Bin outlet inserts, and bin assembly systems and method employing such inserts

A bin outlet insert for a bin assembly having a circular outlet, the bin outlet insert comprising:

• a truncated conical top portion having a tapered internal surface extending from a circular top opening;
• and
• a bottom portion having a rectangular internal surface extending from a rectangular bottom opening,
• the bottom opening being within a perimeter of the top opening in plan view.

A bin system comprising:

• a cylindrical bin;
• a tapered hopper bottom arranged at a first end of the cylindrical bottom, the hopper bottom having a circular outlet;
• a slide gate coupled to the circular outlet and constructed to modulate material exiting the hopper bottom outlet by displacing to expose portions of the outlet;
• and
• a bin outlet insert disposed within the tapered hopper bottom adjacent to the circular outlet, the bin outlet insert having a rectangular opening disposed within the circular outlet,
• wherein the bin outlet insert is constructed to convey material in the cylindrical bin through the rectangular opening, thereby converting the circular outlet of the hopper bottom to a rectangular opening.

A method for proportioning material contained in a plurality of bin assemblies having circular outlets, the method comprising:

• into an interior volume of a tapered hopper bottom of each bin, inserting a bin outlet insert with a rectangular opening such that the hopper bottom outlet is converted from a circular to rectangular outlet;
• displacing a slide gate of each bin assembly with respect to the respective hopper bottom outlet to allow material contained therein to be discharged, the slide gate displacement having a linear correspondence to the amount of material discharged through the respective hopper bottom outlet;
• and
• combining the discharged materials together.