Patent ID: 7861498
Filing Date: 2011-01-04
Classification: B65B,B65G

Abstract:
1. An article transfer device comprising: a hopper configured and arranged to receive articles dropping from above and to discharge the articles downwardly; and a hopper moving mechanism configured and arranged to move at least a bottom portion of the hopper downwardly with the bottom portion of the hopper being closed when the hopper receives the articles and to open the bottom portion of the hopper to discharge the articles from the hopper, the hopper including a pair of plate members with a predetermined width, the plate members being disposed between a pair of fixed side wall members extending in a direction perpendicular to a width direction of the plate members, and the hopper moving mechanism being configured and arranged to move the plate members close to each other to close the bottom portion of the hopper, to move the plate members downwardly with the bottom portion of the hopper being closed, and to separate the plate members away from each other to open the bottom portion of the hopper.