Material metering device
First Claim
1. A metering device for particulate material, comprising:
- forward and rear rollers for supporting a conveyor belt,a flexible conveyor belt wound about the rollers,means for dispensing particulate material onto said conveyor belt,means for rotating at least one of the rollers to rotate the conveyor belt with its upper surface moving toward the forward roller,a gate having a lower material contacting surface, said gate comprising a generally cylindrical elongate rod positioned generally above and forward from the forward roller with its axis generally parallel to the roller axis, and a material blocking surface above said rod, said rod cooperting with the forward roller to define a gate opening which prevents material above the level of the lower rod surface from being metered past the gate,means for adjusting the position of the gate along a path which extends upward and forward from the forward roller to control the volumetric metering rate and permit material being metered past the gate to fall downwardly, andmeans for continuously rotating the rod so that its lower surface moves in the direction of material flow, thereby retarding clogging of metered material at the gate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A metering device for particulate material in which backups and caking of material is inhibited by the provision of a "live" metering gate consisting of an upper blocking section and a lower material contacting surface. The lower surface is continually moved in the direction of material flow at a speed approximately equal to or slightly greater than the material flow speed. An elongate rotatable rod carried at the lower end of a blocking plate preferably provides the material contacting surface.
The gate is vertically adjustable so that the volumetric flow rate of material can be controlled. In a preferred embodiment the gate is located above the end of the material bearing surface and is adjustable along an axis which diverges from vertical by an appreciable angle, preferably about 45°.
The transverse dimension of metered material is also controlled by means of two blocking members which extend inwardly toward each other from behind the gate. The clearance between the blocking members can be controlled to limit the width of metered material to a desired amount, and also to achieve a singulated metering pattern.
19 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A metering device for particulate material, comprising:
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forward and rear rollers for supporting a conveyor belt, a flexible conveyor belt wound about the rollers, means for dispensing particulate material onto said conveyor belt, means for rotating at least one of the rollers to rotate the conveyor belt with its upper surface moving toward the forward roller, a gate having a lower material contacting surface, said gate comprising a generally cylindrical elongate rod positioned generally above and forward from the forward roller with its axis generally parallel to the roller axis, and a material blocking surface above said rod, said rod cooperting with the forward roller to define a gate opening which prevents material above the level of the lower rod surface from being metered past the gate, means for adjusting the position of the gate along a path which extends upward and forward from the forward roller to control the volumetric metering rate and permit material being metered past the gate to fall downwardly, and means for continuously rotating the rod so that its lower surface moves in the direction of material flow, thereby retarding clogging of metered material at the gate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification