Fine powder filler system

• US 8,328,051 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2009
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Higuchi, Fumii, Louie, Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAINBRIDGE, ANDREW PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US12/490,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20100327020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 222/227, 222236-248, 222413-414, 222/228, 141/2, 366194-196, 366292-293, 366/295, 366312-313, 366/326.1, 3663301-3307
• US Class Current: 222/241
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/68 using rotating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 13/005 comprising a screw conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/087 Developer cartridges having a longitudinal rotational axis, around which at least one part is rotated when mounting or using the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0877 Arrangements for metering and dispensing developer from a developer cartridge into the development unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0819 two or more agitators

Abstract

Disclosed are embodiments of a powder filler system incorporating a pair of symmetrical agitators within a hopper, containing powder and having an upper cylindrical portion and a lower funnel portion. Each agitator includes: a first bar extending from the top of the hopper to a tubular section of the funnel portion; a second bar connected to the first bar and extending towards an interface between the upper cylindrical and lower funnel portions of the hopper; a third bar connected to both the first and second bars such that it is approximately parallel to an angled sidewall of a conical section of the funnel portion; and vertically oriented and angled fins connected between the second and third bars. Agitators configured in this manner maintain the powder at an essentially uniform density within the hopper; move the powder towards the auger such that cavitations/starvations are avoided; and ensure a steady discharge flow.

Claims

1. A system for conveying a powder, said system comprising:

a hopper containing said powder and having an upper portion and a lower portion below said upper portion, said lower portion comprising a funnel comprising;

a conical section connected to said upper portion; and

a tubular section connected to an apex of said conical section, said tubular section having an outlet for said powder;

an auger extending vertically through a center of said hopper to said outlet, said auger rotating such that said powder is conveyed through said outlet; and

a pair of agitators adjacent opposite sides of said auger, said pair of agitators rotating about said auger in order to mix said powder as said powder moves in a first direction toward said apex and out said outlet and each of said agitators comprising;

a first bar extending vertically from a top of said hopper adjacent to said auger to approximately said apex of said conical section;

a second bar connected to a center portion of said first bar, said second bar extending horizontally away from said auger toward an interface between said upper portion and said lower portion;

a third bar having opposing ends connected to a first end of said first bar at said apex and connected to a second end of said second bar at said interface such that said third bar is adjacent to and approximately parallel to an angled sidewall of said conical section of said funnel from said first end of said first bar at said apex to said second end of said second bar at said interface; and

a plurality of parallel fins,

each fin of said plurality of parallel fins extending vertically between and connected to both said second bar and said third bar, and

each fin of said plurality of parallel fins having a first edge comprising a leading edge and a second edge opposite said leading edge and said leading edge being relatively thin as compared to said second edge such that spaces between adjacent fins of said plurality of parallel fins become increasingly narrow from leading edges of said adjacent fins of said plurality of parallel fins to second edges of said adjacent fins of said plurality of parallel fins,

said rotating of said pair of agitators forcing said powder in a second direction through said spaces,

said forcing of said powder in said second direction through said spaces, which become increasingly narrow from said leading edges to said second edges, as said powder also moves in said first direction, which is essentially perpendicular to said second direction, ensures an essentially uniform powder density within said hopper and minimizes cavitations within said powder at said apex.

2. The system of claim 1, each of the fins of said plurality of parallel fins for each of said agitators positioned at a predetermined angle with respect to a plane extending across a diameter of said hopper such that during rotation of said pair of agitators all fins of said plurality of parallel fins direct said powder towards said auger and cavitations within said powder at said apex of said conical section are minimized.

3. The system of claim 2, said predetermined angle ranging between approximately 45-85 degrees.

4. The system of claim 1, said first edge being parallel to said second edge, said first edge having a first width ranging from ⅛

-¼

inch, said second edge having a second width ranging from ¾

-2 inches.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first motor rotating said auger at a first predetermined speed and a second motor rotating said pair of agitators at a second predetermined speed so that said powder is maintained at a known and essentially uniform density within said hopper without the formation of cavitations adjacent to said auger and further so that said powder is discharged from said outlet at a known and essentially uniform rate, thereby allowing the amount of discharged powder to be determined without a weight scale.

6. The system of claim 4, said first predetermined speed comprising approximately 500-2000 rotations per minute and said second predetermined speed comprising approximately 15-20 rotations per minute.

7. A system for conveying a powder, said system comprising:

a hopper containing said powder and having an upper portion and a lower portion below said upper portion, said lower portion comprising a funnel comprising;

a conical section connected to said upper portion; and

a tubular section connected to an apex of said conical section, said tubular section having an outlet for said powder;

an auger extending vertically through a center of said hopper to said outlet, said auger rotating such that said powder is conveyed through said outlet; and

a pair of agitators adjacent opposite sides of said auger, said pair of agitators rotating about said auger in order to mix said powder as said powder moves in a first direction toward said apex and out said outlet and each of said agitators comprising;

a first bar extending vertically from a top of said hopper adjacent to said auger to approximately said apex of said conical section;

a second bar connected to a center portion said first bar, said second bar extending horizontally away from said auger toward an interface between said upper portion and said lower portion;

a third bar having opposing ends connected to a first end of said first bar at said apex and to a second end of said second bar at said interface such that said third bar is adjacent to and approximately parallel to an angled sidewall of said conical section of said funnel from said first end of said first bar at said apex to said second end of said second bar at said interface;

a fourth bar connected to said second bar and extending vertically toward said top of said hopper adjacent to a vertical sidewall of said upper portion; and

a plurality of parallel fins,

each fin of said plurality of parallel fins extending vertically between and connected to both said second bar and said third bar, and

each fin of said plurality of parallel fins having a first edge comprising a leading edge and a second edge opposite said leading edge and said leading edge being relatively thin as compared to said second edge such that spaces between adjacent fins of said plurality of parallel fins become increasingly narrow from leading edges of said adjacent fins of said plurality of parallel fins to second edges of said adjacent fins of said plurality of parallel fins,

said rotating of said pair of agitators forcing said powder in a second direction through said spaces, said forcing of said powder in said second direction through said spaces, which become increasingly narrow from said leading edges to said second edges, as said powder also moves in said first direction ensures an essentially uniform powder density within said hopper and minimizes cavitations within said powder at said apex.

8. The system of claim 7, each of the fins of said plurality of parallel fins for each of said agitators positioned at a predetermined angle with respect to a plane extending across a diameter of said hopper such that during rotation of said pair of agitators all fins of said plurality of parallel fins direct said powder towards said auger and cavitations within said powder at said apex of said conical section are minimized.

9. The system of claim 8, said predetermined angle ranging between approximately 45-85 degrees.

10. The system of claim 7, said first edge being parallel to said second edge, said first edge having a first width ranging from ⅛

-¼

inch, said second edge having a second width ranging from ¾

-2 inches.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising a first motor rotating said auger at a first predetermined speed and a second motor rotating said pair of agitators at a second predetermined speed so that said powder is maintained at a known and essentially uniform density within said hopper without the formation of cavitations adjacent to said auger and further so that said powder is discharged from said outlet at a known and essentially uniform rate, thereby allowing the amount of discharged powder to be determined without a weight scale.

12. The system of claim 11, said first predetermined speed comprising approximately 500-2000 rotations per minute and said second predetermined speed comprising approximately 15-20 rotations per minute.

13. A system for conveying a powder, said system comprising:

a hopper containing said powder and having an upper portion and a lower portion below said upper portion, said lower portion comprising a funnel comprising;

a conical section connected to said upper portion; and

a tubular section connected to an apex of said conical section, said tubular section having an outlet for said powder;

an auger extending vertically through a center of said hopper to said outlet, said auger rotating such that said powder is conveyed through said outlet;

a pair of agitators adjacent opposite sides of said auger, said pair of agitators rotating about said auger in order to mix said powder as said powder moves in a first direction toward said apex and out said outlet and each of said agitators comprising;

a first bar extending vertically from a top of said hopper adjacent to said auger to approximately said apex of said conical section;

a second bar connected to a center portion of said first bar, said second bar extending horizontally away from said auger toward an interface between said upper portion and said lower portion;

a third bar having opposing ends connected to a first end of said first bar at said apex and to a second end of said second bar at said interface such that said third bar is adjacent to and approximately parallel to an angled sidewall of said conical section of said funnel from said first end of said first bar at said apex to said second end of said second bar at said interface; and

a plurality of parallel fins,

each fin of said plurality of parallel fins extending vertically between and connected to both said second bar and said third bar, and

each fin of said plurality of parallel fins having a first edge comprising a leading edge and a second edge opposite said leading edge and said leading edge being relatively thin as compared to said second edge such that spaces between adjacent fins of said plurality of parallel fins become increasingly narrow from leading edges of said adjacent fins of said plurality of parallel fins to second edges of said adjacent fins of said plurality of parallel fins,

said rotating of said pair of agitators forcing said powder in a second direction through spaces between adjacent fins, and

said forcing of said powder in said second direction through said spaces, which become increasingly narrow from said leading edges to said trailing edges, as said powder also moves in said first direction ensures an essentially uniform powder density within said hopper and minimizes cavitations within said powder at said apex; and

a support ring connected to and supporting said first bar of each of said agitators, said support ring being positioned approximately equidistance between said top of said hopper and said apex and said auger extending through without contacting said support ring.

14. The system of claim 13, each of the fins of said plurality of parallel fins for each of said agitators positioned at a predetermined angle with respect to a plane extending across a diameter of said hopper such that during rotation of said pair of agitators all fins direct said powder towards said auger and cavitations within said powder at said apex of said conical section are minimized.

15. The system of claim 14, said predetermined angle ranging between approximately 45-85 degrees.

16. The system of claim 13, said first edge being parallel to said second edge, said first edge having a first width ranging from ⅛

-¼

inch, said second edge having a second width ranging from ¾

-2 inches.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising a first motor rotating said auger at a first predetermined speed and a second motor rotating said pair of agitators at a second predetermined speed so that said powder is maintained at a known and essentially uniform density within said hopper without the formation of cavitations adjacent to said auger and further so that said powder is discharged from said outlet at a known and essentially uniform rate, thereby allowing the amount of discharged powder to be determined without a weight scale.

18. The system of claim 17, said first predetermined speed comprising approximately 500-2000 rotations per minute and said second predetermined speed comprising approximately 15-20 rotations per minute.

19. A system for conveying a powder, said system comprising:

a hopper containing said powder and having an upper portion and a lower portion below said upper portion, said lower portion comprising a funnel comprising;

a conical section connected to said upper portion; and

a tubular section connected to an apex of said conical section, said tubular section having an outlet for said powder;

an auger extending vertically through a center of said hopper to said outlet, said auger rotating such that said powder is conveyed through said outlet;

a pair of agitators adjacent opposite sides of said auger, said pair of agitators rotating about said auger in order to mix said powder as said powder moves in a first direction toward said apex and out said outlet and each of said agitators comprising;

a first bar extending vertically from a top of said hopper adjacent to said auger to approximately said apex of said conical section;

a second bar connected to a center portion of said first bar, said second bar extending horizontally away from said auger toward said an interface between said upper portion and said lower portion;

a third bar having opposing ends connected to a first end of said first bar at said apex and to a second end of said second bar at said interface such that said third bar is adjacent to and approximately parallel to an angled sidewall of said conical section of said funnel from said first end of said first bar at said apex to said second end of said second bar at said interface; and

a plurality of parallel fins pivotably,

each fin of said plurality of parallel fins extending vertically between and connected to both said second bar and said third bar, and

each fin of said plurality of parallel fins having a first edge comprising a leading edge and a second edge opposite said leading edge and said leading edge being relatively thin as compared to said second edge such that spaces between adjacent fins of said plurality of parallel fins become increasingly narrow from leading edges of said adjacent fins of said plurality of parallel fins to trailing edges of said adjacent fins of said plurality of parallel fins,

said rotating of said pair of agitators forcing said powder in a first direction through said spaces,

said forcing of said powder in said second direction through said spaces, which become increasingly narrow from said leading edges to said second edges, as said powder also moves in said first direction ensures an essentially uniform powder density within said hopper and minimizes cavitations within said powder at said apex, and

said fins of said plurality of parallel fins being pivotably connected to said second bar and said third bar so as to allow said fins of said plurality of parallel fins to be selectively positioned at a predetermined angle with respect to a plane extending across a diameter of said hopper such that during rotation of said pair of agitators all fins of said plurality of parallel fins direct said powder towards said auger.

20. The system of claim 19, said predetermined angle being selectively adjustable as a function of a rate of discharge of said powder at said outlet.

21. The system of claim 19, said first edge being parallel to said second edge, said first edge having a first width ranging from ⅛

-¼

inch, said second edge having a second width ranging from ¾

-2 inches.