| abstract |
Pnuematic conveyor device for loose material, continuously conveying the loose material in slugs. The device includes a storage tank having an inlet for loose material into the top thereof and having a converging bottom. Air is admitted to the tank through the top of the tank. A loose material inlet leads into the top of the tank under the control of a solenoid controlled valve. An air outlet leads from the top of the tank and to a feeder starting chamber. A control valve controls the flow of air to the feeder starting chamber. A feeder valve is located in a line leading from the bottom of the tank to the feeder starting chamber. The control valve in the air line and the feeder valve are alternately operable in a predetermined sequence to effect the conveying of slugs of loose material of equal size, separated by air buffers from the feeder starting chamber along a conveyor line at the same rates of speed. |