Patent ID: 6688493
Filing Date: 2004-02-10
Classification: B29B,B29C,G01G

Abstract:
A hopper for intermediate storage of material in a system for feeding the material to a manufacturing machine, said hopper comprising:a lower part provided with an outlet; an upper part provided with a fill opening and an inclined wall, wherein said inclined wall has a portion that is located above said outlet, and is delimited by a vertical projection of said outlet, and the entire said fill opening is located above said inclined wall portion, and is horizontally offset from said inclined wall portion; and control means coupled to said hopper for controlling the delivery of material to said hopper to maintain said hopper filled with material to the level at or above said portion of said inclined wall, thereby causing said hopper to remain filled with material to a level at or above said inclined wall portion as material is being dispensed via said outlet.