Bulk material retrieval and transport system and methods
AssigneeOwens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
InventorsKirk Holmes, Steven Will, Manfred Robert Romstöck, Guenther Josef Mlynar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bulk material transport system includes one or more bulk material transport bins, weighing platforms, and vehicles arranged in various combinations as bulk material transporters, assemblies, and units. The system is useful for coupling with a bulk material container, forming a reduced pressure region at an inlet of the transport bin, and dispensing bulk material into the transport bin through the reduced pressure region.
Claims26
A bulk material transporter, comprising:
- a hollow transport bin having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet being located at a tapered bottom portion of the bin;
- an inlet closure having an open position for receiving bulk material and a closed position for blocking the inlet while not actively receiving bulk material;
- an outlet closure having an open position for discharging bulk material from the bin and a closed position blocking the outlet while not actively discharging bulk material;
- and
- a cradle that supports the bin in an upright orientation during receiving of bulk material through the inlet and discharging of bulk material through the outlet, wherein the cradle supports the bin along a perimeter of the bin,
- wherein at least a portion of a wall of the hollow transport bin is formed from a pliable material that is elastically deformable in a flexural mode such that, after being deformed from an original shape, the material returns to the original shape.
A bulk material transport unit, comprising:
- a table;
- a scale supported by the table;
- and
- a transport bin supported by the scale,
- wherein the table, scale, and transport bin are together moveable among a plurality of locations along a floor, and
- wherein the scale is in communication with a controller configured to receive information pertinent to an amount of bulk material contained by the transport bin and the table has downwardly extending legs spaced from each other to accommodate a lifting vehicle between said legs and beneath a deck of the table.
A bulk material transport unit, comprising:
- a table;
- a scale supported by the table;
- and
- a transport bin supported by the scale,
- wherein the table, scale, and transport bin are together moveable among a plurality of locations along a floor, and
- wherein the scale is in communication with a controller configured to receive information pertinent to an amount of bulk material contained by the transport bin,
- the transport unit further comprising locators to align the table with a vehicle configured to lift the table and scale for movement among said locations.
A material handling method, comprising:
- coupling a transport bin with a bulk material container;
- forming a reduced pressure region at least at an inlet of the transport bin;
- and
- dispensing bulk material from the bulk material container and into the transport bin through the reduced pressure region.
A material handling method comprising measuring an amount of glass feedstock dispensed from a bulk material storage container using a mobile scale.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.