Back to results
US 9,414,541 B2Granted
Hopper with conveyor assembly and method of use
AssigneeGreen Industry Innovators, L.L.C.
InventorSteffon Hoppel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hopper and conveyor assembly for discharging particulate material from the hopper is provided. Sealing strips may be used to prevent particulate material from moving beyond edges of a conveyor belt of the conveyor assembly.
Claims16
An apparatus comprising:
- a hopper which defines an interior chamber and has front and back hopper sidewalls;
- a conveyor belt support assembly;
- a conveyor belt revolvably mounted on the support assembly;
- a front channel formed along the front sidewall with a bottom entrance opening;
- a rear channel formed along the back sidewall with a bottom entrance opening;
- a front sealing strip which is movable upwardly and downwardly in the front channel and which has a bottom seated atop the conveyor belt;
- a rear sealing strip which is movable upwardly and downwardly in the rear channel and which has a bottom seated atop the conveyor belt;
- and
- a conveyor assembly housing which is secured to and extends downwardly from the front and back hopper sidewalls;
- wherein the conveyor assembly housing comprises a bottom wall, a front housing sidewall and a back housing sidewall;
- the front housing sidewall includes a front angled segment;
- the back housing sidewall includes a back angled segment;
- the front hopper sidewall and front angled segment define therebetween the front channel;
- and
- the back hopper sidewall and back angled segment define therebetween the rear channel.
12 more elements
A method comprising the steps of:
- discharging particulate material from a hopper with a conveyor belt having front and rear edges;
- and
- preventing particulate material on the conveyor belt from moving beyond the front and rear edges of the conveyor belt with front and rear sealing strips which slidably engage the conveyor belt during the step of discharging and which are movable upwardly and downwardly respectively within front and rear channels which extend respectively along front and back sidewalls of the hopper;
- and
- wherein a conveyor assembly housing is secured to and extends downwardly from the front and back hopper sidewalls;
- the conveyor assembly housing comprises a bottom wall, a front housing sidewall and a back housing sidewall;
- the front housing sidewall includes a front angled segment;
- the back housing sidewall includes a back angled segment;
- the front hopper sidewall and front angled segment define therebetween the front channel;
- and
- the back hopper sidewall and back angled segment define therebetween the rear channel.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.