US3743092A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for sorting flowers according to length
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-08-27
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Granted: 1973-07-03
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Expires: 1991-08-27
Abstract
Abstract A flower grader comprising an elongated framework, a conveyor chain movable near either side thereof and flower-receiving trays constituted by a plurality of spaced flat fingers bent angularly and fixed with their one ends to a bar. The trays are pivotally mounted and tiltable between said conveyor chains said tilting being actuated by photoelectric cells. The open ends of said fingers face the front of the grader and said photo-electric cells extend longitudinally between two adjacent fingers near their mounting. For each flower size there are provided at least three collecting troughs mounted between equi-angularly spaced arms of a support fixed to a shaft. The shaft is rotatably supported between the sides of said framework below each predetermined tilting position and is adapted to be rotated by means actuated by said photo-electric cells after a predetermined quantity of flowers has dropped into the trough located uppermost, so that another trough moves into position to collect the sized flowers. The predetermined quantity of flowers is removed at the side of the framework in a bunch into which the flowers have been assembled. A drawer within each trough aids in forming the bunch of the predetermined number of sized flowers.
Inventors
- 👤 E Levinstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 10:01
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/04; B07C5/12; A; A01; A01G; A01G5/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/912; Y10S209/933
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
In a flower grader for grading flowers according to their length and being of the type which includes an elongated framework, a conveyor chain movable near either side thereof and a plurality of flower-receiving trays spaced along said framework and each being pivotally mounted and tiltable between said conveyor chains, the improvement comprising: each said receiving tray comprising a plurality of angularly bent fingers spaced transversely between said chains and with each said finger having its upper end pivotally supported, each of said bent fingers having its flower-receiving open side facing the front of the machine where the flowers are placed in said trays, a plurality of flower length grading stations longitudinally spaced along said frame and each responsive to the passage of a flower in a respective one of said trays having a length falling within a predetermined range of flower lengths, each said grading station including a photo-electric cell means supported between two adjacent fingers so as to leave a space between a flower carried by the fingers comprising a tray and said photo-electric cell means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a flower grader for grading flowers according to their length and being of the type which includes an elongated framework, a conveyor chain movable near either side thereof and a plurality of flower-receiving trays spaced along said framework and each being pivotally mounted and tiltable between said conveyor chains, the improvement comprising: each said receiving tray comprising a plurality of angularly bent fingers spaced transversely between said chains and with each said finger having its upper end pivotally supported, each of said bent fingers having its flower-receiving open side facing the front of the machine where the flowers are placed in said trays, a plurality of flower length grading stations longitudinally spaced along said frame and each responsive to the passage of a flower in a respective one of said trays having a length falling within a predetermined range of flower lengths, each said grading station including a photo-electric cell means supported between two adjacent fingers so as to leave a space between a flower carried by the fingers comprising a tray and said photo-electric cell means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
A flower grader as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said finger is connected to a bar provided with axially extending shafts pivotally mounted in shackles fixed to said conveyor chains, a rod being fixed to said shaft and being provided with a balance weight at its bottom to maintain each said finger normally in a position to support and convey a flower.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
A flower grader as claimed in claim 1, wherein a motor is provided for each flower size to be graded, said motor driving a vertically extending chain over a pulley on whose shaft a rotatable cam is mounted, said photo-electric cell being adapted upon actuation by a flower in a respective tray to rotate said motor through a predetermined amount of rotation, whereby said cam extends momentarily into the path of said rod causing the latter to be deviated to tilt said tray.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
167 words
In a flower grader for grading flowers according to their length and being of the type which includes an elongated framework, a conveyor chain movable near either side thereof and a plurality of flower-receiving trays spaced along said framework and each being pivotally mounted and tiltable between said conveyor chains, the Improvement comprising: a plurality of flower-receiving stations longitudinally spaced along said frame each including means for tilting a tray selectively in dependence upon the length of a flower supported therein, a plurality of flower collecting troughs at each said station for receiving from said trays flowers of a predetermined range of lengths, said troughs being supported on the equi-angularly spaced arms of a support member mounted for rotation on a shaft attached to said framework, said shaft supporting said troughs below said trays, and means responsive to the number of flowers dropped from said trays into a trough for rotating said shaft so as to move another trough into position to receive flowers from said trays.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
167 words
In a flower grader for grading flowers according to their length and being of the type which includes an elongated framework, a conveyor chain movable near either side thereof and a plurality of flower-receiving trays spaced along said framework and each being pivotally mounted and tiltable between said conveyor chains, the Improvement comprising: a plurality of flower-receiving stations longitudinally spaced along said frame each including means for tilting a tray selectively in dependence upon the length of a flower supported therein, a plurality of flower collecting troughs at each said station for receiving from said trays flowers of a predetermined range of lengths, said troughs being supported on the equi-angularly spaced arms of a support member mounted for rotation on a shaft attached to said framework, said shaft supporting said troughs below said trays, and means responsive to the number of flowers dropped from said trays into a trough for rotating said shaft so as to move another trough into position to receive flowers from said trays.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
96 words
A flower grader as claimed in claim 4, wherein a motor driving a vertically extending chain is provided at each grading station, said motor being actuated by means responsive to the presence of a flower in a tray to rotate said chain a predetermined distance, a lug fixed to said chain for engaging a member keyed to said shaft, said member having a number of arms corresponding to those of said support, the engagement of said lug causing said member to rotate said shaft through a predetermined angular distance corresponding to the spacing of said arms.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A flower grader as claimed in claim 5, wherein a ratchet is keyed to said shaft, a spring-loaded pawl mounted to said framework locking said ratchet and being adapted to release it when engaged by said lug.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A flower grader as claimed in claim 4, wherein four troughs are provided, the support being cross-shaped.
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) | 1976-07-02 | 1977-01-01 | 1977-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-02 | 1981-01-01 | 1981-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-02 | 1985-01-01 | 1985-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |