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US 11,286,119 B2Granted
Air assisted hopper system for pellet-shaped articles
AssigneeAckley Machine Corporation
InventorsVincent M. DeLuccia, Jr., James T. McNamee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus that conveys pellet-shaped articles may include a hopper that receives a quantity of the pellet-shaped articles. The hopper may include one or more openings to direct a flow of air into the hopper to dislodge jamming or bridging of pellet-shaped articles within the hopper.
Claims36
An apparatus comprising:
- a conveyer path;
- a hopper configured to receive a plurality of pellet-shaped articles and direct the pellet-shaped articles towards the conveyer path, the hopper having a first hopper wall that faces the interior of the hopper, the first hopper wall being configured to contain the pellet-shaped articles and direct the pellet-shaped articles towards the conveyer path;
- and
- a first plurality of openings to direct a flow of air into the hopper, the first plurality of openings being formed on the first hopper wall in a first row oriented parallel to the conveyer path.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a conveyer path;
- a hopper configured to receive a plurality of pellet-shaped articles and direct the pellet-shaped articles towards the conveyer path, the hopper comprising:
- a first hopper wall that faces the interior of the hopper, the first hopper wall being configured to contain the pellet-shaped articles and direct the pellet-shaped articles towards the conveyer path;
- and
- a first hopper rail that faces the interior of the hopper, the first hopper rail being configured to contain the pellet-shaped articles and direct the pellet-shaped articles towards the conveyer path, the first hopper rail supporting the first hopper wall;
- and
- a first plurality of openings to direct a flow of air into the hopper, the first plurality of openings being formed on the first hopper rail in a first row oriented parallel to the conveyer path.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.