US705222A - Feed apparatus for weighing or packaging machines. - Google Patents

Description

No. 705,222. Patented July 22, I902.

W. H. DOBLE.

FEED APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING UR PACKAGING MACHINES. (Application filed Feb. 14, 1902.

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UNITED STATES,

WILLIAM H. DOBLE, OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO PNEU- MATIC SCALE CORPORATION, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORA- TION OF MAINE.

FEED APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING OR PACKAGING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 705,222, dated July 22, 1902.

Application filed February 14,1902. Serial No. 94,077. (No model-'1 To all whont it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. DOBLE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Quincy, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed Apparatus for Weighing or Packaging Machines, of whichthe following is a specification.

The invention has for its object to provide means for feeding a small uniform stream into a scale-pan or into a receptacle on the scale of a weighing-machine or into a receptacle on a packaging-machine.

Some materials-such as baking-powder, cocoa, and flourdo not flow freely, and with the means of agitation heretofore in use the goods are not delivered with the uniformity of flow necessary to insure an approximately correct weight or quantity. Another objec tion to other forms of agitators in use is that the material is liable to pack or cake and so render them inoperative.

In the invention herein described means are employed for separating a uniformly-constant amount of material during the operation of feeding into the receptacle or scalepan in such manner as to utilize whatever tendency the material may have to packing or caking and so separating and delivering with much greater uniformity than by other methods.

The invention will now be fully described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, and the novel features thereof will.

be particularly set forth in the claims at the close of the specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of a hopper with a stirring device and mechanism for operating the stirrer and other mechanism embodying the invention. elevation of Fig. 1, partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation at right angles to the stirrer-shaft on line 3 3 of Fig. 1 looking to the left.

Referring now to the drawings, the material to be delivered to the package or scalepan is supplied to the hopper l bya spout or other suitable means. In the lower part of the hopper and extending crosswise thereof Fig. 2 is a front above the outlet is a cylindrical chamber 2, in which a stirrer mounted upon and fixed to shaft 3 is caused to revolve. Said shaft may be actuated by means of a sprocket-wheel 4, mounted on the shaft outside the cylindrical chamber 2 and suitable connecting and driving mechanism or by any other suitable means. Thesaid .chamber 2 is open to the hopper above.

The form of stirrer shown in the drawings, and which is the best embodiment of the invention now known to me, consists of paddleblades 5 or bars, fixed in spokes b, radiating from a hub mounted on said shaft 3. These paddle blades are perfectly narrow metal plates carried at the extremities of the spokes, so that there is a wide clearance between the paddles and the shaft.

'Exte'nding crosswise of the outlet of the hopper beneath the stirrer is a gate having a narrow passage 7 and an upturned lip 8 along the edge of the passage. The lip preferably .inclines upward in a direction contrary to the direction of rotation of the stirrer. The gate preferably consists of two plates 9 10, one or both of which are adjustable, so as to vary the width of the opening '7, the lip 8 being formed by turning up the edge of one of the plates. The lip 8 extends up into the path of the radius of movement of the stirrer, and the blades 5 are formed with recesses 11 to afford clearance for the lip and allow a narrowspace between.

Below the slotted gate above described there is preferably another gate or valve, which when closed entirely shuts off passage out from the hopper. The form of valve is not material. consists of two shutters 12 13, mounted on shafts 14 15 and operated through lever 16, rod 17, and suitable mechanism, (not shown,) which may be connected therewith. As the stirrer revolves, the material forms into a cylindrical mass. As this cylindrical mass revolves, it will be engaged by thelip 8, whicl1 will separate a smallportion from the periphery, which will be constantly replenished from the main supply. The separated portion will be swept down through the slot 7 That shown in the drawings and supply a constant fine stream while the stirrer is in motion and the main valve is open.

It is obvious that the stirrer may be varied in form and. that the axis of revolution may be vertical or at an angle and that the lip or scraper 8 may be varied in form and location, the essential features being the moving mass of material and a scraper which removes portions thereof and an exit-passage therefor.

What I claim is 1. In combination with a chute or hopper, a rotary stirrer, a gate to the outlet beneath said stirrer having an opening therethrough and an upturned lip, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a chute or hopper, a gate to the outlet having an opening therethrough, a lip projecting upward from the edge of said opening, and a rotary stirrer whose axis of revolution is crosswise of the hopper above said gate and having stirrerhlades with recesses topermit clearance between the stirrer and said lip, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a chute or hopper,

I a gate to the outlet having an opening therethrough, means of adjusting the said gate to vary the size of opening, a lip projecting upward from at or near the edge of said opening and a rotary stirrer whose axis of revolution is crosswise of the hopper above said gate, substantially as described.

4. In combination with a chute or hopper, a rotary stirrer which rotates the goods in a cylindrical mass and a blade which engages the periphery of the rotating mass and separates iine portions thereof, substantially as described.

5. In combination with a chute or hopper, a stirrer, a gate to the outlet and a lip at the edge of the outlet extending into the path of rotation of the mass of material moved by the stirrer, substantially as described.

6. In combination with a chute or hopper,

means for rotating the material in a cylindrical mass and a scraper which engages the periphery of the rotating mass and separates fine portions thereof, substantially as described.

7. In combination with a chute or hopper, means for rotating within the hopper the material fed therein, an inclined scraper which is adapted to remove from the revolving mass portions thereof, and an outlet-passage for the removed portions, substantially as described.

8. In combination with a chute or hopper, a stirrer-chamber in the lower part of the chute or hopper, a stirrer which rotates on a horizontal axis in said chamber, a valve beneath said stirrer having a graduated passage therethrough, a lip which extends up into the path of the radius of rotation of said stirrer and recesses formed in the stirrer-blades to afford clearance for the said lip, substantially as described.

j 9. In combination with a chute or hopper,

a gate consisting of an adjustable plate or' plates whereby a contracted passage may be produced, a revolving head carrying stirrerblades which revolve insaid hopper, a lip which projects upward from at or near the edge of the opening in said gate and recesses in the stirrer-blades to afford clearance for the said lip, substantially as described.

'10. In combination with a chute or hopper, a gate having a narrow passage therethrough, a rotary stirrer above said gate, a lip which projects upward from at or near the edge of said passage, and a second valve below said first gate which can be entirely closed, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

I WILLIAM H. DOBLE.

WVitnesses:

BLANCHE S. LEVY, WILLIAM A. COPELAND.

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