Apparatus for dispensing granular material
First Claim
1. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing precisely known quantities of pellets from a hopper to a vessel comprising:
- a hopper for holding pellets, said hopper having a bottom opening that is in constant communication with a conveyor tube leading to said vessel;
said conveyor tube extending horizontally below said hopper with said hopper bottom opening communicating with said conveyor tube, a first end of said conveyor tube extending to said vessel;
at least one venturi positioned in said conveyor tube between said bottom opening of said hopper and said vessel, said venturi having an annular chamber into which compressed air is forced, said compressed air entering said conveyor tube so that a vacuum is created in said venturi said venturi having a first passageway directed into said conveyor tube in a direction towards said vessel, said first passageway creating the vacuum in said venturi and a second passageway directed into said conveyor tube in a direction towards said hopper opening, said second passageway aerating the pellets to be drawn into said venturi;
said pellets being moved by said vacuum through said venturi and into said conveyor tube by said vacuum; and
a pressure regulator to control the pressure of said compressed air entering said venturi so that the amount of said pellets moved from said hopper to said vessel can be precisely regulated.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dispensing apparatus dispenses a precisely metered quantity of pellets or granular material from a hopper to a vessel. The hopper which holds the pellets or granular material has a conical bottom portion which terminates in a bottom opening that is in constant communication with a conveyor tube which leads to the vessel. The conveyor tube preferably extends horizontally below the hopper and is in communication with a bottom opening in the hopper. A venturi driven by compressed air is provided in the conveyor tube for creating a vacuum which carries the pellets or granular material from the hopper to the vessel. The pressure of the compressed air entering the venturi is precisely regulated so as to precisely control the amount of pellets or granulated material moved from the hopper to the vessel. Alternatively, a controller can be provided for regulating several conveyor tubes, each to feed a different type of pellet or granular material into the vessel.
27 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing precisely known quantities of pellets from a hopper to a vessel comprising:
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a hopper for holding pellets, said hopper having a bottom opening that is in constant communication with a conveyor tube leading to said vessel; said conveyor tube extending horizontally below said hopper with said hopper bottom opening communicating with said conveyor tube, a first end of said conveyor tube extending to said vessel; at least one venturi positioned in said conveyor tube between said bottom opening of said hopper and said vessel, said venturi having an annular chamber into which compressed air is forced, said compressed air entering said conveyor tube so that a vacuum is created in said venturi said venturi having a first passageway directed into said conveyor tube in a direction towards said vessel, said first passageway creating the vacuum in said venturi and a second passageway directed into said conveyor tube in a direction towards said hopper opening, said second passageway aerating the pellets to be drawn into said venturi; said pellets being moved by said vacuum through said venturi and into said conveyor tube by said vacuum; and a pressure regulator to control the pressure of said compressed air entering said venturi so that the amount of said pellets moved from said hopper to said vessel can be precisely regulated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing known quantities of granulated material from a hopper to a vessel comprising:
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a hopper for holding granulated material, said hopper having a bottom opening that is in constant communication with a conveyor tube, a first end of said conveyor tube leading to said vessel and a second end of said conveyor tube leading to a drain; means for introducing air under pressure to said conveyor tube at a known pressure and flow rate to collect said granulated material from said hopper bottom opening and convey said granulated material through said conveyor tube toward one of said vessel and said drain; means for regulating the pressure of said air under pressure so as to convey a known quantity of said granulated material from said hopper to one of said vessel and said drain; and a pair of venturis placed within said conveyor tube, a first of said pair of venturis creating a vacuum which delivers said granulated material to said vessel and a second of said pair of venturis creating a vacuum which delivers said granulated material to said drain. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing precisely known quantities of pellets from a plurality of hoppers to a vessel comprising:
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a plurality of hoppers for holding pellets, each of said plurality of hoppers having a bottom opening that is in constant communication with one of a plurality of conveyor tubes leading to said vessel; said one of a plurality of conveyor tubes extending horizontally below said hopper with each said hopper bottom opening communicating with said one of a plurality of conveyor tubes, a first end of said one of a plurality of conveyor tubes extending to said vessel; at least one venturi positioned in said one of a plurality of conveyor tubes between said bottom opening of each of said plurality of hoppers and said vessel, said venturi having an annular chamber into which compressed air is forced, said compressed air entering said one of a plurality of conveyor tubes so that a vacuum is created in said venturi said venturi having a first passageway directed into said one of a plurality of conveyor tubes in a direction towards said vessel, said first passageway creating the vacuum in said venturi and a second passageway directed into said one of a plurality of conveyor tubes in a direction towards said hopper opening, said second passageway aerating the pellets to be drawn into said venturi; said pellets being moved by said vacuum through said venturi and into said one of a plurality of conveyor tubes by said vacuum; and a pressure regulator to control the pressure of said compressed air entering said venturi so that the amount of said pellets moved from said hopper to said vessel can be precisely regulated. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification