US3620369A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sugar cane dry-cleaning plant
Assignee: J & L Engineering Co Inc
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Filing: 1969-01-15
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Granted: 1971-11-16
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Expires: 1989-01-15
Abstract
Abstract A plant for receiving cane stalks, segmentizing the stalks and cleaning the stalks by a dry process with the trash being positively extracted from the cane and disposed of. The plant includes a cane introducing area comprising multiple conveyors which move the field harvested cane through cutters and levelers for segmentizing the cane and directing the cane to a cross conveyor which moves the cane into either of a pair of adjacent cleaning units comprising vacuum exhaust systems for drawing loose trash from the cane, and a pair of tumbler drums for effecting a further shaking or removal of trash from the cane. The drums terminate in communication with a discharge conveyor for removal of the cleaned segmetized cane. The trash removed by the vacuum system is conveyed to a burner for disposal thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert C Steen
- 👤 John W Steen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 13:49
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07B; B07B13/00; B07B9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
A cane cleaning plant including at least one generally horizontal elongated tumbler drum, mounting means mounting said drum for rotation about its longitudinal axis, means for rotating said drum, said drum including inlet and outlet ends, internal rib means in said drum orientated for the tumbling of received cane upon rotation of said drum and a moving of the cane longitudinally through said drum from the inlet end thereof to the outlet end thereof, means for separating of trash shaken loose from the cane by the tumbling action of the drum, the means for separating of the trash comprising an annular screened portion adjacent the outlet end of said drum providing an apertured body through which trash will fall while the cane will be retained for discharge through the outlet end of said drum, intake means for introducing cane into the inlet end of said drum, and suction trash removal means communicating with said intake means for assisting in the extraction of trash from the cane being introduced by the intake means, said suction trash removal means comprising a screen-type conveyor moving below the intake means, and suction producing means located immediately below said screen-type conveyor and producing a suction forming flow of air therethrough to draw trash to and retain trash against the screen-type conveyor for subsequent discharge therefrom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
A cane cleaning plant including at least one generally horizontal elongated tumbler drum, mounting means mounting said drum for rotation about its longitudinal axis, means for rotating said drum, said drum including inlet and outlet ends, internal rib means in said drum orientated for the tumbling of received cane upon rotation of said drum and a moving of the cane longitudinally through said drum from the inlet end thereof to the outlet end thereof, means for separating of trash shaken loose from the cane by the tumbling action of the drum, the means for separating of the trash comprising an annular screened portion adjacent the outlet end of said drum providing an apertured body through which trash will fall while the cane will be retained for discharge through the outlet end of said drum, intake means for introducing cane into the inlet end of said drum, and suction trash removal means communicating with said intake means for assisting in the extraction of trash from the cane being introduced by the intake means, said suction trash removal means comprising a screen-type conveyor moving below the intake means, and suction producing means located immediately below said screen-type conveyor and producing a suction forming flow of air therethrough to draw trash to and retain trash against the screen-type conveyor for subsequent discharge therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The plant of claim 1 wherein said intake means comprises a conveyor, and a disposal conveyor located toward one end of the screen-type conveyor for a reception of trash therefrom, said disposal conveyor moving received trash outwardly to a disposal area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The plant of claim 2 wherein the return run of the intake conveyor and the trash receiving run of the screen-type conveyor move in the same directiOn and act so as to partially confine received trash therebetween for discharge on the disposal conveyor
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
177 words
A cane cleaning plant including at least one generally horizontal elongated tumbler drum, mounting means mounting said drum for rotation about its longitudinal axis, means for rotating said drum, said drum including inlet and outlet ends, internal rib means in said drum orientated for the tumbling of received cane upon rotation of said drum and a moving of the cane longitudinally through said drum from the inlet end thereof to the outlet end thereof, means for separating of trash shaken loose from the cane by the tumbling action of the drum, intake means for introducing cane into the inlet end of said drum, and suction trash removal means communicating with said intake means for assisting in the extraction of trash from the cane being introduced by the intake means, said suction trash removal means comprising a screen-type conveyor moving below the intake means, and suction producing means located immediately below said screen-type conveyor and producing a suction forming flow of air therethrough to draw trash to and retain trash against the screen-type conveyor for subsequent discharge therefrom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
177 words
A cane cleaning plant including at least one generally horizontal elongated tumbler drum, mounting means mounting said drum for rotation about its longitudinal axis, means for rotating said drum, said drum including inlet and outlet ends, internal rib means in said drum orientated for the tumbling of received cane upon rotation of said drum and a moving of the cane longitudinally through said drum from the inlet end thereof to the outlet end thereof, means for separating of trash shaken loose from the cane by the tumbling action of the drum, intake means for introducing cane into the inlet end of said drum, and suction trash removal means communicating with said intake means for assisting in the extraction of trash from the cane being introduced by the intake means, said suction trash removal means comprising a screen-type conveyor moving below the intake means, and suction producing means located immediately below said screen-type conveyor and producing a suction forming flow of air therethrough to draw trash to and retain trash against the screen-type conveyor for subsequent discharge therefrom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
The plant of claim 4 including a second tumbler drum spaced from the first drum having both intake means and suction trash removal means associated therewith, an elongated conveyor extending outward from a first end overlying the intake means associated with the two tumbler drums for the carrying of cane thereto, and divider means positioned above the intake means and below the conveyor for selectively directing the cane to one or the other of the intake means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
The plant of claim 5 wherein said divider means includes a vertical chute having an enlarged divider panel therein, said divider panel being selectively movable between a first vertical position allowing a free fall of the cane thereby and a second inclined position effecting a lateral discharge of the cane for introduction on a second one of said intake means located outwardly from said chute.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
The plant of claim 4 wherein said intake means comprises an endless open network conveyor having upper and lower runs, the lower run of said intake means conveyor moving in the same direction as said screen-type conveyor positioned therebelow with at least a portion of said lower run cooperating with the underlying screen-type conveyor so as to confine received trash thereon for a portion of the movement thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
193 words
A cane cleaning plant including an elongated tumbler drum, mounting means mounting said drum for rotation about its longitudinal axis, means for rotating said drum, said drum including inlet and outlet ends, an elongated intake conveyor projecting partially into the inlet end of said drum for the introduction of cane thereto, said intake conveyor projecting outward of the inlet end of said drum, said intake conveyor including an upper run moving into said drum and an underlying lower run moving in a reverse direction outward thereof, and suction trash removal means underlying said intake conveyor, said suction trash removal means comprising a screen-type conveyor positioned below said intake conveyor and including an upper run movable in the same direction as the lower run of the intake conveyor, the upper run of the screen-type conveyor extending from generally adjacent the inlet end of the drum outward beneath the intake conveyor to at least the outer extremity thereof, and suction producing means located below the upper run of the screen-type conveyor and producing a suction forming flow of air therethrough to draw trash to and retain trash against this upper run for subsequent discharge therefrom.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
193 words
A cane cleaning plant including an elongated tumbler drum, mounting means mounting said drum for rotation about its longitudinal axis, means for rotating said drum, said drum including inlet and outlet ends, an elongated intake conveyor projecting partially into the inlet end of said drum for the introduction of cane thereto, said intake conveyor projecting outward of the inlet end of said drum, said intake conveyor including an upper run moving into said drum and an underlying lower run moving in a reverse direction outward thereof, and suction trash removal means underlying said intake conveyor, said suction trash removal means comprising a screen-type conveyor positioned below said intake conveyor and including an upper run movable in the same direction as the lower run of the intake conveyor, the upper run of the screen-type conveyor extending from generally adjacent the inlet end of the drum outward beneath the intake conveyor to at least the outer extremity thereof, and suction producing means located below the upper run of the screen-type conveyor and producing a suction forming flow of air therethrough to draw trash to and retain trash against this upper run for subsequent discharge therefrom.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
The plant of claim 8 including a disposal conveyor located toward and below the outer end of the screen-type conveyor for a reception of trash therefrom, said disposal conveyor moving received trash outward to a disposal area, the lower run of the intake conveyor and the upper run of the screen-type conveyor converging generally outward toward each other whereby trash received on the upper run of the screen-type conveyor is partially confined and held thereon during the movement thereof.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-15 | 1975-05-17 | 1975-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-15 | 1979-05-17 | 1979-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-15 | 1983-05-17 | 1983-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |