GB1571947A - Granular material dispenser - Google Patents

Description

(54) A GRANULAR MATERIAL DISPENSER (71) I, WILLIAM CASHMAN, a citizen of the Irish Republic of Glenarousk, Clastlelyons, County Cork, Ireland, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The present invention relates to apparatus for dispensing granular material.

In this Specification the term "granular materials" includes grain, animal feedstuffs such as dairy nuts or pulp nuts, rice, sugar, crushed stone and the like relatively free-flowing materials. Further, the term "hopper" includes all forms of containers and bulk storage devices for such granular materials.

When dispensing granular materials from a hopper it is very often important to dispense preset quantities. This can obviously be done by the use of weighing equipment, however this is relatively expensive. The normal method used is to either provide containers of preset volumes or alternatively to meter by timing the length of time the hopper door is open.

There is however the need for a relatively inexpensive and easily operated apparatus that will dispense preset volumes of such granular material.

According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for dispensing granular material, comprising a hopper and a pair of granular material dispensers mounted within the hopper, wherein the hopper is of rectangular cross-section and has a pair of end walls and a pair of side walls and includes a pair of inclined interior walls mounted between the side walls, said interior walls forming a V-shaped trough, the trough having a rectangular opening on each wall adjacent the bottom defining a pair of hopper outlets, and wherein each granular material dispenser comprises a hollow cylindrical body member with a pair of end plates and an opening provided in its cylindrical wall, the interior of the cylindrical body member being divided by a partition wall between the two end plates, one edge of the partition wall defining one edge of the opening, each dispenser being adjacent the outer side of a hopper outlet and being journaled in the side walls of the hopper by a pair of axles projecting outwardly from the end plates and through the side walls of the hopper, and wherein an external lever is mounted on an axle for pivotal movement of each dispenser between a filling and a dispensing position and adjustable stops are mounted on a side wall of the hopper to control movement of the lever and hence the quantity dispensed, return springs being anchored on the side walls and connected to each lever to bias the dispenser into the filling position.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a hopper in which two granular material dispensers are mounted; Figure 2 is a typical vertical partially cut-away cross-sectional view through the hopper of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a granular material dispenser; and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the hopper and dispenser of Figures 1 to 3 showing the dispenser in two operative positions.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a pair of granular material dispensers mounted within a hopper. The hopper is of substantially rectangular construction having a pair of end walls 1, side walls 2 and bottom 3. A pair of outlets 4 are provided. A pair of inclined interior walls 5 are mounted between the side walls 2 and form an interior V-shaped trough, the bottom of which is provided with a base 6: the trough has a pair of rectangular openings defining a pair of opposed hopper outlets indicated generally by the reference numeral 7. A short arcuate plate 8 is mounted on each side wall 2 to prevent the passage of material between the side walls and a dispenser.

Referring to Figure 3 each dispenser comprises a cylindrical body member having a cylindrical portion 9 and a pair of end plates 10. The cylindrical portion 9 is cut away to form an opening. A partition wall 11 is mounted between the two end plates 10 and is cranked adjacent its free end to form a retaining lip 12 (see Figure 2). The partition wall 11 and portion of the end plates 10 and the cylindrical portion 9 form a storage space indicated generally by the reference numeral 13. An additional partition wall 14 is provided. The partition wall 14 is provided with a reinforced pad 15. Stub axles 16 are mounted on the end plates 10. The dispensers are mounted between the side walls 2 of the hopper by means of the stub axles 16.

The stub axles 16 rotate in bearings not shown, in externally mounted plates 17.

Each plate 17 is secured by bolts 18 in elongate slots 19 on the side walls 2.

A pair of stops 20 are mounted on the interior of the hopper (see Figure 2). One of the stub axles 16 projects through the side wall 2 and has rigidly mounted thereon a lever 21. One end of the lever 21 is connected to a return spring 22, anchored at 23 on the side wall 2. An adjustable stop formed from a bar 24 mounted within a sleeve 25 is provided. The position of the bar 24 relative to the sleeve 25 is controlled by a threaded wing bolt 26.

In use, the return spring 22 will maintain the dispenser in the filling or loading position as illustrated on the left-hand side of Figure 2. This is also illustrated on the left-hand side of Figure 4 where material enters in the direction of the arrow A into the dispenser. Movement of the lever 21 in the direction of the arrow B causes the dispenser to rotate in the same direction thus causing it to assume the position as illustrated on the right-hand side of Figure 4 where material is delivered out of the dispenser in the direction of the arrow C. It will be appreciated that the pivotal movement of the dispenser may be controlled by the adjustable stop formed by the bar 24.

It is thus possible to control the quantity dispensed. On release of the lever 21 the return spring 22 will pivot the dispenser in the opposite direction until the pad 15 engages the stop 20. The lip 12 assists in retaining the material in position until the dispenser is in the discharge position.

When it is desired to alter the position of the dispenser relative to a hopper outlet 7 for example when the material or the composition of the material being dispensed changes, one or both of the bolts 18 is loosened and the plate 17 moved thus altering the position of the stub axle 16.

While in the embodiment illustrated the apparatus is adapted for manual operation it will be appreciated that the invention can be readily adapted for use with any other suitable means such as an electric motor.

The purpose of the additonal partition wall is to allow more of the cylindrical portion to be cut-away. This facilitates the free flow of material.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. Apparatus for dispensing granular material, comprising a hopper and a pair of granular material dispensers mounted within the hopper, wherein the hopper is of rectangular cross-section and has a pair of end walls and a pair of side walls and includes a pair of inclined interior walls mounted between the side walls, said interior walls forming a V-shaped trough, the trough having a rectangular opening on each wall adjacent the bottom defining a pair of hopper outlets, and wherein each granular material dispenser comprises a hollow cylindrical body member with a pair of end plates and an opening provided in its cylindrical wall, the interior of the cylindrical body member being divided by a partition wall between the two end plates, one edge of the partition wall defining one edge of the opening, each dispenser being adjacent the outer side of a hopper outlet and being journaled in the side walls of the hopper by a pair of axles projecting outwardly from the end plates and through the side walls of the hopper, and wherein an external lever is mounted on an axle for pivotal movement of each dispenser between a filling and a dispensing position and adjustable stops are mounted on a side wall of the hopper to control movement of the lever and hence the quantity dispensed, return springs being anchored on the side walls and connected to each lever to bias the dispenser into the filling position.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the partition wall in each dispenser is cranked adjacent the opening and a second partition wall is provided, the two partition walls in each dispenser being connected together adjacent the cranked portion of the first partition wall and mounted at two spaced apart locations on the interior of the cylindrical wall of the dispenser, the portion of the cylindrical wall between the second partition wall and

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. are provided. A pair of inclined interior walls 5 are mounted between the side walls 2 and form an interior V-shaped trough, the bottom of which is provided with a base 6: the trough has a pair of rectangular openings defining a pair of opposed hopper outlets indicated generally by the reference numeral 7. A short arcuate plate 8 is mounted on each side wall 2 to prevent the passage of material between the side walls and a dispenser. Referring to Figure 3 each dispenser comprises a cylindrical body member having a cylindrical portion 9 and a pair of end plates 10. The cylindrical portion 9 is cut away to form an opening. A partition wall 11 is mounted between the two end plates 10 and is cranked adjacent its free end to form a retaining lip 12 (see Figure 2). The partition wall 11 and portion of the end plates 10 and the cylindrical portion 9 form a storage space indicated generally by the reference numeral 13. An additional partition wall 14 is provided. The partition wall 14 is provided with a reinforced pad 15. Stub axles 16 are mounted on the end plates 10. The dispensers are mounted between the side walls 2 of the hopper by means of the stub axles 16. The stub axles 16 rotate in bearings not shown, in externally mounted plates 17. Each plate 17 is secured by bolts 18 in elongate slots 19 on the side walls 2. A pair of stops 20 are mounted on the interior of the hopper (see Figure 2). One of the stub axles 16 projects through the side wall 2 and has rigidly mounted thereon a lever 21. One end of the lever 21 is connected to a return spring 22, anchored at 23 on the side wall 2. An adjustable stop formed from a bar 24 mounted within a sleeve 25 is provided. The position of the bar 24 relative to the sleeve 25 is controlled by a threaded wing bolt 26. In use, the return spring 22 will maintain the dispenser in the filling or loading position as illustrated on the left-hand side of Figure 2. This is also illustrated on the left-hand side of Figure 4 where material enters in the direction of the arrow A into the dispenser. Movement of the lever 21 in the direction of the arrow B causes the dispenser to rotate in the same direction thus causing it to assume the position as illustrated on the right-hand side of Figure 4 where material is delivered out of the dispenser in the direction of the arrow C. It will be appreciated that the pivotal movement of the dispenser may be controlled by the adjustable stop formed by the bar 24. It is thus possible to control the quantity dispensed. On release of the lever 21 the return spring 22 will pivot the dispenser in the opposite direction until the pad 15 engages the stop 20. The lip 12 assists in retaining the material in position until the dispenser is in the discharge position. When it is desired to alter the position of the dispenser relative to a hopper outlet 7 for example when the material or the composition of the material being dispensed changes, one or both of the bolts 18 is loosened and the plate 17 moved thus altering the position of the stub axle 16. While in the embodiment illustrated the apparatus is adapted for manual operation it will be appreciated that the invention can be readily adapted for use with any other suitable means such as an electric motor. The purpose of the additonal partition wall is to allow more of the cylindrical portion to be cut-away. This facilitates the free flow of material. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. Apparatus for dispensing granular material, comprising a hopper and a pair of granular material dispensers mounted within the hopper, wherein the hopper is of rectangular cross-section and has a pair of end walls and a pair of side walls and includes a pair of inclined interior walls mounted between the side walls, said interior walls forming a V-shaped trough, the trough having a rectangular opening on each wall adjacent the bottom defining a pair of hopper outlets, and wherein each granular material dispenser comprises a hollow cylindrical body member with a pair of end plates and an opening provided in its cylindrical wall, the interior of the cylindrical body member being divided by a partition wall between the two end plates, one edge of the partition wall defining one edge of the opening, each dispenser being adjacent the outer side of a hopper outlet and being journaled in the side walls of the hopper by a pair of axles projecting outwardly from the end plates and through the side walls of the hopper, and wherein an external lever is mounted on an axle for pivotal movement of each dispenser between a filling and a dispensing position and adjustable stops are mounted on a side wall of the hopper to control movement of the lever and hence the quantity dispensed, return springs being anchored on the side walls and connected to each lever to bias the dispenser into the filling position.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the partition wall in each dispenser is cranked adjacent the opening and a second partition wall is provided, the two partition walls in each dispenser being connected together adjacent the cranked portion of the first partition wall and mounted at two spaced apart locations on the interior of the cylindrical wall of the dispenser, the portion of the cylindrical wall between the second partition wall and

the opening being cut away.

3. Apparatus for dispensing granular material, substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.