APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING POWDER MATERIAL

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically and accurately weighing powder material comprises powder containers (8) containing powder materials to be weighed, powder cups (1) for receiving powder material from the powder containers and means (15) for automatically feeding the powder material from one of the powder container to one of the weighing cups through a feeder. To enable different powders to be fed, each powder container (8) is integrally provided with the feeder (22) so that one powder material fed into the weighing cup through the feeder is prevented from contaminating with other powder material and therefore the powder material can be accurately weighed.

Description: The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically weighing a number of different kind of powder materials in accordance with a desired mixing ratio. Recently there has occurred a necessity for automatically and accurately weighing powder in the order of milli-gram for the purpose of production of a new mixture by mixing inorganic materials such as ceramics, cement or the other. Hitherto, such an apparatus for accurately weighing powder material comprising a vibrating feeder provided at an outlet of a hopper for automatically feeding a powder material into a weighing cup mounted on an electronic balance is known. Such a known weighing apparatus is however adapted for weighing only one kind of powder material. Accordingly, in case of weighing other kind of powder material, it is necessary that the powder hopper is interchanged with other powder hopper and the vibrating feeder is also interchanged or washed so as not to be mixed or contaminated by the powder material which has been previously weighed. Such an operation requires a lot of labor and time loss. Furthermore, there are problems such that it is difficult to prevent perfectly the previously weighed powder material from mixing into the next weighing powder material and the accuracy of weighing is not satisfied. Therefore, the known apparatus can not be used for weighing a powder material used for such as a paint or a medicine which can not permit to be mixed or contaminated with other powder material. GB-A-2 151 800 discloses apparatus for weighing out bulk materials into bags comprising a plurality of containers, each associated with a closing element and a loosening mechanism and means to weigh the containers. It is the object of the invention to provide an apparatus for weighing many powder materials with high accuracy and automatically. According to the present invention, there is provided a weighing apparatus as set out in claim 1. A suitable embodiment of the feeder in accordance with the invention has a projection downwardly extended from the front end of the feeder. This has the advantage that the projection can prevent the powder material from electrostatically adhering to the underside of the feeder due to static electricity caused by vibration and therefore the accuracy of weighing is improved. Another favorable embodiment of the powder container has a blade extending from the cap into the interior of the container body for preventing a lump of powder from occurring in the container. Preferably, the powder container may has a screen arranged in the container body for preventing a large particle from discharging out the container. A practical embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention further comprises one or more weighing cup trays for holding the weighing cups, means for transferring one weighing cup between the weighing cup trays and the powder weighing means, one or more powder container trays for holding the powder containers and means for transferring a predetermined powder container between the powder container trays and the powder feeding means. Thus the powder container containing one kind of powder material can be automatically interchanged with the other powder container containing another kind of powder material so that different kind of powder materials can be automatically and accurately weighed. Some embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the weighing apparatus in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows schematically and partly in sectional view an embodiment of the powder feeding and weighing system; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the container with a feeder; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing another embodiment of the container with a feeder; Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the front end portion of the feeder shown in Fig. 5; Figs. 7 and 8 are views similar to Fig. 6 showing another embodiments of the feeder; Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional views of another embodiments of the container; Fig. 11 is a front view of a baffle plate shown in Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the feeder; and Figs. 13 and 14 are views similar to the Fig. 3 showing another embodiments of the feeding device. In the embodiment showing in Figs. 1 and 2, a plurality of weighing cups 1 are prepared and retained in each of weighing cup trays 2-1 and 2-2. The weighing cup trays 2-1 and 2-2 can be positioned at a cup transporting position as shown in the position of the tray 2 by means of a tray slide mechanism. The weighing cup 1 in the weighing cup trays 2-1 or 2-2 at the cup transporting position is transported to an electronic balance 5 of the weighing device by means of a weighing cup transfer device 4 in sequence. The weighing cup transfer device 4 is mainly consisted of a grasping mechanism 6 adapted for clamping the weighing cup 1 and a cup elevating and transporting mechanism 7 adapted for mounting the weighing cup 1 on the electronic balance 5 from the weighing cup tray. The electronic balance 5 can be selected in accordance with the desired accuracy from the conventional electronic balances and in the embodiment, use is made of an electronic balance having the maximum weighing value of 200 grams and a reading accuracy of 0.1 milli gram. A powder feeding mechanism 11 is mainly consisted of a powder container 8, means 9 for feeding powder and a container transfer device 10. The powder feeding means 9 has a vibrator unit 15 and is arranged such that a desired weight of powder is fed from the container 8 into the weighing cup 1 by intermittently feeding the powder from the container 8 into the weighing cup 1 and adjusting strength of vibration of the vibrator unit 15 of the feeding means under controlling by a controller 18 receiving an output signal from the electronic balance 5 weighing the weight of the powder fed in the weighing cup to detect the amount of the fed powder as shown in Fig. 3. The powder container 8 comprises a container body 21 which may be formed by a conventional glass weighing bottle and a cap 23 which is secured to the container body 21 and has a feeder 22 in the form of a tapered trough as shown in Fig. 3. The feeder 22 is adapted to feed out the powder in the container body 21 through an outlet 24 formed in the cap 23. The dimension of the outlet 24 may be selected in accordance with the powder to be weighed. The weighing time can be shortened by providing a large outlet, while the accuracy of weighing can be improved by providing a small outlet. The powder container is removably connected to the top of the vibrator unit 15 by a connector portion 25 provided on the bottom of the cap 24. The powder containers 8 are filled with different powder materials, respectively. Ten containers are retained in each of the powder container trays 12-1 and 12-2. Each of the container trays 12-1 and 12-2 is transported to the position of the powder container transfer device 10 by means of the powder container tray slide mechanism 13 and then displaced in the direction perpendicular to the transfer direction of the transfer device. After the container 8 containing powder to be weighed has reached to the position of the container transfer device 10 by means of the container tray slide mechanism 13, the container 8 is transported on the vibrator unit 15 consisted of a powder feeding electromagnetic feeder and is connected to the vibrator unit 15 by means of a container clamping mechanism 14 of the powder feeding means 9 which is tilted to a position shown by a solid line in Fig. 2. After weighing, the container clamping mechanism 14 is released to disconnect the container 8 from the vibrator unit 15. The powder container transfer device 10 is then positioned to the location in the powder container tray 12-1 or 12-2 to which location the powder container is to be returned by means of the tray slide mechanism 13 and is driven to return the powder container 8 to the location. After the powder feeding means 9 has locked the powder container 8 containing powder to be weighed by means of the clamping mechanism 14, the powder is fed from the container 8 into the weighing cup 1 on the electronic balance 5 by vibration of the vibrator unit 15 until the target weight has been reached. The vibration of the vibrator unit 15 may be maintained at a constant strength until the weight of the powder being fed into the container reaches near the target weight, but the weight of powder fed into the weighing cup is intermittently measured in a constant interval. After the weight of powder has reached near the target weight, preferably the feed of the powder is controlled by adjusting an electric voltage applied to the vibrator unit so as to ensure the target weight. In the present embodiment, the powder feeding mechanism 11 is provided with powder hoppers 16-1, 16-2 and electromagnetic feeder units 17-1, 17-2 which are displaceable so as to add an additive to the powder in the weighing cup 1 from the hopper. A powder to be fed in large amount may be preferably fed from such a hopper. The weighing cup 1 containing the weighed powder or powders is returned from the position on the electronic balance 5 to the location in the weighing cup tray 2-1 or 2-2 by means of the weighing cup transfer device 4 in the reverse of the manner mentioned above. All the operation of the apparatus may be controlled by the controller 18. The controller 18 comprises a conventional computer. The powder container may be modified in accordance with the nature of the powder to be weighed in order to improve the weighing accuracy. Fig. 4 shows a modification of the powder container 8. This container has a blade 25 for breaking a lump of powder grown by the vibration in order to ensure the more accurate weighing of powder. Figs. 5 and 6 show a modification of the powder container 8 having a modified feeder 22 which is preferably used for accurately weighing powders which generate a static electricity by vibration. Such a feeder 22 is in the form of a tapered trough having a V shape section and is provided with a projection 27 downwardly extended from the front end 22a thereof and thereby the projection 27 prevents the charged powder from adhering on and along the under surface 22b over the front end 22a of the feeder 22 to finally drop on the balance 5. The feeder 22 may be provided with a protect cover 28 as shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 8 shows another embodiment of the feeder 22 provided with a shutter 29. Figs. 9∼12 show modifications of the powder container 8 which are preferably used for powders having a tendency of aggregating powder to form lumps of powder in the container. In Fig. 9, a screen 30 is arranged within the container body 21 to prevent a lump of powder 31 or a large particle 32 from feeding out the container 8. In Fig. 10, a baffle plate 33 having spokes 34 radially extending from the central portion thereof as shown in Fig. 11 is arranged within the container body 21 to prevent a large particle 32 from feeding out the container 8. Fig. 12 is a further modified embodiment of the powder container 8. In this embodiment, an agitator 35 having a plurality of agitating blades 36 radially extended from a rotary shaft 37 is arranged within the container 8 by rotatively supporting the rotary shaft 37 in a bearing on the cap 23 and is driven by means of miniature electric motor 38 so as to agitate the powder 31 in the container 8. Fig. 13 shows another embodiment of the feeding means comprising a feed screw 39 extended through the container body 21 and drivably connected to an electric motor 40. Fig. 14 is a further embodiment of the feeding means. In this embodiment, the container 8 is supported on a rotary drum 41 which is rotatively supported on a frame 42 in an inclined position and is rotatively driven by means of an electric motor 43. In operation of the above mentioned apparatus, firstly empty weighing cups are set in the weighing cup tray 2-1 and 2-2. While, powder containers 8 which are filled with different powder materials, respectively, are set at the predetermined positions in the powder container trays 12-1 and 12-2 and the position and the kind of the powder are input into the controller together with the weighing sequence. Then, the weighing cup transfer device 4 is driven to transport the weighing cup 1 in the weighing cup tray 2-1 or 2-2 to the electronic balance 5. The powder container 8 is mounted on the top of the tilted powder feeding means 9 by means of the powder container transfer device 10. After the powder feeding means has returned to the initial horizontal position, the vibrator unit 15 is started to vibrate the powder container, thereby the powder is fed into the weighing cup 1 from the powder container 8. If necessary, the additive powders in the hoppers 16-1 and 16-2 are add to the powder in the weighing cup 1. The weighing cup 1 is then returned to the predetermined position in the weighing cup tray 2-1 or 2-2 to complete the weighing operation for one kind of powder. Example 1 Different powders were weighed to the target weight of 3 g by using the automatic weighing apparatus according to the present invention. The vibrator unit was strongly vibrated until the weight of the powder fed in the weighing cup reaches to 2,950 milli-gram and then the vibration was gradually reduced. The result of the weighing is shown in the following Table 1 together with the types of powder containers used in the above tests. In the Table 1, the large feeder has the outlet of 6 mm and the small feeder has the outlet of 3 mm. Powder Container type Actual weighed weight (g) feeder blade first run second run Alumina large no 3.0009 2.9991 Chromium oxide fine powder large have 3.0010 3.0056 Silicon nitride fine powder large have 2.9984 2.9999 Clay large, small no 3.0053 2.9982 Zirconia large, small no 2.9994 2.9989 Feldspar large no 2.9980 3.0031 Glass large no 2.9976 3.0009 Pottary stone large no 2.9977 3.0004 Glaze large no 2.9982 2.9989 Talc large no 3.0006 3.0012 Example 2 Different powders as listed in the following Table 2 were prepared in a particle size smaller than 150 µm and dried by heating at 105°C in more than two hours. The treated powders were weighed by using the powder container 8 shown in Fig. 9 and the feeding means shown in Fig. 3. The result of the weighing is shown in the Table 2. Furthermore, powder materials of carbon and lithium tetraborate were repeatedly weighed in the similar condition and the result of this weighing is shown in the following Table 3. Powder Target weight (g) Actual weight (g) Error (g) Pottery stone 6.000 5.9998 -0.0002 Pyrophyllite 6.000 6.0000 0 Silica sand 6.000 6.0002 +0.0002 Feldspar 6.000 6.0000 0 Talc 10.000 10.0004 +0.0004 Clay 6.000 5.9997 -0.0003 Mixture 2.000 2.0000 0 Glaze 2.000 2.0003 +0.0003 Zirconia 8.000 7.9999 -0.0001 Cement 8.000 8.0001 +0.0001 Alumina 5.000 5.0000 0 Zircon sand 8.000 7.9997 -0.0003 Iron oxide 6.000 6.0002 +0.0002 Pigment 30.000 30.0008 +0.0008 Kaolin 10.000 10.0004 +0.0004 It is understood from the result shown in Tables, the powders can be accurately weighed by use of the automatic weighing apparatus according to the present invention. Obviously the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. For example, it is possible to use a plurality of powder containers for containing same powder for the purpose of weighing a large amount of the same powder. The powder container is also not limited to the conventional glass weighing bottle and the number of the weighing cups, the powder containers and the trays are not limited to the embodiments shown.

Claims: An apparatus for automatically weighing materials comprising a plurality fo containers (8) for containing the respective materials to be weighed, each container having a feeder (22) integrally formed therewith, a plurality of receivers (1) for directly receiving the materials from the containers (8) through the respective feeders (22) thereof, and means (5) for weighing the material in the receivers (1) characterized in that the apparatus is for weighing powders and said containers (8) are for containing respective powder materials, in that said receivers (1) are weighing cups, in that adjustable vibration means (15) are provided for feeding the powder material to the weighing cup from the respective powder container and in that there is a controller (18) for controlling the feed of the powder material by comparing the weighed weight of the powder material with a predetermined target weight and controlling the vibration of the vibration means accordingly, in that each said powder container comprises a container body (21) and a cap (23) secured to the container body and having an outlet (24), and in that said feeder (22) is in the form of a V-shaped trough and is integrally formed with the cap (23) so as to communicate with the interior of the container body through the outlet. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said feeder (22) has a projection (27) downwardly extended from the front end of the feeder. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein each said powder container (8) has a blade (25) extending from the cap into the interior of the container body for breaking a lump of powder. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each said powder container has a screen (30) arranged in the container body for preventing a large particle from discharging from the container. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein each said powder container has an agitator (35) rotated within the container body for crushing a lump of powder. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said weighing means is an electronic balance. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising one or more weighing cup trays (2-1, 2-2) for holding the weighing cups (1), means (4) for transferring one weighing cup between the weighing cup trays and the powder weighing means (5), one or more powder container trays (12-1, 12-2) for holding the powder containers and means (10) for transferring a predetermined powder container between the powder container trays and the powder feeding means. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising one or more hoppers (16-1, 16-2) and vibrator feeders (17-1, 17-2) connected to the hoppers, respectively for feeding additive powder to the weighing cup on the powder weighing means.

Inventors: KOSEGAWA, YOSHIMOTO, NARUKAWA, AKIRA
Applicants: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: G01G19
IPC codes: G01G15, G01G19, G01G13