Abstract: A mass of particulate material stored in a hopper is bottom unloaded and passed through several stages of aeration and fluidization to condition the material and place it in a relatively uncompacted state. The material is conditioned with a minimum of vibration of the material mass so that the mass remains a homogeneous mixture of densities and does not stratify into powdery and coarse materials. The conditioned material is fed to a distributor ring wherein it is further aerated and fluidized into an uncompacted state and moved in a uniform volumetric flow through an annular array of holes into a pneumatic conveyor. Because the material is placed in an uncompacted state while being maintained as a homogeneous mixture of densities, a very precise mass of material may be metered out as a linear function of the time of delivery. With the present system, preselected masses of material can be delivered with extremely high accuracy.

Abstract: The specification discloses a conveyor apparatus for combining programmed amounts of materials. The apparatus includes a conduit horizontally supported by a frame. The conduit has a plurality of inlet openings along the side for receiving the materials to be combined and a discharge orifice at one end for discharging the materials. A plurality of metering dispensers, each having a discharge opening, communicate with the inlet openings in the conduit in order to dispense a programmed amount of materials into the conduit. A cylindrical conveying piston is slidably positioned within the conduit, and moves along the conduit to move the materials within the conduit to the outlet orifice. The metering dispensers include a material sweep rotatably positioned at the bottom opening of a storage hopper. A distributor ring is positioned beneath the hopper opening and rotates with a cylindrical metering surface.