper (7) into a parking position away from the axis (9) of the pipe section (4) and into a stand-by position in the axis (9) of the pipe section. A vertical drive for the lower stopper (8) is provided. A driven swivel wiper (32) serves to remove a tablet of coffee grounds. The upper stopper (7) is solidly attached to the turning arm (29). a single motor (10) with a following power divider (16) is provided for the axial drive and for the pivot drive of the turning arm (29) with the upper stopper (7) as well as the drive of the swivel wiper (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: HGZ Maschinenbau AG
    Inventor: Peter Sager
  • Patent number: 5472277
    Abstract: A cover assembly for a paint can having an open top and an inwardly extending chime is disclosed. The cover assemble includes a lid dimensioned to overlie the open top of the can and the lid has a spout for dispensing the contents of the can. Similarly, a paint stirrer is connected to the lid and extends downwardly into the paint can when the lid is secured to the paint can. A pair of locking feet are also provided detachably securing the lid to the paint can and each locking foot includes an elongated shank pivotally mounted to the lid and a laterally outwardly extending portion which extends under the paint can chime thus locking the lid to the paint can. Each locking foot, furthermore, includes a metallic inner core and an outer sheath constructed of a material which is non-oxidizable by water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Dedoes Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Dedoes
  • Patent number: 5470147
    Abstract: A portable continual mixer blends dry powdered material with an aggregate and a liquid. The ingredients may be cement, sand, and water. The batch mixer has two screw augers. The first auger feeds dry mix into an elongated mixing chamber, and has its own electric motor and speed control. The second auger mixes the dry and liquid mix constituents, and conducts blended mixture to a discharge port located at the end of the elongated mixing chamber. The blade of the second auger is formed in three sections. In respective order, these sections include a first section wherein the blade is configured as a screw auger; a second section wherein the blade has paddles pitched to urge the mixture onward to the third section; and a third section which, like the first section, includes a blade configured as a screw auger. The liquid is metered by a valve controlled in accordance with the feed rate of the solid constituents. A predetermined proportion of dry and liquid constituents is thus maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Inventor: Donald L. Duckworth
  • Patent number: 5470153
    Abstract: A mixing device which has a pressurizable chamber for aerating and mixing pumpable products is characterized in that the chamber has its mixing rotor shaft oriented vertically during operation of the mixing device in order to improve efficiency of mixing, reduce vibrations, and to reduce maintenance costs associated with prior art mixing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Machines Collette
    Inventor: Emiel De Naeghel
  • Patent number: 5470145
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for the dispersion and proportioning of fibers used in the building sector in general that consists of mechanical equipment equipped with feeding, stirring and proportioning systems, which may be operated electrically or hydraulically, applicable to both hot and cold bituminous mixes, having an air injection dispersion system, that may or may not be equipped with a vibrating motor with elastic joint between the hopper and the proportioning body. In the stirring and proportioning body there are two shafts, one of which is provided with blades to homogenize the fibers and the other one has a spindle independent from the first shaft, which rotates at a variable speed, the fiber-air blend passing through the dispersion tube which is smaller than the proportioning tube. The fiber mass is made to fall on some deflectors located at the disperser outlet and the assembly may be mounted in an immovable or movable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Productos Bituminosos, S.A. (Probisa)
    Inventor: Reyero Lopez
  • Patent number: 5468066
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for injecting dry particulate material into a fluid flow line including a removable material supply unit (18) having an outer rigid container (55) and a sealed flexible bag (54) for the dry particulate material. The removable material supply unit (18) is mounted on a container support (13) above a mixing chamber (12) with a valve member (40) controlling the flow or dispensing of the dry particulate material into the mixing chamber (12). A pump (32) when energized exerts a vacuum in the mixing chamber (12). Water enters the mixing chamber (12) from an elliptical discharge opening (10) tangential to mixing chamber (12) to provide a vortex. Pump (32) exerts a vacuum within the mixing chamber (12) above the level of the water so that any upward migration of moisture from the water in the mixing chamber (12) is prevented by the vacuum when pump (30) is energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Inventor: Carl L. Hammonds
  • Patent number: 5467690
    Abstract: An improved machine for preparing a coffee infusion, in particular for home use has an unique construction including a plurality of elements, i.e. a water boiling chamber, on the top of which can be threaded a coffee infusion collecting chamber, having a filter containing the coffee powder.The machine is characterized in that, starting from the inside of the water boiling chamber and coaxially proceeding along a fitting cylindric element, there extends a hollow vertical cylinder in which a piston can be displaced, the piston causing in turn a given water amount to be displaced toward the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Inventors: Paolo Zappala, Biagia Tomasello
  • Patent number: 5465656
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing flavorful instant coffee. The method includes the conventional steps of grinding and roasting the coffee beans. Also included are a step of collecting the aromatic compounds driven off during roasting and adding these aromatics to the water soluble coffee components prior to packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Inventor: Ralph Ogden
  • Patent number: 5466064
    Abstract: A homogenization apparatus for intermixing insoluble components, such as fuel oil and water, comprising a first compensating valve and homogenizing orifice where initial intermixing of the two components occurs, pump means, a high pressure chamber, and a second compensating valve and homogenizing orifice where secondary mixing occurs. The first compensating valve adjusts the first orifice responsive to downstream pressure, while the second compensating valve adjusts the second orifice responsive to upstream pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: ENRJ Ltd.
    Inventor: Dannie B. Hudson
  • Patent number: 5466063
    Abstract: This invention concerns a device for continuously injecting liquid additives into a fluid.The device includes a jet eductors system for prediluting the additives.Applications in the oil and related industries, the building industry and similar. FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Dowell Schlumberger Incorporated
    Inventors: Georges Poyet, Frederic Badier, Dominique Guillot
  • Patent number: 5465650
    Abstract: A beverage brewing apparatus which includes a substance dispensing device and a brewing device. The brewing apparatus includes a receptacle for receiving a brewing substance from the substance dispensing device, a movable chute positioned between the substance dispensing device and the receptacle, and a water dispensing system operatively associated with the brewing device and selectively communicating with the receptacle for delivering water to a brewing substance retained therein. Additionally, a drive assembly is provided to operatively displace the water dispensing device relative to the receptacle. When the water dispensing device is positioned in communication with the receptacle, the chute is moved out of communication with the receptacle. When the water dispensing device is removed from communication with the receptacle, the chute is placed in communication with the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
    Inventors: Brent R. Friedrich, John T. Knepler
  • Patent number: 5463933
    Abstract: A device for locking a filter carrier on an infusion head (1) of a coffeemaker provided with a locking ramp (2) and adapted to receive a filter carrier (3) which comprises to this end securement structure (4) to the head (1), such that the filter carrier (3) may be engaged in the head (1) and be brought, by a movement of rotation, from a free position to a locked position. The locking device comprises structure for signaling the passage from the free position to the locked position. The signal can be audible or visual, generated mechanically, electroacoustically or optoelectronically. The invention is applicable to coffeemakers of the espresso type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Moulinex S.A.
    Inventor: Joel Landais
  • Patent number: 5463932
    Abstract: A coffee maker (20) includes a housing (21) supporting a coffee grinder (23) for grinding coffee beans, and a brewer which includes a reservoir (24) for holding water, a filter basket (28) for receiving ground coffee beans discharged from the grinder and water from the reservoir, a pump (66) in fluid communication with the reservoir, and a heater (74) for heating water from the reservoir. In the preferred embodiment, the pump pumps water through the heater, which heats the water, and then into the filter basket. The coffee maker also includes a thermally insulated carafe (30), removably connected to the housing for receiving brewed coffee from the filter basket of the brewer. A central processing unit (32) having a memory (48) is operably connected to the pump, heater, and grinder for causing coordinated operation of the coffee maker at times based on data stored in the memory of the central processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Inventor: Allen W. Olson
  • Patent number: 5463934
    Abstract: Automatic machine for a coffee beverage, deliverable as coffee alone or, combined with milk, in the form of cappuccino, in which the unit, formed by the coffee grinder, its grinding chamber, and a channel chute, is capable of being moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Cimbali S.p.A.
    Inventor: Santino Locati
  • Patent number: 5463935
    Abstract: An infusion maker comprising, similarly to an espresso maker, a lower container or boiler (11) and an lapper container (12). The bottom (12') of the upper container (12) is provided with an outlet (16) which connects said upper container (12) with the intermediate cup (14), and the chimney conduit (15) conveying the liquid from the lower container to the upper container is provided with a movable sleeve (17) which may be moved from a position associated with the closing of said outlet (16) and the opening of said chimney conduit (15), thus permitting the passage of the liquid from the lower container into the upper container, to a position associated with the opening of said outlet (16) and the closing of said chimney conduit, thus causing the liquid in the upper container to pour into the lower container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Biesse S.p.A.
    Inventor: Gianfranco Zanarini
  • Patent number: 5464283
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for combining multiple components to form a coating material formulation in which one of the components is a resin, another component is a supercritical fluid employed as a fluid diluent, and, preferably, the third component is a catalyst. Two of the components are transmitted through separate flow paths to a first mixer within which they are combined to form a mixture, and then the third component is added to the mixture in a second mixer to form the coating material formulation for discharge by one or more coating dispensers or spray guns onto a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis Davis
  • Patent number: 5464282
    Abstract: A screw for a double-shaft extruding device having a shaft and a spiral flight provided at an outer periphery of the shaft. A height of the flight from an axis of the shaft is substantially constant. An angle of torsion of a spiral of the flight becomes smaller toward a shaft distal end. A cross-sectional area of extrusion formed by the shaft and the flight continuously increases from the shaft distal end to a shaft proximal end. Material can be smoothly discharged and completely extruded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiro Iwata, Iwami Nagata, Akira Hatakeyama, Kazuhisa Nishigai
  • Patent number: 5462354
    Abstract: A livestock feed mixer includes a power source having a rotational power take-off. A mixer housing forms a mixing chamber for holding the feed ingredients and a rotatable mixing member is mounted within the mixing chamber. A variable speed power transfer mechanism is connected between the power take-off and the rotating mixing member for transferring power from the power source to the mixing member and for rotating the mixing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Roto-Mix Enterprises, Ltd.
    Inventor: Benjamin R. Neier
  • Patent number: 5462513
    Abstract: Prior centrifugal concentrators for separating higher density particles from a slurry have not combined effective separation of concentrate with continuous discharge of the concentrate. The present invention provides a continuous discharge centrifugal concentrator having a retention zone for accumulating the concentrate in which a plurality of mass-flow hoppers are provided at the retention zone, with flow control devices to control the discharge of concentrate from the hoppers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Inventor: Steven A. McAlister
  • Patent number: 5461968
    Abstract: An improved brewing pot is disclosed that allows the user to stop the brewing process at the point where the decoction is at the desired strength. In the preferred embodiment, the material from which a decoction is to be made is placed in a cylindrical chamber, boiling water is added, and then a circular screen carrying member, wherein the carried screen is exposed in pie shaped slots, is lowered into the chamber to approximately the level of the brewing liquid. When the brew has reached the desired strength, the screen carrying member is lowered into the liquid. The screen member is surrounded by a flexible gasket and the exposed portions of the screen itself are of sufficiently fine mesh so as to segregate the steeping material from the brewed or decanting area. The screen portions are then closed off, preventing fluid communication between the decanting chamber containing the finished brew, and the smaller area containing the brewed material, along with some amount of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Inventor: Jill Portman