Moving gate discharge

Abstract

A moving gate discharge system designed to prevent product-breakage while discharging particulate products, particularly non-free flowing and inter-engaging particulate products, in a more uniform flow from a receptacle having a moving bottom, is disclosed. The system includes an endless circulating feeder mounted across the discharge of the receptacle with its lower end portion oscillating upwardly and downwardly and traveling at a horizontal speed more rapid than that of the product on the moving bottom of the receptacle. Product-progressing finger assemblies are mounted in transverse rows on the feeder, spaced distances equal to the longitudinal distance the feeder moves during one period of vertical movement of the lower end portion thereof, and located such that each will be disposed directly below the lower end portion of the feeder when the latter reaches the lower portion of its downward movement. The fingers are positioned so as to move in close proximity to the moving bottom of the receptacle as the feeder reaches its lowermost position. The feeder is arranged so that its fingers move forwardly beyond the discharge of the moving bottom of the receptacle as they pass thereabove so as to effectively move substantially all of the product off the discharge portion of the moving bottom. The lower rung of the feeder is guided by a track along a convex path, the radius of curvature of which is preferably approximately three quarters of the distance between the upper and lower axes of revolution of the feeder. An additional transverse row of such fingers is preferably located between each pair of adjacent in-phase rows to facilitate the movement of the material.