Bucket distribution system
AssigneeMeyer Machine Company
InventorsJimmie F. Lassiter, Jr., David R. Slager
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bucket distribution system for receiving products at an infeed station and selectively discharging the products at a plurality of distribution stations. A plurality of buckets travel in a continuous path and each receive a predetermined portion of products at an infeed station. Bucket trip apparatus at each of the discharge stations selectively pivots the buckets in a direction opposite to the direction of bucket travel to cause the buckets to discharge products therein. Feeders at primary distribution stations are adapted to roll in and out of position for servicing. Products may recirculate within the system to thereby reduce the amount of products taken off-line.
Claims7
Apparatus for distributing products from an infeed station to a plurality of distribution stations, comprising:
- means for transporting a plurality of buckets in a continuous travel path, each of said buckets being adapted to receive a first predetermined portion of said products comprising a first amount of said products and a second predetermined portion comprising a second amount of said products in addition to said first amount;
- primary bucket trip means for pivoting selected ones of said buckets at each of said distribution stations to thereby discharge products within said buckets;
- and
- secondary bucket trip means for pivoting each of said buckets at an outlet station, said secondary bucket trip means being adapted to pivot said buckets so as to discharge products only from said buckets having said first and second portions of products therein, said secondary bucket trip means being further adapted to discharge only an amount of said products approximately equivalent to said second amount of said products.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.