Receiver with dust collector for bulk dry ingredients

• US 5,284,388 A
• Filed: 10/09/1991
• Issued: 02/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Beta Raven, Inc. (California Pellet Mill Co.)
• Original Assignee: Beta Raven, Inc. (California Pellet Mill Co.)
• Inventors: Volk, Joseph A. Jr., Volk, Benjamin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): JENKINS, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US07/774,695
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 366/341, 366/141, 366/101, 366/150, 366/159, 366/156, 366/177, 366/182, 366/183, 406/106, 406/156, 406/157, 406/163, 406/168, 406/173, 406/181, 406/183
• US Class Current: 366/141
• CPC Class Codes: A21C 1/143 using pneumatic means

Abstract

A receiver arrangement includes a bin vent for collecting ingredient dust and a multiple tee arrangement which permits the connection of a minor/micro pressure blow transfer system for dry ingredients into the major pressure blow system which transfers major ingredients into the receiver. A bottom diverter valve at the top of the receiver permits these ingredients to be directly transferred into the receiver, or to be transferred into the bin vent for addition at a later stage of the mixing process. The receiver and bin vent are supported by load cells to continuously monitor the weight of ingredients contained in the receiver/bin vent so that proper amounts of each ingredient are reliably included in each batch. Three different embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A receiver for pre-mixing a bulk batch of dry ingredients for a foodstuff in a food preparation process, a bulk transfer means for transporting a bulk quantity of a first dry ingredient thereinto, said bulk transfer means being adapted for transporting said ingredient to a plurality of said receivers in a continuous loop configuration, means for collecting the dust of said ingredient created as it is transported to at least one of said receivers, a second bulk transfer means for separately transporting other dry ingredients to said receiver, said dust collection means having means for collecting the dust of said other ingredients created as they are transported to said receiver, and means for dumping said ingredients from said receiver and said dust collection means into a mixer.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said receiver has a single entry valve through which all of said dry ingredients pass from said bulk transfer means for entry into said receiver.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said single entry valve has means for routing said dry ingredients into said receiver and routing the exhaust including said dust from said receiver to said dust collection means.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said single entry valve further comprises means for routing said dry ingredients directly into said dust collection means.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said dumping means includes means for selectively conveying the contents of said dust collection means into said receiver.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising means for weighing said receiver and said dust collection means to thereby determine the amount of each of said ingredients received at said receiver and dust collection means.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said dust collection means comprises a bin vent, and each of said bulk transfer means comprises a pressurized air transfer system.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein each of said pressurized air transfer systems includes a tube through which said dry ingredients are transported, and wherein the tube of said second bulk transfer means is joined to the tube of said first bulk transfer means at a point proximate the receiver, and further comprising a valve at said point having means to permit either one of said bulk transfer means to transport dry material into said receiver.

9. The device of claim 8 further comprising a second joint and valve, said second joint and valve being located in said tube for said first bulk transfer means at a point further away from said receiver than said first joint and valve, said second joint and valve having means to permit said first bulk transfer means to transport dry material either to said receiver or into a bypass line to another receiver comprising said loop configuration.

10. A receiver for holding a premix of dry materials in a batch for preparation of a foodstuff in a batch processing system, said receiver having a single entry valve through which said dry material passes on its way into said receiver, a first bulk dry ingredient transfer means for transporting a first bulk dry ingredient into said receiver, a second bulk dry ingredient transfer means for transporting other bulk dry ingredients into said receiver, and means for selecting which of said transfer means has access to said receiver.

11. The device of claim 10 further comprising a dust collection means in communication with said receiver for collecting the ingredient dust created when an ingredient is transported into said receiver.

12. The device of claim 11 further comprising means for dumping the batch contained in said receiver into a mixer.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said dumping means includes means for moving the ingredients contained in said dust collection means into said receiver.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein said dust collection means is in communication with said receiver through said single entry valve and said single entry valve has means for directing any of said dry ingredients directly into said dust collection means.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said dust collection means comprises a bin vent, and each of said bulk transfer means comprises a pressurized air transfer system.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein each of said pressurized air transfer systems includes a tube through which said dry ingredients are transported, and wherein the tube of said second bulk transfer means is joined to the tube of said first bulk transfer means at a point proximate the receiver, and further comprising a valve at said point having means to permit either one of said bulk transfer means to transport dry material into said receiver.

17. The device of claim 16 further comprising a second joint and valve, said second joint and valve being located in said tube for said first bulk transfer means at a point further away from said receiver than said first joint and valve, said second joint and valve having means to permit said first bulk transfer means to transport dry material either to said receiver or into a bypass line to another receiver comprising said loop configuration.

18. A receiver for pre-mixing a bulk batch of dry ingredients for a foodstuff in a food preparation process, said receiver having an exhaust, a first pressurized air transfer system for transporting a first dry ingredient in bulk form into said receiver, a second pressurized air transfer system for transporting other dry ingredients in bulk form into said receiver, and means in communication with said exhaust into which ingredient dust from at least one of said air transfer systems is collected.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein said dust collecting means has means for collecting dust from ingredients transferred by both of said air transfer systems.

20. The device of claim 19 further comprising means for weighing said receiver and said dust collection means to thereby monitor and control the amount of each ingredient added thereto.

21. The device of claim 20 further comprising a single entry valve for said receiver, both of said transfer systems transporting their respective ingredients into said receiver therethrough.

22. The device of claim 21 further comprising means for dumping the contents of said receiver and said dust collection means into a mixer.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein said dumping means includes a screw conveyor at the bottom of said dust collection means for moving ingredients from said dust collection means into said receiver.

24. A receiver for pre-mixing a bulk batch of dry ingredients for a foodstuff in a food preparation process, a first bulk transfer means for transporting a bulk quantity of a first dry ingredient thereinto, said first bulk transfer means being adapted for transporting said first ingredient to a plurality of said receivers in a continuous loop configuration, a second bulk transfer means for separately transporting other dry ingredients to said receiver, means for collecting the dust of either said first ingredient or said other ingredients created as they are transferred to said receiver, means for selectively exhausting the dust of at least said first ingredient from said receiver and back into said first bulk transfer means, and means for dumping said ingredients from said receiver and said dust collection means into a mixer.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein said dust collection means comprises a bin vent, and wherein said dumping means includes means for moving dust collected in said bin vent back into said receiver before dumping into said mixer.

26. A receiver for pre-mixing a bulk batch of dry ingredients for a foodstuff in a food preparation process, a first bulk transfer means for transporting a bulk quantity of a first dry ingredient thereinto, said first bulk transfer means being adapted for transporting said first ingredient to a plurality of said receivers in a continuous loop configuration, a second bulk transfer means for separately transporting other dry ingredients to said receiver, each of said bulk transfer means having a valve associated therewith through which said associated ingredients pass before entering said receiver, means for collecting the dust of said other ingredients created as they are transported through said second bulk transfer means to said receiver, and means for dumping said ingredients from said receiver and said dust collection means into a mixer.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein said dust collection means comprises a bin vent, and wherein said dumping means includes means for moving dust collected in said bin vent back into said receiver before dumping into said mixer.

28. A receiver for pre-mixing a bulk batch of dry ingredients for a foodstuff in a food preparation process, a first bulk transfer means for transporting a bulk quantity of a first dry ingredient thereinto, said first bulk transfer means being adapted for transporting said first ingredient to a plurality of said receivers in a continuous loop configuration, a second bulk transfer means for separately transporting other dry ingredients to said receiver, means for collecting the dust of at least said other ingredients as they are transferred to said receiver by said second bulk transfer means, means for selectively transferring at least some of said other ingredients only into said dust collection means and not into said receiver, means for dumping said receiver into a mixer, and means for dumping said dust collection means into the mixer.