Patents Represented by Law Firm Klarquist, Sparkman, Capmbell, Leigh & Whinston
  • Patent number: 4955178
    Abstract: An alignment apparatus is disclosed for aligning weighed batches or elongated objects, such as French-Fried potato strips. The batch of objects is weighed in a scale and discharged onto a moving conveyor belt which separates the objects and projects such objects from the conveyor into a vibrated alignment container including a first container means having a curved deflector wall and a second container means with a gated discharge outlet. The objects impact a vertically-curved rear deflector wall of the first alignment container means in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto and may fall into contact with a straight front deflector wall so that they are aligned substantially parallel to such rear wall when they fall into the supply inlet of a second container means. The second container means if a rectangular tube having a gate at its discharge outlet which is normally closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: Lamb-Weston, Inc.
    Inventor: David Shroyer