Method and apparatus for unloading powder coating material from a drum shaped container

Abstract

An apparatus and method for unloading powder from a drum shaped container permits the container to be loaded vertically onto an unlaoding assembly but then supported in a tilted unloading position while the container is being rolled about its axis. A cover assembly is secured to the top end of the container. The cover has channels on its interior surface disposed about a central opening. The cover rolls with the drum. The cover assembly has a central outlet tube from the central opening and a bearing assembly mounted to the outlet tube. The bearing assembly includes a tongue which is supported in a fixed position as the drum is rolled to receive powder deposited on the tongue from the channels. A bleed tube blows powder from the tongue into the inlet of a pump mounted to the bearing assembly to pump powder from the drum. A second embodiment is directed to a system for automatically transferring drum shaped containers fitted with the cover assembly to an unloading station where the container is supported with an axis therethrough tilted with respect to horizontal. Powder is evacuated from within container while the container is being rolled. Then, each drum-shaped container is individually transferred from unloading station.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.