Automatically determining the test weight per bushel of grain

Claim 2

Apparatus for automatically providing test weight per bushel of grain, comprising: (a) a supporting structure and housing, (b) a test kettle having a smooth open top and being selected to receive a predetermined quantity of grain, (c) means including weighing means supporting the test kettle in the supporting structure and housing, (d) a filling hopper fixedly attached to the supporting structure and housing and having a bottom discharge opening spaced above the test kettle, the hopper having a capacity greater than the predetermined quantity of grain, (e) movable means for selectively closing and opening the bottom opening of the filling hopper, (f) a stroker movably mounted for vertical movement with its lower stroking edge slightly below the top of the test kettle, (g) means for moving the stroker horizontally across the top of the test kettle, and (h) a conduit for diverting a portion of the grain in the filling hopper, means closing and selectively opening an outlet end of the conduit, column means positioned within the housing and having an upper hopper below the outlet end of the conduit for receiving the diverted grain portion, and a near infrared instrument capable of measuring moisture, protein or other property of grain.

Claim 3

Apparatus for automatically providing test weight per bushel of grain, comprising: (a) a supporting structure and housing, (b) a test kettle having a smooth open top and being selected to receive a predetermined quantity of grain, (c) means including weighing means supporting the test kettle in the supporting structure and housing, (d) a filling hopper fixedly attached to the supporting structure and housing and having a bottom discharge opening spaced above the test kettle, the hopper having a capacity greater than the predetermined quantity of grain, (e) movable means for selectively closing and opening the bottom opening of the filling hopper, (f) a stroker movably mounted for vertical movement with its lower stroking edge slightly below the top of the test kettle, the stroker being lightly biased downwardly and the test kettle having a pair of side ramps, one on each side, to guide the stroker onto the top of the test kettle, and (g) means for moving the stroker horizontally across the top of the test kettle.

Claim 4

Apparatus for automatically providing test weight per bushel of grain, comprising: (a) a supporting structure and housing, (b) a test kettle having a smooth open top and being selected to receive a predetermined quantity of grain, (c) means including weighing means supporting the test kettle in the supporting structure and housing, (d) a filling hopper fixedly attached to the supporting structure and housing and having a bottom discharge opening spaced above the test kettle, the hopper having a capacity greater than the predetermined quantity of grain, (e) movable means for selectively closing and opening the bottom opening of the filling hopper, (f) a stroker movably mounted for vertical movement with its lower stroking edge slightly below the top of the test kettle, the stroker being lightly biased downwardly and the test kettle having a pair of side ramps, one on each side, to guide the stroker onto the top of the test kettle, and (g) means for moving the stroker horizontally across the top of the test kettle.

Claim 5

Apparatus for automating the manual test weight per bushel of grain, measurement method of U.S.D.A. Circular 921 wherein a hopper with a stoppered bottom is filled with more than a quart of grain, the stopper is removed and the grain fills a test kettle, the kettle top is stroked with a stroker to remove excess grain and the grain and test kettle are weighed, and the weighed grain is dumped from the test kettle, the apparatus comprising: (a) slide means mounting the stopper and the stroker on a reciprocating horizontal member so that the stopper unstops the hopper to overfill the test kettle and with further movement of the slide means the stroker strokes and smothers the top of the test kettle, moving in one direction and then in the opposite direction until the stopper assumes its original stopping location, (b) means mounting the test kettle on a pivotal axis for dumping, (c) drive means for dumping the test kettle, (d) load cell means for weighing the test kettle, test kettle mounting means and drive means for dumping the test kettle

Claim 6

Apparatus for automating the manual test weight per bushel of grain, measurement method of U.S.D.A. Circular 921 wherein a hopper with a stoppered bottom is filled with more than a quart of grain, the stopper is removed and the grain fills a test kettle, the kettle top is stroked with a stroker to remove excess grain and the grain and test kettle are weighed, and the weighed grain is dumped from the test kettle, the apparatus comprising: (a) slide means mounting the stopper and the stroker on a reciprocating horizontal member so that the stopper unstops the hopper to overfill the test kettle and with further movement of the slide means the stroker strokes and smothers the top of the test kettle, moving in one direction and then in the opposite direction until the stopper assumes its original stopping location, (b) means mounting the test kettle on a pivotal axis for dumping, (c) drive means for dumping the test kettle, (d) load cell means for weighing the test kettle, test kettle mounting means and drive means for dumping the test kettle

Claim 7

Apparatus as in claim 3 further comprising control means for automatically operating in sequence the operations of unstopping the hopper and stroking the test kettle, reading the load cell, and dumping the test kettle.

Claim 8

Apparatus as in claim 3 further comprising a near infrared testing instrument in the same housing for testing grain fed from the hopper under control of the slide means.

Claim 9

Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the kettle has a cylindrical shape and a capacity of 67.2 cubic inches with an inside height of four inches, the filling hopper has a capacity of at least 11/8 quarts of grain with the bottom opening being 11/4 inches in diameter and which is spaced two inches above the top of the kettle.

Claim 10

Apparatus for automatically providing test weight per bushel of grain, comprising: (a) a supporting structure and housing, (b) a test kettle having a smooth open top and being selected to receive a predetermined quantity of grain, (c) means including weighing means supporting the test kettle in the supporting structure and housing, (d) a filling hopper fixedly attached to the supporting structure and housing and having a bottom discharge opening spaced above the test kettle, the hopper having a capacity greater than the predetermined quantity of grain, (e) movable means for selectively closing and opening the bottom opening of the filling hopper, (f) a stroker movably mounted for vertical movement with its lower stroking edge slightly below the top of the test kettle, (g) means for moving the stroker horizontally across the top of the test kettle, the stroker moving means including slide means with a reciprocating horizontal member on which the stroker is movably mounted for vertical movement; and the movable means for opening and closing the bottom opening of the hopper including a stopper mounted on the reciprocating horizontal member; said stroker and said stopper being relatively positioned so that during a first portion of the movement of the reciprocating member the stopper moves to open the bottom opening of the hopper to discharge grain and overfill the test kettle, and during a further portion of movement of the reciprocating member the stroker is moved across the top of the kettle to level the grain.

Claim 11

Apparatus for automatically providing test weight per bushel of grain, comprising: (a) a supporting structure and housing, (b) a test kettle having a smooth open top and being selected to receive a predetermined quantity of grain, (c) means including weighing means supporting the test kettle in the supporting structure and housing, (d) a filling hopper fixedly attached to the supporting structure and housing and having a bottom discharge opening spaced above the test kettle, the hopper having a capacity greater than the predetermined quantity of grain, (e) movable means for selectively closing and opening the bottom opening of the filling hopper, (f) a stroker movably mounted for vertical movement with its lower stroking edge slightly below the top of the test kettle, (g) means for moving the stroker horizontally across the top of the test kettle, the stroker moving means including slide means with a reciprocating horizontal member on which the stroker is movably mounted for vertical movement; and the movable means for opening and closing the bottom opening of the hopper including a stopper mounted on the reciprocating horizontal member; said stroker and said stopper being relatively positioned so that during a first portion of the movement of the reciprocating member the stopper moves to open the bottom opening of the hopper to discharge grain and overfill the test kettle, and during a further portion of movement of the reciprocating member the stroker is moved across the top of the kettle to level the grain.