GB606867A - Improvements in or relating to the filling of granular materials into containers - Google Patents

Abstract

606,867. Filling-machines. HARRIS, E. Jan. 21, 1946, No. 2050. [Class 94(i)] A method of charging granular materials into containers consists in causing a freely flowing stream of material to impinge on a baffle so as to expand in cross-section, and then to fall through successive scattering means, thereby being spread uniformly over and passing uniformly through the scattering means before falling into the container. Material is contained in a hopper having a false bottom of wire mesh 6 and fixed to the top plate 11 of a column structure 1 adjustable in height by rods 2 and having means 4 to locate a container. The material falls through a nozzle on to a conical baffle 14 mounted on an annulus 12 supported by, and adjustable in height by means of, screw-threaded rods 15 passing through apertures in the plate 11 and secured to an adjusting collar 16 surrounding the funnel of the hopper. The baffle is laterally adjustable by turning screws passing through the collar 16 and abutting against a member 9 which is secured to the funnel, nozzle, and plate 11. The first scattering means consists of a diaphragm 23 adjustable in height by screwed rods 24. Further diaphragms 27, 28 are provided, and inspection apertures 29, 30. A concave or convex surface of the material in the container'may be obtained by raising or lowering the baffle 14. The baffle may be adjusted vertically and laterally so that the zone of impingement of the stream on the scattering means, which is an annular zone, is concentric with the axis thereof and midway between the centre and periphery of the first diaphragm, which gives the most uniform distribution. The cross-section of the column structure and of the scattering means should be similar to that of the containers', The diaphragms may be of gauze which may comprise wires located in a common plane, or in slightly separated parallel planes, the wires in each pair of parallel planes being mutually at right angles. According to the Provisional Specification four wire screens are used, the mesh in the odd gauzes being at 45 degrees to that in the even gauzes. In a modification, Fig. 3 (not shown), the diaphragms 27, 28 are mounted as a unit on the structure 1 so as to be readily removable therefrom, while the baffle 14 is secured to the upper surface of the diaphragm 23, and is laterally adjustable by means of screws which displace a flanged cover-plate carrying the diaphragm; the plate 11 is held by fixing bolts mounted in brackets on the wall of the structure 1.