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US 2016/0037727 A1Published application
Grain Bag Unloading Device
OwnerLee Zastrow, Rex Zastrowinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A grain bag unloading device which is compact and reduces farm operating expenses by unloading grain from an elongated grain bag to a position adjacent to the grain bag such that the grain may be further moved using an existing grain elevator or the like. The device includes a spool coupled to a frame. An actuator rotates the spool to pull a grain bag onto the spool. Wheels facilitate movement of the frame as the grain bag is pulled onto the spool. A gathering mechanism urges grain in the grain bag towards a collection area. A first end of a collector is operationally coupled to the gathering mechanism such that the collector is dispenses the grain from the collection area.
Claims19
A grain bag unloading device comprising:
- a frame;
- a spool, said spool being coupled to said frame, said spool being rotatable wherein said spool is configured for engaging and rolling a grain bag onto said spool, said frame being urged towards a distal end of the grain bag by rotation of said spool;
- a gathering mechanism coupled to said frame such that said gathering mechanism is configured for positioning in the grain bag to gather grain into a collection area, said spool being elevated relative to said gathering mechanism;
- a collector coupled to said frame, said collector having a first end operationally coupled to said gathering mechanism such that said collector is configured for collecting the grain from the collection area and into said first end, said collector having a second end positioned in spaced relationship to said first end wherein said collector is configured for dispensing the grain outside of the grain bag;
- and
- a bar positioned between said gathering mechanism and said spool such that said bar is configured to support a section of the grain bag at an inclined angle extending upwardly and away from the gathering mechanism and towards the spool such that grain is on the grain bag between said gathering mechanism and said bar is gravitationally urged towards said gathering mechanism.
3 more elements
(canceled)
(canceled)
A grain bag unloading device comprising:
- a frame:
- a pair of spools, each said spool being coupled to said frame, each said spool being rotatable wherein said spools are configured for engaging and rolling a grain bag onto said spools;
- a pair of wheels coupled to said frame wherein said frame is configured to move towards a distal end of the grain bag relative to the frame as the grain bag is pulled onto said spools;
- a gathering mechanism coupled to said frame such that said gathering mechanism is configured for positioning in the grain bag to gather grain into a collection area;
- a collector coupled to said frame, said collector having a first end operationally coupled to said gathering mechanism such that said collector is configured for collecting the grain from the collection area and into said first end, said collector having a second end positioned in spaced relationship to said first end wherein said collector is configured for dispensing the grain outside of the grain bag;
- and
- a pair of ratchet mechanisms, each said ratchet mechanism being coupled to an associated one of said spools such that said ratchet mechanism prevents said associated spool from rotating in a reverse direction.
4 more elements
A grain bag unloading device comprising:
- a frame;
- a pair of spools, each said spool being coupled to said frame, each said spool being rotatable wherein said spools are configured for engaging and rolling a grain bag onto said spools, each of said spools being independently rotatable, each of said spools being rotatable at a variable speed;
- a pair of wheels coupled to said frame wherein said frame is configured to move towards a distal end of the grain bag relative to the frame as the grain bag is pulled onto said spools;
- a gathering mechanism coupled to said frame such that said gathering mechanism is configured for positioning in the grain bag to gather grain into a collection area, said gathering mechanism being a pair of augers, said collection area being positioned between said augers, said augers being linearly aligned, each said spool being elevated relative to said gathering mechanism;
- a collector coupled to said frame, said collector having a first end operationally coupled to said gathering mechanism such that said collector is configured for collecting the grain from the collection area and into said first end, said collector having a second end positioned in spaced relationship to said first end wherein said collector is configured for dispensing the grain outside of the grain bag, said collector being a paddle conveyor;
- and
- a bar positioned between said gathering mechanism and each said spool such that said bar is configured to support a section of the grain bag at an inclined angle extending upwardly and away from the gathering mechanism and towards each said spool such that grain supported on the section of the grain bag is gravitationally urged towards said gathering mechanism;
- a splitter coupled to said frame such that said splitter is configured to engage and split the grain bag into respective portions engaged by each said spool;
- an actuator operationally coupled to each said spool such that said actuator rotates each said spool;
- and
- a pair of ratchet mechanisms, each said ratchet mechanism being coupled to an associated one of said spools such that said ratchet mechanism prevents said associated spool from rotating in a reverse direction, each said ratchet mechanism comprising
- a ratchet gear being coupled to said associated one of said spools, each ratchet gear having a plurality of notches, and
- a pawl being coupled to said frame and positioned to engage said ratchet gear, said notches being spaced such that engagement of each notch by said pawl corresponds to between 7 and 14 centimeters of forward movement of said frame.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.