US2785834A - Blender for roofing granules - Google Patents

Description

March 19, 1957 P. P. STANLEY ET BLENDER FOR ROOFING GRANULES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 5, 1954 wrliil vii and March 1957 P. P. STANLEY ETAL BLENDER FOR ROOFING GRANULES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 5, 1954 Jnunibry flisrf 52272553 and yrnorz, Efit/Zer United States Patent BLENDER FOR ROOFING GRANULES Peter P. Stanley, Tonawanda, N. Y., and Vernon E. Becker, Chicago, 111., assignors to Reichel & Drews, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 5, 1954, Serial No. 448,060

6 Claims. (Cl. 222-136) The invention relates generally to a blender or discharge structure for granular material, such as roofing granules, and more particularly to a blender adapted to discharge a plurality of different colored granules in a predetermined sequence.

In the past, machines have been designed to deposit roofing granules and the like in a variegated pattern, the difierent colored granules being fed from respective hoppers suitably controlled. However, oftentimes it is desired to change the variegated pattern or, as is termed in the industry, to vary the blend of the granules. Where a single set of hoppers is employed, one for each color of the blend, a problem arises in shifting from one blend to another as it is necessary to refill the hoppers with the new blend, necessitating stopping of the machine while this is accomplished. In order to eliminate the closed or shutdown period of the machine, an additional hopper was sometimes employed which contained only a single color so that the machine could be run on such single color while changing over from one blend to another. Obviously, such an operation is not always practical and may be costly.

The present invention has among its objects the production of a blender structure which may be readily shifted from one blend to another without shutting down the machine, the change-over taking place merely by actuating a suitable operating lever or the like.

Another object of the invention is the production of such a blender structure which utilizes a plurality of double hopper units, each of which may be adjusted to discharge either one of two different colored granules, thus enabling the operator to set up the machine for a new blend while the machine is running another blend.

A further object of the invention is the production of such a blender structure which is relatively simple in construction, durable in use, and very efiicient for the purposes intended.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end, our invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a blender embodying the present invention with portions thereof broken away to show the details of construction;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. l and also through the gear box of the driving mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through one of the hopper structures taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2; and

2,785,834 Patented Mar. 19, 1957 Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

The present invention contemplates the production of a blender structure utilizing a plurality of hoppers, each of which is provided with a discharge opening associated with a feed roller by means of which the granules are discharged from the hopper onto the feed roller and deposited therefrom to the roofing material which is to receive the same. Each hopper is divided into two sections or units, each of which may be operatively connected to the discharge opening of the hopper by means of a novel valve structure so that by manipulation of the valve structure either of the units or sections of the hopper may discharge granules onto the roofing material. The discharge or feed rollers associated with each hopper may be connected to a suitable driving source through suitable clutch mechanisms whereby the feed rollers may be selectively and intermittently rotated as desired. In actual practice, the clutch mechanisms may, for example, be of the magnetic or electric type and controlled through suitable switches adapted to be actuated in a predetermined sequence. For example, the switches could be actuated by a series of cams driven by the same source that actuates the rolls for feeding the roofing material through the blender with the particular blend or sequence of operations being determined by the construction of the respective cams. Thus, as the sheet roofing material passes beneath the hoppers and the feed rollers associated therewith, the latter may be intermittently rotated to deposit the different colored granules in the desired sequence on the roofing material.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the reference numeral 1 indicates a pair of spaced parallel side plates which are supported by angle brackets 2 from a frame structure, indicated generally by the numeral 3, the latter, in the embodiment illustrated, comprising vertical legs or standards 4 connected by longitudinally extending side channels 5 and transverse channels 6, with the brackets 2 being secured tothe channel members 5 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. The frame structure 3 may be fabricated in any suitable manner as, for example, by welding the various elements thereof into an integral structure. Extending between the side plates 1 are a plurality of hoppers, each indicated generally by the numeral 7, and being in efiect double hoppers comprising two sections 8 and 9 as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Each of the hopper structures 7 comprises a pair of end members or plates 11 respectively secured to the side plates 1 with the end plates 11 being connected by a pair of downwardly converging cross or side walls 12 and 13. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, the wall 12 of one hopper extends to the wall 13 of the adjacent hopper and extending upwardly above the juncture of each intersecting pair of walls 12 and 13 is a common partition wall 14, each of the latter extending between adjacent end members 11 of the respective hoppers. The walls 12 and 13 of the respective hoppers may be secured to the end members or plates 11 by any suitable means as, for example, screws 15 passing through the walls 12 and 13 and threaded into the end members 11. Extending across the hopper between the end members 11 adjacent the bottom of the hopper structure is a valve or gate structure, indicated generally by the numeral 16, comprising a tubular valve or gate housing 17 and a concentrically positioned valve member or gate 18. The tubular housing 17 extends between the side members 11 and is held in position by suitable means as for example, screws 19 extending through the walls 12 and 13 and threaded into the member 17. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the valve m ember or gate 18 is journaled in the end members 11 passing through the side plates 1, and is axially held in position by a collar 21 positioned at one end of the'member 18 and at the opposite end by a lever 22 which is rigidly secured to the member 18 so that the latter may be partially rotated by manipulation of the lever.

Extending upwardly from the valve 16 is a partition wall 23, the latter in the embodiment illustrated, being positioned at its side edges in vertically extending slots 24 formed in the end members 11 whereby the partition wall 23 is rigidly supported in operative position, dividing the hopper '7 into the sections or units 8 and 9.

As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the valve casing 17 is provided with 'a plurality of .longitudinally extending openings or ports 25, 26,'and 27. The openings 25 are located within the section 8 of the hopper and are separated by connecting portions 28 at spaced intervals along the member 17 to retain rigidity in the valve casing. In like manner, the openings 26 and 27, are sirnil'arly constructed with the openings 26 being positioned in the section or unit 9 of the hopper and theopening 27 communicating with the lower or discharge end 29 of the hopper structure. The valve gate 13 is suitably formed or cut away for approximately half of its circumference, as indicated at 31, leaving cylindrical portions 32 intermediate the portions 31 with the portions 32 being axially aligned with the portions 28 of the housing 17 and forming supporting means for the central portion of the member 18.

Thus, the valve 16 is provided with two series of inlet openings 25 and 26, respectively, each series communicating with a: respective unit or section of the hopper, and discharge openings 27 communicating with the discharge end of the hopper, so that by suitably rotating the valve gate 18, the openings or passages-31 formed therein may be positioned to operatively connect either series of inlet openings 25 or-26 with the discharge opening 27, or the gate 18 may be rotated to the position illustrated in Figs. 3 or 4 wherein both series of inlet openings are closed.

Positioned below the discharge opening 29 of each hopper is a feed roller 33 which is adapted to receive material from the hopper discharged through the 'opening 29 and deposited therefrom upon the roller which will carry the same from the discharge opening and deposit it upon the roofing material S positioned below the roller. Carried by each of the Walls 13 and extending substantially to the roller 33 is a bearing strip 34 of resilient or semi-resilient material, the strip 34 being mounted-on the wall 13 by any suitable means, such as a retaining strip or bar 35 secured to the wall 13 by bolts 36 passing through the bar 35, strip 34, and threaded into the wall 13. 7

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be noted that the lower edge of the wall 12 is spaced upwardly above the correspond ing edge of the wall 13 and is provided with an adjustable extension, indicated generally by the numeral 37, the latter comprising a plate 38 which is slidable in a plane extending substantially parallel to the wall 12, and provided at its lower end with a longitudinally extending bar 39 secured to the plate 38 by bolts 41 or other suitable means. It will be apparent that the amount of granules deposited from the hopper structure onto the feed roller 33 will be dependent upon the spacing between the lower edge of the bar 39 carried by the extension 37 and the feed roller 33. Thus, by positioning the lower edge of the bar 39 close to the surface of the roll, a relatively small amount of granules will be withdrawn from the hopper and as the space is increased, a proportionately greater amount of granules will be fed.

The adjustment of the extension 37 is controlled by a shaft 42 extending between the side plates 1 and supported in suitable journal blocks or bearings 43 mounted on their respective side plates. Each shaft 42 has-rigidly mounted thereon a pair of pinions 44 which are meshed with respective rack blocks 45 rigidly secured to. the plate '38. The dimensions of the blocks 45 are such that 4 screws 53 and tightening the other an adjustment 'be- 4 the plates 38 are maintained in operative engagement with the walls 12 and by rotating the shaft 42, the extension 37 associated therewith may beraised or lowered with respect to the feed roller 33.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the shafts 42 are brought out at one end to the frame structure 4, the latter being provided with a longitudinally extending channel 46 having bearing blocks 47 mounted thereon through which each shaft 42 extends, and rigidly mounted on the free end of each shaft 42 is a lever arm48. Rotatably mounted on each shaft 42 adjacent the lever arm 48 is a handle member 49, the latter having a radially extending wing 51 positioned between spaced lugs or ears 52 carried by the arm 48. The handle 49 is adjustably secured to the arm 48 by screws 53 threaded into the lugs or cars 52 and adapted to bear at their inner ends on the wing 51 so that by backing oflE one of the tween the arm 48 and handle 49 may be effected.

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6, the handle 49 is provided with a downwardly depending portion 54 terminatingvin an inwardly directed flange 55 in which is threaded a screw 56 adapted to bear on the lower flange of the channel member 46 when the handle 49 is at one extreme position of its movement. The limiting stop thus formed, likewise, is adjustable by turning the screw 56 inwardly or outwardly and the latter may be locked in position by a suitable lock nut 57. It will be apparent that with this construction, the maximum throw of the handle 49 and thus rotation of the shaft 42 may be limited in the direction which would move the extension 37 toward the feed roller 33 and, at the same time, a considerable latitude in the operating adjustment of the extension may be achieved by adjustment of the screws 53. This construction is particularly advantageous where for one reason or another as, for example, when it is desired to empty one of the hoppers, the extension 37 may be moved to wide open position and subsequently returned to the original adjustment. p

Carried by the frame 4 at the opposite side of the structure to the handles 49 is a gear box, indicated generally by the numeral 58, the latter being suitably supported by V the uprights 4 and the channel member 5. Each of the shafts 59 carrying the respective feed rollers 33 are journaled at one end in bearing blocks 61 mounted on the channel member 5 adjacent the channel member 46,.and at the opposite end by bearings 62 mounted on the gear box 58. Also journaled in the gear box 58 in suitable bearings 63 are a plurality of countershafts 64, and a drive shaft65 which extends outwardly from the gear box. The shaft 65 is connected to a drive sprocket 66 through a manually operable clutch 67 which is adapted to be actuated by the arm 68. Carried byeach of theshafts 64 and drive shaft 65 is a pinion 69 adapted to mesh with gears 71 rotatably mounted'on the shafts 59 whereby the drive shaft 65 through the pinion 69 mounted thereon will rotate the adjacent spur gears 71 and, in turn, pinions 69 on the shaft 64 will transmit power to the remaining spur gears 71, all of the latter, of'course, rotating in the same direction. Each of the spur gears 71 is adapted to be operatively connected to its respective shaft 59 through a suitable clutch as, for example, a magnetic clutch, indicated generally by the numeral 72, comprising a driving member 73 operatively connected to its associated spur gear 71 and a driven member 74 rigidly connected to the shaft 59. A suitable commutator structure, indicated generally by the numeral 75, may be utilized to, conduct actuating current to the operating winding of the clutch assembly. Specific details of the clutch structure are omittedas the latter forms no part of the present invention. Thus, by actuation of the proper clutch, granules from any one of the hoppers may be discharged onto the sheet S of the roofing material- Obviously, while anyof the feed rollers 33 are stationary, no granular material will be fed from the hopper associated therewith.

As previously mentioned, the magnetic clutches 72 may be actuated by suitable switch mechanisms which, in turn, are opened or closed by suitablemeangsuch as, for example, a series of cams mounted on a cam shaft so that as the cams are rotated, the various switches will be alternately opened and closed in a predetermined sequence.

Any suitable means as for example, feed rollers of the type commonly employed may be utilized to advance the sheet roofing material S below the hoppers, the driving construction preferably being such that the cam shaft or other actuating means for' the magnetic clutch controlling switches is, likewise, driven by the same source so that the pattern of thecolored granules on the roofing material remains the same for varying feeding speeds of the sheet S.

In use, the operator fills up corresponding sections of each hopper with granules of the desired color to produce a predetermined pattern on the sheet roofing material to be passed through the machine, the valve 18 being positioned, by means of the handle 22, in closed relation as illustrated in Fig. 4. The extensions 37 are then individually adjusted by means of their respective lever arms 49 whereby the desired amount of granules will be fed from each hopper. The advancing means for the sheet S is then actuated and the handle 22' moved to a position to open the desired hoppers, permitting the granules to be deposited on the sheet in accordance with the actuation of the feed rollers associated with the respective hoppers. If it is desired to change the pattern, the unused sections of each hopper are filled with granules of the desired color, which operation may take place while the machine is running, and by merely shifting the handle 22', the valves may be moved to close the outlets of those sections which had been discharging, and open the sections containing the new blend, which changeover, obviously, may be accomplished without stopping the sheet S.

It will be apparent from the above description that we have provided a blending machine which while exceedingly simple in construction possesses desired advantages over prior machines of the same general type, and permits substantially continuous operation of the machine irrespec tive of changeovers in the blends or patterns being run.

Having thus described our invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of our invention; hence, we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a blending device for granulated material, the combination of a hollow hopper structure having an elongated longitudinally extending relatively narrow discharge port in the bottom portion thereof, a partition wall longitudinally dividing the hopper structure into two hopper section, rotary valve means having its axis extending in the same direction as said port operative to selectively connect either hopper section with said discharge port, and a feed roller positioned below said discharge port operative to effect substantially uniform flow of granulated material therefrom.

2. In a blending device for granulated material, the combination of a plurality of hollow hopper structures each having a longitudinally extending relatively narrow discharge port in the bottom portion thereof, a partition wall longitudinally dividing the hopper structure into two hopper sections, rotary valve means having its axis extending in the same direction as said port operative to selectively connect either hopper section with said discharge port, a feed roller positioned below each discharge port operative to efiect a substantially uniform flow of granulated material therefrom from the hopper associated therewith and means operatively connecting said valve means whereby the latter may be simultaneously controlled.

3. In a blending device for granulated roofing material, the. combination of a plurality of operatively aligned hopper structures each having a pair of downwardly converging side walls with the lower edges thereof being spaced apart to form a longitudinally extending discharge port, end Walls operatively connecting respective ends of said side walls, a gate structure positioned in said hopper structure adjacent said discharge port, said gate structure comprising elongated longitudinally extending stationary member and a cooperable coaxially movable member, the stationary member extending from one side wall to the other, a partition wall connecting said end walls and extending downwardly to said stationary member dividing the hopper structure into two hopper sections, :said stationary member having a pair of inlet openings therein, one communicating with one hopper section and the other with the other hopper section, and having an outlet opening therein communicating with said discharge port, said movable member being constructed to operatively connect either inlet opening and the hopper section associated therewith with said discharge port, and a feed roller positioned below each discharge port operative to effect a substantially uniform flow of granulated material from the hopper associated therewith, and means operatively connecting the respective movable members of said gate structures whereby they may be simultaneously moved into similar positions.

4. In a blending device for granulated roofing material, the combination of a hopper structure having a pair of downwardly converging side walls with the lower edges thereof being spaced apart to form a discharge port, end walls operatively connecting respective ends of said side walls, a gate structure positioned in said hopper structure adjacent said discharge port, said gate structure comprising a hollow stationary member and a cooperable rotatable member, the stationary member extending from one side wall to the other, a partition wall connecting said end walls and extending downwardly to said stationary member dividing the hopper structure into two hopper sections, said stationary member having a pair of inlet openings therein, one communicating with one hopper section and the other with the other hopper section, and having an outlet opening therein communieating with said discharge port, said movable member being constructed to operatively connect either inlet opening and the hopper section associated therewith with said discharge port, and a feed roller positioned below said discharge port operative to efiect a substantially uniform flow of granulated material therefrom.

5. In a blending device for granulated roofing material, the combination of a pair of side plates, a plurality of hopper structures each having a pair of downwardly converging side walls with the lower edges thereof being spaced apart to form a discharge port, adjustable means for varying the effective size of the discharge port, end walls secured to corresponding side plates operatively connecting respective ends of said side walls, a gate structure positioned in said hopper structure adjacent said discharge port, said gate structure comprising a tubular stationary member and a cooperable rotatable member, the stationary member extending from one side wall to the other, a partition wall connecting said end walls and extending downwardly to said stationary member, dividing the hopper structure into two hopper sections, said stationary member having a pair of inlet openings therein, one communicating with one hopper section and to the other with the other hopper section, and having an outlet opening therein communicating with said discharge port, said movable member being constructed to operatively connect either inlet opening and the hopper section associated therewith with said discharge port, a feed roller positioned below each discharge port operative to control the flow of granulated material therefrom, means for selectively rotating said feed rollers, and means for simultaneously controlling said gate structure.

6. In a blending device for granulated roofing materiai, the combination of a hopper structure having a pair of downwardly converging side walls with the lower edges thereof being spaced apart to form a discharge port, end walls operatively connecting respective ends of said side walls, a gate structure positioned in said hopper structure adjacent said discharge port, said gate structure comprising concentric stationary and movable members, the stationary member being tubular and extending the other hopper section, and having an out-let opening in operative upon rotation of the member to connect either from one side wall to the other and connected thereto,

municating With one hopper section and the other with inlet opening and the hopper section associated therewith with said discharge port, and a feed roller positioned below said discharge port operative to control the flow of granulated material therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this' patent Jennings 1 Oct. 25, 1938

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