Having Vertically Adjustable Feeding Means Patents (Class 198/511)
  • Patent number: 11794355
    Abstract: Systems and method for forming a stable silo face in bulk material are disclosed. Particularly, systems and methods for forming a negative rake angle in a silo face of bulk silage are disclosed. Rotation of an articulated arm (e.g., raising and lowering), altering a length of the articulated arm (e.g., extension or retraction), and movement of a machine relative to the silo face (towards and away from) may be automatically controlled to form the negative rake angle. Different implementations contemplate automated control of all or fewer than all of these operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Kraus, Austin J. Karst
  • Patent number: 11375665
    Abstract: A harvest header for a harvesting machine includes a carrying frame, a mechanism for receiving or cutting harvest material from a field, a control device, a power-operated actuator operably controlled by the control device, and a transverse conveyor screw movably controlled between two or more positions. The position of the transverse conveyor screw is adjustably controlled by the actuator in order to transport the harvest material to a discharge opening. The control device independently controls the actuator based on at least one harvest material property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Christina Fries, Friedrich Lauer, Eric Loutz, Oliver Klein, Lutz Bischoff, Dirk Weichholdt
  • Patent number: 10077655
    Abstract: In a method for milling an opencast mining surface or for milling off layers of an asphalt or concrete traffic surface with a milling machine removing the ground surface, by milling the ground surface along a predetermined milling track and by transporting the milled material via a conveying device to at least one container of a truck that travels along next to the milling machine, a relative position between the container and the conveying device is automatically controlled to regulate the loading of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Winfried von Schönebeck, Stefan Wagner
  • Patent number: 9078396
    Abstract: A draper platform (100) for mounting on a feederhouse of an agricultural combine comprises an elongate reciprocating knife assembly (140) at a forward edge of the draper platform (100). A left side endless belt conveyor (116) is disposed behind the reciprocating knife assembly on the left side of the draper platform (100) and a right side endless belt conveyor (120) is disposed behind the elongate reciprocating knife assembly (140) on the right side of the draper platform (100). A center endless belt conveyor (118) carries the cut crop material rearward towards a central rear aperture (138) in the frame (101). A conveyor drum (136) is mounted above and in front of the central rear aperture (138). Conveyor members (150, 152, 164, 165) are located at crop transition zones (154, 156) between the left side endless belt conveyor (116), and the conveyor drum (136), and between the right side endless belt conveyor (120) and the conveyor drum (136).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Bryan R Yanke, Kris Loff, Daniel S Hoffman, Matthew R White, Benjamin M Lovett
  • Patent number: 8684652
    Abstract: An apparatus for loading and unloading a plurality of shipping containers into a carrier. The containers are arranged according to a predetermined pattern on a fixed staging unit of the apparatus. A first conveyor of the apparatus receives and transports the arranged containers from the fixed staging unit. The first conveyor is movable horizontally. A second conveyor of the apparatus receives the containers from the first conveyor and transports the containers into the carrier. The second conveyor is movable horizontally and vertically. A control unit of the apparatus controls transportation of the containers from the second conveyor into the carrier when the second conveyor is vertically moved to a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC
    Inventors: Brian Byrne, Douglas McLeester
  • Patent number: 8381899
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for stacking rolling material, such as e.g. wood chips, bark or grain into a pile (10) and reclaiming from the pile (10) to a material-discharging conveyor (20) located below the storing point, which apparatus comprises a center column (30) that supports a stacker boom (40) and a reclaimer boom (50), an equalizing hopper (60), at least one conveyor (25) located in the equalizing hopper (60) for transmitting the material being discharged to the discharging conveyor (20). A characteristic feature of the apparatus is that the center column (30) is supported directly through the equalizing hopper (60) onto the bottom of the equalizing hopper's (60) foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Andritz Oy
    Inventors: Pekka Kokko, Heikki Ohvo
  • Patent number: 6481563
    Abstract: An outer extendable boom or extension is implemented on an extendable conveyor of conventional design, which includes at least two extendable units, each of which is nested within the next inwardly positioned unit and adjustably positioned between an extended position and a retracted position. The outer boom includes a pair of opposite side members which extend within an outer conventional extendable unit and a conveying surface. A support system is provided to support the outer boom as it extends and retracts within the outer extendable unit. A forward support member of the support system is laterally aligned with the side members and a cantilever support member is vertically spaced from a rearward end of the side members, such that a reduced range in width and a reduced range in height of the extendable units may be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp.
