# US 4,394,942 A · Automatic apparatus for supplying a fixed quantity of particle or powder > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,394,942 A - Document ID: US4394942A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/244,861 - Filed: 1981-03-17 - Granted: 1983-07-26 - Earliest claimed: 1980-07-11 - Assignees: K.K. Yoshioka Seisakusho - Inventors: Yoshitomo Yoshioka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4394942A ## CPC - G01F 11/10: with measuring chambers moved during operation - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME ## Abstract An automatic supplying apparatus for powder or particle materials which repeatedly transfers the material laterally in fixed quantities from a position directly below a hopper to a working table. The apparatus comprises a measuring transfer table having through holes of a predetermined configuration and capable of reciprocating along a track, and a gate moving integrally with the measuring transfer means to close the bottom of the through holes when the measuring transfer table proceeds towards the working table, and returning to the original position when it reaches a predetermined position on the working table, leaving the measuring transfer table behind and causing the bottom of the through holes to open at a predetermined position on the working table. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Apparatus for repeatedly and laterally transferring a predetermined amount of powdered or particle material contained in a fixedly located hopper having an outlet port to a fixedly located working table installed separately at a lateral distance from said hopper, comprising: measuring transfer means provided below said hopper and which is reciprocably movable laterally from an original position below said hopper to a predetermined position above said working table, and laterally back to said original position below said hopper; measuring cavity means including at least one through hole of a predetermined configuration provided vertically and penetratingly through said measuring transfer means such that said at least one through hole is located at a position above said working table when said measuring transfer means is at its predetermined position above said working table, and said at least one through hole is located at a position directly below said outlet port of said hopper when said measuring transfer means is at said original position below said hopper; gate means provided beneath said measuring transfer means and which includes means for interlocking with said measuring transfer means to move with said measuring transfer means from its original position to its said predetermined position, said gate means including means for closing the bottom of said at least one through hole of said measuring cavity means during said movement from said original position to said predetermined position, said interlocking means including means for releasing said gate means from said measuring transfer means at said predetermined position, said gate means being slideable back to its original position when so released, thereby leaving the bottom of said at least one through hole open directly above said working table at said predetermined position; said measuring transfer means comprising a main substantially horizontally arranged plate of a predetermined thickness reciprocably driven to reciprocate between said original and said predetermined positions along a given path; said gate means comprising a bottom plate provided beneath said main plate and contacting the bottom of said main plate for closing the bottom of said at least one through hole during said movement from said original position to said predetermined position; and an upper plate substantially horizontally arranged above said main plate and having an opening therein in registration with said outlet port of said hopper and being in fixed position relative to said hopper; said main plate having a solid portion which covers said opening in said upper plate during movement of said main plate between said original and predetermined positions, thereby maintaining said outlet port of said hopper in a closed condition during movement of said main plate; and said upper plate, said main plate and said bottom plate comprising a sandwich-type structure with said main plate interposed between said upper and bottom plates and being slidable in the horizontal direction relative to said upper and bottom plates. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said interlocking means of said gate means comprises a lock mechanism interlocking said measuring transfer means and said gate means while said measuring transfer means laterally moves from said original position to said predetermined position; said releasing means of said interlocking means includes a cam mechanism coupled to said lock mechanism for releasing said lock mechanism when said gate means reaches said predetermined position; and said apparatus further includes a gate return mechanism coupled to said gate means for sliding said gate means back to said original position when said lock mechanism is released. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said lock mechanism comprises a knock-pin provided on said bottom plate for engaging said main plate to interlock said main plate and said bottom plate when said main plate moves from said original position to said predetermined position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said cam mechanism comprises: a fixed cam; a follower engaged with said fixed cam, said follower being connected with said knock-pin to be moved together with said bottom plate; and said fixed cam displacing said follower when, during movement of said bottom plate from said original position to said predetermined position, said bottom plate reaches said predetermined position for releasing said knock-pin from engagement with said main plate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said fixed cam comprises an elongated member having a cam surface and extending from substantially said original position to said predetermined position, said cam surface having an actuating portion in the vicinity of said predetermined position of said bottom plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said gate return mechanism includes a cable, a wheel and a weight coupled at one end of said bottom plate for pulling said bottom plate to return said bottom plate to said original position when said interlocking of said bottom plate and said main plate is released by means of said knock-pin being disengaged from said main plate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a stopper for stopping said bottom plate and said main plate at said original position of reciprocation thereof. ### Claim 8 Apparatus for repeatedly and laterally transferring a predetermined amount of powdered or particle material contained in a fixedly located hopper having an outlet port to a fixedly located working table installed separately at a lateral distance from said hopper, comprising: measuring transfer means provided below said hopper and which is reciprocably movable laterally from an original position below said hopper to a predetermined position above said working table, and laterally back to said original position below said hopper; measuring cavity means including at least one through hole of a predetermined configuration provided vertically and penetratingly through said measuring transfer means such that said at least one through hole is located at a position above said working table when said measuring transfer means is at its predetermined position above said working table, and said at least one through hole is located at a position directly below said outlet port of said hopper when said measuring transfer means is at said original position below said hopper; gate means provided beneath said measuring transfer means and which includes means for interlocking with said measuring transfer means to move with said measuring transfer means from its original position to its said predetermined position, said gate means including means for closing the bottom of said at least one through hole of said measuring cavity means during said movement from said original position to said predetermined position, said interlocking means including means for releasing said gate means from said measuring transfer means at said predetermined position, said gate means being slideable back to its original position when so released, thereby leaving the bottom of said at least one through hole open directly above said working table at said predetermined position; said interlocking means of said gate means including: a lock mechanism interlocking said measuring transfer means and said gate means while said measuring transfer means laterally moves from said original position to said predetermined position; and said releasing means of said interlocking means including a cam mechanism coupled to said lock mechanism for releasing said lock mechanism when said gate means reaches said predetermined position; and said apparatus further includes a gate return mechanism coupled to said gate means for sliding said gate means back to said original position when said lock mechanism is released. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: said measuring transfer means comprises a main substantially horizontally arranged plate of a predetermined thickness reciprocably driven to reciprocate between said original and said predetermined position along a given path; said at least one through hole being provided in said main plate; said gate means comprises a bottom plate provided beneath said main plate and contacting the bottom of said main plate for closing the bottom of said at least one through hole during movement from said original position to said predetermined position; and said interlocking means of said gate means including a knock-pin provided on said bottom plate for engaging said main plate for interlocking said main plate and said bottom plate when said main plate moves from said original position to said predetermined position along said given path. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said cam mechanism comprises: a fixed cam; a follow engaged with said fixed cam, said follower being connected with said knock-pin to be moved together with said bottom plate; and said fixed cam displacing said follower when, during movement of said bottom plate from said original position to said predetermined position, said bottom plate reaches said predetermined position for releasing said knock-pin from engagement with said main plate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said fixed cam comprises an elongated member having a cam surface and extending from substantially said original position to said predetermined position, said cam surface having an actuating portion in the vicinity of said predetermined position of said bottom plate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said gate return mechanism includes a cable, a wheel and a weight coupled at one end of said bottom plate for pulling said bottom plate to return said bottom plate to said original position when said interlocking of said bottom plate and said main plate is released by means of said knock-pin being disengaged from said main plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a stopper for stopping said bottom plate and said main plate at said original position of reciprocation thereof.