US3771647A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solid waste opening machine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-04-19
•
Granted: 1973-11-13
•
Expires: 1992-04-19
Abstract
Abstract A chute spreads and feeds stacks or piles of waste material to a machine that passes the mixed solid waste material over the surface of an inclined, rotating disk that has evacuated perforations for gripping some of the waste material and carrying it around the disk. A vacuum box under the disk extends in an arc part way around the disk from the inlet toward the outlet of the machine to create the vacuum near the inlet for carrying material around the disk and to release the vacuum near the outlet. Released material is thrown against an impact wall positioned beyond the vacuum box, and an air blast is directed along the impact wall and through the outlet of the machine. The effect is to spread and open some of the solid waste material, particularly the reusable paper.
Inventors
- 👤 E Cumpston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 11:40
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07B; B07B13/00; B07B13/10; B03; B03B; B03B9/00; B03B9/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/905; Y10S209/911; Y10S209/919; Y10S209/93
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A machine for spreading and opening mixed, solid waste material, said machine comprising: a. a housing forming a cavity generally inclined approximately mid way between vertical and horizontal; b. said housing having an inlet for said material near the top of said cavity and an outlet for said material near the bottom of said cavity; c. a circular, flat disk at least three feet in diameter rotatably arranged in said housing between said inlet and said outlet to form a substantial part of the floor of said cavity; d. a radially outer region of said disk having perforations; and e. a vacuum box arranged closely under said disk and extending in an arc part way around said radially outer region of said disk from said inlet toward said outlet in the direction of rotation of said disk.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A machine for spreading and opening mixed, solid waste material, said machine comprising: a. a housing forming a cavity generally inclined approximately mid way between vertical and horizontal; b. said housing having an inlet for said material near the top of said cavity and an outlet for said material near the bottom of said cavity; c. a circular, flat disk at least three feet in diameter rotatably arranged in said housing between said inlet and said outlet to form a substantial part of the floor of said cavity; d. a radially outer region of said disk having perforations; and e. a vacuum box arranged closely under said disk and extending in an arc part way around said radially outer region of said disk from said inlet toward said outlet in the direction of rotation of said disk.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The machine of claim 1 including means for producing an air blast directed from inside said cavity through said outlet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The machine of claim 1 including an impact wall generally perpendicular to said disk and arranged beyond said vacuum box arc where material released from said disk is thrown against said impact wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The machine of claim 3 wherein said impact wall is outside the perimeter of said disk and leads into said outlet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The machine of claim 4 including means for producing an air blast directed along said impact wall and through said outlet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said housing is closed over the top of said disk and said outlet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The machine of claim 1 including means for rotating said disk at a peripheral velocity of approximately 1,600 feet per minute.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The machine of claim 1 including means for evacuating said vacuum box to a vacuum of at least 10 inches of water.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein perforations are approximately one quarter of an inch in diameter and are countersunk into the top of said disk to approximately three quarters of an inch in diameter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The machine of claim 9 wherein the included angle of said countersinks is approximately 100*.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said arc of said vacuum box is between 200* and 300*.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said perforations are arranged in concentric circles, and a plurality of air jets are arranged under said disk outside said vacuum box and registered with said concentric circles for cleaning out said perforations.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a wall generally perpendicular to said disk and extending closely around the periphery of said disk from said inlet to said outlet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A pair of the machines of claim 1 arranged in series with said outlet from a first one of said machines leading to said inlet for a second one of said machines.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The machine of claim 1 including an air sweep arranged beyond said outlet for sorting said material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
The machine of claim 1 including an impact wall generally perpendicular to said disk and arranged beyond said vacuum box arc where material released from said disk is thrown against said impact wall, and means for producing an air blast directed along said impact wall to open and clear away material thrown against said impact wall.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The machine of claim 16 wherein said impact wall is outside the perimeter of said disk and leads into said outlet, and said air blast is directed into said outlet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The machine of claim 17 wherein said housing is closed over the top of said disk and said outlet and includes a wall generally perpendicular to said disk and extending closely around the periphery of said disk from said inlet to said outlet.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The machine of claim 18 including a first blower for producing said air blast, and a second blower for evacuating said vacuum box.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
A pair of the machines of claim 19 arranged in series with the output from a first one of said machines fed to a second one of said machines.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
the machine of claim 19 wherein said perforations are arranged in concentric circles and a plurality of air jets are arranged under said disk outside said vacuum box and registered with said concentric circles for cleaning out said perforations.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
70 words
The machine of claim 21 including means for rotating said disk at a peripheral velocity of approximately 1,600 feet per minute, said second blower is arranged for evacuating said vacuum box to a vacuum of at least 10 inches of water, said perforations are approximately one quarter of an inch in diameter and are countersunk into the top of said disk to approximately three quarters of an inch in diameter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The machine of claim 22 wherein the arc of said vacuum box is between 200* and 300* and the included angle of said countersinks is approximately 100*.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
A pair of the machines of claim 23 arranged in series with the output from a first one of said machines fed to a second one of said machines.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
76 words
The machine of claim 1 including: a chute arranged for directing said material into said inlet; b. said chute being inclined downwardly toward said inlet; c. pivot means for supporting the upper end of said chute to allow motion of said chute generally longitudinally thereof; and d. an eccentric drive having an axis transverse to said chute and engaging said chute below said pivot means for driving the lower end of said chute in orbital path.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
The machine of claim 25 wherein said eccentric drive rotates to move said chute toward said inlet during an upper portion of travel and away from said inlet during a lower portion of travel.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The machine of claim 26 wherein said eccentric drive engages said chute in a central region of said chute.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The machine of claim 17 including means for producing another air blast approximately tangential to said disk and directed generally toward said impact wall.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The machine of claim 28 wherein said outlet air blast is more forceful than said tangential air blast.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The machine of claim 28 including a first blower for powering said air blasts, and a second blower for evacuating said vacuum box.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
53 words
The machine of claim 30 wherein said housing is closed over the top of said disk, said impact wall is outside the perimeter of said disk and leads into said outlet, and a wall generally perpendicular to said disk extends closely around the periphery of said disk from said inlet to said outlet.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The machine of claim 31 wherein said tangential air blast is delivered through said peripheral wall to move toward said impact wall.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
115 words
The machine of claim 28 including a downwardly inclined chute arranged for spreading and feeding stacks or piles of said solid waste material into said inlet of said cavity; means for supporting the upper end of said chute for pivotal movement longitudinally of said chute to shake said waste material in a reciprocal motion to topple stacks and spread piles; and means for driving a lower region of said chute in a circular orbit to move said upper end of said chute in said longitudinal movement and to drive the lower end of said chute in an orbital motion so the feeding rate of said waste material increases toward said lower end of said chute.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
34 words
The machine of claim 33 wherein said driving means moves said Chute downward in the upper portion of said circular orbit, and moves said chute upward in the lower portion of said circular orbit.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The machine of claim 34 wherein said driving means drives a central region of said chute.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
158 words
A machine for spreading and feeding stacked or piled solid waste material, said machine comprising: a downwardly inclined chute; b. means for supporting the upper end of said chute for pivotal, reciprocal movement longitudinally of said chute to shake said waste material back and forth to topple stacks and spread piles; and c. means spaced down said chute in a region below said upper end support means for driving said lower region of said chute in a circular motion in a vertical plane parallel with said chute, said circular motion of said lower region having the effect of moving said upper end of said chute in said longitudinal, reciprocal movement and moving regions of said chute below said upper end in motions having an amplitude that is perpendicular to said chute and increases with distance from said upper end of said chute so the feeding rate of said waste material increases toward said lower end of said chute.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
158 words
A machine for spreading and feeding stacked or piled solid waste material, said machine comprising: a downwardly inclined chute; b. means for supporting the upper end of said chute for pivotal, reciprocal movement longitudinally of said chute to shake said waste material back and forth to topple stacks and spread piles; and c. means spaced down said chute in a region below said upper end support means for driving said lower region of said chute in a circular motion in a vertical plane parallel with said chute, said circular motion of said lower region having the effect of moving said upper end of said chute in said longitudinal, reciprocal movement and moving regions of said chute below said upper end in motions having an amplitude that is perpendicular to said chute and increases with distance from said upper end of said chute so the feeding rate of said waste material increases toward said lower end of said chute.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
35 words
The machine of claim 36 wherein said driving means rotates to move said chute longitudinally downward during the upper half of said circular motion and longitudinally upward during the lower half of said circular motion.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
83 words
The machine of claim 37 wherein said lower region of said chute driven by said driving means is a central region of said chute, with the effect of moving the bottom end of said chute in an elliptical motion in a vertical plane parallel with said chute, said elliptical motion having a minor axis parallel with said chute and equal to the diameter of said circular motion and a major axis perpendicular to said chute and exceeding the diameter of said circular motion.
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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) | 1976-11-12 | 1977-05-14 | 1977-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-12 | 1981-05-14 | 1981-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-12 | 1985-05-14 | 1985-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |