TWI788753B - Temporary storage method for granular resin material - Google Patents

Abstract

A receiver having a horizontally elongated chamber within a housing, the chamber having a convex triangular cross-section and a dump flap defining a bottom vertex of the triangular cross-section, with a horizontal air/vacuum resin material inlet connecting to the chamber, and a horizontal air/vacuum outlet leading from and connected to the chamber.

Description

Temporary storage method of granular resin materials Cross-reference to related patent applications

This application is a continuation-in-part of US Patent Application Serial No. 29/550,569, filed January 5, 2016, by Stephen B. Maguire, entitled "Low Profile Receiver"; priority is claimed under 35 USC 120.

The present invention relates to a receiver, and in particular a low profile receiver.

The terms "air/vacuum", "vacuum/air" and "air/vacuum flow" etc. are used synonymously and interchangeably herein to denote air drawn by a vacuum pump at sub-atmospheric pressure The moving airflow of the air below. This moving "air/vacuum" stream is commonly used to deliver granular plastic resin material in equipment where the granular plastic resin is molded or extruded into finished or semi-finished plastic glue parts.

"Receiver" is a term used in the plastics industry to denote a device in which granular plastic resin material is loaded into a hopper for subsequent processing by compression, or injection molding press, Or extruder processing, temporarily hold granular plastic resin material. As used herein, the term "processing machine" means a general term for such compression molding machines, injection molding machines, and extrusion machines.

The receiver typically includes a vacuum chamber that is effective to draw the granular plastic resin material into the receiver by the vacuum that exists in the vacuum chamber. A vacuum pump is connected to the receiver to create the vacuum required in the vacuum chamber to draw the granular plastic material into the receiver. This facilitates moving the granular plastic resin material from a remote location to a hopper to be fed by the receiver, and the hopper is typically positioned on the processing machine. The receiver and vacuum pump are usually part of a larger resin transfer system that transfers granular plastic resin from the supply source to the receiver.

The receiver may be positioned on a surge bin, or on a temporary storage unit other than a hopper.

The receiver is loaded periodically. Specifically, as one operation cycle, the receiver is loaded with granular plastic resin material, and then the granular plastic resin material is poured. Accordingly, the receiver requires some sort of collection bin or surge hopper below the receiver to receive the granular plastic resin material as it is being fed into the processing machine.

Generally, the vacuum source is remote, ie it is not integrated into the receiver itself. The simplest, basic form of a receiver is A simple chamber that has a vacuum line connected to the chamber to create a vacuum inside the chamber by pulling air out of the chamber. The vacuum then draws the granular plastic resin material into the chamber portion of the receiver. The receptacle thus has a material line connected thereto for the flow of granular plastic resin material into it, or, more precisely, for the granular plastic resin material to be drawn into it by means of a vacuum. The receptacle typically has a valve or gate at the bottom of the receptacle to allow granular plastic resin material to flow from the bottom of the receptacle when the vacuum is broken or removed, or when the valve or gate is otherwise opened electrically or pneumatically. fall out. Since the receiver has a storage area which has a relatively large volume and cross-sectional area compared to the conduit through which the air/vacuum and granular material mixture travels, the moving air/volume airflow when the mixture reaches the storage area of the receiver speed drops. The kinetic energy of the airflow is no longer sufficient to carry the granular resin, so the resin falls to the bottom of the receiver.

All known receivers share these features.

An important feature of the low profile receiver of the present invention is that it provides a very low profile receiver when installed. Processing machines typically have several auxiliary items mounted above the throat of the processing machine. These items may include magnetic gates; additional feeders; simple material hoppers; large drying hoppers; gravity mixers; and other devices. A receiver is typically mounted above this collection of equipment. Such upwardly stacked items may conflict with height limits or restrictions, for example, ceilings or mezzanines in plastics processing equipment. Access to receivers for services may also be a problem. With the height too high security issues.

In a low profile receiver according to the present invention, the receiver adds only 7 inches of height in one configuration. This is compared to existing receiver designs which require 15 to 25 inches of increased height due to their configuration.

The low profile receiver of the present invention includes a filter blow off which effectively cleans the entire filter. This cleaning is so effective that it virtually eliminates the periodic filter cleaning required by conventional filter blow-off designs in known receivers.

True full range cloth filters always clog when used in conventional receivers, and therefore conventional receivers most often use only metal screens as filters. The metal screen blocks particles of granular resin material but does not block or capture dust and fines. The passage of dust and fines requires an additional filter at the vacuum pump to capture the dust and fines that would otherwise damage the vacuum pump.

The low profile receiver of the present invention includes a full cloth filter that traps dust and fines; the full cloth filter is easy to clean on each cycle with filter blow-off.

In one of its aspects, the invention provides a receptacle having a horizontally elongated body with an internal chamber. An inlet conduit of horizontal granular plastic material communicates with the interior chamber of the elongated body. A horizontal vacuum outlet conduit is connected to the elongated body. A removable dust and material fines (preferably cloth) filter is positioned between the inlet and outlet ducts, and where dust and material fines can enter the vacuum outlet leading to the vacuum pump. Dust and material fines are collected before the mouth duct. By capturing dust and material fines with a cloth filter, no filter is required at the vacuum pump.

The receiver also includes blower means for directing air blasts to the filter to clean it of residual dust and material fines. The outlet dump flap extends the longitudinal length of the lower end of the longitudinally elongated body of the receptacle in which the granular resin material is stored. The outlet dump flap is movable between an open position in which granular plastic material in the body is free to flow downwardly out of the body and a closed position in which the dump flap defines a The bottom part of the chamber. With the dump gate extending the horizontal longitudinal length of the body, the body empties substantially instantaneously when the dump gate is moved to the open position. Consequently, the receiver empties much faster than known receivers.

The receiver body is preferably wider than its height and preferably has a generally convex triangular cross-section.

In another of its aspects, the present invention provides a method for temporary storage of granular resinous material before processing the granular resinous material into a finished or semi-finished product by molding or extrusion. The method includes feeding a stream of air/vacuum with granular resin material under vacuum into the chamber along a first horizontal direction. The method works by reducing the velocity of the air/vacuum flow in the chamber so that the granular material entrained in the flow falls to the bottom of the chamber. The method is performed by passing a gas flow through the filter in a second horizontal direction and releasing the gas flow from the chamber in a first horizontal direction. In response to the weight of the material, a flap defining the bottom of the chamber swings to an open position, allowing the granular material to fall from the chamber.

In its other inward aspect, the invention provides a receptacle having a longitudinally elongated body with an interior chamber extending the length of the body. A horizontal conduit is provided to serve as an inlet for the air/vacuum flow carrying the granular resin material and communicates with the interior chamber of the elongated body. A horizontal air/vacuum outlet conduit is connected to the interior chamber of the elongated body. The dump flap extends horizontally along the lower end of the interior chamber and is movable between an open position and a closed position in which granular plastic material in the chamber is free to flow downwardly out of the chamber , in the closed position, the baffle defines the bottom of the chamber.

In this aspect of the invention, the receptacle has a dump baffle extending the horizontal length of the interior of the chamber, and further includes a dust and material fines filter between the inlet and outlet conduits for the dust and material The fines collect dust and material fines before entering the vacuum outlet duct, and also include blower means to direct air flushing to the filter to clean the filter of remaining dust and material fines. The dump flap is rotatably movable between an open position and a closed position; the body of the receiver is wider than its height; when the chamber is empty, the dump flap swings to the closed position under the influence of gravity ; the filter is a cloth filter; the inlet for the granular plastic material is in a surface extending vertically laterally on the side of the receiver.

In yet another part of this aspect of the invention, the outlet for the air/vacuum flow is in a lateral surface of the receptacle; the body of the receptacle has a convex triangular cross-section; the chamber has at least one convex wall; the chamber is longer than its height, and the chamber is longer than its width.

In still another of its aspects, the invention provides a A method for temporary storage of granular resin material before processing the granular resin material into a finished or semi-finished product by molding or extrusion, wherein the method comprises bringing the granular resin material with it under vacuum Air/vacuum flow is fed horizontally into the chamber. The method proceeds by reducing the velocity of the gas flow in the chamber so that the granular material entrained in the gas flow falls to the bottom of the chamber. The method then continues to draw gas flow from the chamber, thereby maintaining a vacuum in the chamber. The method can be concluded by releasing the vacuum from the chamber. Due to the weight of the granular material resting in the bottom of the chamber, the baffle defining the bottom of the chamber swings into an open position, allowing the granular material residing on the baffle to fall from the chamber. In this aspect of the invention, the air/vacuum flow is preferably passed through a cloth filter. More preferably, passing the air flow through the cloth filter is performed before releasing the vacuum from the chamber. Also preferably, the air flow passes through the cloth filter perpendicular to the air flow horizontally.

In yet another of its inwardly facing aspects, the invention provides a receptacle having a horizontally elongated chamber, wherein the chamber has a convex triangular cross-section. The chamber includes a dump baffle defining a bottom apex of the triangular cross-section. A horizontal air/vacuum resin material mixture inlet is connected to the chamber, and a horizontal air/vacuum outlet is directed from and connected to the chamber. The modular control is removable from the body in which a cavity resides and a manually actuatable clamp releasably holds the control section in engagement with the body.

In yet another of its inwardly facing aspects, the invention provides a receptacle having a longitudinally elongated body with an interior chamber extending the length of the body. A horizontal conduit serving as an inlet for air/vacuum flow with granular resin material communicates with the interior chamber of the elongated body. level An air/vacuum outlet conduit is connected to the interior chamber of the elongated body. A dust and material fines filter between the inlet duct and the outlet duct is provided to collect dust and material fines and is positioned for filtering the airflow before entering the vacuum outlet duct. The receiver also includes blower means for directing a blast of air to the filter in a direction opposite to the direction of vacuum/air flow as the air flows through the filter to clean the filter of remaining dust and material fines and dump A dump baffle extends horizontally along the lower end of the interior chamber, wherein the dump baffle is movable between an open position and a closed position in which granular plastic material in the chamber is free to move toward the Downflow out of the chamber, in the closed position, the baffle defines the bottom of the chamber.

In a preferred embodiment of the receiver the dump flap is pivotable between a closed position and an open position. The outlet dump flap is counterweighted to swing under gravity to a closed position, and remains closed in response to the vacuum being drawn in the receiver, allowing the receiver to fill. Once the vacuum drawn into the body of the receptacle (where the granular resin material transferred into the receptacle by the air/vacuum flow collects) is closed, there is no longer any need to hold the receptacle dump flap in place. Internal vacuum force in closed position. The weight of the granular resinous material on the dump flap causes the dump flap to move to the open position, and the granular resinous material falls downwards out of the receptacle due to gravity.

10: Receiver

12: Inlet conduit

14: Piston cylinder (air cylinder)

16: dump baffle

16A: End part (triangular part)

16B: Triangular part

16C: Longitudinal extension

16D: Main longitudinal extension

16E: Secondary longitudinal extension

17: Control Department

18: Control shell

20: Ontology

22: filter

24: Latch (fixture, lock)

28: Outlet conduit

30: The first end plate (front end plate)

32: First Bottom Flange

32A: ear piece (lip part)

34:Second Bottom Flange

34A: ear piece

36: side

36L: side

36R: side

38: Unloading chute (chute, outlet chute)

42: Shell top

46: The first middle plate

48: Second middle plate

50: Front plate (front housing plate)

52: rear plate

54: discharge flange

60: Blowback device (blowing device)

68: pin

74: Horizontal blowback support plate at the inlet end

76: Horizontal support plate at the outlet end

78: Vertex

80:Horizontal support plate

82: Mounting flange (front mounting flange)

84: rear mounting flange

86: Filter opening

88:Accessories

90: Rear end plate

102: Open interior

104: spacer

106: cotter pin

108: Disc

110: First inner compartment (first compartment)

112: second inner compartment (second compartment)

A: Arrow

B: Arrow

C: Arrow

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a low profile receiver according to the present invention, with the top, left side and left end of the receiver visible.

Figure 2 is the left or front front side of the receiver shown in Figure 1 view with the receiver dump flap in the open position. Section lines 8-8 and 9-9 in FIG. 2 indicate where the cross-sectional views presented in FIGS. 8 and 9 herein are taken.

Figure 3 is a front view of the right or rear end of the receiver depicted in Figures 1 and 2 with the receiver dump flap in an open position.

Figure 4 is a right side view of the receiver shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 with the receiver dump flap in an open position.

Figure 5 is a front view of the left side of the receiver depicted in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 with the receiver dump flap in an open position.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the receiver shown in FIGS. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 and 5 .

Figure 7 is a view of the bottom of the receptacle depicted in Figures 1-6 with the dump flap in an open position for discharging granular resin material.

8 is a cross-sectional view of the receiver shown in FIGS. 1-7 taken along line and arrow 8-8 in FIG. 2, wherein the dump flap has been shown in an open position.

9 is a cross-sectional view of the receiver shown in FIGS. 1-8 taken along line and arrow 9-9 in FIG. 2, wherein the dump flap is shown in the closed position.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the receiver shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 , showing the modular structure of the receiver.

Figure 11 is an exploded isometric view of the receiver depicted in Figures 1-10 showing details of receiver components.

Figure 12 is a specific example of the receiver shown in Figures 1 to 11 An exploded isometric view of the components, with lines and arrows provided to illustrate the flow of conveyed vacuum/air flow and conveyed granular resin material through the receiver.

Figure 13 is a sectional end view of the lower portion of the left end of the receiver depicted in Figures 1-12, depicting the discharge chute and left triangular portion of the dump gate with the dump gate in the open position .

