US 12,351,386 B2
Apparatus and method for receiving and conveying bulk material
Terry Mason, Lancashire (GB); and Christopher Brennan, Lancashire (GB)
Assigned to SPIROFLOW LIMITED, Lancashire (GB)
Filed by SPIROFLOW LIMITED, Lancashire (GB)
Filed on Jan. 12, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/153,971.
Claims priority of application No. 2200474 (GB), filed on Jan. 14, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0227249 A1, Jul. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. B65D 88/66 (2006.01); B65G 3/04 (2006.01)
CPC B65D 88/66 (2013.01) [B65G 3/04 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for receiving and conveying bulk material, comprising:
a hopper for receiving bulk material;
a plurality of outlets, each outlet configured to enable bulk material, received by the hopper, to exit the hopper, wherein each of the plurality of outlets comprises a valve configured to allow or restrict conveyance of the bulk material via the outlet;
an agitator arrangement configured to agitate the bulk material in the hopper in order to counteract cohesion of the bulk material, wherein the agitator arrangement is configured to urge the bulk material in the hopper towards the plurality of outlets; and
control circuitry configured to assign a priority label to each of the plurality of outlets, and configured to control the conveyance of bulk material through the plurality of outlets based on the priority label.