US3633245A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for making and dispensing coherent masses of a bulk material
Assignee: Packaging Research Corp
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Filing: 1969-04-28
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Granted: 1972-01-11
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Expires: 1989-04-28
Abstract
Abstract A machine for forming a bulk product into coherent masses, and more particularly to a machine for making meatballs and depositing the meatballs in a can or container. The ground meat is pumped into a fixed feeding head and a turret, having a series of cavities in its under surface, is mounted for rotation above the head. Plungers are slidable within the cavities and as each set of cavities is rotated to a position above the feeding head, meat is discharged upwardly into the cavities. A stop is located above the turret and the upper ends of the plungers engage the stop to accurately measure the amount of meat fed into each cavity. As the turret rotates, the upper end of the plungers ride against a cam that acts to move the plungers downwardly to eject the meatballs into cans located beneath the cavities. A knife is mounted to wipe against the lower surface of the turret and aids in separating the meatballs from the turret and depositing the same in cans.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank Partos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 01:18
CPC Classifications
A; A22; A22C; A22C7/00; A22C7/0015
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
In an apparatus for forming bulk material into coherent masses and depositing the masses into containers, a frame, a turret mounted for rotation on said frame about a vertical axis, said turret having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cavities extending therethrough, a plunger having a head mounted for sliding movement in each cavity and the upper end of each plunger projecting upwardly beyond the turret, a series of bushings mounted on the upper surface of the turret with each bushing having a bore disposed in alignment with a cavity and the upper end of each plunger being slidable within a bore, feeding means disposed beneath the turret for feeding a material into the lower end of successive cavities as the turret rotates and forming the material into coherent masses, each plunger disposed to move upwardly within the respective cavity as said material is fed into the lower end of that cavity, means for ejecting the mass from the lower end of each cavity, and clamping means for removably clamping each bushing to said turret, said clamping means including a series of clamping members with each clamping member being provided with a pair of side edges with one side edge disposed to engage one bushing and the other side edge disposed to engage an adjacent bushing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
215 words
In an apparatus for forming bulk material into coherent masses and depositing the masses into containers, a frame, a turret mounted for rotation on said frame about a vertical axis, said turret having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cavities extending therethrough, a plunger having a head mounted for sliding movement in each cavity and the upper end of each plunger projecting upwardly beyond the turret, a series of bushings mounted on the upper surface of the turret with each bushing having a bore disposed in alignment with a cavity and the upper end of each plunger being slidable within a bore, feeding means disposed beneath the turret for feeding a material into the lower end of successive cavities as the turret rotates and forming the material into coherent masses, each plunger disposed to move upwardly within the respective cavity as said material is fed into the lower end of that cavity, means for ejecting the mass from the lower end of each cavity, and clamping means for removably clamping each bushing to said turret, said clamping means including a series of clamping members with each clamping member being provided with a pair of side edges with one side edge disposed to engage one bushing and the other side edge disposed to engage an adjacent bushing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the peripheral surface of each bushing is provided with an abutment, and each side edge of each clamping member is provided with a projection adapted to engage the abutment on the respective bushing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1, and including means for adjusting the clamping members radially with respect to the turret.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower portion of each side edge is provided with a recess, the peripheral portion of each bushing is provided with a flange disposed to be received within the corresponding recess in the clamping member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
184 words
In an apparatus for forming bulk material into coherent masses and depositing the masses into containers, a frame, a turret mounted for rotation on said frame about an axis, said turret having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cavities extending therethrough, a plunger having a head mounted for sliding movement in each cavity and the outer end of each plunger projecting outwardly beyond a first surface of the turret, a series of bushings mounted on the first surface of the turret with each bushing having a bore disposed in alignment with the cavity and the outer end of each plunger being slidable within a bore, feeding means disposed adjacent the opposite surface of the turret for feeding a material into successive cavities as the turret rotates and forming the material into coherent masses, each plunger disposed to move outwardly within the respective cavity as the material is fed into the end of that cavity, means for ejecting the mass from each cavity, clamping means for removably clamping each bushing to said turret, and means for preventing relative rotation between each plunger and the respective cavity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
184 words
In an apparatus for forming bulk material into coherent masses and depositing the masses into containers, a frame, a turret mounted for rotation on said frame about an axis, said turret having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cavities extending therethrough, a plunger having a head mounted for sliding movement in each cavity and the outer end of each plunger projecting outwardly beyond a first surface of the turret, a series of bushings mounted on the first surface of the turret with each bushing having a bore disposed in alignment with the cavity and the outer end of each plunger being slidable within a bore, feeding means disposed adjacent the opposite surface of the turret for feeding a material into successive cavities as the turret rotates and forming the material into coherent masses, each plunger disposed to move outwardly within the respective cavity as the material is fed into the end of that cavity, means for ejecting the mass from each cavity, clamping means for removably clamping each bushing to said turret, and means for preventing relative rotation between each plunger and the respective cavity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
209 words
