US3669260A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of sorting particulate articles
Assignee: Shibuya Hoppmann Corp
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Filing: 1971-04-19
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Granted: 1972-06-13
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Expires: 1991-04-19
Abstract
Abstract Method of sorting, including feeding, orienting and counting, particulate articles such as coins, shells, candy, pills and the like, wherein the articles are placed upon a rotating inner plane and centrifugally discharged through a peripheral gauging aperture defined at the edges of a rotating inner plane. The peripheral aperture is defined by a pair of top and bottom outer gauging rings rotated at speeds similar to or at variance with the rotating inner plane according to the character of the articles being counted. Also, the size of the gauging aperture may be varied by vertical adjustment of the top outer ring to accommodate centrifugal discharge articles of varying dimension. The discharge articles may be guided tangentially and single file past a conventional photo electric or similar counting device. The rotating inner plane may have a horizontal surface, alternately a concave, convex or contour profile.
Inventors
- 👤 Kurt H Hoppmann
- 👤 Horst A Schober
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 12:03
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/02; B07C5/04; B07C5/06; B07C5/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
Method of sorting particulate articles comprising: a. centrifugally distributing said articles upon a rotating inner plane; b. defining a rotating exit at the periphery of said rotating inner plane by: i. rotating a circular top ring as a gauging ring, and ii. rotating a circular lower ring as a support ring; c. gauging centrifugal discharge of said articles through said exit; and d. tangentially guiding said articles away from said plane, sequentially of gauging.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
Method of sorting particulate articles comprising: a. centrifugally distributing said articles upon a rotating inner plane; b. defining a rotating exit at the periphery of said rotating inner plane by: i. rotating a circular top ring as a gauging ring, and ii. rotating a circular lower ring as a support ring; c. gauging centrifugal discharge of said articles through said exit; and d. tangentially guiding said articles away from said plane, sequentially of gauging.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 1, wherein said rotating plane is circular.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 2, including: a. varying gauging of said articles by vertical adjustment of said top gauging ring with respect to said lower rotating outer support ring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 2, including: a. varying the speed of rotating said top gauging ring with respeCt to the speed of rotating of said lower support ring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 2, including: a. varying the speeds of rotating said gauging ring and said lower support ring with respect to the speed of rotating of said rotating plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 2, including: a. varying the speed of rotating of said lower support ring with respect to the speed of rotating said gauging ring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 3, wherein said gauging ring includes an inner wall vertically extending above said horizontal exit and said rotating plane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 7, said inner wall including a plurality of apertures defined in its lower edge and configured similarly to the cross section of articles being counted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 3, including tilting the axis of said rotating plane, said gauging ring and said outer ring during sorting.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 4, including: a. feeding of said articles on to said rotating plane by hopper means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 4, including: a. feeding of said articles on to said rotating plane by a hopper means secured to said rotating plane.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 3, wherein said tangentially guiding of said articles is by means of a circular baffle and a tangential discharge chute.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 3, including simultaneously rotating said gauging ring and said lower support ring via a belt means engaging their outer periphery.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 2, wherein said rotating of said circular lower ring is aligned horizontally with rotating of said inner plane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 1, wherein said rotating plane has a horizontal profile.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 1, wherein said rotating plane has a concave profile.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 1, wherein said rotating plane has a convex profile.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 1, including guiding of said article upwardly from said rotating plane.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 1, wherein including guiding of said article downwardly from said rotating plane.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
Method of sorting particulate articles as in claim 1, wherein including guiding of said article horizontally from said rotating plane.
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) | 1975-06-13 | 1975-12-13 | 1976-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-13 | 1979-12-13 | 1980-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-13 | 1983-12-13 | 1984-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |