Patent US3565249A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3565249A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Solid state electronic memory system for sorting machines
Assignee: Satake USA Inc
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Filing: 1969-03-07
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Granted: 1971-02-23
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Expires: 1989-03-07
Abstract
Abstract A pickup head generates an output pulse for each ferrule and thus each product being sorted by a sorting machine. The train of pulses are fed to a shift register, whereby sensing a bad product causes the shift register to count down at a rate determined by the series of pulses. An ejector is triggered to eject the bad product when it is carried in register with an associated ejector.
Inventors
- 👤 Elias H Codding
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:07
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/36; B07C5/361; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
A memory system for high speed, singulated product, sorting machines having a succession of product retaining means for individually conveying the product past an inspection chamber, including ejector means disposed a selected distance from the inspection chamber, and a classifier circuit for generating a reject pulse in response to the sensing of a bad product by the inspection chamber, comprising the combination of: means for providing a series of clock pulses in synchronism with the speed at which the product is being conveyed and inspected, said means for providing a series of clock pulses including means associated with said succession of product retaining means for generating a series of electrical pulses in synchronism with the instantaneous speed of the product retaining means; shift register means operatively coupled to said classifier circuit and to said means for providing the series of clock pulses, to receive said clock pulses and to generate an output pulse after a selected time delay proportional to the distance between the inspection chamber and the ejector means and determined by the rate of the series of clock pulses, the number of clock pulses being equal to the number of product retaining means disposed between the inspection chamber and said ejection means; and ejector driver means coupled to said shift register means for introducing a driver pulse to said ejector means in response to the occurrence of the output pulse from the shift register means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
237 words
A memory system for high speed, singulated product, sorting machines having a succession of product retaining means for individually conveying the product past an inspection chamber, including ejector means disposed a selected distance from the inspection chamber, and a classifier circuit for generating a reject pulse in response to the sensing of a bad product by the inspection chamber, comprising the combination of: means for providing a series of clock pulses in synchronism with the speed at which the product is being conveyed and inspected, said means for providing a series of clock pulses including means associated with said succession of product retaining means for generating a series of electrical pulses in synchronism with the instantaneous speed of the product retaining means; shift register means operatively coupled to said classifier circuit and to said means for providing the series of clock pulses, to receive said clock pulses and to generate an output pulse after a selected time delay proportional to the distance between the inspection chamber and the ejector means and determined by the rate of the series of clock pulses, the number of clock pulses being equal to the number of product retaining means disposed between the inspection chamber and said ejection means; and ejector driver means coupled to said shift register means for introducing a driver pulse to said ejector means in response to the occurrence of the output pulse from the shift register means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The memory system of claim 1 wherein the means associated with said succession of product retaining means further includes a slug of magnetic material precisely positioned relative to each of the succession of product retaining means, and magnetic pickup means fixedly disposed to sense the passage of the succession of slugs, and for generating a pulse commensurate with the time each slug passes adjacent the magnetic pickup means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
The memory system of claim 1 wherein the means associated with said succession of product retaining means further includes a hole precisely positioned relative to each of the succession of product retaining means, light source means fixedly disposed to direct a beam of light through the succession of holes, and phototube means fixedly disposed to receive the light beam upon passage of each hole past the light source means and to generate said series of electrical pulses in synchronism with the speed of the product retaining means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The memory system of claim 1 wherein said means for providing a series of clock pulses includes amplifying and shaping means coupled to said means associated with said succession of product retaining means for delivering said number of clock pulses to said shift register means in response to the series of electrical pulses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
84 words
The system of claim 4, wherein said shift register means include a plurality of bistable flip-flop circuits equal to the number of product retaining means disposed between the inspection chamber and the ejector means and connected in series, the flip-flop circuits being coupled to receive the series of clock pulses, wherein a first of the plurality of flip-flop circuits is further operatively coupled to said classifier circuit, and the last of the plurality of flip-flop circuits is operatively coupled to said ejector driver means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
86 words
The system of claim 5, wherein said classifier circuit provides said reject pulse for subsequent introduction to the first flip-flop circuit when the inspection chamber senses a bad product to thus change the state of the first flip-flop wHereupon the successive flip-flop circuits change state at a rate determined by the successive introduction thereto of said number of clock pulses, said clock pulses being in synchronism with the instantaneous speed of the product retaining means, said last flip-flop circuit providing an output pulse upon changing state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the means for providing a series of clock pulses further includes controllable timing means operatively coupled to said shift register means for delivering the series of clock pulses with a controllable time delay relative to the conveyed product.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 7 further including ejector pulse position controlling means coupled between the means for providing the series of clock pulses and the ejector driver means for controllably varying the initiation of the driver pulse relative to the preceding clock pulse.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
107 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the controllable timing means includes a pair of single-shot multivibrators coupled to receive the series of electrical pulses, gating means coupled to one of said single-shot multivibrators and also to said classifier circuit for delivering a reject output in response to said reject pulse from the classifier circuit and an output from the multivibrator, pulse shaping and amplifying means coupled to the second of the single-shot multivibrators and thence to the shift register means, said pair of single-shot multivibrators having means for controlling the time constants thereof wherein the time constants are maintained at a selected ratio over the controllable range.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
The system of claim 9, wherein the ejector pulse position controlling means includes a third single-shot multivibrator coupled to receive the series of clock pulses, and second gating means coupled to the shift register means and to the third single-shot multivibrator for introducing a single signal to said ejector driver means, said third single-shot multivibrator including means for controlling the time constant thereof wherein the signal delivered to the ejector driver means is selectively varied relative to the respective clock pulse.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-22 | 1974-08-24 | 1975-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-22 | 1978-08-24 | 1979-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-22 | 1982-08-24 | 1983-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |