Rotatable Patents (Class 209/616)
  • Patent number: 11129335
    Abstract: A shield to prevent crop material from wrapping around the shaft of a rotary conveyor of a harvester, such as a baler, includes a body. The body is positioned between a stripper finger and a shaft of the rotary conveyor and has an end surface facing the shaft. A lug is positioned at the opposite end of the body from the end surface and is attached to the housing of the rotary conveyor. The body has opposite side surfaces positioned in spaced relation at a distance substantially equal to the width of the separation fingers of the rotary conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Chandrashekhar Singh, John R. McClure, Todd Hertzler
  • Patent number: 10252423
    Abstract: A self-cleaning apparatus for sorting a mixture of materials is disclosed that comprises a material sorter and a gantry positioning system elevated above the material sorter. The gantry positioning system includes a longitudinal travel rail with a longitudinal travel rail carriage, a traverse travel rail connected to the longitudinal travel rail carriage running perpendicular to the longitudinal travel rail, with a traverse travel rail carriage, and a vertical travel rail connected to the vertical travel rail carriage running perpendicular to the traverse travel rail. A cutter and optionally, a picker, are connected to the vertical travel rail. The gantry positioning system can move the cutter and picker various directions to dislodge and remove material that may have accumulated on the sorter. Instead of a gantry positioning system, the apparatus may have a multi-axis arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: CP MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventor: Nicholas Davis
  • Patent number: 10137573
    Abstract: A self-cleaning apparatus for sorting a mixture of materials is disclosed that comprises a material sorter and a gantry positioning system elevated above the material sorter. The gantry positioning system includes a longitudinal travel rail with a longitudinal travel rail carriage, a traverse travel rail connected to the longitudinal travel rail carriage running perpendicular to the longitudinal travel rail, a traverse travel rail carriage, and a vertical travel rail connected to the vertical travel rail carriage and running perpendicular to the traverse travel rail. A cutter and, optionally, a picker, are connected to the vertical travel rail. The gantry positioning system can move the cutter and picker in various directions to dislodge and remove material that may have accumulated on the sorter. Instead of a gantry positioning system, the apparatus may have a multi-axis arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: CP Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas Davis
  • Patent number: 10092907
    Abstract: A splitter that physically delineates the travel path between material steams having different trajectories mounted on a metal sorting system. The splitter has an outer edge and comprising an automatic mechanism located at the outer edge for removing accumulated debris from the splitter. The automatic mechanism may be a sliding body that moves across said outer edge or a retractable blade extends and retracts to remove debris from the splitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: ERIEZ MANUFACTURING CO.
    Inventors: Michael J. Mankosa, Christopher D. Cedzo, Gregory Nowak, Christopher Knoll, Everett Hull
  • Patent number: 9578798
    Abstract: Sowing heart for a single-grain sowing machine comprising: a sowing disk rotatable in a rotational direction R, the sowing disk having at least two sowing hole series, arranged concentrically to the sowing disk, with sowing holes, a receiving area for receiving seed at the sowing holes and a dispensing area for dispensing seed, in front of the dispensing area, a wiping device is provided for singulating seed at the sowing holes during the operation of the sowing heart, which has a first wiping element for the first sowing hole series and a second wiping element for the second sowing hole series, whereby the wiping elements are coupled and are designed to be adjustable with respect to one another. In addition, the invention relates to a single-grain sowing machine with a considerable number of sowing aggregates, in each case with an above-mentioned sowing heart and a corresponding wiping device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Kverneland AS
    Inventor: Bernhard Scheideler
  • Patent number: 9428846
    Abstract: A system for removing a plastic wrap from a cylindrical module includes a conveyor transporting the cylindrical module toward a disperser with the cylindrical axis of the module parallel to the direction of conveyor movement. The direction of the wrap around the module is determined and the cover is removed during rotation of the module, either by unwrapping the plastic or by slitting the plastic and then rotating the module. In one embodiment, the equipment used to handle a cylindrical module is moved out of the path of movement of a conventional rectangular module so an installation can handle both rectangular and wrapped cylindrical modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: STOVER EQUIPMENT CO., INC.
    Inventor: Jimmy R. Stover
  • Patent number: 8754345
    Abstract: A document sorting machine having dual feeders which feed documents onto common tiers of sort pockets form each end of the machine. The machine includes an induction buffer section which prevents a document already in the transport on a particular tier from colliding with a document being fed into the same transport by a different feeder. Also, the machine includes a serpentine piggy-back unit which can stack consecutive documents going to the same sort pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: National Presort, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent A. Daboub, Constantine J. Possis
  • Patent number: 8708156
    Abstract: A device for separating cardboard components from bulk waste paper features a sorting unit that includes a feed area (1) including a flexibly mounted support (5) on which the bulk waste paper is supplied to a receiving device (3) studded with spikes (2). The spikes (2) and the feed area (1) are designed such that the spikes (2) essentially skewer only the cardboard components of the bulk waste paper fed in the feed area (1) while any material that cannot be skewered may cause the support (5) to move downwardly upon application of a specified force and bypass the spikes (2). At least one of the spikes (2) is connected to a receiving device (3) such that it can be displaced when a prespecified force is encountered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Grumbach GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Udo Grumbach
  • Patent number: 8561806
    Abstract: A measurement apparatus includes a support frame to support a feed mechanism, an orientation mechanism, a measurement mechanism, a transfer mechanism, and an unloading mechanism. The feed mechanism includes a first holding assembly, a first elevation assembly, a second elevation assembly, and a first clipping assembly. The first elevation assembly and the second elevation assembly are positioned under the holding assembly, and the first clipping assembly is positioned over the holding assembly. The measurement mechanism includes a support stage and at least one calibration head. The transfer mechanism includes at least one pickup head. The orientation mechanism includes a driving member and a securing assembly driven by the driving member. The unloading mechanism has the same structure as the feed mechanism. The disclosure further provides a measuring method using the measurement apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Sheng Lin, Tzyy-Chyi Tsai, Jian-Jun Li
  • Patent number: 8511477
    Abstract: A raw coal impurity automatic separator includes a rack and a shell; a rotating shaft set on the rack within the shell; shift teeth are arranged on the shaft; spiral-shaped scraping plates are fixed on the rack and are symmetrically arranged between the shift teeth; a slide block is arranged as a sleeve on each shift tooth; each slide block is provided with upper and lower rollers, between which the scrapping plates are set; a raw coal inlet is provided corresponding to an upper part of an inner cavity of the shell, a raw coal outlet is set on a lower part of the inner cavity; and an impurity outlet is set corresponding to an end of the scraping plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Shandong Tianneng Electric Power Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuwu Zhu, Lingxian Kong, Minghui Li
  • Patent number: 8251229
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for removing a plastic wrap from a cylindrical module includes a conveyor transporting the cylindrical module toward a disperser with the cylindrical axis of the module parallel to the direction of conveyor movement. In another embodiment, the disperser is a travelling head disperser thereby providing relative movement between the modules and the disperser. The direction of the wrap around the module is determined and the cover is removed during rotation of the module, either by unwrapping the plastic or by slitting the plastic and then rotating the module. The equipment used to handle a cylindrical module is moved out of the path of movement of a conventional rectangular module so an installation can handle both rectangular and wrapped cylindrical modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Stover Equipment Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Jimmy R. Stover
  • Patent number: 8016119
    Abstract: In an apparatus for separating plastic film material from waste, a plurality of hooks is mounted on a hook carrier for circulating the hooks along a trajectory through an engagement area near a supply track and through a disengagement area downstream of the engagement area. The engagement area is located higher than the supply track and/or in supply direction beyond the downstream end of the supply track, such that, in operation, a remainder of the waste passes by the trajectory of the hooks without contacting the hooks. The hooks project from the drum via openings in the circumferential surface of the drum and are retractable into a circumferential surface of the drum. A method for separating plastic film material from waste is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Machinefabriek Bollegraaf Appingedam B.V.
    Inventors: Hermannus Johannes Maria Legtenberg, Hendrik Huibert Witting
  • Patent number: 7497337
    Abstract: An apparatus for disposing garbage bags in one embodiment includes a screen assembly including a first conveyor for conveying garbage bags from a feeding device to a hollow screening cylinder for piercing, and a second conveyor mounted below a rear discharge opening of the cylinder for conveying materials released from the pierced bags to a subsequent station; a nonrigid, elongate object collection assembly extended from within the cylinder to a place rearward of the cylinder, a gable roof mounted on an elongate housing, a lengthwise gap formed on a top of the gable roof, and a second container mounted below a rear end of the object collection assembly for collecting nonrigid, elongate objects dropped therefrom; and a washing assembly including one or more sets of pump and pipe having nozzles terminated within the cylinder for washing the released materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: WST International (Holdings) Limited
    Inventor: Steven Tse
  • Publication number: 20080302708
    Abstract: Provided is a bean sprouts-like articles loosening supply device that can exhibit a sufficient dispersing function even for fine and light weight bean sprouts-like articles liable to be entangled with each other, such as alfalfa sprouts. The loosening supply device comprises two conveyors (1, 10) having their both end portions constructed to turn so as to run endlessly, having their outer surfaces provided with needle members (6, 16) and running at velocities different from each other. The conveyors (1, 10) are arranged having their running paths opposed to each other so that their running directions there are both downward and the needle members (6, 16) of the two conveyors (1, 10) at least at one portion thereof get into each other. Alfalfa sprouts are supplied into the running paths from above and encounter the needle members (6, 16) of the two conveyors (1, 10) running at velocities different from each other and intersecting with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventor: Sanji Kawakami
  • Patent number: 7416084
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus comprising a screen assembly for sifting powder including a rear feeding device, a first conveyor adapted to convey garbage bags from the feeding device to the screen assembly, an inclined board extended downwardly from a front end of the screen assembly, and a second conveyor provided below the board, the second conveyor being adapted to convey materials leaving the screen assembly to a subsequent station for processing; and a nonrigid, elongate object collection assembly extended from the rear of the screen assembly through the screen assembly to a point in front of the screen assembly, the object collection assembly including an elongate housing of rectangular section, a gable roof provided on the housing, a lengthwise gap provided on a top of the gable roof, and a container provided below a front end thereof for collecting nonrigid, elongate objects dropped therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: WST International (Holdings) Limited
    Inventor: Steven Tse
  • Patent number: 7156236
    Abstract: A machine for removing articles such as debris and the like deposited on a tract of ground, comprising a wheel unit; a support frame mounted on said wheel unit, having means for advancing said machine along said tract of ground; a endless conveyor mounted on said support frame, having a plurality of tines projecting from an outer side thereof and a flight extending from a front end adjacent ground level, upwardly and inwardly to an elevated rear end; a receptacle mounted on said support frame, positioned to receive articles removed by said tines and carried upwardly and rearwardly on said conveyor and discharged into said receptacle, and having a set of tines cooperable with said conveyor tines to dislodge articles carried by said conveyor tines; and means mounted on said support frame for driving said conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Rockland, Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Geraghty
  • Patent number: 6866152
    Abstract: A conveyor device (2) is provided on which the bulk material containing both card board and paper is transported to a sorting station (5). At this point, the cardboard components are extracted mechanically. For this, the paper and cardboard components are transported while lying flat, and are only partially supported, for which the conveyor device (2) includes lowered free spaces (7) between the support areas. A receiver device (9) possessing freestanding barbs (11) moves synchronously with the conveyor device (2). These barbs (11) are arranged pointing toward the non-supported sections of the paper and cardboard components, and can extend into the free spaces (7) formed on the conveyor device (2). For this, the cardboard components are transfixed by, and held to the barbs (11) of the receiver device (9), but the paper components are not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Grumbach GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Udo Grumbach
  • Patent number: 6575305
    Abstract: An apparatus transfers performs traveling along an inclined path from an upper loading station to a lower unloading station. The apparatus includes a device that includes plural rotary forks which rotate so as to engage and remove from the inclined path performs that are joined together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Sipa S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luciano Casagrande
  • Patent number: 6444936
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for sorting any desired pieces of products in dependence on criteria, and a method for operating the same. It is the object of the invention to provide a solution which permits a very fast at least three-channel fractionating of a product flow with a simultaneous mild treatment of products, at low expenditures for energy, and at a high wear resistance. The object is realized in that the products pass a first approaching zone, arrive in a second zone in which a separating element set into rotations by operation of a stepper-motor, including on its circumference with equidistantly spaced fingers, and which, in dependence on a respective control, transfers the products to be sorted into at least three further zones. A real-time image tracking system is provided which is adapted to capture the entire path of the products through the zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Select Ingenieurgesellschaft Fuer Optoelektronik Bilderkennung und Qualitaetspruefung mbH
    Inventors: Jörg Ludwig, Andreas Osterer, Joachim Poller, Jens Schneider
  • Patent number: 6394280
    Abstract: A device for removing flat materials from a mixture of valuable substances comprises a conveyor (1) on which the substance mixture is conveyed, and an extractor for extracting flat materials from the substance mixture in an extraction zone. The extractor comprises extracting prongs (4) which are provided on a revolving transporter (3) which is deflected at least at two points of deflection, with the materials which have been picked up being discharged in a discharge zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Inventors: Benno Gassner, Benno Gassner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6003680
    Abstract: A waste separation device for removing wrappable materials such as film plastics, rags and rope from a moving stream of solid waste material which device consists of a pole like casing rotatable about it longitudinal axis housing an endless chain drive carrying a plurality of spaced spikes extending from the casing in their movement along the length of the casing in the direction towards the free or discharge end of the casing and retracted within the casing in their movement in the opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Bedminster Bioconversion Corp.
