Pumps – Expansible chamber type – Mechanically actuated distributor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-18
2001-01-30
Thorpe, Timothy S. (Department: 3746)
Pumps
Expansible chamber type
Mechanically actuated distributor
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179587
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dispensing valve on dispensing pumps or to a combined dispensing pump valve for dispensing measured amounts of at least partially liquid material containing solid pieces, such as jam, yogurt or the like, into packaging containers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A dispensing valve of this type intended for the afore-mentioned use has been disclosed by German Patent No. 195 04 546. It is true, this prior art dispensing valve also operates like a so-called rotary slide valve (see, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 3,228,412), however, the operation is such that the cam closes the inlet port like a finger held on an opening, with the said cam being swiveled for opening purposes, thereby releasing a relatively large portion of the housing space. The material dispensed in measured amounts can readily flow, with no plugging risk, about the cam which is in the opening position. The actual dispense in measured amounts is effected by a correspondingly timed actuation of the dispensing valve and a dispensing pump arranged above the orifice of the feeding channel on the valve housing. The operation of the state-of-the-art dispensing valve is absolutely satisfactory regarding the requirement of preventing clogging of material of the aforementioned character and providing, within the housing, in the opening position thereof, a large space of passage.
However, the disadvantage involved resides in that two of such relatively expensive dispensing valves will have to be associated to each dispensing pump, one for the in-take process and one for the discharge operation. Apart from the effort involved therewith, the arrangement of two dispensing valves requiring two separate drives for each dispensing pump will require corresponding space in the area above the filling station of a packaging machine wherein cups can be molded in a web of packaging material, for example, in a timed and continuous way, that are then to be filled, through a dispensing valve, in the filling station of such a machine.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Proceeding from the dispensing valve of the aforementioned type, it is the object of the present invention—maintaining the advantages involved, including easy cleansing thereof—to so modify and improve a dispensing valve of the afore-described type, that one dispensing valve for the in-take and discharge processes for each dispensing pump will do, with the inlet and outlet ports of the dispensing valve, in addition, being able to be simultaneously closed, if so required.
Another object of the present invention is to arrange the inlet and outlet ports within the housing in a manner as room-saving as possible.
Finally, it is an object of the invention to provide favorable flow conditions in the valve cavity by a special configuration of the closing fit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has now been found that these and other objects and advantages can be obtained by a dispensing valve which—compared to the prior known dispensing valve according to German Patent No. 195 04 546—is characterized in that the two feeding and discharge channels are arranged within the housing substantially opposite an inlet and outlet port of the pump, while the ports of the feeding and discharge channels spaced by an intermediate bridge are arranged in the cylindrical fitting plane of the closing face of the cam, with the radius of the closing face of the cam being smaller than the radius of the cavity externally of the area of the cylindrical plane of arrangement of the two ports, and that the arc length of the closing face is so dimensioned that, with a corresponding position of the cam, at least the two ports are closed or the arc length, at best, extends from one or the other opening rim of the inlet and outlet ports of the pump to the respectively inner opening rim of one or the other port.
Apart from the fact that thanks to the configuration of the dispensing valve of the pump according to the invention, each dispensing pump respectively requires only one valve, the closing portion of which, in permanent operation, will have to perform only a very short oscillating movement between the ports of the feeding and discharge channels, the closing portion in view of the size of its closing face, can be simultaneously placed into the closing position for both ports involving only minimum space requirements for the closing face, with the maximum dimension possible being limited in that, during in-take and discharge, optimum conditions of flow through the flow paths toward the inlet and outlet ports in the housing and away therefrom can be secured.
Preferably, the two feeding and discharge channels are arranged in the vertical direction and in parallel in side-by-side relationship within the housing to obtain, if possible, only weakly bent flow paths in the valve from the in-take side toward the pump and from the pump toward the ejection port.
Finally, an advantageous embodiment yet to be described hereinafter, resides in that the flanks of the cam relative to the axis of oscillation are provided with a concave curvature.
As in the dispensing valve according to German Patent No. 195 04 546, also in the present instance the sharp edges of the closing portion provided in the prior art, for the purpose of chopping of coarser fruit pieces, can be employed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3228412 (1966-01-01), Peterson et al.
patent: 3266435 (1966-08-01), Smith
patent: 195 04 546 (1996-08-01), None
Collard & Roe P.C.
Gartenberg Ehud
Hassia Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH
Thorpe Timothy S.
LandOfFree
Dispensing valve mounted on dispensing pumps does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Dispensing valve mounted on dispensing pumps, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Dispensing valve mounted on dispensing pumps will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2512898