Powdered Product Unloading and Storage System

Abstract

An exemplary implementation of a powder product unloading and storage apparatus has a single, preferably sealed cabinet, such as a glove box, for holding, accessing, and unloading the contents of a drum into the cabinet, wherein the cabinet includes a system for minimizing, ameliorating or eliminating the release of dust to the atmosphere. A rotary spout dispenses and directs the product entering into the cabinet to a preselected storage hopper which has been selected from a plurality of storage hoppers. The plurality of storage hoppers are preferably all held within a closed or filtered environment such that release of product to the atmosphere is reduced, ameliorated, or eliminated.

1 . A powdered product unloading and storage apparatus comprising a cabinet assembly for holding, accessing, and unloading the contents of a drum into the interior of said cabinet, wherein the cabinet includes a system for minimizing, ameliorating or eliminating the release of dust to the atmosphere; a rotary spout which can dispense and direct the product entering into the cabinet to a preselected storage hopper selected from a plurality of storage hoppers; and a plurality of storage hoppers which are all held within a closed or filtered environment such that release of product to the atmosphere is reduced, ameliorated, or eliminated. 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprising a product unloading device for holding, accessing, and unloading the contents of a product container into the product unloading device;
 a rotary spout which receives, dispenses and/or directs the product entering into the product unloading device to a preselected storage hopper selected from a plurality of storage hoppers, wherein said rotary spout has a upper opening at an upper end which upper opening is centred around an axis or rotation, and a lower opening which rotates around a center of rotation which is offset from the central axis of the lower opening so that by rotation of the rotatable spout, the position of the lower opening will move around to transcribe a circle around the center of rotation of the upper opening of the rotatable spout while the position of the upper opening remains essentially in a constant position; and. 
 a plurality of storage hoppers each having a loading opening, wherein the loading openings for each storage hopper are all positioned within a closed or filtered environment such that release of product to the atmosphere is reduced, ameliorated, or eliminated, and wherein the loading openings of the storage hoppers are arranged in a circular pattern around the circle transcribed by the movement of the lower rotary spout opening. 
 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said product unloading device comprises a single, sealed cabinet. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said product unloading system comprises a cabinet for unloading of plastic or paper bags of material, or a mechanism for unloading a bulk bag directly to the storage apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the said product unloading device includes a system for minimizing, ameliorating or eliminating the release of dust to the atmosphere. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein at least one side wall of said rotary spout is angled so as to allow product to slide by gravity along the inner wall of the spout. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said rotary spout comprises a screw feeder to move the product along an essentially horizontal chute, or a vibrating or moveable belt or bed. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said loading openings to the storage hoppers are greater in size than the lower opening of the rotary spout. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the tops of each of the storage hoppers are completely uncovered, so that the loading opening is the size of the top of the storage hopper. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said storage hoppers are contiguous one to one another, and located in a circular pattern around the rotary spout. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said storage hoppers are identical in size and shape, and are located in a circular pattern around the rotary spout. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the position of said lower opening of said rotary spout is controlled by a computer operated system. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the contiguous loading openings of adjacent storage hoppers are divided by a narrow ridge of material which passes between the storage hoppers. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said narrow ridge of material is provided by joined plates from the walls of adjacent storage hoppers, or a common wall between storage hoppers. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the loading openings of the storage hoppers, as well as the area wherein the lower opening of the rotary spout is positioned, are contained within a housing, and wherein the housing is vented through a dust collection system to prevent the release of dust from the apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  additionally comprising one of more load cells to measure the weight of material transferred to or from said storage hoppers. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said storage hoppers are supported using load cells, and said product unloading section is connected to said storage hoppers with a flexible material so that the weight of said storage hoppers can be measured independently of said product unloading section. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  comprising between 4 and 8 storage hoppers. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said apparatus additionally comprises a humidity control system, or an explosive resistant cover. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said product unloading device comprises a glove box.