High speed bag filler
AssigneeDCL, Inc.
InventorReinhard Matye
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for efficient filling of bulk containers with free-flowing bulk materials. The apparatus is configured to support multiple industrial containers and fill them with bulk materials stored in a batching hopper in an effective and expedient manner. The filled bulk material containers are transported away for storage or use. The apparatus includes a rotatable multi-container support assembly for rotating the empty containers into a filling station under the batching hopper. A controller and data logger may be provided to control the apparatus and record the type, quantity and/or weight of each batch of the bulk material dispensed into the industrial containers.
Claims20
An apparatus for filling a container with bulk material, the apparatus comprising:
- a bulk material supply structure having an outlet;
- a multi-container support assembly comprising:
- an upright rotary structure configured to rotate about an axis;
- and
- a multi-container support coupled to said rotary structure and having first and second end portions configured to support respective first and second bulk material containers, said end portions defining respective openings;
- and
- a fill spout assembly having a vertically retractable spout extending downwardly beneath said outlet of said bulk material supply structure, for directing the bulk material into the first or second container;
- wherein said multi-container support assembly is rotatable by said rotary structure such that the first and second containers are selectively positionable under said bulk material supply structure to receive a bulk material via said outlet;
- and
- wherein said vertically retractable spout is downwardly extendable relative to said outlet and said multi-container support to engage one of said end portions of said multi-container support at its opening during a filling operation through said opening, and upwardly retractable to disengage said multi-container support between filling operations.
A method for filling a container with a bulk material, said method comprising:
- filling a batching hopper with a batch of bulk material;
- installing a first container at a first end of a multi-container support assembly, with the first end in a container-loading position;
- rotating the multi-container support assembly to position the first container in a container-filling position under the batching hopper;
- lowering a retractable fill spout into engagement with a neck member of the multi-container support assembly;
- dispensing the batch of bulk material through the fill spout and neck member, and into the first container;
- raising the retractable fill spout to disengage the retractable fill spout from the neck member;
- installing a second container at a second end of the multi-container support assembly, with the second end in the container-loading position and with the first end in the container-filling position;
- discharging the first container from the first end;
- and
- rotating the multi-container support assembly to position the second container in the container-filling position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.