Bulk Feeding System and Method

Abstract

A bulk product feeding system includes a product hopper, having a sloped bottom, a front side, and an outlet located at a lowermost confluence of the sloped bottom and the front side, the hopper being configured to receive and hold a bulk quantity of sticky or fragile product. A first sloped ram is reciprocally disposed in the bottom of the hopper, and configured to reciprocate toward and away from the outlet. A second, substantially vertical ram is reciprocally disposed on the front side of the hopper, and configured to reciprocate toward and away from the outlet and the first ram. Motion of the first and second rams is coordinated to controllably discharge the product through the outlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bulk product feeding system, comprising:
 a product hopper, having a sloped bottom, a front side, and an outlet located at a lowermost confluence of the sloped bottom and the front side, the hopper being configured to receive and hold a bulk quantity of sticky or fragile product;   a first, sloped ram, reciprocally disposed in the bottom of the hopper, configured to reciprocate toward and away from the outlet; and   a second, substantially vertical ram, reciprocally disposed on the front side of the hopper, configured to reciprocate toward and away from the outlet and the first ram, motion of the first and second rams being coordinated to controllably discharge the product through the outlet.   
     
     
         2 . A bulk product feeding system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first and second rams have a dynamically adjustable speed and stroke length. 
     
     
         3 . A bulk product feeding system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first ram has a maximum stroke length that is about 4″. 
     
     
         4 . A bulk product feeding system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first and second rams have an extended position of mutual contact which blocks the outlet. 
     
     
         5 . A bulk product feeding system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the bottom of the product hopper is sloped at an angle of from about 35° to about 45°. 
     
     
         6 . A bulk product feeding system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising:
 first and second actuators, coupled to the first and second rams, respectively; and   a controller, coupled to the first and second actuators, configured to coordinate reciprocal motion of the first and second rams to dynamically control a size of the outlet and a rate of discharge of the product therethrough.   
     
     
         7 . A bulk product feeding system in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first and second actuators include a vibrational device, configured to vibrate the respective ram. 
     
     
         8 . A bulk product feeding system in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the vibrational device is configured to vibrate at a rate of about 0 to 60 Hz. 
     
     
         9 . A bulk product feeding system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first ram is configured to reciprocate at a rate of up to about 60 cycles per minute. 
     
     
         10 . A bulk product feeding system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first ram comprises a pair of sloped rams, reciprocally disposed in the bottom of the hopper, configured to independently reciprocate toward and away from the outlet. 
     
     
         11 . A bulk product feeding system, comprising:
 a product hopper, having a sloped bottom, a front wall, and an outlet located at a lower confluence of the sloped bottom and the front wall, the hopper being configured to receive and hold a bulk quantity of sticky or fragile product;   a pair of sloped rams, positioned in the bottom of the hopper, configured to independently reciprocate toward and away from the outlet;   a substantially vertical ram, disposed on the front wall, configured to reciprocate toward and away from the outlet, the sloped rams and the vertical ram having an extended position of mutual contact which blocks the outlet; and   a controller, coupled to the sloped rams and the vertical ram, configured to selectively retract and extend the sloped rams and the vertical ram to selectively block or unblock the outlet.   
     
     
         12 . A bulk product feeding system in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the sloped rams have a dynamically adjustable speed and stroke length. 
     
     
         13 . A bulk product feeding system in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the bottom of the product hopper is sloped at an angle of from about 35° to about 45°. 
     
     
         14 . A bulk product feeding system in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising a vibrational device, associated with at least one of the first and second rams, configured to vibrate the associated ram to resist clogging of the product. 
     
     
         15 . A bulk product feeding system in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising a sensor, configured to measure a discharge rate of product dispensed from the outlet, the controller being configured to adjust at least one of a position, speed and stroke length of motion of at least one of the sloped rams and the vertical ram in response to the discharge rate in order to attain a desired discharge rate. 
     
     
         16 . A method for controllably dispensing a bulk product, comprising:
 placing a bulk quantity of sticky or fragile product into a hopper having a front wall, a sloped bottom, and an outlet located at a lower confluence of the front wall and the sloped bottom; and   reciprocating a first sloped ram disposed in the bottom of the hopper, and a second substantially vertical ram disposed on the front wall, to selectively open or close the outlet opening, to control a size of the outlet and a rate of discharge of the product therethrough.   
     
     
         17 . A method in accordance with  claim 16 , further comprising:
 measuring a discharge rate of product dispensed from the outlet; and   adjusting at least one of a speed and stroke length of motion of at least one of the sloped ram and the vertical ram in response to the discharge rate.   
     
     
         18 . A method in accordance with  claim 16 , further comprising the step of vibrating at least one of the sloped ram and the vertical ram. 
     
     
         19 . A method in accordance with  claim 16 , further comprising:
 placing the product dispensed from the outlet into an inlet of a product measuring and dispensing machine; and   dispensing measured quantities of the product into product containers.   
     
     
         20 . A method in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the step of reciprocating the first sloped ram comprises independently reciprocating a pair of sloped rams, disposed in the bottom of the hopper.