Apparatus for controlling the discharge of flowable material

An apparatus for controlling the discharge of flowable material from a first compartment having a discharge opening near a lower end thereof, comprising:

• closure means movable between a closed position in which said discharge opening is shut and a raised open position in which an annular gap of a certain width to said discharge opening is opened to allow said flowable material to flow through said annular gap and said discharge opening,
• conveying means adjoining said discharge opening for providing a predetermined path of conveying said flowable material, when flowing through said discharge opening, into a second compartment;
• actuating means for moving said closure means from said closed position to said open position and vice-versa;
• adjusting means for adjusting said width of said annular gap;
• support means for holding said actuating means and said adjusting means;
• quantity determining means for determining the amount of flowable material flown to said second compartment;
• control means for controlling at least said adjusting means and the width of said annular gap to achieve a desired degree of delivery to said second compartment;
• and
• preset means for presetting said desired degree of delivery wherein said control means comprise comparison means for comparing the desired degree preset by said presetting means with a value related to an actual degree determined by said quantity determining means and for adjusting the annular gap in response to the comparing at any time during flow of the flowable material.