AU774630B2 - Apparatus for emptying receptacle - Google Patents

Description

Title: APPARATUS FOR EMPTYING RECEPTACLE Technical Field The present invention relates to an apparatus for emptying the contents of a receptacle as a controlled pouring operation. The apparatus of the present invention is particularly suitable for use in the wine and horticultural industries, and will be described with a special reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the apparatus of the present invention also is suitable for use in a wide variety of other industries.

Backqround Art Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the S 15 field.

S.At present, the transfer of selected grape material g. fruit, pulp, juice or pre-drained skins) from a holding tank receptacle or other fermentation vessel to a membrane press is achieved by manual evacuation or mechanical conveyance.

S Manual evacuation is carried out by a person entering the vessel and digging the wet solid material toward and out of a low outwardly opening door into an open throat pump, or onto a conveyer or open auger where it is conveyed to a membrane press.

25 The main disadvantage of manual evacuation is the requirement for human labour to perform a tedious and potentially unsafe and unhygienic job. The task is time consuming and thus the overall press cycle time is increased. Further, digging, pumping and auger conveyance of wet material often decreases the quality of the final wine product given that the skins can be sheared allowing unwanted flavours to be secreted from the grapes.

An alternate method of evacuation, known as the chuting method, is to mount a conical bottomed tank above a membrane press. The tank is provided with a door or large valve at or adjacent the base which when opened allows the contents to flow directly into the press. It is difficult to control the flow rate and emptying of the contents, and so the chuting method is prone to over spills. The contents also tends to agglomerate such that agitation may be required. In view of the fact that the tank is mounted above the press, an extensive high catwalk structure is required for access and servicing. The conical bottom of the tank defining the internal cavity floor is also difficult to clean.

-2- PCT/AU95/0009 discloses a bin unloader for picking up and inverting wheeled rubbish bins. In this device, a bin to be unloaded is wheeled into an enclosure, the upper part of the bin is gripped by gripping claws, and the bin is raised and inverted.

Each bin is supported upon the floor until gripped by the gripping claws. The rate which the bin is lifted and inverted is not controlled in any way:--the object is to dump the rubbish out of the bin quickly, rather than a controlled pouring of the rubbish.

Disclosure of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

The present invention provides a method of processing bulk quantities of grape material comprising: i) supplying grape material to a bulk receptacle; ii) allowing juice to flow from the grape material; iii) extracting the juice from the bulk receptacle via a lower outlet in the bulk o. 15 receptacle; and iv) tipping the bulk receptacle so as to eject the remaining grape material through a top opening therein for further processing.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and o*o* the claims, the words 'comprise', 'comprising', and the like are to be construed in an 20 inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of"including, but not limited to".

The present invention further provides an apparatus for handling grape material comprising: a support structure; -3a receptacle suitable for containing several tonnes of grape material having a top opening at an upper end, a lower outlet at a lower end, a screen in the lower sections of the receptacle and being rotatable about a pivotal connection with the support structure; and an actuator for rotating the receptacle in a controlled manner from an upright position in which a fluid may be contained in the receptacle to a tipped position in which the contents of the receptacle may be emptied via the top opening.

Brief Description of the Drawings By way of example only, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of the apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an isometric view of two sets of apparatus in accordance with a S•variant of the first embodiment; ,Oo 15 Fig. 3 is a side view of the apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a side view of the apparatus in accordance with a third embodiment of "the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention o 20 Referring to Fig. 1, the apparatus 2 shown is a double unit, with two opposed, mirror-image stationary support frames 3a, 3b joined by a gantry 4. The gantry 4 provides two cat-walks 5, 6, and supports a conical pouring guide 7.

4 Each support frame 3a,3b comprises two spaced, parallel sides 8,9, (only one of which is visible on each frame), a front 10,11, and a base 12,13. The sides, front and base of each frame 3a,3b, are constructed as open frameworks made from spaced girders and cross-braces; for clarity, these are shown only diagrammatically in the drawings, and it will be appreciated that the support frames may be made heavier or lighter, as required for the weight of the receptacle to be supported.

The lower ends of the girders-forming the uprights of the sides 8,9, and fronts 10,11;,of the support frames extend below the corresponding bases 12,13, to form feet 16,17, upon which the support frames rest upon the ground or other supporting surface. The feet 16,17, may be adjustable to allow for uneven ground.

The upper edge of each side 8,9, is formed by an inclined brace 14,15, the lower end of which provides a pivotal anchorage for one end of an hydraulic ram 18,19.

The other end of each ram 18,19, is pivotally secured to a collar 20,21, which partly encircles a circular cross-section receptacle 22,23, associated with the support frame 3a,3b, respectively.

Each collar 20,21, is rigidly secured to the corresponding receptacle 22,23. At each side of the receptacle, the collar projects forwards, i.e. beyond the front of the support frame, and is pivoted to the corresponding side of the gantry 4 at pivots 20a,21a.

o Each receptacle 22,23, is substantially cylindrical, but with a tapered upper portion 24,25, terminating in a top opening 26,27, through which the contents of the receptacle may be poured when the receptacle is inclined, as hereinafter described. This top opening 26,27, may be closed by a removable lid (not shown).

Each receptacle and its associated support frame are dimensioned so that the receptacle can be pivoted in and out of the stationary frame, pivoting between the lowered position L of Fig. 1 and the raised position R of Fig. 1. In the lowered position, each receptacle 22,23, hangs above the corresponding base 12,13, supported from the collar 20,21. This keeps the bottom of the receptacle clean and also prevents it 000.0 35 from catching or binding on the base 12,13.

5 Each collar 20,21, encircles the corresponding receptacle 22,23, just below the tapered upper portion 24,25. Each collar may be permanently secured to the receptacle by welding) or may be releasably secured to the receptacle. The pair of hydraulic rams 18,19, are secured one to each side of the collar, near the front of the corresponding support frame, such that when the pair of rams 18 is extended as shown on the left-hand side of Fig.1, the receptacle is raised and pivoted in the direction of arrow A, until it reaches the raised, partially-inverted position R. In this position, the top opening 26 is above the pouring guide 7, so that the contents of the receptacle can pour out of the opening 26 to be collected by the guide 7.

Since the receptacle is raised and pivoted by a pair of hydraulic rams, the movement of the receptacle is completely controllable the receptacle can be raised and/or pivoted slowly or rapidly, as required. Further, pouring can be halted at any point:- it is not necessary to empty the receptacle in a single pouring.

All pouring operations can be fully supervised by a controller standing on the cat-walk 5/6. The controller can control the rams directly, by a remote control, or can.

communicate with a second person controlling the rams.

The pouring guide 7 is located beneath a corresponding aperture (not visible) in the gantry 4. The guide 7 can direct the contents of the receptacle into any required container located beneath the guide. Fig. 1 diagrammatically represents a membrane press 27 beneath the guide 7, but it will be appreciated that the membrane press could 25 be replaced by any desired type of container/further processing apparatus.

The above described apparatus is used as follows each of the receptacles 22,23 is filled with any desired grape material, fruit, pulp, juice, pre-drained skins or fortifying beverage) with the containers 22,23 in the lowered position L. The 30 receptacles are filled through the top openings 26,27. The receptacles may be fitted with internal screens or filters (not shown) so that if the receptacles are filled with material which is a mixture of liquid and solid pulp) the liquid drains through to the bottom of the receptacle and can be removed from the receptacle by pumping out through a lower aperture (not shown) in the receptacle, if desired.

0..'C 6 If the receptacle is fitted with a removable collar 20,21, then the receptacle may be filled with the material either before or after positioning in the support frame.

When it is desired to remove some or all of the material from one of the receptacles 22, a container or further processing apparatus a membrane press 27) is positioned below the pouring guide 7, and the upper hatch of the membrane press opened to receive material poured through the guide 7. The lid of the receptacle 22 is removed, and the operator controls the supply of hydraulic fluid to the pair of rams 18 to gradually extend the rams and slowly raise and tilt the receptacle,22, so that material pours from the open top 26 of the container 22 into the guide 7 and hence into the membrane press 27. The pouring operation may be supervised and/or controlled by a person standing on the catwalk 6. When the desired amount of material has been poured out of the receptacle, the receptacle 22 is.lowered back to position L by contracting the pair of rams 18. It would be appreciated that the raising and tipping of the receptacle 22 may be as slow and as gentle as necessary. If the contents of the receptacle 22 tend to. stick inside the receptacle, the receptacle can be rocked backwards and forwards by alternation of the hydraulic rams 18 in reverse and forward drive to remove any material that may adhere to the base and sides of the receptacle walls.

S. ;Throughout the lifting and lowering of the receptacle 22, the apparatus is. stabilised by the receptacle 23 in the lowered position, and its associated support frame. For additional stability, the feet 16,17 may be secured to the ground/floor.

S: 25 The receptacle 23 is emptied in the same manner as described above in respect of the receptacle 22.

