Position Of Charging Means Controlled By Level Of Material In Receptacle Patents (Class 414/295)
  • Patent number: 10251418
    Abstract: An intermediate hopper (30) in a tobacco industry apparatus (1) for vertical conveying of a mass-flow of rod-like articles (R) comprising sidewalls (31, 32) and multiple partitions (34) partitioning the intermediate hopper (30) into vertical channels (35, 36) which are adapted to receive the rod-like articles (R) from above, whereas the intermediate hopper (30) is provided with a movable transferring element (37) being slidable relative to the partitions (34) of the intermediate hopper (30), in addition, the transferring element (37) is built of supporting plates (35A, 36A) which support the mass-flow of the rod-like articles (R) in the vertical channels (35, 36) of the intermediate hopper (30) above the supporting plates (35A, 36A), whereas the supporting plates (35A, 36A) are adapted to move downwards (A) within the vertical channels (35, 36) and to move upwards (C) outside the vertical channels (35, 36), in addition, the supporting plates (35A, 36A) are adapted to be inserted (D) into the channels (35, 36)
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp. z o. o.
    Inventor: Adam Gielniewski
  • Patent number: 8920099
    Abstract: A particulate bed levelling arrangement has a rotational drive shaft and a particulate distribution arrangement coupled to the shaft. The particulate distribution arrangement engages with the particulate bed and moves to redistribute the particulate material in the bed in a direction radially outwardly away from the rotational drive shaft axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Catalyst Handling Research and Engineering Limited
    Inventor: Patrick Sheehan
  • Patent number: 8003143
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process respectively an apparatus for filling a container with articles such as food, in particular meat, and a process respectively an apparatus for cooling articles and is characterised by repeating the following steps: (A) a first portion of the articles is conveyed with a conveying means, in particular a conveyor belt, having a conveyor outlet and is discharged into a container at a lower conveying speed such that a first portion accumulates in the container at the first location closer to the conveyor outlet; and (B) thereafter, a second portion of the articles is conveyed by the conveying means and is discharged into a container at a higher conveying speed, such that the second portion accumulates in the container at the second location further away from the conveyor outlet; as well as a process respectively an apparatus for cooling articles using said process and said apparatus for filling; as well as the articles processed by said processes respectively said apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Robert Taylor
  • Publication number: 20080181754
    Abstract: A discharge hopper for a tray discharge station discharges a tray filled with rod-shaped products. A receiving chamber for the products flowing from the tray is open at the top in the direction of the tray and at the bottom is defined by a channel formed by a conveying element that carries away the products. Flow regulating elements within the receiving chamber control the flow of products within the discharge hopper. A monitoring unit is arranged and constructed for detecting the level of products within the tray. The monitoring unit is operatively connected to the flow regulating elements for individual control of the flow regulating elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: Hauni Maschinenbau Ag
    Inventors: Piotr Budny, Thomas Muller, Matthias Horn, Michael Knabe, Arnd Meier
  • Patent number: 6971495
    Abstract: A method for forming a hopper in a storage structure includes mounting a form to a storage structure which bounds a compartment. The form can be flexible or rigid. A layer of cementitious material is applied over an exterior surface of the form so as to produce a rigid side wall. The rigid side wall has an interior surface bounding a progressively constricting flow channel that communicates with the compartment of the storage structure. In one embodiment, the layer of cementitious material is applied by spraying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas W. Hedrick, Jason P. South
  • Patent number: 6726430
    Abstract: A grain loading and spreading device has a tapered housing with a grain flow restrictor valve assembly that will cause a uniform discharge of grain around the perimeter of a lower discharge opening. The valve assembly has upper and lower cam elements on a downwardly extending motor drive shaft. The lower cam element is fixed to the shaft, and the upper cam element is not fixed to the shaft. The cam elements are releasably engaged with each other. A horizontal plate with vertical baffles on the upper surface is secured to the upper cam element. When grain flow restricts the rotation of the plate and baffles, the upper cam element will be moved upwardly with respect to the lower cam element, to enlarge the width of the grain passageway between the perimeters of the plate and the side wall of the tapered housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Inventor: Harlan J. Donelson
  • Patent number: 6644905
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying/dispensing produce susceptible to damage upon impact. The apparatus includes a produce conveyor assembly adapted to receive, transport, and gently deposit produce into an open topped bin or container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Donald L. Peterson, Scott D. Wolford
  • Patent number: 6368041
    Abstract: A drum elevator and method of elevating cigarettes, the apparatus including a series of rotatable cigarette transferring drums including a first plurality of horizontally disposed drums at a first elevation and a second plurality of vertically disposed drums extending to a second elevation, the second plurality of vertically disposed drums receiving output from the first plurality of drums, the series of drums adapted to receive a procession of cigarettes at the first elevation and to elevate the cigarettes along a transfer path to the second elevation while maintaining the cigarettes arranged substantially in the procession; a rejection station at a location along the transfer path; a controller operative to selectively actuate the rejection station; and a stack former at the second elevation, the stack former receiving output of the second plurality of vertically disposed drums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Charles Gary Atwell, Ricky N. Cooper, Martin T. Garthaffner, Andrew J. Gillespie, Ronald D. Honaker, William H. Pettigrew, William H. Smick, III
  • Patent number: 6347920
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and method for reduced impact loading of impact sensitive materials, such as agriculture seed material, into a bin from above. The loading apparatus includes a door selectively movable between a lower position and an upper position. A guide mounts the door at the bin and provides a predetermined path between the lower and upper positions for the door. A drive is used to selectively vary the position of the door along the path in response to accumulation of material loaded from above. The door is first moved to the lower position for initial loading. A material dispenser having a discharge end is extended through an access opening in the bin at the door for initial loading of material therein. As material accumulates in the bin during loading, the discharge end is selectively raised in the access opening to maintain it within a predetermined distance range above such material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Inventor: Justin Place
  • Patent number: 6186730
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and method for reduced impact loading of impact sensitive materials, such as agricultural seed material, into a bin from above. The loading apparatus includes a door selectively movable between a lower position and an upper position. A guide mounts the door at the bin and provides a predetermined path between the lower and upper positions for the door. A drive is used to selectively vary the position of the door along the path in response to accumulation of material loaded from above. The door is first moved to the lower position for initial loading. A material dispenser having a discharge end is extended through an access opening in the bin at the door for initial loading of material therein. As material accumulates in the bin during loading, the discharge end is selectively raised in the access opening to maintain it within a predetermined distance range above such material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Inventor: Justin Place
  • Patent number: 6019147
    Abstract: Apparatus having a let-down tube for dust free gravity transfer of bulk solids between upper and lower containers. A spool engageable with a discharge opening on the upper container has a lower end for slidably receiving an end of the let-down tube, the other end of which falls into the lower container. As solids flow from the upper to the lower container through the tube, the tube is progressively drawn up over the lower end of the spool, then longitudinally cut into sheets which are separately rolled up. The let-down tube permits transfer of the solids without demixing or aeration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Jenike & Johanson, Inc.
    Inventors: James K. Prescott, Scott A. Clement, Richard A. Winkelpleck
  • Patent number: 5697408
    Abstract: A container filling apparatus comprising a filling chute in the form of an extendable and retractable telescopic tube for extending downwardly into a container. The tube has a closure device for closing the otherwise open lower end of the tube and a cable device to lower the tube as it extends downwardly into the container. A filling device is provided to supply material into the upper end of the tube as it is lowered, as well as device for sensing contact with the floor of the container. There is an operating device to open the closure device in response to a signal from the device for sensing the floor of the container. There is also a probe mounted at the bottom of the tube to sense the proximity of the bottom of a container and/or the level of material in the container. A second probe is mounted at the top of the tube to sense when the tube has been filled to the level of the probe and to temporarily interrupt the feed of material to the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Inventor: Leslie Neville Reeves
  • Patent number: 5372229
    Abstract: A device for delivering flowable bulk material having a retractable loading chute (1) consisting of guide cones (2) for flowable material placed coaxially one above the other. In a retracted position of the loading chute (1) the guide cones nest in each other and in an extended position they define together with an outer mantle (7), a drop shaft. A wire or rope arrangement (11, 12) is adapted to retract and extend the loading chute (1) relative to an abutment or outlet cone (5). The loading chute (1) is of modular construction, each module comprising a guide cone (2), an outer tubewall module (7) and a rapid-securing device for securing the edges of the outer tube-wall module (7) to an upper and a lower guide cone (2). A closure cone (3), adapted to close an outlet opening (4) of the outlet cone (5), is connected to the lowermost guide cone (2), the closure cone (3) being adapted to be lowered relative to the outlet cone (5) for opening the outlet opening (4) of the loading chute (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Th. Rasmussen Molle- OG Maskinbyggeri A/S
    Inventor: Udo Leibling
  • Patent number: 5232082
    Abstract: This invention relates to a device for volumetric flow control of particulate and fiber-like materials, specifically tobacco. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus having a contractible chute or a tilting conveyor. The discharge end of the chute or conveyor travels across the top of a container space, building an even pile of tobacco. When the level of tobacco in the container space reaches a certain height, a device signals the chute or tilting conveyor and the discharge end of the chute or conveyor moves rearward. When the moving conveyor floor of the container space moves the pile of tobacco forward, one or two devices signal the chute or tilting convey or, and the discharge end of the chute or tilting conveyor moves forward. The effect of this rearward and forward movement of the chute or tilting conveyor is to maintain volumetric control over the tobacco contained within the container space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Bertice E. Bailey, William R. Sweeney
  • Patent number: 5226775
    Abstract: Tablets, pills or like discrete products are fed into the upper section of an upright conduit to descend into a vessel under the action of gravity. Excessive acceleration of descending products is opposed by an air stream which is induced by a pump and flows in the conduit counter to the direction of advancement of the products. The vessel contains one or more partitions which have outwardly and downwardly sloping upper sides and central openings for the conduit. The outlet of the conduit discharges products first onto the bottom wall of the vessel and thereupon at a level above the lowermost partition which latter causes the products to slide outwardly toward the sidewall of the vessel. When the space between the bottom wall and the lowermost partition is filled, the lowermost partition prevents crushing of products below it under the weight of products which gather above the lowermost partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: L. B. Bohle Pharmatechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Lorenz B. Bohle
  • Patent number: 5092267
    Abstract: Apparatus for collecting and drying powder used for electrostatic coating of a workpiece has air injection means incorporated into the collection bin both to dry and also to homogenize powder recovered, just prior to withdrawal from the bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: S. L. Electrostatic Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Bedrich Hajek
  • Patent number: 4954036
    Abstract: A device for depositing particulate matter into a storage silo having a system of containers which are alternately filled at the top of said silo and lowered into said silo where the particulate matter is deposited, free falling only a short distance onto the top of previously deposited particulate matter. In a second embodiment, the particulate matter is deposited onto a conveyor having containers formed thereon, transporting said particulate matter down into said silo and depositing said particulate matter onto a second conveyor which distributes particulate matter onto the previously deposit particulate matter, said second conveyor being maintained at a certain height above the level of the previously deposited particular matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Inventor: Harold A. Walker
  • Patent number: 4948321
    Abstract: A horizontal storage silo or bin for particulate matter such as, for example, peanuts and cereal, includes a moving apron or floor and a dam for gently receiving product, controlling product deposit into the silo and supporting the rear face of the product pile during discharge to insure a uniform discharge rate throughout the discharge cycle. Full bin storage capacity is utilized. First-in, first-out processing is attained. Various alternative apparatus and methods are disclosed and various product infeed points and bin orientation are accommodated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Griffin & Company
    Inventors: Edwin L. Wilding, Mike W. Tyler
  • Patent number: 4755061
    Abstract: In the mixing of two or more particulate solid feeds in proportional ratios in which the unmixed solids are fed from separate bin receivers into a common mixture bin receiver having a generally vertical section, the present invention comprises an improved feeder in which a feeder means extends below the level of the solids in the common mixture bin. The improved feeder means of this invention comprises at least two nested conduits of differing horizontal cross-sectional areas. One or more of these nested conduits may be raised (or lowered) by an adjusting means to engage a conduit having a greater (or lesser) horizontal cross-sectional area enabling the proportions of particulate solids being fed to be changed as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1988
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: Robert R. Goins
  • Patent number: 4455117
    Abstract: The feed hopper of a cigarette packing machine is provided with an inlet mouth comprising a fixed rectangular tubular member over which there is mounted telescopically slidable in the vertical direction a telescoping rectangular tubular member. The tray filled with cigarettes is positioned upside down, with its discharge side closed by a bottom closure plate, over the open upper end of the telescoping tubular member. The full tray is then lowered, together with the telescoping member, until the bottom closure plate reaches the level of the cigarettes already contained in the hopper. At this point, a level sensing device gives a control signal for the side shifting, and consequent opening, of the discharge side of the tray. After the opening of the discharge side, the tray is again raised to its starting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: Cir S.p.A. Divisione Sasib
    Inventor: Italiano Cartoceti
  • Patent number: 4445814
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for depositing solid particulate material in a frustoconical pile within a space of predetermined dimensions comprising, in combination:(a) a screw conveyor for particulate material arranged substantially horizontally;(b) means for feeding particulate material to the screw conveyor;(c) the screw conveyor having a screw mounted at one end for driven rotation and operatively disposed in the screw conveyor for receiving and transporting particulate material therealong;(d) means for depositing particulate material conveyed by the screw conveyor as a pile below the conveyor up to a maximum height corresponding to the level of the screw;(e) the screw being arranged when maximum pile height is reached to carry particulate material at its level along the top of the pile to an outer edge thereof for deposit there, thereby leveling off the top of the pile and maintaining a frustoconical shape in the pile, while ensuring spreading of the pile of particulate material throughout and within a space of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1984
    Assignee: KMW-Mekan AB
    Inventors: Per-Ove Malmstrom, Karl E. A. Dyren
  • Patent number: 4360308
    Abstract: A positional control device for regulating the position of an object outlet adjacent a container having a floor and plurality of sides. The position of the outlet is regulated such that an object falling from the outlet would fall a distance not greater than a predetermined distance. The outlet may also be regulated such that should the outlet approach a wall closer than a predetermined distance an alarm will be activated and the position of the outlet also being regulated such that it is automatically caused to rise upward and out of the container when a predetermined condition exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1982
    Inventors: John F. Gifford, Edward Sliger, Joaquin Leal
  • Patent number: 4301641
    Abstract: An article transfer apparatus (10) is provided for transferring articles (16) from a predetermined first position to a varying second position and discharging the articles (16) at the second position. Difficulty is often encountered in controlling the drop height of articles (16) delivered by a conveyor (18) for random placement at varying levels in a container (12). It is desirable to minimize the drop height to prevent damage to the article (16). A carriage (36) on the article transfer apparatus (10) is controllably operated to controllably discharge articles (16) at a preselected distance above either the bottom of the container (12) or articles (16) predisposed within the container (12). The invention is particularly useful for transferring finished metal piston pins (16) from a conveyor (18) to a tote box (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1981
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventors: Merle G. McElwain, Gary D. Keckler
  • Patent number: 4202438
    Abstract: This discloses a system for lifting or conveying granular, pulverized or fluid material from a first location to a second location. A long flexible tube, open at the ends, encloses a highly flexible rotary driven helical coil spring equipped at parallel, spaced-apart positions along its length with a plurality of attachments, called "portable flights", which may comprise a shallow cylindrical cup formed from a pair of semicircular plates. The cups are secured to a succession of rungs in angularly staggered relation along the length of the helical spring, and serve to pick up and convey a substantial quantity of the pulverized, granular or fluid material from an input container, in which the tube is immersed, to a product chute near the top of the tube leading into a collection hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1980
    Inventor: James V. Rotilio
  • Patent number: 4194615
    Abstract: An apparatus for unloading loose particulate solid material having a discharge pipe and a positive discharge device at the outlet end of the discharge pipe. A pressure sensor is arranged to sense the pressure of the material at the outlet end of the positive discharge device and to produce an output signal in response thereto. A positioning device for varying the position of the outlet of positive discharge device is provided and is driven in response to the output signal of the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1980
    Assignee: AB Scaniainventor
    Inventors: Karl G. Tell, Arne E. Wall, Olle L. Siwersson