Means for supplying pulverized plastic elements

Claim 1

Apparatus for pneumatically picking up pulverized material from a storage location and feeding said material to another location, comprising A. pipe means having a flexible portion located toward one end thereof to enable movement of said pipe means, and a nozzle at the other end thereof for placement at said storage location; B. weighing hopper means having a top portion, an intermediate portion and a bottom portion, said intermediate portion having an opening therein to which said pipe means is attachable, and said bottom and top portions each having an opening therein; C. filter means located within said hopper means toward the top of said intermediate portion and covering said opening at said top portion; D. outlet means comprising a normally closed door means, attachable to said opening at said bottom portion; E. weighing means for determining the weight of said hopper means and material contained therein, said weighing means comprising a frame means, a beam and adjustable weights on said beam for determining the weight of said material, and means for supporting said frame means; F. vacuum means comprising a motor means and a pump means operable by said motor means, said pump means connectable to said opening at said top portion; G. means under the control of said weighing means for controlling said motor means to operate said pump means whereby said pulverized material is pneumatically pumped from said storage location through said pipe means and into said hopper means until a predetermined amount of said material as measured by said weighing means is contained within said hopper means, whereupon said pump means is caused to cease operation and substantially all of said material held within said hopper means is released through said outlet means by action of gravity upon said door means, said filter means preventing said material from entering said pump means during operation of said pump means; and H. means for returning said door means to a closed position and for again operating said motor means to operate said pump means thereby to repeat the above sequence.