Material feed apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for the controlled positive dispensing of relatively loose particulatelike material comprising a receptacle for containing a mass of said material, means defining a lateral discharge outlet from said receptacle, and feed means extending through the material mass to said outlet comprising a substantially screw type feed structure in the form of hollow coil means adapted to be rotated about its longitudinal axis, and means for preventing accumulation of said material within the rotating coil means comprising a longitudinally fixed member extending longitudinally through said hollow coil means and having a surface adjacent the inner periphery of said rotatable hollow coil means, and mounting means for said member providing for floating movement of said member in a direction transversely of said hollow coil means.

Claim 3

The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said longitudinally fixed member is floatingly supported by the relatively rotating inner periphery of said hollow coil means.

Claim 4

Apparatus for the controlled positive dispensing of relatively loose particulatelike material comprising a receptacle for containing a mass of said material, means defining a lateral discharge outlet from said receptacle, and feed means extending through the material mass to said outlet comprising a substantially screw type feed structure in the form of hollow coil means adapted to be rotated about its longitudinal axis, and means for preventing accumulation of said material within the rotating coil means comprising a relatively stationary longitudinal member of appreciably smaller diameter than the coil means extending eccentrically of the longitudinal axis of said hollow coil means and closely adjacent the inner periphery of said hollow coil means.

Claim 5

Apparatus for the controlled positive dispensing of relatively loose particulatelike material comprising a receptacle for containing a mass of said material, means defining a lateral discharge outlet from said receptacle, and feed means extending through the material mass to said outlet comprising a substantially screw type feed structure in the form of hollow coil means adapted to be rotated about its longitudinal axis, and means for preventing accumulation of said material within the rotating coil means comprising a relatively stationary longitudinal member of appreciably smaller diameter than the coil means extending eccentrically of the longitudinal axis of said hollow coil means and closely adjacent the inner periphery of said hollow coil means.

Claim 6

Apparatus for the controlled positive dispensing of relatively loose particulatelike material comprising a receptacle for containing a mass of said material, means defining a lateral discharge outlet from said receptacle, and feed means extending through the material mass to said outlet comprising a substantially screw type feed structure in the form of hollow coil means adapted to be rotated about its longitudinal axis, and means for preventing accumulation of said material within the rotating coil means comprising a nonrotatable longitudinally fixed member floatingly supported by the relatively rotating inner periphery of said hollow coil means, and means whereby said member is resiliently urged against said inner periphery of the hollow coil means.

Claim 7

Apparatus for the controlled positive dispensing of relatively loose particulatelike material comprising a receptacle for containing a mass of said material, means defining a lateral discharge outlet from said receptacle, and feed means extending through the material mass to said outlet comprising a substantially screw type feed structure in the form of hollow coil means adapted to be rotated about its longitudinal axis, and means for preventing accumulation of said material within the rotating coil means comprising a nonrotatable longitudinally fixed member floatingly supported by the relatively rotating inner periphery of said hollow coil means, and means whereby said member is resiliently urged against said inner periphery of the hollow coil means.

Claim 8

The apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein said member is a rod slidably mounted at one end on a guide outside the receptacle for permitting floating movement, and the other end of the rod is free except for support by the coil means.

Claim 9

Apparatus for the controlled positive dispensing of relatively loose particulatelike material comprising a receptacle for containing a mass of said material, means comprising a tube projecting laterally from an opening in the receptacle sidewall defining a lateral discharge outlet from said receptacle, and feed means extending through the material mass to said outlet comprising a substantially screw type feed structure in the form of substantially horizontal hollow coil means adapted to be rotated about its longitudinal axis, said hollow coil means extending at one end into said tube, and means for preventing accumulation of said material within the rotating coil means comprising a rodlike element resting on the inner periphery of said coil means and having a slidable connection to said tube exteriorly of the receptacle that prevents rotation and longitudinal displacement of the rod but permits generally radial float of the rod within the relatively rotating hollow coil means.

Claim 10

Apparatus for the controlled positive dispensing of relatively loose particulatelike material comprising a receptacle for containing a mass of said material, means comprising a tube projecting laterally from an opening in the receptacle sidewall defining a lateral discharge outlet from said receptacle, and feed means extending through the material mass to said outlet comprising a substantially screw type feed structure in the form of substantially horizontal hollow coil means adapted to be rotated about its longitudinal axis, said hollow coil means extending at one end into said tube, and means for preventing accumulation of said material within the rotating coil means comprising a rodlike element resting on the inner periphery of said coil means and having a slidable connection to said tube exteriorly of the receptacle that prevents rotation and longitudinal displacement of the rod but permits generally radial float of the rod within the relatively rotating hollow coil means.