Flexible bulk container unloader
OwnerTimothy C. Bonerbinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved unloader for rigid or flexible bulk material containers having a side-mounted discharge. In addition to a forward tilting feature, the improved method and apparatus may have any combination of the following: an hydraulic rear tilt feature, hydraulic dump feature, hydraulic bag massage system, inflation system for the container discharge, screw feeder operation and safety controls, pivoting discharge connection flange, or massage arm system.
Claims6
An unloading apparatus for unloading bulk material containers having a side-mounted discharge mechanism comprising
- a substantially flat support platform having a front end and a back end opposite the front end,
- at least one front vertical support post secured to the support platform near the front end and at least one back vertical support post secured to the support platform near the back end for removably securing a bulk material container onto the support platform such that the container discharge mechanism is near the front end,
- a substantially rigid frame capable of supporting the support platform, support posts, and container,
- at least one cable restraint post secured near the back end of the platform,
- a restraint cable limit switch mechanism that is activated when a restraint cable to secure a bulk material container to the platform is secured to the cable restraint post, and
- an unloading mechanism for unloading the bulk material containers through the side-mounted discharge mechanism.
An unloading apparatus for unloading bulk material containers having a side-mounted discharge mechanism comprising
- a substantially flat support platform means having a front end and a back end opposite the front end,
- at least one front vertical support post means secured to the support platform means near the front end and at least one back vertical support post means secured to the support platform means near the back end for removably securing a bulk material container onto the support platform means such that the container discharge mechanism is near the front end,
- a substantially rigid frame means for supporting the support platform means, support post means, and container,
- at least one cable restraint post means secured near the back end of the support platform means,
- a restraint cable limit switch means that is activated when a cable restraint means to secure a bulk material container to the support platform means is secured to the cable restraint post means, and
- an unloading means for unloading the bulk material containers through the side-mounted discharge mechanism.
An unloading apparatus for unloading bulk material containers having a side-mounted discharge mechanism and cable restraint loops secured to the containers on a side opposite the side-mounted discharge mechanism comprising
- a substantially flat support platform having a front end and a back end opposite the front end,
- at least one front vertical support post secured to the support platform near the front end and at least one back vertical support post secured to the support platform near the back end for removably securing a bulk material container onto the support platform such that the container discharge mechanism is near the front end,
- a substantially rigid frame capable of supporting the support platform, support posts, and container,
- a first restraint cable having a first and second end affixed at the first end to the platform,
- a first coupling ring removably attached to the second end of the first restraint cable,
- a second restraint cable removably attached to the coupling ring, and removably attached to a cable restraint loop on the container,
- at least one cable restraint post secured near the back end of the platform,
- a second coupling ring removably secured to the cable restraint post,
- a restraint cable limit switch that is activated when the second restraint cable is secured to the cable restraint post, and
- an unloading mechanism for unloading the bulk material containers through the side-mounted discharge mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.