Material feeder
AssigneeTerronics Development Corporation
InventorGeorge R. Alexander
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved powder feeder having a hopper with an opening in its bottom. A resiliently deformable element is positioned in the opening of the hopper. The element has a flexible exterior dimension and is suitably positioned in relation to the opening to prevent the free flow of material through the opening. The element is mounted on an axle having an axis of rotation. The element is capable of carrying a metered volume of material through the opening as it is rotated. The axle is connected to a variable speed motor. As the element turns, the material flows into the element and moves through the hopper opening in precisely metered amounts relative to the volume and the speed of rotation of the element.
Claims36
A material feeder comprising a hopper having a discharge opening therein, a brush positioned in said opening, a housing surrounding said brush, said housing being spaced from said brush without deforming said brush, said housing mounted to said hopper, said brush mounted for rotation in said opening at speeds below that necessary to discharge material from said brush by centrifugal force, said brush occluding said opening, said brush being in contact with and receiving therein the material in said hopper, whereby by rotation of said brush a volume of material is metered through said opening.
A method of delivering measured volumes of flowable material comprising the steps of placing a brush within the discharge opening of a hopper containing a material to be dispensed without deforming said brush, exposing a first portion of said brush to the material within said hopper, said brush occluding said opening, said first brush portion receiving therein a portion of said material from within said hopper, rotating said brush in said hole at speeds below that necessary to discharge said material from said brush by centrifugal force to move said first brush portion from within said hopper to outside of said hopper and exposing a second brush portion to said material, discharging said material from said first brush portion exterior of said hopper, and repeating said exposing, rotating and discharging steps to reexpose said brush portions to said material and to discharge said material from said brush portions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.