NZ516447A - Apparatus for emptying receptacle - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus (2) for handling tonnes of grape material in a receptacle (22, 23) in which the receptacle is rotatable about a stationary support frame (3a, 3b) which rests on ground or equivalent supporting surface. Typically, a collar (20, 21) surrounds the receptacle and is pivoted to the support frame and a moving means such as a pair of space hydraulic rams (18, 19) is mounted between the collar and the support frame; operation of the rams tilts the receptacle in a controlled manner to move the receptacle between a first substantially upright position (L) and a second inclined position (R) in which the contents of the receptacle can be poured out.

Description

516447 WO 01/05692 PCT/NZ00/00126 Title: APPARATUS FOR EMPTYING RECEPTACLE Technical Field The present invention relates to an apparatus for emptying the contents of a receptacle as a controlled pouring operation. The apparatus of the present invention is particularly suitable for use in the wine and horticultural industries, and will be described with a speciai reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the apparatus of the present invention also is suitable for use in a wide variety of 10 other industries.

Background Art At present, the transfer of selected grape material (e.g. fruit, pulp, juice or pre-drained 15 skins) from a holding tank receptacle or other fermentation vessel to a membrane press is achieved by manual evacuation or mechanical conveyance.

Manual evacuation is carried out by a person entering the vessel and digging the wet solid material toward and out of a low outwardly opening door into an open throat pump, or onto a conveyer or open auger where it is conveyed to a membrane press. 20 The main disadvantage of manual evacuation is the requirement for human labour to perform a tedious and potentially unsafe and unhygienic job. The task is time consuming and thus the overall press cycle time is increased. Further, digging, pumping and auger conveyance of wet material often decreases the quality of the final wine product given that the skins can be sheared allowing unwanted flavours to be 25 secreted from the grapes.

An alternate method of evacuation, known as the chuting method, is to mount a conical bottomed tank above a membrane press. The tank is provided with a door or large valve at or adjacent the base which when opened allows the contents to flow directly into the press. It is difficult to control the flow rate and emptying of the 30 contents, and so the chuting method is prone to over spills. The contents also tends to agglomerate such that agitation may be required. In view of the fact that the tank is mounted above the press, an extensive high catwalk structure is required for access and servicing. The conical bottom of the tank defining the internal cavity floor is also 1 ^ u I 13 JAN 2003 difficult to clean.

PCT/AU 95/00009 discloses a bin unloader for picking up and inverting wheeled rubbish bins. In this device, a bin to be unloaded is wheeled into an enclosure, the 5 upper part of the bin is gripped by gripping claws, and the bin is raised and inverted. Each bin is supported upon the floor until gripped by the gripping claws: The rate which the bin is lifted and inverted is not controlled in any way: - the object is to dump the rubbish out of the bin quickly, rather than a controlled pouring of the rubbish.

Disclosure Of Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for emptying a receptacle which minimizes bruising and/or spillage loss during emptying of the receptacle contents and provides rapid but controllable emptying in a manner which 15 places relatively low stress on the material being emptied. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which is self supporting and of a relatively compact design.

The present invention provides an apparatus for handling grape material comprising: a support structure; a receptacle for containing a fluid having an opening at an upper end and being rotatable about a pivotal connection with the support structure; and from an upright position in which a fluid may be contained in the receptacle to a tipped position in which the contents of the receptacle may be emptied via the The present invention further provides a method of supplying grape material from a bulk receptacle having an opening in an upper end thereof to a receiving receptacle comprising the steps of: the support frame from an upright position in a controlled manner to deliver the grape material through the opening directly on indirectly to a receiving receptacle. an actuator for rotating the receptacle in a controlled manner opening. ii) supplying grape material to the bulk receptacle; and ii) actuating an actuator which tilts the bulk receptacle relative to 2 The present invention further provides the combination of apparatus for emptying a receptacle, and a receptacle, comprising: a stationary support frame adapted to be supported upon the ground or equivalent supporting surface, said support frame providing a framework which at least partially surrounds the receptacle; securing means for securing said receptacle to said support frame, such that said receptacle is suspended in a substantially upright position clear of the ground and of said framework; said securing means including a collar which at least partially surrounds said receptacle and is secured thereto; said collar being pivoted to said support frame; moving means in the form of a pair of spaced hydraulic rams mounted between said collar and said support frame; said moving means being operable to move said receptacle relative to said support frame such that said receptacle may be tilted in a controlled manner between a first, substantially upright, position within said support frame and a second, raised and inclined, position outside of said support frame.

The present invention also provides the combination of apparatus for emptying two receptacles, comprising: a pair of opposed stationary support frames each adapted to be supported upon the ground or equivalent supporting surface, one support frame providing a framework which at least partially surrounds one of the receptacles, and the other support frame providing a framework which at least partially surrounds the other of the receptacles; securing means for securing each receptacle to the corresponding support frame, such that said receptacle is suspended in a substantially upright position clear of the ground and of said corresponding framework; each said securing means including a collar which at least partially surrounds said corresponding receptacle and is secured thereto; each said collar being pivoted to said corresponding support frame; moving means mounted between each said collar and said corresponding support frame; each said moving means being operable to move said corresponding receptacle relative to said corresponding support frame such that said receptacle may be tilted in a controlled manner between a first, substantially upright, position within said corresponding support frame and a second, raised and inclined. Dosition outside INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFRCF OF H2 3 1 3 JAM 2003 RECEIVED of said corresponding support frame; and a gantry rigidly secured between said opposed support frames, said gantry extending horizontally just below the level of the top of said receptacles in said second position.

The or each moving means may comprise a pair of spaced hydraulic or pneumatic rams.

The or each receptacle may be any of a wide variety of shapes, depending upon the 10 application of the apparatus and receptacle. The or each receptacle may have an open top, or a partially closed top, or a top formed as a pouring spout; the top may be completely closed by a removable lid or cap.

Brief Description Of The Drawings By way of example only, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a side view of the apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the 20 present invention; Fig. 2 is an isometric view of two sets of apparatus in accordance with a variant of the first embodiment; Fig. 3 is a side view of the apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a side view of the apparatus in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode For Carrying Out The Invention Referring to Fig. 1, the apparatus 2 shown is a double unit, with two opposed, mirror-image stationary support frames 3a,3b joined by a gantry 4. The gantry 4 provides 35 two cat-walks 5,6, and supports a conical pouring guide 7. 4 Each support frame 3a,3b comprises two spaced, parallel sides 8,9, (only one of which is visible on each frame), a front 10,11, and a base 12,13. The sides, front and base of each frame 3a,3b, are constructed as open frameworks made from spaced girders 5 and cross-braces; for clarity, these are shown only diagrammatically in the drawings, and it will be appreciated that the support frames may be made heavier or lighter, as required for the weight of the receptacle to be supported.

The lower ends of the girders forming the uprights of the sides 8,9, and fronts 10,11, of 10 the support frames extend below the corresponding bases 12,13, to form feet 16,17, upon which the support frames rest upon the ground or other supporting surface. The feet 16,17, may be adjustable to allow for uneven ground.

The upper edge of each side 8,9, is formed by an inclined brace 14,15, the lower end 15 of which provides a pivotal anchorage for one end of an hydraulic ram 18,19.

The other end of each ram 18,19, is pivotally secured to a collar 20,21, which partly encircles a circular cross-section receptacle 22,23, associated with the support frame 3a,3b, respectively.

Each collar 20,21, is rigidly secured to the corresponding receptacle 22,23. At each side of the receptacle, the collar projects forwards, i.e. beyond the front of the support frame, and is pivoted to the corresponding side of the gantry 4 at pivots 20a,21 a.

Each receptacle 22,23, is substantially cylindrical, but with a tapered upper portion 24,25, terminating in a top opening 26,27, through which the contents of the receptacle may be poured when the receptacle is inclined, as hereinafter described. This top opening 26,27, may be closed by a removable lid (not shown).

Each receptacle and its associated support frame are dimensioned so that the receptacle can be pivoted in and out of the stationary frame, pivoting between the lowered position L of Fig. 1 and the raised position R of Fig. 1. In the lowered position, each receptacle 22,23, hangs above the corresponding base 12,13, supported from the collar 20,21. This keeps the bottom of the receptacle clean and also prevents it 35 from catching or binding on the base 12,13.

WO 01/05692 PCT/NZ00/00126 Each collar 20,21, encircles the corresponding receptacle 22,23, just below the tapered upper portion 24,25. Each collar may be permanently secured to the receptacle (e.g. by welding) or may be releasably secured to the receptacle. The pair 5 of hydraulic rams 18,19, are secured one to each side of the collar, near the front of the corresponding support frame, such that when the pair of rams 18 is extended as shown on the left-hand side of Fig.1, the receptacle is raised and pivoted in the direction of arrow A, until it reaches the raised, partially-inverted position R. In this position, the top opening 26 is above the pouring guide 7, so that the contents of the 10 receptacle can pour out of the opening 26 to be collected by the guide 7.

Since the receptacle is raised and pivoted by a pair of hydraulic rams, the movement of the receptacle is completely controllable - the receptacle can be raised and/or pivoted slowly or rapidly, as required. Further, pouring can be halted at any point:- it is 15 not necessary to empty the receptacle in a single pouring.

