Material or article handling – Device for emptying portable receptacle – Rotary cradle
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-23
2001-02-13
Keenan, James W. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Device for emptying portable receptacle
Rotary cradle
C414S405000, C414S810000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186726
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is concerned generally with emptying containers and particularly with placing containers is a state of readiness for emptying.
The invention has been devised with containers in mind of the type which comprise a pallet or base with four upstanding interlocked sides. Whilst this the invention has been devised with the above form of container particularly in mind it is not limited to such containers.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
When containers have to be emptied the methods adopted depend to a large extent on the contents of the container. In the case of flowable non-liquid material, such as granules, gravitational discharge is the preferred option. To facilitate this form of discharge attempts have been made to develop containers which have a bottom discharge means. For a number of reasons containers with a bottom discharge incorporated in a base or pallet forming part of the container has 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. 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.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
Generally, the present invention provides a container conversion method which involves placing an open topped container in a state or readiness for discharge by the steps of mounting a hood which is provided with a discharge opening over the open top of the container and then inverting the container. Discharge through the discharge opening can be readily regulated by altering the size of the discharge opening. Apparatus for economically and effectively carrying out the method is also disclosed herein.
More specifically the method of the invention, which is for use with an open topped container which includes a base and wall means upstanding from the base, has as its object the conversion of such a container into one which is inverted ready for emptying in a controlled manner through the container top, the method includes the steps of mounting a cover having a discharge opening over the open top of the container, placing the container fitted with the cover in an inverter and inverting the container to reverse the positions of the container base and cover and supporting the inverted container in the inverted condition.
The apparatus to carry out the method includes a cover with a discharge opening and adaption allowing it to be fastened to a container to cover the open end of the container, a container cradle able to be rotationally inverted end over end where the cradle includes a container receiving compartment with means to minimise movement of a container within the compartment during inversion of the cradle.
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Keenan James W.
Schindler Edwin D.
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