Patent ID: 6860696

Claim:
In a bin unloading apparatus for unloading viscous product contained within a plastic bag laterally constrained by a bin, said apparatus including a follower plate adapted to overlie a substantial portion of the exposed upper surface of the product, a pump for withdrawing the product through the follower plate and a scraper carried by the follower plate for scraping product off of the interior surface of the side walls of the plastic bag as the plate is lowered within the bag and the product is withdrawn from the bag through the plate by said pump, the improvement including plural stiffly flexible scrapers and means for selectively and independently positioning said stiffly flexible scrapers in a first laterally extended position in scraping contact with the plastic bag as said plate is lowered and the product is being withdrawn therethrough and in a second laterally retracted position out of scraping contact with the plastic bag after the product is substantially removed therefrom, thereby reducing the risk of harm to the plastic bag when said follower plate is raised out of the plastic bag.