Abstract: A dryer hopper assembly that promotes even drying of particulate matter across the horizontal cross-section of the hopper. In an aspect, the hopper promotes airflow up and alongside the interior wall of the hopper in counter-current flow to particulate material passing through the hopper. In one or more aspects, heating and thus drying of the material is promoted from the interior periphery of the horizontal cross-section of the hopper assembly towards the central axis of the hopper.

Abstract: Various examples are provided for brushless direct current (DC) motor control over a wide dynamic range. In one example, among others, a system including a power drive coupled to a DC motor and a MCU configured to control commutation of the DC motor based upon shaft speed of the DC motor, where the MCU transitions between a motion-based commutation mode and a time-based commutation mode in response to a comparison of the shaft speed with a predefined threshold. In another example, a method includes commutating a DC motor in response to a transition in rotor position of the DC motor and transitioning from a motion-based commutation mode to a time-based commutation mode in response to a comparison of shaft speed of the DC motor to a predefined threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods for liquid dosing in blender systems are disclosed. An exemplary system includes one or more individual metering devices, each metering device including an individual material hopper for containing a granular material ingredient to be blended, a starve-fed mixing chamber coupled to the metering devices for receiving granular material ingredients from each metering device and mixing the ingredients, and a liquid ingredient dosing device disposed within the starve-fed mixing chamber for injecting a liquid ingredient into the path of the granular material ingredients as they fall through or out of the mixing chamber.

Abstract: Methods and systems for filtering an analog signal sampled at a very high frequency and outputting a digital signal that has a very low sampling frequency to drive a material metering machine. The high frequency digital input signal is input to a first decimation element, which filters out the noise in the signal introduced by an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter and reduces the sampling frequency of the digital signal to a lower sampling frequency of 1200 hertz. The reduced rate digital signal is input into a second decimation element that contains several decimation filters, which reject the 60 hertz line noise and its harmonics while simultaneously reducing the sampling frequency of the digital signal to 10 hertz. The output of the second decimation element is then passed to a bank of selectable filters with sub-hertz cutoff frequencies to remove the machine noise from the material metering machine.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for intermittent agitation of particulate matter. In some embodiments, a mechanical agitator is intermittently activated within in a particulate-matter-delivery system.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides approaches for reducing buildup of particulate-matter in particulate-matter-delivery systems. In some embodiments, a trough-shaped feeder is provided in which a rectangular-to-elliptical conduit extends from the trough-shaped feeder. The trough-shaped feeder has a substantially-rectangular feeder opening. The rectangular-to-elliptical conduit has an elliptical end and a rectangular end. The elliptical end of the rectangular-to-elliptical conduit has a substantially-elliptical conduit opening. Interfacing the storage hopper to the trough-shaped feeder via a elliptical-to-rectangular conduit reduces the particulate-matter-delivery system's susceptibility to bridges and rat holes.

Abstract: A removable material hopper assembly for gravimetric batch blenders including a hopper, a metering assembly and a releasable securing assembly. The hopper is removable from the blender, and includes a metering slide gate that can be used to tightly seal off the bottom of the hopper during the removable operation. The releasable securing assembly incorporates a tongue and groove subassembly and a pin and bracket subassembly to properly align and secure the hopper to the blender during operation, but also enables easy removal of the hopper when necessary.

Abstract: Methods and systems for filtering an analog signal sampled at a very high frequency and outputting a digital signal that has a very low sampling frequency to drive a material metering machine. The high frequency digital input signal is input to a first decimation element, which filters out the noise in the signal introduced by an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter and reduces the sampling frequency of the digital signal to a lower sampling frequency of 1200 hertz. The reduced rate digital signal is input into a second decimation element that contains several decimation filters, which reject the 60 hertz line noise and its harmonics while simultaneously reducing the sampling frequency of the digital signal to 10 hertz. The output of the second decimation element is then passed to a bank of selectable filters with sub-hertz cutoff frequencies to remove the machine noise from the material metering machine.

Abstract: A blender apparatus with a plurality of metering units, including at least one precision metering unit for precision metering of solid particulate materials at low flow rates, the apparatus including a common hopper for receiving metered individual ingredients from the plurality of individual ingredient metering units, the precision metering unit including an elongate tubular hopper for stabilizing the head pressure of material presented to the metering unit's auger.

Abstract: The bulk material receiver and dispenser includes a hopper with a lower material outlet opening and an upper material and air inlet opening. The upper portion or "bonnet" of the hopper includes a pair of air passageways with a filter in each passageway, and a vacuum pump and valve are connected to the air passageways. When placed in operation, the vacuum pump induces a flow of air inwardly through one air passageway and out of the other passageway to back wash one of the air filters, and after a short time lapse, air is drawn through both air passageways to induce a flow of bulk material and air into the hopper. When a desired amount of bulk material has accumulated in the hopper, the other air passageway and filter are opened to the atmosphere and a stream of air from the atmosphere back washes the other filter.