Material or article handling – Device for emptying portable receptacle – Upending
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-11
2001-08-14
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 2167)
Material or article handling
Device for emptying portable receptacle
Upending
C414S420000, C414S768000, C414S773000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273667
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is concerned generally with apparatus to invert an open topped container to allow the container to be discharged through the open top.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Whilst the invention has been devised with containers in mind which are of the type which comprise a pallet or base to which there is mounted four interlocked sides the invention is not limited to such containers.
When containers are to be emptied the methods adopted depend to a large extent on the contents of the container. In the case of flowable material, such as granules, gravitational discharge is the preferred method. To facilitate this method of emptying a container attempts have been made to develop containers which have bottom discharge means. For a number of reasons containers with a bottom discharge incorporated in the base or pallet forming part of the container have not found favour with users.
An alternative is to tilt the container, usually in a tilting device on which the container is mounted, to the extent required to cause the contents to flow from the container over a top edge of one of the container sides. To provide a generally uniform rate of discharge, which is the normal requirement, the tilt of the container has to be continually adjusted. This discharge method is labour and/or time intensive and is therefore not favoured.
Another discharge method is to mount a hood with a discharge opening, and usually fitted with a flow controlling device, to the open top of the container and then support the container in an inverted condition to allow material within the container to gravity discharge through the discharge opening of the hood. The challenge with this method is how to invert the container/hood assembly, hereinafter termed ‘a container’, in the most efficient and economical manner. The present invention addresses this challenge.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Broadly stated the present invention can be said to provide a container turn-over apparatus comprising a base with a first and a second spaced apart bearing means, a container cradle permanently coupled to the base by a cradle turn-over means, the cradle has a first and a second spaced apart bearing means engagable respectively with the first and second bearing means on the base to provide two pivotal connections between the base and the cradle allowing said turn-over means to invert the cradle from a first position where a first end of the cradle is ground engaging to a second position where a second end of the cradle is ground engaging, said cradle has an open side to allow a container to be placed in the cradle and has supports to support a container whilst it is inverted.
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patent: 5147170 (1992-09-01), Detrick
patent: 5971219 (1999-10-01), Karpisek
patent: 2137159 (1984-10-01), None
patent: 2195975 (1988-04-01), None
O'Connor Gerald J.
Olszewski Robert P.
Schindler Edwin D.
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