Back to results
US 2026/0274555 A1Published application
Improvements in handling bulk material feedstocks
OwnerGeoff Smith, James Helliwell +2inventors
InventorsGeoff Smith, James Helliwell, Adam Niall Benjamin Smith, David Nessbach
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Innovations are provided in the field of handling bulk materials, especially mixed plastic waste, with an improved hopper system and systems for use in hoppers directed to prevent bridging.
Claims12
A hopper system for providing a continuous flow of feedstock, comprising:
- at least one primary hopper comprising an inlet valve;
- a secondary hopper comprising a multi screw base and an extraction screw, wherein the multi screw base is configured to convey feedstock towards the extraction screw, and the extraction screw is configured to receive feedstock from the multi screw base and convey it out of the secondary hopper;
- and
- at least one full cross sectional area valve, such that each of the at least one primary hoppers has a respective one of the at least one full cross sectional area valves arranged between it and the secondary hopper;
- wherein each of the at least one primary hoppers is disposed above its respective one of the at least one cross sectional area valves, and the secondary hopper is disposed below the at least one cross sectional area valves.
2 more elements
The method of claim wherein the feedstock is mixed plastic waste or industrial plastic waste.
A hopper comprising an anti-bridging system, comprising:
- a plate comprising at least one opening arranged to divide the hopper into an upper region and a lower region;
- a shaft arranged to rotate the plate;
- a radial bar attached to a wall of the hopper in the upper region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.