Resin delivery apparatus and method with plural air flow limiters

• US 9,937,651 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2016
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Novatec Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Novatec Incorporated
• Inventors: Zinski, James, Maguire, Stephen B.
• Primary Examiner(s): DILLON JR, JOSEPH A
• Application Number:
  US15/066,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20160185538A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 406 46, 406122, 406151, 406152, 406153, 406156, 406157, 406168, 406195, 406197, 406198
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/288 in solid form, e.g. powder or granules
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/251 Particles, powder or granules expandable particles B29K2105/046
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 53/66 Use of indicator or control devices, e.g. for controlling gas pressure, for controlling proportions of material and gas, for indicating or preventing jamming of material controlling the flow of coal firing systems C21B5/003

Abstract

Apparatus has a vacuum pump for conveying granular plastic resin material from a supply to receivers retaining and dispensing the resin when needed by a process machine with a flow limiter connected to the suction head of the vacuum pump, and a second flow limiter controlling and limiting to a maximum value vacuum flow through a conduit carrying auxiliary additives to the receivers.

Claims

1. A method for providing granular plastic resin material from a supply thereof and auxiliary material from a source thereof to at least one receiver, for temporary storage of the granular plastic resin material and the auxiliary material in the receiver until the materials are needed by a process machine associated with the receiver, comprising:

a. positioning a first conduit with an open end in the granular plastic resin material supply;

b. drawing vacuum through the first conduit at a second end of the conduit, thereby conveying granular plastic resin material out of the supply and along the conduit;

c. providing a receiver connected with the first conduit for receipt of granular plastic resin material from the first conduit;

d. positioning a first air flow limiter in the first conduit to limit air flow within the conduit to a preselected value;

e. providing a second conduit connecting an auxiliary device with the first conduit, the auxiliary device being positioned to deliver auxiliary material to the receiver as needed;

f. positioning a second air flow limiter in the second conduit;

g. collecting in the receiver granular plastic resin material entrained in the drawn vacuum conveyed through the first conduit and any auxiliary material received from the auxiliary device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising connecting the second conduit to the first conduit upstream of the first air flow limiter.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least some of the air flow limiters are tubular and are positioned with their axes vertically oriented.

4. A method for providing granular plastic resin material from a supply thereof and auxiliary material from a source thereof to a plurality of receivers, for temporary storage of the granular plastic resin material and the auxiliary material in the receivers until the materials are needed unitarily by a process machine associated with the receiver, comprising:

a. positioning a first conduit with an open end in the supply of granular plastic resin material;

b. drawing vacuum through the first conduit at a second end of the conduit, thereby conveying granular plastic resin material out of the supply and along the conduit;

c. connecting the receivers with the first conduit for receipt of granular plastic resin material from the first conduit;

d. positioning first air flow limiters in portions of the first conduit downstream of the receivers to limit air flow to the receivers through the first conduit to a preselected value;

e. providing a second conduit connecting at least one auxiliary device with the first conduit, the auxiliary device being positioned to deliver auxiliary material to at least one of the receivers as needed;

f. positioning second air flow limiters in at least some of the portions of the second conduit connecting to the receivers

g. collecting in the receivers granular plastic resin material entrained in the drawn vacuum conveyed through the first conduit and any auxiliary material received from the auxiliary device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein at least some of the first air flow limiters are tubular and are positioned with their axes vertically oriented.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein at least some of the second air flow limiters are tubular and are positioned with their axes vertically oriented.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the auxiliary device is a hopper.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the auxiliary device is a dryer.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein the auxiliary device is a gravimetric blender.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein the first conduit is larger diameter than the second conduit.