Patent ID: 6059641
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: B24C,B65G,Y02P

Abstract:
A fine particle feeder comprising:an upper chamber for storing fine particles;a plurality of intermediate chambers arranged below the upper chamber in the horizontal direction;a lower chamber arranged below the intermediate chambers, having a discharge port at the bottom thereof;an upper communicating port for communicating the upper chamber with each intermediate chamber;a lower communicating port for communicating each intermediate chamber with the lower chamber;a filling valve arranged in each upper communicating port;a feed valve arranged in each lower communicating port;an upper pressure equalizer pipe for communicating the upper chamber with each intermediate chamber, the pipe being different from the upper communicating ports;a lower pressure equalizer pipe for communicating each intermediate chamber with the lower chamber, the pipe being different from the lower communicating ports;an upper pressure control valve arranged in each upper pressure equalizer pipe, closed, usually;a lower pressure control valve arranged in each lower pressure equalizer pipe, closed usually;means for opening a feed valve of the intermediate chamber, in which fine particles are accommodated, and closing a filling valve of the intermediate chamber so that the fine particles are fed from the intermediate chamber into the lower chamber when the fine particles must be fed from the intermediate chamber into the lower chamber, and for closing a feed valve of the remaining empty intermediate chamber and opening a filling valve in the intermediate chamber so that the fine particles are filled from the upper chamber into the intermediate chamber; andmeans, when the fine particles are moved between the upper and the intermediate chambers or the intermediate and the lower chambers, for temporarily opening a pressure control valve in the pressure equalizing pipe arranged between these two chambers so that pressures in these two chambers are made almost equal,wherein the fine particles are successively fed from the upper chamber to the intermediate chambers and the lower chamber, in turn, so as to continuously discharge the fine particles from the discharge port of the lower chamber.