Intermittent Cylindrical Roller Powder Feeding Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing powder feeding technologies face challenges in precisely and accurately dispensing a known volume or mass of powder due to difficulties in handling cohesive and non-free flowing powders, which often result in uneven flow and accumulation issues.
Innovation Solution
A powder feeding apparatus featuring a hopper with cylindrical rollers that create a slot-shaped opening, where the rollers are independently rotated to intermittently dispense powder, allowing for controlled and precise powder flow, and optionally incorporating a moving web for powder distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional powder feeding methods are used, then the device structure is simple, but the powder flow uniformity and dispensing precision deteriorate due to cohesive and non-free flowing properties
Solution Approach 1:
The hopper bottom is designed with movable elements including a vibratory mechanism and adjustable flow control elements that can dynamically adapt to different powder properties. This dynamic configuration allows the system to maintain precise dispensing control for cohesive powders by adjusting the hopper bottom geometry and vibration characteristics in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
A vibratory mechanism is incorporated at the hopper bottom that applies periodic vibrations to the powder bed. This periodic action prevents powder bridging and arching by continuously disrupting cohesive forces, ensuring steady and uniform powder flow through the dispensing opening while maintaining accurate dosing.
2Productivity
If powder is dispensed continuously, then the productivity is high, but the flow uniformity deteriorates due to powder accumulation and bridging
Solution Approach 1:
The vibratory mechanism operates continuously or intermittently during powder dispensing to maintain flow stability. The periodic vibrations prevent powder accumulation at the hopper bottom and eliminate bridging phenomena, enabling high productivity while maintaining consistent flow uniformity throughout the dispensing process.
Solution Approach 2:
Mechanical vibrations are applied to the powder mass in the hopper through a vibratory mechanism. This vibration energy disrupts inter-particle cohesive forces and prevents the formation of stable bridges or arches, ensuring continuous and uniform powder flow at high dispensing rates without flow interruptions.
3Productivity
If the hopper opening is enlarged to increase flow rate, then the productivity improves, but the dispensing precision deteriorates due to uneven powder distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The hopper design incorporates localized flow control elements and a specifically engineered opening geometry that optimizes powder flow characteristics. The opening is equipped with flow-directing structures and vibration elements positioned at critical locations to ensure uniform powder distribution across the dispensing face, maintaining high flow rates while preserving dispensing precision through localized flow management.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables precise and consistent dispensing of powders, even those with high cohesion, by breaking down agglomerates and ensuring uniform flow, as demonstrated by the successful feeding of lactose and albuterol sulfate in various experiments.
Implementation Method 1
Feeding particulates or powders can be more difficult than feeding liquids. This can be apparent when one desires to precisely and accurately feed a known volume or mass of material.
Implementation Method 2
A powder feeding apparatus featuring a hopper with cylindrical rollers that create a slot-shaped opening, where the rollers are independently rotated to intermittently dispense powder
Data Source
AI summary
Powder feeding apparatuses (100; 200) and methods. The powder feeding apparatus (100; 200) can include first and second cylindrical rollers (106, 107; 206, 207) adjacent to each other and spaced apart by a gap (108; 208). The first roller (106; 206) can rotate intermittently and independently of the second roller (107; 207). The second roller can rotate intermittently and independently of the first roller. Powder from a hopper (102; 202) is fed through the gap as one or both rollers rotate. The powder feeding method may include a method of feeding powder by intermittently and alternately advancing a first and second roller to dispense powder from the hopper.