GB2048997A

GB2048997A - Ground-marking apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2048997A
Application number: GB8010033A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Hill & Co Ltd J
Current assignee: Hill & Co Ltd J
Priority date: 1979-04-25
Filing date: 1980-03-25
Publication date: 1980-12-17
Also published as: GB2048997B

Abstract

Particulate line-marking material being dispensed on to the ground from a wheeled hopper 2 is agitated by a plurality of inclined discs (Figs. 3-6, not shown) mounted within the hopper on the wheel axle 32. The discs may be octagonal or circular and have a circular array of apertures. The hopper outlet has a shut-off plate 18 linked to hand lever 24, and an adjustable metering plate 14 (Fig. 2, not shown) having three different- width slots (15). A lowerable arm 8 carries forward guide wheels (not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to dispensing devices The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to dispensing devices, particularly for dispensing solid or semi-solid material in strips, swaths or lines upon the ground. The invention finds application, for example, in the marking of sports-fields, games pitches, athletic tracks and the like with dry particulate marking material.

Particuiate material may conveniently be dispensed from a bin or hopper having an outlet at or near the base thereof through which a controlled quantity of material may be dispensed.

In order to maintain continuity of the supply of dispensed material it is known to provide agitator means driven directly or through a clutch device by drive wheels on which the bin or hopper is mounted for travel along the ground to be marked.

Many suggested forms of agitator means have not been consistently satisfactory at least partly because of the tendency of some materials to form a "bridge" in the hopper above the agitator, as a result of which the agitator rotates in a void formed beneath the body of material and the supply of dispensed material is interrupted.

The present invention sets out to minimise the above disadvantages.

The invention therefore provides a dispensing device for use in dispensing solid or semi-solid material comprising a bin or hopper mounted upon ground wheels which rotate in use, said bin or hopper having an outlet aperture at or near a base portion thereof, means for controlling the supply of material through said outlet aperture and agitator means mounted within the bin or hopper in the vicinity of the outlet aperture comprising a rotatabie rod or bar spanning a lower portion of the bin or hopper and a plurality of plates mounted upon the rod or bar for rotation therewith, said plates extending from the rod or bar at an inclined angle so as to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the rod or bar in a plane inclined with respect to a radial plane.

It will be understood that the plates may be of any suitable shape, for example circular or substantially so, octagonal or hexagonal. In an example of the invention to be described in detail below, the plates are octagonal and mounted with the rod or bar passing through the centre of each plate. A suitable angle of inclination for the plane of rotation may be in the approximate range of 50 to 450 from the radial plane.

It will be observed that, with reference to a fixed point within the lower portion of the bin or hopper the peripheral portions of the plates nearest that point partake of an apparent longitudinal motion in the manner of a swash plate. This lengthwise variation in the position of the peripheral portion adjacent material at that fixed point assists in ensuring constant agitation of the material and reducing the risk of "bridging".

Moreover, it will be appreciated that the agitation is also enhanced by the fact that the distance of the peripheral edge of the plate from the axis of rotation varies around the periphery of the plate, even in the case of a circular plate, which appears elliptical in plan view.

Advantageously, means are provided to minimise the risk of build-up of material between neighbouring plates on the rod or bar and between end plates and the wall of the bin or hopper. This may be achieved by the provision of apertures in the plates or by the provision of vanes extending from the rod or bar to slice through possible material build-up.

In an example of the invention described below, all the plates are arranged in parallel inclined planes, but this is not essential, differing planes giving desired results according to the materials to be dispensed.

The example of the invention above referred to will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that the description is given by way of example only and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a side view of a bin or hopper incorporating a device according to the invention, with parts broken away for clarity; Figure 2 is an underneath plan view of the bin or hopper of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a lower portion of the bin or hopper showing the device; Figure 4 is a view of a plate; Figure 5 diagrammatically illustrates the movement of the plate during rotation, and Figure 6 shows a view of an alternative plate.

A hopper 2 is shown in Figure 1 having a handle 4, two ground wheels 6 (one shown in part) and a strut 8 which may be pivotted forwardly of the hopper and carries guide wheels (not shown). A lower portion 10 of the hopper is provided with an outlet aperture 12 (Figure 3), an adjustable metering plate 14, having three slots 16, a selected one of which is aligned with the aperture 12 to determine the supply rate of dispensed material, and a shut-off plate 18 operated through a linkage 20 and a cable 22 by a lever 24 on the handle 4.

A panel 26 on the lower portion 10 of the hopper 2 supports bearings 30 in which rotate axles 32 of the wheels 6. These axles are integral with a bar 34 extending across the lower portion 28 of the hopper as seen in Figure 3.

The bar 34 supports four octagonal plates 36 mounted at equi-spaced intervals thereon and arranged in parallel planes, inclined at 15 to a radial plane, for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the bar 34. Each plate 36 is provided with six apertures 38 which help prevent unwanted build-up of material between the plates and between the end plates and the wall of the lower hopper portion 10.

In operation, the hopper is pushed along the ground and the rotation of the wheels 6 causes rotation of the bar 36 to agitate material in the hopper so that it is dispensed through the aperture 1 2 onto the ground. The agitation effect of the rotation of the plates 36 is illustrated in Figure 5, which shows plates in three positions, 36', 36" and 36"'. It will be observed that the distance from the axis of the bar 34 to the lowest peripheral edge of the plate 36' is greater than to the lowest peripheral edge of plate 36" by an amount, and the longitudinal-change in position covers a distance y between the positions shown by plates 36" and 36"'. This movement is similar to the action of a conventional circular swash plate. Indeed, another example of a plate for use in a device according to the invention is shown in Figure 6 and is circular in configuration.

Dependent on the type of material to be dispensed, for example where particles tend to cling together, additional conventional means (not shown) may be utilised in the upper portion of the hopper to ensure passage of the material downwardly towards the plates.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the following

Claims

claims.

CLAIMS 1..A dispensing device for use in dispensing solid or semi-solid material comprising a bin or hopper mounted upon ground wheels which rotate in use, said bin or hopper having an outlet aperture at or near a base portion thereof, means for controlling the supply of material through said outlet aperture and agitator means mounted within the bin or hopper in the vicinity of the outlet aperture comprising a rotatable rod or bar spanning a lower portion of the bin or hopper and a plurality of plates mounted upon the rod or bar for rotation therewith, said plates extending from the rod or bar at an inclined angle so as to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the rod or bar in a plane inclined with respect to a radial plane.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the plates are octagonal.
3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the plates are at least substantially circular.
4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plates extend from the plates extend from the bar at an angle in the range 50--350 from the radial plane.
5. A device according to either one of claims 1 and 4, wherein the plates are provided with a plurality of apertures therein, which minimise the risk of build-up of material between neighbouring ones of said plates.
6. A device according to either one of claims 1 and 4, wherein at least one vane is provided to extend between neighbouring plates to minimise the risk of build-up of material therebetween.
7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein all the plates are arranged in parallel inclined planes.
8. A dispensing device for use in dispensing solid or semi-solid material, constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.