US4032049A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Food product stuffing pump with vacuum line
Assignee: Kartridg Pak Co
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Filing: 1975-08-18
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Granted: 1977-06-28
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Expires: 1995-08-18
Abstract
Abstract A stuffing pump for handling a food product having a helical gear metering pump with means for removing air from the material moving through the metering pump and a feed conveyor in a hopper continuously feeding material to the metering pump. The feed conveyer includes a pair of counter-rotating augers in the bottom of the hopper. Independent and infinitely variable drive mechanisms are provided for the metering pump and the feed conveyer.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary F. Roberts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:05
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04C; F04C14/00; F04C14/08; A; A22; A22C; A22C11/00; A22C11/02; A22C11/08; B; B65; B65B; B65B37/00; B65B37/06; B65B37/08; B65B37/10; F04B; F04B23/00; F04B23/04; F04B23/08; F04B23/12; F04C13/00; F04C13/001; F04C13/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A stuffing pump for handling a food product comprising a helical gear metering pump having a single outlet passage and dual inlet passages, first means for driving said metering pump at variable speed; vacuum means connected to the metering pump to remove air from the food product, an elongated hopper above the metering pump for receiving food product, a feed conveyer in the bottom of the hopper feeding food product to the inlet passages of the metering pump at a rate faster than the intake capacity of said metering pump, and second means for driving said conveyer at variable speed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A stuffing pump for handling a food product comprising a helical gear metering pump having a single outlet passage and dual inlet passages, first means for driving said metering pump at variable speed; vacuum means connected to the metering pump to remove air from the food product, an elongated hopper above the metering pump for receiving food product, a feed conveyer in the bottom of the hopper feeding food product to the inlet passages of the metering pump at a rate faster than the intake capacity of said metering pump, and second means for driving said conveyer at variable speed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The stuffing pump as defined in claim 1, wherein said gear pump includes a pair of intermeshing helical gears having a relatively steep helix angle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The stuffing pump as defined in claim 2, wherein the helix angle is about 45 degrees.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stuffing pump as defined in claim 2, wherein the feed conveyer includes a pair of counter-rotating and intermeshing augers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The stuffing pump as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said first and second driving means includes a hydraulic motor powered by a variable displacement hydraulic pump.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The stuffing pump as defined in claim 2, wherein said helical gears are rotatably mounted in a housing, and a wedge is mounted in the housing in association with the gears to define the dual inlet openings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stuffing pump as defined in claim 6, wherein the wedge includes square ends and is stub-shaped to define relatively large inlet passages.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stuffing pump as defined in claim 6, wherein the wedge includes square ends and is elongated to define relatively small inlet passages.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The stuffing pump as defined in claim 6, wherein the wedge includes inclined ends.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The stuffing pump as defined in claim 6, wherein a baffle is provided over the wedge to restrict the size of the inlet passages and to form a vacuum pocket adjacent each gear to define an expansion area for air.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stuffing pump as defined in claim 1, wherein the feed conveyer includes a pair of counter-rotating and intermeshing augers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The stuffing pump as defined in claim 11, wherein said augers extend horizontally in said hopper.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The stuffing pump as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second driving means includes a hydraulic motor powered by a variable displacement hydraulic pump.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
99 words
A stuffing pump for handling a food product comprising a helical gear metering pump having inlet passage means and outlet passage means, first means for driving said metering pump at variable speed, vacuum means connected to the metering pump to remove air from the food product, an elongated hopper above the metering pump for receiving food, a feed conveyer in the bottom of the hopper feeding food product to the inlet passage means of the metering pump at a rate faster than the intake capacity of said metering pump, and second means for driving said conveyer at variable speed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
99 words
A stuffing pump for handling a food product comprising a helical gear metering pump having inlet passage means and outlet passage means, first means for driving said metering pump at variable speed, vacuum means connected to the metering pump to remove air from the food product, an elongated hopper above the metering pump for receiving food, a feed conveyer in the bottom of the hopper feeding food product to the inlet passage means of the metering pump at a rate faster than the intake capacity of said metering pump, and second means for driving said conveyer at variable speed.
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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) | 1980-06-27 | 1980-12-27 | 1981-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-27 | 1984-12-27 | 1985-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-27 | 1988-12-27 | 1989-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |