Transfer and dosing device of pulverulent or granular material contained in a hopper

• US 20060032729A1
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Movidis Co.
• Original Assignee: Movidis Co.
• Inventors: Mosca, Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 7,222,750 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/550.400
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 25/04 the carrier or impeller having identical forward and return paths of movement, e.g. reciprocating conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/44 using reciprocating conveyors, e.g. jigging conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 13/24 Weighing mechanism control arrangements for automatic feed or discharge
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 13/28 involving variation of an electrical variable which is used to control loading or discharge of the receptacle

Abstract

A dosing device of a pulverulent material uses an oscillating drive mechanism with straight to-and-fro movement to extract and dose a pulverulent material contained in a hopper with a calibrated outlet aperture, and then to transfer the extracted mass to a removal point. The hopper can be fixed or movable. To measure the mass flowrate extracted from the aperture, the hopper is connected to the mechanism by a flexible blade and bears on a table equipped with a weighing cell formed by a weight sensor. The weight variation indicates the mass flowrate, which can be adjusted by acting on the oscillation frequency of the mechanism, or on the opening of the outlet aperture.

Claims

1. Transfer and dosing device of a pulverulent or granular material by means of a transporting means mechanically linked to drive means, comprising:

an oscillating mechanism animated with a straight and dissymmetric to-and-fro movement having a faster return speed than the speed in the forward direction, the forward direction corresponding to the direction of transfer of the pulverulent material,

a hopper fed by said material and comprising in addition an outlet aperture of calibrated cross-section designed to extract said material in the forward direction and to dose the extracted mass,

a flexible blade connected to the mechanism and bearing on a table equipped with a weighing cell designed for continuous measurement of the mass flowrate extracted from the aperture of the hopper.

2. Transfer and dosing device according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal stroke of the to-and-fro movement of the mechanism is adjustable between 0.5 mm and 20 mm, the oscillation frequency being comprised between 5 Hz and 100 Hz.

3. Transfer and dosing device according to claim 1, wherein the outlet aperture of the hopper is equipped with an adjustable blanking means to control the flowrate of the extracted mass.

4. Transfer and dosing device according to claim 3, wherein the blanking means comprise a slide or guillotine valve.

5. Transfer and dosing device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism is situated underneath a longitudinal transfer chute connected to the outlet aperture, the hopper and chute being driven by the oscillating mechanism.

6. Transfer and dosing device according to claim 1, wherein the hopper is fixed and that the blade extends along the bottom of the hopper.

7. Transfer and dosing device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible blade is formed by a steel strip fixed by screws to the mechanism and to the hopper.

8. Transfer and dosing device according to claim 1, wherein the weighing cell comprises a weight sensor fixed onto an intercalation placed on the fixed support, and above which there is located a fixed table whereon the base of the hopper slides with a sliding part interposed there-between.

9. Transfer and dosing device according to claim 7, wherein the blade presents a rigidity in the direction of the movement, and is flexible in the gravitational direction, so as to enable measurement of the total weight of the hopper and of its pulverulent material content.

10. Transfer and dosing device according to claim 1, wherein the hopper is fed by a vertical storage tube of the pulverulent material, said tube emptying progressively by gravity into the hopper compensating the mass flowrate extracted via the aperture.

11. Transfer and dosing device according to claim 10, wherein the distance between the bottom of the hopper and the bottom base of the tube is adjustable by means of adjustment screws to adapt the emptying rate of the tube to the flow characteristics of the pulverulent material.