Vacuum loading system
First Claim
1. Apparatus for providing granular material to a loading hopper preparatory to processing comprising:
- a. an at least partially transparent receptacle for receiving said material prior to processing thereof by machinery supplied by said hopper, having a top including first valve means for selectably connecting said receptacle to vacuum or ambient air;
b. means for drawing vacuum in said receptacle;
c. conduit means for connecting said receptacle to a supply of said granular material;
d. second valve means for selectably permitting material flow from said receptacle into said hopper;
e. means for temporally adjustably closing said first valve means and opening said second valve means responsively to visually detected presence of a suitable amount of material in said receptacle;
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for providing granular material to a loading hopper preparatory to processing includes a receptacle receiving material prior to processing thereof by machinery supplied by the hopper with a top including a first valve for selectably connecting the receptacle to vacuum or ambient air, a conduit for drawing vacuum in the receptacle, a conduit for connecting the receptacle to a supply of the granular material, a second valve for selectably permitting material flow from the receptacle into the hopper, and a sensor control for temporarily adjustably closing the first valve and opening the second valve responsively to detected presence of a suitable amount of material in the receptacle.
30 Citations
24 Claims
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1. Apparatus for providing granular material to a loading hopper preparatory to processing comprising:
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a. an at least partially transparent receptacle for receiving said material prior to processing thereof by machinery supplied by said hopper, having a top including first valve means for selectably connecting said receptacle to vacuum or ambient air;
b. means for drawing vacuum in said receptacle;
c. conduit means for connecting said receptacle to a supply of said granular material;
d. second valve means for selectably permitting material flow from said receptacle into said hopper;
e. means for temporally adjustably closing said first valve means and opening said second valve means responsively to visually detected presence of a suitable amount of material in said receptacle;
- View Dependent Claims (2, 20, 21, 22)
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3. Apparatus for providing plastic resin material to a plurality of loading hoppers and maintaining said material in said hoppers at or above preselected levels preparatory to delivery of said material therefrom for processing comprising:
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a. a plurality of temporary material storage receptacles for receiving said plastic resin material prior to processing thereof by machinery supplied by respective ones of said hoppers;
b. means for drawing vacuum in said receptacles;
c. first valve means selectably connecting said receptacles with said vacuum drawing means;
d. conduit means for connecting said receptacles to respective supplies of plastic resin material;
e. second valve means for selectably permitting plastic resin material flow from said receptacles into associated hoppers;
f. manually adjustable shutoff time control means for closing said first and second valve means, thereby permitting air flow into respective receptacles responsively to visually detected criteria respecting level of said plastic resin material in a receptacle of interest. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 23, 24)
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10. A method for providing plastic resin material to a loading receptacle and periodically replenishing said receptacle with said material, comprising:
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a. drawing a vacuum within a receptacle thereby inducing plastic resin material flow from a plastic resin material supply into said receptacle and marking the commencement of said drawing as a vacuum drawing starting time; and
b. stopping flow of material into said receptacle and marking said stoppage as a vacuum drawing stopping time responsively to optically detected sensed material level within said receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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14. A method for providing plastic resin material to a plurality of loading receptacles and periodically replenishing said receptacle with said material, comprising:
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a. drawing vacuum within said receptacles serially thereby inducing plastic resin material flow from a plastic resin material supply into each of said receptacles in a selected sequence and marking the commencement of said drawing for each of said receptacles as a vacuum drawing starting time for a receptacle of interest; and
b. stopping flow of material into said receptacles and separately marking said stoppage as a vacuum drawing stopping time for each of said receptacles responsively to optically detected sensed material level within each of said receptacles.
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Specification