Patent US3680618A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3680618A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for stemming fruit
Assignee: Dunkley International Inc
•
Filing: 1970-07-24
•
Granted: 1972-08-01
•
Expires: 1990-07-24
Abstract
Abstract A device for removing stems from fruit including an endless power driven belt consisting of a plurality of transverse parallel rollers and having upper and lower frame supported runs. Each roller along the upper run of the belt is caused to rotate in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the immediate roller on each side thereof. The fruit is deposited upon the upper run of the belt and as it advances along such run, the stems thereof are received between adjacent rollers and pulled from the fruit.
Inventors
- 👤 Emil E Pertics
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:37
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23N; A23N15/00; A23N15/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
283 words
A device for removing stems from fruit comprising an endless power driven belt having upper and lower runs, said belt including a plurality of transversely extending parallel rollers defining a fruit conveying surface, a frame, a pair of endless drive chains supported by said frame, said rollers extending between said chains and having the ends thereof rotatively connected to the chains, two pairs of stationary members paralleling and extending along said upper belt run, said pairs of stationary members located between said chains, one member of each pair of stationary members positioned over adjacent corresponding ends of said rollers, the other member of each pair of stationary members positioned over adjacent corresponding ends of said rollers, the other member of each pair of stationary members positioned under said adjacent corresponding roller ends, both of said one members of the pairs of stationary members making roller-driving contact with the same alternate rollers adjacently inwardly of said chains along said upper belt run and both of said other members of the pairs of stationary members making roller-driving contact with the same remaining rollers adjacently inwardly of said chains along said upper belt run whereby said alternate rollers will rotate in an opposite direction from the direction of rotation of said remaining rollers, said rollers being of one diametrical dimension between said stationary members and having axes of rotation equally spaced apart, said alternate and remaining rollers adapted to support and carry said fruit from one to the other end of said upper belt run and to cause the stems of the fruit to be received between adjacent alternate and remaining rollers and pulled from the fruit as the fruit progresses along said upper belt run.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
283 words
A device for removing stems from fruit comprising an endless power driven belt having upper and lower runs, said belt including a plurality of transversely extending parallel rollers defining a fruit conveying surface, a frame, a pair of endless drive chains supported by said frame, said rollers extending between said chains and having the ends thereof rotatively connected to the chains, two pairs of stationary members paralleling and extending along said upper belt run, said pairs of stationary members located between said chains, one member of each pair of stationary members positioned over adjacent corresponding ends of said rollers, the other member of each pair of stationary members positioned over adjacent corresponding ends of said rollers, the other member of each pair of stationary members positioned under said adjacent corresponding roller ends, both of said one members of the pairs of stationary members making roller-driving contact with the same alternate rollers adjacently inwardly of said chains along said upper belt run and both of said other members of the pairs of stationary members making roller-driving contact with the same remaining rollers adjacently inwardly of said chains along said upper belt run whereby said alternate rollers will rotate in an opposite direction from the direction of rotation of said remaining rollers, said rollers being of one diametrical dimension between said stationary members and having axes of rotation equally spaced apart, said alternate and remaining rollers adapted to support and carry said fruit from one to the other end of said upper belt run and to cause the stems of the fruit to be received between adjacent alternate and remaining rollers and pulled from the fruit as the fruit progresses along said upper belt run.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
The fruit stemming device of claim 1 and including means having a part positioned spacedly above said upper belt run for directing a gas under pressure onto said fruit as the fruit progresses from one end to the other end of said upper belt run to cause movement of the fruit relative to said belt and thus assist in causing the stems of the fruit to be received between said fruit supporting rollers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fruit stemming device of claim 2 wherein said gas directing means includes valve means for intermittently discharging said gas onto said fruit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fruit stemming device of claim 1 and including fluid cleansing means, said lower belt run contacting said fluid cleansing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The fruit stemming device of claim 4 and including a brush engaging said rollers at said lower belt run to remove remnants of the fruit adhering to the rollers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The fruit stemming device of claim 4 wherein said lower belt run contacts said fluid cleansing means at a location spaced from said upper belt run, fluid absorbing means engaging said belt between said location and said one end of the upper belt run.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The fruit stemming device of claim 6 wherein said fluid absorption means is a roller of sponge-like material, said absorption roller contacting said rollers, a wringer bar in contact with said absorption roller for removing the fluid absorbed by said absorption roller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The fruit stemming device of claim 6 and including a brush engaging said rollers between said location and said other end of the upper belt run to remove remnants of the fruit adhering to the rollers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
The fruit stemming device of claim 8 and including means having a part positioned spacedly aBove said upper belt run for directing a gas under pressure onto said fruit as the fruit progresses from one end to the other end of said upper belt run to cause movement of the fruit relative to said belt and thus assist in causing the stems of the fruit to be received between said fruit supporting rollers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The fruit stemming device of claim 4 wherein said fluid cleansing means includes a tank and a cleansing fluid within said tank, said lower belt run passing through said cleansing fluid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The fruit stemming device of claim 1 wherein said rollers are slightly spaced apart so as to receive the stems of said fruit therebetween in pinching engagement.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The fruit stemming device of claim 1 and including fluid cleansing means contacting said rollers to wash fruit remnants from the rollers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The fruit stemming device of claim 1 including means in addition to said fruit supporting rollers adjacent said upper belt run for moving said fruit relative to said belt to cause the stems of said fruit to be received between said fruit supporting rollers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The fruit stemming device of claim 1 wherein each chain includes a plurality of connected links, each pair of adjacent rollers carried at corresponding ends by alternate links of a said chain.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
The fruit stemming device of claim 1 and a deflector means paralleling and extending along each side of said upper belt run, each deflector means having parts terminating less than the diameter of said fruit above said upper belt run and inwardly of the adjacent stationary member for retaining the fruit between the deflector means during the stemming operation.
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) | 1975-08-01 | 1976-01-31 | 1976-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-01 | 1980-01-31 | 1980-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-01 | 1984-01-31 | 1984-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |