Means For Forming From Bulk Material, Means For Severing And Means For Reshaping Patents (Class 425/296)
  • Patent number: 4954352
    Abstract: In an apparatus for producing particles of thermoplastic material by extruding material in a plastic state through orifices in a die plate and thereafter cutting the extruded plastic material into crumb upon exit from the orifices, an air supply is coupled to a cutting chamber for providing a stream of air across the face of the die plate to cut and convey the crumb away from the orifices. The cutting chamber is arranged to include a restricted throat having an exit area in close proximity to the orifices and a further portion for providing an accumulation zone adjacent the orifices, the accumulation zone having a cross-sectional area which increases from the exit area of the throat to a product discharge zone remote from the orifices in a downstream direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: Exxon Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventor: Norman E. Luker
  • Patent number: 4940557
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing molding members, for instance for automobiles, wherein an elongate shaped body is prepared from synthetic resin material either by an extrusion process, or by an injection process and is subjected to a controlled heating so as to soften the interior resin material while preserving the hardness of the outer surface portion. A cutter blade is advanced into the shaped body while it is subjected to the controlled heating, whereby the outer surface portion is urged and deformed inwardly to form a smooth end surface in continuous connection with remaining outer surface of the molding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1990
    Assignee: Hashmoto Forming Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaoru Kimura
  • Patent number: 4923379
    Abstract: An apparatus for the instant cutting of hollow-cored concrete slabs wherein the cast cored slabs are subjected to an instant cutting operation prior to the hardening of the concrete mix in such a manner that exposes the cores and the ends of the cores are filled to avoid jointing mix from intruding into the cores. The instant cutting is performed by driving two sheet-shaped cutting blades (3), which are mutually placed in a V-shaped posture, through the slab to make cutting tips (10) of the blades (3) meet at the bottom of the slab. A cutting knife (1), whose sides (16) face the mix and are disposed essentially parallel to the cutting blades (3), is driven through the slab, between the cutting blades (3), towards the cutting tips (10) of the blades (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Assignee: Parma Oy
    Inventor: Hannu Tomminen
  • Patent number: 4904318
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the manufacture of a diaphragm from a fabric-containing sheet (material). The fabric-containing sheet produced by an extrusion molding machine in a width which is a multiple of the diameter of diaphragms to be manufactured is continuously fed in fixed pitches to a press vulcanizing device and an punching device, to permit automation of the manufacture of diaphragms and an appreciable reduction in the number of steps. This method, thus, improves the yield of materials used, permits down sizing of the production equipment, and reduces the motive power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Goto, Mitsutaka Kondou, Noboru Nakagawa, Tamiyosi Ohashi, Masatoshi Kondo
  • Patent number: 4863541
    Abstract: Long lengths of a heat-shrinkable sleeve for use in splicing electrical cables and the like are manufactured by providing an elongated impermeable core having a smooth outer surface, extruding an elongated sleeve around and in contact with the core, the sleeve having a smooth inner surface conforming to the outer surface of the core, and effecting an initial expansion of a portion of the sleeve to a larger diameter in an expansion zone so that the sleeve separates from the core and leaves a space between the sleeve and core. A fluid is introduced into the space under pressure via a fitting at the downstream end of the sleeve while continuously advancing the sleeve and core through the expansion zone. To begin the process, a permeable core is used, and the sleeve is extruded around and in contact with the permeable core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Cable Technology Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos Katz, Attila Dima
  • Patent number: 4854842
    Abstract: The invention as disclosed herein relates to an apparatus for wrapping and sealing on the circumference of a solid state food material with one or two kinds of the clayish state food material in layer condition, thereby forming the same into globular shape. A gate is used to cause the clayish state material to envelope a solid state material as it exits a mould.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Inventor: Masao Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 4850845
    Abstract: An apparatus for depositing a viscous food mix onto a conveyor which carries the deposits of the food mix through an oven. The apparatus includes a hopper into which the food mix is loaded and an array of dies at the underside of the hopper. Counter-rotating rollers are located within the hopper and they are driven at periodic intervals to force a predetermined quantity of the food mix to be extruded downwardly through the dies at the periodic intervals. A shearing mechanism, which includes two reciprocating blades which are mounted in overlapping relationship, is located at the underside of each die for severing the extruded mix from that remaining in the die. The two blades associated with each die are formed with apertures, the blades being driven in such a manner that the apertures align when the blades are located in a first position and move out of alignment when the blades are driven to move into a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Inventor: Kevin J. Hicks
  • Patent number: 4847090
    Abstract: A confection piece having two or more discrete parts, each part being different from another in respect of at least one of its physical and/or chemical properties such as in respect of at least one or a combination of its coloration, material composition or texture. The confection piece can be used to combine diverse confections to provide new and unique organoleptic response for the user and its also can be used as a vehicle for oral administration of nutrients and medicinal compositions and particularly where same include interactive components which should be kept separated until the confection piece is dissolved in the user's mouth. A method for making the confection piece also is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Warner-Lambert Company
    Inventors: Joseph A. Della Posta, Anthony P. Piano
  • Patent number: 4826425
    Abstract: An apparatus for supplying constant amount of ceramic batches includes a cylinder having a cover adapted to be opened for receiving ceramic material in the cylinder and closed and locked when the ceramic material is compressed, a piston telescopically moving in the cylinder with a clearance therebetween, a taper portion provided on the cylinder and tapered toward a discharge opening of the taper portion to compact the ceramic material compressed by the piston toward the taper portion, and cutting means at the discharge opening. With this apparatus, the indefinite ceramic material is automatically transformed into constant shape and constant amount batches which are supplied into a predetermined apparatus simply in short time. The compacting and deaerating of the ceramic batches can be effected during the operation of supplying the constant batches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideya Maekawa, Tokimasa Kawamura
  • Patent number: 4822271
    Abstract: An improved machine for manufacturing short cut varieties of Italian pasta ("orecchiette", etc.) comprises three cascaded units: a first unit, with screw feeders, by which pasta mix is fed in and extruded into sticks; a second unit by which the pasta sticks are cut into cylindrical pellets; and a third unit by which the pasta pellets are gathered up and shaped, comprising a first knurled roller and a forming plate with a bead, which operate in conjunction to the end of flattening and curling the pellet, and a second roller in soft material that rotates in the opposite direction to the first roller and interacts with a third roller, carrying a projection, to form the pasta into the typical cup shape of the varieties in question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Inventors: Franco Annicchiarico, Adima Pilari
  • Patent number: 4789319
    Abstract: A process is described for manufacturing laminated pieces, such as tiles and wall tiles, by means of successive independent extrusion of mortars or concretes, process in which mortar is deposited on some molds, said mortar is extruded and compacted and is dislodged from a transversal strip in the zone of contact of two consecutive molds. Thereafter a complete sheet of mortars is shaped on the first layer, filling in turn the emptied transversal zone and the limited sides and lastly the thickness of the piece is cut in its entirety in a vertical transversal plane.An installation is also described for carrying out the abovementioned process which in essence includes a molding bench with a series of molding heads, a lower pushing train of the molds, a bevelling mechanism inserted between the heads and which is provided with incisor blades and with devices for evacuating and returning the mortar, as well as with a cutting mechanism provided after the last head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: Uralita, S.A.
    Inventor: Rafael V. Garcia
  • Patent number: 4770622
    Abstract: Apparatus for pressing, dividing and kneading pieces of dough, the apparatus being adapted to be installed in a continuous and automatic dough processing plant, the pressure plate, dividing knives and dough holder ring being combined to form a unitary processing head which receives a revolving kneading movement while a kneading belt having kneading recesses remains stationary with respect to the processing head. The kneading belt conveys the undivided pieces of dough into the pressing, dividing and kneading zone and also conveys the discrete pieces of dough out of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: Fr. Winkler KG Spezialfabrik fur Backereimaschinen und Backofen
    Inventors: Walter Schnee, Hans Sulzmann, Georg Fischer
  • Patent number: 4769193
    Abstract: A method of making a soap comprising the steps of passing the soap through an orifice plate to form an extrudate while passing the extrudate in a first portion generally parallel to the extrudate and permitting expansion in a second outwardly tapered portion, and trimming an outer portion of the extrudate to form a well compacted residue and desired surface characteristics of the soap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventor: Cesare N. Marchesani
  • Patent number: 4759824
    Abstract: Shaped ammunication for tubular weapons in the form of nitrocellulose-based combustible cartridge cases are continuously produced in a screw extruder from an aqueous suspension, stabilizers, flammable fibrous material, binders and optionally plasticizers being supplied to the suspension. The fibre-like constituents are matted in kneading and pressing zones, accompanied by the simultaneous squeezing out of the water, being shaped to an endless tubular structure, which is then cut to the length of the individual cartridge cases and is optionally also pressed to the desired dimensions and shape. Advantageously use is made of a double shaft screw extruder with kneading and pressing segments, as well as a water outlet, which is provided at its end with a tubular die. A following pressing and cutting to length means is arranged behind the extruder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1988
    Inventors: Dietmar Muller, Fred Volk
  • Patent number: 4749535
    Abstract: An apparatus for molding of plastic products in which a softened plastic material is extruded from an extruder in the shape of belts or rods, the extruded material is introduced onto a main molding roll having an outer surface with a contour of the piece to be molded and the plastic material is formed into a shape corresponding to the outer surface of the main molding roll by utilizing the fluidity of the plastic material, followed by rapid cooling, to produce a plastic product having a curved shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Inventor: Yasuo Matsuda
  • Patent number: 4741916
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for making individual dough pieces that are of substantially constant size and shape. The method includes the steps of forming a continuous dough rope and laying it on a horizontally-moving conveyor belt. The rope then passes between a pair of horizontally-reciprocating cutting elements which, when closed, cut a dough piece form the rope's end portion. The closed pair of cutting elements also forms a mold having an open top. While the dough piece is momentarily within the mold, a tamping plate is brought vertically downward into contact with the piece, thereby giving it a preselected size and shape. In another particularly preferred embodiment, a channel is formed in the continuous rope's top surface that is subsequently filled with discrete morsels. When the tamping plate is brought into contact with the dough piece, the plate presses the morsels firmly into the dough piece's outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1988
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Daniel J. Heidel, Corey J. Kenneally
  • Patent number: 4725217
    Abstract: A compactor machine which includes a pair of forming rolls having annular peripheral grooves and projections alternately for thereby providing forming paths therebetween, a scraper mechanism mounted on an outlet side of the compaction rolls and being movable toward and away from the forming paths to thereby close and open the latter, and a feeder mechanism including a downwardly tapered throat providing an inner peripheral wall substantially merging with the peripheral surfaces of the compaction rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Masaru Nitta, Kouichi Beppu
  • Patent number: 4698196
    Abstract: Apparatus for preparing seamless, creaseless, pliable, thin-walled tubes comprising means to extrude a moving continuous tube of polymeric film material from a die, means to radially stretch the continuous tube as it emerges from the die, means to longitudinally stretch the tube, and means to sever the tube while the tube is in motion to form tube segments while maintaining the tube substantially free of creases. This apparatus may be employed in a process to prepare seamless, creaseless, pliable, thin-walled tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Ellis Fabian
  • Patent number: 4698227
