Dispensing – Movable material discharge guide – Foldable – bendable – collapsible or flexible
Patent
1985-08-13
1987-07-28
Skaggs, Jr., H. Grant
Dispensing
Movable material discharge guide
Foldable, bendable, collapsible or flexible
222 1, 2421076, 294 191, 251 4, B67D 300
Patent
active
046827161
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to gripping apparatus which in one aspect is applicable to the control of discharge of granular type materials from flexible containers such as bags containing fertiliser.
BACKGROUND ART
It is common to market fertiliser in bags formed of flexible material such as woven plastics material or hessian type material. One form of fertiliser bag presently available includes an opening at its lower end so that an integrally formed or attached spout which is normally folded back into the bag can be extended out of the bag when fertiliser is required to be obtained from the bag. Normally the spout is formed of a fabric material and in use it is very difficult to control or shut off the output of the fertiliser therethrough. In some instances, control of output is attempted by use of the hands to throttle the spout whilst in other instances, a cord or rope is tied about the spout and tightened so that discharge of material can be regulated. These known methods however make the control of the discharge from the spout very difficult and in many instances, wastage occurs.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention aims to overcome or alleviate at least some of the above disadvantages by providing gripping apparatus which is particularly useful for the control of discharge of materials from flexible containers of the above type. The present invention, however, is also suitable for many other applications where it is necessary to grasp an object by using a loop which is tightened about the object.
With the above and other objects in view, this invention resides broadly in gripping apparatus including support means, a flexible member associated with said support means and defining a loop adapted to be disposed about an object to be gripped; biasing means supported on said support means and operatively associated with said flexible member, release means associated with said biasing means and selectively operable to release said biasing means to apply a force to said flexible member to reduce the size of said loop and thereby grip said object.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:
FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective view the apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the components of the reel assembly of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 illustrates the apparatus of the present invention associated with a flexible container to control the discharge of materials therefrom.
BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings and firstly to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 there is illustrated gripping apparatus 10 according to one form of the present invention including an elongated supporting member 11, a reel assembly 12 supported rotatably on the supporting member 11 and a flexible cable, wire, rope or the like 13 which is wound about the reel assembly 12 and which defines a loop 14 adapted to be located about an object to be gripped. The reel assembly 12 is supported rotatably between the respective arms 15 of a U-shaped bracket 16 which is fixed to the elongated supporting member intermediate its ends.
As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, the reel assembly 12 comprises a reel or main cylindrical member 17 such as a short length of pipe about which the length of cable or rope 13 is arranged to be wound having an annular flange 18 at one end thereof. The annular flange 18 is adapted to be mated with a centrally apertured circular disc-like member 19 whilst the other end of the cylindrical member 17 is arranged to be connected to a centrally apertured ratchet wheel 20 preferably by welding.
Preferably, the annular flange 18 and member 19 are provided with corresponding apertures 21 and 21' respectively for receipt of fasteners therethrough so that the member 19 may be releasably attached to the flange 18 to allow access to the i
REFERENCES:
patent: 1017010 (1912-02-01), McNair et al.
patent: 1623774 (1927-04-01), Bell
patent: 1964631 (1934-06-01), Hansen
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patent: 2632609 (1953-03-01), Kirby
patent: 3374929 (1968-03-01), Silfverskiold
patent: 3693596 (1972-09-01), Croce et al.
patent: 3949514 (1976-04-01), Ramsey
A Catalogue of Surgical Instruments, by Allen et al, pp. 260-261, 280-281, 1953 Edition.
Schaffer Murray
Skaggs, Jr. H. Grant
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