Apparatus and method for loading agricultural material
First Claim
1. A method of reduced impact loading of material into a bin comprising the steps of:
- providing a bin having a side wall defining an access opening for loading the bin at varying vertical heights and a bottom portion extending from the side wall;
providing a door slidably mounted at the access opening of the bin, the door movable along a predetermined path between a lower position at initial loading to maximize the access opening and selectively to varying upper positions above the lower position as the bin is being loaded to close the access opening;
moving the door to the lower position for initial loading to minimize loading impact;
providing a material dispenser having a discharge end portion;
extending the discharge end portion of the material dispenser into the bin through the access opening over the door with the discharge end portion a predetermined distance above the bottom portion of the bin to minimize loading impact;
selectively raising the discharge end portion in the bin as material accumulates in the bin during loading to maintain the discharge end portion within a predetermined distance range above material generally accumulating in the bin; and
selectively raising the door to varying positions above the lower position to close the access opening as material accumulates in the bin.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided an apparatus and method for reduced impact loading of impact sensitive materials, such as agricultural seed material, into a bin from above. The loading apparatus includes a door selectively movable between a lower position and an upper position. A guide mounts the door at the bin and provides a predetermined path between the lower and upper positions for the door. A drive is used to selectively vary the position of the door along the path in response to accumulation of material loaded from above. The door is first moved to the lower position for initial loading. A material dispenser having a discharge end is extended through an access opening in the bin at the door for initial loading of material therein. As material accumulates in the bin during loading, the discharge end is selectively raised in the access opening to maintain it within a predetermined distance range above such material. The door is also selectively raised to varying positions above the lower position to cover the access opening as material accumulates in the bin.
24 Citations
5 Claims
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1. A method of reduced impact loading of material into a bin comprising the steps of:
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providing a bin having a side wall defining an access opening for loading the bin at varying vertical heights and a bottom portion extending from the side wall;
providing a door slidably mounted at the access opening of the bin, the door movable along a predetermined path between a lower position at initial loading to maximize the access opening and selectively to varying upper positions above the lower position as the bin is being loaded to close the access opening;
moving the door to the lower position for initial loading to minimize loading impact;
providing a material dispenser having a discharge end portion;
extending the discharge end portion of the material dispenser into the bin through the access opening over the door with the discharge end portion a predetermined distance above the bottom portion of the bin to minimize loading impact;
selectively raising the discharge end portion in the bin as material accumulates in the bin during loading to maintain the discharge end portion within a predetermined distance range above material generally accumulating in the bin; and
selectively raising the door to varying positions above the lower position to close the access opening as material accumulates in the bin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification