US5465822A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Commodity densification assembly having a multiple path distribution device
Assignee: ARK CLO 2000-1 Ltd
•
Filing: 1994-02-22
•
Granted: 1995-11-14
•
Expires: 2014-02-22
Abstract
Abstract An assembly is provided for densifying and distributing recycled commodities, such as aluminum cans, glass bottles, and PET bottles. A sensor senses a feature of the commodity, including material of composition and color. Based on the sensed material of composition, the commodity is either shredded (aluminum and PET) or crushed (glass) into densified material. A distribution device receives the densified material and, according to its sensed material of composition and color, distributes it to the proper storage path for storage in one of a plurality of segregated storage bins.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce H. Dewoolfson
- 👤 Ken R. Powell
- 👤 Warner Schumacher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 16:51
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/06; G07F7/0609; B; B02; B02C; B02C18/00; B02C18/06; B02C18/14; B02C18/142; B02C19/00; B02C19/0056; B02C19/0081; B02C19/0087; B02C19/0093; B30; B30B; B30B9/00; B30B9/32; B30B9/321; B30B9/325; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W30/00; Y02W30/50; Y02W30/60; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/93
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly, comprising: a housing having an insert port for receiving a commodity; sensor means disposed in the housing for sensing a feature of the commodity, and for determining whether the commodity belongs to a first group of commodities or a second group of commodities according to the sensed feature of the commodity; densification means disposed in the housing downstream of the sensor means for densifying the commodity into densified material; and densified material distribution means for distributing densified material from the first group of commodities into a first path, and for distributing densified material from the second group of commodities into a second path, the distribution means including a plate rotatably mounted in the housing beneath the densification means, a collection member mounted on the plate and having an inlet and an outlet, the collection member collecting the densified material from the densification means at the inlet and distributing the densified material at the outlet, and drive means, responsive to the sensor means, for driving the plate to a first predetermined position to distribute the densified material into the first path, and for driving the plate to a second predetermined position to distribute the densified material into the second path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly, comprising: a housing having an insert port for receiving a commodity; sensor means disposed in the housing for sensing a feature of the commodity, and for determining whether the commodity belongs to a first group of commodities or a second group of commodities according to the sensed feature of the commodity; densification means disposed in the housing downstream of the sensor means for densifying the commodity into densified material; and densified material distribution means for distributing densified material from the first group of commodities into a first path, and for distributing densified material from the second group of commodities into a second path, the distribution means including a plate rotatably mounted in the housing beneath the densification means, a collection member mounted on the plate and having an inlet and an outlet, the collection member collecting the densified material from the densification means at the inlet and distributing the densified material at the outlet, and drive means, responsive to the sensor means, for driving the plate to a first predetermined position to distribute the densified material into the first path, and for driving the plate to a second predetermined position to distribute the densified material into the second path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sensed feature is a material of composition of the commodity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 2, wherein the distribution means distributes the densified material from the second group of commodities into one of a plurality of second storage paths according to the sensed material of composition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 2, wherein the sensing means senses that the material of composition is glass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 2, wherein the sensor means senses that the material of composition is aluminum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 2, wherein the sensor means senses that the material of composition is plastic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sensed feature is a color of the commodity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 7, wherein the distribution means distributes the densified material from the first group of commodities into one of a plurality of first storage paths according to the sensed color.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 7, wherein the distribution means distributes the densified material from the second group of commodities into one of a plurality of second storage paths according to the sensed color.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second group of commodities includes commodities composed of aluminum or plastic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 10, wherein the densification means includes a shredder which shreds commodities from the second group of commodities.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first group of commodities includes commodities composed of glass.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 12, wherein the densification means includes a crusher which crushes commodities from the first group of commodities.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
81 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 13, wherein the crusher includes a fixed support having a first plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated members extending from the support toward a rotating shaft, the rotating shaft having a second plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated members extending from a peripheral surface of the shaft, and rotatable therewith, each of the second plurality of elongated members passing between two of the first plurality of elongated members upon each rotation of the shaft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the second plurality of elongated members has a hardened tip projecting from the elongated member in a direction generally perpendicular to the extension of the elongated member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 15, wherein the hardened tip includes carbide.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 14, further including a third plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated members extending from the peripheral surface of the shaft opposite the second plurality of elongated members, each of the third plurality of elongated members passing between two of the first plurality of elongated members upon each rotation of the shaft.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 13, wherein the crusher includes a primary glass crusher and a secondary glass crusher.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 1, wherein the densification means includes a crusher which crushes commodities from the first group of commodities, and a shredder which shreds commodities from the second group of commodities.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 1, wherein the drive means includes a motor for rotating the plate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
140 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly, comprising: a housing, including an insert port for receiving a commodity; sensor means disposed in the housing adjacent the insert port for sensing a feature of the commodity, and for determining whether the commodity belongs to a first group of commodities or a second group of commodities according to the sensed feature of the commodity; a crusher disposed in the housing which crushes the first group of commodities into first densified material; a shredder disposed in the housing which shreds the second group of commodities into second densified material; a first distribution device mounted beneath the crusher for distributing the first densified material into one of a plurality of first paths; and a second distribution device mounted beneath the shredder for distributing the second densified material into one of a plurality of second paths.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
140 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly, comprising: a housing, including an insert port for receiving a commodity; sensor means disposed in the housing adjacent the insert port for sensing a feature of the commodity, and for determining whether the commodity belongs to a first group of commodities or a second group of commodities according to the sensed feature of the commodity; a crusher disposed in the housing which crushes the first group of commodities into first densified material; a shredder disposed in the housing which shreds the second group of commodities into second densified material; a first distribution device mounted beneath the crusher for distributing the first densified material into one of a plurality of first paths; and a second distribution device mounted beneath the shredder for distributing the second densified material into one of a plurality of second paths.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
169 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 21, wherein the first distribution device includes a plate movably mounted in the housing beneath the shredder, a funnel secured to the plate, the funnel having an inlet for receiving the first densified material from the crusher and an outlet for distributing the first densified material, and drive means, responsive to the sensor means, for driving the plate to one of a plurality of predetermined positions to distribute the first densified material to a respective one of the first paths; and wherein the second distribution device includes a plate movably mounted in the housing beneath the crusher, a funnel secured to the plate, the funnel having an inlet for receiving the second densified material from the shredder and an outlet for distributing the second densified material, and drive means, responsive to the sensor means, for driving the plate to one of a plurality of predetermined positions to distribute the second densified material to a respective one of the second paths.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
216 words
A commodity collection, densification, and storage assembly, comprising: a housing having an insert port for receiving a commodity; sensor means disposed in housing for sensing a feature of the commodity, and for determining whether the commodity belongs to a first group of commodities or a second group of commodities according to the sensed feature of the commodity; densification means disposed in the housing downstream of the sensor means for densifying the commodity into densified material; a first storage container for storing densified material from the first group of commodities; a second storage container for storing densified material from the second group of commodities; and densified material distribution means disposed in the housing for distributing densified material from the first group of commodities into the first storage container, and for distributing densified material from the second group of commodities into the second storage container, the distribution means including a plate rotatably mounted in the housing beneath the densification means, a collection member secured to the plate, the collection member having an inlet for receiving the densified material and an outlet for distributing the densified material, and drive means, responsive to the sensor means, for driving the plate such that either the first storage container or the second storage container is in communication with the collection member outlet.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
216 words
A commodity collection, densification, and storage assembly, comprising: a housing having an insert port for receiving a commodity; sensor means disposed in housing for sensing a feature of the commodity, and for determining whether the commodity belongs to a first group of commodities or a second group of commodities according to the sensed feature of the commodity; densification means disposed in the housing downstream of the sensor means for densifying the commodity into densified material; a first storage container for storing densified material from the first group of commodities; a second storage container for storing densified material from the second group of commodities; and densified material distribution means disposed in the housing for distributing densified material from the first group of commodities into the first storage container, and for distributing densified material from the second group of commodities into the second storage container, the distribution means including a plate rotatably mounted in the housing beneath the densification means, a collection member secured to the plate, the collection member having an inlet for receiving the densified material and an outlet for distributing the densified material, and drive means, responsive to the sensor means, for driving the plate such that either the first storage container or the second storage container is in communication with the collection member outlet.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 23, wherein the drive means includes a motor for rotating the plate.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
210 words
A material distribution device for distributing a plurality of different materials to a respective plurality of selected storage locations, comprising: a frame; a sensor means disposed in the frame for sensing a feature of the different materials; a movable member mounted on the frame; a collection member mounted to the movable member and having an inlet for collecting the different materials, and an outlet for distributing the different materials; drive means mounted to the frame and coupled to the movable member for driving the movable member to one of a plurality of predetermined positions in which the collection member outlet is in communication with a respective storage location for distributing the different materials from the collection member to the respective storage location; a position indicator mounted for movement with the movable member; and a plurality of position sensors for sensing the position indicator, each of the position sensors being mounted on the frame so that, when a given position sensor senses the position indicator, the movable member is positioned in a corresponding one of the predetermined positions, the drive means driving the movable member responsive to the feature sensed by the sensor means and positioning the movable member responsive to the sensing of the position indicator by the position sensors.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
210 words
A material distribution device for distributing a plurality of different materials to a respective plurality of selected storage locations, comprising: a frame; a sensor means disposed in the frame for sensing a feature of the different materials; a movable member mounted on the frame; a collection member mounted to the movable member and having an inlet for collecting the different materials, and an outlet for distributing the different materials; drive means mounted to the frame and coupled to the movable member for driving the movable member to one of a plurality of predetermined positions in which the collection member outlet is in communication with a respective storage location for distributing the different materials from the collection member to the respective storage location; a position indicator mounted for movement with the movable member; and a plurality of position sensors for sensing the position indicator, each of the position sensors being mounted on the frame so that, when a given position sensor senses the position indicator, the movable member is positioned in a corresponding one of the predetermined positions, the drive means driving the movable member responsive to the feature sensed by the sensor means and positioning the movable member responsive to the sensing of the position indicator by the position sensors.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
A material distribution device according to claim 25, wherein the movable member includes a plate rotatably mounted in the frame, and the drive means includes a motor for rotating the plate.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
A material distribution device according to claim 26, wherein the motor moves the plate in either one of two directions.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
56 words
A material distribution device according to claim 25, wherein the movable member includes a plate, and the frame includes a base member on which the plate is rotatably mounted, the base member defining a plurality of apertures therethrough, the collection member outlet communicating with a respective aperture when the plate is at a given predetermined position.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
A material distribution device according to claim 28, wherein the sensed feature is a material of composition of the material.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
A material distribution device according to claim 28, wherein the sensed feature is a color of the material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
A material distribution device according to claim 28, further including a pneumatic device for drawing the different materials through the respective aperture.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
A material distribution device according to claim 31, further including a sweeper plate mounted on the plate opposing the base member and surrounding the outlet.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
25 words
A material distribution device according to claim 32, further including a seal member mounted on the base member about the apertures and contacting the plate.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
A material distribution device according to claim 25, wherein the movable member includes a plate slidably mounted in the frame, and the drive means includes a motor for sliding the plate.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
293 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly, comprising: a housing having an insert port for receiving a commodity; sensor means disposed in the housing for sensing a feature of the commodity, and for determining whether the commodity belongs to a first group of commodities or a second group of commodities according to the sensed feature of the commodity; densification means disposed in the housing downstream of the sensor means for densifying the commodity into densified material; and densified material distribution means for distributing densified material from the first group of commodities into a first path, and for distributing densified material from the second group of commodities into a second path, the distribution means including: (a) a plate slidably mounted in the housing beneath the densification means; (b) a collection member mounted on the plate and having an inlet and an outlet, the collection member collecting the densified material from the densification means at the inlet and distributing the densified material at the outlet; (c) drive means, responsive to the sensor means, for driving the plate to a first predetermined position to distribute the densified material into the first path, and for driving the plate to a second predetermined position to distribute the densified material into the second path; (d) a position indicator mounted for movement with the plate; and (e) a plurality of position sensors for sensing the position indicator, each of the position sensors being mounted on the frame so that, when a given position sensor senses the position indicator, the plate is positioned in a corresponding one of the predetermined positions, the drive means driving the plate responsive to the feature sensed by the sensor means and positioning the plate responsive to the sensing of the position indicator by the position sensors.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
293 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly, comprising: a housing having an insert port for receiving a commodity; sensor means disposed in the housing for sensing a feature of the commodity, and for determining whether the commodity belongs to a first group of commodities or a second group of commodities according to the sensed feature of the commodity; densification means disposed in the housing downstream of the sensor means for densifying the commodity into densified material; and densified material distribution means for distributing densified material from the first group of commodities into a first path, and for distributing densified material from the second group of commodities into a second path, the distribution means including: (a) a plate slidably mounted in the housing beneath the densification means; (b) a collection member mounted on the plate and having an inlet and an outlet, the collection member collecting the densified material from the densification means at the inlet and distributing the densified material at the outlet; (c) drive means, responsive to the sensor means, for driving the plate to a first predetermined position to distribute the densified material into the first path, and for driving the plate to a second predetermined position to distribute the densified material into the second path; (d) a position indicator mounted for movement with the plate; and (e) a plurality of position sensors for sensing the position indicator, each of the position sensors being mounted on the frame so that, when a given position sensor senses the position indicator, the plate is positioned in a corresponding one of the predetermined positions, the drive means driving the plate responsive to the feature sensed by the sensor means and positioning the plate responsive to the sensing of the position indicator by the position sensors.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
21 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 35, wherein the drive means includes a motor for sliding the plate.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
50 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 35, wherein the housing includes a base member on which the plate is mounted, the base member defining a plurality of apertures therethrough, the collection member outlet communicating with a respective aperture when the plate is at a given predetermined position.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
22 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 35, wherein the sensed feature is a material of composition of the commodity.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
20 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 35, wherein the sensed feature is a color of the commodity.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
24 words
A commodity densification and distribution assembly according to claim 35, further including a pneumatic device for drawing the different commodities through the respective aperture.
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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) | 1998-11-13 | 1999-05-15 | 1999-11-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-11-13 | 2003-05-15 | 2003-11-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-11-13 | 2007-05-15 | 2007-11-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |