Patent ID: 8567312
Filing Date: 2013-10-29
Classification: B01F

Abstract:
1. A bulk bag conditioning system comprising a main conditioner frame assembly comprising: a base; a plurality of upwardly extending support members with a base engaging end that engages a portion of the base and a distal end portion; and at least one cross support member engaged to the upwardly extending support members and wherein the base and the upwardly extending support members define a conditioning area having a load side, a side opposite the load side, and a first side second side opposite one another and between the load side and the side opposite the load side and wherein the main conditioner assembly is capable of receiving a bulk bag of material; a first bulk bag pivoting conditioning assembly operatively engaged to the first side of the main conditioner frame assembly wherein the first bulk bag pivoting conditioning assembly moves about a first axis; a second bulk bag pivoting conditioning assembly operatively engaged to the second side of the main conditioner frame assembly wherein the second bulk bag pivoting conditioning assembly moves about a second axis; wherein the first bulk bag conditioning assembly and the second bulk bag pivoting conditioning assembly are positioned opposite or substantially opposite of one another; and at least two actuators that are moveable between a first and a second position wherein at least one actuator is operatively connected to each bulk bag pivoting conditioning assembly and the main conditioner frame such that first and second bulk bag pivoting conditioning assemblies travel a non-linear path between an initial position to a bulk bag contacting position; wherein the first and second bulk bag conditioning assemblies further comprise a plurality of cylindrical shafts each having a length; wherein at least one of which contacts a bulk bag along the length of the cylindrical shaft when the bulk bag conditioning assemblies are in the bulk bag contacting position wherein the main conditioner frame assembly comprises at least four upwardly extending members and at least four cross support members each having two ends where each end of each cross support member engages the distal end portion of one of the upwardly extending support members and each upwardly extending support member engages at least two cross support members; and wherein the bulk bag conditioning system further comprises at least four elongated and substantially planar bulk bag conditioning assembly mounting supports each having an outer surface and a conditioning area facing surface opposite the outer surface; and wherein the substantially planar bulk bag conditioning assembly mounting supports engage the cross supports of the main conditioner frame assembly and the distal ends of the upwardly extending support members of the main conditioner frame assembly; and wherein the first and second bulk bag conditioning assemblies each further comprise at least two opposing, elongated conditioner arms each having a main conditioner frame engagement end that includes an aperture and a distal end; and wherein the cylindrical shafts of the bulk bag conditioning assemblies are spaced between the conditioner arms and at least one cylindrical shaft is positioned between the distal ends of the two conditioner arms and at least one cylindrical shaft is positioned between the two conditioner arms at the main conditioner frame engagement end and through the apertures such that the ends of the cylinder shaft engage the conditioning area facing surface of the substantially planar bulk bag conditioning assembly mounting supports and the cylindrical shaft positioned between the two conditioner arms at the main conditioner frame engagement end that engages the conditioning area facing surface of the substantially planar bulk bag conditioning assembly mounting supports defines an axis that intersects two of the substantially planar bulk bag conditioning assembly mounting supports and is one axis about which the bulk bag conditioning assembly rotates; wherein the system further comprises cylinder shaft engaging bearing components that are engaged with the bulk bag conditioning assembly facing surface of the supports and; receive an end of the cylinder shaft while retaining the shaft in position and allowing rotational movement of the shaft wherein: the system further comprises a shaft cap engaged to the outer surface of the substantially planar bulk bag conditioning assembly mounting supports and the cylinder shaft engaging plates and wherein the cylinder shaft engaged with the bearing components defines a fixed axis about which the bulk bag conditioning assembly rotates and all other cylinder shafts travel an arcuous path when the bulk bag conditioning assemblies are actuated.