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US4193465A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Scale hopper door mechanism

Assignee: NATIONS BANK OF GEORGIA NA
•
Filing: 1978-01-27
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Granted: 1980-03-18
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Expires: 1998-01-27
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Abstract

Abstract A door mechanism for controlling flow of loose products, such as potato chips, from a scale hopper in a packaging machine comprises a hinged door, a spring biasing the door towards its closed position, an arm attached to the door, a cam follower carried by the arm, and a cam acting in combination with the cam follower to force the door open against the influence of the spring. The cam is mounted independently of the scale hopper and the cam follower is not in contact with the cam while product is being weighed in the scale hopper. When weight has been made, the cam is rotated in response to signals generated by the weighing scale. The profile of the cam is such as to rapidly open and close the door for dumping and provides smooth vibration-free operation. The slope of the cam lobe portion during opening of the door provides an uplifting scale restoring force so that the scale is immediately returned to zero weight in readiness for the next cycle.

Inventors

  • 👤 Nelson R. Henry

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 19:04
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01G; G01G13/00; G01G13/16; G01G13/18

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 102 words
A scale hopper door mechanism for controlling flow of loose product from a scale hopper in a packaging machine, said mechanism comprising a pivoted door, means biasing said door towards its closed position, a cam follower carried by said door, and a rotary cam acting in combination with said cam follower to force said door open against the influence of said biasing means, said rotary cam being mounted independently of the scale hopper, and said rotary cam having a profile such that said cam follower is not in contact with said rotary cam while product is being weighed in the scale hopper.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 102 words
A scale hopper door mechanism for controlling flow of loose product from a scale hopper in a packaging machine, said mechanism comprising a pivoted door, means biasing said door towards its closed position, a cam follower carried by said door, and a rotary cam acting in combination with said cam follower to force said door open against the influence of said biasing means, said rotary cam being mounted independently of the scale hopper, and said rotary cam having a profile such that said cam follower is not in contact with said rotary cam while product is being weighed in the scale hopper.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
The scale hopper door mechanism of claim 1 and further comprising means for rotating said cam intermittently in response to signals generated by the scale.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
The scale hopper door mechanism of claim 1 wherein said cam follower is carried by an arm attached to said door.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 31 words
The scale hopper door mechanism of claim 1 wherein said cam follower mechanism is mounted above said cam so that a scale restoring force is provided during opening of the door.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 39 words
The scale door hopper mechanism of claim 1, which includes a reversible motor for rotating said cam and a motor control circuit for operating said motor to rotate said cam between a door open and a door closed position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 43 words
The scale hopper door mechanism of claim 5, wherein said motor control circuit includes a switch cam mounted for rotation by said motor and a pair of microswitches alternately operable by said switch cam for controlling the direction of operation of said motor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 53 words
The scale hopper door mechanism of claim 6, wherein said motor control circuit includes a timer operable upon-accumulation of a desired weight in said scale hopper for initiating operation of said motor to rotate said first cam to its door open position for a predetermined time to allow said scale hopper to empty.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1560416A Cited
GB366286A Cited
US2904304A Cited
US2890013A Cited
US3086564A Cited
US3379267A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1983-03-18 1983-09-17 1984-03-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1987-03-18 1987-09-17 1988-03-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1991-03-18 1991-09-17 1992-03-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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