Single Inlet-outlet Patents (Class 222/368)
  • Patent number: 6425500
    Abstract: A portable device for dispensing a particulate salt material upon a ground surface having a body with a substantially hollow interior, a forwardly located and open end and a reclosable end cap engaged with a rearwardly located end for permitting the hollow interior to be filled holding a volume of the particulate material. A rotor element is mounted in communication with the first open end and includes a plurality of individual and arcuately arrayed dispensing portions arranged around a central cross wise extending and rotatable shaft. A driving mechanism is associated with the body for actuating the rotor element to dispense volumes of the held particulate and may include either a hand-operated crank or an electric motor operatively connected to the rotatable shaft and powered by at least one battery contained within the hollow interior of the body and electrically communicable with the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Brian G. McNally
  • Patent number: 6386391
    Abstract: A metering machine for pasta is described comprising at least one channel for the roughing of the pasta, a shovel that is transversally insertable in said channel in order to meter the pasta, a cylinder with radial cavity rotatable between a position for the support of the pasta present in said channel and a position for the collection of the pasta in said radial cavity, at least one basket for the collection of the pasta output by said cylinder and a weighing device for the pasta being collected in said basket. The cylinder is made rotate around an eccentric axis that is arranged in such a way that said cylinder when in position of support is at a higher level than the one in which it gets when in said position for the collection of the pasta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Studio Tecnico Per. Ind. Giuseppe Vezzani
    Inventor: Paolo Vezzani
  • Publication number: 20020020719
    Abstract: A feed unit for a container closure device, with a feed device for container closures and a transfer device which transfers the closures from the feed device to a workstation at which containers are closed. The feed device has a rail that terminates at a stationary check shoulder which protrudes into the feed path of the closures along the feed device rail to position each closure to be picked up by the transfer device moving on a path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Applicant: ALCOA Deutschland GmbH Verpackungswerke
    Inventors: Gunther Spatz, Wolfhard Schwarz, Karl Heinz Spether
  • Publication number: 20020008120
    Abstract: A portable device for dispensing a particulate salt material upon a ground surface having a body with a substantially hollow interior, a forwardly located and open end and a reclosable end cap engaged with a rearwardly located end for permitting the hollow interior to be filled holding a volume of the particulate material. A rotor element is mounted in communication with the first open end and includes a plurality of individual and arcuately arrayed dispensing portions arranged around a central cross wise extending and rotatable shaft. A driving mechanism is associated with the body for actuating the rotor element to dispense volumes of the held particulate and may include the provision of either a hand-operated crank or an electric motor operatively connected to the rotatable shaft and powered by at least one battery contained within the hollow interior of the body and electrically communicable with the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventor: Brian G. McNally
  • Publication number: 20020005416
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cellular-wheel sluice with a fast-changeable sealing arrangement for feeding bulk material into pneumatic feeding systems, in particular plastic granulate in dense-phase feeding systems, with feed pressures up to delta p which is equal to or less than 3 bar of overpressure, having closed cellular wheels, each comprising side disks disposed laterally on cellular-wheel struts in a side cap, into which disks a radially or axially acting sealing ring arrangement that follows the bending motion of the cellular wheel is integrated; a bearing arrangement for a cellular-wheel shaft and the side disk, which is split into at least two parts and communicates with the cellular wheel and the respective side cap and is embodied with a radial sealing arrangement, is disposed in each of the side caps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventor: DIETER HEEP
  • Patent number: 6338423
    Abstract: Device for feeding material from a pressurised space to a space at a lower pressure, said device comprising a frame (2) with an admission port (5) and a discharge port (6), and a feed element (1) rotatably mounted inside the frame, said feed element containing at least one chamber space (3, 4) opening at the surface of the feed element, as well as means (7, 8) for turning the feed element between at least one first position, in which the chamber space (3, 4) communicates with the admission port (5), and at least one second position, in which the chamber space communicates with the discharge port (6), as well as at least one sealing element (9, 10) fitted against the surface of the feed element. The device is provided with a passage from the side of the admission port (5) to the side of the discharge port (6), said passage being open in at least one position of the feed element (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Privet Oy
    Inventor: Juhani Polón
  • Patent number: 6332739
    Abstract: A powder supply system including a powder replenishment device as a powder source, a suction device and a plurality of powder supply units connected in series. Each of the powder supply units sprinkles powders toward an object mounted on each processing device. An upstream end powder supply unit is fluidly connected to the powder replenishment device, and a downstream end powder supply unit is fluidly connected to the suction device. A suction force generated by the suction device sucks powders from the powder replenishment device through the powder supply units, and powders are successively accumulated in the powder supply units in the order from the upstream end powder supply unit to the downstream end powder supply unit. A powder sensor is provided between the rearmost powder supply unit and the suction device. If all powder supply units are filled with powders, residual powders are discharged out of the downstream end powder supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Rheon Automatic Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sakai, Masao Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 6308860
    Abstract: A dispensing device for a container comprises a housing having an open top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion of the housing is attached or permanently affixed to a container opening. An adjustable opening is disposed at the bottom of the housing may be adjusted to permit one of the contents of the container to pass from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Eagle
  • Patent number: 6293439
    Abstract: A high pressure rotary valve including a housing with inlet and outlet openings and a rotor and blade assembly within the housing for moving flowable solid material through the valve. The chamber containing the rotor assembly is defined between a pair of shrouds which move relative to a wall portion of the housing. The periphery of each shroud is ground and hard coated and this periphery is engaged by a first lip seal or multiple thereof supported by the housing. An end plate is located around the rotor shaft at each end of the housing and second lip seals engage ground and hard coated surfaces of the rotor shaft. Pockets defined between the shrouds and the end plates are adapted to be pressurized to create a back pressure resisting movement of material out of the housing chamber in the direction of the rotor shaft. Angular contact bearings support the rotating shaft with respect to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Chicago Conveyor Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Schleicher, Keith W. Stark
  • Patent number: 6293440
    Abstract: A dispenser which is specially adapted for use with a container for granular materials such as laxatives. The dispenser includes an outer housing and an open or hollowed-out shaft. The shaft is easily separable from the housing for simplified assembly, disassembly and cleaning. The open shaft has a selected volume for receipt of granular materials. The overall unit is designed so that a certain desired volume of material can be dispensed by turning the shaft to different positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Inventor: Steven K. Weaver
  • Publication number: 20010019066
    Abstract: A metering machine for pasta is described comprising at least one channel for the roughing of the pasta, a shovel that is transversally insertable in said channel in order to meter the pasta, a cylinder with radial cavity rotatable between a position for the support of the pasta present in said channel and a position for the collection of the pasta in said radial cavity, at least one basket for the collection of the pasta output by said cylinder and a weighing device for the pasta being collected in said basket. The cylinder is made rotate around an eccentric axis that is arranged in such a way that said cylinder when in position of support is at a higher level than the one in which it gets when in said position for the collection of the pasta.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Inventor: Paolo Vezzani
  • Patent number: 6283327
    Abstract: A material feed system and method for conveying a metered quantity of lightweight, friable mesh fibers without minimal damage to the mesh fibers to concrete and like materials mixing tank. The material feed system including a hopper with a spiral fiber guide near the discharge and flexible blades for clearing fibers from the upper and lower surfaces of the spiral fiber guide. A drive assembly is included for rotating the hopper at a rotation rate adequate to move and agitate the mesh fibers to facilitate flow of the mesh fibers first outward against the side walls of the bin and then rapidly downward through the bin being guided by the spiral fiber guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Insulation Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Yuriy Rubtsov
  • Patent number: 6267847
    Abstract: A pulper in a stock preparation system includes a housing with a fiber inlet, at least one water inlet, at least one outlet and an inner chamber. A plurality of stationary pulping foils are attached to the housing and extend into the inner chamber. A rotatable shaft assembly extends through the inner chamber. The shaft assembly includes a shaft, an auger positioned around the shaft and relative to the fiber inlet and a plurality of movable pulping foils carried by and extending from the shaft. A conical valve is positioned in association with the outlet and is selectively movable to open and close the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Paper Technology North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Klaus Doelle, Robert J. Matz
  • Patent number: 6237816
    Abstract: A rotary valve for feeding bulk material comprises a housing having a cavity, a supply opening leading to said cavity, and a discharge opening. Within the cavity, there is a cellular wheel rotatably supported. The distance between the outer circumference of the cellular wheel and the inner wall of the cavity can be altered. At least one sensor determines the distance and provides an output signal representative for it. Either the cellular wheel or the inner wall of the cavity or both are at least locally deformable in dependence on the output signal. In addition, the invention relates to a method or operating a cellular wheel where the above-mentioned distance or gap is determined or measured and at least one of said inner and outer radial dimensions of the cellular wheel and the cavity are controlled accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Coperion Waeschle GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jörg Boritzki
  • Patent number: 6206247
    Abstract: A rotary valve consisting generally of a housing having a cylindrical chamber provided with radially disposed inlet and outlet passageways; a shaft journaled in the housing extending through and disposed coaxially relative to such chamber; and a rotor mounted on said shaft within such chamber having a first set of circumferentially spaced material receiving pockets communicable with the inlet and outlet passageways for receiving material through the inlet passageway, conveying it through the chamber and discharging it through the outlet passageway, and a second set of circumferentially spaced material receiving pockets communicable with the outlet passageway for discharging material through the outlet passageway; a cylindrical wall of the chamber having a passageway having an inlet communicating with a leading side of the inlet passageway and an outlet communicating with the second set of pockets for guiding material received through the inlet passageway and not received within the first set of pockets, to th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Young Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Galen S. Ingram
  • Patent number: 6196154
    Abstract: In an air lock for continuous introduction into and/or removal of workpieces from spaces (1,4) separated atmospherically, the individual substrates (3,13) are transported through a transfer channel (24). At least one lock chamber (7a-7m) serving to accommodate the substrates (3,13) is arranged movably in the transfer channel (24). During the substrate transport in the transfer channel (24), the lock chamber (7a-7m) is atmospherically separated both from the exterior (1) having normal pressure and from the coating chamber (4). The air lock (2) includes a carrousel lock which has a carrousel housing (24) and a lock chamber wheel (10). On the periphery in the lock chamber wheel (10) individual lock chambers (7a-7m) are provided, in which the workpieces (3,13) to be brought into the chamber to be loaded (4) are inserted freely accessible on the normal pressure side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Leybold Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Tomas Baumecker, Helmut Grimm, Jürgen Henrich, Klaus Michael, Gert Rödling, Jürgen Ulrich
  • Patent number: 6197114
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for adjusting a discharge width of a powder feeder. The system includes a supply hopper that is spaced from the powder feeder. The powder feeder includes a receiving opening and a discharge opening and at least one adjustable wall. Preferably, two adjustable walls are provided. Movement of the two adjustable walls provides variations in the width of the discharge opening and therefore facilitates use of the powder feeder on target volumes or target areas having different widths. A rotatable auger brush is in communication with the supply hopper for causing powder withdrawn from the supply hopper to be transported to the powder feeder and disposed uniformly across the receiving opening of the powder feeder. The brush is immersed within the powder and extends across the receiving opening of the powder feeder, and maintains a filled level powder feeder. The powder feeder is particularly well-suited for use in a coating apparatus, as well as a dual-side coating apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Material Sciences Corporation
    Inventor: Phillip Rodenberger
  • Patent number: 6176397
    Abstract: The container is adapted to be releasably secured to a rotatable turntable. It has a pie-shaped cross section, with a recess in the bottom to receive a projection to hold it in place on the turntable. Another projection projects laterally from the narrow end of the container to mate with a receptacle on the turntable to prevent the container from being tipped off of the turntable. The container has a sloping hinged cover for a large opening on the top, and a hinged cover for a small shaker opening in the top. In one embodiment, the container has a dispensing opening in the bottom and a rotary dispenser operable from outside the container for dispensing pre-measured quantities of materials through the bottom opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Robbins Industries Inc.
    Inventors: E. Stanley Robbins, Rodney W. Robbins, Frans M. Weterrings, Ted A. Bell
  • Patent number: 6152310
    Abstract: A powder supply system including a powder replenishment device as a powder source, a suction device and a plurality of powder supply units connected in series. Each of the powder supply units sprinkles powders toward an object mounted on each processing device. An upstream end powder supply unit is fluidly connected to the powder replenishment device, and a downstream end powder supply unit is fluidly connected to the suction device. A suction force generated by the suction device sucks powders from the powder replenishment device through the powder supply units, and powders are successively accumulated in the powder supply units in the order from the upstream end powder supply unit to the downstream end powder supply unit. A powder sensor is provided between the rearmost powder supply unit and the suction device. If all powder supply units are filled with powders, residual powders are discharged out of the downstream end powder supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Rheon Automatic Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sakai, Masao Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 6149037
    Abstract: A lubricant transfer device such as a lubricant metering device is provided that includes a lubricant dispenser that can use a standard replaceable lubricant storage cartridge as a lubricant source. The dispenser includes an adapter that is configured for mounting on a lubricant metering pump or the like and that can selectively receive the standard storage cartridge. The adapter permits the coupling of the storage cartridge to the pump so as to prevent unintended axial movement of the storage cartridge with respect to the pump and so as to provide an air-tight seal between the storage cartridge and the adapter, thereby permitting lubricant to be drawn out of the storage cartridge under negative pressure generated by operation of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Lube Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard E. Berrend
  • Patent number: 6138591
    Abstract: A sowing device for discharging metered quantities of seed, fertilizer or the like grains is characterized in that the metering device is provided with one or more exchangeable cellular wheels (17), that the housing (16) of the metering device, which accommodates the cellular wheel (17) is designed axially symmetrical at both opposing faces in relation to the driving unit, the bearing and the assembly of the metering device and the fastening thereof, and has a removable shaft (18), that the housing (16) is designed without bearing, and at least one driving unit (22) with bearing and/or at least one bearing unit (24) is coupled thereto, that the shaft (18) in the form of a plug-on or slip-on shaft is supported in the driving and/or bearing unit(s), and that the driving and/or the bearing unit can be plugged, screwed or similarly attached to the housing (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Horsch Maschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Horsch
  • Patent number: 6135317
    Abstract: Device for unloading a pressurized vessel, comprising at least two rotary feeders in series, a valve situated between the reactor and the first feeder, and a point of entry for a gas, that is situated between the valve and the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Solvay Polyolefins Europe-Belgium
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Ruelle, Roger Liegeois
  • Patent number: 6129246
    Abstract: A rotary feeder for dosing bulk material, includes a casing having an inner chamber and formed with a top inlet, a bottom outlet and spaced-apart bearing covers flanking the inlet and the outlet. A rotor is accommodated in the chamber and is mounted on a shaft for rotation about a pivot axis. The shaft supports a plurality of vanes extending radially outward from the shaft between lateral end disks, with the shaft being supported on opposite sides of the rotor by bearings. In order to minimize the length of the shaft and a flexure of the shaft when encountering a substantial pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet, the chamber of the housing is sealed from the ambient environment by at least one shaft seal situated axially outwardly from the one bearing of the first and second bearings which is located on a same side of the rotor as the shaft seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Waeschle GmbH
    Inventor: Eugen Metzler
  • Patent number: 6112942
    Abstract: A tablet dispensing cap that allows an individual who is elderly, infirm, handicapped or visually impaired to dispense a single, non-liquid form through a single-handed operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon D. Deacon
  • Patent number: 6062439
    Abstract: A rotary valve with a rotor shroud and a cylinder wall. The rotary valve is sealed by injecting a fluid to compress a packing seal into sealing engagement with the rotor shroud and the cylinder wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Young Industries
    Inventors: Richard W Ambs, Anthony Boroch, Galen S Ingram, Curtiss F Wykoff
  • Patent number: 6059147
