Automatic scullery apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus apparatus for sorting hard smooth articles such as plasticware or tableware from debris comprising, in combination, a conveying means for moving the debris and articles along a path, said conveying means having a mesh conveying surface inclined toward a longitudinal edge, said debris that is not slidable being snagged on said mesh surface, and said debris that is slidable, sliding off said conveying means, guide belt means adjacent said longitudinal edge for guiding the articles which slide to the longitudinal edge along said path, said conveying surface extending along said path a distance greater than said guide belt means whereby the articles slide off said conveying surface after passing said guide belt means.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said guide belt means is spaced from said conveying surface a distance just less than the transverse dimension of the smallest article whereby pieces of slidable debris which are smaller than the spacing between said guide belt means and said conveying surface will fall between them.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said guide belt means is a moving endless belt.

Claim 5

Apparatus for sorting articles according to height and transverse dimension comprising a conveyor for moving articles along a path and having an edge disposed parallel to said path, a first cam diverter spaced a predetermined distance above said conveyor to intercept taller articles, said first cam diverter having a guide surface spaced diagonally from said edge to sort the taller articles into groups by diverting said taller articles off said edge at intervals determined by the transverse dimension of the taller articles and the distance of the guide surface from said edge, a second cam diverter to intercept articles which are shorter than said predetermined distance, said second cam diverter having a guide surface spaced diagonally from said edge to sort the shorter articles into groups by diverting said shorter articles off said edge at intervals determined by the transverse dimension of the shorter articles and the distance of the guide surface of the second cam diverter from said edge.

Claim 6

Apparatus for sorting articles according to height and transverse dimension comprising a conveyor for moving articles along a path and having an edge disposed parallel to said path, a first cam diverter spaced a predetermined distance above said conveyor to intercept taller articles, said first cam diverter having a guide surface spaced diagonally from said edge to sort the taller articles into groups by diverting said taller articles off said edge at intervals determined by the transverse dimension of the taller articles and the distance of the guide surface from said edge, a second cam diverter to intercept articles which are shorter than said predetermined distance, said second cam diverter having a guide surface spaced diagonally from said edge to sort the shorter articles into groups by diverting said shorter articles off said edge at intervals determined by the transverse dimension of the shorter articles and the distance of the guide surface of the second cam diverter from said edge.

Claim 7

Apparatus for sorting hard smooth articles including tableware and hard trash objects from debris comprising conveying means having a perforated conveying surface inclined toward a longitudinal edge for moving the articles and debris along a path, a moving endless belt for guiding articles along said path, said belt spaced from said conveying surface a distance just less than the height of the smallest piece of tableware whereby pieces of hard trash that are smaller than the spacing between said endless belt and said conveying surface will fall between them, said conveying surface extending along said path a distance greater than said barrier means, whereby the articles guided thereby slide off said conveying surface after passing said barrier means.

Claim 8

Apparatus for sorting hard smooth articles including tableware and hard trash objects from debris comprising conveying means having a perforated conveying surface inclined toward a longitudinal edge for moving the articles and debris along a path, a moving endless belt for guiding articles along said path, said belt spaced from said conveying surface a distance just less than the height of the smallest piece of tableware whereby pieces of hard trash that are smaller than the spacing between said endless belt and said conveying surface will fall between them, said conveying surface extending along said path a distance greater than said barrier means, whereby the articles guided thereby slide off said conveying surface after passing said barrier means.

Claim 9

Apparatus for sorting articles according to height and transverse dimension comprising conveying means for moving articles along a path and having an edge disposed parallel to said path, cam means overlying said conveying means and having a guide surface spaced from said conveying means to pass articles below a predetermined height and to divert articles above said predetermined height, said guide surface extending toward said edge and inclined with respect thereto to dump articles over said edge at different positions according to the transverse dimension of the articles.

Claim 10

Apparatus for sorting articles according to height and transverse dimension comprising conveying means for moving articles along a path and having an edge disposed parallel to said path, cam means overlying said conveying means and having a guide surface spaced from said conveying means to pass articles below a predetermined height and to divert articles above said predetermined height, said guide surface extending toward said edge and inclined with respect thereto to dump articles over said edge at different positions according to the transverse dimension of the articles.

Claim 11

Apparatus for sorting articles according to size and shape comprising conveying means for moving articles along a path and having an edge disposed parallel to said path, cam means overlying said conveying means and having a guide surface for diverting articles over said edge and off said conveying means, said guide surface being spaced from said edge a first distance upstream in said path and spaced from said edge a lesser distance downstream in said path, said conveying means being inclined downwardly from said edge, and further including a chute inclined downwardly from said edge away from said conveying means.

Claim 12

Apparatus for sorting articles according to size and shape comprising conveying means for moving articles along a path and having an edge disposed parallel to said path, cam means overlying said conveying means and having a guide surface for diverting articles over said edge and off said conveying means, said guide surface being spaced from said edge a first distance upstream in said path and spaced from said edge a lesser distance downstream in said path, said conveying means being inclined downwardly from said edge, and further including a chute inclined downwardly from said edge away from said conveying means.

Claim 13

Apparatus for sorting articles according to size and shape comprising conveying means for moving articles along a path and having an edge disposed parallel to said path, a first cam means overlying said conveying means, a second cam means disposed downstream of said first cam means, said first cam means being vertically spaced from said conveying means a distance greater than said second cam means, whereby articles passing under said first cam means are deflected off said conveying means by said second cam means, a guide surface on said first cam means for diverting articles over said edge and off said conveying means, said guide surface being spaced from said edge a first distance upstream in said path and spaced from said edge a lesser distance downstream in said path, said conveying means being inclined downwardly from said edge, and further including a chute inclined downwardly from said edge away from said conveying means.

Claim 14

Apparatus for sorting articles according to size and shape comprising conveying means for moving articles along a path and having an edge disposed parallel to said path, a first cam means overlying said conveying means, a second cam means disposed downstream of said first cam means, said first cam means being vertically spaced from said conveying means a distance greater than said second cam means, whereby articles passing under said first cam means are deflected off said conveying means by said second cam means, a guide surface on said first cam means for diverting articles over said edge and off said conveying means, said guide surface being spaced from said edge a first distance upstream in said path and spaced from said edge a lesser distance downstream in said path, said conveying means being inclined downwardly from said edge, and further including a chute inclined downwardly from said edge away from said conveying means.