# US 8,740,018 B2 · Feeder with variable rhomboidal wall

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- Number: US 8,740,018 B2
- Document ID: US8740018B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/964,456
- Filed: 2010-12-09
- Published: 2012-06-14
- Granted: 2014-06-03
- Earliest claimed: 2010-12-09
- Applicants: Hui-Pin Chang
- Inventors: Hui-Pin Chang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8740018B2

## CPC

- B65D 88/64: preventing bridge formation
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES

## Abstract

A feeder with variable rhomboidal walls includes a base housing, a soft hopper, a plurality of extrusion mechanisms, a pusher screw pole, a motor, and a decelerator. The extrusion mechanisms are respectively provided at four appropriate positions of the soft hopper, and are activated by protruding wheels with the aid of the motor in conjunction with the decelerator, so that the four extrusion mechanisms operate in pairs to squeeze the soft hopper while rendering a rhomboidal space change. Accordingly, a bridge effect associated with the prior art is eliminated to allow a raw material to fall and then to be dispensed by the pusher screw rod for further processing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A feeder with variable rhomboidal walls, comprising:
a quadrilateral base housing, comprising an accommodating space, an opening at an upper end thereof, an orifice, a motor joined with a decelerator, and an orifice at another side thereof; wherein, the orifice at the another side is fixed with a hollow sleeve, the decelerator is provided with a power shaft, which is provided with a power shaft gear and an indenture at a front end thereof for accommodating a pusher screw pole therein;
a soft hopper, located below the opening, having an accommodating space for accommodating the pusher screw pole;
a material barrel, located above the opening, having an accommodating space;
a horizontal bar, located in the base housing, being flexibly disposed by two bearing brackets at two sides of the base housing, provided with a horizontal bar gear at a front end thereof, two corresponding protruding wheels at a middle section thereof, the horizontal bar gear engaging the power shaft gear;
two supporting rods, respectively located at two sides of the horizontal bar, respectively provided with a pair of extrusion mechanisms at an appropriate position at front and rear ends thereof, being in contact with the two protruding wheels; and
two springs respectively hooked to the two pairs of the extrusion mechanisms;
wherein, the extrusion mechanisms outline rhomboids when performing extrusion with respect to the soft hopper, so as to eliminate a bridge effect as well as smoothly dispensing a raw material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The feeder with variable rhomboidal walls as claimed in claim 1, wherein the soft hopper comprises a material recess, a supporting frame in a projecting manner at upper edges thereof, a plurality of orifices, a surrounding wall extended downwards from the inwards of the supporting frame, two sloped walls stretched from two sides of the surrounding wall, a vertical wall formed downwards with a slope from a rear side of the surrounding wall, a vertical wall formed downwards with a slope from a front side of the surrounding wall to a middle part of the material recess, a vertical wall formed downwards with a slope, a round groove where all four walls meet, and two protruding loop covers at front and rear ends of the round groove.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The feeder with variable rhomboidal walls as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pusher screw pole comprises a screw and a physical pin, and the physical pin is welded to and enveloped by the screw.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The feeder with variable rhomboidal walls as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the extrusion mechanisms comprises at least ear pieces, a bearing bracket, and an idle pulley; each of the ear pieces is fixed to the supporting rod via the bearing bracket, and is capable of one-axial movements; and the idle pulleys at upper and lower ends of the ear piece are flexibly secured to rollers by a tapped hole at the ear piece and a screw.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The feeder with variable rhomboidal walls as claimed in claim 1, wherein two inner sides of the base housing are provided with supporting plates.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The feeder with variable rhomboidal walls as claimed in claim 1, wherein the soft hopper comprises a long plate at the sloped walls thereof, so as to obtain optimal effects of the variable rhomboidal walls.