US5148943A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for metering and blending different material ingredients
Assignee: HYDRECLAIM Corp A CORPORATION OF MI
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Filing: 1991-06-17
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Granted: 1992-09-22
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Expires: 2011-06-17
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of individual plastic material ingredients are metered from respective individual material hoppers at controllable individual discharge rates, blended, and delivered to a common hopper. The blend of plastic material ingredients in the common hopper is discharged to an extruder or other material processing machine. The material processing rate of the processing machine is determined based on the sum of the discharge rates of the individual ingredients to the common hopper plus or minus the discharge rate of the blend from the common hopper to the processing machine. The discharge rates of the individual material ingredients from the individual hoppers to the common hopper is controlled as needed to maintain a preset recipe of the blend at the determined material processing rate of the processing machine.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard W. Moller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 03:12
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01F; B01F35/00; B01F35/71; B01F35/717; B01F35/71775; B01F35/712; B01F35/75; B01F35/754; B01F35/7547; B01F35/80; B01F35/83; B01F35/832; B29; B29B; B29B7/00; B29B7/30; B29B7/58; B29B7/60; B29B7/603; B29B7/72; B29B7/728; B29B7/74; B29B7/78; B29C; B29C31/00; B29C31/02; B29C48/00; B29C48/25; B29C48/269; B29C48/2692; B29C48/285; G; G01; G01G; G01G19/00; G01G19/22; G01G19/34; G01G19/343; G01G19/38; G01G19/382; B01F23/00; B01F23/60; B01F35/20; B29C31/04; B29C31/06; B29C31/10; B29C48/03; B29C48/286; B29C48/288
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of metering different material ingredients for discharge to a material processing machine, comprising: delivering to a common hopper a plurality of individual material ingredients at controllable individual material discharge rates, discharging material from said common hopper to said processing machine at a discharge rate, determining loss of weight of material in said hopper due to discharge of material therefrom, determining the material processing rate of the processing machine from the sum of the material discharge rates of the ingredients to the common hopper and the discharge rate of the material from the common hopper to the processing machine, and controlling the material discharge rates of the ingredients to the common hopper in response to said determined material processing rate as needed to maintain a preset recipe of said blended ingredients at said determined material processing rate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of metering different material ingredients for discharge to a material processing machine, comprising: delivering to a common hopper a plurality of individual material ingredients at controllable individual material discharge rates, discharging material from said common hopper to said processing machine at a discharge rate, determining loss of weight of material in said hopper due to discharge of material therefrom, determining the material processing rate of the processing machine from the sum of the material discharge rates of the ingredients to the common hopper and the discharge rate of the material from the common hopper to the processing machine, and controlling the material discharge rates of the ingredients to the common hopper in response to said determined material processing rate as needed to maintain a preset recipe of said blended ingredients at said determined material processing rate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 including adjusting the material discharge rates of the ingredients to maintain a substantially constant weight thereof in the common hopper at said material processing rate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 2 including adjusting the material discharge rates of the ingredients to stabilize the weight thereof in the common hopper at the center of a preset narrow change of weight range at said material processing rate.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of metering and blending different plastic material ingredients for discharge to an extrusion machine, comprising: metering to a common hopper a plurality of individual plastic material ingredients at controllable individual material discharge rates, blending the ingredients discharged from the individual material hoppers to form a blend in the common hopper, discharging the blended materials from said common hopper to said extrusion machine at a discharge rate, determining loss of weight of the blended materials in said common hopper due to discharge of the blended materials to the extrusion machine, determining the extrusion rate of the extrusion machine from the sum of the material discharge rates of the ingredients to the common hopper and the discharge rate of the blended materials from the common hopper to the extrusion machine, and controlling the material discharge rates of the ingredients to the common hopper in response to said determined extrusion rate as needed to maintain a preset recipe of the blended ingredients at said determined extrusion rate.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of metering and blending different plastic material ingredients for discharge to an extrusion machine, comprising: metering to a common hopper a plurality of individual plastic material ingredients at controllable individual material discharge rates, blending the ingredients discharged from the individual material hoppers to form a blend in the common hopper, discharging the blended materials from said common hopper to said extrusion machine at a discharge rate, determining loss of weight of the blended materials in said common hopper due to discharge of the blended materials to the extrusion machine, determining the extrusion rate of the extrusion machine from the sum of the material discharge rates of the ingredients to the common hopper and the discharge rate of the blended materials from the common hopper to the extrusion machine, and controlling the material discharge rates of the ingredients to the common hopper in response to said determined extrusion rate as needed to maintain a preset recipe of the blended ingredients at said determined extrusion rate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 4 including adjusting the material discharge rates of the ingredients to maintain a substantially constant weight of the blended materials in the common hopper at said extrusion rate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 5 including adjusting the material discharge rates of the ingredients to stabilize the weight of the blend in the common hopper at a center point of a preset narrow weight change range at said extrusion rate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
254 words
Apparatus for metering different material ingredients for discharge to a material processing machine, comprising: a plurality of metering devices for providing a controlled discharge rate of individual material ingredients, each of said metering devices comprising an individual material hopper for containing the material ingredient to be metered, first weighing means operably associated with each individual material hopper for detecting loss in weight of the material ingredient therein, a driven discharge device operably associated with each material hopper for discharging the material ingredient therefrom, and computer control means coupled to the weighing device for determining a material discharge rate and operably associated with the driven discharge device of each hopper for controlling the material discharge rate thereof, a common hopper for receiving the ingredients discharged by the metering devices, second weighing means operably associated with the common hopper for detecting a change in weight of the ingredients therein during discharge from the common hopper to the material processing machine, and a master computer control unit coupled to said individual computer control devices and to said second weighing means, said master computer control device being operative to determine the material processing rate of said machine based on the sum of said material discharge rates from the metering devices to the common hopper plus or minus the discharge rate of the ingredients from the common hopper to the processing machine and to control the material discharge rates of the metering devices as needed to maintain a preset recipe of said ingredients at said determined material processing rate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
254 words
Apparatus for metering different material ingredients for discharge to a material processing machine, comprising: a plurality of metering devices for providing a controlled discharge rate of individual material ingredients, each of said metering devices comprising an individual material hopper for containing the material ingredient to be metered, first weighing means operably associated with each individual material hopper for detecting loss in weight of the material ingredient therein, a driven discharge device operably associated with each material hopper for discharging the material ingredient therefrom, and computer control means coupled to the weighing device for determining a material discharge rate and operably associated with the driven discharge device of each hopper for controlling the material discharge rate thereof, a common hopper for receiving the ingredients discharged by the metering devices, second weighing means operably associated with the common hopper for detecting a change in weight of the ingredients therein during discharge from the common hopper to the material processing machine, and a master computer control unit coupled to said individual computer control devices and to said second weighing means, said master computer control device being operative to determine the material processing rate of said machine based on the sum of said material discharge rates from the metering devices to the common hopper plus or minus the discharge rate of the ingredients from the common hopper to the processing machine and to control the material discharge rates of the metering devices as needed to maintain a preset recipe of said ingredients at said determined material processing rate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first weighing means comprises a load cell supporting a respective material hopper.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the discharge device of each metering device comprises a variable speed motor-driven auger.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the speed of each motor-driven auger is controlled by said master computer control unit via the associated computer control device so as to control the material discharge rate of the metering device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 7 including means for receiving and mixing the ingredients discharged by the metering devices to form a blend received by the common hopper.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the second weighing means comprises a load cell supporting the common hopper.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the master computer control device is operative to control the material discharge rates of the metering devices so as to maintain a substantially constant weight of the ingredients in the common hopper at said material processing rate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
284 words
Apparatus for metering and blending different plastic material ingredients for discharge to an extrusion machine, comprising: a plurality of metering devices for providing a controlled discharge rate of individual plastic material ingredients, each material metering device comprising an individual material hopper for containing the material ingredient to be metered, first weighing means operably associated with each individual material hopper for detecting a loss in weight of the ingredient therein, a motor-driven discharge device operably associated with each material hopper for discharging the ingredient therefrom, and a computer control device coupled to the first weighing means for determining a material discharge rate and operably associated with the motor-driven discharge device of each hopper for controlling the material discharge rate thereof, a cascade chamber for receiving and mixing the ingredients discharged by the metering devices to form a blend, a common hopper for receiving the blend of ingredients from the cascade chamber, second weighing means operably associated with the common hopper for detecting a change in weight of the blend therein during discharge from the common hopper to the extrusion machine, a master computer control unit coupled to said individual computer control devices and to said second weighing means, said master computer control device being operative to determine the extrusion rate of said machine based on the sum of said material discharge rates from the metering devices to the common hopper plus or minus the discharge rate of the blend from the common hopper to the extrusion machine and to control the material discharge rates of the metering devices to the common hopper as needed to maintain a preset recipe and substantially constant weight of said ingredients in the common hopper at said determined extrusion rate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
284 words
Apparatus for metering and blending different plastic material ingredients for discharge to an extrusion machine, comprising: a plurality of metering devices for providing a controlled discharge rate of individual plastic material ingredients, each material metering device comprising an individual material hopper for containing the material ingredient to be metered, first weighing means operably associated with each individual material hopper for detecting a loss in weight of the ingredient therein, a motor-driven discharge device operably associated with each material hopper for discharging the ingredient therefrom, and a computer control device coupled to the first weighing means for determining a material discharge rate and operably associated with the motor-driven discharge device of each hopper for controlling the material discharge rate thereof, a cascade chamber for receiving and mixing the ingredients discharged by the metering devices to form a blend, a common hopper for receiving the blend of ingredients from the cascade chamber, second weighing means operably associated with the common hopper for detecting a change in weight of the blend therein during discharge from the common hopper to the extrusion machine, a master computer control unit coupled to said individual computer control devices and to said second weighing means, said master computer control device being operative to determine the extrusion rate of said machine based on the sum of said material discharge rates from the metering devices to the common hopper plus or minus the discharge rate of the blend from the common hopper to the extrusion machine and to control the material discharge rates of the metering devices to the common hopper as needed to maintain a preset recipe and substantially constant weight of said ingredients in the common hopper at said determined extrusion rate.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-09-22 | 1996-03-23 | 1996-09-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-22 | 2000-03-23 | 2000-09-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-22 | 2004-03-23 | 2004-09-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |