Sand bag filler with multiple fill stations
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for filling portable storage containers with aggregate material, comprising:
- a supply hopper having an inlet and an outlet;
a first bag filling hopper and a second bag filling hopper, each having an inlet and an outlet; and
a carriage located between the supply hopper and the first and second bag filling hoppers, the carriage being movable about an rotational axis between a first position and a second position, said carriage including;
a first transfer hopper, the first transfer hopper having a first open end adapted for alignment with the outlet of the supply hopper in the first position and the inlet of the first bag filling hopper in the second position; and
a second transfer hopper, the second transfer hopper having a first open end adapted for alignment with the inlet of the second bag filling hopper in the first position and the outlet of the supply hopper in the second position.
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Abstract
An apparatus and methodology is provided for filling portable containers, such as sandbags, with aggregate materials. The utility utilizes a transfer mechanism to selectively transfer aggregate between a supply of aggregate material (e.g., sand) and first and second filling stations that direct received aggregate into portable containers or bags. The transfer mechanism is operative to alternately supply aggregate between the first and second filling stations and operates primarily under the force of gravity.
40 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for filling portable storage containers with aggregate material, comprising:
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a supply hopper having an inlet and an outlet; a first bag filling hopper and a second bag filling hopper, each having an inlet and an outlet; and a carriage located between the supply hopper and the first and second bag filling hoppers, the carriage being movable about an rotational axis between a first position and a second position, said carriage including; a first transfer hopper, the first transfer hopper having a first open end adapted for alignment with the outlet of the supply hopper in the first position and the inlet of the first bag filling hopper in the second position; and a second transfer hopper, the second transfer hopper having a first open end adapted for alignment with the inlet of the second bag filling hopper in the first position and the outlet of the supply hopper in the second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for filling multiple portable storage containers with aggregate material, the method comprising:
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filling a supply hopper with an aggregate material, said supply hopper having an inlet end and an outlet end; draining the aggregate material through said outlet end of said supply hopper into a first open end of a first transfer hopper supported by a rotating carriage, wherein said rotating carriage is in a first position; rotating the carriage to a second position wherein said first open end of said first transfer hopper engages an inlet of a first bag filling hopper and a second open end of a second transfer hopper supported by the rotating carriage is aligned with said outlet end of said supply hopper; wherein, in the second position, the aggregate material in said first transfer hopper spills into said first bag filling hopper and aggregate material in said supply hopper drains into the second open end of said second transfer hopper. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification