Abstract:
A grain bag unloading device which is compact and reduces farm operating expenses by unloading grain from an elongated grain bag to a position adjacent to the grain bag such that the grain may be further moved using an existing grain elevator or the like. The device includes a spool coupled to a frame. An actuator rotates the spool to pull a grain bag onto the spool. Wheels facilitate movement of the frame as the grain bag is pulled onto the spool. A gathering mechanism urges grain in the grain bag towards a collection area. A first end of a collector is operationally coupled to the gathering mechanism such that the collector is dispenses the grain from the collection area.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
       [0001]    The disclosure relates to unloading devices and more particularly pertains to a new unloading device which is compact and reduces farm operating expenses by unloading grain from an elongated grain bag to a position adjacent to the grain bag such that the grain may be further moved using an existing grain elevator or the like. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a spool coupled to a frame. An actuator rotates the spool to pull a grain bag onto the spool. Wheels facilitate movement of the frame as the grain bag is pulled onto the spool. A gathering mechanism urges grain in the grain bag towards a collection area. A first end of a collector is operationally coupled to the gathering mechanism such that the collector is dispenses the grain from the collection area. 
         [0003]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
         [0004]    The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a top rear side perspective view of a grain bag unloading device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure in use. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a partial cut-away side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure in use. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a top front side perspective view of a ratchet assembly of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0013]    With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 7  thereof, a new unloading devices embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
         [0014]    As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 7 , the grain bag unloading device  10  generally comprises a frame  12  and a pair of spools  14 . Each spool  14  is coupled to the frame  12 . Each spool  14  is rotatable on a horizontally oriented axis wherein the spools  14  are configured for being attached to or engaging a grain bag  18  of the type which are elongated and hold loose grain  16 . As is conventionally known, the grain bag  18  is unloadable by opening the grain bag  18  and running an unloading machine along the length of the grain bag  18 . In the present invention, the grain bag  18  is split and rolls onto the spools  14  when the spools  14  are rotated. In the present invention, rotation of the spools  14  provides force to pull the frame  12  along the length of the grain bag  18 . Each of the spools  14  is independently rotatable and engaged to a respective portion of the grain bag  18  such that differences in rotation of the spools  14  urges the frame  12  to twist relative to the grain bag  18 . Each of the spools  14  may be rotatable at a variable speed through conventional mechanical connections and controls. Each of a pair of wheels  20  is coupled to the frame  12  wherein the frame  12  is configured to move towards a distal end  22  of the grain bag  18  relative to the frame  12  as the grain bag  18  is pulled onto the spools  14 . 
         [0015]    A gathering mechanism  24  is coupled to the frame  12  and positioned forwardly of the wheels  20  and spools  14  such that the gathering mechanism  24  is configured for positioning in the grain bag  18  to gather grain  16  into a collection area  28 . The gathering mechanism  24  is a pair of augers  30 . The collection area  28  is positioned between the augers  30 . The augers  30  are linearly aligned extending transversely relative to the length of the grain bag  18 . Each spool  14  is elevated relative to the gathering mechanism  24 . 
         [0016]    A collector  32  is coupled to the frame  12 . The collector  32  has a first end  34  operationally coupled to the gathering mechanism  24  such that the collector  32  collects the grain  16  from the collection area  28  into the first end  34 . The collector  32  has a second end  36  positioned in spaced relationship to the first end  34  such that the collector  32  is configured for dispensing the grain  16  outside of the grain bag  18 . However, as opposed to known devices currently used for unloading grain, the collector  32  has a relatively short length such that the second end  36  is not positioned substantially outside a footprint of the frame  12 . The collector  32  is sized minimally to deliver the grain  16  to a position adjacent to the frame  12  where an extrinsic pre-existing grain elevator  38  may be used to carry and deliver the grain  16  to a desired point such as a to a truck  40  for transport. The collector  32  as shown is a paddle conveyor  42 . The collector  32  may alternatively be an auger, vacuum tube, or the like capable of removing the grain  16  from the collection area  28 . 
         [0017]    As shown particularly in  FIG. 3 , a bar  44  is positioned between the gathering mechanism  24  and each spool  14  such that the bar  44  is configured to support a section  46  of the grain bag  18  at an inclined angle extending upwardly and away from the gathering mechanism  24  and towards each spool  14 . The bar  44  is positioned such that grain  16  initially escaping the gathering mechanism  24  is supported on the section  46  of the grain bag  18  and gravitationally urged back towards the gathering mechanism  24 . Elevation of the spools  14  and the bar  44  ensures the grain bag  18  is elevated when drawn past the gathering mechanism  24  to prevent grain  16  from escaping the gathering mechanism  24  and the collector  32 . A roller  62 , as shown coupled to the bar  44  in  FIG. 3 , may be utilized to facilitate the grain bag  18  moving over the bar  44 . Positioning of the bar  44  may achieve optimal angling of the grain bag  18  extending away from the gathering mechanism  24  to balance the pulling force of the spools  14  with gravitationally urging grain  16  back towards the gathering mechanism  24 . The angle at which the grain bag  18  extends away from the gathering mechanism may be between 20 and 70 degrees. 
         [0018]    A splitter  50  is coupled to the frame  12  to engage and split the grain bag  18  into respective portions  52  engaged by each spool  14 . The splitter  50  comprises an first piece  54  positioned forwardly of the collector  32  to split the grain bag  18  along a top side  56  of the grain bag  18 . The splitter  50  comprises a second piece  58  positioned to split a bottom side  60  of the grain bag  18  after the grain bag  18  passes over the bar  44  preventing the grain bag  18  from being split along the bottom side  60  of the grain bag  18  prior to collection of the grain  16 . 
         [0019]    An actuator  66  is operationally coupled to each spool  14  such that the actuator  66  rotates each spool  14 . The actuator  66  is defined generally as a mechanism to provide power to the spools  14  and may be self contained and coupled to the frame  12  such as a motor  68 , engine, or the like. Alternatively, the actuator  66  may be a connector  70  such as a hydraulic port, hydraulic line, or the like to allow for operational coupling of the spools  14  to an extrinsic power source such as a hydraulic system or power take off of a tractor  90  or the like. The actuator  66  may be operationally coupled to the gathering mechanism  24  and the collector  32 . Conventional controls may be provided for separate operation and control of the gathering mechanism  24 , collector  32 , and spools  14 . 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , each of a pair of ratchet mechanisms  72  is coupled to an associated one of the spools  14  such that the ratchet mechanism  72  prevents the associated spool  14  from rotating in a reverse direction. Each ratchet mechanism  72  comprises a ratchet gear  74  being coupled to the associated one of the spools  14 . Each ratchet gear  74  has a plurality of notches  76  as shown in  FIG. 4 . A pawl  78  is coupled to the frame  12  and positioned to engage the ratchet gear  74 . A biasing member  80  such as a resilient cord or strap may be used to prevent the pawl  78  from disengaging from the ratchet gear  74 . The notches  76  may be spaced such that engagement of each notch  76  by the pawl  78  corresponds to between 7 and 14 centimeters of forward movement of the frame  12 . 
         [0021]    In use, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the device  10  is positioned adjacent to the grain bag  18  with the gathering mechanism  24  extending into the grain bag  18 . The grain bag  18  is initially split and coupled to each spool  14 . The gathering mechanism  24 , collector  32  and spools  14  are activated to gather, collect, and remove the grain  16  from the grain bag  18 . The spools  14  rotate to load the split grain bag  18  onto the spools  14  and move the frame  12  towards the distal end  22  of the grain bag  18 . Steering of the frame  12  as needed is achieved by controlling rotation of the spools  14  while the ratchet mechanisms  72  prevent backward movement of the frame  12  away from the distal end  22  of the grain bag  18 . The existing mobile elevator  38 , such as is commonly found on farms, receives the grain  16  unloaded from the grain bag  18 . A steering mechanism  84  may be coupled to the existing elevator  80  allowing the elevator  80  to extend laterally relative to the grain bag  18 . Thus, trailers  82  may be run successively along a side of the grain bag  18  with the frame  12  as needed to receive and transport the grain  16 . 
         [0022]    With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         [0023]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.