Automated process for handling bales for pellet production
AssigneePellet Technology LLC
InventorsJames Russell Zeeck, Charles J. Schneider
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automated system and method are provided for conveying plant material bales. The system and method retrieves stacked bales from a storage site and places the bales on a conveyor assembly line, wherein the bales are indexed, accumulated, and metered for discharge into a bale shredder. Once the bales are on the conveyor assembly, the bales are automatically moved and arranged without manual intervention.
Claims27
A method of conveying bales of plant material to a shredder, the method comprising:
- placing the bales in line on a conveyor assembly;
- automatically arranging the bales on the conveyor assembly to be adjacent to one another, without manual intervention, wherein the arranging of the bales includes indexing, accumulating and metering of the bales;
- and
- discharging the bales into the shredder.
A method of conveying bales of plant material to a shredder, comprising:
- placing the bales in line on a conveyor assembly;
- arranging the bales on the conveyor assembly so as to be adjacent to one another, without manual intervention,
- wherein arranging the bales includes indexing, accumulating and metering of the bales;
- discharging the bales into the shredder;
- and
- wherein the bales are arranged to provide a continuous flow of bales into the shredder.
A method of conveying bales of plant material to a shredder, comprising;
- forming the bales from agricultural crop residue material selected from a group comprising of corn stover, soybean stubble, and sorghum residue;
- placing the bales in line on a conveyor assembly;
- automatically arranging the bales on the conveyor assembly so as to be adjacent to one another, without manual intervention;
- and
- discharging the bales into the shredder.
A method of conveying bales of plant material to a shredder, comprising:
- placing the bales in line on a conveyor assembly;
- arranging the bales on the conveyor assembly to be adjacent to one another, without manual intervention;
- and
- discharging the bales into the shredder;
- and
- sensing the arranging of the bales with a sensor, and providing feedback from the sensor to actuate changes in the arrangement;
- wherein the bales are arranged to provide a continuous flow of bales into the shredder.
A method of conveying bales of plant material to a bale shredder, comprising:
- forming the bales from agricultural crop residue material selected from a group comprising of corn stover, soybean stubble, and sorghum residue;
- placing the bales in line on a conveyor assembly;
- arranging the bales on the conveyor assembly so as to be adjacent to one another, without manual intervention, wherein the bales are arranged to provide a continuous flow of bales into the shredder;
- and
- discharging the bales into the shredder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.