US3985233A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vibratory seedling cleaner
Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Co
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Filing: 1975-12-11
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Granted: 1976-10-12
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Expires: 1995-12-11
Abstract
Abstract A seedling cleaning system has an infeed end and an outfeed end with an agitating conveying surface therebetween in order to shake and remove the soil from seedlings while continuously conveying them. A plurality of agitating cams are laterally spaced along a plurality of longitudinally spaced rotatable shafts. An overhead water spray may be provided towards the outfeed end for further cleaning.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles A. Sherman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:01
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G23/00; A01G23/02; B; B07; B07B; B07B1/00; B07B1/12; B07B1/14; B07B1/15; B07B1/155; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/932
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A plant cleaning apparatus of the type for removing soil from the root structures of newly extracted young plants such as evergreen seedlings, comprising: a frame means having a pair of opposed side walls together with a pair of end walls with one end of the frame means being the infeed end and the other end being the outfeed end, a plurality of rotatable shaft members extending laterally between the opposed side walls and substantially evenly spaced in a common plane between the pair of end walls, a plurality of agitating cams eccentrically mounted on the shaft members with each cam on the same shaft being turned with respect to the next adjacent cam so its top surface is vertically displaced from the adjacent cams and having cams on adjacent shafts meshing with one another whereby an undulating conveying surface is formed with free spaces defined between adjacent cams for the passage of soil therethrough, and means to rotate the shaft members and thereby the agitating cams in a direction that will convey the plants from the infeed end to the outfeed end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
A plant cleaning apparatus of the type for removing soil from the root structures of newly extracted young plants such as evergreen seedlings, comprising: a frame means having a pair of opposed side walls together with a pair of end walls with one end of the frame means being the infeed end and the other end being the outfeed end, a plurality of rotatable shaft members extending laterally between the opposed side walls and substantially evenly spaced in a common plane between the pair of end walls, a plurality of agitating cams eccentrically mounted on the shaft members with each cam on the same shaft being turned with respect to the next adjacent cam so its top surface is vertically displaced from the adjacent cams and having cams on adjacent shafts meshing with one another whereby an undulating conveying surface is formed with free spaces defined between adjacent cams for the passage of soil therethrough, and means to rotate the shaft members and thereby the agitating cams in a direction that will convey the plants from the infeed end to the outfeed end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising means to spray water generally over the outfeed end in order to further loosen and remove soil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as in claim 1 in which the agitating cams have a plurality of evenly spaced nubs about their circumference.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein adjacent cams along the same shaft member are turned 90° with respect to the next adjacent cam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the shaft members are spaced longitudinally a distance that is on the order of from four to five inches with the major diameter of the agitating cams being on the order of from five and one-half to seven inches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the thickness of the agitating cams is on the order of from one-half to one and one-half inches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the agitating cams are comprised of material having a low coefficient of friction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the edges of the agitating cams are smooth in order to reduce friction between the cams and the plants.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the means to rotate the shaft members is comprised of a reversible fast acting hydraulic motor operable to stop and start the rotation of the shaft members with each start sequence serving to rotate the shaft members an approximate quarter turn.
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) | 1979-10-12 | 1980-04-12 | 1980-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-10-12 | 1984-04-12 | 1984-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-10-12 | 1988-04-12 | 1988-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |