Patent ID: 6814210
Filing Date: 2004-11-09
Classification: B07C,B65B,B65G,Y10S

Abstract:
A material deflector plate system comprising:a base frame; a deflector-plate support structure depending from the base frame and being adapted for rearward and forward reciprocating motion with respect to the base frame along a reciprocation axis between a rearwardmost retracted position and a forwardmost extended position; and first and second deflector plate sets, the first deflector plate set including at least a left side deflector plate hingedly attached to the deflector plate support structure for pivotable motion about a first side-plate pivot axis that extends along the reciprocation axis and the second deflector plate set including at least a right side deflector plate hingedly attached to the deflector plate support structure for pivotable motion about a second side-plate pivot axis that extends along the reciprocation axis, each of the left and right side deflector plates including an inner face, an outer face, a base edge, a distal edge opposite the base edge, and rear and front edges, the base edge being the edge, as between the base and distal edges, that is closer to the side-plate pivot axis about which that side plate pivots, each of the left and right side plates being pivotable between a collapsed position in which the side plate extends along a horizontal plane and a deployed position in which the side plate is relatively upright, the first and second side-plate pivot axes being spaced apart such that, at least when the left and right side plates are in upright positions, there exists between the base edges of the left and right side plates an open material acceptance region through which material can descend to a predetermined location below the acceptance region.