With Striking Or Clearing Means Patents (Class 222/345)
  • Patent number: 11167383
    Abstract: A fastening system having a supporting strip, to which is fastened, outside the housing of the rotary feeder, a seal designed to seal the blade of the rotor in relation to the housing. The mounted unit of supporting strip and seal is inserted into a groove devised in the blade. This installation unit is then secured to the blade by means of securing screws. The seal can be made from a hard seal, especially steel, or a soft seal, especially rubberized textile, attached on the outside by a locating strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Schenck Process Europe GmbH
    Inventor: Michal Chlebovec
  • Patent number: 10703554
    Abstract: A condiment dispenser which is activated by an electrical vibrator is described. The dispenser has a container with a storage space filled with condiment. The bottom wall of the container is riddled with a multiplicity of spreading apertures. At the idle state the vibrator is deactivated and the apertures are blocked by a banded frame. The blocking frame isolates the condiment and prevents atmospheric moisture accumulation. At the active state the activated vibrator vibrates the condiment while the banded frame is moved such that the apertures are uncovered and facilitate condiment spreading. A multiple condiments dispenser is also presented. The multiple condiments dispenser has several separate containers and a vibrator which can vibrate all the condiments. The user selects which particular condiment to dispense by pressing the button which uncovers the apertures of the selected container while activating the vibrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Inventor: Jezekiel Ben-Arie
  • Patent number: 10575668
    Abstract: A condiment dispenser with a dispensing mechanism that automatically loosens condiment coagulation in the condiment container. The user can accurately control the amount of condiment sprinkled on the food because the dispenser dispenses substantially constant amount of condiment for each manual activation. In order to isolate the stored condiment and prevent it from accumulating atmospheric moisture, only the dispensed amounts of condiment are exposed by applying a novel dispensing method of loading measured condiment portions inside the storage, transferring them, unloading and spreading them outside. The dispensing mechanism seldom clogs since it employs wide cavities for measurement, transferring, unloading and spreading. The condiment dispenser has a simple structure which is inexpensive to manufacture. It can be held and operated using just one hand and it dispenses the condiment directly downwards without needing to downturn the dispenser. The dispenser also has an electrically motorized version.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Inventor: Jezekiel Ben-Arie
  • Patent number: 9469491
    Abstract: A rotary feeder for transferring loose material, said rotary feeder having a housing, where a rotor transfers material from the feed channel of the housing into the discharge channel of the housing, the rotor having blades for transferring the material, and a counter blade is fixed in the housing of the rotary feeder between the blades of the rotor for cutting oversized pieces of material. A filler is arranged in the feed channel of the rotary feeder, to prevent the formation of a protrusion in the feed channel that would disturb the flow of the material formed by the counter blade, the edge of the filler adjacent to the counter blade being arranged to yield, and the filler is arranged to return to its initial position after the cutting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Andritz Oy
    Inventors: Markku Kaljunen, Pekka Kokko
  • Publication number: 20140326758
    Abstract: A system and method of flavoring food, for example, snack food, is provided. The system may include a metering tray coupled to a frame. The metering tray may be configured to hold a food flavoring. A metering roller also may be coupled to the frame. An exterior axial surface of the metering roller may define a plurality of indentations, which may be configured to capture the food flavoring as the metering roller rotates. The system may also include a metering blade configured to level the food flavoring as the food flavoring is dispensed by the plurality of indentations of the metering roller as the metering roller rotates. The system also may include a displacement blade having a plurality of teeth that are configured to correspond to the plurality of indentations. The teeth may be configured to positively displace the food flavoring as the metering roller rotates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventor: Jose A. Villarreal
  • Patent number: 8403188
    Abstract: A dosing device for powder has an inlet and an outlet for powder. A dosing disc rotatable from inlet to outlet has a dosing area of sintered material, which is provided with cavities for the volumetric dosing of the powder. A dosing body having open dosing cavities is provided which is movable from the inlet and outlet. By changing the speed of rotation of the dosing disc the quantity of powder to be discharged can be set in a wide range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Platsch GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hans G. Platsch
  • Patent number: 7886938
    Abstract: A powder and granular material feeder constantly feeding powder and granular material with poor fluidity that is discharged to an annular passage between inner and outer tubes through a clearance between a lower end of the inner tube and a bottom plate from a fall opening, outside of the feeder, by scraping plates immediately below the fall opening. The fall opening has an arcuate configuration starting on an outer side of the outer tube to the inner tube or to an inner side of the inner tube. The scraping plates are located on a small cylinder around the center of curvature. The scraping plates and spokes rotate in opposite directions from each other at a portion of the fall opening, and the powder and granular material transferred by the spokes and inward claws into the fall opening is discharged in a direction opposite to the feeding direction and leveled by an lower edge of the outer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Yoshikawa Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 7882992
    Abstract: A cellular wheel sluice embodied as a blow-through sluice is suitable for dosing secondary fuel, for example. The blow-through sluice includes a supply chute (2) in the top area and a cylindrical housing (1) which is disposed below the supply chute (2) and in which a cellular wheel (4) is arranged. The cellular wheel (4) includes radial webs (3), in the rotational area of which a blow-in hole (10) and an opposite blow-out hole (11) are provided on the side faces (26) of the housing. An injector nozzle (15) which blows the transport air into the rotating dosing chambers (5) so as to empty the same, is integrated into the housing in the area, of the blow-in hole (10). Thereby pressure differences result in the dosing chamber (5) that is to be emptied such that only small pressure loads act upon the metallically hard gap seals, which have a long useful life and allow only small quantities of leakage air, and which are arranged on the radial end areas of the cellular wheel webs (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Schenck Process GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Faber, Klaus Kohlmueller, Robert Weinand
  • Patent number: 7666066
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for injecting solid particles such as dry ice into an airstream using an airlock having a spherical valve member with spaced through ports and rotatable between an annular seal on one side of the spherical member for feeding the particles to the fluid stream chamber with an annular seal on the opposite side for sealing a particle feed chamber. The airlock device is useful for sealing fluid stream pressure of about 133 Kg/m2 and temperatures of about 350° R.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: CryoGenesis
    Inventor: James R. Becker
  • Patent number: 6585136
    Abstract: A paste dispenser includes a housing which has two angularly spaced vanes which rotate about an axis. The two vanes and a contoured surface form a paste-receiving chamber. Paste is forced into the dispenser under pressure from a paste container such as a toothpaste tube. The paste fills the paste-receiving chamber, and continued pressure causes the contents of the paste-receiving chamber to be deposited at an opening where it can be claimed by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventor: Daniel A. Stern
  • Patent number: 5464126
    Abstract: Volumetric dosage machine particularly for granulates, powders and loose products in general, including products that are not uniform or mutually compacted and have a very limited flow ability, comprising a hopper for loading a product to be metered that is provided with a bottom which has a plurality of dosage chambers and is movable to transfer the dosage chambers from a loading position to a discharge position spaced from the loading position, and/or vice versa. There is also a skimming unit interacting with the dosage chambers during the movement of the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: G. Mondini S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giovanni Mondini
  • Patent number: 5381933
    Abstract: A rotary feeder for jam-free operation over a wide speed range has a housing with a feed inlet provided with a roof-shaped baffle plate which, in the running direction of the rotor, includes double-arrowed stripping edges. Each compartment of the rotor includes two radial partitions which extend beneath the baffle plate and are spaced from each other by the width of the baffle plate to define an initially bulk material free space. This space between the partitions of each compartment is connected via circumferential openings with the respectively lateral areas of the rotor compartment to allow granulate particles to enter the space after traveling along the stripping edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Waeschle Maschinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Beirle, Ewald Konig
  • Patent number: 5320258
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rotary feeder device for transporting bulk shearable material. The rotary feeder comprises a main housing with a cylindrical passage therethrough, and an inlet port and a discharge outlet each communicating with the cylindrical passage of the main housing. There is a rotor disposed within the cylindrical passage that includes a plurality of pockets spaced peripherally thereabout which rotate successively past the inlet port and discharge outlet which are each defined by a pair of radially-extending rotor blades. The inlet port feeds material directly into the rotating pockets. At the very end of inlet port that is located directly above the rotating pocket area there is located anti-shearing edges that come in close communication with the outer free edges of the rotor blade as the latter rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Inventor: Kermit D. Paul
  • Patent number: 5244370
