Abstract:
A container, that is usable for dispensing flowable materials, includes angled bottom walls which direct the flowable material to a dispensing opening. A flow cutoff device is supported, for movement between open and closed positions, in a frame assembly which defines the dispensing opening. A shield plate prevents any of the flowable material from being trapped in residual flowable material receiving areas that are adjacent the frame assembly at the outlet opening of the container. Openings are provided in an end rail of the frame assembly and also at the juncture of the end rail with spaced side rails of the frame assembly. These openings provide egress areas for any of the flowable material that might be supported by the side rails and the end rail as the cutoff device is slid along the frame assembly to the flow cutoff position.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/989,205 filed May 6, 2014, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is directed generally to a container for dispensing a flowable material through a dispensing outlet. The dispensing outlet prevents the collection of residual flowable material adjacent the outlet. A shield plate is positioned to prevent this collection of the residual flowable material adjacent the outlet of the container. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Bulk boxes and containers having collapsible side and end walls are frequently used for holding and dispensing flowable materials such as agricultural products including seeds for planting. The interior of the box or container has angled bottom walls that direct the flowable material to a dispensing outlet. After delivery and dispensing of the flowable material, the sides of the box or container are collapsed and the box or container is reduced in size for efficient return handling of the now empty container. The container is thus able to be used for several planting seasons to transport and to dispense flowable materials, such as soybeans or corn. 
         [0004]    In use, such a collapsible container may contain the soybean or corn and is usable for transporting the soybean or corn to an end user who dispenses the soybean, corn or other flowable material from the container. Upon visual inspection, the soybean, corn or other flowable material may appear to have been completely dispensed from the container and the container is returned in its presumed empty condition for re-use. In a subsequent use, a different seed or flowable material may be transported in the same box or container and will be dispensed through the dispensing outlet of the container to an end user. However, the dispensing outlets of generally known prior dispensing containers have areas adjacent the dispensing outlet which are susceptible to collecting residual amounts of the flowable material which may include a residual amount of a different seed which was stored and dispensed in a previous use of the container. Any such residual seed which remains collected adjacent the outlet of the container has a potential for contaminating the seed placed in the container in the subsequent use of the container, particularly when the seed being contained and dispensed changes from one use of the container to the next use of that container. 
         [0005]    A bulk box or container for use in dispensing a flowable material and having an outlet at the base of the container through which the flowable material is dispensed, is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,022. The dispensing outlet of that container is provided with a cutoff device that cuts off the flow of the flowable material through the dispensing outlet. However, the dispensing outlet is subject to the collection of the residual flowable material in areas at the outlet of the dispensing container that are not visible upon inspection of the interior of the container. As a result, a user of the container may observe that the container is completely empty but may not be able to observe that residual flowable material has collected in areas adjacent the outlet of the container. This presents a potential contamination problem for subsequent users of the container in the storage and dispensing of seeds for planting. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Containers for storing, shipping and dispensing a flowable material are widely used particularly in the agricultural industry in which the flowable material is a seed used for planting. An individual container is subject to being used for different seed products which are dispensed through the outlet in the bottom of the container. The dispensing of the seed through the outlet of such a container is controlled by a cutoff device. According to embodiments of the present invention, the cutoff device at the outlet of the dispensing container is usable to close and open the dispensing outlet without the collection of residual seed adjacent the outlet of the container, which residual seed might otherwise cause a contamination problem when the container is used for storing, shipping and dispensing seed over many use cycles in which different seed products are used as the flowable material placed in the container. 
         [0007]    According to embodiments of the present invention, the cutoff device that controls the flow of the flowable material through the dispensing outlet prevents the collection of residual material at the dispensing outlet. The container is thus able to be used for storing, shipping and dispensing of flowable materials, such as different types of seed, for many cycles of use without contaminating the seed placed in the container with residual seed which may have collected from previous uses of the same container. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    A full and complete understanding of the subject invention may be obtained from the description of the preferred embodiments, as set forth hereinafter, and as depicted in the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a partial sectional view through a side of a bulk container for dispensing flowable materials according to the prior art; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a partial sectional view through an end wall of the prior art dispensing bulk container shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a partial bottom plan view of the prior art dispensing bulk container shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a partial sectional view, generally similar to  FIG. 2 , and showing a frame assembly at the outlet of a container in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a top of a frame assembly for an outlet of a container for dispensing a flowable material according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective bottom view of the frame assembly shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a second bottom perspective view of the frame assembly shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view of an end rail of the frame assembly shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a bottom perspective view of a side rail of the frame assembly shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a frame assembly of a cutoff device in top perspective view in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a bottom perspective view of the frame assembly for the outlet of the dispensing container according to the second embodiment as shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a shield part of the frame assembly shown in  FIGS. 5 and 10  according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of the frame of the second embodiment of the present invention shown and with the shield part removed; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a bottom perspective view of the frame assembly of the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 10 , and without the shield part. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a partial sectional view of a dispensing container  1  for flowable material according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,022, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. The partial sectional side view is taken through a side wall of a container  1  with container  1  having a container bottom wall  61  which is sloped downwardly from the horizontal at an angle  62  to promote the flowable material stored in the container to be gravity fed through a container dispensing outlet  60 . Dispensing of the flowable material is controlled by a cutoff device  50  which slides across the bottom of the dispensing outlet  60  to either open or block the outlet. As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the cutoff device  50  may be of a molded resin configuration having ribs  57  that extend across the bottom of the cutoff device  50  and which provide structural support for the cutoff device  50 . That cutoff device  50  has a top surface  70  that forms a bottom wall across the container dispensing outlet  60  when the cutoff device  50  is in the closed position, as is shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  shows the cutoff device  50  in a closed position. A locking arm  41 , which can be rotated by a knob  42  about a pivot axis  44 , such as a screw, is depicted in a position to engage a flange  51  of the cutoff device  50 . The cutoff device  50  is further shown secured in its closed position by a security tie  53  which passes through an opening  58  in the base of the container  1  to ensure that the cutoff device  50  will not be inadvertently opened until the container, which is full of the flowable material, is delivered to a end user for subsequent dispensing of the flowable material through the outlet  60 . 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , which is an enlarged partial sectional view through an end wall of the container shown in  FIG. 1 , the cutoff device  50  is supported along its sides  59  by a frame assembly  30  that includes frame assembly side tracks  55  which are secured by frame assembly securement screws  56  to the bottom of sloped wall  61  of the container  1 , with only one side of container  1  being shown in  FIG. 2 . As is also shown in  FIG. 2 , the bottom sloped wall  61  of container  1  is angled to the container dispensing outlet  60  and has structural ribs  72  which are provided to support the angled bottom of sloped wall  61 . As a result of this structure, pockets are formed in the sloped bottom wall  61  adjacent the container dispensing outlet  60 . The frame assembly side track  55 , and a frame assembly end rail, partially cover the pockets  68 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a bottom plan view of a base portion of the container  1 . The frame assembly side tracks or rails  55  support the sides  59  of the cutoff device. Note that an end rail  55 , which is located in front of the discharge door, is not specifically shown in  FIG. 3 . The open areas  54  are provided at the ends of the rails  55 . When the cutoff device  50  slides in the rails  55  and opens the container dispensing outlet  60 , seed or other flowable material pours through the outlet  60  and through the bottom of the container  1  for dispensing. At the time of this flowable material dispensing, some of the flowable material may spill onto the tracks or rails  55  and may further accumulate in the open pockets  68 . Thus, when the cutoff device  50  is closed, leading edges  74  of the cutoff device ribs  57  force the seed up into the pockets  68  and also into the end rail of the frame assembly  30  supporting the cutoff device, if provided. 
         [0027]    In the prior art container  1 , having a dispensing outlet  60  for flowable material, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the cutoff device  50  is supported in the outlet frame assembly  30  for the container, which outlet frame assembly  30  is susceptible to collecting residual flowable material in the pockets  68  between the flanges of the cutoff device  50  above and along the rails  55  supporting the cutoff device  50 . In the case where the flowable material is a seed, such as soybean or corn, one use of the container for soybean can cause the collection of residual soybean seed in the corner pockets  68  and along the rails  55  and including the end rail of the frame assembly  30  supporting the cutoff device  50 . Then, during a subsequent use of the container for the dispensing of a flowable material, such as a different seed from that of the previous use, there is a risk of contamination by inadvertently dispensing the residual seed that has collected in the pockets formed adjacent the container dispensing outlet  60  from the prior use, which contamination is disadvantageous for the end user. 
         [0028]    According to the embodiments of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 4-14 , a frame assembly  100  has a frame assembly shield plate  102  covering the pockets  68  along frame assembly side and/or end rails  105 ;  108 , respectively.  FIG. 4  shows a frame assembly  100  in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention and including the side rail  105  beneath the pockets  68 . In accordance with the present invention, the shield plate  102  closes off the open area of the pockets along the side rails  105  and/or end rail  108  so that the use of the cutoff device  50  does not cause the flowable material stored in the container  1  to be collected in the pockets  68 . Thus, the collection of residual flowable material, such as seed, is prevented from being collected in pockets  68  at the outlet  60  of the container  1 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  shows an embodiment, according to the present invention, of a frame assembly  100  for supporting cutoff device  50 , which cutoff device  50  is not specifically shown in  FIG. 5 . The frame assembly shield plate  102  may be separate from a frame part or may be integral with the frame part which includes frame assembly side rails  105  and a frame assembly end rail  108 . The frame assembly end rail  108  supports a leading edge  52  of the cutoff device  50  and has openings  109  between spaced flange parts  107  of the frame assembly  100 . The spaced flange parts  107  of the frame assembly  100  are aligned with the ribs  57  of the cutoff device  50 . As the cutoff device  50  slides, to close off the dispensing outlet  60 , which is defined by the side rails  105 , and the end rail  108  of the frame assembly  100 , the leading edge  52  of the cutoff device  50  pushes any residual flowable material off of the surfaces of the side rails  105  and into open areas  103  which are formed between the spaced frame assembly  105  and the end rail  108 . These openings  103  are located at the ends of the frame assembly side rails  105 . Further, any flowable material which might be supported along the surface of the frame assembly end rail  108  is pushed off through the openings  109 , and since the ends  74  of the ribs  57  of the cutoff device  50  are aligned with the flanges  107 , all of the flowable material is prevented from being collected along the support surfaces of the cutoff device frame assembly  100  and therefore the dispensing outlet  60  of the container  1  is prevented from collecting residual material dispensed through the dispensing outlet  60 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the frame assembly  100  of  FIG. 5 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 , the frame assembly  100  is secured to the bottom wall of the container  1  with screws  156 , which screws  156  are inserted through spaced screw receiving holes  101 . The screw receiving holes  101  are provided in the frame assembly shield plate  102  and in underlying portions of the frame assembly  100  so that the frame assembly  100  and the frame assembly shield plate  102  are assembled together at the outlet of the container  1 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 7  shows a bottom view including a detail of the openings  109  and the spaced flange parts  107  of the frame assembly end rail  108 . Also, the open area  103  beneath the shield is shown, which open area  103  assists in ensuring that seed is pushed off the ends of the side rails  105  when the cutoff device  50  closes the dispensing outlet  60 . 
         [0032]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the frame assembly, generally at  100 , includes a separately manufactured frame assembly end rail  108  as shown in  FIG. 8  and separately manufactured frame assembly side rails  105 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . The frame assembly side rails  105  and end rail  108  are able to be secured together to form the frame assembly  100 , which is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , by use of known fastening techniques, such as welding or mechanical fastening, such as, for example, the screws  156  which secure the frame assembly  100  to the bottom of the container  1 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0033]      FIGS. 10-14  show a second embodiment of a frame assembly, generally at  120 , according to the present invention. The frame assembly  100  shown in  FIGS. 5-9 , may be manufactured from sheet metal. The frame assembly  120  of  FIGS. 10-14  is able to be manufactured from a different material such as a synthetic resin, for example, as a molded product. 
         [0034]      FIG. 10  shows a frame assembly  120  including a frame assembly part  121  of unitary molded construction, which may be fabricated from synthetic resin, and a shield plate which is aligned with the frame assembly part  121 . The frame assembly  120  includes frame assembly side rails  125  and a frame assembly end rail  129 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the frame assembly part  121  includes structural ribs  124  for supporting the frame assembly side and end rails  125 ;  129 , respectively. Also,  FIG. 11  and  FIGS. 13 and 14  show openings  128  in frame assembly end rail  129 . The openings  128  provide the same function as the openings  109  and align with the ends  74  of the ribs  57  of the cutoff device  50  so that any seed resting on the end rail  129  is pushed into the openings  128  and is discharged so that seed is not collected as a residual flowable material. Also, the open areas  123 , as shown in  FIG. 13 , are provided at the ends of the side rails  125  in order to push any flowable material resting on side rails  125  and end rail  129  into the open areas  123  thereby preventing the collection of residual material. 
         [0035]    While preferred embodiments of a container having dispensing outlets for preventing collection of residual material, in accordance with the present invention, have been set forth fully and completely hereinabove, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art that various changes, for example the type of material used to manufacture the container, the overall shape of the container, the method of collapsing of the container, and the like could be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention, which is accordingly to be limited only by the appended claims.