Discharge apparatus
AssigneeProcess Link Limited
InventorGeorge William Snape
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A discharge apparatus for use with a bulk container of the kind having an outlet through which product is to be dispensed. The apparatus has an inlet end, an outlet end and a wall extending between said inlet end and said outlet end. The apparatus is configured for directing a flow of product from an outlet of a bulk container, and is further configured to permit relative movement between said inlet end and said outlet end between a retracted position and an extended position. The outlet end may take the form of a plate for supporting the lower end of the bulk container. The plate may be vibrated for assisting discharge of product from the bulk container.
Claims13
A discharge assembly for use with a bulk container of the kind having an outlet through which product is to be dispensed, the discharge assembly comprising:
- a frame;
- a support plate supported on the frame;
- and
- a vibration unit for selectively vibrating said support plate;
- wherein the support plate is flat and intended for supporting the lower end of a bulk container thereon, the support plate having an aperture which defines an outlet region through which the outlet of a bulk container is intended to extend, in use;
- and
- wherein the frame comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is arranged above the second part, in use, so that an upper end of a bulk container can be attached to the upper end of the first part of the frame, with the outlet of the bulk container intended to extend through the outlet region of the support plate on the second part of the frame;
- further wherein the discharge assembly is configured for raising the first part of the frame in an upward direction, in use, such that a distance between said upper end of the first part of the frame and the support plate on the second part of the frame can be increased during raising of the first part of the frame in said upward direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.