US3561372A

US3561372A - Divider for cohesive materials

Info

Publication number: US3561372A
Application number: US690249A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clarence W Vogt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-12-13
Filing date: 1967-12-13
Publication date: 1971-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 1988-02-09
Also published as: GB1246979A; DE1814147A1

Abstract

This disclosure has to do with a divider for cohesive materials, which divider includes an impeller mounted for rotation and having a plurality of pockets which are defined by porous liners. Valving is provided for applying a vacuum to the liners at an inlet point to assure the equal filling of the pockets and similar valving serves to apply pressure to the liners to effect the discharge of the material at a discharge point. An endless belt is provided and has a run extending generally from the inlet point to the discharge point. The endless belt serves to facilitate the movement of the material into the pockets and then cooperates with the impeller to seal the pockets as they move between the inlet point and the discharge point. A conveyor belt is provided for receiving the divided units of the material which units are applied two at a time to the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is provided with tiltable supports whereby a pair of material units may either be urged apart or together so as to facilitate the supplying of either single units or double units. A dust applicator is provided for applying a thin layer of dust to both the pockets and the conveyor belt.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Clarence W. Vogt Box 232, Westport, Conn. 06880 690,249

Dec. 13, 1967 Feb. 9, 1971 Appl. No. Filed Patented [54] DIVIDER FOR COHESIVE MATERIALS 7 Claims, 13 Drawing Figs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1928 Scholz 12/1957 Trelease Primary Examiner-Laverne D. Geiger Assistant ExaminerRobert 1. Smith Attorney-Mason, Porter, Diller and Brown ABSTRACT: This disclosure has to do with a divider for cohesive materials, which divider includes an impeller mounted for rotation and having a plurality of pockets which are defined by porous liners. Valving is provided for applying a vacuum to the liners at an inlet point to assure the equal filling of the pockets and similar valving serves to apply pressure to the liners to effect the discharge of the material at a discharge point. An endless belt is provided and has a run extending generally from the inlet point to the discharge point. The endless belt serves to facilitate the movement of the material into the pockets and then cooperates with the impeller to seal the pockets as they move between the inlet point and the discharge point. A conveyor belt is provided for receiving the divided units of the material which units are applied two at a time to the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is provided with tiltable supports whereby a pair of material units may either be urged apart or together so as to facilitate the supplying of either single units or double units. A dust applicator is provided for applying a thin layer of dust to both the pockets and the conveyor belt.

I l ww l- PAIENTED FEB 919w 39561372 v sum 3 0F 3 INVENTOR CLQRENCE UM/OGT DIVIDER FOR COIIESIVE MATERIALS This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in dividers, and more particularly a divider which is specifically adapted for dividing cohesive materials into individual units of predetermined weights.

A primary feature of this invention is to provide in a divider of the impeller type having a plurality of pockets for receiving the cohesive materials, an endless belt which cooperates with the impeller first to aid in the forcing of the cohesive materials into the pockets, then cutting off the cohesive material within a pocket from the remainder of the cohesive material, and thereafter sealing the filled pockets as the filled pockets move towards a discharge point.

Another object of this invention is to provide a suitable drive for the endless belt which assures the movement of the endless belt at the same linear speed as the periphery of the impeller whereby there is no scrubbing action between the endless belt and the cohesive material within the pockets of the impeller.

A further feature of this invention is to provide a divider for cohesive materials which has a plurality of pockets arranged in two rows and with the pockets of adjacent rows being in axial alignment whereby divided materials are delivered two units at a time, and there being a conveyor belt for receiving these two units, the conveyor belt having suitable supports which serve to fold the conveyor belt along a longitudinal line selectively in two opposite directions whereby two material units delivered to the belt willeither be urged apart or together, as desired, to provide for the delivery of single units or double units.

A still further feature of this invention is the provision of dust applicators of the atomizer type for applying a fine coating of a selected dust to the pockets of the impeller prior to the placing of the cohesive materials therein and for delivering a similar dust to the conveyor belt before the material units are deposited thereon. I

Still another object of this invention is to provide in conjunction with a divider fonned in accordance with this invention a product conveying belt which may be shaped to either deliver the product from the divider into a single container or simultaneously into two containers.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view with parts broken away and shown in section of the divider.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and shows further the details of the divider and conveyor belt for receiving the divided units.

