US3559700A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for filling containers with multiple separate streams of viscous material
Assignee: Big Drum Inc
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Filing: 1969-01-21
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Granted: 1971-02-02
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Expires: 1989-01-21
Abstract
Abstract Process and apparatus for filling a transparent container with multiple viscous materials, such as edible substances, supplied as separate independent streams and kept independently and completely separate from each other until they enter the container and in which the materials will assume a predetermined pattern. The apparatus includes a nozzle which can be moved vertically or axially relative to the container and an associated valve which can quickly start and cut off the flow of all the separate streams simultaneously.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard A Erickson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 07:11
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B39/00; B65B39/001; B65B39/004; B65B2039/009; B65B2220/00; B65B2220/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
Apparatus for filling a container with viscous substances of different characteristics comprising a nozzle having a discharge orifice, said nozzle having separate and independent channels leading to said discharge orifice, each of said channels having an independent outlet at said orifice, means for independently supplying different channels with the different substances, and valve means located at said discharge orifice for opening or closing all of said outlets simultaneously and thereby controlling the flow from all of said channels simultaneously so that when the outlets are opened, separate and independent streams of the substances pass from the respective outlets through said discharge orifice and when closed all of said streams are stopped at said outlets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
Apparatus for filling a container with viscous substances of different characteristics comprising a nozzle having a discharge orifice, said nozzle having separate and independent channels leading to said discharge orifice, each of said channels having an independent outlet at said orifice, means for independently supplying different channels with the different substances, and valve means located at said discharge orifice for opening or closing all of said outlets simultaneously and thereby controlling the flow from all of said channels simultaneously so that when the outlets are opened, separate and independent streams of the substances pass from the respective outlets through said discharge orifice and when closed all of said streams are stopped at said outlets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the said channels are divided into sets of alternating channels, each of said sets communicating with a different supply chamber connected to a source of supply of one of said substances.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
135 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said nozzle comprises an outer vertical valve body of tubular form having a tapered nozzle portion at its lower end with the discharge outlet centrally thereof and opening downwardly, said valve means including a valve core of tubular form fitted concentrically within said body and having said channels formed in the exterior thereof with their upper ends closed and with outlets at their lower ends leading inwardly to said discharge orifice, separate supply chambers surrounding said valve body and provided with separate outlets leading respectively to the different sets of said channels, said valve means also including a vertically reciprocable valve member disposed in said core and adapted to be seated and unseated relative to said discharge outlet and to cover and uncover said outlets of said channels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the separate supply chambers are at different levels of said valve body and communicate with the interior thereof through said outlets in the form of vertical slots angularly spaced but with the slots at the different levels being out of vertical alignment, said slots of different sets being so disposed angularly that they align with different sets, respectively, of said channels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 in which said valve means also includes a piston mounted for vertical reciprocation in said core to cover and uncover the channel outlets at the lower edge thereof which are in the form of notches extending vertically from said edge, said piston having a frustoconical lower end valve portion adapted to seat in said nozzle discharge orifice at the same time the valve covers said notches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 including a fluid-actuated unit for vertically reciprocating said valve member in said core.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
82 words
The method of filling a container with viscous substances of different characteristics which comprises forming and feeding separate independent streams of the substances toward a point of discharge into the container and keeping the streams completely separate and independent until they reach a common point of discharge, in their advance toward the container, and controlling the flow of said separate streams into the container by stopping or starting the flow of all of said streams simultaneously at the said common discharge point.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
82 words
The method of filling a container with viscous substances of different characteristics which comprises forming and feeding separate independent streams of the substances toward a point of discharge into the container and keeping the streams completely separate and independent until they reach a common point of discharge, in their advance toward the container, and controlling the flow of said separate streams into the container by stopping or starting the flow of all of said streams simultaneously at the said common discharge point.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 7 in which the container filled is an upwardly opening container of annular cross section and is of transparent material and the separate streams are formed as separate wedge-shaped streams and supplied downwardly into the container so that the streams entering into the container will produce a visible pattern of separate wedge-shaped columns of the substances.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 8 in which relative rotation of the container and the streams entering thereinto is produced to cause said columns to be twisted into a helical arrangement in the container.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-01 | 1974-08-03 | 1975-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-01 | 1978-08-03 | 1979-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-01 | 1982-08-03 | 1983-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |