Patent ID: 9561902
Date: 2017-02-07
CPC Classifications: B65B,F16K

Claim:
1. A gate assembly for a bulk feeder, the gate assembly comprising: a gate housing defining a product feed path therein extending between intake and dispensing ends; a plurality of paddles mounted to the gate housing and pivotable between a closed position, in which the product feed path is blocked by the plurality of paddles, and an open position, in which the product feed path is unblocked by the plurality of paddles; and at least one actuator connected to the plurality of paddles for effecting movement between the closed and open positions; wherein, in the closed position, the plurality of paddles collectively forms a polyhedron, open facing the intake end and tapering to a closed apex toward the dispensing end wherein each of the plurality of paddles is pivotably mounted outside the gate housing and the gate housing defines a plurality of paddle slots through which a respective transition portion of each of the plurality of paddles passes from outside to inside the gate housing.