Automated process for handling bales for pellet production

• US 9,163,191 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2011
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pellet Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Pellet Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Zeeck, James Russell, Schneider, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goloboy, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): HINES, LATOSHA D
• Application Number:
  US13/213,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20120024992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,523 Days
• Field of Search: 445/89, 426/442, 426/30, 426/623, 241/152.2, 241/18, 241/24.1, 241/24.25, 241/25, 241/29, 241/42, 241/43, 241/68, 241/78, 264/140
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/252 about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/26 arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/363 Pellets or granulates
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/44 on vegetable substances
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 2201/701 with additives
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 2201/80 Shredding
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 2205/12 using conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 2209/262 Agricultural waste
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 2900/50206 Pelletising waste before combustion
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 5/02 with pretreatment
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 5/033 comminuting or crushing
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 5/444 for solid waste F23G5/448 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 5/50 Control or safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F23K 1/00 Preparation of lump or pulverulent fuel in readiness for delivery to combustion apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F23K 1/02 Mixing solid fuel with a liquid, e.g. preparing slurries
• CPC Class Codes: F23K 2201/10 Pulverizing
• CPC Class Codes: F23K 2201/20 Drying
• CPC Class Codes: F23K 2201/30 Separating
• CPC Class Codes: F23K 2201/50 Blending
• CPC Class Codes: F23K 2201/505 with additives
• CPC Class Codes: F23K 2203/103 : Storage devices
• CPC Class Codes: F23K 2203/201 : using pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: F23K 3/00 : Feeding or distributing of lump or pulverulent fuel to combustion apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 : Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 : Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel

Abstract

An automated system and method are provided for conveying plant material bales. The system and method retrieves stacked bales from a storage site and places the bales on a conveyor assembly line, wherein the bales are indexed, accumulated, and metered for discharge into a bale shredder. Once the bales are on the conveyor assembly, the bales are automatically moved and arranged without manual intervention.

Claims

1. A method of conveying bales of plant material to a shredder, the method comprising:

placing the bales in line on a conveyor assembly;

automatically arranging the bales on the conveyor assembly to be adjacent to one another, without manual intervention, wherein the arranging of the bales includes indexing, accumulating and metering of the bales; and

discharging the bales into the shredder.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the indexing, accumulating and metering steps occur sequentially.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the indexing, accumulating and metering steps take place on separate conveyors.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the bales are arranged to provide a continuous flow of bales into the shredder.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising sensing the arrangement of the bales with a sensor, and providing feedback from the sensor to actuate changes in the arrangement.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming the bales from agricultural crop residue material selected from a group comprising of corn stover, soybean stubble, and sorghum residue.

7. A method of conveying bales of plant material to a shredder, comprising:

placing the bales in line on a conveyor assembly;

arranging the bales on the conveyor assembly so as to be adjacent to one another, without manual intervention,

wherein arranging the bales includes indexing, accumulating and metering of the bales;

discharging the bales into the shredder; and

wherein the bales are arranged to provide a continuous flow of bales into the shredder.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the bales are arranged automatically.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the indexing, accumulating and metering steps occur sequentially.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the indexing, accumulating and metering steps take place on separate conveyors.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising sensing the arranging of the bales with a sensor, and providing feedback from the sensor to actuate changes in the arrangement.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising forming the bales from agricultural crop residue material selected from a group comprising of corn stover, soybean stubble, and sorghum residue.

13. A method of conveying bales of plant material to a shredder, comprising;

forming the bales from agricultural crop residue material selected from a group comprising of corn stover, soybean stubble, and sorghum residue;

placing the bales in line on a conveyor assembly;

automatically arranging the bales on the conveyor assembly so as to be adjacent to one another, without manual intervention; and

discharging the bales into the shredder.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the arranging step includes indexing, accumulating and metering of the bales.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the indexing, accumulating and metering steps occur sequentially.

16. The method of claim 15 Wherein the indexing, accumulating and metering steps take place on separate conveyors.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the bales are arranged to provide a continuous flow of bales into the shredder.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising sensing the arranging of the bales with a sensor, and providing feedback from the sensor to actuate changes in the arrangement.

19. A method of conveying bales of plant material to a shredder, comprising:

placing the bales in line on a conveyor assembly;

arranging the bales on the conveyor assembly to be adjacent to one another, without manual intervention; and

discharging the bales into the shredder; and

sensing the arranging of the bales with a sensor, and providing feedback from the sensor to actuate changes in the arrangement;

wherein the bales are arranged to provide a continuous flow of bales into the shredder.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the arranging step includes indexing, accumulating and metering of the bales.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising forming the bales from agricultural crop residue material selected from a group comprising of corn stover, soybean stubble, and sorghum residue.

22. A method of conveying bales of plant material to a bale shredder, comprising:

forming the bales from agricultural crop residue material selected from a group comprising of corn stover, soybean stubble, and sorghum residue;

placing the bales in line on a conveyor assembly;

arranging the bales on the conveyor assembly so as to be adjacent to one another, without manual intervention, wherein the bales are arranged to provide a continuous flow of bales into the shredder; and

discharging the bales into the shredder.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the bales are arranged automatically.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the arrangement step includes indexing, accumulating and metering of the bales.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the indexing, accumulating and metering steps occur sequentially.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the indexing, accumulating and metering steps take place on separate conveyors.

27. The method of claim 22 further comprising sensing the arranging of the bales with a sensor, and providing feedback from the sensor to actuate changes in the arrangement.