# US 2010/0163575 A1 · Feeding system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0163575 A1 - Document ID: US20100163575A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/620,735 - Filed: 2009-11-18 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-31 - Assignees: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. - Inventors: CHIEN-FENG HUANG - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100163575A1 ## CPC - B29C 45/18: Feeding the material into the injection moulding apparatus {, i.e. feeding the non-plastified material into the injection unit} - B29C 31/02: Dispensing from vessels, e.g. hoppers {(into a mould cavity B29C31/04; large containers characterised by discharge means B65D88/28, B65D88/54)} - B29C 45/76: Measuring, controlling or regulating {(measuring in general G01; controlling or regulating in general G05)} - B29C 2945/76163: Errors, malfunctioning - B29C 2945/76167: Presence, absence of objects - B29C 2945/76183: hopper - B29C 2945/76287: Moulding material - B29C 2945/76354: raw materials - B29C 2945/76461: Optical, e.g. laser - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) ## Abstract A feeding system includes a hopper for containing materials therein, a dispensing pipe, a sensor, a scraper, a driving mechanism. The dispensing pipe is connected to the hopper and is configured for dispensing the materials in the hopper to a predetermined position. The sensor is arranged adjacent to the dispensing pipe and is configured for detecting an amount of the materials loaded in the dispensing pipe. The scraper is arranged in the dispensing pipe and is configured for removing the materials remained on the inner wall of the dispensing pipe by scraping the inner wall of the dispensing pipe. The driving mechanism is configured for driving the scraper to rotate in the dispensing pipe and scrape along the inner wall of the dispensing pipe. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A feeding system, comprising: a hopper for containing materials therein; a dispensing pipe connected to the hopper and configured for dispensing the materials in the hopper; a sensor arranged adjacent to the dispensing pipe and configured for detecting an amount of the materials loaded in the dispensing pipe; a scraper arranged in the dispensing pipe and configured for removing the materials remained on the inner wall of the dispensing pipe by scraping the inner wall of the dispensing pipe; and a driving mechanism configured for driving the scraper to rotate in the dispensing pipe along the inner wall of the dispensing pipe. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The feeding system as described in claim 1, wherein the scraper is elongated. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The feeding system as described in claim 1, wherein the scraper has an arc-shaped side surface for contacting the inner wall of the dispensing pipe, a first and a second flat side surfaces both connecting the arc-shaped side surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The feeding system as described in claim 1, wherein the dispensing pipe is transparent; the sensor includes a photoelectric sensor and is arranged outside of the dispensing pipe. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The feeding system as described in claim 4, wherein the photoelectric sensor includes an infrared sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The feeding system as described in claim 4, further comprising a strengthening member, the strengthening member comprising two spaced seats and three posts connecting the seats, the seats each having a through hole defined therein, the dispensing pipe engaged in the through holes, and the sensor being mounted at one of the posts. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The feeding system as described in claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism comprises a motor, a driving gear connected to the motor, and a driven gear driven by the driving gear, the scraper is connected to the driven gear. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The feeding system as described in claim 6, further comprising a retaining ring mounted to the inner wall of the dispensing pipe, the driven gear being disposed on the retaining ring and rotatable relative to the retaining ring. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The feeding system as described in claim 1, further comprising an intermediate ring arranged between the hopper and the dispensing pipe, the intermediate ring being connected to and rotated by the driving mechanism. ### Claim 10 A feeding system, comprising: a hopper for containing a material therein; a dispensing pipe connected to the hopper and configured for dispensing the material in the hopper; a sensor arranged adjacent to the dispensing pipe and configured for detecting an amount of the material loaded in the dispensing pipe; an elongated scraper arranged in the dispensing pipe, the scraper having an arc-shaped surface for contacting the inner wall of the dispensing pipe, a first and a second flat side surfaces both connecting the arc-shaped surface, the scraper being configured for removing the material remained on the inner wall of the dispensing pipe; and a driving mechanism configured for driving the scraper to rotate in the dispensing pipe and scrape along the inner wall of the dispensing pipe. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The feeding system as described in claim 10, wherein the dispensing pipe is transparent; the sensor includes an infrared photoelectric sensor and is arranged outside the dispensing pipe. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The feeding system as described in claim 10, further comprising a strengthening member, the strengthening member comprising two spaced seats and three posts connecting the seats, the seats each having a through hole defined therein, the dispensing pipe engaged in the through holes, and the sensor being mounted at one of the posts. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The feeding system as described in claim 10, wherein the driving mechanism comprises a motor, a driving gear connected to the motor, and a driven gear driven by the driving gear, the scraper is connected to the driven gear. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The feeding system as described in claim 13, further comprising a retaining ring mounted to the inner wall of the dispensing pipe, the driven gear being disposed on the retaining ring and rotatable relative to the retaining ring. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The feeding system as described in claim 10, further comprising an intermediate ring arranged between the hopper and the dispensing pipe, the intermediate ring being connected to and rotated by the driving mechanism.