Feeder assembly for insulation blowing machines

An apparatus for producing particulate material from compact masses of material such as insulation materials and pneumatically dispensing such materials comprising,

• a hopper for containing said compact masses,
• an outlet positioned towards the bottom of said hopper,
• a shredding zone located within an upper portion of said hopper for receiving said materials and shredding any large compact masses of said material into smaller masses or nodules,
• a shredding means positioned in said shredding zone and including a plurality of rotating elements for receiving and shredding said compact masses,
• a conveying means positioned below said shredding means and above said outlet for moving said material along said hopper,
• a tearing and separating zone positioned below said outlet and receiving said material passing through said outlet to tear and separate any nodules of said material into particulate material,
• said tearing and separating zone including a plurality of rotating brush elements through which said material passes to be torn and separated, and
• a pneumatic transport means positioned below said tearing and separating zone to receive and dispense said particulate material,
• said pneumatic transport means including a housing, a drive shaft positioned in said housing, a drum mounted around said drive shaft, said drum having a larger diameter than said drive shaft, and a vane means attached to said drum.