GB2283184A - Apparatus for processing a solid material - Google Patents

Abstract

A solid material processing apparatus comprises a housing 6 having a plurality of outlets 70 and a rotatable material distribution propeller 56 for delivering the processed material to the outlets 70. A sieving device 4 may be arranged to sieve material before delivery to the distribution propeller, the distribution propeller being optionally provided with cutting blades for comminuting the solid material. Bags may be attached to the outlets 70 for collection of the processed material. The apparatus is relatively compact and is particularly useful for processing garden material. <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING A SOLID MATERIAL This invention relates to apparatus for processing a solid material, for example a garden material such as compost, soil or sand. Particularly, although not exclusively, the invention relates to an apparatus for sieving a frangible material and an apparatus for delivering solid material into a receptacle, for example, a bag.

Apparatus for sieving frangible materials is known.

However, such apparatus tends to be very large and expensive and intended to be used on an industrial scale.

Apparatus for bagging solid material, such as soil is also known. However, again, the apparatus is large, expensive and intended for use on an industrial scale.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention aim to provide apparatus for processing a solid material which may be usable on a relatively small scale, for example by a gardener in a domestic situation.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for processing a solid material, the apparatus comprising a first housing having an inlet, a plurality -of outlets and a solid material distribution means for distributing material fed into the housing via said inlet to said plurality of outlets.

The apparatus is preferably arranged for processing garden material, for example soil, manure or compost.

Said inlet is preferably positioned above the distribution means which, in turn, is preferably positioned above the outlets. The apparatus is preferably arranged to allow solid material to fall through it under gravity.

A passageway is preferably defined downstream of the inlet for passage of solid material between the inlet and the distribution means. The passageway preferably has sloping sidewalls and is arranged to direct solid material towards predetermined positions on said distribution means.

Said distribution means is preferably movable relative to the first housing. Said distribution means is preferably rotatable relative to the first housing. Said distribution means may be substantially planar. It preferably includes a cutting means arranged to cut solid material fed into the apparatus. Said distribution means preferably includes a plurality of distribution elements, for example in the form of distribution blades. The distribution blades are preferably arranged in a symmetrical manner about the rotational axis of the distribution means. Said distribution means may be in the form of a propeller which is, suitably, generally horizontally disposed.

One of said plurality of outlets is preferably positioned opposite another one of said plurality of outlets. Preferably, said plurality of outlets are symmetrically arranged about the distribution means, suitably about the rotational axis thereof, when provided.

Preferably, the first housing is polyhedral in shape, at least in a region thereof in which the outlets are defined. Preferably, a said outlet is provided at each vertex of the polyhedron. For example, the first housing may have a square cross-section, and an outlet may be provided at each corner of the square.

The apparatus is preferably arranged to co-operate with a collecting means, for example a receptacle such as a bag or wheelbarrow. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes fixing means for releasably securing a receptacle, for example, a bag adjacent an outlet.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a sieving device for sieving the solid material prior to its distribution by said distribution means. The sieving device is preferably positioned within a second housing and preferably includes a sieving element, for example in the form of a perforate receptacle. Said sieving element is preferably generally horizontally positioned. Means is preferably provided for moving the sieving element relative to the second housing. Preferably the sieving element is rotatable relative to the second housing. More preferably, the second housing itself is fixed and the sieving element is arranged to be rotated by a drive means.

Said sieving device preferably includes a stirring means which suitably comprises an element which is suitably fixed relative to the second housing. Said sieving device preferably includes a waste removal means for removing unwanted material from the sieving device.

Said waste removal means may be fixed relative to the second housing and suitably comprises a ramp along which unwanted material may travel. A waste outlet preferably co-operates with said waste removal means for delivery of waste material to a predetermined location.

Said sieving device preferably includes an outlet for sieved material. Said outlet is preferably arranged to deliver sieved material to the inlet of the first housing.

The invention extends to a sieving device as described herein per 56.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a solid material processing apparatus, including a sieving device and a bagging device; Figure 2 is a perspective view, partly in crosssection, of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-section through the sieving device of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 shows a part of the device of Figure 3 in greater detail; Figure 5 shows a deflector element of the sieving device of Figure 3, in greater detail; Figure 6 shows a deflector element of the sieving device of Figure 3, in greater detail; Figure 7 is a cross-section through a part of a separate sieving device; and Figure 8 is a side elevation of a separate sieving device incorporating the part of Figure 7.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the solid material processing apparatus 2 comprises a sieving device 4 and a bagging device 6. The sieving device 4 is arranged to sieve a frangible material such as soil or sand which is fed into it, and to deliver the sieved material to the adjacent bagging device 6. The bagging device 6 is arranged to direct the sieved material into a plurality of bags. The apparatus 2 is relatively compact and is suitable for use by a domestic gardener.

The apparatus 2 will now be described in greater detail.

The sieving device 4 and parts thereof are shown in Figures 2 to 6. The device 4 includes a hollow housing 8 having an inlet 10. The inlet 10 allows frangible material to be fed, via a chute 11, to a sieving element 12. The sieving element 12 is in the form of a perforate dish and is operatively connected, by means of shaft 13, to a slow r.p.m. electric motor 14 which is arranged to rotate the element 12 in a generally horizontal plane. A deflector element 16 (Figures 3 and 5) is fixed at one end to a closing plate 17 of the housing 8. The deflector element 16 extends into the dish of the sieving element and is arranged to deflect un-sievable material out of the sieving element 12 towards a discharge chute 9.

The deflector element 16 comprises a plurality of circular cross-section mild steel bars 18 of about a 1/411 in diameter. The bars 18 are spaced apart from one another by about a 1/411. The bars 18 define a curved surface which is positioned within the outline of the sieving element such that it faces in an opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the sieving element.

A stirring device 20 is also fixed, at one end to the closing plate 17. The device 20 includes a finger 22 which is positioned within the outline of the sieving element 12.

A lower wall 24 of the housing 4 slopes downwardly towards an outlet 26 (Figure 4) which communicates with the bagging device.

In use, an operator feeds solid material to be sieved into the device 4 via the inlet 10. The material passes down the chute 11 into the sieving element 12 which, at this stage is being slowly rotated by the electric motor 14. This rotatory movement, in conjunction with the stationery stirring device 20, causes the material to fragment and pass through the perforations in the sieve element. The sieved material falls onto the sloping lower wall 24 and is directed towards the outlet 26. Should solid material within the sieve be infrangible and/or too large to pass through the perforations, it will eventually be automatically removed from the sieving element 12 by means of the deflector element 16. In this respect, large, infrangible material contacts the stationery deflector element 16 during rotation of the sieving element 12.The material is caused to ride up the bars 18 of the deflector element and subsequently to be directed towards the discharge chute 9.

The bagging device 6 is shown in combination with the sieving device 4 in Figure 2. Additionally, a separate bagging device 50 is shown in Figure 7 and 8. In the figures, the same or similar parts have the same reference numerals.

The bagging devices 6, 50 include a square crosssection housing 51 in which is provided an inlet 52 for solid material to be bagged. At each corner 53 at the lower end of the housing 51, there are provided outlets 70 (four in all) for material. Downstream of the inlet 52, the device includes sloping side walls 54 which are arranged to direct solid material towards a rotatable solid material distribution propeller 56. The propeller 56 has cutting edges so that material such as manure may be chopped up prior to bagging. Additionally, the propeller 56 is generally horizontally positioned and is driven by means of an electric motor 58 via a shaft 60. A bag holding means 72 is provided adjacent each outlet 70, the holding means 72 being arranged to hold a respective bag open underneath the outlets 70, so that material can be delivered into the bags.

In use, the bagging device 6 receives material from the adjacent sieving device 4. With the separate bagging device 50, an operator feeds material into the device. In both cases, material to be bagged is fed into the device via inlet 52. From the inlet 52, the material falls down sloping side walls 54 towards the propeller 56 which, at this stage, is rotating. The material contacts the propeller 56 and is, consequently, sprayed outwardly towards the outlets 70 positioned at the corners 53 of the housing 51. It has been found that generally equal quantities of material are directed towards each outlet 70 over a period of time. From each outlet 70, the material falls into a respective bag, held in position by a respective holding means 72.

It should now be appreciated that the sieving device and bagging device described herein may provide a relatively cheap but effective means of processing solid materials and, consequently, the devices may advantageously be used on a small scale by a domestic gardener.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims (24)

1. Apparatus for processing a solid material, the apparatus comprising a first housing having an inlet, a plurality of outlets and a solid material distribution means for distributing material fed into the housing via said inlet to said plurality of outlets.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, the apparatus being arranged for processing garden material.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said inlet is positioned above the distribution means which, in turn, is positioned above the outlets.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus is arranged to allow solid material to fall through it under gravity.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein a passageway is defined downstream of the inlet for passage of solid material between the inlet and the distribution means, the passageway being arranged to direct solid material towards determined positions on said distribution means.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said distribution means is movable relative to the first housing.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said distribution means is rotatable relative to said first housing.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including cutting means arranged to cut solid material fed into the apparatus.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said distribution means includes a plurality of distribution elements.

10. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said plurality of outlets are symmetrically arranged about the distribution means.

11. Apparatus according to any preceding claims, wherein the first housing is polyhedral in shape, at least in the region thereof in which the outlets are defined.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 11, wherein a said outlet is provided at each vertex of the polyhedron.

13. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, the apparatus being arranged to co-operate with a collecting means.

14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, the apparatus including fixing means for releasably securing a receptacle adjacent an outlet.

15. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, the apparatus further including a sieving device for sieving the solid material prior to its distribution by said distribution means.

16. Apparatus according to Claim 15, wherein the sieving device is positioned within a second housing and includes a sieving element.

17. Apparatus according to Claim 16, wherein means is provided for rotating the sieving element relative to the second housing.

18. Apparatus according to any of Claims 15 to 17, wherein said sieving device includes a stirring means which comprises an element which is fixed relative to the second housing.

19. Apparatus according to any of Claims 15 to 18, wherein said sieving device includes a waste removal means for removing unwanted material from the apparatus.

20. Apparatus according to Claim 19, wherein said waste removal means is fixed relative to the second housing and comprises a ramp along which unwanted material may travel.

21. Apparatus according to Claim 19 or Claim 20, wherein a waste outlet co-operates with said waste removal means for delivery of waste material to a predetermined location.

22. Apparatus according to any of Claims 15 to 21, wherein said sieving device includes an outlet for sieved material.

23. Apparatus according to Claim 22, wherein said outlet is arranged to deliver sieved material to the inlet of the first housing.

24. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.