APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR BULK DISPENSING
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A hopper door comprising:
- a frame;
a slide gate disposed within the frame and retractable between an open position and a closed position; and
a set of fingers projecting from the slide gate to dislodge material proximate to the hopper door.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatuses and methods relating to hoppers and the dispensing of bulk therefrom are provided. The hopper can include hopper walls that form a product storage receptacle. The hopper can also include a hopper door that includes a frame and a slide gate disposed within the frame. The slide gate is retractable between an open position and a closed position. A set of fingers projects from the slide gate to dislodge material proximate to the hopper door. Further, a port can be provided through at least one of the fingers of the set of fingers with the port configured to inject a fluid into the hopper.
114 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A hopper door comprising:
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a frame; a slide gate disposed within the frame and retractable between an open position and a closed position; and a set of fingers projecting from the slide gate to dislodge material proximate to the hopper door. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A hopper comprising:
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hopper walls that form a product storage receptacle; a hopper door comprising; a frame; a slide gate disposed within the frame and retractable between an open position and a closed position; and a set of fingers projecting from the slide gate to dislodge material proximate to the hopper door; and a port through at least one of the fingers of the set of fingers, the port configured to inject a fluid into the hopper. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A hopper comprising:
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hopper walls that form a product storage receptacle, the hopper walls converging toward a dispensing opening; a hopper door for covering the dispensing opening, the hopper door comprising; a frame; a slide gate disposed within the frame and retractable between an open position and a closed position; and a set of fingers projecting from the slide gate to dislodge material proximate to the hopper door; and fluid ports positioned through each finger of the set of fingers, one or more fluid ports positioned through the hopper walls, and one or more fluid ports positioned in the slide gate, the fluid ports configured to inject a fluid into the hopper. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method of supplying material through a hopper, the method comprising:
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providing a hopper that comprises hopper walls that form a product storage receptacle and a hopper door, the hopper door including a frame, a slide gate disposed within the frame and retractable between an open position and a closed position, and a set of fingers projecting from the slide gate, the hopper door further having a port through at least one of the fingers of the set of fingers; opening the slide gate of the hopper door such that the fingers dislodge material within the hopper proximate to the hopper door; and injecting fluid through the port in the at least one finger into the hopper to dislodge material within the hopper above the fingers. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification