Having Straight-line Motion Patents (Class 222/440)
  • Patent number: 11434125
    Abstract: A beverage pouring device includes a cradle that is moveable between a first position and a second position under a dispensing spigot. The cradle supports a glass and moving the cradle to the second position actuates a valve to dispense beverage into the glass. After partially filling the glass, the cradle automatically returns to the first position and the device continues filling the glass to a desired volume. The device starts and stops the flow of beverage automatically to arrive at a desired volume within the glass. The automatically moving cradle helps with foam control while allowing the glass to be filled hands-free which allows the user to do other tasks while the glass is being filled. The device tracks beverage statistics and sends these statistics to a remote computing device, as well as provides an alert when the beverage source approaches emptiness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: WHIDBREW TECHNOLOGIES, INC
    Inventor: William Harr
  • Patent number: 9232818
    Abstract: A cigarette assembly machine that accepts loose tobacco and cigarette blanks that include a filter and an empty tobacco holding portion and produces cigarettes. The machine includes a tobacco plug forming mechanism, adapted to accept loose tobacco and form it into a plug of tobacco in the shape of the tobacco holding portion; a cigarette blank accepting and holding mechanism, adapted to hold the cigarette blank, so that the empty tobacco holding portion is facing the tobacco plug forming mechanism; a shaft aligned to the accepting and holding mechanism; and a two-stroke shaft moving assembly, adapted to move the shaft through a first stroke, which pushes the tobacco plug into the tobacco holding portion to create a cigarette, and through a second stroke that moves the cigarette out of the cigarette blank accepting and holding mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventors: Sajid Munawar, Kurt F. Hanke
  • Patent number: 8444015
    Abstract: A fluid dispensing apparatus is configured to dispense a predetermined volume of fluid, and includes a fluid reservoir to hold a fluid to be dispensed, a dispense tube to dispense the fluid, and an elevator mechanism. The fluid reservoir receives a fluid from a fluid supply. A dispense tube has a dispense outlet, and is connected to an outlet port on the fluid reservoir. The elevator mechanism changes a relative vertical displacement between the dispense outlet and the outlet port. Particularly, a processor controls the elevator mechanism to raise the dispense tube to a raised filling position to prevent fluid flow from the dispense outlet, and lower the dispense tube to a lowered dispensing position to dispense the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Inventors: Denis E. Keyes, John R. Randall
  • Patent number: 8434647
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a device for measuring and dispensing a prescribed amount of liquid. The advantage of the present device is that a simple squeezing action not only reliably and precisely stores a prescribed volume of liquid (e.g., a liquid cooking ingredient, beverage (such as wine or liquor) but then subsequently upon an additional squeeze, discharges the stored liquid while refilling the dose chamber with another dose of the prescribed volume to be later discharged upon the next squeezing action. This eliminates the time consuming tasks of having to measure liquids with conventional measuring cups and the like and instead, the user simple initially adds liquid to the container and then places the cover and measuring and dispensing mechanism on top of the container prior to performed successive squeezing for loading and discharging the dose volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Inventor: Riad Aamar
  • Publication number: 20110278329
    Abstract: A storage and measurement container for retaining a quantity of particulate food product and dispensing a measured serving thereof. The container comprises a rectangular storage volume with a removable lid, wherein food stuffs such as flour, spices and other products may be preserved for extended periods of time and likewise dispensed therefrom. The lid is attachable to the container, and comprises an interior volume and a closure blade. Within the lid is a means to adjust its interior volume by method of inserting or retracting a graduated piston, which changes a desired serving. The blade is first used to retract the piston prior to the assembly being rotated and food contents transferred from the container to the lid interior volume. The blade is then used to separate the container volume from the lid volume after the container has been rotated and prior to dispensing the lid contents. A lid door provides a means to dispense the product after the blade has been inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: Linda Enns
  • Patent number: 7861749
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing metered amounts of powdered material, such as baby formula, from a dispenser unit, or cartridge, that can be quickly and easily interconnected with the dispenser. The dispenser can accommodate formula bottles of various sizes and includes a dispensing plunger that provides an oscillating action to prevent compaction of the formula and functions to ensure even dispensing of the formula into the formula bottle. Uniquely, actuation of the dispensing plunger creates a negative pressure internally of the dispensing chamber of the dispenser so as to assist the uniform withdrawal of formula from the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventor: Artin Gevorgian
  • Publication number: 20100243667
    Abstract: A fluid dispensing apparatus is configured to dispense a predetermined volume of fluid, and includes a fluid reservoir to hold a fluid to be dispensed, a dispense tube to dispense the fluid, and an elevator mechanism. The fluid reservoir receives a fluid from a fluid supply. A dispense tube has a dispense outlet, and is connected to an outlet port on the fluid reservoir. The elevator mechanism changes a relative vertical displacement between the dispense outlet and the outlet port. Particularly, a processor controls the elevator mechanism to raise the dispense tube to a raised filling position to prevent fluid flow from the dispense outlet, and lower the dispense tube to a lowered dispensing position to dispense the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Denis E. Keyes, John R. Randall
  • Patent number: 7770529
    Abstract: A method and device for filling a container with a fertilizer, pesticide, fungicide, herbicide, insecticide, chemical, or the like material by gravity, includes a housing with an inlet and an outlet, a valve for opening or restricting a flow between the inlet and outlet and having open and closed positions, and an actuator disposed downstream of the inlet for actuating the valve between the open and closed positions, wherein the actuator is operated by a container to be filled with a material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: J. Andrew Phillips, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7618251
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for processing an edible product in the form a viscous to pasty mass (1), especially an edible product based on a fat mass, such as chocolate, or based on water, such as ice cream. Said device comprises a dosing unit (2) for the dosed delivery of a specific volume of the mass (1) to shaping units (13). The movement of the displacement element (6) determining the dosage volume is performed via servo drive (9) while an inlet (4) and an outlet (5) are closed and opened via servo drive or pneumatic drive, respectively. Preferably, the displacement element is embodied as a combined lifting/rotating plunger (6) which can perform a linear movement for a suctioning lift and a dosing lift while being able to perform a rotary movement for opening and closing the inlet (4) and the outlet (5), i.e. a valve function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Buhler AG
    Inventors: Uwe Steiner, Karl-Jürgen Kasemann, Michael Paul
  • Patent number: 7472808
    Abstract: A powder body metering apparatus for metering a powder body such as a synthetic resin raw material is structured such that a powder body outlet of a metering container of another metering apparatus is connected to a second opening (50), whereby a powder body transport system is constructed, the powder body within the metering container of the other metering apparatus can be transported to a predetermined place via a metering container (32), by finishing a discharge of the powder body within the metering container (32), thereafter keeping a switch valve (36) in a closed state, filling the powder body in the metering container of the other metering apparatus and thereafter generating a gas stream toward a first opening (49) from the second opening (50), thus the metering container (32) being utilized as a part of a transport pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Matsui MFG. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunari Hanaoka, Satoshi Ishii
  • Patent number: 7383971
    Abstract: In a powder body metering apparatus for metering a powder body such as a synthetic resin raw material or the like, a powder body discharge port (55) is formed in a lower portion of a metering container (17) of a metering apparatus (6) and is freely opened and closed by a case (50) provided with a porous body (19), the powder body metered by the metering container (17) is discharged from the powder body discharge port (55) of a lower tube (22) by horizontally oscillating the case (50) so as to open the powder body discharge port (55), whereby it is possible to easily meter and confirm a weight or the like of the powder body metered by the metering container (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Matsui Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunari Hanaoka
  • Patent number: 6997358
    Abstract: A device (2) for fitting to the neck of a deformable bottle (4) to give a metered dose of liquid when the bottle is squeezed. The liquid dispensed through outlet (30) has to pass through a metering chamber (34) in which it is directed around or through a freely-moving shuttle (8), movement of the shuttle (8) with the flow being resisted by the creation of a partial vacuum in the expanding control chamber (42) behind the shuttle, so that the rate at which the shuttle moves to the outlet end of the metering chamber (34) to close the outlet (30), and hence the amount of liquid dispensed, is controlled by the rate at which liquid can enter control chamber (42). Because it is configured so that all the liquid enters metering chamber (34) at its inward end, the chamber may fitted either inside or outside the neck of the bottle (4) and the dose may be adjusted by moving the outlet (30) closer to, or further from, the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Inventor: Anthony Charles Lammond Wass
  • Patent number: 6929158
    Abstract: A dispenser for granular material having a container for storing the material. The container is connected to a dispensing assembly having a chamber in removable communication with the container. The volume of the chamber is controlled by an insert that is installed in one of several positions and orientations within the chamber to determine the amount of material to be dispensed from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Traex Company
    Inventor: Charles F. Smiley
  • Patent number: 6662972
    Abstract: A cap device mounted to an opening of a container includes a base with its skirt 12 securely engaged with the opening of the container and a hole is defined through the base and a neck extends from the base and encloses the hole. An access portion is rotatably engaged with the neck and includes a tube extending therefrom at an angle. A slidable tube is slidably mounted to the tube so that the stuff in the container can be poured into the slidable tube without opening the cap device. A fastening belt is securely mounted to the skirt of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Inventor: Lien-Fang Chu
  • Publication number: 20030183660
    Abstract: A cap device mounted to an opening of a container includes a base with its skirt 12 securely engaged with the opening of the container and a hole is defined through the base and a neck extends from the base and encloses the hole. An access portion is rotatably engaged with the neck and includes a tube extending therefrom at an angle. A slidable tube is slidably mounted to the tube so that the stuff in the container can be poured into the slidable tube without opening the cap device. A fastening belt is securely mounted to the skirt of the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventor: Lien-Fang Chu
  • Patent number: 6595245
    Abstract: According to a method for filling containers (2) with a metered quantity of products (10), the products is supplied to a reservoir (3), inside which there is a metering receptacle (7). In its upper part, the metering receptacle (7) is open and its lower part features a discharge pipe (8), which communicates with a container (2) to be filled. A moving element (13) moves between a filling position in which it causes the raising of level of the products (10) over the opening (7a) of the metering receptacle (7), so that the latter is filled with the products and a non-filling position, in which the level of the products (10) is lowered below the opening (7a) of the metering receptacle (7). Thus a metered quantity (11) of products is collected inside the metering receptacle (7) The metered quantity (11) of products is delivered to the container (2) through the discharge pipe (8), by opening of valve means (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventor: Milena Stagni
  • Patent number: 6488182
    Abstract: This invention discloses a portion control vertical bin for controlling the amount of material dispensed having a portion control device where a single handle pulls a top-slide and a bottom-slide where the top-slide separates a portion of material from the bulk material in the bin, the bottom-slide when pulled further releases the portioned material through an opening in the bottom-slide to a spout assembly where the portioned material may be collected in a receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Brach's Confections, Inc.
    Inventors: Sathish K. Mohanraju, George Mullinix
  • Patent number: 6446843
    Abstract: A metering machine for pasta is described comprising a channel for the finishing of pasta, a shovel for the support of the pasta that flows in said finishing channel, a shovel for the metering of the pasta. The supporting shovel and the metering shovel are transversally insertable in the finishing channel and disinsertable from it in alternate way. The metering shovel and the supporting shovel are mechanically connected with each other so that a single driving device provides to their simultaneous and alternate transversal insertion and disinsertion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Studio Tecnico Per. Ind. Giuseppe Vezzani
    Inventor: Paolo Vezzani
  • Patent number: 6435378
    Abstract: A fluid dispensing device comprises a tube and a holding means. When used with a container, the holding means is connected to a neck of the container and the tube is plunged into an interior of the container. An area on the tube, by which the tube is held by the holding means, defines a distance between a lower end of the tube and the bottom of the container. Consequently, a maximal amount of the fluid for the selected area that can be dispensed from the container upon its tilting is determined. A metering container is formed by combining the dispensing device and a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Inventor: Alexander Aptekman
  • Patent number: 6336396
    Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus comprising a container (1) closed with a lid (6) storing the product to be dispensed, a cylinder communicating with the container (1) and whereof the bottom is provided with an outlet, a piston (12) traversed by at least one orifice (13), sliding in the cylinder, a check valve (25) mobile between positions opening and closing the orifice (13), said check valve (25) being urged by a spring towards its opening position, a dispensing nozzle communicating with the outlet and provided with a normally closed plug which opens by the effect of the pressure of the product contained in the cylinder, and means for actuating the piston from outside the container (1). The invention is useful for making pancakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Inventor: André Sala
  • Patent number: 6131774
    Abstract: A flowable material dispensing system that will dispense a flowable material into a container and stop dispensing when the proper level is reached in the container. The container has an actuating device that is used to open the valve on the container. As the flowable material flows into the container and reaches the top, flow stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Thomas, James L. Copeland, Jamie W. Lerbs, Roy F. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6041979
    Abstract: A cap for dispensing material from a container defining an interior portion, including a housing capable of attachment to the container and including a translucent region, and defining an aperture, a first opening, and a second opening, and a spout member disposed through the aperture and defining a transfer compartment, having a first end and a second end and defining an inlet orifice at the first end and an outlet orifice at the second end, the spout member rotatably movable with respect to the housing between a first position where the inlet orifice is disposed to generally align with the first opening and communicate with the interior portion and the outlet orifice is disposed within and closed by the housing whereby material within the container may be transferred from the interior portion into the transfer compartment through the inlet orifice but material may not be dispensed from the container, and a second position where the inlet orifice is disposed within and closed by the housing and the outlet or
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Edward S. Robbins, III
    Inventors: Edward S. Robbins, III, Don B. Walker, II, Harry L. Raney, Joseph B. Swann
  • Patent number: 6029861
    Abstract: A device for measuring and dispensing quantities of free flowing material. The device is a tube with one or more partial walls mounted in the tube. When held at an angle above the angle of repose for the free flowing material and rotated 180.degree. around the longitudinal axis of the tube and then another 180.degree. in either direction, free flowing material is measured and dispensed. The device can measure and dispense a variable amount of material by changing the volume of a variable volume chamber. The device can also be automated to turn by an electric motor or a mechanical device operated by a hand squeezed trigger. The device can be a hand-held tube for dispensing free flowing materials, or it can mount on the top of a container of free flowing materials, and be used to dispense quantities of the free flowing material on demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Inventor: Glen R. Gier
  • Patent number: 5944072
    Abstract: A flange 52 extends upwardly about a filling passage 50 and a flexible tubular valve member 54 having a bead 56 in tension about and in sealing engagement with the flange and extending through an inlet cavity 48 to an annular ring 58 presenting an upwardly facing conical seat 60 for sealing engagement with a poppet valve 62. A helical spring 64 is disposed about the tubular valve member 54 and engages the annular ring 58 to urge the annular ring 58 into engagement with the periphery 46 of the valve seat in the filling position. A mast 66 is connected to the poppet valve 62 and extends upwardly through the chamber 34 for moving the mast 66 vertically between the chamber 34 charging position, as shown in FIG. 4, and the container 11 filling position, as shown in FIG. 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Crown Simplimatic Incorporated
    Inventors: Felix Tietz, Wolfgang Wilke
  • Patent number: 5758803
    Abstract: A milk powder dispenser for dispensing a predetermined amount of milk powder is provided. The dispenser includes a base unit, a milk powder measuring unit, and a control unit. The base unit includes a base plate formed with an opening. The milk powder measuring unit is mounted on a bottom side of the base plate and confines a milk powder retaining chamber that is aligned with the opening in the base plate. The control unit has a top wall formed with an inlet opening and extending slidably between the measuring unit and the base plate, and a bottom wall formed with an outlet opening and extending slidably below the measuring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Chin-Hai Liao
    Inventors: Chin-Hai Liao, Wen-Pin Liao
  • Patent number: 5645195
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus is provided for dispensing dough. The apparatus comprises a dough hopper (11) having a valve chamber (12) at its lower end into which dough from the hopper is metered and from which dough is eventually discharged by a valve unit (14). Dough is expelled from the valve chamber in response to downward strokes of a dispensing rod (30) attached to the valve unit. In the preferred embodiment, a dough former (72) is attached to the valve unit and is used to dispense multiple charges of dough. In an alternative embodiment, the valve unit is provided with a seat (27) having a discharge opening (19) through which dough is dispensed in a single charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Inventors: Thomas E. Belshaw, Frank W. Ebelle, Christopher L. Bowers
  • Patent number: 5386930
    Abstract: A storing and dispensing device for dogfood and the like comprises a bin having a funnel-shaped bottom portion which terminates in a vertical channel with an open bottom end. A feeding mechanism is vertically movable in the channel, either manually of automatically, allowing a given amount of food to be emitted at each operation. The mechanism includes an upper valve which normally closes the bin, and a lower valve which normally keeps the channel bottom open, the two valves being connected by a shaft which permits their relative distance to be changed for different food portions. Lifting the upper valve opens the bin and lets food flow into the channel which is now closed by the lower valve, the food portion being defined by the space enclosed between the valves. After the space has been filled, the mechanism is lowered whereby the upper valve closes the bin and the lower valve lets the food run into a feeding bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Inventor: David Shani
  • Patent number: 5125440
    Abstract: Apparatus for admitting metered quantities of a liquid into discrete containers in the form of bottles, cans or the like has a rotary annular tank which carries at its underside a ring-shaped set of filling units each of which has a discrete metering vessel serving to receive a metered quantity of liquid from the interior of the tank for admission into a container which is placed into alignment with a centering and sealing sleeve movably mounted on each metering vessel. If the liquid is to be admitted into the containers at an elevated pressure, the supply of liquid in the tank is disposed beneath a plenum chamber and each filling unit is designed to admit compressed gas from the plenum chamber into the aligned container prior to admission of a metered quantity of liquid. The liquid which flows into a container expels the compressed gas which is returned into the plenum chamber or into a separate receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: alfill Getranketechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Mette
  • Patent number: 4974754
    Abstract: A metering apparatus has a metering chamber which has at least one boundary surface in the form of a flexible diaphragm. The diaphragm is operatively connected to an actuating device so that the volume of the chamber for metering and deliveirng the substance can be varied. An inlet opening and an outlet opening in the metering chamber can preferably be closed off directly by the diaphragm, more specifically by means of closure devices arranged in the region of those openings. The metering apparatus is particularly suitable for die bonders for the delivery of a bonding agent onto a substrate which is then equipped with electronic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Alphasem AG
    Inventor: Gustav Wirz
  • Patent number: 4971229
    Abstract: An adjustable dose dispenser having a measuring chamber of constant cross-section defined in a housing wherein an end of the chamber is selectively placed in communication with a reservoir containing flowable material to fill the chamber and with a passage to discharge material from the dispenser, and including a piston movably mounted in the housing and having an end face located in the measuring chamber so as to define the measuring volume between the piston end face and the end of the chamber. A manually operable drive mechanism is movably carried by the housing and has formations thereon operatively engaging formations on the piston so that upon movement of the drive mechanism the piston end face is moved along the measuring chamber to vary the volume thereof and so that dimensional control of the volume of the measuring chamber is determined by tolerance associated with misalignment of the formations on the piston and drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: hiMedics, inc.
    Inventor: Philip F. Heimlich
  • Patent number: 4869397
    Abstract: A control arrangement is provided which permits precise metering of a bellows pump. The control arrangement permits the predetermined setting of an amount of fluid to be dispensed from a single pump or a plurality of pumps. The control system permits a double bellows pump to cooperate with a drive mechanism in order to precisely meter the fluid to be dispensed from the pump by selecting a predetermined amount of fluid from a range of settings of the control mechanism. When a plurality of double bellows liquid dispensing pump units are provided, a plurality of electric motors are arranged to drive an adjustable stop element and provide a limit on the length of stroke of a driving rod connected to the bellows pump. The motors are controlled by a program logic circuit which monitors the degree of movement of the stop elements and controls the motors in response to a preset or selected fill condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: Liquipak International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald G. Corniea, Steven J. Marty, David E. McCaleb
  • Patent number: 4830225
    Abstract: A dispenser for flowable materials in which the flowable material is moved from a reservoir for such materials into a variable volume measuring chamber, the volume of which is adjustable only by an external key, and thereafter to a discharge opening remote from the measuring chamber, which opening has a closure to control dispersion of the granules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: hiMEDICS, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip F. Heimlich
  • Patent number: 4828149
    Abstract: A dispensing device for dispensing measured doses during each dispensing cycle. A fluid tight bottle is provided with a well at its bottom. A hollow shell fits in the well and includes an opening permitting flow of material from the bottle into the shell. A tubular stem extends from the shell through the top of the bottle and terminates in a dispensing spout. Different embodiments provide different arrangements for supplying air to an air chamber in the top of the bottle so that pressure within the bottle can equalize at the end of each dispensing cycle. If the bottle is not a squeeze bottle, air is supplied to the bottom of the bottle to displace the liquid in the shell which is dispensed through the stem upon inversion of the bottle. Additional embodiments of the invention are specially constructed to dispense powders and to allow the dosage of each dispensing cycle to be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Inventor: Kenneth D. Hester
  • Patent number: 4811869
    Abstract: A device for dispensing a predetermined amount of powder from a storage chamber and including a lower measuring chamber. The amount of powder delivered from the measuring chamber is rigourously constant from dispensing stroke to dispensing stroke. The capacity of the measuring chamber can be finely adjusted in accordance with a graduation scale. The dispenser includes a pair of valves and a pusher rod actuating the valves, the lower valve closable under gravity, the upper valve being biased by a single coil spring mounted around the rod. The biasing coil spring is shielded by a sleeve from both chambers, so that the powder never comes in contact with the coil spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Inventor: Roger Tremblay
  • Patent number: 4728011
    Abstract: A metering stopper for the neck of a bottle is described, with which a liquid medium is delivered in metered quantities. A tubular metering housing encloses a metering chamber which is provided with an outlet bore, the wall of which metering chamber has recesses for the admission of liquid into the inside of the metering chamber and in which a float is inserted which slides in sealing manner along the inner wall of the metering chamber. The float, the specific weight of which is in each case greater than the specific weight of the liquid to be delivered, has a cone, the tapered tip of which interacts with a valve seat in the outlet bore of the metering chamer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: AHK Alkohol Handelskontor GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wilhelm Schuster, Fritz Deak
  • Patent number: 4721233
    Abstract: A powder feeding apparatus comprising a powder storage receptacle for defining a space to hold a powder and a metering chamber disposed beneath the holding space for receiving the powder flowing from the holding space. The powder is metered in the metering chamber and discharged. The apparatus includes a metering section having a metering space for defining the metering chamber and a metering adjusting member disposed slidably in the metering space of the metering section. The volume of the metering chamber is adjusted by sliding the metering adjustment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: Akatake Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mamoru Asada
  • Patent number: 4684045
    Abstract: A portable liquid container for gravity induced dispensing of measured volumes of liquid. The container includes a liquid storage chamber and a measuring chamber, with a passage interconnecting the storage and measuring chambers for filling the measuring chambers for filling the measuring chamber. The measuring chamber may have a variable volume permitting the user to select a desired volume for dispensing or the measuring chamber may be of fixed volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Inventor: Peter T. Su
  • Patent number: 4565304
    Abstract: A liquid-dosing apparatus has a lower tube centered on an axis and having a lower end provided with a nozzle, an upper tube telescoping coaxially with the lower tube and defining therewith an axial passage extending upward from the nozzle, A supply for feeding the liquid to the passage in the upper tube, and a drive that vertically reciprocates one of the tubes axially relative to the other. Respective upper and lower annular bladders in the tubes can be pressurized to block the passage in the respective tube therewith and depressurized to unblock the passage in the respective tube. A controller connected to the drive and pressurizing system alternately pressurizes and depressurizes the bladders synchronously with vertical reciprocation of the one tube. These bladders are annular, hollow, and have inner peripheries that lie flush in the passage when the bladders are depressurized. In addition to the nozzle, tubes, and bladders are all of the same flow section and shape, whereby the passage is axially uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1986
    Assignee: Plastimecanique, S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Dronet
  • Patent number: 4505407
    Abstract: A base supports a hopper for the storage of the particulate material to be dispensed in measured amounts. A stationary discharge tube in place in the base defines an opening for the entry of hopper stored material. A control tube is slidably mounted within the discharge tube and defines a second opening which upon control tube elevation registers with the discharge tube opening to admit material flow into the control tube. Said control tube carries, in a removable manner at its lower end, a measuring tube which is interchangeable with other measuring tubes, each of a different length, to enable dispensing of various amounts of material from a measuring chamber defined by the joined tubes. An O-ring couples the control tube and the measuring tube in a removable manner. The control tube additionally includes an insert or plug shaped member so as to prevent bridging and voids in the particulate measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1985
    Assignee: Francis Tool Company
    Inventor: Timothy L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4337880
    Abstract: A measuring and dispensing assembly including a sealed housing defining a supply chamber with a measuring chamber immediately below the supply chamber. An outlet valve is disposed at the bottom of the measuring chamber and an inlet valve controls the flow of material from the supply chamber into the measuring chamber. The inlet valve has a cavity surrounding a control member which is movable into and out of the measuring chamber for changing the volume thereof. The inlet valve has a tubular portion extending upwardly and exteriorly of the housing for connection to an actuator. The control member for controlling the volume has a tubular section extending upwardly through the tubular portion of the inlet valve and exteriorly of the housing for connection to an adjustment means for varying the volume of the measuring chamber. The outlet valve has a stem extending upwardly through the tubular section of the control member exteriorly of the housing for connection to an actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1982
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventor: Walter J. Rozmus
  • Patent number: 4291820
    Abstract: A liquid dispenser includes a metering chamber with a piston assembly movable therein for variance of the chamber volume and a supply chamber capable of liquid communication with the metering chamber. A hollow valve body with valve seats communicating with the metering and supply chambers and with a dispensing outlet is positioned between such chambers. A valve member is located within the valve body and is actuable by a control mechanism such that it is given an operating cycle whereby during one operating cycle the valve member is actuated into a first position to close the valve seat communicating with the supply chamber and to permit communication between the metering chamber and dispensing outlet and is maintained in the first position for a period of time sufficient to permit the emptying of the metering chamber through the dispensing outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1981
    Assignee: J. D. Engineering Services Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Jack D. Marrington
  • Patent number: 4230239
    Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing flowable particulate materials from a storage container while protecting the material from unnecessary exposure to ambient atmosphere through a double vapor control mechanism. The apparatus includes a funnel unit mounted below the container for receipt of particulate material therefrom. A flow control disc is mounted between the container and the funnel unit to control the flow of material into the funnel unit, irrespective of the head of material within the funnel. A hollow, moveable, metering bell, and moveable funnel outlet closure are mounted on a common reciprocable rod within the funnel and are normally seated between cycles to provide double isolation of the material from the ambient atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1980
    Assignee: Acro-Matic, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter L. Birrell
  • Patent number: 4226341
    Abstract: A device which may be used with a liquid metering and dispensing spout, includes a fluid receptacle having an upstanding annular side wall extending from a bottom wall, forming a given volume. The side wall has vent projection protruding therefrom. A volume determining member axially slideable in the receptacle has a tapered resilient side wall which is radially inwardly compressed by and forms a seal with the inner surface of the receptacle side wall to form a settable bottom wall for the receptacle. The side wall of the member engages the vent projection during its insertion to permit entrapped gas to escape between the side walls as the member is slid to a predetermined volume position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1980
    Assignee: Neil H. Downing
    Inventors: Edward J. Towns, Edward M. Brown
  • Patent number: 4161264
