Bulk material shipping container unloader

Abstract

A bulk material shipping container unloader having an expandable supporter, a pallet receiver supported by the extendable supporter, and a material director supported by the pallet receiver.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . An unloader configured to support and facilitate unloading of a bulk material shipping container comprising:
 a container support including a plurality of upstanding legs, a rectangular frame with a upstanding leg connected at each corner thereof, a pallet receiver having a vertical pallet holding wall extending around the perimeter of the rectangular frame, a pallet support base extending inwardly from a bottom edge of the pallet holding wall for supporting the bulk material shipping container, and a plurality of nesting supports disposed on the pallet support base, wherein the pallet receiver is configured to receive a bottom portion of the bulk material shipping container such that the plurality of nesting supports distribute the weight of the bulk material shipping container to the upstanding leg at each corner; and   a material director attached to the pallet receiver and supported by the container support, the material director having a plurality of material directing walls extending downwardly from an upper opening adjacent the pallet receiver forming a funnel-shaped chamber terminating at a lower opening, wherein the funnel-shaped chamber is configured to receive material from the bulk material shipping container supported by the bottom end receiver and direct the received material from the upper opening to the lower opening.   
     
     
         2 . The unloader according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of material directing walls has a material unloading port formed therethrough defining the lower opening. 
     
     
         3 . The bulk material shipping container unloader of  claim 2 , wherein the material unloading port is configured to direct the received material through the chamber and toward an area exterior to two of the upstanding legs of the container support. 
     
     
         4 . The unloader according to  claim 1 , further comprising includes a nozzle connected to one of the plurality of material directing walls. 
     
     
         5 . The unloader according to  claim 1 , wherein the container support further comprises a leg stabilizing frame extending between the plurality of upstanding legs below the material director. 
     
     
         6 . The unloader of according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of upstanding legs comprises an expandable supporter having a leg section, a foot section telescopically received in the leg section and a locking member for holding the leg section and the foot section in a predetermined position for adjusting a height of the container support.