14 is a sectional end view of the lower portion of the receiver depicted in FIGS. 1-13 depicting the dump chute and left triangular portion of the dump apron with the dump apron in the closed position.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1 , a receiver according to the invention is generally designated 10 . The inlet conduit 12 receives a moving air/vacuum flow with granular resin material for temporary storage of the granular resin material in the receptacle 10 . The inlet conduit 12 is mounted in a vertically oriented first end plate 30 . Also mounted in the first end plate 30 is an air actuated piston cylinder combination 14 which controls air/vacuum flow through the receiver 10 in an on-off manner as explained below.

The control unit 17 of the receiver 10 is maintained in a control unit housing 18 , wherein the control unit housing 18 is depicted in FIG. 1 . The receptacle 10 also includes a body (or housing) 20 serving as a granular material storage container or chamber for temporarily storing granular resin material therein. Control enclosure 18 and components therein are secured to body 20 via clip-on latches 24 , two of which are visible in FIG. 1 . These clip-on latches facilitate The quick disassembly of the receiver 10 allows the control 17 in the control housing 18 to be quickly removed from the rest of the receiver 10 for adjustment, repair, filter replacement, etc.

The receiver 10 also includes an outlet conduit 28 through which the air/vacuum flow is drawn through the receiver 10 by means of a vacuum pump, not shown in the drawings. In Figure 1, the inlet end horizontal blowback support plate 74 is visible, extending out from below the control section 17, which is not visible or numbered in Figure 1, but is shown in other figures and assign a label.

As shown in FIG. 1 and particularly preferably shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , body 20 has convexly curved sides 36 , and these sides are designated 36L and 36R for the left and right sides, respectively. (As used herein, the word "left" refers to the portion of the receiver's lateral surface that is visible in FIG. 1 and is to the right of the user in FIGS. 2 and 3.) Still referring primarily to FIG. 2 and Referring also in part to FIG. 3 , at the bottom of side 36 , extending from and secured to sides 36L and 36R are a first bottom flange 32 and a second bottom flange 34 , wherein first bottom flange 32 It is longer than the second bottom flange 34 in the vertical direction. The second bottom flange 34 is generally hidden by the end portion 16A of the dump apron (or bottom apron) 16 in FIG. 2 .

Still referring primarily to FIG. 2 , the dump apron 16 is mounted for pivotal movement relative to a granular resin material discharge chute 38 defined by a first bottom flange 32 and a second bottom flange. The portion of the edge 34 extending vertically downward is formed, and the granular resin material discharge chute 38 runs the longitudinal length of the body 20 of the receiver 10 (in the drawing, the first bottom convex The vertically downwardly extending portions of the rim 32 and the second bottom flange 34 are not independently numbered). First bottom flange 32 and second bottom flange 34 have tabs designated 32a and 34a that extend perpendicular to housing side 36 and facilitate manufacture, maintenance and operation of receiver 10

The left and right sides 36 of the body 20 are designated 36L and 36R for the left and right sides of the receiver 10 , where the left side of the receiver 10 is the side visible in FIG. 1 . When the discharge chute 38 is opened because the dump gate 16 is in the open position shown in FIGS. Flow down out of the receiver 10 .

In FIG. 2 the construction and arrangement of the receiver 10 is particularly well shown. The receptacle 10 , and particularly its body 20 , is wider at the apexes or angles where the housing top 42 meets the sides 36L, 36R; these apexes or angles are indicated at 78 in FIG. 2 . The ratio of the width of the receiver 10 (measured as the distance between the apexes 78) to the height of the receiver 10 (measured from the high point of the housing top 42 to the horizontal support plate 80), both visible in FIG. About 5:3, meaning that the body 20 of the receiver 10 is about 40% wider than its height.

In FIG. 2 , the dump flap is shown in an open position so that granular resin material can flow out of the receptacle 10 via the discharge chute 38 . The left triangular portion of the dump apron 16 is indicated at 16A in FIG. 2 . The longitudinal extension of the dump apron 16 is indicated at 16C in FIG. 2 and is only visible as a pair of closely spaced lines. The longitudinally extending portion 16C of the dump apron 16 runs the longitudinal length of the body 20 . The dump gate 16 is pivotable about A pair of pins 68 moves, one of which is depicted in FIG. 2 .

Referring next to FIG. 2 , the inlet conduit 12 and the pneumatic piston cylinder 14 are clearly shown mounted in the front plate 50 . Note in FIG. 2 that the control enclosure 18 defines the outer perimeter of the control 17 and is slightly inboard of the housing top 42 and the housing sides 36L, 36R. The control unit enclosure 18 is connected to the horizontal support plate 80 shown in FIG. 2 . Still referring to FIG. 2 , the mounting flange 82 is securely secured and connected to the inlet end horizontal blowback support plate 74 with a portion extending vertically downward therefrom. The downwardly extending portion of the front mounting flange 82 is provided with a pair of holes for mounting the receiver 10 to associated adjacent equipment if desired.

Referring to Figure 3, the generally convex triangular shape in cross-section of the body 20 of the receptacle 10 is well shown, with the housing top 42 and housing sides 36L, 36R again exhibiting their convex triangular shape. The outlet of the outlet duct 28 is prominently located in the rear end plate 90 . A rear mounting flange 84 is mounted on the outlet end horizontal support plate 76 and has an upwardly extending portion for mounting the receiver 10 on auxiliary equipment. The first bottom flange 32 is shown in FIG. 3 . In FIG. 3, the dump flap 16 is again visible, and the right triangular portion 16B is clearly shown, and the longitudinally extending portion 16C is again shown as a pair of lines indicating that the longitudinally extending portion 16C runs away from the viewer. and perpendicular to the viewer in Figure 3. The outlet end horizontal support plate 76 is shown in FIG. 3 .

Referring to Fig. 4, the receiver 10, body 20, control enclosure 18, inlet conduit 12, air piston cylinder 14, and outlet conduit 28 are all shown well. In Figure 4, the tipping flap 16 is rotated about The two pins 68 are clearly shown, as is the longitudinally extending portion 16C of the dump apron 16 . A major longitudinally extending flange 16D and a minor longitudinally extending flange 16E are also visible in FIG. 4 . As noted above, FIG. 4 depicts the dump flap 16 in the open position as depicted in FIGS. 2 , 3 and 13 .

Referring to FIG. 5 , the first bottom flange 32 is best shown extending longitudinally the length of the body 20 to define a portion of the outlet slot 38 . The lip portion 32A represents the lip portion of the first bottom flange 32 ; the lip portion 32A is also shown in FIG. 2 . In FIG. 5, the dump apron 16 is somewhat obscured by the first bottom flange 32, as can be understood by comparing FIG. 5 with FIG. 2, and note that FIG. 5 is a side view while FIG. end view. The pin 68 on which the dump flap 16 is mounted and rotates about is again shown in FIG. 5 , as are the inlet duct 12 , piston cylinder 14 and outlet duct 28 , with the inlet end horizontal blowback support plate 74 And the horizontal support plate 76 at the outlet end is the same.

In FIG. 6 , the top of receiver 10 , inlet conduit 12 , outlet conduit 28 , top 42 , latch 24 , control enclosure 18 , and outlet end horizontal support plate 76 are all depicted. The dump apron 16 , and its various parts, and those associated therewith, are obscured from the perspective of the top view provided in FIG. 6 .

Referring to FIG. 7 , the bottom of the receptacle 10 is shown with the dump flap 16 in the open position and the discharge flange 54 is evident, as is the open interior 102 of the body 20 . Pins 68 about which the dump gate 16 rotates are shown at either end of the dump gate 16, engaging the ends of the dump gate 16. Left and right triangular sections 16A, 16B. For the other views discussed above, shown in a similar fashion are the inlet conduit 12, the piston cylinder 14, the inlet end horizontal blowback support plate 74, the outlet end horizontal support plate 76, the outlet conduit 28, and the side 36L of the receiver 10, 36R.

Referring primarily to FIGS. 8 and 9, in FIG. 8, the dump flap 16 is shown in an open position where the granular resin material stored in the body 20 is drawn into the receptacle 10 by gravity. The outflow of the main body 20 can be discharged by itself.

Still referring to FIG. 8 , the controls for the receiver 10 are generally designated 17 and include two interior compartments, numbered 110 and 112 in FIG. 8 . The first internal compartment 110 is delimited by the front end panel 30 and by a first intermediate panel, designated 46 in FIG. 8 . The first compartment 110 is further bounded by a horizontal support plate 80, which effectively forms the floor of both the first compartment 110 and the second compartment 112, and a suitable cover for the purpose of the Figure. For the sake of clarity of the formula, they are not drawn in the drawings. The control part 17 also includes a second compartment 112, which is bounded by the first middle plate 46 and the second middle plate 48, by the horizontal support plate 80, and by the same upper plate, in order to improve the clarity of the drawing, the same The upper plate is not shown in the drawing.

The first compartment 110 is effectively at ambient pressure, while the second compartment 112 must be maintained airtight. Thus, the compartment 112 is preferably fabricated by welding the first and second middle plates 46, 48, the horizontal support plate 80, and the top plate, not numbered and shown, and the sides not shown in the drawings. , to ensure the airtightness of the second compartment 112. This kind of airtight The configuration is necessary for proper functioning of the blowback device 60 described below.

Further visible in FIG. 8 is the disc 108 which is secured to the piston rod extending from the piston cylinder 14 . When the piston cylinder 14 is actuated, the disc 108 acts to close the end of the outlet duct 28 , ie its inlet opening, in an airtight manner.

Surrounding the outlet conduit 28 is a spacer 104 held in position relative to the outlet conduit 28 by a cotter pin 106 . The spacer 104 is preferably resilient and functions to maintain the desired airtight joint where the outlet conduit 28 passes through the rear panel 52 and through the front housing panel 50 . The front housing panel 50 shown in FIG. 8 is not to be confused with the front panel 30 which is also visible in FIG. 8 as well as in FIG. 2 . The outlet conduit 28 mates with a suitable fitting, not numbered, which receives the disc 108 to create an airtight seal when the piston cylinder 14 is actuated and the disc 108 assumes the position depicted in FIG. 8 .

Referring to FIG. 9 , the cloth filter 22 is preferably mounted within a suitable aperture formed in the front panel 50 . Adjacent to the filter 22 and mounted on the first intermediate plate 46 is a blower device 60 of the type disclosed in US Pat. No. 8,753,432. Blowback device 60, sometimes referred to as a "blowback device," has its blast outlet axially aligned with filter 22 and is oriented such that when blowback device 60 delivers a blast of air, the blast is directed to the filter. filter 22 and contacts filter 22 at a substantially perpendicular angle. This air shock provided by the blowback device 60 is preferably provided each time before the receptacle 10 is filled with granular resin material. Blowback device 60 keeps filter 22 clean, and dust and The fines are blown out of the filter 22 and fall to the bottom of the open interior 102 of the body 20 . The use of the blowback device 60 with the filter 22 ensures that the air/vacuum flow through the filter 22 into the second compartment 112 and into the vacuum pump is free of dust or fines.

The required air/vacuum flow is drawn through filter 22 by the action of the vacuum pump drawing air/vacuum flow through outlet conduit 28 . 8 and 9, when the disc 108 is removed from the opening defining the inlet of the outlet duct 28 (that is, when the disc 108 is removed from the second intermediate plate 48), due to the second compartment The airtight construction of 112 results in a free flow of air/vacuum air flow from the open interior 102 of the body 20 through the filter 22 and into the outlet conduit 28 . For the same reason, the vacuum in the open interior 102 of the body 20 is effectively relieved when the piston cylinder 14 is actuated and the disc 108 closes the orifice of the outlet conduit 28 .

The weight of any granular resinous material lodged in the open interior 102 of the body 20 causes the dump flap 16 to rotate to the position depicted in FIG. 2 in which the discharge chute 38 is open. In this position, the granular resin material stored in the body 20 flows downwardly out of the body 20 . It should be noted that the left triangular portion 16A and the right triangular portion 16B of the dump apron 16 are constructed in a geometric shape such that in the absence of any granular resinous material in the body 20, they are compatible with the remainder of the dump apron. Plate 16 will rotate to the closed position depicted in FIG. 14 . When a vacuum is applied by drawing air/vacuum flow through outlet conduit 28 at sub-atmospheric pressure, the vacuum is transmitted back to open interior 102 of body 20 through second compartment 112 and filter 22, thereby helping to deflate the The unloading baffle 16 remains in the closed position place. This creates an inward closing force on the dump flap 16 since the pressure in the open interior 102 is below atmospheric pressure.

Referring to Fig. 10, the modular construction of the receiver 10 is shown. The control part 17 is easily removed from the body 20 to replace the filter 22 when required. A threaded connection as shown in FIG. 8 and sealing gaskets are used to hold the control portion 17 in operative engagement with the body 20 . These connections facilitate quick disassembly of the receiver 10 when service is required or the filter 22 must be replaced. The clamp 24 is easily released to release the control portion 17 from the body 20 . In FIG. 8 , the second intermediate panel 48 is spaced apart from the front panel 50 . By means of suitable resilient gaskets 114 , 116 providing a seal at the orifice delimiting the inlet of the outlet duct 28 , the catch 24 can be disengaged, allowing the essentially sliding removal of the control 17 from the body 20 .

Figure 11 shows the receiver and all its parts, and the modular construction and separation of the control 17 from the body 20 is then apparent.

As noted above, the dump apron 16 has two triangular-shaped portions, indicated at 16A and 16B respectively, at opposite ends of the dump apron 16 . Triangular portion 16A is depicted in FIG. 2 and triangular portion 16B is depicted in FIG. 3 . Running between the triangular portions 16A, 16B is a longitudinally extending portion 16C of the dump apron 16 . The longitudinally extending portion 16C is more clearly visible in FIG. 9 (and FIG. 7 ), wherein the dump apron 16 is shown in FIG. The location of the body 20 of the outflow receptacle 10 . The longitudinally extending portion 16C of the dump apron 16 is indicated by closely spaced double lines in FIGS. 2 and 3 .

Preferably there are three cables connected to the receiver controls which lead from the power supply unit to the receiver which preferably provides power to a vacuum pump to create a vacuum to draw the air-material mixture into the receiver . Both of these lines from the power supply are preferably controlled by a vacuum pump which supplies the required 24 volts to the receiver. The third line is the signal line. This third wire provides power to the signal wire when the receiver needs granular resin material and the dump flap is closed, and the microprocessor knows to turn on the receiver 10 .

Each receiver 10 preferably includes such a microprocessor. Furthermore, a microprocessor is preferably provided in the power supply unit. The microprocessor in the receiver preferably detects that the dump flap has closed and tells the power unit associated with the vacuum pump to run for a set period of time which is calculated in advance and entered into the microprocessor. Alternatively, the receiver 10 may be run until the high material level sensor in the receiver 10 is covered, meaning that the receiver 10 is full of granular resin material. The timing portion of the microprocessor acts as a safety pause so that the receiver 10 does not run forever in the event of a blockage of granular resin material, or in the event of granular resin material not being available from the source.

The housing top 42 and the housing sides 36L, 36R are all outwardly curved. The outward curvature of this housing top 42 and housing sides 36L, 36R resists the atmospheric pressure that exerts forces on these sides 36L, 36R and housing top 42 . Due to the vacuum (actually slightly below atmospheric pressure) that exists in the body of the receiver 10 during operation, the force of atmospheric pressure tends to push the housing top 42 and housing sides 36L, 36R inwardly. Side 36L, 36R and The curved, convex shape of the housing top 42 facilitates the small size, compact design, and high capacity characteristics of the receptacle 10 .

The dump fence 16 and in particular the triangular portions 16A, 16B of the dump fence 16 are configured for pivotal movement of the dump fence 16 about the pin 68 . As noted above, the configuration and weight of the dump apron 16, and particularly the weight of the left and right triangular-shaped portions 16A, 16B and longitudinally extending portion 16C of the dump apron 16, allow the dump apron 16 to rotate as shown in FIG. indicates the closed position. When the dump flap 16 reaches the closed position, the vacuum drawn by the vacuum pump maintains the dump flap 16 in the closed position.

Air cylinder 14 effectively controls the flow of air, and a mixture of air or vacuum and resin material, through receiver 10 . As shown in FIG. 8 , the air cylinder 14 includes a shaft portion extending therefrom, and a circular disc 108 is mounted at the end of the shaft portion 70 ; the circular disc is indicated as 108 in FIG. 8 . When the air cylinder 14 is actuated, the shaft portion 70 extends therefrom and the circular disk 108 closes the opening of the outlet conduit 28 .

During operation, as the receiver 10 is receiving granular resin material entrained into the vacuum/air stream (which enters through the inlet conduit 12), due to the suction force of the vacuum pump drawn through the outlet conduit 28, the dump stop Plate 16 is held in the closed position. Once the vacuum is shut off, either by shutoff of the vacuum pump, or by actuation of the air cylinder 14 closing the outlet conduit 28 and thereby precluding further draw of vacuum through the receiver 10, or if the weight of the granular resin material changes be large enough to overcome the vacuum suction that tends to keep the dump flap 16 in the closed position, as the dump flap 16 due to the resinous material in the receiver 10 The weight is forced open and the dump flap 16 moves to the open position.

During operation, the dump flap 16 is opened due to the weight of the particles of granular resin material resting in the body 20 of the receptacle 10 and resting on the dump flap 16 . Without the weight of the granular resinous material, or once the granular resinous material has flowed out of the receptacle, the dump baffles will be damaged due to the force of gravity and the configuration of the dump baffles (especially the left and right triangular sections 16A, 16B of the dump baffles). with the geometry of the longitudinally extending portion 16C) while swinging closed. In the normal suspended position, the dump flap 16 is closed except for a slight gap between the flap surface and the edge of the opening to the open interior 102 of the body 20 .