In an apparatus for forming bulk material into coherent masses and depositing the masses into containers, a frame, a turret mounted for rotation on said frame about a vertical axis, said turret having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cavities extending therethrough, a plunger having a head mounted for sliding movement in each cavity and the outer end of each plunger projecting upwardly beyond the turret, a series of bushings mounted on the upper surface of the turret with each bushing having a bore disposed in alignment with a cavity and the upper end of each plunger being slidable within a bore, feeding means disposed beneath the turret for feeding a material into the lower end of successive cavities as the turret rotates and forming the material into coherent masses, each plunger disposed to move upwardly within the respective cavity as said material is fed into the lower end of that cavity, means for ejecting the mass from the lower end of each cavity, clamping means for removably clamping each bushing to said turret, and first stop means for limiting the downward movement of the plunger head within the cavity to thereby position the lower surface of the head in substantially flush relation with the lower surface of the turret.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
209 words
In an apparatus for forming bulk material into coherent masses and depositing the masses into containers, a frame, a turret mounted for rotation on said frame about a vertical axis, said turret having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cavities extending therethrough, a plunger having a head mounted for sliding movement in each cavity and the outer end of each plunger projecting upwardly beyond the turret, a series of bushings mounted on the upper surface of the turret with each bushing having a bore disposed in alignment with a cavity and the upper end of each plunger being slidable within a bore, feeding means disposed beneath the turret for feeding a material into the lower end of successive cavities as the turret rotates and forming the material into coherent masses, each plunger disposed to move upwardly within the respective cavity as said material is fed into the lower end of that cavity, means for ejecting the mass from the lower end of each cavity, clamping means for removably clamping each bushing to said turret, and first stop means for limiting the downward movement of the plunger head within the cavity to thereby position the lower surface of the head in substantially flush relation with the lower surface of the turret.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 6, and including vent means communicating with the upper end of the cavity for venting air from the cavity as the head of the plunger moves upwardly within the cavity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 6, and including second stop means for limiting the upward movement of said head within the cavity to thereby meter the amount of material being fed into said cavity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said second stop means comprises a vertically adjustable member located in substantial vertical alignment with said feeding means and disposed to be engaged by the upper ends of said plungers as said plungers are moved upwardly as a consequence of the material being fed into the cavities to thereby limit the upward movement of said plungers and control the amount of material introduced into each cavity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
84 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said feeding means comprises a conduit to convey said material and a discharge head connected to said conduit, said head having an upwardly extending discharge opening disposed in registry with the circle inscribed by said cavities as the turret is rotated, said material being discharged through said opening and into successive cavities as the turret is rotated, and a layer of self-lubricating material connected to the head and disposed to ride against the lower surface of the turret.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 10, and including means for forcing the head upwardlY toward the turret.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 10, and including aligning means connecting the feeding means and the frame for aligning said discharge opening with respect to the cavities in said turret.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
201 words
In an apparatus for forming bulk material into coherent masses and depositing the masses into containers, a frame, a turret mounted for rotation on said frame about an axis, said turret having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cavities extending therethrough, a plunger having a head mounted for sliding movement in each cavity and the outer end of each plunger projecting outwardly beyond a first surface of the turret, a series of bushings mounted on the first surface of the turret with each bushing having a bore disposed in alignment with the cavity and the outer end of each plunger being slidable within a bore, feeding means disposed adjacent the opposite surface of the turret for feeding a material into successive cavities as the turret rotates and forming the material into coherent masses, each plunger disposed to move outwardly within the respective cavity as the material is fed into the end of that cavity, means for ejecting the mass from each cavity, clamping means for removably clamping each bushing to said turret, and counterbalancing means for exerting a force against the first surface of the turret to counterbalance the force exerted by said feeding means on the opposite surface of said turret.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
201 words
In an apparatus for forming bulk material into coherent masses and depositing the masses into containers, a frame, a turret mounted for rotation on said frame about an axis, said turret having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cavities extending therethrough, a plunger having a head mounted for sliding movement in each cavity and the outer end of each plunger projecting outwardly beyond a first surface of the turret, a series of bushings mounted on the first surface of the turret with each bushing having a bore disposed in alignment with the cavity and the outer end of each plunger being slidable within a bore, feeding means disposed adjacent the opposite surface of the turret for feeding a material into successive cavities as the turret rotates and forming the material into coherent masses, each plunger disposed to move outwardly within the respective cavity as the material is fed into the end of that cavity, means for ejecting the mass from each cavity, clamping means for removably clamping each bushing to said turret, and counterbalancing means for exerting a force against the first surface of the turret to counterbalance the force exerted by said feeding means on the opposite surface of said turret.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the axis of the turret is vertical and the first surface is an upper surface, said counterbalancing means comprises a counterbalancing member disposed in engagement with the upper surface of the turret and disposed in substantial vertical alignment with said feeding means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said counterbalancing member is a roller adapted to ride on the upper surface of the turret.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said counterbalancing means includes a bracket pivotally connected to the frame and said roller is journaled for rotation on said bracket.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 16, and including adjusting means for adjusting the vertical position of the roller with respect to the turret.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the upper surface of the turret is provided with a generally circular groove disposed between the peripheral edge of the turret and the path of rotation of said roller.
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) | 1975-01-10 | 1975-07-12 | 1976-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-10 | 1979-07-12 | 1980-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-10 | 1983-07-12 | 1984-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |