US3774754A

US3774754A - Material handling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3774754A
Application number: US00255404A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Hedlund
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-05-22
Filing date: 1972-05-22
Publication date: 1973-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-27

Abstract

A cleaner having a drag blade movable along an alley of a free stall barn to scrape waste materials and liquids from the alley into a gutter located at one end of the alley. A cocking member at the gutter end of the alley raises the blade to its up or raised position. The blade is held with a lock arm in the raised position as the blade returns to its start position. The lock arm is automatically released when the cleaner is in the start position whereby the blade returns to the down scrape position. A timer operable in conjunction with position limit switches controls the sequential operation of the cleaner.

Description

[ Nov. 27, 1973 United States Patent [1 1 Hedlund MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Primary ExaminerEdward A. Sroka 0 B 0.5 2 P 4 d 5 MS .1 w H m n e. V

[57] ABSTRACT A cleaner having a drag blade movable along an alley of a free stall barn to scrape waste materials and liquids from the alley into a gutter located at one end of 221 Filed: May 22, 1972 21 Appl.No.:255,404

the alley. A cocking member at the gutter end of the alley raises the blade to its up or raised position. The blade is held with a lock arm in the raised position as 48 mm H52 %2 a 1 1. 2 "6 M O 11 1 muoo "9 "m Wmh "mm L M C .M .t. e Umm 1111] 2 00 555 the blade returns to its start position. The lock arm is automatically released when the cleaner is in the start position whereby the blade returns to the down scrape Reference-s Cited osition A timer 0 erable in con'unction with osi FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS p p J p tion limit switches controls the sequential operation of the cleaner.

821,776 11/1951 Germany 198/224 19 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENIEUMBV Y I973 SHEET 1U 2 1 MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional automatic barncleaners use power driven dhains carrying transverse arms located in the gutters for moving the material to a discharge location, as a stack or into a spreading vehicle. These barn cleaners are widely used in stanchion-type barns having relatively narrow manure collecting gutters. An example of this cleaner is disclosed by Patz and Graetz in U. S. Pat. No. 2,554,589. Free stall, or pen-type, barns are being used to house animals and poultry, as diary cattle and chickens. These barns have relatively wide alleys separating free stalls from the feeding areas. It is necessary in free stall barns to remove the material and liquids, as manure, bedding and the like, from the wide alleys to maintain sanitary conditions in the barn. It is desirable that the barn cleaner operate automatically with a minimum of supervision. Andreae describes in U. S. Pat. No. 3,456,779, a drag bucket type cleaner having two scrapers arranged in a V-shape. A cable attached to the scraper moves the scraper along the floor. The material is collected in the V-shaped scraper. On return, the scraper is lifted with a lever attached to the cable to avoid plowing the manure in an outward direction. Pit manure cleaners having scraper blades which pivot to a lowered position for scraping during a work stroke and into a raised position for movement without scraping on the return stroke are disclosed in U. S. Pats. No. 3,240,323; No. 3,409,120; and No. 3,458,029. The scraper blades disclosed in these patents are not automatically locked in the raised position and automatically unlocked to permit movement of the blades from the raised position to the working position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention broadly relates to a material handling apparatus operable to move particulate, semi-solid and liquid materials along a surface to a discharge area. The apparatus has a frame means movably located on the surface. Blade means extended generally transverse to the direction of movement of the apparatus is movably mounted on the frame meansThe blade means is positionable in, a down scraping position or in a raised transport position relative to the surface to be cleaned. Lock means hold the blade means in the raised position. First means functions to raise the blade means when it is in the discharge area in response to forward movement of the apparatus and actuates the lock means to hold the blade means in the raised position.

' Second means remotely spaced from the discharge area releases the lock means in response to return movement of the apparatus so that the blade means will fall to the down position. Power means attached to the frame means moves the blade means relative to the surface in both directions of travel. The surface, as a floor, can have an elongated track providing a trough accommodating a part of the frame means to guide and stabilize the blade means.

The apparatus is usable as a drag barn cleaner for cleaning the alley of a free stall or pen-type barn. The apparatus has a low profile and operates at a relatively slow speed so as not to injure or alarm the animals. peration of the cleaner is automatic to optimize sanitary barn conditions.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a top plan view of the free stall barn cleaner of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the center section of the scraper assembly of the barn cleaner of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the locking structure of the scraper assembly for holding the scraper blade in a raised position and the cocking mechanism for the locking structure; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the locking structure being disengaged with the fixed trip cam means.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. I and 2, a material handling apparatus known as a free stall barn cleaner, indicated generally at 1'0, installed in a free stall barn or cattle shed. The cleaner is an automatic one-way material conveying apparatus that scrapes waste material as liquid, dung, litter, bedding and like refuse, located on an alley 11 into a gutter 12 or top opening of a pit. Cleaner 10 can be used to convey all types of particulate materials, i.e. agricultural, industrial, food products, along a surface. The following description is limited to a free stall barn cleaner as one example of the use of this one-way material conveying apparatus. Gutter 12 can have a cross conveyor to carry the material outside to a stacker or spreader. Alley 11 has a surface or floor and opposite

upright side walls

13 and 14. A generally horizontal stall floor I6 is located adjacent side wall 13. An elongated feed bunk 17 extends upwardly from side wall 14. The cleaner 10 is operable to scrape the material and liquid, as manure, bedding, feed, dung, droppings and like refuse, in the alley 11 between the stall floor I6 and the feed bunk 17 into the gutter 12.

As shown in FIG. I, an elongated track 18 extends longitudinally down the center of the alley lll. Track 18 is a generally U-shaped member forming a linear trough in the alley floor 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower portion of the track 18 has a generally V-shaped bottom 18A which serves as a guide for the chain 21. The track 18 extends the full length of the alley l8 and also serves as a guide for the scraper assembly, indicated generally at 19. Chain 21 is an endless link construction'trained about

idler pulleys

22, 23, 24 and 26 located at opposite ends of alley ll. Driving power is transmitted to chain 21 with a drive pulley 2'7 whereby the chain 21 moves around

pulleys

22, 23, 24 and 26 and in track 18. The drive pulley 27 is powered by an electric motor connected to a suitable transmission (not shown). A first limit switch 28 is located at the gutter end of alley 11. A second limitswitch 29 is located at the opposite or forward end of alley 11. Limit switches 28 and 29 function to control the reversing switches for the motor which selectively drives the pulley 27 in opposite directions.

The scraper assembly 19 has a transverse scraper or blade 31 extended transversely across alley 11. Blade 31 has opposite upright sides 32 and 33 located closely adjacent the

side walls

13 and 14. Blade 31 has a linear bottom edge 34 adapted to engage the floor or surface of alley 11. As shown in FIG. 3, blade 31 has a generally concave shape open in a forward direction. The

concave shape of blade 31 can be arcuate or have angularly related portions.

An elongated, generally inverted, U-shaped slide or runner 36 is slidably positioned in the trough of track 18. A loop or U-connector 37 attached to the front of slide 36 connects one end of chain 21 to the slide. An adjustable length member 38, as an eye'bolt, link, or the like, connects the opposite end of chain 21 to the rear of slide 36. The adjustable member 38 is used to take up slack in the chain 21 and adjust the tension of chain 21. As shown in FIG. 3, the forward end of slide 36 is secured to a pair of

upright members

39 and 41.

Members

39 and 41 have aligned transverse holes (not shown) for an elongated transverse shaft or rod 42. A cylindrical sleeve 43 secured to the back of the midportion of blade 31 is rotatably mounted on shaft 42. In a similar manner,

sleeves

44 and 45, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, are secured to opposite ends of blade 31.

Sleeves

44 and 45 are rotatably mounted on the opposite end portions of shaft 42. The

sleeves

43, 44 and 45 rotatably mount the entire blade 31 on the shaft 42 for movement between a raised position and a down working position.

As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of upright members or

ears

46 and 47 are located on opposite sides of sleeve 43. The

ears

46 and 47 are secured to the back of blade 31 and have holes for rotatably accommodating the shaft 42. As shown in FIGS. and 6,

cars

46 and 47 have recesses 48 in their forward upper end sections.

Returning to FIG. 1, a yoke or broad V-shaped frame assembly, indicated generally at 49, extends rearwardly from blade 31. The yoke49 has a transverse base 51 attached to a support 52 with fasteners 53, as bolts. The support 52 is secured to the rear portion of the slide 36. The forward end of yoke 49 carries

transverse sleeves

54 and 56.

Sleeves

54 and 56 rotatably accommodate shaft 42 in portions about midway between the center of the shaft and its outer ends. Yoke 49 in conjunction with slide 36 provides the blade 31 with lateral stability as it moves along track 18. Yoke 49 has outwardly directed sides located close to the alley floor whereby the entire cleaner has a low profile and structure that does not injure or alarm the animals.

An elongated, longitudinally positioned locking arm or dog 57 is pivotally mounted on

upright members

39 and 41 with a transverse pivot pin 58. Dog 57 has a front end 59 engageable with an extension or projection 61 secured to the sleeve 43. As shown in FIG. 5, end 59 is engageable with projection 61 to hold blade 31 in the "up or raised position. When the blade 31 is in its raised position, the lower linear edge 34 is a considerable distance above the floor of alley 11. The opposite or rear end of dog 57 has a short transverse rod located over track 18.

As shown in FIG. 5, a generally horizontal cocking stop 63 is attached to the upper end of a support 64 secured to the floor adjacent gutter 12. A transverse pivot member 66, as a pin, pivotally connects the stop 63 to the support to provide the stop 63 with limited vertical movement. The forward or free end of stop 63 has a transverse rod or pin 67. As shown in FIG. 1, stop 63 is located in the vertical plane of track 18 over the gutter 12. Pin 67 is located in generally the same horizontal plane as the arcuate recesses 48 and the upper ends of

ears

46 and 47. Scraper assembly 19 moves in the forward or work direction of arrow 68, shown in FIG. 5, toward the cocking stop 63. When rod 67 is engaged by

arms

46 and 47, blade 31 is pivoted in an upward position shown in broken lines, away from the floor of alley 1 1. The projection 61 moves downwardly and forwardly of the front end 59 of the locking dog 57. The locking dog rod 62 moves downwardly until it engages the floor, thereby positioning the front end 59 of dog 57 in a holding or locking engagement with the projection 61. Movement of scraper assembly 19 in an opposite or return direction releases

arms

46 and 47 from the cocking stop 63, thereby placing a holding force of the weight of blade 31 on the locking arm 57.

During cocking and locking of blade 31 in an up position, the blade 31 will actuate the limit switch 28 to reverse the direction of drive of the motor supplying power to drive pulley 27. The scraper assembly 19 will now move in a return or rearward direction as shown by arrow 69 with the blade 31 in the raised position.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, a pair of trip cams or lugs 71 are located adjacent opposite sides of track 18 at the rear or beginning end of alley 11. Trip cams 71 have upwardly converging upper edges and convex curved apex portions. As scraper assembly 19 moves in the return direction, as indicated by arrow 69, the rod 62 on the locking dog 57 will ride up the trip cams 71 thereby moving the front end 59 out of engagement with projection 61. The weight of blade 31 is sufficient to return the blade to its down or scraping position. Yoke 49 will engage the limit switch 29 thereby reversing the drive motor connected to pulley 27. Limit switch 29 can be connected to a time clock control 72 which operates to automatically start the operation of the barn cleaner at selected time intervals.

The barn cleaner 10 is a one-way automatic free stall barn machine that functions to scrape material, as manure, bedding, liquids, and the like, into a single gutter or pit at one end of the barn. The cleaner 10 can be used in a single, two, or more alley free stall barn arrangement. Scraper assemblies similar to scraper assembly 19 are located in each alley and at opposite ends of the adjacent alleys so that when one scraper is cleaning, the opposite scraper assembly is returning to its initial location.

In use, the scraper assembly 19 moves with a work stroke from the start end of alley 1 1 remote from gutter 12 in a down position, as shown in FIG. 6. As the blade 31 moves down the alley11, it collects the waste materials in the alley. The bottom edge 34 being in engagement with the floor scrapes the floor clean. The scraper assembly 19 moves at a relatively slow rate of speed down the alley 1 1 so that it does not disturb the animals while they are eating or resting. Preferably, the scraper assembly 19 moves at a rate of 5 feet per minute down the alley 11. The scraper assembly 19 pushes the material into the transverse gutter 12 located at the end of alley 11. Whenthe scraper blade 31 is over the. gutter 12,

ears

46 and 47 engage the cocking stop 63. The continued movement of scraper assembly 19 causes the blade 31 to pivot in an upward direction. As soon as projection 61 moves past end 59 of locking dog 57, the dog 57 moves to the lock position, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 5. The scraper assembly 19 will then actuate the limit switch 28 which in turn will reverse the drive motor for chain 21.

The scraper assembly 19 will reverse its direction of movement to return at a slow speed to its initial position with blade 31 in the raised position. The locking dog 57, being in engagement with projection 61, holds blade 31 in the raised position. When the scraper assembly i9 approaches its start or initial position at the opposite end of the alley ll, rod 62 of the locking dog 57 rides up on the trip cams 71, thereby releasing the end 59 of locking dog 57 from the projection 61. The blade 31 will pivot downwardly until the bottom edge 34 engages the alley floor. Continued return movement of scraper assembly 19 will actuate the limit switch 29, thereby terminating the power to the drive motor. The timer 72 is actuated by limit switch 2% to commence timing of the next cleaning cycle. Timer 72 can be set to automatically operate the cleaner at selected time intervals, for example, 2, 4 or 6 hours. The number of animals and'size of the barn are factors that control the frequency of operation of the cleaner 10.

While there have been shown and described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the cocking stop 63 can be separated and located adjacent the opposite ends of the blade 31. Opposite corners of the blade would then engage the stops to move the blade to its up position. Also, one or more scraper assemblies, similar to assembly w, can be attached to the chain 21!. for cleaning separate alleys of a free stall barn. The cleaner 10 can be employed as a pit cleaner to remove waste material, as droppings, litter, dung, or like refuse, from a pit or alley located below a floor, as a slat floor. Slat floors are used in poultry, hog and calf barns. Kitson, in U. S. Pat. No. 3,240,323, discloses one type of barn having a slat floor over a pit equipped with a pit cleaner.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1.. An apparatus for moving material from a surface to a discharge area eomprisingzfrarne means movably located on the surface, generally transverse blade means for collecting and moving material on the surface, means' movably mounting the blade means on the frame means for selected movement to a down scraping position and a raised position relative to the surface, lock means for holding the blade means in the raised position, said lock means including lock arm means pivotally mounted on the frame means, and means fixed with respect to the blade means engageable with the lock arm to hold the blade means in the raised position, first means for raising the blade means in response to movement of the apparatus and actuating the lock means to hold the blade means in the raised position, second means cooperating with the lock arm means to release said lock arm means from the means fixed to the blade means whereby the blade means moves from the raised position to the down position, and means for moving the frame means relative to the surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the second means includes cam means fixed relative to said surface at a position remote from said discharge area, said cam means engageable by said lock arm means to pivot said lock arm means to release said lock arm means from the means fixed to the blade means whereby the blade means moves to the down position.

3. The apparatus of claim ll wherein: the means movably mounting the blade means on the frame means ineludes transverse rod means, and means rotatably mounted on the rod means and secured to the blade means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the first means includes cocking means adjacent the material discharge area for causing the blade means to move from the down position to the raised position in response to movement of the apparatus toward the cocking means.

5. An apparatus for moving material from a surface to a discharge area comprising: frame means movably located on the surface, generally transverse blade means for collecting and moving material on the surface, means movably mounting the blade means on the frame means for selected movement to a down scraping position and a raised position relative to the surface, said means movably mounting the blade means on the frame means including transverse rod means and means rotatably mounted on the rod means and secured to the blade means, lock means for holding the blade means in the raised position, said lock means having projection means on the means rotatably mounted on the rod means, and arm means engageable with the projection means to hold the blade means in the raised position, first means for raising the blade means in response to movement of the apparatus and actuating the lock means to hold the blade means in the raised position, second means for releasing the lock means in response to movement of the apparatus whereby the blade means moves from the raised position to the down position, and means for moving the frame means relative to the surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein: the first means includes cocking means adjacent the material discharge area for causing the blade means to move from the down position to the raised position in response to movement of the apparatus toward the cocking means.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein: the second means includes cam means fixed relative to said surface at a position remote from said discharge area, said cam means engageable by said lock means to release said lock means whereby the blade means moves to the down position.

8. An apparatus for moving materials from a surface toa discharge area comprising: frame means movably located on the surface, generally transverse blade means for collecting and moving material on the sur face, said blade means having generally upright ear means, means movably mounting the blade means on the frame means for selective movement to a down scraping position and a raised position relative to the surface, lock means for holding the blade means in the raised position, first means for raising the blade means in response to movement of the apparatus and actuating the lock means to hold the blade means in the raised position, said first means including cocking means adjacent the material discharge area for causing the blade means to move from the down position to the raised position in response to movement of the apparatus toward the cocking means, said ear means engageable with the cocking means to raise the blade means, second means for releasing the lock means in response to movement of the apparatus whereby the blade means moves from the raised position to the down position and means for moving the frame means relative to the surface.

9. An apparatus for moving material from a surface to a discharge area comprising: frame means movably located on the surface, generally transverse blade means for collecting and moving material on the surface, means movably mounting the blade means on the frame means for selected movement to a down scraping position and a raised position relative to the surface, lock means for holding the blade means in the raised position, first means for raising the blade means in response to movement of the apparatus and actuating the lock means to hold the blade means in the raised position, second means for releasing the lock means in response to movement of the apparatus whereby the blade means moves from the raised position to the down position, said second means including cam means fixed relative to said surface at a position remote from said discharge area, said cam means engageable by said lock means to release said lock means whereby the blade means moves to the down position, and means for moving the frame means relative to the surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein: the frame means has longitudinal runner means and a yoke means attached to the runner means, said runner means locatable in a longitudinal trough in the surface, said means movably mounting the blade means being connected to the runner means and yoke means.

1 l. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein: the first means includes cocking means adjacent the material discharge area for causing the blade means to move from the down position to the raised position in response to movement of the apparatus toward the cocking means.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein: the blade means has ear means, said ear means engageable with the cocking means to raise the blade means.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein: the frame means has longitudinal runner means locatable in a longitudinal trough in the surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein: the frame means has a longitudinal runner means and a yoke means attached to the runner means, said means movably mounting the blade means being connected to the runner means and yoke means.

15. An apparatus for moving material from a surface to a discharge area comprising: frame means movably located on the surface, said frame means having longitudinal runner means locatable in a longitudinal trough in the surface, generally transverse blade means for collecting and moving material on the surface, means movably mounting the blade means on the frame means for selected movement to a down scraping position and a raised position relative to the surface, lock means for holding the blade means in the raised position, first means for raising the blade means in response to movement of the apparatus and actuating the lock means to hold the blade means in the raised position, second means for releasing the lock means in response to movement of the apparatus whereby the blade means moves from the raised position to the down position, and means for moving the frame means relative to the surface.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein:' the second means includes cam means fixed relative to said surface at a position remote from said discharge area, said cam means engageable by said lock means to release the lock means whereby the blade means from the up position to the down position.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein: the first means includes cocking means adjacent the material discharge area for causing the blade means to move from the down position to the raised position in response to movement of the apparatus toward the cock ing means.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein: the blade means has ear means, said ear means engageable with the cocking means to raise the blade means.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein: the frame means has yoke means attached to the runner means and said means movably mounting the blade means being connected to the runner means and yoke means.

Claims

1. An apparatus for moving material from a surface to a discharge area comprising: frame means movably located on the surface, generally transverse blade means for collecting and moving material on the surface, means movably mounting the blade means on the frame means for selected movement to a down scraping position and a raised position relative to the surface, lock means for holding the blade means in the raised position, said lock means including lock arm means pivotally mounted on the frame means, and means fixed with respect to the blade means engageable with the lock arm to hold the blade means in the raised position, first means for raising the blade means in response to movement of the apparatus and actuating the lock means to hold the blade means in the raised position, second means cooperating with the lock arm means to release said lock arm means from the means fixed to the blade means whereby the blade means moves from the raised position to the down position, and means for moving the frame means relative to the surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the means movably mounting the blade means on the frame means includes transverse rod means, and means rotatably mounted on the rod means and secured to the blade means.

8. An apparatus for moving materials from a surface to a discharge area comprising: frame means movably located on the surface, generally transverse blade means for collecting and moving material on the surface, said blade means having generally upright ear means, means movably mounting the blade means on the frame means for selective movement to a down scraping position and a raised position relative to the surface, lock means for holding the blade means in the raised position, first means for raising the blade means in response to movement of the apparatus and actuating the lock means to hold the blade means in the raised position, said first means including cocking means adjacent the material discharge area for causing the blade means to move from the down position to the raised position in response to movement of the apparatus toward the cocking means, said ear means engageable with the cocking means to raise the blade means, second means for releasing the lock means in response to movement of the apparatus whereby the blade means moves from the raised position to the down position and means for moving the frame means relative to the surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein: the first means includes cocking means adjacent the material discharge area for causing the blade means to move from the down position to the raised position in response to movement of the apparatus toward the cocking means.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein: the second means includes cam means fixed relative to said surface at a position remote from said discharge area, said cam means engageable by said lock means to release the lock means whereby the blade means from the up position to the down position.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein: the first means includes cocking means adjacent the material discharge area for causing the blade means to move from the down position to the raised position in response to movement of the apparatus toward the cocking means.