GB2473704A

GB2473704A - Material handling apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2473704A
Application number: GB1014971A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Larrington
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-09-17
Filing date: 2010-09-09
Publication date: 2011-03-23
Also published as: GB0916306D0; GB201014971D0

Abstract

A material handling apparatus, or trailer, has a displaceable container (6,fig.1) to vary the distance items freefalling into the container have to fall, such as to reduce damage done to the items as they impact the floor of the container. The apparatus may have two such containers which pivot upwards around a central axis of rotation. The apparatus may find application in the collection of harvested crops.

Description

DIVIDED MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS

This invention relates to apparatus/arrangements for handling material that is in divided form and is required to be introduced from a delivery location in to a container.

In particular the present invention is concerned with the handling, during the harvesting thereof of root crops such as carrots, parsnips, potatoes etc. Such crops are commonly harvested by a generally accepted mode of harvesting appropriate to the crop followed by depositing the harvested crop into containers for removal from a field and/or for subsequent handling.

In particular in the present specification the handling apparatus disclosed will be specifically discussed in relation the handling of harvested crops at the time of harvesting. That is to say when in an associated growing field.

In practice, the crops are harvested by a machine usually designed specifically to handle a crop to be harvested. The harvested crop after the actual harvesting is conventionally fed by means of an endless conveyor type elevator from the harvesting machine to be 1 5 deposited from the elevator crop delivery output end into appropriately sized box like containers.

In practice, such crop harvesting is a continuous process involving the harvesting apparatus traversing a field in which the crop is growing accompanied by a trailer mounting at least one container that is intended to receive the harvested crop from the harvesting apparatus by means of the elevator. In practice, it is generally necessary for the elevator to lift the harvested crop sufficiently high enough for the harvested crop to be introducible i.e., dropped from above the container(s) into the into the container(s)mode of handling the crop has the consequence that the crop free fafls from the delivery end of the elevator into the box-like container(s). As will be appreciated the maximum distance of such free fall occurs is when a container is empty it is well known that the depositing of a crop by arrangements involving a free fall of the crop i.e., from an elevator delivery end presents operational conditions inherently involving the risk of the crop being bruised or otherwise damaged as a result of such free fall.

With a view to minimising the consequences of crop free fall the Applicant has proposed in previous Patents and Patent Applications such as GB2405853; GB2422822; and GB2418909 the use of cushioning arrangements upon any component of a trailer construction land container ikely to be impacted by falling crop. The Applicant has also proposed the use of flexible chutes to guide the crop during its fall from an elevator 1 0 into, for example, box containers in conjunction with additional means for controlling the rate of flow of the crop material though the chutes in relation to loading factors such as weight and/or volume.

Whilst such previous proposals have proved to be particularly beneficial in the handling of harvested crops there has still remained a problem that elongate crops such as 1 5 carrots, parsnips do not always safely fall through the initial free fall distance through which a crop needs to fall during its delivery into the crop containers following its discharge from the elevator It is an object of the present invention to provide a crop delivery arrangement in which the free fall distance is selectably controllable.

Broadly according to an aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for handling material in divided form including support means for at least one material receiving container into which the material is required to be fed, wherein the support means is such as to enable displacement of the container(s) in such manner as effectively to enable variation of the distance of free fall of the material during its travel from a material delivery location to the material receiving container(s).

Preferably the support means includes means for enabling selective inclination of the container(s) such that during at least the initial stages of the filling of the container(s) the latter is so tilted relative to a material delivery location that the material falls towards a side/end wall of the container(s) in such manner that the material is able to move downwards of the side/end wall towards the bottom region of the container(s).

Conveniently the angle of inclination of the material receiving container(s) is/are progressively reduced throughout the filling of the container(s), the arrangement being such that the bottom of each such container is horizontal by the time a required amount of material has been introduced there into.

Preferably the apparatus includes a trailer or other load carrying vehicle upon which the containers are provided and wherein the support means for the container(s) enables selective variation of the overall height of the container(s) relative to the trailer or other load carrying vehicle upon which the container(s) is/are carried, whereby the container(s) can be bodily moved relative to the location of material delivery to the 1 5 container(s), the arrangement being such that the container(s) can be bodily raised to a higher level at the commencement of loading and progressively lowered as the container(s) fill with said material.

Conveniently the apparatus incorporates means for enabling each container to undergo a combined tilting and lowering movements during the loading thereof.

In a preferred construction the support means includes a main rail extending lengthways of the trailer or other vehicle, and wherein at at least one box/frame for receiving a container is so pivotally mounted to the main rail that it is tiltable about an horizontal axis coincident with or otherwise parallel to the longitudinal axis of the main rail between a position in which the base thereof is horizontal and an inclined position in which the base of the box(s)/frame(s) is/are inclined to the longitudinal axis of the main rail.

Conveniently each box/frame effectively rest upon the chassis construction of the trailer or other vehicle when the base thereof is horizontal.

In particular where there is the possibility of damage to the material (such as a root crop such for example as carrots, potatoes arising from the harvesting thereof) during the feed thereof to the container(s), the material is arranged initially to fall though a flexible chute having a material inlet end located at the material delivery location and a material delivery end terminating in the immediate vicinity of the main rail and the adjacent top edge regions of the inclined box(s)/frame(s).

Broadly according to a further aspect of the invention a crop harvesting system includes means for enabling support of a container into which a crop is required to be fed in such manner that the container is so displaceable as effectively vary the distance of free fall of a crop during its travel from a crop delivery location to a crop receiving container.

Preferably the means are provided for selectively inclining the container such that during the filling of the container the crop, during at least the initial stages of the container filling, the crop receiving container is so tilted that the crop falls towards a side/end wall of the crop receiving container in such manner that the crop is able to move downwards of the side/end wall towards the bottom region of the container.

Conveniently, the angle of inclination of the container is progressively reduced throughout the filling of the container the arrangement being such that the bottom of the container is horizontal by the time a required amount of crop has been introduced into the container.

Preferably, the supporting arrangements for the containers enable selective variation of the overall height of the container relative to a trailer upon which the containers are carried, whereby the containers can be bodily moved relative to the location of crop delivery to the containers, the arrangement being such that the containers can be bodily is raised to a higher level at the commencement of loading and lowered as the container is filled with crop. S -5-

In a preferred construction the container is subjected to combined tilting and lowering during the loading thereof.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how to carry the same into effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a schematic end view representation of apparatus for supporting crop receiving containers, Figure 2 is a schematic representation illustration of the apparatus of Figure 1 during a crop loading operation; and Figure 3 is a very schematic end view of principal parts of an end region of a trailer or other vehicle construction adapted to carry crop receiving containers Referring to the Figures 1 and 2 the apparatus shown therein is incorporates a chassis assembly 1 mounted upon road running wheels axle units 2. The wheels are not shown in the Figures. An upstanding centrally located support 3 is provided at each end of the chassis. The upper regions of these two supports 3 are bridged by a main rail 4 1 5 extending lengthways of the chassis.

This main rail 4 is used pivotally to mount rectangular boxes/frames 5 located to opposite sides of the trailer chassis assembly 1 in such manner as to provide two rows thereof. In practice, depending upon the length of the chassis assembly each row of boxes/frames 5 can include one or more similarly shaped and sized boxes/frames 5, for example three or four. These boxes/frames 5 are intended to house portable containers 6 into which it is desired to deliver a crop or other material. The containers 6 are constructed such that when filled they are readily removable from the boxes/frames 5.

Each box/frame S is so pivotally mounted to the main rail 4 that it is tiltable about an horizontal axis coincident with or otherwise parallel to the longitudinal axis of the main rail 4 between a position in which the base 7 thereof is horizontal and effectively rests upon the chassis construction 2 as shown in Figure 1 and a inclined position such as indicated in Figure 2 in which the base 7 of the box/frame S is inclined to the horizontal. In the Figure the angle of inclination is shown to be 45 degrees.

It is intended that the containers 6 when located in the boxes/frames 5 should be filled from above. This situation is schematically demonstrated in Figure 2 by the presence of the delivery end 8 of an elevator 9 which serves to transfer the crop involved from the harvesting zone thereof ( not shown) to the containers 6.

With a view to reducing the possibility of damage to a crop during its travel from the elevator delivery end 8 into the containers 6 the upper surfaces of the boxes/frames 5 and containers are covered by an appropriate cushioning covering (not shown in the Figures). Similarly the main rail 4 is provided with crop cushioning material (not shown).

As a further aid to the reduction of the possibility of damage to a crop the latter can be arranged initially to fall though a flexible chute (not shown) provided at the elevator delivery end 8. The lower end region 10 of the elevator terminates in the immediate 1 5 vicinity of the main rail 4 and the adjacent top edge regions 11 of the inclined boxes/frames 5. In practice, the presence of the chute also serves to reduce the free fall distance and can additionally serve to reduce the risk of side spillage during a container loading operation.

As an alternative arrangement each box/frame 5 has assOciated therewith a dedicated chute (not shown). In practice the chutes can be associated with arrangements which control the crop throughput of the chute in relation to a selected parameter such as weight/volume.

Arrangements involving the mounting of chutes are disclosed in one or more of the above mentioned British Patents and/or Applications Arrangements, for example, hydraulic rams (not shown) are provided for raising and lowering the main rail 4 and thus the boxes/frames 5 pivoted thereto relative to the chassis 1.

In practice the boxes/frames 5 are raised at the commencement of the loading of a container 6 so that the free fall distance between the elevator end region 10 and a container 6 is at its minimum distance thereby correspondingly reducing the risk of crop damage.

As will be noted from Figure 2 crop falling from the delivery end 8 of the elevator 9 is effectively delivered into a selected container or containers 6 at a location closely adjacent to the top 11 of the box/frame sidewall 12 closest to the main rail 4. With this arrangement of the raised and tilted boxes/frames 5 the initial contact of the crop falling into the container 7 is with the adjacent inside surface 13 of the side wall 12 of the associated container(s). As will be noted from The Figure 2 this is effectively at the shortest distance from the elevator discharge endlO.

As a result of the raising and inclination of the boxes/frames 5 the crop elements i.e., individual carrots will travel/roll down the thus inclined side wall surface 13 of the container towards the floor of the container. As further crop is deposited into the container(s) 6 the associated box/frame 5 is lowered and at the same time as considered appropriate the tilt of the box/frame is progressively reduced such that by the time a requisite amount of crop has been introduced into a container i.e., to the required filling level the box/frame 5 will be fully lowered and returned to its non-inclined position.

The displacements of the boxes/frames 5 are conveniently effected by the use of hydraulic rams (not shown) which can be such as to enable the boxes/frames to be handled individually or collectively.

Whilst it has been mentioned that the elevator 9 is provided with a guide chute for the initiaL part of the delivery distance for the crop this chute can be removed where the nature of the crop is such that the presence of the chute could interfere with the delivery of the crop into the container in such manner that, for example, the elements of the crop could interlock leading to possible damage and jamming of the crop flow In practice the chassis and box/frames arrangement as schematically illustrated in the Figures is provided with end walls constructions (not shown) which serve inter alia to prevent spillage at the ends of the outermost boxes/frames 5 of a row and if considered convenient a support arrangement for a framework providing an individual rectangular opening for crop delivery to each box/frame. It will be appreciated all of the elements of the framework will be covered with cushioning material such as disclosed in the above mentioned Patents and Applications to avoid as far as possible any damage to any crop that may fall onto the elements of the framework. In particular, the cushioning materials used can involved plastics form structures and flexible lining material.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Apparatus for handling material in divided form including support means for at least one divided material receiving container into which the material is required to be fed, wherein the support means is such as to enable displacement of the container(s) in such manner as effectively to enable variation of distance of free fall of the material during its travel from a material delivery location to the material receiving container(s).
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the support means includes means for enabling selectively inclination of the container(s) such that during at least the initial stages of the filling of the container(s) the latter is so tilted relative to a material delivery location that the material falls towards a side/end wall of the container(s) in such manner that the material is able to move downwards of the side/end wall towards the bottom region of the container(s).
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, and wherein the angle of inclination of the material receiving container(s) is/are progressively reduced throughout the filling of the 1 container(s), the arrangement being such that the bottom of each such container is horizontal by the time a required amount of material has been introduced there into.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, and including a trailer or other load carrying vehicle upon which the container(s) is/are provided and wherein the support means for the container(s) enables selective variation of the overall height of the container(s) relative to the trailer or other load carrying vehicle upon which the container(s) is/are carried, whereby the container(s) can be bodily moved relative to the location of material delivery to the container(s), the arrangement being such that the container(s) can be bodily raised to a higher level at the commencement of loading and progressively lowered as the container(s) fill with said material.
5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, and incorporating means for enabling each container to undergo a combined tilting and lowering movements during the loading thereof.I
6. Apparatus as claimed in claimed 3, 4 or 5, wherein the support means includes a main rail extending lengthways of the trailer or other vehicle, and wherein at least one box/frame for receiving a container is so pivotally mounted to the main rail that it is tiltable about an horizontal axis coincident with or otherwise parallel to the longitudinal axis of the main rail between a position in which the base thereof is horizontal and an inclined position in which the base(s) of the box(s)/frame(s) is/are inclined.
7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein each box/frame effectively rests upon the chassis construction of the trailer or other vehicle when the base thereof is horizontal.
8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, and wherein where there is the possibility of damage to the material during the feed thereof to the container(s), the material is arranged initially to fall though a flexible chute having a material inlet end located at the material delivery location and a material delivery end terminating in the immediate vicinity of the main rail and the adjacent top edge regions of the inclined box(s)/frame(s).
9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, when arranged for the handling of harvested root type crops.
10. Apparatus for the handling of material in divided form, constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.