Discharge apparatus
AssigneeProcess Link Limited
InventorGeorge William Snape
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A discharge device for use with a bulk container of the kind having an outlet through which product is to be dispensed. The device has an inlet end, an outlet end and a wall extending between said inlet end and said outlet end. The device is configured for directing a flow of product from an outlet of a bulk container, and is further configured to permit relative movement between said inlet end and said outlet end between a retracted position and an extended position. The outlet end may take the form of a plate for supporting the lower end of the bulk container. The plate may be vibrated for assisting discharge of product from the bulk container.
Claims19
A discharge apparatus for use with a bulk container of the kind having an outlet through which product is to be dispensed, the discharge apparatus comprising:
- an inlet end,
- an outlet end, and
- a wall extending between said inlet end and said outlet end,
- wherein said inlet end is configured for receiving the lower end of a bulk container, said outlet end is configured for directing a flow of product from the bulk container received in the inlet end,
- wherein the apparatus is configured to allow relative movement between said inlet end and said outlet end to alter the distance between said inlet end and said outlet end,
- wherein the wall between said inlet end and said outlet end is of flexible construction, to accommodate said relative movement, and
- wherein the apparatus is configured to be selectively positioned between a first state in which the inlet and outlet ends are arranged at a first spacing, and a second state in which the inlet and outlet ends are arranged at a second spacing, greater than said first spacing, and wherein the wall defines a cone in the second state.
A discharge device for use with a bulk container of the kind having an outlet through which product is to be dispensed, the discharge device comprising:
- an inlet end and an outlet end and a wall extending between said inlet end and said outlet end,
- a support plate for supporting a bulk container, the support plate including an outlet region through which the outlet of a bulk container may extend when supported on the support plate;
- and
- a vibration unit for selectively vibrating said support plate,
- wherein the discharge device is configured to be selectively positioned between a first state in which the inlet and outlet ends are arranged at a first spacing, and a second state in which the inlet and outlet ends are arranged at a second spacing, greater than said first spacing, and wherein the wall defines a cone in the second state.
A discharge assembly comprising:
- a bulk container having an outlet through which product is to be dispensed;
- a discharge device having an inlet end and an outlet end and a wall extending between said inlet and said outlet end, wherein the discharge device defines a passageway or conduit for directing a flow of product from the bulk container, and the assembly includes an arrangement for moving the inlet end of the discharge device against the bulk container, wherein the discharge device is configured to be selectively positioned between a first state in which the inlet and outlet ends are arranged at a first spacing, and a second state in which the inlet and outlet ends are arranged at a second spacing, greater than said first spacing, and wherein the wall defines a cone in the second state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.