Claims
- 1. A hopper assembly for receiving solid, flowing product to form and transfer as a controlled batch, comprising:
- a shell for forming the batch received through an opening adjacent the top;
- a pair of clam shell doors having opposed lower lips closing the bottom of said shell;
- means for oscillating said doors for opening to discharge the batch and for closing to form the next batch in said shell; and
- a curved transition chute positioned below said shell to receive the batch;
- said chute gradually curving away from a vertical slope downwardly from adjacent one end of said shell and extending under said shell for delivery of each batch to a position spaced inwardly with respect to said shell,
- whereby said batch being received from said shell is controlled to minimize string out and bouncing of the product along said chute.
- 2. The hopper system of claim 1 wherein is further provided a batch forming hopper to receive the product of said stream and form said batch;
- a transfer hopper for receiving said batch from said forming hopper for later discharge;
- a scale to determine the weight of product in said batch;
- said holding hopper for receiving said batch from said transfer hopper for later discharge;
- a computer for sensing said batch weight from said scale and assigning in sequence the weight to said transfer and said holding hoppers;
- said computer being operative to select at least one of said transfer and holding hoppers for discharge;
- at least said holding hopper comprises a shell for forming the batch received through an opening adjacent the top;
- a pair of clam shell doors having opposed lower lips closing the bottom of the shell; and
- means for oscillating said doors for opening to discharge the batch and for closing to form the next batch.
- 3. The hopper assembly of claim 1 wherein said transition chute is curved from 1/4 to 1/2 along the length of said shell.
- 4. The hopper assembly of claim 3 wherein said doors slope between substantially 8.degree.-14.degree. in the direction along the closing lips of said doors and toward the entry point of said chute.
- 5. The hopper assembly of claim 4 wherein said doors slopes at an angle of 10.degree..
- 6. The hopper assembly of claim 1 wherein said shell slopes between substantially 8.degree.-14.degree. in the direction along the closing lips of said doors and toward the entry point of said chute.
- 7. The hopper assembly of claim 1 wherein said doors have an upper curved portion with opposed upper edges extending from the top of each door into said shell;
- said upper portions having sufficient length to come substantially together inside said shell when said doors are open,
- whereby said doors intercept any late product in flight in said stream when said doors are open to discharge the batch and to initiate formation of the next batch.
- 8. The hopper assembly of claim 7 wherein said doors slope between substantially 8.degree.-14.degree. in the direction along the closing lips of said doors.
- 9. The hopper assembly of claim 7 wherein said transition chute is curved from 1/4 to 1/2 along the length of said shell.
- 10. The hopper assembly of claim 9 wherein said doors slope between substantially 8.degree.-14.degree. in the direction along the closing lips of said doors and toward the entry point of said chute.
- 11. The hopper assembly of claim 10 wherein said doors slope at an angle of 10.degree..
- 12. A hopper assembly for receiving solid, flowing product to form and transfer as a controlled batch, comprising:
- at least one hopper for holding said batch;
- a curved transition chute positioned below said holding hopper to receive the batch;
- said chute gradually curving away from a vertical slope downwardly from adjacent one end of said holding hopper and extending under said holding hopper for delivery of each batch to a position spaced inwardly with respect to said holding hopper,
- whereby the batch being received from said holding hopper is controlled to minimize string out and bouncing of the product along said chute.
- 13. The hopper system of claim 2 wherein said holding hopper slopes between substantially 8.degree.-14.degree. in the direction along the closing lips of said doors and toward the entry point of said chute;
- said transition chute being curved from 1/4 to 1/2 along the length of said holding hopper;
- whereby the batch is formed at one end for improved nesting and subsequent controlled discharge to minimize string out and bouncing of the product along the chute.
- 14. The hopper system of claim 12 wherein said transition chute is curved from 1/4 to 1/2 along the length of said holding hopper.
- 15. The hopper system of claim 13 wherein said holding hopper slopes at an angle of 10.degree..
- 16. The hopper system of claim 2 wherein said clam shell doors further have an upper curved portion with opposed upper edges extending from the top of each door into said hopper;
- said upper portions having sufficient length to come together inside said hopper when said doors are open,
- whereby said doors intercept any late product in flight in said stream when said doors are open to discharge the batch and to initiate formation of the next batch.
- 17. The hopper system of claim 16 wherein said holding hopper slopes between substantially 8.degree.-14.degree. in the direction along the closing lips of said doors and toward the entry point of said chute;
- said transition chute being curved from 1/4 to 1/2 along the length of said holding hopper,
- whereby the batch being received from said holding hopper is controlled to minimize string out and bouncing of the product along the chute.
- 18. The hopper system of claim 17 wherein said holding hopper slopes at an angle of 10.degree..
- 19. A multiple in-series hopper system for receiving a stream of solid, flowing product to form and transfer as a batch, comprising:
- a batch forming and weighing hopper to directly receive the product of said stream and form said batch for later discharge;
- a scale to determine the weight of product in said batch in said weighing hopper;
- a transfer hopper for receiving said batch from said forming/weighing hopper for later discharge;
- a holding hopper for receiving said batch from said transfer hopper for later discharge;
- a computer for sensing said batch weight from said scale and assigning the weight;
- said computer being operative to select at least said holding hopper for discharge;
- whereby said forming/weighing hopper is available for batch forming and weighing at all times during selection of at least said holding hopper.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of U.S patent application Ser. No. 08/617,511, filed Mar. 15, 1996, entitled "Multiple Hopper Weighing and Transfer System" now U.S. Pat. No. 5,736,683.
US Referenced Citations (23)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
03-282221 |
Dec 1991 |
JPX |
04-60423 |
Feb 1992 |
JPX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
WO 94/13536 (Bleicher), Jun. 1994. |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
617511 |
Mar 1996 |
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