Multi-station loader for particulate material

Claim 2

A multi-station loader for loading material from a material source comprising: a. a plurality of loading stations; b. means for coupling said plurality of loading stations to said material source; c. means for providing pneumatic drive, said means having intake and exhaust ports; d. valve means having a first port coupled to the intake of said pneumatic drive providing Means, a second port coupled to the exhaust of said pneumatic drive providing means, a third port coupled to said plurality of loading stations, and a fourth port, said valve means further including rotor means rotatable to a first position coupling the first port to the third port and the second port to the fourth port for directing said pneumatic drive and loading said loading stations and rotatable to a second position coupling the first port to the fourth port and the second port to the third port for reversing the flow of said pneumatic drive within said loading station and cleaning the station; e. a loading valve for each of said plurality of loading stations, each of said valves having an input coupled to said means for providing pneumatic drive and an output coupled to its respective station; f. switch means for detecting a need for material at each of said plurality of stations; g. variable speed electrical timing means; and h. control means responsive to the detection of a need for material by said switch means for actuating said loading valves, for varying the speed of said electrical timing means and for controlling said valve means.

Claim 3

A multi-station loader according to claim 1, wherein: said electrical timing means includes a cam, and said control means comprises an array of switches sequentially actuated by said cam.

Claim 4

A multi-station loader according to claim 1, wherein: said valve is positionable by a solenoid actuated by said control means.

Claim 5

A multi-station loader according to claim 1 wherein said control means includes an electrical circuit.

Claim 6

A multi-station loader according to claim 1 wherein said variable speed electrical timing means has a first speed for searching for a station requiring material and a second lower speed for loading said station.

Claim 7

A multi-station loader for loading material from a material source comprising: a plurality of loading stations having means for receiving material from said material source; means for providing pneumatic drive; loading means associated with each of said plurality of loading stations for coupling said loading stations with said pneumatic drive providing means; valve means coupled to both said pneumatic drive providing means and said loading means for directing said provided pneumatic drive to said coupled loading stations and drawing material thereto from said material source through said means for receiving material; filter means at said coupled loading stations for preventing said drawn material from entering said pneumatic drive providing means; detection means associated with each of said plurality of loading stations for detecting a need for material at each of said plurality of loading stations; multiple speed timing means operational at a first scanning speed for searching for one of said plurality of loading stations having a detected material need; control means responsive to the said detection means for actuating said loading means associated with said detected one loading station, said control means also for reducing the speed of said multiple speed timing means to a second slower speed for a predetermined time period required for loading the detected loading station, said control means also for actuating said valve means at the end of said predetermined load period for reversing said provided pneumatic drive for blowing back said loaded loading station and cleaning said filter means.

Claim 8

A multi-station loader for loading material from a material source comprising: a plurality of loading stations having means for receiving material from said material source; means for providing pneumatic drive; loading means associated with each of said plurality of loading stations for coupling said loading stations with said pneumatic drive providing means; valve means coupled to both said pneumatic drive providing means and said loading means for directing said provided pneumatic drive to said coupled loading stations and drawing material thereto from said material source through said means for receiving material; filter means at said coupled loading stations for preventing said drawn material from entering said pneumatic drive providing means; detection means associated with each of said plurality of loading stations for detecting a need for material at each of said plurality of loading stations; multiple speed timing means operational at a first scanning speed for searching for one of said plurality of loading stations having a detected material need; control means responsive to the said detection means for actuating said loading means associated with said detected one loading station, said control means also for reducing the speed of said multiple speed timing means to a second slower speed for a predetermined time period required for loading the detected loading station, said control means also for actuating said valve means at the end of said predetermined load period for reversing said provided pneumatic drive for blowing back said loaded loading station and cleaning said filter means.

Claim 9

A multi-station loader according to claim 6, wherein: said timing means includes a cam coupled thereto, and said control means comprises an array of switches sequentially actuated by said cam

Claim 10

A multi-station loader according to claim 6, wherein: said loading means is positionable by a solenoid actuated by said control means.

Claim 11

A multi-station loader for loading material from a material source comprising: a. a plurality of loading stations; b. means for coupling said pluraliTy of loading stations to said material source; c. means for providing pneumatic drive, said means having intake and exhaust ports; d. valve means having a first port coupled to the intake of said pneumatic drive providing means, a second port coupled to the exhaust of said pneumatic drive providing means, a third port coupled to said plurality of loading stations, and a fourth port, said valve means further including rotor means rotatable to a first position coupling the first port to the third port and the second port to the fourth port for directing said pneumatic drive and loading said loading stations and rotatable to a second position coupling the first port to the fourth port and the second port to the third port for reversing the flow of said pneumatic drive within said loading station and cleaning the station; e. a loading valve for each of said plurality of loading stations, each of said valves having an input coupled to said source of material and an output coupled to its respective station; f. switch means for detecting a need for material at each of said plurality of stations; g. an electrical timer; h. a magnetic brake operatively connected to said electrical timer; and i. control circuit means scanned by said timer for actuating said loading valves and applying the brake in response to a detection of a need for material by said switch means.

Claim 12

A multi-station loader for loading material from a material source comprising: a. a plurality of loading stations; b. means for coupling said pluraliTy of loading stations to said material source; c. means for providing pneumatic drive, said means having intake and exhaust ports; d. valve means having a first port coupled to the intake of said pneumatic drive providing means, a second port coupled to the exhaust of said pneumatic drive providing means, a third port coupled to said plurality of loading stations, and a fourth port, said valve means further including rotor means rotatable to a first position coupling the first port to the third port and the second port to the fourth port for directing said pneumatic drive and loading said loading stations and rotatable to a second position coupling the first port to the fourth port and the second port to the third port for reversing the flow of said pneumatic drive within said loading station and cleaning the station; e. a loading valve for each of said plurality of loading stations, each of said valves having an input coupled to said source of material and an output coupled to its respective station; f. switch means for detecting a need for material at each of said plurality of stations; g. an electrical timer; h. a magnetic brake operatively connected to said electrical timer; and i. control circuit means scanned by said timer for actuating said loading valves and applying the brake in response to a detection of a need for material by said switch means.

Claim 13

A multi-station loader for loading material from a material source comprising: a. a plurality of loading stations; b. means for coupling said plurality of loading stations to said material source; c. means for providing pneumatic drive and drawing said material from said source to one of said plurality of loading stations; d. filter means at said one loading station for preventing said material from entering said means for providing pneumatic drive; e. a loading valve for each of said plurality of loading stations, each of said loading valves having an input coupled to said source of material and an output coupled to its respective station; f. switch means for detecting a need for material at each of said plurality of stations; g. an electrical timer; h. a magnetic brake operatively connected to said electrical timer; and i. control circuit means scanned by said timer for actuating said loading valves and applying the brake in response to a detection of a need for material by said switch means.

Claim 14

A multi-station loader for loading material from a material source comprising: a. a plurality of loading stations; b. means for coupling said plurality of loading stations to said material source; c. means for providing pneumatic drive and drawing said material from said source to one of said plurality of loading stations; d. filter means at said one loading station for preventing said material from entering said means for providing pneumatic drive; e. a loading valve for each of said plurality of loading stations, each of said loading valves having an input coupled to said source of material and an output coupled to its respective station; f. switch means for detecting a need for material at each of said plurality of stations; g. an electrical timer; h. a magnetic brake operatively connected to said electrical timer; and i. control circuit means scanned by said timer for actuating said loading valves and applying the brake in response to a detection of a need for material by said switch means.