Device for feeding corn

A device for feeding corn ears, comprising:

• a vibratory trough feeder comprising a stationary frame, a pan having an ear receiving surface, a plurality of resilient members connected to the stationary frame and pan, means for causing the pan to vibrate including a two mass vibratory shaker, means for causing the ears to align substantially end to end in a direction of travel of the ears into a plurality of spaced apart lanes;
• a receiving conveyor having an endless moving member for receiving ears of corn, the endless moving member moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lanes;
• means for aligning a group of ears comprising up to one ear advancing from each lane, in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of the ears in the lanes as the ears exit from the lanes;
• means for suspending the aligned group of ears above the receiving conveyor;
• means for simultaneously transferring the group of ears into the means for suspending the ears above the receiving conveyor;
• and
• means for causing the entire group of ears suspended above the receiving conveyor to drop substantially transversely onto a surface of the receiving conveyor.

A device for depositing a plurality of elongated objects transversely onto a receiving conveyor, comprising:

• delivery means for delivering a substantially continuous stream of elongated objects substantially end-to-end in a plurality of lanes, the delivery means comprising a vibratory feeder including:
• a vibrating pan having a substantially flat first end section, a corrugated central section having a plurality of valleys, wherein each valley defines one of the lanes;
• and a declining section;
• means for recycling elongated objects which have a position on the pan other than within one of the lanes as the objects exit the corrugated central section;
• suspending means for suspending a leading group of spaced apart elongated objects exiting the delivery means directly above a receiving conveyor;
• means for aligning in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of the objects in the lanes the leading group of elongated objects as the objects exit the lanes, and for transferring the aligned group of objects to the suspending means at substantially the same time wherein each group includes up to one object exiting each lane;
• and
• means for transferring the suspended group of elongated objects to the receiving conveyor having a receiving surface which moves in a direction substantially transverse to a direction of travel of the elongated objects in the lanes.

A device for depositing a plurality of elongated objects transversely onto a receiving conveyor, comprising:

• delivery means for delivering a substantially continuous stream of the elongated objects substantially end-to-end in a plurality of lanes;
• suspending means for suspending a leading group of spaced apart elongated objects exiting the delivery means directly above a receiving conveyor, the suspending means including a group of elongated drop gates, each drop gate including a stationary frame, and at least one moving member mounted for pivotal movement to the frame, wherein each drop gate is aligned with a lane;
• means for aligning in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of the objects in the lanes the leading group of elongated objects as the objects exit the lanes, and for transferring the aligned group of objects to the suspending means at substantially the same time, each drop gate of the suspending means sized and shaped to receive one of the elongated objects from the means for aligning and each group including up to one object exiting each lane;
• and
• means for transferring the suspended group of elongated objects to the receiving conveyor having a receiving surface which moves in a direction substantially transverse to a direction of travel of the elongated objects in the lanes.

A device for depositing a plurality of elongated objects transversely onto a receiving conveyor, comprising:

• delivery means for delivering a substantially continuous stream of elongated objects substantially end-to-end in a plurality of lanes;
• suspending means for suspending a leading group of spaced apart elongated objects exiting the delivery means directly above a receiving conveyor;
• means for aligning in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of the objects in the lanes the leading group of elongated objects as the objects exit the lanes, and for transferring the aligned group of objects to the suspending means at substantially the same time wherein each group includes up to one object exiting each lane;
• means for transferring the suspended group of elongated objects to the receiving conveyor having a receiving surface which moves in a direction substantially transverse to a direction of travel of the elongated objects in the lanes;
• and
• a boost roller located between said delivery means and said means for transferring the suspended group of elongated objects, wherein said boost roller is mounted for rotation on a stationary frame having a height adjustment.

A device for feeding corn ears, comprising:

• a vibratory trough feeder comprising a stationary frame, a pan having an ear receiving surface, a plurality of resilient members connected to the stationary frame and pan, means for causing the pan to vibrate, means for causing the ears to align substantially end to end in direction of travel of the ears into a plurality of spaced apart lanes;
• a receiving conveyor having an endless moving member for receiving ears of corn, the endless moving member moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lanes;
• means for aligning a group of ears comprising up to one ear advancing from each lane, in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of the ears in the lanes as the ears exit from the lanes;
• means for suspending the aligned group of ears above the receiving conveyor, the means for suspending comprising a plurality of hinged drop gates, each drop gate comprising a first and second leaf, each leaf including hinge means, the means for suspending further comprising a drop gate shaft fixedly mounted onto a stationary frame, wherein the hinge means of the first and second leafs are mounted onto said shaft;
• means for simultaneously transferring the group of ears into the means for suspending the ears above the receiving conveyor;
• and
• means for causing the entire group of ears suspended above the receiving conveyor to drop substantially transversely onto a surface of the receiving conveyor.

A device for feeding corn ears, comprising:

• a vibratory trough feeder comprising a stationary frame, a pan having an ear receiving surface, a plurality of resilient members connected to the stationary frame and pan, means for causing the pan to vibrate including a two mass vibratory shaker, means for causing the ears to align substantially end to end in a direction of travel of the ears into a plurality of spaced apart lanes;
• a receiving conveyor having an endless moving member for receiving ears of corn, the endless moving member moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lanes;
• means for aligning a group of ears comprising up to one ear advancing from each lane, in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of the ears in the lanes as the ears exit from the lanes;
• means for suspending the aligned group of ears above the receiving conveyor;
• means for simultaneously transferring the group of ears into the means for suspending the ears above the receiving conveyor, the means for simultaneously transferring comprising an eccentric conveyor, the eccentric conveyor including a pair of spaced apart substantially parallel first and second drive shafts and a plurality of eccentric pulleys mounted onto said drive shafts, at least one pulley of the first drive shaft and a pulley of the second drive shaft laying in a common plane;
• and
• means for causing the entire group of ears suspended above the receiving conveyor to drop substantially transversely onto a surface of the receiving conveyor.

A device for feeding corn ears, comprising:

• a vibratory trough feeder comprising a stationary frame, a pan having an ear receiving surface, a plurality of resilient members connected to the stationary frame and pan, means for causing the pan to vibrate, means for causing the ears to align substantially end to end in a direction of travel of the ears into a plurality of spaced apart lanes;
• a receiving conveyor having an endless moving member for receiving ears of corn, the endless moving member moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lanes;
• means for separating the ears traveling in the lanes, the means for separating the ears traveling in the lanes including a retention device, the retention device comprising a shaft pivotally mounted onto a base frame such that the shaft is disposed transverse across the lanes and a body mounted on the shaft, the body being of a size which when in a first position prevents a flow of ears in said lanes, and when in a second position allows the ears to flow;
• means for aligning a group of ears comprising up to one ear advancing from each lane, in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of the ears in the lanes as the ears exit from the lanes;
• means for suspending the aligned group of ears above the receiving conveyor;
• means for simultaneously transferring the group of ears into the means for suspending the ears above the receiving conveyor;
• and
• means for causing the entire group of ears suspended above the receiving conveyor to drop substantially transversely onto a surface of the receiving conveyor.