Patents Assigned to Mann & Hummel ProTec GmbH
  • Patent number: 7479176
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling airflow in a desiccant drying system having a plurality of desiccant beds, in which each desiccant bed is located in a chamber, and multi-position valves can be operated to cause the gas to be dried to flow in a serial manner through a plurality of desiccant bed chambers while another desiccant bed is isolated from the gas flow and undergoing regeneration. Once regenerated, the multi-position valves are repositioned to establish a new serial flow gas path in which the freshly regenerated desiccant bed becomes the final bed in the series, and another bed undergoes regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel Protec GmbH
    Inventors: Robert R. Crawford, Donald D. Rainville
  • Patent number: 7343700
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying particulate material in which the drying and discharge of the particulate material may be superimposed in such a way as to permit continuous drying of particulate material even when the supply is not continuous. The quantity of heat supplied to the particulate material is controlled as a function of signals (i; hi) from temperature sensors mounted in the particulate material, which signals represent temperatures detected locally, and also as a function of a preselectable residence time (Tv) of the particulate material at a temperature within a preselectable target temperature range (min, max) and a preselectable throughput of dried particulate material such that the particulate material discharged has a temperature within the target temperature range (min, max) at least during the residence time (Tv).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel ProTec GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Zlotos
  • Publication number: 20070277392
    Abstract: A method for drying semi-crystalline synthetic resin pellets, particularly polyethylene terephthalate (PET) pellets, according to which a heating gas is supplied to a drying vessel; synthetic resin pellets are passed countercurrently through the vessel, and the synthetic resin pellets are heated to drying temperature. Depending on pellet parameters measured at the outlet of the vessel, such as temperature, residual moisture content and/or density of the material, the temperature, quantity and/or moisture content of the heating gas supplied to the vessel are regulated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: MANN & HUMMEL PROTEC GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Zlotos, Hans Hiller, Achim Becker
  • Publication number: 20060168843
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying particulate material in which the drying and discharge of the particulate material may be superimposed in such a way as to permit continuous drying of particulate material even when the supply is not continuous. The quantity of heat supplied to the particulate material is controlled as a function of signals (i; hi) from temperature sensors mounted in the particulate material, which signals represent temperatures detected locally, and also as a function of a preselectable residence time (Tv) of the particulate material at a temperature within a preselectable target temperature range (min, max) and a preselectable throughput of dried particulate material such that the particulate material discharged has a temperature within the target temperature range (min, max) at least during the residence time (Tv).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Applicant: Mann & Hummel ProTec GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Zlotos
  • Publication number: 20060117951
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling airflow in a desiccant drying system having a plurality of desiccant beds, in which each desiccant bed is located in a chamber, and multi-position valves can be operated to cause the gas to be dried to flow in a serial manner through a plurality of desiccant bed chambers while another desiccant bed is isolated from the gas flow and undergoing regeneration. Once regenerated, the multi-position valves are repositioned to establish a new serial flow gas path in which the freshly regenerated desiccant bed becomes the final bed in the series, and another bed undergoes regeneration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Applicant: MANN & HUMMEL PROTEC GMBH
    Inventors: Robert Crawford, Donald Rainville
  • Patent number: 6923601
    Abstract: A conveyor apparatus for a particulate material to be conveyed, e.g., a synthetic resin granulate or powder, with a plurality of handling devices (30, 31) for processing the conveyed material, a storage bin (20) for the material to be conveyed, a conveying line (2) provided with a suction probe (1) for withdrawing the material to be conveyed from the storage bin, and a negative pressure source (4) connected to the handling devices via a suction line (7). The handling devices (30, 31) are all connected to a common conveying line (2), and a control member (8) is provided on the suction probe (1) to control the air volume going through the conveying line (2). This control member is controlled by an air pressure sensor (5) disposed on the suction line (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel Protec GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Goth
  • Publication number: 20040115013
    Abstract: A conveyor apparatus for a particulate material to be conveyed, e.g., a synthetic resin granulate or powder, with a plurality of handling devices (30, 31) for processing the conveyed material, a storage bin (20) for the material to be conveyed, a conveying line (2) provided with a suction probe (1) for withdrawing the material to be conveyed from the storage bin, and a negative pressure source (4) connected to the handling devices via a suction line (7). The handling devices (30, 31) are all connected to a common conveying line (2), and a control member (8) is provided on the suction probe (1) to control the air volume going through the conveying line (2). This control member is controlled by an air pressure sensor (5) disposed on the suction line (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: Mann & Hummel ProTec GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Goth
  • Patent number: 6588988
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying bulk material in which a variable amount of a conveying gas may be introduced to the bulk material to be conveyed by a negative pressure of a vacuum conveying system. In a conveying line (4) for the bulk material being transported by the vacuum conveying system while adding the conveying gas, the negative pressure is measured by a pressure sensor (7), and a corresponding control signal is output. In a conveying gas inlet (3) of the vacuum conveying system, a valve (9) is installed whose opening for the flowing conveying gas is controlled by a controller (8) as a function of the magnitude of the negative pressure within the conveying line (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel ProTec GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Zlotos