    Abstract: A metering device for delivering a fluid at a predetermined rate and a mixing device for delivering first and second fluids at a predetermined rate mixed in a predetermined ratio. The devices include a flexible fluid bladder having flexible inlet and outlet conduits, a flexible inlet conduit clamp tube overlying the inlet conduit, and a flexible outlet conduit clamp tube overlying the outlet conduit, all of which are positioned between a pair of abutting rigid plates having matching voids. As each of the clamp tubes are pressurized, the inlet or outlet conduits over which they lie are collapsed to prevent fluid flow therethrough. A valve system is provided for alternating between a fill cycle wherein the outlet conduit clamp tube is pressurized and the inlet conduit clamp tube is depressurized to allow fluid to flow into the fluid bladder, and a discharge cycle wherein the inlet conduit clamp tube is pressurized and the outlet conduit clamp tube is depressurized to allow fluid to flow from the fluid bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1979
    Inventors: Arthur L. Malmgren, Bryan E. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4153187
    Abstract: A liquid dispenser having a metering chamber and a supply chamber disposed in side by side relationship and adapted for liquid communication with one another through a normally open supply valve. The liquid in the chambers are maintained at the same level. An outlet drain from the metering chamber through which liquid may be drained from the metering chamber and a normally closed outlet valve for controlling the flow of liquid through the outlet drain is provided. The supply valve and said outlet valve co-operate in such manner that upon opening the outlet valve to dispense liquid from the metering chamber, the supply valve closes and then subsequently re-opens for replenishing the metering chamber from the supply chamber only after the outlet valve has closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1979
    Assignee: J. D. Engineering Services Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Jack D. Marrington
  • Patent number: 4151934
    Abstract: A fixed volume discharge device adapted to be mounted to a container, and having a first chamber communicating with the interior of the container and a second chamber communicating with the atmosphere, the first chamber and the second chamber communicating with each other through a restricted opening. A liquid or powder stored in the container flows into the first chamber when the container is downwardly inclined, and then flows into the second chamber from the first chamber when the container is returned in its normal attitude. Thus, when the container is again downwardly inclined, the liquid or the powder within the second chamber is discharged while the liquid or the powder in the container flows into the first chamber, thereby a predetermined fixed volume liquid or powder is obtainable through the fixed volume discharge device each time the container is downwardly inclined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1979
    Inventor: Noriyoshi Saeki
  • Patent number: 3991910
    Abstract: This invention relates to a novel and improved method and apparatus used for the filling of small packets with a measured quantity of down which includes the steps of or the structure for sucking a measured quantity of down into a perforated cylinder closed at the lower end by a retractable gate, opening the gate while ejecting the down from the perforated cylinder by extending a plunger therein, blowing the down resting atop the extended plunger back into the hopper preparatory to retracting same, and reclosing the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1976
    Assignee: Frostline, Inc.
    Inventor: Randal K. Leonard
  • Patent number: 3945062
    Abstract: A container of the chemical to be dispensed is supported in inverted position in the toilet flush tank with the mouth of the container opening downwardly. The dispensing closure is sealingly associated with and axially adjustable on the container around its mouth. The closure has an open lower end normally immersed in the water within the tank and separated by a partition from the metering chamber within the upper end of the closure communicating with the container mouth. The liquid is delivered by gravity into the metering chamber, to a depth to cover said mouth. Pressurized air delivered from the pump chamber into the upper portion of the metering chamber above the mouth exerts a pressure on the liquid within the metering chamber to force the same out through a discharge port and tube leading to the tank overflow pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1976
    Inventor: Douglas F. Corsette
  • Patent number: 3944118
    Abstract: A thermoplastic resin processing machine has removably affixed onto its loading hopper a ratio loader which has a source of vacuum and two conduits leading to two different reservoirs of thermoplastic resin pellets. The ratio loader has a container having a movable internal separation wall in a vertical plane which is moved horizontally, for example, by rotation of a screwthreaded shaft having a handle at one of its ends. The ratio loader container has a bottom orifice to the thermoplastic processing machine, which orifice is coverable by a flap which is normally closed by a spring and is held closed by the vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1976
    Inventor: Sidney W. Trill
  • Patent number: 3933272
    Abstract: This invention is a method and apparatus for dispensing a predetermined weight of liquid. The apparatus comprises a calibrated vessel having an elongated tubular section in open communication with the top of the vessel, means to fill the vessel to a level in the elongated tubular section, a displacement means which provides an area of reduced cross section at the liquid level in the tubular section, means to monitor the temperature of the liquid, means to adjust the position of the displacement means in response to temperature changes of the liquid and means to dispense the liquid. The apparatus can dispense a predetermined weight of liquid over a broad temperature range. The method comprises the steps necessary to dispense the predetermined weight of liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1973
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1976
    Assignee: Stauffer Chemical Company
    Inventors: Norman C. Lamb, Harvey T. Shank