With Synchronized Intermittent Supply (e.g., Check Valve) Patents (Class 141/261)
  • Patent number: 11800890
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for automatic infusion of concentrate and distillate material into cigarettes or other containers. In one embodiment, a thermally-controlled infusion system is provided. The system can maintain a selected temperature of the concentrate material throughout the infusion process, using a two-stage approach. In a first stage, the concentrate material is pressure-fed to a dosing chamber. In the second stage, the concentrate material is pumped into an insertion cannula and into a cigarette or container. A revolver houses the cigarettes or containers and vertically transitions them to an insertion position, where the insertion cannula can infuse the cigarettes or containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Sorting Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Nohtal Partansky, Paul Skaar
  • Patent number: 8857479
    Abstract: A machine for filling containers in which the filling rate for the products can be varied, thus enabling the filling machine to be used for different filling products, and in particular products having different viscosities. The machine comprises at least one filling station comprising a filling spout provided with a supply opening and a discharge opening, a blocking system mounted in the filling spout, and a supply pipe connected to the supply opening upstream of said blocking system. The supply pipe comprises at least one section made of a flexible tube, the supply apparatus further comprising a clamp adapted to clamp the flexible tube in order to modify the cross-section of the internal passage of the flexible tube, the clamp adapted to move between at least two positions corresponding to different cross-sections of the internal passage of the flexible tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Sidel Participations
    Inventors: Thierry Loaec, Hervé Saliou, Mickaël Huitorel, Arnaud Pasquet
  • 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: 6619339
    Abstract: A controller for a volumetric pocket filler having a plurality of pneumatically powered components, includes a pneumatically powered actuator, having a motion path, and a plurality of pneumatic switches, disposed along the motion path of the actuator. The pneumatic switches are configured for contact with the actuator, to control air flow to the plurality of pneumatically powered components of the volumetric pocket filler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Multi-Fill, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Price, Byron Larson
  • 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
  • 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: 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: 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: 5377726
    Abstract: An arrangement for filling bottles under counterpressure and comprising at least one filling element relative to which a respective container is sealed during a filling process. The arrangement also has at least one gas channel that communicates with the interior of the container that is to be filled. Gas can be supplied in a controlled manner to the interior of the container from a chamber via the gas channel, and return gas displaced from the container during a filling process can be withdrawn to the chamber via the gas channel and at least one gas path. This gas path has an individually controllable control valve, and in series therewith a device that automatically controls the effective flow cross-section of the gas path in such a way that this flow cross-section is smaller in one direction of flow than in another, opposite direction of flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Seitz Enzinger Noll Maschinenbau Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Ludwig Clusserath
  • 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: 5016687
    Abstract: In a liquid filling machine wherein a liquid is fed in a specified quantity at a time from a metering cylinder to a filling nozzle by the operation of a piston housed in the cylinder, a device for preventing the liquid from dripping from the filling nozzle comprises a check valve disposed in the nozzle and movable upward or downward by a change in the internal pressure of the metering cylinder produced by the operation of the piston. The upward movement of the valve produces a negative pressure within the nozzle to prevent the liquid from dripping from the nozzle. The negative pressure is variable in accordance with the properties of the liquid by adjusting the stroke length of upward or downward movement of the check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Shikoku Kakoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seizo Kawamura
  • Patent number: 4917158
    Abstract: A dispensing device for fluid products, such as dairy products, has a coaxially positioned valve cylinder inside a dispensing cylinder, both connected at their upper end to the product source. The dispensing piston is in the form of a ring piston which slides on the valve cylinder. The two pistons are fully immersed in product, and air entrainment is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: Hamba Maschinenfabrik Hans A. Muller GmbH and Co. KG
    Inventor: Berthold Lingenhoff
  • Patent number: 4913202
    Abstract: A machine for filling packaging containers with a flowable product comprises a control valve in the form of a plug valve having a body defining a bore forming a frusto-conical valve seat, a plug having a complimentary frusto-conical surface, and a valve chamber for pressurized fluid formed at the wider end of the plug. The chamber communicates with the bore. The plug is axially displaceable between a first position, in which the frusto-conical surface seals against the valve seat and in which it is rotatable to control flow through the valve, and a second position, in which it is withdrawn into the chamber to provide clearance between the mating surfaces of the plug and the seat but retaining clearance between its wider end and the opposite surface of the chamber so that all surfaces of the plug are exposed for cleaning and sterilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: CMB Packaging (UK) Limited
    Inventors: John D. Miller, Peter D. Hardy
  • Patent number: 4905744
    Abstract: A dosing device for filling liquid into containers comprises a filler body and a metering device. The metering device communicates with the interior of a rotary valve through an end cover of the valve housing, the valve including a valve seat and a check valve closure member spring-biased towards the seat. The valve includes first, second and third rotary ports and first and second fixed ports. Downstream of the second fixed port is an anti-drip suction-producing device of a piston-and-cylinder form whereof the stroke of the piston is adjustable. Upstream of the first fixed port is a throttling valve lowerable into an operative position downstream of inlet holes from a liquid-containing tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Elopak A/S
    Inventors: Hendrik J. G. Siegrest, Tore Sorby
  • Patent number: 4767031
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dosing and filling arrangement for containers of fluid or pasty masses, in particular contaminant-free nutrient material, such as milk, yogurt, pudding, desserts or the like. The arrangement includes a housing having two axially movable pistons. A first of such two pistons is a dosing piston and a second independently movable piston is the valve piston which is coaxially arranged relative to the dosing piston. The arrangement also has a mouthpiece on the lower side of the housing which is coaxial with the dosing and valve pistons. The valve piston rod is centrally arranged in a bore of the dosing piston and the hollow piston rod of the dosing piston is slidably movable in a cylinder of the housing. The piston rod has advantageously a plurality of equiangularly disposed longitudinal slots disposed on its periphery. The piston rod has a first control collar which coacts with the mouthpiece of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Benz & Hilgers GmbH
    Inventor: Wilhelm Proepper
  • Patent number: 4621747
    Abstract: An apparatus for charge-wise dosing a metered volume quantity of liquid medium to be supplied continuously under delivery pressure, comprising a pair of serially connected cylinder-and-piston assemblies of different diameters the cylinder blocks being arranged axially relatively to each other, forming a composite housing; a supply conduit for the flowing medium connected to the smaller diameter cylinder block and a filling nozzle connected to the larger diameter cylinder block and containing a discharge opening; a tube operating as a piston member for reciprocation in the composite housing, which tube is in direct communication with the smaller diameter cylinder block and connected to the larger diameter cylinder block via a passage provided in the larger diameter piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: Tebel Machinefabrieken B.V.
    Inventors: Ype Y. van der Velde, Athanasius A. Bootsma
  • Patent number: 4410108
    Abstract: A pressure-actuated valve is adapted to the discharge port of a positive displacement machine for filling, sequentially, passing open containers with a liquid product. In response to the sequential pulses of liquid produced at the discharge port, the pressure-actuated valve opens and closes to deliver a predetermined amount of liquid to a waiting container. Even with low viscosity fluids, operation of the valve remains effective, permitting release of fluid during the delivery period yet preventing contaminating drips of fluid from the nozzle during non-delivery periods. Owing to the special valve design, delivery of accurate amounts of liquid and elimination of nozzle drip between container filling cycles are ensured, regardless of slowdown or interruption of machine operation. Contamination of the filling station resulting from product splash is also eliminated despite high speed operation of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1983
    Assignee: Elmar Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Everett S. Minard
  • Patent number: 4373560
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for filling caulking tubes with a viscous liquid composition comprising, a frame; a drive at the lower portion of the frame driving a conveyor belt containing initially empty caulking tubes; a reservoir at the top portion of the frame having therein said viscous composition; a linkage driven by said drive and extending above the lower portion of said frame to the upper portion of said frame; a valve block including a valve core located immediately beneath said reservoir; and, a piston arrangement, wherein the viscous material passes through said valve block, said valve core and piston arrangement from said reservoir into the empty caulking cartiridges which apparatus is sufficiently strong to handle extremely viscous compositions without damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1983
    Assignee: Robert M. Elsworth
    Inventor: Robert M. Elsworth
  • Patent number: 4352444
    Abstract: A controllable volume dosing device for providing a measured dose of material. The volume dosing device comprises a cylinder having a piston movably mounted therein for movement between a first end position and a second end position, and drive device for moving the piston between the two end positions. A valve is provided associated with the cylinder and which is positionable in a first valve position in which material may be introduced into the cylinder and a second valve position in which material may be expelled from the cylinder. The displacement of the piston within the cylinder between the first and second end positions controls the volume of the dose of such material. An adjustable stop member associated with the piston is provided for defining the first end position of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1982
    Assignee: Norden Packaging Machinery Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Roy D. Lewis, Bernt V. Borg
  • Patent number: 4250934
    Abstract: A liquid filling nozzle for filling liquid into a container under pressure. A piston is housed in a cylinder in a reciprocatingly movable manner, and one end of a hollow shaft is attached to the piston. Liquid flows into the cylinder from a tank through a check valve. Then a container comes into contact with a holding means attached at the bottom end of the shaft. The container raises the shaft to pressurize the liquid in the cylinder, thereby a check valve provided at the bottom portion of the shaft opens to discharge the pressurized liquid into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1981
    Assignee: Shibuya Kogyo Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Wada