APPARATUS FOR FEEDING A MASS OF PARTICULATE OR FIBROUS MATERIAL

摘要

Apparatus for compacting and advancing a mass of particulate or fibrous material to a discharge end of a conduit combines an auger (13) with a reciprocating annular piston (23). The improvement of the invention is in driving the piston by way of a flywheel (55) equipped crankshaft (54) which also drives a dynamically counter balancing member (65) to reduce vibrations transmitted to the frame of the apparatus. Special hydrostatic guide sleeves (26) are used to guide the reciprocating piston (23) at a high speed. Further improvements include gas and liquid vents (68) and a cooling jacket (72), both associated with the conduit (C) to increase efficiency of the compacting. A density sensor (79) controlled conical choke member (87) at the discharge end (78) assists in maintaining uniform density of the highly compacted plug of the material. Also, it breaks up the exiting plug to improve subsequent processing of the material. The uniformity of the compacting is assisted by a modified shape of the leading face of the piston which is flat at the outer periphery and frusto conical near the minor diameter of the piston (23). The conduit (C) preferably tapers at about 7 min to 21 min toward its discharge end (78).