Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A separator, comprising, in combination: a. means for forming articles into a stream and sorting the articles by the size of a one dimension; and b. means receiving articles from the stream forming means for separating out of the stream articles having a predetermined dimension less than a predetermined dimension for the articles different from the one dimension, the receiving means including a hollow drum provided with a circumferential recess arranged for receiving an article to be separated out, the stream forming means being a further hollow drum attached to said drum for rotation therewith, the drums cooperating for forming a hollow cylinder arranged sloping downwardly from an input end of the further drum to an output end of said drum, the further hollow drum being constructed from a plurality of longitudinally extending and longitudinally spaced members, these members and the gaps resulting from the spacing therebetween forming the article sorting means by permitting undersized articles and foreign matter to fall out of the further drum; and c. means for rotating the hollow cylinder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A separator, comprising, in combination: a. means for forming articles into a stream and sorting the articles by the size of a one dimension; and b. means receiving articles from the stream forming means for separating out of the stream articles having a predetermined dimension less than a predetermined dimension for the articles different from the one dimension, the receiving means including a hollow drum provided with a circumferential recess arranged for receiving an article to be separated out, the stream forming means being a further hollow drum attached to said drum for rotation therewith, the drums cooperating for forming a hollow cylinder arranged sloping downwardly from an input end of the further drum to an output end of said drum, the further hollow drum being constructed from a plurality of longitudinally extending and longitudinally spaced members, these members and the gaps resulting from the spacing therebetween forming the article sorting means by permitting undersized articles and foreign matter to fall out of the further drum; and c. means for rotating the hollow cylinder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the hollow cylinder rotating means includes a support frame, a plurality of wheels mounted on the frame and arranged for cradling the cylinder, and means for rotating at least one wheel and rotating the cylinder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein a conveyor is mounted on the frame, and is arranged in said drum for receiving an article discharged from the recess by the force of gravity when the recess is elevated by the rotation of the cylinder and for conveying the articles along a conveying path.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A structure as defined in claim 3, further including means arranged adjacent a discharge end of the conveyor for receiving separated articles from the conveyor and transporting the articles along a conveying path transverse to the conveying path of said conveyor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the members have a V-shaped cross section with the apex of the V arranged directed into the further drum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A structure as defined in claim 5, wherein the hollow cylinder means includes a support frame, a plurality of wheels mounted on the frame and arranged for cradling the cylinder, and means for rotating at least one wheel and rotating the cylinder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A structure as defined in claim 1, further including a hopper having an upwardly inclined, moving bottom arranged for discharging articles into the input end of the further drum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A structure as defined in claim 7, wherein the members have a V-shaped cross section with the apex of the V arranged directed into the further drum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A structure as defined in claim 8, wherein the hollow drum is provided with a plurality of circumferential recesses, each recess arranged for receiving an article to be separated out.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the hollow drum is provided with a plurality of circumferential recesses, each recess arranged for receiving an article to be separated out.