Apparatus and method for transferring particulate material
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for making a structure that comprises particulate material supported or enclosed by a substrate material, including:
- a) a particulate material feeder for feeding particulate material to;
b) a first moving endless surface with a direction of movement (MD) and with a plurality of reservoirs, said surface being adjacent said particulate material feeder, said first moving endless surface and reservoirs thereof being for receiving said particulate material from said particulate material feeder and for transferring it directly or indirectly to;
c) a second moving endless surface, being said substrate material or being a moving endless surface carrying said substrate material, for receiving said particulate material directly or indirectly from said first moving endless surface ; and
d) a three-dimensional plate, for applying pressure on part of said particulate material and for guiding said particulate material into said reservoirs, said plate being positioned adjacent said particulate material feeder and adjacent said first moving endless surface, said plate having a first plate face adjacent said first moving endless surface, said plate face having at least;
i) a first surface area substantially parallel to said first moving endless surface, said first area being for applying pressure on said part of said particulate material present between said first surface area and said first moving endless surface;
ii) a second surface area neighboring said first surface area, positioned downstream from the first surface area (in MD), said second surface area being non-parallel to said first moving endless surface and leading from said first surface area towards said first moving endless surface, said first surface area and said second surface area being connected to one another under an angle, said second surface area having an average angle with said first moving endless surface from about 10°
to about 80°
; and
iii) a third surface area, neighboring said second surface area, being downstream from said second surface area (in MD), said third surface area being substantially parallel to said first moving endless surface and in closer proximity thereto than said first surface area.
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Abstract
The disclosure concerns an apparatus for transferring, at high speed and in a very effective and accurate manner, particulate material from a feeder into reservoirs of a moving endless surface. The apparatus may include a three-dimensional plate for applying pressure onto the particulate material present between the plate and the moving endless surface. The particulate material is then transferred from the moving endless surface to a substrate.
35 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for making a structure that comprises particulate material supported or enclosed by a substrate material, including:
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a) a particulate material feeder for feeding particulate material to; b) a first moving endless surface with a direction of movement (MD) and with a plurality of reservoirs, said surface being adjacent said particulate material feeder, said first moving endless surface and reservoirs thereof being for receiving said particulate material from said particulate material feeder and for transferring it directly or indirectly to; c) a second moving endless surface, being said substrate material or being a moving endless surface carrying said substrate material, for receiving said particulate material directly or indirectly from said first moving endless surface ; and d) a three-dimensional plate, for applying pressure on part of said particulate material and for guiding said particulate material into said reservoirs, said plate being positioned adjacent said particulate material feeder and adjacent said first moving endless surface, said plate having a first plate face adjacent said first moving endless surface, said plate face having at least; i) a first surface area substantially parallel to said first moving endless surface, said first area being for applying pressure on said part of said particulate material present between said first surface area and said first moving endless surface; ii) a second surface area neighboring said first surface area, positioned downstream from the first surface area (in MD), said second surface area being non-parallel to said first moving endless surface and leading from said first surface area towards said first moving endless surface, said first surface area and said second surface area being connected to one another under an angle, said second surface area having an average angle with said first moving endless surface from about 10°
to about 80°
; andiii) a third surface area, neighboring said second surface area, being downstream from said second surface area (in MD), said third surface area being substantially parallel to said first moving endless surface and in closer proximity thereto than said first surface area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for making a structure that comprises particulate material supported or enclosed by a substrate material, including:
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a) a particulate material feeder for feeding particulate material to; b) a first moving endless surface with a direction of movement (MD) and with a plurality of reservoirs, said surface being adjacent said particulate material feeder, said first moving endless surface and reservoirs thereof being for receiving said particulate material from said particulate material feeder and for transferring it directly or indirectly to; c) a second moving endless surface, being said substrate material or being a moving endless surface carrying said substrate material, for receiving said particulate material directly or indirectly from said first moving endless surface ; and d) a three-dimensional plate, for applying pressure on part of said particulate material and for guiding said particulate material into said reservoirs, said plate being positioned adjacent said particulate material feeder and adjacent said first moving endless surface, said plate having a first plate face adjacent said first moving endless surface, said plate face having at least; i) a first surface area substantially parallel to said first moving endless surface, said first area being for applying pressure on said part of said particulate material present between said first surface area and said first moving endless surface; ii) a second surface area neighboring said first surface area, positioned downstream from the first surface area (in MD), said second surface area being non-parallel to said first moving endless surface and leading from said first surface area towards said first moving endless surface, said first surface area and said second surface area being connected to one another under an angle, said second surface area having an average angle with said first moving endless surface from about 10°
to about 80°
; ande) a pressure control means connected to said three dimensional plate for controlling the external pressure applied by said plate on said particulate material, wherein said pressure control means comprises an actuator that; (i) senses the pressure on said plate, and in response thereto, (ii) adjusts the plate position relative to said first moving endless surface, by moving of the plate towards or away from said first moving endless surface. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification