US 10,245,472 B1 · Automatic anti-bridging device for use with a ball washer

Abstract

An agitator for use in agitating lightweight polymeric balls in conjunction with a ball washing device is disclosed and includes a base portion, a standing portion attached to the base portion, with the station portion oriented in a vertical direction and generally perpendicular to a horizontal plane formed by the base portion; a motor having a rotatable shaft, a linkage connected to the rotatable shaft, and a bumper connected to the linkage at a location different from the rotatable shaft; and a tubular member connected to the standing portion, the tubular member having an internal diameter that is generally free of obstructions, to facilitate passage of balls through said tubular member when the balls are subjected to a negative pressure differential within the tubular member for transport to a ball washer device.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising:

a base portion;
a standing portion attached to the base portion, wherein the standing portion is oriented in a vertical direction and generally perpendicular to a horizontal plane defined by the base portion;
a motor having a rotatable shaft, a linkage connected to the rotatable shaft, and a bumper connected to the linkage at a location removed from the rotatable shaft;
and
a tubular member connected to the standing portion and oriented generally perpendicular to and spaced from the horizontal plane formed by the base portion, said tubular member having an internal diameter that is generally free of obstructions to facilitate passage of spherical objects through said tubular member.

2 more elements

A method comprising the steps of:

placing an agitator apparatus in a confined space containing a plurality of polymeric balls;
agitating the balls with the agitator apparatus to create substantially continuously motion of the balls within a reach of the agitator apparatus;
subjecting one or more balls to an area of negative pressure sufficient to transport the one or more balls by vacuum to a ball washing device;
wherein the agitator apparatus comprises a base portion and a standing portion attached to the base portion, wherein the standing portion is oriented in a vertical direction and generally perpendicular to a horizontal plane defined by the base portion;
a motor having a rotatable shaft, linkage connected to the rotatable shaft, and a bumper connected to the linkage at a location removed from the rotatable shaft;
and a tubular member connected to the standing portion, said tubular member having an internal diameter generally free of obstructions to facilitate passage of the one or more balls through said tubular member.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automatic anti-bridging device for use with a ball washer

Life of this patent

Automatic anti-bridging device for use with a ball washer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20