Fmc Corporation

Other

Emc Corporation

Joost Veltman

Andrew Carl Prins

Scott R Cavanaugh

Michael D Dickens

Richard W Ripley

Ram L Malik

Rey A Elizondo

Stanley A Groom

Westley W Walter

Tracy Stavig

Terry L Heyliger

A safety sensor mechanism ( ) for a rotary sterilizer ( ) including a slider plate ( ) positioned in the revolving path of cans ( ) and movable away from a discharge opening ( ) of the sterilizer. The safety mechanism includes slider bars ( ) and tubular housings ( ) with coil springs ( ) for creating a spring-loaded slider plate that yields if engaged by a misaligned can that does not proper eject from the sterilizer.

Ejector discharge safety chute

A transfer valve assembly (,) for use as a feed valve or a discharge valve includes a series of open-faced pockets (,) biased by leaf springs (,) off of a central hub (,) and an arcuate saddle piece (,) mounted at an opening (,) of a sterilizer vessel (,) for transferring containers from an infeed conveyor (,) onto an interior reel (,). The engagement of open-faced pockets (,) with saddle (,) creates a seal to prevent the escape of steam, but gaps are provided between pockets (,) which allow for a controlled escape of steam in a manner that allows the pressure within the sterilizer vessel to be maintained at a slightly elevated level.

Atmospheric rotary feed and discharge turret valve and method

A servo driven peach pitter mechanism with a servo motor (,) for a gripper mechanism head assembly (,) and a servo motor (,) for a selective knife (,), to achieve unlimited control flexibility in rotation of gripper mechanisms (,) and selective knife (,). Servo motor (,) controls rotation of a tubular housing (,) of the head assembly (,), which in turn rotates the gripper mechanism (,). Servo motor (,) includes a 90 degree gear box (,) which connects with a spindle (,) that carries the selective knife (,).

Method and apparatus for pitting peaches

Clutch mechanism for use in an automatic feed system includes a lockout device that prevents re-engagement of a disengaged clutch mechanism until such time as reset of the clutch is accomplished. When the clutch is first disengaged a mechanical flag cooperates with a specially configured shaft to prevent shaft rotation until such time when the flag has been urged out of blocking contact with the shaft.

Automatic feed clutch release

The invention provides a rotary processor which uses a linear motion detector to measure the deflection of the rotary processor as the rotary processor is heated.

Continuous vessel deflection monitor device

The invention provides a rotary processor, which uses magnetic fields to increase the heating or cooling of containers. The invention provides the magnetic fields along the sides of the rotary processor before or after the containers are rotated under the force of friction due to gravity. The magnetic field increase the number of transition phases of rotation, by creating a force of friction caused by the magnets which will rotate the containers and then removing the magnetic fields so that the containers stop rotating.

Extended agitation rotary sterilizer

The invention provides a rotary processor which uses a linear motion detector to measure the deflection of the rotary processor as the rotary processor is heated. The linear motion detector measures the deflection of the rotary processor to prevent damage caused by excessive vessel deflection. The linear motion detector is placed to measure deflection near the center of a rotary processor.

The invention provides a transfer valve for a sterilizer/cooker, which is almost lubeless or is lubeless. Packing strips and packing rings are provided, which are made of high temperature thermo plastics compounded with internal lubricants, such as Teflon or silicon, and graphite.

Sterilizer with reduced surface contamination

The invention provides a rotary processor, which uses T-shaped spiral rails of Nitronic-30 to provide wear resistant rails for processing tin free steel containers.

Spiral tee for tin free steel containers

The invention provides a method and apparatus for managing retort over-pressure during pressure cooling. The invention allows the specification of an initial cooling temperature and a final cooling temperature and a final cooling pressure. Using these values the invention provides a pressure ramping to manage retort over-pressure.

Apparatus for managing retort over-pressure during pressure cooling

The invention provides a transfer valve for a sterilizer/cooker, which is almost lubeless, or is lubeless. Packing strips and packing rings are provided, which are made of high temperature thermo plastics compounded with internal lubricants, such as Teflon or silicon, and graphite.

The invention provides a rotary cooler with three regions. The regions are separated by baffles with holes, which provide a slowed laminar air flow. Each region has its own recirculation system.

Rotary cooling vessel with baffle with holes

Method for managing retort over-pressure during pressure cooling

A steritort with a single spiral which allows the automatic loading of several rows of containers, the simulation of a rotary retort, and an indexed unloading of the containers by a push rod.

Single spiral rotary batch retort

A cartridge-carrier is disclosed for maintaining at least one filled and sealed, plastic container within at least two segments which are joined together to define a tubular cartridge having at least one container supporting plate therein for receiving a body of said at least one sealed container and thereafter closing at least the two segments for encompassing at least one container within a tubular cartridge which is then moved into a cylindrical carrier that enables the containers to be processed within a reel and spiral sterilization system.

Growing community of inventors

Aptos, CA, United States of America

Joost Veltman