Dispensing – Sectional flow controller or closure – Interconnected for relative motion
Patent
1996-10-17
1998-09-15
Kashnikow, Andres
Dispensing
Sectional flow controller or closure
Interconnected for relative motion
222450, 222557, 251212, 13762413, G01F 1128
Patent
active
058067256
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a dispensing machine and in particular but not exclusively to a dispensing machine for use in the sorting and packaging of products such as small articles of confectionery.
In the collation of products such as confectionery a standard weight of the product is produced by selecting from a series of batches of different weights and discharging the batches down a common chute. This discharge can be irregular.
Conventionally, the product is discharged down a chute into an empty package and to enable the filled package to be removed from that position and replaced by another empty package at the same time as the product is being discharged from the weighing machine down the chute, such a machine is provided with a gate at the bottom of the chute just before the product enters the package. It is known to use a gate in the form of two flaps which are hinged to the chute so as to swing down to open.
This sort of dispensing machine has a finite maximum operating speed. To make a dispensing machine more economic it is important to increase its operating speed.
The conventional machine is provided with a tapered chute and in combination with the gradual opening of the flaps to release the product contained in the chute, the product is released with a pouring action which takes up some time in an operating cycle.
The present invention seeks to overcome all of the above-mentioned disadvantages by providing a dispensing machine with an increased operating rate and a closing means which enables the product in a passageway to exit in a discrete unitary drop, entering the package in one movement.
According to the present invention there is provided a dispensing machine comprising a passageway for product having an upper inlet for receiving product and a lower outlet for dispensing product, said outlet being provided with a closing means which serves to retain the product within the passageway, said closing means having at least two blades pivotally mounted for movement in a substantially horizontal plane between a closed position in which the blades engage one another generally centrally of the passageway and an open position in which the blades are separated to allow product to drop out of the outlet, movement of the blades being controlled by a common actuator, the blades being interconnected so that they are driven in unison between open and closed positions, characterised in that the actuator is a rotary actuator coupled to the blades so that their motion approximates to simple harmonic motion. Movement of the blades may be controlled by a common drive crank with links connecting the blades to the common drive crank.
The passageway is preferably provided with parallel sides which are substantially perpendicular to the closing means. This passageway may be a cylinder or alternatively any other suitable shape that provides a suitable passageway and enables the product to fall discretely into a suitable package.
A further alternative is for the passageway to be provided with sides which diverge downwardly towards the closing means. Such divergence avoids interference of the sides of the passageway with the flow of product from the machine to the package.
The closing means is preferably provided with three blades which in a closed position abut one another along their respective edges and meet at a generally central position. Alternatively the blades may overlap one another. The meeting of the blades at a central position allows the product in the passageway to be dropped into a package in the form of a discrete unitary drop. Alternatively the closing means may be provided with more than three blades which overlap as they close and meet at a central position.
The movement of the blades may be operated by a series of actuator arms, cranks and rotary actuators. The movement of the blades from a repeated open to a closed position approximates to Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM). The smooth and steady acceleration and deceleration inherent in SHM allow a fast operation without great inertia loads. The hig
REFERENCES:
patent: 898689 (1908-09-01), Sawyer
patent: 1032190 (1912-07-01), Crosby
patent: 4703874 (1987-11-01), Tapperman et al.
Deal David
Ishida Co. Ltd.
Kashnikow Andres
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