Unitized fibrous construct dispensing system

• US 7,228,990 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fabpro Oriented Polymers, LLC (Great Lakes Polymer Technologies LLC)
• Original Assignee: Polymer Group Incorporated (Berry Global Group Inc.)
• Inventors: Schmidt, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): DILLON JR, JOSEPH A
• Application Number:
  US11/013,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20050205602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 406/28, 406/33, 406/151, 406/152, 406/153, 406/169, 406/173, 222/77, 222/152, 141/83, 177/116
• US Class Current: 222/77
• CPC Class Codes: B28C 5/40 Mixing specially adapted for preparing mixtures containing fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B28C 7/0445 using a weighing receptacle, the feeding thereof being automatically suspended after a predetermined weight has been obtained B28C7/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B28C 7/062 with a pneumatic or hydraulic conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 5/076 Specially adapted packagings therefor, e.g. for dosing
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 13/022 Material feeding devices G01G13/04 - G01G13/14 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and system for transporting and dispensing fibers into an aggregate mix, and more specifically, to a method and system for transporting and dispensing unitized fibrous constructs into a mix without affecting the structural integrity of the unitized construct. The dispensing system will transport and dispense unitized fibrous constructs intact into a cementitious mixture.

Claims

1. A system for dispensing unitized fibrous constructs, comprising:

a first hose assembly adapted to receive unitized fibrous constructions by drawn air through the hose assembly and defining a passage through which unitized fibrous constructs are conveyable;

a separation chamber adapted to receive air and unitized fibrous constructs from the first hose assembly and for separating the air from the unitized fibrous constructs, and adapted to permit the unitized fibrous constructs to drop downward through the separating chamber;

a second hose assembly adapted to receive air from the separating chamber;

a venturi adapted to receive unitized fibrous constructs from the separation chamber and permit the unitized fibrous constructs to drop downward through the venturi, said venturi comprising a venturi valve at a lower end thereof and adapted to accumulate unitized fibrous constructs and discharge unitized fibrous constructs from the venturi by operable control of the venturi valve;

a weigh bin adapted to receive unitized fibrous constructs from the venturi via the venturi valve and accumulate unitized fibrous constructs, and wherein the weigh bin further comprises a weigh bin valve operable to discharge a pre-determined weight of accumulated unitized fibrous constructs into an aggregate mixer;

a vibrating mechanism operable to assist flow through and prevent over compacting and lodging of said unitized fibrous constructs in said venturi.

2. A system for dispensing unitized fibrous constructs, comprising:

a dispensing assembly comprising;

a first hose assembly adapted to receive unitized fibrous constructions by drawn air through the hose assembly and defining a passage through which unitized fibrous constructs pass ;

a separation chamber adapted to receive air and unitized fibrous constructs from the first hose assembly, and for separating the air from the unitized fibrous constructs and adapted to permit the unitized fibrous constructs to drop downward through the separating chamber;

a second hose assembly adapted to receive air from the separating chamber;

a venturi adapted to receive unitized fibrous constructs from the separation chamber and permit the unitized fibrous constructs to drop downward through the venturi, said venturi comprising a venturi valve at a lower end thereof and adapted to accumulate unitized fibrous constructs and discharge unitized fibrous constructs from the venturi by operable control of the venturi valve;

a weigh bin adapted to receive unitized fibrous constructs from the venturi via the venture valve, and accumulate unitized fibrous constructs, and wherein the weigh bin further comprises a weigh bin valve operable to discharge a pre-determined weight of accumulated unitized fibrous constructs into an aggregate mixer;

a vibrating mechanism operable to assist flow through and prevent over compacting and lodging of said unitized fibrous constructs in said venturi; and

a frame to which the dispensing assembly is attached.