WO2018071653A1 - Mélangeur gravimétrique à configuration en tour - Google Patents

Mélangeur gravimétrique à configuration en tour Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2018071653A1
WO2018071653A1 PCT/US2017/056317 US2017056317W WO2018071653A1 WO 2018071653 A1 WO2018071653 A1 WO 2018071653A1 US 2017056317 W US2017056317 W US 2017056317W WO 2018071653 A1 WO2018071653 A1 WO 2018071653A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
receiver
vacuum
conduit
resin material
blender
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2017/056317
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Stephen B. Maguire
Original Assignee
Maguire Stephen B
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
Priority claimed from US15/293,409 external-priority patent/US10138075B2/en
Application filed by Maguire Stephen B filed Critical Maguire Stephen B
Publication of WO2018071653A1 publication Critical patent/WO2018071653A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29B—PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS
    • B29B7/00—Mixing; Kneading
    • B29B7/30—Mixing; Kneading continuous, with mechanical mixing or kneading devices
    • B29B7/58—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
    • B29B7/60—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations for feeding, e.g. end guides for the incoming material
    • B29B7/603—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations for feeding, e.g. end guides for the incoming material in measured doses, e.g. proportioning of several materials
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29B—PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS
    • B29B7/00—Mixing; Kneading
    • B29B7/30—Mixing; Kneading continuous, with mechanical mixing or kneading devices
    • B29B7/58—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
    • B29B7/72—Measuring, controlling or regulating
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29B—PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS
    • B29B7/00—Mixing; Kneading
    • B29B7/80—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
    • B29B7/86—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations for working at sub- or superatmospheric pressure

Definitions

  • air/vacuum means a moving stream of air, at sub- atmospheric pressure, drawn by a vacuum pump.
  • Such moving "air/vacuum” streams are conventionally used to convey granular plastic resin material in facilities in which the granular plastic resin is molded or extruded into finished or semi-finished plastic parts.
  • resin/vacuum stream and variations thereof such as “granular resin material/vacuum stream” are used to denote such a high speed stream of air or “vacuum” carrying granules of resin material. Sometimes herein the resin is said to be “entrained” in the moving air/vacuum stream.
  • process machine denotes collectively compression molding machines, injection molding machines and extruders.
  • Receiveiver is a term widely used in the plastics industry to denote devices that temporarily hold granular plastic resin material before the granular plastic resin material is loaded into a hopper for subsequent processing by a compression or injection molding press or an extruder.
  • Receivers typically include a vacuum chamber that effectively pulls granular plastic resin material into the receiver due to vacuum existing within the vacuum chamber.
  • a vacuum pump is directly or indirectly connected to the receiver to create the vacuum required to pull granular plastic resin material into the receiver. This facilitates moving the granular plastic resin material from a typically remote location to the receiver, which typically feeds a hopper.
  • the receiver, and the vacuum pump are typically part of a larger resin conveying system that conveys the granular plastic resin from a supply to the receiver.
  • Receivers may be located over surge bins or over other temporary storage units in addition to hoppers.
  • Receivers typically load in cycles. Specifically, the receiver loads with granular plastic resin material and then discharges the granular plastic resin material in one operating cycle. Accordingly, a receiver requires a collection bin or surge hopper below the receiver to collect the falling granular plastic resin material to be fed to the process machine.
  • the vacuum source is remote, namely it is not integrated into the receiver itself.
  • the receiver in its most simple, elementary form, is a simple chamber that has a vacuum line connected to it to pull air from the chamber to create vacuum inside the chamber. The vacuum then draws granular plastic resin material into the chamber portion of the receiver.
  • the receiver accordingly has a material line connected to it for granular plastic resin material to be pulled by the vacuum into the strong chamber portion of the receiver. Since the receiver has a storage portion with a relatively large volume and a large cross-sectional area relative to the conduit through which the air/vacuum and granular resin material mixture travels, when the granular resin material/vacuum stream mixture reaches the receiver interior, speed of the moving air/vacuum stream drops. The kinetic energy of the stream is no longer sufficient to carry the granular resin, so the resin falls to the bottom of the receiver.
  • This invention provides a gravimetric blender of a different design, sometimes referred to herein as a "tower,” because the gravimetric blender of this invention has a distinctive central "tower-like" structure supporting a vacuum power unit, which will usually be a vacuum pump.
  • the gravimetric blender accommodates up to four feeders, which may be gravimetric feeders, auger feeders, or some other type of feeder. All of the feeders may run simultaneously, or individually intermittently, with each feeder delivering material at a controlled rate to provide the correct blend to be provided as output by the gravimetric blender.
  • the hoppers of the gravimetric blender are preferably mounted on load cells so that the rate of loss of weight of material within the hopper can be continuously detected.
  • metering rate of material from each hopper can be accurately regulated to provide the correct blend of material output by the gravitation blender.
  • auger feeders are preferably used and are preferably mounted around a common center to meter material to a central point in the support structure for the tower portion of the blender.
  • the gravimetric blender of the invention incorporates an integrated design in which a receiver mounts directly over each hopper, with the receivers and the hoppers being integrated into the overall design.
  • a single power unit providing a vacuum source for all of the receivers. This results in loading the hoppers using a small, "central" system, in which a single power source serves multiple receivers, which in turn feed associated individual hoppers. Having multiple receivers, hoppers, feeders, and a single vacuum power source, all contained in one integrated unit, provides great operating efficiencies and saves floor space, which is often at a premium in a molding or extruding facility.
  • the location of the power unit, and the manner in which the power unit connects to the receivers saves space and facilitates maintenance and/or replacement of a receiver and/or the power unit (which is preferably a vacuum pump) when required.
  • each receiver has only a single tube passing through it.
  • This single tube serves as the vacuum outlet from the receiver at one end of the tube.
  • the tube serves as the resin material/vacuum stream inlet to the receiver.
  • Another feature of the invention is the connection of the receivers to the vacuum source without tubing.
  • the receiver-vacuum source connection vertically supports the receiver without the receiver needing a supporting base.
  • a tall, centrally located tubular tower-like structure rises from the main base to above the receivers.
  • the receivers connect by a structure conduit connection to the tower.
  • the power unit typically a vacuum pump, is preferably on top of the tower.
  • the tower connects the vacuum pump to the receivers.
  • An air cylinder located inside a single tube within each receiver serves to open or close the vacuum port, which is within the and a part of the conduit connection to the central tower-like structure when a hopper associated with the receiver calls for material, with the receiver being actuated and controlled by a microprocessor.
  • the actuating air cylinder is enclosed within a single tube in each receiver.
  • a steel plug in the center of the tube serves to mount the air cylinder within the tube while also separating the tube ends from one another so that one end of the tube can be devoted to the vacuum connection, which is air/vacuum flow only, while the other end of the tube can serve as the resin material/vacuum stream inlet, into which a mix of high speed vacuum/air and granular resin material flows.
  • the plug desirably has a tapered deflector surface so that granular resin material entering the receiver in the resin material/vacuum stream is deflected downwardly into the receiver interior.
  • the plug is desirably steel with the tapered deflector end surface serving as a wear point, taking the brunt of the resin impact with abrasion resulting, which is a factor in receiver design.
  • Load cells and an associated microprocessor detect when the amount of granular resin material in one or more of the hoppers is excessively low and direct the power unit, typically and preferably a vacuum pump, to turn on so that a receiver associated with the hopper is actuated.
  • the microprocessor and associated controls further provide for the conveying of granular resin material into each receiver to remain in effect for an appropriate time period for that particular receiver-hopper combination.
  • the time for conveying and loading each receiver-hopper combination may be set by pressing and holding a button during the individual receiver load cycle, with release of the button setting the load time for that particular receiver within the microprocessor memory.
  • the tower design locates a filter blow-off device on top of the tower, just under the vacuum pump.
  • the vacuum pump is mounted on the upper surface of a hinged plate; the filter blow-off device is mounted on the underside of the plate.
  • the hinged plate is tilted about a hinge to open the top of the tower, the filter blow-off device retracts out of the way and the filter, which is located within the tower below the blow-off device, is visible for inspection and replacement, if necessary.
  • the filter traps any dust in the vacuum air flow.
  • the blow-off device blows the dust off the filter; the dust falls to the bottom of the tower interior.
  • At the tower bottom is a port with a check disk which opens on pressure but closes on vacuum.
  • the weight of the dust opens the check disk and the dust drops into the granular resin material mix below. No collection vessel is required as the dust is consumed by the process machine, together with the granular material provided to the machine.
  • At least one receiver connects to the vertically oriented conduit and preferably is laterally supported thereby.
  • the receiver is preferably positioned vertically below the vacuum pump for vacuum draw by the vacuum pump through the receiver via the conduit, with the receiver having a vacuum outlet to the conduit as a part of the structure supporting connection to the conduit.
  • the receiver preferably has a granular resin material outlet, preferably at the receiver bottom.
  • a flap valve at the receiver bottom preferably closes responsively to vacuum drawn within the receiver and preferably opens responsively to weight of resin material thereon in the absence of vacuum draw within the receiver.
  • a hopper is located preferably below the receiver for receipt of resin material having preferably been temporarily stored in the receiver with the hopper receiving the resin material preferably upon weight of resin material in the hopper reaching a preselected low value.
  • the load cell senses weight of resin material in the hopper.
  • the microprocessor preferably actuates the air cylinder to move the valve plate into position to open the vacuum outlet from the tube to the vertically oriented conduit upon weight of resin material in the hopper reaching a low level, where granular resin material in the hopper must be replenished. Vacuum drawn within the tube pulls the granular resin material vacuum stream into the receiver, delivering granular resin material to the receiver for temporary storage therein and delivery to the associated hopper below.
  • a feeder located below each hopper serves to convey material received from the hopper to a discharge chamber for combination with material from other hoppers prior to delivery to a process machine.
  • this invention provides a receiver for temporary storage of granular resin material preparatory to delivery to a process machine for molding or extrusion.
  • the receiver preferably includes a receptacle having a resin material/vacuum stream inlet, a vacuum outlet, and a resin material outlet preferably located at the receptacle bottom.
  • the receiver preferably further includes a tube connected to and extending between the resin material/vacuum stream inlet and the vacuum outlet.
  • the tube includes an air cylinder within the tube, a valve in the form of a plate connected to the air cylinder, with the plate being positioned to close the vacuum outlet preferably upon actuation of the air cylinder.
  • the tube further includes a plug for downwardly deflecting resin material carried by the resin material/vacuum drawn stream entering the receptacle via the inlet.
  • the receiver yet further preferably includes a flap valve at the receptacle bottom. The flap valve preferably closes responsively to vacuum drawn within the receptacle, but preferably opens responsively to weight of resin material thereon in the absence of vacuum drawn within the receptacle.
  • the receiver tube further desirably includes a first aperture in the tube wall, with the aperture being located upstream of the vacuum outlet, for vacuum propagation throughout the receptacle upon the air cylinder being de-energized.
  • the receiver tube further desirably includes a screened second aperture facing downwardly in the tube wall, located upstream of the plug, for downward discharge of granular resin material deflected by the plug upon the resin
  • this invention provides apparatus for delivery of granular material carried by a pressurized air or vacuum powered stream, where the apparatus includes an inlet member having a passageway extending therethrough.
  • the apparatus preferably further includes a central body connected to the inlet member, with the central body having a passageway therethrough communicating with the inlet member passageway, and having a lateral opening formed in the central body passageway.
  • the apparatus yet further includes, in this aspect of the invention, an outlet member, connected to the central body, having a passageway extending therethrough, communicating with the central body passageway remotely from the inlet member passageway.
  • the apparatus yet further includes an actuator housed within the central body passageway and connected to the central body, the actuator having a closure member that moves upon energization of the actuator to close the outlet member.
  • the apparatus still yet further includes a plug connected to the central body and facing the inlet member for deflecting towards the lateral opening the granular material entering the central body as carried by the pressurized air or vacuum stream through the inlet member.
  • the inlet member, the central body and the outlet member are all tubular.
  • the closure member includes a plate for moving against the outlet member passageway thereby to close the same.
  • this invention provides a method for gravimetric ally blending a plurality of granular materials where the method includes providing a vacuum source. The method proceeds with drawing a vacuum stream upwardly through a vertically oriented conduit and optionally positioning a filter in the conduit. The method yet further proceeds by providing a plurality of receivers laterally connected to and supported by the conduit, with interiors of the receivers communicating with the conduit interior via the lateral support connection.
  • the method still yet further proceeds by drawing separate granular material/vacuum streams into each of the receivers through tubes leading into the receivers, where the granular material/vacuum streams are drawn preferably responsively to vacuum drawn by the single vacuum source through the vertically oriented conduit.
  • the tubes connect with the conduit at juncture of the receivers and the vertically oriented conduit, with the vacuum source drawing vacuum in a receiver via a first aperture in the tube.
  • Each receiver has only a single such tube associated with it.
  • the method yet further proceeds preferably by halting vacuum draw in a receiver hopper by closing a valve at juncture of the receiver and the conduit, the valve preferably being powered by an air cylinder within the tube, the valve being downstream of the apertures in the tube, relatively closer to the vacuum source.
  • the method yet further proceeds preferably by maintaining a flap valve closed in the bottom of each receiver by a continuing draw of vacuum in the receiver, thereby preventing downward flow of granular material out of the receiver into a hopper below the receiver.
  • the method still further proceeds by sensing material weight in the hopper using a load cell and actuating the air cylinder, preferably using a microprocessor receiving the weight signal from the load cell, to halt vacuum draw within the receiver, thereby permitting weight of material in the receiver to open the flap valve for downward flow of material out of the receiver and into the hopper below.
  • Figure 1 is a front elevation of a tower configuration gravimetric blender manifesting aspects of the invention.
  • Figure 2 is a top view of the tower configuration gravimetric blender illustrated in Figure 1.
  • Figure 3 is a left front quarter isometric view of the tower configuration gravimetric blender illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.
  • Figure 4 is an isometric view of one of the tower risers from which a vertically oriented conduit portion of the gravimetric blender illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is
  • Figure 5 is a left front quarter isometric view of the vacuum motor and tower portion of the tower configuration gravimetric blender illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
  • Figure 6 is an isometric drawing of a receiver portion only of the tower configuration gravimetric blender illustrated in Figures 1 through 4.
  • Figure 7 is a front elevation similar to Figure 1 but with only the left side of the tower configuration gravimetric blender shown in vertical section, with the section taken at lines and arrows VII - VII in Figure 2.
  • Figure 8 is a broken away schematic diagrammatic view of the upper portion of the tower configuration gravimetric blender illustrated in Figures 1 through 3 and 7 with vacuum stream and resin material flows within the blender being depicted.
  • Figure 9 is a schematic front view, in elevation, of the tower configuration gravimetric blender illustrated in Figures 1 through 3, 7 and 8 with portions of the tower configuration gravimetric blender brown away to show internal parts and details.
  • Figure 10 is an isometric view showing the tilting opening of the top upper section of the tower configuration gravimetric blender according to the invention.
  • Figure 11 is a broken side sectional view, taken at lines and arrows XI— XI in Figure 10, of the top portion of the tower configuration gravimetric blender, showing the tilting opening of the top of the tower section.
  • Figure 12 is a partially broken isometric view taken at lines and arrows XII- XII in Figure 13, showing a hopper, load cell and load cell supporting structure portion of the tower configuration gravimetric blender illustrated in Figures 1 through 3, and 7 through 11.
  • Figure 13 is a partial sectional view showing details of the hopper support structure, the load cell support structure and one of the material feeders.
  • Tower configuration gravimetric blender 10 includes a vertically oriented conduit 12 with a plurality of receivers 14, preferably three as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, connected to and supported by vertically oriented conduit 12.
  • a hopper 16 positioned to receive granular plastic resin material or other granular material from an associated receiver 14 by downward flow from the associated receiver 14.
  • a feeder Positioned below each hopper 16 is a feeder designated generally 18.
  • Feeder 18 laterally conveys granular plastic resin material received vertically from hopper 16 to a tower bin assembly 40 from which the granular resin material is fed, typically by gravity or pneumatically, to a process machine for molding or extrusion. The process machine is not shown in the drawings.
  • a vacuum source preferably a vacuum pump, is designated generally 20 and sits atop vertically oriented conduit 12 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.
  • Vacuum pump 20 draws vacuum in vertically oriented conduit 12 thereby to draw a resin/vacuum stream from a resin supply, not shown in the drawings, into receivers 14 of tower configuration gravimetric blender 10 and thereby deliver granular resin material to hoppers 16 in the manner described below.
  • Receivers 14 are each secured to vertically oriented conduit 12 by receiver support fittings 22 which are preferably generally hollow and cylindrical in shape, as illustrated in Figure 6.
  • Each receiver 14 includes a single inlet tube portion 24 serving as an inlet to receiver 14 for the resin/vacuum stream. There is one inlet tube portion 24 for each receiver 14.
  • each inlet tube portion 24 providing a resin/vacuum stream to a receiver 14 has an inlet end 26 at which the resin/vacuum stream enters the respective inlet tube portion 24 and hence the respective receiver 14.
  • the inflow of the resin/vacuum stream is depicted schematically in Figure 8.
  • the resin/vacuum stream encounters a plug 28 having a deflection surface 54 oriented at approximately 45 degrees with respect to the axis of inlet tube portion 24 and facing inlet end 26 of inlet tube portion 24.
  • Plug 28 is preferably solid and is most preferably steel to be highly wear-resistant with respect to the resin/vacuum stream which impinges plug 28, particularly impinging the angled preferably planar deflection surface 54. As the resin/vacuum stream impinges deflection surface 54, the granules of resin material lose kinetic energy due to collision with deflection surface 54 and fall downwardly, due to their weight, into the lower portion of receiver 14.
  • each tube 25 in a receiver 14 Located within and fixed to each tube 25 in a receiver 14 is an air cylinder 30 which is desirably also fixed by a pin or other connection to an associated plug 28.
  • a resin material outlet 32 At the bottom of each receiver 14 is a resin material outlet 32 via which resin material collected within receiver 14 may empty out of receiver 14, flowing downwardly into hopper 16 located directly below receiver 14. Such flow of material is depicted schematically in Figure 8 in the left hand receiver 14.
  • a dump flap 56 is connected to each receiver 14 and is located at the receiver bottom outlet 32, covering and closing resin material outlet 32 when vacuum is drawn within receiver 14. In response to such vacuum draw within receiver 14, dump flap 56 closes resin material outlet 32. The vacuum is sufficient to retain dump flap 56 in place thereby precluding any downward flow of resin material out of receiver 14 so long as vacuum is drawn within receiver 14.
  • each tube 25 opposite from inlet end 26 defines an air/vacuum
  • Air cylinder 30 includes a shaft 36. When air cylinder 30 is actuated, shaft 36 extends outwardly from cylinder 30 thereby forcing a plate 38, which is fixed to the end of shaft 36, against the outlet end 34 of tube 25, thereby closing tube 25 and halting draw of vacuum within receiver 14.
  • Cone cover 52 precludes any upward escape of resin material from hopper 16, as resin material flows downwardly into hopper 16 from receiver 14. (If hopper 16 is reasonably full, the granular material tends to bounce upwardly or diagonally upon falling downwardly out of receiver 14 and striking granular material already in hopper 16.)
  • cone cover 52 limits spread of dust throughout the processing facility.
  • vertically oriented conduit 12 is preferably fabricated from two risers 42, one of which is illustrated in Figure 4. Risers 42 are preferably secured together by bolts, one of which is indicated 64 in Figure 5 showing the "Tower.”
  • each receiver 14 includes a receptacle portion 48 for receiving and holding the granular resin material conveyed into receiver 14.
  • Each receiver 14 also includes a lid portion 50 covering the upper opening of receptacle 48, as illustrated in Figure 6.
  • Manually actuable lever-type fittings 66 secure lid 50 to receptacle 48 in an airtight manner to facilitate draw of vacuum within receiver 14.
  • receptacle portion 48 is of generally conical configuration at the lower portion thereof with the conical portion denoted 68.
  • Receiver 14 further has an upper cylindrical portion 70 to which lid 50 fits and is held in place by fittings 66.
  • Inlet tube portion 24 enters receiver 14 laterally through cylindrical portion 70 of receiver 14 as illustrated in Figure 6.
  • Suitable airtight cylindrical fittings 94 are secured to cylindrical portion 70 of receiver 14 and are provided where inlet tube portion 24 enters receiver 14 to provide a tight seal, to facilitate the draw of vacuum and thereby entry of the granular resin material/vacuum stream into the interior of receiver 14.
  • Tower cylindrical fitting 74 Secured to the upper end of vertically oriented conduit 12 or "the Tower” is a tower cylindrical fitting designated generally 74 and illustrated in Figures 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.
  • Tower cylindrical fitting 74 sometimes referred to as the tower vacuum base component, is desirably secured to horizontal flanges 80 preferably by screws or nuts and bolts as shown in Figures 8 and 9.
  • Each horizontal flange 80 has two parts, designated 202 and 204 in Figure 4, formed on each of the two risers 42 that are bolted together to form vertically oriented conduit 12, namely "the Tower".
  • each of the two tower risers 42 that form vertically oriented conduit 12 are the pair of horizontal flanges 80 that together form a larger horizontal plate 82; the two parts 202, 204 of horizontal flanges 80 are coplanar.
  • the two horizontal flanges 80 contact one another, as risers 42 are bolted or screwed together, to form a horizontal plate 82, which effectively forms a flat, planar mounting surface for a tower cylindrical fitting 74.
  • Nut and bolt combinations that retain tower cylindrical fitting 74 on horizontal plate 82 are shown but not numbered in Figures 8 and 9. When the nuts and bolts have secured tower cylindrical fitting 74 to horizontal plate 82, tower cylindrical fitting 74 is essentially immovable respecting vertically oriented conduit 12.
  • Tower cylindrical fitting 74 has an open bottom into which a dust filter 76 fits as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9.
  • Filter 76 catches dust and fines that are within the vacuum stream drawn upwardly within tower 12 by vacuum pump 20 and collects the dust and fines as the vacuum is drawn upwardly through dust filter 76 and around a blowback unit 78, as illustrated in Figure 9 and into vacuum pump 20. From there, by action of pump 20, the drawn vacuum is exhausted from exhaust port 92 as air.
  • the vacuum "draw”, as that term is used herein, refers to air drawn by vacuum pump 20 under sufficient level of vacuum to carry granular resin material from a storage bin (not shown) through a conduit (not shown) to inlet end 26 of inlet tube portion 24 of tube 25 and into receiver 14.
  • the vacuum draw is sufficient to maintain dump flap 56 closed against the weight of resin material within receiver 14 until such time as air cylinder 30 is actuated to push plate 38 against tubular fitting 58 to close tubular fitting 58, thereby preventing vacuum draw from vertically oriented conduit 12 reaching receiver 14.
  • valve plate 38 has closed against tubular fitting 58 to close the opening to tubular fitting 58, vacuum no longer exists within receiver 14 and any resin material therein flows downwardly.
  • a hinge 84 has one portion 92 secured to the side of tower cylindrical fitting 74 as illustrated in Figures 10 and 11.
  • Vacuum pump 20 is mounted on a plate 72 and secured thereto via nut and bolt combinations 96 illustrated in Figure 10.
  • Plate 72 has an aperture 100 at the center thereof which is positioned to align with the suction intake of vacuum pump 20 when vacuum pump 20 is mounted on plate 72.
  • blowback unit 78 Also secured to plate 72 on the underside thereof but spaced therefrom is a blowback unit 78 of the type disclosed in the United States patents 8,070,844; and 9,387,996.
  • blowback unit 78 When plate 72 is in the horizontal position, lying across the top of tower cylindrical fitting 74, blow-back unit 78 is spaced close to but away from dust filter 76.
  • blowback unit 78 Upon actuation of blowback unit 78, when vacuum pump 20 has been shut down, blowback unit 78 emits a powerful downwardly directed blast of air which knocks the collected dust and fines out of filter 76, whereupon the dust and fines fall downwardly through vertically oriented conduit 12, as illustrated in Figure 8.
  • vacuum pump 20 and blow back unit 78 are mutually supported by and connected to mounting plate 72.
  • vacuum pump 20 is secured to mounting plate 72 by nut-bolt combinations, as is blow back unit 72.
  • vacuum pump 20 is actuated, vacuum is drawn upwardly through vertically oriented conduit 12 and the air, as vacuum, passes around the lateral surfaces of blow back unit 78, through aperture 100, and into the intake of vacuum pump 20.
  • the intake is aligned with aperture 100 in vacuum pump and blow-back support mounting plate 72 in Figure 10.
  • a cleanout window having a cover 86 is preferably provided at the bottom of vertically oriented conduit 12.
  • Cover 86 is connected by a cleanout window hinge 90 to the side of one of the two tower risers 42 forming vertically oriented conduit 12.
  • a cleanout window latch 88 retains cleanout window cover 86 in place until there is a need to open the cleanout window to remove dust that has collected at the bottom of vertically oriented conduit 12.
  • a hopper support assembly 102 is illustrated providing support for one of the hoppers 16; one such support assembly is provided for each hopper 16.
  • Each hopper 16 has a feeder 18 associated therewith, located below the associated hopper 16 as illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 9.
  • Each hopper support assembly 102 includes a feeder 18 with feeder 18 including a feed tube 104 desirably having an auger feed or screw 106 located therewithin as illustrated in Figure 9.
  • Each auger or feed screw 106 of a feeder 18 has a motor 108, mounted on the outboard end of associated feeder tube 104 to drive the auger or feed screw 106.
  • Motors 108 are illustrated in Figure 9 for two of the hopper support assemblies 102 that are visible in that view. In Figure 9 three augers or feed screws 106 associated with feeder assemblies 105 are illustrated.
  • the auger or feed screw 106 for the third feeder assembly of which only the end of feed screw 106 can be seen in Figure 9 due to the orientation of the apparatus and the position at which the sectional view is taken, has an auger or feed screw denoted 106' in Figure 9.
  • each hopper support assembly 102 includes a number, preferably four, of hopper support brackets 110.
  • Each hopper support bracket 110 has an upstanding portion 112 and a horizontal plate-like portion 114. The plate-like portions 114 of hopper support brackets 110 stop short of the downward projection of the outlet of a hopper 16, thereby providing an aperture for downward flow out of the hopper 16 of granular resin material to a feeder 18 below.
  • Plate-like portion 114 of bracket 110 rests on a sandwich- like assembly of three spacer plates numbered 120, 122 and 124 respectively, as shown in Figure 12.
  • An upper one of the spacer plates is designated 120
  • a central one of the spacer plates is designated 122
  • a lower one of the spacer plates is designated 124.
  • the sandwich-like assembly of spacer plates 120, 122, 124 is retained in place on a table-like member 126 by channel members 128 which bear upon the sandwich of spacer plates 120, 122, 124 as a result of force applied by nut-bolt combinations 130 connecting channel member 128 and table- like member 126.
  • Operation of the gravimetric blender 10 according to the invention is controlled desirably by a microprocessor 200.
  • the microprocessor communicates with air cylinders 30 and vacuum pump 20 of gravimetric blender 10 wirelessly.
  • microprocessor 200 may be hard wired to gravimetric blender 10, if needed.
  • a hopper 16 needs material, this is indicated by the weight of hopper 16 as sensed by a load cell 132.
  • Microprocessor 200 receiving a signal from a load cell 132, converts that signal to a sensed weight and compares that weight to the desired weight of the hopper. If microprocessor 200 decides that additional granular resin material or other resin material is required in a given hopper 16, microprocessor 200 actuates vacuum pump 20, followed by actuation of air cylinder 30 if needed, according to the default position chosen for air cylinder 30 and plate 38.
  • the default setting or position for air cylinder 30 may be with plate 38 positioned against tubular fitting 58, thereby precluding the draw of vacuum within receiver 14 by vacuum pump 20.
  • the default, or rest, or unactuated position of air cylinder 30 may be with plate 38 removed from contact with tubular fitting 58, as illustrated on the left side of Figure 9. With plate 38 removed from tubular fitting 58, vacuum drawn by vacuum pump 20 draws the resin material/vacuum stream into receiver 14 via tube 24.
  • the vacuum which is actually a stream of very high velocity air, passes around air cylinder 30 and exits receiver tube 25 through tubular fitting 58, whereupon the air/vacuum is drawn upwardly by vacuum pump 20 through the interior of vertically-oriented conduit 12, through dust filter 76, around the periphery of blowback unit 78, and out to the atmosphere via exhaust port 92.
  • microprocessor 200 When microprocessor 200 receives a signal from a load cell 132 indicating that a hopper 16 with which a particular load cell 132 is associated has a sufficient material therein, microprocessor 200 acts (to energize or de-energize air cylinder 30, according to which position of plate 38 has been selected as the default position) so that vacuum is no longer drawn through receiver 14 with which the particular hopper 16 and load cell 132 are associated. No more vacuum is drawn until a load cell 132 associated with a hopper 16 signals that the weight of material within that particular hopper 16 has dropped to such a level that additional material is required in hopper 16.
  • microprocessor 200 Upon receipt of such a signal, microprocessor 200 actuates or de-actuates air cylinder 30 (according to the default position selected for air cylinder 30 and hence plate 38 with respect to tubular fitting 58), in order that vacuum may be drawn and additional material drawn into receiver 14 via resin material/vacuum stream entering receiver 14 via inlet tube portion 24.
  • Microprocessor 200 permits vacuum to continue to be drawn by maintaining plate 38 in a position removed from tubular fitting 58 until such time as the microprocessor 200 receives a signal from the relevant load cell 132, indicating that the weight of material in the relevant hopper 16 has reached a satisfactory level, whereupon air cylinder 30 urges plate 38 against fitting 58, thereby halting draw of vacuum through the relevant receiver.
  • table-like member 126 includes a pair of elongated, hollow, rectangular cross-sectional members 136 which extend longitudinally as respecting feeder 18 associated with hopper 16, under which table-like member 126 is positioned.
  • a bottom portion 138 of each rectangular member 136 connects to the upper portion of a respective load cell 126 by screws as illustrated in Figure 12.
  • Table-like member 126 is preferably constructed of sheet metal with rectangular members 136 formed as a part thereof.
  • Table-like member 126 includes an aperture therethrough which receives a conduit 140 through which resin from hopper 16 may flow downwardly into an aperture in feed tube 104 of feeder 18.
  • the aperture in feed tube 104 is surrounded by a tubular transition member 141 shown in Figure 9.
  • Table-like member 126 bears the weight of hopper 16, the hopper support brackets 110, and the sandwich- like assembly of spacer plates 120, 122, 124.
  • Nut and bolt combinations 130 fitting into channel members 128 secure channel members 128 to table-like member 126.
  • nut-bolt combinations 134 secure together the sandwich assembly consisting of upper spacer plate 120, middle spacer plate 122, and lower spacer plate 124; these nut and bolt combinations 134 also secure the spacer plates to table-like member 126, as shown in Figure 13.
  • load cell 132 is positioned to be stressed by downward force applied by table-like member 126, with such downward force being applied to the top of load cell 132, as a result of resin material being in hopper 18.
  • the bottom portion of load cell 132 is secured to a horizontal portion of a frame member 142, which is a part of feeder 18.
  • Load cells 132 are retained in place by upper screws 144 securing the upper portion of load cell 132 to bottom portion 138 of rectangular member 136 which is a portion of table-like member 126 as illustrated in Figures 12 and 13.
  • the lower portion of load cell 132 is secured to frame member 142 by lower screws 146 as illustrated in Figure 12.
  • Upper screws 144 and lower screws 146 are at opposite corners of load cell 132, and are vertically separated as shown, to provide accurate voltage readings from load cell 132.
  • a voltage sensor 148 depicted in Figure 12, senses the voltage produced by load cell 132 and transmits a signal proportional to that voltage to microprocessor 200 for processing to determine the weight and weight change of any material within hopper 16.
  • frame member 142 together with table-like member 126 provide an effective housing for feed tube 104 containing feed screw 106 of feeder 18.
  • a lateral side portion 150 of frame member 142 is so numbered and provides closure about feed tube 104 containing feed screw 106.
  • a u-shaped portion of frame member 142 provides a bottom support for feed tube 104 within which feed screw 106 rotates as feed screw 106 advances granular resin material or other material received from hopper 16 towards a tower bin assembly 40 located at the bottom of vertically oriented conduit 12 where feed screws 106 of feeders 18 converge, as illustrated in Figures 3, 7 and 9.
  • tube 24 has sometimes been referred to as an "inlet tube” portion of receiver 14 and as having an inlet end 26.
  • inlet tube portion 26 extends only somewhat into receiver 14. While inlet tube segments are shown in the drawings and numbered as 26, it is to be understood that the entire upper portion of the structure defining a part of receiver 14 is tubular in nature; this tubular structure is numbered 25 in the drawings.
  • This "tube" 25, of which inlet tube portion 26 is a part, extends completely through receiver 14 and terminates at juncture with vertically oriented conduit 12.
  • Tubular fitting 58 forms a part of tube 25 and the juncture of tubular fitting 58 with annular flange 60, where annular flange 60 is within vertically oriented conduit 12 as illustrated in Figure 9, defines the outlet end of tube 25.
  • receiver 14 has but a single tube 25 passing through it with the tube opening or inlet end being defined by inlet end 26 of inlet tube portion 24 and the outlet of tube 25 being defined by the juncture of annular flange 60 of tubular fitting 58 with vertically oriented conduit 12.
  • the invention is most desirably implemented using the load cell/vacuum driven approach to opening and closing receivers 14 as disclosed herein, it is within the scope of the invention to position level sensors 160 within both hoppers 16 and receivers 14, as shown schematically, on the right half, unsectioned portion of Figure 7, and to provide data from those level sensors to microprocessor 200, thereby to control the operating characteristics of the vacuum pump and the operation of air cylinders 30 within tubes 25 in receivers 14.
  • wireless communication between such level sensors and the microprocessor is desirable; wired communication is also feasible.
  • Tower configuration gravimetric blender 10 may be mounted on a flat stand such as stand 156 illustrated in Figure 3 or may be mounted directly over the feed throat of a molding machine or an extruder so that the granular resin material and other materials supplied by feeders 18 fall directly into the feed throat of the molding machine or extruder.
  • Granular resin material or other material contained within hoppers 16 is conveyed by feeders 18 to a common point as illustrated in Figure 9 where the granular resin components and other materials conveyed by feeders 18 fall into a tower bin assembly 40, which has sloped sides as illustrated in Figures 1, 3, 7 and 9.
  • a proximity switch 152 or sensor senses the presence or absence of material in bin assembly 40 and actuates an alarm in the event bin assembly 40 is empty.
  • a forward facing vertical surface of bin 40, numbered 154 in the drawings has a window therein, not numbered in the drawings, for observation as the components are fed by feeders 18 into bin 40.
  • conduit extender structure to connect receiver 14 to vertically oriented conduit 12 is within the scope of the invention, especially if more than four receiver 14/hopper 16/feeder 18 combinations are used.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Processing And Handling Of Plastics And Other Materials For Molding In General (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un mélangeur gravimétrique qui comprend un conduit vertical, une pompe à vide ayant une entrée d'aspiration communiquant avec l'intérieur du conduit, une pluralité de récepteurs reliés au conduit et supportés verticalement par celui-ci, chaque récepteur comprenant, à l'intérieur de celui-ci, un seul tube s'étendant à partir de l'entrée de flux d'aspiration du vide/matériau de résine jusqu'à la jonction du récepteur avec le conduit.
PCT/US2017/056317 2016-10-14 2017-10-12 Mélangeur gravimétrique à configuration en tour WO2018071653A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US15/293,409 US10138075B2 (en) 2016-10-06 2016-10-14 Tower configuration gravimetric blender
US15/293,409 2016-10-14

Publications (1)

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WO2018071653A1 true WO2018071653A1 (fr) 2018-04-19

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN116767890A (zh) * 2023-08-23 2023-09-19 山东鸿淼科技开发有限公司 一种化工原料仓储式料仓

Citations (5)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5450984A (en) * 1994-04-29 1995-09-19 K-Tron Technologies, Inc. Material feeding apparatus
US20020136609A1 (en) * 1996-08-09 2002-09-26 Maguire Stephen B. Vacuum loading system
WO2012074539A1 (fr) * 2010-12-03 2012-06-07 Jack Harris Système pour la délivrance de matière particulaire solide pour le chargement
US20120301230A1 (en) * 2009-12-24 2012-11-29 WAM INDUSTRIALES S.p.A. Loading apparatus of a silo
US20160214793A1 (en) * 2015-01-27 2016-07-28 Novatec, Inc. Variable opening slide gate for regulating material flow into airstream

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5450984A (en) * 1994-04-29 1995-09-19 K-Tron Technologies, Inc. Material feeding apparatus
US20020136609A1 (en) * 1996-08-09 2002-09-26 Maguire Stephen B. Vacuum loading system
US20120301230A1 (en) * 2009-12-24 2012-11-29 WAM INDUSTRIALES S.p.A. Loading apparatus of a silo
WO2012074539A1 (fr) * 2010-12-03 2012-06-07 Jack Harris Système pour la délivrance de matière particulaire solide pour le chargement
US20160214793A1 (en) * 2015-01-27 2016-07-28 Novatec, Inc. Variable opening slide gate for regulating material flow into airstream

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN116767890A (zh) * 2023-08-23 2023-09-19 山东鸿淼科技开发有限公司 一种化工原料仓储式料仓

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