Abstract: A control method and pneumatic transport system of granular material, conveys granular material from storage containers to processing machines includes at least one loading device of the granular material with a collection tank of the granular material; at least one granular material conveying duct fluidly connecting the collection tank to at least one container; and a granular material flow generator inside the conveying duct. For each loading device at least one sensor detects vibrations induced by the material being loaded inside the loading device. The sensor is arranged at or near the loading device and generates time signals of the vibrations that may be correlated to the granular material mass being progressively loaded in the tank or to the volume of the tank being progressively filled by the granular material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to A lock hopper (11) provided with air-tight hoppers (A3, B3) arranged side by side with entrance valves (A1, B1) arranged above the air-tight hoppers (A3, B3) and exit valves (A4, B4) arranged below the air-tight hoppers (A3, B3). The lock hopper (11) performs control which alternately repeats the following states: a state in which granular substances in an upper system are placed in one of the hoppers and gas is supplied into the other hopper to discharge granular substances from the inside of the other hopper to a lower system and a state in which the granular substances in the upper system are placed in the other hopper and gas is supplied to said hopper to discharge granular substances from the inside of said hopper to the lower system.

Abstract: In order to increase the fitness for use of a closing device (1) for continuously and gravimetrically dosing pourable material, particularly rough fuels, a flow of material is conveyed from a charging opening (5) to an emptying opening (7) in a housing (4) with a rotor (3), which is driven about a vertical rotation axis, while determining the instantaneous load over a measuring section, and with a force measuring device (10), which detects the instantaneous load of the flow of material guided via the rotor (3) and which is connected to the housing (4) mounted on a pivot axis (8). According to the invention, a vibrating funnel (50) with a vibration generator (52) is provided above the charging opening (5) of the rotor (3).

Abstract: A powder filling apparatus and a powder filling method which enable powder to be densely filled in a short period of time is to be provided. This is a powder filling apparatus having a pressure hopper wherein the pressure hopper has a discharger for discharging powder and a gas inlet positioned above at least the surface of a powder layer formed by the powder in the pressure hopper; the powder layer is so formed as to blockade the discharger in the pressure hopper; in the powder filling apparatus, the inside of the pressure hopper is pressurized by leading in gas through the gas inlet in a state in which the discharger is closed, and the powder layer so formed as to blockade the discharger is discharged by opening the discharger after the pressurization thereby to utilize that pressure to load the powder into the filling container.

Abstract: This invention provides a pressure tank having a simple structure to intermittently feed powder to a conveying pipe, and a method for determining the intervals for feeding the powder to the conveying. The pressure tank of this invention, which is used for an apparatus for intermittently feeding a predetermined amount of powder to a conveying pipe, comprises the following: a tank body used as a structure of a pressure vessel having a receiving port at its upper portion and a discharging port at its lower portion, a first check valve disposed just under the receiving port so that it can freely move up and down, and so that it can close the receiving port by its upward movement that is caused by means of compressed air, and a second check valve disposed just under the discharging port so that it can freely move up and down, and so that it can close the discharging port by its upward movement that is caused by means of compressed air.

Abstract: An appearance inspecting apparatus includes a parts feeder aligning rubber stoppers in tandem by torsionally vibrating a bowl having a spiral track formed therein, an air conveying portion conveying the rubber stoppers aligned in tandem by blowing compressed air thereto, first and second conveying tables conveying rubber stoppers by suction-holding a surface not to be inspected of the rubber stoppers, an inspecting portion inspecting a surface to be inspected of the rubber stoppers conveyed by the first and second conveying tables, and a selecting portion sorting out rubber stoppers that are determined to be defective, in accordance with the result of inspection by the inspecting portion. Objects to be inspected having a complicated shape are aligned preliminarily by using a vibration parts feeder, while highly accurate appearance inspection is conducted.

