Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – Filling means with receiver or receiver coacting means – Interlocked discharge means – support and/or coupling
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-05
2001-11-06
Douglas, Steven O. (Department: 3751)
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
Filling means with receiver or receiver coacting means
Interlocked discharge means, support and/or coupling
C141S301000, C251S149900, C137S614000, C137S614010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311745
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to the dispensing of powders. More particularly, this invention relates to apparatus and methods for dispensing powders.
2. Description of Related Art
Dispensing systems are used to dispense powders from a container into a receiving vessel. The container is typically attachable to the receiving vessel via a gasket arrangement during the dispensing operation. A dispensing valve controls the discharge of the powder from the container during dispensing operations. In such dispensing systems, if the gasket arrangement does not fit correctly, or if the container and receiving vessel are not perfectly aligned, then the powder tends to leak into the dispensing facility. This leakage of the powder can occur during dispensing, or after dispensing has been completed and the container and receiving vessel have been separated from each other. Depending on its composition, the leaked powder may cause health and safety concerns for persons in the facility. In addition, the leaked powder material can create housekeeping problems and results in material waste.
Furthermore, in such known dispensing systems, even when the gasket arrangement works correctly and leakage of the powder is well contained during the dispensing operation, subsequent leakage still occurs. For example, when the container and receiving vessel are separated from each other, powder that has adhered to the dispensing valve can become entrained in the air or drop onto the floor of the facility, causing the above-mentioned problems.
Another problem encountered in known powder dispensing systems is achieving a controlled flow of the powder from the container to the receiving vessel. Fine powders tend to agglomerate due to interparticle friction and electrostatic interaction of the powder particles. Known dispensing systems have addressed this flow problem by including fluidizing devices. For example, vibrators and flexible inflatable liners have been installed in known dispensing systems to improve the fluidity of the powder, so as to enhance feed control. However, although these fluidizing devices may enhance the flow of the powder, they have at the same time created additional problems. For example, the inflatable liners require venting of the air, which increases the complexity of the dispensing system. Inflatable liners can als be a source of fibers, which can contaminate the powder material. Accordingly, such fluidizing devices have not been completely satisfactory in known dispensing systems.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,646 to Martin et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,607 to Ichikawa et al., the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, disclose apparatus for feeding powders that utilize members formed of porous materials to promote powder flow.
Thus, there is a need for a dispensing system for dispensing powders that can overcome these and other problems of known dispensing systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a dispensing system for dispensing powders that can satisfy the above-described needs.
This invention separately provides a dispensing system that can be used to dispense powders with substantially complete containment of the powders.
This invention separately provides a dispensing system that can dispense powders at a suitably high dispensing rate.
This invention separately provides a dispensing system that has a simplified construction and is easy to operate.
This invention separately provides a dispensing system that is mobile.
This invention separately provides methods of dispensing powders.
Exemplary embodiments of the systems for containing and dispensing powders according to this invention comprise a dispensing container including a chamber having an outlet. A fluidizing system fluidizes the powder in the chamber to enhance the flow of the powder. The dispensing system comprises a valve including a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is attachable to the dispensing container at the outlet, and the second portion is attachable to a receiving container. The valve is operable to dispense the powder from the dispensing container to the receiving container.
Exemplary embodiments of the methods for containing and dispensing toner according to this invention comprise attaching a first portion of a valve attached to a dispensing container, which contains a powder, to a second portion of the valve attached to a receiving container. Gas is introduced into the dispensing container through a porous member to fluidize the powder. A valve is opened to dispense the powder from the chamber to the receiving container through a passage of the valve.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4974646 (1990-12-01), Martin et al.
patent: 5295507 (1994-03-01), Bandy et al.
patent: 5540266 (1996-07-01), Grau et al.
patent: 5690152 (1997-11-01), Koch et al.
patent: 5727607 (1998-03-01), Ichikawa et al.
Martin Kutz & Company, Inc., Dynapore (no date).
Serck Audco Valves, Contained Transfer Coupling (no date).
Kulik Roman S.
Welch Roger D.
Douglas Steven O.
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Xerox Corporation
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