Stick-classifying method and apparatus

Abstract

Abstract FALLING OF SUCCESSIVE STICKS WHICH ARE NONUNIFORM LENGTHWISE IS CONTROLLED INITIALLY BY LAUNCHING EACH STICK BY AN END IN A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL DIRECTION AND/OR BY ENGAGEMENT OF THE STICK DURING ITS FALL WITH A BARRIER CAUSING THE STICK TO SWING, SO THAT FOLLOWING THE FALL THE STICKS ARE ORIENTED WITH THE BUTTS AND THE TIPS OF VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE STICKS IN CORRESPONDING RELATIONSHIP, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE INITIAL BUTT AND TIP ORIENTATION OF THE STICKS. AN ASPARAGUS SHOOT, FOR EXAMPLE, IS LAUNCHED GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY ENDWISE SUCH AS BY COOPERATING ROTATIVE PINCHING MEMBERS, SUCH AS AN UPPER ROLLER AND A LOWER BELT, GRIPPING AN END PORTION. A SHOOT LAUNCHED BUTT FIRST WILL DROOP MUCH MORE THAN A SHOOT LAUNCHED TIPFIRST. DURING ITS FALL A SHOOT LAUNCHED TIP FIRST MAY ENGAGE A BARRIER ROLLER NEARER ITS TIP TO SWING ITS BUTT DOWN. A DISCHARGE CONVEYOR REMOVES THE SHOOTS BUTT FIRST.

Inventors

• 👤 James P Cox

Bibliographic Details