US3724819A - Apparatus and method for the vibratory feeding of pulverulent and granular materials - Google Patents
Apparatus and method for the vibratory feeding of pulverulent and granular materials Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3724819A US3724819A US00201742A US3724819DA US3724819A US 3724819 A US3724819 A US 3724819A US 00201742 A US00201742 A US 00201742A US 3724819D A US3724819D A US 3724819DA US 3724819 A US3724819 A US 3724819A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- hopper
- pulverulent
- vibratory
- shafts
- granular materials
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- B01J8/00—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes
- B01J8/0015—Feeding of the particles in the reactor; Evacuation of the particles out of the reactor
- B01J8/002—Feeding of the particles in the reactor; Evacuation of the particles out of the reactor with a moving instrument
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D88/00—Large containers
- B65D88/54—Large containers characterised by means facilitating filling or emptying
- B65D88/64—Large containers characterised by means facilitating filling or emptying preventing bridge formation
- B65D88/66—Large containers characterised by means facilitating filling or emptying preventing bridge formation using vibrating or knocking devices
Definitions
- the present invention contemplates that at some frequency peculiar to the particular pulverulent material being handled that material behaves essentially as a liquid, and loses the characteristic of an angle of repose normally associated with it.
- a precise delivery to a plurality of cavities or receivers below a feed hopper is contemplated, it has been found efficient and desirable to transmit the vibratory energy to vanes or dividers of relatively short length within the hopper and disposed closely above the receiving means.
- a six-degree of freedom support is provided for the hopper which is usually flexibly connected to other apparatus.
- Synchronized vibratory systems tend to generate standing waves in pulverulent materials or powders being dispensed, and according to the present invention they are sought in particular to be avoided.
- Standing waves cause dead spots within filling columns which affect the fluid flow of the material.
- the power drive pulley has two grooves of different sizes driving like-sized pulleys on the parallel shafts of the vibrator or shaker mechanism. That causes the platform on which the feed hopper is mounted and hence the hopper itself to have one side shake at one frequency while the opposite side of the hopper is being shaken at another frequency.
- the active portion of the six-degree of freedom hopper is also influenced by the additive and the subtractive frequencies between the two fundamentals.
- the hopper of this invention is vibrated in accordance with the Fourier theory of wave analysis.
- the apparatus of this invention includes a feed hopper for pulverulent and granular materials which may provide a single discharge path or channel or else be divided into two or more such paths at its outlet end. That hopper is mounted through a support plate on four springs, and is vibrated by two shafts carrying eccentric weights and driven by a common power source through a transmission or drive system arranged to cause the shafts to be rotated at different speeds.
- the motor providing the drive is preferably a variable speed motor which is adjusted as to speed so that the hopper is vibrated to cause the pulverulent material within it to fluidize and thus flow essentially as a liquid.
- Intermittent feed is provided by means of a clutch which is operated in response to delivery demand signals provided by the receiving means.
- the present invention may be summarized additionally, at least in part, with reference to its objects, and a number. of those objects are given in the following statements.
- the apparatus of the present invention is not a unidirectional device, but rather is a multi-directional device. That is a significant point on which the present apparatus may be distinguished from many apparatuses of the prior art.
- the clutch means mentioned in one of the aforestated objects is also quite important. Properly controlled, it permits regulation of the amount of pulverulent or granular material flowing from the feed hopper in any particular'run or cycle. That prevents overfilling as well asunderfilling of a receiving means or device, and allows close actual limits to be maintained on the amount of pulverulent or powder material, as predetermined or precalculated, discharged for each filling.
- the present invention effectively permits or causes the substantially fluid movement of materials such as cosmetic powders, pharmaceutical powders, granulated iron ore, foundry sand, milk powders and resinousor plastic powders, to name only a few of many difficult to dispense pulverulent and granular materials amenable to being processed hereby.
- the present invention permits the successful use of feeding channels having high aspect ratios, i.e., plan ratios of length to breadth, such as ratios up to about 5:1.
- it allows successful filling of powder receiving containers having high aspect ratios, or characterized by small-angle corners or cusps or which are otherwise unusually configured.
- An example is a heart-shaped container for cosmetic powder. None of that is possible, at least not easily possible, when traditional means for feeding pulverulent and granular materials are used which do not call for thoroughly randomized fluidization of those materials such as is obtainable through employment of the apparatus and method of the present invention.
- FIG. 1 represents a side view of a preferred embodiment of the vibratory feeder apparatus of this invention, showing in particular a substantial portion of the drive arrangement for the eccentrically weighted shafts and the suspension or support system for the feed hopper;
- FIG. 2 represents a plan view'of the apparatus of FIG. 1 taken along line 22 therein looking in the direction of the arrows with portions of the drive pulley members shown in section to illustrate clearly the two drive systems distinct as to output speeds provided at the eccentrically weighted shafts as developed from a single motor having a selectively variable speed;
- FIG. 3 represents an exploded isometric view of most of the several componentswhich the drive system or systems for the eccentrically weighted shafts comprise;
- FIG. 4 represents a sectional view in side elevation of the electric clutch used in the drive system of the ap paratus of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 5 represents an exploded isometric view of the feed hopper and its spring suspension or support system
- FIG. 6 represents an isometric view of the feed hopper and its support plate showing in particular the two eccentrically weighted shafts actuated by the drive system and mounted in bearingson the hopper support plate, a portion of the hopper being broken away to show an internal divider arrangement for separating the pulverulent material discharge from the hopper into four streams;
- FIG. 7 represents an isometric view of the motor support and drive shaft arrangement for providing differential speeds to the eccentrically weighted shafts
- FIG. 8 represents a sectional view in slightly enlarged scale taken along line 88 in FIG. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows of the drive pulley and the belt drives or driving belts providing the two positively different speeds of the eccentrically weighted shafts;
- FIG. 9 represents an isometric view of the feed hopper and its support plate, the hopper being partly broken away;
- FIG. 10 represents a plan view of the hopper of FIG. 6 but including an internal divider arrangement for separating the pulverulent material discharge from the hopper into two streams;
- FIG. 11 represents an isometric view of the divider device used to achieve the two-stream division of pulverulent material discharge according to the hopper arrangement of FIG. 10',
- FIG. 12 represents a plan view of the feed hopper of FIG. 9 but including an internal divider arrangement for separating the pulverulent material discharge from the hopper into three streams;
- FIG. 13 represents an isometric view of the divider device used to achieve the three-stream division of pulverulent material discharge according to the hopper arrangement of FIG. 12, and
- FIG. 14 represents a front or face view of the vibratory feeder apparatus of the present invention mounted as part of a cosmetic powder godet filling and pressing apparatus.
- a supply hopper supported by means not shown in detail is joined by means of a flexible collar 21 to a vibratory feed hopper 22 mounted to be moved or shaken in six degrees of freedom according to Fourier principles as aforedescribed.
- Attached to and extending normally outwardly from hopper 22 fairly close to the lower end thereof is a flange-like support plate 23 which is mounted resiliently upon four coil-wound compression springs 24.
- Those springs in turn rest upon a foundation plate 26 which is slidably mounted in grooves defined in side block portions 27 of a base 28.
- Four spacers 30 are provided for the support and positioning of that base from apparatus which uses or further processes the pulverulent and/or granular material dispensed by the vibratory feeder.
- An electric motor 32 is carried by a bracket 34 which is supported by and attached to a mounting block 35 in turn attached to'foundationplate 26.
- a shaft housing 36 is carried by and attached to mounting block 35 and rotatably retains drive shaft 38 at an established distance above plate 26.
- A,single-groove pulley 40v mounted on motor shaft. 41 is disposed to accommodate a round belt 42 which rotates or drives another single-groove pulley 44 carried on the right end of drive shaft 38.
- An electrically actuated clutch 46 is also carried on drive shaft 38, and is disposed to engage and disengage the driving force available to be imparted to shaft 38 from and by the rotation of pulley 44.
- a doublegroove pulley 48 is shown mounted on the left end of drive shaft 38, and it is driven by that shaft.
- the grooves in pulley 48 are of at least somewhat different pitch diameters, and are disposed to drive round belts 49 and 50 at different rates of linear speed.
- Those belts pass respectively around pulleys 52 and 53 which are identical and are turned at different angular speeds because of the difference between the linear speeds of their driving belts.
- Pulley 52 and 53 are respectively mounted on and impose rotation upon identical shafts 55 and 56 which are carried in pairs of bearing blocks 58 located on the upper surface of hopper support plate 23.
- FIG. 3 there is shown the drive for the vibratory feeder which originates with variable speed motor 32. Thatmotor itself is set to run at a selected speed through control means not shown.
- Motor shaft 41 carries flywheel-47 and pulley 40 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), and belt 42 extends from driving pulley 40 to driven pulley 44;
- Electrically actuated clutch 46 is carried on shaft 38 and is disposed to the right of shaft housing 36.
- Sleeve bearings 61 and 62 are press fitted into counterbored regions at the ends of bore 63 in housing 36, and are sized to rotatably retain shaft 38.
- Pulley 48 has two grooves of different pitch diameters as aforesaid, and is mounted on the left end of shaft 38 and is rotated with that shaft when clutch 46 is engaged.
- Shafts 55 and 56 are each carried on a pair of aligned bearing blocks 58. Shouldered sleeve bearings 65 are press fitted into bores 66 formed in those blocks.
- Pulley 52 is fixed to shaft 55 near its right end, and pulley 53 which is identical in dimensions to pulley 52 although turned to the opposite hand from it is fixed to shaft 56 near the right end thereof.
- Belt 49 passes around pulley 48 and pulley 52, while belt 50 passes around pulley 48 and pulley 53.
- Belt 49 runs in the right hand groove of pulley 48 while belt 50 runs in the left hand groove of that pulley.
- the right hand groove of pulley 48 is considered to have a somewhat smaller pitch diameter than the left hand groove.
- Two eccentric weights 60 are mounted on shaft 55 with one weight located fairly close to each end of that shaft. Those weights are oriented selectively to provide such intensity or amplitude of vibration as may be required to provide satisfactory fiuidic or liquid-like flow of the particular pulverulent material being handled. Two eccentric weights 60 are also mounted on shaft 56 and oriented thereon according to the same principle or object.
- the electric clutch assembly shown in detail therein includes a flanged end 70 which is attached by screws to shaft housing 36. Within that end there is a magnet coil 72. Coil leads 74 and 75 extend through and from the flanged end and are connected to a electrical control system not shown.
- Drive flange 76 is carried by and secured to shaft 38,and imparts rotative torque to that shaft when the clutch is engaged.
- Pulley 44 has bushings or bearings 78 and 79 press fitted into. it, and those bushings have a free running fit on shaft 38.
- a clutch ring or clutch face 81 is mounted on a thin spring plate or spring disc 82 V fastened to the left hand or hub portion of bushing 78.
- pulley 44, bushings 78 and 79, clutch ring 81 and spring disc 82 turn as a unit as they are driven by motor 32 through pulley 40 and belt 42.
- a nut 85 and washer 86 on shaft 38 serve to retain pulley 44 and its associated parts on that shaft, at least so far as any undue rightward movement of them is concerned.
- clutch ring 81 will be held in torque-transmitting engagement with shaft drive flange 76 and through it'with shaft 38 so long as magnet coil 72 is energized.
- clutch ring 81 will be held in torque-transmitting engagement with shaft drive flange 76 and through it'with shaft 38 so long as magnet coil 72 is energized.
- shaft 38 will come to rest, actually: practically at once because of the load on it, while motor 32, pulley 40, belt 42, pulley 44 and the parts associated with the last-mentioned pulley may all continue to turn or run.
- the structure and the mode of operation of clutch 46 have been illustrated and described in some detail, but only for purposes of example and to show the function of the clutch in association with other apparatus components. No novelty or invention is asserted to reside in the particular clutch disclosed, and in an actual reduction to practice of the present invention a commercially obtained and obtainable clutch has been employed. 7
- foundation plate 26 which carries vibratory feed hopper 22, support plate 23, motor bracket, 34 and other parts illustrated and described earlier, is of such thickness and width to be slidably received and retained for about half its length in grooves 90 and 91 defined in side block portions 27 of base 28.
- the fouridentical spacers 30 extending below base 28 are of rigid material, for example metal, and their length is such to give proper vertical location to the feeder assembly with respect to the apparatus below it with which itisoperatively associated.
- Fastening devices not shown pass through base 28 near the ends of the side block portions thereof, then through spacers 30 and into the associated apparatus.
- there is a turntable provided with apertures and otherwise configured to convey receptacles, specifically cosmetic powder godets, to be filled with pulverulent material.
- That turntable is supported closely above and driven through a stationary plate extending horizontally beyond the periphery of the turntable and upon which spacers 30 rest in attached relationship, with the portion of foundation plate 26 not directly above base plate 28 so oriented to overhang the turntable.
- one edge of base plate 28 is of arcuate contour. That edge has essentially the curvature of the periphery of the turntable adjacent it, and the upper surface of the base plate is essentially flush with the upper surface of the turntable.
- Foundation plate 26 and all of the mechanism attached onto and above it may be removed from the turntable and other components of the overall godet filling apparatus by sliding it to the right through and out of grooves and 91 in base plate side blocks portions 27 according to the disposition of parts in FIG. 5 and indeed in other Figures such as FIGS. 1 and 2.
- a gasket 100 discussed hereinafter which extends below foundation plate 26 in the normally overhanging region thereof to bear at least slightly compressively on the turntable will simply wipe directly across the adjacently flush surface of base plate 28.
- Reinstallation of foundation plate 26 and the mechanism which it carries may be effected simply by just the reverse method, that-is, by sliding that plate into grooves 90 and 91 from the right moving to the left until the correct overhang of plate 26 with respect to the turntable is achieved.
- Positive fastening means for plate 26 in grooves 90 and 91 preferably are provided, although if that plate have a snug sliding fit in those grooves it will tend generally to remain in the location in which it is placed relative to fixed structure such as.
- the lower end of the hopper may extend into aperture 104 without coming into contact with the defining surfaces thereof.
- the assembly of feed hopper 22 and its support plate 23 may move or be moved resiliently with up and down, side to side and end to end motions intranslation and oscillated about X-, Y- and Z-axes in rotation to perform motion in six degrees of freedom with respect to foundation plate 26.
- a gasket 100 of foam rubber or other material of at least a semi-flexible and resilient nature extends through foundation plate aperture 104 and surrounds the extreme lower portion of feed hopper 22 including its outlet end or discharge region.
- the gasket is held down by four clips or brackets 102 attached to plate 26 around aperture 104. Those clips bear on the gaskets upper surface.
- the lower surface of the gasket which is below the discharge end of hopper 22 is disposed to have rubbing contact with the aforementioned tumtable under some noticeable contact pressure so that the gasket is compressed vertically at least slightly.
- the gasket provides a seal against that material spreading out laterally on the turntable. It also seals against such material rising up around the outside of the hopper.
- feed hopper 22 is vibrated and moves with six degrees of freedom its lower end is changing position and orientation continuously if onlyslightly with respect not only to foundation plate 26 but also any turntable below that plate.
- the compression in gasket 100 as installed, however, is such that both aforementioned seals are maintained steadily even as the hopper is vibrated by rotation of the eccentric weight shafts 55 and 56 mounted on support plate 23.
- vibratory feed hopper 22 appears with a substantial portion of it above support plate 23 broken away to show certain interior arrangements of the hopper. A portion of the support plate is broken away also.
- Bearing blocks 58 are mounted on plate 23 and carry shafts 55 and 56 which in turn carry eccentric weights 60.
- Motor 32 supported on bracket 34 drives the eccentric weight shafts through belts 49 and 50, and a portion of belt 50 is visible behind the hopper.
- Eccentric weights 60 mounted on shaft 56 are shown as being oriented at approximately 90 to each other. That orientation is used only for purposes of illustration and example and not of limitation.
- hopper 22 is disposed to feed pulverulent material into four grouped oblong apertures 110 (see also FIG. 2) defined in structure or apparatus not further illustrated. That apparatus may, however, be taken to be the turntable mentioned earlier, and the apertures considered as being formed in the turntable itself or else representing the interior boundaries of cosmetic powder godets or other pulverulent material receiving means set within apertures in the turntable.
- a divider 112 of relatively stiff but still resilient material for example spring steel, is mounted within hopper 22 and configured to separate or divide the lower, discharge end of the hopper effectively into four parallel passageways.
- the divider is of a rectangular S configuration and is attached at its reversals to opposite interior surfaces of the hopper.
- the end elements of the divider are slightly shorter than the interior dimension of the hopper parallel to shafts 55 and 56 (see FIG. 2) leaving those elements free to vibrate somewhat in the nature of tuning fork prongs or cantilevers. Screws or bolts 1 14 pass through clear holes 1 16 (see FIG.
- electric motor 32 preferably a variable speed motor
- shafts 55 and 56 with their eccentric weights 60 are being rotated at at least deterrninably different speeds. Vibrations will be imposed upon support plate 23 and feed hopper 22 and through the hopper upon divider 112, especially the free end elements thereof.
- the divider end elements may be made to vibrate significantly within the hopper, their individual vibrations being in addition to the gross vibration of the hopper itself.
- the vibrations of the end elements of divider 112 will assist in achieving and maintaining fluidity of the material in that hopper, and particularly aid in establishing full and even flow rates of all four streams of pulverulent material being discharged from the hopper into apertures 110 to assure uniform filling of those recesses or apertures or any receiving means set within them.
- Belt 42 running up to and down from motor output pulley 40 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) has a round cross section and preferably is made of rubber or some other elastomeric material, and is installed between motor pulley 40 and pulley 44 on shaft 38 with some amount of static tension.
- Shaft 38 is rotatably supported in housing 36 and drives double-groove pulley 48 at its end distant from pulley 44 only when electrically actuated clutch 46 is engaged as aforexplained.
- Pulley 48 drives both of the eccentric weight shaft belts 49 and 50 running to pulleys 52 and 53 on shafts 55 and 56 respectively.
- the concerned belts are both shown fragmentarily in FIG. 7 and similarly to motor output belt 42 each one is preferably installed with some amount of static. tension.
- FIG. 8 in particular shows that the groove in pulley 48 for belt 49 has a smaller pitch diameter than the groove therein for belt 50. That difference in pitch diameters causes the linear speed of belt 49 to be less that that of belt 50 with the further result that eccentric weight shaft 55 is driven at least somewhat slower than eccentric weight shaft 56, it being assumed that shaft pulleys 52 and 53 have essentially identical pitch diameters.
- FIGS. 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 there are shown divider arrangements for vibratory feed hopper 22 (FIG. 9) which may be employed when the fluidized pulverulent material issuing from it isdesired to be discharged as two streams in one case and-three streams in another case.
- FIG. illustrates that twostream arrangement using a separatoror divider device 120 which appears by itself in FIG. 11. That device has a transverse or dividing segment or portion 121 and end pieces or attachment flanges 122 and 123, flange 122 having an'upward extension. There are elongated holes 124 and 125 in the flanges through which may be passed screws 114 whichhave passed already through holes 1 16 in opposite walls of feed hopper 22. Nuts 1 are applied onto those screws.
- the feed hopper maybe fitted with either a four-stream divider 112 (FIGS. 2 and 6) or a two-stream divider 120 (FIG. 10) without change in the hopper itself.
- FIG. 12 illustrates the three-stream arrangement using a separator or divider device 130 which appears by itself in FIG. 13. That device has transverse or dividing segments 131 and 134 and end pieces or at tachment flanges 132 and 135 characterized respectively by elongated holes 133 and 136 for the passage of attachment screws 114 from feed hopper wall holes 116. Segment 131 is free at one end and may be vibrated as a cantilever similarly to the free segments of divider 112. Some vibration, although less, may be imposed upon or generated in divider segment 134 which will behave as a resilient panel anchored at opposite ends but with free edges therebetween permitting some flexure. The same situation obtains for segment 121 of two-stream divider device 120 as well as for the central one of the three parallel segments of four-stream divider device 112.
- the vibratory feeder apparatus of the present invention appears fragmentarily at the left-hand side of an overall apparatus for the filling and pressing of cosmetic powder godets.
- the view of FIG. 14 is taken in elevation, and not all apparatus elements shown therein are at the same distance from the viewer.
- the vibratory feeder apparatus including supply hopper 20, flexible collar 21, feed hopper 22 and springs 24 particularly designated is in the foreground while mechanisms and assemblies or sub-assemblies to the right thereof are in the background.
- the representation of the feeder apparatus is somewhat skeletonized or diagrammatic as well as being fragmented; that is, the motor and various other drive and vibration elements such as belts, weights and pulleyshave been omitted to permit other elements or mechanisms to be shown clearly.
- Supply hopper 20 is attached by brackets 140 and 141 to back plate 142, and its joint with or passage into feed hopper 22 is sealed by flexible collar 21 which allows the supply hopper to remain essentially stationary while the feed hopper is being vibrated.
- the flexible collar serves as an insulator to prevent transmission of much vibration from feed hopper 22 to supply hopper 20 while still maintaining a continuous, laterally sealed passage for pulverulent material, i.e., cosmetic powder, from one hopper into the other.
- the substantial rigidity of the supply hopper does not significantly impair the vibratory freedom of the feed hopper.
- Feed hopper 22 of course performs vibratory motion in six degrees of freedom on springs 24 upon motor 32 being energized with resulting rotation of eccentric weights 60.
- Loose, fluidized powder is delivered steadily from the bottom of the feed hopper through aperture 104 in foundation plate 26 and into one or more godets, for example four godets, disposed in and below openings or apertures 110 in turntable 144, that turntable being particularly designated and seen along its edge in FIG. 14.
- godets for example four godets, disposed in and below openings or apertures 110 in turntable 144, that turntable being particularly designated and seen along its edge in FIG. 14.
- a strip of material 146 permeable by air, silk being an especially suitable material, is fed from a supply roll 148 mounted on the back plate to and around a plurality of rollers and/or idlers similarly mounted, and from them is passed to and below a pressing station or apparatus 150. From there strip 146, taken to be a silk stn'p, is led around other rollers and/or idlers until it reaches and is wound up on takeup roll 152.
- the function of the silk strip is one well known in the art, namely, to serve as means through which air may escape from initially loose cosmetic powder in a godet or godets when that powder is pressed or compacted.
- Strip 146 must be advanced toward takeup roll or reel 152 occasionally to prevent it from becoming blinded" by the pulverulent material against which it is pressed.
- the rate of advance of the silk will be-a function at least in part of the: nature of the pulverulent material or cosmetic powder being compacted. It will have to be advanced more rapidly, that is, kept fresher in way of the pressing apparatus, the higher the oil or wax content of the powders. Powders which are essentially dry, that is, have very little oil content, will have minimal tendency to adhere to and blind the silk.
- a strip of silk which has been wound up entirely onto takeup roll 152 may be removed from the apparatus altogether for cleaning and then be reinstalled at roll 148.
- Electric motor 32 is operated at the speed required to rotate eccentrically weighted shafts 55 and 56 at their speeds necessary for the achieving of a fluidizing frequency of vibration at and in the feed hopper and its powder contents which are replenished as required through supply hopper to maintain a proper level of powder within feed hopper 22.
- Flywheel 47 of steadily operating motor 32 insures that when clutch 46 is energized and engaged at the initiation of a vibratory or powder feeding period the motor is not slowed down significantly as the starting load of the eccentrically weighted shafts and their intermediate drive train comes onto it, nor allowed to speed up unduly when clutch 46 is deenergized and disengaged relieving the motor of most of its running load.
- a vibra tor driving motor i.e., electric motor 32 or its equivalent
- the characteristics which make it resistant to flow may change on account of inconsistencies of compounding or blending, changes in temperature and/or humidity, etc.
- the fluidic vibratory frequency or blend of frequencies may change necessitating a change in motor speed.
- the motor might be operated at a constant speed and a variable ratio transmission device or devices used in the power train or drive system to eccentrically weighted shafts 55 and 56.
- Weights 60 are oriented eccentrically on those shafts in relative angular attitudes determined experimentally to achieve optimum or at least a satisfactory fluidizing effect in the particular pulverulent material or powder being handled.
- the actual mass and extent of eccentricity of individual weights 60 are themselves variables, and in a given situation will be influenced by the mass of the feed hopper and its associated parts and contents to be vibrated and by the nature of those contents.
- eccentrically weighted shafts 55 and 56 are driven at different, non-harmonic speeds there is a continuous wandering clash of frequencies and directions and amplitudes of vibration as the feed hopper is vibrated multidirectionally to provide fully randomized fluidization of its contents excluding the formation of standing waves of alternately active and quiescent regions in those contents.
- Motor 32 may drive the eccentrically weighted shafts at speeds from only about a hundred up to several thousand revolutions per minute.
- the weights on a given shaft may be oriented all the way from an essentially aligned condition to one in which they are practically from each other, that is, out of alignment.
- the speed ratio of one shaft to the other may be such as 15:16 or 2:3 but to avoid standing waves shafts 55 and 56 must be rotated not only at different speeds but also at such a ratio of speeds that the higher speed is not an integral multiple of the lower speed.
- pulleys 52 and 53 are said to be of like size and pulley 48 to have grooves of different pitch diameters, it is certainly con templated that pulley 48 may have two grooves of identical pitch diameter with the pulleys 52 and 53 being of different diameters, one with respect to the other.
- shafts 55 and 56 are to be rotated at different speeds within the limitation on speed ratios stated above, that is, no integral multi ple ratios.
- belts, roller chains, gears or other means be provide for driving and speed shifting is only a matter of selection in any particular practical case according to cost, space available, ease of installation, repair and replacement, and level of involvedforce or power transmission, to name some considerations.
- Apparatus for the vibratory feeding of pulverulent and granular materials comprising 1 a hopper disposed to be supplied with and at least transiently contain pulverulent and granular materials and characterized by a lower end in which there is an outlet opening through which such materials may be discharged; (2) resilient support means for said hopper so configured to permit the hopper to be vibrated in six degrees of free movement, and (3) means for imposing multi-directional vibration randomized as to frequency upon said hopper and through it upon granular and pulverulent material contents thereof causing said contents tobe fluidized at vibratory frequencies and a sum and difference thereof appropriate to such material whereby said material is induced to feed to and discharge from said outlet opening of said hopper in an essentially liquid-like manner.
- Apparatus for the vibratory feeding of pulverulent and granular materials comprising l) a hopper disposed to be supplied: with and at least transiently contain pulverulent and granular materials and characterized .by a lower end in which there is an outlet opening through which such materials may be discharged; (2) resilient support means for said hopper so configured to permit the hopper to be vibrated in six degrees of free movement; (3) at least twoeccentrically weighted shafts; (4) bearing mountings wherein saidshafts are rotatably supported, said mountings being disposed in essentially fixed, force-transmitting relationship to said hopper and amenable to vibrate and be vibrated with said hopper in its several degrees of free movement, and (5) means for rotating said shafts simultaneously at speeds positively different from shaft to shaft, but with neither speed being an integral multiple of the other speed, whereby on account of forces generated by the eccentric weighting of said shafts at least two different frequencies of vibration are imposed at once upon said hopper and through it upon granular and
- said resilient support means comprise(l) a support plate fixed on said hopper and extending outwardly therefrom; (2) a foundation plate below said support plate, and (3) a plurality of springs disposed between said foundation plate and said support plate, and in which said bearing mountings for said eccentrically weighted shafts are located on said support plate.
- said means forrotating said eccentrically weighted shafts comprise (l) a variable speed motor, and (2) a power train whereby said motor is connected to both of said shafts, said power train including pulley means characterized by belt grooves of different pitch diameters associated onediameter with the immediate drive.
- Apparatus for the vibratory feeding of pulverulent and granular materials in which said means for rotating said eccentrically weighted shafts comprise (l) a variable speed motor, and (2) a power train whereby said motor is connected to both of said shafts, said power train including a selectively engageable and disengageable clutch by means of which said motor may be allowed to run continuously while said eccentrically weighted shafts are caused to be rotated and said hopper and its contents vibrated only for limited and chosen periods of time.
- Apparatus for the vibratory feeding of pulverulent and granular materials according to claim 2, said apparatus further comprising divider means within said hopper near said outlet opening thereof whereby material discharging from said hopper is separated into at least two streams, said divider means being of resilient material and susceptible to being vibrated along with said hopper and the contents thereof whereby additional vibration is imposed upon and additional fluidization is achieved in such contents.
- Apparatus for the vibratory feeding of pulverulent and granular materials according to claim 6 in which said divider means includes at least one dividing element free at one end and disposed to vibrate and be vibrated as a cantilever.
- Method for the vibratory feeding of pulverulent and granular materials comprising the steps of l) imposing. a multi-directional vibration randomized as to frequency upon a body of such material, and (2) adjusting said vibration with respect to range of frequencies until the fluidic frequency-0f the material is reached and the concerned body thereof is fluidized and rendered amenable to feeding and discharging in an essentially liquidlike manner.
- Method for the vibratory feeding of pulverulent and granular materials comprising the steps of l imposing a first vibratory frequency upon a body of such material; (2) simultaneously imposing a second vibratory frequency upon said body of material, said second vibratory frequency being different from said first vibratory frequency and neither frequency being an integral multiple of the other frequency, and (3) adjusting said first and second frequencies and maintaining a difference between them until the fluidic frequency of the material is reached and the concerned body thereof is fluidized and rendered amenable to feeding and discharging in an essentially liquidlike manner.
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (12)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US20174271A | 1971-11-24 | 1971-11-24 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3724819A true US3724819A (en) | 1973-04-03 |
Family
ID=22747095
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US00201742A Expired - Lifetime US3724819A (en) | 1971-11-24 | 1971-11-24 | Apparatus and method for the vibratory feeding of pulverulent and granular materials |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3724819A (en) |
Cited By (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4207005A (en) * | 1977-09-02 | 1980-06-10 | Stanfield Charles E | Pronged vibrator |
EP0116196A2 (en) * | 1983-02-04 | 1984-08-22 | General Kinematics Corporation | Bin activator apparatus |
DE3500173A1 (en) * | 1984-01-04 | 1985-07-11 | Outboard Marine Corp., Waukegan, Ill. | MOLDING DEVICE |
US4614436A (en) * | 1984-02-15 | 1986-09-30 | Setterberg Lars I | Method of vibrating bulk material in moulds |
US4636086A (en) * | 1984-02-15 | 1987-01-13 | Setterberg Lars I | Vibrator equipped with fastening device |
US4966204A (en) * | 1989-01-26 | 1990-10-30 | Pedigo Roy G | Carbon filter tray filling machine and method |
AT402975B (en) * | 1995-08-07 | 1997-10-27 | Joanneum Research Forschungsge | OPTICAL MEASURING DEVICE FOR MEASURING POWDER FLOW IN A PIPE |
US6149292A (en) * | 1995-08-25 | 2000-11-21 | Sidmar N.V. | Oscillating table, in particular for use in a continuous casting machine |
US20110183049A1 (en) * | 2010-01-27 | 2011-07-28 | Stephan Dieter Simbuerger | Device And A Process For Continuously Feeding Chocolate Ingredients As Well As A System And A Process For Producing A Chocolate Mass |
US20110240671A1 (en) * | 2007-05-10 | 2011-10-06 | Mcdiarmid James Frances | Discharging material from hoppers and the like |
CN102410720A (en) * | 2011-10-10 | 2012-04-11 | 新兴河北工程技术有限公司 | Shaking chute for dryer feeding |
US20190145746A1 (en) * | 2017-11-13 | 2019-05-16 | Hornady Manufacturing Company | Vibratory powder trickler |
EP4147837A1 (en) * | 2021-09-10 | 2023-03-15 | Fette Compacting GmbH | Feeding system for feeding powder material and system for continuous production of solid dosage forms |
US11628475B2 (en) | 2015-07-03 | 2023-04-18 | Kinergy Corporation | Vibrating screen feeder process |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2905365A (en) * | 1956-06-08 | 1959-09-22 | Thayer Scale Corp | Fluent material agitator |
-
1971
- 1971-11-24 US US00201742A patent/US3724819A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2905365A (en) * | 1956-06-08 | 1959-09-22 | Thayer Scale Corp | Fluent material agitator |
Cited By (18)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4207005A (en) * | 1977-09-02 | 1980-06-10 | Stanfield Charles E | Pronged vibrator |
EP0116196A2 (en) * | 1983-02-04 | 1984-08-22 | General Kinematics Corporation | Bin activator apparatus |
EP0116196A3 (en) * | 1983-02-04 | 1984-11-07 | General Kinematics Corporation | Bin activator apparatus |
DE3500173A1 (en) * | 1984-01-04 | 1985-07-11 | Outboard Marine Corp., Waukegan, Ill. | MOLDING DEVICE |
US4600046A (en) * | 1984-01-04 | 1986-07-15 | Outboard Marine Corporation | Molding apparatus and process including sand compaction system |
US4614436A (en) * | 1984-02-15 | 1986-09-30 | Setterberg Lars I | Method of vibrating bulk material in moulds |
US4636086A (en) * | 1984-02-15 | 1987-01-13 | Setterberg Lars I | Vibrator equipped with fastening device |
US4966204A (en) * | 1989-01-26 | 1990-10-30 | Pedigo Roy G | Carbon filter tray filling machine and method |
AT402975B (en) * | 1995-08-07 | 1997-10-27 | Joanneum Research Forschungsge | OPTICAL MEASURING DEVICE FOR MEASURING POWDER FLOW IN A PIPE |
US6149292A (en) * | 1995-08-25 | 2000-11-21 | Sidmar N.V. | Oscillating table, in particular for use in a continuous casting machine |
US20110240671A1 (en) * | 2007-05-10 | 2011-10-06 | Mcdiarmid James Frances | Discharging material from hoppers and the like |
US20110183049A1 (en) * | 2010-01-27 | 2011-07-28 | Stephan Dieter Simbuerger | Device And A Process For Continuously Feeding Chocolate Ingredients As Well As A System And A Process For Producing A Chocolate Mass |
CN102410720A (en) * | 2011-10-10 | 2012-04-11 | 新兴河北工程技术有限公司 | Shaking chute for dryer feeding |
US11628475B2 (en) | 2015-07-03 | 2023-04-18 | Kinergy Corporation | Vibrating screen feeder process |
US20190145746A1 (en) * | 2017-11-13 | 2019-05-16 | Hornady Manufacturing Company | Vibratory powder trickler |
US10563966B2 (en) * | 2017-11-13 | 2020-02-18 | Hornady Manufacturing Company | Vibratory powder trickler |
EP4147837A1 (en) * | 2021-09-10 | 2023-03-15 | Fette Compacting GmbH | Feeding system for feeding powder material and system for continuous production of solid dosage forms |
WO2023036677A1 (en) * | 2021-09-10 | 2023-03-16 | Fette Compacting Gmbh | Feeding system for feeding powder material and system for continuous production of solid dosage forms |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US3724819A (en) | Apparatus and method for the vibratory feeding of pulverulent and granular materials | |
US3358815A (en) | Vibratory apparatus | |
US2800252A (en) | Powder-feeding apparatus | |
US2381802A (en) | Dry chemical feeder | |
US6907981B2 (en) | Conveyer assembly for a produce packaging system | |
US6196278B1 (en) | Powder filling utilizing vibrofluidization | |
GB1327165A (en) | Gravity feed hoppers | |
JPH072503Y2 (en) | Powder feeder | |
US5301844A (en) | Dry solids materials feeder with vibrating mechanism and a method of vibrating various component parts of the feeder | |
US3788449A (en) | Novel vibratory conveyor | |
US3687420A (en) | Device for mixing granular and/or pulverized bulk material | |
US2771179A (en) | Oscillating feeders | |
US2619261A (en) | Volumetric feeder | |
IE912433A1 (en) | Device for the metering of granular or powdered products and¹method of mixing raw rubbers using this device | |
US3261592A (en) | Vibratory hopper | |
US3297304A (en) | Vibratory conveyor-mixer apparatus | |
US20220347922A1 (en) | Device and method for depositing a granular material in additive manufacture | |
US3719290A (en) | Discharge head for a bin,especially a bulk metering bin | |
US6470737B1 (en) | Device for metering flowable products | |
US1907721A (en) | Feeding device for solid substances | |
US3622018A (en) | Apparatus for providing mass flow of stored material | |
US3472431A (en) | Sonic method and apparatus for facilitating gravity flow of granular material | |
US2979799A (en) | Roller press for the briquetting of ore, coal or similar material | |
US4569436A (en) | Apparatus for conveying particulate solids | |
US2947181A (en) | Resonant vibration exciter |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SAUDI INTERNATIONAL BANK, AL-BANK AL-SAUDI AL-ALAM Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:STERLING, INC.;WABASH METAL PRODUCTS, INC.;FRED S. CARVER, INC.;REEL/FRAME:004674/0199;SIGNING DATES FROM |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF MINNEAPOLIS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:STERLING, INC.;REEL/FRAME:004749/0028 Effective date: 19870527 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: HOUSEHOLD COMMERICAL FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., ILL Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:FRED A. CARVER, INC.;REEL/FRAME:004894/0001 Effective date: 20051012 Owner name: HOUSEHOLD COMMERICAL FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., 270 Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:FRED A. CARVER, INC.;REEL/FRAME:004894/0001 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: FRED S. CARVER, INC. Free format text: CANCELLATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS;ASSIGNOR:HOUSEHOLD COMMERCIAL FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.;REEL/FRAME:007408/0295 Effective date: 19950302 Owner name: FRED S. CARVER, INC. Free format text: CANCELLATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS;ASSIGNOR:SAUDI INTERNATIONAL BANK, AL-BANK AL-SAUDI AL-ALAMI LIMITED;REEL/FRAME:007408/0291 Effective date: 19950303 Owner name: FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, THE Free format text: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ASSIGNMENT;ASSIGNOR:FRED S. CARVER, INC.;REEL/FRAME:007408/0299 Effective date: 19950307 |