When the receiver dumps a load of granular resin material in a funnel (not shown in the drawings and not part of the receiver 10 ) that just falls out of the receiver 10 and, for example, rests below the dump baffle 16 The dump flap 16 may be held open by the pile of granular resin material when on the pile of granular resin material. In this case, when the granular resin material is poured, the dump flap 16 opens and the granular resin material may not have enough room to flow from the receiver 10 due to the presence of a pile that was located under the receptacle 10 at the moment it was previously poured. Flow out completely.

Any granular resinous material remaining in receptacle 10 flows out as the granular resinous material is used by the associated processing machine. When the granular resin material previously dumped under the receiver 10 falls to the level below the dump apron 16, the dump apron 16 is swung closed and another batch of granular resin material can be loaded into the receiver 10 . The vacuum pulls the dump flap 16 tightly to create a vacuum seal, allowing the dumping of the dump flap 16 with the granular resin material. An air/vacuum flow is vacuum fed into the open interior 102 of the body 20 .

In Fig. 12, the receiver 10 is schematically depicted. Not all receiver 10 components are numbered or shown in detail in FIG. 12 to improve clarity of the drawing. FIG. 12 depicts the vacuum/air and flow of material through receiver 10 .

Specifically, a vacuum/air stream carrying granular resin material enters the receiver 10 via the inlet conduit 12, as indicated by the dashed line and arrow A. As shown in FIG. The vacuum/air granular material mixture is passed into the interior of the body 20, wherein the vacuum/air flow due to having entered the larger volume of air space (i.e., the open interior of the body 20) is directed from the inlet duct 12, the velocity of the air/vacuum flow in the duct is greatly reduced, and the granular resin falls out of the vacuum/air flow in a downward direction due to gravity.

At lower speeds, particles of resin material fall out of the air/vacuum stream. This downward flow of granular resin material is indicated by the longer dashed line and arrow B in FIG. 12 . The vacuum/air flow drawn by the vacuum pump not shown in FIG. 12 is sucked out from the inside of the body 20, as indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 12 and the line composed of dashes and dashes . In a direction opposite to that of arrow A, the vacuum/air mixture flows out of the interior of the body 20 in a direction towards the control portion 17 of the receiver 10 . The vacuum/air flow passes through the filter 22 , wherein fines and dust are removed from the vacuum/air mixture moving through the filter 22 , and the filter 22 is installed in the filter opening 86 . The vacuum/air mixture from which dust and fines have been removed is diverted via fitting 88 and enters into the outlet conduit 28, travel through the outlet conduit 28, exit the receiver 10 and proceed to the vacuum pump. When a sufficient amount of weight has accumulated to enable the dump flap 16 to open, the granular resinous material falls out of the open interior 102 of the body 20 in response to gravity.

The main advantage of the inlet conduit 12 and outlet conduit 28, which are horizontal and enter and exit the receiver 10 respectively through apertures formed in the vertically extending surface of the receiver 10, is that the receiver 10 has a very low height, thereby Provide space for other components in plastic resin processing equipment.

10: Receiver

12: Inlet conduit

14: Piston cylinder

16: dump baffle

20: Ontology

28: Outlet conduit

74: Horizontal blowback support plate at the inlet end

86: Filter opening

88:Accessories

A: Arrow

B: Arrow

C: Arrow

Claims (5)

A temporary storage method of granular resin material for the temporary storage of the granular resin material before processing the granular resin material into a finished product or semi-finished product by molding or extrusion, the temporary storage of the granular resin material The storage method comprises: feeding an air/vacuum stream with the granular resin material horizontally under vacuum into a chamber; reducing the velocity of the gas stream in the chamber so that the granular material falls to the bottom of the chamber; continues to draw the gas flow from the chamber thereby maintaining a vacuum in the chamber; releases the vacuum horizontally from the chamber in response to granular material resting on the baffle, This allows the flap defining the bottom of the chamber to swing to an open position. The method for temporary storage of granular resin material according to claim 1, further comprising passing the airflow through a cloth filter after the granular material has fallen on the bottom of the chamber. The method for temporary storage of granular resin material according to claim 2, wherein passing the air flow through the cloth filter is performed before releasing the vacuum from the chamber. The temporary storage method for granular resin materials according to claim 3, further comprising passing the air flow horizontally through a cloth filter perpendicular to the air flow. A method of temporary storage of granular resinous materials in Used for temporary storage of the granular resin material before processing the granular resin material into a finished product or semi-finished product by molding or extrusion, the temporary storage method of the granular resin material comprising: making the granular resin material feeding an air/vacuum flow of material under vacuum into the chamber along a first horizontal direction; passing the flow through the filter along a second horizontal direction; and releasing the flow from the chamber along the first horizontal direction .

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