US3575292A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fruit-grading apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-11-19
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Granted: 1971-04-20
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Expires: 1988-11-19
Abstract
Abstract In a article-grading apparatus, a pair of endless belts, preferably formed by link chains support transversal shallow spaced trough-shaped containers provided with partitions and rear walls permitting their withdrawing from below the articles, when these are firmly held from their top point by frictional surfaces, constituted by swinging slats arranged at decreasing height above the articles in said trough-shaped containers. The articles, ejected from the advancing supporting trough-shaped containers due to their firm adherence to the underside of the slats, fall through the gap between subsequent containers onto discharge means.
Inventors
- 👤 Cesare Roda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:20
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07B; B07B13/00; B07B13/04; B07B13/05; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/912; Y10S209/934
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
An apparatus for grading articles having a substantially circular cross section in at least one direction so as to be capable of rolling, comprising An endless conveyor, a plurality of spaced article carrying means extending transversely of the conveyor, each carrying means including a pair of slightly spaced rollers serving to support articles in a row transverse to the conveyor, each roller pair being spaced longitudinally from the adjacent pair to provided article discharge openings between adjacent roller pairs, a plurality of grading means spaced longitudinally with respect to and above the conveyor including a plurality of slats adapted to engage the upper portion of articles carried therebelow on the roller pairs and dislodge the articles from the roller pairs, said slats moving slightly upwardly when in contact with the articles, means for receiving the articles falling through the discharge openings between adjacent roller pairs, and complemental means on the grading means and roller pair operative to effect rotation of the rollers to cause a rolling of the article supported thereby in the same direction as the direction of movement of the conveyor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
183 words
An apparatus for grading articles having a substantially circular cross section in at least one direction so as to be capable of rolling, comprising An endless conveyor, a plurality of spaced article carrying means extending transversely of the conveyor, each carrying means including a pair of slightly spaced rollers serving to support articles in a row transverse to the conveyor, each roller pair being spaced longitudinally from the adjacent pair to provided article discharge openings between adjacent roller pairs, a plurality of grading means spaced longitudinally with respect to and above the conveyor including a plurality of slats adapted to engage the upper portion of articles carried therebelow on the roller pairs and dislodge the articles from the roller pairs, said slats moving slightly upwardly when in contact with the articles, means for receiving the articles falling through the discharge openings between adjacent roller pairs, and complemental means on the grading means and roller pair operative to effect rotation of the rollers to cause a rolling of the article supported thereby in the same direction as the direction of movement of the conveyor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
The article grading apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said endless conveyor includes spaced link chains, the rear roller of each roller pair being provided with end trunnions, the end trunnions serving to hinge adjacent links together and means for supporting the link chains and roller pairs defined by notched discs engaging the roller trunnions and a positively driven shaft for at least one of said notched discs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The article grading apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the rollers of each pair are provided with annular spacing members providing separate shallow annular recesses for separating the single articles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
103 words
The article grading apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said complemental means includes a friction rim on the rollers and a lower track for the grading means at the inlet end of the conveyor and a plurality of short upper tracks in correspondence of the slats, the slats being arranged in the path of the friction rim of the rollers for effecting rotation of the rollers and the rolling of the article supported thereby first in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the conveyor and thereafter in the same direction as the direction of movement of the conveyor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
107 words
The article grading apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said slats are hinged to a supporting bar and are provided with an abutment section, a fixed abutment to prevent the dropping of said slats beyond a predetermined angle and means for adjusting the height above the level of the conveyor, said slat adjusting means comprising a pair of vertical screw spindles rotatably mounted in fixed supporting members and having threaded thereon screw threaded sleeves, supporting the ends of said slat supporting bar and abutment member, a hand wheel on at least one spindle, sprocket wheels on both spindles and a chain connecting said sprocket wheels.
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) | 1974-04-19 | 1974-10-19 | 1975-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-19 | 1978-10-19 | 1979-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-19 | 1982-10-19 | 1983-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |