Image Number 4 for United States Patent #4876043.
Methods and apparatus for feeding raw polymeric material in pellet form from a hopper into the input opening of an injection molding machine. The apparatus includes a carriage for supporting the hopper upright and a track assembly to which the carriage is slidably connected for allowing repositioning of the hopper. The track assembly includes a feed port arranged so that when the carriage is positioned aligned with the feed port, the raw material flows due to gravity from the hopper, through the feed port and into the machine. A preferred embodiment includes a dual-hopper transport having two carriages slidably mounted on a single track assembly. Cleanout ports are provided in the track assembly for discharging unused raw materials from the hopper.
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