Patent US3628653A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3628653A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic distribution system for fruit employing tiltable conveyor belt
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-02-24
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Granted: 1971-12-21
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Expires: 1990-02-24
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method of distributing fruit such as citrus fruit or peaches and the like to the tables of a packing house characterized by the use of at least three conveyor belts for the fruit, the outer two of which are mounted to be tilted to dump fruit thereon to the tables as desired at time or space intervals. Deflector means cause fruit to be passed from the inner belt to the outer belts and all drive, support and tensioning means for the outer belts are mounted to be tilted therewith.
Inventors
- 👤 Aaron James Warkentin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:25
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B25/00; B65B25/02; B65B25/04; B65B35/00; B65B35/10; B65B35/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
Apparatus for distributing fruit to be packed to tables in a packing house comprising: a carrier for fruit; at least three adjacent parallel conveyor belts arranged to receive fruit from said carrier; a deflector arranged in the path of the inner belt or belts and adapted to deflect fruit on said inner belt or belts to said other belts; and means for tilting said outer belts about an axis parallel to the direction of said outer belts to dump all fruit from said outer belts to said tables at predetermined intervals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus for distributing fruit to be packed to tables in a packing house comprising: a carrier for fruit; at least three adjacent parallel conveyor belts arranged to receive fruit from said carrier; a deflector arranged in the path of the inner belt or belts and adapted to deflect fruit on said inner belt or belts to said other belts; and means for tilting said outer belts about an axis parallel to the direction of said outer belts to dump all fruit from said outer belts to said tables at predetermined intervals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said means for tilting said outer belt comprises: Channels housing said belts and belt supporting rollers, hinges pivotally mounting said channels to a frame; and actuating means for tilting said channels about the axis of said hinges.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said means for tilting said outer belts comprises: Channels housing said belts and belt supporting rollers, hinges pivotally mounting said channels to a frame; actuating means for tilting said channels about the axis of said hinges; and drive motors mounted on said channels for driving said outer belts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said means for tilting said outer belts comprises: Channels housing said belts and belt supporting rollers, hinges pivotally mounting said channels to a frame; and air driven actuating means for tilting said channels about the axes of said hinges.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said means for tilting said outer belts comprises: Channels housing said belts and belt supporting rollers, hinges pivotally mounting said channels to a frame; actuating means for tilting said channels about the axis of said hinges; drive motors mounted on said channels for driving said outer belts; and belt tensioning means carried by each of said channels for tensioning the associated outer belt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said means for tilting said outer belts comprises: Channels housing said belts and belt supporting rollers, hinges pivotally mounting said channels to a frame; actuating means for tilting said channels about the axis of said hinges; and a means for tilting said channels independently of said first-mentioned means to dispose fruit in the associated belts to one side of said belts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including fruit guide means adjacent each side of said inner belt to prevent fruit from leaving said inner belt until deflected therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which said actuating means comprises a plurality of support arms for each of said channels, a tube extending longitudinally of said apparatus and welded to each of said support arms, A hydraulic piston operably attached to one of said support arms and adapted to tilt said arm, said tube and its associated channel about the axis of the associated hinge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which said actuating means comprises a plurality of support arms for each of said channels, a tube extending longitudinally of said apparatus and welded to each of said support arms, a hydraulic piston operably attached to one of said support arms and adapted to tilt said arm, said tube and its associated channel about the axis of the associated hinge, and spring means constantly biasing said support arms towards level position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
93 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said actuating means comprises a plurality of support arms for each of said channels, a tube extending longitudinally of said apparatus and welded to each of said support arms, a hydraulic piston operably attached to one of said support arms and adapted to tilt said arm, said tube and its associated channel about the axis of the associated hinge, spring means constantly biasing said support arms towards level position, and said spring means and said hydraulic piston each having one end thereof attached to said frame.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
73 words
A process of distributing fruit to a packing table comprising the steps of: conveying fruit to be packed to a plurality of at least three adjacent parallel conveyor belts; conveying fruit on said belts to an intermediate stage; thereafter deflecting fruit from the inner belt to the outer belt and periodically tilting said outer belts about an axis parallel to said belts to dump all fruit from the outer belts to the table.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
A process of distributing fruit to a packing table comprising the steps of: conveying fruit to be packed to a plurality of at least three adjacent parallel conveyor belts; conveying fruit on said belts to an intermediate stage; thereafter deflecting fruit from the inner belt to the outer belt and periodically tilting said outer belts about an axis parallel to said belts to dump all fruit from the outer belts to the table.
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) | 1974-12-20 | 1975-06-21 | 1975-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-20 | 1979-06-21 | 1979-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-20 | 1983-06-21 | 1983-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |