Hydraulically operated batch-loader for dry mix concrete

Apparatus for batch-loading dry mix concrete, comprising a frame, ground supporting wheels pivotally mounted on said frame, hydraulic means for supporting said frame and providing upwardly retractile movement of the ground supporting wheels whereby said frame is held in operative position, scale means carried by said frame and adapted to measure the weight of the load and constituents per load, a hopper horizontally positioned on said scale while in load-receiving position and having side walls and a narrowing cross-section chute end adapted to serve as a dispensing chute while the container is raised and tipped on end, a first pair of beams having pivotal supports at one end of said frame and pivotally attached at the base of said container through an elongated slot, a second pair of beams also pivotally connected at the same end of said frame and said hopper at the end depending while the container is in raised position, a first hydraulic lift mechanism pivotally connected at the end of said frame adjacent the pivotal connection of said beams with said frame and having an elongatable piston including an articulated connection with said hopper at the end of said hopper which is depending while the hopper is in raised position, said lift mechanism being extendible to successively raise the hopper through composite vertically upward and tipping movements so that the tapered chute end of the hopper is first raised and then brought in a downward pointing direction, and a second hydraulic mechanism secured to said first mentioned beams and to said base of said container to effect additional movement of said container through the slotted connection and thereby effecting additional vertical orientation of said container whereby the contents of said container are dispensed through the chute.