Sizing apparatus

Claim 1

An apparatus for orienting and sizing bodies of an ovoidal or elipsodial shape without damaging such bodies or abrading the surfaces thereof comprising a. a generally horizontal bed having an input end for such bodies and a preselected minimum size output end; b. a plurality of pulleys mounted as a first set group at the input end and arranged transversely of the bed; c. a plurality of pulleys mounted as a second set group at the output end and arranged transversely of the bed with the pulleys of the second set being arranged so that each pulley has a corresponding pulley in the first set; d. said pulleys of the second set being arranged to vertically present a generally V configuration in transverse section with the apex of the V configuration being defined by a bottom pair of side by side pulleys of the same diameter; e. said bottom pair of pulleys of the second set being spaced apart transversely of the bed a greater distance than the transverse spacing between their corresponding pulleys of the first set; f. a plurality of belts trained between corresponding pulleys of the first and second sets and having upper reaches on which the bodies are placed at the input end of the bed for movement and sizing between the input and the output ends of the bed, said belts having a vertical generally V-shaped pattern in crosssection with a bottom pair of belts engaged on the bottom pair of pulleys of the second set forming the apex of the V-shaped pattern and having substantially coplanar upper reaches that diverge from the pulleys of the first set to the bottom pair of pullEys of the second set and the other belts being arranged in paired substantially coplanar reaches on the outer sides of the bottom pair of belts so as to provide a sizing run; and, g. driving means for moving the bottom pair of belts at the same linear speed and for moving the other belts at linear speeds having a differential relation to themselves and to the bottom pair of belts so that bodies contacting the other belts are caused thereby to turn upon themselves until their major axes are parallel with the direction of belt travel and their minimum diameters are normal to the direction of belt travel and they assume a position riding upon the upper reaches of the bottom pair of belts.

Claim 2

An apparatus for orienting and sizing bodies of an ovoidal or elipsodial shape without damaging such bodies or abrading the surfaces thereof comprising a. a generally horizontal bed having an input end for such bodies and a preselected minimum size output end; b. a plurality of pulleys mounted as a first set group at the input end and arranged transversely of the bed; c. a plurality of pulleys mounted as a second set group at the output end and arranged transversely of the bed with the pulleys of the second set being arranged so that each pulley has a corresponding pulley in the first set; d. said pulleys of the second set being arranged to vertically present a generally V configuration in transverse section with the apex of the V configuration being defined by a bottom pair of side by side pulleys of the same diameter; e. said bottom pair of pulleys of the second set being spaced apart transversely of the bed a greater distance than the transverse spacing between their corresponding pulleys of the first set; f. a plurality of belts trained between corresponding pulleys of the first and second sets and having upper reaches on which the bodies are placed at the input end of the bed for movement and sizing between the input and the output ends of the bed, said belts having a vertical generally V-shaped pattern in crosssection with a bottom pair of belts engaged on the bottom pair of pulleys of the second set forming the apex of the V-shaped pattern and having substantially coplanar upper reaches that diverge from the pulleys of the first set to the bottom pair of pullEys of the second set and the other belts being arranged in paired substantially coplanar reaches on the outer sides of the bottom pair of belts so as to provide a sizing run; and, g. driving means for moving the bottom pair of belts at the same linear speed and for moving the other belts at linear speeds having a differential relation to themselves and to the bottom pair of belts so that bodies contacting the other belts are caused thereby to turn upon themselves until their major axes are parallel with the direction of belt travel and their minimum diameters are normal to the direction of belt travel and they assume a position riding upon the upper reaches of the bottom pair of belts.