Dispensing – With casing or support – Bracket or suspension supported
Patent
1995-10-16
1998-07-07
Huson, Gregory L.
Dispensing
With casing or support
Bracket or suspension supported
222196, 222504, 141346, 141349, B67D 506
Patent
active
057755442
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to apparatus for discharging flowable material, particularly particulate material which may be in the form of particles, grains, granules, powder, aggregate or the like, and which, when it is fine enough might be entrained in a gas.
Such material often, and usually does, generate dust or finer particles which can be suspended in air and which can fill working space. Moreover, such material is often housed in a hopper, silo or the like, and is discharged periodically therefrom to a container or receptacle such as an intermediate bulk container (I.B.C.) whence it is transported for future processing. For reasons of hygiene, health and environmental considerations it is often necessary that there is no deposit or build up of dust on external surfaces of the hopper and container, both of which usually have a flange or seal, respectively often called an .alpha.-flange and a .beta.-flange at a union of the two vessels during transfer. This is particularly so where the particulate material is radioactive, or a pharmaceutical. Moreover, it is often the case that different materials are transferred, during batching processes from different hoppers to the same container, in which case there must usually be no residual material from a previous batch at the .alpha.-flange or the .beta.-flange, to avoid what could be harmful cross-contamination. Previous attempts at solving these problems have proved cumbersome, complicated mechanically, expensive, labour intensive and in any event do not avoid the problem of cross-contamination as they involve the use of a glove box interposed between the hopper and the container, the interior of the glove box being contaminated with air-borne dust from whatever material has just been passed to the container. An example of a prior art system which goes some way towards solving these problems is EP 0 380 255.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to mitigate these disadvantages.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for discharging flowable material, comprising a hopper for the material having a discharge outlet with a closure and spaced therefrom within the hopper a device for obturating flow of material towards the outlet, and a mechanism which is connectible with the obturating device and is operative to open the closure and obturating device in sequence, the arrangement being such that the discharge outlet closure of the hopper is sealingly cooperable with a closure of a receptacle, characterised in that the mechanism is within the hopper.
Thus using the invention there may be provided a construction which seeks to provide a contamination-free operation. The closure may have a part of complementary internal configuration to an external configuration of part of the receptacle closure, whereby on engagement the parts are in sealing engagement. This is a relatively simple way of avoiding contamination.
The mechanism may be under, in use, the obturating device. This protects it from direct contact with particulate material.
The mechanism may include a suction means such as a vacuum means internally of the closure of the hopper for opening and closing in use the closure of the container. This is a readily operable arrangement.
The hopper closure and suction means may be carried by a transverse beam which is shiftable bodily by actuating means of the mechanism. This provides for positive reciprocation of the suction means. The actuating means may comprise bellows means.
The beam may support via vibration isolators a device for securing the mechanism centrally of the obturating device, particularly an inflatable annular device. The device may be an inflatable ring, which provides a firm central locking, particularly where there is a vibrator means.
The vibrator means may be adapted for cooperation with the obturating device.
The closure of the hopper and at least part of the mechanism may be housed in a collapsible shroud. This ensures that there is no dust contamination of the mechanism.
The closure may comprise a co
REFERENCES:
patent: 4470524 (1984-09-01), Semenenko
patent: 5036894 (1991-08-01), Semenenko
patent: 5351864 (1994-10-01), Semenenko et al.
Huson Gregory L.
Matcon Limited
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