Patent US3701418A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3701418A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Grading machine
Assignee: Sortex Company of North America Inc
•
Filing: 1971-03-08
•
Granted: 1972-10-31
•
Expires: 1991-03-08
Abstract
Abstract An improved diameter grading machine having a plurality of aligned pairs of rails, each pair forming a diverging slot therebetween from one end to the other for passage of articles therethrough. Articles of smallest minimum diameter fall through the slot nearest the end at which the articles are fed to the rails and larger diameter articles fall through the slot along the length of the rails according to their minimum diameter. One rail in each pair is mounted on a fixed support and the other rail of the pair is mounted on a support which is laterally adjustable with respect to the fixed support to adjust the slot width so that the rails can be simultaneously adjusted to grade items of different mean diameter with a minimum of adjustment. An improved feeding device singulates the articles for feeding to each of the rails. The feeding device has a plurality of spaced grooves of increasing width and depth juxtaposed with a plurality of ridges of increasing height and width.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert R Chapman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:36
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07B; B07B13/00; B07B13/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
A size grading machine of the type in which articles are separated according to a minimum diameter, said machine comprising: a plurality of pairs of aligned rails, each pair of said rails defining an opening of increasing width between one end of said rails and the other; means beneath said rails for gathering articles passing through said openings between said rails at different intervals therealong to collect articles having different minimum diameters; means for feeding said articles seriatim to said one end of each of said pairs of rails; means for moving said articles along each of said pairs of rails from said one end to the other; the improvement which comprises: first and second support members; each of said pairs of rails having a first rail member rigidly mounted on said first support member for rigid uniform movement therewith, and a second rail member rigidly mounted on said second support member; means mounting said first support member for movement transverse to said rails with respect to said second support member; whereby each of said first rail members can be simultaneously and uniformly adjusted with respect to said second rail members so that said opening between each pair of said rails can be uniformly adjusted for sorting articles of different average diameter; and means for fixing said first support member with respect to said second support member in various adjusted positions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
A size grading machine of the type in which articles are separated according to a minimum diameter, said machine comprising: a plurality of pairs of aligned rails, each pair of said rails defining an opening of increasing width between one end of said rails and the other; means beneath said rails for gathering articles passing through said openings between said rails at different intervals therealong to collect articles having different minimum diameters; means for feeding said articles seriatim to said one end of each of said pairs of rails; means for moving said articles along each of said pairs of rails from said one end to the other; the improvement which comprises: first and second support members; each of said pairs of rails having a first rail member rigidly mounted on said first support member for rigid uniform movement therewith, and a second rail member rigidly mounted on said second support member; means mounting said first support member for movement transverse to said rails with respect to said second support member; whereby each of said first rail members can be simultaneously and uniformly adjusted with respect to said second rail members so that said opening between each pair of said rails can be uniformly adjusted for sorting articles of different average diameter; and means for fixing said first support member with respect to said second support member in various adjusted positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
111 words
A size grading apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said feeding means comprises a tray having a feeding end suspended above and overlapping said one end of said rails, a plurality of spaced grooves in said feeding end of said tray, each of said grooves increasing in depth and width in a direction toward the outer edge of said feeding end of said tray, each of said grooves being positioned above a separate pair of said rails for discharging said articles in said grooves into said rails; and a plurality of spaced ridges juxtaposed to said grooves for forcing said articles in said feeding end of said tray into said grooves.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A size grading apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said ridges increase in height and thickness in a direction toward said outer edge of said feeding end of said tray.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A size grading apparatus according to claim 2 and further including vibratory means for moving said articles along said tray to said outer edge of said feeding end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A size grading apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said moving means includes a means for vibrating said rails along their longitudinal axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A size grading apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said first and second rail members have side walls which slope downwardly toward said opening therebetween, and each of said rail members is rigidly secUred to its respective support member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
A size grading apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said second support member comprises a fixed plate having a plurality of elongated openings, said plate being positioned beneath said rails; and said first support member comprising a plate having a plurality of elongated openings, said first support member being positioned on top of said second support member with the elongated openings of each of said plates being in substantial vertical registry.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A size grading apparatus according to claim 7 and further comprising means for actuating adjusting movement of said first plate with respect to said second plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
181 words
A size grading apparatus comprising: a plurality of aligned elongated article receiving means, each of said article receiving means including means for separating said articles according to one of its dimensions; means for moving said articles from one end of said article receiving means to the other, thereby effecting a separation of said articles according to said one dimension thereof; and means for feeding said articles seriatim to said one end of said article receiving means; the improvement in said article feeding means comprising: a tray having a feeding end suspended above and overlapping said one end of said article receiving means; a plurality of spaced grooves in said feeding end of said tray, each of said grooves increasing in depth and width toward the outer edge of said feeding end of said tray, each of said grooves terminating at said outer edge above a separate article receiving means for discharging said articles into said receiving means; and a plurality of spaced ridges juxtaposed to said grooves for forcing said articles in said feeding end of said tray into said grooves.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
181 words
A size grading apparatus comprising: a plurality of aligned elongated article receiving means, each of said article receiving means including means for separating said articles according to one of its dimensions; means for moving said articles from one end of said article receiving means to the other, thereby effecting a separation of said articles according to said one dimension thereof; and means for feeding said articles seriatim to said one end of said article receiving means; the improvement in said article feeding means comprising: a tray having a feeding end suspended above and overlapping said one end of said article receiving means; a plurality of spaced grooves in said feeding end of said tray, each of said grooves increasing in depth and width toward the outer edge of said feeding end of said tray, each of said grooves terminating at said outer edge above a separate article receiving means for discharging said articles into said receiving means; and a plurality of spaced ridges juxtaposed to said grooves for forcing said articles in said feeding end of said tray into said grooves.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A size grading apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said ridges increase in height and thickness in a direction toward said outer edge of said feeder tray.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A size grading apparatus according to claim 10 wherein one of said ridges extends substantially between each pair of adjacent grooves at said outer edge of said feeder tray.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A size grading apparatus according to claim 9 and further comprising means to vibrate said tray to move said articles in a direction toward said outer edge of said feeding end.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A size grading apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said tray has a floor portion adjacent said feeding end which floor portion slopes upwardly toward said feeding end of said tray.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-31 | 1976-05-01 | 1976-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-31 | 1980-05-01 | 1980-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-31 | 1984-05-01 | 1984-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |