Patent US3738474A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3738474A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apple orientor
Assignee: Atlas Pacific Engineering Co
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Filing: 1971-11-01
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Granted: 1973-06-12
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Expires: 1991-11-01
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to an improved device for orienting apples, particularly those known as the Red Delicious variety and which may be relatively long as compared to their diameter. The device is also capable of orienting apples having attached stems. The device is particularly suited to orienting apples fed from a bulk supply and which are largely ungraded as to size. Such apples can vary in size from a diameter of about 2 1/4 inches to 4 1/2 inches.
Inventors
- 👤 R Ellis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 07:45
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23N; A23N4/00; A23N4/12; A23N4/14; B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/22; B65G47/24; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02; B65G2201/0202; B65G2201/0211
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
An apple orientor comprising: frictional end or a. a support, b. at least one receptacle in said support having an open bottom and a frusto-conical side wall, c. a first wheel supported for rotation in a vertical plane in said open bottom to rotate an unoriented apple positioned in said receptacle, d. at least additional wheel supported on said receptacle for free rotation in a vertical plane with the periphery of said wheel extending above the frusto-conical side wall, the vertical plane of the second wheel substantially coinciding with said first vertical plane, e. and means for rotating the first wheel toward the second wheel, the first and second wheels projecting above the plane of the inclined surface of said frusto-conical wall sufficiently to engage an apple supported in said receptacle and within the vertical projected area of an apple in said receptacle, so that an apple will be engaged by said wheels within the vertical projected area thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
An apple orientor comprising: frictional end or a. a support, b. at least one receptacle in said support having an open bottom and a frusto-conical side wall, c. a first wheel supported for rotation in a vertical plane in said open bottom to rotate an unoriented apple positioned in said receptacle, d. at least additional wheel supported on said receptacle for free rotation in a vertical plane with the periphery of said wheel extending above the frusto-conical side wall, the vertical plane of the second wheel substantially coinciding with said first vertical plane, e. and means for rotating the first wheel toward the second wheel, the first and second wheels projecting above the plane of the inclined surface of said frusto-conical wall sufficiently to engage an apple supported in said receptacle and within the vertical projected area of an apple in said receptacle, so that an apple will be engaged by said wheels within the vertical projected area thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apple orientor as in claim 1 wherein a pair of spaced slots are provided in the frusto-conical wall on opposite sides of the vertical plane in whIch the second wheel rotates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apple orientor as in claim 1 wherein a pair of additional wheels are each supported for rotation on said receptacle, adjacent to and substantially parallel with said first wheel, said wheels extending above the frusto-conical side wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
136 words
An apple orientor comprising: a. a support, b. at least one receptacle in said supporchaving an open bottom and a frusto-conical side wall, c. a first wheel supported for rotation in a first vertical plane in said open bottom to rotate an unoriented apple positioned in said receptacle, d. a second wheel supported by said support for free rotation in a second vertical plane which is substantially parallel and closely adjacent to the first vertical plane with the periphery of said wheel extending above the frusto-conical side wall and within the vertical projected area of an apple in said receptacle, e. means for rotating the first wheel toward the second wheel, f. and a pair of spaced slots in the frusto-conical side wall on opposite sides of the vertical plane in which the second wheel rotates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
136 words
An apple orientor comprising: a. a support, b. at least one receptacle in said supporchaving an open bottom and a frusto-conical side wall, c. a first wheel supported for rotation in a first vertical plane in said open bottom to rotate an unoriented apple positioned in said receptacle, d. a second wheel supported by said support for free rotation in a second vertical plane which is substantially parallel and closely adjacent to the first vertical plane with the periphery of said wheel extending above the frusto-conical side wall and within the vertical projected area of an apple in said receptacle, e. means for rotating the first wheel toward the second wheel, f. and a pair of spaced slots in the frusto-conical side wall on opposite sides of the vertical plane in which the second wheel rotates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
95 words
An apple orientor comprising: a. a support, b. at least one receptacle in said support having an open bottom and a frusto-conical side wall, c. a wheel supported on an axis for rotation in a vertical plane in said open bottom to rotate an unoriented apple positioned in said receptacle, d. means for rotating the wheel, e. a pair of spaced slots in the frusto-conical side wall on opposite sides of the vertical plane in which the wheel rotates, f. and said slots being separated by a fruit supporting portion of said frusto-conical side wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
95 words
An apple orientor comprising: a. a support, b. at least one receptacle in said support having an open bottom and a frusto-conical side wall, c. a wheel supported on an axis for rotation in a vertical plane in said open bottom to rotate an unoriented apple positioned in said receptacle, d. means for rotating the wheel, e. a pair of spaced slots in the frusto-conical side wall on opposite sides of the vertical plane in which the wheel rotates, f. and said slots being separated by a fruit supporting portion of said frusto-conical side wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apple orientor as in claim 5 wherein the periphery of the wheel is knurled.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apple orientor as in claim 5 wherein both slots are on the same side of a vertical plane perpendicular to the vertical plane in which the wheel rotates and bisecting the axis of said wheel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apple orientor as in claim 5 wherein said slots have opposite side walls and the respective side walls that are remote from said fruit supporting portion of said frusto-conical side wall are at an acute angle to one another.
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) | 1976-06-11 | 1976-12-11 | 1977-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-11 | 1980-12-11 | 1981-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-11 | 1984-12-11 | 1985-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |