Slide measuring system for filling pouches and associated method
Systems and methods for measuring tobacco for packaging in pouches are disclosed. A system includes a hopper structured and arranged to hold a granular material in a hopper cavity. The system also includes a measuring system including a measuring cavity and a tube that is slidable in the hopper cavity between a first position unaligned with the measuring cavity and a second position over and aligned with the measuring cavity. The measuring system is configured to continuously communicate a vacuum to the measuring cavity. The measuring system is configured to move a portion of the granular material from the hopper cavity to the measuring cavity when the tube is in the first position. The measuring system is configured to move the portion of the granular material from the measuring cavity to a pouch making machine using pressurized gas that overcomes the vacuum when the tube is in the second position.
1 . A system for metering granular material, the system comprising:
a hopper configured to hold a granular material;
a measuring system including,
a measuring cavity, and
a tube that is movable in the hopper between a first position exposing the measuring cavity and a second position covering the measuring cavity; and
a vacuum source configured to continuously communicate a vacuum to the measuring cavity such that the granular material within the hopper is moved into the measuring cavity in response to the tube being in the first position, and
the measuring system configured to apply a pressurized gas to overcome the vacuum when the tube is in the second position such that the granular material is displaced from the measuring cavity to the tube.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein an internal diameter of the tube is larger than an internal diameter of the measuring cavity.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the tube has a continuously tapered internal diameter.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the measuring system further includes,
a tube carrier, the tube carrier holding the tube against a wall of the hopper, and
a spring between an internal portion of the tube carrier and an external portion of the tube, the spring configured to urge the tube against the wall of the hopper.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein an end of the tube is connected to a wear element, the wear element contacting a plate that defines the measuring cavity.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein
the plate includes a sacrificial wear element, and
the sacrificial wear element defines the measuring cavity.
7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first valve configured to continuously communicate the vacuum to the measuring cavity when the first valve is in an open position.
8 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a second valve configured to communicate the pressurized gas to the measuring cavity when the second valve is in the open position.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the second valve is configured to communicate the pressurized gas to the measuring cavity independent of a position of the first valve.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein
the measuring cavity includes a plurality of measuring cavities,
the first valve includes a respective plurality of first valves, and
the second valve includes a respective plurality of second valves.
11 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a manifold connected to the measuring system, the manifold configured to communicate the vacuum to the first valve and the pressurized gas to the measuring cavity.
12 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
an accumulator connected between the manifold and the vacuum.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein
the measuring system includes a plurality of measuring cavities,
the first valve includes a plurality of first valves, the plurality of first valves between the vacuum and the plurality of measuring cavities, respectively,
the second valve includes a plurality of second valves, the plurality of second valves between the pressurized gas and the plurality of measuring cavities, respectively,
the manifold includes a plurality of manifold ports fluidly connected to the plurality of measuring cavities, and
the accumulator includes a plurality of accumulator ports fluidly connected to the plurality of manifold ports.
14 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a conduit connected to the tube, the tube and the conduit defining a flow path between the measuring cavity and a pouch making machine configured to receive the granular material when the tube is in the second position.
15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein
the measuring system includes a pin having a bore in fluid communication with the measuring cavity,
a location of the pin within a hole defines a volume of the measuring cavity, and
the location of the pin within the hole is selectively adjustable to adjust the volume of the measuring cavity.
16 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a controller configured to
receive a weight of at least one pouch made by a pouch making machine with the granular material received from the measuring cavity, and
change the location of the pin within the hole based on the weight based on the weight, an upper threshold and a lower threshold.
17 . The system of claim 1 , wherein
the tube is supported by a slide that causes the tube to move in a reciprocating manner between the first position and the second position; and
the hopper includes movable end blocks connected to the slide.
18 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sifter configured to sift the granular material, the sifter including a compartment having a screen and a moveable wiper, the granular material moving through the screen to the hopper;
a feeder configured to provide the granular material to the sifter;
a level sensor in the hopper; and
a controller configured to cause the moveable wiper to move in the sifter, the feeder to agitate, or the moveable wiper to move in the sifter and the feeder to agitate based on a signal from the level sensor.
19 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a feeder configured to provide the granular material to a sifter, the feeder including a number of lanes and the sifter including a number of compartments corresponding to the number of lanes;
a respective level sensor in each respective compartment of the sifter; and
a controller configured to individually control agitation of respective lanes of the feeder based on signals from each respective level sensors.
20 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the granular material includes tobacco.