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US 6,444,926 B1Granted
Rotary pocketed weigh feeder
AssigneeAcrison, Inc.
InventorRonald J. Ricciardi, Sr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A weigh feeding apparatus has a plurality of compartments to hold a material that is fed into the compartments and a scale for weighing the material held in the compartments. The compartments are configured to revolve about an axis at a substantially constant rate and the scale is configured to produce a signal determined by the weight of the material held in the compartments. The signal is capable of being used to control the rate at which material is fed into the compartments.
Claims27
A weigh feeding apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of compartments for holding a material that is fed into the compartments, the compartments being configured to revolve continuously about a horizontal axis at a substantially constant rate;
- an inlet, oriented substantially vertically, and positioned in spaced relation above the horizontal axis of the compartments;
- a drive mechanism for rotating the compartments;
- and
- a scale for weighing the material held in the compartments, the scale being configured to produce a signal determined by the weight of the material held in the compartments, and the signal being capable of being used to control the rate at which material is fed into the compartments;
- wherein the compartments are positioned to receive the material flowing toward the compartments from above through the inlet.
3 more elements
A method for providing a material at a substantially constant rate, comprising:
- causing a plurality of compartments arranged about a common horizontal axis to revolve continuously around the axis at a constant rate of speed;
- feeding the material from a pre-feeder at a pre-feed rate downward into the plurality of compartments wherein the compartments are configured such that they are capable of receiving the material flowing toward the compartments from above through an inlet which is oriented substantially vertically and positioned in spaced relation above the horizontal axis of the compartments;
- weighing the material held in the plurality of compartments;
- providing a signal determined by the weight of the material held in the plurality of compartments;
- and
- using the signal to adjust the pre-feed rate.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.