US3074599A - Inclined feeding auger unit - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 22, 1963 H. K. Fox

INCLINED FEEDING AUGER UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheec. 1

Filed April 25, 1960 s. X m E 3 m o a m m 3 Q m m V a a x M A W .m\ bu. 4 \M \N m m m 4 m H Mu W Jan. 22, 1963 H. K. FOX 3,

INCLINED FEEDING AUGER UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25. 1960 FILE. E1 58 2g I3! I30 I l I il HI /3 f /a5 {Q FILE. 4.

" Irwin;

ite tats 3,074,599 INCLINED FEEDING AUGER UNIT Harold K. Fox, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Bemis Bro. Bag Company, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of Missouri Filed Apr. 25, 1960, Ser. No. 24,405 1 Claim. (Cl. 222-180) This invention relates to apparatus for transferring a powdered or granular type product from one point to another and at the same time, conditioning the product prior to discharge into a suitable container. More particularly, thisinvention relates to an inclined auger unit for removing the fluid and flushing characteristics of a product as the product is being conveyed.

There are many types of feeding machines of the prior art which contain an anger type feeding means for feeding a product to a suitable container. The prior art augers are either in a vertical or a horizontal position. The problem of certain type of products, such as powdered milk, chemicals, and the like, is that said products tend to flow freely or flush past the prior art auger systems and thus can not be readily handled by certain types of equipment. This invention has been made to overcome problems of the aforementioned type.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and novel conveyor unit that will transfer a product from one point to another as well as conditioning said product for delivery into a suitable container such as a bag, box, barrel, scale bucket, or the like. It is another object of this invention to provide new and improved apparatus for compressing the product a certain amount to remove the air from the product and inter-nestle the granules or particles of the product to facilitate handling the thus conditioned product. It is still another object of this invention to provide new and improved apparatus for causing a product to pack against itself as said product is being transferred from one point to another. It is still an additional object of this invention to provide new and improved apparatus that may be used for conveying many different types of products, and still condition each type of product with a minimum amount of adjustment of the apparatus.

Other and further objects are those inherent in the invention herein illustrated, described in the claims, and will be apparent as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, this invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

The invention is illustrated with reference to the drawings in which the corresponding numerals refer to the same parts, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front vertical elevationm view of the inclined feeding auger unit of this invention connected to a supply bin;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical front end view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a generally vertical, fragmentary, transverse view (a part of said view being shown in section) taken along the line and in the direction of arrows 33 of FIGURE 1 to illustrate the connection of the auger unit to the supply bin, the clean out door being shown in an open position in phantom;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the control mechanism and control circuitry of the inclined feeding auger unit;

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to Patented Jan. 22, 1963 FIGURES 1 and 2, there is illustrated the inclined feeding auger unit, generally designated 10, of this invention. The inclined feeding auger unit 10, which is also referred to as a conveyor unit, comprises an elongated conveyor housing which includes an auger tube 11 which at the back end is welded to a channel iron 12, said channel iron extending rearwardly from the auger tube and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tube. A motor reducer combination 14 is attached to the channel iron to depend therefrom.

The motor reducer combination includes a drive motor 15 having a shaft 16 connected to the motor reducer 17 by means of -a coupling 18. On the drive end of the motor reducer shaft 19 is a drive sprocket 20 for driving the auger sprocket 21 which is keyed on one end of the auger shaft 22, the auger sprocket being drivenly connected to the drive sprocket by a chain drive 24. The back end of the auger shaft is journalled for rotation in the bearing 26, said bearing being mounted in a bracket 27 that is secured to the back end of the channel iron to extend upwardly therefrom. The forward end of the auger shaft is journalled for rotation in the bearing 29, the bearing 29 being mounted in a cap plate 30 which closes the back end of the auger tube.

The forward end of the auger shaft which extends through the cap plate into the auger tube is connected to the screw type auger 35 by cap screws and nuts 36 to drive the auger to move the product in the direction of arrow 37.

The entire back end of the auger unit is supported by a transversely extending support bar 40 which is secured to the channel iron and extends outwardly on either transverse side thereof, said support bar in turn being supported on the lower ends of the heavy steel rods 41. The upper ends of the steel rods are secured to the structural member 42 of the building in which the unit is installed. The effective length of the steel rods are adjusted by means of the adjusting nuts 43 threaded on the lower end of the rod.

Also mounted on the structural member 42 is a supply bin 46. The lower end of the supply bin ends in a boot 47 secured to the main portion 44 of the bin to be adjustably positionable thereon and forms a tight seal therewith at the junction of the boot with the main portion. The lower end of the boot has a plurality of angle irons secured thereto to form rectangular reinforcing flange 48. The boot flange 48 is secured to a rectangular inlet flange 49 by means of cap screws (not shown), said inlet flange being of a size and shape corresponding to the boot flange. The inlet flange is connected to the inwardly flared inlet 50 to open through the top opening 51 formed in the auger tube adjacent the rear end of said auger tube (see FIGURE 2).

Located beneath the top opening 51 is a clean-out opening 54, said clean-out opening being closed by a clean-out door '55 hingedly connected at one edge to the side wall of the inlet 50 by a hinge 56. The opposite edge of the door is flanged at 57, said door being releasably secured in a closed position by a wing nut and bolt 59 extended through the door flange and the tab 60 which is Welded to the opposite inlet Wall.

Slidably mounted on the front end of the auger tube for movement in an axial direction on said auger tube is an anger tube extension 62 which forms a part of the conveyor housing. The auger tube extension is secured in an adjusted position on the auger tube by a band clamp 63, there being appropriate means such as nuts and bolts 64 for tightening and loosening the band clamp. A discharge spout 65 is secured to the forward end of the auger tube extension to depend therefrom.

The discharge end of the auger tube extension is supported by the framework 67 which is mounted on the floor 68 by conventional means (not shown). The structure for securing the tubular extension to the framework includes a band clamp member 69 having outwardly extending studs 70 secured thereto. The studs are pivotally retained in apertures 72 formed in the upper end of the framework, there being a plurality of vertically spaced apertures provided in order to permit mounting the discharge end of the auger tube extension at the desired height.

A platform 75 is secured to the framework to be located directly beneath the discharge spout for supporting the container 76 in position to be filled by material discharged through the discharge spout. The container may be any suitable type such as a bag, box, or abarrel. It is to be understood that if desired a bag holder may be installed on the spout in place of providing a platform on the framework.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, the control mechanism and control circuitry 80 for controlling the operation of the unit will now be described. The control circuitry includes main lines L1 and L2 for supplying power. A first terminal 84 of the On-Off toggle switch 85 is connected to the junction 82 on the main line L1 by line 83. The normally open switch contact 89 of the toggle switch is connected to the second terminal 86, said terminal 86 in turn being connected via line 87 to junction 88. Junetion 88 in turn is connected via line 90 to the first terminal 91 of the foot switch 92. The foot switch includes a switch contact 93 that is resiliently urged to an open position by appropriate means (not shown) and connected to terminal 94, terminal 94 in turn being connected via lie 95 to junction 96. The starter coil 99 of the starter 100 is connected across the junctions 96 and 101, junction 101 being on main line L2.

The solenoid coil 99 when energized moves an appropriate connector member 115, which simultaneously moves the four normally open spaced switch contacts 105, 106, 107, and 108, respectively, to a closed position. The switch contact 106 in a closed position electrically connects terminal 109 to terminal 110, terminal 109 being connected to a high voltage line V1, while terminal 110 is connected to a motor lead 118. Similarly contact 107 in a closed position connects the terminal 111 to terminal 112, terminal 111 being connected to the high voltage line V2, while the terminal 112 is connected to the motor lead 119. Likewise, terminal 108 in a closed position electrically connects terminal 113 to terminal 114, terminal 113 being connected to the high voltage line V3 while terminal 114 is connected to the motor lead line The control mechanism also includes a timer having a timer clutch 126 connected across junctions 96 and 127, junction 127 being located on main line L2. A timer motor 128 is connected across junctions and 129, junction 129 being on main line L2 and junction 130 being connected to junction 96 by line 131. A timer switch contact 132 is mounted to open and close the contact between terminals 133 and 134, terminal 133 being connected via line 137 to junction 130. A second timer switch contact 133 is mounted to open and close the contact between terminals 135, and 136, terminal being connected via line 138 to junction 88. The terminal 136 is connected via line 142 to terminal 141 while the terminal 134 is connected via line 139 to terminal 140. The starter switch contact 105 is mounted to open and close an electrical circuit between terminals 140 and 141, the switch contacts 105, 106, 107, and 108, all being conconnected to close the aforementioned contacts between the adjacent terminals upon energization of the starter coil 199, and to break the electrical connections with said respective terminals upon the de-energization of the starter coil. 1

The electric timer is of a type which is energized at terminals 96, 127 and terminals 130, 129, and operates electrically to control (open and closed) switch contacts 132, 133. When the aforementioned terminals are deenergized, contacts 132, 133 are open. Upon applying power to terminals 96, 127 and 129, 130, the timer immediately starts running. Also, immediately the timer through members 126, 128 clutches in the contacts 132, 133 which establishes circuits between terminals 133, 134 and terminals 135, 136, respectively, which are the control terminals. After closing the toggle switch, to initiate the filling cycle, the foot switch 92 is moved to a closed condition to thereby apply power from line L1 to junctions 96, 130, to thereby complete an electric circuit for starting the timer operation. The immediate action of the timer is to close the circuit between terminals 133, 134, and terminals 135, 136. Also, at the same time, the starter coil is energized. Thus, upon contacts 105, 132, and 133, being moved to a closed condition, a hold-in circuit is established whereupon the timer and starter coil remain energized even though the foot switch is opened. Also upon energizing the starter coil, contacts 106, 107, 108 are moved to a closed position to electrically connect lines V, V2 and V3 to motor 15. The electric timer continues to operate for a predetermined time interval during which the auger motor is energized. The time interval of the electric timer is made adjustable by the provision of an external control knob (not shown). At the end of the selected time interval, the electric timer motor operates through mechanism (not shown) to open the circuit between terminals 133, 134, and terminals 135, and 136 by moving contacts 132, 133 to an open position. This opens the hold in circuit and de-energizes the starter coil to thereby de-energize the auger motor. Also as soon as the timer motor of the timer is de-energized, appropriate means (not shown) sets the timer preparatory to another cycle.

The structure of this invention having been described, the use thereof will now be briefly set forth. First, the angle of inclination of the auger and auger tube is adjusted for the product to be conveyed, it being understood that for various different products, a difierent angle of inclination is necessary. The angle of inclination is adjusted by extending the studs 70 through the appropriate apertures 72 and adjusting the position of the adjusting nuts 43 on the steel rods 41 to thereby vary the elevation of the support bar, either the support bar being hingedly secured to the channel iron or the support bar being provided with elongated slots through which the rods 41 extend and the framework 67 being movable to permit the aforementioned adjustments. Also, if the boot 47 is not of an adjustable variety, then it may be replaced with a boot of an appropriate shape and size.

In addition to adjusting the inclination of angle of the auger and auger tube, the tube extension 62 is adjusted axially relative to the auger tube by loosening the band clamp 63 and moving the tube extension in an axial direction (in the direction of either arrow 37 or arrow 38) a sufiicient amount to obtain the desired conditioning of the product, it being noted that the auger and auger tube extend only to line P (the forward end of the auger tube). By making the aforementioned adjustment of the tube extension, the distance A from the forward end of the auger tube to the back side of the discharge spout may be varied. That is, the distance between the auger tube outlet and the discharge outlet may be varied.

By providing the aforementioned auger, auger tube, and the auger tube extension, the product is moved to line P by the auger and is forced to move through the opposite tube extension to the discharge spout 65 by additional product being moved by the auger to line P. This action results in a moderate compression of the material since the product packs against itself as the product moves to the discharge spout. As a result, the granules or particles of the product internest and air is removed from the product. The aforementioned action results in better control of the flow characteristic and makes it easier to handle. Also the product is settled automatically so that a separate shaking and settling unit is not required.

By making the aforementioned adjustment of the auger tube extension, the different lengths of time and distance required for packing and conditioning various products may be obtained. Further, adjusting the speed of the auger by using different size auger sprockets and drive sprockets, the degree of packing and conditioning is partially controlled.

After the above adjustments have been made, the toggle switch 85 is moved to a closed position and then after an appropriate type container 76 has been placed under the discharge spout 65, the foot switch 92 is depressed. Upon depressing the foot switch, the timer 125 is actuated to complete the hold in circuit and energize the starter coil whereupon the motor 15 and timer motor 128 and energized. Energizing the motor 15 will start the auger to move the product in the direction of the arrow 37 from the back end of the auger tube upwardly into the tube extension, the product flowing -from the supply bin through the boot and opening 51 into the back end of the auger tube as the auger is rotated.

After the timer, starter and drive motor circuits have been energized, the foot switch is permitted to return to an open condition and the hold in circuit will keep the drive motor energized until the timer has run for the predetermined interval. At the end of the timer interval, the timer operates to move switch contacts 132, 133, to break electrical connections between terminals 133, 134, and terminals 135, 136, respectively, and thereby open the hold in circuit and the circuit for energizing the starter coil. As a result the motor 15 isde-energized. The length of time that the timer is set to run depends upon the size charge to be discharged into the container 76. by setting the timer to run a, definite length of time and as a result of the packing and conditioning the product that takes place While the product moves through the auger tube and auger tube extension, only small variations of weight of the charge are obtained.

An additional advantage of providing a unit of the above nature is that it is a closed system. Thus there are no openings which would produce dust and undesirable fumes from filling the atmosphere, particularly if a bag holder and bag were provided for receiving the charge from the discharge spout. As a result, the plant in which the unit is installed will remain cleaner.

It is to be understood that even though one embodiment of the control circuit has been set forth, other type control circuits could be used. For example, revolution counter means could be used in place of the timer, said revolution counter means acting to stop the drive motor after a definite number of revolutions of the auger. Further, a brake motor could be used to provide more accurate control in the stopping of the drive motor. Additionally, a variable speed motor could be used in place of motor 15.

In place of the aforementioned controls for assuring that a predetermined charge is emptied into the container 76, the product can be discharged from the discharge spout into a scale bucket mounted on a scale beam. In such a case, a switch would be provided to be actuated by the scale beam to control the de-energization of the motor 15. From the foregoing it is apparent that many different types of controls may be used with the unit of this invention.

Additionally, even though the auger tube extension as illustrated is circular, it is to be understood that it is within the purview of this invention that said extension could be a transition from a circular shape to a square or rectangular shape. Also the product can be packed tightly enough with the inclined feeding auger unit so that said product will hold its shape for a limited period of time. In such a case a tubular extension, which has no discharge spout and has the front end cap 58 removed, would be used for actually extruding the product directly into a container or bag upon placing said container or bag over the end of the auger tube extension.

As many widely apparently different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is understood that I do not limit myself to specific embodiments herein.

What I claim is:

Apparatus for controlling the degree of density and amount of aeration in powdered and granular products as the product is conveyed from a source of supply to a container comprising an axially elongated auger tube housing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening axially spaced from said inlet opening, an auger tube extension slidably mounted on the outlet end of the auger tube housing for selectively varying the effective axial length 'of said auger tube housing, means for retaining said auger tube extension in an axially adjusted position on said auger tube housing, said auger tube housing having a discharge outlet on the end opposite said auger tube housing inlet opening, means connected to the auger tube housing for directing product from the source of supply to said inlet opening and in conjunction with the auger tube housing and anger tube extension providing a closed system from the source of supply to said discharge outlet, means connected to the auger tube housing and extension for supporting said housing and extension at any one of various select adjusted inclined positions, an anger positioned in said housing and having one end portion extending only closely adjacent the outlet opening of the housing for positively conveying product from the inlet opening in a forward direction to said outlet opening, the product axially intermediate the outlet opening and the discharge outlet being forced to the discharge outlet by the product positively conveyed by the auger to said outlet, said auger having an anger screw and an anger shaft extending rearwardly of the auger housing, said support means including means for rotatably mounting the portion of the auger shaft extending rearwardly of the inlet opening, said auger support means and the auger housing comprising the sole structure for rotatably mounting the auger and means connected to the auger shaft to drive said auger.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 759,884 Hart May 17, 1904 2,022,166 Welty Nov. 26, 1935 2,355,711 Dolyniuk Aug. 15, 1944 2,571,637 Weist Oct. 16, 1951 2,613,799 Bawden et al Oct. 14, 1952 2,661,105 Purdy Dec. 1, 1953 2,710,125 Brown June 7, 1955

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