Granular material transfer system

A material transfer system for processing machine having an input chamber for receiving measured quantities of granular materials from a source of said materials comprising:

• means mounted on said machine including a pressure relief chamber and a reservoir assembly, said reservoir assembly including a level sensor;
• said pressure relief chamber including a conical section connected at its smaller end to said reservoir assembly, a filter at the opposite end of said chamber, an inlet conduit connected tangentially to said pressure relief chamber adjacent said opposite end, and an internal baffle deflecting flow from said inlet conduit toward said smaller end including an internal passage communicating said smaller end with said filter;
• an accelerator tube and vortex unit connected to said conduit and to said source, a source of air under regulated pressure, and means supplying said air to said accelerator tube and vortex unit to cause said granular materials to flow through said conduit;
• and
• control means responsive to said sensor for controlling the flow of said air;
• and magnetic means attached to said reservoir assembly, said reservoir assembly including a sight glass, and a pair of magnetic members positioned to create a magnetic field across said sight glass, and a bracket, said magnetic members being pivotally connected to said bracket for pivoting said magnetic members to a position wherein there is no effective magnetic field across said sight glass.

A material transfer system for a processing machine having an input chamber including an inlet port for receiving measured quantities of material from a source of said material including means mounting said system on said machine adjacent said input port;

• said system comprising:
• a reservoir assembly fastened to said mounting means, said assembly including a reservoir sight glass and upper and lower end bells, means fastening said end bells to said sight glass, said end bells including cylindrical connecting members having internal grooves and O-rings in said grooves sealing against said smaller end of said conical section and said inlet port, a sensor located adjacent said reservoir sight glass, and magnetic means capable of forming a magnetic field across said reservoir sight glass;
• a pressure relief chamber including a conical section having its smaller end connected to said reservoir assembly, an inlet conduit connected tangentially adjacent the opposite end of said chamber, a filter at the opposite end of said chamber, and an internal baffle in said chamber effective to deflect flow from said inlet conduit toward said smaller end and having a central passage communicating said smaller end with said filter;
• an accelerator tube and vortex unit connected to said inlet conduit and to said source, a source of air under regulated pressure and means supplying said air to said accelerator or tube and vortex unit to cause said materials to flow through said conduit;
• and
• control means responsive to said sensor for controlling the flow of said regulated air.

A material transfer system for a plastic materials processing machine having a throat for receiving said materials and means mounting said system on said machine at said throat, said system being connected to a source of said materials and comprising:

• a reservoir sight glass unit fastened to said mounting means, said unit including a reservoir sight glass, a sensor fastened to said unit against said reservoir sight glass and means for adjusting the level of said sensor relative to said reservoir sight glass, and magnetic means attached to said unit having a first position wherein a magnetic field is impressed across said reservoir sight, glass and a second position wherein there is no effective magnetic field across said reservoir sight glass;
• a pressure relief chamber fastened to the opposite end of said sensor and reservoir sight glass unit from said mounting means and including a vertical tapered chamber having its smaller end connected to said sensor and reservoir sight glass unit, inlet port means connected tangentially adjacent the upper end of said assembly, an internal baffle member in said assembly effective to deflect flow from said inlet port means downwardly and having a central passage and a filter at the upper end of said assembly communicating with said central passage including means for exhausting air;
• an accelerator tube and vortex unit connected to said source, a conduit connecting said accelerator tube and vortex unit to said inlet port, means supplying air under regulated pressure to said accelerator tube and vortex unit to cause said plastic materials to flow through said conduit;
• and
• control means responsive to said sensor for controlling the flow of said regulated air.