US3695371A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for delivering singulated fruit, weighing and bagging it
Assignee: FMC Corp
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Filing: 1971-08-02
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Granted: 1972-10-03
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Expires: 1991-08-02
Abstract
Abstract A hopper is arranged to receive a continuous supply of singulated fruit and is pivotally mounted at one end thereof so that it can be pivoted upwardly to discharge the contents thereof when a predetermined weight of fruit has been accumulated therein. The hopper is pivotally mounted upon a support structure which is, in turn, mounted upon one end of a scale beam. The other end of the scale beam mounts a device which, when actuated, serves to engage the underside of the hopper to pivot it upwardly. Pivotable gate members are provided adjacent the movable end of the hopper to catch and hold a fruit which may follow the last fruit making up said predetermined weight of fruit.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles E Sheetz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 11:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01G; G01G13/00; G01G13/24; G01G13/30; B; B65; B65B; B65B1/00; B65B1/30; B65B1/32; B65B25/00; B65B25/02; B65B25/04; G01G13/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
An apparatus for batch weighing and delivering articles comprising a hopper arranged to receive at one end thereof a continuous singulated supply of said articles, means for mounting said hopper for pivotal movement about the end thereof opposite to said one end, scale means for supporting said hopper and for determining the weight of the articles accumulated therein, means for pivoting said hopper upwardly about its pivotal mounting means, and control means operable upon the reception of a predetermined weight of articles in said hopper for actuating said hopper pivoting means to cause the articles in said hopper to be discharged past the pivotally mounted end thereof.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
An apparatus for batch weighing and delivering articles comprising a hopper arranged to receive at one end thereof a continuous singulated supply of said articles, means for mounting said hopper for pivotal movement about the end thereof opposite to said one end, scale means for supporting said hopper and for determining the weight of the articles accumulated therein, means for pivoting said hopper upwardly about its pivotal mounting means, and control means operable upon the reception of a predetermined weight of articles in said hopper for actuating said hopper pivoting means to cause the articles in said hopper to be discharged past the pivotally mounted end thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus for batch weighing and delivering articles according to claim 1 including a pair of inwardly movable gate members mounted adjacent to said one end of said hopper, said control means being operable to actuate said gate members to cause them to move inwardly toward each other to catch and hold therebetween an article which follows the last article making said predetermined weight of articles in said hopper.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus for batch weighing and delivering articles according to claim 2 including a support platform carried by said means for mounting said hopper and located at said one end of said hopper when said hopper is in its lowered article receiving position, said platform being arranged to support from below said article held by said gate members when said hopper is pivoted upwardly therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus for batch weighing and delivering articles according to claim 1 wherein said means for pivoting said hopper is normally out of contact with said hopper and is arranged to be moved into contact with the lower surface of said hopper when it is actuated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus for batch weighing and delivering articles according to claim 4 wherein said scale means comprises a balance beam, said hopper and said means for mounting said hopper being mounted upon one end of said beam, and said hopper pivoting means being mounted upon the other end of said beam as a counterbalance for said hopper.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus for batch weighing and delivering articles according to claim 4 wherein said hopper pivoting means comprises an arm pivotally mounted at its central portion, a roller mounted at one end of said arm, and a solenoid operatively connected to the other end of the arm for swinging said roller into engagement with said lower surface of the hopper.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus for batch weighing and delivering articles according to claim 4 wherein said hopper includes a pivotally mounted front flap at said pivotally mounted end of the hopper, and means operable upon upward pivotal movement of said hopper for pivoting said front flap downwardly to permit the articles accumulated in said hopper to gravitate therefrom.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
118 words
An apparatus for batch weighing and delivering articles comprising conveying means for continuously feeding articles in single file, a hopper positioned adjacent to said conveying means to receive said articles therefrom across one open end thereof, means for mounting said hopper for pivotal movement about the end thereof opposite to said one end, scale means for supporting said hopper and for determining the weight of the articles accumulated therein, means for pivoting said hopper upwardly about its pivotal mounting means, and control means operable upon the reception of a predetermined weight of articles in said hopper for actuating said hopper pivoting means to cause the articles in said hopper to be discharged past the pivotally mounted end thereof.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
118 words
An apparatus for batch weighing and delivering articles comprising conveying means for continuously feeding articles in single file, a hopper positioned adjacent to said conveying means to receive said articles therefrom across one open end thereof, means for mounting said hopper for pivotal movement about the end thereof opposite to said one end, scale means for supporting said hopper and for determining the weight of the articles accumulated therein, means for pivoting said hopper upwardly about its pivotal mounting means, and control means operable upon the reception of a predetermined weight of articles in said hopper for actuating said hopper pivoting means to cause the articles in said hopper to be discharged past the pivotally mounted end thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus for batch weighing and delivering articles according to claim 8 wherein said control means includes means for stopping and reversing said conveying means upon the reception of said predetermined weight of articles in said hopper.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
95 words
An apparatus for batch weighing and delivering articles according to claim 8 including a pair of gate members mounted between said conveying means and said one end of said hopper, means mounting said gate members for shiftable movement in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the articles discharged from said conveying means, said control means being operable to actuate said gate members to cause them to move inwardly toward each other to catch and hold therebetween an article which follows the last article making said predetermined weight of articles in said hopper.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus for batch weighing and delivering articles according to claim 10 including a support platform carried by said means for mounting said hopper and located at said one end of said hopper when said hopper is in its lowered article receiving position, said platform being arranged to support from below said article held by said gate members when said hopper is pivoted upwardly therefrom.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus for batch weighing and delivering articles according to claim 10 wherein said gate members are mounted for conjoint pivotal movement inwardly.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus for batch weighing and delivering articles according to claim 8 wherein said means for pivoting said hopper includes a pivot arm, a roller attached to said pivot arm, and means for swinging said pivot arm to cause said roller to engage the underside of said hopper to cause the hopper to be pivoted upwardly.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
An apparatus for batch weighing and delivering articles according to claim 13 wherein said scale means comprises a balance beam, said hopper and said means for mounting said hopper being mounted upon one end of said beam, and said means for pivoting said hopper being mounted upon the other end of said beam as a counterbalance for said hopper.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus for batch weighing and delivering articles according to claim 14 wherein said pivot arm is mounted for pivotal movement about its central portion to permit said roller to roll along the underside of said hopper as said hopper is elevated, and means for pivoting said pivot arm by moving one end thereof downwardly.
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) | 1975-10-03 | 1976-04-03 | 1976-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-03 | 1980-04-03 | 1980-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-03 | 1984-04-03 | 1984-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |