Feed system for particulate material and transition hopper therefor
AssigneeNordson Corporation
InventorsWesley C. Fort, Chris D. Wujcik, Dennis W. Dodge, Lee R. Baker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates to a feed system for conveying loose pieces of a coarse particulate or pelletized hot melt material such as adhesives from a storage container to a melt tank. The system includes a transition hopper having insulation between the hopper and the melt tank to prevent premature melting of the loose adhesive pellets or pieces before they pass into a melt tank. An air supply for providing air pressure to the interior of the hopper can be attached to the hopper to prevent vapors from rising from the hot melt tank into the transition hopper and a vent opening for exhausting vapors from the hot melt tank can be located in the top of the melt tank.
Claims31
A vacuum feed system for conveying a particulate material from a storage container to a melt tank, the system comprising:
- a vacuum loader having a means for withdrawing particulate material from the storage container, an outlet opening, and means periodically releasing particulate material from the outlet opening;
- a melt tank for receiving and melting the particulate material released from the vacuum loader located a spaced distance below the vacuum loader, said melt tank having an inlet opening;
- a transition hopper interconnecting the vacuum loader and the melt tank to direct the particulate material released from the vacuum loader to the inlet opening of the melt tank;
- pressure means for injecting air pressure into the transition hopper to prevent vapors from the hot melt tank from rising in the transition hopper and condensing on inner surfaces thereof to cause misfeed or blockage of material passing through the transition hopper;
- and
- heat transfer reduction means to lessen the amount of heat passing from the melt tank to the outlet opening of the vacuum loader.
A vacuum feed system for conveying a particulate material from a storage container to a melt tank, the system comprising:
- a vacuum loader having a means for withdrawing particulate material from the storage container, an outlet opening, and means periodically releasing particulate material from the outlet opening;
- a melt tank for receiving and melting the particulate material released from the vacuum loader located a spaced distance below the vacuum loader, said melt tank having an inlet opening;
- a transition hopper interconnecting the vacuum loader and the melt tank to direct the particulate material released from the vacuum loader to the inlet opening of the melt tank;
- and
- a vent means in the melt tank to lessen the amount of heat passing from the melt tank to the outlet opening of the vacuum loader.
A transition hopper for a feed system for conveying a particulate material from a storage container to a melt tank, where the system includes a loader having a means for withdrawing particulate material from the storage container, an outlet opening, and means periodically releasing particulate material from the outlet opening, and a melt tank for receiving and melting the particulate material released from the loader located a spaced distance below the loader, said melt tank having an inlet opening, the transition hopper comprising:
- a vertically extending duct member having a top attachment means for connection to the loader at its outlet opening, and bottom attachment means for connection to the melt tank at its inlet opening;
- pressure means for injecting air pressure into the vertically extending duct member to prevent vapors from the hot melt tank from rising in the duct member and condensing on inner surfaces thereof to cause misfeed or blockage of material passing through the transition hopper;
- and
- heat transfer reduction means to lessen the amount of heat passing from the melt tank to the outlet opening of the loader.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.