초록 ▼

An apparatus and method are provided for filling multi-chamber containers with different loose bulk materials. The apparatus and method may be particularly well-suited to packaging at least one bulk material, which is susceptible to water, chemicals, or other contaminants, with at least one other bu

An apparatus and method are provided for filling multi-chamber containers with different loose bulk materials. The apparatus and method may be particularly well-suited to packaging at least one bulk material, which is susceptible to water, chemicals, or other contaminants, with at least one other bulk material. The apparatus is a machine that includes separate hoppers for handling the separate bulk materials, and directs the separate bulk materials into different chambers of a multi-chamber container, which is then transported away from the machine for storage or use. The machine may include one or more movable hoppers supported on tracks, for moving the bulk materials to the hoppers that direct the bulk materials into different chambers of the multi-chamber container. A controller and data logger may be provided to control the apparatus and record the quantity and/or weight of the contents of each multi-chamber container.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A filling machine for filling multi-chamber containers with two or more different bulk materials, said machine comprising: a frame;first and second container-filling hoppers supported at said frame and configured to direct a first bulk material and a second bulk material, respectively, into a mul

1. A filling machine for filling multi-chamber containers with two or more different bulk materials, said machine comprising: a frame;first and second container-filling hoppers supported at said frame and configured to direct a first bulk material and a second bulk material, respectively, into a multi-chamber container, the second bulk material being different in composition than the first bulk material, wherein said first container-filling hopper is in fluid communication with a corresponding first dispensing portion and said second container-filling hopper is in fluid communication with a corresponding second dispensing portion, said first and second dispensing portions configured to dispense the first and second bulk materials from said first and second container-filling hoppers, respectively;a first supply hopper configured to contain the second bulk material, said first supply hopper having a dispensing portion for selectively dispensing the second bulk material;a first support track for movably supporting said first supply hopper, said first support track having a first end portion spaced laterally away from said second container-filling hopper, and a second end portion positioned near said second container-filling hopper; anda first drive mechanism associated with said first support track and configured to move said first supply hopper between said first and second end portions of said first support track;wherein said first container-filling hopper is configured to dispense the first bulk material into a first chamber of the multi-chamber container via said first dispensing portion and said second container-filling hopper is configured to dispense the second bulk material into a second chamber of the multi-chamber container via said second dispensing portion. 2. The filling machine of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second dispensing portions comprises an actuatable member configured to selectively permit at least one of the first and second bulk materials to be dispensed through said at least one of said first and second dispensing portions. 3. The filling machine of claim 2, wherein said actuatable member comprises a pneumatic slide-gate. 4. The filling machine of claim 2, wherein said actuatable member comprises a measurement device, said measurement device configured to measure the quantity of the first or second bulk materials as the first or second bulk materials are dispensed through said at least one of said first and second dispensing portions. 5. The filling machine of claim 4, further comprising a data recorder for recording the quantity of at least one of the first and second bulk materials that have been dispensed into at least one of the multi-chamber containers. 6. The filling machine of claim 5, wherein said data recorder comprises a printer configured to create a written record of the quantity of the at least one of the first and second bulk materials that have been dispensed into at least one of the multi-chamber containers. 7. The filling machine of claim 1, wherein the first bulk material comprises a cement binder and the second bulk material comprises a mixture of sand and aggregate. 8. The filling machine of claim 1, wherein said first end portion of said first support track is positioned at an elevation below that of said second container-filling hopper. 9. The filling machine of claim 1, further comprising at least one chosen from a screw conveyor and a pneumatic tube configured to convey the first bulk material to said first container-filling hopper using air. 10. The filling machine of claim 9, wherein said filling machine comprises said pneumatic tube, including an inline ventilation module configured to separate the first bulk material in said pneumatic tube from the air, to vent the air, and to direct the first bulk material into the first container-filling hopper. 11. The filling machine of claim 1, further comprising a conveyor for supporting and transporting one or more of the multi-chamber bulk material containers. 12. The filling machine of claim 1, further comprising at least one support arm configured to suspend the multi-chamber container during dispensing of the first and second bulk materials from the first and second container-filling hoppers into the first and second chambers of the multi-chamber container. 13. The filling machine of claim 12, further comprising a weigh scale at said at least one support arm, said weigh scale configured to measure the weight of the multi-chamber containers when said multi-chamber containers are supported at said at least one support arm. 14. The filling machine of claim 1, further comprising a data recorder for recording the quantity of at least one of the bulk materials that have been dispensed into at least one of the multi-chamber containers. 15. The filling machine of claim 14, wherein said data recorder comprises a printer configured to create written record of at least one of (i) the weight of at least one of the multi-chamber containers and (ii) the quantity of at least one of the bulk materials that have been dispensed into at least one of the multi-chamber containers. 16. The filling machine of claim 1, wherein said first drive mechanism comprises a cable winch. 17. The filling machine of claim 1, further comprising an actuatable member at said dispensing portion of said first supply hopper, said actuatable member configured to selectively permit said second bulk material to be dispensed through said dispensing portion when said first supply hopper is positioned at said second end portion of said first support track. 18. The filling machine of claim 17, wherein said actuatable member is operable in response to a pressurized fluid, said filling machine further comprising: a pressurized fluid source;a pressurized fluid hose in fluid communication with said fluid source and said actuatable member;an extendable and retractable hose reel for supporting at least a portion of said pressurized fluid hose; andwherein said hose reel is operable to extend and retract said pressurized fluid hose as said first supply hopper is moved between said first and second end portions of said first support track by said first drive mechanism. 19. The filling machine of claim 1, further comprising: a second supply hopper configured to contain a third bulk material, said second supply hopper having a dispensing portion for selectively dispensing the third bulk material;a second support track for movably supporting said second supply hopper, said second support track having a first end portion spaced laterally away from said third hopper, and a second end portion positioned near said second container-filling hopper; anda second drive mechanism associated with said second support track and configured to move said second supply hopper between said first and second end portions of said second support track. 20. The filling machine of claim 19, wherein the first bulk material comprises a cement binder, the second bulk material comprises sand, and the third bulk material comprises aggregate. 21. The filling machine of claim 1, further comprising a first funnel positioned above said first end portion of said first support track, said first funnel also positioned above said first supply hopper when said first supply hopper is positioned at said first end portion of said first support track, wherein said first funnel is configured to direct the first bulk material from a source into said first supply hopper at said first end portion of said first support track. 22. A filling machine for filling multi-chamber containers with two or more different bulk materials, said machine comprising: a frame;first and second container-filling hoppers supported at said frame and configured to contain a first bulk material and a second bulk material, respectively, the second bulk material being different in composition than the first bulk material, wherein said first container-filling hopper is in fluid communication with a corresponding first dispensing portion and said second container-filling hopper is in fluid communication with a corresponding second dispensing portion, said first and second dispensing portions configured to dispense the first and second bulk materials from said first and second container-filling hoppers, respectively;a first supply hopper configured to contain the second bulk material, said first supply hopper having a dispensing portion for selectively dispensing the second bulk material into said first dispensing portion of said first container-filling hopper;a first support track for movably supporting said first supply hopper, said first support track having a first end portion spaced laterally away from said first container-filling hopper, and a second end portion positioned above said first container-filling hopper;a first drive mechanism associated with said first support track and configured to move said first supply hopper between said first and second end portions of said first support track; andwherein said first container-filling hopper is configured to dispense the first bulk material into a first chamber of a multi-chamber container via said first dispensing portion and said second container-filling hopper is configured to dispense the second bulk material into a second chamber of the multi-chamber container via said second dispensing portion. 23. A method of filling multi-chamber containers with two or more different bulk materials, said method comprising: providing a filling machine having a frame, first and second container-filling hoppers supported at the frame, and a conveyor;filling the first container-filling hopper with a first bulk material and filling the second container-filling hopper with the second bulk material, wherein said filling the second container-filling hopper with a second bulk material comprises: providing a movable hopper coupled to a support track having a first end portion and a second end portion;positioning the first end portion of the support track above the second container-filling hopper;filling the movable hopper with the second bulk material when the movable hopper is positioned at the second end portion of the support track;moving the movable hopper to the first end portion of the support track; anddispensing the second bulk material from the movable hopper into the second container-filling hopper;positioning a multi-chamber container at a filling station of the filling machine;dispensing a predetermined amount of the first bulk material into a first chamber of the multi-chamber container via a first dispensing portion in fluid communication with the first container-filling hopper;dispensing a predetermined amount of the second bulk material into a second chamber of a multi-chamber container via a second dispensing portion in fluid communication with the second container-filling hopper; andtransporting the multi-chamber container away from the filling station with the conveyor. 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising measuring and recording data indicative of the composition of the contents of the multi-chamber container. 25. The method of claim 24, further comprising measuring and recording data indicative of the weight of the multi-chamber container.