Patents by Inventor John Hotchkiss

John Hotchkiss 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).

  • Offset overhead plunger
    Patent number: 7410045
    Abstract: A plunger assembly (30) is disposed on the access side of a conveyor (20). The conveyor (20) has a conveying surface upon which it transports articles by moving the conveying surface in a direction of flow (F). The plunger assembly (30) is mounted overhead vertically with respect to the conveying surface of the conveyor (20) such that sufficient clearance below the plunger assembly (30) is maintained to provide an access space through which the conveyor (20) and mechanisms and elements thereof can be accessed. Further, the plunger assembly (30) may be mounted both above and at least partially offset horizontally from the conveyor surface of the conveyor (20), such that no operative portion of the plunger assembly (30) breaks the plane (C) of the conveyor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Rafe T. Patterson, John W. Cash, III, Michael F. Flagg, John Hotchkiss, Patrick King
  • OFFSET OVERHEAD PLUNGER
    Publication number: 20080000753
    Abstract: A plunger assembly (30) is disposed on the access side of a conveyor (20). The conveyor (20) has a conveying surface upon which it transports articles by moving the conveying surface in a direction of flow (F). The plunger assembly (30) is mounted overhead vertically with respect to the conveying surface of the conveyor (20) such that sufficient clearance below the plunger assembly (30) is maintained to provide an access space through which the conveyor (20) and mechanisms and elements thereof can be accessed. Further, the plunger assembly (30) may be mounted both above and at least partially offset horizontally from the conveyor surface of the conveyor (20), such that no operative portion of the plunger assembly (30) breaks the plane (C) of the conveyor surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Rafe Patterson, John Cash, Michael Flagg, John Hotchkiss, Patrick King
  • Removable material hopper assembly and method of using same to eliminate residual ingredient material
    Patent number: 6774318
    Abstract: A removable material hopper assembly for gravimetric batch blenders including a hopper, a metering assembly and a releasable securing assembly. The hopper is removable from the blender, and includes a metering slide gate that can be used to tightly seal off the bottom of the hopper during the removable operation. The releasable securing assembly incorporates a tongue and groove subassembly and a pin and bracket subassembly to properly align and secure the hopper to the blender during operation, but also enables easy removal of the hopper when necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Process Control Corporation
    Inventors: John Beal, John Hotchkiss
  • Removable material hopper assembly and method of using same to eliminate residual ingredient material
    Publication number: 20020113080
    Abstract: A removable material hopper assembly for gravimetric batch blenders including a hopper, a metering assembly and a releasable securing assembly. The hopper is removable from the blender, and includes a metering slide gate that can be used to tightly seal off the bottom of the hopper during the removable operation. The releasable securing assembly incorporates a tongue and groove subassembly and a pin and bracket subassembly to properly align and secure the hopper to the blender during operation, but also enables easy removal of the hopper when necessary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: John Beal, John Hotchkiss