GB2613441A

GB2613441A - Material handling improvements

Info

Publication number: GB2613441A
Application number: GB2214495.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Larrington Richard
Original assignee: Larrington Trailers Ltd
Current assignee: Larrington Trailers Ltd
Priority date: 2021-10-04
Filing date: 2022-10-03
Publication date: 2023-06-07
Anticipated expiration: 2042-10-03
Also published as: GB2613441B; GB202114196D0; GB202214495D0

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for controlling the flow of material such as harvested fruit, vegetables or grains is provided to cushion material during processing / harvesting and reduce damage and associated bruising and rot. The apparatus 2 may be associated with a trailer, having a chassis 4 and top framer assembly 5 mounted on wheels 8. A plurality of units of material is conveyed to a material-receiving section 6, via protective frame 7.At least one opening (19, Fig 2b) in material-receiving section 6 is arranged to deliver material units from receiving section to a storage container 10 downstream thereof. At least one obturating and flexing panel / plate 22 closes respective openings, pivoting the or each panel22 about an axis to move between opening-obturating position in which material units remain in the material-receiving section to a second open position and thereby transfer the material units to the storage container. Panels 22 are pivotally connected to elongate rods 23 and may have a free outer edge (25, Fig 7a).

Description

MATERIAL HANDLING IMPROVEMENTS

This invention relates to the handling of materials in divided and/or particulate form.

It is known to make use of material guide chutes for the purposes of handling materials 5 such as root crops and/or tree grown fruit crops which are prone to being damaged during the course of handling.

In particular, the present invention is concerned with the control of the flow/discharge of such materials from the delivery end of a material conveying device or delivery means such as an elevator from a source thereof to the inlet side of a chute arrangement which is of such construction that the material flow through the chute is controlled in such manner as to facilitate the rate/volume of material released from the chute.

In the harvesting of root crops such as potatoes, carrots or other such crops and/or during the handling of fruit such as apples, pears, etc., it is convenient to note that whilst such crops are to all intents and purposes firm and solid physically to handle as compared with crops such as plums, etc.. this can readily obscure the fact that the handling of firm and solid crops, in practice, invariably also carries the risk of bruising and other damage arising from items of a crop during handling and excessively knocking one against the other or hitting a hard surface such as the bottom or side walls of a container into which the crops are being introduced for whatever reason, such as harvesting and packing.

Brassica crops are far more susceptible to damage of outer leaves by rolling around and excessively knocking one against the other or other surfaces. Once outer leaves are bruised and damaged, the items may be rejected or worse start to rot which continues during storage and can therefore destroy large numbers of crop items. Cabbages, for instance, are prone to this kind of damage. Cabbage is a crop which is wrapped in very thin single outer leaves and are a relatively large heavy object, but if they roll into each other or other things their thin outer leaves damage and can go dark in colour, which areas can then begin to rot.

With present day methods of commercial harvesting of a brassica crop such as cabbages, the crop is, generally speaking, manually cut by hand from its stalk and packed into boxes in the field. This takes about a dozen workers to be present and it is becoming increasingly difficult to find and hire such workers. Some harvesting machines can automatically cut the cabbages from the ground which are then transferred by an elevator/conveyer system to another vehicle carrying a plurality of containers. This method requires the presence of at least 2 drivers and two other workers checking the crop coming off the elevator/conveyor system. The commercial requirement is for large quantities of good quality crop to be rapidly harvested, and at the time of harvesting having the capability of feeding the harvested crop into a bulk container for onward transmission from the location of harvesting.

GB2422822 discloses apparatus whereby crops or other materials which are easily damaged are delivered from a conveyor, such as an elevator, by way of a crop delivery assembly comprising a frame forming a temporary crop storage region, having walls covered with cushioning material, and a chute of plastics material. The chute is opened and closed by a pair of elongate gripper rolls urged to a closed position by springs and pivoted by a sufficient weight of crop above to open to provide a restricted passage for the crop to flow down the chute.

A problem with this kind of arrangement however is that, whilst it is suitable for crop items which are firmer and more solid physically, problems of quite significant damage with crops like brassicas still occur owing to the physical nature of the crop. This is because once the crop items have passed the top cushioning material and the chute is open, subsequent crop items falling from the elevator/conveyer system can now fall a relatively large distance from the end of the elevator/conveyer system all the way down to the previous crop items and so, in this way, heavily bash themselves against each other, instantly causing damage to the crop items.

