Particulate material mixing system
OwnerStephen J. Robisoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus of mixing particulate matter carried on a tray includes moving the tray onto a support structure which securely holds the tray, rotating the support structure, with tray, to an upside-down position over a bin, which is mounted in the support structure, so that the particulate material falls from the tray into the bin and mixing the particulate material in the bin. The support structure is then rotated, again with tray, to a rightside-up position, and the bin to an upside-down position, so that the particulate material falls from the bin back into the tray. The tray is then moved from off the support structure and the particulate material which is now mixed placed into use as desired by the user.
Claims14
A particulate material mixing system comprising
- a frame rotatable about a generally horizontal axis,
- carriage means mounted in the frame for receiving and holding a tray which carries particulate material,
- a bin mounted upside down in the frame above the carriage means to receive particulate material which falls from the tray as the frame and tray are rotated to an upside-down position, and to discharge particulate material back onto the tray as the frame and tray are rotated back to a rightside-up position,
- means for mixing particulate material received in the bin, and
- power means for selectively causing the frame to rotate from the rightside-up position to the upside-down position and vice-versa.
A system as in claim 8 wherein said stop means comprises bumpers located above the surface of the tray when the tray is disposed on the carriage means, to receive and support the tray when the frame is rotated upside down, and guides located at the sides of the tray when the tray is disposed on the carriage means to contact and prevent sideward movement of the tray when the frame is rotated.
A method of mixing particulate material carried on a tray comprising
- (a) moving the tray onto a support structure which securely holds the tray,
- (b) rotating the support structure, with tray, to an upside-down position over a bin so that the particulate material falls from the tray into the bin,
- (c) mixing the particulate material in the bin,
- (d) rotating the support structure, with tray, to a rightside-up position, and the bin to an upside-down position so that the particulate material falls from the bin back onto the tray, and
- (e) moving the tray from off the support structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.