Material or article handling – Device for emptying portable receptacle – Rotary cradle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-27
2001-10-16
Bratlie, Steven A. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Device for emptying portable receptacle
Rotary cradle
C414S422000, C414S607000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302637
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the field of receptacles, and more specifically relates to a bin used in the harvesting of grapes and other crops.
2. The Prior Art
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,971,662 issued Feb. 14, 1961 to Dunham, there is shown a U-shaped rotator attachment for a forklift that permits a bin to be lifted and rotated for the purpose of emptying the bin. In one embodiment, the rotator attachment engages a rectangular trunnion that extends outward from the side of the bin.
A comparable rotator attachment is shown in French Patent Publication No. 2,374,257 of Sortais, published Jul. 13, 1978.
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,860,797 issued Nov. 18, 1958 to Wilcox, there is shown a container that includes a reinforcing plate on opposite ends and in which two trunnions extend outward at each end from the reinforcing plates.
The bin of the present invention can be distinguished structurally from the bins shown in the above patents, and the structural differences greatly extend the usefulness of the bins.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is concerned with a special type of harvest bin that is widely used in California for harvesting grapes and other crops. It is sometimes referred to emptying the bin. At opposite ends of the lower edge of the inclined end wall, two hinge pins are provided, and the hinge pins extend parallel to the lower edge of the inclined end wall. The hinge bins are designed to engage cleats that extend along one side of a flatbed trailer to prevent the bin from slipping off the trailer when the bin is rotated upwardly about the hinge pins to empty the contents of the bin. This is the normal way in which the bins are emptied.
The present inventor noted that under some circumstances, which will be described below, it is desirable to be able to lift a bin and empty it by use of a forklift rotator attachment of the type shown in the patents referred to above. Unfortunately, as the bins currently exist, they include no trunnions that the forklift rotator attachment can engage for lifting and rotating the bin. As a result, the bins can only be emptied, as a practical matter, by tipping them up about the hinge pins that are located along the lower edge of the inclined end wall.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a modification or improvement to the harvest bins to permit them to be lifted and rotated by a forklift rotator attachment so that the bins can be emptied into larger trucks or other vehicles.
A further objective is to provide the aforementioned modification without impairing the conventional mode of emptying the bins, namely, by tipping them up on one end.
In accordance with the present invention, an aperture is formed in each end of the bin. Then, at each end of the bin, a reinforcing plate having an aperture is affixed to the end of the bin with its aperture in registration with the aperture in the bin end. Next, an elongated receiver tube is inserted through the aperture at one end of the bin, across the space within the bin, and out through the aperture at the other end of the bin.
In accordance with the present invention, the receiver tube protrudes a short distance outward from each of the end walls. The receiver tube is then affixed to the reinforcing plates in this position. Affixing the receiver tube to the reinforcing plates adds strength and rigidity to the bin and also seals the bin at the apertures to prevent liquid from leaking out of the bin.
Installation of the receiver tube makes it possible to empty the bin by using a forklift having a rotator attachment to lift and to rotate the harvest bin. When this is to be done, an elongated trunnion beam is inserted into the receiver tube until it protrudes beyond the ends of the receiver tube. The trunnion beam is secured in this position within the receiver tube by a quick-release pin. The protruding end portions of the trunnion beam serve as trunnions for use by the rotator attachment in lifting and rotating the bin. Installation of the receiver tube does not interfere with conventional uses of the bin; it may still be emptied by tilting it up on one end.
The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3124265 (1964-03-01), Bertels
patent: 3887091 (1975-06-01), Buck
patent: 3891106 (1975-06-01), Alcanzare
patent: 4561822 (1985-12-01), Schmook
patent: 1002903 (1977-01-01), None
patent: 2557868 (1985-07-01), None
Bratlie Steven A.
Mon Donald D.
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