Patent US3653507A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3653507A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Silverware sorter
Assignee: Avant Industries Inc
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Filing: 1970-03-30
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Granted: 1972-04-04
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Expires: 1990-03-30
Abstract
Abstract A silverware sorting construction for handling knives, forks and spoons. A bed is provided with vibrating means or other devices for moving silverware toward a discharge end of the bed. Knives on the bed are maintained in position and are discharged into collecting means located at the end of the bed. Discharge openings are defined at an intermediate location, and both forks and spoons pass through the discharge openings. A plate is positioned beneath the discharge openings, and slots are defined by the plate for receiving the forks and spoons. The slots are dimensioned so that the forks will pass through the plate into separate collecting means. The spoons are held suspended by their bowls and are moved along the plate to discharge openings at the end of the plate. A separating means may be employed for separating spoons of different size, for example separating spoons with longer handles from spoons with shorter handles. Separate collecting means are then provided for the different types of spoons.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph Ettlinger Jr
- 👤 Frank J Kostohryz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:00
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07B; B07B13/00; B07B13/003; B07C; B07C99/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/926
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A construction for sorting silverware including knives, forks and spoons, said construction comprising a bed for supporting silverware, means for moving the silverware along the bed toward a discharge eNd, the knives on said bed being retained in a substantially horizontal position during movement across the bed, first collecting means positioned adjacent said discharge end for receiving said knives from the bed, at least one discharge opening defined by said bed, said forks and spoons dropping through said discharge opening, a plate positioned beneath said discharge opening, a slot in said plate dimensioned to permit the passage of said forks beyond the plate, second collecting means for receiving said forks, said slot also permitting passage of the spoon handles but being dimensioned to prevent passage of the bowl portion of spoons whereby spoons are suspended by said plate, means for moving suspended spoons along the length of said slot, and third collecting means at the end of said slot for receiving said spoons.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A construction for sorting silverware including knives, forks and spoons, said construction comprising a bed for supporting silverware, means for moving the silverware along the bed toward a discharge eNd, the knives on said bed being retained in a substantially horizontal position during movement across the bed, first collecting means positioned adjacent said discharge end for receiving said knives from the bed, at least one discharge opening defined by said bed, said forks and spoons dropping through said discharge opening, a plate positioned beneath said discharge opening, a slot in said plate dimensioned to permit the passage of said forks beyond the plate, second collecting means for receiving said forks, said slot also permitting passage of the spoon handles but being dimensioned to prevent passage of the bowl portion of spoons whereby spoons are suspended by said plate, means for moving suspended spoons along the length of said slot, and third collecting means at the end of said slot for receiving said spoons.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bed is mounted on vibrating means adapted to move silverware positioned on the bed toward said discharge end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A construction in accordance with claim 2 wherein said plate is attached to said bed whereby said vibrating means also operate to move said spoons along said slot.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bed defines a plurality of troughs, and wherein said silverware is deposited on said bed and then moves along said troughs toward said discharge end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first collecting means for said knives includes a chute having an entry end positioned adjacent the discharge end of said bed and being substantially coextensive therewith, said knives moving along said bed and progressing directly from said bed into said chute.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
A construction in accordance with claim 1 including means for separating spoons having shorter handles from spoons having longer handles, said separating means comprising a cam element for engaging spoons with a longer handle, and a wall positioned adjacent said cam element, said cam element directing the spoons with long handles on one side of said wall during movement of the spoons along said slot while the spoons with shorter handles move along the other side of said wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A construction in accordance with claim 6 including air discharge means directed toward the spoon handles during movement of the spoons along said slot, said air discharge means operating to force the spoons with shorter handles to a position for movement of the shorter spoon handles along said other side of said wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A construction in accordance with claim 7 wherein said third collecting means comprise separate receptacles for receiving spoons having long handles and spoons having short handles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A construction in accordance with claim 6 wherein said plate defines a plurality of separate slots for passage of forks and for suspending spoons.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said forks and spoons are delivered handles-first to said bed, said discharge opening defined by said bed being dimensioned so that said handles bend downwardly into said discharge opening whereby the forks and spoons are directed through the discharge opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A construction in accordance with claim 10 including a chute positioned beneath said discharge opening operating to direct said forks and spoons handles-first onto said plate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plate comprises the bed of a pan structure, said first mentioned bed being mounted on said pan structure above said pan bed, and wherein the means for moving the silverware along said upper bed and along the length of said slot comprises a vibrating means connected to the bottom of said pan structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A construction in accordance with claim 1 including cam means defined by said bed for locating the handles of said forks and spoons on edge to facilitate dropping of the forks and spoons through said discharge opening.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bed is maintained in a substantially hoRizontal position with the silverware being initially placed in a horizontal position on the bed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3301397A
Cited
US3545613A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-04 | 1975-10-04 | 1976-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-04 | 1979-10-04 | 1980-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-04 | 1983-10-04 | 1984-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |