Feed Hopper Patents (Class 209/910)
  • Patent number: 10722902
    Abstract: An apparatus, composition and method for recycling of a material, such as, for example, unhardened concrete. The apparatus includes a storage tank for storing a recycling composition to be applied to the material to be recycled and a control unit configured to control release of the recycling composition from the storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Cycrete Pty, Ltd.
    Inventors: Donald Thomas, Michael Hogan, Jeffrey Shi
  • Patent number: 7514011
    Abstract: A system for separating solids from a fluid stream. The system includes a first separator device mounted to a container. The container includes a settling compartment and baffle plate module, with the initial settling compartment receiving the fluid from the first separator device. The fluid stream proceeds through the baffle plate module. The solids within the fluid stream will descend to the bottom of the container. A spiral blade is positioned at the bottom of the container, with the spiral blade adapted to convey solids to a first pump member. The speed of rotation of the spiral blade may be varied. The first pump member discharges the slurry to a second separator device. The second separator device will discharge the separated fluid stream into the baffle plate module. In one embodiment, the first separator device is a linear shaker and the second separator device is a cyclone separator and linear shaker mounted in tandem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Del Corporation
    Inventor: Robert M. Kulbeth
  • Patent number: 7500806
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for constructing a filter zone of an earthfill dam, in which the filter zone includes adjacent coarse and fine filter layers. The coarse and fine filter materials are discharged simultaneously from an earthmoving vehicle having an ejector body. The ejector body includes a longitudinal divider wall that maintains segregation of the materials during transport, and the materials are discharged through separate chute assemblies so as to place the materials in elongate, side-by-side berms. The ejector vehicle is followed by a dozer or other piece of equipment that grades both berms simultaneously. Each pass of the ejector vehicle and dozer thus forms a stratum of the filter zone. The passes are repeated to form a plurality of strata in overlying relationship such that the coarse particulate material forms the coarse filter portion of the filter zone and the fine material forms the fine filter portion of the zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Barnard Construction Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeff L. Higgins
  • Patent number: 7021469
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for feeding a user machine (3) with particulate products, such as products for infusion like tea, chamomile and herbal teas in general, comprises a hopper (2) for dispensing the product and means (40; 7) for transferring the product from the hopper (2) to the user machine (3). The hopper (2) includes a feed body (4), with vertical walls (5), having an outlet opening (6) at its lower end. The transfer means (40) comprise a motor-driven, endless conveyor (7) facing the outlet opening (6). The apparatus also comprises adjustment means (50; 10, 11, 30) for adjusting the gap between the endless conveyor (7) and the outlet opening (6) according to the characteristics of the product feeding out the hopper (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Tecnomeccanica S.r.l.
    Inventor: Andrea Romagnoli
  • Patent number: 6808626
    Abstract: A system for separating solids from a fluid stream. The system includes a first separator device mounted to a container. The container includes a settling compartment and baffle plate module, with the initial settling compartment receiving the fluid from the first separator device. The fluid stream proceeds through the baffle plate module. The solids within the fluid stream will descend to the bottom of the container. A spiral blade is positioned at the bottom of the container, with the spiral blade adapted to convey solids to a first pump member. The speed of rotation of the spiral blade may be varied. The first pump member discharges the slurry to a second separator device. The second separator device will discharge the separated fluid stream into the baffle plate module. In one embodiment, the first separator device is a linear shaker and the second separator device is a cyclone separator and linear shaker mounted in tandem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Del Corp.
    Inventor: Robert M. Kulbeth
  • Patent number: 6378863
    Abstract: A method and a configuration for controlling the passage of printed media, especially letters or envelopes, in a separating apparatus of a mail processing system, include transferring the printed media, on the output side, with an ejector to a following device, such as a scale or balance or a franking machine. The intention is to widen the field of use and the throughput of printed media is to be matched to that in the following device. A transfer speed is set on the basis of a transport speed of the following device and, in remaining areas of the separating apparatus, the transport speed is optimized on the basis of a respective printed medium position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Francotyp Postalia AG & Co.
