Patent ID: 8240908
Filing Date: 2012-08-14
Classification: B01F,F04B,G05D

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for adding a material combination to a container, which container is insertable into and removable from said apparatus, said apparatus comprising: at least one inlet for supplying at least one major material at a velocity; a plurality of inlet tubes for supplying a plurality of minor materials at a velocity; each said inlet for said at least one major material and each said inlet tube for each said minor material having a positive displacement pump associated therewith for supplying said respective major material or minor material, said pumps being driven by an associated motor and being operable independently of each other, each said inlet tube for said minor material terminating in an inlet tube discharge, each said discharge being in communication with a portion of said apparatus defining a confluence region, whereby said at least one major material and minor material can come together in a predetermined ratio within said confluence region; wherein at the confluence region there are: wherein said inlet for supplying said major material comprises a conduit having side walls defining an interior therebetween, wherein said major material flows through said conduit in a direction, and said at least one inlet tube for supplying said minor material has an inlet end outside of said conduit and said tube passes through the side wall of said conduit and has a discharge end inside of said conduit to form a common discharge, and said apparatus comprising a motor control loop for said motor associated with said positive displacement pump, whereby no mix tank, flow control feedback loop or flow control valves are used for maintaining said predetermined ratio, wherein the accuracy of the predetermined ratio is maintained by controlling the energy to the motors associated with the pumps, rather than by the combination of a flow meter and a flow control valve, to match the velocity of the minor materials to the velocity of the major material to within ±5%, thereby promoting better flow and mixing of said minor materials.