Device for dispensing goods through annular dispensing port
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to devices for dispensing goods to be handled from a container for transfer to goods conveying means, and more particularly it, to a device for dispensing goods to be handled from a container having a goods dispensing port of an annular shape. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a silo and goods conveying means of the prior art arranged in combination; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a hopper of the silo shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a hopper used in an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV--IV in FIG. 5, showing the dispensing device comprising one embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the dispensing device shown in FIG. 4; 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     When bulk goods to be handled, such as, for example, coal, are stored, they are stored in what is generally referred to as a silo 1, which, as shown in FIG. 1, is provided with a hopper 5 for transferring the goods to a belt conveyor means 3 for conveying the bulk goods to the desired destination. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the hopper 5 of the prior art is of an inverted frustoconical form, with a circular top and a curved surface tapering evenly to a base formed with a dispensing port 7. The hopper 5 of this shape performs the function of compressing the goods descending through the hopper 5 toward the dispensing port 7 in a circumferential direction. Thus, the hopper 5 of the prior art has the disadvantage of tending to be choked up with the goods to be handled, blocking the smooth movement of goods from the silo 1 to the belt conveyor 3. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide a device for dispensing goods to be handled from a container and transferring the same to goods conveying means which is capable of smoothly dispensing the goods to be handled through an annular goods dispensing port. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type described capable of carrying out dispensing of the goods to be handled uniformly and continuously without any interruption and with a high degree of efficiency. 
     According to the invention, there is provided a device for dispensing goods to be handled from a container, comprising a dispensing port of the annular shape formed in the container and an annular shelf located in a position for receiving the goods released through the annular dispensing port A table is rotatably supported in a position for receiving the goods moved downwardly from the shelf, with a ring being located along the shelf for rotation independently of the table. A rotary drive means is connected to the table through motive force transmitting means, with a rotary drive means being connected to the ring through motive force transmitting means. Scrapers are fixedly supported on the ring and project above the shelf, with a guide scraper being fixedly supported and projecting above the table. Conveying means are arranged below the guide scraper for conveying the goods dispensed from the container through the annular dispensing port. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in FIG. 3, a hopper 9 of the present invention includes a dispensing port 11 of an increased diameter L, and a conical structure 13 inserted in the dispensing port 11 from below. The hopper 9 has a reduced height H as compared with hoppers of the prior art and a smaller volume. The dispensing port 11 is of an annular form as it is defined between the lower end of the hopper 9 and the conical structure 13. The goods which descend through the hopper 9 toward the dispensing port 11 are not subjected to a high compressive force directed circumferentially of the hopper 9 and, consequently, are released smoothly from the annular dispensing port 11. 
     The goods dispensed from the hopper 9 through the dispensing port 11 of the annular shape are released from the dispensing port 11 in spread-out condition due to the annular shape of the dispensing port 11. Thus, the goods released from the dispensing port 11 in a spread-out condition need be scraped together for transfer to goods conveying means, such as, for example, a belt conveyor. 
     As shown most clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5, the conical structure 13 has a horizontal extension projecting outwardly from a bottom thereof beyond an opening and closing gate 37 to provide a horizontal shelf 17. The gate 37 is adapted to be moved vertically by cylinders 35. A table 39, of a doughnut shape, is located below an outer end of the shelf 17, with the table 39, supported on a floor by rollers 19, having a chain 41 secured to the inner periphery thereof along the entire peripheral extent thereof. A chain sprocket 43, engaging the chain 41, is secured to a rotary shaft of a motor 45 secured to the undersurface of the shelf 17. A guide scraper 25 projects above the surface of the table 39 and, as shown in FIG. 4, is disposed obliquely across the surface of the table 39 and, as shown in FIG. 5, is fixedly supported on the floor. A chute 47 is located along a portion of the outer periphery of the table 39 in a position disposed below the guide scraper 25. A belt conveyor 49, arranged below the lower opening of the chute 47, is located on the floor. 
     A plurality of scrapers 23 are fixedly secured to a horizontal ring 51 and project above the surface of the shelf 17 in such a manner that the scrapers 23 extend obliquely across the surface of the shelf 17 as shown in FIG. 4. The ring 51 is supported on rollers 55 mounted on a ledge 53 projecting horizontally inwardly from a side wall. A chain 56 is secured to the outer periphery of the ring 51 through the entire circumferential extent thereof, with the chain 56 being engageable with a chain sprocket 57 secured to a rotary shaft of a motor 59 secured to the side wall. 
     In the illustrated embodiment the goods, descending through the hopper 9 and collected on the surface of the shelf 17, are temporarily deposited on the shelf 17 forming a suitable incline. To sweep the goods on the shelf 17 away therefrom by the scrapers 23, the motor 59 is actuated to rotate the chain sprocket 57 which drives the ring 51 to rotate on the rollers 55 through the chain 56 engaging the chain sprocket 57. The motor 59 has its direction of rotation set beforehand in such a manner that the ring 51 rotates in the direction of an arrow B shown in FIG. 4. At the same time, the motor 45 is actuated to rotate the chain sprocket 43, so that the table 39 is rotated on the rollers 19 through the chain 41 engaging the chain sprocket 43. The motor 45 has its direction of rotation set beforehand in such a manner that the table 39 rotates in the direction of an arrow A shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the table 39 and the ring 51 having the scrapers 23 secured thereto rotate in the opposite directions. 
     As the ring 51 rotates, the scrapers 23 secured to the ring 51 move above the surface of the shelf 17. Since the scrapers 23 are obliquely disposed across the surface of the shelf 17, the goods deposited on the shelf 17 are swept away therefrom by the scrapers 23 onto the surface of the table 39. Since the direction of movement of the scrapers 23 (the direction of arrow B) and the direction of rotation of the table 39 (the direction of arrow A) are opposite each other, the table 39 is in a relative rotary relationship with respect to the scrapers 23. Thus, the goods swept away from the shelf 17 by the scrapers 23 are not concentrated in specific positions but are deposited uniformly and continuously without interruption on the table 39. Such continuous loading condition can be achieved when there is a relative difference between the movements of the scrapers 23 and the table 39. For example, even if the table 39 and the scrapers 23 move in the same direction, the continuous loading condition can be achieved by providing a difference in velocity between them. 
     The goods deposited in continuous loading condition on the table 39 impinge on the guide scraper 25 that is stationary as the table 39 moves in the direction of the arrow A, so that the goods are swept by the guide scraper 25 into the chute 47. The goods are continuously swept away from the table 39 without a break into the chute 47 at a constant rate per unit hour or per unit rotation of the table 39 and transferred to the belt conveyor 49 through the lower end of the chute 47. Thus, it is possible to convey the goods to the destination in uniform and continuous loading condition or in constant quantity distribution condition permitting quantity control to be readily effected. 
     By interrupting the movement of the scrapers 23 by, for example, shutting down the motor 59 while permitting the table 39 to continue to rotate, the goods on the table 39 can be transferred to the belt conveyor 49 to empty the surface of the table 39. 
     In the illustrated embodiment the ring 51 and the table 39 are driven by different motors 45 and 59 independently of each other. However, the invention is not limited to this specific form of drive mechanism and that one motor, instead of the two motors 45 and 59, may be used and rotations of different directions may be transmitted therefrom to the ring 51 and table 39 through gearing. 
     The advantages offered by the embodiment of the invention are summarized as follows. 
     (1) The goods are deposited uniformly on the entire surface of the table 39, so that the loading efficiency can be increased. Even if the volume of goods swept away by each scraper 23 increases, it is possible to cope with the increase, so that it is possible to increase the volume of goods swept away by the scrapers and at the same time to dispense the goods in constantly distributed condition. 
     (2) An increase in the volume of goods swept away by the scrapers 23 from the shelf 17 enables the opening of the gate 37 to be increased. An increase in the opening of the gate 37 permits dispensing of the goods through the annular dispensing port 11 to take place smoothly because blocking of the port 11 by the goods can be avoided. 
     (3) An increase in the volume of goods swept away by each scraper 23 enables the number of the scrapers 23 to be reduced. 
     (4) Depositing of the goods on the surface of the table 39 in continuous loading condition enables the width of the table 39 to be reduced and its size to be reduced as compared with depositing of the goods in stacks spaced apart from one another. 
     (5) Since the goods are continuously transferred from the table 39 to the belt conveyor 49, it is possible to reduce the width and overall size of the chute 47 and conveyor 49. 
     (6) The goods are handled continuously without interruption when they are dispensed from the hopper 9 and transferred to the conveyor 49, so that the operation efficiency can be increased and quantity control can be readily effected. 
     (7) The goods dispensing operation can be performed smoothly because the hopper 9 is difficultly choked with the goods handled which are not subjected to a high compressive force in the hopper 9 due to the provision of the annular dispensing port 11. 
     From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the dispensing device according to the invention enables dispensing of goods to be handled and their transfer to conveying means to take place smoothly without the container being choked with the goods, thanks to the provision of a dispensing port of the annular shape. The device according to the invention is capable of increasing the efficiency with which the goods to be handled are dispensed, because the goods can be handled in uniform and continuous condition without interruption.