Mixing Inclined Belt Conveyor having Static Baffles with Seed Passages

Abstract

A mixing inclined belt conveyor capable of mixing particulate material, specifically wet, freshly treated plant seeds for agricultural purposes. Inserting a plurality of mixing baffles into the stream of the particulate material induces a backflow of the particulate material. In the case of wet, freshly treated plant seed, this backflow causes a mixing, polishing, and drying of the plant seed. The mixing distributes the seed treatment into an even coat by rubbing the individual seeds of the seed flow stream together. The mixing baffles are oriented to induce backflow and sideways lateral movement and may incorporate a passage to allow increase material flow rate.

Claims

1. A mixing apparatus for a conveyor, the mixing apparatus comprising: a. a first mixing baffle: i. a central portion; ii. a peripheral portion; iii. a lower portion having a curvilinear shape; iv. a passage disposed within at least one of the central portion and the peripheral portion; and v. an L-shaped bracket mounted to the first mixing baffle.

2. The mixing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first mixing baffle is mounted between a 20 to 70 angle between a first plane defined by the first mixing baffle and a vertical plane tangential to a curvilinear structure.

3. The mixing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first mixing baffle is mounted to a central portion of a lid and the lower portion has a curvilinear shape.

4. The mixing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the first mixing baffle is raised less than three times an average diameter of a particulate material from a carrying surface of a belt.

5. A method for mixing a stream of a particulate material within a conveyor, the method comprising the steps of: a. carrying the particulate material on a belt through a curvilinear structure to form the stream of the particulate material; and b. inducing backflow of the particulate material by inserting a first mixing baffle into the stream of the particulate material.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of: a. mounting the first mixing baffle on a first lateral side of the conveyor; and b. directing lateral movement of the stream of the particulate material from the first lateral side to a second lateral side of the conveyor.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first mixing baffle comprises a central portion and a peripheral portion, the peripheral portion is disposed upstream of the central portion, wherein the first mixing baffle is mounted between a 20 to 70 angle between a first plane defined by the first mixing baffle and a vertical plane tangential to the curvilinear structure of the conveyor.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the particulate material is a quantity of a plant seed partially covered with a wet seed treatment, and wherein the steps of inducing backflow spreads the wet seed treatment around the quantity of the plant seed.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of: a. providing a passage in the first mixing baffle above a lower portion of the first mixing baffle; and b. allowing a portion of the stream of the particulate material to travel through the passage.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of: a. directing lateral movement from a first lateral side of the conveyor to a second lateral side of the conveyor in an alternating manner through a longitudinal portion of the conveyor.

11. A conveyor comprising: a. a curvilinear structure extending longitudinally; b. a belt that conforms to the curvilinear structure; and c. a first mixing baffle, having a first lower curvilinear portion, that extends downwardly toward the belt.

12. The conveyor of claim 11, wherein the first mixing baffle further comprises: a. a first peripheral portion disposed upstream of a first central portion.

13. The conveyor of claim 12, wherein the first mixing baffle further comprises: a. a first passage disposed within at least one of the first central portion and the first peripheral portion.

14. The conveyor of claim 13, where the first passage is above the first lower curvilinear portion.

15. The conveyor of claim 11, where the first lower curvilinear portion extends from a first lateral side of the conveyor to a central portion of the conveyor.

16. The conveyor of claim 11, further comprising: a. a second mixing baffle longitudinally spaced away from the first mixing baffle and having a second lower curvilinear portion that extends from a second lateral side of the conveyor to a central portion of the conveyor.

17. The conveyor of claim 16, wherein: a. a first passage disposed in a first central portion of the first mixing baffle; and b. a second passage disposed in a second central portion of the second mixing baffle.

18. The conveyor of claim 16, wherein: a. a first passage disposed in a first peripheral portion of the first mixing baffle; and b. a second passage disposed in a second peripheral portion of the second mixing baffle.

19. The conveyor of claim 11, wherein a width of the first mixing baffle is approximately one half of a diameter of the curvilinear structure.

20. The conveyor of claim 11, wherein a lower portion of the first mixing baffle is positioned at a distance above the belt at a distance less than three times an average diameter of a particulate material.

21. The conveyor of claim 11, where the first mixing baffle is mounted perpendicular to a lid and between a 20 to 70 angle between a first plane defined by the first mixing baffle and a vertical plane tangential to the curvilinear structure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] Aspects are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the curvilinear structure of the conveyor with the lid removed showing the alternating baffles in place;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a top-side perspective view of the curvilinear structure of the conveyor with the lid shown semi-transparent;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a top-side perspective view of a mixing baffle;

[0020] FIG. 4 is a top-side perspective view of a mixing baffle; and

[0021] FIG. 5 is a top-side perspective view of a mixing baffle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Referring now to the invention in more detail, in FIG. 1 there is shown an internal view of a conveyor 110 with mixing apparatus 100. The curvilinear structure 114 comprises the lower trough of the conveyor, through which the belt (not shown) travels. The belt conforms to the curvilinear structure 114. The belt has a carrying surface, which engages the particulate matter. The belt is endless, in that it is wrapped around a head roller and a tail roller, to make a continuous path. The belt may be spliced. The belt may have texture to assist transfer of the particulate material. The moving belt of the conveyor transports particulate material in a downstream direction (arrow 113).

[0023] The mixing apparatus 100 comprises a plurality of mixing baffles 130A, 130B, 130C, 130D, 130E, 130F, 130G, and will be referred to in general as mixing baffles 130. Mixing baffles are disposed within the curvilinear structure at a set distance from the carrying surface of the belt. The mixing baffles partially obstruct the flow of seed, inducing a prescribed amount of backflow. Generally, in an incline conveyor backflow is undesirable. However, in order to effectuate mixing, backflow disrupts the static flow of the seed within the curvilinear structure 114. The first mixing baffle 130A is mounted on the first lateral side 170 of the conveyor 110. The first mixing baffle 130A is slanted relative to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor. The slant of the mixing baffle directs lateral movement of the particulate material from the first lateral side 170 to a second lateral side 172 of the conveyor 110.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, the mixing baffles 130 may be mounted to an underside of the lid 120. The lid mounts to the curvilinear structure 114 and prevents rain and debris from entering the conveyor 110 as well as preventing particulate material from exiting the conveyor 110. The mixing baffles 130 may be spaced apart longitudinally through a longitudinal portion in of the conveyor 110. In another embodiment, the mixing baffles 130 may be mounted to the conveyor frame 116 (not shown). As shown in FIG. 2, the mixing baffles 130 are mounted perpendicular to the lid 120 with an L-shaped mounting bracket 160. The lid 120 may comprise a plurality of apertures corresponding to the mounting position of each of the mixing baffles 130. The mixing baffles 130 may be made out of a rigid durable material such as ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, or steel.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mixing baffles 130 are mounted such that the downstream portion of the mixing baffle extends inwardly toward the center of the conveyor. The first baffle is mounted to the conveyor with a peripheral portion disposed upstream of a central portion. The particulate material ricochets off of the upstream surface 133 of the first mixing baffle 130A, causing the particulate material to move backwards (upstream, see arrow 112) in the longitudinal axis of the conveyor and toward the second lateral side 172. The first mixing baffle 130A is mounted to the conveyor 110 with a peripheral portion 134 disposed upstream of a central portion. The first mixing baffle can be mounted at less than a 50 angle (see angle a in FIG. 2) between a first plane 150 defined by the first mixing baffle 130A and a vertical plane 152 tangential to the curvilinear structure 114 of the conveyor 110 at the sidewall 154. In the situation where the particulate material is a quantity of a plant seed partially covered with a wet seed treatment, inducing backflow and directing lateral movement spreads the wet seed treatment about the quantity of the plant seed.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1-2, the mixing baffles 130 are disposed in alternating lateral sides. A first plurality of mixing baffles 130A, 130C, 130E, and 130G are disposed on the first lateral side 170 of the conveyor 110. A second plurality of mixing baffles 130B, 130D, and 130F are disposed on the second lateral side 172 of the conveyor 110. In this orientation, the first plurality of mixing baffles disposed on the first lateral side 170 cause seed to move from the first lateral side 170 to the second lateral side 172. In a similar manner, the second plurality of mixing baffles disposed on the second lateral side 172 cause particulate material to move from the second lateral side 172 to the first lateral side 170.

[0027] There is a compromise between material transfer rate of the conveyor and the amount of mixingthe more backflow and lateral movement is induced, the less downstream movement there is of the particulate material. In order to provide a thorough mixing while maintaining flow rates, a passage 138 can be provided in one or more of the mixing baffles 130. A mixing baffle 130 is shown in FIG. 3 having a passage 138 disposed in a peripheral portion 134 of the mixing baffle. The lower portion 136 of the mixing baffle comprises an arc having a profile corresponding to the curvilinear structure 114. The lower portion 136 is disposed near the carrying surface of the belt in order to engage the bottom of the stream of particulate material. In the example of a seed treatment system, the belt may incorporate texture on the carrying surface to assist with traction for carrying the load up an incline, such as raised crescents that assist with carrying the load. The lower portion 136 of the mixing baffle 130 is disposed at a predetermined distance from the raised crescents. In one embodiment, the bottom of the mixing baffle 130 is located above the raised crescents by less than three average diameters of the particulate material. In one embodiment, the bottom of the mixing baffle 130 is located above the raised crescents by approximately . Similarly, the arc of lower portion 136 of the mixing baffle follows the belt conformed to the curvilinear structure 114 around to the sidewall 154 at a similar spacing. Having a space in between the top of the belt texture and the bottom of the mixing baffle 130 prevents seed damage from friction or pinching.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, the mixing baffle 130 comprises a first aperture 161 and a second aperture 162 for securing the mixing baffle to a mounting bracket 160. The mixing baffle also comprises a downward extending section. In FIG. 3, the downward extending section is the central portion 132. The lower portion 136 extends laterally. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5 the downward extending section is the peripheral portion 134. In both the embodiment in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the mixing baffle 130 has a downward extending portion and a lateral extending portion. The passage 138 may be semi-circular, otherwise curvilinear, rectangular, or other aperture shape to allow a top portion of the seed stream to flow over the lower portion 136. In FIG. 4, there is no passage disposed in the mixing baffle 130. Alternatively, the mixing baffle 130 may have a central downward extending portion and have a lower portion that extends laterally in one or both lateral directions. The mixing baffle 130 may have one or multiple passages therethrough.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, alignment of the mixing baffles may be: first baffle 130A is on the first lateral side 170, with the first passage 138A disposed in the first peripheral portion 138A; second baffle 130B is on the second lateral side 172, with the second passage 138B disposed in the second central portion 132B; third baffle 130C is on the first lateral side 170, with the third passage 138C disposed in the third peripheral portion 138C; the forth baffle 130D is on the second lateral side 172, with the forth passage 138D disposed in the fourth central portion 132D. In this pattern, there is a clear passageway for the top portion to move through the curvilinear structure 114. Alternatively, the pattern of the passage location may alternate, where a first mixing baffle is disposed in a first lateral side with a peripheral passage, followed by a second mixing baffle disposed in a second lateral side with a peripheral passage, followed by a third mixing baffle disposed in a first lateral side with a central passage, followed by a fourth mixing baffle disposed in a second lateral side with a central passage, and then repeating this pattern. In this pattern, there is no clear passage for portion of the particulate stream to travel through the curvilinear structure of the incline conveyor. Alternatively, the pattern of the passage location may alternate, where a first mixing baffle is disposed in a first lateral side with a peripheral passage, followed by a second mixing baffle disposed in a second lateral side with a peripheral passage, followed by a third mixing baffle disposed in a first lateral side with a peripheral passage, followed by a fourth mixing baffle disposed in a second lateral side with a central passage, and then repeating this pattern.

[0030] In one embodiment, the mixing baffles 130 have a tapered or beveled edge to prevent damage to seed contacting an edge of the mixing baffles.

[0031] The mixing baffle can be statically mounted to the lid 120, the conveyor frame (not shown), or the curvilinear structure 114. The statically mounted mixing baffle can be bolted or welded within the tube, or otherwise securely mounted within the tube. Alternatively, the mixing baffles can be adjustably mounted, where the mixing baffles can be selectively deployed. The mixing baffle 130 can be mounted to a hinge bracket. In this way, the mixing baffle can be selectively deployed to enable the conveyor to have a transfer-speed-maximizing mode and a mixing mode. The hinge bracket may be limited at an angle less than or equal to 90 degrees.

[0032] As an alternative application, this Mixing Inclined Belt Conveyor having Static Baffles with Passages may be employed to mix or blend dry particulate fertilizer during transport, to blend seed varieties, and to mix powdered, dry agrochemical to a seed.

[0033] It is understood that the invention is not confined to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein described. That although the drawings and specification set forth a preferred embodiment, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a description sense only and embody all such forms as come within the scope of the following claims.

[0034] In the Summary above, the Detailed Description, and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features including method steps of the invention. The reader should understand that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, or a particular claim, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally. It is understood that the invention is not confined to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein described. That although the drawings and specification set forth a preferred embodiment, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a description sense only and embody all such forms as come within the scope of the following claims.

[0035] The term comprises, and its grammatical equivalents are used in this document to mean that other components, steps, etc. are optionally present. For example, an article comprising or which comprises components A, B, and C can consist of components A, B, and C, or can contain not only components A, B, and C but also one or more other components.