US3765320A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Onion end cutter
Assignee: Machinenfabriek Finis NV
•
Filing: 1971-01-11
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Granted: 1973-10-16
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Expires: 1991-01-11
Abstract
Abstract A device for topping and tailing crops, particularly onions, said device comprising a conveyor belt for feeding the bulbs arranged in openings of the conveyor belt and at least one topping and tailing member arranged above and beneath the conveyor belt, said members being displaceable in a direction normal to the conveyor belt in order to occupy a desired position relative to the bulbs for removing the heads and tails of the bulbs and including feelers cooperating with the bulbs and limiting the displacement of the topping and tailing members in said normal direction, wherein the feelers detect only the greatest distances over which the bulbs project above and beneath the belt and accordingly control the movements of the topping and tailing members relative to the bulbs.
Inventors
- 👤 Raay A Van
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:52
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23N; A23N15/00; A23N15/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
A device for topping and tailiNg a bulb crop, particularly onions, comprising in combination: a. a conveyor device having open bottomed means for supporting bulbs therein; b. at least one topping member and one tailing member, each comprising a flat knife and a shaft, each said knife disposed on and transversely of a said shaft, each shaft being eccentric to the center of said bulb-holding means, means for effecting planar rotation of said topping members and means for effecting movement thereof normal to said conveyor device on opposite sides of said conveyor device; c. a feeler member for each of said topping member and said tailing member, means connecting each said feeler member to a said topping member and a said tailing member for movement therewith normal to the conveyor and for positioning an opposed pair of said feeler members centrally above and beneath, respectively, an open-bottomed means in said conveyor device, whereby during the topping and tailing operation said feeler members in opposed pairs contact the maximum extremities of said bulbs from opposite sides of said conveyor device and thereupon limit further travel of each of said topping member and tailing member, the amount of crop topped and tailed from said bulb being determined with respect to the maximum normal dimension of said bulb relative to said conveyor device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
220 words
A device for topping and tailiNg a bulb crop, particularly onions, comprising in combination: a. a conveyor device having open bottomed means for supporting bulbs therein; b. at least one topping member and one tailing member, each comprising a flat knife and a shaft, each said knife disposed on and transversely of a said shaft, each shaft being eccentric to the center of said bulb-holding means, means for effecting planar rotation of said topping members and means for effecting movement thereof normal to said conveyor device on opposite sides of said conveyor device; c. a feeler member for each of said topping member and said tailing member, means connecting each said feeler member to a said topping member and a said tailing member for movement therewith normal to the conveyor and for positioning an opposed pair of said feeler members centrally above and beneath, respectively, an open-bottomed means in said conveyor device, whereby during the topping and tailing operation said feeler members in opposed pairs contact the maximum extremities of said bulbs from opposite sides of said conveyor device and thereupon limit further travel of each of said topping member and tailing member, the amount of crop topped and tailed from said bulb being determined with respect to the maximum normal dimension of said bulb relative to said conveyor device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said feeler members is adjustable in a direction normal to said conveyor device and can be fixed in a plurality of positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, a plurality of housings each holding a said shaft, wherein said shaft of a topping or tailing member is axially displacable in its direction of length in said housing which is constructed to reciprocate in operation by means of a driving mechanism, the movement of said shaft in said housing being controlled by means of said feeler member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said topping or tailing member is constructed for reciprocal motion in a direction normal to the longitudinal direction of said conveyor device with the aid of a pneumatic cylinder, the stroke of which is determined by said feeler member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
116 words
A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said topping or tailing member located on one side of said conveyor device is journally affixed within said housing for reciprocal motion in operation, and said topping or tailing member located on the other side of said conveyor device is adapted for reciprocal motion with the aid of pneumatic cylinder, whereby under the action of the weight of the part of said topping or tailing member adapted to shift relatively to said reciprocatory housing, said bulb is urged against said conveyor device, the air pressure in said pneumatic cylinder being such that said bulb cannot be lifted from said conveyor device with the aid of said pneumatic cylinder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said topping and tailing members located beneath and above said conveyor device, respectively, are displaceably journalled in relatively coupled housings in a direction normal to the direction of length of said conveyor device; said housings being reciprocally moveable in operation in a direction normal to the direction of length of said conveyor device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said topping or tailing member located on one side of said conveyor device is adapted to reciprocate in operation over a fixed distance transversely of the direction of length of said conveyor device so that, in operation, the end of said member projecting on said side is constantly lifted until it projects over a given distance on said side of said conveyor belt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein on each side of said conveyor device a plurality of adjacent topping and tailing members are arranged, which are caused to rotate by means of a toothed rack displaceable transversely of the direction of length of said conveyor device and cooperate with gear wheels connected with said topping and tailing members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said toothed rack is adapted to reciprocate with the aid of a setting cylinder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, and further including means for blowing away the scales of the topped or tailed crop.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said blowing means together with said housings of the topping or tailing members located above said conveyor device are constructed for reciprocal motion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said means for blowing off said scales are provided with cup-shaped members to be placed over the crop, into which compressed air is blown.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
114 words
A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said topping or tailing member located on one side of said conveyor device is journalled in said housing adapted to reciprocate in operation, and said topping or tailing member located on the other side of said conveyor device reciprocates with the aid of a pneumatic cylinder, whereby under the action of the weight of the part of said topping or tailing member adapted to shift relatively to said reciprocatory housing, the crop is urged against said conveyor device, the adjustment of the air pressure in said cylinder being such that said crop cannot be lifted from said conveyor device with the aid of said pneumatic cylinder.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said means for blowing off said scales are provided with cup-shaped members to be placed over said crop, into which compressed air is blown.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3186459A
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US3402748A
Cited
US3515193A
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Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-15 | 1977-04-16 | 1977-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-15 | 1981-04-16 | 1981-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-15 | 1985-04-16 | 1985-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |