Variable volume height adjustable buffer for transferring items from an elevated supply stream to a lower container and method

Apparatus for selectively filling a container with a multitude of similar articles from an elevated supply stream comprising:

• a) a variable volume buffer disposed vertically intermediate the container and the elevated supply stream for filling with articles from the supply stream, the buffer including a top located inlet, a gated bottom located outlet and an expandable wall between the inlet and outlet;
• b) height adjustment means operatively connected to the buffer for moving the buffer between a retracted position wherein the outlet is at a higher elevation and adjacent the inlet at the onset of filling the buffer and an expanded position wherein the outlet is at a lower elevation disposed within the container at the completion of filling the buffer;
• and
• c) a release operable to open the gated bottom at the expanded position for the dispensing of articles from the buffer and into the container.

A method a method for filling a container with a multitude of similar articles comprising:

• a) dispensing the articles from an elevated source and through a defined drop distance into an expandable buffer disposed below the source and above the container;
• b) expanding the buffer downwardly and into the container as the buffer is filled with the articles so as to maintain substantially the defined drop distance;
• and
• c) opening a gate in the buffer when the buffer is expanded to a selected lower level and raising the buffer to remove the buffer from the container for dispensing the articles into the container by dropping them from the buffer and the distance dropped from the:
• buffer into the container being no greater than the defined drop distance.

Apparatus for selectively filling a container with a multitude of similar articles from an elevated supply stream comprising:

• a) a variable volume buffer disposed vertically intermediate the container and the elevated supply stream for filling with articles from the supply stream, the buffer including a top located inlet, a gated bottom located outlet and an expandable wall between the inlet and outlet;
• b) height adjustment means operatively connected to the buffer for moving the buffer between a retracted position wherein the outlet is at a higher elevation and adjacent the inlet at the onset of filling the buffer and an expanded position wherein the outlet is at a lower elevation disposed within the container at the completion of filling the buffer and the height adjustment means providing a controlled descent of the outlet responsive to the filling of the buffer to maintain the drop distance of articles from the elevated source into the buffer substantially constant during the filling of the buffer and the descent of the outlet;
• and
• c) a release operable to open the gated bottom at the expanded position for the dispensing of articles from the buffer and into the container.