GB2256635A

GB2256635A - Box emptying apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2256635A
Application number: GB9108465A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Donald Rodger Brown
Original assignee: Downs E W & Son Ltd
Current assignee: Downs E W & Son Ltd
Priority date: 1991-04-19
Filing date: 1991-04-19
Publication date: 1992-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 2011-04-19
Also published as: GB9108465D0; GB2256635B

Abstract

A box emptying apparatus, for use with a tipper unit for lifting and tipping a box (1), comprises a frame in which is mounted a series of parallel rollers (6). A plastics or rubber belt (5) passes around the rollers (6), and the frame is clamped by a clamp to the box (1) to form a lid. The lid is fitted with a hydraulic ram which retracts the frame in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the rollers (6) to form an opening (8) in the box (1), the retraction causing the rollers (6) to rotate and move with the frame whilst the belt (5) facing the box remains static relative to the box contents to prevent abrasion or rubbing thereof. The contents can be potatoes. <IMAGE>

Description

Box emptying apparatus.

The present invention relates to box emptying apparatus. The invention relates more particularly to apparatus for use when tipping a box to empty potatoes or other agricultural products therefrom.

GB 2 152 911 describes a known box emptying apparatus.

The apparatus comprises a lid which is clamped to the top of an open-topped box to prevent its contents from spilling out when the box is tipped over. The lid has a fixed part and a sliding part so that the sliding part of the lid can be withdrawn over the fixed part of the lid by means of a hydraulic ram to form an opening and allow the contents to discharge through the opening.

The apparatus described in GB 2 152 911 reduces the damage caused to the produce when a box is simply inverted without a lid. However, several potential problems remain. Firstly, when a box fitted with the closed lid is inverted, the contents of the box press against the lid and as the sliding part of the lid is withdrawn damage is caused to the produce by the sliding lid rubbing against the produce. This may, for example, rub the chits off seed potatoes.

Secondly, it is frequently necessary, in practice, to close the lid of the box before it is empty, for example when the planter, into which the produce is tipped, is full. However, if the sliding part of the lid is closed while the box is inverted the produce is dragged downwards and can be damaged by the rigid leading edge of the sliding part of the lid.

Thirdly, the design relies on a single, centrally located hydraulic ram to slide the lid. This is maintained in position for example by rollers in guides, but these can be unreliable because when the box is inverted the weight of the contents on the lid will cause the lid to bend and distort so that the guides jam and cause uneven opening and "crabbing".

An aim of the present invention is to provide an improved box emptying apparatus.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a box emptying apparatus for use with a tipper unit, the apparatus comprising a lid for the box, the lid being clamped against an open top of the box to close it prior to discharge of the box contents, the lid having a frame which supports a belt which faces the contents of the box, the frame being slidable relative to the box to create an opening, and the belt being arranged to return around an edge of the lid at the opening as the lid is slid, the belt portion facing the crop remaining stationary.

Preferably a roller is rotatably mounted at its ends on the frame at the edge of the lid, the belt returning around the roller such that when the frame is slid relative to the box the roller rotates freely as the belt moves around it.

Preferably the belt is in the form of a loop.

Preferably a plurality of rollers is mounted on the frame and the belt extends around and is supported by the rollers.

Preferably the frame of the lid is moved by a hydraulic ram.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an assembly of a box emptying apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention in combination with a unit for lifting and tipping the box whereby, in use, the apparatus and unit are held in close relation.

Preferably the apparatus and unit are held in close relation by a clamp.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box emptying apparatus forming an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an end view of the apparatus of figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side view of the apparatus of figure 1 in a position of use.

The drawings show a box emptying apparatus forming an embodiment of the present invention mounted on a standard side-tipping turnover head, on a forklift truck.

The apparatus comprises a lid 3, formed from a continuous rubber or plastics belt 5 which passes around a series of parallel arranged freely-rotatable rollers 6. The rollers 6 are mounted at their ends on a frame 7 which has appropriate dimensions for the open top of a box 1 with which the apparatus is used. The frame 7 has a doubling-acting hydraulic ram 13 located in relation thereto which can move the frame 7 in both directions perpendicular to the axes of the rollers 6 in the plane of the lid 3.

In use, the lid 3 is clamped to the box 1 by a clamp 17 on a standard side-tipping turnover head 15 which is mounted on a forklift truck having forks 2. The clamp grips the side of the box and urges the lid down onto the open top of the box. The box is then inverted by rotation through an angle of between about 90 and 135 degrees (figure 3 shows the apparatus rotated through 135 degrees). When the box has been inverted, its contents, in this case seed potatoes, press against the belt 5 and this traps the belt 5 in contact with the potatoes in the box 1.

The lid 3 is then opened by being retracted upwardly, along the box 1, by the ram 13 as shown in figure 3. As the frame 7 is retracted the belt 5 remains static relative to the box 1 and potatoes so that no friction is produced between the potatoes and the lid 3 to cause damage to the potatoes. An opening 8 is produced in the top of the box 1 as the lid 3 is retracted which allows the potatoes to be released into a potato planter (not shown) located thereunder.

The lid 3 can be opened or closed with any quantity of potatoes in the box without damage to the potatoes since the leading edge 19 of the lid, as the lid closes over the box 1, is rounded and is of rubber and any produce caught in the opening 8 as the lid 3 closes is tucked by the belt 5 back into the box 1.

The described embodiment has the advantage of self-alignment of the lid. When the box is inverted, the belt 5 is pressed against the rollers 6 which are rotatably mounted in the frame 7 so that when the frame is retracted the lid 3 rolls backwards and forwards exactly in the line perpendicular to the axes of the rollers. The greater the load of the contents in the box 1 the more this self aligning affect is increased.

It will be appreciated that modifications to the embodiment described can be made without departing from the scope of the accompanying claims.

For instance, the frame belt need not be continous but could extend only part way around the rollers, the ends of the belt being linked by a steel plate or lacing on the top of the lid.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A box emptying apparatus for use with a tipper unit, the apparatus comprising a lid for the box, the lid being clamped against an open top of the box to close it prior to discharge of the box contents, the lid having a frame which supports a belt which faces the contents of the box, the frame being slidable relative to the box to create an opening, and the belt being arranged to return around an edge of the lid at the opening as the lid is slid, the belt portion facing the box contents remaining stationary.

2. A box emptying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a roller is rotatably mounted at its ends on a frame at the said edge of the lid, the belt returning around the roller such that when the frame is slid relative to the box the roller rotates freely as the belt moves around it.

3. A box emptying apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the belt is in the form of a loop.

4. A box emptying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a plurality of rollers is mounted on the frame and the belt extends around and is supported by the rollers.

5. A box emptying apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame of the lid is moved by a hydraulic ram.

6. An assembly comprising a box emptying apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with a tipper unit for lifting and tipping the box whereby, in use, the apparatus and unit are held in close relation.

7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the apparatus and unit are held in close relation by a clamp.

8. A box emptying apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

9. An assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.