Abstract: A bulk material handling system generally consisting of means for holding the material; means for conveying the material including a first conduit formed of a permeable material having an inlet communicating with an outlet of the material holding means and an outlet, a second conduit formed of an impermeable material encompassing and spaced from the first conduit, providing a chamber therebetween, and an auger disposed in the first conduit for transporting material received through the inlet to the outlet thereof; means for rotatably driving the auger; and means for supplying a fluidizing gas under pressure to the chamber between the first and second conduits.

Abstract: In a device for conveying and positioning structural elements at a conveying track, a structural element is brought into pending state at the conveying track and the conveying track is tilted in conveying direction so that the structural element slides downwards to approach a target point. The position of the structural element is detected. The device further includes a control unit wherein the position of the structural element is detected within a predetermined range of the target point to be reached, and a time, at which the conveying track is tilted and re-tilted at a predetermined angular speed by a predetermined angle, is determined by using a calculation and control algorithm, so that the structural element is intercepted.

Abstract: A method of disposing of hazardous materials wherein a dedicated pneumatic tube system is used. The pneumatic tube system has a plurality of loading stations all connected to a single destination station. The hazardous materials are placed in a disposable carrier which is transported to the destination station. Each disposable carrier has a marker which identifies the disposable carrier. A control unit cooperates with the markers and activates the pneumatic tube system. The disposable carrier is a cylinder with a sealable cover.

Abstract: A vessel conveying system includes a dryer disposed within a first sterile chamber. If a vessel stays within the dryer for a prolonged length of time, it will be deformed under heat. Accordingly, the vessel is removed by a reject wheel and dropped onto a discharge chute disposed below. A downstream portion of the discharge chute is surrounded by a second sterile chamber, which is separate from the first mentioned sterile chamber, A glove mounted on the wall of the second chamber enables access to the discharge chute while maintaining the chute in a sterile condition. A door is mounted on the wall of the second chamber, and the rejected vessel is discharged through the door. The sterile chambers are disposed within a processing chamber. The pressure within the first chamber is controlled to be higher than the pressure (atmospheric pressure) within the processing chamber and the pressure within the second chamber is controlled to be lower than the atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: An air mover apparatus for conveying and separating articles through a transport tube. A line-up of articles are supplied via a track from an orienting and feeding device and, thence, to a transport tube leading to a remote processing machine. The air mover is operatively connected between the track and the transport tube. Oppositely disposed converging air passages are formed in the air mover, adapted to receive compressed air from a suitable source and emit same to the interior of the air mover, to thereby draw each successive article therepast from the line-up and project same forward, creating a separation between adjacent articles while blowing the articles through the transport tube to the processing machine. An orifice may be formed upstream of the converging air passages, adapted to receive the compressed air to stall the articles to enhance the separation between adjacent articles.

Abstract: A miniaturized, inexpensive instrument for measuring the mass flow rate of powder, which is capable of directly outputting the mass flow rate of powder and whose characteristics are not influenced by the kind and physical properties of the powder. The instrument can be easily manufactured, installed, operated, maintained, and color change can be easily done. A constant powder feeder, which is constructed based on this instrument and an electrostatic powder coating system utilizing this feeder has a high performance and a high operational efficiency. A measuring gas with a regulated flow rate is turned into a thin-layer of high-speed gas jets by a dispersion means, thereby powder is cross-dispersed and introduced into a measuring tube, the pressure difference generated therein is measured, and a feeding means is subject to feedback control so that the output of the pressure difference coincides with a set value.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing and packaging a photographic film has a film supply unit for unreeling and cutting off a film roll of an elongate photographic film, and supplying a sized film, a film winding unit for winding the sized film around a spool thereby to produce a roll, a cartridge production unit for crimping a cap on an end of a rounded barrel plate thereby to produce a one-end-open cartridge, an assembling unit for inserting the roll into the one-end-open cartridge and thereafter crimping a cap on an opposite open end of the one-end-open cartridge thereby to produce a film-contained cartridge, and an encasing unit for placing the film-contained cartridge into a case and attaching a case cap to an open end of the case thereby to produce a packaged product. The film supply unit, the film winding unit, and the assembling unit are accommodated altogether in a dark chamber.

