Patent ID: 8504190

Claim:
Apparatus for automated storage, inventory management and discharge of treated sewage sludge to trucks, comprising a programmable logic computer (PLC) and: (a) at least one bin for receiving, storing and discharging sewage sludge into the bed of at least one truck to be disposed therebeneath; (b) at least one conveyor associated with the at least one bin, for delivering sewage sludge to the at least one bin, including conveyor activation means therefore in communication with the PLC; (c) a discharge opening for discharging sludge at the bottom of the at least one bin, with an openable and closable discharge gate at a bottom of the at least one bin, including gate activation means therefore in communication with the PLC; (d) weight responsive load cell means associated with and supporting said at least one bin and sewage sludge disposed therein, for sensing the weight of said at least one bin and sewage sludge disposed therein and communicating the same to the PLC; and (e) location sensing means for sensing the location of a truck bed, with said sensing means being in communication with the PLC; wherein said at least one bin includes a plurality of bins, and including a separate conveyor for delivering sewage sludge to each said bin, a separate discharge gate at the bottom of each said bin and a separate weight responsive load cell means for each said bin.