Patent US4916604A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3696584A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for filling a container with a weighed load of fragile articles
Assignee: Brown International Corp
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Filing: 1970-10-23
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Granted: 1972-10-10
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Expires: 1990-10-23
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for delivering a weighed load of fragile articles, such as grapefruit sections, to a container includes a series of vibratory chutes or pans. The first chute receives articles in response to demand from the second chute or pan into which it discharges, so that articles in said pan remain at a one-layer depth. This promotes maximum control of feeding of articles from the pan into a clamshell-type hopper pendantly supported on a weighing scale. When the required weight of fragile articles is accumulated within the hopper, the clamshell sections open automatically to discharge the weighed load into a filling chute leading to an open top container. Syrup is introduced into the filling chute when the hopper opens in order to lubricate the filling chute and to facilitate entry of the fragile articles one by one into the container along with the syrup.
Inventors
- 👤 Donn J Rickard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:12
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B1/00; B65B1/30; B65B1/32; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S177/00; Y10S177/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
Apparatus for delivering to a container a weighed quantity of fragile articles such as grapefruit sections, comprising in combination: a vibratory feed pan for transporting fragile articles, means for delivering the articles to the feed pan, means for limiting the rate of delivery of articles to the feed pan to maintain the articles in the feed pan substantially only one layer deep, said feed pan having a discharge end, a hopper positioned below the discharge end of the feed pan to receive said articles by gravity fall, means including a weighing scale for pendantly supporting said hopper, means whereby said hopper may be emptied, a filling chute adapted to receive a weighed quantity of articles from said hopper, said filling chute having a nozzle to convey said articles to an open top container, and means for introducing a liquid into the filling chute to lubricate the movement of said articles through the nozzle and to enter the container with said articles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
Apparatus for delivering to a container a weighed quantity of fragile articles such as grapefruit sections, comprising in combination: a vibratory feed pan for transporting fragile articles, means for delivering the articles to the feed pan, means for limiting the rate of delivery of articles to the feed pan to maintain the articles in the feed pan substantially only one layer deep, said feed pan having a discharge end, a hopper positioned below the discharge end of the feed pan to receive said articles by gravity fall, means including a weighing scale for pendantly supporting said hopper, means whereby said hopper may be emptied, a filling chute adapted to receive a weighed quantity of articles from said hopper, said filling chute having a nozzle to convey said articles to an open top container, and means for introducing a liquid into the filling chute to lubricate the movement of said articles through the nozzle and to enter the container with said articles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the feed pan has a flat bottom wall terminating in a zig-zag discharge end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
127 words
Apparatus for delivering to a container a weighed quantity of fragile articles such as grapefruit sections, comprising in combination: a vibratory feed pan for transporting fragile articles, said feed pan having a discharge end, a hopper positioned below the discharge end of the feed pan to receive said articles by gravity fall, means including a weighing scale for pendantly Supporting said hopper, means whereby said hopper may be emptied, a vibratory filling chute adapted to receive a weighed quantity of articles from said hopper, said filling chute having a nozzle to convey said articles to an open top container, and means for introducing a liquid into the filling chute to lubricate the movement of said articles through the nozzle and to enter the container with said articles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
127 words
Apparatus for delivering to a container a weighed quantity of fragile articles such as grapefruit sections, comprising in combination: a vibratory feed pan for transporting fragile articles, said feed pan having a discharge end, a hopper positioned below the discharge end of the feed pan to receive said articles by gravity fall, means including a weighing scale for pendantly Supporting said hopper, means whereby said hopper may be emptied, a vibratory filling chute adapted to receive a weighed quantity of articles from said hopper, said filling chute having a nozzle to convey said articles to an open top container, and means for introducing a liquid into the filling chute to lubricate the movement of said articles through the nozzle and to enter the container with said articles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
158 words
Apparatus for delivering to a container a weighed quantity of fragile articles such a grapefruit sections, comprising in combination: a vibratory feed pan for transporting fragile articles, means for delivering the articles to the feed pan, means for limiting the rate of delivery of articles to the feed pan to maintain the articles in the feed pan substantially only one layer deep, said feed pan having a zig-zag discharge end, a clamshell hopper positioned below the discharge end of the feed pan to receive said articles at longitudinally spaced locations by gravity fall, said hopper having two pivoted elements laterally movable between a closed position and an open position, means including a weighing scale for pendantly supporting said hopper, and a vibratory filling chute adapted to receive a weighed quantity of articles from said hopper when said elements are moved to open position, said filling chute having a nozzle to convey said articles to an open top container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
158 words
Apparatus for delivering to a container a weighed quantity of fragile articles such a grapefruit sections, comprising in combination: a vibratory feed pan for transporting fragile articles, means for delivering the articles to the feed pan, means for limiting the rate of delivery of articles to the feed pan to maintain the articles in the feed pan substantially only one layer deep, said feed pan having a zig-zag discharge end, a clamshell hopper positioned below the discharge end of the feed pan to receive said articles at longitudinally spaced locations by gravity fall, said hopper having two pivoted elements laterally movable between a closed position and an open position, means including a weighing scale for pendantly supporting said hopper, and a vibratory filling chute adapted to receive a weighed quantity of articles from said hopper when said elements are moved to open position, said filling chute having a nozzle to convey said articles to an open top container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
179 words
Apparatus for delivering to a container a weighed quantity of fragile articles such as grapefruit sections, comprising in combination: a supply chute, a vibratory feed pan for transporting fragile articles received from the supply chute, means for limiting the rate of delivery of articles to the feed pan to maintain the articles in the feed pan substantially only one layer deep, said feed pan having a discharge end, a clamshell hopper positioned below the discharge end of the feed pan to receive said articles by gravity fall, said hopper having two pivoted elements laterally movable between a closed position and an open position, means including a weighing scale for pendantly supporting said hopper, a vibratory filling chute adapted to receive a weighed quantity of articles from said hopper when said elements are moved to open position, said filling chute having a nozzle to convey said articles to an open top container, and means for introducing a liquid into the filling chute to lubricate the movement of said articles through the nozzle and to enter the container with said articles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
179 words
Apparatus for delivering to a container a weighed quantity of fragile articles such as grapefruit sections, comprising in combination: a supply chute, a vibratory feed pan for transporting fragile articles received from the supply chute, means for limiting the rate of delivery of articles to the feed pan to maintain the articles in the feed pan substantially only one layer deep, said feed pan having a discharge end, a clamshell hopper positioned below the discharge end of the feed pan to receive said articles by gravity fall, said hopper having two pivoted elements laterally movable between a closed position and an open position, means including a weighing scale for pendantly supporting said hopper, a vibratory filling chute adapted to receive a weighed quantity of articles from said hopper when said elements are moved to open position, said filling chute having a nozzle to convey said articles to an open top container, and means for introducing a liquid into the filling chute to lubricate the movement of said articles through the nozzle and to enter the container with said articles.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-10 | 1976-04-10 | 1976-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-10 | 1980-04-10 | 1980-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-10 | 1984-04-10 | 1984-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |