Agitating and conveying machine for shaking a container
View Patent ↗The agitation machine is installed either independently or in a conveyor line to shake, vibrate, oscillate, and/or agitate a container or containers in order to compact and settle the contents thereof. The machine includes at least one (and preferably two) elongate rotating bar or rod of non-circular cross section, or of eccentric circular cross section. The bars extend beneath the containers in the direction of their travel across or through the machine, with rotation of the bars resulting in the shaking or oscillating of the containers and resulting settling and compaction of the contents of the containers. The rotating oscillator bars may be adjusted so that their high edges are either in phase or out of phase with one another, respectively producing an alternating lifting and lowering action or a rocking action of the container resting thereon. The rotational speed of the bars may be adjusted as desired, as well.
1. An agitation machine for shaking a container and its contents, the agitation machine comprising:
a frame having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side;
at least one rotary oscillator bar of non-circular cross section, disposed within the frame, the oscillator bar extending generally from the first end to the second end of the frame, the bar being adapted for supporting the container directly thereon;
at least one oscillator bar drive motor communicating with the at least one oscillator bar;
a first flight bar conveyor disposed within the first side of the frame;
a second flight bar conveyor disposed within the second side of the frame;
at least one flight bar extending between the first flight bar conveyor and the second flight bar conveyor; and
at least one flight bar conveyor drive motor communicating with the first and the second flight bar conveyor.
2. The agitation machine according to claim 1 , further including an elongate, vertically adjustable container support runner disposed within the frame substantially parallel to the at least one oscillator bar, the container support runner having a first end and a second end opposite the first end.
3. The agitation machine according to claim 2 , further including:
a first runner support arm pivotally extending between the frame and the first end of the container support runner;
a second runner support arm pivotally extending between the frame and the second end of the container support runner parallel to the first runner support arm; and
a runner height adjustment actuator extending between the frame and the container support runner.
4. The agitation machine according to claim 1 , further including:
an elongate, vertically adjustable container support conveyor disposed within the frame substantially parallel to the at least one oscillator bar, the container support conveyor having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and
a conveyor drive motor communicating with the container support conveyor.
5. The agitation machine according to claim 4 , further including:
a first conveyor support arm pivotally extending between the frame and the first end of the container support conveyor;
a second conveyor support arm pivotally extending between the frame and the second end of the container support conveyor parallel to the first conveyor support arm; and
a conveyor height adjustment actuator extending between the frame and the container support conveyor.
6. The agitation machine according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one oscillator bar comprises a first oscillator bar and a second oscillator bar substantially parallel to the first oscillator bar.
7. The agitation machine according to claim 1 , wherein:
the oscillator bar drive motor is selected from the group consisting of stepper drive motors and servomotors; and
a flexible synchronous drive member extends between the oscillator bar and the oscillator bar drive motor.
8. An agitation machine for shaking a container and its contents, the agitation machine comprising:
a frame having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side;
at least one rotary oscillator bar of non-circular cross section disposed within the frame, the oscillator bar extending generally from the first end to the second end of the frame, the oscillator bar being adapted for supporting the container directly thereon;
at least one oscillator bar drive motor communicating with the at least one oscillator bar;
an elongate, vertically adjustable container support runner disposed within the frame substantially parallel to the at least one oscillator bar, the container support runner having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
a first runner support arm pivotally extending between the frame and the first end of the container support runner;
a second runner support arm pivotally extending between the frame and the second end of the container support runner parallel to the first runner support arm; and
a runner height adjustment actuator extending between the frame and the container support runner.
9. The agitation machine according to claim 8 , further including:
a first flight bar conveyor disposed within the first side of the frame;
a second flight bar conveyor disposed within the second side of the frame;
at least one flight bar extending between the first flight bar conveyor and the second flight bar conveyor; and
at least one flight bar conveyor drive motor communicating with the first and the second fight bar conveyor.
10. The agitation machine according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one oscillator bar comprises a first oscillator bar and a second oscillator bar substantially parallel to the first oscillator bar.
11. The agitation machine according to claim 8 , wherein:
the oscillator bar drive motor is selected from the group consisting of stepper drive motors and servomotors; and
a flexible synchronous drive member extends between the oscillator bar and the oscillator bar drive motor.
12. An agitation machine for shaking a container and its contents, the agitation machine comprising:
a frame having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side;
at least one rotary oscillator bar of non-circular cross section disposed within the frame the oscillator bar extending generally from the first end to the second end of the frame, the oscillator bar being adapted for supporting the container directly thereon;
at least one oscillator bar drive motor communicating with the at least one oscillator bar;
an elongate, vertically adjustable container support conveyor disposed within the frame substantially parallel to the at least one oscillator bar, the container support conveyor having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and
a conveyor drive motor communicating with the container support conveyor.
13. The agitation machine according to claim 12 , further including:
a first conveyor support arm pivotally extending between the frame and the first end of the container support conveyor;
a second conveyor support arm pivotally extending between the frame and the second end of the container support conveyor parallel to the first conveyor support arm; and
a conveyor height adjustment actuator extending between the frame and the container support conveyor.
14. The agitation machine according to claim 12 further including:
a first flight bar conveyor disposed within the first side of the frame;
a second flight bar conveyor disposed within the second side of the frame;
at least one flight bar extending between the first flight bar conveyor and the second flight bar conveyor; and
at least one flight bar conveyor drive motor communicating with the first and the second fight bar conveyor.
15. The agitation machine according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one oscillator bar comprises a first oscillator bar and a second oscillator bar substantially parallel to the first oscillator bar.
16. The agitation machine according to claim 12 , wherein:
the oscillator bar drive motor is selected from the group consisting of stepper drive motors and servomotors; and
a flexible synchronous drive member extends between the oscillator bar and the oscillator bar drive motor.