Apparatus and method for adding pigmentation to concrete mix
First Claim
Patent Images
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
-
Citations
19 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
-
Specification