Abstract: A dosage device for feeding grained, pourable materials, particularly abrasive blasting materials. Feeding is accomplished by use of a dosage auger that employs a screw mechanism that either decreases or increases relative to the distance between the incline of the spiral wings. The device also includes an adjustable drive, a flow measuring device to monitor and control flow rates and a mixing chamber to assure full mixing of abrasive material in a compressed air stream.

Abstract: The present invention is a device and method for the transportation and metering of precise amounts of particulate matter. The device provides an environmentally and operator safe means of transporting and dispensing precise amounts of particulate matter from the point of manufacture directly to the ultimate consumer of the product. Because of the unique design, the device is readily transportable via standard means of transportation and may be operated by a single individual with no environmental or operator risk. The device further contains, as an integral part thereof, means for the precision metering of the particulate matter being transported. The device may be utilized to store the particulate matter for extended periods of time and, upon being emptied, may be refilled and reused.

Abstract: A blower assembly for a pneumatic transfer tube system alternately creates a pressure or a vacuum in a transfer tube. The blower is comprised of a housing having an internal cavity and a first and a second external port communicating with the cavity. A movable plate divides the internal cavity into two chambers which are generally isolated from each other. A blower having a vacuum end and a pressure end is mounted to the plate, wherein the vacuum end is on one side of the plate and the pressure end is on the other side of the plate. The blower when operating creates a pressure chamber on one side of the plate and a vacuum chamber on the other side of the plate.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying filter rod sections from storage or from a maker to a reservoir or to a filter tipping machine for cigarettes or other rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry has a first conveyor which advances the filter rod sections lengthwise, a second conveyor which advances the sections sideways, and a unit which transfers successive sections of a series of sections delivered by the first conveyor to the second conveyor. The advancement of sections by the first conveyor is interrupted if the spacing between successive sections in the first conveyor is less than required for disturbance-free transfer of sections from the first conveyor into the second conveyor. One or more sensors are provided to minitor the movements of sections at the transfer unit and to generate signals which are utilized to remove sections from the transfer unit when the pattern of movement of sections from the first conveyor to the second conveyor departs from a desired pattern.

Abstract: Filter rod sections are transported sideways from a magazine containing a pile of parallel sections toward positions of alignment with the inlet of a pneumatic conveyor and are propelled into the conveyor at a transfer station where they continue to move sideways. In order to avoid damage to sections during propulsion into the conveyor, the duration of complete transfer of successive sections into the inlet is monitored in order to generate signals denoting the intervals of axial advancement of successive sections all the way into the conveyor. Such signals are compared with signals denoting those intervals of sidewise movement of sections past the transfer station during which the sections can move axially without being damaged by the stationary inlet of the conveyor.

Abstract: An injector-conveyor device for the pneumatic conveying of powder, particularly powdered coating material, in order to measure the amount of powder conveyed, measures indirectly the vacuum produced in an injector (4) by having a stream of air measured with respect to its amount of flow or pressure drop in a throttled measurement channel (30) which places the outside atmosphere (32) in fluid communication with the vacuum chamber (10) of the injector (4). In order to avoid errors in measurement due to pressure variations in a powder suction channel (8), an equalization air inlet (56) is provided by means of which a small amount of equalization air is introduced into the powder suction channel (8) in order to make the pressure variations occurring therein of higher frequency and smaller with respect to the amplitudes of variation.

Abstract: In apparatus for conveying batches of ice lumps from a storage hopper to remotely located ice dispensers, ice lumps from the storage hopper are delivered into the main conduits through corresponding main valves and connecting conduits extending between each main valve and the storage hopper. Metering valves meter batches of ice lumps of predetermined size into the main conduits. Conveying air from an air blower is supplied to the main conduits through the main valves for conveying the batches of ice lumps. In use, batches of ice lumps are intermittently delivered into the main conduit, and the batches of ice lumps and conveying air are alternately supplied to the main conduit.

Abstract: A powder feeding apparatus which has a substantially simplified structure compared to conventional powder feeding apparatuses and which can be easily installed, without requiring any substantial adjustment work. The powder feeding apparatus includes a powder flow rate measuring capillary, the inlet of which is connected to a powder introducing device and to a sensor nozzle for a powder flow rate detection gas provided with a flow control device. A pressure difference detecting device whose interior volume is invariant during normal operation is connected between the inlet and the outlet of the capillary. Further, a pressure difference adjusting device and a large-diameter feeding duct are connected together.

Abstract: A system for delivering measured amounts of liquid, such as reagents used in chromatography. Liquid is first moved under gas pressure from a reservoir, such as a reagent bottle, through a valve into a narrow pipe. It reaches a detector which, detecting its presence, closes the valve thus trapping an amount of liquid between the valve and the detector, this amount of liquid then constituting a `unit` or `pulse` of liquid. The movement of the valve is used to connect a gas supply which drives the `unit` or `pulse` out of the pipe to an ultimate destination, such as a chromatographic column. A further `unit` or `pulse` can then be moved into the pipe and this repeated so that delivery to the destination is made in a series of such `units` or `pulse`. By timing the delivery of one `unit` or `pulse`, an amount less than one `unit` or `pulse` can be delivered by passing liquid into the pipe for less than the time taken to deliver one `unit`.

Abstract: A conveyor assembly includes a conveying surface and at least one air manifold for directing air against the sidewall of the articles to be conveyed. The conveying surface includes longitudinally extending raised ribs along which the articles are moved and the air manifolds are connected directly to the source of air. Further, the conveyor assembly is attached directly to a die member and becomes an integral part thereof.

Abstract: A garbage pail with electronic control for opening and closing its cover, characterized mainly in that, upon an induction of a sensor to the visible or invisible light it can control the opening and closing action of the cover of garbage pail automatically instead of manual operation in order to improve a fine living quality.

Abstract: This invention relates to a waste collecting method which is sanitary and in which throwing-away of waste at each location within a building can be carried out freely and without waiting time, and labors required for transporting or collecting the waste can be reduced. The waste collecting method essentially consists of operating one of a plurality of throwing devices (3) arranged respectively at a plurality of floors of a building, the one throwing device (3) having accommodated therein waste containers (2), and throwing the waste containers (2) into a vertical transport pipe (4) mounted to the building in such a fashion so as to prevent clogging of the vertical transport pipe (4), and the further step of decelerating the falling waste containers (2) at a lower portion of the vertical transport pipe (4) so as to prevent the thrown-in waste containers (2) from being broken when they reach a shut-off valve provided at a lower end of the vertical transport pipe (4).

Abstract: A control unit maintains the fiber flock column in a feed chute at a set height. The control unit includes a row of light barriers located about a set height for emitting signals in response to interruption of the light barriers by fiber flock. An evaluation unit evaluates the signals to determine the actual height of the flock column and emits a control signal to adjust the feed rollers in the feed chute.

Abstract: An improved system for directing a flow of container bodies to a plurality of base cupping machines from a plurality of blow molding machines comprising: (1) a plurality of primary conveyors, each primary conveyor adapted to feed container bodies from a blow molding machine toward a base cupping machine; (2) a plurality of cross-over conveyors for feeding container bodies from one of the primary conveyors to another of the primary conveyor; (3) diverter blades and converger blades positioned at the junction of primary and cross-over conveyors to direct container bodies between various primary conveyors; (4) a sensor upstream and two sensors downstream of each diverter blade and a sensor downstream and two sensors upstream of each converger blade to detect the flow of container bodies therepast; and (5) programmable control means responsive to the sensors to switch the blades as required for proper feeding of container bodies.

Abstract: In an automatic powder feeding apparatus of the type that the apparatus comprises a sensor nozzle for blowing a carrier fluid into an inlet of a detector tubular passageway having an inlet and an outlet, apparatus for detecting a pressure difference between an inlet side pressure detecting port provided upstream of the outlet of the sensor nozzle and an outlet side pressure detecting port provided at the outlet of the detector tubular passageway, apparatus for shunting a part of the carrier fluid to the inlet side pressure detecting port and regulating a pressure at the outlet of the detector tubular passageway, the apparatus for regulating a pressure at the outlet of the detector tubular passageway being an injector connected via a valve to the outlet, and an automatic control valve having the pressure difference applied as its input and a flow rate of a driving fluid of the injector issued as its control output and including apparatus for presetting a set value corresponding to the pressure difference, in o

Abstract: An air conveying mechanism for transporting articles along a conveying surface is disclosed. The conveying surface includes a plurality of air jets in fluid flow relation with a plenum. An air accelerator hood is provided adjacent the entry point of the articles onto the conveyor to permit initial high speed acceleration of the articles along the conveying surface.

Abstract: A method for operating an apparatus including a rotor provided with laterally closed feeding pockets and tightly arranged in a housing for rotation. The housing is provided with a charging station and a discharging station and is hinged for pivotal movement. A force measuring unit is connected to the housing. The momentary load caused by material contained in feeding pockets of the rotor is measured while rotating from the charging station to the discharging station. The measured momentary load is used for controlling the amount of material to be fed and variations in measured values caused by mechanical and/or thermic influences are compensated.

Abstract: A gravimetric metering apparatus with a constant throughput is enclosed inside a sealed chamber and connected through the wall of the chamber, by a first pipe, to a pneumatic conveyor line operating under a pressure of n bars and, by a second pipe, to an intermittentently operated external loading hopper. The chamber is filled with gas under a pressure of n bars which is equal to that inside the pneumatic conveyor line.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering two or more powders at any controlled ration to a thermal spray apparatus permits the controlled production of graded sprayed coatings. The apparatus also monitors and controls the position of the spray apparatus relative to the workpiece and varies this position during the deposition of the sprayed layers. The apparatus includes in-process mass flow gauges which measure in real time the flow rates of the various powders and report these rates to a supervisory controller which verifies these rates against the predetermined schedule and can shut down the apparatus in the event of a malfunction. The substrate being sprayed has its substrate temperature monitored and controlled according to a predetermined schedule by a supervising controller.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are described for removing material from a sump. The sump has substantially parallel and elongated sidewalls and has a longitudinal axis. The sump is enclosed with ends and a bottom and is adapted for filling with a water-solid mixture to form a slurry. A suction pump is mounted above the sump and extends into the sump for removal of water and solid material. Apparatus is attached to the suction pump for moving the suction pump along the longitudinal axis of the sump. The actual rate at which the suction pump is trammed is determined by apparatus which measures the concentration of the slurry near the pump and transmits a signal to a control unit which operates the tramming control circuit to maintain the concentration at a predetermined ratio of material to water.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are described for removing material from a sump. The sump has substantially parallel and elongated sidewalls and has a longitudinal axis. The sump is enclosed with ends and a bottom and is adapted for filling with a water-solid mixture to form a slurry. A suction pump is mounted above the sump and extends into the sump for removal of the water and solid material. Apparatus is attached to the suction pump for moving the suction pump along the longitudinal axis of the sump. When the suction pump reaches the end of the sump, apparatus rotates the suction pump through 180 degrees and then the moving apparatus again moves the sump along the longitudinal axis to the other end where it is again rotated in the opposite direction through 180 degrees to the original point for repeating the process.

Abstract: A vortex chamber is disclosed which has a circular elliptical or volute perimeter and end wall. High pressure fluid enters tangentially at the perimeter. Part of this high pressure fluid exits at an axial outlet, forming a vortex. The balance of the high pressure fluid exits at a second tangential outlet at the perimeter. Dry solids are fed into a hopper which is connected to a second axial inlet. The axial inlet should be smaller than the axial outlet, and the two may be concentric. Once the solids enter the vortex chamber, some of them move to the perimeter due to centrifugal force. Once at the perimeter, the solids exit at the tangential outlet.

Abstract: A customer terminal for a single conveyor tube banking service pneumatic tube system. The terminal has a cabinet which can be opened by unlocking and removing a hinged front member to expose system components and terminal mechanism. The carrier receive and send housing has a hinged door and the housing communicates with the system conveyor tube. The mechanism is operative automatically to present a carrier arriving at the terminal to a customer seated in an adjacent vehicle. The presented carrier is conveniently positioned at an angle at the outer end of a pocket on the door for removal and replacement by a customer without requiring precise positioning. The carrier is returned automatically to the conveyor tube system when replaced in the door pocket. The door has safety mechanism automatically reopening the door if it encounters an obstacle on closing.

Abstract: An injection system for injecting capsules into a hydraulic capsule pipelining system, the pipelining system comprising a pipeline adapted for flow of a carrier liquid therethrough, and capsules adapted to be transported through the pipeline by the carrier liquid flowing through the pipeline. The injection system comprises a reservoir of carrier liquid, the pipeline extending within the reservoir and extending downstream out of the reservoir, and a magazine in the reservoir for holding capsules in a series, one above another, for injection into the pipeline in the reservoir. The magazine has a lower end in communication with the pipeline in the reservoir for delivery of capsules from the magazine into the pipeline.

Abstract: A pneumatic conveyor for powdered to granular bulk material, having adjustable conveyance capacity, is disclosed, the capacity being adjusted by electromagnetic adjustment of a pressure regulator disposed in a conduit used to supply a propellant for drawing the bulk material from a storage container thereof and for conveying it. A supplemental supply of gas, which may be but need not be different from the propellant gas, may be provided to control the flow of propellant gas independently of the first pressure regulator. In this case, the flow of the supplemental gas may itself be controlled by a second pressure regulator. The pressure regulators operate according to the diffuser or Venturi principle. The device may be particularly advantageously applied to the spray-coating of articles with a bulk material.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling sucking of a material suspendible in air or liquid by means of a suction nozzle connected to a pump through a conduit and having a flow rate or solids concentration sensor connected to said conduit, the suction nozzle being supported via a supporting wire rope or like flexible support by a hoisting device which is carried by a device for moving the hoisting device and the nozzle along at least one horizontal axis at adjustable velocity, while the nozzle is vertically adjustably carried by the hoisting device, wherein the hoisting device for vertically adjusting the nozzle is controlled with a control device by signals from the flow rate or solids concentration sensor in such a way that said flow rate or solids concentration sensor is preset to supply a control signal to the hoisting device for raising or lowering the nozzle to thereby restore the flow rate or solids concentration quantity per unit time in the conduit when the flow rate or solids concentration quantity per

Abstract: A pneumatic conveyor system adapted for the conveyance of assembly parts comprises a tubular conveyor conduit, a pneumatically operable drive in the conveyance path defined by the conduit, a control for operating the drive and an inlet metering device associated with the conveyor conduit upstream of the drive. The metering device includes a blocking mechanism responsive to the control for cyclically blocking and unblocking the conveyance path.

Abstract: A system for receiving articles fed thereto sequentially at random rates, temporarily storing the articles, and advancing the articles therefrom sequentially at a constant rate of feed to an article processing machine, includes a rotatable magazine having a plurality of storage cylinders rotatable about a common axis, an escapement mechanism for directing an article to an empty cylinder and capable of displacement relative to the magazine, and means for sequentially ejecting the articles from the cylinders in timed relation with the operation of a further article processing machine.

Abstract: A pneumatic tube conveyor dispatcher for converting a pneumatic tube free dispatch system into a pneumatic tube controlled dispatch system. The dispatcher comprises a housing having a rear portion which matingly engages an existing terminal of the free dispatch system such that a carrier storage chamber within the dispatcher housing communicates with the inlet opening of the delivery tube of the free dispatch system. The dispatcher housing includes a door permitting access to the carrier chamber to enable an operator to position a carrier therein. Sensing means associated with the housing chamber senses the presence of the carrier and, in response to a predetermined signal, is operative to actuate a drive mechanism which delivers the carrier through the terminal inlet opening into the pneumatic tube for deployment.