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US 2012/0233874 A1Published application
Apparatus for dispensing material
AssigneeColumbia PhytoTechnology, LLC
InventorsMark Savarese, Jeffery J. Williams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for dispensing material includes an outlet opening with a perforated cover. A rotatable applicator dispenses material through the perforated cover and may include brushes that sweep across and penetrate the openings of the perforated cover. The housing may also contain a feed roller for regulating the flow of the material and one or more commutators for fractionating the material.
Claims33
An apparatus for dispensing material, said apparatus comprising:
- a housing comprising inlet and outlet openings and a path extending from the inlet opening to the outlet opening through which material to be dispensed can travel;
- a stationary perforated cover at least partially covering the outlet opening;
- and
- a rotatable applicator disposed within the housing and configured to dispense material through the perforated cover.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- introducing material into a dispensing apparatus comprising a housing;
- dispensing the material from the dispensing apparatus through a perforated cover of the dispensing apparatus by a rotating applicator within the housing that brushes the material against the perforated cover.
A system for drying material, said system comprising:
- a dispensing apparatus comprising a housing, the housing comprising inlet and outlet openings, a rotatable applicator disposed within the housing, and a perforated cover adjacent the outlet opening, the dispensing apparatus configured to dispense material through the perforated cover;
- a conveying apparatus positioned to receive material dispensed from the dispensing apparatus;
- and
- a drying apparatus configured to remove moisture from material being conveyed on the conveying apparatus.
1 more element
An apparatus for dispensing material, said apparatus comprising:
- a housing comprising inlet and outlet openings and a path extending from the inlet opening to the outlet opening through which material to be dispensed can travel;
- a screen extending over the outlet opening;
- a rotatable applicator disposed within the housing and comprising a plurality of brushes each with plurality of flexible bristles, wherein the rotatable applicator is configured and positioned to sweep material across, thereby dispensing material through, the screen;
- wherein at least a portion of the bristles extend through openings in the screen when the applicator is rotated relative to the screen;
- wherein the at least a portion of bristles that extend through the screen have end portions that extend past the screen;
- a feed roller disposed within the housing at a position above the applicator for regulating the amount of material flowing from the feed roller to the applicator;
- a rotatable commutator disposed within the housing, below the feed roller, and above the applicator, for fractionating the material as it flows through the housing;
- the housing comprising an upper housing and a lower housing, the upper housing comprising the inlet opening, the lower housing comprising the outlet opening, the upper housing additionally comprising a transfer opening at or near a lower end thereof and opening into the lower housing, and wherein the path extends from the inlet opening through the transfer opening and to the outlet opening.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.