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US3690358A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus for processing sugarcane

Assignee: Canadian Cane Equipment Ltd
•
Filing: 1971-01-04
•
Granted: 1972-09-12
•
Expires: 1991-01-04
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Abstract

Abstract A process is provided which transforms randomly oriented sugarcane stalks into their pith, rind and epidermis components which are then treated to obtain sugar juice, pith floc, cane fibers and other sugarcane commodities. In delivering the sugarcane stalk material to the separating zone, the stalks are aligned longitudinally in their direction of travel and are chopped transversely thereof into shorter lengths. If the cane contains trash such as leaves and rocks, a fluid is directed through it to remove the trash. At the separating zone the chopped stalks are separated into their pith, rind and epidermis components. This is done by opening up longitudinally each chopped stalk into separate portions which are then flattened. As the flattened stalk material is fed through the zone, pith is milled away from one side and epidermis material is milled away from the opposite side. The components are then recovered and can be further treated. The treatment of the pith comprises a washing and pressing operation to extract the juice from the pith. The rind is reduced into smaller portions such as chips or shreds which are then contacted with water to extract water solubles from the rind. The epidermis can also be treated to separate wax bearing material from certain other epidermis material.

Inventors

  • 👤 Sydney Edward Tilby

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 02:05
CPC Classifications
C; C13; C13B; C13B5/00; C13B5/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 275 words
Apparatus for treating sugarcane, said apparatus comprising: conveyor means adapted to convey the mass of stalks in a feed direction, aligning means operatively connected with said conveyor means adapted to align the stalks longitudinally in the direction of travel of said conveyor means, chopping means operatively connected with said conveyor means adapted to chop the stalks transversely thereof into relatively shorter lengths while the stalks are traveling longitudinally, a series of separate conveyor means adapted to successively receive and convey the chopped stalk material, said conveyor means further including: at least one pair of successively related conveyor means defining a first junction, said first pair of conveyor means having their respective directions of travel thereof upstream and downstream of said first junction linearly aligned, said pair of conveyor means adapted to subject the chopped stalk material to a vertical deflection at said first junction and to simultaneously subject the leading edge portions of individual chopped stalks to a force in the direction of travel of the one of said pair of conveyor means receiving the stalks downstream of said first junction, and a second pair of successively related conveyor means defining a second junction, said second pair of conveyor means having their respective directions of travel thereof upstream and downstream of said second junction disposed in transverse relation, said second pair of conveyor means being adapted to subject the chopped stalk material to an abrupt vertical deflection and to simultaneously subject the leading edge portions of individual chopped stalks to a force in the direction of travel of the one of said second pair of conveyor means receiving the stalks downstream of said second junction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 275 words
Apparatus for treating sugarcane, said apparatus comprising: conveyor means adapted to convey the mass of stalks in a feed direction, aligning means operatively connected with said conveyor means adapted to align the stalks longitudinally in the direction of travel of said conveyor means, chopping means operatively connected with said conveyor means adapted to chop the stalks transversely thereof into relatively shorter lengths while the stalks are traveling longitudinally, a series of separate conveyor means adapted to successively receive and convey the chopped stalk material, said conveyor means further including: at least one pair of successively related conveyor means defining a first junction, said first pair of conveyor means having their respective directions of travel thereof upstream and downstream of said first junction linearly aligned, said pair of conveyor means adapted to subject the chopped stalk material to a vertical deflection at said first junction and to simultaneously subject the leading edge portions of individual chopped stalks to a force in the direction of travel of the one of said pair of conveyor means receiving the stalks downstream of said first junction, and a second pair of successively related conveyor means defining a second junction, said second pair of conveyor means having their respective directions of travel thereof upstream and downstream of said second junction disposed in transverse relation, said second pair of conveyor means being adapted to subject the chopped stalk material to an abrupt vertical deflection and to simultaneously subject the leading edge portions of individual chopped stalks to a force in the direction of travel of the one of said second pair of conveyor means receiving the stalks downstream of said second junction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 34 words
The apparatus of claim 1, said apparatus further comprising fluid directing means operatively connected with said conveyor means for directing fluid through the stalks to remove trash at some point during their conveyed motion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 80 words
The apparatus of claim 2, said apparatus further comprising conveying means including a transversely extending vertical discontinuity in said conveying means across which the mass of stalks are adapted to be projected at high velocity by said conveyor means causing the mass of stalks to become at least partially air borne, and said fluid directing means being operatively connected with said conveyor means for directing fluid transversely through the mass of stalks during their air borne condition to remove trash.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US68345A Cited
US402082A Cited
US2336775A Cited
US3113574A Cited
US3325982A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1975-09-12 1976-03-13 1976-09-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1979-09-12 1980-03-13 1980-09-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1983-09-12 1984-03-13 1984-09-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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