FINE POWDER FILLER SYSTEM

• US 20100327020A1
• Filed: 06/24/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Louie, Wayne, Higuchi, Fumii
• Granted Patent: US 8,328,051 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/241
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/68 using rotating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 13/005 comprising a screw conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/087 Developer cartridges having a longitudinal rotational axis, around which at least one part is rotated when mounting or using the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0877 Arrangements for metering and dispensing developer from a developer cartridge into the development unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0819 two or more agitators

Abstract

Disclosed are embodiments of a powder filler system incorporating a pair of symmetrical agitators within a hopper, containing powder and having an upper cylindrical portion and a lower funnel portion. Each agitator includes: a first bar extending from the top of the hopper to a tubular section of the funnel portion; a second bar connected to the first bar and extending towards an interface between the upper cylindrical and lower funnel portions of the hopper; a third bar connected to both the first and second bars such that it is approximately parallel to an angled sidewall of a conical section of the funnel portion; and vertically oriented and angled fins connected between the second and third bars. Agitators configured in this manner maintain the powder at an essentially uniform density within the hopper; move the powder towards the auger such that cavitations/starvations are avoided; and ensure a steady discharge flow.

Claims

1. A system for conveying a powder, said system comprising:

a hopper containing said powder and having an upper portion and a lower portion below said upper portion, said lower portion comprising a funnel comprising;

a conical section connected to said upper portion; and

a tubular section connected to an apex of said conical section, said tubular section having an outlet for said powder;

an auger extending vertically through a center of said hopper to said outlet, said auger rotating such that said powder is conveyed through said outlet; and

a pair of agitators adjacent opposite sides of said auger, said pair of agitators rotating about said auger in order to mix said powder and each of said agitators comprising;

a first bar extending vertically from a top of said hopper adjacent to said auger to approximately said apex of said conical section;

a second bar connected to said first bar and extending horizontally away from said auger at approximately an interface between said upper portion and said lower portion;

a third bar connected to said first bar and to said second bar such that said third bar is adjacent to and approximately parallel to an angled sidewall of said conical section of said funnel; and

a plurality of parallel fins connected between said second bar and said third bar.

2. The system of claim 1, each of said fins of each of said agitators positioned at a predetermined angle with respect to a plane extending across a diameter of said hopper such that during rotation of said pair of agitators all fins direct said powder towards said auger and cavitations within said powder at said apex of said conical section are minimized.

3. The system of claim 2, said predetermined angle ranging between approximately 45-85 degrees.

4. The system of claim 1, each of said fins of each of said agitators having a first edge and a second edge opposite said first edge, said first edge being relatively thin as compared to said second edge and said first edge comprising a leading edge during rotation of said pair of agitators.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first motor rotating said auger at a first predetermined speed and a second motor rotating said pair of agitators at a second predetermined speed so that said powder is maintained at a known and essentially uniform density within said hopper without the formation of cavitations adjacent to said auger and further so that said powder is discharged from said outlet at a known and essentially uniform rate, thereby allowing the amount of discharged powder to be determined without a weight scale.

6. The system of claim 4, said first predetermined speed comprising approximately 500-2000 rotations per minute and said second predetermined speed comprising approximately 15-20 rotations per minute.

7. A system for conveying a powder, said system comprising:

a hopper containing said powder and having an upper portion and a lower portion below said upper portion, said lower portion comprising a funnel comprising;

a conical section connected to said upper portion; and

a tubular section connected to an apex of said conical section, said tubular section having an outlet for said powder;

an auger extending vertically through a center of said hopper to said outlet, said auger rotating such that said powder is conveyed through said outlet; and

a pair of agitators adjacent opposite sides of said auger, said pair of agitators rotating about said auger in order to mix said powder and each of said agitators comprising;

a first bar extending vertically from a top of said hopper adjacent to said auger to approximately said apex of said conical section;

a second bar connected to said first bar and extending horizontally away from said auger at approximately an interface between said upper portion and said lower portion;

a third bar connected to said first bar and to said second bar such that said third bar is adjacent to and approximately parallel to an angled sidewall of said conical section of said funnel;

a fourth bar connected to said second bar and extending vertically toward said top of said hopper adjacent to a vertical sidewall of said upper portion; and

a plurality of parallel fins connected between said second bar and said third bar.

8. The system of claim 7, each of said fins of each of said agitators positioned at a predetermined angle with respect to a plane extending across a diameter of said hopper such that during rotation of said pair of agitators all fins direct said powder towards said auger and cavitations within said powder at said apex of said conical section are minimized.

9. The system of claim 8, said predetermined angle ranging between approximately 45-85 degrees.

10. The system of claim 7, each of said fins of each of said agitators having a first edge and a second edge opposite said first edge, said first edge being relatively thin as compared to said second edge and said first edge comprising a leading edge during rotation of said pair of agitators.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising a first motor rotating said auger at a first predetermined speed and a second motor rotating said pair of agitators at a second predetermined speed so that said powder is maintained at a known and essentially uniform density within said hopper without the formation of cavitations adjacent to said auger and further so that said powder is discharged from said outlet at a known and essentially uniform rate, thereby allowing the amount of discharged powder to be determined without a weight scale.

12. The system of claim 11, said first predetermined speed comprising approximately 500-2000 rotations per minute and said second predetermined speed comprising approximately 15-20 rotations per minute.

13. A system for conveying a powder, said system comprising:

a hopper containing said powder and having an upper portion and a lower portion below said upper portion, said lower portion comprising a funnel comprising;

a conical section connected to said upper portion; and

a tubular section connected to an apex of said conical section, said tubular section having an outlet for said powder;

an auger extending vertically through a center of said hopper to said outlet, said auger rotating such that said powder is conveyed through said outlet;

a pair of agitators adjacent opposite sides of said auger, said pair of agitators rotating about said auger in order to mix said powder and each of said agitators comprising;

a first bar extending vertically from a top of said hopper adjacent to said auger to approximately said apex of said conical section;

a second bar connected to said first bar and extending horizontally away from said auger at approximately an interface between said upper portion and said lower portion;

a third bar connected to said first bar and to said second bar such that said third bar is adjacent to and approximately parallel to an angled sidewall of said conical section of said funnel; and

a plurality of parallel fins connected between said second bar and said third bar; and

,

a support ring connected to and supporting said first bar of each of said agitators, said auger extending through said support ring.

14. The system of claim 13, each of said fins of each of said agitators positioned at a predetermined angle with respect to a plane extending across a diameter of said hopper such that during rotation of said pair of agitators all fins direct said powder towards said auger and cavitations within said powder at said apex of said conical section are minimized.

15. The system of claim 14, said predetermined angle ranging between approximately 45-85 degrees.

16. The system of claim 13, each of said fins of each of said agitators having a first edge and a second edge opposite said first edge, said first edge being relatively thin as compared to said second edge and said first edge comprising a leading edge during rotation of said pair of agitators.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising a first motor rotating said auger at a first predetermined speed and a second motor rotating said pair of agitators at a second predetermined speed so that said powder is maintained at a known and essentially uniform density within said hopper without the formation of cavitations adjacent to said auger and further so that said powder is discharged from said outlet at a known and essentially uniform rate, thereby allowing the amount of discharged powder to be determined without a weight scale.

18. The system of claim 17, said first predetermined speed comprising approximately 500-2000 rotations per minute and said second predetermined speed comprising approximately 15-20 rotations per minute.

19. A system for conveying a powder, said system comprising:

a hopper containing said powder and having an upper portion and a lower portion below said upper portion, said lower portion comprising a funnel comprising;

a conical section connected to said upper portion; and

a tubular section connected to an apex of said conical section, said tubular section having an outlet for said powder;

an auger extending vertically through a center of said hopper to said outlet, said auger rotating such that said powder is conveyed through said outlet;

a pair of agitators adjacent opposite sides of said auger, said pair of agitators rotating about said auger in order to mix said powder and each of said agitators comprising;

a first bar extending vertically from a top of said hopper adjacent to said auger to approximately said apex of said conical section;

a second bar connected to said first bar and extending horizontally away from said auger at approximately an interface between said upper portion and said lower portion;

a third bar connected to said first bar and to said second bar such that said third bar is adjacent to and approximately parallel to an angled sidewall of said conical section of said funnel; and

a plurality of parallel fins connected between said second bar and said third bar, each of said fins being positioned at a predetermined angel with respect to a plane extending across a diameter of said hopper such that during rotation of said pair of agitators all fins direct said powder towards said auger, said predetermined angle being selectively adjustable.

20. The system of claim 19, said predetermined angle being selectively adjustable as a function of a rate of discharge of said powder at said outlet.

21. The system of claim 19, each of said fins of each of said agitators having a first edge and a second edge opposite said first edge, said first edge being relatively thin as compared to said second edge and said first edge comprising a leading edge during rotation of said pair of agitators.