US3645394A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for sorting and grading cut flowers
Assignee: GOODALE Manufacturing CO Inc
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Filing: 1970-09-21
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Granted: 1972-02-29
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Expires: 1990-09-21
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for grading cut flowers according to stem length and quality of the flower buds. The cut flowers are placed on trays which are carried by a continuous conveyor past a programming station that is controlled by an operator. The trays are provided with a mechanical device that rides on a track and holds the tray upright until it arrives at the bin into which the cut flower carried by the tray is to be dumped. The quality flowers are graded into several categories depending upon the stem lengths.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard J Goodale
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:33
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/34; B65G47/38; B65G47/40; A; A01; A01G; A01G5/00; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/04; B07C5/12; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/912; Y10S209/942
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
In apparatus for sorting cut flowers such as roses according to the quality and stem lengths, the combination comprising a conveyor having a plurality of spaced trays attached thereto, means supporting said trays upright for receiving the cut flowers, sprocket means driving said conveyor, said supporting means including track means positioned adjacent to a predetermined part of said conveyor, flower-receiving bins also positioned adjacent said predetermined part of said conveyor, different ones of said bins receiving flowers of different qualities and stem lengths, manually controlled means releasing said supporting means to dump cull cut flowers into selected ones of said bins and means actuated by the quality cut flowers of different stem lengths for dumping such cut flowers into different selected ones of said bins.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
In apparatus for sorting cut flowers such as roses according to the quality and stem lengths, the combination comprising a conveyor having a plurality of spaced trays attached thereto, means supporting said trays upright for receiving the cut flowers, sprocket means driving said conveyor, said supporting means including track means positioned adjacent to a predetermined part of said conveyor, flower-receiving bins also positioned adjacent said predetermined part of said conveyor, different ones of said bins receiving flowers of different qualities and stem lengths, manually controlled means releasing said supporting means to dump cull cut flowers into selected ones of said bins and means actuated by the quality cut flowers of different stem lengths for dumping such cut flowers into different selected ones of said bins.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
In apparatus for sorting cut flowers such as roses according to the quality and stem lengths, the combination as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said tray-supporting means includes means pivotally attaching said trays to said conveyor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
In apparatus for sorting cut flowers such as roses according to the quality and stem lengths, the combination as set forth in claim 2, further characterized in that said tray-supporting means includes a lever attached to each tray, said lever having means slidably engaging said track means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
91 words
In apparatus for sorting cut flowers such as roses according to the quality and stem lengths, the combinations as set forth in claim 3, further characterized in that said track means comprises an upper track and a lower track and means shifting said lever from said upper track to dump a predetermined type of cull cut flower into a selected bin for culls, said means shifting said lever from said upper track to said lower track to dump another predetermined type of cull cut flower into another selected bin for culls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
In apparatus for sorting cut flowers such as roses according to the quality and stem lengths, the combination as set forth in claim 4, further characterized in that said upper track is provided with a gate that is adapted to be shifted out of said upper track to provide a gap therein through which said lever is shifted.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
In apparatus for sorting cut flowers such as roses according to the quality and stem lengths, the combination as set forth in claim 5, further comprising a solenoid having an armature coupled to said gate and means energizing said solenoid when said gate is to be shifted out of said
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
95 words
In apparatus for sorting cut flowers such as roses according to the quality and stem lengths, the combination as set forth in claim 3, further characterized in that said track means includes an upper track and a lower track positioned adjacent to said different selected bins, said different selected bins for each stem lengtH comprising at least two bins for each stem length, gate means in said upper track, means opening said gate means to permit said lever to drop through said upper track and dump the cut flower into one of said two bins.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
148 words
In apparatus for sorting cut flowers such as roses according to the quality and stem lengths, the combination as set forth in claim 7, further characterized in that said upper track means is provided with two grooves that are substantially parallel, means selecting which of said grooves is engaged by said lever, both of said grooves being interrupted by said gate means, one of said grooves being above said lower track and the other of said grooves being laterally displaced to one side of said lower track so that when said lever is shifted from said one groove it is dropped to said lower track and the cut flower is dumped into one of said two bins and when said lever is shifted from said other of said grooves said lever clears said lower track and the cut flower is dumped into the other of said two bins.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
75 words
In apparatus for sorting cut flowers such as roses according to the quality and stem lengths, the combination as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of limit switches, said limit switches being positioned so that different ones thereof are actuated by cut flowers of different stem lengths and means activated when different ones of said limit switches are closed to dump the cut flowers of different stem lengths into different selected bins.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3401796A
Cited
US3517809A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-28 | 1975-08-30 | 1976-02-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-28 | 1979-08-30 | 1980-02-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-28 | 1983-08-30 | 1984-02-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |