Lift with automated dump

A material lift apparatus comprising a container,

• means for moving said container between a filling station in which material may be introduced into said container and a discharge station,
• means for supporting said container in a material containing upright condition while at said filling station and during movement from said filling station toward said discharge station,
• means responsive to movement of said container to said discharge station for pivoting said container to discharge material contained therein at said discharge station,
• said container pivoting means including a shaft fixed to said container, a sprocket fixed to said shaft, and a link chain mounted apart from said container in fixed relation adjacent to the path of movement of said container to said discharge station whereby as said container approaches said discharge station said sprocket engages said chain, causing rotation of said sprocket, shaft, and container,
• said container moving means including a ball screw, a ball nut mounted in operative engagement with said ball screw, and a drive motor for rotating said ball screw to move said ball nut,
• said supporting means including a container support plate fixed to and extending from one side of said ball nut, said container being supported for pivotal movement relative to said plate, and counter balance means affixed to the other side of said ball nut for preventing tipping of said support plate relative to said ball screw.

A material handling system comprising:

• a flow channel for a solids containing liquid flow stream,
• a screening device in said flow channel for removing solid materials from a flow stream,
• raking means for removing solids from said screening device,
• a lift apparatus including an open top container,
• means for raising said container from a filling station where solids from said raking device may be introduced into said container and a discharge station located in elevated relation to said filling station and for lowering said container from said discharge station to said filling station,
• means for supporting said container in a solids containing upright condition while at said filling station and during movement from said filling station toward said discharge station, and
• means responsive to movement of said container to said discharge station for pivoting said container to discharge solids contained therein at said discharge station, said pivoting means including a shaft fixed to said container, a sprocket fixed to said shaft, and a link chain mounted apart from said container in fixed relation adjacent to the path of movement of said container to said discharge station whereby as said container approaches said discharge station said sprocket engages said chain, causing rotation of said sprocket, shaft, and container.

A material lift apparatus comprising:

• a container,
• means for moving said container between a filling station in which material may be introduced into said container and a discharge station,
• means for supporting said container in a material containing upright condition while at said filling station and during movement from said filling station toward said discharge station,
• means responsive to movement of said container to said discharge station for pivoting said container to discharge material contained therein at said discharge station, and
• said container pivoting means including a shaft fixed to said container, a pair of sprockets affixed to opposite ends of said shaft, and a pair of link chains supported apart from said container in fixed relation adjacent to the path of movement of said container to said discharge station whereby as said container approaches said discharge station said sprockets simultaneously engage said chains, causing rotation of said sprockets, shaft, and container.

A material lift apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of material receiving containers,
• means for simultaneously moving said containers between a filling station in which material may be introduced into said containers and a discharge station,
• means for supporting said containers in a material containing upright conditions while at said filling station and during movement from said filling station toward said discharge station,
• means responsive to movement of said containers to said discharge station for simultaneously pivoting said containers to discharge materials contained therein, said container pivoting means including a respective shaft fixed to each said container, a sprocket fixed to each said shaft, and a link chain mounted apart from said containers in fixed relation adjacent to the path of movement of said containers to said discharge station whereby as said containers approach said discharge station the sprocket of the respective container engages said chain, causing rotation of the sprocket, the shaft upon which the sprocket is fixed, and the container, and
• said container moving means including a ball screw, a ball nut fixed to said supporting means and operatively engaging said ball screw, and a drive motor for rotating said ball screw to move said ball nut, supporting means, and containers relative to said ball screw.