North Dakota Patent of the Month – March 2024
Pilers are commonly used in conveyor systems that need to screen debris out. The agricultural industry often uses pilers to separate dirt from products, like beets. If combined with a solid belt, this debris is separated from the product – the beet – but still carried along and deposited into the storage basket. Kringstad Ironworks, Inc.., an expert in pilers, have secured a patent for their new approach to piler conveyors – a design which better separates debris.
Traditionally, solid belts have been the go-to choice for conveying systems in pilers. However, these belts lack the ability to screen out debris, resulting in materials being dispersed with unwanted elements like tare dirt. This not only compromises the quality of the materials but also poses operational challenges such as jams and damage to harvested goods.
Instead, Kringstad Ironworks’ piler conveyor system features an upper conveyor equipped with screening openings, allowing debris to fall through onto a lower conveyor positioned underneath. As the materials are conveyed by the upper conveyor, the debris is efficiently screened out, ensuring that only clean, quality materials are dispensed.
What sets this system apart is its versatility and efficiency. The lower conveyor dispenses the screened debris into a separate pile, preventing contamination and minimizing waste. Meanwhile, the materials continue along the upper conveyor to be dispensed into another pile, free from unwanted elements. This dual-action approach not only enhances productivity but also improves overall product quality.
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