Loader for reciprocating hopper

Claim 2

In combination with a hopper oscillatable between a downward position for amassing articles in a portion thereof and an upward position for delivering articles therefrom, apparatus for maintaining the supply of articles in said hopper above a predetermined minimum which comprises, a container disposed at a location higher than said hopper and adapted to contain a quantity of said articles, means forming a chute mounted for conveying articles gravitationally from said container to said hopper, said chute being flexible to follow reciprocating movement of said hopper, sensing means effective to sense diminution of the supply of articles in said hopper to said minimum, motor means operable upon actuation to effect transfer of articles in said container to said chute, and means including said sensing means operable to actuate said motor means responsive to said sensing of said diminution, said container having an outlet and said hopper having an inlet, said chute comprising a band of flexible material extending from said outlet to said inlet, said band having a length at least as great as the distance between said outlet and inlet in downward position of said hopper, said outlet and inlet being closer together in upward position of said hopper than in downward position thereof so that in said upward position said band forms a basin for containing articles transferred thereto while said hopper is in said upward position.

Claim 3

The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said sensing means includes means exposed to the dynamic action of articles in said hopper upon oscillation thereof and being effective to sense diminution of said action attendant to diminution of said supply to said minimum.

Claim 4

The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said exposed means is positioned adjacent an enD portion of said hopper so that the mass of articles in said hopper impinges the same upon downward movement of said hopper.

Claim 5

The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said exposed means is mounted for movement relative to the interior of said hopper responsive to impingement thereon of said mass, and means yieldably resisting said movement with a force generally equivalent to the impingement force of said minimum supply against said exposed means.

Claim 6

The combination defined in claim 4 wherein said exposed means comprises a plate and said yieldable means comprises spring means operatively interposed between said plate and end portion of said hopper.

Claim 7

The combination defined in claim 5 and including in addition means effective to limit movement of said plate away from said end portion under the force of said spring means.

Claim 8

The combination defined in claim 5 wherein said plate and spring means are mounted within said hopper, and said spring means is disposed between said plate and end portion, and means forming a shield which excludes articles in said hopper from between said plate and end portion.

Claim 9

The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said plate is pivotally mounted on said means forming said shield.

Claim 10

The combination defined in claim 8 and including in addition means on said shield and plate cooperable to limit movement of said plate away from said end portion under the force of said spring means.

Claim 11

In combination with a hopper oscillatable between a downward position for amassing articles in a portion thereof and an upward position for delivering articles therefrom, apparatus for maintaining the supply of articles in said hopper above a predetermined minimum which comprises, a container disposed at a location higher than said hopper and adapted to contain a quantity of said articles, means forming a chute mounted for conveying articles gravitationally from said container to said hopper, said chute being flexible to follow reciprocating movement of said hopper, sensing means effective to sense diminution of the supply of articles in said hopper to said minimum, motor means operable upon actuation to effect transfer of articles in said container to said chute, and means including said sensing means operable to actuate said motor means responsive to said sensing of said diminution, said sensing means comprising a plate pivotally mounted on support means within said hopper and being positioned adjacent an end portion of said hopper so that the mass of articles in said hopper impinges said plate upon downward movement of said hopper, spring means disposed between said plate and end portion yieldably resisting impingement-induced movement of said plate with a force generally equivalent to the impingement force of said minimum supply against said plate, said support means forming a shield which excludes particles in said hopper from between said plate and end portion, means on said shield and plate cooperable to limit movement of said plate away from said end portion under the force of said spring means, and means forming a plunger mounted on said hopper for movement in response to movement of said plate, said plunger having a portion which extends to the exterior of said hopper and which forms an element of said means operable to actuate said motor.

Claim 12

In combination with a hopper oscillatable between a downward position for amassing articles in a portion thereof and an upward position for delivering articles therefrom, apparatus for maintaining the supply of articles in said hopper above a predetermined minimum which comprises, a container disposed at a location higher than said hopper and adapted to contain a quantity of said articles, means forming a chute mounted for conveying articles gravitationally from said container to said hopper, said chute being flexible to follow reciprocating movement of said hopper, sensing means effective to sense diminution of the supply of articles in said hopper to said minimum, motor means operable upon actuation to effect transfer of articles in said container to said chute, and means including said sensing means operable to actuate said motor means responsive to said sensing of said diminution, said sensing means comprising a plate pivotally mounted on support means within said hopper and being positioned adjacent an end portion of said hopper so that the mass of articles in said hopper impinges said plate upon downward movement of said hopper, spring means disposed between said plate and end portion yieldably resisting impingement-induced movement of said plate with a force generally equivalent to the impingement force of said minimum supply against said plate, said support means forming a shield which excludes particles in said hopper from between said plate and end portion, means on said shield and plate cooperable to limit movement of said plate away from said end portion under the force of said spring means, and means forming a plunger mounted on said hopper for movement in response to movement of said plate, said plunger having a portion which extends to the exterior of said hopper and which forms an element of said means operable to actuate said motor.

Claim 13

The combination defined in claim 10 wherein the exterior portion of said plunger is provided with means forming a trip member which, upon oscillation of said hopper adjacent its downward position, moves in one path when said plate is so moved by said mass and which moves in another path when said plate is not so moved, said means operable to actuate said motor means including another element positioned for operative engagement by said trip member in one of said paths only.

Claim 14

The combination defined in claim 11 wherein said motor means is electrically powered and said other element comprises an electrical switch in the circuit for the electric motor.

Claim 15

The combination defined in claim 12 wherein said motor means comprises a vibratory electrical motor mounted on said container.

Claim 16

The combination defined in claim 4 and including in addition trip means movable from a first position to a second position responsive to impingement-induced movement of said exposed means, said trip means upon oscillation of said hopper having first and second paths of movement in said first and second positions respectively, and motor-actuating means including an element mounted in one of said paths of movement for engagement by said trip means and being displaced from the other path of movement.

Claim 17

The combination defined in claim 14 wherein said element is mounted in said second path of movement.

Claim 18

The combination defined in claim 4 wherein said motor means is electrically powered, said motor-actuating means comprising electrical circuitry and switch means operated responsive to movement of said exposed means.

Claim 19

The combination defined in claim 16, wherein said motor means comprises a vibratory electrical motor mounted on said container.

Claim 20

In combination with a hopper oscillatable between a downward position for amassing articles in a portion thereof and an upward position for delivering articles therefrom, apparatus for maintaining the supply of articles in said hopper above a predetermined minimum which comprises, a container disposed at a location higher than said hopper and adapted to contain a quantity of said articles, means forming a chute mounted for conveying articles gravitationally from said container to said hopper, said chute being flexible to follow reciprocating movement of said hopper, sensing means effective to sense diminution of the supply of articles in said hopper to said minimum, motor means operable upon actuation to effect transfer of articles in said container to said chute, and means including said sensing means operable to actuate said motor means responsive to said sensing of said diminution, said sensing means including exposed means positioned adjacent an end portion of said hopper and mounted for movement relative to the interior of said hopper responsive to impingement thereon of the mass of articles in said hopper upon downward movement of said hopper, means yieldably resisting said movement with a force generally equivalent to the impingement force of said minimum supply against said exposed means, trip means movable from a first to a second position responsive to impingement-induced movement of said exposed means, said trip means upon oscillation of said hopper having first and second paths of movement in said first and second positions respectively, motor-actuating means including an element mounted in one of said paths of movement for engagement by said trip means and being displaced from the other path of movement, said trip means having means projecting laterally of its direction of movement, said laterally projecting means being so engageable with said element.

Claim 21

In combination with a hopper oscillatable between a downward position for amassing articles in a portion thereof and an upward position for delivering articles therefrom, apparatus for maintaining the supply of articles in said hopper above a predetermined minimum which comprises, a container disposed at a location higher than said hopper and adapted to contain a quantity of said articles, means forming a chute mounted for conveying articles gravitationally from said container to said hopper, said chute being flexible to follow reciprocating movement of said hopper, sensing means effective to sense diminution of the supply of articles in said hopper to said minimum, motor means operable upon actuation to effect transfer of articles in said container to said chute, and means including said sensing means operable to actuate said motor means responsive to said sensing of said diminution, said sensing means including exposed means positioned adjacent an end portion of said hopper and mounted for movement relative to the interior of said hopper responsive to impingement thereon of the mass of articles in said hopper upon downward movement of said hopper, means yieldably resisting said movement with a force generally equivalent to the impingement force of said minimum supply against said exposed means, trip means movable from a first to a second position responsive to impingement-induced movement of said exposed means, said trip means upon oscillation of said hopper having first and second paths of movement in said first and second positions respectively, motor-actuating means including an element mounted in one of said paths of movement for engagement by said trip means and being displaced from the other path of movement, said trip means having means projecting laterally of its direction of movement, said laterally projecting means being so engageable with said element.

Claim 22

The combination defined in claim 18 wherein said member is movable with said exposed means.

Claim 23

The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said band has a width greater than the width of said outlet.

Claim 24

The combination defined in claim 20 wherein the width of said band is about twice the width of said outlet.

Claim 25

The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said band has an upper end portion secured to a substantially stationary support adjacent said outlet and a lower end portion secured to said hopper adjacent said inlet.

Claim 26

The combination defined in claim 22 wherein said lower end portion is secured to one member of a hinge, the other member of which is secured to said hopper.

Claim 27

The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said band has an upper end portion secured to a substantially stationary support adjacent said outlet and a lower end portion secured to said hopper adjacent said inlet, said baNd having free edge portions spaced laterally outwardly of said outlet and throughout its length between said outlet and inlet having a width between said edge portions which is greater than that of said outlet, whereby to contain articles on said band from falling off of said free edge portions.

Claim 28

The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said hopper is provided with internal track means which oscillate therewith and substantially stationary external track means to which similarly oriented articles are directed by said internal track means in upward position of said hopper, a deflector being mounted on said hopper adjacent said inlet, said deflector being positioned and contoured to contain articles which overshoot said inlet and to channel said articles into said inlet and away from the location where said internal and external track means adjoin.