Axially Reciprocating Discharge Assistant Patents (Class 141/258)
  • Patent number: 11338945
    Abstract: A mixing-dosage apparatus for rotary machines for packaging containers includes a mixing portion and a dosage portion. The two portions have a selective fluid connection using a flow control valve, which acts between the two portions so as to feed the dosage duct with consecutive loads of mixed food mass. Each load has a volume that is approximately equal to the volume of the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Filippo Furlotti
  • Patent number: 11135536
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a purification device comprising: a main body, and a water-outlet module, wherein the module includes a fixed cover fixed to the main body so as to protrude forward of the main body, a vertically-movable cover moving vertically while bearing against the fixed cover, and a water-outlet nozzle mounted on a bottom of the vertically-movable cover, wherein a stopping protrusion protrudes outward from a bottom lateral face of the vertically-movable cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jewook Jeon, Jingyu Ji, Minho Kim, Youngseok Kim, Hoon Jang, Soonki Jung
  • Patent number: 8857675
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10) for the metered filling of bulk material having a metering screw (16), which is arranged in a hollow cylinder shaped metering tube (12) and which can be slid in a longitudinal axis (L) of the metering tube (12), having a closing head (18) for closing a metering opening (14), wherein the closing head (18) has a substantially conical surface (20) and the metering tube (12) transitions after the metering opening (14) into a hollow cylinder shaped mouthpiece (32) having a larger inner diameter (DMi) compared to the inner diameter (dRi) of the metering tube (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Gysel, Hansruedi Frueh, Tobias Bury
  • Publication number: 20140251498
    Abstract: A refrigerator having a dispenser includes a cavity positioned on a front surface of a door of a refrigerator defining a predetermined space, a guide positioned at an upper portion of the cavity, a grip unit coupled to the guide and allowed to slide downward from the guide, and a water retrieval part provided at the grip unit. The grip unit of the dispenser installed on the front surface of the door of the refrigerator vertically slides to allow the position of the water dispenser port to be adjusted as desired by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Kyutae Park, Kyungsoo Park, Seonkyu Kim, Hyokku Kwon, Hangbok Lee
  • Patent number: 8607828
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus useful for filling containers by means of a rotating turret which is configured to rotate the containers through the container-filing apparatus to a dosing portion where they are then are filled with material by way of a tamping mechanism. The container-filling apparatus may also include a container-conveying means to move the containers to the rotating turret. Methods of filling containers by using container-filling apparatuses according to embodiments of the invention are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Catalent CTS (Kansas City), LLC
    Inventors: Todd Stutzman, Robert Muier
  • Patent number: 8490659
    Abstract: A filling apparatus of flexible containers with a dense fluid, such as cream, yoghurt, honey, fruit juice, medicines and similar comprises vacuum devices, gas supply devices, filling devices and a valve. The valve comprises a main body, an obturator, a needle and a needle operating mechanism able to move the needle in translation. The obturator duct is connected to the vacuum and gas supply devices, to remove any residues of fluid aspirated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Flextech, S.r.l.
    Inventor: Fulvio Laguzzi
  • Patent number: 8176947
    Abstract: A container is filled to a predetermined target mass of a free-flowing substance with the help of a device that dispenses measured doses of the substance. The dispensing device has a valve for variably adjusting the mass flow rate of the substance from a reservoir into the container. The dispensing device further includes a device to measure the elapsed time from the beginning of the filling process, a balance for determining the mass of the substance in the container, and a controller unit with a valve control module. The controller unit includes an adjusting module, where a predetermined desired mass flow rate is stored. At an elapsed time, if the mass flow rate is smaller or larger than the desired mass flow rate, the flow rate is, respectively, increased or decreased by a flow rate adjustment. An adaptive filter of the controller unit determines the mass flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Pascal Frei, Guido Schuster
  • Patent number: 8069886
    Abstract: A capsule preparation system includes a syringe holder for retaining a syringe, the syringe holder configured for operating a plunger of the syringe, a supply vial for storing a volume of radiopharmaceutical, and a capsule holder for capturing a capsule wherein the capsule holder is configured for selectively releasing the capsule from the capsule holder. At least a portion of the syringe holder is movable along a first direction and a second direction to position the syringe relative to the supply vial and the capsule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Vulcan Lead, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott H. Yanke, James Chojnacki
  • Patent number: 7963305
    Abstract: Filling valve (5) including: a hollow housing (11) having a valve seat (25); a moving valve rod (14) slidingly mounted in the housing (11) and having a sealing surface (23), the moving valve rod (14) and the hollow housing (11) together defining a liquid chamber (18); a liquid inlet (26) for putting the liquid chamber (18) into communication with a liquid supply pipe (6); a device for putting the valve rod (14) in a first, full-open position, in which the sealing surface (23) is spaced from the valve seat (25), thereby forming a passage (27) for the liquid; a device for putting the valve rod (14) in a second, closed position, in which the sealing surface (23) is in sealing contact with the valve seat (25), thereby closing the passage (27), and a device for putting the valve rod (14) in a third, predetermined, semi-open position in which the sealing surface (23) is spaced from the valve seat (25) but closer to the same than in the full-open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Sidel Participations
    Inventors: Andrea Lupi, Fabrizio Vaia
  • Patent number: 7861749
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing metered amounts of powdered material, such as baby formula, from a dispenser unit, or cartridge, that can be quickly and easily interconnected with the dispenser. The dispenser can accommodate formula bottles of various sizes and includes a dispensing plunger that provides an oscillating action to prevent compaction of the formula and functions to ensure even dispensing of the formula into the formula bottle. Uniquely, actuation of the dispensing plunger creates a negative pressure internally of the dispensing chamber of the dispenser so as to assist the uniform withdrawal of formula from the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventor: Artin Gevorgian
  • Publication number: 20100200112
    Abstract: A device for metering of powdery filling material is proposed, with a filling material container, on the bottom of which at least one metering opening is arranged, with at least one transfer plunger which can be introduced by a movement system into the metering opening in order to transfer the filling material located in the metering opening into a receptacle. In addition to the movement system, a drive unit is provided for applying a force to the transfer plunger in order to assist the transfer of the filling material into the receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Ralf Schmied, Jens Schlipf, Walter Boehringer
  • Publication number: 20090301605
    Abstract: The invention relates to a filling head with low Reynolds number, consisting of an inner body (2) and an outer body (3), in which one moves axially with respect to the other, there being a space (4) delimited between them that configures the dynamic characteristics that the flow will have, comprising a damping zone A with inlet (5) located on a different axis from that of the outlet (6), a pressure-loss zone B with seated valve (7), a zone C, with low Reynolds number, composed of n channels (10), with n fins (9) greater than 3 and LRHC less than 4, an ogival acceleration zone D and a nozzle (8) or closure zone E with a seal (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Antonio Mengibar Rivas
  • Patent number: 7182224
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for portioning flowable food products, consisting of: a first group of cylinders (1) comprising pistons (3) which communicate with a chamber (5) having an inlet (5a) and an outlet (5b); a second group of cylinders (2) comprising pistons (4) which communicate with a chamber (6) having an inlet (6a) and an outlet (6b), and dispensing means. Said dispensing means are controlled by synchronisation and control means in order to: alternately communicate a food product inlet (9) with said chamber (5) whereby the cylinders (1) open the inlet (5a) and close the outlet (5b) thereof; and simultaneously communicate an outlet (10) with said chamber (8) whereby the cylinders (2) close the inlet (56a) and open the outlet (6b) thereof and vice versa. Fluid dynamic cylinders (26) actuate each piston (3, 4) consecutively or actuate on sub-groups of pistons (3, 4) consecutively in order to empty the cylinders (1, 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Metalquimia, S.A.
