Apparatus and method for adding pigmentation to concrete mix

• US 20050276152A1
• Filed: 06/09/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cemen Tech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cemen Tech, Inc.
• Inventors: Merrill, Steven R., Eiland, John C., Lowe, Brian D., Goode, Leland
• Granted Patent: US 7,270,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 366/6
• CPC Class Codes: B28C 5/34 Mixing on or by conveyors , e.g. by belts or chains provided with mixing elements
• CPC Class Codes: B28C 7/0076 Parts or details thereof, e.g. opening, closing or unloading means
• CPC Class Codes: B28C 7/0404 Proportioning

Abstract

A pigmentation dispenser utilizes a hopper having two rotors therein. One rotor moves the pigmentation material through an outlet opening and deposits it on a conveyor containing a concrete mix. The concrete mix and pigmentation material are then moved to a mixer which mixes them together.

Claims

1. Apparatus for adding pigment to a concrete mixture comprising:

a hopper for containing a pigmentation material to be added to the concrete mixture;

the hopper having a lower end and an outlet opening adjacent the lower end of the hopper for dispensing the pigmentation material from the hopper;

a first rotor mounted within the hopper above the outlet opening for rotation about a first horizontal axis;

a second rotor mounted within the hopper below the first rotor for rotation about a second horizontal axis below the first horizontal axis;

a drive system for causing the first and second rotors to rotate about the first and second horizontal axes, respectively;

the second rotor being capable of moving the pigmentation material to the outlet opening and causing the pigmentation material to be dispensed outwardly from the hopper through the outlet opening;

a conveyor below the outlet opening of the hopper for receiving the pigmentation material dispensed from the outlet opening, the conveyor having a concrete mixture thereon, the conveyor moving the concrete mixture below the outlet opening of the hopper so that the pigmentation material dispensed from the outlet opening is added to the concrete mixture, the conveyor having a conveyor discharge end;

a concrete mixer adapted to receive the concrete mixture and the pigmentation material from the discharge end of the conveyor and to mix the concrete mixture and the pigmentation material together.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first rotor includes a helical flighting thereon.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the helical flighting is in the shape of a helical ribbon having an open center along the longitudinal axis thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first rotor includes radial beater bars for mixing the pigmentation material during the rotation of the first rotor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second rotor comprises a helical flighting thereon.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the helical flighting is in the shape of a helical ribbon having an open center along the longitudinal axis thereof.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein an elongated mixing rod is within the open center and is attached to the helical flighting.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the mixing rod is positioned off center from the longitudinal axis of the second rotor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the outlet opening includes an exit tube, the second rotor extending within the exit tube.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the hopper includes a hopper chamber and the exit tube extends outwardly beyond the hopper chamber, the second rotor having one portion extending within the exit tube and having a second portion within the hopper chamber and being exposed directly to the pigmentation material within the hopper chamber.

11. Apparatus for dispensing a pigmentation material comprising:

a hopper for containing the pigmentation material;

the hopper having a lower end and an outlet opening for dispensing the pigmentation material from the hopper;

a first rotor mounted within the hopper above the outlet opening for rotation about a first horizontal axis;

a second rotor mounted within the hopper below the first rotor for rotation about a second horizontal axis below the first horizontal axis;

a drive system for causing the first and second rotors to rotate about the first and second horizontal axes, respectively;

the second rotor being capable during rotation of moving the pigmentation material to the outlet opening and causing the pigmentation material to be dispensed outwardly from the hopper through the outlet opening.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first rotor has a diameter larger than the second rotor.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first rotor and the second rotor both include helical ribbon flighting that has an elongated open center.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the second rotor includes a longitudinal axis and an elongated rod is attached to the helical ribbon flighting off-center from the longitudinal axis.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first rotor is adapted to rotate to move the pigmentation material away from the outlet opening.

16. A method for mixing a pigmentation material with a concrete material comprising:

taking a hopper having a hopper chamber, a first rotor mounted for rotation within the hopper chamber, a second rotor mounted for rotation within the hopper chamber, and an outlet opening below the first rotor;

placing the pigmentation material within the hopper chamber;

rotating the first rotor to agitate and loosen the pigmentation material within the hopper chamber;

rotating the second rotor to cause the pigmentation material within the hopper chamber to move toward and be dispensed outwardly through the outlet opening;

adding the pigmentation material dispensed through the outlet opening to the concrete materials being conveyed below the outlet opening on a conveyor;

depositing the pigmentation material and the concrete material from the conveyor into a mixer;

using the mixer to mix the concrete materials and the pigmentation material together.

17. The method according to claim 16 and further comprising using an auger mixer to mix the concrete materials and the pigmentation material together.

18. The method according to claim 16 and further comprising using agitator bars on the first rotor to further loosen and agitate the pigmentation material.

19. The method according to claim 18 and further comprising using first and second rotors that have ribbon helical flighting thereon.