With Common Discharge Patents (Class 141/105)
  • Patent number: 12146617
    Abstract: Systems and methods for recharging a fire extinguisher are disclosed. The systems include a rigid frame to which a tank is affixed, with the tank being configured to hold pressurized inert gas. The systems include an inlet fill hose that includes a first ball valve and a second ball valve, with a proximal end of the inlet fill hose being fluidly connected to the tank and a distal end of the inlet fill hose being configured to be fluidly connected to a fire extinguisher. The systems further include an inert gas inlet port that is fluidly connected to the tank and includes a third ball valve, and an inert gas outlet port that is fluidly connected to the tank and includes a fourth ball valve. The systems also include a pressure gauge that is operably connected to the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Inventor: Richard Eyssallenne
  • Patent number: 12042466
    Abstract: A medication container system, device, and related methods are disclosed for time controlled and secure dispensing of medicine, such as pills, to a patient. The disclosed systems, devices and methods include a plurality of vertically stack of disks which engage adjacent disks in a rotational manner and are housed within a secure container. The disks are configured so that as they rotate they release the doses (e.g. pills) that they hold to a release portion of the device. The disclosed systems, devices and methods provide a number of advantages over previously-known or available devices and methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Inventors: Geoffrey Gilson, Ian Penn
  • Patent number: 12030221
    Abstract: A system for opening and closing a mixing manifold includes a drive motor, a cam plate, and a valving rod connector. The drive motor imparts movement in first and second directions. Movement imparted in the first direction causes the cam plate to move linearly in a third direction and movement imparted in the second direction causes the cam plate to move linearly in a fourth direction. Movement of the cam plate in the third direction causes the valving rod connector to move linearly in a fifth direction and movement of the cam plate in the fourth direction causes the valving rod connector to move linearly in a sixth direction. Movement of the valving rod connector in the fifth direction causes retraction of a valving rod of the mixing manifold and movement of the valving rod connector in the sixth direction causes extension of the valving rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (US)
    Inventors: George Bertram, Douglas Walker
  • Patent number: 11980213
    Abstract: A system and method of bottling a fiber-fortified liquid mixture. The method includes introducing liquid and a fiber fortified formulation into a control system utilizing a specialized process to mix the liquid with the fiber fortified formulation. In one exemplary embodiment, the fiber-fortified formulation generally comprises a plant-based nutrient (“fiber”) and vitamins, which are mixable in a liquid to form the fiber-fortified liquid mixture. The system may include a plurality of reservoirs, sensors, control valves, at least one logic controller that is electronically connected to the sensors and control valves, a pasteurizer, and a bottling machine that bottles the fiber fortified formulation into specialized biodegradable bottles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Inventor: Aimee Sances
  • Patent number: 11944049
    Abstract: A vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled conditions, such as lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a reciprocating cam mechanism that provides a cost-efficient mechanism for conveying vertical grow towers in the controlled environment. The reciprocating cam mechanism can be arranged to increase the spacing of the grow towers as they are conveyed through the controlled environment to index the crops growing on the towers. The present disclosure also describes a tower shuttle mechanism that provides operational flexibility by decoupling the loading and unloading operations of the grow towers from the vertical farming structure and, therefore, allowing multiple grow towers to be extracted for harvesting in a batch process before loading new grow towers into the vertical farming structure in a separate process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: MJNN LLC
    Inventors: Gage Goodspeed Coffin, Alexandre Le Roux, Tamara Tahir Hasoon, Michael Peter Flynn, Andrew Dubel, Roger Lee
  • Patent number: 11890444
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connector (1) constituted by: base provided with a tubular wall (13) closed by a bottom wall (11) provided with at least one through-opening (111); a membrane provided with a flexible wall (23) having a central opening, a tubing (22) placed in the opening of the flexible wall; sealing means for preventing a liquid from leaving the connector through the tubing. The base and the membrane are fixed to each other in a liquid-tight manner. The flexible wall allows axial displacement of the tubing so that it can be moved between a closed position, in which a liquid cannot leave the connector through the conduit of the tubing, and an open position, in which a liquid from can leave the connector through the tubing. Retaining means (121, 222a) maintain the tubing (22) closed with a force that can be overcome manually to open it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Joanna Charre, Francois Dumont D'Ayot, Philippe Laffay
  • Patent number: 11883361
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the transfer of medical fluid are provided. A medical fluid transfer system may comprise a pump configured to transfer fluid through a tube assembly having a first connector configured to couple to a source container and a second connector configured to couple to a target container. The medical fluid transfer system may also comprise a destination sensor configured to output information about the target container. The medical fluid transfer system may further comprise a control system configured to operate the pump based on an operational setting associated with fluid volume; receive measurement data representing a measurement of the target container by the destination sensor, and adjust the operational setting based on an observed volume of fluid transferred to the target container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: ICU Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthias Janssen
  • Patent number: 11837059
    Abstract: A method for dispensing a beverage container to a consumer. The method includes receiving in a beverage container dispenser a first beverage container that contains a beverage corresponding to a beverage selection of a user. The method further includes dispensing a second beverage container containing the beverage from a temperature-regulated compartment of the beverage container dispenser. The second beverage container that is dispensed from the temperature-regulated compartment corresponds to the beverage selection of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: PepsiCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Prashant Deshpande, Gurmeet Singh Bhutani, Brian D. Kelly, Wilton Brown
  • Patent number: 11826939
    Abstract: The invention relates to a resin injection regulator for a resin injection circuit in a mould for producing a composite part, in particular a turbine engine composite part, characterised in that it comprises at least one vessel which is connected to said circuit and inside of which a movable wall means can be moved in a sealed manner, said movable wall means defining in said vessel a first cavity which forms a container for accumulation of resin and is designed to be connected to at least one part of said circuit, and a second cavity which is designed to be connected to a source of pressurised fluid, said movable wall means being designed to be urged by the pressurised fluid with which the second cavity is supplied in order to exert a pressure on the resin contained in the first cavity by isolating said resin from said fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignees: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES, SAFRAN
    Inventors: Marc-Emmanuel Jean François Techer, Nicolas Cambyse Ashtari, Raoul Jaussaud, Benoit Bazin, Thierry Chauvin, Olivier Foussard, Nate Gravelle, Adrien Touze
  • Patent number: 11733193
    Abstract: A heat tone sensor includes a housing with a gas inlet and with a gas outlet as well as a device for generating a gas stream of a gas to be tested between the gas inlet and the gas outlet. A measuring element, around and/or through which the gas stream flows, is configured to catalytically burn at least a portion of the gas stream and to send a measurement signal. The measurement signal indicates a quantity of heat released in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Mladen Schlichte, Peter Tschuncky, Jürgen Osswald, Sebastian Schröter, Tim Gnoerrlich, Martin Schrader
  • Patent number: 11708260
    Abstract: A beverage dispenser includes a nozzle to dispense a beverage. The beverage dispenser further includes a camera to capture an image of the beverage as the beverage is dispensed from the nozzle. The camera has a field of view that includes the beverage. The beverage dispenser further includes a light source that illuminates the field of view of the camera. The beverage dispenser further includes a computer. The computer analyzes the image of the beverage and determines a characteristic of the beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: PepsiCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Karol, Anthony Romano, Thore Mainart Bücking, Timothy Charles King, Joseph Albert Dolphin, Roger Bradley Millington
  • Patent number: 11690326
    Abstract: A vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a reciprocating cam mechanism that provides a cost-efficient mechanism for conveying vertical grow towers in the controlled environment. The reciprocating cam mechanism can be arranged to increase the spacing of the grow towers as they are conveyed through the controlled environment to index the crops growing on the towers. The present disclosure also describes an irrigation system that provides aqueous nutrient solution to the grow towers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventors: Gage Goodspeed Coffin, Michael Peter Flynn, Brice Leon Klein, Alexandre Le Roux, Timothy Michael Murcko, Nathaniel R. Storey
  • Patent number: 11618665
    Abstract: A beverage-dispensing appliance may include a cabinet, a liquid line, a liquid level sensor, and a signal shield. The cabinet may define a mutually-orthogonal vertical direction, lateral direction, and transverse direction. The cabinet may define a dispenser recess. The liquid line may be mounted to the cabinet and define a liquid outlet above the dispenser recess. The liquid level sensor may be mounted to the cabinet and directed at the dispenser recess. The signal shield may be movably mounted to the cabinet. The signal shield may be movable between a blocking position and a permissive position. The blocking position may laterally bound at least a portion of the dispenser recess. The permissive position may be transversely spaced apart from the dispenser recess to permit lateral access thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Danister Abeygunawardana, Jianwu Li, Gregory Scott Carr, Brent Alden Junge, Timothy Ray Jackson, Jordan Andrew Waymeyer, Michael C. Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11612112
    Abstract: A vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a reciprocating cam mechanism that provides a cost-efficient mechanism for conveying vertical grow towers in the controlled environment. The reciprocating cam mechanism can be arranged to increase the spacing of the grow towers as they are conveyed through the controlled environment to index the crops growing on the towers. The present disclosure also describes an irrigation system that provides aqueous nutrient solution to the grow towers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: MJNN LLC
    Inventors: Gage Goodspeed Coffin, Michael Peter Flynn, Brice Leon Klein, Alexandre Le Roux, Timothy Michael Murcko, Nathaniel R. Storey
  • Patent number: 11565931
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for filling containers with a positioning surface on which a container to be filled can be arranged, with a filling device which is suitable and intended for filling the container via its container opening. According to embodiments of the invention, the apparatus has a contour detection device which is suitable and intended for determining a contour of the container to be filled, as well as a determination device which, taking into account the contour of the container, detects an internal volume of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Michael Neubauer, Alexander Hafner, Benedikt Paulus, Linda Feldmeier, Christoph Sonnauer
  • Patent number: 11547124
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with an apparatus for making a coated frozen confectionery product by co-extrusion of a frozen confection and a coating substance, and in particular a nozzle body forming part of the apparatus. The nozzle body according to the invention has a nozzle exit, through which the coated confectionery product is discharged as stream; the stream of coated confectionery product being the frozen confectionery product at least partially coated with the coating substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Thomas Aloisius Valentinus Amend, Changpu Ma
  • Patent number: 11377620
    Abstract: A method of producing an additive supplement that when combined with a motor oil licensable with the American Petroleum Institute and the International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee creates a second motor oil that meets the standards of the American Petroleum Institute and the International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee by first selecting a desired motor oil and a standard motor oil, wherein the desired motor oil comprises a desired base oil component and a desired additive component and the standard motor oil contains a standard base oil component and a standard additive component. A differentiating additive component is produced by determining the additive component differences between the desired additive component and the standard additive component. This differentiating additive component is determined by using equal amounts of the standard motor oil and the desired motor oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventor: James Scott McQueen
  • Patent number: 11311816
