Patent US4352626A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent CA473189A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3707228A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3707228A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for classifying articles
Assignee: RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co
•
Filing: 1970-04-01
•
Granted: 1972-12-26
•
Expires: 1990-04-01
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for separating meat and bones including: (1) a disuniter unit which separates the meat from the bones to which it is clinging and discharges a mixture of meat pieces and bones; (2) a separator which receives the mixture of meat pieces and bones and discharges through different outlets a stream of meat pieces and a stream of bones; (3) and an inspection table onto which the discharged streams of meat pieces and bones flow, and where any erroneously sorted meat pieces and bones are manually reclassified. The inspection and classifying table comprises an annular deck rotatably mounted on a circular supporting frame located entirely under the deck. A motor on the frame continuously rotates the deck. A divider wall is supported above the deck at the middle of its annulus and rests on the deck surface. The wall is stationary and extends 270* around the deck. The wall separates an inner classification area from an outer classification area. The stream of bones is deposited on the outer classification area and the stream of meat pieces on the inner classification area. Operators both inside and outside the annular deck transfer misclassified bones to the outer area and misclassified meat pieces to the inner area. At the downstream end of the divider, a scraper diverts all bones remaining in the outer classification area into a bone receiving bin. In the open deck area between the ends of the wall, the meat pieces are spread across the entire deck area and are removed manually by operators stationed at the outside of the table and deposited in suitable receptacles. As the table approaches the upstream end of the divider wall it encounters another scraper which restores all pieces remaining on the deck to the inner classification area. Thus, all meat pieces passing from the inspection table to the meat receptacles are individually inspected and transferred by hand, minimizing the possibility of the inclusion of a bone piece in the separated meat pieces.
Inventors
- 👤 Lucas J Conrad
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:02
CPC Classifications
A; A22; A22C; A22C17/00; A22C17/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
Classifying apparatus, comprising: a. an annular table including: 1. an annular deck; 2. frame means located under the deck and supporting the deck; 3. means on the frame means for rotating the deck about its axis; b. a divider wall concentric with the deck and extending upwardly from the top surface thereof at a locality between its inner and outer peripheries, said wall being effective to separate inner and outer classification areas between which articles are transferrable only by movement over the wall; c. stationary means engaging and supporting said divider wall and maintaining it stationary with its bottom edge in engagement with the rotating deck, said stationary means extending around at least one edge of the deck and being supported on the frame means under the deck; d. said stationary means comprising a member extending transversely above the deck and provided with two spaced pins extending horizontally toward the direction from which the rotating table approaches the member, said pins being spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the divider wall; e. said wall having a slot elongated horizontally to receive the member and pins; and f. said wall being frictionally biased by the rotation of the deck to hold one end of the slot between the two pins.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
Classifying apparatus, comprising: a. an annular table including: 1. an annular deck; 2. frame means located under the deck and supporting the deck; 3. means on the frame means for rotating the deck about its axis; b. a divider wall concentric with the deck and extending upwardly from the top surface thereof at a locality between its inner and outer peripheries, said wall being effective to separate inner and outer classification areas between which articles are transferrable only by movement over the wall; c. stationary means engaging and supporting said divider wall and maintaining it stationary with its bottom edge in engagement with the rotating deck, said stationary means extending around at least one edge of the deck and being supported on the frame means under the deck; d. said stationary means comprising a member extending transversely above the deck and provided with two spaced pins extending horizontally toward the direction from which the rotating table approaches the member, said pins being spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the divider wall; e. said wall having a slot elongated horizontally to receive the member and pins; and f. said wall being frictionally biased by the rotation of the deck to hold one end of the slot between the two pins.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
frame means located under the deck and supporting the deck;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
frame means located under the deck and supporting the deck;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
8 words
Classifying apparatus, comprising: a. an annular table including:
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
8 words
Classifying apparatus, comprising: a. an annular table including:
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
10 words
frame means located under the deck and supporting the deck;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
10 words
frame means located under the deck and supporting the deck;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
frame means located entirely under the deck and supporting the deck;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
frame means located entirely under the deck and supporting the deck;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
214 words
a frame for supporting the deck, including a circular member at the top thereof and three vertical legs spaced 120* apart around the periphery of said circular member, said circular member having a diameter slightly smaller than that of said central rib; b. three support wheels mounted on said legs near the upper end thereof and below said circular member, each said support wheel being rotatable about a horizontal axis and having a grooved periphery adapted to engage rollingly the under surface of said central rib; c. means for driving at least one of said support wheels so as to rotate the deck about its vertical axis; d. said one support wheel comprising a pair of discs of compressible material spaced apart by a groove narrower than the thickness of said central rib, so that said one wheel frictionally grips said central rib and positively rotates the annular deck about its axis; and e. the other two of said support wheels comprising idler wheels supported to carry substantially only radial forces, each said idler wheel having a peripheral groove wider than the thickness of said central rib so as to allow substantial movement of the central rib within said groove with respect to the wheel without transferring any substantial axial force to the wheel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
214 words
a frame for supporting the deck, including a circular member at the top thereof and three vertical legs spaced 120* apart around the periphery of said circular member, said circular member having a diameter slightly smaller than that of said central rib; b. three support wheels mounted on said legs near the upper end thereof and below said circular member, each said support wheel being rotatable about a horizontal axis and having a grooved periphery adapted to engage rollingly the under surface of said central rib; c. means for driving at least one of said support wheels so as to rotate the deck about its vertical axis; d. said one support wheel comprising a pair of discs of compressible material spaced apart by a groove narrower than the thickness of said central rib, so that said one wheel frictionally grips said central rib and positively rotates the annular deck about its axis; and e. the other two of said support wheels comprising idler wheels supported to carry substantially only radial forces, each said idler wheel having a peripheral groove wider than the thickness of said central rib so as to allow substantial movement of the central rib within said groove with respect to the wheel without transferring any substantial axial force to the wheel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
169 words
means on the frame means for rotating the deck about its axis; and b. a divider wall concentric with the deck and extending upwardly from the top surface thereof at a locality between its inner and outer peripheries, said wall being effective to separate inner and outer classification areas of the top surface of the deck, between which areas articles are transferrable only by movement over the wall; wherein the improvement comprises: c. means for supplying a first stream consisting mostly of meat pieces to the inner classification area; d. means for supplying a second stream consisting mostly of bones to the outer classification area; e. said wall extending about 270* around the periphery of the rotating deck; f. a first scraper on the outside of the wall at the downstream end thereof for scraping the stream of bones off the outer edge of the rotating deck; and g. a second scraper at the upstream end of said wall for scraping of articles from one of said classification areas.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
169 words
means on the frame means for rotating the deck about its axis; and b. a divider wall concentric with the deck and extending upwardly from the top surface thereof at a locality between its inner and outer peripheries, said wall being effective to separate inner and outer classification areas of the top surface of the deck, between which areas articles are transferrable only by movement over the wall; wherein the improvement comprises: c. means for supplying a first stream consisting mostly of meat pieces to the inner classification area; d. means for supplying a second stream consisting mostly of bones to the outer classification area; e. said wall extending about 270* around the periphery of the rotating deck; f. a first scraper on the outside of the wall at the downstream end thereof for scraping the stream of bones off the outer edge of the rotating deck; and g. a second scraper at the upstream end of said wall for scraping of articles from one of said classification areas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
180 words
means on the frame means for rotating the deck about its axis; and b. a divider wall concentric with the deck and extending upwardly from the top surface thereof at a locality between its inner and outer peripheries, said wall being effective to separate inner and outer classification areas of the top surface of the deck, between which areas articles are transferrable only by movement over the wall, said wall extending less than 360* around the axis of the deck; wherein the improvement comprises: c. a scraper at the end of the wall toward which the deck is moving, said scraper extending diagonally across the outer classification area and engaging the deck, being effective as the deck rotates to scrape articles on said outer classification area off the edge of the table; d. means supporting the scraper, comprising a member extending over the deck; and e. a scraper blade support channel receiving the upper end of the scraper blade; and f. two scraper supporting arms extending horizontally from said channel and terminating in hooks extending under and engaging said member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
180 words
means on the frame means for rotating the deck about its axis; and b. a divider wall concentric with the deck and extending upwardly from the top surface thereof at a locality between its inner and outer peripheries, said wall being effective to separate inner and outer classification areas of the top surface of the deck, between which areas articles are transferrable only by movement over the wall, said wall extending less than 360* around the axis of the deck; wherein the improvement comprises: c. a scraper at the end of the wall toward which the deck is moving, said scraper extending diagonally across the outer classification area and engaging the deck, being effective as the deck rotates to scrape articles on said outer classification area off the edge of the table; d. means supporting the scraper, comprising a member extending over the deck; and e. a scraper blade support channel receiving the upper end of the scraper blade; and f. two scraper supporting arms extending horizontally from said channel and terminating in hooks extending under and engaging said member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
190 words
means on the frame means for rotating the deck about its axis; b. a divider wall concentric with the deck and extending upwardly from the top surface thereof at a locality between its inner and outer peripheries, said wall being effective to separate inner and outer classification areas between which articles are transferrable only by movement over the wall; c. stationary means engaging and supporting said divider wall and maintaining it stationary with its bottom edge in engagement with the rotating deck, said stationary means extending around at least one edge of the deck and being supported on the frame means under the deck; d. said stationary means comprising a member extending transversely above the deck and provided with two spaced pins extending horizontally toward the direction from which the rotating table approaches the member, said pins being spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the divider wall; e. said wall having a slot elongated horizontally to receive the member and pins; and f. said wall being frictionally biased by the rotation of the deck to hold one end of the slot between the two pins.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
190 words
means on the frame means for rotating the deck about its axis; b. a divider wall concentric with the deck and extending upwardly from the top surface thereof at a locality between its inner and outer peripheries, said wall being effective to separate inner and outer classification areas between which articles are transferrable only by movement over the wall; c. stationary means engaging and supporting said divider wall and maintaining it stationary with its bottom edge in engagement with the rotating deck, said stationary means extending around at least one edge of the deck and being supported on the frame means under the deck; d. said stationary means comprising a member extending transversely above the deck and provided with two spaced pins extending horizontally toward the direction from which the rotating table approaches the member, said pins being spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the divider wall; e. said wall having a slot elongated horizontally to receive the member and pins; and f. said wall being frictionally biased by the rotation of the deck to hold one end of the slot between the two pins.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, including a weight attached to said scraper support channel and projecting horizontally therefrom in the opposite direction to said scraper supporting arms, said weight being effective to hold the hooks on the scraper supporting arms in engagement with the member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which said supporting arms extend from said member in the direction of motion of the deck.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, including a second scraper located upstream from the upstream end of the divider wall and effective to scrape articles in the outer classification area into the inner classification area.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, including common support means for the scraper and the adjacent end of the wall.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus for classifying meat pieces and bones from a mixture thereof comprising: a. an annular table including:
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus for classifying meat pieces and bones from a mixture thereof comprising: a. an annular table including:
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
144 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said divider wall and said rotating deck cooperate to define: a. at least one work station outside said wall where an inspector may remove meat pieces from said second stream and pass them across the wall to the inner classification area; b. at least one station inside the wall where an inspector may remove the bones from the first stream and pass them over the wall to the outer classification area; c. a station just beyond the downstream end of the wall where the meat pieces remaining in the inner classification area may be spread over the entire surface of the deck; and d. at least one station between the downstream end of the wall and the upstream end thereof, at the outside of the deck, where pieces of meat may be manually removed from the deck.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
8 words
Classifying apparatus comprising: a. an annular table including:
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
8 words
Classifying apparatus comprising: a. an annular table including:
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
53 words
Classifying apparatus as defined in claim 9, including: a. two idler wheels journaled for rotation about vertical axes and mounted on the two of said three legs which carry the horizontal axis idler wheels, said two vertical axis idler wheels being mounted so as to engage the inner surface of said central rib.
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) | 1975-12-26 | 1976-06-26 | 1976-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-26 | 1980-06-26 | 1980-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-26 | 1984-06-26 | 1984-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |