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A material transfer device, in particular for use with blenders associated with a material processing device such as a plastics extruding device. The material transfer device can be used for controlling delivery of measured amounts of particulate material to or from a weigh hopper, or for mixing mat

A material transfer device, in particular for use with blenders associated with a material processing device such as a plastics extruding device. The material transfer device can be used for controlling delivery of measured amounts of particulate material to or from a weigh hopper, or for mixing materials in a mixing chamber of the blender. The material transfer device includes a pipe defining a material delivery path. The pipe has a material inlet and a material outlet. An air inlet manifold encircling the pipe is connected by an air supply line to a pressurized air supply. Air outlets of the manifold direct an air stream towards the outlet of the pipe to draw material through the pipe from a hopper of particulate material, the pipe inlet being located within the hopper. An air inlet valve in the air supply line is connected to a controller which is operable to open and shut the valve for pulsing the gas stream to control the amount of material delivered through the pipe.

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The invention claimed is: 1. A material transfer device, including: a pipe defining a material delivery path, the pipe having a material inlet and a material discharge outlet, means for delivering a gas stream along the material delivery path directed towards the outlet, control means for controlli

The invention claimed is: 1. A material transfer device, including: a pipe defining a material delivery path, the pipe having a material inlet and a material discharge outlet, means for delivering a gas stream along the material delivery path directed towards the outlet, control means for controlling the gas stream for controlling delivery of material through the pipe, said control means being operable for pulsing the gas stream for controlling delivery of material through the pipe in discrete amounts, said control means being operable to deliver a target quantity of material through the pipe in a pulse, means for measuring the actual quantity of material delivered through the pipe by said pulse, said measuring means being connected to the control means, the control means being operable to compare the actual quantity of material delivered by said pulse with the target quantity of material and adjust the next pulse in response to the difference between the measured actual quantity and the target quantity of material to achieve delivery of the target quantity material in the next pulse. 2. The material transfer device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means is a gas inlet valve connected to a controller which is operable to open and shut the valve for desired time periods. 3. The material transfer device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gas control means includes means for regulating the pressure of the gas. 4. The material transfer device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means comprises a pressure regulator mounted upstream of the gas inlet valve. 5. The material transfer device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gas control means includes means for regulating gas flow rate. 6. The material transfer device as claimed in claim 1 including means for delivering an annular gas stream into the pipe. 7. The material transfer device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the means for delivering an annular gas stream into the pipe comprises a gas inlet manifold extending about the pipe having an inlet for connection to a pressurized gas supply and an outlet communicating with the material delivery path. 8. The material transfer device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the outlet includes a number of circumferentially spaced-apart outlet openings extending through the pipe and arranged to direct gas towards the outlet of the pipe. 9. The material transfer device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the outlet of the means for delivering the annular gas stream into the pipe is located intermediate the ends of the pipe for delivering the gas stream into the pipe directed towards the outlet of the pipe. 10. The material transfer device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for delivering a gas stream along the material delivery path has a gas outlet angled relative to the pipe to direct a gas stream into the pipe towards the outlet of the pipe. 11. The material transfer device as claimed in claim 1 in combination with a weighing device with either the inlet or the outlet of the pipe being connected to an outlet or an inlet respectively of the weighing device. 12. A blending apparatus for controlled delivery of blend additives to a material processing device, including: a primary additive feed hopper, at least one secondary additive feed hopper, an additive discharge chute having an outlet for connection to the material processing device, the primary additive feed hopper being mounted above the additive discharge chute for continuous gravity feed of additive material thereto, a secondary feeding means being connected between each secondary feed hopper and the additives discharge chute for delivery of feed additives from the secondary feed hopper to the additives discharge chute, means for sensing the throughput of material in the material processing device, means for sensing the discharge of additives from the feed hoppers, a controller adapted to be connected to the means for sensing the throughput of the material processing device and to the means for sensing the discharge of additives from the feed hoppers, the controller including means for regulating the throughput of material through the material processing device in response to the sensed discharge of material from the feed hoppers, the secondary feeding means comprising a material transfer device including a pipe defining a material delivery path, the pipe having a material inlet and a material discharge outlet, means for delivery of a gas stream along the material delivery path directed towards the outlet to deliver material between the inlet and the outlet, the inlet being connected to the secondary feed hopper and the outlet discharging into the additives discharge chute. 13. A blender, including: a supply hopper, a weigh hopper for weighing a batch of material, a mixer for reception of material from the weigh hopper and being operable to mix said material prior to delivery of said material into a process line, a material transfer device mounted between the supply hopper and the weigh hopper, said material transfer device having a pipe defining a material delivery path, said pipe having a material inlet connected to the supply hopper and a material discharge outlet connected to an inlet of the weigh hopper, means for delivering a gas stream along the material delivery path directed towards the outlet, control means for controlling the gas stream for controlling delivery of material through the pipe, said control means being operable for pulsing the gas stream for controlling delivery of material through the pipe in discrete amounts, said control means being operable to deliver a target quantity of material through the pipe in a pulse, means for measuring the actual quantity of material delivered through the pipe by said pulse, said measuring means being connected to the control means, the control means being operable to compare the actual quantity of material delivered by said pulse with the target quantity of material and adjust the next pulse in response to the difference between the measured actual quantity and the target quantity of material to achieve deliver of the target quantity material in the next pulse. 14. The blender as claimed in claim 13, wherein the control means is operable to deliver a target weight of material through the pipe in a pulse, a load cell on the weigh hopper for measuring the actual weight of material delivered through the pipe by said pulse to the weigh hopper, said load cell being connected to the control means, the control means being operable to compare the actual weight of material delivered by said pulse with the target weight of material and adjust the next pulse in response to the difference between the measured actual weight and the target weight of material to achieve delivery of the target weight of material to the weigh hopper in the next pulse.