    Abstract: A balloon inflator for simultaneously filling two balloons to substantially identical sizes includes an air pump having a first air chamber communicating with a first inflation nozzle and second air chamber communicating with a second inflation nozzle. A reciprocating piston causes an alternating increase and decrease in the first and second air chambers to advance air to fill balloons on the first and second inflation nozzles. The volume of inflation gas advanced to the first balloon inflation nozzle is substantially identical to the volume of inflation gas advanced to the second balloon inflation nozzle, thus permitting a virtually identical inflation of a first balloon at said first balloon inflation nozzle and a second balloon at said second balloon inflation nozzle upon repeated reciprocation of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Inventors: David C. Nelson, Wesley A. Schroeder, Tung Po Shao
  • Patent number: 10899481
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for dosing into a container (2) a pasty food product including solid pieces and a sauce. The device comprises an metering nozzle (1) comprising a main outlet to which the pasty food product with solid pieces is provided by a first channel (13) of the nozzle (1), and at least two peripheral outlets situated at a periphery of the main outlet to which the sauce is provided by corresponding second channels (14). The device comprises a support (3) for holding a container (2) to be filled from the nozzle (1), and is configured so that the metering nozzle moves, relative to the support (3), following a path around a central axis of said support. A corresponding system and a method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Jean Moreau, Tanja Dahlke, Dominique Levallois
  • Patent number: 10512887
    Abstract: Control of the flow of granular polysilicon granules is effected by employing an elastomeric pinch sleeve valve. The flow control by this method is especially useful for controlling the flow of silicon seed particles and granular polysilicon product in the fluidized bed method for producing polysilicon. The flow may be stopped without gas leakage, and is suitable for use over long operating campaigns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: WACKER CHEMIE AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Forstpointner, Bernhard Baumann
  • Patent number: 9885511
    Abstract: A low profile ice maker/dispenser and water dispenser having a high ice making capacity, for ice nugget manufacture is provided, wherein ice nuggets are metered out of a storage bin via a nugget dispenser outlet, and whereby water is dispensed via a water dispenser outlet. A refrigeration cycle is used, wherein an auger compresses ice on a wall of an evaporator and delivers the ice to the ice bin, breaking it into nuggets along the way. An outer wall of the evaporator is comprised of part of the water reservoir. A baffle in the ice bin facilitates metering of the amount of ice discharged. The system comprises a closed system that enables efficient cleaning of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Follett Corporation
    Inventors: Roger P. Brunner, Steven R. Follett, Matthew S. Greene, Robert Hettinger, Michael A. Rice, Michael S. Yautz
  • Patent number: 9873098
    Abstract: A three-component mixing apparatus and a three-component mixing adhesive kit, which allow anyone to easily and uniformly mix three kinds of drugs in mixing a three-component adhesive used in, e.g., surgical procedure (or treatment) or dental procedure (or treatment), includes a syringe filled with a first drug; a plunger; and an infusion-needle connector having a connecting part for a second drug container and a connecting part for a third drug container and a confluent path formed on a base end part. The first drug, the second drug and the third drug are mixed in the syringe by removably attaching the infusion-needle connector to a discharge opening of the syringe, the second drug container to its connecting part and the third drug container to its connecting part and then pulling the plunger inserted into the syringe to introduce the second drug and the third drug into the syringe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUI CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Noriaki Asada, Kenju Sasaki, Shinya Aoki, Kazuya Sakata, Hiroshi Naruse
  • Patent number: 9869614
    Abstract: A sampling apparatus includes a pressure-reducing safety unit, which includes a device accommodation chamber that accommodates safety devices and a cylinder connection chamber, and a cylinder unit. The cylinder unit removably accommodates a cylinder, excluding an exposed portion where a front end portion of the cylinder, a mouthpiece, and a cylinder on-off valve are exposed, in an openable/closable casing. The exposed portion of the cylinder is formed so as to be insertable from the open surface portion of the cylinder connection chamber into the cylinder connection chamber, the mouthpiece of the cylinder and a hydrogen outlet of a supply pipe of the device accommodation chamber are connected by using a flexible hose, and thereby a sample of hydrogen gas is taken into the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: IWATANI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuto Matsumoto, Shinichi Omoteda, Ken Nishida, Goichi Inoue
  • Patent number: 9801397
    Abstract: The apparatus (100) includes a die head (118) for extruding a main comestible material to form an extrudate body. A plurality of nozzles (160, FIG. 7) is located within the die head for introducing a comestible fluid into the extrudate body to form a plurality of filled capillaries. A control system (182) is capable of selectively connecting at least one of the nozzles to any one of at least two different fluid filling sources (150A, 15 OB). The control system may be capable of connecting each of the nozzles independently to different fluid sources or the nozzles may be arranged into two or more groups of flu idly interconnected nozzles that can each be independently switched between different fluid sources. The apparatus can be used to form products in which the fillings in the capillaries are varied or in which an image is formed in cross section. The apparatus can also be used to switch production between products having different fillings without stopping extrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: CADBURY UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Peter Clarke, Sarah Marshall, Clive R T Norton
  • Patent number: 9718610
    Abstract: A proppant discharge system includes a container having an outlet formed at a bottom thereof, a gate affixed at the outlet and positioned on the floor of the container so as to be movable between a first position covering the outlet to a second position opening the outlet, a support structure having the container positioned on the top surface thereof. The support structure has at least one actuator affixed thereto. The actuator is positioned so as to move the gate between the first position and the second position. The container has a cage affixed on the floor thereof in a position over the outlet. The gate is positioned within the cage and is movable by the actuator so as to open the gate so as to allow proppant to be discharged therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Oren Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John Oren
  • Patent number: 9709320
    Abstract: A refrigerator capable of dispensing functional beverages. A user can request a functional beverage and specifies the desired concentration via an input unit on the refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a solute supplying unit storing the solute for making the functional beverage and a dissolution chamber. The solute mixes with water into the user-selected functional beverage in the dissolution chamber. The amount of solute introduced to the dissolution chamber is controlled based on the user desired concentration. The produced functional beverage is then dispensed for user to consume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: DONGBU DAEWOO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kwan Seo Koo
  • Patent number: 9574712
    Abstract: Processes and systems are described, which provide important advantages in filling gas storage vessels, such as gas cylinders for the transport of compressed natural gas (CNG). For example, the flow of gas from the fill station may be terminated safely, using an auto-fill shut-off mechanism, without the risk of exceeding vessel pressure ratings and overall reduced risk of operator error. The automatic termination of flow can occur at a preselected pressure that may, for example, be set at a fixed value, or may otherwise be adjusted based on the local temperature at the time of the fill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: TRILLIUM TRANSPORTATION FUELS, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley W. Wilson, David A. Diggins
  • Patent number: 9469463
    Abstract: An automated dispenser for dispensing spices, condiments, herbs, teas, ground coffees, or powdered beverages, having a plurality of cartridges mounted on a carrier respectively containing the items, having a dispenser with relative movement capable between the dispenser and the cartridges. A look-up table is provided for operation of the dispenser to dispense a particular variety of mixtures and quantities from the cartridges. When a spice blend and associated dispensing program is selected by a user, the dispensing program aligns the dispenser relative to the cartridge carrier and cartridge, to dispense a particular quantity and, in the case of a mix, to subsequently align with other selected cartridges to provide, from the cartridges, the mix of spices, herbs, condiments, powdered beverages or ground coffees. A specialized cartridge for use in the automated dispenser is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Tastetro, Inc.
