US3928183A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tobacco sorting apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-12-16
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Granted: 1975-12-23
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Expires: 1994-12-16
Abstract
Abstract An end plate assembly for use in tobacco sorting apparatus having a conveyor having a forward end and a sensing system mounted above the forward end of said conveyor. The end plate is spaced below the sensing system in operative position adjacent the forward end of the conveyor and is mounted at the lower end of a pair of arm members. The arms are pivotally mounted to the conveyor frame to permit the plate to swing away from the forward end of the conveyor. Spring means biases at least one of the arm members toward the forward end of the conveyor to maintain the end plate in operative position.
Inventors
- 👤 Emil S Asfour
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:51
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24B; A24B1/00; A24B1/04; B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/34; B07C5/342; B07C5/36; B07C5/363; B07C5/367; B07C5/368
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
IN A COMBINATION WTH TOBACCO SORTING APPARATUS COMPRISING A CONVEYOR FOR TOBACCO LEAVES HAVING A FORWARD END, A SENSING SYSTEM MOUNTED ABOVE THE FORWARD END OF SAID CONVEYOR, AND AN END PLATE SPACE BELOW SAID SENSING SYSTEM IN OPERATIVE POSITION ADJACENT SAID FORWARD END OF SAID CONVEYOR APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING SAID END PLATE COMPRISING A PAIR OF ELONGATED ARM MEMBERS SPACED APART AT LEAST AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE WIDTH OF THE CONVEYOR, MEANS AT THE LOWER END OF EACH OF SAID ARM MEMBERS FOR SUPPORTING THE END PLATE IN OPERATIVE POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE FORWARD END OF PPIVOTALLY MOUNTING MEANS AT THE UPPER END OF SAID ARMS FOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID ARM MEMBERS TO PERMIT SAID PLATE TO SWING AWAY FROM SAID FORWARD END OF SAID CONVEYOR, AND MEANS FOR RESILIENTLY BIASING SAID ARM MEMBERS TOWARD SAID FORWARD END OF SAID CONVEYOR TO MAINTAIN SAID END PLATE IN OPERATIVE POSITION ADJACENT THERETO.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
IN A COMBINATION WTH TOBACCO SORTING APPARATUS COMPRISING A CONVEYOR FOR TOBACCO LEAVES HAVING A FORWARD END, A SENSING SYSTEM MOUNTED ABOVE THE FORWARD END OF SAID CONVEYOR, AND AN END PLATE SPACE BELOW SAID SENSING SYSTEM IN OPERATIVE POSITION ADJACENT SAID FORWARD END OF SAID CONVEYOR APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING SAID END PLATE COMPRISING A PAIR OF ELONGATED ARM MEMBERS SPACED APART AT LEAST AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE WIDTH OF THE CONVEYOR, MEANS AT THE LOWER END OF EACH OF SAID ARM MEMBERS FOR SUPPORTING THE END PLATE IN OPERATIVE POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE FORWARD END OF PPIVOTALLY MOUNTING MEANS AT THE UPPER END OF SAID ARMS FOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID ARM MEMBERS TO PERMIT SAID PLATE TO SWING AWAY FROM SAID FORWARD END OF SAID CONVEYOR, AND MEANS FOR RESILIENTLY BIASING SAID ARM MEMBERS TOWARD SAID FORWARD END OF SAID CONVEYOR TO MAINTAIN SAID END PLATE IN OPERATIVE POSITION ADJACENT THERETO.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, including stop means for limiting the movement of said arm members toward the forward end of said conveyor whereby said end plate in its operative position is spaced from the forward end of said conveyor by a predetermined distance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said stop means is adjustable so that said distance may be varied.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 including means for sensing the movement of said end plate from its operative position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said conveyor is mounted on a frame having a pair of standards fixed thereto and extending above said conveyor on either side thereof, said arm members being respectively, pivotally secured at the extending end of said standards, and provided with spring means secured to said standards.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said arm members comprises a wall having an upper and lower edge, said wall being pivoted at its upper edge remote from said conveyor to said standard, so as to describe a downward arc away from said conveyor on pivoting thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 including an elongated spring secured at one end to said wall between said remote pivot and the conveyor and secured at its other end to said standard.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, including stop means for limiting the movement of said wall comprising an eccentric cam member, rotatable into a plurality of fixed positions, engaging an edge of said wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said means for sensing the movement of said end plate includes a switch engaging an edge of said wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said sensing system is contained in a housing mounted on said standards above said walls.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 including a flexible flap member secured to the lower end of said arm members adjacent said forward end of said conveyor and extending the width of said conveyor to bridge the space between said end plate and said conveyor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the flexible flap engages the surface of said conveyor and is normally curved in an arc following the direction thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus acording to claim 1, including means for removably supporting said end plate on said arm members.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said end plate is metallic and said supporting means comprises magnets secured to said arms.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said end plates are ferrous metals and said supporting means comprise connective magnet means secured to said arms and said end plates.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 including an air ejection system, comprising a plurality of nozzles mounted between said arm members below said plate and means for selectively supplying air to said nozzles.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said nozzles comprise an elongated rod provided with holes in selected portions thereof, said rod being connected at each end to a respective one of said arms.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 including means for pivotally mounting said end plate supporting means on said arm members, enabling the tilting of the surface of said end plate with respect to the plane of said conveyor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
64 words
Tobacco sorting apparatus comprising means for movably carrying tobacco leaves, surface means for receiving the leaves from said carrying means, a scanner juxtaposed with respect to said surface means for sensing said leaves, said surface means being mounted on a movable supporting frame and means for mounting said frame to be pivotal from a position adjacent said carrying means to a position removed therefrom.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
64 words
Tobacco sorting apparatus comprising means for movably carrying tobacco leaves, surface means for receiving the leaves from said carrying means, a scanner juxtaposed with respect to said surface means for sensing said leaves, said surface means being mounted on a movable supporting frame and means for mounting said frame to be pivotal from a position adjacent said carrying means to a position removed therefrom.
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) | 1978-12-22 | 1979-06-23 | 1979-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-22 | 1983-06-23 | 1983-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-22 | 1987-06-23 | 1987-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |