US3558009A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oscillating rocker hopper and method
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
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Filing: 1968-07-19
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Granted: 1971-01-26
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Expires: 1988-07-19
Abstract
Abstract A method of feeding particulate material which utilizes a vertically extending hopper configured to cause material within the hopper to move gravitationally down to a lower outlet opening of the hopper. The method includes a step of subjecting the hopper to cycles of oscillating transverse motion in a predetermined, generally horizontal path to impose a side-to-side horizontal throwing action on the material within the hopper. Additionally, the hopper is subjected to cycles of oscillating rocking motion about a generally horizontal axis at periods occurring during the cycles of transverse motion. An apparatus which is intended for feeding particulate material. The apparatus includes a vertically extending hopper having wall means for confining the material and for moving it gravitationally towards a lower opening. Frame means support the hopper for limited movement. Oscillating means connected with the frame means and with the hopper applies an oscillating transverse motion to the hopper. Rocking means also connected with the hopper and the frame means applies vertical rocking oscillation to the hopper at some time during each cycle of the transverse motion.
Inventors
- 👤 Clarence F Carter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:36
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D88/00; B65D88/54; B65D88/64; B65D88/66
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of feeding particulate material utilizing a vertically extending hopper having an upper, inlet opening and a lower, outlet opening and wall means extending between the openings configured to cause material within the hopper to move gravitationally downward to the outlet opening, the method comprising the steps of: subjecting the hopper to cycles of oscillating transverse motion in a generally horizontal predetermined path to impose a sideto-side, horizontal throwing action on the material within the hopper, said oscillating transverse motion being produced by: applying oscillatory rotary motion to the hopper about a vertical axis passing radially centrally of the hopper adjacent the hopper inlet and offset radially from the lower outlet opening to cause the material within the hopper to experience a greater degree of side-to-side horizontal throwing agitation adjacent the hopper outlet than that experienced adjacent the inlet; and subjecting the hopper to at least one cycle of oscillating rocking motion about a generally horizontal axis during each cycle of transverse motion of the hopper to impose a rocking action on the material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of feeding particulate material utilizing a vertically extending hopper having an upper, inlet opening and a lower, outlet opening and wall means extending between the openings configured to cause material within the hopper to move gravitationally downward to the outlet opening, the method comprising the steps of: subjecting the hopper to cycles of oscillating transverse motion in a generally horizontal predetermined path to impose a sideto-side, horizontal throwing action on the material within the hopper, said oscillating transverse motion being produced by: applying oscillatory rotary motion to the hopper about a vertical axis passing radially centrally of the hopper adjacent the hopper inlet and offset radially from the lower outlet opening to cause the material within the hopper to experience a greater degree of side-to-side horizontal throwing agitation adjacent the hopper outlet than that experienced adjacent the inlet; and subjecting the hopper to at least one cycle of oscillating rocking motion about a generally horizontal axis during each cycle of transverse motion of the hopper to impose a rocking action on the material.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
197 words
A method of feeding particulate material utilizing a vertically extending hopper having an upper, inlet opening and a lower, outlet opening and wall means extending between the openings configured to cause material within the hopper to move gravitationally downwardly to the outlet opening, the method comprising the steps of: subjecting the hopper to cycles of oscillating transverse motion in a generally horizontal predetermined path to impose a side-to-side, horizontal throwing action on the material within the hopper, said oscillating transverse motion being produced by: applying oscillatory rotary motion to the hopper about a vertical axis passing radially centrally of the hopper adjacent the hopper inlet and offset radially from the lower outlet opening to cause the material within the hopper to experience a greater degree of agitation adjacent the hopper outlet than that experienced adjacent the inlet; and subjecting the hopper to at least one cycle of oscillating rocking motion about a generally horizontal axis during each cycle of transverse motion of the hopper to impose a rocking action on the material by: applying a cycle of vertical motion to a point on the hopper radially offset from the vertical axis during the cycle of transverse motion.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
197 words
A method of feeding particulate material utilizing a vertically extending hopper having an upper, inlet opening and a lower, outlet opening and wall means extending between the openings configured to cause material within the hopper to move gravitationally downwardly to the outlet opening, the method comprising the steps of: subjecting the hopper to cycles of oscillating transverse motion in a generally horizontal predetermined path to impose a side-to-side, horizontal throwing action on the material within the hopper, said oscillating transverse motion being produced by: applying oscillatory rotary motion to the hopper about a vertical axis passing radially centrally of the hopper adjacent the hopper inlet and offset radially from the lower outlet opening to cause the material within the hopper to experience a greater degree of agitation adjacent the hopper outlet than that experienced adjacent the inlet; and subjecting the hopper to at least one cycle of oscillating rocking motion about a generally horizontal axis during each cycle of transverse motion of the hopper to impose a rocking action on the material by: applying a cycle of vertical motion to a point on the hopper radially offset from the vertical axis during the cycle of transverse motion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as defined in claim 2 including a further step of: causing the hopper to experience stationary periods of rest intermediate cycles of oscillating transverse motion.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
251 words
An apparatus for feeding particulate material comprising: a vertically extending hopper for the material, said hOpper including: an upper, inlet opening having a generally vertical axis; an outlet opening spaced below said inlet opening and having a generally vertical axis radially offset from the axis of said inlet opening; wall means extending between said upper and lower openings adapted to confine the material and to cause the material to move gravitationally toward said outlet opening; and frame means connected to said hopper and supporting said hopper for limited rotational motion generally about the vertical axis of said inlet opening, said frame means further supporting said hopper for limited vertical motion; oscillating means connected with said frame means and with said hopper for applying an oscillating transverse motion in a generally horizontal, predetermined path to the hopper to impose a side-to-side, horizontal throwing action on the material within the hopper, said oscillating means includes: means connected with said frame means for applying oscillatory rotary motion to said hopper about the vertical axis of said inlet opening to oscillate said outlet opening transversely along a predetermined arcuate path to cause material within the outlet opening of the hopper to be subjected to a greater intermittent side-to-side throwing action than material within the inlet opening of the hopper; and rocking means connected with said container and with said frame means for causing intermittent vertical rocking motion of said hopper about a horizontal axis at periods occurring during cycles of operation of said oscillating means.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
251 words
An apparatus for feeding particulate material comprising: a vertically extending hopper for the material, said hOpper including: an upper, inlet opening having a generally vertical axis; an outlet opening spaced below said inlet opening and having a generally vertical axis radially offset from the axis of said inlet opening; wall means extending between said upper and lower openings adapted to confine the material and to cause the material to move gravitationally toward said outlet opening; and frame means connected to said hopper and supporting said hopper for limited rotational motion generally about the vertical axis of said inlet opening, said frame means further supporting said hopper for limited vertical motion; oscillating means connected with said frame means and with said hopper for applying an oscillating transverse motion in a generally horizontal, predetermined path to the hopper to impose a side-to-side, horizontal throwing action on the material within the hopper, said oscillating means includes: means connected with said frame means for applying oscillatory rotary motion to said hopper about the vertical axis of said inlet opening to oscillate said outlet opening transversely along a predetermined arcuate path to cause material within the outlet opening of the hopper to be subjected to a greater intermittent side-to-side throwing action than material within the inlet opening of the hopper; and rocking means connected with said container and with said frame means for causing intermittent vertical rocking motion of said hopper about a horizontal axis at periods occurring during cycles of operation of said oscillating means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
163 words
An apparatus for feeding particulate material comprising: a vertically extending hopper for the material, said hopper including: an upper, inlet opening; an outlet opening spaced below said inlet opening; and wall means extending between said upper and lower openings adapted to confine the material and to cause the material to move gravitationally toward said outlet opening; frame means connected to said hopper supporting said hopper for limited motion; oscillating means connected with said frame means and with said hopper for applying an oscillating transverse motion in a generally horizontal, predetermined path to the hopper to impose a side-to-side, horizontal throwing action the material within the hopper; rocking means connected with said container and with said frame means for causing intermittent vertical rocking motion of said hopper about a horizontal axis at periods occurring during cycles of operation of said oscillating means; and delay means connected with said oscillating means for causing intermittent periods of dwell between successive cyclic operations of said oscillating means.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
163 words
An apparatus for feeding particulate material comprising: a vertically extending hopper for the material, said hopper including: an upper, inlet opening; an outlet opening spaced below said inlet opening; and wall means extending between said upper and lower openings adapted to confine the material and to cause the material to move gravitationally toward said outlet opening; frame means connected to said hopper supporting said hopper for limited motion; oscillating means connected with said frame means and with said hopper for applying an oscillating transverse motion in a generally horizontal, predetermined path to the hopper to impose a side-to-side, horizontal throwing action the material within the hopper; rocking means connected with said container and with said frame means for causing intermittent vertical rocking motion of said hopper about a horizontal axis at periods occurring during cycles of operation of said oscillating means; and delay means connected with said oscillating means for causing intermittent periods of dwell between successive cyclic operations of said oscillating means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
219 words
An apparatus for feeding particulate material comprising: a vertically extending hopper for the material, said hopper including: an upper, inlet opening having a generally horizontally disposed circular rim and a generally vertically disposed axis; an outlet opening spaced below said inlet opening, wherein said outlet opening is of smaller diameter than said inlet opening and having a generally vertically extending axis radially offset from the axis of said inlet opening; and wall means extending between said upper inlet opening and said lower outlet opening having a generally frustoconical shape and adapted to confine the material and to cause the material to move generally toward said outlet opening; frame means connected to said hopper and supporting said hopper for limited rotational motion about the generally vertical axis of said inlet opening; reciprocating means connected with said frame means and with said hopper for applying reversible transverse motion in a generally horizontal, predetermined path to the hopper to impose a side-to-side horizontal throwing action on the material within the hopper, said reciprocating means including; and means connected with said frame means for applying reciprocating rotary motion to Said hopper about said inlet opening vertical axis to reversibly traverse said outlet opening along a predetermined arcuate path to cause material within the hopper to be subjected to said intermittent side-to-side throwing action.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
219 words
An apparatus for feeding particulate material comprising: a vertically extending hopper for the material, said hopper including: an upper, inlet opening having a generally horizontally disposed circular rim and a generally vertically disposed axis; an outlet opening spaced below said inlet opening, wherein said outlet opening is of smaller diameter than said inlet opening and having a generally vertically extending axis radially offset from the axis of said inlet opening; and wall means extending between said upper inlet opening and said lower outlet opening having a generally frustoconical shape and adapted to confine the material and to cause the material to move generally toward said outlet opening; frame means connected to said hopper and supporting said hopper for limited rotational motion about the generally vertical axis of said inlet opening; reciprocating means connected with said frame means and with said hopper for applying reversible transverse motion in a generally horizontal, predetermined path to the hopper to impose a side-to-side horizontal throwing action on the material within the hopper, said reciprocating means including; and means connected with said frame means for applying reciprocating rotary motion to Said hopper about said inlet opening vertical axis to reversibly traverse said outlet opening along a predetermined arcuate path to cause material within the hopper to be subjected to said intermittent side-to-side throwing action.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein: said outlet opening is spaced sufficiently radially outwardly from said vertical axis to position a radially outermost portion of said outlet opening vertically beneath a corresponding vertically adjacent portion of said rim.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
83 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6, further including: support members connected with said rim; and wherein said frame means further includes: a generally horizontal track extending about said hopper, said support members resting upon said track for motion thereon to support said hopper for rotational motion about said vertical axis; and guiding means connected with said track, said guiding means peripherally contacting said rim for preventing radial motion of said rim relative to said track out of concentricity with said vertical axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
127 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 8, and further comprising: rocking means connected with said hopper and with said frame means for causing intermittent vertical rocking motion of said hopper about a horizontal axis at periods occurring during cycles of operation of said reciprocating means including; a vertically projecting cam fixedly secured to said track at a predetermined point thereon; and cam contacting means connected with said rim at a predetermined peripheral point thereon, said cam contacting means at an intermediate point during each cycle of traverse reciprocation contacting said cam at least once to move said point on said rim upwardly from said track and back again during motion of said cam contacting means past said cam thereby imparting a vertical rocking motion to said hopper.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein: said reciprocating means includes; a reversible reciprocating motor having: a motor housing connected with said track; and a piston cyclically reciprocable relative to said motor housing, said piston being connected at a free end thereof to a point on said rim in generally tangential horizontally disposed relation thereto.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-25 | 1974-07-27 | 1975-01-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-25 | 1978-07-27 | 1979-01-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-25 | 1982-07-27 | 1983-01-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |