Silo for storing and controlled supply of empty light containers, and method for using such silo
OwnerJaime Marti-Salainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A silo bin is adapted for receiving lightweight articles such as empty bottles. The floor of each chamber has a selectively operable shutter or aperture allowing the lightweight articles to be released into the next lowest bin such that the articles are not crushed by their own weight. The height of each chamber is predetermined so that the lightweight articles will not be damaged when piled in a heap in each chamber. A conveyor may be provided beneath the silo bin for carrying away discharged containers.
Claims33
A controllable discharge silo apparatus for the storage of lightweight hollow bodies, the apparatus comprising:
- a bin (1) provided with a charging inlet (31) and a bottom (32) having a discharge outlet (2) operable to be used in a superimposed arrangement above an outfeed conveyor band (3);
- a dispensing device (5) having first and second plates (6 & 7) having respective sides connected to opposite walls of said bin (1) by respective hinges (6a, 7a), plates (6, 7) being arranged on a descending slant with respect to a hinges (6a, 7a) and with opposite slants, the first plate (6) extending at least in part under a free edge of the second plate (7), said plates (6, 7) being operable to be brought into a mutually overlapping arrangement at a distal end portions to close the bottom of said bin (1), and/or to be mutually separated to define a passage width of said discharge outlet (2) in accordance with a size and/or shape of the bodies (A);
- and
- pushing means (8, 9) cooperating with said plates (6, 7) to simultaneously, continuously or joltingly coordinately tip said plates (6, 7) to give them different slope inclinations while maintaining a passage width of the discharge outlet (2).
A method for the controlled storage and delivery of empty lightweight bodies (A) by means of a silo comprising a bin (1) provided with a charging inlet (31) at an upper region thereof and a bottom (32) at a lower region thereof, said bottom (32) having a controllable discharge outlet (2) said bin (1) being divided into mutually superimposed enclosures (B) being upperly filled by gravity, and having supporting floors and independent means operable to selectively communicate with each of said enclosures (B), a height (H) of said enclosures (B) being adapted to the minimum value of a maximum free fall height or a maximum heaping up height of a predetermined body (A) can withstand with no damage, the method comprising:
- feeding said bin (1) by charging an enclosure situated at a highest level and isolated with respect to a next lower enclosure;
- discharging an upper enclosure into said next lower enclosure isolated with respect to a subsequent next lowest enclosure, by placing it in communication with said next lower enclosure, except when said next lower enclosure is situated at a lowest level and delimited by said bottom (32) and said controllable discharge outlet (2), and;
- operating said controllable discharge outlet to a selected extent to store said bodies (A) or to provide for a controlled delivery of said bodies (A) respectively.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.