초록 ▼

A movably mounted auxiliary hopper and a platform therefor are provided for discharging small articles contained in the container to a cooperably associated dispensing hopper mounted on the platform, the dispensing hopper being adapted to feed articles in an oriented position to a cooperably associa

A movably mounted auxiliary hopper and a platform therefor are provided for discharging small articles contained in the container to a cooperably associated dispensing hopper mounted on the platform, the dispensing hopper being adapted to feed articles in an oriented position to a cooperably associated chute directed to a receiving station. The auxiliary hopper comprises a container having bottom, side and end walls and an open top for receiving a charge of small articles therein, the container being adapted to provide gravity flow of the articles to a discharge end of the container. A U-shaped trough extends from the discharge end of the container and which communicates with the interior of the container. A pair of legs is pivotally mounted to one side of the container and a complementary pair pivotally mounted on the other side thereof, the legs of the container extending to and being pivotally connected to the platform, such that the container forming the movable auxiliary hopper is capable of being moved to an upper position for discharging articles to the dispensing hopper and to a lower accessible position for charging articles to or to remove residual articles from the container.

대표청구항 ▼

The combination of a movably mounted auxiliary hopper a cooperably associated dispensing hopper, and a platform therefor for discharging small articles contained in said auxiliary hopper to said dispensing hopper said dispensing hopper being mounted on said platform and adapted to feed said articles

The combination of a movably mounted auxiliary hopper a cooperably associated dispensing hopper, and a platform therefor for discharging small articles contained in said auxiliary hopper to said dispensing hopper said dispensing hopper being mounted on said platform and adapted to feed said articles in an oriented position to a cooperably associated chute inclined downwardly to a receiving station, said auxiliary hopper comprising a container having bottom, side and end walls and an open top for receiving a charge of small articles therein, said container being adapted to provide gravity flow of said articles by demand to a discharge end of said container, a U-shaped trough extending from the discharge end of the container and communicating with the interior of said container, a pair of legs pivotally mounted to one side of said container and a complementary pair pivotally mounted on the other side thereof, and locking means disposed on each side of said container cooperably associated with said mounted legs for lockingly supporting said container in one or another of two home positions, said legs extending to and being pivotally connected to said platform, such that the container is capable of being moved to an upper position for discharging articles to said dispensing hopper and to a lower accessible home position for charging articles to or to remove residual articles from said container.