All pouring operations can be fully supervised by a controller standing on the cat-walk 5/6. The controller can control the rams directly, by a remote control, or can communicate with a second person controlling the rams.

The pouring guide 7 is located beneath a corresponding aperture (not visible) in the gantry 4. The guide 7 can direct the contents of the receptacle into any required container located beneath the guide. Fig. 1 diagrammaticaliy represents a membrane press 27 beneath the guide 7, but it will be appreciated that the membrane press could 25 be replaced by any desired type of container/further processing apparatus.

The above described apparatus is used as follows - each of the receptacles 22,23 is filled with any desired grape material, (e.g. fruit, pulp, juice, pre-drained skins or fortifying beverage) with the containers 22,23 in the lowered position L. The 30 receptacles are filled through the top openings 26,27. The receptacles may be fitted with internal screens or filters (not shown) so that if the receptacles are filled with material which is a mixture of liquid and solid (e.g. pulp) the liquid drains through to the bottom of the receptacle and can be removed from the receptacle by pumping out through a lower aperture (not shown) in the receptacle, if desired. 6 PCT/NZOO/00126 If the receptacle is fitted with a removable collar 20,21, then the receptacle may be filled with the material either before or after positioning in the support frame.

When it is desired to remove some or all of the material from one of the receptacles 5 22, a container or further processing apparatus (e.g. a membrane press 27) is positioned below the pouring guide 7, and the upper hatch of the membrane press opened to receive material poured through the guide 7. The lid of the receptacle 22 is removed, and the operator controls the supply of hydraulic fluid to the pair of rams 18 to gradually extend the rams and slowly raise and tilt the receptacle 22, so that 10 material pours from the open top 26 of the container 22 into the guide 7 and hence into the membrane press 27. The pouring operation may be supervised and/or controlled by a person standing on the catwalk 6. When the desired amount of material has been poured out of the receptacle, the receptacle 22 is lowered back to position L by contracting the pair of rams 18. It would be appreciated that the raising and tipping of 15 the receptacle 22 may be as slow and as gentle as necessary. If the contents of the receptacle 22 tend to stick inside the receptacle, the receptacle can be rocked backwards and forwards by alternation of the hydraulic rams 18 in reverse and forward drive to remove any material that may adhere to the base and sides of the receptacle walls.

Throughout the lifting and lowering of the receptacle 22, the apparatus is stabilised by the receptacle 23 in the lowered position, and its associated support frame. For additional stability, the feet 16,17 may be secured to the ground/floor.

The receptacle 23 is emptied in the same manner as described above in respect of the receptacle 22.

Fig. 2 shows a pair of double units similar, but not identical, to those of Fig. 1. The same components are given the same reference numerals. In the Fig. 2 embodiment, 30 the girders 8a,9a forming the outer edges of the sides 8,9, are angled inwards, so that the diagonal braces 14,15 are somewhat shorter than in the Fig. 1 embodiment. Further, the lower ends of the pairs of hydraulic rams 18,19 are mounted on brackets 14a,15a, secured to the braces 14,15, rather than directly to the braces.

The right-hand side of Fig. 2 shows the receptacle 23 as a four-position 'development' 7 between the fully-lowered position L and the fully-raised position R.

In the second embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the apparatus is a single unit only; all the parts of the apparatus which are the same as described above with reference to Fig.s 5 1 and 2 are identified by the same numerals. In the Fig. 3 embodiment, there is only a single receptacle 22 with its associated support frame 3a. In order to stabilise the apparatus when the receptacle 22 is moved to the raised position R as shown in Fig. 3, the end of the gantry 4 furthest from the support frame 3a is secured to a wall 30. Alternatively, one or more supporting legs may be substituted for the wall 30.

The third embodiment shown in Fig. 4 also is a single unit and, as in Fig. 3, the same reference numerals as in Fig. 1 are used for identical components. In the Fig. 4 embodiment, the receptacle 22 in the raised position R is stabilised by increasing the width of the parallel sides 8 of the support frame 3a, so that the front legs 31 of the 15 support frame lie beneath the point of balance of the receptacle 22 in the raised position R.

The receptacles and the associated support frames may be made of any suitable material. For use with organic materials such as grape products, stainless steel 20 receptacles are preferred.

Typical dimensions and capacities are: receptacle capacity tonnes diameter of receptacle base 2710 cm. length of each side 8 1950 cm. height of support frame 3000 cm. height of top of receptacle above ground in position L 3640 cm. height of base of receptacle above ground in position R 6950.54 cm overall width of support frame and receptacles 8140 cm It will be appreciated that pneumatic rams could be substituted for hydraulic rams 18,19, for appropriate applications where the weight of the receptacle plus load is relatively light. 8

Claims (22)

CLAIMS 516447' 10 15 20 25

1. An apparatus for handling grape material comprising: a receptacle suitable for containing tonnes of fluids having an opening at an upper end and being rotatable about a pivotal connection with the support structure; and manner from an upright position in which a fluid may be contained in the receptacle to a tipped position in which the contents of the receptacle may be emptied via the opening.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the receptacle includes a collar that is pivotally connected to the support structure and wherein the actuator rotates the collar with respect to the support structure.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the actuator is an hydraulic actuator.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the actuator comprises a pair of rams provided on either side of the receptacle, each connected at one end to the support structure and at the other end to the receptacle at a point away from the pivotal connection.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the hydraulic rams are connected to the collar.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the support structure supports a plurality of receptacles which each tip their contents into a common region. a support structure; an actuator for rotating the receptacle in a controlled 10

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein a pair of receptacles are provided in an opposing configuration and empty their contents into a region between the two receptacles.

8. A method of supplying grape material from a bulk receptacle having an opening in an upper end thereof to a receiving receptacle comprising the steps of: i) supplying grape material to the bulk receptacle; and ii) actuating an actuator which tilts the bulk receptacle

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the bulk receptacle is tilted in a number of steps in order to supply grape material to the receiving receptacle at a desired rate.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 wherein a plurality of bulk receptacles are employed and grape material is sequentially supplied from each bulk receptacle to supply grape material to the receiving receptacle.

11. A method as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein the receiving receptacle is a press.

12. A method as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein the receiving receptacle is a conveyor.

13. The combination of apparatus for emptying a receptacle, and a receptacle comprising: a stationary support frame adapted to be supported upon the ground or equivalent supporting surface, said support frame providing a framework which at least partially surrounds the relative to the support frame from an upright position in a controlled manner to deliver the grape material through the opening directly on indirectly to a receiving receptacle. receptacle; INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 0FP/CF OF N.Z 1 3 JAM 2003 Received 3 11 securing means for securing said receptacle to said support frame, such that said receptacle is suspended in a substantially upright position clear of the ground and of said framework; said securing means including a collar which at least partially surrounds said receptacle and is secured thereto; said collar being pivoted to said support frame; moving means mounted between said collar and said support frame; said moving means being operable to move said receptacle relative to said support frame such that said receptacle may be tilted in a controlled manner between a first, substantially upright, position within said support frame and a second, raised and inclined, position outside of said support frame.

14. The combination as claimed in claim 13 comprising a cat walk rigidly secured to said support frame at jusT below the level of the top of the receptacle in said second position.

15. The combination as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14 wherein said support frame is dimensioned and arranged to provide one or more supporting legs beneath the point of balance of the receptacle in said second position.

1 6, The combination as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15, further comprising a gantry rigidly secured to said support frame, said gantry extending horizontally just below the level of the top of the receptacle in said second position.

17. The combination as claimed in claim 16 wherein said gantry supports a pouring guide which is vertically below an outlet in or adjacent the top of the receptacle, when said receptacle is in said second position.

18. The combination as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17 wherein AMENDED SHEET PCT/NZOO/OO126 Received 3 July 2001 12 the end of the gantry remote from said support frame is securable to a wall, the ground or equivalent support.

19. The combination of apparatus for emptying two receptacles, 5 and two receptacles, comprising; a pair of opposed stationary support frames each adapted to be supported upon the ground of equivalent supporting surface, one support frame providing a framework which at least partially surrounds one of the receptacles, and the other support frame 10 providing a framework which at least partially surrounds the other of the receptacles; securing means for securing each receptacle to the corresponding support frame, such that said receptacle is suspended in a substantially upright position clear of the ground 15 and of said corresponding framework; each said securing means including a collar which at least partially surrounds said corresponding receptacle and is secured thereto; each said collar being pivoted to said corresponding support frame; moving means mounted between each said collar and said 20 corresponding support frame; each said moving means being operable to move said corresponding receptacle relative to said corresponding support frame such that said receptacle may be tilted in a controller manner between a first, substantially upright, position within said corresponding support frame and a second, 25 raised and inclined, position outside of said corresponding support frame; and a gantry rigidly secured between said opposed support frames, said gantry extending horizontally just below the level of the top of said receptacles in said second position. 30

20. The combination as claimed in claim 19 wherein said gantry supports a pouring guide, which is positioned so as to be vertically below an outlet in or adjacent the top of either of the receptacles. AMENDED SHEET PCT/NZOO/OO126 Received 3 July 2001 13 when said receptacle is in said second position.

21, The combination as claimed in claim 19 or 20, wherein said gantry also provides one or more cat walks.

22. The combination as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 21 wherein the or each said moving means comprises a pair of spaced hydraulic rams. T5PEC66621 END OF CLAIMS AMENDED SHEET