    Abstract: In the production of ceramic plates, the wet uncured extruded clay substrate is cut into plate shaped pieces by vertically reciprocating punching knives disposed about at least a portion of a plate shaped area. A pressure plate is mounted within the punching knives and vertically movable against spring forces therewithin so as to maintain downward pressure against the substrate material during the plate cutting operation. Chamfered plate edges are formed by special chamfering knives adjustably mounted at the edge of the pressure plate. The chamfering knives depend from the pressure plate and extend outwardly into contact with and inside wall surface of the punching knives so as to avoid undesirable burrs at the plate edge and also to permit convenient adjustment of the chamfering knives to compensate for wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Lingl Corporation
    Inventor: George Weik
  • Patent number: 4666648
    Abstract: A roof tile (9) having contoured interlocking regions (20) along its side edges is provided with a plurality of relatively shallow closely spaced, longitudinally extending grooves on its upper surface (19) and optionally upwardly extending grooves on its lower end face (21). An improved appearance on a roof is obtained, and through the provision of dark brown streaks on a light brown base a roof tile may be given a wooden appearance. In a process and apparatus for the manufacture of such tiles, a slipper compressing tile forming material is provided with closely spaced ridges which form the grooves on the tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: Marley Tile AG
    Inventor: David R. Brittain
  • Patent number: 4647468
    Abstract: Round dough pieces having an inner portion enveloped by a dissimilar outer portion are formed without generating waste by continuously extruding two dissimilar materials to form an extrudate rope having a core of one material and an outer tube of the other material, depositing the extrudate rope on a continuously moving conveyor, pinching the extrudate rope at predetermined intervals to form spaced sections of reduced width, and separating the extrudate rope into individual dough pieces at said reduced width sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Nabisco Brands, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert A. Pinto
  • Patent number: 4642086
    Abstract: There is provided an improved apparatus for forming foldable box blanks from a thermoplastic sheet by forming flexible fold lines in the thermoplastic sheet, with the apparatus including a plurality of scoring tools and a flat plate having a plurality of grooves formed therein opposite to the scoring tools. In addition, the apparatus includes means for heating the scoring tools to less than the melting temperature of the thermoplastic sheet. In this manner, when the heated scoring tools engage the thermoplastic sheet, it is deformed on its upper surface by the scoring tools and on its lower surface by the grooves in the grooved plate to form a plastic sheet having the desired flexible fold lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Assignee: Transparent Packaging Corp.
    Inventor: Robert A. Howarth, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4615672
    Abstract: A strip component is extruded through a heated roller die apparatus and fed onto a heated anvil roll where a rotatable knife blade is pressed against the surface of the anvil roll to trim the strip component.The cutter may have a rotatable knife blade mounted on an arm pivoting about an axis spaced from the surface of the anvil roll for swinging the knife blade into and out of engagement with the strip component on the anvil roll surface. A weight may be attached to the arm for holding the arm down on a stop member in the operative position of the cutter. A number of knife blades may be adjustably mounted on a knife shaft supported by a pair of pivot arms for cutting the strip component at a number of positions across the anvil roll. Alternatively each knife blade may be supported on an individual knife holding body with the knife blade being rotatably mounted on a knife supporting arm which is pivotally mounted on the holding body. The knife supporting arms may also be individually depressed and retracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Larry W. Smith, Larry G. Lowry
  • Patent number: 4592274
    Abstract: The machine continuously produces pasta filata cheese by stretching curds while adding hot water then moulding the pasta filata obtained into cheese such as mozzarella, provolone, etc.The curds are sprayed with hot water by nozzles (52, 55) and are pushed by twin augers (53) along a channel (54) into a vertical, substantially cylindrical stretching chamber (68) where a rotating stretching swift (74, 79) having radially projecting, arched paddles (79) stretches the curds into pasta filata against the reaction of a stationary, wall-mounted paddle (78). This spills over a partition (72) onto other augers (57) that feed the pasta filata to moulding means.The moulding means preferably comprise a rotating moulding drum (90) having surface cavities (99), against which pasta filata is pushed through apertures (94) in a distributor block (92). A piston mould (100) mounted on a slide (98) for reciprocating motion between a filling position and a delivery position is also preferably provided as an alternative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Assignee: CMT Costruzioni Meccaniche e Tecnologie S.p.A.
    Inventor: Stefano Tomatis
  • Patent number: 4589832
    Abstract: The briquette making machine comprises a waste-receiving bin (11), one wall of which is defined by a plate (12) to sweep waste towards a guillotine (15) forming another wall of the bin (11). The guillotine (15) comprises a blade portion (19) to shear any waste straddling the bin and a compression chamber defined by the blade portion (19) and a wall (17). With the guillotine (15) in its most downward position a piston (23) configured to conform to the cross-sectional shape of the compression chamber clears the compressed waste therefrom by further compressing it against and eventually through a constricted discharge opening. The opening is defined by wheels (25, 26) which longitudinally groove the emergent briquette.In a preferred embodiment, the guillotine (15) and the piston (23) are advanced and retracted by first and second double-acting hydraulic rams (respectively 9 and 23, 24). There is a third ram (27) holding one (26) of the wheels against the emergent briquette. The hydraulic circuitry (FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1986
    Assignee: Thetford International Products, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Ellis
  • Patent number: 4562917
    Abstract: A fixed quantity feed apparatus which includes a feeding device for shaping various kinds of articles such as bean sprouts, various cut vegetables, spaghetti and noodles, into the form of belt and conveying them, a weighing device for detecting that the articles which are being conveyed by the feeding device have reached a predetermined weight, and a dividing-feeding device for splitting up the belt-shaped articles when the weighing device has detected the predetermined weight, wherein the articles are divided by the fixed weight and fed to a packing device or the like, while they are continuously conveyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Daisei Kikai
    Inventors: Tomosaburo Suzuki, Sanji Kawakami
  • Patent number: 4526525
    Abstract: A fleecy confectionery producing machine for extruding confectionery material into continuous viscous fibers which comprises a confectionery extruding mechanism including a rotary extruding cylindrical member having extruding through holes and a melting chamber and an integral cylindrical portion formed therein, a stationary cylindrical member positioned within said cylindrical portion in coaxial therewith and an exciting coil interposed between said cylindrical portion and stationary cylindrical member; a confectionery receiving chamber for receiving extruded confectionery from said extruding mechanism; a gaseous body suction chamber positioned below said receiving chamber, conveyer means for carrying said extruded confectionery, rolling means for levelling said extruded confectionery and a cutter for cutting said extruded confectionery to a predetermined size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1985
    Assignee: Meiji Seika Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisayoshi Oiso, Norio Joyama, Kazuhiro Fujimoto, Kozo Okamoto
  • Patent number: 4483046
    Abstract: A machine to form lump-type crab meat from smaller particles of cooked crabmeat by extruding the same under pressure from a cylinder having a discharge nozzle adjoining a die plate having one or more contoured cavities in a flat face thereof and movable past said nozzle to receive compressed crab meat particles in compact congealed condition for molding into a desired configuration resembling natural lump-type commercial crab meat. A knife member on a slide shears the molded lump of crab meat from the extrusion end of the discharge nozzle and sealing means on it prevent appreciable escape of natural juices of the crab meat from the molded lumps, and ejecting plungers having contoured ends form part of the molding surfaces of the die cavities and are reciprocable to eject the molded lumps when the die plate is moved to clear the die cavities from said discharge nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Inventor: Charles D. Briddell
  • Patent number: 4478565
    Abstract: A dough shaping, dividing and reshaping machine has a feed conveyor for conveying a batch of dough to preshaping means including laterally spaced side rollers and vertically spaced top and bottom rollers and other rollers for advancing the batch to a dough divider means for receiving the dough batch in a preshaped configuration, shaping it to two generally rectangular cross section strips of dough and advancing the strips to a cut-off location, dough cut-off knives at the cut-off location for dividing the two strips alternately into parts of determinable size, separating such parts in sequence from the strips and delivering them individually to a dough forming means for receiving the individual dough parts and forming them into toroids or alternatively into dough balls of various sizes; roller means are provided for sensing the buildup of the dough batch between the top and bottom roller and the dough divider means; and an electric drive is provided for varying the advancement of the dough batch by the advanc
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1984
    Assignee: Thompson Bagel Machine Mfg. Corp.
    Inventor: Daniel T. Thompson
  • Patent number: 4453909
    Abstract: Apparatus for making a tablet of soap containing a perfume-containing core, hollow or solid, fabricated from a hard plastic material, either thermosetting or thermoplastic. Soap from the resulting composite tablet is usable until the core is washed clean and is aromatized until the core is washed clean. This obviates the wastage of soap which normally occurs as a conventional soap tablet becomes very thin on use and, at the same time, gives rise to a continuously aromatized soap tablet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1984
    Assignee: International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome I. Lindauer, Ira D. Hill, Arthur L. Liberman
  • Patent number: 4449909
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing die-cut brick is disclosed. The apparatus includes a cutter box in combination with a pusher which pushes elongated green clay slugs through the box. The box operates to cut a core extending lengthwise of the slug having the cross section of the desired brick. Guide means retain scrap completely around the core as it emerges from the die box and is moved in a stepwise fashion by the pusher to a cutoff device which cuts brick slices from the core. Because scrap is retained around the core, little or no distortion occurs during such slicing operation. The apparatus is arranged for quick and easy conversion from one shape to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1984
    Assignee: Basic Machinery Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Samuel P. Kenworthy
  • Patent number: 4447199
    Abstract: Biaxially oriented tubular articles which are destined to provide bodies for processable food containers are made from an elongate tube of thermoplastics material as it emerges from an extruder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1984
    Assignee: Metal Box Limited
    Inventors: Leonard W. Reed, Robert M. S. Barr, David A. Dick
  • Patent number: 4441393
    Abstract: Metering apparatus includes a casing defining spaced first and second chambers and respective first and second piston members sealingly slidable by applied fluid pressure in the chambers. Support member coupled to and moveable with the second piston members projects from the casing to receive a load to be metered. Located within the first piston member is a third chamber in which a plunger is sealingly slidable. The second and third chambers are in communication whereby respective opposed transverse faces of the second piston members and the plunger are engageable to determine a limit position for the second piston means in the second chamber. In a preferred application, the metering apparatus is incorporated in a block forming machine, for example a cheese block forming machine, in which the load support platform is positioned within an upright housing to receive a column of a solid medium confined within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1984
    Assignee: Kovan Engineering Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael P. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4436501
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing special brick shapes such as corner brick and arch brick is disclosed. In accordance with the invention, selected slugs are pushed from an off-bearing belt under surface treatment means to an elevator. A cutter box or frame is located above the elevator. Such frame includes cutter means to cut the slugs into a desired shape and surface treatment means for treating the side edges of the slugs. The elevator raises the slugs up through the cutter frame to a position in alignment with the discharge platform. A single pusher assembly operates to push the slugs from the off-bearing belt to the elevator at one elevation and to push the cut slugs from the elevator onto the discharge platform at another elevation. The apparatus operates in conjunction with a conventional setting machine without interfering with the operation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1984
    Assignee: Basic Machinery Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Samuel P. Kenworthy
  • Patent number: 4428720
    Abstract: Apparatus is provied for forming an abrasion resistant sheet from a sheet of orientable thermoplastic polymer material in one continuous production line apparatus. Apparatus is also provided for treating the surface of an oriented sheet with heated rolls for creating a fused surface layer on each side of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: Signode Corporation
    Inventors: Donald L. Van Erden, Russell J. Gould, Yukio A. Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 4415517
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for shaping of mats composed of loose fibers with a thermosetting resin interspersed throughout. The apparatus compresses the mat and exposes its laterally extending surfaces to elevated temperatures to obtain partial curing thereof. Slits are made in the surface regions adjacent areas where extra shaping will occur in forming the final product. These slits enable more precise shapes to be impressed upon the mat and eliminate the tendency of the partially cured areas to spring back to a position of lesser compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1983
    Assignee: Manville Service Corporation
    Inventor: Donny L. Timms
  • Patent number: 4398989
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making articles comprised of a body portion of an elastomeric material having a liner of an inert material covering at least a portion of the peripheral surface of said body portion including the steps of bonding a layer of elastomeric material to one face of a layer of the inert material, positioning the bonded layers in a mold cavity with the layer of inert material contacting at least a portion of the surface of a mold cavity, adding additional amounts of uncured elastomeric material to the mold cavity and curing the elastomeric materials. Also disclosed herein is a system and apparatus for making molded articles as well as the molded articles produced thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Assignee: The West Company
    Inventors: Roland M. Allen, Andrew J. Kalocai
  • Patent number: 4395427
    Abstract: A depositing apparatus for the manufacture of shaped food product includes a hopper having an open top for receiving a prepared mix. Feed rollers positioned within the lower end of the hopper force mix through an extrusion die assembly. The die assembly includes an elongated plate defining a plurality of apertures and supporting a plurality of dies in coaxial relationship with the apertures. A variable restrictor is supported at each of the apertures for varying the effective open area or flow area of the apertures. The flow area may be varied to compensate for variations in weight, consistency or volume of the mix so that relatively uniform weight shapes are deposited onto a conveyor passing underneath the feed hopper. The variable restrictor includes a pair of opposed plates having edges configured in a complementary fashion to the cross-sectional shape of the die. A drive is operably connected to each of the plates so that they may be moved towards and away from each other into the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1983
    Assignee: Werner Lehara, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry A. Fischer, Paul J. Koepnick, Thomas A. Dennis, Joseph R. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4394115
    Abstract: An improved heat-forming deep-drawing molding machine for producing receptacles with thermoplastic banderoles, which machine includes a mandrel which coacts with a mold or a forming chamber for forming a closed banderole coil or loop. The mandrel has substantially the shape of the mold cavity. The mandrel slidably reciprocates in the mold cavity relative to the mold or the forming chamber and has a fixed transverse section relative thereto. The mandrel is composed of stationary and rotatable parts relative to the forming chamber. The rotating parts coact with the curved or round parts of the forming chamber or mold cavity. The rotating parts include suction channels which bias the banderole thereagainst so as to effect an advancing movement of the banderole in the forming chamber. The suction channels are operatively connected to a vacuum source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Assignee: Societe d'Application Plastique Mecanique et Electronique Plastimecanique S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Dronet
  • Patent number: 4392801
    Abstract: In apparatus for manufacturing an elongated cheese product, the extrusion of a heated mass of cheese is followed by a subsequent pulling or tensing of the extruded strand which develops a fibrous texture in the product and reduces the size of the strand. The pulling is carried out on a continuous basis by a tension applying device, downstream of the extruder, which may comprise a pair of drums around which the cheese strand is wrapped. The strand then passes down a cooling vat under tension from a second tension applying device which retains the properties of the strand as it cools. The second tension applying means may include pairs of driven rollers through which the cheese strand passes. After the pulling and cooling, the strand is cut in lengths suitable for packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1983
    Inventor: Matthew Meyer
  • Patent number: 4388059
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically making egg rolls comprises an intermittently moving transmitting device and a plurality of forming assemblies on the transmitting device. Each forming assembly includes folding devices for folding three side portions of an egg roll dough and a mold device for receiving a part of the egg roll dough and an egg roll stuffing therein. The apparatus further comprises a device for feeding the egg roll dough successively on each forming assembly, a device for supplying the egg roll stuffing on the egg roll dough, a device for actuating the folding means of the forming assembly to fold three side portions of the egg roll dough over the stuffing in the mold device to thereby form a partially folded egg roll, and a device for wrapping the partially folded egg roll to form a cylindrical egg roll product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1983
    Inventor: Kwok C. Ma
  • Patent number: 4368027
    Abstract: In the manufacture of oriented hollow articles made of thermoplastic material by the steps of extruding a continuous hot tubular parison of thermoplastic material; pre-blowing such parison in a pre-blowing mold to produce preforms having a cylindrical body with a diameter not more than 20% greater than that of the parison; thermally conditioning the resulting preforms at a temperature sufficient to cause orientation of the thermoplastic material when it is being stretched; and effecting a final blow-molding of the thermally conditioned preforms, the mechanical properties of the resulting articles in the vicinity of their base are improved by carrying out the pre-blowing step while holding each parison tightly between two half-molds defining a cavity which has the shape, at the location of the base of the preform, of a quarter sphere of diameter equal to that of the preform, and cutting off the resulting flash by means of an elongated blade having a semi-circular cross section and a diameter corresponding to t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1983
    Assignee: Solvay & Cie.
    Inventors: Michel Lorge, Roger Houba
  • Patent number: 4349323
    Abstract: A hopper-feeder (10) especially suited for, but not limited to, continuously feeding self adhering powders to a subsequent processing step is disclosed. In particular, the apparatus includes a first hopper (12), an intermediate passageway (16), a second hopper (18) and a feed guide (20). A wiper (32), a bottle brush auger (34) and an associated auger cleaning rod (36) expedite powder flow. Shear blades (40), disposed within the second hopper (18), further break up any undesirable particles before exiting the apparatus (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1982
    Assignee: Ray-O-Vac Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Furbish, Roscoe E. Baker
  • Patent number: 4342719
    Abstract: Method for making extruded bricks having a textured handmade appearing face designed to form on outer building wall surface, comprising the steps of feeding a column of brick-forming clay mix into a progressively narrowing inlet funnel portion of a brick extruding die, progressively constricting the clay mix column while feeding the same from said inlet funnel portion through a die throat section of the extruding die of horizontally elongated rectangular cross-section defined by downstream converging upper, lower and side boundary surfaces to shape the clay mix column to a rectangular cross-section whose width dimension perpendicular to said face slightly exceeds the desired ultimate brick width, disrupting the clay column in said die throat section at a subsurface location space near and below the uppermost boundary surface of the die throat section along a plane substantially spanning the transverse extent of the die throat section by pressurized downsteam-directed liquid jets internally disrupting the clay
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1982
    Assignee: Isenhour Brick & Tile Co., Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Cruse, John H. Isenhour, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4340342
    Abstract: The processing of thermoplastic materials by working the thermoplastic materials into a hot flat sheet. The sheet material is first deformed or scored into a series of parallel strands that are interconnected by thin ribbons of the thermoplastic material thereby retaining integrity of the sheet material. The sheet material is then severed along the score line of the thin ribbons to form parallel strands which are cooled and guided to a fly cutter which cubes the strand material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1982
    Assignee: The B. F. Goodrich Company
    Inventor: Heung T. Kim
  • Patent number: 4340345
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for preparing a tubular parison, which is continuously extruded in an extrusion direction from an extrusion head, and for subsequently transferring the parison to a blow molding machine. The apparatus provides improved control of the wall thickness of the parison and can be used with particular advantage in making articles requiring parisons of large diameter and length. The apparatus includes a parison stretching mechanism that grasps and seals the parison at one location along its length and stretches the parison at a controlled rate while being extruded in the extrusion direction. The apparatus also sequentially severs sections of the parison from the remaining continuously extruded portion and transfers each section to a stationary blow molding machine out of the path of this remaining portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1982
    Assignee: The Plastic Forming Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter T. Schurman
  • Patent number: 4336010
    Abstract: An apparatus produces a continuous plurality of generally rectangular dough elements of a controllable weight from a continuous and irregular mass of dough. The invention includes separate forming, dividing, and cutting portions. The forming portion includes multiple rollers disposed both normal to as well as parallel and traverse to the path of movement of the dough which form the irregularly-shaped dough mass to have a uniform width, depth, and consistency. The dividing portion includes a horizontally-disposed, multichannel dividing drum and a plurality of compression rollers which divide the dough from the forming portion into multiple strips of uniform cross section. The cutting portion includes a multiblade assembly having the shape of and being occludable with the channels of the multichannel drum. The blades are driven at constant speed in a planetary fashion whereby the only motions of the blades relative to the strips of dough passing through multichannel drum are inward and outward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1982
    Inventor: Daniel T. Thompson
  • Patent number: 4321023
    Abstract: A machine for making strudel leaf, dough sheets having a series of pressure rollers for thinning a wad of stretchable dough, a lower support belt for supporting the dough wad, a pair of upper and lower diverging belts which grab the edges of the thinned wad and stretch the dough into thin sheets, a drying chamber for drying the dough and a receiving drum on which the leaf is wound after drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1982
    Assignee: Everex Corporation
    Inventor: Klaus W. O. Rexroth
  • Patent number: 4314799
    Abstract: This invention provides a high output machine for effecting the production of organic thermoplastic articles by the compression molding technique. A plurality of molding members having open top molding cavities are movable around a horizontal closed loop path. A plurality of horizontally moving plungers are provided which are respectively co-operable with the molding members in a portion of their path to close the open top of the molding cavities. Successive gobs of heated organic thermoplastic material are deposited in the open top molding cavities at a point prior to the molding members moving into vertical alignment with the plungers. A relative vertical displacement between the plunger and the molding members is then effected to bring each plunger into engagement with the respective molding member and effect the compression molding of the inserted gob to conform to the molding cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1982
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen W. Amberg, Ralph G. Amberg
  • Patent number: 4305704
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously forming tubing by extrusion wherein selected positions of the length of the tubing are irregularly shaped with a formation such as a pipe or tube thread and wherein such forming occurs while the tubing is passing from the extrusion die. The apparatus also includes means for predeterminately cutting the extruding tube to lengths with each length containing a thread-like formation in its wall at either or both ends thereof. As a result the necessity of post operating on the extrusion in a secondary threading operation to form threads at its ends, is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1981
    Inventor: Jerome H. Lemelson