US4018674A — Apparatus for automatically grading leaf tobacco

Claim 1

Independent Claim 182 words

In the system for sorting tobacco leaf wherein said leaves are carried on a horizontal endless belt conveyor past a sensing station, the method of delivering said leaves from a source to said conveyor comprising the steps of feeding within an enclosed housing vertically disposed above said conveyor a random stream of said leaves so as to fall perpendicularly to said conveyor deflecting said leaves in a plurality of selected paths, each intersecting a major portion of said perpendicularly falling stream within said housing transversely to the direction of movement of said conveyor before reaching said conveyor, each of said selected paths being inclined in a direction obliquely angular to the perpendicular direction of the said falling stream, the direction of movement of the conveyor and the plane of said conveyor to cause the leaves within said falling stream to be deflected at different times and move relative to each other sequentially downwardly at angles to the direction of said vertical stream, the conveyor and the direction of movement of said conveyor and depositing said leaves on said conveyor in spaced orientation.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 182 words

In the system for sorting tobacco leaf wherein said leaves are carried on a horizontal endless belt conveyor past a sensing station, the method of delivering said leaves from a source to said conveyor comprising the steps of feeding within an enclosed housing vertically disposed above said conveyor a random stream of said leaves so as to fall perpendicularly to said conveyor deflecting said leaves in a plurality of selected paths, each intersecting a major portion of said perpendicularly falling stream within said housing transversely to the direction of movement of said conveyor before reaching said conveyor, each of said selected paths being inclined in a direction obliquely angular to the perpendicular direction of the said falling stream, the direction of movement of the conveyor and the plane of said conveyor to cause the leaves within said falling stream to be deflected at different times and move relative to each other sequentially downwardly at angles to the direction of said vertical stream, the conveyor and the direction of movement of said conveyor and depositing said leaves on said conveyor in spaced orientation.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method according to claim 1, including the step of deflecting said leaves so that said leaves are deposited on said belt in a relative predetermined grid-like pattern in transverse and longitudinally intersecting protions of said belt.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 170 words

Apparatus for separating and distributing a heterogeneous mass of tobacco leaf on an endless belt conveyor, said conveyor continuously moving in a linear direction in a given plane, comprising means located above said conveyor for directing a stream of said heterogeneous mass of tobacco in a vertical direction toward said conveyor and slide means comprising at least two stationary slide surfaces interposed between the means for directing the stream and conveyor, one of said slide surfaces fanning out from the other at an oblique angle, each of said slide surfaces intersecting a major portion of said vertical stream and extending in a plane oblique to the vertical direction of the stream of tobacco, the plane of the conveyor and the direction of travel to deflect respective portions of said mass of tobacco leaf at different times relative to each other and to cause said leaf to move sequentially onto different portions of said conveyor in paths oblique to the plane of said conveyor and transverse to its direction of movement.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 170 words

Apparatus for separating and distributing a heterogeneous mass of tobacco leaf on an endless belt conveyor, said conveyor continuously moving in a linear direction in a given plane, comprising means located above said conveyor for directing a stream of said heterogeneous mass of tobacco in a vertical direction toward said conveyor and slide means comprising at least two stationary slide surfaces interposed between the means for directing the stream and conveyor, one of said slide surfaces fanning out from the other at an oblique angle, each of said slide surfaces intersecting a major portion of said vertical stream and extending in a plane oblique to the vertical direction of the stream of tobacco, the plane of the conveyor and the direction of travel to deflect respective portions of said mass of tobacco leaf at different times relative to each other and to cause said leaf to move sequentially onto different portions of said conveyor in paths oblique to the plane of said conveyor and transverse to its direction of movement.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 178 words

Apparatus for depositing tobacco leaf in a grid-like pattern on a horizontal belt conveyor moving in a linear direction, comprising a housing located at the rear end of said conveyor and having a pair of parallel vertical side walls and front and rear walls arranged above said conveyor, supply means for supplying stream of tobacco to said housing to fall vertically within said walls, and a plurality of stationary inclined slides arranged between said front and rear walls, each of said slides being secured to one of said walls and extending beneath the falling stream of tobacco downwardly toward said conveyor in planes set at different angles to the vertical, and obliquely to the plane of said conveyor and to its direction of movement, the lower end of said slides being spaced from said conveyor, the angle of each of said slides relative to the vertical increasing respectively from said front to rear walls, said slides deflecting portions of said leaves at different times to cause said falling tobacco to move sequentially onto different areas of said conveyor.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 178 words

Apparatus for depositing tobacco leaf in a grid-like pattern on a horizontal belt conveyor moving in a linear direction, comprising a housing located at the rear end of said conveyor and having a pair of parallel vertical side walls and front and rear walls arranged above said conveyor, supply means for supplying stream of tobacco to said housing to fall vertically within said walls, and a plurality of stationary inclined slides arranged between said front and rear walls, each of said slides being secured to one of said walls and extending beneath the falling stream of tobacco downwardly toward said conveyor in planes set at different angles to the vertical, and obliquely to the plane of said conveyor and to its direction of movement, the lower end of said slides being spaced from said conveyor, the angle of each of said slides relative to the vertical increasing respectively from said front to rear walls, said slides deflecting portions of said leaves at different times to cause said falling tobacco to move sequentially onto different areas of said conveyor.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 76 words

Apparatus according to claim 4 for photo-electrically grading tobacco leaf wherein said leaf is carried on a conveyor past a sensing head and is selectively ejected from the end of said conveyor in response to a signal from said head, to one of at least two hoppers, the improvement of a shroud covering the end of said conveyor and said hopper to prevent interference with the ejection of said leaf and to confine the trajectory thereof.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said slides are pivotally secured to said one wall and are provided with means for adjusting their relative angular positions.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said slides are arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement of said conveyor to present a staggered array relative to said belt.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said slides comprise a plurality of members arranged at different angles to the conveyor.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said slides are spaced from said front wall, a portion of said slide wall on which said slides are secured adjacent said front wall forming a slide.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said slides are three in number, and are arranged at approximately 25°, 30° and 45° angles from the vertical.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 83 words

Apparatus for separating wherein adjacent areas receive tobacco leaf pneumatically propelled over at least one of said areas, comprising a vertical wall having a upper edge extending between said areas, a curved plate having a smooth upper surface, balanced on the upper edge of said wall to pivot to either side thereof, the center of gravity of said plate being located below the upper edge of said wall to prevent said plate from falling off said edge due to impact of a leaf.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 83 words

Apparatus for separating wherein adjacent areas receive tobacco leaf pneumatically propelled over at least one of said areas, comprising a vertical wall having a upper edge extending between said areas, a curved plate having a smooth upper surface, balanced on the upper edge of said wall to pivot to either side thereof, the center of gravity of said plate being located below the upper edge of said wall to prevent said plate from falling off said edge due to impact of a leaf.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said curved plate is substantially semi-circular in cross section and extends the length of said areas.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 101 words

The system for grading tobacco leaf wherein said leaf is carried on a conveyor past a sensing station, sensing said leaf and pneumatically ejecting certain leaf responsive to said sensing from said conveyor into one of two receiving areas arranged adjacent each other in line with the direction of movement of said conveyor, said areas being separated by a wall having an edge extending the length of said areas and a tipple plate pivotably mounted on said edge having an axis containing the center of gravity thereof extending parallel to said edge and spaced below said edge coplanar with said wall.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 101 words

The system for grading tobacco leaf wherein said leaf is carried on a conveyor past a sensing station, sensing said leaf and pneumatically ejecting certain leaf responsive to said sensing from said conveyor into one of two receiving areas arranged adjacent each other in line with the direction of movement of said conveyor, said areas being separated by a wall having an edge extending the length of said areas and a tipple plate pivotably mounted on said edge having an axis containing the center of gravity thereof extending parallel to said edge and spaced below said edge coplanar with said wall.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 131 words

In a system for grading tobacco leaf wherein said leaves are carried on a continuously movable horizontally endless belt past a sensing station, the method of delivering said leaves from a source to said belt comprising the steps of feeding said leaves in a random stream, separating said leaves from said stream and depositing said separating leaves by way of a defined path in a predefined pattern on said belt, covering said conveyor with a shield to form a continuous chamber for said leaves and selecting the speed by said belt and arranging the height of said shield to cooperate with said belt in providing a concurrent flow of air above said leaves to maintain said leaves on said belt in its predetermined pattern during the entire run of said conveyor.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 131 words

In a system for grading tobacco leaf wherein said leaves are carried on a continuously movable horizontally endless belt past a sensing station, the method of delivering said leaves from a source to said belt comprising the steps of feeding said leaves in a random stream, separating said leaves from said stream and depositing said separating leaves by way of a defined path in a predefined pattern on said belt, covering said conveyor with a shield to form a continuous chamber for said leaves and selecting the speed by said belt and arranging the height of said shield to cooperate with said belt in providing a concurrent flow of air above said leaves to maintain said leaves on said belt in its predetermined pattern during the entire run of said conveyor.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system according to claim 14 including the step of applying an independent air flow to the chamber between the belt and shield.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 95 words

Apparatus for conveying leaf tobacco comprising a substantially endless horizontal belt having a leaf-supporting run to which leaves are supplied, means for driving said conveyor to propel said leaf therealong, a shield arranged in spaced parallel relationship to said belt run to form a longitudinal passage open at its ends and in which an air pressure is formed above and below said leaves on movement of said conveyor, the air pressure above said leaf being greater than the air pressure between said leaves and said belt to force said leaves in contact with said belt.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 95 words

Apparatus for conveying leaf tobacco comprising a substantially endless horizontal belt having a leaf-supporting run to which leaves are supplied, means for driving said conveyor to propel said leaf therealong, a shield arranged in spaced parallel relationship to said belt run to form a longitudinal passage open at its ends and in which an air pressure is formed above and below said leaves on movement of said conveyor, the air pressure above said leaf being greater than the air pressure between said leaves and said belt to force said leaves in contact with said belt.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 60 words

The apparatus according to claim 16 including means for depositing leaves on said conveyor in a predetermined orientation, and means for regulating the speed of said conveyor to control the flow of air within said passage whereby a layer of air of greater pressure is created above said leaves throughout its run to maintain said leaves in said predetermined orientation.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said shield comprises a member having a flat face opposed to said conveyor and extending substantially coextensively therewith.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus according to claim 18 including means for adjustably supporting the shield above the conveyor run.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus according to claim 18 including means for enclosing the sides of said passage between said shield and said conveyor, to form a substantial tunnel open at each end.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus according to claim 18 including means for separately causing an air flow pressure differential within said passage.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said air flow differential is caused by creating an air flow at the rear end.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said air flow differential is caused by creating a suction at the front end.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 39 words

The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said air flow differential is created by movable belt arranged between the shield and said leaves, said belt being moved at a speed at least equal to the speed of said conveyor.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said air flow differential is created by applying suction through said conveyor.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1980-04-18	1980-10-18	1981-04-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1984-04-18	1984-10-18	1985-04-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1988-04-18	1988-10-18	1989-04-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for automatically grading leaf tobacco

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