Patent US3675770A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3675770A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Silverware sorting means
Assignee: Avent Inc
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Filing: 1970-07-31
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Granted: 1972-07-11
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Expires: 1990-07-31
Abstract
Abstract A silverware sorting means for separating knives, forks and spoons which are delivered in random fashion to the sorting means. A sorting bed is provided with vibrating means for moving silverware toward various discharge openings in the bed. Knives are passed through first openings at the leading end of the bed and then into collecting means located beneath the bed. Discharge openings at an intermediate location provide for the passage of spoons through the bed and into additional collecting means. These discharge openings comprise slots dimensioned so that spoons of one size will pass through first into separate collecting means and larger spoons at a later time for discharge into further collecting means. The spoons are held suspended by their bowls and the attitude of the spoons is controlled to determine the discharge point. Separate discharge openings are then provided for the forks, the prior openings being designed so that the forks will ride over these openings.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph Ettlinger Jr
- 👤 Frederick P Strobl Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 19:40
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07B; B07B13/00; B07B13/003; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/926
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
252 words
A construction for sorting silverware including knives, forks and spoons, said construction comprising a loading end, a bed for supporting the silverware, means for moving the silverware along the bed away from said loading end, at least one series of openings defined by the bed for passage of silverware through the bed, said series comprising a first opening dimensIoned so that knives will pass through the bed, said first opening also being dimensioned so that the handles of spoons will pass through the bed with the bowls of the spoons suspending the spoons on said bed, spoon handle engaging means located beneath said bed and extending along a portion of the bed, said handle engaging means inhibiting tilting of the spoons relative to the bed, said first opening being dimensioned so that spoons with smaller bowls will pass through the bed when these spoons move beyond said handle engaging means, a second opening comprising an enlarged area formed as a continuation of said first opening, said second opening being dimensioned so that spoons with larger bowls will pass through said second opening, a third opening positioned beyond said second opening, said third opening being dimensioned so that forks will pass through the bed, and including a second bed positioned beneath said first bed adjacent the loading end of said first bed, said second bed being positioned for collecting knives passing through said first opening and additional openings formed in said second bed dimensioned so that knives will pass through said second bed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
252 words
A construction for sorting silverware including knives, forks and spoons, said construction comprising a loading end, a bed for supporting the silverware, means for moving the silverware along the bed away from said loading end, at least one series of openings defined by the bed for passage of silverware through the bed, said series comprising a first opening dimensIoned so that knives will pass through the bed, said first opening also being dimensioned so that the handles of spoons will pass through the bed with the bowls of the spoons suspending the spoons on said bed, spoon handle engaging means located beneath said bed and extending along a portion of the bed, said handle engaging means inhibiting tilting of the spoons relative to the bed, said first opening being dimensioned so that spoons with smaller bowls will pass through the bed when these spoons move beyond said handle engaging means, a second opening comprising an enlarged area formed as a continuation of said first opening, said second opening being dimensioned so that spoons with larger bowls will pass through said second opening, a third opening positioned beyond said second opening, said third opening being dimensioned so that forks will pass through the bed, and including a second bed positioned beneath said first bed adjacent the loading end of said first bed, said second bed being positioned for collecting knives passing through said first opening and additional openings formed in said second bed dimensioned so that knives will pass through said second bed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A construction in accordance with claim 1 including separate collecting means for knives, smaller bowl spoons, larger bowl spoons, and forks, said collecting means being positioned beneath said bed whereby said silverware will drop into said collecting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A construction in accordance with claim 2 including a plurality of funnel structures extending downwardly from said bed for directing silverware from said bed into said collecting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein vibrating means are employed for moving said silverware along said bed, said second bed being attached to said first bed and said vibrating means connected to said second bed whereby a single vibrating means will impart vibrations to both the first and second beds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first opening comprises an elongated slot, said handle engaging means comprising closely spaced apart walls defined by said bed immediately beneath said slot, said walls terminating short of said enlarged end portion of said first opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bed defines a plurality of troughs and wherein a series of openings is defined along the bottom of each trough.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A construction in accordance with claim 6 wherein said troughs define a V-shaped cross section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A construction in accordance with claim 7 wherein the angle included between the side walls of a trough is between 60* and 90*.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
240 words
A construction for sorting silverware including knives, forks and spoons, said construction comprising a loading end, a bed for supporting the silverware, means for moving the silverware along the bed away from said loading end, at least one series of openings defined by the bed for passage of silverware through the bed, said series comprising a first opening dimensioned so that knives will pass through the bed, said first opening also being dimensioned so that the handles of spoons will pass through the bed with the bowls of the spoons suspending the spoons on said bed, spoon handle engaging means located beneath said bed and extending along a portion of the bed, said handle engaging means inhibiting tilting of the spoons relative to the bed, said first opening being dimensioned so that spoons with smaller bowls will pass through the bed when these spoons move beyond said handle engaging means, a second opening comprising an enlarged area formed as a continuation of said first opening, said second opening being dimensioned so that spoons with larger bowls will pass through said second opening, a third opening positioned beyond said second opening, said third opening being dimensioned so that forks will pass through the bed, and wherein said enlarged end of said first opening comprises a relatively short and wide opening, and wherein Said third opening comprises a relatively wide and elongated slot located in spaced relationship relative to said enlarged end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
240 words
A construction for sorting silverware including knives, forks and spoons, said construction comprising a loading end, a bed for supporting the silverware, means for moving the silverware along the bed away from said loading end, at least one series of openings defined by the bed for passage of silverware through the bed, said series comprising a first opening dimensioned so that knives will pass through the bed, said first opening also being dimensioned so that the handles of spoons will pass through the bed with the bowls of the spoons suspending the spoons on said bed, spoon handle engaging means located beneath said bed and extending along a portion of the bed, said handle engaging means inhibiting tilting of the spoons relative to the bed, said first opening being dimensioned so that spoons with smaller bowls will pass through the bed when these spoons move beyond said handle engaging means, a second opening comprising an enlarged area formed as a continuation of said first opening, said second opening being dimensioned so that spoons with larger bowls will pass through said second opening, a third opening positioned beyond said second opening, said third opening being dimensioned so that forks will pass through the bed, and wherein said enlarged end of said first opening comprises a relatively short and wide opening, and wherein Said third opening comprises a relatively wide and elongated slot located in spaced relationship relative to said enlarged end.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
258 words
In a construction for sorting spoons wherein the bowls of the spoons are of different sizes, the improvement comprising a bed, a loading means for depositing spoons on the bed whereby the spoons are supported by the bed, means associated with the bed for moving the spoons along the bed, at least one opening defined by the bed for passage of the spoons through the bed, said opening including a narrow first portion dimensioned so that the handles of the spoons will pass through the bed with the bowls of the spoons suspending the spoons on the bed, spoon handle engaging means located beneath said bed, said spoon handle engaging means terminating short of the extent of said first portion whereby said handles are moved out of contact with said handle engaging means, said handle engaging means inhibiting tilting of the spoons relative to the bed whereby said spoons are free to tilt beyond the extent of said handle engaging means, said first portion being dimensioned so that spoons with smaller bowls will pass through the bed when these spoons tilt after moving beyond the extent of said handle engaging means, and a second opening portion comprising an enlarged area formed as a continuation of said first portion, said second portion being dimensioned so that spoons with larger bowls will pass through said second portion, said second portion being located in spaced relationship relative to the end of said handle engaging means whereby said spoons with larger bowls can be collected separately from the spoons with smaller bowls.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
258 words
In a construction for sorting spoons wherein the bowls of the spoons are of different sizes, the improvement comprising a bed, a loading means for depositing spoons on the bed whereby the spoons are supported by the bed, means associated with the bed for moving the spoons along the bed, at least one opening defined by the bed for passage of the spoons through the bed, said opening including a narrow first portion dimensioned so that the handles of the spoons will pass through the bed with the bowls of the spoons suspending the spoons on the bed, spoon handle engaging means located beneath said bed, said spoon handle engaging means terminating short of the extent of said first portion whereby said handles are moved out of contact with said handle engaging means, said handle engaging means inhibiting tilting of the spoons relative to the bed whereby said spoons are free to tilt beyond the extent of said handle engaging means, said first portion being dimensioned so that spoons with smaller bowls will pass through the bed when these spoons tilt after moving beyond the extent of said handle engaging means, and a second opening portion comprising an enlarged area formed as a continuation of said first portion, said second portion being dimensioned so that spoons with larger bowls will pass through said second portion, said second portion being located in spaced relationship relative to the end of said handle engaging means whereby said spoons with larger bowls can be collected separately from the spoons with smaller bowls.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A construction in accordance with claim 10 wherein said opening comprises an elongated slot, said handle engaging means comprising closely spaced apart walls defined by said bed immediately beneath said slot.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
196 words
A construction for sorting silverware including knives, forks and spoons, said construction comprising a loading end, a bed for supporting the silverware, means for moving the silverware along the bed away from said loading end, and at least one series of openings defined by the bed for passage of silverware through the bed including a first opening dimensioned so that knives will pass through the bed, the improvement comprising a second bed positioned beneath said first bed adjacent the loading end of said first bed, said second bed being positioned for collecting knives passing through said first opening and additional openings formed in said second bed dimensioned so that knives will pass through said second bed, said second bed defining a plurality of grooved portions whereby the bed is characterized by an undulating cross section with the grooves defining tracks for movement of knives therealong, said additional openings comprising slots defined at the end of each track, said slots having a length less than the length substantially corresponding with the length of a knive handle whereby the knives will drop through the slots when the center of gravity of a knife is located over a slot.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
196 words
A construction for sorting silverware including knives, forks and spoons, said construction comprising a loading end, a bed for supporting the silverware, means for moving the silverware along the bed away from said loading end, and at least one series of openings defined by the bed for passage of silverware through the bed including a first opening dimensioned so that knives will pass through the bed, the improvement comprising a second bed positioned beneath said first bed adjacent the loading end of said first bed, said second bed being positioned for collecting knives passing through said first opening and additional openings formed in said second bed dimensioned so that knives will pass through said second bed, said second bed defining a plurality of grooved portions whereby the bed is characterized by an undulating cross section with the grooves defining tracks for movement of knives therealong, said additional openings comprising slots defined at the end of each track, said slots having a length less than the length substantially corresponding with the length of a knive handle whereby the knives will drop through the slots when the center of gravity of a knife is located over a slot.
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) | 1975-07-11 | 1976-01-10 | 1976-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-11 | 1980-01-10 | 1980-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-11 | 1984-01-10 | 1984-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |