US3866770A

US3866770A - Conveying apparatus for a material handling vehicle

Info

Publication number: US3866770A
Application number: US449217A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold S Palmer
Original assignee: Productive Acres Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Productive Acres Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1974-03-08
Filing date: 1974-03-08
Publication date: 1975-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-18

Abstract

The conveying apparatus includes an endless metal conveyor of a mesh construction having an upper length extended longitudinally of the vehicle at a position immediately below the bottom discharge outlets of a row of material bins for transfer of material from the bins to a common discharge hopper. A feed pan and return pan for upper and lower runs of the conveyor, respectively, are relatively arranged and constructed to substantially eliminate any accumulation of material adjacent the paths of longitudinal travel of the conveyor. A toothed drive roller located downstream from the delivery end of the conveyor is in driving engagement over the axial length thereof with the conveyor.

Description

United States Patent Palmer 1451 Feb. 18, 1975 CONVEYING APPARATUS FOR A MATERIAL HANDLING VEHICLE Inventor: Harold S. Palmer, Oskaloosa, Iowa Assignee: Productive Acres Mfg. Co.,

Oskaloosa, Iowa Filed: Mar. 8, 1974 Appl. No.2 449,217

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1930 Hurxthal 198/230 X 7/1960 Simonsen 214/832 X Primary Examiner-Albert J. Makay Attorney, Agent, or FirmRudolph L. Lowell 57 ABSTRACT The conveying apparatus includes an endless metal conveyor of a mesh construction having an upper length extended longitudinally of the vehicle at a posi tion immediately below the bottom discharge outlets of a row of material bins for transfer of material from the bins to a common discharge hopper. A feed pan and return pan for upper and lower runs of the conveyor, respectively, are relatively arranged and constructed to substantially eliminate any accumulation of material adjacent the paths of longitudinal travel of the conveyor. A toothed drive roller located downstream from the delivery end of the conveyor is in driving engagement over the axial length thereof with the conveyor.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures sum 10F 2 PATENTEB FEB 1 8 ms i-JJENTEU m1 8E7?) SHEET 2 OF 2 I @oooooooooooooooo I .IOOGbICUI lllllhgllfi illlllllllll CONVEYING APPARATUS FOR A MATERIAL I HANDLING VEHICLE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The conveying apparatus is of a simple and compact construction and operable to efficiently convey material selectively supplied from one or more of a plurality of aligned containers to a common discharge hopper. The conveyor of the apparatus travels in a substantially closed path except at the delivery section thereof, so as to substantially eliminate material accumulations adjacent such path. Since the apparatus is thus practically self-cleaning, incompatible materials may be successively and separately conveyed from their respective containers and delivered to the discharge hopper without danger of material contamination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a vehicle having a material handling system which includes the material conveying apparatus of this invention; with parts broken away to more clearly showsuch apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of FIG. 1; I

FIG. 3 is an enlarged foreshortened perspective view showing the operative association of a drive roller with a mesh type conveyor which form part of the conveying apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged foreshortened side elevational view of the conveying apparatus shown in assembly relation with the vehicle material containers and vehicle discharge hopper;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional detail views as seen on the lines 55 and 66, respectively, of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the power transmission system for the vehicle material handling system shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of the control system for the transmission system of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the conveying apparatus of this invention, indicated generally as 10, forms part of a material handling system for a vehicle 11 which includes a vehicle body 12 of a tank shape divided into a plurality of upright material containers 13 arranged in a row longitudinally of the vehicle. A container 13 has a corresponding bottom'discharge opening 14 equipped with an associated closure unit 16 (FIG. 2) each of which is comprised of a pair of flat horizontally slidable doors 17 that are movable toward and away from each other to closed and opened positions, respectively, relative to a corresponding outlet 14. The closure units 16 are operable independently of each other, as by adjustable screens 15, to selectively feed material from the containers discharge openings 14 on to a common endless conveyor 18. The conveyor has an upper run 19 extended longitudinally of the vehicle 11 at a position below and adjacent to the container discharge openings 14 (FIG. 4) so as to receive directly thereon material from the containers 13.

The materials discharged onto the upper run 19 of the conveyor 18 are carried to a common receiving hopper 21 which extends transversely across the rear end of the vehicle 11. The hopper 21 is of a generally trough shape (FIGS. 2 and 4) and is provided adjacent the bottom wall thereof with an unloading auger 22 which also extends transversely of the vehicle 11. An upright auger unit 23 has its lower end 24 in communication with the discharge end 26 of the unloading auger 22. Material from the unloading auger 22 is moved upwardly through the upright auger 23 for discharge into a swingable auger 27 for unloading of the material from the vehicle into a storage bin or the like (not shown).

The vehicle material handling system may be operated to remove predetermined quantities of selected materials from two or more of the containers 13 into a single bin concurrently with a mixing together of such materials; or to unload material from only a single container 13 into a storage bin. It is not uncommon in this type of material handling system that the containers l3 carry medicated feeds along with livestock and poultry additives and supplements. As a result the materials separately carried in the containers 13 may be relatively incompatible, namely, on being mixed together. the resultant product may have injurious feeding effects. It is necessary, therefore, that if material from only one container is to be unloaded that the conveying apparatus 10 be clean of such material before any further material from another container is to be unloaded. It is also to be noted that the accumulation of any material falling from the conveyor belt into inaccessible collection zones along the path of travel of the endless conveyor 18 may result in undesirable odors and possible contamination to new materials being handled by the conveyor apparatus.

These objections are'substantially eliminated by the conveying apparatus 10 of this invention which includes the endless conveyor 18 and front and rear supporting

rollers

28 and 29 therefor. The conveyor 18 is of an open construction comprised ofa plurality of pivoted transversely extended links 31 (FIG. 3). Each link 31 is formed from a single piece of a strap material into a series of alternately inverted U-shape sections 32 with adjacent ones of the links 31 arranged such that the base of the U-sections 32 of one link are positioned between corresponding adjacent legs of the Usections 32 of an adjacent link 31. A pivot pin 33 extended through the apices of the U-sections 32 connects adjacent links 31 together for relative pivotal movement.

The upper run 19 of the conveyor '18 (FIGS. 4 and 5) extended between the rollers28 and 29 is operatively associated with a feed pan 34 of a generally trough shape and of a size to slidably receive the conveyor between the side walls thereof in a supported position on the trough bottom wall 36. The feed pan 34 is substantially co-extensive in length with the upper run 19 of the conveyor 18. It is to be also noted that the conveyor U-sections 32 form with the bottom wall 36 of the feed pan 34 a plurality-of material holding pockets of a height equal to the lateral dimension or thickness of the conveyor 18.

The lower run 37 of the conveyor 18, which extends between the axes of the front roller 28 and an idler roller 38 is operatively associated with a return pan 39 (FIG. 6) in a manner similar to the assembly of the conveyor upper run 19 with the feed pan .34. The return pan 39 and lower run are substantially equal in length. As shown in FIG. 4, the return pan 39 is integrally formed at its forward end with an upright section 41 of a semi-circular shape which is arranged in a concentric relation with the front half section of the front roller 28. The terminal end 42 of the curved upright front section 41 is located substantially in a vertical plane that extends through the axis of the front roller 28. As a result, the conveyor 18 is in substantial continuous contact engagement with the feed pan 34 and return pan 39 over the complete length of its upper and

lower runs

19 and 37, respectively, and that portion of the conveyor which is trained about the front rollers 28.

The idler rollers 38 (FIGS. 4 and 7) is located forwardly of the rear roller 29 and at a position above a drive roller 43. That section 44 of the conveyor 18 between the rear ends of the conveyor upper and lower runs thus extends downwardly and forwardly from the rear roller 29, about the drive roller 43 and then upwardly and rearwardly for travel about the idler roller 38. In this respect it is to be noted that the drive roller 43 is in a substantially one hundred and eighty degree engagement with the conveyor.

The

rollers

29, 38 and 43 are arranged within the discharge hopper 21 which has a bottom section 46 of an arcuate shape that constitutes a partial casing or housing for the transversely extended unloading auger 22. The lower side of the bottom section 46 (FIG. 1) is arranged above the lower end of the upright auger 23 so that material is moved by the unloading auger 22 along the bottom section 46 directly into the lower end of the upright auger 23 for lifting into the swingable auger 27.

The front wall 47 of the discharge hopper 21 (FIG. 4) projects upwardly and forwardly from the bottom hopper section 46 and about the drive roller 43 for termination at a position forwardly of and adjacent to the idler roller 38. It is seen, therefore, that any material falling from the conveyor in its travel from the rear roller 29 and about the drive roller 43 to the idler roller 38 drops into the discharge hopper for pickup by the unloading auger 22.

The drive roller 43 (FIG. 3) is integrally formed with a plurality of axially spaced circumferentially extended rows 48 of radially projected teeth or projections 49. The teeth 49, in a row thereof, are circumferentially spaced a distance apart corresponding to the spacing of the U-sections 32 longitudinally of the conveyor 18 for reception into certain of such sections for meshing engagement with the conveyor. In turn, the tooth rows 48 are axially spaced a distance apart corresponding to the spacing of alternate U-sections 32 transverselyof the conveyor 18. It is seen, therefore, that as the conveyor travels about the drive roller 43 certain of the U- sections 32 are entered by the teeth 49 to completely remove any material therefrom. The drive roller thus functions both to drive the conveyor 18 by the section of the tooth rows 48 as sprocket gears relative to the U-sections 32 and to empty the major portion of the U- sections 32 by the material punch out action of the teeth 49 relative to such sections.

In the operation of the conveying apparatus 10, containers may be emptied separately for separate delivery of material therefrom into separate bins for storage purposes. Assuming that a single container 13 has the outlet 14 thereof open to the conveyor 18, the conveyor operates to move the material from the single container into the discharge hopper 21. As the conveyor travels over the rear roller 29 the material is dislodged therefrom by the relative pivotal movement of the relative pivotal movement of the conveyor links 31 and the action of gravity thereon resulting from the downward and forward inclination of the conveyor between the

rollers

29 and 43. This falling of material from the conveyor 18 is complemented by the clearing action of the teeth 49 relative to certain of the U- sections 32. By virtue of the

rollers

29, 38 and 43 being contained within the discharge hopper 21 all of the material thus falling from the conveyor 18 drops into the hopper for pickup by the unloading auger 22.

Should any material continue with the conveyor for travel about the idler roller 38, such material is moved along the return pan 39 and then along the feed pan 34 for return to the rear roller 29. During this travel with the conveyor some of the material adhering thereto is shaken loose so that on passing over the rear roller 29 such loosened material drops into the discharge hopper 21. Operation of the conveying apparatus is continued until the conveyor and the discharge hopper 21 are clear of the material to be unloaded. In this connection, it is to be understood that concurrently with the operation of the conveyor 18, the unloading auger 22 and

augers

23 and 27 are also in operation. When the convey ing apparatus 10 is clear ofa first material that has been unloaded for separate delivery to a storage bin, a second and succeeding containers may be separately emptied of the material therefrom onto the conveyor 18. For each material to be separately delivered, the above operation is repeated.

Importantly, when the conveyor 18 is clear ofa material it is known that the conveyor apparatus 10 is also clean of such material by virtue of the travel of the conveyor in a substantially closed passageway in operative association with the feed pan 34 and return pan 39. As previously mentioned, this operative association is maintained over that length of the conveyor which is not within the discharge hopper 21. Since the clearance relation of the conveyor 18 with the

pans

34 and 39 is less than about one-quarter of an inch, the path of conveyor travel is substantially void of any material collecting zones or pockets. Material spoilage in inaccessible collecting zones and contamination resulting therefrom or from the mixing of incompatible materials is thus eliminated.

When material from the containers 13 are to be mixed together for use in a mixed form, such mixingv can be done concurrently with the unloading of the materials from the vehicle 11. In this instance the closures 16 of the selected containers 13 are actuated to relatively predetermined positions by adjustment of their corresponding adjustment screws 15. This adjustment is determined by the relative amounts of the various materials that are to be mixed together. On completion of such adjustment, the conveyor apparatus 10 is operated in all respects similar to its operation for the unloading of material from a single container 13. The materials discharged into the hopper 21 are acted upon and mixed by the unloading auger 22 and, in turn, by the upright auger and

swingable auger

23 and 27, respectively, prior to the delivery of the materials in a mixed condition into a storage bin. Operation is continued until the conveying apparatus 10 and auger 22 are clean of the materials to be unloaded.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the conveying apparatus 10 is hydraulically operated. Oil under pressure is supplied from a pump and reservoir unit 51 driven from the vehicle engine (not shown) through a power takeoff device 52. The pump 53 of the unit 51 has the outlet 54 thereof connected to the oil supply manifold 56 of a suitable valve unit 57 provided with control handles 58 corresponding in number to the motor units to be controlled. The valve unit 57 also includes an oil exhaust manifold 59 connected to the reservoir 61 of the unit 5]. The inlet of the pump and outlet of the reservoir are connected by a fluid line 62.

The drive roller 43, and unloading auger 22 are driven by

hydraulic motors

63 and 64, respectively; and the

augers

23 and 27 by

hydraulic motors

66 and 67, respectively. Rotation of the upright auger 23 to swing the auger27 is provided by the hydraulic motor 68, and pivotal up and down movement of the swingable auger 27 is provided by the cylinder assembly 69. Each of the hydraulic motors has a pair of

fluid connections

71 and 72 for assembly with

corresponding connections

73 and 74 on the control valve unit 57.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a material handling system for a vehicle including a body unit having a longitudinal row of upright material containers having corresponding selectively operable bottom discharge outlets and a common discharge hopper for receiving material from said discharge outlets, a conveying apparatus for delivering material from said discharge outlets to said common discharge hopper comprising:

a. a longitudinally extended endless conveyor of a mesh construction having an upper run movable below and adjacent said outlets,

b. front and rear longitudinally spaced rollers for said endless conveyor, said upper run extended between said two rollers,

c. a drive roller for said endless conveyor located in said discharge hopper at a position downwardly and forwardly of said rear roller,

e. said endless conveyor having a portion which from said rear roller is trained about the lower portion of said drive roller and the upper portion of said idler roller and a lower run extended from said idler roller to said front roller in a parallel relation with the upper run thereof,

f. a feed pan corresponding to said upper length exan idler roller located forwardly of said rear roller, I

tended substantially between said front and rear rollers having an upper surface in contact engagement with the bottom surface of said upper length, and

g. a return pan corresponding to the lower run of said endless conveyor having an upper surface in contact engagement with the bottom surface of said lower run, said return pan having an upright curved front section arranged in a concentric relation with the front half section of said front roller.

2. In a material handling system according to claim 1, wherein:

a. the section of said conveyor between the rear roller and the driveroller, and the section thereof between the idler roller and the drive roller are in a substantially parallel relation.

3. In a material handling system according to claim 1 wherein:

a'. said endless conveyor has longitudinally extended rows of interstices, and

b. said drive roller has a plurality of radially projected teeth on the outer peripheral surface thereof for reception within the interstices of certain ones of said rows of interstices.

4. In a material handling system according to claim 3 wherein:

a. said certain ones of interstices include alternate interstices arranged transversely of the conveyor.

5. In a material handling system according to claim 1 wherein:

a. the terminal end of the upright curved front sec tion of said return pan lies in a vertical plane located adjacent a'vertical plane extended through the axis of said front roller.

6. In a material handling system according to claim 1 wherein:

a. said rear roller, drive roller and idler roller are positioned within said discharge hopper.

7. In a material handling system according to claim 1 wherein:

a. each of said pans is of a trough shape having side walls and said conveyor is ofa width to be received within a pan between and in contact engagement with the side walls thereof.

l l= l

Claims

1. In a material handling system for a vehicle including a body unit having a longitudinal row of upright material containers having corresponding selectively operable bottom discharge outlets and a common discharge hopper for receiving material from said discharge outlets, a conveying apparatus for delivering material from said discharge outlets to said common discharge hopper comprising: a. a longitudinally extended endless conveyor of a mesh construction having an upper run movable below and adjacent said outlets, b. front and rear longitudinally spaced rollers for said endless conveyor, said upper run extended between said two rollers, c. a drive roller for said endless conveyor located in said discharge hopper at a position downwardly and forwardly of said rear roller, d. an idler roller located forwardly of said rear roller, e. said endless conveyor having a portion which from said rear roller is trained about the lower portion of said drive roller and the upper portion of said idler roller and a lower run extended from said idler roller to said front roller in a parallel relation with the upper run thereof, f. a feed pan corresponding to said upper length extended substantially between said front and rear rollers having an upper surface in contact engagement with the bottom surface of said upper length, and g. a return pan corresponding to the lower run of said endless conveyor having an upper surface in contact engagement with the bottom surface of said lower run, said return pan having an upright curved front section arranged in a concentric relation with the front half section of said front roller.

2. In a material handling system according to claim 1, wherein: a. the section of said conveyor between the rear roller and the drive roller, and the section thereof between the idler roller and the drive roller are in a substantially parallel relation.

3. In a material handling system according to claim 1 wherein: a. said endless conveyor has longitudinally extended rows of interstices, and b. said drive roller has a plurality of radially projected teeth on the outer peripheral surface thereof for reception within the interstices of certain ones of said rows of interstices.

4. In a material handling system according to claim 3 wherein: a. said certain ones of interstices include alternate interstices arranged transversely of the conveyor.

5. In a material handling system according to claim 1 wherein: a. the terminal end of the upright curved front section of said return pan lies in a vertical plane located adjacent a vertical plane extended through the axis of said front roller.

6. In a material handling system according to claim 1 wherein: a. said rear roller, drive roller and idler roller are positioned within said discharge hopper.

7. In a material handling system according to claim 1 wherein: a. each of said pans is of a trough shape having side walls and said conveyor is of a width to be received within a pan between and in contact engagement with the side walls thereof.