초록 ▼

A dispensing apparatus dispenses a precisely metered quantity of pellets or granular material from a hopper to a vessel. The hopper which holds the pellets or granular material has a conical bottom portion which terminates in a bottom opening that is in constant communication with a conveyor tube wh

A dispensing apparatus dispenses a precisely metered quantity of pellets or granular material from a hopper to a vessel. The hopper which holds the pellets or granular material has a conical bottom portion which terminates in a bottom opening that is in constant communication with a conveyor tube which leads to the vessel. The conveyor tube preferably extends horizontally below the hopper and is in communication with a bottom opening in the hopper. A venturi driven by compressed air is provided in the conveyor tube for creating a vacuum which carries the pellets or granular material from the hopper to the vessel. The pressure of the compressed air entering the venturi is precisely regulated so as to precisely control the amount of pellets or granulated material moved from the hopper to the vessel. Alternatively, a controller can be provided for regulating several conveyor tubes, each to feed a different type of pellet or granular material into the vessel.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A dispensing apparatus for dispensing precisely known quantities of pellets from a hopper to a vessel comprising:a hopper for holding pellets, said hopper having a bottom opening that is in constant communication with a conveyor tube leading to said vessel;said conveyor tube extend

[ We claim:] [1.] A dispensing apparatus for dispensing precisely known quantities of pellets from a hopper to a vessel comprising:a hopper for holding pellets, said hopper having a bottom opening that is in constant communication with a conveyor tube leading to said vessel;said conveyor tube extending horizontally below said hopper with said hopper bottom opening communicating with said conveyor tube, a first end of said conveyor tube extending to said vessel;at least one venturi positioned in said conveyor tube between said bottom opening of said hopper and said vessel, said venturi having an annular chamber into which compressed air is forced, said compressed air entering said conveyor tube so that a vacuum is created in said venturi said venturi having a first passageway directed into said conveyor tube in a direction towards said vessel, said first passageway creating the vacuum in said venturi and a second passageway directed into said conveyor tube in a direction towards said hopper opening, said second passageway aerating the pellets to be drawn into said venturi;said pellets being moved by said vacuum through said venturi and into said conveyor tube by said vacuum; anda pressure regulator to control the pressure of said compressed air entering said venturi so that the amount of said pellets moved from said hopper to said vessel can be precisely regulated.