  • Publication number: 20030091397
    Abstract: A conveyor device, particularly for silicone granulate, comprising a container and a fall shaft, positioned under the container, which ends in a trough of a screw feeder, the trough particularly having a level sensor and the position of the level sensor being adjustable in order to regulate the supply of the material to match the throughput of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Applicant: Mann & Hummel ProTec GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Fingerle, Heiderose Stiller
  • Patent number: 6449875
    Abstract: A method for heating bulk materials, especially granular plastic material, in which the bulk material is fed to a vessel and exits the vessel based on the consumption. A heat-transfer gas flow is simultaneously fed to the vessel and conducted either cocurrently with or countercurrently to the flow of granular material. The gas inlet temperature or quantity of gas are thereby varied in such a way that the temperature of the granular material at the outlet corresponds to a target temperature value required for the granular material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel Protec GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Becker, Michael Zlotos
  • Publication number: 20020112367
    Abstract: A method for heating bulk materials, especially granular plastic material, in which the bulk material is fed to a vessel and exits the vessel based on the consumption. A heat-transfer gas flow is simultaneously fed to the vessel and conducted either cocurrently with or countercurrently to the flow of granular material. The gas inlet temperature or quantity of gas are thereby varied in such a way that the temperature of the granular material at the outlet corresponds to a target temperature value required for the granular material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Applicant: Mann & Hummel ProTec GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Becker, Michael Zlotos
  • Patent number: 6379086
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying granular plastic materials, for example silicone granulate, including a storage tank, a device for loosening granular plastic material positioned within the storage tank, as well as a discharge device for indirectly or directly transporting granular material to an extruder antechamber. Even granular plastic materials that are difficult to pour can be conveyed in a reliable and economical way due to the process of loosening the granular plastic materials by means of a suitable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel Protec GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Goth
  • Patent number: 6199294
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for drying bulk materials, which has a hopper-shaped bulk material container 29 with adjustable side walls 30, by which the container 29 can be adjusted to the amount of bulk material to be dried, by varying the volume of the container and the angle of inclination of the hopper. To dehumidify the drying air, a membrane dryer 12 is provided, which processes preferably the compressed air of a compressed-air system 10, which is previously cleaned by filter elements 13 and 14. The rate of flow of drying air can be adjusted by a throttle 16 to the fill level of the container 29. In this manner an apparatus for drying bulk materials is created which is compact and therefore flexible in its application. Through optimization of the rate of flow of the drying air this apparatus is also economical in its consumption of compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel ProTec GmbH
    Inventor: Achim Becker
  • Patent number: 6098847
    Abstract: A feeding apparatus for feeding at least one ingredient of a free-flowing bulk material to a proportioning apparatus, the proportioning apparatus having a separate hopper scale for each ingredient, the feeding apparatus being disposed above the proportioning apparatus and being composed of a number of assembled modular units corresponding to the number of hopper scales in the proportioning apparatus, each modular unit including an ingredient feed spout and a shutter for opening and closing the spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel ProTec GmbH
    Inventor: Hartmut Vollmar
  • Patent number: 6059144
    Abstract: A proportioning apparatus including at least one reservoir tank (1) having an outlet port (11) for pourable bulk material and a weighing tank (3) for receiving bulk material discharged from the at least one reservoir tank, the weighing tank being arranged under the at least one reservoir tank and including a weighing cell for weighing bulk material, in which it is possible to open or close the outlet port of the at least one reservoir tank by using a shut-off device (2), and in which each shut-off device associated with a reservoir tank has a tubular housing (21) with a longitudinal axis LA, as well as a passage opening (20) for bulk material extending transversely across the longitudinal axis of the housing and with two breakthroughs (20a, 20b) extending through lateral surfaces of the housing, the outlet port of the at least one reservoir tank communicating with the passage opening, and in which a closure element (22) having a cross-section corresponding to that of the tubular housing, can be shifted inside
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel ProTec GmbH
    Inventor: Hartmut Vollmar
  • Patent number: 6011223
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container with a flexible internal part (6), particularly suitable for weighing bulk material, comprising a closure mechanism within the exit area of the internal part (6) as well as at least two partial exits (18, 19) to be charged, located at the internal part (6) for further processing said bulk material. By means of said locking mechanism, it is practicable to press at least one partial area of the flexible internal part (6) laterally from outside against a sword (14) which is located inside within the exit area of the internal part. This way, said sword (14) separates the partial exits (18, 19) from each other, whereby in each case, one of the partial exits (18, 19) is closable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel ProTec GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Poller, Viktor Weigel