Patent Publication Number: US-11039569-B2

Title: Container system for transporting and dispensing agricultural products

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/552,216 filed Aug. 27, 2019, entitled CONTAINER SYSTEM FOR TRANSPORTING AND DISPENSING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application. No. 62/724,001 filed Aug. 28, 2018, entitled CONTAINER SYSTEM FOR TRANSPORTING AND DISPENSING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. U.S. application Ser. No. 16/552,216 and Provisional Application No. 62/724,001 are both incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to container systems for transporting and dispensing agricultural products and more particularly to a container system that is configured to utilize desired combinations of liquid and dry agricultural product containers in a single assembly. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Dispensing of multiple agricultural products, liquid and/or dry, at a low rate and a prescriptive manner, is of increasing importance in agricultural systems. Such agricultural products, including insecticides, nematicides, herbicides, fungicides, nutrients, plant growth regulators, or fertilizers, have made the handling of chemical liquids and granules less hazardous to the agricultural worker by providing closed container systems. 
     An example of the use of multiple agricultural product containers for dispensing low rate agricultural products is illustrated in, for example, U.S. application Ser. No. 14/521,908, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,820,431, entitled SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR DISPENSING MULTIPLE AND LOW RATE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. 
     An example of the prescriptive application of a material dispensing system that simultaneously dispenses crop input products at specific prescriptive rates at georeferenced locations throughout the field is illustrated in, for example, U.S. application Ser. No. 15/614,547, entitled SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING PRESCRIPTIVE APPLICATION OF MULTIPLE PRODUCTS. 
     The use of a combination of dry agricultural product dispensing systems and syringe-type liquid pumps is disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 16/122,660, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING MULTIPLE LOW RATE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. 
     U.S. application Ser. Nos. 14/521,908, 15/614,547, and 16/122,660 are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the present invention is embodied as a container system for transporting and dispensing agricultural products. The container system includes a housing assembly and a set of agricultural product containers. The housing assembly has multiple slot assemblies for containers. The agricultural product containers are configured to be releasably contained within the slot assemblies. The set of agricultural product containers may include liquid agricultural product containers and dry agricultural product containers. The slot assemblies and agricultural product containers are cooperatively configured to provide the ability to utilize either of said liquid or said dry agricultural product containers within said slot assemblies. 
     In another broad aspect, the invention is embodied as a housing assembly for a container system configured to transport and dispense agricultural products. The housing assembly includes a number of slot assemblies; push assemblies; and, lock arm assemblies. Each push assembly is associated with a respective slot assembly. Each lock arm assembly is operably connectable to a push assembly so that actuation of the push assembly by a user disengages a lock arm assembly from a container, providing for the capability to release the container from the slot assembly. 
     When the container is released from the slot assembly a discharge valve assembly connected to a container is simultaneously closed. The simultaneous closing of the container discharge valve when the lock arm assembly is disengaged or released is important as it prevents removal of the container if the discharge valve is still open. The discharge valve is designed to allow opening only by means of the “key” which is part of the mechanism which opens and closes the discharge valve in concert with the operation of the lock arm assembly. This ensures that the container can only be opened via the mechanical operation of the combination lock arm assembly and container discharge valve assembly. In other words, the container discharge valve can&#39;t be opened by an individual without destroying the container or discharge valve, unless the container is installed into the slot assembly. Preventing the container from opening until it has been properly installed in the container slot assembly, and the combination lock arm assembly and container valve mechanism have been mechanically manipulated, prevents product from leaking from the container valve when the container isn&#39;t installed in the container slot. Interconnecting the container lock assembly mechanism (i.e. push assembly and lock arm assembly) with the discharge valve mechanism, disallows removal of the product container from the slot assembly until the container lock assembly mechanism has been disengaged and the container discharge valve has been completely closed. This prevents product from being leaked or spilled from a container that might otherwise be removed from the slot assembly prior to closing the container discharge valve. The slot assemblies are configured to accommodate liquid agricultural product containers and dry agricultural product containers. The slot assemblies and agricultural product containers are cooperatively configured to provide the ability to utilize either of said liquid or said dry agricultural product containers within said slot assemblies. Additionally, the slot assemblies, the lock arm assemblies, and the container discharge valve assembles are designed in such a manner as to facilitate quick and easy installation and exchange of product containers. 
     It&#39;s normally feasible for an operator with no prior training to be able to install a container and manipulate the combination container lock assembly mechanism and discharge valve assembly operation within a span of time of as little as 10 seconds, and it takes just about the same length of time to remove one container and replace it with another. An additional feature of this invention is that little to no additional time is required when switching from a dry product to a liquid product, or vice versa. In other words, one can remove a dry product container and replace it with a liquid product container in just about the same short time period as required to replace a dry product container with another dry product container. The same holds true if one wishes to replace a liquid container with a dry product container. 
     In another broad aspect, the invention is embodied as a container having front and rear faces with truncated trapezoidal shapes. One of the sides defines a platform for supporting an RFID tag. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top, front, left side perspective view of a dry agricultural product container in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom, front, right side perspective view thereof. 
         FIG. 3  is left side elevation view thereof. 
         FIG. 4  is right side elevation view thereof. 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 7  is a front plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 8  is a rear plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 9  is a top, front, left side perspective view of a liquid agricultural product container in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom, front, right side perspective view thereof. 
         FIG. 11  is left side elevation view thereof. 
         FIG. 12  is right side elevation view thereof. 
         FIG. 13  is a top plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 14  is a bottom plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 15  is a front plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 16  is a rear plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a container system for transporting and dispensing agricultural products, shown positioned on a planter. 
         FIG. 18  illustrates a first step in the manner in which a dry container is released from the housing assembly of container system. 
         FIG. 19  shows a dry container being removed from the housing assembly. 
         FIG. 20  shows two push assemblies of the housing assembly opened, a dry container shown being installed. 
         FIG. 21  illustrates engagement of the handle element to secure a container in the housing assembly. 
         FIG. 22  shows the containers in place. 
         FIG. 23  shows a liquid container released in a similar manner as the dry container by rotating the handle element. 
         FIG. 24  shows a liquid container being removed. 
         FIG. 25  shows a dry container being removed from the middle slot. 
         FIG. 26  shows the middle slot being used to support a liquid container. 
         FIG. 27  shows a liquid pump being removed from the slot assembly of the housing assembly. 
         FIG. 28  shows detachment of a dry meter from the housing assembly, via a quick detach mechanism. 
         FIG. 29  is a perspective illustration of the container system with the end walls of the housing assembly being shown removed to show details of the push assembly. 
     
    
    
     The same elements or parts throughout the figures of the drawings are designated by the same reference characters, while equivalent elements bear a prime designation. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings and the characters of reference marked thereon,  FIGS. 1-8  illustrate a dry agricultural product container  10 , in accordance with the principles of this invention, having a trapezoidal configuration that allows dry agricultural product, typically a flowable, granular material, to gravity flow down sides  12 , through a discharge port, to a removable attached discharge valve  13 . Handle  14  provides a method of carrying the container  10 . A recessed panel  18 , having a beveled edge, is designed to nest into a matching raised panel  19  on an adjacent container on a container pallet (not shown) thus designed to locate and prevent the containers from shifting in transit. A raised panel  19  (see  FIG. 2 ), having a complementary shape with recessed panel  18  of container  10 , is designed to have containers interlock when stacked upon one another. A recessed rectangular platform  20 , on a vertical side  22  of container  10 , provides a protective area for placement of an RFID tag  24 . Weather cap  26 , of container  10 , provides protection from the elements insuring granular product is free of moisture. The weather cap  26  covers a filling opening. 
     This unique shape for a dry agricultural product container provides an efficient trapezoidal flow path. As used herein, when referring to the trapezoidal flow path, the term “trapezoidal flow path” refers broadly to a flow path that has a larger width adjacent to the product volume and a smaller width at the outlet, regardless of whether the taper between the larger width and smaller width is continuous or discontinuous or interrupted or uninterrupted. 
     In the preferred embodiment, illustrated in  FIGS. 1-8 , the front face  28  and the rear face  30  each have a truncated trapezoidal shape. As used herein the term “truncated trapezoidal shape” refers to a trapezoid with two truncated apices. In this preferred embodiment the front face  28 , the rear face  30 , a top base  32 , a bottom base  33 , a first vertical side  36  adjacent to the top base  32 , the second vertical side  22  adjacent to the top base  32 , the first sloped side  12  between the first vertical side  36  and the bottom base  33 , a second sloped side  34  between the second vertical side  22  and the bottom base  34 , are collectively configured to form an enclosure. 
     This dry agricultural product container  10  cooperates in a synergistic manner with a liquid agricultural product container, as will be discussed below. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 9-16 , a liquid agricultural product container, designated generally as  38 , is illustrated. The liquid agricultural product container  38  preferably includes two protective caps  40 ,  42  for shipping and storage. One of the top caps is removable for filling the liquid agricultural product container. The other cap is removable to provide access for appropriate fluid conduits. In this preferred embodiment of a liquid container shown in  FIGS. 9-16  the front face  44  and the rear face  46  each have an “angled, truncated trapezoidal shape” referring to apices that are not only truncated but also angled. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 17-29 , an overall container system, designated generally as  100  is illustrated. The container system  100 , for transporting and dispensing agricultural products, includes a housing assembly  102  and a set of agricultural product containers  10 ,  10 ′, and  38 . The housing assembly  102  is shown secured to a planter  103 . The housing assembly  102  includes a number of slot assemblies  104  for the containers  10 ,  10 ′, and  38 . The agricultural product containers are configured to be releasably contained within the slot assemblies  104 . In these figures, the set of agricultural product containers includes a liquid agricultural product container  38  and two dry agricultural product containers  10 ,  10 ′. The slot assemblies  104  and agricultural product containers are cooperatively configured to provide the ability to interchange any of the agricultural product containers within the slot assemblies. In other words, dry agricultural product containers can be placed in any of the slots and liquid agricultural product containers can be placed in any of the slots. In the example shown in these figures three containers are illustrated, two being dry agricultural product containers  10 ,  10 ′ and one being a liquid agricultural product container  38 . However, it is understood that container system  100  can be manufactured to include a desired number of slot assemblies  104 . 
     The housing assembly  102  includes push assemblies  108 , each associated with a respective slot assembly  104 . Lock arm assemblies  110  are operably connected to the push assemblies  108 , wherein actuation of a push assembly  108  by a user disengages a lock arm assembly  110  from a container providing for the capability to release the container from the slot assembly  104 . 
       FIGS. 18-22  show two dry containers  10 ,  10 ′,  38  being removed from the housing assembly  102 , with one of the dry containers being replaced. The dry agricultural containers are oriented within the slot assemblies  104  so that the discharge valve  13  is positioned on the bottom. 
       FIG. 18  illustrates a first step in the manner in which a dry container  10 ′ is released from the system  100 . In a first step the operator rotates a handle element  112  and pushes it in. This causes a hold down (release) arm  114  of the lock arm assembly  110  to rotate up and away from an associated container. (The ability to provide this actuation will be discussed in detail below with respect to  FIG. 29 .) 
       FIG. 19  shows the dry container  10 ′ being removed from the housing assembly  102 . (The hold down arm  114  associated with the end dry container  10  also shown lifted in the first step toward its removal.) 
       FIG. 20  shows two push assemblies  108  opened, one of the dry containers  10 ′ shown being installed, one of the slot assemblies  104  being empty. Thus, for example, one of the dry containers can be swapped with another dry container. 
       FIG. 21  illustrates engagement of the handle element  112  to secure the (middle) dry container  10 ′ in the housing assembly. The associated handle element  112  has been pushed out to hold the middle container  10 ′ in place. 
       FIG. 22  shows the containers  10 ,  10 ′,  38  in place within the housing assembly  102 . Orientation of the handle element  112  to a vertical position indicates that the agricultural product is ready to be dispensed. 
     Each of the slot assemblies are preferably configured to accommodate either liquid agricultural product containers or dry agricultural product containers. The slot assemblies and agricultural product containers are preferably cooperatively configured to provide the ability to interchange the agricultural product containers within the slot assemblies. 
     As shown in  FIG. 23 , a liquid container  38  is released in a similar manner as the dry container by rotating and actuating the handle element  112 . However, the appropriate fluid conduits  120  are required to be connected. The fluid conduit connections are completed using leak-proof, quick-connect/disconnect union devices of a type that are similar in speed and operation to the quick-connect/disconnect union devices commonly found on pressurized air hoses that are used to add air to automobile tires. These conduits  120  connect the liquid container  38  to a liquid pump  122 , as will be discussed below. 
       FIG. 24  shows a liquid container  38  being removed. It can be swapped with either another liquid container or with a dry container. 
       FIG. 25  shows a dry container  10 ′ being removed from the middle slot. 
     In  FIG. 26  that middle slot is shown being used to support a liquid container  38 . 
     The slot assembly  104  includes the ability to hold liquid pumps  122  to support the operation of liquid containers  38 .  FIG. 27  shows a liquid pump  122  being removed from the slot assembly. A variety of different types of liquid pumps may be utilized. A syringe type pump is preferred. Such a syringe-type is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Publication No. US 2018/0359909 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/112,660) incorporated by reference herein, in its entirety. Both the liquid pumps and dry meters may be attached/reattached by quick detach mechanisms. 
     Referring to  FIG. 28 , a dry meter  124  is supported in the housing assembly  102  below the dry container  10 . The dry meter  124  may be an electromechanical solenoid driven device for dry material. One type of metering device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,171,913, entitled “Self-Calibrating Meter With In-Meter Diffuser”. Another type of metering device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,782, entitled “Transfer Valve For a Granular Materials Dispensing System”. Another type of metering device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,794, entitled “Metering Device for Granular Materials”. Another type of metering device for dry granular material is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,372, entitled Metering Device for Granular Materials. Another type of metering device, is described in U.S. Publication No. US20170043961A1, entitled Brush Auger Meter, which describes a device for metering granular or powdered product, having a meter housing, an auger housing positioned within the meter housing, the auger housing having an inlet opening for receiving the granular or powdered product, a rotatable spiral brush mounted within the auger housing, a first discharge outlet near one end of the auger housing for discharging granular or powdered product, and another opening near another end of the auger housing for discharging granular or powdered product not discharged through the first discharge opening. U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,171,913; 5,687,782; 5,524,794; 5,156,372 and, U.S. Publication No. US20170043961A1 are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.  FIG. 28  shows detachment of a dry meter  124  from the housing assembly, via a quick detach mechanism. The left hand has lifted the left latch  126  and the right hand has grasped the right latch  128  but not opened it yet. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 29  a container system is illustrated with the end walls of the housing assembly  102  removed to show the housing assembly  102  in greater detail than the previous figures. Each push assembly  108  includes a handle assembly  130  engageable by a user via the handle element  112 . The handle assembly  130  includes the handle element  112 , a handle shaft  132 , and handle assembly pins  134 . 
     Each push assembly  108  also includes a rail assembly  136  operably connected to the handle assembly  130  having a vertical element  138  for pushing against a vertical portion  140  of an associated lock arm assembly  110  enabling rotation thereof for disengagement of a container. 
     The rail assembly  136  includes a tab  142  at an end thereof which releases the associated lock arm assembly  110  enabling the rotation thereof. The lock arm assembly  110  includes a slot  144  for detaching the lock arm assembly  110  from the push assembly  108  thus allowing the lock arm assembly  110  to rotate away from the abutting container when the handle assembly  130  is pushed in. 
     Each rail assembly  136  includes rail assembly pins  146  for engagement with the discharge valve assembly  13  attachable to a container to control discharge of agricultural products. A sprocket  148  of the discharge valve assembly engages the rail assembly pins  146  to open a discharge valve of the discharge valve assembly  13  when a container has been secured. When the container is detached the push assembly  108  also automatically closes the discharge valve. Thus, in this preferred embodiment each push assembly and operably connectable lock arm assembly collectively define a container lock assembly mechanism which is operably connectable to a discharge valve assembly attachable to a container by this “key” engagement therebetween. 
     The push assembly  108 , when engaged to release a container, simultaneously 1) pushes the tab  142  away from the lock arm assembly  110 ; 2) lifts the hold down arm  114  of the lock arm assembly  110 , providing rotation of the lock arm assembly  110 ; and, 3) closes the discharge valve of the discharge valve assembly  13 . 
     The handle assembly pins  134  engage a slot  148  on the rail assembly  136  to provide axial movement of the handle shaft beyond a stop point. Complete actuation of the handle assembly  130  requires further rotations of the handle  112  to provide alignment of the handle assembly pins  134  with the slot  148  on the rail assembly  136 . This is provided for safety purposes. 
     In summary, the agricultural containers include the following features: 
     Trapezoid shape—With the dry containers the sloped sides allow a sufficiently steep angle of repose that allows granules to gravity-flow out the discharge outlet in the bottom of the container. The similarly shaped liquid container can be used in the common container housing assembly on a planter row unit, as discussed above. 
     The recessed area in the top of the container serves as a handle that&#39;s built-in/integral to the container as the container is being manufactured during, for example, a rotational molding process. The handle facilitates installation and removal of filled containers. 
     The opening on one side of the dry container serves as the access point by which agricultural product is introduced into the container during the filling/refilling process. A protective, tamper-evident cap is provided to prevent moisture and/or anything other than the intended and authorized crop input product from an authorized refiller from entering the dry cartridge and to provide evidence if the seal for this area has been broken. If the seal is been broken, the dry cartridge is not generally eligible for refilling unless and until it&#39;s been emptied, washed, and re-certified as clean and eligible for use. 
     Both dry and liquid cartridges preferably include a raised panel on one face and a recessed panel on the opposite face. This facilitates shipment of the containers, as the raised panel from one container resides within or “nests” with the recessed area of a container that&#39;s stacked adjacent to it. The nesting feature minimizes movement of the containers when stacked. 
     The discharge port on the bottom of the dry container is the point from which product flows during application. In one embodiment, a rotating discharge valve may be manufactured separately from the container. The valve can be installed as part of an operational “cartridge” each and every time. The valve will work in combination with the hardware/software on the operating equipment. 
     The discharge port of the liquid container does not have a rotating valve; and, the discharge port of the liquid container is positioned in a different location from the discharge port of a dry container. The different position is to prevent leakage from a liquid container into the dry application meter that resides directly below the discharge port of a dry container; 3) liquid product is sucked out of the container via a dip-tube positioned in the container. The dip tube may be manufactured separately and installed in each liquid container in a manner that is similar to how a rotating valve is installed in each dry container. Each dip tube is preferably equipped with a fitting/apparatus that allows a quick-connect/disconnect device to be attached to another fitting that, when attached, allows the liquid contents of the container to be pumped-out/withdrawn from the container. 
     The agricultural products may be nematicides or insecticides, or a wide variety of other crop enhancement agricultural products such as fungicides, plant growth regulators (PGRs), micro-nutrients, etc. 
     The container system herein is particularly useful with low rate agricultural products. As used herein the term “low rate” as it applies to liquids refers to a rate defined as below 3.7 fluid ounces per 1000 row feet. When utilized with a syringe pump ultra-low rates are achievable, i.e. below 0.9 fluid ounces per 1000 row feet. As it applies to dry, flowable agricultural products the term “low rate” refers to a rate below 3 ounces per 1000 row feet. 
     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/112,660, filed Aug. 25, 2018, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING MULTIPLE LOW RATE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, discussed above discloses various systems and methods for applying agricultural products as well as dry meters and liquid pumps for these systems. 
     As mentioned above, other embodiments and configurations may be devised without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.