Did You Know...
...that Thomas Edison's patent application on his phonograph was approved by the Patent Office in just seven weeks? In contrast, it took Gordon Gould, the inventor of the laser, 30 years to obtain his patent -- finally awarded in 1988!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7954668 | Low and empty product detection using load cell and load cell bracket A system and method detect when a product container from which a product is dispensed is empty or nearly empty, and provides a notification of the product status. The system includes a load cell that deflects at a first rate of distance per unit load when a load les... | 06/07/2011 |
| 7896198 | Method and apparatus for mass based dispensing A dispenser (200) dispenses an amount of concentrate using a diluent to form a use solution. The dispenser (200) includes a housing (201) having a cavity. A product holder (210) is positioned to support the concentrate in the cavity of th... | 03/01/2011 |
| 7891523 | Method for mass based dispensing A method and apparatus for dispensing of a product based on weight as a load cell (22) which supports a structure holding the product (20a) to be dispensed. The weight of the product (20a) that is dispensed is determined by use of ... | 02/22/2011 |
| 7475793 | Bulk bag unloader with flow regulation A bulk bag unloader includes a frame, a bag support, a hopper beneath the bag support and an outlet chute beneath the hopper. The hopper and the outlet chute are mounted to the frame for movement substantially in unison relative to the frame. Two vibrators are mount... | 01/13/2009 |
| 7439455 | Measuring catalyst(s) for filling reactor tubes in reactor vessels A plurality of reactor tubes contained in a reactor vessel are filled with at least one catalyst by automatically measuring the catalyst by weight with equipment located at the site of the reactor vessel, and dispensing the measured catalyst into a plurality of reac... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7411136 | Multiple batch system and method for loading railcars of a wide range of capacities and designs Multiple-batch train loading systems and methods, for example for loading coal, which are capable of accommodating railcars of a wide range of capacities and designs. Each railcar is loaded with at least a relatively large initial weighed batch having a weight at le... | 08/12/2008 |
| 7410078 | Method and apparatus for administering micro-ingredient feed additives to animal feed rations A method and apparatus are provided for administering micro-ingredient feed additives to animal feed rations. The apparatus may be referred to as a system which includes a number of discrete components which cooperate together to ultimately deliver micro-ingredients... | 08/12/2008 |
| 7410623 | Method and apparatus for mass based dispensing A dispenser (200) dispenses an amount of concentrate in a container (204) using a diluent to form a use solution. A dispenser includes a housing (201). A product holder (210) is positioned to support the container (204) with the co... | 08/12/2008 |
| 7390119 | Method and apparatus for storing and delivering liquid color materials A container of liquid color material has a diaphragm liquid color pump located therewithin for providing liquid color from the container and non-drip apparatus for releaseably connecting the container with a blender for supply of liquid color thereto and methods for... | 06/24/2008 |
| 7368670 | Method for automatically feeding a combination weigher The invention is a method of automatically feeding and transporting food products from an in-feed device to a combination weigher, which automatically selects from a number of portions of known weight the optimum combination of portions to create a batch of fixed we... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7368671 | Vacuum conveying apparatus with a weighing or metering device A Vacuum conveying apparatus with a weighing and metering device, comprises a separation container (10), acted on by a vacuum, for intermittent intermediate storage of material conveyed in a suction gas flow, a force isolation means for entry of conveyed mate... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7357087 | Grain drill with accurate metering of the rate of planting of seed The present invention is an improved grain drill and a method retrofitting a previously manufactured grain drill to provide accurate weight determination of seed in a seed hopper of the grain drill. A grain drill in accordance with the invention includes a frame hav... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7356980 | Automated method for packaging food An automated food processing system and method is provided that allows food to be dispensed, fried and packaged in a suitable container, which may be an individual portion-sized container. In one embodiment, the system includes separate automated modules for dispens... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7347344 | Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of fluids and container for use in the same An apparatus for dispensing a plurality of fluids, comprises a plurality of pumps, having a connector for releasably connecting, to the respective pump, a container, which holds a fluid and comprises a connector-counterpart, and at least one actuator for releasing a... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7337594 | Food dispensing device and method An automated food processing system and method is provided that allows food to be dispensed, fried and packaged in a suitable container, which may be an individual portion-sized container. In one embodiment, the system includes separate automated modules for dispens... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7323643 | In-feed control and dispersion apparatus for fresh food This invention relates to an in-feed control and dispersion apparatus, in the field of fresh food product industry. The apparatus receives a product from an in-feed device and delivers it to one or more receiver units. The apparatus includes a first product dispersi... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7311223 | Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of powders and method of compounding substances An apparatus for dispensing a plurality of powders, such as colorants for paint, caulking or grout or components of cosmetics, comprising a plurality of containers for holding the powders, a plurality of metering powder pumps, connected to a container or having a co... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7310923 | Timing gates for a packaging machine A chute assembly to be positioned between a weigher and a former of a packaging machine. The chute assembly includes a timing gate device including a plurality of timing gates that regulates the delivery of batches of product from the weigher to the former. The gate... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7312408 | Granular material weighing hoppers containing pinch values or flipping-type hoppers Each of a plurality of scale units 10 that constitute a combination weigher is provided with a cut gate 11 attached to a lower portion of a powdery- or granular-material hopper 12, a feeding hopper 13 for temporarily retaining a powdery o... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7303776 | Automated food processing system and method An automated food processing system and method that allows food to be dispensed, fried and packaged in a suitable container, such as an individual portion-sized container. The system includes separate automated modules for dispensing, frying and packaging the food. ... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7301110 | Arrangement for conveying controlled portions of a product material to a weighing system An arrangement for conveying product material to a weighing system includes an infeed for product material to be weighed and at least one dosing mechanism for controlled conveyor of product material portions from the infeed to a weighing system. The dosing mechanism... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7282651 | Method and apparatus for weighing fragile items A system for weighing items sequentially delivered by a feeder subsystem in order to discharge batches of items having a desired target weight; and more particularly to a method and apparatus particularly configured to handle fragile items, e.g. strawberries, cherri... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7278551 | Dosing hopper A dosing hopper for producing wood material panels has a feed device (2) that distributes the supplied material flow of glued wood particles continuously over the width of the hopper (1). The dosing hopper supplies elongated flat wood strands for produ... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7273017 | Grain drill with accurate metering of the rate of planting of seed The present invention is an improved grain drill and a method retrofitting a previously manufactured grain drill to provide accurate weight determination of seed in a seed hopper of the grain drill. A grain drill in accordance with the invention includes a frame hav... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7270249 | Pneumatic metering apparatus for flowable solids product Apparatus for pneumatically metering flowable solids products to a conveying air stream without using mechanical metering devices. The apparatus includes an eductor receiving product from a hopper and connected to an air supply that is automatically adjustable in re... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7240807 | Method and apparatus for administering micro-ingredient feed additives to animal feed rations A method and apparatus are provided for administering micro-ingredient feed additives to animal feed rations. The apparatus may be referred to as a system which includes a number of discrete components which cooperate together to ultimately deliver micro-ingredients... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7234346 | System and method for detecting and displaying an amount of chemical in a cylinder or vessel A system and method for detecting and displaying the amount of chemical in a vessel. The system includes a vessel with a variable quantity of gas supported upon a moveable platform. A hydraulic load cell is positioned under the platform, and generates a hydraulic pr... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7228990 | Unitized fibrous construct dispensing system The present invention is directed to a method and system for transporting and dispensing fibers into an aggregate mix, and more specifically, to a method and system for transporting and dispensing unitized fibrous constructs into a mix without affecting the structur... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7222750 | Transfer and dosing device of pulverulent or granular material contained in a hopper A dosing device of a pulverulent material uses an oscillating drive mechanism with straight to-and-fro movement to extract and dose a pulverulent material contained in a hopper with a calibrated outlet aperture, and then to transfer the extracted mass to a removal p... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7211745 | Precision harvesting and analysis techniques for crops A method for weighing a crop is disclosed. The method includes (a) loading a crop into a container using a crop transport apparatus, (b) temporarily stopping the crop transport apparatus from loading the crop into the container, (c) weighing the crop using the conta... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7201290 | Method and apparatus for mass based dispensing A method and apparatus for dispensing of a product based on weight as a load cell (22) which supports a structure holding the product (20a) to be dispensed. The weight of the product (20a) that is dispensed is determined by use of ... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7191919 | Weight-loss weigh feeder with pressure compensation A system is disclosed that minimizes the effect of internal pressure upon weight-loss weighing systems. The system can include a flexible gas purge line that pressurizes the system as well as a pressure compensator that negates the adverse effects of internal pressu... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7175048 | Method and device for gravimetric dosing bulk material In order to increase the dosing accuracy of a dosing device, the bulk material is temporarily stored upstream from a reservoir (1) in an intermediate storage container (6) and is transferred only when a compensating pressure value is reached. The inven... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7134573 | Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of powders and method of compounding substances An apparatus for dispensing a plurality of powders or flowable materials, such as colorants for paint, caulking or grout or components of cosmetics, comprising a plurality of containers for holding the powders or flowable materials, a plurality of metering pumps, co... | 11/14/2006 |
| 7104291 | Automated ice bagging apparatus and methods An automatic ice vending apparatus including a holding vessel capable of storing a plurality of ice pieces to provide a constant supply of ice over an indeterminate period of time and an ice transferring device designed to transport a portion of the ice pieces throu... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7082645 | Fiber blending apparatus and method The invention is directed to method and apparatus for blending fibers. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises blending apparatus for blending fibers of different materials, at least one of which is absorbent, and for conveying the blended fibers to a fiber collectio... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7075018 | Mixing fibrous constituents A method and device for mixing and weighing fibrous material in a weighing cycle includes removing the fibrous material from fiber bales and transporting the fiber material with a feed device into a weighing container. The weighing container is proceeded by a pre-fi... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7075019 | Measuring and dispensing system for solid dry flowable materials An apparatus for measuring and dispensing solid dry flowable materials, comprising a supply container (10), a reserve hopper (18), a means for connecting said supply container (10) to said reserve hopper (18), a means for weighing said re... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7059258 | Grain drill with accurate metering of the rate of planting seed The present invention is an improved grain drill and a method retrofitting a previously manufactured grain drill to provide accurate weight determination of seed in a seed hopper of the grain drill. A grain drill in accordance with the invention includes a frame hav... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7057118 | Method and an apparatus for weighing portions The present invention provides an automatic method and apparatus for weighing into portions. Feeding of single units is performed by separating the feeding channels for rough feeding and fine feeding so that the feeding up to the weighing station is separated. When ... | 06/06/2006 |
