With Centrifugal Feed Distribution Patents (Class 209/139.2)
  • Patent number: 11731139
    Abstract: Machine having a rotor which is mounted in a cantilevered fashion on a bearing and has a rotational axis along which a free, subsequently non-mounted rotor end runs starting from the bearing, the rotor end having a rotor end side which is spaced apart from a fixed rotor opposing side by a gap, and which, during operation of the machine when the rotor is rotating, is deflected with respect to the rotational axis as a result of imbalance of the free, non-mounted rotor end, or as a result of externally applied forces, wherein the rotor end side is curved or beveled so as to drop away at least in its end region towards its edge and in a direction towards the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Netzsch Trockenmahltechnik GMBH
    Inventors: Roland Nied, Lars-Peter Weiland
  • Patent number: 11590510
    Abstract: A classifier including a housing to take in air flow from below into a radially outer region of an inside space; a flow deflection portion to deflect the air flow toward a center axis of the housing; and an annular rotational portion disposed rotatably in a radially inner region positioned on a radially inner side of the radially outer region, of the inside space of the housing, and configured to classify particles which accompany the air flow. The annular rotational portion includes a plurality of rotational blades arranged at intervals around a rotational axis of the annular rotational portion. The plurality of rotational blades form an outer shape of the annular rotational portion forms an angle ? of not greater than 75° with a segment extended in a horizontal direction from the annular rotational portion outward in a radial direction, in a side view of the annular rotational portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Matsumoto, Kenichi Arima, Takuichiro Daimaru, Kazushi Fukui, Hidechika Uchida
  • Patent number: 11311887
    Abstract: A turret includes a generally frusto-conical shaped body and a plurality of static straightening vanes arranged interior to the body, the vanes dividing the body into a plurality of substantially equal sections. The vanes are configured to straighten a swirling flow of solid particles as they enter the body, and to divide the swirling flow into a plurality of straightened flows that are communicated to a plurality of coal outlet pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Joseph David Bianca, Paul John Chapman
  • Patent number: 11154907
    Abstract: This powder-classifying apparatus has: a centrifugation chamber configured so as to be sandwiched between two opposing members; an air supply unit that supplies air into the centrifugation chamber and generates a swirl flow; a raw material supply unit that supplies raw-material powder into the swirl flow; a fine powder recovery unit having an opening part through which air that includes fine powder classified within the centrifugation chamber is ejected to outside of the centrifugation chamber; a coarse powder recovery unit provided to the outer edge part of the centrifugation chamber, for ejecting classified coarse powder to outside of the centrifugation chamber; and an annular slit provided to at least one of the members that constitute the centrifugation chamber, the slit being provided in a region between the center part of the centrifugation chamber and the outer edge part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignees: NISSHIN SEIFUN GROUP INC., NISSHIN ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventors: Kenji Jikihara, Yusuke Igawa, Tatsuya Onishi, Toru Yoshikawa, Kazumi Kozawa
  • Patent number: 11123677
    Abstract: An integrated vortex separator (IVS) is disclosed. The IVS includes a housing in communication with a waste inlet via which a waste stream is drawn under suction into a waste tank. In a first stage, the waste stream is drawn into a centrifugal vortex flow to facilitate the removal of solid and liquid waste from the waste stream, leaving a primary airstream. Within the housing, a filter assembly includes outer and inner inverted cones with a conical cavity therebetween, the cavity serving as a second stage into which the vortex flow is redirected to remove additional liquid from the airstream. Radial vanes extending inward from the outer cone define portals between adjacent vanes, through which the redirected vortex flow is isolated from the original vortex flow. Exhaust ports in communication with the conical cavity allow the substantially moisture-free airstream to be drawn from the IVS via a vent line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Yen Chuh, Thao Hoang, Kristin R. Noriega
  • Patent number: 11001382
    Abstract: A bypass flow regulator for a vacuum waste system (VWS) is disclosed. The bypass flow regulator includes a valve assembly installable in an aircraft vent line leading outside the aircraft from an onboard VWS waste tank. The vent line directs an airstream pumped from the waste tank to an external outlet under suction (from which outlet the airstream is ejected from the aircraft). The valve assembly includes a group of valves (e.g., umbrella valves) set into the path of the airstream. The valves may collectively modulate the flow rate of the airstream by adjusting their effective flow area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Thao Hoang, Yen Chuh, Kristin R. Noriega
  • Patent number: 10882050
    Abstract: The present invention improves the even distribution of a powder to a pulverized coal pipe. A rotary classifier including: a rotary shaft rotatably supported around a rotational axis extending in a vertical direction; a frame body supported by the rotary shaft and including an opening on the outer periphery of the frame body; a plurality of powder outlets provided along the rotation direction and opening on the upper section of the frame body; a plurality of blades extending in the vertical direction at the opening on the outer periphery of the frame body and provided along the rotation direction; and an annular member that serves as a constricting section provided so as to narrow the interval from the blades to the rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI POWER, LTD.
    Inventors: Taku Miyazaki, Takuichiro Daimaru, Kenichi Arima, Shinji Matsumoto, Yuta Takahashi, Kazushi Fukui, Takashi Iwata
  • Patent number: 10850286
    Abstract: A separation system is disclosed for separating selected particles from a mixture of particles in a fluid. The system includes a froth flotation vessel 10 into which in use the mixture of particles and fluid are subjected to an upward flow of an introduced gas to form a froth layer 13 which rises above an interface 14 formed between the froth layer 13 and the mixture of particles and fluid 12, such that a quantity of the selected particles is conveyed out of the vessel 10 by the froth layer 13 to become a first product of the system. The vessel 10 also has a first outlet 29 arranged in use for receiving a flow of some of the mixture of particles and fluid from the vessel 10, an entry to the first outlet 29 being located in a region proximate to, but below, the interface 14. The vessel also has a second outlet 20 arranged in use for receiving a flow of some of the mixture of particles and fluid from a region of the vessel 10 which is located below the first outlet 29.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: HUNTER PROCESS TECHNOLOGIES PTY LIMITED
    Inventor: Graeme J. Jameson
  • Patent number: 10744534
    Abstract: A classifier for separating particles is provided. The classifier includes a rotor having a direction of rotation defined by a rotational axis of the rotor, and a plurality of blades disposed on the rotor around the rotational axis. At least one blade of the plurality has a swept orientation in the direction of rotation. The at least one blade is arranged to contact and direct the particles away from the classifier and thereby restrict the particles from concentrating in areas adjacent to the classifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Paul Colson, Douglas Crafts
  • Patent number: 10493463
    Abstract: A turret includes a generally frusto-conical shaped body and a plurality of static straightening vanes arranged interior to the body, the vanes dividing the body into a plurality of substantially equal sections. The vanes are configured to straighten a swirling flow of solid particles as they enter the body, and to divide the swirling flow into a plurality of straightened flows that are communicated to a plurality of coal outlet pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Joseph David Bianca, Paul John Chapman
  • Patent number: 10363564
    Abstract: A turret includes a generally frusto-conical shaped body and a plurality of static vanes arranged interior to the body and extending inwardly from an interior sidewall of the body. The vanes are configured to guide a swirling flow of solid particles as they enter the body, and to divide the swirling flow into a plurality of controlled flows that are communicated to a plurality of coal outlet pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Joseph David Bianca, Paul John Chapman, Timothy Joseph Braun
  • Patent number: 10252298
    Abstract: A classifying wheel for a centrifugal-force air classifier where the flow pattern of the classifying air is contrary to its centrifugal direction, namely centripetal, and which is equipped with extensions fitted to the classifying wheel vanes within the flow channels which influence the flow pattern is to be executed in wear-protected design. This is achieved in that the classifying wheel has at least one reinforcing ring which has uniformly spaced hooks arranged around its periphery which fix the classifying wheel vanes to the extensions so that the outside radial edge of the classifying wheel vanes is not in contact with the reinforcing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: HOSOKAWA ALPINE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Dominik Knauer, Karl Herman Kraus, Horst Skirde
  • Patent number: 10145191
    Abstract: A waste processing system includes a lower tank portion coupled to a first support frame with a guiding member. The waste processing system further includes an upper tank portion coupled to a second support frame, the second support frame including a leg defining a hole for receiving the guiding member to align the first support frame with the second support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignees: M-I Drilling Fluids UK Ltd, M-I L.L.C.
    Inventors: Philip David Burton, Gary Gray, Gary Rendall
  • Patent number: 9981290
    Abstract: Classifier (10, 100, 200) which is configured to classify air-entrained, crushed particulate material received from a pulverizer into a fine fraction which is expelled from the classifier (10) and a coarse fraction which is returned to the pulverizer for further crushing. The classifier (10) includes a plurality of adjustable inlet blades (37) which are arranged partially above an inlet (20) leading into a classification zone (19), an angle of the blades (37) being adjustable through manipulation of a blade adjustment mechanism (39) in order to optimize particle flow conditions inside the classifier (10). Furthermore, the classifier (10) includes a plurality of inclined pre-swirl vanes (47) which are disposed below the inlet blades (37), each vane (47) having a curved body. The classifier (100) includes a part conical member (102) which is suspended below an operatively upper exit (31) leading from the classification zone (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Coal Milling Projects (PTY) Limited
    Inventors: Pierre Goosen, Koot Human Steyn
  • Patent number: 9884325
    Abstract: A hydrocyclone with an inflow region providing tangential inflow for a feed slurry and with a separation region following the inflow region with an underflow discharge pipe to carry off heavy materials and with an overflow nozzle in the form of an immersion tube projecting axially into the interior of the hydrocyclone. Another inflow is provided in the area of the tangential inflow to supply the barrier fluid, where the barrier fluid and the feed slurry are separated from one another by a lamella in the hydrocyclone before they are brought together. The separation region includes a conical section and a subsequent cylindrical section above the underflow discharge pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Andritz AG
    Inventor: Michael Kramer
  • Patent number: 9643191
    Abstract: A vertical mill for grinding material to be ground and a method for this are claimed, wherein the vertical mill has a grinding table and one or more grinding rollers. A ring duct with blade ring for a transport gas flow ascending around the grinding table is provided. An annular gap distance is present between a downwardly projecting oversize material cone and the upper region of the grinding rollers, through which annular gap distance a proportion of fine particles is also fed back in a recirculating manner to the grinding table. In order to overcome this disadvantage, a barrier gas flow flowing from inside to outwards is provided in the region of the gap distance, whereby the recirculation of grinding particles of a certain size can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: LOESCHE GMBH
    Inventor: Matthias Mersmann
  • Patent number: 9254508
    Abstract: To introduce a mixture to be processed, in which powder and granular material with relatively large specific gravity and hardness and accompanying lightweight foreign substances are mixed together, inside a system and separate the same by a dry method. Disclosed is a powder and granular material separation processing device X that is connected to an external suction machine such as a dust collection device and an electric vacuum cleaner, introduces by suction a mixture to be processed into a separation processing container 1, and discharges lightweight foreign substances to the outside of a system while collecting powder and granular material inside the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: KASHIWABARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoaki Tokuda, Shuji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9211547
    Abstract: A classifier including a housing, a body, a vane assembly, and an outlet. The housing extends along a longitudinal axis between opposing first and second ends, and includes a lower portion provided at the first end and including an inlet, an upper portion provided at the second end and including a reclaim outlet, and an intermediate portion provided between the upper and lower portions. The body is disposed within the housing that defines a chamber therebetween. The vane assembly includes a plurality of blades and is provided between an outer surface of the body and an inner surface of the intermediate portion dividing the chamber into first and second chambers. The outlet is provided at the second end and is fluidly connected to the second chamber to allow fine particles separated from coarse particles to flow through the outlet. The reclaim outlet is fluidly connected with the second chamber and a pulverizer to allow coarse particles separated from the fluid flow to be directed back to the pulverizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: LP AMINA LLC
    Inventors: William Latta, Changchun Wu, Matthew Targett
  • Patent number: 8668091
    Abstract: An air classifier contains a cylindrical casing provided with at an upper part thereof a feed port to feed high pressure air and a powder material, an umbrella-shaped center core in the casing, and an umbrella-shaped separator core arranged downstream of the center core in the casing and including an opening at center thereof. The air classifier has a configuration containing a dispersion chamber to disperse the powder material, being surrounded by an inner wall of the upper part casing and the center core, and a classification chamber to classify the powder material into fine and coarse powders by centrifugation, being surrounded by the center core, separator core and inner wall of the casing. In the dispersion chamber provided are a louver ring containing guide slats circularly arranged at regular intervals, and a space encircling the louver ring and serving as flow passage of the air and powder material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyasu Makino, Eiichi Masushio, Fumitoshi Murakami
  • Patent number: 8651032
    Abstract: To provide a classification device in which product fine powder little in mixture ratio of coarse particles can be obtained. A classification device characterized in that a setting pitch P between stationary fins 13 and a width L of each stationary fin 13 are combined so that a value of P/L is in a range between 0.042×(??50)+0.64 and 0.019×(??50)+0.22 in 50°???70° when ? is an inclination angle of each stationary fin 13, P is the setting pitch, and L is the width in a direction of circulation of particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Babcock-Hitachi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Otani, Hiroaki Kanemoto, Shinichiro Nomura, Hideo Mitsui, Yutaka Takeno
  • Patent number: 8511475
    Abstract: A plate type rotational centrifugal separator for separating one or more components of a feed stream includes a rotatable first outer carrier and a rotatable second inner carrier coaxially arranged in the first outer carrier. The first outer carrier supports one or more curved plates which are flexibly connected to the second inner carrier. A feeding arrangement disposed at one end of the separator supplies a feed stream to be separated, and a discharging arrangement disposed at the opposite end of the separator discharges separated streams. Confined spaces are defined between adjacent curved plates and the first outer and second inner carrier for separating the feed stream under influence of centrifugal forces. The first outer carrier is axially removable from the second inner carrier for removing components collected on the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Evodos B.V.
    Inventor: Hendrik Arie Boele
  • Patent number: 8178276
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a toner including granulating mother toner particles in an aqueous medium to obtain a slurry containing the mother toner particles and adjusting a size distribution of the mother toner particles by screening coarse mother toner particles from the slurry with a screen to obtain the toner containing mother toner particulates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Osamu Uchinokura, Akinori Saitoh, Junichi Awamura, Masahide Yamada, Hiroshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8083071
    Abstract: A classifier includes a central particle inlet, an inclined feed surface, and a classification surface. A plurality of particle feeding vanes are positioned above the feed surface, and the plurality of particle feeding vanes rotate above the feed surface. A plurality of classification vanes are positioned above the classification surface, and the plurality of classification vanes rotate above the classification surface. Particles enter the classifier through the inlet near an axis of rotation and flow radially outward on the feed surface to the classification surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Spyros A. Svoronos, Dongchul Lee, Hassan El-Sayed El-Shall
  • Patent number: 7913851
    Abstract: A separator is used in conjunction with a grinding mill which has a suction assembly, a grinding device, regulating devices and a driving device. The separator is mounted in a main body of the grinding mill on a rotating vertical separator shaft, comprising two support rings of equal sizes and shapes, mounted on the separator shaft with parallel orientations, having radial bridges with openings in between, which are surrounded by a plurality of mounting holes; and a plurality of blades, hingedly mounted on the mounting holes by vertical rods, for separating ground particles according to size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Inventor: Jin-Hong Chang
  • Patent number: 7900779
    Abstract: Particle classifier (2) for separating solid particles in a flow of gas and particles (1) into two fractions depending on size by means of gravitation force, air resistance force and applied centripetal force. A mixture of gas and particles is charged well dispersed to a classifier inlet zone (3) from which the mixture is brought into contact with a rotor (6) in a first separation zone (5) having the form of a free rotor chamber. Gas and fine particles are allowed to escape through an upper outlet (9) while the coarse fraction of the particles is forced to pass through a second separation zone and subsequently to leave through a lower outlet (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Comex AS
    Inventor: Jacek Kolacz
  • Publication number: 20100236458
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a classification device in which product fine powder little in mixture ratio of coarse particles can be obtained. [Means] for Resolution A classification device characterized in that a setting pitch P between stationary fins 13 and a width L of each stationary fin 13 are combined so that a value of P/L is in a range between 0.042×(??50)+0.64 and 0.019×(??50)+0.22 in 50°???70° when ? is an inclination angle of each stationary fin 13, P is the setting pitch, and L is the width in a direction of circulation of particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: Babock-Hitachi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Otani, Hiroaki Kanemoto, Shinichiro Nomura, Hideo Mitsui, Yutaka Takeno
  • Publication number: 20100187164
    Abstract: A static classifier cage is formed in upper and lower tiers of circumferentially spaced bar-shaped vanes of wear-resistant material. The lower tier is formed by and between a bottom ring and an intermediate ring. The top tier is formed by and between the intermediate ring and a topmost ring. In each tier, the lowermost ring is provided with slots to receive and act as a seat for the vertically oriented vanes while the upper ring in the tier is provided with radially outwardly opening notches into which the vanes are moved in a radial fashion. After the vanes are installed, a retainer is fastened into position to prevent the vanes from backing out of the notches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventor: Rickey E. Wark
  • Publication number: 20090065403
    Abstract: A centrifugal air classifier, in which a relation between an area S1 of a side surface of a cylinder or a truncated cone circumscribed about the rotor blades, an axis of the cylinder or a truncated cone being the rotor rotational shaft, and a calculation average value D of a diameter of a circle orthogonal to the rotor rotational shaft and circumscribed about the rotor blades is S1/D2=0.9 to 1.6, and with the S1, a relation between a cross sectional area S2 of inflow of the air for classification and the D is S2/D2=0.8 to 1.4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Ito
  • Patent number: 6935510
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air separator for sifting material suspended in a flow of gas having course material and fine material by using a sifting wheel which rotates in a sifting chamber and which has blades fixed on the external periphery thereof. The blade channels are cross-flown radially from the outside by gas containing the suspended fine particles. The oversized particles are rejected before reaching he internal end of the blade canal. The flow of fine particles is guided through the blade channels in a forced manner in a plurality of consecutive layers in the direction of the axis of rotation. The arrangement in layers of the flow of fine particles after it leaves the blade channels remains in place until it leaves the sifting chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Inventor: Roland Nied
  • Patent number: 6910585
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for classifying fine particles from a particulate material, such as toner and pigment powders. The apparatus is generally a dynamic centrifugal gas (air) classifier that combines the operational advantages of centrifugal air classifiers with increased aerodynamic forces provided by a rotating member to classify powders at cutpoints of fifteen micrometers and finer. The classifier is configured to have an annular-shaped inner passage, an annular-shaped outer passage circumscribing the inner passage, and an inlet through which a gas-entrained particulate material is introduced substantially tangentially into the inner passage so as to impart a centrifugal force to the particulate material. A portion of the entraining gas is preferably separated and directed into the outer passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Fisher-Klosterman, Inc.
    Inventors: Clarence Richard Kreiser, James Frank Miller
  • Publication number: 20040040678
    Abstract: A method for washing a fibre suspension with washing liquid, in which, in accordance with the invention, the fibre suspension is introduced into an annular treatment channel (24) that has an inlet end (72) and an outlet end (73) and is concentric with an axis of rotation (5) to form an inner annular layer (74), washing liquid simultaneously being introduced into the treatment channel to form an outer layer (75), which surrounds the inner annular layer. The fibre suspension and washing liquid are caused to rotate in the treatment channel whilst moving from said inlet end to said outlet end, fibres in the fibre suspension being caused to move into the outer layer of washing liquid, under the influence of the centripetal force, so that an accept (29), the liquid phase of which completely or mostly consists of washing liquid, is discharged at the outlet end of the treatment channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Rolf Ekholm, Peter Wigarthsson
  • Publication number: 20030111393
    Abstract: In a method for separating material to be separated using a centrifugal air separator, wherein material to be separated and separating gas are charged into the air separator and coarse material and fine material are discharged separately, the separating gas is fed into the centrifugal air separator under superatmospheric pressure, optionally along with the material to be separated. The air separator is maintained at superatmospheric pressure at least in the region of the separator rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Horst Thaler, Jurgen Roth
  • Patent number: 6568536
    Abstract: A classifier is proposed which includes a dispersion chamber for dispersing a powder material therein, a classification chamber connected to the dispersion chamber, and a conical member disposed between the dispersion chamber and the classification chamber, wherein the dispersion chamber includes a particle residence prevention member for preventing the powder material from residing within the dispersion chamber by changing the speed of the cyclonic flow of the powder material in the dispersion chamber so as to be decreased in the direction of the feed inlet within the dispersion chamber, and a method of preparing toner by use of the classifier is also proposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Tanaka, Yoshihiro Saitoh, Eisuke Sugisawa, Kazuyoshi Morii
  • Publication number: 20030000869
    Abstract: An article including: a disk or vortex ring with a circular opening in the center of the disk; and a fastener adapted to concentrically attach the disk to the particle outlet opening of a classifier wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Juan A. Morales Tirado, Samir Kumar, Judith M. Vandewinckel, Fumii Higuchi
  • Patent number: 6276534
    Abstract: A powder classifier which includes a classifier rotor fixedly secured to a rotatable shaft and having (i) an interior portion defined by upper and lower plates and (ii) an impeller wheel having upper and lower surfaces and a plurality of vanes therethrough. The upper plate has a rounded outer edge along its outer circumference, and the interior portion is in communication with a fine particle discharge outlet. First and second annular rings are concentrically disposed about the outer circumference of the classifier rotor, with the first annular ring being positioned so that a preclassification of a feed powder stream occurs at the first gap such that a fraction of fine particles is separated from the feed stream and flows through the first gap and into the interior portion of the classifier rotor for primary classification, A dispersion disk which rotates independently from the classifier rotor is provided to produce various degrees of dispersion intensities and disperses feed powders prior to classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Hosokawa Micron Powder Systems
    Inventors: Ching-Chung Huang, Joseph M. Pavlosky
  • Patent number: 6260708
    Abstract: The method for air classification of toner used to develop electrostatic images, whereby a toner product consisting of a powder with a wide particle size distribution is converted into a higher-quality toner product with a narrow particle size distribution in that the residence time of the toner product is controlled by means of components, components which in the upper section of the classifying chamber quickly introduce the toner product in a homogeneous state into the classifying chamber, which in the central section of the classifying chamber permit a longer residence time of the toner product, and which in the bottom section of the classifying chamber permit rapid discharge of the toner product from the classifying chamber, all of which makes it possible to produce a toner end product with an extremely narrow particle size distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Hosokawa Alpine Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marcus Adam, Stefano Zampini, Bodo Furc Hner