Aug. 9, 1966
3,265,098
H. D. O’NEAL EI'AL
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING LOOSE AGGREGATE MATERIALS
Filed Jan. 24, 1963
2 Sheets-Sheet 1
INVENTORS.
H?/E’EYD. O/VEAL
BY P055273 WHEEL E2.
’
’
HUU/PIVE
.
Aug. 9, 1966
H. D. O’NEAL ET AL
3,265,098
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING LOOSE AGGREGATE MATERIALS
Filed Jan. 24, 1963
2 Sheets-Sheet 2
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United States Patent Office
3,255?98
Patented August S, 1966
1
sages are provided with electrically or pneumatically
actuated mechanical closures for shutting off or releas
ing the flow of material. Means are also provided for
3 265,098
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGHNG
LOOSE AGGREGATE MATERIALS
Harry D. O’Neal, Seekonk, Mass, and Robert B. Wheeler, O!
Bellaire, Tex., assignors to St. Regis Paper Company,
New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York
Filed Jan. 24, 1963, Ser. No. 253,556
9 Claims. (Cl. 141-5)
venting the packer bin to atmospheric exhaust.
According to one mode of operation, with the packer
bin vented to atmosphere and the compressed air sup
ply shut off, the infeed closure is opened to discharge
the packer from the supply bin ‘while maintaining the
discharge spout closed. The infeed closure and bin
This invention pertains to methods and apparatus for 10 vent are then shut, and with the compressed air sup
dispensing and packaging loose, aggregate materials hav
plied to the ?uidizing pad and disseminator, the spout is
ing a particle size, such as to permit of dispensing by
opened to discharge the material into a bag or other con
?ow of air or other gas under pressure, but nevertheless
tainer a?ixed to the spout. When the bag is ?lled to a
such as to permit of forming an e?ective gas seal under
preselected weight, the spout is closed, the air supply
a hydrostatic head thereof of substantial pressure. Such 15 shut off, and the packer bin again vented to exhaust,
materials are generally characterized by a granular or
and the bin recharged as aforesaid.
pellet-like particle size, and are exempli?ed by such
materials as dry sand, dry sand-cementegravel aggregates,
Now We have discovered in accordance with the pres
ent invention, that for packaging loose aggregate ma
terials of the character ‘and having the properties set
plastic pellets or gravel, seed corn, peas, shelled beans, etc.
The invention pertains more particularly to improve 20 forth above, namely, those which may be dispensed by
ments in so-called “force flow packers,” wherein the ag
compressed air flow but which nevertheless compact to
gregate material is dispensed from a bin through a dis
a suf?cient density under a hydrostatic head of a hun
charge spout thereof and into a packaging container,
dred pounds or so, so as to provide an effective air or
such as a paper bag, by the injection of gas, such as air,
gas seal over a restricted aperture of exposure, that it
under pressure in the bin, and under conditions such 25 is not necessary to effect mechanical closure of the in
that the bin except for the spout outlet, is otherwise
feed duct between the supply and packer bins during
effectively sealed against the outer atmosphere during
discharge of the aggregate material from the latter
the discharge, whereby the material is forcefully dis
charged through the spout by the pressurized air flow
through the discharge spout, provided the following con
either without or with ?uidation of the material.
The invention has as one of its objectives, a simplifi
cation of apparatus and methods heretofore deemed nec
the need for mechanical closure of the infeed passage
ditions are met.
That is to say, 'we have found that
between the storage and packer bins may be eliminated,
if the infeed duct passage is made of suf?ciently small
aperture and of su?icient length, and if concurrently
essary ‘for dispensing and packaging loose aggregate ma
terials of the character aforesaid, whereby apparatus com
therewith the disseminator is so dimensioned or posi
ponents and manipulative operations are eliminated as 35 tioned that its lower end extends down substantially to
compared to practices of the prior art.
the level of the dispensing bin discharge spout.
The invention provides as another of its objectives ap
We
have found that under these conditions the loose aggre
gate material itself forms and maintains an effective air
paratus of the character aforesaid having greatly in
creased operating life without repairs, and reduced down
time for repairs and replacement of parts as compared
to prior such apparatus.
The invention provides as still another of its objec
seal in the infeed duct, while the packer bin is being
discharged. The apparent reason for this is that during
discharge of the packer bin contents into the packaging
container, it is easier for the compressed air injected into
tives, apparatus as aforesaid which is far superior to ex
the packer bin, to flow from the disseminator to the
isting devices for the packaging of abrasive materials or
discharge spout than it is for the air to flow from the
pelletized material of -a particle size such as tends to jam 45 disseminator back up through the material bed into the
and block mechanical closure members of existing pack
supply bin above. Apparently also the upsurge of air
aging mechanisms.
under pressure from the disseminator combined with the
These and other advantages of the apparatus and meth
compacting action of the hydrostatic head of material
ods of the invention as compared to packaging mecha
in the supply bin, so compacts the material within the
nisms and techniques heretofore utilized for the above 50 duct as to plug it during discharge from. the spout.
stated, purposes, will become apparent as the description
It was found by experiment, that during discharge of
the packer bin the aggregate material automatically
bridges across the infeed duct, and thereby (prevents
proved highly effective for dispensing a Wide variety of
material in the storage bin from falling into the packer
loose aggregate materials are described in a copending 55 bin during discharge of the latter. It Was further observed
application of O. R. Titchenal and I. H. Stockwel, Serial
that shortly after the air supply to the packer bin is shut
No. 810,465, ?led May 1, 1959. This apparatus in one
oft” and the iatter vented to exhaust, the bridge of aggre
embodiment, comprises a vertical dispensing or packer
gate material in the infeed duct collapses, permitting the
bin, usually cylindrical, of a length exceeding its width,
material to fall from the supply bin into the packer bin
and having a discharge spout at the base, a fluidizing
and thus re?ll the latter. As a necessary condition for
air pad adjacent the spout, valve connected to a com
this observed operation, it was found that a sufficient
pressed source, which is also valve connected to a pipe
hydrostatic head of the aggregate material was required
proceeds.
,
Force ?ow packers of a type which have heretofore
line penetrating the bin sidewall near the top and ter
minating within the bin preferably in a disseminator or
perforated tubular member extending axially of the bin
to be maintained in the supply bin, on the order of about
100 to 300 pounds over the cross-sectional area of the
65
infeed duct, depending on the material being packaged.
for a substantial distance for disseminating the air ?ow
Thus according to our observations the combination
throughout the mass of material. The bin is closed oif
of
factors apparently conducive to formation of the
at the top except for a restricted aperture, opening into
material bridge across the infeed duct and consequent air
the base of a supply bin disposed above the packer bin
to provide an infeed passage for periodically charging 70 seal produced thereby are: the packing effect of the hydro
static head of the aggregate material in the supply bin, the
the aggregate material from the former into the latter
restricted aperture. of the infeed duct and the use of a
by gravity feed. The discharge spout and infeed pas
3,265,098
3
4
relatively long disseminator, the lower end of which
terminates reasonably close to the opening with the
packer bin discharge spout. The length of the infeed duct
and projected 6.5 inches into bin 10 below ‘the cover 30
thereof. The disseminator 22 was of a length 30 inches
and diameter 5 inches. Its lower end was 6 inches above
the base of the packer bin. Air was supplied over line
25 at pressure of 10 p.s.i.
Referring nowto FIGS. 2—5, incl., for a description of
also appears to be a factor, in that it must be of su??cient
length to permit formation of the material bridge therein.
Exempli?cation of these apparent controlling factors will
be ‘given below.
We have observed as a further object of our invention,
the operation of the FIG. 1 apparatus in ?lling bag 14
with loose aggregate material from the packer or dis
pensing bin 10, the operating cycle is as follows: Assuming
that the ?uidizing air pad at the base of the packer bin
is not required, but may be used to advantage under 10 the apparatus initially in the completely empty condition
of FIG. 1, the ?exible coupling 12 in the packer bin
certain conditions of operation.
discharge outlet is pinched off by the closure clamp 17,
Having ‘thus generally described our invention, refer
ence will now be had [for a more detailed description of
and the valve 24, actuated to exhaust as indicated by the
arrow. A supply of the loose aggregate material is
the above and other features, to the accompanying draw
changed, as at 50, into the supply bin 35. During the
ings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a more or less schematic or diagrammatic
charging the material will fall through the infeed duct 32
view in elevation, and partly in longitudinal section of a
bag ?lling apparatus according to the invention.
into the packer bin 10 until the latter is ?lled, as at 51.
FIGS. 2—5, inol., are similar views illustrative of suc
bin 35 with the material, as at 52, this ?lling being con
tinued until the supply bin is ?lled to a level 53, such that
cessive stages of the bag ?lling operations.
Continued loading will then progressively ?ll the supply
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary showing in elevation of the
the hydrostatic head of the material over the area of
the infeed ducts is on the order of about 100-300 pounds,
upper portion of the FIG. 1 apparatus, illustrative of
depending on the material. With the apparatus exempli?
a modi?ed form of infeed duct interconnecting the supply
cation above given, this would be on the order of about
and packer bins.
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the base 25 3-10 p.s.i. over the duct area.
portion of the FIG. 1 apparatus, illustrating the addition
The bin valve 24 is now actuated to connect the dis
thereto of a ?uidizing air pad and appurtenant com
seminator pipeline 20 to the air infeed pressure line 25,
as shown by the arrow on FIG. 3, and the bin discharge
ponents.
FIG. 8 is a further fragmentary detail in elevation
spout clamp 17, released, as also shown in FIG. 3. The
of the upper portion of the FIG. 1 assembly, showing the
loose aggregate material in the packer bin 10. will there
upon start ?owing through the bin discharge outlet 11
addition to the infeed air duct of a mechanical closure
member for purposes hereinafter stated.
and spout 13 into the bag 14, under the combined action 7
Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus shown comprises
of gravity and the ?ow of air under pressure from the
a vertical packer or dispensing bin 10 of cylindrical,
disseminator 22.
rectangular or other polygonal cross-section, of a length
The outward ?ow of air from the disseminator 22 will
exceeding its transverse dimension. The bin terminates
be somewhat as indicated by the arrows of FIG. 3. Some
at its base in a discharge outlet 11, connected through a
?exible coupling 12 to a spout 13, which is inserted in the
will ?ow downward as shown to facilitate discharge of the
sleeve of a valve sleeve type bag 14, the bag being secured
A pipe section 20 extends through the sidewall 21 of
bin 10, preferably through. the upper half thereof and is
some of the air will ?ow upward toward the infeed duct
32 as indicated, tending thereby to prevent further dis
charge of the aggregate 52 from the supply bin into the
packer bin. Due to the combined action of the upsurge of
air against the infeed duct and the packing action of the
hydrostatic head of the material 52 in the supply bin
exerted over the duct areas, the material will bridgeacross
the duct passage, as at 55,'and plug the opening, thereby
to the spout by a releasable clamp 15. The flexible cou
pling 12 may be pinched to mechanical closure, as at
16, by means of a releasable clamp 17. Clamps 15 and
17 may be pneumatically, electrically or otherwise actu
ated.
loose aggregate through spout 13 of the packer bin; while
connected within the bin to the top of a tubular dis
effectively sealing the packer bin against escape through
seminator 22, of sheet metal, plastic or the like, the
cylindrical wall portion of which is provided with a series
of holes, as at 23, disposed therealong and thereabout, for
the infeed duct of the pressurized air in the packer bin.
disseminating air or other gas injected under pressure
The dis
the level of the material in the packer bin will continue to
fall, as at 56, FIG. 3, and thence as at 57 of FIG. 4, at
seminator may be installed in sections, as at 22a, and as
thus extended to a desired or required overall length.
which level the bag 14 is ?lled to the preselected weight
or desired weight. At this stage the clamp 17 is actuated
into the disseminator via the pipeline 20.
The disseminator is preferably positioned substantially
coaxial with the bin 10 as shown, and its lower end
extends down to a level close to that of the discharge
Accordingly as the material 51 in the packer bin con
tinues to discharge through the spout 13 into the bag 14,
55 to close off the spout 13 and valve 25 is actuated to con
nect the disseminator pipeline 20 to the atmospheric ex
haust 26, as indicated by the arrow on valve 24, FIG. 5.
outlet 11.
This releases the air pressure in the packer bin, whereupon
The pipe section 20 terminates exteriorly of the bin
the material bridge 55, FIGS. 2 and 3, in the infeed duct
10, in a valve 24, which is positionable for connecting the 60 32, collapses, causing the material 52 in the supply bin
pipe section 20 either to a pressure ‘line 25 extending to a
to flow under gravity through the infeed duct 32 into the
source of compressed air, or alternatively to an atmos
packer bin 10, as at 58, thus re?lling the packer bin, as
phenic exhaust outlet 26.
shown at 51 in FIG. 2. This cycle of operation is then
The bin 10 is closed off at the top by a cover plate
repeated for each successive bag to be ?lled.
30 which is centrally apertured, as at 31, for reception
Referring to FIG. 6, the infeed duct 32, may be pro
of a closely ?tting infeed duct 32, which projects into bin
vided with a plug 60 of conforming contour and secured
10 below the cover 30, for a substantial distance, as at
33, as discussed below. The infeed duct terminates at
its upper end in a tapered base 34, of a supply bin 35
mounted above the, packer bin 10 as shown.
to an adjusting rod 61, for vertical up or down' adjust
ment as indicated by the arrow, the adjustment being such
for any given loose aggregate material being packaged, as
to establish the optimum infeed aperture for assuring the
In a speci?c embodiment of the apparatus, operated
material bridging action in the duct during discharge of
the packer bin.
Referring to FIG. 7, the base of the supply bin may be
in accordance with the invention as above described, the
packer bin 10 was cylindrical and of diameter 14 inches
and height 5 feet. The infeed duct 32 was likewise cylin
provided with a fluidizing air pad, mounted at 62 ad
drical and of a length 12.5 inches, of a diameter 6 inches, 75 jacent the bin discharge outlet for purposes above ex
3,265,098
5
6
plained, the pad being backed by an air chamber 63, sup
plied with air under pressure, from line 64, having inter
posed therein a valve 65, for adjusting the ?ow being “on”
and circumferentially, said disseminator being also dis
posed with its base adjacent said dispensing outlet, for
dispensing said material from said dispensing bin through
and “o?” or between “high” or “low” ?ow rates, as de
sired.
said outlet, and said duct having an aperture area of about
30 to 120 square inches and a length of about 6 to 12
Referring to FIG. 8, the infeed duct 32 may optionally
inches, and being of dimensions such that during pres
be provided with a mechanical closure gate 66, which
surization by said dispensing air of said dispensing bin
during the ?lling cycle is maintained in the open position
by said injected air, and with said supply bin ?lled with
shown until the material bridge 55 has formed, and may
said material to the extent of forming a static head of
thereupon be closed for the remainder of the packer bin 10 material for maintaining a downward force over said duct
discharge. In this way it is assured that the air seal in
area of at least one hundred pounds, the said material in
the infeed duct will be maintained during such discharge,
said supply bin bridges across and plugs said duct and pre
should the material bridge collapse due to abnormal op
vents ?ow of said material into said dispensing bin.
eration. It will be observed in this connection that the
4. Apparatus for dispensing and packaging loose ag
material bridge 55 forms above and is spaced from the 15 gregate material, comprising: a closed dispensing bin hav
gate 66, so that the latter may be actuated without con
ing a lower dispensing outlet and closure means therefor
tacting the aggregate material. Hence if this material is
releasable for dispensing said material, a supply bin dis
of an abrading character or comprises relatively large
posed above said dispensing bin and opening at its base
pellets, no injury to or jamming of the gate can occur in
into a duct projecting in sealed relation through a top
closure, as in the operation of force ?ow packers as here 20 opening in said dispensing bin, means for injecting air
tofore constructed and operated.
under pressure into the upper portion of said dispensing
What is claimed is:
bin and means connected thereto for dispersing said air
1. Apparatus for dispensing and packaging loose ag~
in said dispensing bin, said dispersing means comprising a
tubular disseminator disposed substantially coaxially of
gregate material, comprising: a closed dispensing bin hav
ing a lower dispensing outlet and closure means therefore 25 said dispensing bin and perforated throughout its length
releasable for dispensing said material, a supply bin dis
and circumference, for dispensing said material from said
posed above said dispensing bin and opening at its base
into a duct projecting in sealed relation through a top
opening in said dispensing bin, means for injecting air
dispensing bin through said outlet, and said duct being of
dimensions such that during pressurization by said dis
persing air of said dispensing bin by said injected air, and
under pressure into at least the upper portion of said dis 30 with said supply bin ?lled with said material to the extent
of forming a static head of material for maintaining a sub
pensing bin and means connected thereto for dispersing
said air in said dispensing bin, for dispensing said material
from said dispensing bin through said outlet, and said duct
being of dimensions and aperture such that during pres
surization of said dispensing bin by said injected air, and 35
stantial pressure over said duct area the said material in
with said supply bin ?lled with said material to the extent
of forming a static head of material for maintaining a
said supply bin bridges across and plugs said duct and
prevents ?ow of said material into said dispensing bin,
means for injecting ?uidizing air under pressure through
the base of said dispensing bin adjacent said dispensing
outlet, and releasable, mechanical closure means for said
downward force over said duct area of at least one ‘hun
duct.
dred pounds, the said material in said supply bin bridges
5. Apparatus for dispensing and packaging ?uidizable,
across and plugs said duct and prevents ?ow of said mate
loose aggregate material, comprising: a closed bin having
rial into said dispensing bin.
2.1Apparatus for dispensing and packaging loose ag
gregate material, comprising: a closed dispensing bin hav
a lower dispensing outlet, said outlet having normally
closed valve means releasable for dispensing said material,
a pressurized gas injection and dispersing means for ?u
ing a lower dispensing outlet and closure means therefor
idizing said material, valve means for controlling said
releasable for dispensing said material, a supply bin dis 45 injection and dispersing means, said bin having normally
posed above said dispensing bin and opening at its base
closed venting means operable to vent said bin to atmos
into a duct projecting in sealed relation through a top
pheric pressure, a hopper containing material therein being
positioned adjacent said bin, an infeed conduit intercon
opening in said dispensing bin, means for injecting air
under pressure into at least the upper portion of said dis
necting said hopper with said bin, said conduit being
pensing bin and means connected thereto for dispersing 50 adapted to form a material-gate, plugging said conduit
said air in said dispensing bin, said dispersing means com
when said air injection and dispersing means are ?uidizing
prising a tubular disseminator disposed substantially co
said material and when said outlet valve means are re
axially of said dispensing bin and perforated throughout
leased for dispensing said ‘material, said infeed conduit
its length and circumference, for dispensing said material
being adapted to pass material therethrough when said
from said dispensing bin through said outlet, and said 55 air injection and dispersing means are closed and when
duct being of dimensions such that during pressurization
dispensing outlet means are closed and when said venting
of said dispensing bin by said injected air, and with said
means are open.
supply bin ?lled with said material to the extent of form
6. Apparatus for dispensing and packaging ?uidizable,
ing a static head of material for maintaining a downward
loose aggregate material, comprising: a closed bin having
force over said duct area of at least one hundred pounds, 60 lower dispensing outlet means, pressurized air injection
the said material in said supply bin bridges across and
plugs said duct and prevents flow of said material into
said dispensing bin.
and dispersing means for pressurizing said bin and ?u
ing a lower dispensing outlet and closure means therefor
substantially smaller cross-sectional passage area than said
idizing said material, a hopper containing said material
positioned above said bin, an infeed conduit interconnect
3. Apparatus for dispensing and packaging loose ag
ing said hopper with said bin for the ?ow of said material
gregate material, comprising: a closed dispensing bin hav~ 65 therethrough, said infeed conduit being provided with a
releasable for dispensing said material, a supply bin dis
bin, said infeed conduit being adapted to form a material
posed above said dispensing bin and opening at its base
gate therein, plugging said conduit, when a substantial
into a duct projecting in sealed relation through a top
weight of material is contained within said hopper and
opening in said dispensing bin, means for injecting air 70 when said injection and dispersing means are ?uidizing
under pressure into at least the upper portion of said dis
said ‘material in said bin.
pensing bin and means connected thereto for dispersing
7. Apparatus for dispensing and packaging loose ag
said air in said dispensing bin, said dispersing means com
gregate material, comprising: a closed dispensing bin hav
prising a tubular disseminator disposed substantially co
ing a lower dispensing outlet and closure means therefor
axially of said dispensing bin and perforated lengthwise 75 releasable for dispensing said material, a supply bin dis
8,265,098
7
8
posed above said dispensing bin and opening at its base
opening in said dispensing bin, means for injecting air
said material, introducing said material from the lower
portion of said supply bin into an infeed conduit having
reduced passage area, intermittently passing said material
under pressure into at least the upper portion of said dis
pensing bin and means connected thereto for dispersing
ing increased passage area, intermittently introducing dis
into a duct projecting in sealed relation through a top
from said infeed conduit into a closed dispensing bin hav
persing air into said dispensing bin to cause said material
in said conduit to bridge across and plug said conduit and
substantially prevent ?oW of said material into said dis
pensing bin, thence closing mechanical valve means in said
said supply bin ?lled with said material to the extent of
forming a static head of material for maintaining a sub 10 infeed conduit to completely prevent flow of said material
into said dispensing bin, and discharging said material
stantial pressure over said duct area, the said material in
from said dispensing bin through an outlet opening into a
said supply bin bridges across and plugs said duct and pre
packaging container.
vents ?ow of said material into said dispensing bin, and
mechanical closure means for said duct.
References Cited by the Examiner
8. A method of packaging loose aggregate material,
comprising: ?lling a supply bin to a substantial height with
UNITED‘ STATES PATENTS
said material, introducing said material from the lower
182,097
9/1876 Barton ___________ __ 222—373
portion of said supply bin into an elongated infeed con
said air in said dispensing him, said duct being of dimen
sions such that during pressurization by said dispersing
air of said dispensing bin by said injected air, and with
duit having reduced passage area, intermittently passing
said material from said conduit into a closed dispensing 20
951,754
1,271,107
3/1910
7/1918
Buzzell et a1 ________ __ 302—55
Weller _________ __ 222-493 X
2,032,367
3/1936 Kennedy et al _______ __ 302~—53
bin having increased passage area, intermittently introduc
2,219,208
10/1940 Knight ___________ __ 222—193
ing dispersing air into an elongated central portion of said
2,851,401
9/1958 Payne __________ __ 302—63 X
dispensing bin at a plurality of openings to pressurize said
2,936,994
5/1960 Lau ____________ __ 141'-—68 X
dispensing bin and ?uidize the material in said dispensing
1/1963 Zenke.
bin, while simultaneously causing to form a releasable 25 3,073,401
material-gate within said conduit by pressurization by said
FOREIGN PATENTS
dispersing air of said dispensing bin to prevent ?ow of
said material into said dispensing bin, and while simul
671,667 5/1952 Great Britain.
taneously discharging said ?uidized material from said dis
pensing bin through an outlet opening into a packaging 30 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.
container.
LOUIS J. DEMBO, Examiner.
9. A method of packaging loose aggregate material,
D. MAXSON, H. BELL, Assistant Examiners.
comprising: ?lling a supply bin to a substantial height with