Fig. 2 shows a pair of double units similar, but not identical, to those of Fig. 1. The same components are given the same reference numerals. In the Fig. 2 embodiment, 30 the girders 8a,9a forming the outer edges of the sides 8,9, are angled inwards, so that the diagonal braces 14,15 are somewhat shorter than in the Fig. 1 embodiment.

I: Further, the lower ends of the pairs of hydraulic rams 18,19 are mounted on brackets 14a,15a, secured to the braces 14,15, rather than directly to the braces.

The right-hand side of Fig. 2 shows the receptacle 23 as a four-position 'development' -7between the fully-lowered position L and the fully-raised position R.

In the second embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the apparatus is a single unit only; all the parts of the apparatus which are the same as described above with reference to Fig. s 1 and 2 are identified by the same numerals. In the Fig. 3 embodiment, there is only a single receptacle 22 with its associated support frame 3a. In order to stabilise the apparatus when the receptacle 22 is moved to the raised position R as shown in Fig.

S3, the end of the gantry 4 furthest from the support frame 3a is secured to a wall Altematively, one or more supporting legs may be substituted for the wall The third embodiment shown in Fig. 4 also is a single unit and, as in Fig. 3, the same reference numerals as in Fig. 1 are used for identical components. In the Fig. 4 embodiment, the receptacle 22 in the raised position R is stabilise by increasing the width of the parallel sides 8 of the support frame 3a, so that the front legs 31 of the support frame lie beneath the point of balance of the receptacle 22 in the raised position R.

The receptacles and the associated support frames may be made of any suitable material. For use with organic materials such as grape products, stainless steel receptacles are preferred.

Typical dimensions and capacities are: receptacle capacity-10 tonnes diameter of receptacle base-2710 cm.

25 length of each side 8-1950 cm.

height of support frame-3000 cm.

height of top of receptacle above ground in position L-3640 cm.

height of base of receptacle above ground in position R-6950.54 cm overall width of support frame and receptacles-8140 cm It will be appreciated that pneumatic 30 rams could be substituted for hydraulic rams 18,19, for appropriate applications where the o weight of the receptacle plus load is relatively light.

It will be appreciated that the illustrated embodiments provide an apparatus for emptying a receptacle which minimises bruising and/or spillage loss during emptying of the receptacle i 35 contents and provides rapid but controllable emptying in a manner which places relatively low stress on the material being emptied. The embodiments also provide an apparatus which is self supporting and of a relatively compact design.

Claims (16)

1. A method of processing bulk quantities of grape material comprising: i) supplying grape material to a bulk receptacle; ii) allowing juice to flow from the grape material; iii) extracting the juice from the bulk receptacle via a lower outlet in the bulk receptacle; and iv) tipping the bulk receptacle so as to eject the remaining grape material through a top opening therein for further processing.

2. A method as claimed claim 1 wherein the grape material ejected from the receptacle is further processed in a press.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bulk receptacle includes a screen dividing the receptacle into upper and lower sections.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bulk receptacle is tilted in a controlled manner in order to supply grape material to a receiving receptacle at a desired rate.

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of bulk receptacles are employed and grape material is sequentially supplied from each bulk receptacle for S•further processing.

6. An apparatus for handling grape material comprising: t".i 20 a support structure; a receptacle suitable for containing several tonnes of grape material having a top opening at'an upper end, a lower outlet at a lower end, a screen in the lower sections of the receptacle and being rotatable about a pivotal connection with the support structure; and o 25 an actuator for rotating the receptacle in a controlled manner from an upright position in which a fluid may be contained in the receptacle to a tipped position in which the contents of the receptacle may be emptied via the top opening.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the receptacle includes a collar that S is pivotally connected to the support structure and wherein the actuator rotates the collar with respect to the support structure.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the actuator is an hydraulic actuator. -9-

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the actuator comprises a pair of rams provided on either side of the receptacle, each connected at one end to the support structure and at the other end to the receptacle at a point away from the pivotal connection.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the hydraulic rams are connected to the collar.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein a screen is contained in the lower sections and wherein the lower outlet is below the screen when the receptacle is upright.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the receptacle tapers towards the top opening.

13. An apparatus comprising a plurality of tanks as claimed in claim 6 which each tank tips its contents into a common region.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein a pair of receptacles are provided in an opposing configuration and empty their contents into a region between the two receptacles.

A method as claimed in claim 1 substantially as herein described.

16. An apparatus for handling grape material substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the company and drawings. SV •20 DATED this 7 th Day of April, 2004 S: •BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS go.. Attorneys for: TAYLORS ENGINEERING (BLENHEIM) LIMITED 0% ••go