IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,391,521
Granted Patent B2
US 10,391,521 · App. 15/663,060 · Granted Aug 27, 2019

Systems and methods for large debris conveyance

Inventor: Steve L. Gilbert (Toquerville, UT)
B07B1/005B07B15/00B65G41/002B65G41/008E02F5/226B02C21/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,391,521
App. No.
15/663,060
Filed
Jul 28, 2017
Granted
Aug 27, 2019
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3655
USPC
209/241
Abstract

A device for sorting particulate material includes a main conveyor belt, a separation screen, a graded material conveyor, and an oversize material conveyor. The separation screen is configured to separate the material into a first portion and a second portion with a larger average particle diameter than the first portion. The graded material conveyor is positioned below the separation screen to receive the first portion of the material, and the oversize material conveyor is positioned at an end of the separation screen to receive the second portion of the material.

Claims (49)

1. A device for sorting particulate material, comprising:

a main conveyor belt, wherein the main conveyor belt is angled upward;

a first rotor positioned adjacent to an end of the main conveyor belt and configured to rotate relative to the main conveyor belt, the rotor having at least one engagement member connected thereto, wherein the at least one engagement member includes a first row of engagement members, the first row of engagement members including a plurality of engagement members;

a separation screen configured to receive material from the main conveyor belt and separate the material into a first portion and a second portion;

a graded material conveyor positioned below the separation screen and configured to receive the first portion of the material, wherein the graded material conveyor is movable relative to the separation screen and includes a control plate;

an oversize material conveyor positioned at the end of the separation screen and configured to receive the second portion of the material, the oversize material conveyor being parallel to the graded material conveyor, wherein the oversize material conveyor is movable in a lateral direction relative to the separation screen and includes a control plate, wherein the graded material conveyor and oversize material conveyor convey the first portion of the material and the second portion of the material on opposite lateral sides of the device; and

a motive element configured to move the padding machine relative to a surface on which the padding machine is used.

2. A device for loading material, the device comprising:

a main conveyor belt, wherein the main conveyor belt is angled upwards;

a rotor positioned adjacent to an end of the main conveyor belt and configured to rotate relative to the main conveyor belt, the rotor including a cylindrical body, the cylindrical body including at least one engagement member, wherein the at least one engagement member is connected to a curved surface of the cylindrical body, and wherein the at least one engagement member includes a first row of engagement members, the first row of engagement members including a plurality of engagement members;

a separation screen configured to receive material from the main conveyor belt and separate the material into a first portion and a second portion;

a graded material conveyor positioned below the separation screen and configured to receive the first portion of the material, wherein the graded material conveyor is movable relative to the separation screen and includes a control plate;

an oversize material conveyor positioned at the end of the separation screen and configured to receive the second portion of the material, the oversize material conveyor being parallel to the graded material conveyor, wherein the oversize material conveyor is movable in a lateral direction relative to the separation screen and includes a control plate; and

a motive element configured to move the device relative to a surface on which the device is used.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the rotor has a body and the at least one engagement member extends across at least 50% of a transverse width of the body.

4. The device of claim 2 , wherein the rotor has a body and the at least one engagement member has a height at least 25% of a body diameter.

5. The device of claim 2 , further comprising a ramp adjacent the rotor, the rotor positioned between the ramp and the main conveyor belt.

6. The device of claim 2 , wherein at least one engagement member of the first row of engagement members is staggered with at least one engagement member of a second row of engagement members.

7. The device of claim 2 , wherein a forward side of the rotor rotates in an upward direction.

8. A padding machine for sorting particulate material, the padding machine comprising:

a main conveyor belt, wherein the main conveyor belt is angled upward;

a first rotor positioned adjacent to an end of the main conveyor belt and configured to rotate relative to the main conveyor belt, the rotor having at least one engagement member connected thereto, wherein the at least one engagement member includes a first row of engagement members, the first row of engagement members including a plurality of engagement members;

a separation screen configured to receive material from the main conveyor belt and separate the material into a first portion and a second portion;

a graded material conveyor positioned below the separation screen and configured to receive the first portion of the material, wherein the graded material conveyor is movable relative to the separation screen and includes a control plate;

an oversize material conveyor positioned at the end of the separation screen and configured to receive the second portion of the material, the oversize material conveyor being parallel to the graded material conveyor, wherein the oversize material conveyor is movable in a lateral direction relative to the separation screen and includes a control plate; and

a motive element configured to move the padding machine relative to a surface on which the padding machine is used.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the main conveyor belt comprises a flexible belt material.

10. The padding machine of claim 8 , wherein the main conveyor belt is a polymer reinforced Kevlar.

11. The padding machine of claim 8 , wherein a graded material conveyor width is in a range of 50% to 100% of an oversize material conveyor width.

12. The padding machine of claim 8 , further comprising a second rotor.

13. The padding machine of claim 12 , wherein the first rotor and second rotor rotate in the same direction.

14. The device of claim 8 , the at least one engagement member of the plurality of engagement members including a duck bill.

15. The device of claim 8 , wherein at least one engagement member of the first row of engagement members is staggered with at least one engagement member of a second row of engagement members.

16. The device of claim 8 , further comprising a ramp adjacent the rotor, the rotor positioned between the ramp and the main conveyor belt.

17. The device of claim 8 , wherein the at least one engagement member includes between two and eight rows of engagement members.

18. The device of claim 8 , wherein adjacent rows of engagement members have different numbers of engagement members.

19. The device of claim 12 , wherein the second rotor includes at least one second engagement member connected thereto, the at least one second engagement member of the second rotor being adapted to engage and move material onto the main conveyor belt.

20. A device for moving material, the device comprising:

a main conveyor belt wherein the main conveyor belt is angled upward;

a rotor positioned adjacent to an end of the main conveyor belt and configured to rotate relative to the main conveyor belt, the rotor having at least one engagement member connected thereto, the at least one engagement member being adapted to engage and move material onto the main conveyor belt, the rotor extending across a width of the main conveyor belt wherein the at least one engagement member includes a first row of engagement members, the first row of engagement members including a plurality of engagement members;

a separation screen configured to receive material from the main conveyor belt and separate the material into a first portion and a second portion;

a graded material conveyor positioned below the separation screen and configured to receive the first portion of the material, wherein the graded material conveyor is movable relative to the separation screen and includes a control plate;

an oversize material conveyor positioned at the end of the separation screen and configured to receive the second portion of the material, the oversize material conveyor being parallel to the graded material conveyor, wherein the oversize material conveyor is movable in a lateral direction relative to the separation screen and includes a control plate; and

a motive element configured to move the padding machine relative to a surface on which the padding machine is used.

21. The device of claim 20 , wherein the at least one engagement member includes between two and eight rows of engagement members.

22. The device of claim 21 , wherein engagement members of adjacent rows of engagement members are offset from one another.

23. The device of claim 21 , wherein adjacent rows of engagement members have different numbers of engagement members.

24. The device of claim 20 , further comprising a second rotor positioned adjacent to the rotor and configured to rotate relative to the main conveyor belt, the second rotor having at least one engagement member connected thereto, the at least one engagement member of the second rotor being adapted to engage and move material onto the main conveyor belt.

25. The device of claim 24 , wherein the second rotor is adjustable relative to the rotor.

Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62368495 · Jul 29, 2016
Related Publication 20180029080A1 · Feb 1, 2018