By Endless Belt Or Screw Conveyor Patents (Class 366/186)
  • Patent number: 6123447
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for feeding layers of tobacco to an intermediate reservoir, including feeding a continual falling, horizontal shifting stream of tobacco to the intermediate reservoir, the falling stream of tobacco being deflected by web-type separators below, which predetermined break points form in the tobacco mass in the intermediate reservoir resulting in vertical columns of tobacco separable from each other, the columns of tobacco separating individually from the tobacco mass and dropping onto a dispensing conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventor: Fritz Schelhorn
  • Patent number: 6112338
    Abstract: A mixing drum for a composting toilet has an auger for transporting mixed material from a back end of the mixing drum to the front end of the mixing drum in order to increase the residence time of material mixed in the drum. The auger is enclosed in an auger tube and the auger rotates about an axis which is radially spaced from the longitudinal axis for the mixing drum, about which the mixing drum itself rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Inventor: Henric Sundberg
  • Patent number: 6015228
    Abstract: A material processor having an enclosure with an ingress to receive material into the enclosure, and a discharge to remove homogenous material from the enclosure. A spindle is located in the enclosure, has a longitudinal spindle axis, and is rotatable about the spindle axis. A drive is operatively connected with the spindle to rotate the spindle about the spindle axis. A centrifugal sieve is located in the enclosure and coupled with the spindle. The ingress feeds material into the sieve. A conveyor is connected with the discharge to transfer mixed material from the enclosure. The conveyor further has a generally cylindrical tube with a tube diameter, two opposing ends, and a tube axis extending through the ends. A helical blade extends along the tube axis between the two ends and is rotated about the tube axis. More particularly, the helical blade may have a series of blade tips that are spaced along the tube axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Inventors: Ernst R. Muller, Michael R. Muller, Steve J. Cencich
  • Patent number: 5993752
    Abstract: A device 10 for dissolving a coagulant having a rotor chamber 13 supporting rotors 21 around the horizontal axis, wherein a mixture of the coagulant and water is fed to the rotor chamber 13, the liquid level of the mixture is kept at a medium level of the rotors 21, and the mixture can be stirred vertically by means of the rotation of the rotors 21.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Kobayashi Engineering Works, Ltd. Diafloc Company Limited
    Inventor: Shogo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5967656
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for homogenizing bulk material, wherein the bulk material is supplied from above into a container which is restricted sidewards and downwards and is fed out by means of a feeding out conveyor located in the lower portion of the container. The characteristic features of the invention are that the bulk material is fed in from above in one end of the container (20), wherein the bulk material is caused to slide down towards the opposite end of the container such that a bed of bulk material is formed having a sloping profile in the container, and wherein, due to the sliding, heavier and/or coarser fractions of the bulk material slides more than lighter fractions, and that during each time unit a volume of bulk material is fed out from the bottom portion of the container from each section (.DELTA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Dynapac International Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Conny Andersson, Lars-.ANG.ke Fredriksson
  • Patent number: 5921675
    Abstract: A method for keeping and delivering a homogeneous suspension of shredded cellulose in an aqueous amine oxide is provided using a horizontal cylindrical vessel including a conveyor screw which is parallel to and partially coextensive with the stirring elements in the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Lenzing Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Zikeli, Friedrich Ecker, Ulrich Moderl
  • Patent number: 5913602
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of continually mixing material in a handling system wherein one delivers first material at a first delivery rate to a mixer and a second material at a second delivery rate to the mixer to allow the mixer to mix the first material and the second material to form a mixture of material. While the mixer is mixing the first and second materials, it continually delivers a mixture of material by use of a control unit that maintains the mixer discharge rate equal to the summation of the first delivery rate and the second delivery rate so that the mixer can continually maintain and mix the first material with the second material while delivering a mixture of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Dynamic Air Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Steele
  • Patent number: 5645345
    Abstract: A mixer feeder wagon (1) comprises a mixing compartment (4) and a dispensing compartment (5). A mixing rotor (7) rotatable in the mixing compartment (4) mixes animal feed therein and urges the mixed animal feed into the dispensing compartment (5) through a communicating opening (6). A dispensing auger (8) in the dispensing compartment (5) dispenses the mixed animal feed through a dispensing outlet (11). The mixing rotor (7) comprises a rotor shaft (55) and a plurality of mixing paddles (56) carried by radial carrier members (57). Each mixing paddle (56) comprises a radial leading surface (69) and a bevelled trailing surface (71) which define an included acute angle .alpha. of approximately 45.degree. for preventing a build up of dry fibrous ingredients on the paddles (56).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Salford Engineering Limited
    Inventors: Oliver O'Neill, Thomas Foley
  • Patent number: 5630665
    Abstract: A feed mixer apparatus includes a tongue attached to a frame mounted upon a wheeled axle, a forward and rearward mixing chambers separated by a trough, a pair of reels driven by sprockets and gears and drive shafts which are actuated by a power take off on preferably a prime, a plurality of elongate mixing members extending between the side walls of the mixing chambers and deflectably attached to the ends of a plurality of radially-extending arms, an auger being rotatably disposed in the trough and having fins attached thereon for flipping clumps or chunks of feed material back into the chambers, an opening through a side wall in alignment with the trough and through which fine particles of feed material is dispensed to the outside, and a conveyor chute pivotally attached to the side wall in alignment with the opening to facilitate the dispensing of fine particles of feed material to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: National Feeding Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Eldwyn VanBruggen
  • Patent number: 5593707
    Abstract: An auger conveyor assembly for heating and feeding polymer coated powder from a powder supply assembly to a shuttle assembly for ultimate delivery to the die cavity of a compacting press. The auger conveyor has an auger tube having near its rearward end an inlet connected to the powder supply assembly and near its forward end an outlet for delivery of heated polymer coated powder to the shuttle assembly. A hollow tubular auger with flights on its exterior surface is rotatably mounted in the auger tube and is rotatable therein by a motor and gear assembly to advance the polymer coated powder. For the majority of its length the auger tube is surrounded by ceramic band heaters. An air heater is mounted on a manifold at the driven end of the auger. An air tube connected to the manifold extends through the length of the auger. The tube has perforations at the discharge end of the auger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Cincinnati Incorporated
    Inventors: Bryan W. Goe, Robert C. Hertlein
  • Patent number: 5505537
    Abstract: A conical-bottom silo, particularly suitable for small-sized pieces of plastic material with properties of high elasticity, includes a conical screw stirrer inserted axially in the conical bottom of the silo. The conical screw of the stirrer is discontinuous and divided into several sections. The silo has a structure for discharging the material arranged below an outlet port positioned laterally in relation to the stirrer and including two co-operating cylindrical screws. The stirrer can be provided with apertured grill outlets for heated, forced air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Sorema s.r.l.
    Inventor: Flavio Previero
  • Patent number: 5486047
    Abstract: A mixing auger apparatus for an on-site mobile concrete mixer is disclosed wherein the mixing auger apparatus is capable of effective operation while oriented at an angle of inclination greater than 22.degree. to the horizontal. The mixing auger apparatus is provided with a flexible housing that extends around the entire circumference of a half flight auger. The flexible housing is suspended from a frame such that the housing is flexible completely around the mixing auger. Adjustment devices allow the positional movement of the flexible housing relative to the mixing auger to modify the clearance between therebetween. The flexible housing is separable to permit movement thereof into an inoperable position to facilitate a cleanout of the mixing auger apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Inventor: Harold M. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 5429436
    Abstract: A vertical forage mixer is of a unibody-type construction to provide an especially strong and durable unit. The major components of the vertical forage mixer are secured-together, typically by welding, so that the various components are combined and tied together into a structure in which there is no need to isolate one component from any of the other components. A detachable weigh bar and hub combination assembly can be provided. A discharge conveyor can be included which features an adjustable conveyor run for varying discharge locations. A comb assembly can be associated with the discharge conveyor in order to facilitate even outflow of mixed forage or removal of foreign materials. A scroll assembly is also provided which is of a cantilevered variety and which is especially durable and facilitates aggressive mixing, including cutting when desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: Art's-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Stone
  • Patent number: 5421490
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pump device for pastry or paste-like media. The medium is located in a container and within the container a cover is lowered under the influence of a pressure device. The cover has on its underside, inclined surfaces which are inclined in the direction of a suction opening. The pump device allows a dependable conveyance of the medium, even in an unfavorable relationship of the suction pressure and the viscosity of the medium, by using a conveyor device within the container which helps move the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Bollhoff Verfahrenstechnik GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Joachim Lichte
  • Patent number: 5382091
    Abstract: A scrubber for processing barite contained in drilling mud is disclosed. The scrubber includes a tank mounted above ground and has an inlet and outlet for the mud and a second outlet for heavier material that settles out from the mud. A set of blade agitators maintain the flow of the mud while a set of paddle wheel agitators concentrate and convey the heavier materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Inventor: John W. Roff, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5363747
    Abstract: Apparatus for preparing a product by the controlled metering of additive constituents into a base constituent includes a processing vessel having mixing and heating and/or cooling capability to produce a base constituent for discharge into the metering stage of a metering/mixing auger assembly. The metering stage of the auger assembly includes a screw type auger surrounded by a heating or cooling jacket and is operative to convey product from the processing vessel at a uniform rate to an auger mixing stage wherein the auger has increased pitch and is exposed to an open trough through which one or more additive constituents can be metered into the base constituent for mixing therewith. The auger mixing stage accommodates expansion of the mixed constituents. The metering/mixing auger and trough assembly may be readily disassembled for cleaning without need for tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Clark, Rory R. Puzon, James T. Wlodarczyk
  • Patent number: 5354127
    Abstract: An auger conveyor assembly including a helical auger infeed section having interrupted auger flights which communicate with an offset, commonly driven outfeed section including a helical ribbon auger and whereat both augers simultaneously blend the mixture at a controlled speed differential. A surrounding housing includes a formed length of rubberized channelway and means are provided for varying the tilt angle of the housing, whereby the blending rate and contained volume of mixture are controlled relative to an outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Inventors: William Del Zotto, William Ackerson
  • Patent number: 5352035
    Abstract: A system for mixing cementitious material, liquid and aggregate to form concrete includes a cementitious material measuring device which provides dry cementitious material to an enclosed screw conveyor assembly. The dry cementitious material is thoroughly mixed with a liquid within the screw conveyor to form a flowable slurry without producing external cement dust pollution. The slurry is output by the screw conveyor into a final product mixing chamber where the flowable slurry is mixed together with aggregate to form concrete. The screw conveyor assembly has an in-line input and output, and space-saving diverging/converging conveyor sections, to facilitate the retrofitting of existing concrete mixing plants. The conveyor assembly includes a cement metering function as well as a slurry mixing function. A selectively openable and closable bypass gate permits the dry cementitious material to be sent directly to the final product mixing chamber in the event of conveyor failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Hydromix, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Macaulay, David S. Lofts
  • Patent number: 5339998
    Abstract: An agitator designed to continuously move powdered material into flights of a metering auger using vanes at various radii within a hopper. The agitator includes three vertically oriented stirring blades located at various radii of the hopper, the blades having differing lengths of extension into a lower portion of the supply hopper. Preferably, the blades are angled at substantially a 75.degree. angle relative to a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy C. Warren
  • Patent number: 5339997
    Abstract: A feeder for controllably discharging a flowable substance and having a hemispherically shaped hopper for holding a flowable substance, a rotatable agitator for sweeping the hopper and agitating the substance, a trough for receiving the substance from the hopper, a rotatable feed screw for removing the substance from the hopper and controllably discharging the substance from the feeder, and a driving mechanism for driving the feed screw and agitator. The agitator is horizontally driven along an axis which is parallel to axis of the feed screw and is removable from the feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: K-Tron Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Billivant, Friedrich Preiser
  • Patent number: 5335990
    Abstract: A mobile concrete remix and transfer device includes an elongate open-topped surge bin, a remixing and transfer agitator rotatably mounted in the bin to move concrete toward one end, and an upwardly inclined discharge screw conveyor mounted in one end of the bin to transfer concrete therefrom to an upper discharge end near the upper edge of the surge bin. The device is particularly useful for direct or shuttle transfer hauling within the close confines of tunnel construction in a manner in which concrete can be loaded into and discharged from the bin at points directly adjacent the open upper edge thereof without the need for vertical lifting or tilting adjustment of the bin. The device may also be skid-mounted and positioned directly on the ground, loaded directly from a low discharge height truck mixer, and discharged directly into a concrete pump hopper, bucket, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Maxon Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Glenway W. Maxon, III
  • Patent number: 5320427
    Abstract: In the continuous conching of chocolate mass in a conche (10) it is important to ensure essentially constant contents of the conche (10). For this purpose, the infeed of starting material and/or the discharge of the conched chocolate mass is monitored, namely measured, especially by means of weighing. In response to the measurement results, the infeed or the discharge is controlled, especially by means of altering the conveying capacity of a compulsory conveyor (screw conveyor 21) for discharging the conched mass. The conched chocolate mass is dry, i.e. it contains neither lecithin nor cocoa butter. Lecithin is added in the region of the screw conveyor (21) which is followed by a mixing device (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Callebaut N.V.
    Inventors: Frans Callebaut, Rudy Bruyland
  • Patent number: 5290100
    Abstract: A method for mixing propellant charge powder rods utilizes a flexible band (1) which is suspended freely in a loop between two paraxial, radially spaced drums (2,3) and is movable back and forth between the drums (2,3) by drive motors (6,7). The band (1) is finite or endless and movable in reciprocation between two winding drums (4,5) each adapted to be driven in either direction of rotation by the drive motors (6,7). The propellant charge powder rods (30) are placed in the suspended loop of the flexible band (1)--transversely of the longitudinal direction of the band--and are mixed together by moving the band (1) back and forth. The length of the loop is increased and decreased periodically during this process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: WNC-Nitrochemie GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Kleinhans
  • Patent number: 5286121
    Abstract: An automatic device for making a flour strap comprises a mixing container communicating respectively with a flour container, a liquid container and a rolling container. The flour contained in the flour container and the liquid contained in the liquid container are introduced into the mixing container in which the flour and the liquid are mixed thoroughly to form a flour dough. The mixing container is in communication with the rolling container by means of an inlet through which the flour dough is transferred from the mixing container to the rolling container in which the flour dough is rolled and pressed repeatedly to become a flour strap, which is then carried away by a conveyor located under the rolling container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Inventor: Shih-Chu Tsay
  • Patent number: 5273211
    Abstract: The invention comprises a mobile trailer having a frame with a set of wheels on the frame for hauling the trailer and a pair of storage bins on the frame in side by side spaced relation with one bin adapted to a receive peat with a mixing blade to mix the peat and the other bin adapted to receive sand. The bins have openings along their bottoms and connecting openings along their vertical front walls with vertically adjustable plates to vary the sizes of the vertical openings. Horizontal conveyors are mounted beneath the bottom openings to the bins. Collecting and mixing blades are in the front of the trailer and a rotating spreader mounted to the rear upper portion of the trailer. An inclined conveyor is mounted with its lower end beneath the mixing blade and its upper end above the spreader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Inventors: Michael J. Pierce, Kevin J. Pierce, Wayne A. Pierce, Lyle S. Pierce, Randal J. Dufault
  • Patent number: 5271572
    Abstract: Apparatus for selecting, mixing and preparing, as required, fresh desserts made up of crushed fruits mixed with a natural cream, provided with a distribution cone having several compartments containing different fruits which pivots about a central body serving as a container for the cream which is ready to be added and mixed with a selected fruit. A compartment within the distribution cone is positionable over a bowl next to a motor, the driven pinion of which engages with a gear of the mixing bowl for the selected fruit, whereby the selected fruit is crushed and then mixed with natural cream by means of a worm gear and the associated blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Inventor: Rene Grandi
  • Patent number: 5259717
    Abstract: An asphaltic mix storage system has an improved conveying apparatus including a housing which is upwardly inclined from the horizontal so as to extend from approximately ground level to the top of a storage container. The conveying apparatus also includes a drag-type conveyor in the housing comprising an endless conveyor chain having spaced apart conveying blades carried thereby with the lower edges of the conveying blades in sliding engagement with the lower wall of the housing. The forward faces of the conveying blades and the lower wall of the housing define an acute angle therebetween to prevent carryover of asphaltic mix beyond the discharge chute at the upper end of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Astec Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: James G. May
  • Patent number: 5249860
    Abstract: A bulk material mixing apparatus has an inclined drum rotatably mounted on a frame supporting a hopper for directing bulk materials in the drum. An auger extended along a trough conveys materials toward the upper inlet end of the drum into a discharge chute or back into the drum. An elongated bar positioned above the auger provides an even distribution and flow rate of materials into the auger trough. A hydraulic motor drives the auger connected to a planetary gear drive used to rotate the drum whereby the motor concurrently drives the auger and drum to mix bulk materials placed in the drum. A hopper attachment having a feed auger is adapted to be mounted on the hopper to handle large amount of bulk material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: J-Star Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Eldon F. Buschbom, Kenneth G. Connaughty
  • Patent number: 5240324
    Abstract: A system for combining, mixing, and further processing ingredients to produce a specified weight of a composition in accordance with a specified recipe. The ingredients are discharged from hoppers into a central conveyor. Each hopper operates under control of a hopper controller that regulates the discharge rate and controls refilling of its associated hopper. The ingredients are mixed in the central conveyor as they are transferred to a processing device, such as a mill or roaster, and then discharged from the processing device into a network of conveyors for transfer to another location for further handling. The system operates under the control of a central controller which regulates the discharge rates of the various ingredients to optimize the feedrate to the processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Bluffton AGRI/Industrial Corp.
    Inventors: Donald G. Phillips, Garold W. Pfeifer, Michael E. Zeedyk, Johann G. Hasslbeck
  • Patent number: 5161341
    Abstract: Process for manufacturing walls from earth and sand mortars includes making a mortar mixture containing a dry aggregate mass of between 15 and 50% by mass of earth and between 85% to 50% by mass of sand, bonding materials in a mass of at most 10% of the dry aggregate mass, and water in a mass of at most 22% of the total dry mass of earth, sand and bonding materials, stirring the mixture continuously and transferring while stirring the mixture by force into an inlet of a pump, and pumping the mixture from the pump and projecting the mixture within a framework against a vertical projection support and allowing the mixture to set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Inventor: Pierre Gilles
  • Patent number: 5143221
    Abstract: The apparatus comprises a container mounted on a chassis having wheels and a supporting structure. A powered vertical auger is provided inside the container for mixing animal fodder therein. A side wall of the container is provided with an opening which can be selectively closed by a door. A conveyor belt having side walls and a lower chute is located adjacent the opening in the container, for transporting fodder therefrom upon opening the door. Permanent magnets are fixed to the side walls and lower chute of the conveyor and to a tubular element of the supporting structure arranged above the conveyor for removing and retaining any ferromagnetic material contained in the animal fodder being conveyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Inventor: Tiziano Faccia
  • Patent number: 5143449
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fibrous product mixing truck having a mixing container (2) with one or more vertical scrolls welded onto corresponding rotating shafts. The container is mounted on a wheeled frame through the interposition of weighing cells (3). A frame (10) of metallic tubes with a substantially quadrangular shape is welded to the container for movably supporting an unloading belt (11) facing an unloading door (7) of the container and movable from a position which is substantially internal to the truck to a position which considerably protrudes therefrom. The frame is rigidly associated with a ladder (14) upwardly connected to an inspection platform (15) and is separated from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Inventor: Tiziano Faccia
  • Patent number: 5052874
    Abstract: Apparatus for densifying particulate solids and for removing air from the solids includes a screw feeder that conveys the material through a recirculation chamber, then into a high pressure shroud that is closed at its downstream end by a preloaded cover in yieldable sealing engagement with the downstream end of the high pressure shroud. In a preferred embodiment, the high pressure shroud includes a perforated section that extends upstream into the recirculation chamber so that as the particulate material is compressed by the screw in the high pressure shroud, air and some of the particles are expressed through the perforations and are contained by the recirculation chamber which directs the expressed particles downward into the screw which once again pushes them into the high pressure shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: JR Johanson, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry R. Johanson
  • Patent number: 5000658
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating high-consistency fiber suspension is especially suitable for short distance conveyances of thick fiber suspensions (consistency more than 15%) in pulp and paper industry, for example for discharge of mass towers either with or without any actual pump. The treatment of fiber suspension with a consistency more than 15% is not possible with the known technique without a displacement type of pump, which is expensive and easy to break. Additionally, in discharging of the mass tower, drop leg, etc., fiber suspension causes trouble by arching in the container in such a way that it forms an open chamber around the pump located at the bottom of the container which chamber is slowly filled by fiber suspension. The problems are solved or minimized by arranging a feed apparatus in the pump chamber, which feed fiber suspension to a fluidizing rotor, for fluidizing the fiber suspension, whereafter the suspension flows onwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: A. Ahlstrom Corporation
