Patent US3815833A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3786844A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3786844A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Filling containers with friable particles
Assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
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Filing: 1971-08-12
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Granted: 1974-01-22
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Expires: 1991-08-12
Abstract
Abstract A method of filling a succession of containers with friable particles so that the average weight of volumetrically filled containers is substantially uniform, the method comprising controlling the cross-sectional area of an aperture through which the particles flow from a hopper into the container, the area of the aperture being adjusted in response to the deviation from normal of the average filled weight of a preceding plurality of containers.
Inventors
- 👤 W Smearsoll
- 👤 J Kaar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:01
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B1/00; B65B1/30; B65B1/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A method of achieving substantially uniform average weight of successive containers filled with flowably solid friable particles from a hopper containing such particles through a closeable, variable open-area filling aperture, said method comprising: successively positioning each unfilled container beneath said aperture when said aperture is closed, opening said aperture to fill said container with said friable particles, the flow of said friable particles into said container ceasing due to their natural angle of repose when said container becomes filled, closing said aperture after filling each said container, and forwarding each said filled container from beneath said aperture; monitoring the average filled weight and determining the average weight deviation of said filled containers being forwarded from beneath said aperture by means suitable therefore; and modulating the open-area of said aperture as a function of said deviation to increase the open-area if the average filled weight is above the nominal average and to decrease the openarea if the average filled weight is below nominal average, whereby sufficient said friable particles are fractured during said filling to sufficiently reduce the average size of said particles to achieve the desired uniform weight of filled containers.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
191 words
A method of achieving substantially uniform average weight of successive containers filled with flowably solid friable particles from a hopper containing such particles through a closeable, variable open-area filling aperture, said method comprising: successively positioning each unfilled container beneath said aperture when said aperture is closed, opening said aperture to fill said container with said friable particles, the flow of said friable particles into said container ceasing due to their natural angle of repose when said container becomes filled, closing said aperture after filling each said container, and forwarding each said filled container from beneath said aperture; monitoring the average filled weight and determining the average weight deviation of said filled containers being forwarded from beneath said aperture by means suitable therefore; and modulating the open-area of said aperture as a function of said deviation to increase the open-area if the average filled weight is above the nominal average and to decrease the openarea if the average filled weight is below nominal average, whereby sufficient said friable particles are fractured during said filling to sufficiently reduce the average size of said particles to achieve the desired uniform weight of filled containers.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
220 words
A method of achieving substantially uniform average weight of successive containers filled with flowably solid friable particles from a hopper containing such particles through a closeable, variable open-area filling aperture, said method comprising: successively positioning each unfilled container beneath said aperture when said aperture is closed; sealingly connecting the interior of each successive unfilled container to a controllable vacuum source; and then evacuating each successive unfilled container to a pre-determined level of vacuum before opening said filling aperture; opening said aperture to fill said container with said friable particles, the flow of said friable particles into said container ceasing due to their natural angle of response when said container becomes filled; closing said aperture after filling each said container; and, after closing said filling aperture venting each filled container; then forwarding each said filled container from beneath said aperture; monitoring the average filled weight of said filled containers being forwarded from beneath said aperture by means suitable therefore; and, modulating the open-area of said aperture to increase the open-area if the average filled weight is below nominal average and to decrease the open-area if the average filled weight is below nominal average, whereby sufficient said friable particles are fractured during said filling to sufficiently reduce the average size of said particles to achieve the desired uniform weight of filled containers.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
220 words
A method of achieving substantially uniform average weight of successive containers filled with flowably solid friable particles from a hopper containing such particles through a closeable, variable open-area filling aperture, said method comprising: successively positioning each unfilled container beneath said aperture when said aperture is closed; sealingly connecting the interior of each successive unfilled container to a controllable vacuum source; and then evacuating each successive unfilled container to a pre-determined level of vacuum before opening said filling aperture; opening said aperture to fill said container with said friable particles, the flow of said friable particles into said container ceasing due to their natural angle of response when said container becomes filled; closing said aperture after filling each said container; and, after closing said filling aperture venting each filled container; then forwarding each said filled container from beneath said aperture; monitoring the average filled weight of said filled containers being forwarded from beneath said aperture by means suitable therefore; and, modulating the open-area of said aperture to increase the open-area if the average filled weight is below nominal average and to decrease the open-area if the average filled weight is below nominal average, whereby sufficient said friable particles are fractured during said filling to sufficiently reduce the average size of said particles to achieve the desired uniform weight of filled containers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising increasing the predetermined level of vacuum in response to monitoring below average filled weight or decreasing the predetermined level of vacuum in response to monitoring above average filled weight.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 3 where the predetermined level of vacuum is only adjusted if the full range of aperture open-area adjustment is not sufficient to fully achieve said nominal average filled weight.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 3 where the open-area of the aperture is only adjusted if the full range of vacuum level adjustment is nOt sufficient to fully achieve said nominal average filled weight.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
306 words
In a filling apparatus for filling successive containers with substantially uniform weights of friable particles of a flowable solid, said apparatus comprising a hopper, a filling head, and means for monitoring the average filled weight of preceding filled containers, said hopper being adapted to hold and dispense said particles, said filling head having a passageway therethrough juxtaposed with said hopper so that said particles are discharged from said hopper into said passageway, said filling head being adapted to receive an empty container juxtaposed subjacent thereto so that said particles flow from said passageway into said container, the improvement comprising a filling-aperture-forming valve disposed in said passageway which valve is operable between an adjustable-area open position and a closed position, and means for adjusting said adjustable-area open position, said valve adapted to substantially preclude flow of said particles through said passageway when closed and to form said filling-aperture when in the open position through which a stream of said particles passes from said hopper into said container, the cross-sectional area of said stream of said particles being a function of said adjustable-area of said valve, the improved apparatus further comprising means for determining the magnitude of the deviation of the average weight of a preceding plurality of filled containers from nominal average filled weight, and control means for adjusting said open position of said valve as a function of said deviation, said means acting to increase the area of the aperture in the open position to compensate for above average filled weight and to decrease the area of the aperture in the open position to compensate for below average filled weight whereby the average weight of successive filled containers can be maintained substantially constant by adjusting said open position in response to deviations from nominal of the average filled weight of a preceding plurality of filled containers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
306 words
In a filling apparatus for filling successive containers with substantially uniform weights of friable particles of a flowable solid, said apparatus comprising a hopper, a filling head, and means for monitoring the average filled weight of preceding filled containers, said hopper being adapted to hold and dispense said particles, said filling head having a passageway therethrough juxtaposed with said hopper so that said particles are discharged from said hopper into said passageway, said filling head being adapted to receive an empty container juxtaposed subjacent thereto so that said particles flow from said passageway into said container, the improvement comprising a filling-aperture-forming valve disposed in said passageway which valve is operable between an adjustable-area open position and a closed position, and means for adjusting said adjustable-area open position, said valve adapted to substantially preclude flow of said particles through said passageway when closed and to form said filling-aperture when in the open position through which a stream of said particles passes from said hopper into said container, the cross-sectional area of said stream of said particles being a function of said adjustable-area of said valve, the improved apparatus further comprising means for determining the magnitude of the deviation of the average weight of a preceding plurality of filled containers from nominal average filled weight, and control means for adjusting said open position of said valve as a function of said deviation, said means acting to increase the area of the aperture in the open position to compensate for above average filled weight and to decrease the area of the aperture in the open position to compensate for below average filled weight whereby the average weight of successive filled containers can be maintained substantially constant by adjusting said open position in response to deviations from nominal of the average filled weight of a preceding plurality of filled containers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
280 words
In a filling apparatus for filling successive containers with friable particles of a flowable solid, said apparatus comprising a hopper, a filling head, and means for monitoring the average filled weight of preceding filled containers, said hopper being adapted to hold and dispense said particles, said filling head having a passageway therethrough juxtaposed with said hopper so that said particles are discharged from said hopper into said passageway, said filling head being adapted to receive an empty container juxtaposed subjacent thereto so that said particles flow from said passageway into said container, the improvement comprising a filling-aperture-forming valve disposed in said passageway which valve is operable between an adjustable-area open position and a closed position, and means for adjusting said adjustable-area open position, said valve adapted to substantially preclude flow of said particles through said passageway when closed and to form said filling-aperture when in the open position through which a stream of said particles passes from said hopper into said container, the cross-sectional area of said stream of said particles being a function of said adjustable-area of said valve, said filling head further comprising means for sealing said container to said filling head, means for establishing a predetermined level of vacuum within said container before said valve is opened, and means for venting said container after said valve is closed, said vacuum acting to expedite the flow of said particles, and said venting assisting the removal of the container from the filling head whereby the average weight of successive filled containers can be maintained substantially constant by adjusting said open position in response to deviations from nominal of the average filled weight of a preceding plurality of filled containers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
280 words
In a filling apparatus for filling successive containers with friable particles of a flowable solid, said apparatus comprising a hopper, a filling head, and means for monitoring the average filled weight of preceding filled containers, said hopper being adapted to hold and dispense said particles, said filling head having a passageway therethrough juxtaposed with said hopper so that said particles are discharged from said hopper into said passageway, said filling head being adapted to receive an empty container juxtaposed subjacent thereto so that said particles flow from said passageway into said container, the improvement comprising a filling-aperture-forming valve disposed in said passageway which valve is operable between an adjustable-area open position and a closed position, and means for adjusting said adjustable-area open position, said valve adapted to substantially preclude flow of said particles through said passageway when closed and to form said filling-aperture when in the open position through which a stream of said particles passes from said hopper into said container, the cross-sectional area of said stream of said particles being a function of said adjustable-area of said valve, said filling head further comprising means for sealing said container to said filling head, means for establishing a predetermined level of vacuum within said container before said valve is opened, and means for venting said container after said valve is closed, said vacuum acting to expedite the flow of said particles, and said venting assisting the removal of the container from the filling head whereby the average weight of successive filled containers can be maintained substantially constant by adjusting said open position in response to deviations from nominal of the average filled weight of a preceding plurality of filled containers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
89 words
The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising means for determining the magniTude of the deviation of the average weight of a preceding plurality of filled containers from nominal average filled weight, and control means for adjusting said open position of said valve as a function of said deviation, said control means acting to increase the area of the aperture in the open position to compensate for above average filled weight and to decrease the area of the aperture in the open position to compensate for below average filled weight.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 8 having adjustable means for establishing the level of vacuum, and control means therefore adapted to increase the level of vacuum to compensate for below average filled weight and to decrease the level of vacuum to compensate for above average filled weight.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further including means for ascertaining when further adjustment of said open position of said valve is not available to compensate for said deviation, said vacuum level adjusting means being operative only when further adjustment of said open position of said valve is not available to compensate for said deviation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further including means for ascertaining when further adjustment of said vacuum level is not available to compensate for said deviation, said control means for adjusting said open position of said valve being operative only when such further adjustment of said vacuum level is not available to compensate for said deviation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-21 | 1977-07-23 | 1978-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-21 | 1981-07-23 | 1982-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-21 | 1985-07-23 | 1986-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |