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:
Mar. 13, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 16, 1998
Ivan Semenenko, Moreton-in-Marsh, GB;
Matcon (R&D) Limited, Gloucestershire, GB;
Abstract
An apparatus for handling flowable material, particularly particulate material, which is held in a discharge container such as an IBC having an opening normally covered by a transport cap, comprises a device which is adapted to engage and remove the transport cap and a device to cover at least a rim of the cap during such removal. The problem of contamination is overcome using the apparatus which is in the form of an annular metal (in the embodiment) cowl which has two peripheral spaced apart upstanding walls, the inner wall rising from an internal base in the embodiment and from which also rises the engaging and removing device, which in the embodiment shown comprises a pneumatic piston and cylinder arrangement. The piston carries an extractor in the form of an annular disc or spider having a depending peripheral wall which carries an inflatable ring or tire. The external surface of the inner wall carries at its rim a lip seal which is mounted over an inflatable ring. The outer wall is higher than the inner wall, and carries an annular seal too, which extends over the lip seal.