Apparatus for efficiently filling and packing particulate materials in elongate containers

Abstract

An apparatus for filling and packing particulate material into elongated containers is provided and improves consistency of the quantity and density (degree of compaction) of particulate material in each container. The apparatus may include a compressed gas assembly for providing a stream of compressed gas for increasing the velocity of flowing particulate material being provided to the containers. The apparatus may include a centrifuge assembly for providing centrifugal force which increases compaction of particulate material in each container. The apparatus may include both a compressed gas assembly and a centrifuge assembly. A method for filling and packing particulate material into elongated containers is provided and involves increasing the compaction of particulate material in each container. Such compaction may be increased by providing a compressed gas to the flow path of a stream of flowing particulate material, or by applying centrifugal force to particulate material disposed in the containers, or both.

1 . An apparatus for efficiently filling and packing a consistent quantity of particulate material into each of respective one of a plurality of elongated containers each of which has an open top end and a closed bottom end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the apparatus comprising:
 a centrifuge assembly capable of providing centrifugal force for increasing velocity of particulate material provided to each of the plurality of containers, which increases compaction and density of the particulate material in each of the plurality of elongated containers, the centrifuge assembly having:
 a central conduit with an inlet for receiving particulate material and a central longitudinal axis which defines a rotational axis of the centrifuge assembly, and 
 a bottom disc and a top disc which are each rotatably mounted on the central pipe via their respective central openings; 
   one or more stackable discs, each of which has:
 a disc periphery, 
 at least one container holder which holds the plurality of elongated containers proximate to and evenly spaced around the disc periphery, 
 a central opening for rotatably mounting each of the one or more stackable discs on the central conduit of the centrifuge assembly, adjacent one another and in between the bottom disc and the top disc, the central conduit of the centrifuge assembly being in fluid communication with the central opening of each stackable disc mounted thereon, and one or more internal passages, each of which is in fluid communication with both the central opening and the disc periphery, thereby providing at least a portion of a flow path for particulate material to flow therethrough, from the central conduit of the centrifuge assembly and the central opening of the stackable disc, to the disc periphery, and the open top ends of respective one or more of the plurality of elongated containers held by the at least one container holder evenly spaced around the disc periphery, 
 wherein the at least one container holder is capable of holding or allowing each of the plurality of elongated containers to move to an orientation in which the open top end of each elongated container is proximate the disc periphery for receiving particulate material, the longitudinal axis of each elongated container is aligned with and substantially parallel to the centrifugal force provided by the centrifuge assembly, and the closed bottom end of each elongated container is remote from the rotational axis of the centrifuge assembly, wherein the centrifugal force increases velocity of particulate material provided to each of the plurality of elongated containers; 
   and   a motor connected to the centrifuge assembly for rotating the bottom disc, the top disc, and any of the one or more stackable discs mounted therebetween.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more internal passages of each of the one or more stackable discs includes:
 an inlet in fluid communication with the central opening of the stackable disc and with the central conduit of the centrifuge assembly for receiving particulate material from the central conduit, and   one or more outlets, each of which is in fluid communication with the disc periphery for delivering particulate material to one or more of the plurality of elongate containers held proximate to the disc periphery by the at least one container holder, wherein the open top end of each of the plurality of elongate containers is aligned with a respective one of each of the one or more outlets of each of the one or more internal passages.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more internal passages of at least one of the one or more stackable discs is branched and has two or more terminal passages each of which has an outlet in fluid communication with the disc periphery. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the flow path passes through the central conduit, into and through each of the one or more internal passages of each stackable disc mounted on the central conduit, to the disc periphery of each stackable disc mounted on the central conduit of the centrifuge assembly, and into each of the plurality of elongated containers. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one container holder comprises a plurality of container holders, each of which is affixed to the stackable disc, proximate to and evenly spaced around the disc periphery. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of container holders is capable of pivotably holding a respective one of the plurality of elongated containers with its open top end proximate the disc periphery and aligned with a respective one of the one or more outlets of one of the one or more internal passages of the stackable disc, and allows the respective one of the plurality of elongated containers to be in, or move to, the orientation in which its longitudinal axis is aligned with and substantially parallel to the centrifugal force provided by the centrifuge assembly, which enables particulate material to flow and be compacted in the respective one of the plurality of elongated container. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of container holders comprises a pair of opposing prongs which are configured to pivotably hold the open top end of a corresponding elongated container therebetween. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one container holder comprises a strip element having a length and being configured to wrap around the disc periphery and be affixed to a circumferential side of a corresponding one of the one or more stackable discs, wherein the strip element includes a plurality of apertures along its length, each of which is configured to receive an elongated container therein. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each aperture of the strip element is sized to receive and retain the open top end of a corresponding elongated container and, when the strip element is wrapped and affixed around its corresponding stackable disc, each elongated container is held in an orientation in which the longitudinal axis of the elongated container is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the centrifuge assembly and is aligned with and substantially parallel to the centrifugal force which is provided when the centrifuge assembly is operating. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more internal passages of each of the one or more stackable discs comprises a spiral shaped internal passage having:
 an inlet in fluid communication with the central opening of the stackable disc and with the central conduit of the centrifuge assembly for receiving particulate material from the central conduit, and   a plurality outlet openings, each of which is in fluid communication with the disc periphery for delivering particulate material to one or more of the plurality of elongate containers held proximate to the disc periphery by the at least one container holder, wherein the open top end of each of the plurality of elongate containers is aligned with a respective one of each of the plurality of outlet openings.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom disc of the centrifuge assembly includes a plurality of upwardly extending prongs arranged about the center opening of the bottom disc, wherein each of the top disc and the one or more stackable discs has a plurality of bore holes arranged about their respective central openings and in alignment with one another to receive therethrough the plurality of upwardly extending prongs of the bottom disc, wherein rotation of the bottom disc by the motor about the rotational axis of the centrifuge assembly also rotates the top disc and any one or more stackable discs mounted therebetween. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of upwardly extending prongs of the bottom disc includes a plurality of openings for receiving a locking pin therethrough for securing together the bottom disc, the top disc, and the one or more stackable discs mounted therebetween. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein capacity of the apparatus is controlled and varied by:
 increasing or reducing how many stackable discs are rotatably mounted on the centrifuge assembly, selecting and mounting one or more stackable discs capable of holding different desired quantities of elongated containers, varying the size of the elongated containers held on the one or more stackable discs, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a compressed gas material delivery assembly comprising a compressor which provides flowing compressed gas to the central conduit of the centrifuge assembly, via a conduit which is in direct or indirect fluid communication with the inlet of the central conduit of the centrifuge assembly, wherein the flowing compressed gas increases velocity of particulate material flowing along the flow path which increases compaction and density of the particulate material in each of the plurality of elongated containers. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the flow path passes through the central conduit, into and through each of the one or more internal passages of each stackable disc mounted on the central conduit, to the disc periphery of each stackable disc mounted on the central conduit of the centrifuge assembly, and into each of the plurality of elongated containers. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a material feed tank for holding the particulate material until it is provided to the central conduit of the centrifuge apparatus for delivery to each of the plurality of elongated containers. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elongated containers held by the at least one container holder comprises one or more tapered paper cones. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the particulate plant product comprises an at least partially dehydrated particulate plant product. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for filling and packing particulate material into each of a plurality of elongated containers each of which has an open top end and a closed bottom end, the apparatus comprising:
 a source of particulate material;   one or more conduits for directly or indirectly providing particulate material along a flow path from the source to each of the plurality of elongated containers; and   a compressed gas material delivery assembly comprising a compressor which provides flowing compressed gas to the flow path which increases velocity of the particulate material and controllably increases compaction and density of the particulate material flowing into each of the one or more elongated containers.   
     
     
         20 . A method for filling and packing a plurality of elongated containers with a consistent quantity and density of particulate material which flows from a source, along flow path having one or more outlets and a flow direction at each of the one or more outlets, to the plurality of elongated containers, each of which has an open top end, a closed bottom end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the method comprising:
 positioning each of the plurality of elongated containers in an orientation in which its open top end is proximate to and aligned with a corresponding outlet of the flow path for receiving flowing particulate material, its closed end is distal from the corresponding outlet of the flow path, and its longitudinal axis is aligned substantially along the flow direction at the corresponding outlet of the flow path; and
 (A) applying centrifugal force to particulate material flowing along the flow path which increases velocity of the particulate material and controllably increases compaction and density of the particulate material in each of the plurality of elongated containers, 
 (B) providing a compressed gas to the flow path which increases velocity of particulate material flowing along the flow path and controllably increases compaction and density of the particulate material in each of the plurality of elongated containers, or 
 (C) both (A) and (B).