Multi-stage ram assembly for product delivery
AssigneeTransportation IP Holdings, LLC
InventorsNathan Wells, Nathan Felix
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided herein is an assembly including a first ram that can move along a surface in a trough toward an outlet of the trough to move product toward the outlet; a second ram that can be engaged by the first ram as the first ram moves along the surface in the trough, the second ram can be moved toward the outlet of the trough by the first ram; and an actuator that can move the first ram along the surface toward the outlet of the trough. In some embodiments, the first ram may be located between the surface in the trough and the second ram. Optionally, the actuator can engage with and move the first ram.
Claims18
An assembly comprising:
- a first ram configured to move along a surface in a trough toward an outlet of the trough to move product toward the outlet, the first ram comprising an engagement surface positioned at an end of the first ram;
- a second ram configured to be engaged by the engagement surface of the first ram as the first ram moves along the surface in the trough, the second ram configured to be moved toward the outlet of the trough by the engagement surface of the first ram;
- and
- an actuator configured to move the first ram along the surface toward the outlet of the trough.
A method comprising:
- moving a first ram along a surface in a trough toward an outlet of the trough;
- engaging a second ram with an engagement surface positioned at an end of the first ram as the first ram moves along the surface;
- moving both the first ram and the second ram along the surface following engagement of the second ram by the engagement surface of the first ram;
- and
- moving product in the trough toward the outlet using the first ram and the second ram.
A system comprising:
- a trough having a ramp surface leading to an outlet of the trough, the trough shaped to hold a product that is shaped to be moved from the trough via the outlet;
- and
- a single actuator, dual ram assembly operably coupled with the tough, the assembly comprising:
- a lower ram configured to move along the ramp surface in the trough toward the outlet of the trough to move the product toward the outlet, the lower ram comprising an engagement surface positioned at an end of the lower ram;
- an upper ram configured to be engaged by the engagement surface of the lower ram as the lower ram moves along the ramp surface, the upper ram configured to be moved toward the outlet of the trough by the engagement surface of the lower ram;
- and
- an actuator configured to push the lower ram along the ramp surface toward the outlet of the trough and to pull the lower ram along the ramp surface away from the outlet of the trough.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.