Multiple sensor resin delivery method for optimizing vacuum pump operation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10906225-B2
Application number	US-201916273751-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 12, 2019
Priority date	Mar 12, 2015
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

Method for pneumatically conveying granular resin material and controlling such conveyance includes a sensor associated with granular plastic resin material receiver with the sensing vacuum level thereat and a microprocessor adjusting vacuum pump speed based on vacuum level sensed at the receiver.

First claim

The following is claimed:

1. A method for conveying granular plastic resin material from a supply thereof to at least one receiver, for temporary storage of the granular plastic resin material in the receiver until the material is needed by a process machine associated with the receiver, comprising:
a) positioning a first conduit with an open end in the supply;
b) drawing vacuum through the first conduit, thereby conveying granular plastic resin material out of the supply and along the first conduit;
c) providing a receiver connected with the first conduit for receipt of granular resin material from the first conduit;
d) providing a second conduit connecting the receiver to a vacuum pump providing the drawn vacuum via the receiver to the first conduit;
e) providing at least one vacuum sensor on the first conduit;
f) recording vacuum levels within the first conduit as provided by the sensor;
g) correlating recorded vacuum levels with observed conveyance of granular resin material from the supply to the receiver in a computing device to create an executable algorithm for optimized conveyance of the granular resin material; and
h) executing the algorithm in the computing device to regulate the speed of the vacuum pump to produce a vacuum in the first conduit that optimally conveys the granular resin material from the supply to the receiver.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing device is a microprocessor.

3. A method for conveying granular plastic resin material from a supply thereof to at least one receiver, for temporary storage of the granular plastic resin material in the receiver until the material is needed by a process machine associated with the receiver, comprising:
a) positioning a first conduit with an open end in the supply;
b) drawing vacuum through the first conduit, thereby conveying granular plastic resin material out of the supply and along the first conduit;
c) providing a receiver connected with the first conduit for receipt of granular resin material from the first conduit;
d) providing a second conduit connecting the receiver to a vacuum source providing the drawn vacuum via the receiver to the first conduit;
e) providing at least one vacuum sensor on the first conduit;
f) recording vacuum levels within the first conduit as provided by the sensor;
g) correlating recorded vacuum levels with a sensed conveyance of granular resin material from the supply to the receiver in a computing device to create an executable algorithm for optimized conveyance of the granular resin material; and
h) executing the algorithm in the computing device to regulate the speed of the vacuum pump to produce a vacuum in the first conduit that optimally conveys the granular resin material from the supply to the receiver.

4. A method for conveying granular plastic resin material from a supply thereof to at least one receiver, for temporary storage of the granular plastic resin material in the receiver until the material is needed by a process machine associated with the receiver, comprising:
a) positioning a first conduit with an open end in the supply;
b) drawing vacuum through the first conduit, thereby conveying granular plastic resin material out of the supply and along the first conduit;
c) providing a receiver connected with the first conduit for receipt of granular resin material from the first conduit;
d) providing a second conduit connecting the receiver to a vacuum source providing the drawn vacuum via the receiver to the first conduit;
e) providing at least one vacuum sensor on the first conduit;
f) recording vacuum levels within the first conduit as provided by the sensor;
g) correlating recorded vacuum levels with a conveyance of granular resin material from the supply to the receiver in a computing device to create an executable algorithm for optimized conveyance of the granular resin material; and
h) executing the algorithm in the computing device to regulate the speed of the vacuum pump to produce a vacuum in the first conduit that optimally conveys the granular resin material from the supply to the receiver.

Assignees

• Novatec Inc
• Maguire Stephen B

Inventors

• Zinski James
• Maguire Stephen B

Classifications

• B65G53/66 Primary

  Use of indicator or control devices, e.g. for controlling gas pressure, for controlling proportions of material and gas, for indicating or preventing jamming of material {(controlling the flow of coal firing systems C21B5/003)} · CPC title

• B29C48/288 Primary

  in solid form, e.g. powder or granules · CPC title

• B29K2105/251

  Particles, powder or granules (expandable particles B29K2105/046) · CPC title