US3782033A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pot filling and compacting apparatus and method
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-09-30
•
Granted: 1974-01-01
•
Expires: 1991-09-30
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for filling pots with soil and compacting the soil in the pots. Spilled soil is collected and returned to a hopper for re-use and a punch is provided for driving a hole in the soil in the pot.
Inventors
- 👤 N Hickerson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:57
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G9/00; A01G9/08; A01G9/081; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S47/00; Y10S47/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
A machine for filling containers with soil and compacting the soil placed in the containers, comprising in combination: a. a frame; b. a first endless belt conveyor connected to said frame movable in the first direction for conveying containers thereon; c. a second endless belt conveyor connected to said frame and located above said first endless belt conveyor and movable in a direction opposite to said first endless belt conveyor at substantially the same speed as said first endless belt conveyor for conveying soil for filling said containers on said first endless belt conveyor as they pass thereunder, said second endless belt compacting the soil in said containers as said containers pass thereunder; d. a hopper attached to said frame and located over said second endless belt for feeding soil therein onto said second endless belt; e. guide means attached to said frame and located above said conveyor for guiding containers thereon; f. a scraping bar connected to said frame and located adjacent said second endless belt for leveling soil in said containers to a predetermined level above said containers; and g. adjustment means for adjusting the distance between said first and second endless belt conveyors for separating said belts by a predetermined distance in accordance with the height of containers to be fed by said first endless belt conveyor whereby soil fed into containers by said second endless belt conveyor may be compacted when said containers pass between said first and second endless belt conveyors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
246 words
A machine for filling containers with soil and compacting the soil placed in the containers, comprising in combination: a. a frame; b. a first endless belt conveyor connected to said frame movable in the first direction for conveying containers thereon; c. a second endless belt conveyor connected to said frame and located above said first endless belt conveyor and movable in a direction opposite to said first endless belt conveyor at substantially the same speed as said first endless belt conveyor for conveying soil for filling said containers on said first endless belt conveyor as they pass thereunder, said second endless belt compacting the soil in said containers as said containers pass thereunder; d. a hopper attached to said frame and located over said second endless belt for feeding soil therein onto said second endless belt; e. guide means attached to said frame and located above said conveyor for guiding containers thereon; f. a scraping bar connected to said frame and located adjacent said second endless belt for leveling soil in said containers to a predetermined level above said containers; and g. adjustment means for adjusting the distance between said first and second endless belt conveyors for separating said belts by a predetermined distance in accordance with the height of containers to be fed by said first endless belt conveyor whereby soil fed into containers by said second endless belt conveyor may be compacted when said containers pass between said first and second endless belt conveyors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said guide means are adjustable bar guides connected to said frame for directing said containers to pass between said first and second endless belt conveyors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said hopper includes control means for controlling the level of soil therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which a third conveyor conveys soil into said hopper means and said control turns said third conveyor means on and off to maintain predetermined levels of soil in the hopper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said containers pass over a bridge connected to said frame when said containers pass from said first endless belt conveyor so that excess soil that has spilled on said first endless belt conveyor is allowed to fall to either side of said bridge into a collection container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which said collection container directs said spilled soil from said first endless belt conveyor into a fourth conveyor operatively connected to said hopper for conveying said spilled soil back into said hopper.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 6 in which said bridge means allows said containers to be received by a fifth conveyor, said fifth conveyor travelling at a higher speed than said first endless belt conveyor in order to separate said containers passing onto said fifth conveyor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including means for driving holes in said soil located in said containers, said means being attached to same frame.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said second endless belt conveyor and said hopper are movable together to adjust the distance between said first and second endless belt conveyor.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
153 words
A method of filling and compacting soil in containers comprising the steps of: a. feeding containers on a first endless conveyor belt moving in a first direction; b. feeding soil from a second endless conveyor belt, located over said first endless conveyor belt and moving in a second direction substantially opposite to said direction of said first endless conveyor belt, into said containers on said first endless conveyor belt as said containers move under said second endless belt conveyor; c. compacting said soil in said containers with said first endless conveyor belt pressing on said soil as said containers pass thereunder, whereby containers are filled with soil and compacted therein; d. leveling the soil in said containers to a predetermined level above said containers prior to compacting said soil; and e. adjusting the distance between said first and second endless conveyor belts prior to feediNg said containers on said first endless conveyor belt.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
153 words
A method of filling and compacting soil in containers comprising the steps of: a. feeding containers on a first endless conveyor belt moving in a first direction; b. feeding soil from a second endless conveyor belt, located over said first endless conveyor belt and moving in a second direction substantially opposite to said direction of said first endless conveyor belt, into said containers on said first endless conveyor belt as said containers move under said second endless belt conveyor; c. compacting said soil in said containers with said first endless conveyor belt pressing on said soil as said containers pass thereunder, whereby containers are filled with soil and compacted therein; d. leveling the soil in said containers to a predetermined level above said containers prior to compacting said soil; and e. adjusting the distance between said first and second endless conveyor belts prior to feediNg said containers on said first endless conveyor belt.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-31 | 1977-07-02 | 1978-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-31 | 1981-07-02 | 1982-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-31 | 1985-07-02 | 1986-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |