Agitation units and systems, and dispensing equipment equipped therewith
AssigneePerma-Green Supreme, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Beal, Thomas F. Jessen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An agitation unit for use in a lawn spreader and other dispensing equipment, and oscillating agitation systems therefor comprising such an agitation unit. The agitation unit includes a hub, an arm extending from the hub, and an extension on the arm configured to project downwardly to an extent relative to the arm and the hub to protrude into, but not through, the outlet passageway of the hopper.
Claims10
An oscillating agitation system for use in dispensing equipment comprising a hopper, an impeller located beneath the hopper and operable to spread a dry granular material deposited on an upper surface thereof, an outlet passageway in the hopper through which the granular material drops from the hopper onto the impeller, and a rotating shaft, the oscillating agitation system comprising:
- a cam on the rotating shaft;
- an agitation unit comprising a hub, an arm extending from the hub, and an extension of the arm configured to project downwardly to an extent relative to the arm and the hub to protrude into, but not through, the outlet passageway of the hopper;
- and
- a coupling unit for coupling the arm to the cam, the coupling unit converting a rotational motion of the cam into a clockwise and counter-clockwise oscillating motion of the extension in counter-clockwise and clockwise directions about the axis of the rotating shaft, the oscillating motion of the extension occurring only within the outlet passageway.
A dispensing equipment comprising a hopper, an impeller located beneath the hopper and operable to spread a dry granular material deposited on an upper surface thereof, an outlet passageway in the hopper through which the granular material drops from the hopper onto the impeller, a rotating shaft, and an oscillating agitation system comprising:
- a cam on the rotating shaft;
- an agitation unit comprising a hub, an arm extending from the hub, and an extension of the arm;
- and
- a coupling unit for coupling the arm to the cam, the coupling unit converting a rotational motion of the cam into a clockwise and counter-clockwise oscillating motion of the extension in counter-clockwise and clockwise directions about the axis of the rotating shaft, the oscillating motion of the extension occurring only within the outlet passageway;
- wherein the extension projects downwardly to an extent relative to the arm and the hub to protrude into, but not through, the outlet passageway of the hopper.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.