Patent ID: 8060989

Claim:
Loading device ( 1 ) for loading machines processing materials in bulk, the device comprising: a) a hopper ( 8 ) comprising a set of walls extending between a base and a top, the top of which is open in order to be able to introduce therein a mass of material ( 2 ) to be loaded, and which also has, in a wall, an opening ( 14 ) extending from the base of the hopper ( 8 ); b) a driving device arranged in the base of the hopper ( 8 ) in order to drive a strip ( 3 ) of material in a driving direction towards and through the opening ( 14 ) and towards a machine to be loaded; c) a knife ( 15 ) disposed on a top edge ( 26 ) of the opening ( 14 ), comprising a substantially straight blade ( 17 ) parallel to the base of the hopper ( 8 ), the blade ( 17 ) being able to move in an alternating movement substantially perpendicular to the direction ( 4 ) of driving of the strip of material ( 3 ) so as to cut into the material driven towards the opening ( 14 ) in order to delimit the top face and adjust the thickness of the strip of material ( 3 ), the excess material that is cut being directed into the mass of material ( 2 ); the loading device ( 1 ) further comprising a device for balancing the alternating movement of the blade ( 17 ) and an outlet channel ( 31 ) disposed downstream of the opening ( 14 ) and comprising a roof ( 32 ) attached to the hopper ( 8 ) with a hinge placed close to the top edge ( 26 ) of the opening ( 14 ), so as to be able to be tilted in order to adjust the height of the outlet channel ( 31 ).