It is an object of the invention to facilitate the avoidance of damage to crop items which are particularly susceptible to such damage.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide means for facilitating improved avoidance of damage to a flow of produce, crops or the like through a delivery chute between the location of the delivery of the material to the chute and the material discharge outlet of the chute.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of controlling the flow of material comprising delivering a plurality of units of the material to a material-receiving section, one or more openings in the material-receiving section arranged to deliver material units from the material-receiving section to a storage container downstream of said material-receiving section, one or more obturating panels closing respective openings, pivoting the or each obturating panel about an axis to move the or each obturating panel from a first opening-obturating position in which material units remain in the material-receiving section to a second open position and thereby transfer the material units to the storage container.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for controlling the flow of material comprising a material-receiving section, the material-receiving section including one or more openings closable by one or more respective obturating panels, the obturating panels being pivotable about an axis from a first opening-obturating position to a second open position for transferring material units to a storage container located downstream of the or each obturating panel.

Owing to these aspects, it is possible to attain a desired condition/quality of the material passing through the one or more openings in the material-receiving section.

Preferably, the material is an agricultural crop, and, in particular, a brassica crop such as cabbage, individual items of the crop forming individual material units.

Preferably, the material-receiving section includes a cushioning network to cushion vertical displacement of the material as it leaves contact with an elevator/conveyor system delivering the material to the material-receiving section for onward travel to a material storage container.

Advantageously, the or each obturating panel is of a plate-form having at least a smooth upper surface.

In order that the present invention can be clearly and completely disclosed, reference will now be made, by way of the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle trailer with a material handling apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 2a is a perspective view of a top frame assembly of a material handling apparatus similar to that shown in Figure 1 with a plurality of obturating panels in a first position closing respective openings in the top frame assembly; Figure 2b is a view similar to Figure 2a but with the obturating panels moved inwardly to partially open the openings; Figure 2c is a view similar to Figures 2a and 2b but with the obturating panels reaching a second position with the openings fully open; Figures 3a to 3c are diagrammatic side views of the top frame assembly corresponding with those of Figures 2a to 2c respectively and showing storage containers located beneath the openings; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the obturating panels connected to a pair of pivotable elongate rods mountable to the top frame assembly; Figures is a perspective view of linkages connected to respective ends of the elongate rods; Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of a linkage arrangement including the linkages of Figure 5; Figures 7a and 7b show perspective views similar to Figure 4 of the obturating panels connected to one of the pivotable elongate rods, but of respective modified versions; and Figures 8a to 8c are diagrammatic views of delivery chutes at different stages of opening of the obturating panels.

Referring to Figure 1, the apparatus shown is intended, amongst other possibilities, to be usable in conjunction with a flat-top trailer 2 or the like as is commonly used for agricultural/horticultural purposes. The trailer 2 comprises a chassis 4 supporting a top frame assembly 5 which includes a material-receiving section 6. The chassis 4 is mounted on wheels 8. The chassis 4 is also provided with an appropriate towing bar or like facilities for attachment to a towing vehicle (not shown), as is known. Conventionally, such trailers 2 are constructed according to generally standard dimensions related to the primary intended usage function of the trailer 2 and to the carrying capacity normally intended for such general use. In relation to trailers particularly suitable for transportation of harvested crops, the material-receiving section 6 can be in the form of a substantially flat top region with side rails and/or side panel facilities forming a protective fencing/frame 7. The top frame assembly 5 is dimensioned to be able to mount a plurality of standard sized individual storage containers 10 which are in the form of large wooden boxes within a space beneath the material-receiving section 6. In practice, depending upon trailer size, two, four, six, eight, ten or more separate storage containers 10 of a size or sizes as commonly utilised in the handing of crops of the kind above mentioned may be provided.

In use, the storage containers 10 are required to be merely placed upon the trailer 2 for the purposes of filling and then to be subsequently transported to a location at which the containers are removed from the trailer 2 for subsequent handling and to be replaced by a further batch of empty storage containers 10 for subsequent filling.

Whilst the top frame assembly 5 illustrated is intended to be mountable to the trailer 2 in the manner of an attachment to the trailer, the apparatus can also be used in conjunction with two or more trailers and, for example, transferred from one trailer to another whilst the trailers are 'in the field' thereby allowing a continuous movement of trailers with filled containers from the field, whilst crop harvesting continues.

Referring to Figures 2a to 2c and Figures 3a to 3c, the material-receiving section 6 includes a crop-cushioning network 12 at an upper section of the top frame assembly 5 and a support frame section 13 at a lower section of the top frame assembly 5 in such manner that the top frame assembly 5 can be vertically displaceable between a lowered position and a fully raised position. For this purpose, the support frame section 13 has associated therewith a number of vertical members 13' located one at each corner region of the top frame assembly. These members 13' serve to mount means for enabling the lifting and lowering of the material-receiving section 6 and the associated cushioning network 12. The lifting and lowering arrangements can be mechanical or hydraulic. In the latter case. the hydraulic power take-off of the towing vehicle may be utilised.

The cushioning network 12 incorporates longitudinally directed side rails 14 and a central longitudinal rail 16, together with end and/or intermediate transverse rails 18. These rails 14, 16 and 18 effectively define one or more openings 19 (a plurality of such openings being illustrated) in the material-receiving section 6 (one for each container 10, although more than one opening 19 per storage container 10 can be provided if desired). The rails 14, 16 and 18 are covered with suitable cushioning material whose purpose is to reduce as much as possible the risk of damage to any material unit, i.e. individual units of a brassica crop, from being damaged by falling from the elevator/conveyor system and striking the component parts of the material-receiving section 6. The cushioning material could be any suitable shock-absorbing material such as a foam material and, advantageously, covered with a suitable soft, flexible cover material, such as a plastics material.

The upper part of the top frame assembly 5 may be surrounded by the protective fencing/frame 7 with each opening 19 being defined by the rails 14, 16 and 18.

Connected to the edge regions of each opening 19 is a flexible tubular material delivery chute 20 (see Figures 7a to 7c) made from, for example, a plastics material such as polyvinylchloride or the like. The mouth or inlet to each chute 20 connects with associated rails 14, 16 and 18 to retain the chutes 20 in place by any convenient known connection devices.

Each opening 19, prior to use, is closed by an obturating panel 22 in the form of a plate device which is connected at one end to an elongate rod 23 pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis A (see Figure 4). In this first opening-obturating position, where each opening 19 is closed by the plate device 22, material units entering the material-receiving section 6 from the elevator/conveyor system from another vehicle are obstructed from passing through the openings 19 and thus accumulate in the material receiving section 6 and kept within the material-receiving section 6 by the protective fencing/frame 7. Each plate device 22 preferably has a planar upper surface which, advantageously, forms part of the cushioning network 12 with the suitable cushioning material attached thereto.

Referring to Figure 4, advantageously, there are first and second elongate rods 23 arranged substantially parallely to each other, with attached plate devices 22 arranged in opposable pairs extending outwardly therefrom and turnable in opposite directions about respective axes A. The first and second rods 23 are preferably located centrally of the top frame assembly 5 and a short distance beneath the central longitudinal rail 16 but could also be arranged to be located at respective lateral regions beneath the longitudinally directed side rails 14. It is preferred, however, to have the rods 23 located beneath the central longitudinal rail 16 owing to the more convenient connection to the hydraulic power take-off of the towing vehicle, discussed in more detail hereinbelow.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, at each end of the first and second rods 23 there are respective linkages 26 which are connected at their opposite ends to respective further linkages 28. Respective opposite ends 30 of the further linkages 28 are arranged to overlap so that respective through holes 32 in those respective opposite ends 30 align over a linear slot 34 on one side of a bracket 36 mounted to the top frame assembly 5, the arrangement being such that a pin (not shown) passes through the overlapping through holes 32 and through the slot 34 to connect directly or indirectly to a hydraulic ram (not shown). As the hydraulic ram causes linear motion it moves the pin-in-slot arrangement in a substantially vertical plane to produce, by way of the respective linkages 26 and further linkages 28 rotational movement of the first and second rods 23 about their respective axes A. In this way, the plate devices 22 are connected to the rods 23 in such a manner that all the plate devices 22 of each rod all move together. It is conceivable that the respective rods 23 could be moved independently of each other if they were operated by separate hydraulic rams and also that individual plate devices could be independently operated. However, to obtain a substantially even distribution of material units in the storage containers 10, the centrally located rods 23 which move all the plate devices 22 together is the most preferred arrangement.

Preferably, each plate device 22 is pivotally moveable by way of hydraulic connection 30 to the hydraulic power take-off of the towing vehicle, although any other powered operation of the or each plate device would be suitable.

At an appropriate loading of material units into the material-receiving section 6, the plate devices 22 can be operated to move inwardly of the top frame assembly 5 from their first opening-obturating position (as shown, for example, in Figures 2a and 3a) at a relatively slow speed to a second open position to inside of the storage container 10. During movement of the plate devices 22 the smooth cushioned upper surface of the or each plate device 22 acts as a slide for the material units above it so that as an outer edge 38 of the plate device 22 moves through an arc about the axes A to inside of the container 10, the outer edge 38 of the or each plate device 22 remains in close proximity to a side wall 10a (see Figure 8b) of the storage container 10 so that material units sliding along the upper smooth surface of the plate device 22 do not drop onto the base of the storage container 10, until the gap between the outer edge 38 of the plate device 22 is a sufficient distance from the side wall 10a in its movement to the second position. At this point, a safe distance from the base of the storage container 10 is reached for the material units to drop to the base of the storage container 10 and not be damaged. The length of each plate device 22 varies in relation to the crop that must pass through the chute 20. For example. if the maximum diameter of the crop is 200mm, the length of each plate device 22 would be arranged to be so that the outer edge 38 is more than 200mm above the internal base surface of the storage container 10 when in the fully open position inside the storage container 10, so that individual crop items do not become trapped and squashed between the outer edge 38 and the inside surface of the storage container.

Referring to Figures 7a and 7b the length of each plate device 22 is adjusted according to the size of the crop being delivered to the storage container(s) 10 as mentioned above. Each plate device 22 in Figures 7a and 7b show the suitable cushioning material attached thereto, as described above. In this way the integrity of each plate device 22 and the respective elongate rod 23 is maintained by making them of a length so that the outer edge 38 is, when in the second open position inside the storage box 10, at a distance away from the base of the storage box 10 that is greater than the crop size. This ensures a crop unit cannot get trapped between the base of the storage box 10 and outer edge 38 which might otherwise cause damage to the crop, the plate device 22 and the elongate rod 23. Advantageously, a flexible extension piece 22', 22" is attached to the outer edge 38. In this way, when the plate device 22 is in its first opening-obturating position, the extension piece 22', 22" ensures that substantially all of the respective opening 19 is closed so that crop material units cannot fall into the storage box 10 below when being loaded into the material-receiving section 6. The extension piece 22', 22" can be of any suitable form and in Figure 7a is shown as a planar piece of flexible material 22', such as a rubber material, that is attached to the outer edge 38 and in Figure 7b, the extension piece 22" is formed from a panel hingedly attached to the outer edge 38. The panel is attached to the outer edge 38 by one or more hinge devices longitudinally of a mid-region of its upper surface with a rear portion extending a distance beneath the plate device 22 and a forward portion projecting forwardly beyond the outer edge 38. The forward portion is covered with a flexible material, such as a rubber material, which is preferably looped underneath the forward portion and returned to be attached to an underside of the panel substantially directly beneath the or each hinge device so as to form a short sleeve-like section.

The extension piece 22', 22" is arranged such that a free outer edge 25 presses against the side wall 10a wherein; where the extension piece is the planar piece of flexible material 22' (as shown in Figure 7a) the free outer edge 25 of the piece 22' abuts against the side wall 10a which causes the piece 22' to flex, and where the extension piece 22" is the hinged plate (as shown in Figure 7b) the outermost edge of the rubber material forming the sleeve-like section presses against the side wall 10a. The material of the extension piece 22' 22" abutted against the side wall 10a is resilient enough to prevent crop material units falling into the container 10 (which degree of free-fall would damage the crop material units) when the plate devices 22 are in the first opening-obturating position. As the plate device 22 moves through its arc to its second open position, the free outer edge 25 of the extension piece 22' 22" remains in close proximity to the side wall 10a so that material units sliding along the upper smooth surface of the plate device 22 do not drop onto the base of the storage container 10, until the gap between the free outer edge 25 is a sufficient distance from the side wall 10a in its movement to the second position. At this point, a safe distance from the base of the storage container 10 is reached for the material units to drop to the base of the storage container 10 and not be damaged. If, for example, any crop material units do fall into the storage container before the plate device is lowered to its second position, there is flexibility in the extension pieces 22', 22" so as to not damage the crop and also protect the plate devices 22 and the elongate rod 23. Damage caused to either the plate devices 22 and/or the elongate rods 23 would result in major cost and time for repair and/or replacement.

With each plate device 22 in its opening-obturating position and thereby obstructing material units in the material-receiving section 6 from passing through the openings 19, it is important during loading of the material units into the material-receiving section 6 that the end of the elevator/conveyor system is arranged to be relatively close to the cushioning network 12 so that there will be very little rolling around of material units and no large dropping distances of the material units, which are held in the material-receiving section 6 until it is required to lower the material units into the storage containers 10.

Referring to Figures 8a to 8c, the flexible tubular material delivery chutes 20 attached around the edge region of each opening 19, when each plate device 22 is in the opening-obturating position, will be in a collapsed condition (see Figure 8a), and as each plate device begins to be lowered, the delivery chutes 20 begin to open into the storage container 10 (see Figure 8b) until fully open when each plate device 22 is in its fully open position (see Figure Sc) transferring the material units to the storage container 10. Use of the delivery chutes 20 are preferred in order to contain the material units within a defined area so as to avoid any undesired rolling and bashing together of the material units causing unwanted damage. The length of the chutes 20 is such that a discharge end 24 of the chute 20 can reach down to close to a base panel of the respective storage container 10. Advantageously, the discharge end 24 is attached to the outer edge 38 of the plate device 22. In this way, as the plate device 22 rotates about the axis A, the flexible chute 20 automatically opens allowing the material units to pass therethrough into the storage container 10.

In operation, when material units are introduced by, for example, an elevator/conveyor system to the material-receiving section 6, the material units fall a short distance onto the cushioned network 12, and thereby over the mouth regions of the or each opening 19 closed off by the plate devices 22. As material units are continued to be loaded into the material-receiving section 6, they accumulate over the cushioning network 12.

Once a sufficiently even loading over the cushioning network and within the material-receiving section 6 has been reached, as determined by those operating the trailer 2 in the field, the hydraulic rams can be operated to commence rotation of the elongate rods 23 about their respective axes A. In practice, as the rods 23 start to rotate, the plate devices 22 begin the movement from the opening-obturating position to the fully open position with the top (preferably cushioned) surface of each plate device forming a slide to the material units above it as they subsequently pass through the chutes 20 toward and onto the base panel of the storage container 10 which completes the travelling distance of the material units.

The Figures show a single plate device 22 for each opening 19. However, more than one plate device 22 per opening would be a possibility.

As material units are loaded into the material-receiving section 6, each plate device 22 is slowly lowered down allowing the material units to go into the storage container so that the load in the storage container can be made to the correct level. Currently, users of known box loaders have found that storage containers on the trailer are easy to over-fill and crop units then spill over the edge of the containers and onto the floor.

This controlled, downward travel of the material units significantly reduces single fall distances and therefore protects vulnerable crops, especially useful in relation to the harvesting of brassica crops.

Once flow of the material units has started, the ongoing, steady and gentle transfer of material units the chutes 20 tends to maintain a steady material unit flow through the chute. As more material units enter the storage container 10, a mound of material units builds-up towards the discharge end 24 of the chute 20. As the storage container 10 begins to fill and the mound of material units therein becomes higher, the material-receiving section 6 is lifted upwardly by way of the substantially vertical members gradually so as also to minimise any single fall distance any one unit of material has to make. Once the material-receiving section 6 have been lifted clear above the top edge of the storage containers 10, the containers 10 are ready to be safely removed and new containers 10 loaded onto the trailer 2 either in the field or at another location.

The flexibility of the chute 20 is very important in avoiding damaging of the material units which are flowing therethrough as the chute 20 is able to flex around the material and thereby not exert any damaging impact force to the material.

The apparatus as so far discussed has involved the provision of a trailer. As an alternative proposal, a single unit mounted to the delivery end of an elevator/conveyer system would be possible.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of controlling the flow of material comprising delivering a plurality of units of the material to a material-receiving section, one or more openings in the material-receiving section arranged to deliver material units from the material-receiving section to a storage container downstream of said material-receiving section, one or more obturating panels closing respective openings, pivoting the or each obturating panel about an axis to move the or each obturating panel from a first opening-obturating position in which material units remain in the material-receiving section to a second open position and thereby transfer the material units to the storage container.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said delivering a plurality of units of the material is delivering a plurality of an agricultural crop material and wherein individual items of the crop form individual material units.
3. A method according to any preceding claim, and further comprising providing a cushioning network on said material-receiving section so as to cushion vertical displacement of the material as it leaves contact with an elevator/conveyor system delivering the material to the material-receiving section for onward travel to the storage container.
4. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each obturating panel is of a plate-form and further comprising providing at least a smooth upper surface to the or each obturating panel.
5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each opening, prior to use, is closed by the respective one or more obturating panels connected at one end to an elongate rod pivotable about the axis, which is a substantially horizontal axis, and in the first opening-obturating position, and wherein material units entering the material-receiving section are obstructed from passing through the or each opening and thus accumulate in the material-receiving section.
6. A method according to claim 5, and further comprising providing first and second elongate rods arranged substantially parallely to each other, with connected one or more obturating panels arranged in opposable pairs extending outwardly therefrom and turnable in opposite directions about respective substantially horizontal axes.
7. A method according to claim 6, and further comprising locating the first and second elongate rods centrally of a top frame assembly.
8. A method according to claim 7, wherein at each end of the first and second rods there are respective linkages which are connected at their opposite ends to one end of respective further linkages, respective opposite ends of the further linkages being arranged to overlap so that respective through holes in the respective opposite ends of the respective further linkages align over a linear slot in a bracket mounted to the top frame assembly, the arrangement being such that a pin passes through the overlapping through holes and through the slot to connect to means for producing linear motion arranged to move the pin-in-slot arrangement in a substantially vertical plane to produce, by way of the respective linkages and further linkages, rotational movement of the first and second rods about their respective substantially horizontal axes such that the or each obturating panel of the or each rod all move together.
9. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein when an appropriate loading of material units into the material-receiving section is achieved, operating the or each obturating panel to move from the first opening-obturating position to the second open position to inside of the storage container.
10.A method according to any one of claims 5 to 9 as appended to claim 4, wherein the material units slide along the smooth upper surface of the or each obturating panel and wherein an outer edge of the or each obturating panel moves through an arc about the substantially horizontal axis to inside of the storage container, the outer edge remaining in close proximity to a side wall of the storage container so that material units sliding along the smooth upper surface do not drop by free-fall onto the base of the storage container until the gap between the outer edge is a sufficient distance from the side wall.
11.A method according to claim 10, and further comprising attaching a flexible extension piece to the outer edge.
12.A method according to claim 10 or 11, and further comprising a flexible tubular material delivery chute connected to edge regions of the or each opening, the discharge end of the chute being attached to the outer edge such that as the or each obturating panel rotates about the substantially horizontal axis, the flexible chute automatically opens allowing the material units to pass therethrough into the storage container.
13.Apparatus for controlling the flow of material comprising a material-receiving section, the material-receiving section including one or more openings closable by one or more respective obturating panels, the obturating panels being pivotable about an axis from a first opening-obturating position to a second open position for transferring material units to a storage container located downstream of the or each obturating panel.
14.Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said material-receiving section includes a cushioning network to cushion vertical displacement of the material as it leaves contact with an elevator/conveyor system delivering the material to the material-receiving section for onward travel to the storage container.
15.Apparatus according to claim 13 or 14, and further comprising a top frame assembly including said material-receiving section at an upper region thereof and a support frame section at a lower region thereof, the arrangement being such that the top frame assembly can be vertically displaceable between a lowered position and a raised position.
16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the support frame section includes a plurality of vertical members which serve to mount means for enabling the lifting and lowering of the material-receiving section.
17.Apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the or each obturating panel is of a plate-form having at least a smooth upper surface and forms part of the cushioning network.
18.Apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 17, and further comprising a flexible extension piece attached to an outer edge of the or each obturating panel.
19. Apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 18, and further comprising a flexible tubular material delivery chute connected to edge regions of the or each opening.
20. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein a length of the flexible tubular material delivery chute is such that a discharge end of the chute can reach down to close to a base panel of a respective storage container.
21. Apparatus according to claims 19 or 20, wherein a discharge end of the flexible tubular material delivery chute is attached to an outer edge of the or each obturating panel.
22.Apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 21, wherein the or each obturating panel is connected at one end to an elongate rod pivotable about the axis, which is a substantially horizontal axis.
23.Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein first and second elongate rods are arranged substantially parallely to each other, with respective one or more obturating panels connected thereto and arranged in opposable pairs extending outwardly therefrom and turnable in opposite directions about their respective substantially horizontal axes.
24. Apparatus according to claim 23 as appended to claim 15, wherein the first and second rods are preferably located centrally of the top frame assembly.
25. Apparatus according to claims 23 or 24 as appended to claim 15, and further comprising, at each end of the first and second rods, respective linkages which are connected at their opposite ends to one end of respective further linkages, respective opposite ends of the further linkages being arranged to overlap so that respective through holes in the respective opposite ends of the respective further linkages align over a linear slot in a bracket mounted to the top frame assembly, the arrangement being such that a pin passes through the overlapping through holes and through the slot to connect to means for producing linear motion arranged to move the pin-in-slot arrangement in a substantially vertical plane to produce, by way of the respective linkages and further linkages, rotational movement of the first and second rods about their respective substantially horizontal axes.