US2056102A - Dispensing container - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 29, 1936. R HENDERSON 2,056,102

' DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed June 16, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Sept. 29, 1936 v R HENDERSON 2,056,102

' DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed June 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED. STATES,

PATENT .QFFICE} DISPENSING oou'mmnn Robert Henderson, Philadelphia, Pa. Application June 16.1936, Serial No. 85,572

10 Claims. (01121-144) This invention relates to dispensing containers; and has for an important object thereof the provision of a container capable of dispensing. bulk materials of widely varying. characteristics. Many materials of the same general. type and utilized; in. the same fashion varyin different species to such anextent as torequiredispensing containers having different sized openings as, for example, p powder and soap flakes, and itiis the: purpose of this invention toprovide. in asinglecontainer a structure such that either of these materials, or materials having the samegeneral characteristics, can be dispensedwith equal fa cility. 1

1 5' A more specific object of the invention the provision of a hopper-typecontainer having: con trolling gate mechanism of the pivotal type which 1 is so constructed that a variable sized dispensing opening may be provided.

20 A further object of the invention is the production of a structure of this character which may be readily and cheaply produced and will be durable and eflicient in service. 7

These and other objects I attain by the con- 2 struction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein, r I

. Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview of a dispensing con.- tainer constructed in accordance with my invention; g

30 Fig. 2 isa vertical sectional view therethrcugh showing the gate operated to provide a relatively small opening such as would be employed when using powdered soap;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing 35 the gate operated to provide a large opening;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 44 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a section on line G--6 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 7 is a section on line 1-1 of Fig. 3.

40 Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral Ill generally designates a casing having arranged therein a hopper H, and having at its lower end a suitable discharge mouth l2 spaced from the hopper. Extending 45 across the casing adjacent one side of the hopper mouth is a shaft [3 at present shown as having one end thereof mounted in a bracket l4, and the opposite end thereof extended through the opposite wall of the casing and provided with 50 a handle l5. Secured to the shaft is a gate l6 which is of a size such that it will close only a portion of the hopper mouth. A spring I! constantly tends to rotate the shaft in a direction maintaining this gate in its closed position, this 55 spring being at present shown as coiled about the shaft I 3 with one end' thereof engaged with bracket M and the opposite end thereof secured to gate l6. As a convenient method ofproviding the upper surface of this gate: with an agitator, the. extremity l 'la of the spring is bent at 5 right angles and extendedthrough the gate.

A. second gate Idisrotatably mounted upon the shaft and. is provided with. a sleeve-like extension |'9. having at its end a projecting lug 20. Abutting the end of. this. sleeve and surrounding 10'- shaft I3 is a wedge piece 2| which abuts a wedge cam 22 slida'bl'e against the adjacent sidewall of the casing and slotted for the passage of shaft I13 as at 23.. This wedge cam has an angular extension 24 projecting through a bayonet slot 25 formed in the casing wall above the handie: lever I 5. When this wedge cam is in its elevated position a flange 26 formed thereon isdisposed in the path of lug and prevents the sleeve, and accordingly the gate I18, from rotating. When, however, this cam is in its lowered position, this lug'clears the flange and the gate [8 may rotate.

I The sleeve, and? accordingly the wedge piece 21, are constantly urged-toward this: wedge cam bya'spring 21 surrounding the shaft [3'- between the gates, and it: will be obvious that movement of the wedge cam 221fromraised to lowered positioruor vice versa, will cause longitudinal movement. of the: sleeve and gate-1 8. Gate H3 at all times sl-ightly overlaps gate I 6, and When it is shifted to the left by depression of cam 22, the marginal edge thereof engages beneath the latch piece 28 secured to gate I6. It will be obvious that with the cam piece in the elevated position, rotation of shaft [3 will merely cause operation of gate [6, gate l8 being held in its elevated position by engagement of the lug 20 with flange 26. When the cam piece is depressed, the two gates are locked to one another and rotation of shaft i3 will cause both gates to be opened. Gate 18 is preferably provided with an agitator member 29, as illustrated.

Since the construction above described is capable of considerable modification without in any manner departing from'the spirit of my invention, I do not wish tobe understood as limiting myself thereto except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In combination with a hopper, a pair of pivoted gates each partially controlling the mouth of the hopper, means to independently open one of said gates, and means to connect the gates for simultaneous opening.

2. In combination with a hopper, a pair of 3. In combination with a hopper, a gate to partially close the hopper mouth, a rotatable shaft to which said gate is secured, means normally maintaining said shaft in a position wherethe gate partially closes the hopper mouth, a second gate for completing the closureo f the hopper mouth and rotatably mounted on said shaft, means to hold said gate against rotation and in a position to close the hopper mouth, and means to release the holding means and to connect said second gate to the first-named gate for rotation therewith.

4. In combination with a hopper, a pair of pivoted gates each partially controlling the mouth of the hopper, means to independently open one of said gates, means to hold the other gate closed during independent opening of the first-named gate, and means to connect the gates for simultaneous opening and .to release said holding means.

5. In combination with a hopper, a pair of gates controlling the mouth of the hopper and pivotal about a common axis, means to independently move one of the gates from closed to open position, the other of said gates being shiftable in the general direction of its axis to either of two selected positions, means connecting the gates for simultaneous movement when said shiftable gateis in one, of said positions, and means holding the shiftable gate against rotation about its pivot when said, shiftable gate is in the other of said positions- 6. In combination with a hopper, a pair of gates controlling the mouth of the hopper and pivotal about a common axis, means to independently move one of the gates from closed to open position, the other of said gates being shiftable in the general direction of its axis to either of two selected positions, means connecting the gates for simultaneous movement when said shiftable gate is in one of said positions, and means holding the shiftable gate against rotation about its pivot when said shiftable gate is in the other of said positions, adjacent edges of said gates being in permanently overlapped relation and one of said gates including a catch to engageover the edge of the other thereof when the shiftable gate is moved to the first-named position.

7. Incombination with a hopper, a gate to partially close the hopper mouth, a rotatable shaft to which said gate is secured, means normally maintaining said shaft in a position Where the gate partially closes the hopper mouth, a second gate for completing the closure of the hopper mouth and rotatably and longitudinally shiftable on said shaft, a latch operatively connecting said shiftable gate to the shaft when in one longitudinally adjusted position on the shaft and means to hold said gate against rotation and in a positionv to close the hopper mouth when in the secondposition on said shaft.

, 8. In combination with a hopper, a gate to partiallyclose the hopper mouth, a rotatable shaft to which said gate is secured, means normally maintaining said shaft in a position where the gate partially closes the hopper mouth, a second gate for completing the closure of the hopper mouth and rotatably and longitudinally shiftable on said shaft, a latch operatively connecting said shiftable gate to the shaft when in one longitudinally. adjusted position on the shaft, means to hold said gate against rotation and in a position to close the hopper mouth when in the second position on saidshaft, a spring urging said shiftable gate to the last-named position and a cam to move said shiftable gate to the first-named position against the action of said spring.

9. In combination with a hopper, a pair of gates each partially controlling the mouth of the hopper, means to independently open one of said gates, and means to connect the gates f0 simultaneous opening;

10.. In combination with a hopper, a pair of gates each partially controlling the mouth of the hopper, means to independently open one of said gates, means to hold the other gate closedduring independent opening of the first-named gate, and means to connect the gates for simultaneous opening and'to release said holding means.

7 ROBERT HENDERSON.

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