Geopolymer foam deposition and mixing system and apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for the production of thermal insulating, architectural and structural foam materials cast in molded volumes configured for a subsequent milling process, wherein molded foam volumes are cut into dimensional products or product components.

Claims

1. A system for producing thermal insulating, architectural, and structural foam, the system having multiple stations in a production loop, said system comprising: an open top production mold assembly with a plurality of individual molds each having respective open tops and floors; a vertically oriented mix containment cylinder having an open top and an open bottom, and a bottom edge configured for sealing engagement with a releasable containing seal controlling a dispensement of a mixed batch; said releasable containing seal having a sealing portion directly sealing said bottom edge and a dispensing guide portion extending away from said sealing portion; a seal releasing system for articulating said releasable containing seal between a sealed position and an unsealed position to dispense said mixed batch; a material deposition subsystem including movable hoppers for containing and dispensing bulk materials into said mix containment cylinder; a motorized mixing apparatus having a rotating head; a mechanism for lowering and raising said rotating head into and from said mix containment cylinder for operation of said rotating head in said mix containment cylinder and providing said mixed batch; a segregating dispensing manifold bounding an inner volume and having an entry opening formed to receive said mixed batch from said dispensing guide portion of said releasable containing seal and an exit with a plurality of dividing partitions formed to dispense partitioned mixed batch portions to respective open tops of said plurality of individual molds upon a rotation of said segregating dispensing manifold; and at least one conveyance mechanism for moving one or more of said plurality of individual molds, said mix containment cylinder, said mixing apparatus, said material deposition subsystem, said seal release system, and said segregating dispensing manifold into positions relative to one another for sequential operations.

2. The system, of claim 1, wherein: said segregating dispensing manifold rotates on a pivot axis from a fill position to a dispensing position.

3. The system, of claim 2, wherein: said dividing partitions extend within said inner volume perpendicular to said pivot axis of said segregating dispensing manifold; and whereby when said segregating dispensing manifold rotates about said pivot axis said dividing partitions rotate through said mixed batch and partition said mixed batch to said respective individual molds.

4. The system, of claim 2, wherein: said at least one conveyance mechanism includes a conveyor disposed on a production floor and on which said plurality of individual molds are disposed for moving in relation to said mix containment cylinder, said mixing apparatus, and said segregating dispensing manifold.

5. The system, of claim 4, wherein: said at least one conveyance mechanism is selected from a heavy duty bulk material handling industrial conveyor, consisting of a roller conveyor, a steel belt conveyor, or a roller chain conveyor.

6. The system, of claim 3, wherein: said at least one conveyance mechanism is configured to articulate said releasable containing seal and said segregating dispensing manifold about said pivot axis whereby said mixed batch is dispensed from said mix containment cylinder to said respective individual molds.

7. The system, of claim 6, wherein: said releasable containing seal directly sealing said bottom edge of said mix containing cylinder is formed as an open topped bin with bounding guide walls proximate said sealing portion and an open mouth portion as said dispensing guide portion extending away from said sealing bottom.

8. The system, of claim 6, wherein: said releasable containing seal directly sealing said bottom edge of said mix containing cylinder is formed as one of a sliding gate slidable relative to said bottom edge and a hinged floor pivotable relative to said bottom edge.

9. A multi-station system for producing millable geopolymer foam blocks comprising: an open top production mold assembly with a plurality of individual molds each having respective open tops and respective floors; a vertically oriented mix containment cylinder having an open top and an open bottom, and a bottom edge configured for sealing engagement with a releasable containing seal controlling a dispensement of a mixed batch; said releasable containing seal having a sealing portion directly sealing said bottom edge and a dispensing guide portion extending away from said sealing portion; a material deposition subsystem including movable hoppers for containing and dispensing bulk materials into said mix containment cylinder; a motorized mixing apparatus having a rotating head; a mechanism for lowering and raising said rotating head into and from said mix containment cylinder for operation of said rotating head in said mix containment cylinder and providing said mixed batch; a segregating dispensing manifold bounding an inner volume and having an entry opening formed to receive said mixed batch from said dispensing guide portion of said releasable containing seal and an exit with a plurality of dividing partitions formed to dispense partitioned mixed batch portions to respective open tops of said plurality of individual molds upon a rotation of said segregating dispensing manifold; and at least one conveyance mechanism for moving one or more of said plurality of individual molds, said mix containment cylinder, said mixing apparatus, said material deposition subsystem, and said segregating dispensing manifold into positions relative to one another for sequential operations.

10. A system for producing thermal insulating, architectural, and structural foam, the system having multiple stations in a production loop, said system comprising: an open top production mold assembly with a plurality of individual molds each having respective open tops and respective floors; a vertically oriented mix containment cylinder having an open top and an open bottom, and a bottom edge configured for sealing engagement with a releasable containing seal controlling a dispensement of a mixed batch; said releasable containing seal having a sealing portion directly sealing said bottom edge and a dispensing guide portion extending away from said sealing portion; a seal releasing system for articulating said releasable containing seal between a sealed position and an unsealed position and pivoting said releasable containing seal from said unsealed positioned to a dispensing position about a seal release pivot axis to dispense said mixed batch; a material deposition subsystem including movable hoppers for containing and dispensing bulk materials into said mix containment cylinder; a motorized mixing apparatus having a rotating head; a mechanism for lowering and raising said rotating head into and from said mix containment cylinder for operation of said rotating head in said mix containment cylinder and providing said mixed batch; a plurality of dividing partitions on said dispensing guide portion of said releasable containing seal that receive said mixed batch from said mix containment cylinder and partition said mixed batch into a respective plurality of partitions for respective said individual molds upon said pivot of said releasable containing seal from said unsealed position; and at least one conveyance mechanism for moving one or more of said plurality of individual molds, said mix containment cylinder, said mixing apparatus, said material deposition subsystem, and said seal release system relative to one another for sequential operations.

11. The system, of claim 10, wherein: said releasable containing seal is formed as an open topped bin with bounding guide walls proximate said sealing portion and an open mouth portion as said dispensing guide portion extending away from said sealing bottom; and said dividing partitions on said dispensing guide portion extending orthogonal to said seal release pivot axis whereby said mixed batch is segregated by the motion of the mixed batch along said dispensing guide portion toward said open tops of said respective individual molds.

12. The system, of claim 11, wherein: said at least one conveyance mechanism includes a conveyor disposed on a production floor and on which said plurality of individual molds are disposed for moving in relation to said mix containment cylinder, said mixing apparatus, and said releasable containing seal.

13. The system, of claim 12, wherein: said at least one conveyance mechanism is selected from a heavy duty bulk material handling industrial conveyor, consisting of a roller conveyor, a steel belt conveyor, or a roller chain conveyor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a highly schematic upper perspective view showing the geopolymer foam mixing and deposition system and apparatus of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is the same view showing an (expansion containment) production mold moved into place at a batching and mixing station and a mix containment cylinder moved into place and poised above the production mold before being lowered into the production mold.

(4) FIG. 3 is the same view showing the mix containment cylinder lowered into the production mold and readied for deposition and inoculation with the foam constituents.

(5) FIGS. 4A-4C are various views showing one of the dose hoppers positioned above the mix containment cylinder for introduction of mix components and an inoculant during dosing.

(6) FIG. 5 is an upper perspective view showing the mixing head poised above the mix containment cylinder, as it would be immediately prior to mixing or immediately after.

(7) FIG. 6 shows the mixing head lowered into the pre-mix cylinder for mixing.

(8) FIG. 7 is an upper perspective view showing the mix containment cylinder removed from the production mold and the expansive geopolymer foam mix expanding and/or expanded into the confines of the production mold.

(9) FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C are schematic perspective views showing an additional adaptive geopolymer foam mixing and depositing system and apparatus of the present invention with dispensement from the mix containment cylinder into multiple mold cavities.

(10) FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C are an alternative illustrative flow process embodiment of the present mixing and depositing system and apparatus with dispensement from the mix containment cylinder directly into multiple mold cavities.

(11) FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a modified system and apparatus of FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C with an alternative pivot arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(12) Referring to the figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like components in the various views, it will be seen that the inventive system includes a system and apparatus 10 for producing large volume, expanded geopolymer foam piecesblocks for exampleintended for a subsequent milling process. Products or product parts are milled from large volume blocks of the molded expanded foam.

(13) The system includes three general production phases.

(14) Phase 1Batching, Mixing, and Inoculation: An expansion containment mold (i.e., a production mold) 12 is moved into mixing/deposition station 14 using variations of a heavy duty bulk material handling industrial conveyor 16, such as but not limited to a roller conveyor, steel belt, flat slider, or roller chain conveyor, disposed on a production floor. In embodiments, at the mixing/deposition station, bulk materials may be moved into position for dispensing into a container disposed below using an overhead gantry.

(15) The production mold includes an open top 12a and a generally planar floor 12b. Chemical constituents of a cementitious and/or geopolymer mix are batched, mixed, and inoculated with a foam forming agent delivered overhead using both bulk hoppers 18 and dose hoppers 20. Immediately after the constituents are deposited into the mold, the foaming agent is integrated throughout the mix.

(16) The process in Phase 1 is completed in a removable mix containment cylinder 22 having an open top 22a and an open bottom 22b, but which is moved into place and into sealing engagement at its bottom edge 22c with the planar floor or bottom 12b of the larger volume production mold using a pivoting arm and mix containment cylinder actuator 24. A motorized mixer 26 having a head 28 with a plurality of mixing blades or paddles 30 is then rotated into place and the blades lowered into the mix containment cylinder 22. The mixer 26 is operated until the composition constituents are generally uniformly mixed. [See FIGS. 1-3.]

(17) As with the production mold, the bulk and dose hoppers 18, 20 may be either permanently positioned or selectively moved into place, depending on material conveying means selected for production and whether flowable materials can be pumped from the hoppers into the pre-mix cylinder when in the mixing/batching station. If movement of the hoppers is optimal, an overhead bridge or gantry crane 32 or functional equivalent may be employed.

(18) Phase 2Deposition: In this phase, the seated mixer is first elevated from and rotated away from the mix containment cylinder, and the mix containment cylinder is then removed from the production mold floor and elevated vertically, up and out of the production mold. This results in the immediate deposition of the inoculated mix through the open bottom of the cylinder into the production mold, inducing immediate foam expansion and initial set of a molded product without having to move the inoculated wet mix from the mixer to the mold. [See FIGS. 5-7.]

(19) Phase 3Transport and De-Molding: After the geopolymer foam constituents have been thoroughly batched, inoculated, and mixed [see FIG. 7], the expanding geopolymer foam product 34 is allowed to go through stages of curing, either in the mixing/batching station 14 or elsewhere. If the production mold 12 is to be moved to a curing station or environment, it is conveyed from the mixing/deposition station 14 through a loop. At a first stop the product mold remains in a curing environment where the expanded foam product undergoes an initial (in-mold) cure. This is followed by a brief migration out of the curing environment for de-molding, product removal, and mold reassembly. The de-molded foam product is then routed back to a curing environment for a final cure, and the production mold is cycled back into the production loop after any needed attention for cleaning or shape modification.

(20) This production system provides millable foam stock to a production and milling facility with equipment for cutting and milling products or product parts from the foam stock.

(21) Production System Apparatus: The production system of the present invention comprises the following primary subsystems: (1) a production mold; (2) a retractable mix containment cylinder; (3) a deposition and dosing system; and (4) a mixing apparatus. These are described more fully below.

(22) Production Mold: In embodiments, the production mold may consist of a variety of sizes and shapes but the preferred embodiment will be substantially cubical consisting of a flat bottom floor surface, four, flat side walls extending vertically and an open top to accommodate the methods and apparatus for batching, mixing and deposition, and the facilities for foam expansion and initial curing of a millable foam product; the production mold is a sectional assembly configured in such a way as to allow manual or automated disassembly of the mold, removal of the expanded foam product and re-assembly of the mold for continued use. The production mold is configured to be independent from an articulating batching and mixing apparatus and the retractable mix containment cylinder so that multiple production molds can be concurrently used in production by either manual or automated conveyors. The molds are conveyed into position to be engaged first by the mix containment cylinder and then the batching and mixing apparatus, one at a time for (phases 1 and 2) of production loop. Upon the completion of phases 1 and 2, the molds is conveyed in order through the production loop stations.

(23) The production mold components may optionally include a composite wall design with internal heating elements for expedited curing and product removal.

(24) Mix Containment Cylinder: In embodiments, the retractable mix containment cylinder includes a cylinder dimensioned to have a volume suitable for containment of the mixing apparatus and the size of the batch to be mixed. The cylinder walls are disposed vertically and open at both the top and bottom ends of the cylinder. The mix containment cylinder is configured to articulate up and down to allow insertion into the production mold and to be sealingly disposed tightly against the bottom or floor of the production mold. This leaves only an open top through which a mixing head can be passed and through which cementitious and/or geopolymer batch materials can be deposited, mixed and then inoculated with a foaming agent. After inoculation, additional mixing is immediately employed to fully integrate the foaming agent evenly throughout the batch. The mixing blades and mix containment cylinder are then retracted upward and out of the production mold, thereby returning it to a remote position and leaving the inoculated batch in the production mold. The deposited and mixed batch may remain in this station to expand unimpeded with the production of foam to fill the production mold, or it may be conveyed to a curing station to undergo its first stage of curing.

(25) Mixing Apparatus: In embodiments, the mixing apparatus may consist of a single axis or a multiple axis or planetary blade or paddle type mixer configured to move from a remote location to a position above the mix containment cylinder and then configured to move up and down in-line with its rotational axis and effectively in and out of the mix containment cylinder seated in the production mold, and then back again to a remote position.

(26) Raw Material Deposition: The deposition system may include multiple bulk material containers and material conveying apparatus designed to accommodate wet and dry materials. Preferably, the deposition system is configured to move independently from a remote position to a position placing material hoppers above the mix containment cylinder disposed in the production mold. There the mix component materials may be deposited and mixed. After deposition and inoculation, the raw material deposition apparatus is conveyed back to a remote position.

(27) Methods associated with the above apparatus are described in the following steps.

(28) The mixing and batching apparatus 10 and the mix containment cylinder are temporarily disposed in remote positions allowing the production mold to be conveyed into place at the mixing/deposition station.

(29) The mix containment cylinder is then moved into place above the production mold and articulated down into the mold wherein the open bottom of the cylinder is seated tightly to the mold floor.

(30) Premix deposition fixtures are then moved into place above the mix containment cylinder from a remote position to deposit the wet and dry components of the cementitious and/or geopolymer formula into the mix containment cylinder seated on the floor of the production mold and then returning to their remote positions after the premixed batch is fully deposited.

(31) The mixing apparatus is then moved into place above the mix containment cylinder and articulated down into the batched materials contained in the mix containment cylinder to mix components therein.

(32) Another deposition fixture is then moved into place above the mix containment cylinder to inoculate the batch with a foam forming additive. After deposition of the inoculants, it is returned to a remote position. The mixer is again employed to mix material components until the foaming additive is fully dispersed throughout the batch. The mixing head is then articulated up and out of the inoculated mix and returned to its remote position.

(33) Immediately after the mixing apparatus is removed, the mix containment cylinder is articulated up and out of the production mold simultaneously allowing the inoculated mix to spill out the bottom of the cylinder into the larger production mold wherein the inoculated mix then expands with the production of foam; filling the production mold with the cementitious and/or geopolymer foam.

(34) The production molds are of variable sizes and shapes depending on batch formulation and projected percentage of expansion.

(35) The filled production mold (curing or cured) is then conveyed to an initial (in mold) curing environment until the expanded foam has reached its initial set and is ready for removal.

(36) After the initial (in-mold) cure cycle is completed, the production mold is removed from the (in-mold) curing environment and the expanded foam is removed from the production mold. The expanded foam block is routed to a final curing environment and the production mold is re-assembled and routed back through the production loop for reuse.

(37) The foregoing disclosure is sufficient to enable those with skill in the relevant art to practice the invention without undue experimentation. The disclosure further provides the best mode of practicing the invention now contemplated by the inventor.

(38) While the particular apparatus and method herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages stated herein, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the detail of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims. Accordingly, the proper scope of the present invention should be determined only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all such modifications as well as all relationships equivalent to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification.

(39) Additionally, referring further now to FIGS. 8A through 8C, and FIGS. 9A through 10, further alternatives to the prior discussed the geopolymer foam deposition and mixing system and apparatus are provided at 10A for producing smaller size expanded geopolymer foam pieces, blocks for example, intended for subsequent processes. Similar phases and steps are pursued except where they differ from the discussion that follows so that those of skill in this art will be able to integrate and appreciate the improvements to the geopolymer foam deposition and mixing system and apparatus herein.

(40) Similar to the above, bulk hoppers 18 operate with dose hoppers 20 and a mixer 26 having mixing blades 30 operates relative to a mixing deposition station 14 as noted above with a pivoting arm and mix containment cylinder actuator 24.

(41) The production mold 112 includes a plurality of single mold cavities 112c (See FIGS. 8A, 8B) each with a respective open top 112a and a planar floor 112b. Production mold 112 may adaptively be a series of individual mold cavities 112c retained for production (See FIG. 8C) but separable as individual molds 112c. A mix containment cylinder 222 has an open top 222a and an open bottom 222b that may be sealed in alternative manners to be discussed herein in addition to contact with the bottom floor of the production mold noted above. The seal of the open bottom 222b is achieved with a sealing engagement with an operable releasable containment seal 400 as will be discussed herein and below, and which is actuated by a seal mechanism 401 positioned proximate to and operative with the actuator 24 so as to release the operable releasable containment seal 400 for disbursement of the mixed batch, as will be discussed further below. The open top 222a is configured to receive dose batch materials and mixing apparatus mixing blades 30 and a head 28.

(42) It will be apparent that unlike the prior embodiment in FIGS. 1-7, after the mixing apparatus is removed from the mix containment cylinder, the mix containment cylinder is positioned with a sealed bottom relative to the production molds and therefore a transport of the mixed batch needs transport from the open bottom 222b to the respective molds and the enclosed improvements provide adaptive arrangements for this transport through releasing seals, hoppers, and otherwise as will be discussed herein.

(43) Operable releasable containment seal 400 is shown in FIGS. 8A-8C in an extended hopper form with a sealing portion 400a directly sealing bottom 222b and a dispensing guide portion 400b extending way from sealing bottom 222b so as to guide the mixed dose batch materials outwardly away from mix containment cylinder 222 as will be discussed. It will be alternatively and adaptively realized that operable and releasable containment seal 400 may take other forms and shapes effective to seal bottom 222b during mixing and batch preparation before dispensement without departing from the teaching and scope of the present invention. As non-limiting examples, operable and releasable containment seal 400 may be a sliding gate or floor arrangement, or a hinged floor arrangement where two double hinged gates directly release the mix. It will be further appreciated by those of skill in the art having studied the combined disclosure herein that additional sealing mechanisms and mix-dispensing guides, channels, or passages linking mix containment cylinder 222 to molds 112 guides may be adaptively provided while remaining with the scope and spirit of the present invention.

(44) As noted in FIGS. 8A-8C, a rotating segregating dispensing manifold 50 is positioned on a support and articulation apparatus 51 proximate and downstream of mixing containment cylinder 222 as a horizontally disposed modified cylinder having a pivot axis A, and opposed end walls 50a, 50a that define a bounded common volume therein. Support and articulation apparatus 51 has rotation control systems, for example a tooth and cog or belt/wheel arrangement for controllably causing the rotation of dispensing manifold 50 about pivot axis A during a dispensing event.

(45) A receiving opening 52 on rotating segregating dispensing manifold 50 receives the mixed dose batch materials from dispensing guide portion 400b of operable releasable containment seal 400. Receiving opening 52 is a common opening and receives the mixed dose batch into the bounded common volume. A quantity of partitions 53 are in the exit opening of segregating dispensing manifold 50, and effectively divide radial portions of the segregating dispensing manifold 50 into a plurality of equal portion so that the mixed dose batch is divided to meet the positioned open tops 112a of the plurality of molds 112c and fill the molds. Upon completion support and articulation apparatus 51 actuates and returns segregating dispensing manifold 50 to a receiving position for the next mixed dose batch.

(46) As shown herein, segregating dispensing manifold 50 is formed as a rotating partial cylinder with an angular opening defining the receiving opening 52 and the plurality of partitions 53 at a dispensing opening 54. However, the invention is not limited to this shape but envisions any suitable shape or form effective to receive the mixed dose batch, divide or segregate the batch into equal portions through movement and dispense the equal portions of the mixed dose batch into receiving respective molds 112c, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention herein. While shown as a general cylindraceous shape, any angular polygon, or combined shape effective to achieve the distribution is envisioned herein.

(47) Referring additionally now to FIGS. 9A through 9C, a further alternative adaptive embodiment of the deposition arrangements for the geopolymer foam deposition and mixing system and apparatus 10, 10A are provided herein as 10B. Adaptively, a further adaptive mix containing cylinder 223 with a top opening 222a and a bottom opening 222b. A seal for the open bottom 222b is achieved with a sealing engagement with an operable releasable containment seal 410 as will be discussed herein and below, and which is actuated by a seal mechanism 415 positioned proximate to and operative with respective actuators 415a, 415b extending from fixed positions on mix containing cylinder 223 so as to release the operable releasable containment seal 410 for disbursement of the mixed batch from mix containing cylinder 223, as will be discussed further below.

