Article segregating machine

Claim 2

A sensing system designed to react differently to ears of corn traveling tassle end first than to ears of corn traveling butt end first, said system including detection means for engaging each ear as it passes by the sensing system, means movably mounting said detection means so that it is actuated differently when engaged by a tassle-end-first ear than when engaged by a butt-end-first ear, means to sense such difference in actuation whereby to facilitate different handling of the differently oriented ears, a second detection means for sensing each ear as the ears pass thereby, said second detection means having the same reaction regardless of the end-to-end disposition of the ears, the second detection means being so located in relation to the first detection means that the second detection means is actuated during the time that the first detection means is being actuated and is always actuated after said first detection means has been actuated, regardless of the end-to-end disposition of the ears, and separating means responsive to a predetermined coaction of the two detection means for effecting separation of the differently oriented ears of corn.

Claim 3

A sensing system designed to react differently to ears of corn traveling tassle end first than to ears of corn traveling butt end first, said system including detection means for engaging each ear as it passes by the sensing system, means movably mounting said detection means so that it is actuated differently when engaged by a tassle-end-first ear than when engaged by a butt-end-first ear, means to sense such difference in actuation whereby to facilitate different handling of the differently oriented ears; a conveyor for conveying the ears along in single file fashion with their axes parallel to their direction of travel but with The ears disposed in random end-for-end disposition, said detection means comprising an ear engaging member disposed adjacent the conveyor, pivot means mounting said member so that it is pivoted by an ear of corn as the ear passes therepast, said member assuming a different pivoted position when the butt end of an ear is next to said pivot means than when the tassle end is next to said pivot means, and means for sensing the difference in the positions of said member to facilitate separation of the differently oriented ears, means sensing the presence of the forward end of an ear while the rear end is still disposed at said pivot means, and means actuated by both of said sensing means to effect separation of the differently oriented ears of corn.

Claim 4

A sensing system designed to react differently to ears of corn traveling tassle end first than to ears of corn traveling butt end first, said system including detection means for engaging each ear as it passes by the sensing system, means movably mounting said detection means so that it is actuated differently when engaged by a tassle-end-first ear than when engaged by a butt-end-first ear, means to sense such difference in actuation whereby to facilitate different handling of the differently oriented ears; a conveyor for conveying the ears along in single file fashion with their axes parallel to their direction of travel but with The ears disposed in random end-for-end disposition, said detection means comprising an ear engaging member disposed adjacent the conveyor, pivot means mounting said member so that it is pivoted by an ear of corn as the ear passes therepast, said member assuming a different pivoted position when the butt end of an ear is next to said pivot means than when the tassle end is next to said pivot means, and means for sensing the difference in the positions of said member to facilitate separation of the differently oriented ears, means sensing the presence of the forward end of an ear while the rear end is still disposed at said pivot means, and means actuated by both of said sensing means to effect separation of the differently oriented ears of corn.

Claim 5

A sensing system designed to react differently to ears of corn traveling tassle end first than to ears of corn traveling butt end first, said system including detection means for engaging each ear as it passes by the sensing system, means movably mounting said detection means so that it is actuated differently when engaged by a tassle-end-first ear than when engaged by a butt-end-first ear, means to sense such difference in actuation whereby to facilitate different handling of the differently oriented ears, a second detection means for sensing each ear as the ears pass thereby, said second detection means having the same reaction regardless of the end-to-end disposition of the ears, the second detection means being so located in relation to the first detection means that the second detection means is actuated during the time that the first detection means is being actuated and is always actuated after said first detection means has been actuated, regardless of the end-to-end disposition of the ears, and separating means responsive to a predetermined coaction of the two detection means for effecting separation of the differently oriented ears of corn, a frame on which is mounted a conveyor for conveying ears along in single file fashion with their axes parallel to their direction of travel, but with the ears disposed in random end-for-end disposition, said first detection means including an ear engaging shoe locate above but next to said conveyor and in a position to engage each ear as the ear is conveyed therepast, guide means opposite the shoe for retaining each ear in engagement with the shoe, an arm mounted on said frame for swinging movement in a horizontal plane, vertical pivot means mounting said shoe on said arm in spaced relation to the axis about which said arm swings, said pivot means being located intermediate the ends of said shoe, means biasingly holding said shoe in a predetermined position relative to said arm, means biasingly holding said arm in a predetermined position relative to said frame, switch closing means for closing a first switch whenever said shoe leaves said predetermined position by a predetermined amount, said second detection means including secondary sensing means disposed downstream of said shoe and operable to close a second switch anytime any portion of an ear of corn is presented to such secondary sensing means, said secondary sensing means being so located that it operates while the same ear that causes it to operate is in engagement with said shoe, said shoe being disposed in said predetermined position whenever a tassle-end-first ear reaches said secondary sensing means and being disposed in another position whenever a butt-end-first ear reaches said secondary sensing means, and means operable when both switches are closed to effect segregation of said butt-end ears from said tassle-end ear.

Claim 6

A sensing system designed to react differently to ears of corn traveling tassle end first than to ears of corn traveling butt end first, said system including detection means for engaging each ear as it passes by the sensing system, means movably mounting said detection means so that it is actuated differently when engaged by a tassle-end-first ear than when engaged by a butt-end-first ear, means to sense such difference in actuation whereby to facilitate different handling of the differently oriented ears, a second detection means for sensing each ear as the ears pass thereby, said second detection means having the same reaction regardless of the end-to-end disposition of the ears, the second detection means being so located in relation to the first detection means that the second detection means is actuated during the time that the first detection means is being actuated and is always actuated after said first detection means has been actuated, regardless of the end-to-end disposition of the ears, and separating means responsive to a predetermined coaction of the two detection means for effecting separation of the differently oriented ears of corn, a frame on which is mounted a conveyor for conveying ears along in single file fashion with their axes parallel to their direction of travel, but with the ears disposed in random end-for-end disposition, said first detection means including an ear engaging shoe locate above but next to said conveyor and in a position to engage each ear as the ear is conveyed therepast, guide means opposite the shoe for retaining each ear in engagement with the shoe, an arm mounted on said frame for swinging movement in a horizontal plane, vertical pivot means mounting said shoe on said arm in spaced relation to the axis about which said arm swings, said pivot means being located intermediate the ends of said shoe, means biasingly holding said shoe in a predetermined position relative to said arm, means biasingly holding said arm in a predetermined position relative to said frame, switch closing means for closing a first switch whenever said shoe leaves said predetermined position by a predetermined amount, said second detection means including secondary sensing means disposed downstream of said shoe and operable to close a second switch anytime any portion of an ear of corn is presented to such secondary sensing means, said secondary sensing means being so located that it operates while the same ear that causes it to operate is in engagement with said shoe, said shoe being disposed in said predetermined position whenever a tassle-end-first ear reaches said secondary sensing means and being disposed in another position whenever a butt-end-first ear reaches said secondary sensing means, and means operable when both switches are closed to effect segregation of said butt-end ears from said tassle-end ear.

Claim 7

A sensing system for segregating elongate articles which are nonsymmetrical as regards their end-for-end configuration, means for conveying said articles along in single file fashion with their axes parallel to the direction of travel but with said articles dispoSed in random end-for-end disposition, a first sensing means for engaging each article as it passes therepast and for reacting differently if the article is disposed in one of its possible two end-for-end dispositions than it does if the article is disposed in the other of its possible two end-for-end dispositions, second sensing means downstream of said first sensing means and actuatable by an article at the time it is in engagement with said first sensing means, said second sensing means being actuated in the same manner regardless of the end-for-end orientation of said articles, and means responsive to a predetermined actuation of said two sensing means for effecting segregation of articles oriented one way from articles oriented the other way.

Claim 8

A sensing system for segregating elongate articles which are nonsymmetrical as regards their end-for-end configuration, means for conveying said articles along in single file fashion with their axes parallel to the direction of travel but with said articles dispoSed in random end-for-end disposition, a first sensing means for engaging each article as it passes therepast and for reacting differently if the article is disposed in one of its possible two end-for-end dispositions than it does if the article is disposed in the other of its possible two end-for-end dispositions, second sensing means downstream of said first sensing means and actuatable by an article at the time it is in engagement with said first sensing means, said second sensing means being actuated in the same manner regardless of the end-for-end orientation of said articles, and means responsive to a predetermined actuation of said two sensing means for effecting segregation of articles oriented one way from articles oriented the other way.

Claim 9

A sensing system for sensing the different positions of a series of articles, a sensing member, an arm swingably mounted at one end and pivotally carrying said sensing member at its other end, an endless element disposed about said sensing member, drive means on said arm for driving said endless element, means for conveying articles past said sensing member at the same lineal rate of speed as that of said endless element, and article segregating means responsive to said sensing member.

Claim 10

A sensing system for sensing the different positions of a series of articles, a sensing member, an arm swingably mounted at one end and pivotally carrying said sensing member at its other end, an endless element disposed about said sensing member, drive means on said arm for driving said endless element, means for conveying articles past said sensing member at the same lineal rate of speed as that of said endless element, and article segregating means responsive to said sensing member.

Claim 11

A sensing system for articles of commerce, comprising: a conveyor for carrying articles of differing longitudinal orientation along a predetermined path, power-driven chute means coextensive with at least part of said conveyor to engage an article on said conveyor and grip the same therebetween and aid in conveying said article along, said power-driven chute including sensing means deflectable by said article and responsive to the disposition of said article to react one way when said article is oriented one way and to react a different way when an article is oriented another way.

Claim 12

A sensing system for articles of commerce, comprising: a conveyor for carrying articles of differing longitudinal orientation along a predetermined path, power-driven chute means coextensive with at least part of said conveyor to engage an article on said conveyor and grip the same therebetween and aid in conveying said article along, said power-driven chute including sensing means deflectable by said article and responsive to the disposition of said article to react one way when said article is oriented one way and to react a different way when an article is oriented another way.

Claim 13

A sensing system as in claim 6 in which there are second sensing means disposed sufficiently close to the first mentioned sensing means as to respond to the presence of a portion of an article while another portion of the article is at said first mentioned sensing means, and means responsive to the concurrent reaction of said sensing means to produce segregating signals.

Claim 14

A sensing system for a series of articles, some of which are oriented one way, and others of which are oriented a second way, means for conveying said articles along in single file fashion with some of said articles oriented one way and other of the articles oriented a second way, first sensing means responsive to the presence of an article at said sensing means for reacting one way if an article is oriented said one way, but reacting a different way if the article is oriented said second way, said first sensing means including article engaging means for contacting an article for sensing purposes, power means for moving said engaging means along at the same rate as said conveyor, second sensing means disposed in spaced relation to said first sensing means in the line of travel of said articles but being disposed sufficiently close to said first sensing means as to respond to the presence of a portion of said article at said second sensing means at the same time that another portion of such article is disposed at said first sensing means, and means responsive to actuation of said two sensing means for reacting in one fashion when said article is oriented said one way and reacting in a different fashion when said article is oriented said other way.

Claim 15

A sensing system for a series of articles, some of which are oriented one way, and others of which are oriented a second way, means for conveying said articles along in single file fashion with some of said articles oriented one way and other of the articles oriented a second way, first sensing means responsive to the presence of an article at said sensing means for reacting one way if an article is oriented said one way, but reacting a different way if the article is oriented said second way, said first sensing means including article engaging means for contacting an article for sensing purposes, power means for moving said engaging means along at the same rate as said conveyor, second sensing means disposed in spaced relation to said first sensing means in the line of travel of said articles but being disposed sufficiently close to said first sensing means as to respond to the presence of a portion of said article at said second sensing means at the same time that another portion of such article is disposed at said first sensing means, and means responsive to actuation of said two sensing means for reacting in one fashion when said article is oriented said one way and reacting in a different fashion when said article is oriented said other way.

Claim 16

A sensing system comprising: a sensing member disposed to successively engage a series of articles brought relatively therepast and to react in one fashion to articles oriented one way and in a different fashion to articles oriented another way, means mounting said sensing member for pivotal movement about one axis and for bodily movement in a direction angularly related to said axis, a flexible element surrounding said seNsing member and movable relative thereto, control means carried by said mounting member next to said axis and bodily movable with said sensing member and actuated by the pivotal movement of said sensing member, and means responsive to said control means for segregating said articles according to the orientation of said articles.

Claim 17

A sensing system comprising: a sensing member disposed to successively engage a series of articles brought relatively therepast and to react in one fashion to articles oriented one way and in a different fashion to articles oriented another way, means mounting said sensing member for pivotal movement about one axis and for bodily movement in a direction angularly related to said axis, a flexible element surrounding said seNsing member and movable relative thereto, control means carried by said mounting member next to said axis and bodily movable with said sensing member and actuated by the pivotal movement of said sensing member, and means responsive to said control means for segregating said articles according to the orientation of said articles.

Claim 18

A sensing system for elongate articles of commerce that are nonsymmetrical lengthwise, conveying means for conveying such articles along a predetermined path in single file relation with the axes of said articles parallel to said path, an elongate sensing member disposed next to said path with its axis parallel to said path so as to have full length contact with each article as each article is moved therepast and so that said elongate sensing means assumes different positions during its engagement with each article, said elongate sensing member including an elongate body portion and a peripheral portion, means to drive said peripheral portion relative to said body portion, means responsive to the position of said elongate sensing means only after said elongate sensing means has engaged at least a major portion of an article for effecting segregation of said articles.

Claim 19

A sensing system for elongate articles of commerce that are nonsymmetrical lengthwise, conveying means for conveying such articles along a predetermined path in single file relation with the axes of said articles parallel to said path, an elongate sensing member disposed next to said path with its axis parallel to said path so as to have full length contact with each article as each article is moved therepast and so that said elongate sensing means assumes different positions during its engagement with each article, said elongate sensing member including an elongate body portion and a peripheral portion, means to drive said peripheral portion relative to said body portion, means responsive to the position of said elongate sensing means only after said elongate sensing means has engaged at least a major portion of an article for effecting segregation of said articles.