    Abstract: Many water based agriculture chemicals such as dairy chemicals, including teat washes and teat dips, are supplied in concentrated form in containers or bottles. The concentrated liquid is typically diluted with water at a ratio of about 1 to 5 ounces concentrate per gallon of water to form a treatment solution. The present invention involves a device that can both meter and dispense a precise amount of concentrate from a storage container for dilution purposes. The device of the present invention includes a dispenser that is connected to a container of liquid concentrate, typically a plastic bottle containing 1 to 3 gallons of the concentrate liquid, that is held by a retainer. A precise amount of liquid is obtained by rotating a handle of the dispenser from a first position to a second position, preferably about 180.degree. to 360.degree..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
    Inventors: Kaye Kit-Han Yuen, Oliver Murphy, III, John Joseph Mitlyng, Arlen Dean Jacobsma
  • Patent number: 6045009
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotary valve for conveying and metering bulk material into a pneumatic conveying conduit. Exemplary embodiments include a housing with a supply opening, a discharge opening and a cellular wheel supported rotatably about a substantially horizontal axis within a cavity of the housing. The cellular wheel rotates in a predetermined direction of rotation so that as some of its cells move upward, other cells move downward. The housing has at least one venting opening for venting the upward moving cells, the venting opening being arranged before the supply opening when seen in the direction of rotation. A perimeter of the at least one venting opening lies on a peripheral wall of the housing and has a plurality of recesses which extend in a direction towards the cellular wheel when the latter rotates in the direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Waeschle GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Beirle, Ewald Konig, Kurt Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 6036060
    Abstract: A rotary valve comprises a housing having a supply opening and a discharge opening and defining an inner substantially rotary symmetrical wall around an axis of rotation. A cellular wheel is supported rotatably about the axis of rotation within the housing, and includes a hub or shaft. A series of inner web plates is arranged to extend radially in a star-shape on the hub and have a radial outer wedge surface inclined with respect to the axis of rotation. An equal number of outer web plates have each a radial inner wedge surface which rides on and engages the radial outer wedge surface of a respective inner web plate. The web plates are guided by respective radial guidances. In the region of the radial outer edge of each of the outer web plates is a sealing strip radially displaceable and guided by a respective radial guidance to engage the housing's inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Waechle GmbH
    Inventors: Erwin Munsch, Christian Maday
  • Patent number: 6029828
    Abstract: A turntable storage device which has a turntable and a plurality of storage containers for condiments and other granular materials. The turntable has a base member and a platform that is removably attachable to the base and rotatable on the base member. The base member has an upwardly extending hollow post. The containers are attachable to the turntable by means of mating projections and receptacles. The turntable storage device is convertible. It is provided with structure for selectively attaching and removing either a handle or a hanging support member. The hanging support member is adaptable to hang one or more turntables from a shelf, if desired. The support member also is shaped to fit into the hollow post of another turntable, whereby two turntables can be stacked on top of the one another. In one embodiment, a rotary measuring dispenser is mounted in each container for dispensing predetermined quantities of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Robbins Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: E. Stanley Robbins, Rodney W. Robbins, Frans M. Weterrings, Ted A. Bell
  • Patent number: 5957332
    Abstract: A dispenser for granular food products comprises a hopper for holding a quantity of the product, a pair of back-to-back rotary buckets to alternately receive measured quantities of the product from the hopper, and a semi-automatic electric-powered drive for operating the buckets to discharge their contents seriatim into waiting containers or packages. The preferred embodiment utilizes a cam-switch controlled electric motor which is responsive to push-button triggering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Inventors: William F Lytle, Frederick McKinney
  • Patent number: 5947336
    Abstract: A dry food dispenser having a cylindrical container with a removable top or cap for covering a central storage area holding dry baby formula or other dry food commodity. The mid-section of the container includes a tapered funnel terminating in an opening. A rotatable cylinder is operably carried on the funnel having a pre-measured receptacle or cavity co-extensive with the funnel opening for collecting a quantity of the dry food product. Upon rotation of the cylinder, the receptacle carries the product from the funnel for external dispensing into a utility container for usage. A second pre-measured receptacle or cavity may be provided in the cylinder and a releasable retainer interconnects the container with the cylinder for holding the cylinder in a fixed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: Patrick Thompson
  • Patent number: 5927687
    Abstract: A ball valve for shutting off pipelines carrying liquid, gaseous and solids-laden media, particularly those of large nominal diameters, includes a housing containing a ball provided with at least one bore and supported in a rotatable fashion in the housing by means of a spindle, annular seals located before and after the ball in the direction of flow in the housing which seal off the inlet side from the outlet side, one additional annular seal which rests upon the surface of the ball in the housing in each of the planes perpendicular to the spindle axis above and below the bore, as well as above and below the seals which are placed before and after the ball in the flow direction, in such a way that each of the planes which are spanned by them and are parallel with each other is perpendicular to the planes spanned by the sealing rings placed before and after the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Inventor: Ralf Krause
  • Patent number: 5927558
    Abstract: A granular material dispensing apparatus including an upper hopper to hold a quantity of granular material; the upper hopper having an upper face forming a upper funnel and having an upper hopper outlet to allow granular material to pass therethrough; a lower hopper having an upper face forming a lower funnel and having a lower hopper outlet to allow granular material to pass therethrough; a wiper plate positioned between the upper hopper and the lower hopper; the wiper plate having a wiper plate outlet to allow granular material to pass therethrough from the upper hopper outlet, and having a lower face surface with a planar portion surrounding the wiper plate outlet; and an impeller mounted beneath the wiper plate outlet and rotatably movable between a first position and a second position; the impeller including at least a spaced pair of fins forming a pocket therebetween to receive a quantity of granular material from the wiper plate outlet when the impeller is in the first position and to transfer the quan
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Inventor: Floyd Bruce
  • Patent number: 5926441
    Abstract: A Microprocessor controlled timer particularly adapted for control of an animal feeder with a display of program items and with user settable feeding times and duration of such feeding times based upon the microprocessor calculated sunrise and sunset times with a selector switch and a change switch and display of program items allowing user reprogramming of the timer; the timer being broadly usable for activation of electrical equipment when desirable activation is at times relative to sunrise and sunset and also being usable for activation of electrical equipment according to normal clock time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Specialty Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert G. Zinsmeyer, Donald E. Carroll
  • Patent number: 5913458
    Abstract: Apparatus for adjusting the axial position of a rotatable feeder (2) in a charger for sluicing lignocellulose material and, if appropriate, liquid from a first space, with a first pressure, to a second space, with a different pressure, which apparatus (10) comprises an adjustment housing (11) connected immovably to the charger housing and an adjustment shaft (16) which moves the feeder in an axial direction. A worm wheel (23) is arranged on the adjustment shaft, and is coaxial with respect to the same, a shaft for a worm (27) extends through the adjustment housing wall, the worm (27) itself is in engagement with the worm wheel, turning members (29) are arranged to turn the worm and the worm wheel, conversion mechanisms (25, 26) are arranged for converting the rotational movement of the worm wheel, into an axial movement of the adjustment shaft and thus the feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping AB
    Inventor: Stig Eriksson
  • Patent number: 5906297
    Abstract: A multi-outlet depositor receives fluid material and displaces first and second portions of the material using first and second mechanisms, respectively, that are coupled together in a manner that causes volume of the first portion to vary according to volume of the second portion. The first portion may equal the second portion. The first and second mechanisms may be coupled using a bolt. The multi-outlet depositor may also include an output for providing the first and second portions. The first and second mechanisms may include positive displacement vane pumps. Each of the vane pumps may include a hub/chamber assembly having a hub and a plurality of vanes disposed within a cylinder. The hub/chamber assembly may have two vanes that interlock and are displaceable along their longitudinal axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Inventor: Russell H. Cole
  • Patent number: 5878679
    Abstract: A product disconnect is provided for cutting off product flow between a product tank and an associated metering system. The product is instead directed to a product cleanout where an operator can empty the product tank without sending product through the metering system. The product disconnect may consist of one or more rotary cutoff valves which are selectively movable between an open position allowing product to flow into metering system and a closed position where product is instead directed to a product cleanout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: David Walter Gregor, Ronald Lee Pratt
  • Patent number: 5855303
    Abstract: A wear insert is provided for an air seeder metering system directing rising air away from product as it is metered from a product tank by the associated metering system. The wear insert has a lip which extends into the outlet of the metering system in order to divert air away from the path of metered product to prevent the product from bunching and to promote a continuous flow of product from the metering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: David Walter Gregor
  • Patent number: 5842606
    Abstract: A beverage server (10) for providing a variety of beverage choices to a user comprises a plurality of dispenser sections (12) connected together. Each of the plurality of dispenser sections (12) include first and second vertical walls (14, 16) and at least one horizontal shelf (18 or 20) connected therebetween. The first wall (14) includes a length, at least one clip (36) extending therefrom and a shelf guide (22 and 24) extending along the length on a side opposite the at least one clip (36). The second side (16) has a length, at least one recess (38) extending therethrough and a shelf guide (22 and 24) extending along the length, the shelf guide (22 and 24) on the second side wall (16) is positioned to face the shelf guide (22 and 24) on the first side wall (14). The at least one shelf (18 or 20) includes a recess (30 or 32) extending therethrough and is seated within said shelf guides (22 and 24) of both the first and second side walls (14 and 16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Inventor: Joseph A DeVito
  • Patent number: 5839619
    Abstract: The measuring dispenser consists of a base element having a container element inserted therein where both elements are of cylindrical construction and can be rotated relative to each other. The base element has a bottom end which has measuring chambers to hold granular material to be dispensed. The container element holds the supply of granular material which fills the measuring chambers through a fill opening. A dispensing channel in the container element is designed to be positioned over a measuring chamber such that when the measuring dispenser is inverted the measuring chamber contents are poured out through the dispensing channel and the dispensing top end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Inventor: Randy Robert Willer
  • Patent number: 5833097
    Abstract: A no-mess dispensing/measuring system is disclosed. The system includes a canister equipped with a rotor unit in its lower portion. The rotor unit includes paddles which may be rotated through the canister to propel bulk dry products stored in the canister out of an outlet and into a variable volume measuring receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Inventor: Cathleen M. Ruth
  • Patent number: 5823401
    Abstract: A ball-valve for precise and accurate sampling and dispensing is disclosed. The ball-valve includes a body having a through-bore having a first end and a second end lined with a two-part sleeve which partially surrounds a ball. The ball is rotatably mounted within the sleeve and in sealing engagement with the sleeve. The ball includes a blind-bore of a known volume. The ball rotates between a first position, in which the blind-bore registers with the first end, and a second position, in which the blind-bore registers with the second end. Rotation of the ball transports a known volume from communication with the first end to communication with the second end. The sealing engagement between the ball and sleeve will prevent depressurization through the ball-valve of a vessel mounted to the ball-valve, both when the ball is at rest and when rotating. In addition, the sealing engagement between the ball and sleeve ensures only the desired volume of fluid is transported between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Inventor: Roy F. Zgoda
  • Patent number: 5799713
    Abstract: An apparatus for storing both coffee and nested stacks of cup-shaped coffee filters, and then automatically filling individual filters with selected amounts of coffee. Through a series of gears, an electric motor rotates an elastic projection against the topmost filter in the stack, dragging it beneath a coffee storage receptacle. Simultaneously, a rotating coffee dispenser fills with a selectable quantity of coffee and then dumps the coffee into the filter. The apparatus also includes a stirring device for insuring the stored coffee falls to the bottom of the coffee receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Inventor: Larry W. Moore
  • Patent number: 5797435
    Abstract: This invention is directed to an apparatus for filling powder which comprises introducing a predetermined amount of powder into each of the receiving holes formed at the peripheral edge portion of a rotary disk from a powder hopper, intermittently rotating the rotary disk, and discharging and filling the powder accommodated in each of the receiving holes into a powder container positioned therebelow when each of the receiving holes reaches a discharging and filling portion. The rotational axis (C) of the rotary disk (1) is inclined. The center axis of each of the receiving holes (8) is arranged on an imaginary conical surface (12) having this rotational axis (C) as its center axis and an apex angle (.theta.) of 60.degree. to 120.degree.. The powder hopper (6) is disposed on the lateral side portion of an opening (8a) of the receiving hole (8) at a vacuum sucking portion (9) and a boss portion (28) supporting the rotational axis (34) of the agitator (7) is arranged above the powder hopper (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Carbone Industrie
    Inventor: Yasutaro Wada
  • Patent number: 5772081
    Abstract: A low leakage rotary valve composes of a housing, a rotor, a driving end valve cover and a washing end valve cover. The driving end valve cover and the washing end valve cover are to secure the rotor in the housing. The driving end valve cover houses a detachable driving shaft which can transmit an external driving force to the rotor for rotation. The washing end valve cover allows the rotor to be removed for cleaning. Inside the driving end valve cover and washing end valve cover, there are provided respectively a sealing ring to prevent the material contained in the valve from contamination or to avoid pressure leakage. The edge of the blades of the rotor is extended to reduce gas leakage. A three-dimensional sealing is integrally provided on the outer edges of the rotor blades and the circumferential edges of the driving end valve cover and the washing end valve cover to further prevent gas leakage that may occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Food Industry Research and Development Institute
    Inventors: Shyan-Chiin Wei, Wei-Chong Tsai
  • Patent number: 5746353
    Abstract: The present invention relates in general to a portable laundry detergent dispensing system. This unit is divided into three holding containers, one for liquid detergent, one for powdered detergent and one for liquid fabric softener. The center back compartment is a storage compartment for a measuring cup, a mixing rod and other laundry accessories. The storage compartment also includes a coin-holder for nickles, dimes and quarters in the rear wall. The powder dispenser is a cylindrical dump cup having an opening therein which allows a fixed amount of the the solid detergent to flow into a measuring cup. Liquid detergents and softeners are dispensed with a fixed volume hand pump assembly connected to retractable hose assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Inventors: Calvin Kok-Hwa Cheok, Rajesh Jaigopai Saggi
  • Patent number: 5743639
    Abstract: An ingredient feeder meters a selected amount of ingredient into a flowable food product including an enrobing chamber subtended by a blending tube. The blending tube houses an agitator assembly that moves the continuous flow of ingredient in both axial and radial directions as it mixes the ingredient with the flowable food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: APV Crepaco, Inc.
    Inventors: Gale Norman Puerner, Keith Douglas White, John E. Kress
  • Patent number: 5738249
    Abstract: A rotor 22 accommodated in a casing 26 has a circumferential surface sliding on the internal surface of the casing 26 in airtight condition. The casing 26 is provided with a powder feed part 27 positioned above the rotor and is provided with a powder drop part 30 positioned under the rotor. At least one quantity-measuring recessed part is formed in the slide surface of the rotor. In accordance with the rotation of the rotor, the quantity-measuring recessed part comes to communicate with the powder feed part, so that powder is fed from the powder feed part into the quantity-measuring recessed part. When the rotation is advanced, the quantity-measuring recessed part comes to communicate with the powder drop part, so that the powder drops from the quantity-measuring recessed part through the powder drop part into a high-pressure part 19 arranged thereunder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsui Petrochemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kikuchi, Tomohiro Arase, Shotaro Matsuda, Ryoichi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5704517
    Abstract: An enclosure is provided having a first recessed portion for housing a public telephone, and a second recessed portion for housing at least one foodstuff vending machine that is receivable therein. A door-like protective wall is hingedly connected to a side edge of the second recessed portion for substantially enclosing and protecting the foodstuff vending machine. The vending machine is detachably connected to the back side of the door-like protective wall to facilitate access thereto. The protective wall includes a transparent window for displaying the contents of the foodstuff vending machine which is easily replaceable in the event of vandalism. Additionally, the foodstuff vending machine includes a horizontally oriented metering wheel with a single metering recess to make maximum use of the limited depth afforded by the second recessed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Triangle Telephone Company
    Inventor: Hazen G. Lancaster, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5694794
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for repeated, automatic metering of precisely metered quantities of a powdered detergent into water-carrying cleaning machines, in particular household dishwashers and household washing machines, include a detergent holder and a metering and dispensing device having a movable metering device with at least one metering receptacle. The interior of the detergent holder and a guide of the metering and dispensing device are acted upon continuously by a stream of compressed air. Therefore, clumping of the highly hygroscopic powdered detergent and an expensive, complex apparatus, which requires a high drive torque and a high air pressure, are avoided. The metering device has only one metering receptacle. The metering and dispensing device has two chambers communicating with one another. The detergent fed into the first chamber is fed gradually, during the motion of the metering device, into the second chamber, which has an opening toward the treatment vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Bosch-Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Jerg, Daniele Cerruti