Orbital plate feeder
OwnerFrank J. Miksitzinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a feeder for granular material the material passes in a controlled manner from a mass thereof downwardly through a central feed aperture in a horizontal feed plate which is driven in a horizontal orbital path above a bottom wall having a discharge aperture therein. An annular plate overlies the periphery of the feed plate for the purpose of reducing the tendency of the feed plate to become jammed by the granular material. To further reduce this tendency the feed plate has studs projecting from its lower surface into sliding contact with the bottom wall, and inner and outer rings are provided between the inner and outer edges, respectively, of the feed plate and the bottom wall so as to orbit with the feed plate.
Claims11
In apparatus for feeding granular material with gravity assist from a mass of the material, said apparatus having a shroud positioned with at least its lower end disposed within the mass of material, a horizontal centrally apertured feed plate disposed directly below the shroud and having an upper surface at least partially exposed to the mass of material, the arrangement being such that the material does not flush freely through the central aperture in the feed plate, and means for orbiting said feed plate about a vertical axis so that during orbital movement of the feed plate material from the mass passes in a controlled manner into the central aperture in the feed plate, the improvement comprising an annular plate disposed within the mass of material independent of the feed plate, said plate closely overlying at least the leading edge of the orbiting feed plate while leaving a radially inward portion of the plate exposed to the mass of material, thereby reducing the tendency of the feed plate to become jammed by the granular material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.