GB2027097A

GB2027097A - Improvements in and relating to Machines for Picking Up Material from a Surface

Info

Publication number: GB2027097A
Application number: GB7832355A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: NICKERSON Ltd C
Current assignee: NICKERSON Ltd C
Priority date: 1978-08-04
Filing date: 1978-08-04
Publication date: 1980-02-13

Abstract

A machine for picking up material, e.g. debris, from a surface, e.g. a sandy beach comprises an endless conveyor 6 provided with projections 12 and supported on a chassis movable along the surface. One end of the conveyor is arranged adjacent the surface so that debris on the surface is engaged by the projections as they move into the lower run of the conveyor. A support surface 8 is provided below the lower run of the conveyor to support debris picked up by the projections, the debris being discharged at the other end of the conveyor into a receptacle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements In and Relating to Machines for Picking Up Material from a Surface The present invention relates to improvements in and relating to a machine movable over a surface and for picking up material from a surface, particularly but not exclusively for picking up debris, e.g. seaweed, bottles, cans, timber etc, from a sandy beach.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a machine for picking up material from a surface while moving along that surface, the machine comprising a chassis, means for supporting the chassis on the surface for movement relative thereto, an endless conveyor mounted on the chassis with one end to be, in use, adjacent the surface, a support surface arranged below the lower run of the conveyor, means for driving the conveyor such that the lower run thereof moves from the one end to the other end of the conveyor, and projection means extending from the conveyor for movement therewith and for engaging material on the surface on which the machine is supported, guiding that material onto the support surface and carrying it therealong to the other end of the conveyor.

Advantageously the projection means comprise a plurality of elements arranged in longitudinal and transverse rows, and the support surface comprises a plurality of side-by-side elements extending in the direction of movement of the conveyor, the projection elements extending between the support surface elements in the lower run of the conveyor.

The projection elements are preferably deflectable into the plane of the conveyor.

In the preferred embodiment, the conveyor and support surface extend longitudinally of the machine with the one end of the conveyor at the leading end of the machine, the support surface and lower run of the conveyor extending upwardly and rearwardly from the one end, the other end of the conveyor being arranged to discharge into a receptacle for receiving the material picked up thereby.

When the machine is for use to pick up debris from a broken up surface, e.g. of earth or sand, a blade may be arranged at the leading end of the support surface to be introduced into the broken up surface to a predetermined depth to assist feeding of debris to the input end of the conveyor.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of an embodiment of a machine according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic exploded view of the conveyor and the associated support surface of the machine of Figure 1, to a larger scale than that of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a pair of projecting elements of the conveyor of Figure 2.

The machine 1 shown in the drawings is designed as a beach cleaner for picking up debris, e.g. seaweed, bottles, cans, other plastic flotsam, timber etc from the surface of a sandy beach. The machine 1 comprises a chassis shown diagrammatically at 3 for connection by conventional means, not shown, to the rear end of a tractor. The chassis 3 is supported on the surface 2 by pairs of leading and trailing wheels 4, 5 and supports an endless conveyor 6. The conveyor 6 extends longitudinally of the machine and is arranged with its lower run 7 immediately above a support surface 8. The lower run 7 of the conveyor is inclined upwardly in the rearward direction and the support surface 8 is correspondingly inclined. The lower input end 9 of the conveyor is arranged to be adjacent the surface 2 and the upper output end 10 of the conveyor is arranged above a hopper 11 for receiving the debris.

The conveyor 6 is provided with projecting means 12 extending from the surface thereof and is driven by conventional means (not shown) so that the lower run 7 thereof travels from the input end 9 to the output end 10 of the conveyor.

In operation, as the machine is drawn along the surface 2 by the tractor, debris lying in the path of the machine is initially engaged by the projection means 12 and then guided by these means onto the support surface 8. Thereafter it is retained on the support surface by the projection means 12 between the support surface 8 and the lower run of the conveyor. At the trailing end of the support surface, the debris is discharged into the hopper 11.

To assist in feeding material to the conveyor, a transversely extending blade 13 is provided at the leading end of the support surface 8, the blade 13 being arranged to dig into the surface 2 to a predetermined depth and lift the top layer of the surface and the debris towards the input of the conveyor. The blade 1 3 is inclined downwardly in a forward direction at an angle which depends on the consistency of the surface 2, and this angle may be adjustable.

To prevent the top layer of the surface 2 from being removed and discharged into the hopper, the support surface 8 is discontinuous or apertured so that the material of surface 2 falls through this support surface 8 and is not conveyed to the hopper. The support surface 8 may be vibrated or shaken to assist this effect.

In the preferred embodiment, the conveyor is constructed aS shown in Figure 2 and comprises a plurality of, as shown, three endless chains 20 running round pairs of sprockets 21, 22 at each end of the conveyor, the sprockets 21 and 22 being mounted on respective common shafts 23, 24 of which shaft 24 is driven. The chains 20 are connected by transverse members or bars 25 on each of which a plurality of projection elements 12 or tines are mounted, the tines being arranged in longitudinal rows. The tines are advantageously spring loaded so that they can be deflected into the plane of the conveyor. This spring loading may be achieved as shown in Figure 3 which shows a pair of tines 12 arranged on a bar 25. The tines are made of resiliently flexible material which is wound round and fixed, e.g. bolted or welded at 26, to the member 25.

The support surface 8 comprises a plurality of side-by-side elements or slats 27 which are arranged relative to the conveyor so that the longitudinal rows of tines 12 extend into the gaps between the slats 27. The spacing between the shafts 23, 24 and the support surface 8 is adjustable in dependance on the debris to be encountered by the machine, to ensure that e.g.

bottles, can pass between the support surface 8 and the lower run of the conveyor without breakage. The tines 12 are of sufficient length that they extend into the gaps between the slats 27 for all relative positions of the lower run of the conveyor and the support surface.

The hopper 11 is as shown mounted on a separate wheeled chassis 28, connected to chassis 3, for pivotal movement about axis 29 to enable the hopper to be tilted to empty it. For this purpose, a cylinder and piston 30 may be provided between the hopper and the chassis.

Alternatively the hopper may be mounted on the chassis 3 which is extended rearwardly for this purpose and may be pivotable or removable to empty it.

While the chassis 3 is, as shown, provided with leading and trailing wheels, the leading wheels 4 may be omitted, the leading end of the machine being supported by the tractor. If provided, the wheels 4 may be adjustable relative to the chassis 3 to vary the positioning of the input end of the conveyor relative to the surface 2. For transport purposes, the leading end of the chassis 3 may be lifted and pivot about the axis of the wheels 5 to increase the clearance between the input end of the conveyor and the ground and/or the support surface with the blade and the conveyor may be pivotted about the axis of shaft 24 at the output end of the conveyor to an inoperative position clear of the ground.

There is thus provided a machine for picking up material from a surface while the machine moves over the surface wherein a single conveying device, the endless conveyor 6, picks material up from the ground, conveys the material away from the ground and discharges it into a receptacle.

Claims

1. A machine for picking up material from a surface while moving along that surface, the machine comprising a chassis, means for supporting the chassis on the surface for movement relative thereto, an endless conveyor mounted on the chassis with one end to be, in use, adjacent the surface, a support surface arranged below the lower run of the conveyor, means for driving the conveyor such that the lower run thereof moves from the one end to the other end of the conveyor, and projection means extending from the conveyor for movement therewith and for engaging material on the surface on which the machine is supported, guiding that material on to the support surface and carrying it therealong to the other end of the support surface.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the projection means comprise a plurality of elements arranged in longitudinal and transverse rows.

3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein the projection elements are resiliently deflectable.

4. A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support surface is discontinuous or apertured to permit some material thereon to fall therethrough.

5. A machine according to claim 4 when dependent on either claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the support surface comprises a plurality of sideby-side elements extending longitudinally of the conveyor and the projection elements in the lower run of the conveyor are arranged to extend into gaps provided between the support surface elements.

6. A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveyor comprises an endless flexible band on which the projection means are mounted.

7. A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower run of the conveyor and the support surface extend from the one end of the conveyor rearwardly and upwardly so that material is discharged therefrom above the level of the surface.

8. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a receptacle for receiving material discharged from the other end of the support surface.

9. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support means comprise at least one pair of wheels.

10. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one end of the conveyor is adjustable relative to the chassis for varying its position relative to the support surface.

11. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, for picking up debris from a broken up surface and arranged with the one end of the conveyor leading, comprising blade means mounted at the one end of the support surface and arranged to penetrate into the surface to assist feeding debris to the one end of the conveyor.

12. A machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein the blade means is pivotable about an axis parallel to the one end of the support surface for adjusting the depth of penetration thereof into the surface.

1 3. A machine for picking up material from a surface substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.