US 6,439,667 B1Granted

Container dumping apparatus

OwnerAaron J. Weets, Dennis C. Weetsinventors

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Abstract

This invention relates generally to automated dumping or emptying of filled containers and specifically to the dumping of harvested fruit contained within a gondola with the apparatus of this invention automating the emptying of a fruit filled gondola into a truck or other receiving container or structure. The invention is the movement of the gondola from an upright position to a position displaced from the vertical which is away from the apparatus of the invention and toward a container into which the gondola contents are to be dumped. A lifting and tipping support frame pivotally receives the gondola. The lifting and tipping support frame is composed in part by lifting arms which are interconnected with stabilizing arms of differing lengths with the upper or top stabilizing arm longer than the lower or bottom stabilizing arm. A stationary post is welded to a container dumping frame. The top and bottom stabilizing arms are pivotally affixed by journals at the lifting arm and at the stationary post. The distance between journals at the stationary post is greater than the distance at the lifting arm, The difference in lengths of the stabilizing arms and the difference in distance between journals causes the lifting arm, when the assembly is raised by lifting, to tip away from the vertical and Out and away from the container dumping frame. At the maximum height of the lift the container or gondola is rotated about the top of the lifting arm into a position allowing the gondola contents to be discharged.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A Container Dumping Apparatus comprising:

A. a lifting and tipping assembly having a lifting and tipping support frame;
the lifting and tipping support frame having first and second lifting arms 10, 20;
said first and second lifting arms 10, 20 having first and second lifting arm tops 12, 22 and first and second lifting arm bottoms 14, 24;
B. the lifting and tipping assembly 5 additionally comprised of first and second stationary post 30, 40 having first and second stationary post tops 32, 42 and first and second stationary post bottoms 34, 44;
the apparatus having a container dump frame 120;
the first and second stationary posts 30, 40 rigidly affixed by fixing means, upright, at the container dump frame 120 at the first and second stationary post bottoms 34, 44,
C. first and second top stabilizing arms 60, 70, having lengths L1 between first and second top stabilizing arm first apertures 64, 74 and second apertures 68, 78;
first and second bottom stabilizing arms 80, 90, having lengths L2 between first and second bottom stabilizing arm first apertures 84, 94 and second apertures $8, 98, the first and second top stabilizing arm first apertures 64, 74 and second apertures 68, 78 rotatably affixed respectively at the first and second stationary posts 30, 40 intermediate said first and second stationary post tops and bottoms 32, 34 and 42, 44;
the first and second bottom stabilizing arm first apertures 84, 94 and second apertures 88, 98 rotatably affixed respectively at the first and second lifting arms 10, 20 intermediate said first and second top stabilizing arm first and second ends 62, 72 and second ends 66, 76 and first and second lifting arm bottoms 14, 24;
D. the length of the first and second top stabilizing alms L1 greater than the length of the first and second bottom stabilizing arms L2;
the distance d1, between top and bottom stabilizing arm first apertures 64, 84 and 74, 94 at the first and second stationary posts 30, 40 greater than the distance d2 between top and bottom stabilizing arm second apertures 68, 88 and 78, 98 at the first and second lifting arms 10, 20;
E. a container is secured to the lifting and tipping support frame by rotatable means;
the lifting and tipping support frame is lifted by lifting means;
the container is rotated by rotating means.

11 more elements

A Container Dumping Apparatus comprising:

A. a lifting and tipping assembly having a lifting and tipping support frame;
the lifting and tipping support frame having one or a plurality of lifting arms having lifting arm tops and bottoms;
B. the lifting and tipping assembly 5 additionally comprised of one or a plurality of stationary post having stationary post tops and bottoms;
the apparatus having a container dump frame 120;
the one or a plurality of stationary posts rigidly affixed by fixing means, upright, at the container dump frame 120 at the one or a plurality of stationary post bottoms;
C. one or a plurality of top stabilizing arms having lengths L1 between top stabilizing arm first apertures and second apertures;
one or a plurality of bottom stabilizing arms having lengths L2 between bottom stabilizing arm first apertures and second apertures;
the one or a plurality of top stabilizing arm first apertures and second apertures rotatably affixed respectively at the one or a plurality of stationary posts intermediate said one or a plurality of stationary post tops and bottoms;
the one or a plurality of bottom stabilizing arm first apertures and second apertures rotatably affixed respectively at the one or a plurality of lifting arms intermediate said one or a plurality of top stabilizing arm first ends and second ends and the one or a plurality of lifting arm bottoms;
D. the length of the one or a plurality of top stabilizing arms L1 greater than the length of the one or a plurality of second bottom stabilizing arms L2;
the distance d1 between the one or a plurality of top and bottom stabilizing arm first apertures at the one or a plurality of stationary posts greater than the distance d2 between the one or a plurality of top and bottom stabilizing arm second apertures at the one or a plurality of lifting arms;
E. a container is secured to the lifting and tipping support frame by rotatable means;
the lifting and tipping support frame is lifted by lifting means;
the container is rotated by rotating means.

11 more elements

A Container Dumping Apparatus comprising:

A. a lifting and tipping assembly having a lifting and tipping support frame:
the lifting and tipping support frame having first and second lifting arm 10, 20, said first and second lifting arms 10, 20 having first and second lifting arm tops 12, 22 and first and second lifting arms bottoms 14, 24;
B. the lifting and tipping assembly 5 additionally comprised of first and second stationary post 30, 40 having first and second stationary post tops 32, 42 and first and second stationary post bottoms 34, 44;
the apparatus having a container dump frame 120;
the first and second stationary posts 30, 40 rigidly affixed by fixing means, upright, at the container dump frame 120 at the first and second stationary post bottoms 34, 44;
C. first and second top stabilizing arms 60, 70, having lengths L1 between first and second top stabilizing arm first apertures 64, 74 and second apertures 68, 78;
first and second bottom stabilizing arms 80, 90, having lengths L2, having first and second bottom stabilizing arm first apertures 84, 94 and second apertures 88, 98;
the first and second top stabilizing arm first apertures 64, 74 and second apertures 68, 78 rotatably affixed respectively at the first and second stationary posts 30, 40 intermediate said first and second stationary post tops and bottoms 32, 34 and 42, 44;
the first and second bottom stabilizing arm first apertures 84, 94 and second apertures 88, 98 rotatably affixed respectively at the first and second lifting arms 10, 20 intermediate said first and second top stabilizing arm first and second ends 62, 72 and second ends 66, 76 and first and second lifting arm bottoms 14, 24;
D. the length of the first and second top stabilizing arms L1 less than the length of the first and second bottom stabilizing arms L2;
the distance d1 between top and bottom stabilizing arm first apertures 64, 84 and 74, 94 at the first and second stationary posts 30, 40 less than the distance d2 between top and bottom stabilizing arm second apertures 68, 88 and 78, 98 at the first and second lifting arms 10, 20,
E. a container is secured to the lifting and tipping support frame by rotatable means;
the lifting and tipping support frame is lifted by lifting means;
the container is rotated by rotating means.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.