Lip vibrator unloader

Claim 1

A bin unloading apparatus comprising: a storage bin for solid material, with an opening in the bin permitting the stored material to flow out from under the material in the bin to a limited extent, so that a stationary sloping pile of material forms outside the opening when support for the pile exists, without any of the weight of the material in the bin upon the pile; a structurally supported shelf located outside the storage bin, in close proximity to the opening in the bin, so that a pile of material flowing from the bin rests upon and is supported by the shelf without any of the weight of the material within the bin supported by the shelf; and vibrating means mechanically isolated from the storage bin and its contents but mechanically coupled to and vibrating a pile of material resting upon the shelf; wherein the shelf is constructed as an extension of the bin bottom and the vibrating means comprises at least one rod, attached to and activated by a vibration generator, with one end of each rod located in close proximity to the top of the shelf edge, so that one end of each rod is buried in any material resting on the shelf.