US3703952A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self metering feeder conveyor
Assignee: FMC Corp
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Filing: 1971-08-10
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Granted: 1972-11-28
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Expires: 1991-08-10
Abstract
Abstract A self metering conveyor feeding system supplies one or more corn processing machines with husked ears of corn. The system comprises a main conveyor belt and a narrow diverter belt running flat across the main belt for advancing ears of corn across the main belt and through an adjustable gate to feed rolls, the latter transferring the ears to the flights of a take away conveyor. A reserve supply of ears of corn is maintained at the feed roll, and when the reserve is filled, the main conveyor merely advances the excess ears past the gate and on to a downstream diverter system, if such is provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth G Kuhn
- 👤 Neal C Chamberlain
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:11
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/02; B65G47/04; B65G47/12; B65G47/14; B65G47/1492; A; A01; A01D; A01D87/00; A01D87/0038
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A self metering feeder conveyor system comprising a main conveyor belt, a narrow low profile diverter belt running flat across the conveying surface of said main belt, a take away conveyor at the side of said main belt at the delivery end of said diverter belt, a retainer wall running along said side of the main belt and means forming a gate in said retainer wall at said diverter belt for releasing articles that are urged across the main belt by said diverter belt, the thickness of said diverter belt being the sole obstruction to the advance of articles by said main belt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A self metering feeder conveyor system comprising a main conveyor belt, a narrow low profile diverter belt running flat across the conveying surface of said main belt, a take away conveyor at the side of said main belt at the delivery end of said diverter belt, a retainer wall running along said side of the main belt and means forming a gate in said retainer wall at said diverter belt for releasing articles that are urged across the main belt by said diverter belt, the thickness of said diverter belt being the sole obstruction to the advance of articles by said main belt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
115 words
A self metering feeder conveyor system for discrete articles comprising a main conveyor belt, a narrow low profile diverter belt running flat across conveying surface to said main belt, a pulley for the delivery end of said diverter belt at one side of said main belt, feed rolls flanking said diverter belt pulley, a retainer wall running along said one side of the main belt, means forming a gate in said retainer wall to provide access to said feed rolls for articles urged across the main belt by said diverter belt, a take away conveyor for receiving articles from said feed pulleys, and means for driving said main and diverter belts and said feed rolls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
115 words
A self metering feeder conveyor system for discrete articles comprising a main conveyor belt, a narrow low profile diverter belt running flat across conveying surface to said main belt, a pulley for the delivery end of said diverter belt at one side of said main belt, feed rolls flanking said diverter belt pulley, a retainer wall running along said one side of the main belt, means forming a gate in said retainer wall to provide access to said feed rolls for articles urged across the main belt by said diverter belt, a take away conveyor for receiving articles from said feed pulleys, and means for driving said main and diverter belts and said feed rolls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 2, wherein said feed rolls have a higher peripheral speed than the linear speed of said diverter belt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said diverter belt pulley and said feed rolls are on the same shaft, with said diverter belt pulley being loose on said shaft, said feed rolls being keyed to the shaft, and means to drive the shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 3, wherein said feed rolls are longitudinally ribbed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 2, wherein the retainer wall has an adjustable gate member for varying the width of said gate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 6, wherein the adjustable gate member is upstream of said diverter belt.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3191747A
Cited
US3386560A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-11-28 | 1976-05-29 | 1976-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-28 | 1980-05-29 | 1980-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-28 | 1984-05-29 | 1984-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |