GB2180282A

GB2180282A - Apparatus for dispensing particulate materials

Info

Publication number: GB2180282A
Application number: GB08522640A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eric Staniforth
Original assignee: Sisis Equipment; Sisis Equipment Macclesfield Ltd
Current assignee: Sisis Equipment; Sisis Equipment Macclesfield Ltd
Priority date: 1985-09-12
Filing date: 1985-09-12
Publication date: 1987-03-25
Also published as: GB8522640D0; GB2180282B

Abstract

Apparatus for dispensing dry particulate materials, for example, for line marking of sports areas, comprising a wheeled base frame (10) carrying a hopper (13) with an adjustable feed gate (19) and a reciprocable feed platform (15) at the base. As the apparatus is wheeled along the ground, an axle (21) carrying cams (22) reciprocates base plate (15) to dispense materials through the feed gate (19) into an outlet chute consisting of pivotted plates (27) whose adjustable gap defines the width of a line of material dispensed by the apparatus. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for dispensing particulate materials THIS INVENTION concerns apparatus for dispens ing particulate materials, and more particularly for applying substantially dry marking materials on two a grass or non-turf surface such as a sports area or playground. In operation, it is necessary to ensurethat the material is dispensed at a substantially uniform rate in a line of predetermined width. Typical materials forthis purpose are of a coarse nature and have a tendency not to be free flowing.

An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for dispensing dry marking materials in a clearlydefined line and art a substantially uniform rate.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for dispensing substantially dry particulate materials, comprising a hopper having a base in the form of a reciprocablefeed platform, and an adjustable gate along one side defining with the feed platform a variablefeed aperture, means for reciprocating the feed platform in its own plane slowly in one direction and more quickly in the reverse direction thus to dispense materials from the hopperthrough the feed aperture at a substantially uniform selected rate, and means defining an outlet of adjustable width from which said material is dispensed on to the ground.

Preferably, the apparatus is mounted on a wheeled frame and is manoeuvred by hand.

An embodiment ofthe invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. lisa partially cut away side elevation of a ground marking machine embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a view in the direction of arrowAin Fig. 1.

and Fig. 3 is aview similar to Fig. 1 illustrating an alternative embodiment; The apparatus consists essentially of a base frame 10 having afirstpairofwheels 11 which may befitted with pneumatictyres at the front of the frame 10, and a second pair of wheels 12 atthe rear. Attached to the frame 10 isa handle assembly H to enable the apparatusto be manoeuvred by hand.

Moureted between side members oftheframe 10 is a upstanding hopper 13 having a removable lid 14, the base of the hopper consisting of a reciprocable feed platform 15. The platform 15 supported at its forward end on a roller 16 co-axial with the rotational axisofthefrontwheels 11, and at the rearward end by airzher railer 17. The frontwall 18 ofthe hopper has atitsbasea rectangularfeed aperture 19 and a vertically adjustable feed gate 20 whose position may be selected to determine the effective height of feed aperture 19.

Afrontwheel axle 21 carried a pair of cams 22, one at each side of the hopper 13 outside the latter. The curvilineartoothed surfaces of cams 22 are associated with a cam follower in the form of a rod 23 extending across and beneath the forward end of feed platform 15, and the rod is held in contact with the cam surface by means of a pretentioned spring 24attached to the rear end offeed platform 15 and to the frame 10.

A rectangular housing 25 forming an open-ended vertical duct 26, is attached to the front ofthe hopper 13 near its base so that the front edge of feed platform 15 overhangs the duct 26. Within housing 25 are a pair of pivotted plates 27 which, as can be seen from Fig. 2, togetherdefinethewidth oftheoutletapertureforthe apparatus. The positions of the plates 27 are determined bya pivotted leversystem 28 with adjusting handle 29 as shown in Fig. 2. Preferably, handle 29 is movable between a number offixed positions so that the width of the gap between the free ends of plates 27 may be selected according to the width of the line required.

A small brush 30 is attached to the bottom of the rearwall of hopper 13 and acts on the upper surface of the feed platform 16. The tension on spring 24 can be adjusted by moving the position of a threaded rod 31 attaching the spring to the frame 10.

In an alternative embodiment as illustrated in Fig. 3, where like parts are denoted by like reference numerals, the platform 15 connected at its rear end to a rod 32 which is slidably engaged within an aperture at the rearofframe 10. Mounted in compression on the rod 32 is a spring 33 so that rod 32 and platform 15 are biased in aforwards direction, and in this case, rod 23 is positioned behind cams 22 so that the slow movement is in the rearwards direction and the sharp return movement is in the forwards direction.

Also in this embodiment there is shown a hand wheel 34 mounted on a threaded end 35 of rod 32 and backed by a small spring 36. By rotating the hand wheel the platform 15 may be drawn backfar enough for rod 23to become disengagedfrom the surfaces of cams 22. In this way, with the feed gate 20 lowered into contactwith the upper surface of platform 15, the whole apparatus becomes inoperative preventing leakage ofthe material from hopper 13.

In use, as the apparatus is wheeled forwardly along the ground, the action of cams 22 isto cause rod 23 and thusfeed platform 15 to be reciprocated slowly in a forwards direction and more quickly in the reverse direction thus to cause material from the hopper 13 to be carried forwards on the platform and deposited into outlet duct 26 via pivotted plates 27. The rate of feed is determined by the position of adjustable feed gate 20 whilst the width of the line may be adjusted as required using handle 29.

Itwill be seen from Fig. 1,thattheframe 10 and thus the whole of the apparatus is inclined downwardly towards the front to assistthefeed of material forwardly along plate 15.

The feed of material may be discontinued tempor arily bytilting the apparatus backwards on rear wheels 12.

Claims

1. Apparatusfor dispensing substantially dry par- ticulate materials, comprising a hopper having a base in the form of a reciprocablefeed platform, and an adjustable gate along one side defining with the feed platform a variable feed aperture means for recipro catingthefeedplatform in its own plane slowly in one direction and more quickly in the reverse direction thus to dispense materials from the hopperthrough the feed aperture at a substantially uniform selected rate, and means defining an outlet chute of adjustable width from which said material is dispensed onto the ground.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the hopper is mounted on a wheeled base frame adapted to be manoeuvred by hand, the reciprocating means comprising at least one cam mounted for rotation with an axle of the wheeled base frame and co-operating with a cam follower attached to the reciprocating feed platform.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the reciprocating feed platform is tensioned in one direction by an adjustable spring.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including means operative when required, to prevent the feed platform from reciprocating thus to prevent leakage of material from the hopper when the apparatus is not in use.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the reciprocablefeed platform is inclined downwardlytowards the variable feed apertureto assistthefeed of material through the latter.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the means defining an outlet chute of adjustable width comprises a pairofpivotted plates defining a gap between theirfree ends which is adjustable by means of a handle movable between a numberoffixed positions to alterthe pivotal positions of the plates.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the reciprocablefeed platform is moved slowly across the base of the hopper towards the variable feed aperture, and more quickly in the reverse direction.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the reciprocablefeed platform is moved slowly across the base ofthe hopper away from said variable feed aperture, and more quickly in the reverse direction.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 1 ,wherein the variable feed aperture is provided in a front wall of the hopper with a vertically adjustablefeed gate whose position overthe aperture is adjustable to determine the effective heightofthe aperture.

10. Apparatus for dispensing substantially dry particulate materials, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 or Fig. 3 ofthe accompanying drawings.