TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure relates to a feeder table of a sugar industry. More particularly, it relates to chainless cane feeder table.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
The conventional sugarcane feeder table includes a running chain (103’) and sprockets (105’) arrangement as shown in FIG. 1. These chains (103’) have spikes on it and when the chain (103’) moves horizontally along with spikes, the sugarcane travel on the feeder table. The arrangement of chain (103’) and sprockets (105’) for the feeder table requires regular maintenance.

One kind of mechanism for feeder table having an agitator is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,412,859 (hereinafter referred to as the Pat ’859). The feeder table in the Pat ’859 includes agitator bars extending lengthwise of the feeder table in substantially parallel spaced relation and projecting above the top of the table. The bars are arranged in two groups with those of one group alternating with those of the other group. Pivoted linkage means pivotally connected to one end of the bars restrain them against appreciable endwise movement while accommodating vertical movement thereof for one of two selected modes of operation, wherein the bars of each group are reciprocated vertically and in opposite relation to the bars of the other group. In the other mode of operation, the bars of each group are reciprocated toward the discharge end of the feeder table during upward movement and toward the receiving end of the feeder table during downward movement and in opposite relation to the bars of the other group. However, the mechanism in the Pat ’859 is agitator for removing dirt and other foreign particles from the sugar cane.

The present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more of the problems as set forth above.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present disclosure provides for a feeder table. The feeder table includes a plurality of feed dog members disposed under a plurality of elongated slits of the feeder table. Each of the feed dog members includes a plurality of tooth and a through hole. The feeder table further includes an eccentric shaft rotatably disposed inside the through hole of the plurality of feed dog members. The eccentric shaft is configured to be rotated by a drive mechanism to displace the feed dog members between a forward stroke “FS” and a backward stroke “BS”. The plurality of tooth of the plurality of feed dog members is configured to be raised above the feeder table through the plurality of elongated slits to move an object placed on the feeder table when the feed dog member is displaced in the forward stroke “FS”.

In an embodiment, the through holes are configured at a middle portion of the plurality of feed dog members.

In an embodiment, each of the feed dog members includes a through hole at a front portion and at a rear portion.

In an embodiment, two idle eccentric shafts are disposed at the through holes at the front portion and the rear portion of the feed dog members.

In an embodiment, the feed dog members include a plurality of forwardly oriented tooth and the teeth pattern is updated at a later stage to suit the cane flow.

In an embodiment, each of the through hole includes a bearing member.

In an embodiment, the drive mechanism includes a motor.

In an embodiment, speed of forward stroke “FS” of the feed dog members is controlled by the motor.

In an embodiment, the plurality of tooth of the plurality of feed dog members is raised above a top surface of the feeder table when the feed dog member is displaced in the forward stroke “FS” and is lowered below the top surface of the feeder table when the feed dog member is displaced in the backward stroke “BS”.

In an embodiment, the object includes a sugar cane raw material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a conventional chain and sprocket mechanism of the feeder table, according to prior art;
FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a sugarcane processing with a feeder table, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a feeder table, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the feed dog members for the feeder table shown in FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of feed dog member shown in FIG. 4, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 6 shows a schematic of motion diagram of the feeder table shown in FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
FIG. 7 shows a schematic of motion diagram of a feed dog members shown in FIGS. 3-5, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
Provided below is a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention and a reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments or features, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, corresponding or similar reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or corresponding parts. Moreover, references to various elements described herein, are made collectively or individually when there may be more than one element of the same type. However, such references are merely exemplary in nature. It may be noted that any reference to elements in the singular may also be construed to relate to the plural and vice-versa without limiting the scope of the disclosure to the exact number or type of such elements unless set forth explicitly in the appended claim.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a portion of layout (100) of sugarcane processing with a feeder table (102), in a sugarcane industry, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. A harvested sugarcane raw material or a stalk of sugarcane (not shown) from a sugarcane farm may be transported and stored temporarily on the feeder table (102) in the sugar cane industry. The sugarcane raw material or the stalk of sugarcane from the feeder table (102) may be required to be fed to a cane cutter/a shredder (104) stationed at a different carrier generally called cane carrier, for further processing and extraction of juice from the sugarcane raw material or the stalk of sugarcane. The feeder table (102) is further configured to move the raw material in a forward direction towards the cane cutter/ shredder (104) and thereafter feeding the raw material for milling process and juice extraction.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the feeder table (102), according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The feeder table (102) as illustrated includes a planar portion (108), one or more side portions (110) and an angular feed surface (112) extending from the planar portion (108). The planer portion (108) of the feeder table (102) is configured with a plurality of elongated slits (114) extending from a top surface (116) to a bottom surface (118) of the planar portion (108) of the feeder table (102).

The planar portion (108), the side portions (110) and the angular feed surface (112) of the feeder table (102) may be supported and raised from a surface (not shown) through one or more support members (120) disposed on the surface. In an embodiment, the angular feed surface (112) may be configured to be raised or lowered or made horizontal based on a requirement. In an embodiment, the support members (120) may include equal vertical members (122) and may be fixedly disposed onto the surface. In another embodiment, the support members (120) may include vertical members (122) having varied heights to configure the planar portion (108) of the feeder table (102) to be in an inclined manner. In another embodiment, the feed dog members (124) may include hydraulic members (not shown) like, jacks for lifting the feed dog members (124) up or down to control spike length above the planar portion (108) or deck plate of the feeder table (102). The vertical members (122) of the support members (120) may be fixed to the feeder table (102) through a method including, but not limited to, welding or any other method known in the art. The angular feed surface (112) may facilitate movement of the sugarcane raw material being moved in a direction “K” by the feed dog members (124) disposed below the top surface (116) at the planar portion (108). The feeder table (102) is adapted to be connected to the support members (120).

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrates a perspective view of the feed dog members (124) shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 respectively, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The feed dog members (124) is adapted to be disposed below the top surface (116) at the planar portion (108) of the feeder table (102). The plurality of feed dog members (124) disposed adjacent to each other forming an array of the feed dog members (124). The array of feed dog members (124) is disposed under the feeder table (102) such that the feed dog members (124) are aligned with the plurality of elongated slits (114) of the feeder table (102).

The feed dog members (124) embody an elongated plate structure (126). The feed dog members (124) are configured with a plurality of tooth (128) on a top portion (130) of the feed dog members (124) and a plurality of through holes (132, 134, 136) at a bottom portion (138) of the feed dog members (124). In an embodiment, the plurality of tooth (128) is adapted to be in forwardly oriented towards the angular feed surface (112) of the feeder table (102) and the teeth pattern is updated at a later stage to suit the cane flow. The array of feed dog members (124) is made in such a way that the plurality of tooth (128) is oriented upwards and the plurality of through holes (132, 134, 136) are aligned with each other. That is to say, the plurality of through holes (132) of each of the feed dog members (124) configured at a middle portion (140) of the feed dog members (124) is aligned with each other, the plurality of through holes (134) of each of the feed dog members (124) configured at a front portion (142) of the feed dog members (124) is aligned with each other and the plurality of through holes (134) of each of the feed dog members (124) configured at a rear portion (144) of the feed dog members (124) is aligned with each other. The through holes (132, 134, 136) thus aligned at the front portion (142), the rear portion (144) and the middle portion (140) of the feed dog members (124) are inserted with eccentric shafts (146, 148, 150).

In the illustrated embodiment, the eccentric shafts (148, 150) disposed at the front and rear portions (142, 144) of the feed dog members (124) are rotatably coupled with the through holes (132, 134) of the feed dog members (124) and are adapted to be idle eccentric shafts. However, in another embodiment these eccentric shafts (148) may also be adapted to be driving shafts.

The eccentric shaft (146) disposed at the middle portion (140) of the feed dog members (124) is rotatably disposed inside the through hole (132) of the plurality of feed dog members (124). In an embodiment, the eccentric shafts (146, 148, 150) is provided with bearing members (152) at each of the through holes (136, 132, 134). The eccentric shaft (146) disposed at the middle portion (140) of the feed dog members (124) is configured to be rotated by a drive mechanism (154). In an embodiment, the drive mechanism (154) includes, but not limited to, an electric motor. The eccentric shaft (146) at the middle portion (140) driven by the motor displaces the array of feed dog members (124) between a forward stroke “FS” and a backward stroke “BS”. In an embodiment, a speed of the feed dog members (124) is controlled by the motor. The forward stroke “FS” of the array of feed dog members (124) moves an object (not shown) placed onto the planar portion (108) of the feeder table (102). In the embodiment of present disclosure, the object includes, but not limited to, a stalk of sugarcane raw material.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7 which illustrates a schematic of motion diagram of the feed dog members (102) shown in FIG. 3 and a schematic of motion diagram of the feed dog members (124) shown in FIGS. 3-5, respectively according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 6, the motion diagram is illustrated for a single feed dog member (124). However, it to be understood that the motion of each of the feed dog members (124) in the array of the feed dog members (124) remains same as the feed dog members (124) are connected with the eccentric shafts (146, 148, 150) which are fixed to the support members (120) of the feeder table (102).

The eccentric shaft (146) disposed at the middle portion (140) in the disclosure is also be referred to as a ‘main eccentric shaft’ since this eccentric shaft (146) is connected to the motor and drives the movement of the feed dog members (124) in the forward stroke “FS” and the backward stroke “BS”. The eccentric shafts (148, 150) disposed at the front portion (142) and rear portion (144) are “idle shafts” since these eccentric shafts (148, 150) are configured to support the feed dog members (124) and are not connected to the motor. In an embodiment, the rotary motion of feed dog members (124) is maintained by two idle eccentric shafts (148, 150) provided at extreme ends of the feed dog members (124). However, it is to be noted that the eccentric shafts (148, 150) disposed the front and rear portions (142, 144) may also be connected with another drive motor (not shown), which may be based on load and other requirements of the feeder table (102). All the eccentric shafts (146, 148, 150) are configured to be in sync with each other to rotate in a same direction and same speed. In the illustrated embodiment, when the main eccentric shaft (146) is rotated in anti-clockwise direction, positions of the each of the eccentric shafts (146, 148, 150) would follow a same path of rotation at points “A”, “C”, and “E” respectively, and the positions of the feed dog members (124) would follow a same path of rotation at points “B” and “D”. That is to say, when the eccentric shafts (148, 146, 150) at points “A”, “C” and “E” are at rotated at in a path from (1) to (2), then the feed dog members (124) would also take the rotation path from (1) to (2) at the points “B” and “D”. Thus, the points “A”, “B”, “C”, “D” and “E” would follow same path as illustrated. Also, the feed dog members (124) are moved in a rotary motion with same amplitude as that of eccentricity of each of the shafts (146, 148, 150).

Further, when the feed dog members (124) are displaced in the forward stroke “FS”, the plurality of tooth (128) of the plurality of feed dog members (124) is configured to be raised above the top surface (116) of the feeder table (102) through the plurality of elongated slits (114). Thus, the plurality of tooth (128) is adapted to move the object placed on the feeder table (102) in the direction “K”. Also, when the feed dog members (124) are lowered below the top surface (116) of the feeder table (102), the feed dog members (124) are displaced in a backward stroke “BS”. That is to say, when a lot or stalk of sugarcane is unloaded over the feeder table (102) continuous motion of the feed dog members (124) makes the sugarcane to travel in a forward direction (shown in FIG. 7). The feed dog members (124) carry the sugarcane in the forward stoke “FS” and during the backward stoke “BS” the feed dog members (124) moves below the top surface (116) at the planar portion (108) and no cane travel happens during the backward stoke “BS”. By controlling speed of the eccentric shaft (146), frequency of reciprocating motion of the feed dog members (124) can be changed and so, the sugarcane travel can be controlled.

Advantages
In an embodiment, the disclosed feeder table does not used chain and sprocket arrangement and therefore the feeder table requires easy and less maintenance.

In an embodiment, the disclosed feeder table is more efficient as there is no loss of power.

In an embodiment, the disclosed feeder table the unloaded sugarcane can be conveyed to a cane carrier with greater efficiency at the same time requires negligible maintenance.

In an embodiment, the disclosed feeder table is a chainless feeder table drive arrangement having rotary type motion of the feed dog for cane conveying.

While aspects of the present invention have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by modification of the disclosed device without departing from the scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present invention as determined based upon claims and any equivalents thereof.

List of Referral Numerals
100: Portion of layout
102: Feeder table
103’: Chain according to prior art
104: Cane cutter/shredder
105’: Sprocket according to prior art
108: Planar portion
110: Side portions
112: Angular feed surface
114: Plurality of elongated slits
116: Top surface
118: Bottom surface
120: Support members
122: Vertical members
124: Plurality of feed dog members
126: Elongated plate structure
128: Plurality of tooth
130: Top portion (of the feed dog member)
132: Through hole
134: Through hole
136: Through hole
138: Bottom portion (of the feed dog member)
140: Middle portion (of the feed dog member)
142: Front portion (of the feed dog member)
144: Rear portion (of the feed dog member)
146: Eccentric shaft (at middle portion)
148: Eccentric shaft (at front portion)
150: Eccentric shaft (at rear portion)
152: Bearing member
154: Drive mechanism
FS: Forward stroke
BS: Backward stroke
A: Point
B: Point
C: Point
D: Point
E: Point
1: Path
2: Path
3: Path
4: Path
K: Direction of sugar cane travel

We Claim:
1. A feeder table (102), comprising:
a plurality of feed dog members (124) disposed under a plurality of elongated slits (114) of the feeder table (102), each of the feed dog members (124) comprises a plurality of tooth (128) and a through hole (136); and
an eccentric shaft (146) rotatably disposed inside the through hole (136) of the plurality of feed dog members (124), the eccentric shaft (146) configured to be rotated by a drive mechanism to displace the feed dog members (124) between a forward stroke “FS” and a backward stroke “BS”;
wherein the plurality of tooth (128) of the plurality of feed dog members (124) is configured to be raised above the feeder table (102) through the plurality of elongated slits (114) to move an object placed on the feeder table (102) when the feed dog member (124) is displaced in the forward stroke “FS”.

2. The feeder table (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the through holes (136) are configured at a middle portion (140) of the plurality of feed dog members (124).

3. The feeder table (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the feed dog members (104) comprises a through hole (132, 134) at a front portion (142) and at a rear portion (144).

4. The feeder table (102) as claimed in claim 3, wherein two idle eccentric shafts (148, 150) are disposed at the through holes (132, 134) at the front portion (142) and the rear portion (144) of the feed dog members (124).

5. The feeder table (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feed dog members (124) comprises a plurality of forwardly oriented tooth and the teeth pattern is updated at a later stage to suit the cane flow.

6. The feeder table (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the through hole (132, 134, 136) comprises a bearing member (152).

7. The feeder table (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism (154) comprises a motor.

8. The feeder table (102) as claimed in claims 1 and 7, wherein speed of forward stroke “FS” of the feed dog members (124) is controlled by the motor.

9. The feeder table (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of tooth (128) of the plurality of feed dog members (124) is raised above a top surface (116) of the feeder table (102) when the feed dog member (124) is displaced in the forward stroke “FS” and is lowered below the top surface (116) of the feeder table (102) when the feed dog member (124) is displaced in the backward stroke “BS”.

10. The feeder table (102) as claimed in claim 1, the object includes a sugar cane raw material.