Bulk material receiving, conveying, storing, and dispensing

A bulk material dispenser, comprising:

• a dosing assembly comprising a dispenser inlet configured for coupling with and receiving bulk material from an outlet of a bulk material storage container;
• a docking assembly comprising a dispenser outlet configured for coupling with and discharging the bulk material into a transport bin, wherein the dispenser outlet is moveable toward and away from the dosing assembly to couple with and decouple from the transport bin;
• the dosing assembly further comprising a conveyor that moves bulk material received at the dispenser inlet toward the dispenser outlet;
• and
• a filter assembly configured to filter solids from air displaced from the transport bin during dispenser operation,
• wherein the docking assembly comprises an inlet coupled with an outlet of the dosing assembly and an actuator that moves the dispenser outlet with respect to the docking assembly inlet.

A bulk material dispenser, comprising:

• a dosing assembly comprising a dispenser inlet configured for coupling with and receiving bulk material from an outlet of a bulk material storage container;
• a docking assembly comprising a dispenser outlet configured for coupling with and discharging the bulk material into a transport bin, wherein the dispenser outlet is moveable toward and away from the dosing assembly to couple with and decouple from the transport bin;
• the dosing assembly further comprising a conveyor that moves bulk material received at the dispenser inlet toward the dispenser outlet;
• and
• a filter assembly configured to filter solids from air displaced from the transport bin during dispenser operation,
• wherein an inlet of the filter assembly is coupled with an internal volume of the docking assembly so that an internal pressure of said internal volume is less than atmospheric pressure when the dispenser is coupled with the transport bin,
• the bulk material dispenser further comprising an adjustable vent that permits air flow into said internal volume, wherein adjustment of the vent changes said internal pressure.

A bulk material dispenser, comprising:

• a dispenser inlet configured for coupling with and receiving bulk material from an outlet of a bulk material storage container;
• a dispenser outlet configured for coupling with and discharging the bulk material into a transport bin;
• a screw conveyor comprising a screw having a first flight that moves bulk material received at the dispenser inlet in a first direction toward the dispenser outlet;
• and
• a filter assembly configured to filter solids from air displaced from the transport bin during dispenser operation,
• wherein the filter assembly comprises a solids outlet coupled with the conveyor,
• wherein the solids filtered from the air in the filter assembly are routed to the conveyor for movement toward the dispenser outlet, and
• wherein the screw comprises a second flight that moves filtered solids in a second direction, opposite from the first direction, from the solids outlet toward the dispenser outlet.

A bulk material dispenser, comprising:

• a dosing assembly comprising a dispenser inlet configured for coupling with and receiving bulk material from an outlet of a bulk material storage container;
• a docking assembly comprising a dispenser outlet configured for coupling with and discharging the bulk material into a transport bin, wherein the dispenser outlet is moveable toward and away from the dosing assembly to couple with and decouple from the transport bin;
• the dosing assembly further comprising a conveyor that moves bulk material received at the dispenser inlet toward the dispenser outlet;
• and
• a filter assembly configured to filter solids from air displaced from the transport bin during dispenser operation,
• wherein the docking assembly further comprises a collapsible sleeve extending between a receiving portion and a docking portion of the docking assembly and defining an internal volume of the docking assembly that changes with movement of the receiving portion relative to the docking portion,
• the docking assembly further comprising a vacuum port in fluidic communication with the internal volume defined by the collapsible sleeve to reduce an internal pressure of the internal volume when the docking portion is in contact with the transport bin and a negative pressure is applied at the vacuum port.

A bulk material handling method, comprising:

• coupling an outlet of a bulk material dispenser with a transport bin to form a closure at an inlet of the transport bin and place an inside of the transport bin in communication with the dispenser;
• receiving bulk material in the dispenser from a bulk material storage container;
• forming a reduced pressure region in an internal volume of the dispenser;
• dispensing the bulk material from the dispenser and into the transport bin through the reduced pressure region, wherein the reduced pressure region is provided by a filter assembly such that air displaced from the transport bin during the dispensing is received in the filter assembly;
• and
• filtering solids from the air received in the filter assembly.