GB2618131A

GB2618131A - An apparatus for use with a bucket for a loader and a bucket for a loader comprising the same

Info

Publication number: GB2618131A
Application number: GB2206233.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Blades John
Original assignee: Strimech Engineering Ltd
Current assignee: Strimech Engineering Ltd
Priority date: 2022-04-28
Filing date: 2022-04-28
Publication date: 2023-11-01
Also published as: GB202206233D0

Abstract

An apparatus (100-fig.6A) for a loader bucket having a material flow opening (110-fig.1A). The apparatus comprises a planar closure member 120 movable by a moving means 130 between an open position (fig.1A) where the opening is revealed and a closed position (fig.1B). The closure member may have an aperture 124 that aligns with the opening in the open position and a barrier 125 that closes the opening in the closed position. The closure member may be a shutter, blade or barrier. A frame 150 mountable to the bucket may support and guide the closure member. There may be a conduit (152-fig.3) and a bag (163-fig.7) attachment means. There may be a funnel (140-fig.5). A bucket and system comprising the apparatus are also claimed.

Description

TITLE

AN APPARATUS FOR USE WITH A BUCKET FOR A LOADER AND A BUCKET FOR A LOADER COMPRISING THE SAME.

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

Examples of the present disclosure relate to an apparatus for use with a bucket for a loader. Some examples relate to a bucket for a loader comprising the same. Some examples relate to a system comprising said bucket for a loader comprising the apparatus, and a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

In agricultural vehicles, buckets can be used with loaders (e.g. tractors with buckets) to fill empty bulk bags, located below the bucket, with a material (for example, load material within the bucket, for dispensement/egress therefrom) initially contained within the bucket. Conventional buckets for use with loaders are suboptimal. It is desirable to provide an improved apparatus for dispensing material from a bucket for use with loaders.

The listing or discussion of a prior-published document or any background in this specification should not necessarily be taken as an acknowledgement that the document or background is part of the state of the art or is common general knowledge. One or more examples/aspects/embodiments of the present disclosure may or may not address one or more of the background issues.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided an apparatus, for use with a bucket for a loader, the bucket having an opening for allowing material to flow therethrough, comprising a closure member, wherein the closure member is a planar member defining a plane; moving means configured to move the closure member in the plane between a first position and a second position, different to the first position; wherein, in use and when installed in the bucket, the closure member, when in the second position, is configured to close the opening, and when in the first position, is configured to reveal the opening.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided examples as claimed in the appended claims.

The following portion of this 'Brief Summary' section, describes various features that may be features of any of the embodiments described in the foregoing portion of the 'Brief Summary' section. The description of a function should additionally be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function The closure member may comprise an aperture configured to, when in use and when installed in the bucket and when in the first position, substantially align with the opening.

The closure member may further comprise a barrier portion, wherein the barrier portion, in the second position, is configured to close the opening, and wherein, in the first position, the barrier portion is configured to not close the opening.

The closure member may be positionable at positions between the first position and the second position.

The closure member may be one or more of: a shutter; a blade; and a barrier.

The apparatus may further comprise a frame configured to one or more of: support the closure member; guide the closure member in the plane; support the moving means; be mountable to the bucket.

The apparatus may further comprise a conduit.

The apparatus may further comprise means for attaching a bag to the conduit.

The moving means may comprise one or more of: an actuator; a linear actuator; a rotational actuator; hydraulic means.

The apparatus may further comprise a funnel.

The funnel may comprise at least one side wall configured to, when in use and when installed in the bucket, be directed towards the opening.

The funnel may at least partially cover: the moving means and/or the closure member.

The funnel may further comprise an access panel.

The access panel may provide access to the moving means and/or the closure member.

The material may be a flowable material and/or wherein the material is any one or more of grain; and animal feed.

The bucket may be a grain bucket.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided a bucket for a loader comprising said apparatus.

The bucket may further comprise attachment means for attaching handles of a bag therefrom.

The volume capacity of the bucket may be one of greater than: 1 m3; 1.5 m3; 2 m3; 2.5 m3; 3 m3; 3.5 m3; 4 m3.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided a system comprising said bucket for a loader and a vehicle.

The vehicle may be any one or more of: a loader, an agricultural vehicle; a bucket loader; a front loader; a front-end loader; an articulated loader; a telescopic loader; a telehandler; a payloader; a high lift loader; a skip loader; a wheel loader; a tractor; a truck; a road roller; and a tracked vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Some examples will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGs. 1A and 1B schematically show an example of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 2 shows an example of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 3 shows an example of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 4 shows an example of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 5 shows an example of the subject matter described herein; FIGs. 6A and 6B show an example of the subject matter described herein; and FIG. 7 shows an example of the subject matter described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGs. 1A and 1B show schematic views of an example of the disclosure relating to an apparatus 100, for use with a bucket (not shown) for a loader (not shown), the bucket having an opening 110 for allowing material to flow therethrough. The bucket may be, for example, an articulable bucket for a vehicle such as an agricultural bucket/grain bucket for a tractor. The apparatus 100 comprises a closure member 120, wherein the closure member is a planar member defining a plane 122 (wherein line 122 indicates the intersection of the plane with the page, and the plane is perpendicular to a first direction 121), and moving means 130 configured to move the closure member 120 in the plane between a first position A (shown schematically in FIG. 1A) and a second position B (shown schematically in FIG. 1B). The second position B is different to the first position A. The first position A and the second position B are both in the plane 122.

In use, when the apparatus is mounted and/or installed in the bucket, the closure member 120, when in the second position, is configured to close (for example, cover/overlie) the opening 110, and when in the first position, is configured not to close, that is, reveal, the opening 110.

The closure member 120 is movable such that it can be moved between a first position and a second position. The closure member 120 may be movable with respect to the moving means 130. The closure member 120, when the apparatus is in use and mounted and/or installed in the bucket for a loader, may be movable with respect to the bucket.

In the first position (shown schematically in FIG. 1A), the closure member 120 is configured to not close, that is, reveal, the opening 110 in the bucket for a loader. In the first position, the closure member 120 may therefore be configured to allow a flow of material (for example, load material within the bucket, for dispensement/egress therefrom) through the opening 110. The closure member 120 may be configured to reveal the opening 110 in the bucket by not fully: covering; obstructing; stopping; or providing a cover/barrier to the opening 110, such that the material can flow therethrough. In some examples the first position may correspond to the opening 110 in the bucket being fully revealed/open. When in the first position, the flow of material from the opening 110 may allow a bulk bag located underneath the opening 110 to be filled with the material flowing through the opening and into the bulk bag.

In the second position (shown schematically in FIG. 1B), the closure member 120 is configured to close, for example cover or "seal off, the opening 110 in the bucket for a loader. In the second position, the closure member 120 may therefore be configured to not allow a flow of material (for example, load material within the bucket, for dispensement/egress therefrom) through the opening 110. The closure member 120 may be configured to close the opening 110 in the bucket by at least one of: covering; blocking; obstructing; stopping; covering; or providing a barrier to the opening 110 such that material cannot flow therethrough. The closure member 120 may be configured in its properties to block/obstruct/stop/provide a barrier to the flow of material from the opening under the action of gravity, that is, to withstand a pressure applied by the material onto the closure member 120 due to a weight of the material. For example, the closure member may be configured to be sufficiently rigid to block/obstruct/stop/provide a barrier to the flow of material from the opening. The closure member may have a height which defines a first direction 121 perpendicular to the plane 122. The height may be a smallest dimension of the closure member 120. The closure member 120 may be configured to be movable in the plane 122. The closure member may have a length which defines a second direction 123 parallel to the plane 122 and perpendicular to the first direction 121. The length may be a largest dimension of the closure member 120. The closure member 120 may be configured to move in a sliding fashion in the plane 122 to cover/block/obstruct/provide a barrier to the opening 110. The closure member 120 may be configured to move in a rotating fashion in the plane 122 to cover/block/obstruct/provide a barrier to the opening 110.

Advantageously, having a closure member 120 which is movable to open or close the opening 110 in the bucket for a loader as described above allows for the flow of material from the opening 110 to be shut off mid flow. That is, the flow of material from the bucket can be shut off before the bucket has been fully emptied of the material.

This may be particularly beneficial for the filling of multiple bulk bags (for example, bulk bags with a volume of 1 m3) with a single load of material in the bucket, as described in the following. Once a first bulk bag (located underneath the bucket) has been filled from the bucket, the flow of material from the bucket may be shut off. This allsows for a second, empty, bulk bag to be located underneath the bucket for filling. Once the second bucket is in place, the flow of material from the opening 110 can then be switched on to fill the second bulk bag. This process may be repeated for many bulk bags until the material in the bucket has been depleted. Hence, an advantage of the invention is that a single load of material in the bucket may be used to fill multiple bulk bags.

The moving means 130 are configured to move the closure member 120 between the first position (shown schematically in FIG. 1A) and the second position (shown schematically in FIG. 1B). The moving means may not have to lie in the plane 122. The first position and the second position are substantially within the plane 122. The movement between the first position and the second position may be: at least substantially linear; at least substantially non-linear; at least substantially rotational. The moving means 130 may move the closure member 120 between the first position and the second position upon an action by a user.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the disclosure wherein a major surface of the closure member 120 may further comprise an aperture 124. The aperture 124 may be substantially the same size and/or shape as the opening 110.

The aperture 124, when the closure member 120 is in the first position, may be configured to overlap with the opening 110 in the bucket for a loader (when the apparatus is mounted and/or installed in the bucket). In the first position, the opening 110 and the aperture 124 therefore, at least partially, line up, hence allowing a flow of material therethrough. Therefore, when the closure member 120 is in the first position, the aperture 124 of the closure member 120 may be configured to not close the opening 110. In some examples the aperture 124 may have an axis which is substantially parallel to the first direction 121.

The closure member 120 may further comprise a barrier portion 125. The barrier portion 125 may be formed from portions of the closure member 120 which do not form the aperture 124.

When the apparatus is in use and mounted and/or installed in the bucket, the barrier portion 125, when the closure member 120 is in the second position, may be configured to overly and close the opening 110 in the bucket. When the apparatus is in use and mounted and/or installed in the bucket, the barrier portion 125, when the closure member 120 is in the second position, may be configured to be sufficiently proximal to the opening 110 such that the opening is closed or sealed off as previously described. The barrier portion 125 of the closure member 120 may be configured to close the opening 110 in the bucket by at least one of: covering; blocking; obstructing; stopping the opening 110 such that material cannot flow therethrough.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the closure member 120 may be positionable (that is, fixed) at positions between the first position and the second position. The closure member 120 may be positioned between the first position and the second position by the moving means 130. The positions between the first position and the second position may be controlled by a user. Advantageously this allows for differing rates of flow of the material through the opening 110.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the closure member 120 may be one or more of: a sliding gate; a shutter; a blade; and a barrier.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the disclosure wherein the apparatus 100 may further comprise a frame 150. The frame 150 may alternatively be a chassis. The frame 150 may be configured to support the closure member 120. The frame 150 may be configured to guide the closure member 120 in the plane 122, not least for example by a platform 151 located on the frame 150, or, for example via a guide plate 156 of the frame. The frame 150 may be configured to prevent motion of the closure member 120 in the first direction 121 or opposite the first direction 121. The frame 150 may be configured to restrict motion of the closure member 120 to the plane 122. The frame may be configured to restrict motion of the closure member 120 in the second direction 123 or opposite to the second direction 123.The frame 150 may be configured to support the moving means 130. The frame 150 may be configured to be mountable and/or attachable to or within the bucket for a loader.

FIG. 3 shows the underside of FIG. 2, with the additional features described in the following. In some but not necessarily all examples, the apparatus 100 may further comprise a conduit 152, as shown in FIG. 3. The conduit 152 may be fixed relative to the frame 150, for example at an underside thereof. The frame 150 may comprise the conduit 152. The conduit 152 may be configured to guide/channel/transport material away from the opening 110, for example into a bulk bag. This may be achieved under the action of gravity. The conduit may have a conduit opening 153. The conduit opening 153 (when the apparatus 100 is in use and mounted and/or installed into the bucket for a loader) may substantially overlap/align with the opening 110 such that, when the closure member is in the second position, material may flow from the bucket, through the opening 110, and then into the conduit 152. The conduit 152 may for example be any one or more of: a chute; a channel; a pipe; a shaft; a tunnel; open ended cylinder; or a collar.

In some but not necessarily all examples the conduit 152 may further comprise means for attaching a bag to the conduit. The bag may be a bulk bag which is closable, for example a bulk bag with a top skirt. In some but not necessarily all examples, the means for attaching a bag to the conduit may comprise a bagging collar such as a flange or lip 154 extending around an outer surface of the conduit 152, as shown in FIG. 3. The flange or lip 154 may comprise a rolled/cylindrical ring fastened to the outer surface 155 of the conduit 152. The fastening may be achieved for example by one or more of: welding; and gluing. Advantageously, the provision of the flange 154 enables the filling of a closable bulk bag, for example a bulk bag with a top skirt The flange 154 may be configured so as to connect or interface with the top skirt of the closable bulk bag such that the bulk bag may be substantially closed during the filling of the bulk big with material from the bucket for a loader. Advantageously, this reduces material being lost to the surrounding environment during the filling process.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the moving means 130 may comprise an actuator. The actuator may be configured to move the closure member 120 between the first position and the second position as previously described. The movement may be one or more of: mechanical; electromagnetic; and hydraulic. The actuator may be located on or within the frame 150. The actuator may comprise a moveable portion, which is configured to couple to the closure member 120 and is moveable with respect to the frame 150.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the moving means 130 may comprise a hydraulic ram.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the moving means 130 may be configured to linearly move the closure member 120 within the plane 122. The moving means 130 may comprise a linear actuator. In some but not necessarily all examples, the moving means 130 may be configured to rotationally move the closure member 120 within the plane 122. The moving means 130 may comprise a rotational actuator. In some but not necessarily all examples, the moving means 130 are hydraulic means. In some but not necessarily all examples, the moving means 130 may be configured to move the closure member 120 in a direction perpendicular to a direction of flow of the material egressing from the opening 110 during use when the apparatus is mounted and/or installed in the bucket for a loader. Advantageously this enables an energy efficient method of blocking/covering/obstructing/stopping of the opening when material is flowing therefrom by virtue of the closure member 120 intersecting/cutting through (during the movement from the first position to the second position) the flow of material perpendicular to its direction of flow. If instead, for example, the closure member was moved opposite or oblique to said direction of flow of the material in order to close the opening, additional force/energy would be required to move the closure member 120 against the flow of material in order to counteract and overcome the impact forces arising on the closure member 120 from the material colliding with the closure member 120 FIG. 4 shows a funnel or hopper 140 suitable for use with the apparatus in some but not necessarily all examples of the disclosure. The funnel or hopper 140 is configured to On use and when the apparatus 100 is mounted and/or installed in a bucket for a loader) direct material towards the opening 110 (not shown). The funnel or hopper 140 may comprise at least one side wall configured to, when in use and when mounted and/or installed in the bucket, be directed towards the opening 110. For example, the funnel may comprise at least one side wall 141 angled with respect to the first direction 121, wherein the at least one side wall 141 is located such that it may cause material to be directed towards the opening 110 under the action of gravity. The funnel or hopper 140 may, for example, comprise two side walls 141A, 141B, both of which are angled with respect to the direction 121. The funnel may further comprise a connecting portion 142 configured to connect the two side walls 141A 141B together. The funnel may comprise a funnel opening 143. The connecting portion 142 of the funnel or hopper 140 may comprise the funnel opening 143. The funnel opening 143 may be configured to, in use with the bucket, substantially align/overlap with the opening 110 of the bucket. The moving means 130 may be configured to move the closure member with respect to the funnel or hopper 140, and independently to the funnel or hopper 140 The funnel 140 may be configured to at least partially cover the moving means 130 and/or the closure member 120. Advantageously, when in use and mounted and/or installed in the bucket for a loader, this may protect the moving means 130 and/or the closure member 120, for example from impact forces arising as a result of material being deposited into the bucket.

The funnel 140 may further comprise an access panel 144. The access panel 144 is shown in FIG. 4 in an exploded-view format. The access panel 144 may comprise a portion of the at least one side wall 141. The access panel 144 may be removeable from the funnel and may further be replaceable to the funnel. The access 144 panel may be removably fastened to the funnel by any suitable fastening means, such as: bolts; screws; rivets; studs; clips, and the like. The access panel 144, once removed, may allow a user to access one or more of: the moving means 130; the closure member 120; a base of the bucket for a loader; and any other feature described herein (not least for example the frame 150).

FIG. 5 shows a further example of an apparatus 100, wherein the apparatus comprises a closure member 120, a moving means 130, a funnel 140, and a frame 150. The closure member 120, the moving means 130, the funnel 140, and the frame 150 are assembled together to form an example apparatus 100 of the disclosure. The frame 150, closure member 120, and the moving means 130 may be located substantially in the plane 122. The funnel 140 may be located above the frame 150, closure member 120, and the moving means 130. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the closure member 120 is positioned between the first position and the second position, such that the opening 110 (not shown) is partially closed.

FIGs. 6A and 6B show an example of the disclosure, wherein there may be provided a bucket 160 for a loader comprising the apparatus 100 of any of the examples described herein. The apparatus 100 may be installed/mounted/located within an inside chamber 161 of the bucket 160 such that the closure member 120 (not visible in FIG. 6A), when in the second position, covers/obstructs/stops the opening 110 (not visible in FIG. 6A) in the bucket 160 as previously described. The moving means 130, frame 150 and funnel 140 are partially visible in FIG. 6A.

