Storage apparatus for bulk material, in particular wood chips, and a filling method

A storage apparatus for bulk material, comprising:

• a bunker for receiving the bulk material,
• a conveyor apparatus for transporting the bulk material,
• a displacement device for displacement of the conveyor apparatus,
• a control for controlling the conveyor apparatus and the displacement device, and
• at least one sensor unit communicating with the control,
• wherein the conveyor apparatus, the displacement device, the control and the sensor unit cooperate in such a way that:
• (a) the bulk material is distributed within the bunker by the conveyor apparatus,
• (b) the sensor unit detects a filling level height of the bulk material within the bunker and provides a corresponding signal, and
• (c) the control controls a position and a direction of travel of the conveyor apparatus corresponding to the signal of the sensor unit.

A method of controlling uniform filling of a bunker of a storage apparatus, wherein the storage apparatus includes:

• a bunker for receiving a bulk material, and
• a conveyor apparatus for transporting the bulk material, which is displaceable by a displacement device, and a reversible drive for transporting the bulk material in a first direction (A) and in a second opposite direction (B),
• the method comprising:
• (a) introducing bulk material into the bunker,
• (b) ascertaining a filling level height of the bulk material in the bunker by at least one sensor unit,
• (c) actuating the displacement device of the conveyor apparatus for moving the conveyor apparatus into a first position for setting a discharge position for the bulk material, and
• (d) actuating the reversible drive of a conveyor belt of the conveyor apparatus in a first direction of travel for setting a discharge position for the bulk material.