B65G69/0433

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR HANDLING PARTICULATE MATERIAL
20220363493 · 2022-11-17 ·

A system for handling particulate material includes a vessel and an outflow conveyor. The vessel includes an inlet configured for receipt of particulate material into the vessel, and a plurality of discharge conveyors. Each discharge conveyor is configured to move particulate material in the vessel towards a corresponding discharge valve. The outflow conveyor is configured to receive particulate material from each discharge valve.

GRAIN MANAGEMENT IN A BULK STORE

A grain management system includes a robot and a computer system located remotely from one another and configured to wirelessly communicate. The robot comprises an auger-based drive system, a memory, and a processor which controls movement of the robot, via the drive system, relative to grain in a bulk store. During a load-in the robot traverses a landing zone portion, where the grain lands during load-in, of a surface of a pile of the grain to disperse broken grain and foreign material away from the landing zone portion. The dispersal is effected in part by rotation of augers of the drive system. The robot additionally traverses a sloped portion of the pile of grain to incite sediment gravity flow by rotation of the augers. The sediment gravity flow reduces a slope of the sloped portion and further disperses the broken grain and foreign material away from the landing zone portion.

Methods and Systems for Lifting, Leveling and Loading Material into a Container
20210261362 · 2021-08-26 ·

An overhead material handling system is provided. The system comprises a leveler having a cover defining an interior, and a screw having a shaft and a screw portion positioned within the cover interior, the system further comprises a lift structure comprising a plurality of hydraulic stabilizing legs, the lift structure being connected to the leveler wherein the plurality of hydraulic legs extend and retract to raise and lower the lift structure, at least one sensor, and a safety mechanism comprising at least one extension off of an end of the leveler.

Methods and systems for lifting, leveling and loading material into a container
11014769 · 2021-05-25 · ·

An overhead material handling system is provided. The system comprises a leveler having a cover defining an interior, and a screw having a shaft and a screw portion positioned within the cover interior. The system further comprises a lift structure comprising a plurality of hydraulic stabilizing legs, the lift structure being connected to the leveler wherein the plurality of hydraulic legs extend and retract to raise and lower the lift structure, at least one sensor, and a safety mechanism comprising at least one extension off of an end of the leveler.

Methods and Systems for Lifting, Leveling and Loading Material into a Container
20190300298 · 2019-10-03 ·

An overhead material handling system is provided. The system comprises a leveler having a cover defining an interior, and a screw having a shaft and a screw portion positioned within the cover interior. The system further comprises a lift structure comprising a plurality of hydraulic stabilizing legs, the lift structure being connected to the leveler wherein the plurality of hydraulic legs extend and retract to raise and lower the lift structure, at least one sensor, and a safety mechanism comprising at least one extension off of an end of the leveler.

Apparatus for loading and leveling material into a container
10046927 · 2018-08-14 · ·

A material handling system is provided that allows for the even distribution and increased fill percent of a container without the need for personnel to manually even out the distribution of the material, and contains and protects material from the environment. The system deposits and levels material into an open-top container, and may include a leveler comprising a cover, a screw coupled to the cover, and a trough. The screw may be a shafted screw and the trough may be a bottomless trough. A hydraulic piston may be coupled to the cover and a support structure may both support and move the cover of the leveler.

THREE-DIMENSIONAL LOCALIZATION OF A DEVICE WITHIN A GRAIN BIN

A localization system comprises: a device; a master unit which wirelessly transmits a first localization signal; a plurality of lateration units distributed about the area within which the device is being localized, wherein each lateration unit of the plurality independently starts its own timer upon its receipt of the first localization signal; and a localization unit. The device receives the first localization signal and responsively wirelessly transmits a second localization signal. Each of the lateration units: independently receives the second localization signal; stops its respective timer responsive to receipt of the second localization signal; and wirelessly transmits a timer count signal to a localization unit. The timer count signal identifies the transmitting lateration unit and a count of its respective timer. The localization unit utilizes the plurality of timer along with respective distances between the master unit and the lateration units to localize the first device via time-of-flight lateration.

ROBOT WITH INTERCHANGEABLE DRIVE SYSTEM

A robot comprises a memory, a processor, a body and a drive system which are coupled. The drive system comprises one of auger-based surface interface portions and continuous tread surface interface portions. The auger-based surface interface portions and the continuous tread surface interface portions are interchangeable to adapt the robot to one of different operating conditions and different uses. The processor is configured to: control movement of the robot, via the drive system, to traverse across a first surface, wherein the first surface comprises piled granular material, in response to the drive system being configured with the auger-based surface interface portions; and control movement of the robot via the drive system to traverse across a second surface, which is a solid or semi-solid surface other than the piled granular material, in response to the drive system being configured with the continuous tread surface interface portions.

Grain bin management during load-in

A robot comprises an auger-based drive system, a memory, and a processor coupled with the memory and configured to control movement of the robot, via the auger-based drive system, relative to grain in a grain bin. The processor is further configured to direct traversal, by the robot, of a landing zone portion of a surface of a pile of the grain during load-in of the grain to disperse broken grain and foreign material away from the landing zone portion. The landing zone portion is located in a center of the grain bin where the grain lands as it is augured into the grain bin during load-in. The dispersal is affected in part by rotation of augers of the auger-based drive system.