Method of filling bags with granular material

• US 20040258508A1
• Filed: 06/04/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Glen Alvin Jewell
• Original Assignee: Glen Alvin Jewell
• Inventors: Jewell, Glen Alvin
• Application Number:
  US10/861,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20040258508A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/328
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 1/06 by gravity flow
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 39/001 with flow cut-off means, e.g. valves
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 39/06 adapted to support containers or wrappers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/32 Filling devices

Abstract

A method of filling bags with granular material. A motor vehicle is provided which is equipped with a bag support. A primary hopper is provided containing granular material. The primary hopper has a primary spout disposed over a motor vehicle loading position. A bag is coupled to the bag support of the motor vehicle. The motor vehicle is driven into the loading position. A valve is opened to initiate the flow of granular material from the primary hopper. The motor vehicle is then driven out of the loading position to an unloading position spaced from the primary hopper.

Claims

1. A method of filling bags with granular material, comprising the steps of:

providing at least one motor vehicle equipped with a bag support adapted to support at least one bag with a mouth of the at least one bag open in preparation for filling;

providing a primary hopper containing granular material and being adapted to deliver a pre-determined quantity of granular material so that over-filling is not of concern, the primary hopper having at least one primary spout disposed over a motor vehicle loading position, the at least one primary spout having a primary valve which has an open position to permit a flow of granular material from the primary hopper and a closed position;

providing means to selectively move the primary valve to the open position when the at least one motor vehicle is in the loading position;

coupling at least one bag to the bag support of the at least one motor vehicle;

driving the at least one motor vehicle into the loading position;

opening the primary valve to initiate the flow of granular material from the primary hopper; and

driving the at least one motor vehicle out of the loading position to an unloading position spaced from the primary hopper.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, a sensor being provided as the means to selectively move the primary valve to the open position when the at least one motor vehicle is in the loading position, the sensor being electronically coupled to the primary valve, the sensor monitoring the loading position and moving the primary valve from the closed position to the open position when the at least one motor vehicle is sensed in the loading position.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, more than one motor vehicle being provided, with each motor vehicle taking turns in the loading position.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, an intermediate hopper being mounted on the at least one motor vehicle, the intermediate hopper being disposed above the bag support, the intermediate hopper being filled from the primary hopper to minimize the time the at least one motor vehicle must spend in the loading position, the intermediate hopper having at least one intermediate spout, the at least one intermediate spout having an intermediate valve with an open position to permit a flow of granular material from the intermediate hopper and a closed position.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, the bag support supporting more than one bag.

6. The method as defined in claim 4, the at least one intermediate spout having a flexible depending conduit adapted for insertion into the open mouth of the bag.

7. A method of filling bags with granular material, comprising the steps of:

providing at least one motor vehicle equipped with a bag support adapted to support more than one bag with a mouth of each bag open in preparation for filling, an intermediate hopper being mounted on the at least one motor vehicle, the intermediate hopper being disposed above the bag support, the intermediate hopper having an intermediate spout for each bag, the intermediate spouts having an intermediate valve with an open position to permit a flow of granular material from the intermediate hopper and a closed position, the intermediate hopper being adapted to deliver a pre-determined quantity of granular material only sufficient to fill the bags mounted on the bag support when the intermediate valve is in the open position, so over-filling is not of concern;

providing a primary hopper containing granular material, the primary hopper having at least one primary spout disposed over a motor vehicle loading position, the at least one primary spout having a primary valve which has an open position to permit a flow of granular material from the primary hopper and a closed position, the primary hopper being adapted to deliver a pre-determined quantity of granular material only sufficient to fill the intermediate hopper when the primary valve is in the open position, so that over-filling is not of concern;

providing a sensor to selectively move the primary valve to the open position when the at least one motor vehicle is in the loading position, the sensor being electronically coupled to the primary valve, the sensor monitoring the loading position and moving the primary valve from the closed position to the open position when the at least one motor vehicle is sensed in the loading position;

coupling bags to the bag support of the at least one motor vehicle;

driving the at least one motor vehicle into the loading position where the sensor initiates opening of the primary valve to initiate the flow of granular material from the primary hopper into the intermediate hopper; and

driving the at least one motor vehicle out of the loading position toward an unloading position spaced from the primary hopper while activating the intermediate valve to initiate a the flow of granular material from the intermediate hopper into the bags.

8. The method as defined in claim 7, more than one motor vehicle being provided, with each motor vehicle taking turns in the loading position.

9. The method as defined in claim 7, each intermediate spout having a flexible depending conduit adapted for insertion into the open mouth of one of the bags.

10. A method of filling bags with granular material, comprising the steps of:

providing at least one motor vehicle equipped with a bag support adapted to support at least one bag with a mouth of the at least one bag open in preparation for filling, a hopper being mounted on the at least one motor vehicle, the hopper being disposed above the bag support, the hopper having at least one spout, the at least one spout having a valve with an open position to permit a flow of granular material from the hopper and a closed position, the hopper being adapted to deliver a pre-determined quantity of granular material only sufficient to fill the at least one bag mounted on the bag support when the valve is in the open position, so over-filling is not of concern;

providing a primary source of granular material having a motor vehicle loading position;

coupling at least one bag to the bag support of the at least one motor vehicle;

driving the at least one motor vehicle into the loading position and filling the hopper with granular material; and

driving the at least one motor vehicle out of the loading position toward an unloading position, while activating the valve to initiate a flow of granular material from the hopper into the at least one bag.

11. A method of filling bags with granular material, comprising the steps of:

providing at least one motor vehicle equipped with a bag support adapted to support at least one bag with a mouth of the at least one bag open in preparation for filling, a hopper being mounted on the at least one motor vehicle, the hopper being disposed above the bag support, the hopper having at least one spout, the at least one spout having a valve with an open position to permit a flow of granular material from the hopper and a closed position, the hopper being adapted to deliver a pre-determined quantity of granular material only sufficient to fill the at least one bag mounted on the bag support when the valve is in the open position, so over-filling is not of concern;

providing a primary source of granular material having a motor vehicle loading position;

driving the at least one motor vehicle into the loading position and filling the hopper with granular material; and

coupling at least one bag to the bag support of the at least one motor vehicle and driving toward an unloading position, while activating the valve to initiate a flow of granular material from the hopper into the at least one bag.