WO2018158721A1

WO2018158721A1 - Dispenser for granular material

Info

Publication number: WO2018158721A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/051310
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roberto Barbieri
Original assignee: AGREX SpA
Current assignee: AGREX SpA
Priority date: 2017-03-01
Filing date: 2018-03-01
Publication date: 2018-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 2019-09-01
Also published as: IT201700023116A1

Abstract

Dispenser (1) for granular material (M) provided with a frame (10) supporting a hopper (20) suitable to contain the material (M), spreading means (30) for spreading the material (M), and an actuating device (40) arranged below the hopper (20) for actuating the spreading means (30); the frame (10) comprising at least a first support (140) and a second support (142) that are distinct from each other and coupled to each other through releasable coupling members (51) (53).

Description

DISPENSER FOR GRANULAR MATERIAL

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a dispenser for granular material. In particular, the present invention relates to a dispenser for granular material designed to be coupled to an agricultural machine. In more detail, the present invention relates to a dispenser for granular material designed to be coupled to an agricultural machine and to be easily assembled.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

In the field of agricultural machines the construction of dispensers for granular material is well known, for example, also without limitation, for dispensing manure, salt or seeds, these dispensers being provided with a frame designed to be coupled at the back to a portion of the frame of a tractor, or to be installed on a manually actuatable carriage and to be actuated by a rotatable drive member of the tractor or by the movement of the wheels. In both cases, the dispenser comprises a frame provided by welding metal tubular elements and supporting an operating unit comprising an actuating device housed in a support rigidly carried by the frame below the hopper and inside a seat connected through welding to the tubular elements at respective opposite sides. This operating unit has the double function of receiving the material to be spread and to drive into rotation a stirring member facing the inside of the hopper to move continuously the material inside it and thus to keep the granules separate from one another. The operating unit also has the function of actuating a supplying member (of the rotary type or of any other type) arranged below the hopper above the actuating device to spread the material in the vicinity of the dispenser. The hopper can be indifferently welded to the frame or connected thereto in releasable manner, so as to be transported separately from the active portion of the rest of the equipment and to be transported stacked together with the other ones, thus limiting the volume occupied during the transport and avoiding damages to the metal sheet of which it is made. This allows partially to limit the overall costs for transport and logistics of the spreading member.

The choice of welding the frame, and thus the seat for the actuating device, is made to limit the production costs of the spreading members described above, as welding can be performed in an automated line provided with welding robots with no production time constraints productive and therefore at very limited costs. On the other hand, once the machine has been delivered to the distributor, the hopper shall be joined to the frame above the operating unit, and, as it has been transported separately, it shall be joined to the operating unit again to be sold. It is easily understood that the total volume of the machinery is significant; therefore also at the distributor's premises it is necessary to carry out assembly operations, as well as to reserve an adequate space for the spreading members to be sold.

This results in the need for large space on the pallets, and therefore a great waste of space, both in the case the machinery is shipped fully assembled, and in the case where, as often occurs, the hopper is coupled to the remaining part of the machine only at the distributor's warehouse. In view of the above description, machines like those described above are particularly expensive and therefore not easily marketed, due to the limited complexity of the task that can be performed, even if the spreading of granular products is required in many situations for example to fertilize the soil or to prevent it from icing up.

As significantly high costs for transport and logistics are associated with this type of agricultural machinery, it is easily understood that all these aspects represent a drawback that limits a wide use thereof, despite the great versatility and the numerous use opportunities. For this reason, the Applicant has decided to completely review the design of these machines, aiming at defining a new product standard of product with unchanged functionality and strength, that can be produced at low cost, and can be transported and stored at significantly lower costs.

Prior art dispensers for granular material are described in the patent documents WO 2006/125497 Al and EP 0 165 629 A2.

In view of the situation described above, it would be desirable to have available a dispenser for granular material which, in addition to limiting and possibly overcoming the drawbacks illustrated above, sets a new standard for such machinery, in order to significantly increase the market share thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a dispenser for granular material that Is so shaped that it can be produced and transported at limited costs.

According to the present invention a dispenser for granular material is provided, whose main features will be described in at least one of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the dispenser for granular material according to the present invention will be more apparent from the description below, set forth with reference to the attached figures, which illustrate at least a non-limiting example of embodiment. In particular:

- figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a dispenser according to the present invention with some parts removed for the sake of clarity;

- figure 2 is an exploded view of figure 1 in reduced scale;

- figure 3 is a first portion of figure 1 from a laterally opposite viewpoint;

- figure 4 is a rear portion of figure 1 in enlarged scale; - figure 5 is a front view of a lower portion of figure 1, with some parts removed for the sake of clarity;

- figure 6 is a portion of a plan view of figure 1; and

- figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of a variant of a detail of figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In figure 1, number 1 indicates, as a whole, a dispenser for granular material M according to the present invention, wherein granular material means any material constituted by grains that shall be distributed on the ground, for example manure for cultivation or salt to avoid ice formation during the cold season.

With reference to figure 1 again, the dispenser 1 comprises a modular frame 10, as it will be better explained below, supporting a hopper 20 suitable to contain the material M, a spreading group 30 to spread the material M around the dispenser 1 and a rotary actuating device 40 arranged below the hopper 20 to actuate the spreading group 30. This device is provided with a gear box 55 having a plurality of threaded holes that can be used for the installation thereof on board of the frame 10, as it will be better explained below. The frame 10 and the hopper 20 have symmetrical shape with respect to a longitudinal median plane P, whose traces are shown only in figure 1 by means of a broken line.

The frame 10 comprises a first tubular support 140 and a second tubular support 142, that are arranged laterally at opposite sides of the plane P, and therefore distinct from each other but rigidly coupled together through a tubular spacing member 52 and frontally through a tubular coupling member 54. The spacing member 52 is arranged inside the hopper 20 between the first end portions 144 to connect the first and the second supports 140/142 to close the frame 10 frontally and to dampen, in use, the vibrations of the conical mantle of the hopper 20. The coupling member 54 has a central seat 56 designed to be coupled, in use, to the frame of a tractor or any other self-propelled agricultural machine provided with adequate coupling members and with a power take-off. Moreover, the first support 140 and the second support 142 substantially have respective first end portions 144 and second end portions 146 coupled to the hopper 20 in a releasable manner and to the actuating device 40 respectively. In particular, each end portion 144 and 146 has a bracket 148 and the set of the two brackets 148 defines a seat 149 (figure 5) for the actuating device 40. Moreover, the gear box 55 is carried between the brackets 148 of the first support 140 and of the second support 142, so as to close at the back the frame 10, of which it is obviously an integral part. The frame 10 therefore comprises the first support 140, the second support 142, the spacing member 52, the coupling member 54 and the gear box 55 of the actuating device 40. It should be noted that these components of the frame 10 are connected together through releasable mechanical coupling members, so as to facilitate assembling of the dispenser 1 so that it can be even performed by operators with no experience in constructing agricultural machine. These mechanical members are threaded and comprise screws 51 and bolts 53, shown at least in figures 1, 3 and 5.

The spreading group 30 comprises a disc-shaped supplying member 34 arranged below the hopper 20. This supplying member 34 has a plurality of truncated-cylindrical blades 340 facing the hopper 20, each of which is arranged in a substantially radial manner with respect to an axis A of the hopper 20. The supplying member 20 is mechanically coupled to a shaft 42 (figure 2) of the actuating device 40 so as to be driven into rotation by means of the actuating device 40 and shaped to spread the material M peripherally with respect to the hopper 20.

With reference to figures 1 and 2, at least one of the first support 140 and second support 142 is concave and has a minimum dimension slightly greater than a maximum dimension of the supplying member 34 so that it can be circumscribed by this latter. It is clearly apparent in figures 1 and 2 that the first and the second supports 140/142 are shaped in a mirror-like identical manner, without however limiting the protective scope of the invention, and the concavity of the first and the second supports 140/142 is obtained by bending and is so proportioned as to circumscribe the supplying member 34 and to delimit and contain it, if necessary due to manufacturing needs, as better explained below.

The hopper 20 extends from a respective bottom 22 according to a given axis A, vertical in figures 1 and 2, and has increasing dimension along the axis A starting from the bottom 22. For the practicality of drawing, without however limiting the protective scope of the invention, the hopper 20 is substantially of truncated-conical shape and is provided with control members 60 associated with the respective bottom 22 to adjust the amount of material M that can be supplied to the spreading group 30. Moreover, a stirring member 24 is associated with the hopper 20, the stirring member being shaped like a propeller to move continuously the material N. The stirring member 24 is carried in combination with the bottom 22 and is keyed to the shaft 42 in end position so as to be actuated by the actuating device 40. The bottom 22 is closed by means of a flow controller 220 for controlling the material H to be supplied and by a broadcast 222, that are known devices that can be both controlled by respective levers 2200 and 2220, better visible in figure 2. A protective casing 11 is provided between the first support 140 and the second support 142, the casing supporting the mechanisms of the levers 2200 and 2220.

The first support 140 and the second support 142 have been shaped substantially flat for practicality of drawing, by they can have spatial curvatures without however departing from the protective scope of the invention, for example in necessary due to particular constructive needs of the dispenser 1. The use of the dispenser 1 is clearly apparent from the description above and does not require further explanations. However, it should be useful to specify that the first and the second support have respectively coupling pins 1400 and 1420 in substantially median position, that, together with the seat 56, define the set of couplings to install the dispenser 1 at the back of a tractor, for the use thereof. Similarly, the actuating device 40 has a grooved shaft 49 that can be used to couple the couple in a form-fitting manner to a power take-off of an agricultural machine for the actuation thereof and, in view of the above description, for the actuation of the stirring member 24 and of the supplying member 34. Furthermore, it could be useful to note that the first support 140 and the second support 142 have a maximum transversal dimension lower than a maximum dimension of the hopper 20. In this way, both the supports can be positioned inside the hopper 20, for example in a package or simply to prepare a step for assembling the dispenser 1. Moreover, taking into account the fact that the first support 140 and the second support 142 are sized to circumscribe the supplying member 34, to appropriately size the spacing member 52 and the coupling member 54 allows to package these components in a single box of reduced dimensions with respect to the overall dimension of the dispenser 1, and also of the hopper 20. It is easy to understand that this facilitates the transport of the disassembled dispenser and, of course, also the marketing thereof.

Lastly, it is clearly apparent that variants and modifications can be done to the dispenser 1 described and illustrated herein without however departing from the protective scope of the invention. For example, in figure 7 a hopper 20' has been illustrated having again conical shape but constructed by assembling a plurality of conical axial portions 26, whose cross- sections transversal to the axis A' are geometrically similar and whose larger and smaller diameters are proportioned so as to couple two-by-two through interference in a fluid-tight substantially telescopically manner. Fastening members 70, in particular radial plates 72, shown externally in figure 7 and connected together by means of known threaded members, not shown for economy of drawing, allow to stop the flared portions 26 in an interference position, making the maximum axial extension of the hopper 20' axially stable.

In particular, an end axial portion 26' of maximum transversal dimension is slightly greater than a maximum dimension of the first support 140 and/or of the second support 142. Therefore, also in this case the first support 140 and the second support 142 can be housed inside said axial portion 26'. An appropriate axial dimensioning of , this end axial portion 26' allows to integrally contain the first support 140 and the second support 142 so as to simplify the packaging and pre-assembling of the hopper 20 on the dispenser 1. Therefore, the height of the axial portion 26' of maximum transversal dimension can be proportioned so as to contain integrally all the other axial portions 26 and, if necessary, also the first support 140, the second support 142, the spacing member 52, the supplying member 34 and the coupling member 54. Obviously, the vertical extension of this axial portion 26' shall be slightly greater than the sum of the transversal dimensions of these components stacked above one another and possibly one inside the other. Lastly, it should be noted that the first support 140 and the second support 142, as well as the spacing member 52 and the coupling member 54 may be constructed using a metal laminate or a plastic laminate instead of a tubular body, without however limiting the scope of the present invention.

In view of the above description, it is easy to understand that the choice of making the frame 10 avoiding welding connections and giving preference to threaded connections makes the frame 10 modular and easy to be assembled, even by a person with minimal knowledge of mechanics, such as screwing a screw on a nut or a threaded hole provided in a component. The use of threaded members also for connecting the hopper 20 to the frame 10 allows doing the same thing to complete the construction of the dispenser 1. The choice of dimensioning as described above the structural components of the frame 10 indicated above, and possibly also the hopper, allows the structural and operational components of the dispenser 1 to be packaged in a box having a minimum dimensions with respect to the dimensions of a dispenser 1 in conditions of use. This feature allows to simplify the method and the construction line of the dispenser 1 and to eliminate the assembly costs. In view of the above description, the disassembled dispenser 1 packaged as indicated above is compatible with the specific requirements of large retailers. For this reason, the dispenser 1 defines a new technical-commercial standard for machines spreading granular material.

Claims

1. Modular frame (10) for a dispenser (1) of granular material (M) provided with a hopper (20) suitable to contain said material (M) , with spreading means (30) for spreading said material (M) and with an actuating device (40) arranged below said hopper (20) for actuating said spreading means (30) ; said actuating device (40) being provided with a gear box (50); the frame (10) comprising said gear box (50), a first support (140) for said hopper (20) and a second support (142) for said hopper (20), a spacing member (52) arranged between said first support (140) and said second support (142) inside said hopper (20) , and a coupling member (54) arranged at the front between said first support (140) and said second support (142) ; first threaded means

(51) (53) being provided to connect said first support (140) and said second support (142) through said spacing member

(52) and to connect said first support (140) and said second support (142) through said coupling member (54), characterized in that second threaded means (51) (53) are provided to connect said first support (140) and said second support (142) through said gear box (50), and in that said first support (140) and said second support (142) are tubular.

2. Dispenser (1) for granular material (M) provided with a frame (10) according to claim 1, supporting a hopper (20) suitable to contain said material (M) , spreading means (30) for spreading said material (M) , and an actuating device (40) arranged below said hopper (20) for actuating said spreading means (30); wherein said coupling member (54) is designed to be coupled, in use, to an agricultural machine. 3. Dispenser according to claim 2, characterized in that said first support (140) and said second support (142) are shaped in a mirror-like identical manner.

4. Dispenser according to claim 2 or 3_f characterized in that said spreading means (30) comprise a supplying member (34) arranged below said hopper (20), mechanically coupled to said actuating device (40) and so shaped as to spread said material (M) peripherally with respect to said hopper (20); at least one of said first support (140) and second support (142) being shaped in a concave manner and having a minimum dimension that is slightly greater than a maximum dimension of said supplying member (34) so as to circumscribe it.

5. Dispenser according to claim 4, characterized in that said frame (10) and said hopper (20) have symmetrical shape with respect to a longitudinal median plane (P) ; each of said first support (140) and said second support (142) being substantially arranged along a single plane and having respective first end portions (144) and second end portions (146) respectively coupled to said hopper (20) , in a releasable manner, and to said actuating device (40) ; said spacing member (52) being arranged between said first end portions (144) .

6. Dispenser according to any one of claims 2-5, characterized in that said first support (140) and said second support (142) have geometrically maximum transverse dimension that is lower than a maximum dimension of said hopper (20) .

7. Dispenser according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that said spacing member (52) and said coupling member (54) are tubular.

8. Dispenser according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that said first support (140), said second support (142), said spacing member (52) and said coupling member (54) are made of a metal laminate or a plastic laminate.

9. Dispenser according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that said hopper (20) extends according to a given axis (A) starting from a bottom (22); said hopper (20) having increasing dimension starting from said bottom (20) and comprising a plurality of flared axial portions (26) having geometrically similar cross-section so as to be coupled together through interference substantially telescopically in a fluid-tight manner.

10. Dispenser according to claim 9, characterized in that fastening means (70) are provided for blocking said flared portions (26) in an interference position so as to maximize the axial extension of said hopper (20) .

11. Dispenser according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that at least one said axial portion (26') of maximum transverse dimension is slightly greater than a maximum dimension of said first support (140) and/or of said second support (142) .