Patent ID: 6422802
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: B65B,B65G

Abstract:
A container contents unloading apparatus for smoothly unloading contents of open-ended containers, the apparatus comprising:a container conveyor positioned to convey along a horizontal path of travel a plurality of open-ended containers containing product positioned therein; a frame overlying said container conveyor positioned downstream from where open-ended containers are received onto the container conveyor; a carriage to slidably accept and hold open-ended containers being conveyed downstream along the container conveyor and having product positioned therein, the carriage having an upper portion of a proximal end pivotally connected to the frame so as to permit the carriage to pivot about a pivot axis when holding one of the plurality of open-ended containers, slidably discharging the product positioned in the open-ended container, returning to a container receiving position holding the held-open-ended container, and slidably releasing the open-ended container to the container conveyor so as to be able to slidably receive for smooth dumping another open-ended container having product positioned therein; a load distributing lifter connected to the frame and to the distal end of the carriage to provide lifting forces along an axis parallel to the pivot axis against an opposing combined load of the carriage and carriage-held container so as to evenly distribute the lifting forces when lifting the proximal end of the carriage about the pivot axis, the load distributing lifter comprising at least two spaced-apart tracks connected to the frame and a load distributing lift arm connected to the carriage, said load distributing lift arm having a first end portion connected to one of the at least two spaced-apart tracks and a second end portion connected to a separate one of the at least two spaced-apart tracks and being positioned substantially parallel to the pivot axis so as to distribute the combined load of the carriage and carriage-held container along the length of the arm to each of the at least two spaced-apart tracks; a chute positioned adjacent said container conveyor and carriage to receive the slidably discharged product from a carriage-held open-ended container; and a discharged contents conveyor positioned closely adjacent a lower end of the chute to receive the slidably discharged product from the chute and convey the slidably discharged product therefrom.