GB2207107A

GB2207107A - Apparatus for filling containers

Info

Publication number: GB2207107A
Application number: GB08815144A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Dickinson
Original assignee: CRISP MALTING Ltd
Current assignee: CRISP MALTING Ltd
Priority date: 1987-06-24
Filing date: 1988-06-24
Publication date: 1989-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 2008-06-24
Also published as: GB8714829D0; GB2207107B; GB8815144D0

Abstract

A screw conveyor (10) receives solid particulate material e.g. grain, from a hopper (12) which it transports to two further conveyors (20,22), extending at right angles to the axis of the first conveyor (10). A container to be filled is placed below the apparatus. The screw conveyors (10,20,22) may be moved relative to the stationery container, in order to fill the container uniformly, by the use of rack and pinion apparatus (16,19) for moving the conveyors (10,20,22) in the direction of conveyor (10) via runners on the housing of conveyor (10) which engage with wheels on hopper (12). <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS This invention relates to apparatus for transporting and distributing solid particulate material and more particularly apparatus for filling a container with solid particulate material.

Methods are known for completely filling containers with solid particulate material such as grain. One such method involves a conveyor provided with a swivelling mechanism adapted to deposit the grain over the whole area of the container so that the container can be completely filled. These kinds of conveyors with swivelling capability are extremely expensive. A cheaper method is to "throw" the particulate material from a fast moving belt into the container. When used with grain this method can damage the product as a result of impact with the container or with grain in the container, even to the extent of breaking the grain into pieces. In addition considerable dust can be produced, particularly from husks separated from the grain which is an undesirable health hazard.

The present invention has been made with a view to overcoming these problems.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for transporting and distributing solid particulate material comprising a first screw conveyor for moving said material in a first direction and a second screw conveyor arranged to receive material from the first conveyor and to move said material in a second direction different to the first direction.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention two second conveyors are disposed to receive material from the first conveyor. Preferably the second conveyors transport the material in opposite directions and at substantially right angles to the direction in which the material is moved by the first conveyor. A housing is provided around the first conveyor, said housing being arranged so that progressively all of the material moved by the first conveyor is delivered to the second conveyor or conveyors.

Means are preferably provided by which the first and second conveyors can be moved in the general direction of the axis of the first conveyor. Thus for filling a container the apparatus can be moved to ensure that the container is filled completely.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the embodiment of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, the apparatus comprises a housing 13 partially enclosing a first screw conveyor 10, said first screw conveyor 10 being arranged for moving material supplied by a hopper 12, in the direction of the arrow 14. Said first screw conveyor 10 is driven by suitable power means 11.

Material at the output end 23 of said screw conveyor 10 is picked up by further conveyors 20, 22 which extend at right angles to the axis of conveyor 10 and are arranged to transport material in opposite directions as indicated by arrows 24 and 26. Said further conveyors 20, 22 may be driven by the same power unit 11 that drives said first screw conveyor 10 by suitable gearing 21.

The conveyors 20 and 22 are provided with housings 28 and 30 which partially extend therearound and leave the front parts of the conveyors unenclosed.

Said hopper 12 is mounted on a hopper support 15.

Wheels 18 are mounted on said hopper support 15, such that they are located in runners 12 of said housing 13.

In this way, the screw conveying apparatus 10,11t13,19, 20,22,28,30 is capable of being reciprocated, relative to said hopper 12 and said hopper support 15, parallel to the axis of screw conveyor 10 in the directions indicated by the double arrow 32. This reciprocated movement is achieved, for example, by utilising a rack and pinion mechanism 17,19.

In use, the container to be filled is located beneath the apparatus. At the start of filling the conveyors 20 and 22 are positioned at the end of the container remote from the hopper by rotation of handwheel 16. As filling proceeds, the apparatus is moved by suitable rotation of handwheel 16 towards the left as viewed in the drawings.

The apparatus can be used to fill a container with material such as grain without damaging the grain or creating dust. In addition the action of the conveyors is to push the material and that gives rise to better packing, and more even distribution, of the material in the container. It is also- possible that particulate material loaded into a container by the invention has a higher bulk density than material which is thrown or falls into the container under gravity.

This invention is not restricted to the above described specific embodiment and many variations and modifications can be made. It is to be understood that the invention is not confined to use with grain and can be applied to other solid particulate material.

Claims

1. Apparatus for transporting and distributing solid particulate material comprising a first screw conveyor for moving said material in a first direction, and a second screw conveyor arranged to receive material from the first conveyor and to move said material in a second direction different to the first direction.

2. Apparatus for transporting and distributing solid particulate material as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of second conveyors are disposed to receive material from the first conveyor.

3. Apparatus for transporting and distributing solid particulate material as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second conveyors transport material at substantially right angles to the direction in which the material is moved in the first conveyor.

4. Apparatus for transporting and distributing solid particulate material as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a housing is provided around the first conveyor, said housing being arranged such that substantially all of the material moved by the first conveyor is delivered to the second conveyor.

5. Apparatus for transporting and distributing solid particulate material as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein means are provided by which the first and second conveyors can be moved in the general direction of the axis of the first conveyor.

6. Apparatus for transporting and distributing solid particulate material as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said material comprises grain.

7. Apparatus as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.