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US 4,789,016 AGranted
Container filling apparatus
AssigneePromation Incorporated
InventorStavros Mihail
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus including dispensers connected to a hopper enable discrete portions of filler material to be introduced into individual containers as they pass through a food canning operation. The dispensers are connected to a hopper and are operable to dispense discrete amounts of filler material that are stored in the hopper. The amount of filler material to be introduced into the containers brings a container weight to within desired tolerances of a selected target weight. The containers are provided to the dispensers by a timing screw that extends adjacent to a conveyor that conveys the containers. The timing screw is synchronized with a transfer gear that directs each container onto a platform below the dispensers.
Claims12
In a container filling apparatus wherein filler material is directed from a hopper into individual containers that are consecutively conveyed past the hopper, a dispenser connected to the hopper for dispensing the filler material in discrete portions, comprising:
- (a) a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end, the housing also having a chamber formed therein, the housing also having an inlet passage and an outlet passage, the inlet passage extending through the inlet end and into the chamber, the inlet passage providing a passage between the hopper and the chamber, the outlet passage extending from the chamber and through the outlet end of the housing and providing a passage from the chamber out of the dispenser;
- (b) an elongate, expandable pump member disposed within the housing, the pump member being positioned within the housing to extend from within the inlet passage and into the chamber to a point near the outlet passage, the expandable pump member, when expanded, closing the inlet passage and substantially compressing the contents of the chamber;
- (c) an expandable valve member disposed within the outlet passage, the expandable valve member, when expanded, closing the outlet passage;
- and,
- (d) dispenser actuation means connected to the expandable pump member and the expandable valve member, the dispenser actuation means selectively expanding the expandable pump member and permitting the expandable pump member to contract to alternately create within the chamber a plenum and a partial vacuum for pressurizing the contents of the chamber and for drawing the filler material through the inlet passage into the chamber respectively, the dispenser actuation means further selectively expanding the expandable valve member and permitting the expandable valve member to contract for expelling discrete portions of the material through the outlet passage.
2 more elements
In a container filling apparatus wherein filler material is directed from a hopper into individual containers that are consecutively conveyed past the hopper, a dispenser connected to the hopper for dispensing the filler material in discrete portions, comprising:
- (a) a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end, the housing also having a chamber formed therein, the housing also having an inlet passage and an outlet passage, the inlet passage extending through the inlet end and into the chamber, the inlet passage providing a passage between the hopper and the chamber, the outlet passage extending from the chamber and through the outlet end of the housing and providing a passage from the chamber out of the dispenser;
- (b) an elongate, expandable pump member disposed within the housing, the pump member being positioned within the housing to extend from within the inlet passage and into the chamber to a point near the outlet passage, the expandable pump member, when expanded, closing the inlet passage and substantially compressing the contents of the chamber;
- (c) an expandable valve member disposed within the outlet passage, the expandable valve member, when expanded, closing the outlet passage;
- (d) dispenser actuation means connected to the expandable pump member and the expandable valve member, the dispenser actuation means selectively expanding the expandable pump member and permitting the expandable pump member to contract to alternately create within the chamber a plenum and a partial vacuum for pressurizing the contents of the chamber and for drawing the filler material through the inlet passage into the chamber respectively, the dispenser actuation means further selectively expanding the expandable valve member and permitting the expandable valve member to contract for expelling discrete portions of the material through the outlet passage, the dispenser actuation means including:
- (i) a source of pressurized air;
- (ii) first conduit means connected between the source of pressurized air and the expandable pump member for conducting pressurized air to the expandable pump member to expand the pump member;
- (iii) second conduit means connected between the source of pressurized air and the expandable valve member for conducting pressurized air to the expandable valve member to expand the valve member;
- and,
- (iv) first and second valve means connected to the first and second conduit means, respectively, the valve means being operable to permit and halt the flow of pressurized air through the first and second conduits and to vent the pressurized air that is conducted to the expandable pump and valve member, respectively, wherein the venting of pressurized air conducted to the pump member and valve member results in contraction of those members;
- (e) grooves on the surface of the housing that defines the chamber, the grooves extending along the length of the expandable pump member;
- and
- (f) an elongate support member having first and second ends, the support member being attached within the housing so that the expandable pump member fits over the support member, the expandable pump member being affixed at its opposing ends to the support member, and wherein the first conduit means conducts pressurized air through the support member to a location between the support member and the expandable pump member;
- and wherein the second conduit means conducts pressurized air through the support member to a point adjacent the expandable valve member.
10 more elements
In a container filling apparatus wherein filler material is directed from a hopper into individual containers that are consecutively conveyed past the hopper, a dispenser connected to the hopper for dispensing the filler material in discrete portions, comprising:
- (a) a housing having an inlet and an outlet end, the housing also having a chamber formed therein, the housing also having an inlet passage and an outlet passage, the inlet passage extending through the inlet end and into the chamber, the inlet passage providing a passage between the hopper and the chamber, the outlet passage extending from the chamber and through the outlet end of the housing and providing a passage from the chamber out of the dispenser;
- (b) an elongate, expandable pump member disposed within the housing, the pump member being positioned within the housing to extend from within the inlet passage and into the chamber to a point near the outlet passage, the expandable pump member, when expanded, closing the inlet passage and substantially compressing the contents of the chamber;
- (c) an expandable valve member disposed within the outlet passage, the expandable valve member, when expanded, closing the outlet passage;
- (d) dispenser actuation means connected to the expandable pump member and the expandable valve member, the dispenser actuation means selectively expanding the expandable pump member and permitting the expandable pump member to contract to alternately create within the chamber a plenum and a partial vacuum for pressurizing the contents of the chamber and for drawing the filler material through the inlet passage into the chamber respectively, the dispenser actuation means further selectively expanding the expandable valve member and permitting the expandable valve member to contract for expelling discrete portions of the material through the outlet passage;
- and
- (e) grooves on the surface of the housing that defines the chamber, the grooves extending along the length of the expandable pump member.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.