WO2002024348A1 - Apparatus for optimizing the operation of a bucket feeder - Google Patents

Apparatus for optimizing the operation of a bucket feeder Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2002024348A1
WO2002024348A1 PCT/FI2001/000812 FI0100812W WO0224348A1 WO 2002024348 A1 WO2002024348 A1 WO 2002024348A1 FI 0100812 W FI0100812 W FI 0100812W WO 0224348 A1 WO0224348 A1 WO 0224348A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
bucket feeder
feeder
bucket
conveyor
material flow
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/FI2001/000812
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Pekka Kokko
Original Assignee
Andritz Oy
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Andritz Oy filed Critical Andritz Oy
Priority to AU2001289967A priority Critical patent/AU2001289967A1/en
Publication of WO2002024348A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002024348A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07B—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS BY SIEVING, SCREENING, SIFTING OR BY USING GAS CURRENTS; SEPARATING BY OTHER DRY METHODS APPLICABLE TO BULK MATERIAL, e.g. LOOSE ARTICLES FIT TO BE HANDLED LIKE BULK MATERIAL
    • B07B11/00—Arrangement of accessories in apparatus for separating solids from solids using gas currents
    • B07B11/06—Feeding or discharging arrangements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07B—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS BY SIEVING, SCREENING, SIFTING OR BY USING GAS CURRENTS; SEPARATING BY OTHER DRY METHODS APPLICABLE TO BULK MATERIAL, e.g. LOOSE ARTICLES FIT TO BE HANDLED LIKE BULK MATERIAL
    • B07B4/00—Separating solids from solids by subjecting their mixture to gas currents
    • B07B4/02—Separating solids from solids by subjecting their mixture to gas currents while the mixtures fall

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an apparatus for optimizing the operation of a bucket feeder in such a way that, regardless of quantitative fluctuations in a material flow arriving in the bucket feeder and containing chips, sawdust or bark or combinations thereof, the bucket feeder is exploited over its entire width.
  • the quantity of a material flow arriving in a bucket feeder may fluctuate over a wide range. Regardless of this, it is important that the bucket feeder be contin- uously filled over its entire width and will thus be optimally exploited.
  • the arrangement in an apparatus of the invention is such that, and an apparatus of the invention is characterized in that above the bucket feeder lie one or more conveyors, which are adapted to spread the material flow across the entire width of the bucket feeder, and that the end of said conveyor furthermost in an advancing direction has its vicinity provided with one or more sensors, which identify the amount of material at this particular point and, on the basis of this, provide an instruction for increasing, decreasing, or maintaining the bucket feeder's rotational speed.
  • the conveyor comprises preferably a screw conveyor.
  • other open- bottom conveyors are also possible.
  • the conveyor has its end pro- vided with an opening for delivering peaks of material flow out of the apparatus.
  • the arrangement involves the provision of one or more sensors identifying the amount of material, which provide an instruction for increasing or decreasing the conveyor's speed whenever the value reported by at least one sensor differs from a predeter- mined value.
  • This solution is for equalizing or levelling out the irregularity of a material distribution caused by a transient deficiency of material, depending on the amount of material, either across the entire width of the bucket feeder or at least as extensively as possible across its width.
  • Fig. 1 shows in a diagrammatic vertical section an apparatus for sorting wood chips in a closed processing chamber by the application of an impulse action.
  • Fig. 2 shows a section along a line ll-ll in fig. 1.
  • Fig. 3 shows a section along a line Ill-Ill in fig. 2.
  • Fig. 1 shows schematically an apparatus for sorting wood chips 1 in separate fractions. Fines particles 13, possibly contained in the wood chips 1, are sorted out to form a separate fraction and individual chips 11 , 12 are determined by the thickness thereof as excess thickness chips 11 (reject) and accepted chips 12 (accept).
  • the apparatus comprises a feeder 6 for supplying the wood chips 1 onto a sloping support surface 2 for a substantially single layer.
  • the individual chips 11 , 12 settle in a natural way on the support surface 2 to rest upon the largest surface thereof, i.e. in the case of wood chips, upon the longitudinal/lateral surface thereof.
  • the support surface 2 is a solid, plain, and durable flat surface, which forms a steeply sloping slide surface for the wood chips 1 to be sorted.
  • the wood chips 1 emerging from the feeder 6 are first adapted to slide down the sloping support surface 2 and then over a slit 3 arranged across the support surface, said slit being adapted to deliver an impulse action 4 directed away from said support surface 2 and applied to one or more chips 11, 12 or fines particles 13 presently in line with the slit.
  • the impulse action is adapted to be produced by means of a gas flow 4, preferably an air flow.
  • the impulse action 4 may have a direction which is perpendicular to the support surface 2, or also at an oblique angle relative to the support surface 2.
  • the air flow is generated by a fan 7.
  • a nozzle chamber 8 is arranged between the fan 7 and the slit 3.
  • the varying thickness chips 11, 12 and the eventual fines particles 13 are adapted to be separated from each other along various trajectories defined by the impulse action 4 for the particles to be sorted.
  • a pressure-generated impulse sends the individual chips 11 , 12 flying in different trajectories defined by a chip thickness, and the flow of chips is divided in separate fractions by means of a separating wall 5.
  • the averagely minimum thickness chips 12 fly over the separating wall 5 and are further guided to a discharge screw 10. Respectively, the averagely maximum thickness chips fly a shorter distance and fall into a feeder 6' present between the separating wall 5 and the slit 3.
  • the averagely maximum thickness chips 11 received in the feeder 6' are reprocessed in a lower second apparatus, whereby a fraction thereof (the averagely lightest fraction) is guided over a separating wall 5' further onto the discharge screw 10, and another fraction (the averagely heavi- est fraction) falls into a chute fitted between the separating wall 5' and the slit 3 and provided with a discharge screw 9.
  • Processing of the wood chips 1 is all in all adapted to take place in a dustproof processing chamber 17.
  • the discharge of air from the chamber 17 is arranged through an opening represented by reference numeral 34.
  • Fig. 2 shows a detail of the feeder 6, particularly a bucket feeder, applied to the apparatus of fig. 1.
  • the presently discussed bucket feeder 6 is not solely intended for an apparatus as depicted in fig. 1 , but can be used elsewhere, as well.
  • a conveyor 23 is mounted above the bucket feeder 6 in order to optimize the operation of the bucket feeder 6 in such a way that, regardless of quantitative fluctuations in a material flow arriving in the bucket feeder and containing chips 11 , 12, sawdust 13 or bark or combinations thereof, the bucket feeder 6 will be exploited over its entire width
  • a conveyor 23 is adapted to spread the material flow 1 across the entire width of the bucket feeder 6.
  • An arrow 24 represents an advancing direc- tion for the conveyor 23.
  • An arrow 35 represents a supply of chips onto the conveyor 23.
  • the transient level of a material flow is represented by a line designated at reference numeral 36.
  • the end of the conveyor 23 furthermost in its advancing direction 24 has its vicinity provided with two sensors 25, 26, which identify the amount of material at this particular point.
  • the identification is effected by means of a control flap 37 pivotably hinged at its top end, the position of said flap being identified by the sensors 25, 26.
  • the sensors 25, 26 deliver an instruction for increasing, decreasing, or maintaining the bucket feeder's 6 rota- tional speed.
  • the conveyor 23 may have its end provided with an opening present at a suitable height, represented in fig. 2 merely by reference numeral 27, through which a transient overload can be discharged in a simple fashion.
  • An essential feature for the operation of the opening 27 is to have its bottom edge set at a suitable height.
  • the irregularity of a material distribution caused by a transient deficiency of material can be equalized or levelled out, depending on the amount of material, either across the entire width of the bucket feeder 6 or at least as extensively as possible across its width, by providing of one or more sensors 28, 29 identifying the amount of material, which provide an instruction for increasing or decreasing the conveyor's 23 speed whenever the value reported by at least one sensor differs from a predetermined value.

Landscapes

  • Feeding Of Articles To Conveyors (AREA)
  • Filling Or Emptying Of Bunkers, Hoppers, And Tanks (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for optimizing the operation of a bucket feeder (6) in such a way that, regardless of quantitative fluctuations in a material flow (1) arriving in the bucket feeder (6) and containing chips (11, 12), sawdust (13) or bark or combinations thereof, the bucket feeder (6) is exploited over its entire width. Above the bucket feeder (6) lie one or more conveyors (23), which are adapted to spread the material flow (1) across the entire width of the bucket feeder (6). The end of said conveyor (23) furthermost in an advancing direction (24) has its vicinity provided with one or more sensors (25, 26), which identify the amount of material at this particular point and, on the basis of this, provide an instruction for increasing, decreasing, or maintaining the bucket feeder's (6) rotational speed.

Description

Apparatus for optimizing the operation of a bucket feeder
The invention relates to an apparatus for optimizing the operation of a bucket feeder in such a way that, regardless of quantitative fluctuations in a material flow arriving in the bucket feeder and containing chips, sawdust or bark or combinations thereof, the bucket feeder is exploited over its entire width.
The quantity of a material flow arriving in a bucket feeder may fluctuate over a wide range. Regardless of this, it is important that the bucket feeder be contin- uously filled over its entire width and will thus be optimally exploited.
In order to accomplish this object, the arrangement in an apparatus of the invention is such that, and an apparatus of the invention is characterized in that above the bucket feeder lie one or more conveyors, which are adapted to spread the material flow across the entire width of the bucket feeder, and that the end of said conveyor furthermost in an advancing direction has its vicinity provided with one or more sensors, which identify the amount of material at this particular point and, on the basis of this, provide an instruction for increasing, decreasing, or maintaining the bucket feeder's rotational speed.
The conveyor comprises preferably a screw conveyor. However, other open- bottom conveyors are also possible.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the conveyor has its end pro- vided with an opening for delivering peaks of material flow out of the apparatus. This solution is for eliminating problems caused by major quantitative fluctuations in material by delivering a transient peak of material flow out of the apparatus. Thus, a transient overload can be easily discharged by diverting some of the material past the bucket feeder.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the arrangement involves the provision of one or more sensors identifying the amount of material, which provide an instruction for increasing or decreasing the conveyor's speed whenever the value reported by at least one sensor differs from a predeter- mined value. This solution is for equalizing or levelling out the irregularity of a material distribution caused by a transient deficiency of material, depending on the amount of material, either across the entire width of the bucket feeder or at least as extensively as possible across its width.
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows in a diagrammatic vertical section an apparatus for sorting wood chips in a closed processing chamber by the application of an impulse action.
Fig. 2 shows a section along a line ll-ll in fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows a section along a line Ill-Ill in fig. 2.
Fig. 1 shows schematically an apparatus for sorting wood chips 1 in separate fractions. Fines particles 13, possibly contained in the wood chips 1, are sorted out to form a separate fraction and individual chips 11 , 12 are determined by the thickness thereof as excess thickness chips 11 (reject) and accepted chips 12 (accept).
The apparatus comprises a feeder 6 for supplying the wood chips 1 onto a sloping support surface 2 for a substantially single layer. The individual chips 11 , 12 settle in a natural way on the support surface 2 to rest upon the largest surface thereof, i.e. in the case of wood chips, upon the longitudinal/lateral surface thereof.
The support surface 2 is a solid, plain, and durable flat surface, which forms a steeply sloping slide surface for the wood chips 1 to be sorted.
The wood chips 1 emerging from the feeder 6 are first adapted to slide down the sloping support surface 2 and then over a slit 3 arranged across the support surface, said slit being adapted to deliver an impulse action 4 directed away from said support surface 2 and applied to one or more chips 11, 12 or fines particles 13 presently in line with the slit. The impulse action is adapted to be produced by means of a gas flow 4, preferably an air flow. The impulse action 4 may have a direction which is perpendicular to the support surface 2, or also at an oblique angle relative to the support surface 2.
The air flow is generated by a fan 7. In order to secure uniformity of the impulse action 4, a nozzle chamber 8 is arranged between the fan 7 and the slit 3.
The varying thickness chips 11, 12 and the eventual fines particles 13 are adapted to be separated from each other along various trajectories defined by the impulse action 4 for the particles to be sorted.
The fines particles 13, which are smaller in size than the width of the slit 3, adopt a maximum deviation of velocity and, thus, are adapted to be diverted by the action of a baffle/guide plate 14 in a separate fraction into a chute 15.
The individual chips 11 , 12, which are substantially larger in size than the width of the slit 3 and, thus, heavier than said fines particles 13, adopt a deviation of velocity substantially less than that adopted by the fines particles 13 when present in line with the slit 3. A pressure-generated impulse sends the individual chips 11 , 12 flying in different trajectories defined by a chip thickness, and the flow of chips is divided in separate fractions by means of a separating wall 5. The averagely minimum thickness chips 12 fly over the separating wall 5 and are further guided to a discharge screw 10. Respectively, the averagely maximum thickness chips fly a shorter distance and fall into a feeder 6' present between the separating wall 5 and the slit 3.
In the illustrated example, the averagely maximum thickness chips 11 received in the feeder 6' are reprocessed in a lower second apparatus, whereby a fraction thereof (the averagely lightest fraction) is guided over a separating wall 5' further onto the discharge screw 10, and another fraction (the averagely heavi- est fraction) falls into a chute fitted between the separating wall 5' and the slit 3 and provided with a discharge screw 9.
Processing of the wood chips 1 is all in all adapted to take place in a dustproof processing chamber 17. The discharge of air from the chamber 17 is arranged through an opening represented by reference numeral 34.
Fig. 2 shows a detail of the feeder 6, particularly a bucket feeder, applied to the apparatus of fig. 1. However, it is obvious that the presently discussed bucket feeder 6 is not solely intended for an apparatus as depicted in fig. 1 , but can be used elsewhere, as well.
In order to optimize the operation of the bucket feeder 6 in such a way that, regardless of quantitative fluctuations in a material flow arriving in the bucket feeder and containing chips 11 , 12, sawdust 13 or bark or combinations thereof, the bucket feeder 6 will be exploited over its entire width, above the bucket feeder 6 is mounted a conveyor 23, a screw conveyor in the example of fig. 2. The conveyor 23 is adapted to spread the material flow 1 across the entire width of the bucket feeder 6. An arrow 24 represents an advancing direc- tion for the conveyor 23. An arrow 35 represents a supply of chips onto the conveyor 23. The transient level of a material flow is represented by a line designated at reference numeral 36.
The end of the conveyor 23 furthermost in its advancing direction 24 has its vicinity provided with two sensors 25, 26, which identify the amount of material at this particular point. In the example of fig. 2, the identification is effected by means of a control flap 37 pivotably hinged at its top end, the position of said flap being identified by the sensors 25, 26. The sensors 25, 26 deliver an instruction for increasing, decreasing, or maintaining the bucket feeder's 6 rota- tional speed.
In view of diverting material peaks completely out of the apparatus, the conveyor 23 may have its end provided with an opening present at a suitable height, represented in fig. 2 merely by reference numeral 27, through which a transient overload can be discharged in a simple fashion. An essential feature for the operation of the opening 27 is to have its bottom edge set at a suitable height.
The irregularity of a material distribution caused by a transient deficiency of material can be equalized or levelled out, depending on the amount of material, either across the entire width of the bucket feeder 6 or at least as extensively as possible across its width, by providing of one or more sensors 28, 29 identifying the amount of material, which provide an instruction for increasing or decreasing the conveyor's 23 speed whenever the value reported by at least one sensor differs from a predetermined value.

Claims

Claims
1. An apparatus for optimizing the operation of a bucket feeder (6) in such a way that, regardless of quantitative fluctuations in a material flow (1) arriving in the bucket feeder (6) and containing chips (11 , 12), sawdust (13) or bark or combinations thereof, the bucket feeder (6) is exploited over its entire width, above said bucket feeder (6) lying one or more conveyors (23) substantially parallel to the bucket feeder (6), which have a substantially open bottom over the length thereof extending on top of the bucket feeder (6) and which con- veyor (23) is adapted to spread the material flow (1) across the entire width of the bucket feeder (6), characterized in that identification of the amount of the material flow (1) is adapted to be effected by an amount of sensors (25, 26; 28, 29) of which at least one (28, 29) is adapted to control and/or regulate the conveyor's (23) speed and at least one (25, 26) the bucket feeder's (6) rota- tional speed, and in that the conveyor (23) has its end provided with an opening (27) for passing peaks of the material flow out of the apparatus.
2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the conveyor comprises a screw conveyor (23).
PCT/FI2001/000812 2000-09-20 2001-09-19 Apparatus for optimizing the operation of a bucket feeder WO2002024348A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2001289967A AU2001289967A1 (en) 2000-09-20 2001-09-19 Apparatus for optimizing the operation of a bucket feeder

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI20002074A FI110172B (en) 2000-09-20 2000-09-20 Device for optimizing the function of a specialist feeder
FI20002074 2000-09-20

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2002024348A1 true WO2002024348A1 (en) 2002-03-28

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ID=8559123

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/FI2001/000812 WO2002024348A1 (en) 2000-09-20 2001-09-19 Apparatus for optimizing the operation of a bucket feeder

Country Status (3)

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AU (1) AU2001289967A1 (en)
FI (1) FI110172B (en)
WO (1) WO2002024348A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2014201182A1 (en) * 2013-06-11 2014-12-18 Battelle Memorial Institute Device and method for cross-flow separation

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2456140A1 (en) * 1974-11-27 1976-06-10 Przed Projektowania I Dostaw K Granular material sizing - by adding material to horizontal air stream for gravity/aerodynamic trajectory sorting into chambers
DE4035160A1 (en) * 1990-11-06 1992-05-07 Buehler Gmbh Rising sifter for loose bulk material - has accurately controlled flow speed through by=pass and measuring probes
US5299888A (en) * 1991-11-27 1994-04-05 Finn Corporation Apparatus for conveying and discharging bulk materials
US5579920A (en) * 1994-08-04 1996-12-03 Garabedian Brothers, Inc. Air cleaning machine and method

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2456140A1 (en) * 1974-11-27 1976-06-10 Przed Projektowania I Dostaw K Granular material sizing - by adding material to horizontal air stream for gravity/aerodynamic trajectory sorting into chambers
DE4035160A1 (en) * 1990-11-06 1992-05-07 Buehler Gmbh Rising sifter for loose bulk material - has accurately controlled flow speed through by=pass and measuring probes
US5299888A (en) * 1991-11-27 1994-04-05 Finn Corporation Apparatus for conveying and discharging bulk materials
US5579920A (en) * 1994-08-04 1996-12-03 Garabedian Brothers, Inc. Air cleaning machine and method

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2014201182A1 (en) * 2013-06-11 2014-12-18 Battelle Memorial Institute Device and method for cross-flow separation

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FI110172B (en) 2002-12-13
FI20002074A (en) 2002-03-21
FI20002074A0 (en) 2000-09-20
AU2001289967A1 (en) 2002-04-02

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