    Inventors: James Bruce Murray, Carlos Eduardo Salazar, Francis James Giunta, Kenneth Scott Hanna
  • Patent number: 9417109
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rotary valve and rotary disk fluid dispensing system that sanitizes valve ports using UV radiation during non-use. Steam and ozinated water can also be used for stripping and disinfecting portions of the dispenser that can be accessed by the public. The system also uses detectors including hall detectors and a camera to inspect for blockage of valve ports, tampering or improper operation of the rotary valve disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Watermill Express, LLC
    Inventors: John J. Kolber, Donald P. Dolifka, Gerald Davis
  • Patent number: 9351604
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a beverage preparation machine (1) for use with a beverage preparation capsule, comprising a machine main unit with a casing (3), a water reservoir (4), and a brewing head (5) comprising a dispensing outlet for dispensing said beverage into a container (12) placed below said outlet, characterized in that said machine further comprises a base element (2) supporting the main unit (3, 4, 5), and (i) the base element (2) comprises supporting stands with surfaces (11) for supporting said container (12), said stands having different heights, and (ii) the machine main unit (3, 4, 5) is pivotally mounted onto said base element (2) such that the brewing head (5) can be aligned above any of the supporting surfaces (11) by rotation of said machine main unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Christian Talon, Samuel Odet
  • Patent number: 9216831
    Abstract: The method provides: a first step, in which a radioactive fluid is conveyed from a source to a container; a second step, during which inert gas under pressure is conveyed towards the container; and a third step, during which, due to the action of the inert gas, the radioactive fluid is conveyed from the container to a bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Comecer S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alessia Zanelli, Stefano Bosi
  • Patent number: 9168202
    Abstract: A device and method for docking a vial with a container is disclosed. A cap may be used to establish fluid communication between the vial and a container. The cap may be positioned within a first aperture in the device which is positioned below a second aperture which is sized to accept the vial. The second aperture may contain a taper so that the vial may automatically center above the piercing aperture of the cap. A notch may be placed adjacent to the first aperture so that the vial and cap may be removed horizontally from the device. A cavity may be positioned below the first aperture to accept at least a portion of a container which may be in fluid communication with the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Inventors: Doug Clouser, Gary L. Sharpe
  • Patent number: 9155322
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a frozen confectionery product and to a method of manufacturing same. It furthermore relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a frozen confectionery product by rotary vertical extrusion. Said apparatus comprises a nozzle (14) at least one ice-cream passage (20, 22) with at least one inlet port (24, 26) and an outlet port (28), and at least one chocolate passage (30, 32) with respectively an inlet port (34, 36) and an outlet port (38, 38?). The outlet ports are provided in the nozzle (14) and have elongated cross-sections, and each chocolate outlet port (38, 38?) extends in parallel to an ice cream outlet port (28), so as to form annular or helical chocolate layers upon rotation of the nozzle and the container with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Massimilliano Ricco, Jean-Michel Marchon
  • Patent number: 8944118
    Abstract: A pressure filling system for filling aerosol cans with liquid includes an enclosure including a top wall, a bottom wall, and side walls which form a filling chamber. An air operated pump is positioned within the filling chamber. A liquid supply tube extends into the chamber and into the pump. A pressurized air supply tube extends into the chamber and into the pump. A pressurized supply outlet tube which extends from the pump to a filling head in the filling chamber. An air purge tube is connected to the filling head to purge excess air from the liquid. A lifting mechanism lifts an aerosol can into engagement with the filling head for receiving pressurized liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventor: Raffi Nalbandian
  • Patent number: 8944120
    Abstract: Filling a container with a filling material having a first and second liquid components in a predetermined ratio includes supplying the first component from a tank to the container through a filling material line that defines opposite first and second directions, the line being closable by a valve. A flow-rate measuring unit determines an amount of first liquid component fed through the line in the second direction. The method also includes feeding the second component into the line, the line having been at least partially filled by the first component, and detecting an amount of the second component fed therein. Detecting the amount of the second component includes using a flow-rate measuring unit to detect motion of the first component caused by feeding the second component. The method then includes displacing at least a portion of the first component from the line along the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Andre Neuhäuser, Norman Gras
  • Patent number: 8931525
    Abstract: An injecting device for filling a holder with separated liquid layers is provided herein. The device includes at least two containers for holding different liquids, an injector for filling a holder with separated liquid layers and moving means for setting the distance between the holder and the injector. A method for filling a holder with separated liquid layers is also provided. The method includes the steps of placing a holder with bottom, disposing inside the holder, and at a predetermined distance from the bottom of the holder, a feed conduit with an outflow opening for dispensing liquid, and allowing different liquids to flow sequentially out of the feed conduit, wherein the distance between the outflow opening and the bottom is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Layernation Beverage Solutions B.V.