    Inventor: Narcis Lagares Corominas
  • Patent number: 7083007
    Abstract: A fingerboard having at least one fingerboard row for storing a plurality of threaded tubulars is provided. A plurality of latches are connected to the at least one fingerboard row for lockingly retaining at least one threaded tubular, wherein each of the plurality of latches is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. A row controller is connected to each of the latches for individually and sequentially moving the latches between the locked and unlocked positions, wherein the row controller is manually operable from a location remote from the latches such that the latches are manually and remotely controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventor: Neil Herst
  • Patent number: 7059369
    Abstract: A product transfer device is provided that includes telescoping tubular arm sections that collectively define a fluid passageway and are arranged so that a terminal arm section has the smallest diameter, while the diameters of the succeeding arm sections are increasingly larger. Piston seals in adjacent arm sections cooperate to define a chamber. A product transfer valve and isolation valve control the flow of product through the product transfer device. Pressurization of the passageway extends the arm sections and an actuator device opens the product transfer valve when the transfer arm contacts a container bottom. Pressurization of the chamber causes retraction of the arm sections so that the exterior of each arm section is wiped clean by the piston seal of the arm section into which that arm section is retracted. Retraction of the arm sections also operates a securing device that automatically shuts the product transfer valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Hiltap Fittings Ltd.
    Inventor: Lee A. Krywitsky
  • Patent number: 7051771
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for introducing powder into a pocket (32) using a dosator (10) having an elongate cavity with an open end and a plunger (12) opposite the open end moveable along the cavity so as to define, between the plunger (12) and the open end, a space of variable volume, the method including, with the plunger (12) defining a volume greater than that of the pocket (32), inserting the open end into a source of powder so as to fill the volume with powder, positioning the open end over the pocket, driving the plunger so as to expel powder from the open end into the pocket and compress it to a predetermined bulk density and removing the open end from the pocket so as to leave the pocket full of powder with the predetermined bulk density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Pfizer Limited
    Inventors: Andrew John Ede, Peter John Houzego, John Martin Hewett
  • Patent number: 6951230
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the denseness of powder conveyed from a hopper through a funnel and into a container includes an auger that is positioned within the funnel that is rotatable and vertically movable. The rotation and vertical movement of the auger serves to continuously vary the length of the auger and as a result maximizes the mass of powder that can fill the container. Alternatively, the auger can include an articulatable section that splays when it is extended beyond a terminal portion of the funnel. Still yet, the device could include a hollow auger shaft with an internal rod that has the ability to extend and retract. The rod includes a strip portion and with the strip portion retracted, the powder discharged is in its densest state. As the strip portion is extended the powder density is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Paul M. Wegman
  • Patent number: 6810930
    Abstract: An apparatus for metering powdered filling material has a filling material container whose bottom is provided with bores which cooperate with tamping plungers and transfer plungers. Underneath the bottom is a stop ring which functions as a counter support for the tamping plungers. To prevent powder losses from the bottom the filling material container is axially movable in such a way that it can be pressed against the stop ring during the downward motion of the tamping plungers. This is achieved by means of hold-down elements which can be moved synchronously with the tamping plungers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Schlipf, Werner Runft, Walter Boehringer
  • Patent number: 6810921
    Abstract: A method of filling containers, especially bags, with bulk material by a feeding funnel and a filler pipe. The filler pipe adjoins the lower end of the feeding funnel. An axially displaceable and rotatable conveying unit is arranged co-axially within the filler pipe. An axially displaceable and rotatable closing element is firmly connected to the lower end of the conveying unit. The bulk material, while being conveyed by the conveying unit in the filler pipe, is simultaneously mechanically agitated in the filling funnel, or simultaneously mechanically conveyed in the filling funnel towards the filler pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: BMH Chronos Richardson, GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Schlösser
  • Patent number: 6585013
    Abstract: A continuous machine for filling the bottom shells of capsules with at least one product has a conveyor for feeding the bottom shells along a given path; and at least one metering wheel having a number of metering devices, each for supplying a relative bottom shell with a given quantity of product withdrawn from a container, which is mounted eccentrically with respect to the metering wheel and is supplied by means of at least one conduit extending downwards inside a space enclosing the container and the metering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: H.P.F. S.r.l.
    Inventor: Ernesto Gamberini
  • Patent number: 6484763
    Abstract: A device for transporting fluids, such as viscous adhesives and sealants. The device includes a cylinder which may be filled by a supply line and a movable piston within the cylinder for ejecting the fluid into a discharge line. The piston includes an axial fluid channel and can be moved by way of a piston rod which also includes an axial fluid channel. An inlet valve is positioned between the supply line and the cylinder and may be moved between open and closed positions for releasing or interrupting the supply the fluid from the supply line into the interior of the cylinder. The piston rod includes threading and this threading is engaged with corresponding threading on a rotatable and drivable drive element so that the piston may be moved by rotating the drive element within the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: Norbert Derntl
  • Publication number: 20020066493
    Abstract: A process is provided for filling an at least partially collapsible container comprising one or more fill and/or dispense apertures. The collapsible container is evacuated prior to refilling the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Timothy Hewlitt, Steven Kelsey, William Maskell, Jerard O'Brien
  • Patent number: 6378574
    Abstract: A rotary type continuous filling apparatus that continuously fills bags accommodated in retainers with a filling liquid via filing nozzles. A cylinder of each of the pump devices that correspond to the respective filling nozzles is installed horizontally with the discharge opening facing outward. The discharge opening communicates with a feed-out opening of a nozzle main body, and a tank containing the filling liquid communicates with a supply opening of the nozzle main body via a flow passage. A cam roller is connected to the piston via swing levers, vertical supporting shafts and cam levers, and these cam rollers move along an annular cam groove of a piston operating cam. Furthermore, each filling nozzle has a flow passage switching valve that switches between a communication and non-communication of the supply opening and the feed-out opening, and it also has an opening-and-closing valve that opens and closes the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shoji Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 6257286
    Abstract: A valve suitable for dispensing a food product, and a method and apparatus for distributing a food product into a series of containers via the valve. The valve comprises a food product chamber, a fluid chamber, an inlet valve, and an outlet valve. The food product chamber comprises a cylinder and a piston which is adapted to move within the cylinder. The cylinder has an inlet and an outlet. The fluid chamber is adapted to actuate the piston in a reciprocating motion comprising an uptake stroke and an expulsion stroke. The inlet valve is adapted to open the inlet during the uptake stroke, and to close the inlet during the expulsion stroke. Conversely, the outlet valve is adapted to open the outlet during the expulsion stroke, and to close the outlet during the uptake stroke. The diameter of the food product chamber is less than the diameter of the fluid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Norse Dairy Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Giovanni Gaetano
  • Patent number: 6148874
    Abstract: A machine and method for filling bags with liquid through spouts attached to the bags, wherein a piston within a filling head that operates to control flow of the liquid from the filling head is also extended out of the filling head and into the spout, after the bag is filled, in order to push remaining material from the spout and through is bottom opening into the bag. The spout bottom opening is then closed, after which any remaining material adhering to the walls inside the spout and surfaces of the filling head are cleaned by forming a chamber between them through which a cleaning fluid is passed. This machine and method are particularly useful when filling bags with highly viscous and/or sticky liquids, such as thick food products. They avoid a result of having either to distribute messy bags of product with material remaining adhered to the outside of the spout and/or bag, or to first remove this material by an additional cleaning step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Packaging Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Christopher C. Rutter, Stanley E. Hurd
  • Patent number: 6105634
    Abstract: A device for filling packages (10) with flowable products in low germ level conditions in a clean room (9) is described, with a product line (26), a filler valve (11) and a filler pipe (8) projecting into the clean room (9). In order that filling, with a low level of germs, of flowable contents into packages (10) is made possible without formation of condensation on filler pipes (8) and preferably in addition cleaning of the device directly in place without a great deal of assembly, the filler pipe (8), in its inlet area on the inlet aperture (15) in the top surface (14) of the clean room (9) is surrounded by a sleeve pipe (28) fitted at a distance coaxially, with inflow apertures (29) for air which is dry and has a low level of germs, and means (2-7) for producing and supplying the air which is dry and has a low level of germs are provided in the inflow apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Udo Liebram, Peter Sattler
  • Patent number: 5996652
    Abstract: An apparatus for filling cups has a conveyor for displacing the cups in a horizontal transport direction stepwise along a horizontal transport path and at least two dosing units spaced in the transport direction from each other above the path and each including a supply of a fluent material and valve and pump means for ejecting doses of the material. A manifold includes a pair of intake conduits each extending generally in the horizontal transport direction and each connected to a respective one of the dosing units for receiving the material doses therefrom and a distributor body between the dosing units, formed with a pair of grooves each connected to a respective one of the tubes, and forming a pair of outlet passages open vertically downward toward the path so that material fed generally horizontally from the dosing units to the body issues downward from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Benhil Gasti Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Karl Schromm
  • Patent number: 5865226
    Abstract: A fill system for filling a series of containers being processed on a packaging machine is set forth herein. The fill system includes a servomotor which may implement a number of stored fill profiles to provide precise filling of the containers. The servomotor is connected to one end of a cam shaft by a drive linkage. The drive linkage may be a toothed belt. The cam shaft is connected at its other end to a cam having a closed cam track. The cam directs a piston rod which controls a piston stroke in a piston chamber of the fill system. The piston chamber receives and holds of volume of product that is to be dispensed into each of the series of containers. The fill system may be integrated onto an existing packaging machine. The servomotor may be controlled by programmable logic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance, S.A.
    Inventor: David J. Sweeney
  • Patent number: 5769136
    Abstract: A liquid metering-filling apparatus is provided which includes a container transport conveyor intermittently drivable so as to halt containers one by one at a filling station. A filling nozzle is disposed above a path of transport of containers at the filling station. A metering cylinder houses a piston and has an outlet in communication with the filling nozzle. An inlet check valve is provided at an inlet of the metering cylinder. An outlet check valve is provided at any one of the outlet of the metering cylinder and inside of the filling nozzle. The liquid metering-filling apparatus also includes a driver for causing the piston to perform a cycle of stroking movement every time the conveyor is driven by one pitch. A photoelectric sensor is provided at the filling station for detecting any one of the presence and absence of a container of the plurality of containers at the filling station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Shikoku Kakoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Kanematsu, Yoshihiro Saijo, Michio Ueda
  • Patent number: 5626171
    Abstract: The mechanism (27, 28) which regulates the volume of the distributors (16, 116) is connected to a shaft (41) coaxial to the shaft of the distributor carrousel. When the motor (63) is at standstill, the two coaxial shafts (2,41) rotate in the same direction and at the same speed. Whenever the motor (63) is activated in one direction or the other with the carrousel at the standstill or rotating, the inner shaft (41) rotates relative to the outer shaft (2), in the direction and to the extent necessary for the required regulation of volume of the distributors. The volume of the distributors is controlled remotely by a programmable processor (77).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.
    Inventor: Nerio Mirri
  • Patent number: 5524683
    Abstract: An apparatus for filling containers including a pump housing having a pump chamber, a product inlet in communication with a supply of product under pressure, a product outlet and a piston positioned therein. The piston is movable by the supply of product under pressure between advancing and retracting positions where product is discharged from the chamber and through the outlet during the advancing stroke and the chamber is filled with product during the retracting stroke. A first valve is included to regulate the flow of product through the outlet and a second valve is included to regulate the flow of product between opposite sides of the piston. By controlling the opening and closing of the first and second valves, the pressure of the product enables movement of the piston to eject product and fill the chamber as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Osgood Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin J. Mueller
  • Patent number: 5431198
    Abstract: An improved product filling machine adapted to dispense product into containers that are advanced by standard conveyor systems. The component parts of the product filling machine are modular, permitting rapid repair, cleaning and flexibility in adapting the machine to various product packaging apparatuses. The product filling machine has clean-in-place capability and structure for flushing the machine with sterile air after cleaning and maintaining pressurized sterile air within portions of the product filling machine during the filling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Autoprod, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfons Turtchan, Paul DeSocio
  • Patent number: 5417260
    Abstract: The invention relates to a metering-out device for taking successive timed doses of liquid from a tank, the device comprising a body for mounting in fixed manner relative to the tank and including a liquid-taking plunger with motion transmission means for driving the plunger with reciprocating motion in the liquid so that in one direction the liquid is metered out and in the opposite direction it is pumped. The invention also provides a metering-out valve including such a metering-out device, and metering-out apparatus including such a metering-out valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Inventor: Rene Perrier
  • Patent number: 5315362
    Abstract: A movable frame member is so mounted on a stationary frame member as to be movable reciprocatingly. A plurality of developing mechanisms are provided on the movable frame member to perform developing in different colors. The same number of toner containers as the number of developing mechanisms are arranged in a fixed manner, and toner feeders for feeding toner into the corresponding developing mechanisms are provided.Each of the toner feders includes a toner conveying device for conveying toner to an upper end portion of a cylindrical member, and a toner dropping passage means for feeding toner conveyed to the upper end portion of the cylindrical member to the developing mechanism. The toner dropping, passage includes an expansion/contraction device so disposed as to extend along the moving direction of the developing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Fuji, Hideki Kita, Toshimitsu Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 5247970
    Abstract: A method for filling particulate material into a vertical tube includes conveying the particles downwardly into the tube along a line with a damper in the form of a series of damper brushes each arranged substantially transversely to the line and having a radial extension less than the inner diameter of the tube. The line is pulled up gradually as the tube is filled with particles. The damper can be in the form of brushes that are flexible so that they give or yield gradually when the particles fall down thereon. A wire can be used as the line, to which is fastened a series of substantially equidistant transversely extending brushes, preferably in the form of springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro a.s.
    Inventors: Gunne Ryntveit, Kjell R. Bayer
  • Patent number: 5240049
    Abstract: The machine for the dosage and introduction of powder products into containers comprises a vertical central shaft, a sleeve guided on the central shaft and a pipe guided on the sleeve. The shaft, the sleeve and the pipe are movable along strokes which are appropriately mutually synchronized. At, least two series of dosage tubes are associated with the pipe and slidably accommodate pistons defining dosage chambers. Actuation cams are provided for actuating in succession the descent stroke of the sleeve and the pipe so as to cause the insertion of the series of tubes in respective annular channels of a hopper mounted around the sleeve in order to fill the dosage chambers with doses of product which are discharged into a plurality of containers after lifting the tubes out of the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Macofar S.p.A.
    Inventor: Franco Chiari
  • Patent number: 5230203
    Abstract: A modular system for filling and seaming a plurality of containers moving in parallel linear directions using a plurality of modules wherein each module comprises container filling apparatus, lid placing apparatus and lid seaming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Coors Brewing Company
    Inventors: Samuel C. Wu, Thomas T. Melsheimer, Allen E. Sauer
  • Patent number: 5230373
    Abstract: A piston filler apparatus as disclosed in which the filler pistons and associated reciprocal valves are disposed below the product containing bowl so that they can be withdrawn into the bowl to effect easy in-place cleaning. A method of in-place cleaning is also disclosed, as well an an alternate method of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: EME Engler USA Corp.
    Inventor: Manfred W. Engler
  • Patent number: 5137187
    Abstract: Anti-spray fluid dispensing nozzle for filling an open top container. The nozzle comprises an elongated fluid supply conduit establishing a fluid path between a source of pressurized fluid and the container to be filled. First and second valves are mounted in the supply conduit disposed in a spaced apart relationship with the first valve positioned upstream the second valve. Each valve includes a movable closure member cooperating with a valve seat to control the flow of fluid through the supply conduit. The closure members of both valves are coupled to a common actuating rod mounted for linear movement within the supply conduit to selectively displace each closure member between a valve closed position and a valve opened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: H.G. Kalish
    Inventors: Peter Nichols, Robin Lapointe
  • Patent number: 5127549
    Abstract: A piston-type multi-station rotary filling machine having improved reliability and consistency of operation. The filling machine includes a nozzle assembly for a filler with a product port which includes a nozzle body with a rectangular nozzle that intersects the product port. A plunger having a complementary rectangular cross-section and with a knife edge on the side adjacent to the port is reciprocably mounted within the nozzle. The knife edge cleanly cuts tough food products to facilitate accurate dispensing of the food products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Robert D. Merritt, Stanley A. Groom
  • Patent number: 5127449
    Abstract: An apparatus for filling containers includes a food product fill pump having a valve member and pump piston operated by respective cam drives. A servo-controlled drive motor drives the cams, whereby the speed of the pump operation can be controlled independently of an associated container conveyor. Significantly, the servo-control of the apparatus permits the pump piston of the food pump to be operated during its container-filling advancing stroke at a substantially constant speed, while the pumping cycle time is selectively varied by selectively varying the speed of the piston retraction stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: Osgood Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin J. Mueller, Martin Mueller, Michael A. Weigandt
  • Patent number: 5107907
    Abstract: A two-stage apparatus for measuring quantities of constituents of a product for canning includes a quantity measuring chamber which is substantially vertical and mounted on a support which rotates about an axis. The chamber comprises a tubular enclosure inside which slides a first piston. A lower part of the chamber is connected by supply conduits to a respective one of a pair of tanks, each of which is for holding a different one of the constituent products. The chamber is also connected by a delivery conduit to a filling nozzle, in which slides a secondary piston. A control valve selectively opens and closes the passages through the supply conduits to the measuring chamber in a predetermined order, and for a predetermined period of time to thereby control the relative quantities of the constituents supplied to the chamber. The control valve is adjustable to vary the ratios of constituents introduced into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: U.S.A., Inc. Hema
    Inventor: Jean-Charles Marchadour
  • Patent number: 5097876
    Abstract: A meat stuffing machine that operates under vacuum conditions during loading for the purpose of improving the homogeneity of the final product. The machine consists of: a tank supported on a machine frame, which includes a duct connecting it to a vacuum source, a duct for loading meat, and a recess on a side of the tank which houses a pneumatic cylinder used to push the meat product toward the bottom of the tank. An interchangeable gauging cavity contains a pusher means operated by a pneumatic cylinder. The gauging cavity is connected to a plate that is slidably secured to a flat wall of the machine frame, which has an aperture connecting to the tank and a second aperture that leads to a hollow tube that supports a casing. Once the gauging cavity is filled with meat product it slides to the second aperture and fills the casing supported by the hollow tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Metalquimia, S.A.
    Inventor: Narciso C. Lagares
  • Patent number: 5080148
    Abstract: A volume adjustment device for a filler is disclosed which simultaneously permits rough adjustment of a plurality of pistons within product cylinder and also permits fine volumetric tuning of each piston for precisely measuring predetermined volume of flowable product being discharged into containers or the like thus providing more accurate fill volumes and also minimizing fill volume differences between stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: William F. Florida
  • Patent number: 5044758
    Abstract: A caulk mix and transfer apparatus includes a caulk jar for holding uncolored caulk and for receiving unmixed pigment. The jar has a mix lid and a transfer lid. Empty caulk tubes are attached to the transfer lid and the mix lid includes a rotatable blade. A machine for mixing the pigment and caulk in the caulk jar and for transferring the mixture to the caulk tubes includes means for engaging the jar and mixing the pigment and caulk therein with the mix lid and includes means for engaging the jar and transferring the mixture to the caulk tubes through the transfer lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Inventor: William Kurtz
  • Patent number: 5040579
    Abstract: In a liquid filling machine having a metering cylinder, a piston accommodated in the cylinder with a clearance formed therebetween, and a membrane closing each open end of the clearance to form a closed space, a device for detecting a leak in the metering cylinder comprising a vacuum pipe connected to the metering cylinder in communication with the closed space, an orifice plate inserted in the vacuum pipe for maintaining the interior portion of the pipe upstream from the orifice plate at a pressure lower than a predetermined value when the membrane has no leak with a standard quantity of leakage fluid flowing through the pipe and maintaining the interior portion at a pressure not lower than the predetermined value when the membrane has a leak, and a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the upstream interior portion of the pipe and producing a leak detection signal when the detected pressure is not lower than the predetermined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: Shikoku Kakoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seizo Kawamura, Yoshihiro Saijo
  • Patent number: 5035270
    Abstract: An automatic conveyorized volumetric container filler is provided and consists of a mechanism to pump a predetermined amount of fluid from a reservoir into containers by using volumetric piston pumps operated by a pump drive cylinder. The containers are automatically conveyed to a plurality of filling nozzles for receiving the fluid therefrom so that after the containers are filled, they can be conveyed away to be capped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Herzog
  • Patent number: 5027983
    Abstract: An apparatus for filling a specified amount of liquid comprises a vertical tubular nozzle having a large-diameter portion intermediately of its height and a valve seat at the edge of an open lower end thereof, a valve upwardly and downwardly movably supported by the filling nozzle and comprising a plug intimately fittable to the valve seat and a stem extending upward from the plug inside the nozzle, a resistance member fixed to the valve stem so as to be positioned in the large-diameter portion for acting against a downward flow of liquid, a spring biasing the valve upward to hold the plug in intimate contact with the valve seat against the gravity on the liquid within the nozzle, a metering cylinder for intermittently feeding the liquid into the nozzle in the specified amount at a time so that the valve is opened by the pressure of flow of the liquid against the spring, and the spring closing the valve when the feed of liquid is discontinued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Shikoku Kakoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Wakabayashi, Yoshihiro Saijo, Yoshitaka Yamane, Yasuji Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 5019127
    Abstract: A liquid is dosed by an apparatus that has a housing formed with an inlet connected to a supply of the liquid, an outlet, a filling chamber, and a bypass chamber having an outlet side from which the outlet opens and an inlet side connected to the inlet. A pumping piston subdivides the filling chamber into an inlet compartment into which the inlet opens and an outlet compartment. A valve element in the housing can move between a filling position blocking the outlet and connecting the inlet through the bypass chamber with the outlet compartment and a feed position exposing the outlet and blocking flow between the inlet and the outlet compartment through the bypass chamber. The piston is alternately retracted through a back stroke while the element is in the filling position to draw liquid into the outlet compartment from the inlet through the bypass chamber and is advanced through a predetermined advance stroke while the element is in the feed position to eject the drawn-in liquid from the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: Benz & Hilgers GmbH
    Inventors: Jurgen Bohm, Georg Fischer
  • Patent number: 5009339
    Abstract: A method of venting a plant for filling containers (2) with an apportioned quantity of liquid without air inclusions by means of a dispensing pump (9) in which two control valves (11', 12') disposed at the outlet from a filler pipe (4) are intermittently opened and closed, the liquid (17) being supplied via a buffer container (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1991
    Assignee: Tetra Pak Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Goran Hanerus, Tommy Ljungstrom