US3878874A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for evacuating vessels
Assignee: Holstein und Kappert Maschinenfabrik Phonix GmbH
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Filing: 1972-12-20
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Granted: 1975-04-22
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Expires: 1992-12-20
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for evacuating vessels prior to filling them which vessels have deformation-sensitive walls includes a rotating filling machine table and a moving device for introducing vessels to the filling machine table and for moving along a path parallel to the table. Both the filling machine table and the moving device have a plurality of housing members arranged at the same equal spacing. As each vessel is fed to the filling machine table, the housing members on the table combine with the housing members on the moving device and form a housing which laterally encloses the vessel to be evacuated and filled. Matching recesses are formed in the housing members so that a cavity is formed within the housing which at least partly encloses the exterior surface of the vessel. The cavity is sealed from the atmosphere and is arranged so that it is exposed to the same below atmospheric pressure as is the interior of the vessel during evacuation whereby the deformation-sensitive walls are not exposed to differential pressure during evacuation.
Inventors
- 👤 Werner Heckmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:30
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B61/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
453 words
Apparatus for evacuating vessels which have deformation-sensitive walls, prior to filling the vessels, comprising a machine including a movable member, spaced vessel trays mounted on said movable member for movement along a first path of travel, and a device for feeding vessels to said vesSel trays and arranged to move in cooperating relation with said movable member on said machine, wherein the improvement comprises that said device for feeding vessels is separate from said movable member and moves along a second path of travel different from the first path of travel of said movable member, said device includes a plurality of uniformly spaced first housing members movable thereon along the second path of travel and only a part of the second path of travel being arranged to move in side-by-side relation with the first path of travel of said vessel trays, said movable member includes a plurality of uniformly spaced second housing members each associated with a different one of said vessel trays and said second housing members spaced apart at the same spacing as said first housing members, each said first housing member arranged to move into matching engagement with one of said second housing members as it passes along the part of the second path of travel which is in side-by-side relation with the first path of travel of said vessel trays for forming, in combination with said vessel tray within said second housing member with which it matches, a housing for the vessel supplied by said device for feeding vessels, each said first housing member and said second housing member having a recess formed therein so that said recesses in matching ones of said first housing member and second housing member combine to form a continuous cavity at least partly encircling the deformation-sensitive walls of the vessel supplied by said device, means associated with said first and second housing members and arranged to cooperate with the vessels supplied by said device so that the portion of the vessels enclosed by said cavities are sealed from the atmosphere, conduit means for connecting the cavities to a sub-atmospheric pressure, means for evacuating the vessels held in the matching ones of said first housing members and second housing members, means for actuating said means for evacuating the vessels, said conduit means connected to the cavities in the matching ones of said first housing members and second housing members and said means for evacuating the vessels being connected so that when the evacuation of a vessel is effected the same sub-atmospheric pressure is exposed to said cavity in the matching ones of said first housing members and second housing members for exposing the interior and exterior of the vessel to the same sub-atmospheric pressure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
453 words
Apparatus for evacuating vessels which have deformation-sensitive walls, prior to filling the vessels, comprising a machine including a movable member, spaced vessel trays mounted on said movable member for movement along a first path of travel, and a device for feeding vessels to said vesSel trays and arranged to move in cooperating relation with said movable member on said machine, wherein the improvement comprises that said device for feeding vessels is separate from said movable member and moves along a second path of travel different from the first path of travel of said movable member, said device includes a plurality of uniformly spaced first housing members movable thereon along the second path of travel and only a part of the second path of travel being arranged to move in side-by-side relation with the first path of travel of said vessel trays, said movable member includes a plurality of uniformly spaced second housing members each associated with a different one of said vessel trays and said second housing members spaced apart at the same spacing as said first housing members, each said first housing member arranged to move into matching engagement with one of said second housing members as it passes along the part of the second path of travel which is in side-by-side relation with the first path of travel of said vessel trays for forming, in combination with said vessel tray within said second housing member with which it matches, a housing for the vessel supplied by said device for feeding vessels, each said first housing member and said second housing member having a recess formed therein so that said recesses in matching ones of said first housing member and second housing member combine to form a continuous cavity at least partly encircling the deformation-sensitive walls of the vessel supplied by said device, means associated with said first and second housing members and arranged to cooperate with the vessels supplied by said device so that the portion of the vessels enclosed by said cavities are sealed from the atmosphere, conduit means for connecting the cavities to a sub-atmospheric pressure, means for evacuating the vessels held in the matching ones of said first housing members and second housing members, means for actuating said means for evacuating the vessels, said conduit means connected to the cavities in the matching ones of said first housing members and second housing members and said means for evacuating the vessels being connected so that when the evacuation of a vessel is effected the same sub-atmospheric pressure is exposed to said cavity in the matching ones of said first housing members and second housing members for exposing the interior and exterior of the vessel to the same sub-atmospheric pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
453 words
Apparatus for evacuating vessels which have deformationsensitive walls, prior to filling the vessels, comprising a machine including a movable member, spaced vessel trays mounted on said movable member for movement along a first path of travel, and a device for feeding vessels to said vesSel trays and arranged to move in cooperating relation with said movable member on said machine, wherein the improvement comprises that said device for feeding vessels is separate from said movable member and moves along a second path of travel different from the first path of travel of said movable member, said device includes a plurality of uniformly spaced first housing members movable thereon along the second path of travel and only a part of the second path of travel being arranged to move in side-by-side relation with the first path of travel of said vessel trays, said movable member includes a plurality of uniformly spaced second housing members each associated with a different one of said vessel trays and said second housing members spaced apart at the same spacing as said first housing members, each said first housing member arranged to move into matching engagement with one of said second housing members as it passes along the part of the second path of travel which is in side-by-side relation with the first path of travel of said vessel trays for forming, in combination with said vessel tray within said second housing member with which it matches, a housing for the vessel supplied by said device for feeding vessels, each said first housing member and said second housing member having a recess formed therein so that said recesses in matching ones of said first housing member and second housing member combine to form a continuous cavity at least partly encircling the deformationsensitive walls of the vessel supplied by said device, means associated with said first and second housing members and arranged to cooperate with the vessels supplied by said device so that the portion of the vessels enclosed by said cavities are sealed from the atmosphere, conduit means for connecting the cavities to a sub-atmospheric pressure, means for evacuating the vessels held in the matching ones of said first housing members and second housing members, means for actuating said means for evacuating the vessels, said conduit means connected to the cavities in the matching ones of said first housing members and second housing members and said means for evacuating the vessels being connected so that when the evacuation of a vessel is effected the same sub-atmospheric pressure is exposed to said cavity in the matching ones of said first housing members and second housing members for exposing the interior and exterior of the vessel to the same sub-atmospheric pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
453 words
Apparatus for evacuating vessels which have deformationsensitive walls, prior to filling the vessels, comprising a machine including a movable member, spaced vessel trays mounted on said movable member for movement along a first path of travel, and a device for feeding vessels to said vesSel trays and arranged to move in cooperating relation with said movable member on said machine, wherein the improvement comprises that said device for feeding vessels is separate from said movable member and moves along a second path of travel different from the first path of travel of said movable member, said device includes a plurality of uniformly spaced first housing members movable thereon along the second path of travel and only a part of the second path of travel being arranged to move in side-by-side relation with the first path of travel of said vessel trays, said movable member includes a plurality of uniformly spaced second housing members each associated with a different one of said vessel trays and said second housing members spaced apart at the same spacing as said first housing members, each said first housing member arranged to move into matching engagement with one of said second housing members as it passes along the part of the second path of travel which is in side-by-side relation with the first path of travel of said vessel trays for forming, in combination with said vessel tray within said second housing member with which it matches, a housing for the vessel supplied by said device for feeding vessels, each said first housing member and said second housing member having a recess formed therein so that said recesses in matching ones of said first housing member and second housing member combine to form a continuous cavity at least partly encircling the deformationsensitive walls of the vessel supplied by said device, means associated with said first and second housing members and arranged to cooperate with the vessels supplied by said device so that the portion of the vessels enclosed by said cavities are sealed from the atmosphere, conduit means for connecting the cavities to a sub-atmospheric pressure, means for evacuating the vessels held in the matching ones of said first housing members and second housing members, means for actuating said means for evacuating the vessels, said conduit means connected to the cavities in the matching ones of said first housing members and second housing members and said means for evacuating the vessels being connected so that when the evacuation of a vessel is effected the same sub-atmospheric pressure is exposed to said cavity in the matching ones of said first housing members and second housing members for exposing the interior and exterior of the vessel to the same sub-atmospheric pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said device for feeding vessels comprises a pair of spaced guide wheels, an endless conveyor supporting said first housing members in spaced relationship thereon and arranged to move over said guide wheels so that said first housing members for the part of the second path of travel which is in side-by-side relation with the first path of travel of said second housing members move along a path parallel with the paths of said vessel stand trays and said second housing members on said machine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, wherein a dividing worm is associated with said device for feeding vessels at a position spaced from its parallel path of movement with said machine for delivering vessels at spaced intervals corresponding to the spacing of said first housing members on said conveyor member.
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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) | 1978-04-21 | 1978-10-21 | 1979-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-21 | 1982-10-21 | 1983-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-21 | 1986-10-21 | 1987-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |