# US 2019/0168901 A1 · Powder Material Hopper System with Offset Loading

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- Number: US 2019/0168901 A1
- Document ID: US20190168901A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/207,844
- Filed: 2018-12-03
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-04
- Assignees: Ecolab USA Inc.
- Applicants: Ecolab USA Inc.
- Inventors: Brock Stephen Mueggenborg; Karl Heinbuch; Daniel Davis Anderson; David W. Scheimann; Thomas E. Peacock
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168901A1

## CPC

- B65B 37/02: by gravity flow
- B65D 88/26: Hoppers, i.e. containers having funnel-shaped discharge sections (B65D88/34 - B65D88/78 take precedence)
- B65G 69/0441: {with chutes, deflector means or channels (B65G69/0458 takes precedence)}
- B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00)
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)

## Abstract

A hopper system for powder material includes a hopper and a cover. The hopper has hopper sidewalls that extend downward from an upper end of the hopper with at least one of the hopper sidewalls being sloped along a portion thereof. A hopper axis extends vertically between at least some of the hopper sidewalls. The cover is disposed at the upper end of the hopper and includes an opening configured for the powder material to flow therethrough and into the hopper. The opening defines a vertical material loading axis that is offset relative to the hopper axis. A diverter member may be provided that is positioned along the material loading axis and configured to divert the powder material entering through the opening. A powder material feed system may be disposed adjacent the lower end of the hopper to feed the powder material from the hopper.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hopper system for powder material, comprising:
a hopper, the hopper having an upper end, a lower end, a plurality of hopper sidewalls, and a hopper axis, the hopper sidewalls extending downward from the upper end, at least one of the hopper sidewalls being sloped along a portion thereof, and the hopper axis extending vertically between at least some of the hopper sidewalk;
a cover disposed at the upper end of the hopper, the cover including an opening configured for the powder material to flow through the opening and into the hopper, the opening defining a vertical material loading axis, the material loading axis being offset relative to the hopper axis;
a diverter member, the diverter member being at least partially positioned along the material loading axis and configured to divert the powder material as it enters the hopper through the opening; and
a powder material feed system, the powder material feed system being disposed adjacent the lower end of the hopper and being configured to feed the powder material from the hopper.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The hopper system of claim 1, wherein the hoper is symmetrically shaped.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The hopper system of claim 1, wherein the sidewalls of the hopper are symmetrically shaped.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The hopper system of claim 1, wherein the hopper comprises a front edge and a back edge, and the hopper axis is equidistant between the front edge and the back edge and the material loading axis is closer to the front edge than the back edge.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The hopper system of claim 1, wherein the hopper comprises an upper portion and a lower portion on top of the upper portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The hopper system of claim 5, wherein a portion of the powder material feed system is disposed within the lower portion of the hopper.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The hopper system of claim 1, wherein the diverter member comprises a front edge and the front edge extends across the opening of the cover.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The hopper system of claim 7, wherein the front edge partially occludes the opening.

### Claim 9

(canceled)

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The hopper system of claim 1, wherein the diverter member comprises a central portion with side edges and a pair of side portions, one of the side portions extending laterally from each side edge of the central portion.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The hopper system of claim 10, wherein the central portion extends downward at an angle relative to a horizontal plane,

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The hopper system of claim 11, wherein the angle is between 15 and 45 degrees.

### Claim 13

(canceled)

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The hopper system of claim 10, wherein the side portions each extend downward at an angle relative to the central portion.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The hopper system of claim 14, wherein the angle is between 15 and 25 degrees.

### Claim 16

(canceled)

### Claim 17

A hopper system for powder material, comprising:
a hopper, the hopper having an upper end, a plurality of hopper sidewalls, and a hopper axis, the hopper sidewalls extending downward from the upper end, at least one of the hopper sidewalls being sloped along a portion thereof, and the hopper axis extending vertically between at least some of the hopper sidewalls;
a cover disposed at the upper end of the hopper, the cover including an opening configured for the powder material to flow through the opening and into the hopper, the opening defining a vertical material loading axis, the material loading axis being offset relative to the hopper axis; and
a diverter member, the diverter member being at least partially positioned along the material loading axis and configured to divert the powder material as it enters the hopper through the opening.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The hopper system of claim 17, wherein the hoper is symmetrically shaped.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The hopper system of claim 17, wherein the sidewalls of the hopper are symmetrically shaped.

### Claim 20

(canceled)

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The hopper system of claim 17, wherein the hopper comprises an upper portion and a lower portion on top of the upper portion.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The hopper system of claim 21, wherein a portion of the powder material feed system is disposed within the lower portion of the hopper.

### Claim 23 (depends on 17)

The hopper system of claim 17, wherein the diverter member comprises a front edge and the front edge extends across the opening of the cover.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The hopper system of claim 23, wherein the front edge partially occludes the opening.

### Claim at position 25

25-35. (canceled)