The bucket 160 for a loader may be configured for use in gathering, transporting, and generally handling material (such as agricultural material), not least for example grain, animal feed, and the like. The material may be a flowable material. Often, buckets are configured to be attached/coupled to (and the position/orientation of the bucket controlled by a user therefrom) a vehicle, not least for example: a loader, an agricultural vehicle; a bucket loader; a front loader; a front-end loader; an articulated loader; a telescopic loader; a telehandler; a payloader; a high lift loader; a skip loader; a wheel loader; a tractor; a truck; a road roller; and a tracked vehicle, and the like. The bucket may be a grain bucket.

FIG. 6B shows the bucket 160 for a loader of FIG. 6A with the apparatus 100 omitted for clarity. The bucket for a loader 160 may have an opening 110 configured to allow a flow of material therefrom from an inside of the bucket 160 to an outside of the bucket 160. The opening 110 may be formed on a base of the bucket 160. The opening 110, for example, allows for the egress of material from the bucket to enable filling of a bulk bag with the material from the bucket by placing the bulk bag underneath the opening 110 In some but not necessarily all examples, the bucket 160 for a loader comprising the apparatus 100 may further comprise at least one internal support/reinforcement member 162, for example, at least one internal rib. The at least one internal support/reinforcement member 162 may extend between a pair of opposite sides of the bucket comprising the apparatus 100, as shown in FIGs. 6A and 63.

Advantageously, this provides a bucket for a loader 160 having an opening 110 for allowing material to flow therethrough with a stronger structure, allowing heavier material to be loaded therein, or allowing more material to be loaded therein.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a bucket 160 for a loader during use when filling a bulk bag 163 as previously described. The bucket 160 may be any of the examples previously described herein. In some but not necessarily all examples, the bucket 160 comprising the apparatus 100 may further comprise attachment means 164 for attaching handles of a bulk bag therefrom. The attachment means 164 may comprise one or more of: hanging means; hooks; handles; rings; clips; or any other suitable mechanism for attaching a bulk bag from the bucket 160. In some but not necessarily all examples, the attachment means may be recessed in an outer surface of the bucket.

As previously described, buckets (such as grain buckets) can be used with loaders (such as tractors) to fill empty bulk bags located below the bucket with a material (such as grain). The material is loaded into the bucket, and an opening in the bucket may cause egress of the material into, for example, a bulk bag. Conventional buckets cannot close the opening during the egress of the material therefrom. Therefore, conventional buckets can only be fully depleted of the material within the bucket, and therefore at most one bulk bag can be filled per bucket of material. Accordingly, there is no reason to have a conventional bucket having, or holding a load having, a larger volume than a single bag. As previously described, examples of the disclosure can advantageously enable the selective control of the opening and closing of an opening of a bucket for use with a loader, and may thereby enable the flow of material from the opening of the bucket to be shut off mid flow. Accordingly, the volume capacity of a bucket comprising examples of the apparatus 100 described herein may be larger than the volume capacity of a single bulk bag. In some but not necessarily all examples the volume capacity of the bucket may be greater than: 1 m3; 1.5 m3; 2 m3; 2.5 m3; 3 m3; 3.5 m3; 4 m3.

In some but not necessarily all examples, there may be provided a system comprising a bucket 160 for a loader of any of the examples described herein, and a vehicle. The vehicle may be one or more of: a loader; an agricultural vehicle; a bucket loader; a front loader; a front-end loader; an articulated loader; a telescopic loader; a telehandler; a payloader; a high lift loader; a skip loader; a wheel loader; a tractor; a truck; a road roller; and a tracked vehicle, and the like. As previously described, buckets may be configured to be attached/coupled to said vehicle. The position/orientation of the bucket may be controlled by a user from the vehicle (for example, from a cabin of the vehicle). The moving means 130 may be controlled by a user from the vehicle (for example, from a cabin of the vehicle).

Any reference to a bulk bag in the description above may also be a reference to any other suitable container for use in agriculture.

Where a structural feature has been described, it may be replaced by means for performing one or more of the functions of the structural feature whether that function or those functions are explicitly or implicitly described.

The term 'comprise' is used in this document with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning. That is any reference to X comprising Y indicates that X may comprise only one Y or may comprise more than one Y. If it is intended to use 'comprise' with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context by referring to "comprising only one" or by using "consisting".

In this description, reference has been made to various examples. The description of features or functions in relation to an example indicates that those features or functions are present in that example. The use of the term 'example' or 'for example' or 'can' or 'may' in the text denotes, whether explicitly stated or not, that such features or functions are present in at least the described example, whether described as an example or not, and that they can be, but are not necessarily, present in some of or all other examples. Thus 'example', 'for example', 'can' or 'may' refers to a particular instance in a class of examples. A property of the instance can be a property of only that instance or a property of the class or a property of a sub-class of the class that includes some but not all of the instances in the class. It is therefore implicitly disclosed that a feature described with reference to one example but not with reference to another example, can where possible be used in that other example as part of a working combination but does not necessarily have to be used in that other example.

Although examples have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described above.

Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not.

Although features have been described with reference to certain examples, those features may also be present in other examples whether described or not.

The term 'a' or 'the' is used in this document with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning. That is any reference to X comprising a/the Y indicates that X may comprise only one Y or may comprise more than one Y unless the context clearly indicates the contrary. If it is intended to use 'a' or 'the' with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context. In some circumstances the use of 'at least one' or 'one or more' may be used to emphasis an inclusive meaning but the absence of these terms should not be taken to infer any exclusive meaning.

The presence of a feature (or combination of features) in a claim is a reference to that feature or (combination of features) itself and also to features that achieve substantially the same technical effect (equivalent features). The equivalent features include, for example, features that are variants and achieve substantially the same result in substantially the same way. The equivalent features include, for example, features that perform substantially the same function, in substantially the same way to achieve substantially the same result.

In this description, reference has been made to various examples using adjectives or adjectival phrases to describe characteristics of the examples. Such a description of a characteristic in relation to an example indicates that the characteristic is present in some examples exactly as described and is present in other examples substantially as described.

Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features believed to be of importance it should be understood that the Applicant may seek protection via the claims in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not emphasis has been placed thereon.

I/we claim:

Claims

CLAIMS1. An apparatus, for use with a bucket for a loader, the bucket having an opening for allowing material to flow therethrough, comprising: a closure member, wherein the closure member is a planar member defining a plane; moving means configured to move the closure member in the plane between a first position and a second position, different to the first position; wherein, in use and when installed in the bucket, the closure member, when in the second position, is configured to close the opening, and when in the first position, is configured to reveal the opening.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the closure member comprises an aperture configured to, when in use and when installed in the bucket and when in the first position, substantially align with the opening.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the closure member further comprises a barrier portion, wherein the barrier portion, in the second position, is configured to close the opening, and wherein, in the first position, the barrier portion is configured to not close the opening.
4. The apparatus of any previous claim, wherein the closure member is positionable at positions between the first position and the second position.
The apparatus of any previous claim, wherein the closure member is one or more of a shutter; a blade; and a barrier.
6 The apparatus of any previous claim, further comprising a frame configured to one or more of: support the closure member; guide the closure member in the plane; support the moving means; be mountable to the bucket.
7. The apparatus of any previous claim, further comprising a conduit.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising means for attaching a bag to the conduit.
9 The apparatus of any previous claim, wherein the moving means comprises one or more of: an actuator; a linear actuator; a rotational actuator; hydraulic means.
10. The apparatus of any previous claim, further comprising a funnel.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the funnel comprises at least one side wall configured to, when in use and when installed in the bucket, be directed towards the opening.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 or 11, wherein the funnel, at least partially, covers: the moving means and/or the closure member.
13. The apparatus of any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the funnel further comprises an access panel.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the access panel provides access to the moving means and/or the closure member.
15. The apparatus of any previous claim, wherein the material is a flowable material and/or wherein the material is any one or more of: grain; and animal feed.
16. The apparatus of any previous claim, wherein the bucket is a grain bucket.
17. A bucket for a loader comprising the apparatus of any of claims 1-16.
18. The bucket of claim 17, further comprising attachment means for attaching handles of a bag therefrom.
19. The bucket of any of claims 17 to 18, wherein the volume capacity of the bucket is one of greater than: 1 m3; 1.5 m3; 2 m3; 2.5 m3; 3m3; 3.5 m3; 4 m3.
20. A system comprising the bucket for a loader of any of claims 17-19 and a vehicle.
21. The system of claim 20, wherein the vehicle is any one or more of: a loader, an agricultural vehicle; a bucket loader; a front loader; a front-end loader; an articulated loader; a telescopic loader; a telehandler; a payloader; a high lift loader; a skip loader; a wheel loader; a tractor; a truck; a road roller; and a tracked vehicle.