Patents by Inventor Albert W. Patzlaff

Albert W. Patzlaff has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Hydrodynamic blueberry sorting
    Patent number: 4294691
    Abstract: Blueberry sorting, i.e. classifying, and apparatus therefor, to separate ripe berries from unripened berries and stems, by dynamically immersing all of the berries beneath the surface of a water bath, the unripened berries being controllably allowed to rise to float on the surface of the bath, the ripe berries being deposited on a submersed conveyor and conveyed out of the bath to a separate location. Berry immersion is achieved hydrodynamically by a downward stream of water which propels the berries down to cause release of gas bubbles on the ripe berry surfaces, carry them through a flow zone to the conveyor and then recirculate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1981
    Assignee: Blueberry Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert W. Patzlaff
  • Hydrodynamic blueberry sorting
    Patent number: 4225424
    Abstract: Blueberry sorting, i.e. classifying, and apparatus therefor, to separate ripe berries from unripened berries and stems, by dynamically immersing all of the berries beneath the surface of a water bath, the unripened berries being controllably allowed to rise to float on the surface of the bath, the ripe berries being deposited on a submersed conveyor and conveyed out of the bath to a separate location. Berry immersion is achieved hydrodynamically by a downward stream of water which propels the berries down to cause release of gas bubbles on the ripe berry surfaces, carry them through a flow zone to the conveyor and then recirculate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1980
    Assignee: Blueberry Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert W. Patzlaff
  • Berry tray denesting and berry packaging
    Patent number: 4095721
    Abstract: A berry packaging apparatus including a denesting subassembly, a produce or berry dispenser, a cover pick-up and applicator subassembly, and a conveyor for transporting a plurality of corner-slotted containers. The denesting subassembly employs a plurality of opposed, shaped fingers to separate the lowermost container of a stack and deposit same onto the conveyor. The containers are filled with produce at the dispenser. The cover pick-up and applicator picks up a flexible film wrapper or cover and wipes the cover down around the container periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1978
    Assignee: Blueberry Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert W. Patzlaff, Paul G. Beardsley
  • Apparatus for packaging and the like
    Patent number: 4038807
    Abstract: A berry packaging apparatus including a denesting subassembly, a produce or berry dispenser, a cover pick-up and applicator subassembly, and a conveyor for transporting a plurality of corner-slotted containers. The denesting subassembly employs a plurality of opposed, shaped fingers to separate the lowermost container of a stack and deposit same onto the conveyor. The containers are filled with produce at the dispenser. The cover pick-up and applicator picks up a flexible film wrapper or cover and wipes the cover down around the container periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1977
    Assignee: Blueberry Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul G. Beardsley, Albert W. Patzlaff