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:
Feb. 03, 2004
Filed:
Jul. 26, 2001
Charles Lee, Shipston-on-Stour, GB;
Matcon (R&D) Limited, Gloucestershire, GB;
Abstract
Material handling apparatus for gravity discharge of flowable particulate material through an outlet ( ) of a container ( ) (shown dashed) for such material which outlet ( ) is normally obturated by a hollow cone valve member ( ), the apparatus ( ) comprising actuator means ( ) having a flat surface ( ) and being adapted to engage the cone valve member ( ) adjacent the base ( ) thereof for raising and lowering same whereby to provide that the interior volume of the cone valve member ( ) remains substantially empty. In the embodiment, the apparatus ( ) is a component of a materials handling system in the form of a discharge station “D”, which is fixed for example in the floor of a facility for transferring flowable material from a (transportable) IBC ( ) to a process “P” such as mixing, blending, tableting the like which is below the discharge station D.