US3709328A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fastener sorting apparatus
Assignee: Karl M Reich Maschinenfabrik GmbH
•
Filing: 1970-08-12
•
Granted: 1973-01-09
•
Expires: 1990-08-12
Abstract
Abstract A sorting apparatus for detecting improperly-shaped fasteners, for example, nails, screws or the like, within a row of properly shaped fasteners and segregating and then expelling these improper fasteners from the proper fasteners.
Inventors
- 👤 J Mohr
- 👤 A Cast
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:21
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/04; B07C5/36; B07C5/363; B07C5/365; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/907; Y10S209/929
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A sorting apparatus for segregating improperly-shaped fasteners comprising a feed conveyor for feeding a plurality of substantially parallel fasteners in a row in one direction, at least one gauging pocket substantially in straight alignment with said feed conveyor and having one open side adapted to receive one fastener at a time from said conveyor, and having two wall members limiting said pocket at substantially opposite sides thereof, a third wall member for limiting a third side of said pocket, said gauging pocket having a length substantially equal to the length of said fasteners, means for moving at least one of said wall members relative to said feed conveyor, means for ejecting an improperly-shaped fastener from said pocket and from the general feeding direction of said row of fasteners, and gauging means for detecting said improper fastener in said pocket and for then actuating said ejecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A sorting apparatus for segregating improperly-shaped fasteners comprising a feed conveyor for feeding a plurality of substantially parallel fasteners in a row in one direction, at least one gauging pocket substantially in straight alignment with said feed conveyor and having one open side adapted to receive one fastener at a time from said conveyor, and having two wall members limiting said pocket at substantially opposite sides thereof, a third wall member for limiting a third side of said pocket, said gauging pocket having a length substantially equal to the length of said fasteners, means for moving at least one of said wall members relative to said feed conveyor, means for ejecting an improperly-shaped fastener from said pocket and from the general feeding direction of said row of fasteners, and gauging means for detecting said improper fastener in said pocket and for then actuating said ejecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
A sorting apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said gauging means comprise at least one mechanical gauging element having a length substantially equal to the length of said gauging pocket and disposed immediately adjacent to an open side of said gauging pocket and adapted to be moved by any part of an improper fastener projecting from the open side of said pocket and then adapted to actuate said adapting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sorting apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said gauging means comprise testing means for directing a beam upon a fastener within said gauging pocket for scanning the same.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A sorting apparatus as defined in claim 3, in which said testing means comprise at least one photoelectric element at one side of said gauging pocket and at least one light source at the opposite side of said pocket and directed toward said photoelectric element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
A sorting apparatus as defined in claim 2, further comprising an element at one side of said conveyor and adapted to revolve continuously in one direction corresponding to the direction of feed of said fasteners along said conveyor and having a plurality of outwardly open grooves each forming one of said gauging pockets and spaced from each other so as to be adapted to receive successive fasteners of said row from said conveyor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
A sorting apparatus as defined in claim 5, further comprising a second element at the opposite side of said conveyor and also adapted to revolve continously in the direction of feed of said fasteners along said conveyor and having projections adapted to engage between the adjacent fasteners of said row in said conveyor and to guide said adjacent fasteners into said grooves of said first element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A sorting apparatus as defined in claim 6, further comprising means for mounting said second element so as to be movable relative to said first element, and spring means tending to move said second element in the direction toward said first element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A sorting apparatus as defined in claim 5, in which said element comprises a cylindrical wheel, said grooves being formed in the outer peripheral surface of said wheel, and further comprising means for driving said wheel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
A sorting apparatus as defined in cLaim 8, in which said wheel has an axis of rotation obliquely inclined to the axes of said fasteners in said feed conveyor preceding said wheel, said grooves extending parallel to said axis of rotation, and further comprising magnetic means for drawing said fasteners into said grooves after passing from said conveyor to said grooves.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
A sorting apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which said gauging element comprises a winglike member pivotably mounted about an axis, and spring means tending to maintain said member in its normal position and adapted to return it to said position if engaged by a projecting part of an improper fastener and deflected from said normal position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
A sorting apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising a switch element for actuating said ejecting means, said winglike member having two arms, one of said arms projecting toward said gauging pocket and the other arm adapted to act upon said switch element when said member is pivoted from its normal position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A sorting apparatus as defined in claim 5, further comprising a wedgelike member mounted in a position subsequent to said ejecting means, as seen in the direction of rotation of said element, for removing the proper fasteners from said element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A sorting apparatus as defined in claim 9, in which all of the elements of said apparatus, except said magnetic means, which are located adjacent to said fasteners consist of a non-magnetizable material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
120 words
A sorting apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said gauging pocket forms a slot defined by a pair of opposite wall portions of said conveyor spaced from each other at a width substantially equal to the thickness of said fasteners, said slot being open at the rear side for receiving one fastener at a time from said conveyor, and a stop member adapted to reciprocate from a closing position, in which it covers the front side of said slot so as to hold a fastener in said slot while being tested, to an open position in which it is withdrawn from said front side so as to permit the tested fastener to be moved out of said slot.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
A sorting apparatus as defined in claim 14, further comprising segregating means preceding said open end of said slot for segregating one fastener at a time from said row in said conveyor to permit the same to be fed into said slot when the previous fastener in said slot has been tested and moved out of said slot and said stop member has again been moved to its closing position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A sorting apparatus as defined in claim 15, further comprising conveying means for moving said segregated fastener toward and into said slot, and out of said slot when said stop member is moved to its open position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
A sorting apparatus as defined in claim 16, in which said conveying means comprise inclined nozzle means for blowing compressed air against said segregated fastener in a direction toward said slot but inclined to the direction of feed of said fastener to and from said slot.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
A sorting apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for moving a properly-shaped fastener in one direction from said pocket, said ejecting means comprising means for blowing compressed air against an improperly-shaped fastener to eject the same from said pocket in a direction different from the direction of movement of said properly-shaped fastener from said pocket.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
142 words
A sorting apparatus as defined in claim 17, further comprising guide means for guiding a properly-shaped fastener in one direction from said pocket, said guide means having opposite walls separated by a longitudinal channel, one of said walls having an ejecting aperture, said nozzle means being disposed at one lateral side of said feed conveyor between said segregating means and said slot and forming the same side in which said ejecting aperture is located, said ejecting means comprising second inclined nozzle means at the other lateral side of said feed conveyor for blowing compressed air against an improperly shaped fastener foR ejecting the same from said pocket and through said ejecting aperture in a direction different from the direction of movement of said properly-shaped fastener, and control means responsive to the operation of said stop member for actuating said second nozzle means.
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) | 1976-01-09 | 1976-07-10 | 1977-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-09 | 1980-07-10 | 1981-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-09 | 1984-07-10 | 1985-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |