GB2175271A - Container unloader - Google Patents

Abstract

A container unloader (1) consists of a support structure (2) carrying a reciprocable blade member (36) movable into and out of a container (52) by means of a double-acting ram (32), contents from the container being discharged through the structure onto a conveying means (22) via a chute (20). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Container unloader This invention relates to an unloader for effecting the discharge of the contents from a container.

In particular, although not exclusively, the present invention has reference to an unloader for a bulk materials container of the well known kind transportable by, for example, road vehicle.

Containerisation is now widespread for all types of products and commodities, but has more recently attracted attention from bulk materials suppliers especially those concerned with the enhancement of materials handling amenity and the protection of the environment.

The coal industry continues to place great importance upon improving the image of its product and to this end has for some years past followed a policy of examining ways of facilitating the handling of solid fuel. The container presents sound method of delivering coat to a customer in a relatively clean manner and in a prescribed quantity. Conventionally, however, when such containers carry bulk materials in discrete form, they have to be mounted on tipping vehicles so that discharge of their contents can be effected. This type of discharge operation is time consuming and thus expensive, especially so when discharge is not to stockpile but constitutes feed to a point of use. For example, in the case of solid fuel, the container may be required to discharge directly into a conveying system used to meter fuel quantities to a boiler.Such a requirement is necessarily costly since it precludes the more profitable usage of the vehicles. Futhermore, degradation of the fuel during transport and handling is exacerbated by the use of these known methods of delivery.

An object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide a container unloader which facilitates the discharge of contents in a positive and controlled manner, with a view inter alia to reducing degradation.

According to the invention a container unloader includes a support structure carrying a blade member receiprocable in a horizontal or substantially horizontal plane, and means for extending the blade member into a container through an end thereof and for retracting the blade member such as in use to discharge contents from the container through said end.

The support structure conveniently has a base part for standing at ground level and a top part in practice at an elevated level substantially coincident with the floor of a container aligned with the unloader. The top part may advantageously be in the form of a platform, a forward portion of which is in cantilever over a reception area for contents discharged in use by the unloader from the container. The reception area may incorporate a chute supermounting a conveyor means which may be of any type, for example a belt conveyor or a screw conveyor suitable for the discharge contents.

The platform may be provided with wheels engaging a guide track on the structure, such that the platform may be moved in a direction transverse to that of the blade member. Means may be situated on the structure for effecting such movement of the platform.

The platform has mounted on a rear part thereof a bracket to which is secured the means for reciprocating the blade member. The means may be in the form of a double-acting fluid operable ram the piston rod of which is attached preferable via a pivot to the bracket. At the end of the ram remote from the bracket the blade member is carried by the cylinder. The number of stages of the ram is dependent upon the extension required. For a standard size of I.S.O. container, a stroke of 6105mm is desirable and a four stage ram would be suitable. In view of the extension length, it is advantageous to provide for the ram a support and accordingly a slider is carried by one of the ram piston rod stages, the slider having a foot for engagement with the platform in the retracted position and the floor of the container when the ram is extended into the container.

The blade member is slidable over the top of the platform which may be constituted by side beams and cross beams. The member may be in the form of a rectangularly shaped frame with a bevelled leading edge, the width of the member corresponding substantially with the size of the end of the container, suitable clearance being provided.

The container unloader may also have attached or attachable thereto a support and registration section contiguous with the support structure and serving to locate and support a container at a level coincident with that of the platform.

A power pack may be provided on the support structure for providing pressure fluid for the ram.

By way of example only, one form of container unloader according to the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which.

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the blade member of the unloader in an extended position; Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the blade member of the unloader in a retracted position; Figure 3 is a plan view in accordance with Figure 1; and Figure 4 is an end view on arrow A in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, a container unloader shown generally by the reference numeral 1 includes a support structures 2 consisting of a frame work and having a ground engaging base 6 upstanding from which are vertical struts 8,9 carrying a platform 10. At the top of each strut 8,9 is a rail 12 of inverted V-section, the rails 12 constituting a track on which the platform 10 can run through the agency of complementary wheels 14 suitably positioned at the forward and rearward ends of the platform 10, there being a total of six wheels 14.

A further strut 16 is upstanding from base 6 and is spaced from the strut 8 to provide a reception area 18 within which is sited a chute 20 leading to a conveying means 22. In Figure 1 the conveying means is a belt conveyor and in Figure 2 as an alternative is shown as being a screw conveyor.

The platform 10 is cantilevered at its forward part 24 over the reception are 18, the platform as a whole being consituted by framework 26 more readily seen in Figure 3. A bracket 28 is securely fixed to the rear part of the framework 26 centrally thereof on transverse beam 30.

A double-acting fluid actuable ram 32 has its piston rod 34 pivotally connected to the bracket 28 and at the other end a blade member 36 is carried by the ram cylinder 38. The member 36 is rectangular frame with a bevelled leading edge 40 (see Figure 3), and is slidable over the platform 10 from the position shown in Figure 2 to the fully extended position shown in Figure 1. The ram 32 is a four stage ram with an extension of 6105mm and thus a slider support 42 is provided along its length as shown and affords the requisite support during extension and retraction.

Referring to Figure 1, a container transporter 50 is shown backed up to the container unloader 1, a container 52, in brief outline, having been deposited on and registering with a support 54 therefor.

The support 54 has to be sufficiently robust to withstand the thrust of the ram. The support 54 itself may be attached to the structure 2. With the container 52 securely located, the platform 10 of the unloader 1 is aligned such that the blade member 36 can extend through an open end 56 of the container, the platform then being locked in position by locating pins 57 (Figure 3). The platform 10 may in practice be moved by a positioning ram 60 shown only in ghosted outline in Figures 1 and 2.

Once the platform 10 is aligned as indicated above and a door 62 of the container 52 is opened 15 to allow access, the ram 32 is activated by an appropriate fluid (e.g. hydraulic) supply that may conveniently be provided by a power pack 70 located within the support structure. Assuming the container 52 to be full, opening of the door 62 will permit a certain amount of the particulate material such as coal discharge under the influence of gravity into the reception area 18 and down chute 20 into the conveying means 22 for transport to a point of use. Once this initial gravitational discharge has taken place, the coal assumes a natural angle of repose. The blade member 36 is then advanced by means of the extension of ram 32, into the coal at the base of heap to a penetration depth approximately equal to the length of the member in the advance direction. The member 36 is then retracted bringing with it a strip of coal the width of the container. This coal is then discharged into the reception area and thence to conveying means 22. This operational cycle is repeated with the blade member advancing further and further into the container until substantially all the coal has been removed therefrom. The emptying operation thus involves the blade member gradually in stepwise fashion nibbling or eroding away the coal from the container.

It will be appreciated that a number of containers may be disposed side by side along the length of the container unloader 1, the platform 10 being moved to align with an appropriate container to effect discharge of its contents as required.

The invention thus provides a relatively simple and yet effective method of unloading containers in a controlled manner.

Claims (15)

1. A container unloader including a support structure carrying a blade member reciprocable in a horizontal or substantially horizontal plane, and means for extending the blade number into a container through an end thereof and for retracting the blade member such as inuse to discharge contents from the container through said end.

2. A container unloader according to claim 1 in which the support structure has a ground engageable base part and a top part elevated thereabove at a level in use coincident with that of the floor of a container.

3. A container unloader according to claim 2, in which the top part of the structure is in the form of a platform, a forward portion of which is in cantiiever over a reception area for contents discharged from the container.

4. A container unloader according to claim 3 in which the reception area incorporates a chute supermounting a conveyor means.

5. A container unloader according to claim 3 or 4 in which the platform is provided with wheels for engaging a guide track on the structure.

6. A container unloader according to claim 5 in which means for moving the platform relative to the track are provided on the structure.

7. A container unloader according to any one of claims 3 to 6 in which the platform has mounted on a rear part thereof a bracket to which is secured the means for extending and retracting the blade member.

8. A container unloader according to claim 7 in which the means for extending and retracting the blade member is a double-acting fluid operable ram.

9. A container unloader according to claim 8 in which the piston rod of the ram is pivotally connected to the bracket.

10. A container unloader according to claim 9 in which the cylinder of the ram carries the blade member at its free end remote from the bracket.

11. A container unloader according to any one of claims 8 to 10 in which a slider support is provided on the ram and includes a foot for sliding engagement with the platform and the floor of a container.

12. A container unloader according to any one of the preceding claims in which the blade member is in the form of a rectangular frame provided with a bevelled leading edge.

13. A container unloader according to any one of the preceding claims and including a support attached or attachable thereto and contiguous with the support structure and serving in use to support and locate a container.

14. A container unloader according to any one of the preceding claims in which a power pack is provided on the support structure.

15. A container unloader substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.