    Inventors: Diederik Jasper Kinds, Fedde Martijn Poppenk, Philip Markus Van Meer
  • Patent number: 8915269
    Abstract: An apparatus for filling a container with a two-component filling material includes separate liquid channels for the two components. Each channel has a controllable valve. A flow meter is configured for directly measuring an amount of the first component fed to the container and indirectly measuring an amount of the second component fed to said container. It does the indirect measurement by measuring a flow rate of the first component resulting from a flow rate of the second component. Each component has an associated variable-volume chamber configured so that a volume change in one leads to an inverse volume change in the other. This affects flow rate of the first component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter-Rudolf Krulitsch, Jonathan Lorenz
  • Publication number: 20140345745
    Abstract: A method for filling containers with filling goods that comprise liquid that has a solids content includes using a magnetically inductive flow meter for controlling at least one of volume and quantity of said filling goods in a particular container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Andreas Fahldieck, Jonathan Lorenz, Dieter-Rudolf Krulitsch, Ludwig Clusserath
  • Patent number: 8844585
    Abstract: An apparatus for filling containers with a liquid and, in particular, with a beverage, with a plurality of filling elements which in each case have an outlet in order to pour the beverage into the containers, as well as a valve device in order to control the supply of the liquid into the containers, with a conveying device which conveys the containers along a pre-set conveying path at least for a time during the filling thereof with the liquid, and with a cleaning device which acts with a cleaning medium upon at least one region contacted by the liquid to be filled. At least one filling element is designed in such a way that the cleaning medium is freely discharged out of this filling element during a cleaning operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Roland Laumer, Manfred Schmid, Juergen Soellner
  • Patent number: 8807176
    Abstract: A method for forming a diffuse visual pattern of two or more product components in a container. The method includes providing a filler/mixer having a mixing chamber with up to about 10 mixing elements. A container is positioned after the mixing chamber on a container support that is capable of rotating the container. The components are fed into the mixing chamber to form a mixture. The mixture is fed into the container while it is rotated and concurrently separated from the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Peter R. Hilliard, Jr., Mahmoud Hassan, John H. Swanson
  • Patent number: 8800610
    Abstract: A filling device for filling containers with a liquid has a first port for supplying a first liquid to the filling device, a second port spaced from the first port for supplying a second liquid to the filling device A mixing chamber within the filling device includes a first liquid channel which guides the first liquid from the first port to the mixing chamber, and a second liquid channel which guides the second liquid from the second port to the mixing chamber, wherein the first liquid channel and the second liquid channel guide the first liquid and the second liquid separately from one another A valve body controls discharge of the liquids from the filling device through an outlet to the container. The valve body is disposed at least partially between the mixing chamber and the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Rupert Meinzinger
  • Publication number: 20140182741
    Abstract: Aspects and embodiments of the present invention are directed to spectrometry systems and for apparatus and methods for delivering dopants to same. In one example, there is provided a dopant delivery device configured to supply dopants to a spectrometry system comprising a tube including a first chamber 5 and a second chamber, a first dopant source included in the first chamber, and a second dopant source included in the second chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: DSA DETECTION LLC
    Inventors: Timothy B. Burton, Stephen Scott Milt
  • Patent number: 8763654
    Abstract: Filling system for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid consisting of a main component and at least one additional component, said system comprising a plurality of filling elements in which the additional component(s) is/are supplied in controlled quantities via at least one mixing line per filling element in order to be mixed with the main component in the filling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Norman Gras, Ludwig Clüsserath, Manfred Härtel
  • Patent number: 8757225
    Abstract: An apparatus for filling containers with liquids and in particular with beverages may include a filling device, which fills the liquid into the container. The filling device has a valve device for controlling the liquid flow into the container including a first supply line for supplying a first liquid to the filling device and comprising a second supply line for supplying a second liquid to the filling device, wherein the first supply line and the second supply line are separate from one another at least in some sections. The apparatus may have a control device configured in such a way that, at the start and at the end of a filling process for a container, this container is filled only with the first liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Erwin Knieling
  • Patent number: 8752598
    Abstract: Liquid drug transfer assemblies for use with a drug vial having a drug vial opening stopped by a drug vial stopper. The liquid drug transfer assemblies include a drug vial stopper puncturing member for puncturing a drug vial stopper. The liquid drug transfer assemblies also include a drug vial adapter having a drug vial adapter skirt, an upright drug vial adapter port and a drug vial adapter sleeve downward depending opposite the upright drug vial adapter port and in flow communication therewith. The drug vial adapter is slidingly disposed on the drug vial stopper puncturing member such that on mounting the liquid drug transfer assembly on the drug vial, the drug vial stopper puncturing member punctures the drug vial stopper to form a throughgoing puncture bore and the drug vial adapter sleeve lines the puncture bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: MEDIMOP Medical Projects Ltd.
    Inventors: Igor Denenburg, Nimrod Lev, Mordechai Bukhman
  • Patent number: 8733407
    Abstract: A device for the introduction of air and/or sealant into a tire, in particular a motor vehicle tire, having an electric pump or compressor, an electric connection cable for the pump or compressor which has a connection element, in particular a plug, at its end for the connection of the connection cable to a power supply, in particular to the cigarette lighter of a motor vehicle, having a hose for the air and/or the sealant which is or can be connected to the electric pump or compressor and whose other end can be connected to the tire to be filled, and having a housing for the reception of at least some of the device components, wherein the housing has in each case a separate receiver for the connection cable, on the one hand, and the connection element of the connection cable, on the other hand to improve the handling of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
    Inventor: Arnold Eckhardt
  • Patent number: 8714208
    Abstract: A container is provided comprising a receiving vessel (12) and an outlet part (14), wherein the outlet part (14) comprises a one-way valve (24) and at least one bypass passage (32) bypassing the one-way valve (24), wherein the outlet part (14) is at least partly movable with respect to the receiving vessel (12) between a closed position and an opened position, wherein in the closed position the receiving vessel (12) seals the bypass passage (32) and in the opened position the receiving vessels (12) unseals the bypass passage (32). Due to the one-way valve (24) of the alternative container (10) the filling is facilitated without complicating emptying, since it is prevented that the content (42) of the container (10) flows back accidently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Kao Germany
    Inventor: Günther Niepoth
  • Patent number: 8671995
    Abstract: A sealing and inflating assembly includes an air compressor for generating a pressurized air, a tire repairing container for receiving a sealing preparation having a mouth opening, an outlet piece attached to the mouth opening of the container for guiding the pressurized air to flow into the container, and having an inlet conduit for allowing the sealing preparation to flow out of the outlet piece, a pipe coupled to the inlet conduit of the outlet piece for directing and guiding the pressurized air to flow into an upper space of the container without flowing through the sealing preparation when the container is disposed upside down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Inventor: Wen San Chou
  • Publication number: 20140053952
    Abstract: A cartridge for use with a beneficial agent delivery device having a fillable reservoir. The cartridge includes a reconstitution, unit dose package having first and second compartments, and a fitment. The first compartment contains at least a first constintuent of the beneficial agent. The second compartment contains at least a second constituent of the beneficial agent. The fitment is disposed on the package for interfacing the package to the fillable reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: AKTIVPAK, INC
    Inventor: Amir Genosar
  • Patent number: 8656964
    Abstract: An auto-filling assembly for a refillable sprayer has a base device, a controlling device and a filling device. The base device has a base, an oil tank and a connecting jacket. The connecting jacket is mounted on the base and has a connecting disk, a switch and an engaging mount. The controlling device is connected to the base device and has an inlet valve, a first linking valve, a gas-controlling valve, a second linking valve and a triple valve. The filling device is mounted on the base device, is connected to the controlling device and has a storage bottle, a release valve and a mechanical valve. The auto-filling assembly can be used to fill pressurized gas and oil into a refillable sprayer conveniently and automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Inventor: Bo-Lang Chu