Weigh scale blender and method

• US 6,007,236 A
• Filed: 12/10/1996
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stephen B. Maguire
• Original Assignee: Stephen B. Maguire
• Inventors: Maguire, Stephen B.
• Primary Examiner(s): SOOHOO, TONY GLEN
• Application Number:
  US08/763,053
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 366/141, 366/152.1, 366/181.1, 366/76.1, 366/76.9, 366/76.91, 366/76.6, 177/66, 177/64, 177/70, 177/122, 264/78, 264/75, 222/77
• US Class Current: 366/141
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/565 by introducing liquids in solid material, e.g. to obtain slurries
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/60 Mixing solids with solids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/112 with arms, paddles, vanes or blades
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/60 with stirrers rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/881 by weighing, e.g. with automatic discharge
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/244 of several materials
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/28 for measuring, controlling or regulating, e.g. viscosity control B29B7/242 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/582 for discharging, e.g. doors
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/603 in measured doses, e.g. proportioning of several materials
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/72 Measuring, controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/7461 Combinations of dissimilar mixers
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/78 by gravity, e.g. falling particle mixers
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/94 Liquid charges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/286 Raw material dosing
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/288 in solid form, e.g. powder or granules
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/92 Measuring, controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/133 with discontinuous action
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/134 by sensing the weight of the individual components

Abstract

A gravimetric blender including a frame, a weigh bin, a device connected to the frame for sensing weight of the bin and any material contained therein, a mix chamber below the bin, connected to the frame, a piston for selectably releasing material in the bin downwardly into the mix chamber and an elastomer connecting a sensor device to the frame and damping transfer of vibration and shock motion therebetween. The method includes metering solid resinous materials until preselected weight of the respective materials are at the weigh station, metering liquid color until a pre-selected weight of color is at the weigh station, and providing the metered solid resinous materials and metered liquid color material to a mixing station for manufacturing processing via molding or extrusion.

Claims

1. A method for preparing plastic resin material for manufacturing processing such as molding or extrusion, comprising the steps of:

a. monitoring weight of material, if any, at a weighing station;

b. metering respective solid resinous materials to said weighing station until preselected weights of said respective materials are at said station;

c. metering liquid color to said weighing station to join at least one of said materials until a preselected weight of said liquid color is at said station;

d. providing said metered materials and said preselected weight of liquid color material unitarily to a mixing station;

e. mixing said unitarily supplied metered materials and said preselected weight of liquid color into a blend preparatory to said manufacturing processing via molding or extrusion.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said monitoring is performed continuously.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said metering of liquid color is performed peristaltically.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein metering is performed serially.