US 6,179,021 B2Granted

Loading system with movable divider mechanism

OwnerRobert M. McFallinventor

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Abstract

A material transfer system for loading a pair of spaced, open-topped receptacles with a material capable of gravitationally flowing toward the open-topped receptacles from a source along a material flow path having a segment along which the material falls downwardly utilizes an elongated support frame mounted adjacent the receptacles and a divider mechanism which is positionable in vertical registry with and thereby covers the spacing defined between the two receptacles. A motor is drivingly connected to the divider mechanism for moving the mechanism along the length of the support frame and into a position at which the divider mechanism is positionable in vertical registry with the segment of the material path through which the material falls downwardly. Therefore, when the spacing defined between the receptacles is moved into vertical registry with the segment of the material flow path through which the material falls downwardly, the divider mechanism is also positionable in registry with the segment of the material flow path through which the material falls downwardly so that the material is prevented from falling into the spacing by the divider mechanism.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A material transfer system for loading a pair of spaced receptacles with a material capable of gravitationally flowing toward the receptacles from a source and wherein the material which is gravitationally directed toward the receptacles moves unhaltingly along a path between the source and the receptacles which has a segment through which the material falls downwardly, and the spaced receptacles to be loaded define a spacing therebetween which is movable into vertical registry with the segment of the material flow path through which the material falls unhaltingly downwardly, the transfer system comprising:

an elongated support frame mounted adjacent the receptacles;
a divider mechanism providing two downwardly-directed flow-directing surfaces which are joined together at an apex and which diverge from one another as paths are traced downwardly along the flow-directing surfaces from the apex, and each flow-directing surface terminates at a discharge end from which material which falls upon the flow-directing surfaces is permitted to fall therefrom and move toward one of the receptacles to be loaded;
means for mounting the divider mechanism along the support frame for movement along the length thereof and into and out of a position at which the divider mechanism spans and thereby covers the spacing defined between the two receptacles;
and
means for moving the divider mechanism along the length of the support frame and into a position at which the divider mechanism is positionable in vertical registry with the segment of the material path through which the material falls unhaltingly downwardly so that when the spacing defined between the receptacles is moved in vertical registry with the segment of the material flow path through which the material falls unhaltinaly downwardly, the divider mechanism is positionable in registry with the segment of the material flow path through which the material falls unhaltingly downwardly so that the material is prevented from falling into the spacing by the divider mechanism.

2 more elements

A system for loading a pair of spaced, open-topped receptacles with particulate or other fluid material which is gravitationally directed toward the open tops of the receptacles from a source and wherein the material which is gravitationally directed toward the receptacles moves unhaltingly along a path between the source and the receptacles which has a segment through which the material falls freely and unhaltingly downwardly, and the spaced receptacles to be loaded define a spacing therebetween which is movable into vertical registry with the segment of the material flow path through which the material falls freely and unhaltingly downwardly, the system comprising:

a elongated support frame positioned adjacent the spaced receptacles to be loaded;
a divider mechanism including means providing two flow-directing surfaces for accepting material falling therein along the segment of the material flow path through which the material falls freely downwardly, each flow-directing surface having a top and a lower discharge edge and the tops of the two flow-directing surfaces are joined together at an apex, and the lower discharge edges of the flow-directing surfaces are spaced from one another;
means for mounting the divider mechanism upon the support frame for movement along the length thereof and so that the divider mechanism is positionable in vertical registry with the segment of the material flow path along which the material is permitted to fall downwardly;
and
means for moving the divider mechanism along the length of the support frame to accommodate movement of the flow-directing surfaces into and out of registry with the segment of the material flow path through which the material falls freely and unhaltingly downwardly so that when the spacing defined between the receptacles is moved into vertical registry with the segment of the material flow path through which the material falls unhaltingly downwardly and the divider mechanism is positionable into registry with the segment of the material flow path through which the material falls unhaltingly downwardly, the falling material is prevented from falling into the spacing by the divider mechanism.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.