Buck Werke Gmbh & Co.

Gei Gmbh

Martin Koch

Gerhard Grau

Gunter Untch

In order to promote a gravity flow of bulk goods through a discharge opening of a container, a vibratable body is arranged to project into the container through the discharge opening and is vibrated. The vibratable body is sandwiched between a tubular flexible piece and a tubular connecting flange which together define a passage aligned with the discharge opening. A vibrator vibrates the connecting flange, and the vibrations are transmitted therefrom to the vibratable body. Vibration of the vibratable body is permitted by the flexibility of the flexible piece.

Apparatus for assisting the discharge of slow-flowing bulk goods from

A proportioning mechanism for controlling a gravitational discharge of flowable material through a passage formed of a sealing material. The mechanism includes a rotatable flap valve mounted in the passage for movement in a first range of movement while in contact with the sealing material, and a second range of movement while out of contact with the sealing material. In the second range, a free flow of material is established. The free flow is terminated when only a small amount of material is yet to be discharged in order to achieve the desired discharge weight. At that time, the flap valve is rotated to a position in contact with a flexible portion of the sealing material. Fluid pressure in a cavity situated adjacent that flexible portion is varied to oscillate the flexible portion into and out of contact with the flap valve. When the flexible portion is out of contact with the flap valve, a gap is formed which admits passage of a small amount of material.

Methods and apparatus for controlling flow of material past a flap valve

A device for coupling two containers comprising connecting branches having essentially circular cross section, with each of the connecting branches having a closing member at one end, which is essentially circular in cross section, for closing the end facing away from the container. When the two connecting branches are brought together, the two closing members are combined into a single member moved by a single actuator so that no clearance is required in each of the branches between the ends of the branch and the member. Each of the branches has annular edge seals, which, in an uncompressed condition, engage a circumferential edge of each of the closing members and are compressed when engaged with the edge seal of the adjacent branch member to release the respective closing member. The edge seals coact to form a butt chamber and one of the branch connections has a circumferential sealing sleeve into which the other of the branch connections is inserted in a sealing fashion when forming a connection between the two branch connections.

Device for coupling containers

A device for coupling two containers comprises a pair of connecting sleeves, each having closing flaps that can be moved from a closed position to an open position by a part-turn actuator, with the outer surfaces of each closing flap facing away from the container lying flush with the outer surface of the relevant connecting sleeve in the closed position and the closing flaps are each seated in an essentially circular seal. To prevent the accidental opening of the closing flaps, each of the connecting sleeves is provided with a radially-movable pin in the wall adjacent the seal, which pin can be pushed radially inward to produce a bulge in the seal which will hold the respective closing flap in its closed position and which pin can be radially moved outward to release the flap.

A device for coupling two containers comprises connecting branches having essentially circular cross section with each of the connecting branches having a closing member at one end which is essentially circular in cross section for closing the end facing away from the container. When the two connecting branches are brought together, the two closing members are combined into a single member moved by a single actuator so that no clearance is required in each of the branches between the end of the branch and the member. Thus, problems with dirt and atmospheric impurities in a space between the closing member and the end of the connecting member are greatly reduced to prevent contamination of the contents of the container.

Growing community of inventors

Neuenburg/Baden, Germany

Martin Koch