Abstract: A melting furnace feedstock charger includes a charger conduit including an inlet to receive feedstock and an outlet at an outlet portion of the charger conduit to transmit feedstock, and an auger or other feedstock mover coupled to the charger conduit to convey feedstock in a direction from the inlet toward the outlet. A gate may be detachably coupled to the outlet portion of the charger conduit and configured to be coupled directly to a wall of a melting vessel. The auger may have a helical flight with an outer diameter of varying size. A stripper may be movably carried by the charger conduit and may include a stripping tool moved by an actuator with respect to the charger conduit to facilitate transmission of feedstock and/or to strip away clogged feedstock and/or molten material.

Abstract: A bulk material handling method includes: a) receiving and pneumatically conveying bulk material via pressurized dilute phase, dense phase, and/or hybrid dilute/dense phase, and/or vacuum drawn conveyance into bulk material containers; b) storing the bulk material in the containers; c) dispensing the bulk material from the containers into a bulk material transporter; d) transporting the transporter from the containers to a bulk material transmitting vessel; and e) discharging the bulk material from the transporter into the transmitting vessel, including releasing the bulk material from the transporter into the transmitting vessel, and pneumatically transmitting the bulk material out of the transmitting vessel to downstream bulk material processing equipment. Discharging also may include rejecting the bulk material from the transporter to a waste container. A related system, subsystems, and apparatuses are also disclosed.

Abstract: A bulk material transport system includes one or more bulk material transport bins, weighing platforms, and vehicles arranged in various combinations as bulk material transporters, assemblies, and units. The system is useful for coupling with a bulk material container, forming a reduced pressure region at an inlet of the transport bin, and dispensing bulk material into the transport bin through the reduced pressure region.

Abstract: A feedstock charger includes a charger conduit and a feedstock conveyor rotatably and translatably carried in the charger conduit. According to a method of using the feedstock charger, feedstock is supplied to the feedstock conveyor of the feedstock charger, feedstock is allowed to fall through the charger conduit and out of an outlet of the charger conduit, and the feedstock conveyor is rotated and linearly advanced in the charger conduit. Also, a disclosed system includes the feedstock charger is coupled to a submerged combustion melter wherein the charger conduit extends into the melter through a feedstock inlet of the melter.

Abstract: A bulk material handling method includes: a) receiving and pneumatically conveying bulk material via pressurized dilute phase, dense phase, and/or hybrid dilute/dense phase, and/or vacuum drawn conveyance into bulk material containers (a112, c276); b) storing the bulk material in the containers (a112, c276); c) dispensing the bulk material from the containers (a112, c276) into a bulk material transporter (b100); d) transporting the transporter (b100) from the containers to a bulk material transmitting vessel (d240); and e) discharging the bulk material from the transporter (b100) into the transmitting vessel (d240), including releasing the bulk material from the transporter (b100) into the transmitting vessel (d240), and pneumatically transmitting the bulk material out of the transmitting vessel (d240) to downstream bulk material processing equipment. Discharging also may include rejecting the bulk material from the transporter (b100) to a waste container (W).

Abstract: A bulk material handling system includes a majors material handling system including bulk material storage modules and bulk material dispensing modules. The dispensing modules include bulk material dosing assemblies and docking assemblies. A bulk material handling method includes conveying bulk material from a mobile bulk material container into a stationary bulk material container at a glass manufacturing facility via dense phase pneumatic conveying.

Abstract: A bulk material discharging system includes a transmission station including a transmitting vessel having a transmitting vessel inlet configured to receive bulk material from an outlet of a bulk material transporter, and a transmitting vessel outlet to transmit bulk material therefrom. The system also includes a transporter handling station located operatively upstream of the transmission station and including at least a portion of a transporter handler including at least one carriage with transporter couplings configured to engage corresponding carriage couplings of the bulk material transporter and configured to convey the bulk material transporter over the transmitting vessel.

Abstract: A bulk material transport system includes one or more bulk material transport bins, weighing platforms, and vehicles arranged in various combinations as bulk material transporters, assemblies, and units. The system is useful for coupling with a bulk material container, forming a reduced pressure region at an inlet of the transport bin, and dispensing bulk material into the transport bin through the reduced pressure region.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the disclosure, a bulk material handling method includes receiving bulk material on a first level of a system at receiving stations equipped with dust control filtration equipment, pneumatically conveying the bulk material up to a third level into bulk material storage hoppers, storing the bulk material, dispensing the stored bulk material to a bulk material transporter on the first level, including dosing the stored bulk material to an interior of a bulk material dosing hopper to create a bulk material dose, docking the dosing hopper with the transporter via a docking apparatus, and releasing the dose into the interior of the transporter, through a reduced pressure region in an internal volume of the docking apparatus. Other disclosed aspects include a related system, subsystems, and apparatuses.

Abstract: A melting furnace feedstock charger includes a charger conduit including an inlet to receive feedstock and an outlet at an outlet portion of the charger conduit to transmit feedstock, and an auger or other feedstock mover coupled to the charger conduit to convey feedstock in a direction from the inlet toward the outlet. A gate may be detachably coupled to the outlet portion of the charger conduit and configured to be coupled directly to a wall of a melting vessel. The auger may have a helical flight with an outer diameter of varying size. A stripper may be movably carried by the charger conduit and may include a stripping tool moved by an actuator with respect to the charger conduit to facilitate transmission of feedstock and/or to strip away clogged feedstock and/or molten material.

Abstract: A fluid management and dispensing system and method. The system is used to at least partially fill containers with fluids according to a recipe. The filled containers may then be used in conjunction with, for example, “vaping” devices (e.g., electronic cigarette devices) to provide desired flavors to a consumer. The system includes a rotatable turret assembly with nozzles, a rotational motor, and a linear actuator. A container to be filled is positioned at a delivery station. The system can actuate the rotational motor to rotate the turret assembly to a desired circumferential location. The system can actuate the linear actuator to translate the turret assembly to a desired lateral location. After a particular nozzle of the turret assembly is aligned with a container, the fluid can be dispensed into the container. The dispensing system may be connected to a network, which may provide recipes for the fluid mixtures.

Abstract: A fluid management and dispensing system and method. The system is used to at least partially fill containers with fluids according to a recipe. The filled containers may then be used in conjunction with, for example, “vaping” devices (e.g., electronic cigarette devices) to provide desired flavors to a consumer. The system includes a rotatable turret assembly with nozzles, a rotational motor, and a linear actuator. A container to be filled is positioned at a delivery station. The system can actuate the rotational motor to rotate the turret assembly to a desired circumferential location. The system can actuate the linear actuator to translate the turret assembly to a desired lateral location. After a particular nozzle of the turret assembly is aligned with a container, the fluid can be dispensed into the container. The dispensing system may be connected to a network, which may provide recipes for the fluid mixtures.