Apparatus for conveying granular plastic material

• US 6,379,086 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2000
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MANN & Hummel Protec GmbH
• Original Assignee: MANN & Hummel Protec GmbH
• Inventors: Goth, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DILLON JR, JOSEPH A
• Application Number:
  US09/531,765
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 406/31, 406/32, 406/33, 406/34, 406/35, 406/75, 406/127, 406/130, 406/132, 406/135, 406/151, 406/152, 406/168, 406/169
• US Class Current: 406/75
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/38 rotary B29B7/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/603 in measured doses, e.g. proportioning of several materials
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/728 Measuring data of the driving system, e.g. torque, speed, power, vibration B29B7/724 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/885 with means for treating, e.g. milling, the charges B29B7/905 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/03 characterised by the shape of the extruded material at extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/285 Feeding the extrusion material to the extruder
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/287 Raw material pre-treatment while feeding B29C48/78 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/288 in solid form, e.g. powder or granules
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/19 having means for controlling material flow, e.g. to prevent overloading
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/34 Emptying devices conveyor construction B65G15/00 - B65G35/00; devices similar to vehicle tipplers B65G67/48
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/4827 with particular surface features, e.g. ribs, roughening

Abstract

An apparatus for conveying granular plastic materials, for example silicone granulate, including a storage tank, a device for loosening granular plastic material positioned within the storage tank, as well as a discharge device for indirectly or directly transporting granular material to an extruder antechamber. Even granular plastic materials that are difficult to pour can be conveyed in a reliable and economical way due to the process of loosening the granular plastic materials by means of a suitable device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for conveying a granular plastic material comprising a storage tank, a device for loosening granular plastic material disposed within said storage tank, a discharge device for transporting the granular material to an extruder antechamber, a conveying device arranged between said storage tank and the extruder antechamber, and an intermediate hopper arranged to receive said granular plastic material from said conveying device;

wherein the discharge device is a suction pipe extending horizontally or in a descending direction from said storage tank to said conveying device;

said conveying device is supplied with granular plastic material by said suction device; and

and said intermediate hopper consists essentially of a vertical pipe having an elongated configuration, said intermediate hopper receiving all of the granular plastic material.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said granular plastic material is a silicone granulate.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor disposed on said intermediate hopper for detecting the filling level of granular plastic material in said intermediate hopper.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor disposed on said conveying device for detecting the filling level of granular plastic material in said conveying device.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said suction device is arranged in the direct vicinity of said device for loosening granular plastic material, and said device for loosening granular plastic material is a rotating stirring arm.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for continuously adjusting the amount of fresh air provided for said suction device, and an adjustable granulate retaining baffle arranged at a suction outlet of said suction device.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate hopper comprises upper and lower parts, said lower part being rigidly connected to a vibrator conveyor arranged in a lower region of said intermediate hopper, and said upper part being connected to said lower part via a flexible collar.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the granular plastic material is proportioned and fed to the extruder antechamber via said vibrator conveyor.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an electronic controller for controlling operating cycles of said apparatus from loosening the granular plastic material within the storage tank to proportioning the granular plastic material within the extruder antechamber, said electronic controller being programmed to recognize disruptions in operation of said apparatus and sound an alarm or shut down the apparatus upon occurrence of a disruption.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said electronic controller is an an SPS-control.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor disposed on said extruder antechamber for detecting the filling level of granular plastic material in said extruder antechamber.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said sensor is adjustable in stages to detect various filling heights in said extruder antechamber.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said sensor is continuously adjustable to detect various filling heights in said extruder antechamber.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor disposed on said storage tank for detecting the filling level of granular plastic material in said storage tank.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said sensor is adjustable in stages to detect various filling heights in said storage tank .

16. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said sensor is continuously adjustable to detect various filling heights in said storage tank.