Truck loading apparatus and method
AssigneeGerber Products Company
InventorGlenn T. Conklin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for the high volume loading of produce or other material into a bulk container such as a truck or rail car. The invention includes an endless belt driven across the opening of a hopper, and a driven rotor assembly utilizing a series of semi-flexible loops to urge the material to be loaded into engagement with the belt. The radially disposed portions of these loops provides an essentially continuous yet flexible circumferential surface for contact with the material being moved. The cooperation of these loops with the belt gives the flexibility to accommodate various sizes of material, and yet provide sufficient contact with the material to forcefully and accurately propel it from a discharge chute into the bulk container.
Claims14
A material throwing apparatus comprising:
- inlet means for entry of the material into the apparatus;
- means, including a belt, for conveying said material along a path within the apparatus;
- a rotor assembly means, including a plurality of radially extending semi-flexible loops positioned adjacent one another wih adjacent loops supporting one another to reduce deflection of the loops in a rotary direction, the outer ends of said loops defining a flexible, circular, rotatable circumferential surface, a portion of which circumferential surface opposes a portion of the belt, for urging said material into contact with the belt;
- and
- discharge means for exit of said material from the apparatus.
A material throwing apparatus comprising:
- inlet means for entry of the material into the apparatus;
- means, including a belt, for conveying said material along a path within the apparatus;
- a rotatable rotor assembly including a plurality of radially extending, mutually supporting, semi-flexible loops defining a resilient, circular circumferential surface, a portion of said circumferential surface opposing a portion of said belt so to resiliently capture the material to be thrown therebetween;
- an arcuate back-up plate supporting at least a part of said belt portion so to prevent deflection of the belt at the back-up plate;
- and
- discharge means for exit of said material from the apparatus.
A method for loading fruit, vegetables or other material to a trailer or other bulk container comprising:
- placing said material onto a moving belt;
- urging said material into contact with said belt with a rotor assembly comprising a plurality of flexible loops mounted in a circular arrangement so that the outer ends of said loops form an essentially continuous circumferential surface for contacting the material to be moved;
- and
- discharging said material into the bulk container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.