    Inventor: Toivo Niskanen
  • Patent number: 4987850
    Abstract: Apparatus whereby seeds, in particular unginned cottonseeds having lint, may be wetted with liquid active ingredients. To achieve this, the cottonseeds are separated in a feeder and metering device having conveyor screws and a baffle, and fitted uniformly into a spray chamber. In the spray chamber an atomizer produces a fine spray mist and wets the dropping seed grains. The grains drop into a mixing and transport chamber wherein they are mixed by mixer and agitator shafts. A conveyor screw transports the seed during the mixing slowly toward an inlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventor: Alan McCracken
  • Patent number: 4973166
    Abstract: A machine for conditioning granular materials includes a dual section chamber through which a transport belt travels and in the first chamber of which are a pair of closely spaced counter-rotating heads so driven that the material is moved toward the narrow gap between the heads. The shafts on which the heads are mounted extend upwardly, are parallel and also are inclined upwardly at a minor angle to the vertical in an upstream direction with respect to the direction of movement of material through the equipment. Each head is equipped with blades of two different designs to perform different functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: Sandmold Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Smith, Frederick L. Walter, Larry J. Palmer
  • Patent number: 4955721
    Abstract: A portable apparatus adapted for use in filling chuck holes in paved surfaces with a sulphur-based material that has been heated to a plasticized condition. The apparatus includes an electrically heated furnace in which an auger is mounted for the purpose of moving a sulphur-based material through the furnace at a controlled rate (e.g., about 2 feet per minute), such that the material will be elevated to a temperature of above 305 degrees Farenheit (the melting point of sulphur) to produce a tenacious filler material. The furnace is heated by tubular resistance heaters that are bent in a spiral fashion around a mandrel, so that they may be placed in intimate contact with the exterior of a tube which constitutes the core of the furnace. The furnace is fed by a hopper that is mounted above the entry point for the auger, so that dry material may be fed--by gravity--into the furnace whenever a gate-valve mechanism is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Inventors: Lloyd T. Clark, James W. Marshall
  • Patent number: 4922463
    Abstract: A modularly constructed, trailerable, skid mounted, multi-compartmented concrete mixer and cement storage silo having a plurality of longitudinally aligned, bottom mounted, driven feed chains. In a combination construction, a single motor is cooperatively coupled to the feed chains of each mixer compartment and the feed chain of the cement silo to feed the cement/sand/aggregate in metered quantities to a turreted, separately powered auger where water is added and along the length of which the concrete is mixed. A silo vent column includes a plurality of fabric collection filters and means for vibrationally removing and reclaiming the cement. Air infiltration ports mounted along the bottom of the cement silo and one or more vibrators mounted to the mixer adjacent the sand and aggregate bins prevents crusting. Alternatively, the silo may be self-powered, and/or the mixer and silo may be transported independent of one another and/or without the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Del Zotto Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: William Del Zotto, Jerry Lewis
  • Patent number: 4911553
    Abstract: A method for feeding a solid-liquid mixture comprised of a liquid and a solid having a specific gravity greater than that of the liquid comprising depositing the solid component around a feed opening disposed at the bottom of a mixing container and feeding the solid-liquid mixture to a container for packing the same through the opening is provided and the method can effectively be carried out utilizing an apparatus comprising a mixing container, a feed opening disposed at the bottom of the mixing container, a feed controlling device disposed below or within the feed opening and characterized in that it comprises a collecting device for depositing the solid component of the mixture around the feed opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: House Food Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sawada, Masayuki Nakatani, Hitoshi Iwata, Katsuaki Namba
  • Patent number: 4894001
    Abstract: The apparatus for processing synthetic thermoplastic material includes a receiving container, containing a disintegrating and blending member, which is disposed near the bottom of the container and which rotates about the axis of the container and with which a screw extruder is in flow connection through an opening in the wall of the container. For a trouble-free, absolutely even and continuous charging of the screw extruder, irrespective of temperature and rotational speed, the arrangement is such that the cylinder, surrounding the extruder screw of the screw extruder, opens out with its front-end charging opening at least approximately tangentially in the inside wall of the receiving container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: Indupack AG
    Inventor: Goetz Petschner
  • Patent number: 4844619
    Abstract: A mixer for mixing materials, such as coarsely chopped meat, during a mixing operation prior to a grinding operation, is provided with a tub (12), mixing means such as one or more paddle assemblies, and an auger (34) in the bottom of said tub. Both the auger and the paddle assemblies may be operated in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction. An auger housing (38) extends from the tub and houses a portion of the auger (34) which extends from an end of the tub. An opening is provided in the auger housing (38), which is surrounded by a hopper (40). Loading of the mixer is accomplished by feeding the meat into the hopper (40). The meat passes through the opening in the auger housing (38) and is introduced into the auger (34) so as to be conveyed into the tub (12) by the auger (34) during the loading operation. The direction of rotation of the auger (34) may be reversed in order to unload the mixed meat from the mixer. A discharge means (56) cooperates with the auger (34) for unloading the mixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Weiler & Co.
    Inventors: Nick J. Lesar, Richard Buschel, James H. Schumacher
  • Patent number: 4832498
    Abstract: A mobile concrete mixer comprising an elongated wheeled frame adapted to be connected at its forward end to a prime mover such as a truck or the like to enable the mixer to be moved from one location to another. An elongated conveyor support is pivotally mounted on the wheeled frame and has a hydraulic cylinder operatively secured thereto to enable the rearward end thereof to be raised to the desired dicharge height. A conveyor belt is movably mounted on a conveyor suport and has an elongated concrete mixer hopper positioned thereover. The lower end of the concrete mixer hopper is open to provide communication between the interior of the hopper and the upper portion of the conveyor belt. A plurality of vertically disposed shafts are rotatably positioned within the mixing hopper and have helical conveyor-like portions mounted on the lower ends thereof and laterally extending mixing paddles positioned thereabove. The rotation of the mixing devices elevates and mixes the aggregate materials in the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Inventor: Robert C. Milek
  • Patent number: 4828398
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an ice cream machine for home use. The ice cream machine of the invention having a mixing auger and a mixing cone uses a unique drive system to vertically drive the cone to engage the auger and mix the products contained within the cone. An improved auger having an interrupted scroll cooperates with the cone to provide enhanced mixing. A sealing flange at the top of the scroll prevents the food product from splashing from the cone as it is mixed by the auger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Inventor: Charles E. Verkler
  • Patent number: 4817827
    Abstract: An ice dispensing apparatus includes an ice dispensing lever which causes an ice dispensing signal to be produced when pressed, whereby an ice dispensing auger is driven for a period during which the ice dispensing signal is produced under the action of a relay (X.sub.5). In response to the ice dispensing signal, a motor for driving an agitator installed within an ice storage chamber is driven for a first period (t.sub.1) and then stopped. The rest state of the agitator driving motor is maintained until an integrated value resulting from integration of periods during which the ice dispensing signal is generated has attained the length of a second period (t.sub.2). After the lapse of the second period (t.sub.2), the agitator can be driven in response to subsequent generation of the ice dispensing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Hoshizaki Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Kito, Toshihiko Ishikawa, Susumu Tatematsu
  • Patent number: 4796440
    Abstract: An ice cream preparation apparatus having a cold storage container with a hole through its bottom in which a supporting member is disposed. A rotating screw in the hole through the supporting member moves material through that hole and out the bottom of the container. A covering plate is selectively openable and closable over the hole. A first rotatable blade is inclined downwardly along the inner surface of the cold storage container moves material off the wall. A second blade rotates around the bottom of the container. A second screw type rotary member extends along the radial direction parallel to the second blade and is rotated for moving material toward the supporting member. A third blade is upstanding in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: Sanyei Corp.
    Inventors: Tadahiko Shiotani, Hideo Matsuura
  • Patent number: 4797004
    Abstract: A particulate material mixer has a rotatable drum with an inclined longitudinal axis. A conveyor having an open top trough and auger is located longitudinally in the drum and operates to move mixed material from the drum chamber into a hopper or alternatively back into the chamber. A drive transmission simultaneously rotates the drum and operates the conveyor. A flexible circular seal interposed between an annular end wall and a circular wall of the drum prevents material from spilling out of the drum. The conveyor trough is mounted for angular movement to regulate the volume of material discharged from the mixer. A manually operated liner actuator allows the operator to select the angular position of the trough. The hopper has a discharge door and chute to direct mixed material away from the mixer to a desired location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: Van Dale Inc.
    Inventor: Floyd E. Buschbom
  • Patent number: 4784081
    Abstract: In a developing station functioning on the principle of cross-blending in an electrophotographic printing device, two mixing screws running in opposite directions are arranged at a distance from one another. The first mixing screw is situated in a mixing trough provided with a plurality of oblique slots and comprises two mixing strips in the delivery region of the developer mix which are offset by 180.degree. and which neighbor one another. A scraper strip having an actual scraping region and scraping teeth is situated above the two mixing screws. A metering baffle is arranged at an angle relative to this scraper strip, this metering baffle extending through the teeth of the scraper strip and including baffles at its lower end for controlling the flow of the developer mix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Joseph Knott
  • Patent number: 4766676
    Abstract: In a dryer for drying extrudable materials, a worm is rotatably disposed in a tubular sleeve which is equipped at its front portion with a hopper to supply extrudable materials. The worm is supported at its both ends by bearings in the sleeve or outside the sleeve. A seal screw is formed around the rear portion of the worm, and an outlet for discharging the extrudable material is formed on the side surface of the sleeve near the end of the seal screw. The end of the seal screw is connected with a flushing ring which is protruded from the end of the worm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Japan Butyl Company Limited
    Inventors: Toshihiro Shogenji, Kenichi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 4765747
    Abstract: A feed mixing apparatus includes a tank, and bottom and upright augers. The tank has a top wall, front and rear end walls, side walls and a bottom wall. The bottom auger is rotatably mounted and overlies the bottom wall. Tubular housing portions are disposed adjacent to opposite sides of the bottom auger at an intermediate location therealong, and are connected to and protrude from the exteriors of the side and bottom walls. One housing portion has a horizontal bottom end wall connected to and extending generally tangentially from the tank bottom wall. The upright augers are disposed at the intermediate location adjacent to opposite sides of the bottom auger and extend within and upwardly from the tubular housing portions. One upright auger is rotatably mounted to the top wall and the housing portion bottom end wall. Hydraulic motors are provided for driving the bottom and upright augers. One hydraulic motor is disposed on the exterior of housing portion bottom end wall and coupled to the one upright auger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: Feedmobile, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel E. High, Jr., Aquila D. Mast
  • Patent number: 4755060
    Abstract: In a mixing apparatus with a mixing rotor (17) and a mixing chamber (20) with exit openings (29), the rotor and chamber are relatively movable from a mixing position (FIG. 5), in which there is a clearance (43) between the rotor and the wall of the chamber, to a dispensing position (FIG. 6), in which there is no or substantially no clearance. In the mixing position the material (40,41) being mixed circulates (44) within the mixing chamber, and in the dispensing position the rotor (17), being adapted to urge the mixed material (45) towards the exit openings (29), pumps the mixed material out through the exit openings (29) in the form of pasty strands (46) or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1988
    Assignee: Ok-Lica Aps
    Inventor: Ole K. Pedersen