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse vertical view similar to the lower portion of FIG. 3 and shows a modified conveyor belt position.

FIG. 5 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of a pocket forming liner of the divider.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a liner retaining strap.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the manner in which the liner assembly is secured to an end portion of the impeller.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view showing the manner in which two liner assemblies are secured to a radial rib of the impeller.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of a impeller member and shows the specific details of ports formed therein.

FIG. 10 is e an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the specific relationship of the impeller member with respect to the remainder of the impeller assembly.

FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing the manner in which divided material delivered by the impeller may be combined and transferred to a single container.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 showing the manner in which alike conveyor may convey divided out material simultaneously to two containers.

FIG. 13 is a transverse sectional view taken through the conveyors of FIGS. 11 and 12 and shows the manner in which the cross-sectional shape of the conveyor may be readily changed.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated a divider formed in accordance with this invention, the divider being generally referred to by the numeral 10. The divider 10 includes a housing, which is generally referred to by the numeral 11. The housing 11 includes a pair of sideplates l2 and 13 which are connected together by transversely extending frame members I4, 15 and 16.

An impeller, which is generally referred to by the numeral 17, is mounted within the housing 11 for rotation. Basically, the impeller 17 includes a tubular support member 18 which is rotatably journaled in bearings 20 which are seated in the sideplates l2 and 13 and which are clamped in place by means of

cover plates

21, 22, respectively. It is to be noted that the support 18 extends out through the cover 22 and has secured thereto a hub 23. The hub 23, in turn, is coupled to a drive shaft 24.

- The impeller 17 also includes a frame member 25 which is preferably formed in one piece, but may be formed of two identical axial adjacent sections. It is to be noted that the frame member 25 includes a plurality of circumferential ribs 26 which are interconnected by radial ribs 27 which combine to define generally rectangular sectional sockets 28 which are arranged in two circumferential rows and wherein axially adjacent sockets 28 are in alignment. In each of the sockets 28 there is positioned a liner assembly which is generally referred to by the numeral 29.

Referring now to FIG. 5 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated the specific details of the liner assembly 29. The liner assembly 29 preferably includes, but is not restricted to the use of, a wire basket like member, which is generally referred to by the numeral 30. The liner assembly 29 also includes a liner member which is generally referred to by the numeral 31. Both the basket 30 and the liner member 31 are generally rectangular in cross section and include sidewalls and end walls which slope in converging relation towards a bottom wall. The basket 30 is provided with a peripheral mounting flange 32 which is seated on the

ribs

26 and 27 so as to support the liner assembly 29 within an associated socket 28 in suspended relation.

The liner member 31, when the liner assembly 29 includes a basket 30, will be devoid of such a mounting flange and will be supported by the basket 30. However, if the basket 30 is omitted, then the liner member 31 will be provided with the equivalent of the mounting flange 32.

It is to be noted that the liner member 31 is provided with an internal recess 33 adjacent the upper edge thereof, the recess 33 being formed in the side and end walls thereof. The purpose of this recess will become apparent hereinafter.

The liner member 31 is formed of a suitable porous material, preferably a plastic material, and is molded from a thin sheet of the porous plastic material to the illustrated configuration. A preferred plastic sheet material may be defined as a linear, open cell foam polyethylene or linear, open cell, high density polyethylene.

The liner assemblies 29 are held in the supporting frame 25 of the impeller 17 by means of strap segments which are generally referred to by the numeral 34 and one of which is illustrated clearly in FIG. 6. Each strap element 34 includes an elongated strap portion 35 which is intended to overlie one of the ribs 27, and a plurality of short

circumferential strap portions

36, 37 which are intended to overlie the ribs 26. it is to be noted that the strap portion 36 is disposed centralmost and is intended to cooperate with the centermost rib 26 while the strap portions 37 are disposed at the ends of the strap portion and are intended to cooperate with the outermost ribs 26. The strap portions 35 and 36 are of inverted channel shape in cross section while the strap portions 37 are angular in section.

In order to facilitate the securement of the strap segments 34 to the frame 25, each strap segment 34 is provided with a plurality of apertures 38 which are appropriately arranged so as to provide for the desired fastening. The

ribs

26 and 27 are provided with internally threaded bores 40 in alignment with the apertures 38 and fasteners 41 are passed through the apertures 38 and threaded into the openings 40 to secure the strap segments 34 in place. As is clearly shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the mounting flanges 32 of the baskets 30 overlie the

ribs

26 and 27 and are directly supported thereby. The strap segments 34 then clamp the mounting flanges 32 to the

respective ribs

26 and 27. On the other hand, depending flanges 42 of the strap segments 34 are seated in the recess 33 of each of the liner members 31 to hold the liner members 31 in place and at the same time to provide for a smooth entrance opening into each of the liner member 31.

'1 will be readily apparent from the foregoing that the manner in which the liner assemblies 29 are mounted in the impeller 17 is such that the liner assemblies may be readily interchanged or replaced, as should become necessary.

In order to provide for gaseous flow through the liner assemblies 29, the frame 25 is provided with a plurality of radial passages 43 which open into each of the sockets 28. The passages 43 are aligned with ports 44 formed in the tubular support 18. in order to control flow of gases through the liner assemblies 29, there is mounted within the tubular support member 18, a valve assembly which is generally referred to by the numeral 45.

The valve assembly 45 includes a fixed stator 46 which is coaxial with the impeller 17. The stator 46 is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending, generally U-shaped cross-sectional ports 47 and 48 which open into the internal surface of the tubular support member 18 and which are placed in selective communication with the ports 44 thereof as the impeller 17 rotates. The ports 47 and 48 are sealed relative to the tubular support member 18 by means of suitable sealing rings 49. The cover plate 21 has extending therethrough a vacuum line 50, which is connected to a passage 51 leading into the port 47. A pressure line 52 passes through the cover plate 21 and is connected to a passage 53 leading into the port 48.

Inasmuch as there is relative rotation between the impeller 17 and the stator 46, it will be apparent that as the ports 44 of the tubular support member 18 pass across the sealing rings 49, there will be a tendency to cut the sealing rings 49. This has been overcome by providing a further tubular member 54 within the tubular support member 18. The tubular member 54 has ports 55 therein aligned with the ports 44. As is best illustrated in FIG. 9, the tubular member 54 has ribs or bars 56 extending circumferentially across each of the ports 55. Thus, as there is relative movement of the ports 55 across the sealing rings 49, the sealing rings 49 will, in effect, be supported by the bars 56 and there will be no danger of the sealing rings 49 being cut.

At this time it is pointed out that the

ports

55 and 44 are tapered so as to provide for a cross-sectional area of the port 55 at least equal to the cross-sectional area of the associated passage 43. Also, it is to be understood that while there is provided a separate tubular member 54in addition to the tubular support member 18, it is possible that the tubular support member 18 and the tubular member 54 could. be of a onepiece construction. I

Referring once again to FIG. 2, it will be noted that the housing 11 has an inlet opening 57 and a discharge opening 58. In order to supply a material, including cohesive materials to the impeller 17, at the inlet opening 57, there is provided a hopper 60 which opens downwardly into the inlet opening 57.

lt will also be apparent from FIG. 2 that as the pockets defined by the liner assemblies 29 become aligned with the inlet opening 57, and a vacuum is drawn through the liner assemblies, the material within the hopper 60, including coho sive materials, would be drawn down into the liner assemblies and will fill the same. Inasmuch as the impeller 17 is rotating, the filled liner assemblies will be delivered to the discharge opening 58 at which point a gas under pressure will be delivered around and through the liner assemblies 29 so as to force the material therefrom even though the material may be a cohesive material which has a tendency to stick to a supporting surface.

in order to facilitate the flow of material into the individual liner assemblies, to separate the material within the liner assemblies from the remaining bulk or mass of material within the hopper 60, and to seal the filled liner assemblies as they move from the inlet opening 57 to the discharge opening 58, there is provided an endless belt 61 which is mounted within the housing 11 and forms a wall of the housing 11 relative to the impeller 17. The endless belt 61 is entrained over a drive roller 62 which is carried by a shaft 63. The shaft 63 is rotatably supported by a pair of mounting plates 64 which are secured to the upper portion of the housing 11. The endless belt 61 is also entrained over a lower roller 65 which is carried by a shaft 66. The shaft 66 is preferably supported by a pair of adjustable bearing supports 67 which are carried by the lower portion of the housing 11 so as to maintain the desired tension on the endless belt 61 it is highly desirable that the linear rate of movement of the endless belt 61 be the same as that of periphery of the impeller 17. Accordingly, there is provided a positive drive for the drive roller 62 which is driven in unison with the impeller 17. The hub 23 has formed as a part thereof a sprocket 68 which is aligned with a sprocket 69 on the drive shaft 63 and with an idler sprocket 70. The idler sprocket 70 is carried by a shaft71 which, in turn, is mounted in adjustable bearing supports 72 carried by the mounting plates 64. A drive chain 73 is entrained over the sprockets 68, 69 and 70 in the manner best shown in FIG. 2.

It is to be noted that the endless belt 61 extends into the hopper 60 and forms a lower wall portion thereof. Also, it is to be noted that the endless belt 61 forms a wall of the inlet opening 57. As a result, the endless belt 61 has a tendency to feed cohesive material within the hopper 60 and the inlet opening 57 down into the liner assemblies 29 as they are presented to the inlet opening 57. In addition, it is to be noted that the endless belt 61 cooperates with the strap segments 34 and the ribs 27 to pinch off the cohesive material disposed within the liner assemblies 29 from the remaining bulk of the cohesive material. A further function of the endless belt 61 is to seal the filled pockets defined by the liner assemblies 29 as they move from the inlet opening towards the discharge opening 58. Inasmuch as the endless belt 61 is moving at the same linear rate as the impeller 17, it will be seen that there will be no relative movement between the endless belt and the outer surfaces of the impeller and as a result there will be no scrubbing action on the cohesive material within the liner assemblies 29 as the cohesive material is moved towards the discharge opening 58.

It is to be understood that the material of the liner members 31 will be of such physical characteristics so as to resist the sticking of the cohesive material thereto. However, in order to assure against such sticking, it may be desirable to provide the liners with a fine coating of dust or floc of a suitable powdery material prior to the positioning of the cohesive material therein. To this end, there is carried by the housing 11 intermediate the discharge opening 58 and the inlet opening 57 in the direction of rotation of the impeller 17 a suitable flocculator or dust applicator of the atomizer type, which is referred to by the numeral 74.

It is to be understood that the divider 10, due to the specific constructional details thereof and the manner in which the cohesive material is drawn into the liner assemblies 29 and cut off from the remaining cohesive material, will divide the cohesive material into units of a very accurate predetermined weight. These units are identified by the numeral 75 and will be delivered two at a time from the impeller 17 through the discharge opening 58, as shown, in FIG. 3. In accordance with this invention, it is foreseen that one may selectively combine the units 75 into double units. Accordingly, there is provided a conveyor assembly which is generally referred to by the numeral 76.

The conveyor assembly 76 includes a conveyor belt 77 of which the upper run'extends directly below the discharge opening 58. The conveyor belt 77 is of sufficient width to receive two material units 75 delivered simultaneously by the impeller 17, as is generally shown in FIG. 3.

The upper run of the conveyor belt 77 is carried by an adjustable support unit which is generally referred to by the numeral 78. The adjustable support unit 78 includes a base 80 having projecting upwardly therefrom two sets of longitudinally aligned support brackets 81 with these sets of support brackets 81 carrying a longitudinal shaft 82. Each shaft 82 is provided with at least two longitudinally aligned support brackets 83 which, in turn, carry transversely extending rollers 84 which directly support the conveyor belt upper run.

it is to be noted that each shaft 82 is provided'with a gear 85 which is meshed with a worm 86 carried by a transverse shaft 87. The worms 86 and their respective gears 85 are so related whereby when the shaft 87 is rotated, the shafts 82 will be rotated in opposite directions. In this manner the rollers 84 may be selectively inclined towards one another so as to longitudinally fold the upper run of the conveyor belt 77 in the manner clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

it will be seen that when the rollers 84 converge upwardly, the belt 77 slopes transversely downwardly and the material units 75 positioned thereon by the impeller 17 will remain separate and apart from one another. On the other hand, if the rollers 84 converge downwardly, as is shown in FIG. 4, the two halves of the conveyor belt 77 will slope towards one another and the material units 75 positioned thereon will come together and combine to form a single double unit. Thus, the conveying apparatus 76 may be adjusted to deliver either single units or double units of the divided material.

At this time it is to be understood that in order to prevent the material units 75 from sticking to the conveyor belt 77 and at the same time to assure either the separation of the material units or the combining thereof, as desired, there is applied to the upper run of the conveyor belt 77 in advance of the depositing of the material units 75 thereof a light layer of dust or fioc. This is accomplished by utilizing a floccing gun 89 which may be of the same type as the flocculatoror floccing gun 74.

At this time it is pointed out that although the divider is intended for use in dividing all types of cohesive materials, a principal application of the divider is in the dividing of bread doughs. While accurately forming the liner assemblies 29 and by controlling the vacuum drawn therethrough during the filling of the liners with the bread dough, the bread dough units 75 will be of the desired accurate weight to produce the desired unit weight bread loaves. A typical application of the divider 10 would be to divide dough into dough units 75 which are of the proper weight for the baking of one pound bread loaves. By combining two of the dough units 75 into a double unit, it will be seen that the double unit would be the proper weight for making two pound bread loaves.

When the cohesive material being divided is bread dough, the dust or floc applied to both the impeller 17 and the conveyor belt 77 will be in the form of flour. Because of the specific floccing action of the

floccing guns

74 and 89, only minute quantities of flour will be utilized and the flour picked up by the dough units 75 will be insufiicient to cause any variation in the dough mixture.

At this time it is also pointed out that a further seal may be I desirable. This seal is between the impeller 17 and the housing 11. As is clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the

sideplates

12 and 13 of the housing may have seated therein circular sealing rings 90 which engage the outer peripheral portion of the impeller 17. This prevents material being handled by the divider from entering in between the impeller i7 and the sideplates l2 and 13.

Although the divider 10 has a beneficial use in conjunction with cohesive materials, it is to be understood that it is not so limited. For example, it may be utilized in filling relatively large containers with a finely divided material, such as flour. In this event, the conveyor assembly 76 could be replaced by a conveyor assembly, such as the conveyor assembly 91 illustrates in FIGS. 11,12 and 13.

Referring first to FIG. 11, it will be seen that when it is desired that a single container, such as a bag 92 be filled, the conveyor assembly will include a drive roller 93 which is of a channel construction There will be associated with the drive roller 93 an idler roller 94 and a conveyor belt 95 will be entrained over these rollers. In addition, the upper run of the conveyor belt 95 will be shaped by means of an intermediate support assembly, which is generally referred to by the numeral 96.

It will be readily apparent from FIG. 11 that although two pockets of the divider 10 will be simultaneously depositing weighed units of the powdery material on on the conveyor belt 95, this powdery material will be combined to provide for an almost continuous flow of powdery material as at 97. As the powdery material 97 passes around the drive roller 93, it will drop into the bag 92.

Referring now to FIG. 12, it will be seen that the drive roller 93 has been replaced by a drive roller 98 which is of a double frustoconical configuration. Also, the intermediate support assembly 96 has been adjusted so as to urge the central portion of the upper run of the conveyor belt 95 upwardly with the conveyor belt 95 assuming a generally inverted V'shaped cross section. In addition, there is provided a generally V- shaped flow divider 100 disposed in overlying relation to the upper run of the conveyor belt 95. The inverted V-shaped cross section of the upper run of the conveyor belt 95 results in the individual deposit 101 of finely divided material remaining separate on opposite sides of the center line of the conveyor belt 95. These deposits of finely divided material are directed into separate bags 102 disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor belt 95.

Referring now to FIG. 13 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated the specific details of the intermediate support assembly. The intermediate support assembly 96 includes a plurality of rollers 103 which are mounted for rotation about shaft 104 and which shafts are interconnected by joints 105 for relative displacement. it will be seen that the support assembly 96 permits the upper run of the conveyor belt 95 to assume with a channel cross section, as is shown in solid lines, or an inverted V cross section, as shown in phantom lines.

It is pointed out here that although the impeller 17 has been illustrated and described as having only two rows of liner assemblies 29, the invention is not intended to be so limited. If desired, the impeller 17 may have rows of liner assemblies in excess of two. This, of course, will pose no problem when the divided out units are to be combined in the manner shown in FIGS. 4 and 11. On the other hand, when the divided out units are to be retained in separate lines, it will be necessary to vary the cross sections of the respective conveyor belts in accordance with the number of rows of divided out units.

Although only a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor variations may be made in the divider construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

lclaim:

l. A divider for cohesive materials comprising a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge opening, a multiple pocket impeller mounted in said housing for rotation to sequentially present pockets thereof to said inlet opening and then to said discharge opening, each pocket of said impeller being defined by a porous liner molded-from a sheet of porous plastic material, an endless belt carried by said housing and having a run thereof contacting said impeller in pocket sealing relation for a major portion of the distance between said inlet opening and said discharge opening, said endless belt being movable together with said impeller to eliminate scrubbing action between material in said pockets and said housing.

2. The divider of claim 1 together with drive means for positively driving said endless belt at the same linear rate as the periphery of said impeller.

3. The divider of claim 1 wherein said endless belt extends into said inlet opening and aids in the flow of material into said pockets.

4. The divider of claim 1 wherein said endless belt forms a wall of said inlet openings and cooperates with said impeller to pinch off the material as each pocket is closed by said endless belt.

5. The divider of claim 1 wherein said housing is provided with a dust applicator of the atomizer type between said discharge opening and said inlet opening in that direction of travel of said pockets for coating said pockets prior to the reception of cohesive material therein to prevent sticking of the cohesive material to said pockets.

6. A divider for cohesive materials comprising a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge opening, a multiple pocket impeller mounted in said housing for rotation to sequentially present pockets thereof to said inlet opening and then to said discharge opening, an endless belt carried by said housing and having a run thereof contacting said impeller in pocket sealing relation for a major portion of the distance between said inlet opening and said discharge opening, said endless belt being movable together with said impeller to eliminate scrubbing action between material in said pockets and said housing, said pockets having porous walls, and valve means in the form of a concentric fixed stator positioned within said impeller for drawing a vacuum in said pockets at said inlet opening and pressurizing said pockets at said discharge opening.

7. A divider for material comprising divider means for separating a mass of material into separate units of predetermined weight and delivering the units in two adjacent rows, a conveyor belt for receiving the rows of units. and support means for supporting said conveyor belt in an axially folded relation with said belt selectively sloping towards and away from the line of fold to selectively bring transversely adjacent units together and assure separation of adjacent units whereby single and double units may be selectively formed. said divider means including a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge opening, a multiple pocket impeller having pockets arranged in axial alignments and in two circumferential rows, said impeller being mounted in said housing for rotation to sequentially present pockets thereof to said inlet opening and then to discharge opening, an endless belt carried by said housing and having a run thereof contacting said impeller in pocket sealing relation for a major portion of the distance between said inlet opening and said discharge opening, said endless belt being movable together with said impeller to eliminate scrubbing action between material in said pockets and said housing.

Claims

1. A divider for cohesive materials comprising a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge opening, a multiple pocket impeller mounted in said housing for rotation to sequentially present pockets thereof to said inlet opening and then to said discharge opening, each pocket of said impeller being defined by a porous liner molded from a sheet of porous plastic material, an endless belt carried by said housing and having a run thereof contacting said impeller in pocket sealing relation for a major portion of the distance between said inlet opening and said discharge opening, said endless belt being movable together with said impeller to eliminate scrubbing action between material in said pockets and said housing.

7. A divider for material comprising divider means for separating a mass of material into separate units of predetermined weight and delivering the units in two adjacent rows, a conveyor belt for receiving the rows of units, and support means for supporting said conveyor belt in an axially folded relation with said belt selectively sloping towards and away from the line of fold to selectively bring transversely adjacent units together and assure separation of adjacent units whereby single and double units may be selectively formed, said divider means including a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge opening, a multiple pocket impeller having pockets arranged in axial alignments and in two circumferential rows, said impeller being mounted in said housing for rotation to sequentially present pockets thereof to said inlet opening and then to discharge opening, an endless belt carried by said housing and having a run thereof contacting said impeller in pocket sealing relation for a major portion of the distance between said inlet opening and said discharge opening, said endless belt being movable together with said impeller to eliminate scrubbing action between material in said pockets and said housing.