Patent ID: 6155709
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: B01F,B29B,B29C

Abstract:
A blending apparatus for controlled delivery of blend additives to a material processing device, comprising a primary additive feed hopper having an additive inlet and an additive outlet, at least one secondary additive feed hopper, each secondary additive feed hopper having an additive inlet and an additive outlet, an additives discharge chute having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being connected to each hopper outlet, the outlet for connection to a material processing device, each hopper having means for delivery of additives from the hopper to the inlet of the discharge chute, means for sensing discharge of additives from each hopper, each sensing means being adapted to be connected to a controller, a controller being operable for regulating simultaneous discharge of additive material from selected hoppers in a preselected ratio to the additives discharge chute, the means for sensing discharge of additives from each feed hopper being a load cell mounted on a support frame, the feed hopper being hung from a cantilevered hopper carrying fork mounted on the load cell, the hopper carrying fork being U-shaped having an inner end attached to the load cell with a pair of spaced-apart outwardly extending hopper support arms, each arm having a groove in an upper surface of the arm, each hopper having a pair of spaced-apart hanging plates mounted at an upper end of the hopper, and each hanging plate having an out-turned flanged upper end for engagement within the groove to suspend the hopper on the arms.