Abstract

A feeder assembly includes a feeder unit and an open top portable storage vessel defining an interior chamber. The feeder unit includes a feeder and a coupler securing the feeder to the vessel. The feeder defines a feed opening in communication with the interior chamber. The feeder includes a conveyance assembly in communication with the feed opening. The coupler is selectively secured to the feeder and independently selectively secured to the vessel, such that the coupler selectively secures the feeder to the vessel. The feeder unit facilitates dispensation of a material from the vessel. The method includes the steps of securing the vessel to the feeder, such that the feed opening is in communication with the interior chamber through the open top; collectively inverting the vessel and the feeder; and operating the feeder such that material from the vessel is dispensed by the feeder.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65G 65/32 - Filling devices
• B65G 33/14 - Screw or rotary spiral conveyors for fluent solid materials comprising a screw or screws enclosed in a tubular housing
• B65G 33/24 - Screw or rotary spiral conveyors Details

Abstract

A feeder assembly includes a feeder unit and an open top portable storage vessel defining an interior chamber. The feeder unit includes a feeder and a coupler securing the feeder to the vessel. The feeder defines a feed opening in communication with the interior chamber. The feeder includes a conveyance assembly in communication with the feed opening. The coupler is selectively secured to the feeder and independently selectively secured to the vessel, such that the coupler selectively secures the feeder to the vessel. The feeder unit facilitates dispensation of a material from the vessel. The method includes the steps of securing the vessel to the feeder, such that the feed opening is in communication with the interior chamber through the open top; collectively inverting the vessel and the feeder; and operating the feeder such that material from the vessel is dispensed by the feeder.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65G 65/32 - Filling devices
• B65G 33/14 - Screw or rotary spiral conveyors for fluent solid materials comprising a screw or screws enclosed in a tubular housing
• B65G 33/24 - Screw or rotary spiral conveyors Details

Abstract

A batch coater assembly (20) includes an upright coater container (24) with a container- supporting lift frame assembly (26). In use, particulate materials such as seed are introduced into the container (24) and coated therein. After coating, the assembly (26) is employed to lift the container (24) to a position permitting placement of a bin (22) beneath the container (24), so that coated particulates can be directly transferred from the container (24) to the bin (22). This permits rapid batch coating of particulates from the bin (22), with refilling of the bin (22) after the coating operation. An optional dust hood assembly (28) can be employed during delivery of coated particulates to the bin (22), in order to capture dust incident to the particulate delivery.

IPC Classes  ?

• A01C 1/06 - Coating or dressing seed

Abstract

A system (1) and method for coating seeds with a treatment liquid, in which transfers of seeds and liquid within the system are controlled by a control assembly (6) in accordance with selectable operational modes. Some modes involve determining an actual amount of a quantity and/or a subquantity of seeds transferred from a bin (24) based on a change in the weight of seeds remaining in tlhe bin (24), and adjusting the system (1) to account for a difference between the actual and expected amounts. Other modes involve determining an actual amount of a quantity and/or a flowrate of liquid transferred from a tank (750) based on a change in the weight of liquid remaining in the tank (750), and adjusting the system (1) to account for a difference between the actual and expected amounts. Further, these modes can be performed together for even greater redundancy and accuracy.

IPC Classes  ?

• A01C 1/06 - Coating or dressing seed
• B05C 3/02 - Apparatus in which the work is brought into contact with a bulk quantity of liquid or other fluent material the work being immersed in the liquid or other fluent material
• B05C 19/00 - Apparatus specially adapted for applying particulate materials to surfaces

Abstract

A batch-type particulate treating apparatus (10) includes an upright bin or hopper (20) equipped with a central, rotatable lifting augur (68) having a bored shaft (70) and helical flighting (80, 82). Coating liquid passes through the bore (72) of shaft (70), and is delivered through ejectors (86, 88) mounted on the augur flighting (80, 82). A pneumatic assembly (16) serves to direct pressurized air upwardly through a clearance (96) between the augur base and the adjacent inner surfaces of hopper (20). In operation, liquid coating material is ejected into the particulates during rotation of the augur (68) and operation of the pneumatic assembly (16), in order to uniformly and efficiently coat the particulates. The apparatus (10) is particularly designed for treating of seeds.

IPC Classes  ?

• A01C 1/06 - Coating or dressing seed

Abstract

A particulate material treating system (458) includes a loss-in- weight particulate material bin assembly (460), a particulate material metering device (462), and a downstream treater (464) yielding a treated material output (468). A controller (470) is employed to determine the flow rates of material from the bin assembly (460) using loss-in-weight calculations, and this information is used to at least in part control the operation of the metering device (462).

IPC Classes  ?

• A01C 1/06 - Coating or dressing seed

Abstract

An improved seed metering wheel assembly is provided to deliver a substantially constant flow of seed to a downstream treating device or the like, without any substantial surging of seeds. The seed metering wheel assembly includes an axially rotatable metering wheel having a plurality of strategically sized and arranged seed metering openings therethrough, arranged in circular arrays of differently sized metering openings. In another embodiment, the seed metering wheel includes a central hub section and an outermost rib, with a series of ribs between the hub section and rim, which lie along respective non-diameter chords. Incoming seed is delivered from a seed hopper outlet by gravitation to the metering wheel, which preferably provides a substantially constant open area while preventing wholly unobstructed flow of seeds.

IPC Classes  ?

• G01F 11/24 - Apparatus requiring external operation adapted at each repeated and identical operation to measure and separate a predetermined volume of fluid or fluent solid material from a supply or container, without regard to weight, and to deliver it with measuring chambers moved during operation of the valve type, i.e. the separating being effected by fluid-tight or powder-tight movements wherein the measuring chamber rotates or oscillates for fluent solid material
• A01C 1/06 - Coating or dressing seed

Abstract

The invention provides a method and system for electrolytically coating an article. The method includes providing an article to be coated and disposing the article in an electrolytic cell. The cell includes an anode, a cathode in operable communication with the article, and an electrolyte bath. During electrolysis, the electrolyte bath comprises cobalt ions, phosphorous acid, and tribological particles selected from the group consisting of refractory materials, solid lubricants and mixtures thereof dispersed therein. The method further includes applying steady direct electric current through the anode, the electrolyte bath and the cathode to coat the article with cobalt, phosphorous and the tribological particles. An improved composition of matter is also provided that may be used as a coating, or the composition may be electroformed on a mandrel to form an article made from the composition of matter.

IPC Classes  ?

• B32B 15/04 - Layered products essentially comprising metal comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific substance
• B32B 15/16 - Layered products essentially comprising metal next to a particulate layer
• C25D 3/56 - ElectroplatingBaths therefor from solutions of alloys

Abstract

The invention provides a method and system for electrolytically coating an article. The method includes providing an article to be coated and disposing the article in an electrolytic cell. The cell includes an anode, a cathode in operable communication with the article, and an electrolyte bath. During electrolysis, the electrolyte bath comprises cobalt ions, phosphorous acid, and tribological particles selected from the group consisting of refractory materials, solid lubricants and mixtures thereof dispersed therein. The method further includes applying steady direct electric current through the anode, the electrolyte bath and the cathode to coat the article with cobalt, phosphorous and the tribological particles. An improved composition of matter is also provided that may be used as a coating, or the composition may be electroformed on a mandrel to form an article made from the composition of matter.

IPC Classes  ?

• C25D 3/56 - ElectroplatingBaths therefor from solutions of alloys
• C25D 5/50 - After-treatment of electroplated surfaces by heat-treatment
• C25D 15/00 - Electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings containing embedded materials, e.g. particles, whiskers, wires

Abstract

The invention provides a method and system for electrolytically coating an article. The method includes providing an article to be coated and disposing the article in an electrolytic cell. The cell includes an anode, a cathode in operable communication with the article, and an electrolyte bath. During electrolysis, the electrolyte bath comprises cobalt ions, phosphorous acid, and tribological particles selected from the group consisting of refractory materials, solid lubricants and mixtures thereof dispersed therein. The method further includes applying steady direct electric current through the anode, the electrolyte bath and the cathode to coat the article with cobalt, phosphorous and the tribological particles. An improved composition of matter is also provided that may be used as a coating, or the composition may be electroformed on a mandrel to form an article made from the composition of matter.

IPC Classes  ?

• C25D 3/56 - ElectroplatingBaths therefor from solutions of alloys
• C25D 15/00 - Electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings containing embedded materials, e.g. particles, whiskers, wires
• C25D 5/50 - After-treatment of electroplated surfaces by heat-treatment