The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 25, 1992
Filed:
Jan. 25, 1991
Christopher R Pierce, Oakland, CA (US);
Richard W Dorr, Lockport, IL (US);
Beacon Enterprises, Inc., Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
An improved pumping device for delicate or easily damaged products is provided with a hopper, or other system for holding the products, and at least one, and preferably two, synchronized piston pumps positioned proximate to the bottom of the hopper. The piston pumps displace the product from the interior of the hopper into a consolidating feed manifold where the product is then dispensed through a discharge conduit into suitable receptacles. Each of the piston pumps preferably includes a pump cylinder with a fixed, elongated, cylindrical sleeve housing and an elongated rotatable cylindrical sleeve positioned within the sleeve housing, both enclosing a piston chamber. A first longitudinal opening or access port is formed in the fixed sleeve housing and a corresponding second longitudinal opening or access portion is formed in the rotatable sleeve. The rotatable sleeve is reversibly movable about the central axis of the piston chamber from a first, open position with the first and second access ports in register to a second, closed position with the access ports out of register. The edges of the sleeve access ports may be sharpened and angularly disposed to shear portions of product remaining within the hopper and to disperse those portions as the rotatable sleeves are moved. The device, in addition, may be provided with a agitator to disperse the product within the hopper and to urge product towards the piston pumps.