Reagent Chemical & Research, Inc.

Donald W Sonntag

James D Bonner

Michael L Shackelford

Brian Skeuse

Randy Jones

Jack L Johnson

An apparatus and method for transporting containers to be processed in a manufacturing operation includes a transfer assembly that transfers containers from a load area on an upstream conveyor assembly to a discharge on downstream conveyor assembly for further processing. The upstream conveyor assembly may include longitudinally extending first and second conveyors oriented at an angle to one another. The transfer assembly may include a rotating wheel that picks containers from a chute and moves them, one at a time, to the downstream conveyor assembly. The downstream conveyor assembly may be in the form of an elevator that has bays that are sized to receive individual containers. The bays are formed by vanes on a moving belt. The method includes steps inherent in the structure, including receiving a bulk supply of containers, moving them horizontally, columnizing them into a single file, elevating them and thereafter discharging them.

Container transport and organizing apparatus for use in manufacturing operations and method thereof

A transport assembly and method for containers includes an actuator arm coupled to the drive shaft of a motor and extending radially therefrom so as to be driven between two angular positions. A load arm carries a transport head that releasably engages a selected container at a first station. The load arm is coupled to the actuator arm and is driven in conjunction with a constraining mount that controls its motion. The transport head can grip the container such as with a vacuum. The transport head lifts the container from a first station, moves it to a desired location and places it in a second station. A cam-driven plunger assembly is also shown and operates to seat the container in the second station. The method includes steps performed by this structure, and the application of a seating force to mate a container in the second station.

Container transport apparatus for use in manufacturing operations and method thereof

A hold down assembly for use in a tubular container transport apparatus comprises upper and lower pieces movably mounted relative to one another. Preferably the lower piece is removably seated on a mounting plate of the transport apparatus and the upper piece is adapted to magnetically interact with a tube holder carrying a filled tube product, such that the tube holder may be retained in registered alignment relative to an ejector rod during ejection of the filled tube product. A tubular container transport apparatus and a methodology for ejecting a filled tube product with a reduced risk of dislodgement are also provided.

Hold down assembly, with tubular container transport apparatus and methodology incorporating the same

A positioning apparatus operates to advance and rotationally orient a container during packaging of a product and broadly comprises a conveyor, a rotor assembly mounted to the conveyor, a rotary drive means and orientation sensing means. The rotor assembly includes a holder adapted to receive a container in a supported state with the supported container being aligned along the rotor axis such that the container may be rotated thereabout. The rotary drive means operates to selectively engage the rotor assembly and the supported container for rotatably orienting the supported container with respect to the rotor axis. The orientation sensing means monitors rotational orientation of the supported container, and the conveyor operates to advance the rotor assembly and the supported container during the packaging of the product.

Positioning apparatus for containers during filling and packaging

An apparatus dispenses flowable material from a source and includes a dispensing nozzle that reciprocates along an axis. A metering assembly includes a metering cylinder, a metering element reciprocally movable in the interior of the metering cylinder and a switching valve to switch the metering assembly between a metering mode wherein material flows into the metering cylinder and thereby displaces the metering element and a discharge mode. A metering element drive moves the metering element into the metering cylinder during the discharge mode to displace material thereby to dispense material through dispensing nozzle. A lift bracket is mounted for common equidistant movement with the metering element, and the dispensing nozzle is interconnected to the lift bracket for equidistant movement in one direction.

Filling apparatus with traveling nozzle

A mixing apparatus dispenses a composite material blended from metered components, at least one of which may be a viscous material. The apparatus includes a blending assembly for blending the components into the composite material and for thereafter dispensing the composite material out of a dispensing nozzle. The apparatus also has metering assemblies which are in communication with a respective component and which are each switchable between a measuring mode and a discharge mode. A control system concurrently places the metering assemblies in the discharge mode, and an ejection assembly concurrently ejects the selected quantities of the components into the blending assembly and thereafter out of the dispensing nozzle. The blending assembly is disclosed to be a static or a dynamic, and, where a static system is used, a plurality of static elements are disposed in a serpentive flowpath. The metering assemblies may include metering cylinders that are mechanically linked or otherwise controlled to measure and dispense the components, and structure is provided to allow variation in the ratios and quantities of the components.

Mixing apparatus and method for forming a blended composite material

A dispensing valve assembly and system for viscous materials includes a dispensing valve including a valve casing with an interior chamber, a dispensing port and a longitudinal valve passageway. An inlet port intersects the valve passageay and connects to a source of material to be dispensed. A valve element is slidably received in the passageway and includes a drive shaft portion, an elongated piston head portion and a waisted portion. Seals are provided to seal against the piston head, and the valve element reciprocates over a cycle so that the waisted portion periodically interrupts the first seal allowing material to flow into the chamber and out of the dispensing port. As the valve element closes, a seal is again established to shut off material flow. Continued advancement retracts the piston head further from the chamber to create a negative pressure that draws back material from the dispensing portion to cause a clean cut off of flow. A metering port and a metering cylinder may be employed.

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Carl Junction, MO, United States of America

Donald W Sonntag