Unitary Patents (Class 222/276)
  • Patent number: 10433577
    Abstract: A juicing system with a drive mechanism and a juicer assembly, where the juicer assembly includes a main housing defining a cavity. An auger having a top portion and a bottom portion is within the cavity. The auger is operably connected at one of the top portion or the bottom portion to the drive mechanism to rotate the auger. A rotatable cutting blade is disposed at the top portion of the auger to cut food inserted into the cavity. A juicing basket is disposed within the cavity, radially outwardly from the auger. The juicing basket has at least one screen with apertures therethrough of varying sizes. Food is pressed by the auger against the juicing basket to squeeze juice and pulp through the apertures. The pulp exits through a pulp chute, having a upper portion, lower portion, and check valve therebetween which is easily removable for cleaning and clog removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kaitlyn M. Benoit, Fred Bournay, Jr., Michael P. Conti, Jason M. Cassar
  • Patent number: 8814002
    Abstract: A delivery system for dispensing at least two products wherein the delivery system selectively dispenses one of products using a single actuator having two directions of rotation on a single axis of rotation. The delivery system of the invention is economical in manufacturing and has a lesser cycle time during manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Zen Design Solutions Limited
    Inventors: Leo Clifford Pires, Roger Hwang, Rahul Bose, Iti Seth, Anjani Lal Pandey
  • Patent number: 8551562
    Abstract: A new and improved hot melt adhesive material dispensing system comprises two separate and independent rotary, gear-type metering pumps, or two separate and independent sets of rotary, gear-type metering pumps, which are able to output precisely metered amounts of hot melt adhesive material. The hot melt adhesive materials discharged from the two separate and independent rotary gear pumps, or from the two separate and independent sets of rotary gear pumps, are able to in fact be independently outputted through suitable output devices onto a particular substrate so as to result in different outputted volumes of the hot melt adhesive material in accordance with predeterminedly desired patterns, or at predeterminedly desired locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Illnois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Grant McGuffey
  • Patent number: 8511513
    Abstract: A dispensing system includes a first chamber and a second chamber, where each chamber includes an inlet port configured to receive a flowable material and an outlet port configured to dispense the flowable material. The system also includes a first displacement rod slidably disposed in the first chamber. The system also includes a second displacement rod slidably disposed in the second chamber, wherein the first displacement rod is rigidly connected to the second displacement rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: Carl L. Schultz
  • Patent number: 8445061
    Abstract: A method of making an article having a substrate and a material applied thereto includes providing a metered fluid dispensing system having a supply of fluid to be dispensed, an output device having at least one dispensing nozzle, at least two pumps for pumping fluid from the supply to the at least one dispensing nozzle. The pumps are in close proximity to the dispensing nozzle. Output supply passageways interconnect the pumps and the dispensing nozzle, and flow control elements selectively control the passage of the fluid from the pumps to the nozzle. The substrate is conveyed past the fluid dispensing system in a machine direction and fluid is applied to the substrate in a plurality of segments. Each segment has a volume per unit length and is applied in a length in the machine direction to define a pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Grant McGuffey
  • Patent number: 8002151
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a foaming component for use in association with a foam dispenser. The foaming component includes an air sparging element, a mixing chamber, and an air chamber. The mixing chamber is on one side of the air sparging element and it defines a portion of the mixing chamber. The air chamber is on the other side of the air sparging element and it defines a portion of the air chamber. The air chamber has an air inlet. The mixing chamber has a liquid inlet and an outlet, and the outlet is down stream of the inlet. The foaming component also forms part of a new foam dispenser. The foaming component and the foam dispenser are for use in the production of foam with a plurality of particles suspended therein. Another aspect of the invention is a dispenser with a foaming component therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Deb IP Limited
    Inventors: Shaun Kerry Matthews, Stewart Banks, Kara Catherine Stonehouse
  • Patent number: 6840404
    Abstract: A metering system for controlling the flow of a fluid is disclosed. The metering system comprises a metering device, two input valves that actively control flow of fluid into the metering device, and two output valves that actively control flow of fluid from the metering device. The input and output valves are selectively opened and closed to cause metered amounts of fluid to be dispensed from the metering device through the output valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Sealant Equipment & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl L. Schultz, Scott A. Dittmer
  • Patent number: 5988236
    Abstract: A multiple probe liquid handler includes a syringe pump assembly with multiple syringe pumps communicating with the probes. A carriage movable with respect to a fixed support base carries syringe pump pistons moving within syringe pump cylinders secured to the base. A drive system including a single drive motor has a single drive point connection to the carriage for moving the carriage and operating the syringe pumps in order to draw fluid into or discharge fluid from the multiple probes. A linear motion support assembly includes spaced rails attached to the support base and slides attached to the carriage and riding along the rails. The assembly includes two parallel rails and three slides, one riding along one rail and two riding along the other rail, providing an inexpensive yet imbalance tolerant three point support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Gilson, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin R. Fawcett
  • Patent number: 5829635
    Abstract: A toy water gun comprising a housing, water tank, nozzle, pump assembly, piston drive assembly, and crank handle. The pump assembly comprises (a) first and second cylinders, each cylinder having a first cylinder end with an opening for receiving a piston end and a second cylinder end with an intake port and a discharge port; (b) a piston having a two piston ends, a piston shaft between the two piston ends, and a drive pin on the piston shaft, each piston end inserted into the first open ends of the first and second cylinders, respectively, and being slidable along the longitudinal axes of the cylinders in sealing relation to the cylinder walls; and (c) a device means for filling the two cylinders with water from the water tank and for discharging water from the two cylinders through the nozzle, wherein the filling and discharging device act in cooperation with the slidable movement of the piston ends. The piston drive assembly comprises a cam arm and a coupling wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Lanard Toys, Ltd.
    Inventor: Virginio Brovelli
  • Patent number: 5526962
    Abstract: The device of the invention provides preselected doses of liquid medicine and has a cylinder assembly (1, 2) with a left cylinder (1), a right cylinder (2) and a double piston (4, 5) displaceably mounted in the assembly with a left piston end (4) and a right piston end (5). A coupling links the double piston in a positive and/or frictional manner with a drive unit (15). The device is controlled passively by two automatically closing intake valves (7, 8) and two discharge valves (11, 12). Thereby a continuous flow of liquid medicine 20 out of the medicine container 10 can be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Medimpex Ets.
    Inventor: Heinz Huggenberger
  • Patent number: 5441173
    Abstract: A piston depositor for depositing batter and the like into pans in an automated bakery line includes a valve housing which defines an inlet, a valve chamber, an outlet and a cylinder bore which intersects the valve chamber. A rotary valve is disposed within the valve chamber. The rotary valve selectively interconnects the bore with the valve housing inlet and the valve housing outlet. A piston and rod assembly is slideably disposed within the bore. A programmable drive system including servomotors controls the operation of the rotary valve and piston and rod assembly to intake batter through the housing inlet and discharge the batter through the valve housing outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: Continental Baking Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Koval, Richard M. Silzer, William M. Hasse, Michael E. Leiweke
  • Patent number: 5217146
    Abstract: It is often necessary to manufacture casting masses out of several components which must be homogeneously mixed in a specific ratio. It can thereby happen that such casting masses harden so quickly that they must be processed in the shortest time possible in order not to react with one another or harden already in the mixing area or in the pipelines and thus result in the possible destruction of the device. The components are in the arrangement of the invention each moved by a pump out of the respective storage tanks into a synchronous dosing mechanism which consists of a dosing chamber for each component, from where the respective now dosed amount of each component is moved with the help of a dosing piston into a flow mixer, with the dosing pistons being thereby mechanically connected and operated by a common drive, and the flow mixer moving the now ready casting mass directly into a mold. The mixing ratios can in this manner be well maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Wilhelm Hedrich Vakumanlagen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gerd Neff, Erhard Haeuser
  • Patent number: 4944431
    Abstract: A trigger actuated dispenser pump for dispensing product from a container, in which a multi-function piston member has a primary piston reciprocable in a pump chamber and a secondary piston reciprocable in an outlet chamber. The primary piston draws product from the container, pressurizes it and pumps it into the outlet chamber. The secondary piston functions to reduce pressure in the outlet chamber during initial movement of the pump, tending to promote flow from the pump chamber into the outlet chamber. A flow restrictor is positioned in the pump chamber and is operative to limit reverse flow from the pump flow into the container. An outlet valve in the outlet chamber functions to prevent dribbling of product at the end of a discharge or pressure stroke, remaining closed when the pressure of product in the outlet chamber is below a predetermined minimum, and a positive shut-off valve may be positioned in the outlet chamber for precluding flow from the pump when it is an at-rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Inventor: William S. Blake
  • Patent number: 4844298
    Abstract: Apparatus for automatically dispensing accurately a predetermined quantity of a liquid required to be stored at room temperature including a syringe pump, a liquid tank, and a pump displacement mechanism for moving the syringe pump between the liquid tank and a container. The piston of the syringe pump is displaced by a piston displacement mechanism. A weigher measures weights of the tank and liquid in the tank as well as a draining system for draining the liquid of the liquid tank. Liquid is supplied to the liquid tank from a supply system. A control device controls displacement of the syringe pump and the piston of the syringe pump, actuation of the supply system and the drainage system, and reads measurement output signals of the weigher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Ohoka, Kouichi Washimi
  • Patent number: 4836405
    Abstract: A container for the reception of a pumpable product can be emptied cleanly and completely without air contact by a barrel pump and associated follower plate without opening of the container lid when a section of the lid is connected as its circumferential edge by a first frangible line portion, a closure ring placed on the container wall, and a second closed frangible line portion matched to the diameter of a shaft of a barrel pump is provided in the center of the lid. The inner lid portion, bounded by the first frangible line and the second frangible line then forms an accurately fitting follower plate for a barrel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien
    Inventors: Paul Schulz, Guenther Amberg
  • 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: 4733803
    Abstract: A dispensing apparatus adapted to be mounted over a can line for dispensing metered amounts of particulate material into cans in a high speed canning operation. The dispenser utilizes a metering unit which includes a reciprocating slide bar having a pair of spaced chambers, one of which is moved into a loading position and the other of which is moved into a discharge position during each reciprocation of the slide bar. A can detecting device and an air pressure operated actuating valve are provided to control reciprocating movement of the slide bar in response to the presence and speed of cans carried on the can line beneath the dispenser. Lubricating conduits are provided in the metering unit to ensure free movement of the slide bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Carnation Company
    Inventors: Charles W. Sisson, Duane R. Kerr, Russell H. Mosier
  • Patent number: 4691845
    Abstract: A dispensing container of the type comprising a tube, a transverse end wall in which is fixed an outwardly projecting nozzle, and a plunger slidably mounted within the tube to dispense a first material within the tube through the nozzle. At least one hose is fixed to the tube, a second material to be dispensed is contained within the hose, and means are provided for dispensing the second material from the hose in proportion to the first material dispensed from the nozzle upon movement of the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Thomas W. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 4512188
    Abstract: In a flow rate control apparatus, pressure of a primary, or controlled, liquid is reduced without application of shear forces thereto. Each of first and second piston and cylinder assemblies has a first port on one side of the piston and a second port on the other side. A secondary fluid path between the two second ports contains a controlling fluid directed through a pressure reducing valve. The rate of flow of the primary fluid from the discharge cylinder is controlled by the rate of flow of the secondary fluid through the pressure reducing valve. A four way valve couples the controlled liquid at relatively high pressure through the first port in a first cylinder, and the controlled liquid is discharged at relatively low pressure from the first port in the second cylinder. The first and second pistons are rigidly connected to assure synchronized motion and accurate metering of the controlled liquid and to provide for driving of both pistons in response to input pressure of the controlled liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Assignee: Getty Oil Company
    Inventor: Charles D. Erickson
  • Patent number: 4500273
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring and dispensing sugar syrups from a hopper into a mold and employing a mounting block which defines at least one cavity for housing a dispensing valve.The valve comprises a movable cylinder operable by a first pneumatic means and a piston means operable by a second pneumatic means. A pair of sequencing valves are employed for actuating the first and second pneumatic means in a timed sequence for effecting the movement of the cylinder and piston of the dispensing valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Inventor: Dennis M. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4477000
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming and dispensing portions of soap foam or lather is provided with a double-acting compressed air membrane pump for generating compressed air and with a soap solution dosing pump. Both pumps are operated by means of a single lever which need only be pressed in a single direction, the return motion to the initial position being effected by a return spring. The forward actuation of the lever causes soap foam or lather to be formed in a mixing chamber. The return motion of the lever dispenses a dose of soap foam or lather through a dispensing aperture. In order to obtain a double-acting pump action of the membrane of the membrane pump, inlet valves and and outlet valves are employed. One of the outlet valves assists in the generation of the soap foam in the mixing chamber. The other outlet valve then assists in ejecting a portion of the soap foam through the dispensing aperture during the return motion of the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Assignee: Europtool Trust
    Inventor: Sandro Arabian
  • Patent number: 4455762
    Abstract: In a rotary apparatus for the production of layered glass batch pellets there is provided a dryer for final drying of the pellets prior to their being fed to a melting furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1984
    Assignee: Olin Corporation
    Inventor: Walter C. Saeman
  • Patent number: 4394940
    Abstract: A hopper is supported above a supporting surface and includes a pair of spaced apart apertures in the base. A metering and dispensing plate is rotatable from one position to another below the base and includes a pair of spaced apart metering apertures each of which aligns alternatively with the apertures in the base of the hopper as the plate is moved from one position to the other. When one metering aperture is aligned with one aperture in the base, the other metering aperture is aligned with a dispensing aperture in a base plate below the metering and dispensing plate. The material from the hopper flows into the aligned metering aperture and the material already in the other metering aperture flows out through the dispensing aperture. The metering apertures are adjustable in volume by rotating the handle extending from the plate which is also used to partially rotate the plate from side to side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1983
    Inventor: Oscar F. A. Peterson
  • Patent number: 4350266
    Abstract: A pumping system for delivering unstable fluids under pressure, comprising a pair of alternately operated single-acting pumps operated by a double-acting air motor. The air motor is controlled by a reversible spool valve and mechanically operated air pilot valves. The single-acting pumps deliver and contain relatively small quantities of the unstable fluid to a positive flow metering system for connection to an outlet to spray guns or other equipment using the fluid. The metering system includes a metering valve, a flow meter and a bypass valve for removing trapped air and presetting flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1982
    Assignee: Binks Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Robert D. Hetherington, David W. Goelz
  • Patent number: 4335837
    Abstract: A hand held dispenser constructed to dispense a mixture of separately stored fluids and including provision for simultaneously dispensing this mixture in one of a plurality of preselected ratios. The dispensing mechanism is normally spring biased to a retracted position from which it is manually shiftable to the mixing and dispensing position from which it is manually shiftable to the mixing and dispensing position. The device includes provision for blocking fluid flow from separate storage chambers and for arresting flow while the ratio selector mechanism is undergoing adjustment to a different position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1982
    Inventor: Robert P. Bono
  • Patent number: 4285598
    Abstract: A concrete mixing machine is disclosed which mixes small batches of concrete using any desired ratio of gravel, sand, cement, and water. The dry materials are mixed into concrete at the site where the concrete is to be poured. The apparatus includes hoppers for storing the dried mix material, a water tank, a metering slide for measuring desired amounts of cement, sand, and gravel to the desired proportions; a mixing, feeding, and dispensing system; and a hydraulic system for driving the mixing apparatus. The hydraulic drive system is utilized to overcome the binding which occurs when residual concrete begins to set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1981
    Inventor: Thomas Horton
  • Patent number: 4215092
    Abstract: A multichannel pipette is disclosed having an improved arrangement of replaceable tip containers in which the individual tip containers are connected together by flexible connecting members which are deformable to permit connection of the tip containers to differing configurations of tip cones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1980
    Assignee: Osmo A. Suovaniemi
    Inventors: Osmo Suovaniemi, Mikko Leskinen
  • Patent number: 4149658
    Abstract: A hopper has an elongated nozzle projecting from the bottom thereof and a manually operable metering assembly having discs which form first and second loading areas operates reciprocally through the hopper in an arrangement such that in one movement thereof a first loading area is filled and the second area is emptied and in the other movement thereof the second area is filled and the first area is emptied whereby a charge is dispensed in each inward and outward movement of the metering assembly. The loading areas are adjustable in size to vary the charges dispensed and the nozzle is also adjustable in length to accommodate persons of different stature as well as to suit different dispensing applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1979
    Inventor: George R. Teufel
  • Patent number: 4022353
    Abstract: A dispenser for metering predetermined charges of shot or other particulate material by means of a slidable charging plate, incorporates a shear slide device which prevents shot that become trapped between a supply hopper and the charging plate from either jamming the charging plate or being sheared into irregular pieces. The device also withholds the trapped shot from the metered charge, and thereby increases the uniformity of the quantities metered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1977
    Assignee: Remington Arms Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert N. Hamlin