    Abstract: A food depositing apparatus for depositing hash brown potato strands includes a plurality of depositing assemblies. Each of the depositing assemblies includes a plurality of outlets. A pump member coupled to the inlets of the depositing assemblies provides pressure to force a potato slurry through the outlets of the depositing assemblies. A plurality of rotary valve components are positioned adjacent the outlets of the depositing assemblies. Each rotary valve component includes a plurality of wiper blades which correspond to the outlets. Each wiper blade has a first state that permits the potato slurry to be forced through the corresponding outlets and a second state that stops the flow of potato slurry to create a hash brown potato strand. A conveyor positioned beneath the outlets carries the formed hash brown potato strands to a drier. The drier dehydrates the formed hash brown potato strands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Pillsbury Company
    Inventor: Jimmy A. DeMars
  • Patent number: 5183507
    Abstract: A dispensing device for automatically dispensing measured amounts of particulate material which includes supply means for supplying a quantity of the particulate material and a chute for receiving the particulate material from the supply means. A reciprocating pusher means is positioned in the chute for controlling the amount of particulate material dispensed from the supply means and for discharging the dispense particulate material from the chute. A distribution hopper receives the particulate material from the chute and discharges it to a reciprocating measuring plate having a plurality of removable measuring inserts therein whereby the particulate material is received in cavities in the inserts. As the measuring plate is moved forwardly, the particulate material passes through a control plate having a plurality of slots therein and is deposited in a plurality of mask hoppers for ultimate dispensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Inventor: Welby J. Scherer
  • Patent number: 5178677
    Abstract: In a coating apparatus for applying a coating composition to substantially flat baked pieces, particularly cookies or the like, which apparatus includes a supply container (15) and a metering device (14) succeeding that container, it is proposed to provide between the supply container (15) and the metering device (14) a substantially horizontal screw conveyor (13), which serves to transpsort the coating composition to the metering device (14) and which at its discharge end opens into the metering device (14), which includes a cylindrical coating head (14) having a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis. The metering body of the coating head (14) consists of a cylindrical drum (21), which rotates about the longitudinal axis of the coating head (14). That drum (21) is provided with radial discharge nozzle passages (28). A pressure sensor (36) for controlling the velocity of conveyance of the screw conveyor (13) is provided in a stationary part of the coating head (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: Franz Haas Waffelmaschinen Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Franz Haas, Craig Ellefson
  • Patent number: 5143254
    Abstract: The material to be metered drops onto a plate 21 which is driven in rotation. This plate 21 is provided on its edge with a cylindrical wall 22 pierced by recesses 24. The plate 21 turns in a cylinder 3 which masks the recesses 24 except at a place where a hole 5 is provided. When the recesses 24 pass opposite the hole 5 they pass behind a screen 4. Each recess 24 is emptied when it passes behind the screen 4 and is otherwise filled under the effect of centrifugal force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Sedepro
    Inventor: Daniel Laurent
  • Patent number: 5114053
    Abstract: A rotary feeder for granulated bulk material includes a housing with a rotor by which the bulk material is transported from the supply well to the discharge well via a plurality of compartments. Arranged at the inner wall of the housing is a pocket-like recess which is defined by a pre-stripping edge and by a V-shaped stripping edge extending from the pre-stripping edge. The pocket-like recess is V-shaped, with its tip pointing in rotational direction of the rotor. A deflector partly fills the recess to substantially free the tip of the recess from bulk material grains and includes a tip pointing opposite to the rotational direction of the rotor, sides converging in this tip and ending at a distance from the stripping edge by about the means grain diameter of the bulk material, and a base extending in the generated cylindrical surface defined by the radial end faces of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Waeschle Maschinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventor: Walter Beirle
  • Patent number: 5007564
    Abstract: A dosing or metering feeding apparatus for precisely feeding a stream of powdered or fine grained loose bulk material includes a cylindrical container (1) for storing the loose material (3). A rotating turntable (4) essentially closing the bottom of the container (1). A discharge groove (6) is located in the turntable around the circumference of the turntable (4), whereby the discharge groove (6) opens radially outwardly. A stripper is arranged to reach into the discharge groove (6) for stripping the dosed material (3) from the discharge groove (6) and for discharging the dosed or metered material. This arrangement provides a clearly defined discharge rate of the loose material. The discharge rate may be simply adjusted to different desired feed rates by varying the rotational speed of the turntable (4). A high dosing or metering precision is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: Carl Schenck AG
    Inventors: Matthias Beth, Hansgeorg Binz, Ludger Toerner
  • Patent number: 4986455
    Abstract: An arrangement for supplying and dosing a loose filling material comprises a dosing wheel rotatable in a predetermined direction and having a plurality of dosing chambers movable along a movement path, forming a filling chamber arranged above the movement path of the dosing chamber and limited from below by the dosing wheel and in the direction of rotation by an end wall having a lower edge, a stripper arranged in the region of the lower edge and abutting against the dosing wheel. Means is provided for substantially maintaining a constant filling pressure over a whole opening cross-section of the filling chamber, the maintaining means including a plurality of members having a stepped configuration and disposed on the end wall of the filling chamber, the members being varied in height in response to variations of filling pressure of the filling chamber, so that the filling pressure substantially remains constant by varying the volume of the filling chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: Teepack Spezialmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Adolf Rambold
  • Patent number: 4865092
    Abstract: A volumetric metering apparatus for dosing constant quantities of granular material includes a generally vertically oriented shaft having a shaft axis, a cylindrical trough having a generally horizontal trough base and being mounted on the shaft for rotation about the shaft axis and a plurality of metering receptacles secured to the trough base and extending downwardly therefrom. Each metering receptacle has a top opening being in a continuous communication with a space above the trough base and a bottom outlet openable and closable by a shutoff element. There is further provided an evener device stationarily supported above the trough base. The metering receptacles are arranged to be brought in succession into alignment with the evener device by the rotation of the cylindrical trough. The evener device has a radial dimension measured parallel to the trough base; the radial dimension is greater than a diametral dimension of each top opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: SIG Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft
    Inventor: Wolfgang Reichelt
  • Patent number: 4823993
    Abstract: A cylindrical housing having diametrically opposed inlet and discharge openings contains a bucket wheel coaxially rotatable therein. The inlet opening is provided with an insert having an inclined upper surface and an edge for prestripping the grain material. The insert is further provided with a stripping edge forming an angle with the cylindrical generatrix formed by the surface edge of the blades of the rotating bucket wheel which angle is at least equal to the angle of friction between the bulk material and the material out of which the gate is formed. In addition, a canopy displacing wall is arranged in the inlet opening at the level of the end of the stripping edge to displace the material moving through the feed inlet. The wall has a width of such a dimension that the cavity formed beneath it is equal to at least the volume of the granulate material stripped from the stripping edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Waeschle Maschinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Siegel, Reinhold Eck, Dieter Heep, Paul Vogel
  • Patent number: 4747524
    Abstract: A device for metering bulk materials with a vertical axis having a rotor featuring radially extending paddles about the vertical axis, and a cover plate, constructed to prevent especially coarse particle materials from being scraped or squashed between the rotor and the cover plate. For this purpose a ring segment type opening is provided in the cover plate, and a recess is provided in the under surface of the cover adjacent the opening to provide a space for producing material slopes underneath, whereby the limiting edge between the inlet opening of the cover plate and the rotor paddles forms an acute angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1988
    Assignee: AVT Anlagen-und Verfahrenstechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Krambrock
  • Patent number: 4733594
    Abstract: A filling arrangement is equipped with a loading arrangement containing a measuring slider plate and a displacement arrangement guided through a protective wall. The displacement arrangement moves the measuring slider plate backwards and forwards between two end positions; the displacement arrangement has a force transfer arrangement with a push rod guided through the protective wall and connected with the measuring slide place. The force transfer arrangement is driveable in both directions by means of at least one weight. A distribution arrangement for the supply of explosive from explosive containers to the loading arrangement comprises at least one container holder which is tippable by a shaft guided through the protective wall. A horizontally and parallel guided loading plate is pivotable over a delivery arrangement from an entry position at an entry opening in the protective wall into a first end position below the loading arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Dynamit Nobel Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Walter Bajohr
  • Patent number: 4650090
    Abstract: In a manual sowing apparatus a cell wheel 132 is provided which is drivable by a wheel disk 116 directly or via a reduction gear and which conveys the grain seeds from a receiving chamber via pockets disposed in the wheel to a discharge station. A plurality of cell wheels are associated with each apparatus and can be fixed via a bayonet coupling on a support drum 72. Cell wheels which are not in use can be accommodated in a receiver 104. A resilient scraper is disposed at the discharge end of the receiving chamber and prevents jamming of the cell wheel by scraping off grains when they are too large or when there are too many in a pocket, while grains projecting a slight extent can pass beneath the scraper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: Wolf-Gerate GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Orthey
  • Patent number: 4629093
    Abstract: Proportioning dispenser for powdered products consisting of a main body delimitating a first, filling chamber and a second, discharge chamber. The body supports a feed hopper, a proportioner operable to move between the two chambers, and a dispenser located beneath the discharge chamber. The dispenser comprises a cup movable from a loading position under the discharge chamber to a position of automatic discharge. A preferred embodiment involving the filling of explosive cartridges is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Societe a Responsabilite Limitee:Ateliers Durand et le Molaire Z.A.
    Inventor: Roger Le Molaire
  • Patent number: 4613058
    Abstract: A rotary drum metering feeder device which includes an outer casing defining a generally cylindrical chamber with opposed top and bottom end plates, a rotary drum means including a generally vertically disposed central shaft journably retained within the end plates and having a plurality of generally radially disposed blades secured at their inner ends to the central shaft and at their outer ends to an outer sleeve, and defining a plurality of metering chambers therebetween. An inlet port is formed within the top end plate, and an outlet port within the bottom end plate, and with each of the ports having edge surfaces, and with the edge surfaces of the inlet port being spaced from each of the edge surfaces of the outlet plate so as to provide for closed arcuate web zones in the end plates between the ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1986
    Inventor: Roger C. Conger
  • Patent number: 4537333
    Abstract: An airborne apparatus for dispensing particulate agricultural materials in precise dosages includes a rotor to uniformly deliver the particulate material from a container carried by the aircraft to a dispensing opening. A blade is provided adjacent the periphery of the rotor. The blade and the periphery of the rotor cooperate to reduce the interference of particulate material with operation of the rotor. A multi-part rotor housing provides adjustability for a variety of particulate materials. Such housing includes an arcuate housing portion and a gate-forming housing portion. The gate-forming housing portion and arcuate housing portion may be hinged to the remainder of the housing and form a dispensing opening. The arcuate housing portion can be adjusted with respect to the periphery of the rotor and can provide a reservoir of adjustable capacity between the dispensing opening and the rotor periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Assignee: Eli Lilly and Company
    Inventor: Richard S. Bjerregaard
  • Patent number: 4486126
    Abstract: A pneumatic conveying apparatus for silage and haylage, including long conveying ducts to carry the air stream with haylage and silage entrained therein. A positive displacement pump produces a flow of significant quantities of air to an air lock. The air lock has a rotor with blades traveling around the cylindrical peripheral wall and end wall defining traveling air lock compartments, the peripheral wall has an opening at its upper portion defining a feed throat receiving silage and haylage from a raised hopper. A high speed rotary impeller rotor at one side of the feed throat propels the silage-haylage into the air lock compartment. The rotor has sharp edged blades wiping along the edges of the air lock rotor blades and a boundary edge of the feed opening of the air lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: John Hellerman
    Inventor: John Hellerman
  • Patent number: 4267946
    Abstract: An economical device for dispensing particulate matter uniformly across a surface which includes a rotating cylinder which has wrapped around the surface thereof in abutting fashion, a conventional small sprocket chain thus providing a series of small receptacles of uniform size which when filled with particulate material passes underneath a restrainer so that each container has a uniform quantity of particulate material therein and then as the cylinder rotates the particulate material is dispensed by gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1981
    Inventor: Gary G. Thatcher
  • Patent number: 4231495
    Abstract: A rotary air-lock feeder for a pneumatic conveying line includes the cylindrical housing with a straight bladed rotor mounted therein to propel materials from an upper inlet to a bottom discharge. The edges of the blades are positioned in close association with housing wall to prevent escape of air from the conveying line through feeder. A shear knife is mounted in housing with inner surface conforming to curvature of housing and a flat top surface intersecting inner surface to form a sharp cutting edge so as to shear material projecting beyond outer edge of rotor blades to prevent binding thereof between such outer edge and the housing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1980
    Assignee: Rader Companies, Inc.
    Inventor: Arvid Lund
  • Patent number: 4189071
    Abstract: A soup dispenser is provided which will dispense liquid, semi-liquid and/or chunky soups, stews, chilis, etc., with equal facility. A motor-driven dial configuration of a plurality of measuring chambers or traps is provided at the bottom of a heated reservoir in which an impeller is constantly driven to preclude settling and scorching. The same motor drive is selectively interconnected to rotate the dial and successively register a measuring chamber with a discharge port beneath which a food container can be placed to receive the discharged product. The measuring chambers are vented to atmosphere as registry with the discharge opening is respectively effected to assure full discharge of the food product therein. A dial configuration further includes a plurality of selectively insertable strainer structures which are removably mounted flush with the upper surface of the dial over one or more of the measuring chambers to control the ratio of garnish to broth in each dispensed container of soup and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1980
    Assignee: Maryland Cup Corporation
    Inventor: John B. West
  • Patent number: 4176766
    Abstract: A soup dispenser is provided which will dispense liquid, semi-liquid and/or chunky soups, stews, chiles, etc., with equal facility. A motor driven dial configuration of a plurality of measuring chambers or traps is provided at the bottom of a heated reservoir in which an impeller is constantly driven to preclude settling and scorching. The same motor drive is selectively interconnected to rotate the dial and successively register a measuring chamber with a discharge port beneath which a food container can be placed to receive the discharged product. The measuring chambers are vented to atmosphere as registry with the discharge opening is respectively effected to assure full discharge of the food product therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1979
    Assignee: Maryland Cup Corporation
    Inventor: John B. West
  • Patent number: 4094444
    Abstract: A seed metering device comprising a seed hopper having a base which is in part sealed by two sets of contra-rotated circular rotary members driven about adjacent substantially horizontal axes, one set of the rotary members having the form of Vee-belt pulleys each of which is provided with a plurality of regularly spaced single seed receptors at the base of its Vee-shaped peripheral slot, the other set of said rotary members having complementray Vee-shaped protruding rims of high friction material penetrating upper parts of the said slots with close tolerance to sweep open faces of the seed receptors, and at least one masking plate mounted in the seed hopper and having an arcuate edge closely spaced from the said open faces of the seed receptors, the masking plate being located beneath the location at which the Vee-shaped protruding rims sweep the said open faces of the seed receptors to maintain single seeds within the receptors until the seeds reach a position at which the seeds can be released from said rec
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1978
    Assignee: Stanhay (Ashford) Limited
    Inventor: Robert Anthony Willis
  • Patent number: 4062474
    Abstract: In an apparatus for the metered feeding of poorly flowable materials by endless conveyor belt having an upper and lower run, the conveyor belt includes carrier plates which define pockets for conveying the material from an inlet through a compacting zone and a metering zone, to an outlet at which the metered compacted material is released from the pockets and allowed to pass out of the outlet. In the metering zone the upper and lower runs of the conveyor belt are maintained in close adjacency such that the inward ends of the plates on the upper and lower runs of the conveyor belt cooperate with each other to provide a known amount of material in the pockets on the lower run of the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1977
    Assignee: Helma Lampl
    Inventor: Oskar Herbold
  • Patent number: RE31418
    Abstract: A metering device for plastic materials comprising a bin having a rotating feed disc at the bottom thereof. The feed disc has peripheral cogs which partially define a metering chamber. Facing the metering disc is an ejection disc having teeth meshing with the cogs for forcing material into the metering chamber and ejecting the material from the metering chamber through an opening in the side of the bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1983
    Assignee: Colortronic Reinhard & Co., K.G.
    Inventor: Alfons Tschritter