(48) In this adaptive embodiment releasable containing seal 410 includes a sealing portion 400a directly below open bottom 222b and a dispensing portion 400b extending away from sealing bottom 222b so as to guide the mixed dose batch material outwardly from mix containment cylinder 223 as will be discussed. Within dispensing portion 400b are a series of partitions 53 at the exit of the releasable containing seal 410 which are effective to equally divide portions of the mixed dose batch according to the number of molds 112c in mold assembly 112.

(49) It will be appreciated by those of skill in this art having studied and comprehended the disclosure herein, that actuators 415a, 415b lower, to release the mixed dose batch from bottom opening 223b and pivot releasable containing seal 410 toward molds 112c. It will be further appreciated that releasable containing seal 410 is shaped with containing and guiding side walls (shown) with the series of partitions 53 at the dispensing portion 400b to guide the mixed dose batch. Accordingly, upon the pivot of releasable containing seal 410, the mixed dose batch exits open bottom 222b, is guided by the seal 410 and upon the tilting of seal 410, the mixed dose batch encounters partitions 53 dividing into equal portions to be dispensed into respective molds 112c.

(50) Additionally referring now to FIG. 10, adaptive embodiment of the deposition arrangements for the geopolymer foam deposition and mixing system and apparatus 10, 10A, 10B above are provided with a further adaptive embodiment 10C, wherein a mix containment cylinder 230 has an open top 222a and an open bottom 222b as shown and an adaptive releasable containing seal 450 having a sealing portion 400a directly below open bottom 222b and a dispensing portion 400b extending away from sealing bottom 222b so as to guide the mixed dose batch material outwardly from mix containment cylinder 230 as will be discussed. Releasable containing seal 450 is in the form of a high walled bin with side walls and an exit opening side, as shown.

(51) A quantity of partitions 53 are in the exit opening of releasable containing seal 450 and effectively divide portions of the mixed dose batch received into a plurality of equal portion so that the mixed dose batch is divided equally to meet the positioned open tops 112a of the plurality of molds 112c and fill the mold upon release of the releasable containing seal 450 by rotation about a pivot axis (shown) by a seal mechanism 440 positioned proximate to and operative with actuator 24 so as to release the operable releasable containment seal 450 for disbursement of the mixed batch in a controlled an uniform manner.

(52) As noted above, the production molds 12, 112, 112c in variable sizes and shapes depending upon batch formulation, expansion, and desired final shape after final curing. Similarly, the partitions 53 as shown herein and above, need not be shaped as dividing walls from a common volume but may be any suitable form or shape adapted to the scope and spirit herein, including but not limited to further channels, funnels, ports or tubes receiving equivalent portions of the mixed dose batch for disbursement. It will be further understood that the common bounded volume as noted in the rotating segregating dispensing manifold 50 may be considered the common bounded volume received in respective releasable containing seals 400, 410, 450 so that the mixed dose batch released from bottom openings 22b, 222b may be segregated and apportioned by partitions 53 into equivalent amounts for respective molds 12, 112, 112c without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

(53) It will be further appreciated by those of skill in the art having fully appreciated the disclosure herein that the respective partitions 53, of any suitable form, may be adapted to divide the mixed dose batch into non-equal but specific amounts, for example, a particular mold may be designated as receiving a multiple of the volume of the mixed does batch of an adjacent mold (for example, twice more or any other multiple) so that the respective partitions 53 may be designed by operators to divide the mixed dose batch for single batch dispensing as needed to meet production requirements according to the respective designated molds.

(54) It will be further appreciated by those of skill in the art herein having studied the disclosure herein that mix containment cylinder 22, 222, 2223, 230 is shown as a cylinder to aid in complete mixing (as discussed) but is not limited to such a geometry, and may instead may be provided in any suitable geometry, or series of geometries, wherein complete mixing of the mixed dose batch is achieved.

(55) For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional (up/down etc.) or motional (forward/back, etc.) terms may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope in any manner. It will also be understood that other embodiments may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention, and that the detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and that elements may be differently positioned, or otherwise noted as in the appended claims without requirements of the written description being required thereto.

(56) Also, the inventors intend that only those claims which use the specific and exact phrase means for are intended to be interpreted under 35 USC 112. The structure, device, and arrangement herein is noted and well supported in the entire disclosure. Moreover, no limitations from the specification are intended to be read into any claims, unless those limitations are expressly included in the claims.

(57) Having described at least one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent to those skills that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various modifications and variations can be made in the presently disclosed system without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure covers modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.