Ferrofluidics Corporation

George F Lewis

Jonathan A Talbott

Kedar Prasad Gupta

Jurek K Koziol

The present invention is directed toward a feeder system for replenishing the melt in a crystal growing system that utilizes a heated crucible containing a pool of melted charge material from which a seen is withdrawn to grow the crystal. The feed system utilizes a storage hopper for storing solid pellets of the charge material. The storage hopper is provided with an opening at the bottom thereof which allows pellets to flow out of the hopper. A rotating plate is provided below the opening for collecting pellets that flow from the opening and enables piles of pellets to be formed thereon. A wiper is provided that extends across a portion of the plate and, as the plate is rotated, contacts the pellet piles to wipe pellets off of the plate. Thereafter, the pellets are collected and sourced to the melt to accomplish replenishment thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Lowell, MA, United States of America

George F Lewis