US3659709A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for sorting flowers
Assignee: FLORAL GRADING Inc
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Filing: 1970-03-23
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Granted: 1972-05-02
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Expires: 1990-03-23
Abstract
Abstract The invention is a method and apparatus for sorting flowers on the basis of stem length. Flowers of random stem lengths are arranged on a first conveyor with their stems aligned in substantially vertical parallel relation. A series of stem length detectors sense various stem lengths whereupon all flowers of similar length are transferred to a corresponding one of a series of storage conveyors. When a desired quantity of similar sized flowers are stored in the storage conveyor, they are transferred by a transfer conveyor to a terminal conveyor where they are grouped for tying and wrapping. Any number of preselected lengths may be grouped but the extremes in stem length are selected first, e.g. the longest, proceeding to the opposite extreme so that the stem length detectors operate like a sieve.
Inventors
- 👤 David S Bartlett Jr
- 👤 Rupert M Purcell
- 👤 David W Osborne
- 👤 Troy F Smith Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 22:54
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G5/00; B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/04; B07C5/12; B65; B65G; B65G17/00; B65G17/30; B65G17/32; B65G17/34; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for sorting flowers according to stem length comprising the steps of, supporting flowers of random stem length at a single predetermined level from their bud ends into a general queue with the stems in suspended, substantially vertical parallel relation, moving the general queue, successively detecting the presence of flowers with stems longer than a preselected stem length along said general queue, and transferring flowers with stems longer than a preselected length from said general queue to a storage queue of flowers suspended from their bud ends and having approximately the same stem length.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for sorting flowers according to stem length comprising the steps of, supporting flowers of random stem length at a single predetermined level from their bud ends into a general queue with the stems in suspended, substantially vertical parallel relation, moving the general queue, successively detecting the presence of flowers with stems longer than a preselected stem length along said general queue, and transferring flowers with stems longer than a preselected length from said general queue to a storage queue of flowers suspended from their bud ends and having approximately the same stem length.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of, grouping flowers from said storage queue.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 comprising, detecting the presence of flowers of different stem lengths at different positions along the general queue, and transferring flowers of different lengths to different storage queues, each arranged to store flowers of approximately the same stem length.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 3 comprising the additional step of, selectively transferring a group of flowers from one of said storage queues to a grouped formation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 4 comprising the additional step of, tying the grouped flowers of similar stem length.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for sorting flowers according to stem length comprising, a loading conveyor having a series of pockets for holding random stem length flowers with the stems in parallel relation, a plurality of detector means mounted along said loading conveyor for detecting the presence of flowers having stem lengths greater than a preselected stem length, each of said detector means being arranged to progressively detect lesser stem lengths, a plurality of storage conveyors adjacent said loading conveyor, each having a plurality of flower pockets, and first flower transfer means energized by each of said detector means for transferring flowers of similar length from said loading conveyor to a respective one of said storage conveyors.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for sorting flowers according to stem length comprising, a loading conveyor having a series of pockets for holding random stem length flowers with the stems in parallel relation, a plurality of detector means mounted along said loading conveyor for detecting the presence of flowers having stem lengths greater than a preselected stem length, each of said detector means being arranged to progressively detect lesser stem lengths, a plurality of storage conveyors adjacent said loading conveyor, each having a plurality of flower pockets, and first flower transfer means energized by each of said detector means for transferring flowers of similar length from said loading conveyor to a respective one of said storage conveyors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
84 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising, a transfer conveyor having a series of transfer pockets thereon for holding flowers, said transfer conveyor disposed adjacent said storage conveyors, second flower transfer means adjacent each of said storage conveyors for loading the pockets of said transfer conveyor from a selected one of said storage conveyors, and means associated with each storage conveyor for energizing the associated one of said second flower transfer means so that said transfer conveyor receives flowers from a selected storage conveyor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising, a terminal conveyor carrying a series of multiple flower pockets and arranged to receive flowers from said transfer conveyor, and third flower transfer means for transferring flowers from said transfer conveyor pockets to the pockets of said terminal conveyor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein, said second and third flower transfer means include a cam follower supporting each of said transfer conveyor pockets as a common element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The aPparatus of claim 8 wherein, said multiple flower pockets on said terminal conveyor support flowers in a symmetrical substantially square grouping to facilitate tying and wrapping thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 8 which comprises, means for tying flowers grouped on said terminal conveyor pockets, and means for wrapping a tied group of flowers on said terminal conveyor, the transfer, tying and wrapping means being positioned at displaced positions along said terminal conveyor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein, said second flower transfer means includes a pivoted cam follower with a roller arranged to engage a cam track adjacent the end of each storage conveyor, and said energizing means includes a normally-closed gate at one end of said cam track arranged, upon energization, to open wherefor said roller may engage said cam track.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein, each of said transfer conveyor pockets include a pair of tines curving outwardly and forwardly from said cam follower.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
82 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein, said first flower transfer means includes a pair of tines spaced to receive a flower stem, said tines being mounted in a rack, a cam follower with a cam surface having said rack rotatably attached on a first edge portion mounted to said storage conveyor so that flowers received in said tines will move in response to motion by said cam follower, and a cam movable into position for engagement by said cam follower cam surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein, said first flower transfer means includes cam follower guide means movably connected to said cam follower and to said rack for adjusting the angular position of said rack so that a flower held therein may be guided to a desired position when a cam abuts said cam follower.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein, each of said detector means actuates movement of a respective cam into cam follower engaging position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
103 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said detector means for detecting the presence of flowers of preselected stem lengths held in the pockets of said loading conveyor comprises, a shelf mounted under said pocket at a preselected stem length, an arm subject to bending mounting a blade arranged to move toward and from said shelf in a non-intersecting path therewith, said path being transverse to said flower stem positions, said arm being bent when a flower stem becomes lodged between said blade and shelf, and signal means associated with said arm for indicating bending thereof and operative to energize movement of said cam.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said arm subject to bending comprises a pair of hinged members with a first member mounting said signal means including a switch and a second member mounting a finger for tripping said switch upon bending of said arm thereby activating said signal means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each storage conveyor has an associated auxiliary storage conveyor connected to receive flowers after each storage conveyor becomes filled.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 19 further including, a counter associated with each of said storage conveyors for counting flowers stored thereon, said counter being capable of signaling when said storage conveyor becomes filled and capable of energizing said associated auxiliary storage conveyor for receiving flowers.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
82 words
An apparatus for detecting the flowers having a stem length greater than a preselected length comprising, a shelf mounted under said flower at said preselected stem length, an arm subject to bending mounting a blade arranged to move toward and from said shelf in a non-intersecting path therewith, said path being transverse to said flower stem position, said arm being bent when a flower becomes lodged between said blade and shelf, and signal means associated with said arm for indicating bending thereof.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
82 words
An apparatus for detecting the flowers having a stem length greater than a preselected length comprising, a shelf mounted under said flower at said preselected stem length, an arm subject to bending mounting a blade arranged to move toward and from said shelf in a non-intersecting path therewith, said path being transverse to said flower stem position, said arm being bent when a flower becomes lodged between said blade and shelf, and signal means associated with said arm for indicating bending thereof.
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) | 1975-05-02 | 1975-11-01 | 1976-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-02 | 1979-11-01 | 1980-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-02 | 1983-11-01 | 1984-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |