WO2006081058A1

WO2006081058A1 - Particulate conveying process and apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2006081058A1
Application number: PCT/US2006/000615
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeffery Paul Kelsey; Thomas Matthew Bragg
Original assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
Priority date: 2005-01-26
Filing date: 2006-01-10
Publication date: 2006-08-03

Abstract

The invention relates to processing particulates and apparatus (200) for conveying particulates. According to various aspects of the invention, processes and apparatus (200) are provided for conveying particulates (226) by feeding a gas fluidized particulate (218) into a conduit (202) at a position (208) intermediate a first end (204) and a second end (206) of the conduit a distance (210) from the second end (206) and applying at least a partial vacuum to the second end in order to cause the gas fluidized particulate (218) to move through the conduit (202) from the position (208) to the second end (206).

Description

PARTICULATE CONVEYING PROCESS AND APPARATUS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to processing particulates and apparatus therefor. More specifically, the invention is directed to processes and apparatus for conveying particulates.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Presently, very large filter receivers and blower packages are used in negative pressure convey systems for toner manufacturing. These convey systems are generally pressure rated, which leads to very high cost. A compact conveying process and apparatus that provides particulate flows comparable to larger apparatus is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to various aspects of the invention, processes and apparatus are provided for conveying particulates comprising feeding a gas fluidized particulate into a conduit at a position, the conduit comprising a first end and a second end a distance from the position; and applying at least a partial vacuum to the second end in order to cause the gas fluidized particulate to move through the conduit from the position to the second end. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 presents a particulate conveying process according to one aspect of the invention;

FIG. 2 presents a schematic view of a particulate conveying apparatus according one aspect of the invention; FIG. 3 presents a schematic view of a particulate conveying apparatus according one aspect of the invention;

FIG. 4 presents a schematic view of a particulate conveying apparatus according one aspect of the invention; and

FIG. 5 presents a schematic view of a particulate conveying apparatus according one aspect of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Various aspects of the invention are presented in FIGS. 1-5, which are not drawn to any particular scale, and wherein like components in the numerous views are numbered alike. Referring now specifically to FIG. 1 , a particulate conveying process 100 is presented according to one aspect of the invention. The particulate conveying process 100 comprises feeding a gas fluidized particulate into a conduit at a position, as indicated by step 102, the conduit comprising a first end and a second end a distance from the position; and, applying at least a partial vacuum to the second end in order to cause the gas fluidized particulate to move through the conduit from the position to the second end, as indicated by step 104. The particulate may be dry. The particulate may comprise granulated material, pellets, beads, powder, and such. According to a certain aspect of the invention, the particulate is a powder. Examples of powders that may be processed include electrographic toner, talc, pigments, carbon black, ceramic powders, and pharmaceutical compounds. These examples are not intended to be exhaustive.

A fluidized particulate comprises particulate mixed with a gas ("gas fluidized"). According to one aspect of the invention, the resultant mixture flows like a fluid. Apparatus for fiuidizing and moving particulate within conduits is disclosed in U.S. Patent Numbers 6,609,871 and 6,682,290, both entitled: "System for Handling Bulk Particulate Materials, and U.S. Patent Numbers 6,719,500 and 6,722,822, both entitled: System for Pneumatically Conveying Bulk Particulate Materials", all naming John W. Pfeiffer and James E. Mothersbaugh as inventors, and all assigned to Young Industries, Inc., Muncy, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. These four patents are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

Any gas may be implemented in the practice of the invention, including atmospheric air. However, an inert gas such as nitrogen may be desirable with certain types of particulates. An inert gas may render the processes and apparatus disclosed herein explosion-proof and result in attendant savings in complexity, size, and cost. Referring now to FIG. 2, a particulate conveying apparatus 200 is presented according to one aspect of the invention. The particulate conveying apparatus 200 comprises a conduit 202 comprising a first end 204 and a second end 206. A gas fluidized particulate feeder 205 is connected to the conduit 202 at a position 208 a distance 210 from the second end 206, and a vacuum source 212 is in fluid communication with the second end 206. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the position 208 corresponds to the first end 204.

The particulate conveying apparatus 200 may also comprise a receiver reservoir 214, and the second end 206 may terminate at the receiver reservoir 214. The vacuum source 212 may be in fluid communication with the receiver reservoir 214. The vacuum source 212 applies at least a partial vacuum to the receiver reservoir 214. A filter 216 may be provided intermediate the receiver reservoir 214 and the vacuum source 212. The filter 216 inhibits particulate from entering the vacuum source 212.

In operation, the gas fluidized particulate feeder 205 feeds a gas fluidized particulate 218 into the conduit 202 at the position 208. The vacuum source 212 applies at least a partial vacuum to the second end 206 in order to cause the gas fluidized particulate 218 to move through the conduit 202 from the position 208 to the second end 206, as indicated by arrow 220. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the gas fluidized 218 particulate is received within the receiver reservoir 214.

The gas fluidized particulate feeder 205 comprises a particulate fluidizing apparatus 222 comprising a particulate fluidizing reservoir 224. The particulate fluidizing apparatus 222 comprises inner porous walls 232, as described in the Pfeiffer and Mothersbaugh patents discussed above. A particulate 226 to be fluidized is contained within the particulate fluidizing reservoir 224. Fluidizing gas is introduced into the particulate fluidizing apparatus 222 as indicated by arrows 228. A directional gas flow 230 is provided to urge flow of the gas fluidized particulate 218 through the conduit 202.

Furthermore, the conduit 202 may comprise a porous wall immediately adjacent the gas fluidized particulate 218, as described in the Pfeiffer and Mothersbaugh patents discussed above. The conduit 202 may also comprise a nonporous wall immediately adjacent the gas fluidized particulate 218, as is shown in FIG. 2. Sections of the conduit 202 with porous and nonporous walls immediately adjacent the gas fluidized particulate 218 may be alternated. An example of a material suitable for the porous walls is a

(R)

Dynapore sintered metal laminate, available from Martin Kurz & Company, Inc., Mineola, New York, U.S.A. According to Martin Kurz & Company product literature, Dynapore^® porous metal laminates are constructed of one or more layers of stainless steel wire mesh, laminated by precision sintering (diffusion bonding) and calendaring. Sintering utilizes molecular diffusion to produce homogeneous metal bonds at each point of metal contact, including the wire crossover points within individual layers, as well as the contact points between each layer. The resultant monolithic structure is permanently bonded and has highly uniform porosity. Referring now to FIG. 3, a particulate conveying apparatus 300 is presented according to one aspect of the invention. The particulate conveying apparatus 300 is similar to apparatus 200, further comprising a pressure source 302 in fluid communication with the particulate fluidizing reservoir 224. The pressure source 302 pressurizes the particulate fluidizing reservoir 224. Furthermore, the gas fluidized particulate feeder 205 may comprise a particulate supply reservoir 304 that feeds particulate 226 from the particulate supply reservoir 304 to the particulate fluidizing apparatus 222. The particulate supply reservoir 304 may be pressure-isolated from the gas fluidized particulate feeder 205 through a rotary valve 306, and the particulate 226 from the particulate supply reservoir 304 may be fed to the particulate fluidizing apparatus 222 through the rotary valve 306.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a particulate conveying apparatus 400 is presented according to one aspect of the invention. The particulate conveying apparatus 400 is similar to apparatus 200, except the position 208 is intermediate the first end 204 and the second end 206. The first end 204 may be vented to atmospheric pressure, and atmospheric air may flow into the first end 204 as indicated by arrow 402. Referring now to FIG. 5, a particulate conveying apparatus 500 is presented according to one aspect of the invention. The particulate conveying apparatus 500 is similar to apparatus 400, further comprising the pressure source 302 in fluid communication with the particulate fluidizing reservoir 224 as was previously discussed in relation to apparatus 300 of FIG. 3. Furthermore, the gas fluidized particulate feeder 205 may comprise the particulate supply reservoir 304 that feeds particulate 226 from the particulate supply reservoir 304 to the particulate fluidizing apparatus 222, again, as was previously discussed in relation to apparatus 300 of FIG. 3. Of course innumerable variations are possible and contemplated in the practice of the invention in light of the disclosure provided herein.

PARTS LIST

100 particulate conveying process

102 step 104 step

200 particulate conveying apparatus

202 conduit

204 first end

205 gas fluidized particulate feeder 206 second end

208 position

210 distance

212 vacuum source

214 receiver reservoir 216 filter

218 gas fluidized particulate

220 arrow

22 particulate fluidizing apparatus

224 particulate fluidizing reservoir 226 particulate to be fluidized

228 arrows

230 directional gas flow

232 inner porous walls

300 particulate conveying apparatus 302 pressure source

304 particulate supply reservoir

306 rotary valve

400 particulate conveying apparatus

402 arrow 500 particulate conveying apparatus

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A particulate conveying process, comprising:

(a) feeding a gas fluidized particulate into a conduit at a position a distance from the second end of the conduit intermediate the first end and the second end of the conduit; and

(b) applying at least a partial vacuum to the second end of the conduit in order to cause the gas fluidized particulate to move through the conduit from the position to the second end.

2. The particulate conveying process of claim 1 , the gas being inert.

3. The particulate conveying process of claim 1 , venting the first end of such conduit to atmospheric pressure.

4. A particulate conveying apparatus, comprising:

(a) a conduit comprising a first end and a second end;

(b) a gas fluidized particulate feeder connected to the conduit at a position a distance from the second end, the position being intermediate the first end and the second end; and

(c) a vacuum source in fluid communication with the second end.

5. The particulate conveying apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first end of the conduit is vented to atmospheric pressure.

6. The particulate conveying apparatus of claim 4, wherein the gas fluidized particulate feeder is a particulate fluidizing apparatus, the particulate fluidizing apparatus including a particulate fluidizing reservoir, and further wherein a pressure source is in fluid communication with the particulate fluidizing reservoir.

7. The particulate conveying process of claim 6, wherein the gas fluidized particulate feeder includes a particulate supply reservoir that feeds particulate from the particulate supply reservoir to the particulate fluidizing apparatus.

8. The particulate conveying apparatus of claim 4, further including a receiver reservoir, and wherein the second end of the conduit terminates at the receiver reservoir, and the vacuum source is in fluid communication with the receiver reservoir.

9. The particulate conveying process of claim 8, further including a filter intermediate the receiver reservoir and the vacuum source.

10. A particulate conveying apparatus, comprising:

(a) a receiver reservoir;

(b) a conduit having a first end and a second end terminating at the receiver reservoir; (c) a gas fluidized particulate feeder connected to the conduit at a an intermediate position, between the first end and the second end of the conduit, a distance from the second end, and having a particulate fluidizing apparatus, and a particulate supply reservoir that feeds particulate from the particulate supply reservoir to the particulate fluidizing apparatus; (d) a vacuum source in fluid communication with the receiver reservoir; and

(e) a filter intermediate the receiver reservoir and the vacuum source.