Magnetic filling and mixing apparatus and processes thereof
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorPaul M. Wegman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for filling and dispersing the contents of a container, comprising: placing a container to be filled in filling relationship with a container holder and at least one material source; moving a magnetic material from a first source to the container to fill the container with the magnetic material, and applying a magnetic field to the container; moving a non magnetic material from a second source to the container to further fill the container with the non magnetic material; and removing the magnetic field applied to the container prior to discharging the filled material.
Claims17
A process for dispersing the contents of a container, comprising:
- placing in close proximity, to a filled container containing at least one particulate magnetic material and a non magnetic material, at least one magnetic field;
- and
- changing the relative positional relationship of the magnetic field and the filled container so that the magnetic field acting on the magnetic particulate material in the container provides a non invasive agitation and dispersion to said magnetic material thereby admixing the magnetic component and the non magnetic material, wherein moving the container is accomplished with a conveyor belt, and wherein changing the relative position of the magnetic field and container is accomplished by moving the container on said conveyor.
An apparatus for filling a container and mixing the filled contents thereof, comprising:
- an elevating conveyor for placing a container in filling relationship to a fill tube;
- a source and magnetic valve means for moving a magnetic material from the source through the fill tube to the container to fill the container with magnetic material;
- at least one magnetic element for applying a magnetic field to the magnetic material in the container;
- and
- a second source and non magnetic valve means for moving a non magnetic material from the second source through the fill tube to fill the container with non magnetic material, wherein the container is conveyed on the conveyor and the filled magnetic and non magnetic materials intimately mix.
An apparatus for mixing the contents of a container, comprising:
- a conveyor for conveying a filled container wherein the filled container contains magnetic contents;
- at least one magnetic element located adjacent to the container, the magnetic element supplying a magnetic field to the filled container, and wherein the magnetic field is sufficient to suspend the magnetic contents from the bottom of the container and to prevent settling of the magnetic contents;
- and
- optionally varying the strength of the magnetic field by moving said magnetic element relative to the filled container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.