Product settler having vertically movable rollers
First Claim
1. A product settler for settling a product within a bag, said bag having a bottom, said bag being carried on a bag elevator assembly or the like mounted for generally vertical movement between a raised position and a lowered position, said product settler comprising:
- a frame assembly;
at least one carriage, said carriage being connected to said frame and mounted for movement in a general vertical direction;
a plurality of rollers, each of said plurality of rollers being connected to said carriage for reciprocal movement therewith in said generally vertical direction and mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation, at least a portion of each of said plurality of rollers being disposed generally beneath the bag when the bag is carried out on the bag elevator assembly or the like;
means for selectively moving said carriage and said plurality of rollers connected thereto between a completely raised position and a completely lowered position, said means for moving said carriage being capable of maintaining said plurality of rollers in close proximity to the bottom of the bag while the bag is moved from the raised position to the lowered position, said plurality of rollers moving between said completely raised position and said completely lowered position along a path corresponding to an average rate of descent of the bag being moved from the raised position to the lowered position, said plurality of rollers being reciprocated in a generally vertical direction such that said plurality of rollers oscillate a predetermined distance above or below said path; and
means for selectively rotating each of said plurality of rollers when said carriage is moved to said completely lowered position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A product settler comprising a pair of spaced-apart carriages mounted for independent reciprocal movement in a generally vertical direction relative to a surrounding frame assembly. Each carriage has a longitudinal beam generally traversing the length of the product settler and disposed on opposing sides of an intermediate zone. Extending inwardly from each beam are a plurality of rollers, each roller being mounted for rotational movement about its longitudinal axis, and extending substantially across the intermediate zone. The rollers are generally parallel to one another and preferably disposed within a horizontal plane, the rollers associated with one carriage being interspersed in a one-to-one ratio with the rollers of the opposing carriage. The carriages and rollers may be moved between completely raised and completely lowered positions at controlled rates of descent and ascent, the rollers being maintained in contact with or close proximity to the bottom of the bag and alternatingly reciprocated or oscillated to produce vibrations or discreet striking motions to settle the product within the bag. When moved to the completely lowered position, the underside of each roller contacts the top surface of one of two spaced-apart frictional drive belts moving in a closed path, contact with the drive belts thereby causing the rollers to rotate and carry the bag to a conveyor belt positioned adjacent to the downline end of the product settler. The sets of rollers may be disposed in varying staggered configurations, and be slanted across or along the intermediate zone.
11 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A product settler for settling a product within a bag, said bag having a bottom, said bag being carried on a bag elevator assembly or the like mounted for generally vertical movement between a raised position and a lowered position, said product settler comprising:
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a frame assembly; at least one carriage, said carriage being connected to said frame and mounted for movement in a general vertical direction; a plurality of rollers, each of said plurality of rollers being connected to said carriage for reciprocal movement therewith in said generally vertical direction and mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation, at least a portion of each of said plurality of rollers being disposed generally beneath the bag when the bag is carried out on the bag elevator assembly or the like; means for selectively moving said carriage and said plurality of rollers connected thereto between a completely raised position and a completely lowered position, said means for moving said carriage being capable of maintaining said plurality of rollers in close proximity to the bottom of the bag while the bag is moved from the raised position to the lowered position, said plurality of rollers moving between said completely raised position and said completely lowered position along a path corresponding to an average rate of descent of the bag being moved from the raised position to the lowered position, said plurality of rollers being reciprocated in a generally vertical direction such that said plurality of rollers oscillate a predetermined distance above or below said path; and means for selectively rotating each of said plurality of rollers when said carriage is moved to said completely lowered position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A product settler for settling a product within a bag, said bag having a bottom, said bag carried on a bag elevator assembly or the like mounted for generally vertical movement between a raised position and a lowered position, said product settler comprising:
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a frame assembly; a first carriage, said first carriage being connected to said frame and mounted for reciprocal movement in a generally vertical direction; a second carriage, said second carriage being connected to said frame and mounted for reciprocal movement in a generally vertical direction independent of said reciprocal movement in said generally vertical direction of said first carriage; a plurality of rollers, at least a portion of each of said plurality of rollers being disposed generally beneath the bag when the bag is carried on the bag elevator assembly or the like, said plurality of rollers being divided into a first group and a second group, said first group of said plurality of rollers each being connected to said first carriage for reciprocal movement therewith in said generally vertical direction, said second group of said plurality of rollers each being connected to said second carriage for reciprocal movement therewith in said generally vertical direction, each of said plurality in said first group being spaced apart and disposed in an interspersed relationship with said plurality of rollers in said second group; means for selectively moving said first carriage and said first group of said plurality of rollers connected thereto between a completely raised position and a completely lowered position, said means for moving said first carriage being capable of maintaining said first group of said plurality of rollers in close proximity to the bottom of the bag while the bag is moved from the raised position to the lowered position; and means for selectively moving said second carriage and said second group of said plurality of rollers connected thereto between a completely raised position and a completely lowered position, said means for moving said second carriage being capable of maintaining said second group of said plurality of rollers in close proximity to the bottom of the bag while the bag is moved from the raised position. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification