Abstract: A dosing device for outputting bulk goods from a dosing container is described. An exemplary embodiment includes at least one discharge arm, arranged above the bottom of the dosing container so as to be driven about an axis of rotation. The arm supplies bulk goods in the lower section of the dosing container to at least one output opening. The wall in the lower section of the dosing container extends from a cylindrical section above in a truncated cone-shaped manner and encompasses at least a part of the output opening. The output opening extends to the bottom of the dosing container. The at least one discharge arm includes a blade having a distal edge located opposite the axis of rotation, the edge is shaped to correspond to the cone-shaped wall of the dosing container, and a peripheral speed at the edge is below 1 m/s during normal operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a weighing scale comprising a base plate and a load plate on which the object to be weighed is placed or on which the person to be weighed stands. At least three planar load cells are arranged between load plate and base plate which load cells are fastened to the load plate and are loosely supported on elevations of the base plate.

Abstract: A work vehicle is provided for conveying an agricultural product via a movable member or tube to an adjacent product receiving bin. The movable member is controllable to swing back and forth accurately over the bin under precise operator control to enable the bin to be “topped off”. An auger or other conveyer device is used to feed product into the movable member. The vehicle's control system includes an extend switch and a retract switch which operate in a latched first mode when the conveyer device is not actuated. In the latched first mode, the extend or retract switches are pressed once to start the swinging motion of the movable member and are pressed a second time to stop the swinging motion. However, when the conveyer device is turned on to feed product into the movable member, the vehicle's control system switches to an unlatched second mode. In the unlatched second mode, the operator presses the extend or retract switch and the corresponding swinging motion commences upon such contact.

Abstract: A carrier wheel assembly for supporting a sweep auger at intermediate positions having a first wheel that is rotatably mounted to the shaft of the auger and extends rearwardly through a slot and secured to the backboard of the auger, and having a rearward wheel rotatably mounted to the assembly and positioned rearwardly of the auger.

Abstract: A method for temporarily storing a plurality of endless, intermediate articles of manufacture being characterized by: (i) placing an endless, intermediate article of manufacture in a load/unload position on the storage device 10; (ii) indexing the article out of the load/unload position and into a storage position; and (iii) repeating these steps with additional articles. In the preferred method, the step of indexing the article into a storage position being further characterized by the steps of: (i) detecting the presence of the article in the load/unload position; (ii) moving the article away from the load/unload position; and (iii) stopping the article when the presence of the article in the load/unload position is no longer detected.

Abstract: A drive for a grain bin unloading sweep adapted to move the sweep around the bin in a series of steps. The operating mechanism includes a friction wheel adapted to ride on the floor of the bin to move the sweep flighting, and a pawl and ratchet to drive the wheel. The whole mechanism is located so as to make possible the rotation of the sweep around the full circumference of the bin.

Abstract: A sweep auger apparatus is radially disposed within a circular bin for moving a free flowing granular material across the floor of the bin toward the center of the bin. A motor is connected to the radially inner end of the auger shaft to rotate the auger about its horizontal axis. A drive wheel assembly is connected to the radially outer end of the auger shaft for supporting the outer end of the auger shaft and for revolving the auger around the central vertical axis of the bin. The drive wheel assembly includes a speed reduction mechanism whereby the speed of rotation of the drive wheel is substantially less than the speed of rotation of the auger shaft.

Abstract: A sweep auger attachment for use in combination with an unloading conveyor. The sweep auger includes a first auger coupled to a second auger. A backboard, for directing grain into engagement with the augers extends along one side of the first and second augers. The first auger is rotatably mounted by a bracket to the backboard. A support arm, mounted on the backboard, supports the second auger. The sweep auger is selectively pivotally mounted on the loading conveyor between a first and a second position. The sweep auger longitudinal plane, defined by the axes of the first and second augers, is offset with respect to the pivot axis in the first position, and aligned with the pivot axis in the second position.

Abstract: A device for discharging bulk material so as to effect uniform descent of the bulk material. A rotary screw conveyor is surrounded by an elongated drum, the drum and the screw conveyor being rotated independently of each other and mounted for movement together in a straight line path perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the screw conveyor and drum. The drum is prevented from detrimental deflection during long periods of non-use, and is easy to start up after such long periods of non-use.

Abstract: A device for unloading particulate material from circular storage bins having central discharge sumps. The device includes two augers extending radially in diametric opposition from a vertical pivot axis adjacent the discharge sump. The augers are powered to pivot forwardly about the vertical axis and are also rotated about longitudinal auger axes to engage and move particulate material toward the vertical axis and into the central outlet sump. A central counter rotating auger drive means is powered to rotate the augers in opposite directions. The counter rotating drive means includes a single input drive shaft. The single input shaft rotates two worm gears of a transmission means. Two worm wheels, each attached to a respective auger, mesh with the worm gears. The worm gears and worm wheels function as gear reduction units to transmit rotation of the input shaft to opposite geared down directional rotation of the augers. The single input drive shaft is also operatively connected to a hydraulic motor.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding material from a large supply of such material wherein a screw is horizontally disposed at the bottom of the piled material. Both ends of the screw are mounted in a trunnion bracket in a traversing carriage which supports the screw and allows axial movement relative to the trunnion carriages and skewing movement in a horizontal plane. A drive motor is mounted directly to the screw and is in turn supported in a trunnion bracket. Separate drive motors power the carriage at both ends of the screw. Proximity switches are disposed in conjunction with the front trunnion bracket to both limit the degree of skewing and to control the traversing motors on the carriages to keep the apparatus aligned and reciprocating beneath the piled material.

Abstract: Apparatus for reliably causing flow of material from a bin, of circular transverse section about a vertical axis, having a conical bottom converging downwardly to a central discharge chamber, including: a central shaft rotatable in the discharge chamber about the vertical axis; a first arm on the central shaft for preventing material from said bin from packing around the central shaft; a second arm on the central shaft for preventing material from said bin from bridging at the entrance to the discharge chamber; a universal joint at the top of the central shaft; a traveller shaft connected at one end to the universal joint for rotation, with rotation of the central shaft, about its own axis and about the vertical axis; a single chain extending spirally around the traveller shaft for a major portion of its length and secured at both ends to the traveller shaft, for loosening material in the conical bottom of the bin by contact lateral of the traveller shaft therewith; a plurality of flat pieces of resilient mat