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A product distribution system includes a product on demand pick-up assembly including a hopper. The hopper is configured such that an air stream flowing into the pick-up assembly entrains product therein and conveys product downstream through a plurality of conduits. The product distribution system

A product distribution system includes a product on demand pick-up assembly including a hopper. The hopper is configured such that an air stream flowing into the pick-up assembly entrains product therein and conveys product downstream through a plurality of conduits. The product distribution system further includes a container for storing product prior to delivery of product to the pick-up assembly and a meter and conveyor assembly configured to move product from the container to the pick-up assembly hopper such that an amount of product greater than a predetermined quantity is maintained in the pick-up assembly hopper during operation of the system.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A product distribution system comprising: a product on demand pick-up assembly including a hopper, the hopper configured such that an air stream flowing into the product on demand pick-up assembly entrains product therein and conveys product downstream through a plurality of conduits, the product

1. A product distribution system comprising: a product on demand pick-up assembly including a hopper, the hopper configured such that an air stream flowing into the product on demand pick-up assembly entrains product therein and conveys product downstream through a plurality of conduits, the product on demand pick-up assembly further including a mini-hopper positioned downstream of the hopper and configured to receive a portion of the product;a singulating meter in communication with the mini-hopper via a mini-hopper outlet;a container for storing of product prior to delivery of product to the pick-up assembly; anda meter and conveyor assembly configured to move product from the container to the pick-up assembly hopper such that an amount of product greater than a predetermined quantity is maintained in the pick-up assembly hopper during operation of the system. 2. The product distribution system of claim 1 wherein the pick-up assembly hopper has at least one fill opening for receiving product other than product from said container. 3. The product distribution system of claim 1 wherein the meter and conveyor assembly includes a mechanical conveyer system having an inlet at a lower end of the container and an outlet at an upper end of the hopper. 4. The product distribution system of claim 3 wherein the mechanical conveyer system includes an auger within an auger tube, the auger tube having an inlet at a lower end of the container and an outlet at an upper end of the hopper wherein the rotational speed of the auger functions to meter product flow from the container to the hopper. 5. The product distribution system of claim 1 wherein the meter and conveyor assembly includes a pneumatic system including a fan, a conduit for air from the fan to the hopper, a meter mechanism to discharge product from the container into the conduit at a controlled rate and a separator to separate product from the air. 6. The product distribution system of claim 5 wherein air for entraining product in the pick-up assembly is at least in part supplied from the conduit delivering product to the pick-up assembly hopper. 7. The product distribution system of claim 1 wherein the pick-up assembly has at least one air inlet and a plurality of air and entrained product outlets. 8. The product distribution system of claim 1 wherein the pick-up assembly has a plurality of air inlets and an equal plurality of air and entrained product outlets. 9. The product distribution system of claim 1 wherein the pick-up assembly includes a nozzle assembly having an upstream sidewall, a downstream sidewall, a bottom wall and open upper end, the upstream sidewall having a plurality of air inlets and the downstream sidewall having a plurality of air and entrained product outlets with an outlet opposite each inlet whereby air flowing through each inlet passes over the bottom wall to pick-up product and then carries the entrained product through a respective air and entrained product outlet. 10. The product distribution system of claim 9 wherein the pick-up assembly includes a plurality of said nozzle assemblies vertically stacked relative to one another and horizontally offset so that each open upper end is exposed to receive product. 11. The product distribution system of claim 1 wherein the pick-up assembly includes a plurality of nozzles each defining an inlet for air, an outlet for air and entrained product and an entrainment zone between the inlet and outlet where product in the entrainment zone is entrained in an air stream passing from the inlet to the outlet. 12. The product distribution system of claim 11 wherein each inlet is coupled to an air supply tube. 13. The product distribution system of claim 11 wherein each inlet is open to an air plenum. 14. The product distribution system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of nozzles are arranged in a horizontal array. 15. A product distribution system comprising: a product on demand pick-up assembly including a hopper having a level sensor therein, the hopper configured such that an air stream flowing into the product on demand pick-up assembly entrains product therein and conveys product downstream through a plurality of conduits;a container for storing of product prior to delivery of product to the pick-up assembly; anda meter and conveyor assembly configured to move product from the container to the pick-up assembly hopper such that an amount of product greater than a predetermined quantity is maintained in the pick-up assembly hopper during operation of the system. 16. A product distribution system comprising: a product on demand pick-up assembly including a hopper, the hopper configured such that an air stream flowing into the product on demand pick-up assembly entrains product therein and conveys product downstream through a plurality of conduits;a container for storing of product prior to delivery of product to the pick-up assembly; anda meter and conveyor assembly configured to move product from the container to the pick-up assembly hopper such that an amount of product greater than a predetermined quantity is maintained in the pick-up assembly hopper during operation of the system,wherein the pick-up assembly includes a plurality of nozzles each defining an inlet for air, an outlet for air and entrained product and an entrainment zone between the inlet and outlet where product in the entrainment zone is entrained in an air stream passing from the inlet to the outlet, andwherein the plurality of nozzles are arranged in both horizontal and vertical arrays. 17. A product on demand nozzle assembly comprising: an array of vertically spaced nozzles, each nozzle having an air inlet, an air and entrained product outlet and an entrainment zone there between which is open from above to receive product therein to be distributed. 18. The product on demand nozzle assembly of claim 17 wherein each air inlet is open to an air plenum to receive air flow therefrom. 19. A distribution system comprising: a product on demand pick-up assembly including a hopper, the hopper configured such that an air stream flowing into the product on demand pick-up assembly entrains product therein and conveys product downstream through a conduit, the product on demand pick-up assembly further including a mini-hopper positioned downstream of the hopper and configured to receive a portion of the product;a sinqulating meter in communication with the mini-hopper via a mini-hopper outlet; anda pneumatic distribution tower located downstream of the conduit, the pneumatic distribution tower including an inlet extending upwards to a plurality of radially spaced outlets. 20. The distribution system of claim 19, wherein the pneumatic distribution tower defines a vertical axis and wherein each radially spaced outlet extends upwardly between 0 and 15 degrees from the vertical axis.