    Inventor: Phillip J. Gilmore
  • Patent number: 6203261
    Abstract: A reclaimer for moving grains and other bulk material in a desired direction includes a substantially cylindrical column upstanding within a storage silo. A track, mounted on the storage silo above the floor, concentrically encircles the column. A motorized carriage is mounted on the track so as to selectively move thereon. Extending between the top end of the column and the carriage is a boom. The proximal end of the boom is rotatably mounted to the column such that movement of the carriage on the tack results in the boom rotating around the column. Suspended from the boom by a pair of winch activated cables is a scraper. The scraper includes an elongated frame having a proximal end that is rotatably and slidably mounted on the column below the boom. Secured along the length of the frame is one or more rotatable augers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Dome Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Barry South, David B. South
  • Patent number: 6032786
    Abstract: The invention concerns a filling arrangement (12) for a bulk unloader having a conveyor belt travelling in an endless path and provided with material receiving pockets (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: BMH Marine AB
    Inventor: Kenneth Svensson
  • Patent number: 5370490
    Abstract: A cargo pick-up member for transferring bulk material into an elevator of an unloading trunk of a ship unloader includes a screw pipe, a cutter head connected to the screw pipe, and a coupling sleeve attached to the screw pipe. The coupling sleeve includes a pivoting drive for pivoting the coupling sleeve with respect to the screw pipe. A baffle plate is detachably connected to the rotatable coupling sleeve via a height adjustable mount. The baffle plate includes a semi-circular portion surrounding a part of the cutter head and two outer legs extending from the semi-circular portion opening in the shape of a V from ends of the semi-circular portion for accommodating bulk material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Man Gutehoffnungshutte Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gunther Tschernatsch
  • Patent number: 5141058
    Abstract: An improvement in a rock picking machine having a frame with ground wheels supporting the frame, a table with a grate over which rocks are moved and discharged into a bucket rearwardly pivotally mounted on the frame, and a conveyer forwardly pivotally mounted on the table for moving rocks up the grate. The improvement consists of at least one forwardly and upwardly extending member positioned at a rearward end of the conveyer frame. The member forms a wedge shaped cavity. As large rocks are moved up the grate by the conveyer through the wedge shaped cavity, the rocks engage the member thereby lifting the rearward end of the conveyer frame to provide clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Inventor: Alden Heppner
  • Patent number: 5049021
    Abstract: An unloading marine leg for a self-unloading ship including a bucket conveyor for removing granular material from the hold of a ship, the marine leg including a distal end and a discharge end with the discharge end being pivotally mounted to a carriage on a travelling bridge on the deck of the ship. The travelling bridge includes tracks extending athwartship on which the carriage is mounted for athwartship movement and the marine leg can pivot between a vertical position with the distal end near the bottom of the hold and a rest position with the marine leg parallel with the travelling bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: ULS Corporation
    Inventors: Charles D. Pole, Daniel B. Baker
  • Patent number: 4921391
    Abstract: A pick-up trailer comprising a feeding mechanism composed of a pick-up (7) and a rotor (4) linking up therewith in downstream direction, and partly surrounded by a guide plate (9), thereby producing a guide channel (10) between the rotor and the guide plate. The guide channel (10), at the end opposite pick-up (7) is bounded in the downward direction by a rotary roller (12) and terminates at the top in a bottom opening of the trailer. The roller (12) as well as shaft (3) are mounted for rotation between side plates (5) attached to the bottom (1) of the trailer. The arrangement is characterized in that the rotary roller (12) is attached to separate, adjustable suspension arms (13) mounted for rotation to the shaft (3) of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Inventor: Johannes Schuitemaker
  • Patent number: 4878802
    Abstract: A machine for gathering and collecting particles from a ground surface or the like includes an upwardly inclined conveyor or elevator mounted on the side of a transport vehicle and having a lower receiving end cooperative with forwardly diverging gathering arms which guide particles on the ground surface to the receiving end of the conveyor for transfer to an upper conveyor end where the particles are discharged into a receptacle. The conveyor is supported on the transport vehicle by a rigid truss frame arrangement including upper and lower pivot arms having ball joint connection to the conveyor so as to allow rotation of the conveyor substantially about its longitudinal axis in response to changes in ground contour. The conveyor is movable between lowered operating and raised transport positions. Counterbalance springs limit the contact force of the conveyor acting on the ground surface during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventors: Loren F. Hansen, Donald J. Huber, deceased, Joseph J. Oliver
  • Patent number: 4681503
    Abstract: An endless conveyor belt 10 provided with angled-over entraining cleats 12 as well as lateral corrugated sidewalls 11 serves the purpose of unloading bulk material 1 from a ship 2 in particular, which not only carries the bulk material 1 out of the ship 2 but also picks the same up automatically. The conveyor belt 10 hangs down with both legs 10' and 10" from an upper driving drum 20 within a conveyor framework 3 and runs freely below the conveyor framework 3 in a loop 21 formed merely under the action of the weight of the conveyor belt without application of external tensioning devices. The conveyor framework 3 is lowered so far into the bulk material 1 that the loop 21 shortens in vertical direction and the conveyor belt 10 digs into and picks up the bulk material 1 with the entraining cleats 12. A vertically displaceable delimiting drum 27 in the loop 21 prevents an excessive lateral displacement of the loop 21 as a reaction to the scooping action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: Conrad Scholtz AG
    Inventor: Gunther Nolte
  • Patent number: 4647248
    Abstract: The invention relates to a compact milling machine for milling off damaged road surfaces, having a loading device for the milled-off material and consisting of a chassis, provided with a drive motor and having a front wheel pair which can be steered and driven, and a milling roller, which can be driven by the drive motor in the opposite direction of rotation of the chassis wheels and is attached to the end of the chassis, the milling roller having support wheels adjustably arranged on their holders, in which compact milling machine, in the direction of travel, behind the milling roller, a loading device consisting of a conveyor belt and provided with a holder is arranged in such a way that it can be swivelled about a horizontal axis preferably by means of a hydraulic positioning cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Inventor: Reinhard Wirtgen
  • Patent number: 4616969
    Abstract: An emptying device for bulk material in cargo or storage rooms (2) comprises a first horizontal conveyor (3) which may be raised and lowered along one side of the room and move bulk material in the direction of a lifting conveyor (4). A further horizontal conveyor (5) moves the bulk material towards said first conveyor (3) and is movable along the latter. Said first conveyor (3) is provided with means (26) enabling it to dig room for itself in the bulk material as it is lowered. The other conveyor (5) comprises a belt conveyor (6) and a excavating wheel (7) rotating about the conveyor and being movable along the conveyor. Said first conveyor (3) has catchers (24) for transporting bulk material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1986
    Inventor: Kaare Haahjem
  • Patent number: 4537553
    Abstract: A silo or the like for storing pulverulent, granular or lumpy material has a wall which encloses the silo storage space, a roof whose pitch substantially corresponds to the angle of repose of the material, an inlet opening in the silo roof, an outlet opening in the silo floor, and a screw conveyor suspended from a beam rotatable about the axis of the silo. The beam is inclined downwardly from the inlet opening of the silo and extends substantially parallel to the roof pitch, and the conveyor is suspended from the beam by means of wires which are adjustable independently of each other with respect to their length. The conveyor can thus be anchored close and parallel to the supporting beam when material is fed into the silo, and be disposed at a suitable angle, preferably inclined downwardly toward the center of the silo, when material is discharged from the silo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Assignee: Nils Weibull AB
    Inventor: Sven A. Andersson
  • Patent number: 4459077
    Abstract: A bulk goods unloading apparatus for ships or other similar transport vehicles is disclosed. The bulk goods unloading apparatus basically comprises a gantry, movable alongside the transport vehicle, the gantry being provided with a swiveling cantilever system rotating around a first vertical axis. A conveyor belt is provided which runs parallel to the cantilever system. The free end of the cantilever system is provided with a supporting frame which carries a paddle wheel bulk goods pickup device rotatable about a horizontal axis. The supporting frame, itself pivotable about a second vertical axis, is provided with a C-shaped vertical conveyor, which is arranged between the discharge area of the paddle wheel and the charge end of the conveyor belt of the cantilever system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Assignee: Mannesmann A.G.
    Inventor: Rudiger Franke
  • Patent number: 4443149
    Abstract: An auger assembly for transporting seed, fertilizer or other particulate material. The assembly provides an auger within a stationary tube; the auger is mounted to allow free axial movement between adjustable limits. In the normal augering position, the auger extends beyond the tube into the particulate material. Should the particulate material become packed or jammed, preventing the auger from turning, the auger can be driven in reverse, causing it to unscrew itself up into the tube and allowing the auger to then take a fresh bite at the particulate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1984
    Assignee: Bruce Halland
    Inventor: Douglas T. Isaacson
  • Patent number: 4417652
    Abstract: A scraper arm apparatus for use especially with concrete mixers, including an endless chain provided at spaced apart intervals with scraper members and movable in a vertical plane about a support member, which is fixed to the opening of a hopper which receives aggregate from a pile on the ground level. The upper end of the support member is movable vertically with respect to the fixed hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1983
    Inventor: Gaston Grandmenil
  • Patent number: 4318466
    Abstract: A raker boom supports a plurality of independently driven and mounted rotatable raker wheels which are applied to the face of a pile of material to dislodge and move the material downwardly toward a bucket wheel and conveyor for gathering and conveying the material to a remote location for processing. The boom is capable of rotating in a vertical plane so that the raker wheels can contact and remove all of the material through the depth of a pile. By operating the raker wheels individually and mounting them independently, the raker apparatus can travel and apply the individual raker wheels over the surface of a pile of material regardless of its contour. The wheels can break up lumps of material, especially on the surface of the pile, and mix the material with other material within the pile. In one configuration of the preferred embodiment, a pair of opposed raker wheel booms are mounted on a raker carriage which itself is mounted for reciprocal travel on a raker truss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1982
    Assignee: Beloit Corporation
    Inventor: Louis R. Allard
  • Patent number: 4296592
    Abstract: An auger flotation limit for a crop harvesting header on which a floating auger is utilized is disclosed wherein a lower stop, defining the lower limit of movement of the auger, is connected to the upper stop, defining the upper limit of auger movement, by a strap mechanism. An adjusting mechanism operatively engages the lower stop for selectively adjusting the positional relationship between the auger and the floor of the header. The strap mechanism interconnecting the upper and lower stops permits the lower stop to be selectively adjusted without effecting the amount of flotational movement permitted to the auger. A fore-and-aft adjustment mechanism is also provided to permit the auger to be selectively adjusted in a fore-and-aft direction relative to the rear wall of the header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1981
    Assignee: Sperry Corporation
    Inventor: Irwin D. McIlwain
  • Patent number: 4286909
    Abstract: An apparatus for unloading bulk material from a storage space includes an upward conveyor (14), in particular a screw conveyor. For scraping the bulk material to the inlet end (22) of the upward conveyor (14), there is a scraper conveyor (27, 28) which is pivotally movable up and down and is telescopically extensible. The scraper conveyor is pivotally connected to a protective tube (24) which is rotatable and extends about the upward conveyor (14). The protective tube is located within a pressure-absorbing pipe which prevents the bulk material from impeding the rotational movement of the protective tube. This arrangement makes it possible for the scraper conveyor to remove bulk material from different regions of the storage space, including corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1981
    Assignee: AB Siwertell
    Inventor: Karl A. L. Tingskog
  • Patent number: 4284369
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a take-up head for a conveyor installation that removes bulk material from the hold of a ship. The take-up head includes a vertical conveying tube carried by a frame, the lower end of the tube defining a take-up aperture. A rotary feeder having a plurality of radially extending spiral veins is rotatably driven to drive material inwardly to the take-up aperture. A holding device, which takes various forms in the several embodiments, projects downward in coaxial relation relative to the feeder to engage the bulk material and resist lateral movement of the take-up head. Anchoring apparatus, which takes the form of a plurality of laterally extending pivotal arms or a laterally extending auxiliary conveyor, is constructed for lowering into engagement with the material to resist rotation of the frame as the feeder rotates. The take-up head is suspended from an on-shore jib that moves the head to various positions within the ship's hold to remove all bulk material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: Gebrueder Buehler AG
    Inventors: Arnold Gsponer, Hans Schnitzer
  • Patent number: 4268204
    Abstract: A continuous type of bucket unloader especially useful in transferring bulk cargo from a floating ship to shore has a main loading boom with an endless bucket chain pivotally suspended at its shipside end and which is pivotally mounted between its ends on a horizontal pivot on the shipside end of a lever which, in turn, is pivotally supported on a horizontal pivot between its ends on a support structure that, in turn, is fixed on a gantry. The landside ends of the boom and the lever are counterweighted and adjustably connected to each other whereby the angular relation of the boom to the lever on which it is mounted may be varied, and the lever, in turn, has a fluid pressure cylinder and piston unit for pivotally adjusting its angle relative to its support on the gantry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1981
    Assignee: Dravo Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel K. Stellfox, Hermann Urban
  • Patent number: 4248339
    Abstract: A gantry scraper for the clearing of dumps which can function in closed buildings and can clear substantially the entire area under the scraper. A vertically swingable scraping jib is provided in combination with a tensioned clearing rope or the like which extends upwardly and at an angle to the adjacent beam of the scraper jib, which clearing rope contacts bulk material beyond the end of the jib and knocks the material down to where it is accessible by the jib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1981
    Assignee: Gustav Schade Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Gerhard Fischer, Gunter Strocker
  • Patent number: 4077531
    Abstract: An improved system for removing modules of seed cotton either from a pallet, a transport vehicle, or, with slight modifications, from the ground when incorporated as a part of a transport vehicle. The apparatus comprises a conveyor with a discharge end and a receiving end. At the receiving end there is provided a cotton module engaging and lifting mechanism comprising a plurality of driven, toothed, disc-like lifting members, a multiplicity of the same being mounted in a framework for vertical reciprocation so that upon engaging an oncoming mass of seed cotton the entire unit moves downwardly, thus to get under and lift the seed cotton onto the conveyor. The cotton is fed to a disperser unit which breaks it down into individual locks, or at least groups of locks small enough to be fed to a gin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1978
    Assignee: Lummus Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald W. Van Doorn, William A. Harmon
  • Patent number: 4065062
    Abstract: A stack feeder is described for use in association with a stack mover arranged to advance a haystack in the longitudinal direction of the stack feeder. The feeder includes a base frame and a flail assembly located above the base frame and positioned transversely with respect to said longitudinal direction. Means are provided coupling the flail assembly to the base frame for pivotal movement with respect to the frame about a horizontal axis so that the flail assembly can be moved up and down along an arcuate path above the frame. The flail assembly includes a rotary flail and a hood which extends longitudinally of the flail. The flail is made up of an elongate support rotatable about a horizontal axis, and a plurality of knives carried by the support for action on a haystack in use. Means are provided to move the flail assembly along said arcuate path. The feeder also includes means for rotating the flail at a relatively high speed. Conveyor means are supported on the base frame below the flail assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1977
    Assignee: McKee Bros. Limited
    Inventor: Lorne C. Heslop
  • Patent number: 4020953
    Abstract: An apparatus for unloading particulate material, especially from ships, having an arm system comprising a horizontal conveyor section and a vertical conveyor section, which sections are interconnected in a torsionally rigid but pivotal manner for mutual relative movements in a common plane. The horizontal conveyor section is pivotally and swingably connected to a frame or foundation for raising and lowering of the horizontal conveyor section and for swinging of the complete arm system relative to the frame or foundation. In addition to being pivotally and swingably connected to the frame or foundation the horizontal conveyor section is tiltably connected thereto for inclination of the plane common to the vertical and horizontal conveyor sections relative to a vertical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1977
    Assignee: AB Siwertell
    Inventors: Karl Vilhelm Evert Eklof, Karl August Lennart Tingskog
  • Patent number: 3984015
    Abstract: The present invention relates to crushed rock discharging machines and can most advantageously be used for loading of blasted rock in mines where loose rock is released from a stope place through an outlet opening to a mine working floor on which the machine of the present invention is located.The machine of this invention comprises a carriage mounting a pivoting body with a boom in the form of two parallel brackets whereon an operating unit is suspended and allowed to turn in the vertical plane. The operating unit is composed of two guide plates interconnected by a beam in the top section, and by a wedge-shaped cross-bar whereto a conveyor is joined. The operating unit includes at least two arms attached to brackets, allowed to turn in the vertical plane and mated with the outer surfaces of the guide plates in such a manner that the mating surfaces of the arms and guide plates are mutually congruent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1976
    Inventors: Vasily Grigorievich Sidelnikov, Evgeny Grigorievich Fursov, Pavel Sergeevich Ratushnyak, Gennady Petrovich Kopyshev, Leonid Semenovich Kosterin, Vasily Ivanovich Timofeev, Viktor Andreevich Kovalenko, Vitaly Antonovich Poltavets, Vasily Mikhailovich Slupitsky