    Inventors: Christoph Kunde, Michael Schmidt-Kretschmer
  • Patent number: 6005212
    Abstract: A mail item feed device having a first or mail item feed area, a second or selector area and a third or conveyor area and including a first plurality of sensors for identifying the various formats of the mail items present in said first area, a second plurality of sensors for detecting the passage of the mail items in said second and third areas, and a plurality of drive means for co-operating with the transport rollers of the first, second and third areas and actuated selectively in a predetermined sequence defined by control means in accordance with the state of each of the first and second plurality of sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Neopost Industrie
    Inventors: Olivier Van Lierde, Alain Philippe
  • Patent number: 5897775
    Abstract: Vacuum accumulator incorporating a vacuum vessel for communication with a suction conduit, and with at least one vacuum accumulator vessel interconnectable with the vacuum vessel via a stop valve, in turn connected to a vacuum pump for charging of said vessels with a vacuum under a limited volume, whereby the stop valve is adapted to open when the vacuum in the vacuum vessel drops to a certain volume. A device for dewatering and removal of waste by vacuum, with a track intended for supply of the waste and incorporating a collecting hopper narrowing in a direction from above and downwards and having a closed bottom portion, at which is arranged the opening of a suction conduit connectable to a vacuum source for applying a vacuum in the bottom portion of the collecting hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Centralsug SVS AB
    Inventor: Christer Kihlstrom
  • Patent number: 5641072
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for sorting post-consumed bottles exactly and efficiently and an apparatus for carrying out the method. The sorting apparatus comprises a supply section, a separating section, a detecting section comprising a first image pickup camera for detecting the size and contour of each post-consumed bottle and a second image pickup camera for high speed detection of color by a defined image pickup utilizing data from the first image pickup camera, a sorting section for sorting and discharging only post-consumed bottles already classified to sorting containers preliminarily placed in accordance with data received from the detecting section, and a control section for controlling a series of operations timely. Since the scope of the image pickup for detecting color of the post-consumed bottles is defined in accordance with the data from the detecting section, picture processing at a high speed is achieved resulting in remarkable sorting performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Kurimoto, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Otake
  • Patent number: 5469972
    Abstract: A screening apparatus and a method are provided for separating mixed material into coarse materials and finer materials. After dumping mixed materials with a loader into a bucket located in an upper section of a screening apparatus, a movable wall moving at a predetermined speed along the bottom of the bucket pushes the mixed materials into a bottom opening of the bucket over a first material separating screen defining a slope with reference to the ground and subjected to vibrations of a shaking device. The apparatus may further comprise parallel spaced bars for primary removing of large debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: les Equipements Vibrotech Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Guy St-Pierre, Andre Godbout
  • Patent number: 5411147
    Abstract: A dynamic landfill recycling system has wheels attachable to a plurality of refuse processing sections in one or more semi-trailer or other vehicular units. A refuse receiving section has a dump bed or one or more vehicular refuse bins to accept new refuse from refuse trucks or optionally to accept old refuse from old refuse sites for processing, A primary conveyor belt is slanted upwardly towards a vibratory feeder. The primary conveyor is rotated rapidly to throw the refuse in an arc onto the vibratory feeder where the throwing action causes the refuse to spread out as it falls. The vibratory feeder is slanted downwardly at an angle which causes vibrated refuse to fall towards a bottom end and a bag cutter that is positioned above and intermediately between ends of the vibratory feeder to further expose and scatter the refuse on the vibratory feeder. A magnetic separator belt conveys the scattered refuse upwardly to a magnetic pulley wheel which separates ferrous from non-ferrous materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Inventor: David S. Bond
  • Patent number: 5244098
    Abstract: An improved separating apparatus for separating a feed material into coarse material and a finer material. The separating apparatus includes a frame with a tall and short end, vibratory separating screen or rods as a separating surface within the frame, and a fixed, angled, feed directing plate as a funneling surface to direct feed material into the separating surface at the tall end of the frame. The separating apparatus includes a feed directing plate extension to extend the funneling surface of the apparatus and includes a support arm and a support bracket on the frame to move the feed directing plate extension between an angular extended use position and a non-use position adjacent the frame surface to permit the separating apparatus to be road-transportable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: The Read Corporation
    Inventor: Robert J. Hadden
  • Patent number: 5082555
    Abstract: An improved soil feeder system in combination with a soil separating apparatus and method of controlling the feeding of soil material employing the soil feeder. The soil feeder apparatus including a hopper body having included walls and flat bottom surface to define a hopper space to receive soil material and characterized by an opening at one end for controlling the feeding of soil materials to be screened. The body includes a funnel shaped walls to direct the soil material inwardly into the hopper body, as hydraulic cylinder at the one end to tilt the hopper body between a soil receiving position and a tilted soil discharging position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: The Read Corporation
    Inventor: James L. Read
  • Patent number: 4900498
    Abstract: A method for removing elongated contaminants of polymeric material from a contaminated stream containing pellets and the elongated contaminants, wherein the contaminated stream is passed through an enclosure containing a fixed support member having finger-like projections for snagging the elongated contaminants while allowing the pellets to pass through the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: Sanford N. Smith
  • Patent number: 4812100
    Abstract: The rolling track comprises a series of rollers which are supported by a fixed reinforcement and on which travels the circular pedestal of the hopper. This circular pedestal is equipped with a toothed ring in order to be driven in rotary movement about its vertical axis. The rollers are grouped in pairs, and each pair of rollers is carried by an axle pivotable about a radial axis; with each of the rollers being carried in its axle by floating bearings mounted on springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Paul Wurth S.A.
    Inventors: Emile Lonardi, Pierre Mailliet
  • Patent number: 4812092
    Abstract: The hopper comprises a cylindrical side wall supported by an annular rolling ring so as to be rotatable about its vertical axis, and a funnel shaped bottom with a central outflow orifice controlled by a valve. To allow rapid removal of the rolling ring, the bottom is separated from the side wall and rests freely on an inner edge of the latter. An apparatus is provided for raising the bottom within the wall and for lifting the side wall slightly from the rolling ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Paul Wurth S.A.
    Inventor: Emile Lonardi
  • Patent number: 4714397
    Abstract: An automatic parts feeder has a bed, a base movable on the bed in a first direction, a hopper assembly mounted on the base, a delivery mechanism, a transfer mechanism, and a supply mechanism for supplying parts to a processing machine. The supply mechanism supplies the parts in a second direction normal to the first direction, and includes a movable assembly movable in both the first and second directions, a swing arm pivotally supported on the movable assembly and angularly movable in a plane normal to the second direction between a substantially vertical upstanding position and an inclined position, and parts receivers detachably mounted on the swing arm for receiving, holding, and releasing the parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kuniaki Ohkuma, Reiji Nakagawa, Hisao Miyao, Shinichi Yoshimura, Toshio Suzuki, Toyoaki Hayashi, Masayasu Arakawa, Hideharu Koizumi
  • Patent number: 4616786
    Abstract: Surplus concrete or return concrete to be processed is poured into a high-capacity receiving bin and is transferred at a metered rate from said bin by means of a screw conveyor to a washing apparatus, in which fine components are separated from very fine components. The transfer at the metered rate is effected in dependence on the driving power of rotary motors of the rotary washing apparatus. When the driving power of the motors exceeds a predetermined value, then the motor of the screw conveyor is deenergized. When the driving power decreases below that value or below another value, the supply at the metered rate is resumed. The plant operates fully automatically and when the receiving bin has been emptied the plant is automatically cleaned and automatically shut down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1986
    Assignee: Stetter GmbH
    Inventor: Rudolf Riker
  • Patent number: 4602716
    Abstract: A process for determining the soundness, and the soundness-dependent germinative ability of sowing seeds is based on detecting the characteristic difference between the acoustic excitation response functions of right and damaged seeds. The seeds are excited by their impinging on a hard surface and produce an acoustic signal and by examining the response functions a comparison is performed to decide whether the seeds are right or damaged. Apparatus for carrying out the process includes a feed tank (1), a seed feeding mechanism, a sensing chamber (4) and a vibration sensor (5) for detecting acoustic signals within the chamber (4), the output of the vibration sensor (5) being connected to a signal processing unit (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1986
    Assignee: Licencia Talalmanyokat Ertekesito Vallalat
    Inventors: Gabor Barla-Szabo, Bela Gyulay, Gabor Rajkai, Sarolta Deakne Karacsonyi, Pal Horvath
  • Patent number: 4555330
    Abstract: The method and apparatus for separating materials includes a feed splitting assembly (27) which evenly divides the materials to be separated into equal parts for inputs to a like plurality of screen assemblies (16, 17, 18). These inputs are evenly distributed across the width of some of the screen assemblies (17, 18) by manifolds (44, 51). One of the screen assemblies (16) can receive the input directly through an aperture (40) in the feed splitting assembly (27). The material not passing through the screen assemblies (16, 17, 18) is collected at one location and the material passing therethrough is transmitted to a common discharge spout (55).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Assignee: Midwestern Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Masataka Tsutsumi, Richard J. Frohman
  • Patent number: 4535895
    Abstract: A sorting device for sorting out a multiplicity of pieces such as tickets according to their size, comprises a cylindrical sorter drum rotatably mounted in a frame for storing therein pieces having different sizes to be sorted out, means on the sorter drum including openings for passing therethrough pieces of a particular size only; and a motor for rotating the sorter drum about its own axis to cause the pieces of the particular size to be discharged through the openings out of the sorter drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1985
    Assignee: Computer Services Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoaki Takiguchi, Seigo Takano
  • Patent number: 4486300
    Abstract: In a grader device grain is fed down a slide which ejects the grain outwardly and forwardly into an airstream. The slide is provided by a resilient flexible sheet, the contour and inclination of which is adjusted by a plurality of support rods against which the sheet presses and the positions of which are adjustable. A plurality of transverse collecting troughs with adjustable baffles, receive the separated grains according to the weight thereof with the top quality grain being heaviest, collecting in the forward trough. A suction fan extracts dust before it reaches the main airstream and diverts it into a cyclone or the like. Accurate airstream control is achieved by a plurality of adjustable wind boards strategically situated within the grader device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Inventor: William Prieb
  • Patent number: 4454028
    Abstract: An article or can sorting apparatus for separating articles having a recycle value from articles having no recycle value is defined by an annular article supporting surface positioned at about 45 degrees to horizontal, a cylindrical wall positioned in relation to the surface to define an article processing chamber, a feed hopper into which a plurality of the articles are deposited for feeding into the chamber, and an article conveying disc or wheel positioned in parallel relation to the surface and having a plurality of outwardly extending article pusher arms for separating the articles, such as discarded beverage cans, from the plurality of articles and conveying the articles one at a time about the annular surface to a material discriminator and a weight scale and toward an accept door or a reject door. The material discriminator or metal detector, the scale, and the accept and reject doors form segments of the article conveying surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1984
    Assignee: Point of Purchase Recycling, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Vetter, John L. Aker
  • Patent number: 4239120
    Abstract: A device for the bunkering and sorted feeding of small parts, particularly to processing machines, by which the small parts are removed from a bunker space in the bottom area of the bunker, which bunker space is refillable from the top, and via an intermediate inserted lifting unit are fed into the inlet prechamber of a sorting stretch, the latter being formed for example in the shape of a vibrating conveyor. The bunker, lifting unit and sorting section are accommodated in a container, such that the lifting unit rends with the upper end of the lifting device in front of the inlet prechamber of the sorting stretch. The subspace is partitioned-off relative to the bunker space, and the lifting unit is arranged in the subspace of the container, the lifting unit conveying-up rises transversely relative to the bunker outlet opening. The sorting stretch extends on the upper longitudinal edge of the container in a direction opposite to the bunker outlet direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1980
    Assignee: Rhein-Nadel Automation Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung
    Inventors: Klaus Stecklum, Norbert Grief
  • Patent number: 4231478
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for bulk sorting particulate material such as ore rocks. A conveyor belt carries the material in a continuous stream past a detector responsive to a required characteristic to produce a time sequence of detector signals dependent on degree to which material passing the detector possesses that characteristic. The material is projected from the downstream end of the conveyor belt into free flight trajectory and a deflector plate is moved across the face flight path so that material in some zones of the stream is deflected whereas material in other zones is not deflected. A control circuit monitors the detector signals and causes the deflector plate to move so that said zones are determined by the degree to which the material in them possesses the required characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1980
    Assignee: Sphere Investments Limited
    Inventor: Alan M. Stone