    Inventor: Larry J. Finn
  • Patent number: 5758778
    Abstract: A grain separator to separate and remove contaminants such as dust and debris from grain including an intermediate separator housing having a grain inlet port to receive grain to be scoured from an external source, a grain outlet port to feed scoured grain to an external collector, a first containments discharge port to discharge heavier contaminants removed from the grain to a first external receptacle and a second contaminants discharge port to discharge lighter contaminants removed from the grain to a second external receptacle, a mechanical separator and transport assembly operatively disposed within the intermediate separator housing to receive the grain and contaminants from the grain inlet port to separate the contaminants from the grain and to move the grain from the grain inlet port to the grain outlet port for collection in the external collector, a first containments transport assembly disposed to receive the heavier contaminants from the mechanical separator and transport assembly and to move the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Inventor: Robert Kershner
  • Patent number: 5695071
    Abstract: A system and a method for sorting are provided for distributing articles, such as mail pieces or other flats, to predetermined destinations. At the destination, the particular article is raked by a raking assembly from a carrier for placement into a container. The container, when full, is gravity fed onto a discharge conveyor and automatically replaced with a new empty container. The carrier operates on two levels for delivery of articles to containers on two levels while maintaining the carriers in a horizontal position throughout the sorting process. A sloped front end of the carrier allows the articles to be transported at a rapid speed and in a continuous fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: ElectroCom Gard Ltd.
    Inventors: Gerald David Ross, Robert Earl Sadler, Jr., John Martin Buday, Jr., Gunther Adam Dorth, David Novak
  • Patent number: 5597076
    Abstract: A grain separator to separate and remove contaminants such as dust and debris from grain including an intermediate separator housing having a grain inlet port to receive grain to be scoured from an external source, a grain outlet port to feed scoured grain to an external collector, a first containments discharge port to discharge heavier contaminants removed from the grain to a first external receptacle and a second contaminants discharge port to discharge lighter contaminants removed from the grain to a second external receptacle, a mechanical separator and transport assembly operatively disposed within the intermediate separator housing to receive the grain and contaminants from the grain inlet port to separate the contaminants from the grain and to move the grain from the grain inlet port to the grain outlet port for collection in the external collector, a first containments transport assembly disposed to receive the heavier contaminants from the mechanical separator and transport assembly and to move the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Inventor: Robert Kershner
  • Patent number: 5419457
    Abstract: A system and a method for sorting are provided for distributing articles, such as mail pieces or other flats, to predetermined destinations. At the destination, the particular article is raked by a raking assembly from a carrier for placement into a container. The container, when full, is gravity fed onto a discharge conveyor and automatically replaced with a new empty container. The carrier operates on two levels for delivery of articles to containers on two levels while maintaining the carriers in a horizontal position throughout the sorting process. A sloped front end of the carrier allows the articles to be transported at a rapid speed and in a continuous fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: ElectroCom Gard Ltd.
    Inventors: Gerald D. Ross, Robert E. Sadler, Jr., John M. Buday, Jr., Gunther A. Dorth, David Novak
  • Patent number: 5305896
    Abstract: An apparatus for detangling a plurality of conventional garment hangers located on a common supporting rail, comprising a generally cylindrical elongated rigid barrel having a plurality of spaced elongated bristles fixedly attached to the barrel projecting radially from the surface of the barrel, the bristles being spaced substantially around the circumference of the barrel; and, a motor for rotating the barrel about its axis. Hangers presented to the apparatus, such as by a conveyor, are supported by the barrel. The bristles turn in the direction of the hanger hook curve and any crossed hangers are automatically combed apart and separated. The hangers are moved from the front end toward and off the rear end of the barrel during rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Inventor: Thomas R. Branch
  • Patent number: 5301816
    Abstract: A new separating method and a corresponding apparatus and the use of the apparatus for the environmentally sound separation of different material mixtures, are disclosed wherein, in addition to dynamic forces, the area pressure between the bodies to be sorted and an inwardly elastic sorting drum are made of use. Bodies which are heavy with respect to specific area pressure sink into the interior of the drum and are thrown out at a lower location. Parts which are light with respect to specific area pressure, on the other hand, are rejected from the surface of the drum and guided away separately. In so doing, the device achieves very efficient separation. The invention is particularly effective for the separation of reclaimable material mixtures, so-called "recyclables", particularly with respect to fractions such as liftings which are otherwise difficult to separate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Buehler AG
    Inventors: Heinrich Weber, Falko Lehrmann, Clemens Weibel
  • Patent number: 5222675
    Abstract: A cotton module handling system includes one or more feeder beds delivering seed cotton modules into a feeder head to disintegrate the module into a large number of small clumps of cotton, seed and plant trash for transport into a gin. A shaver assembly is provided, upstream of the feeder head, for removing part of the bottom of the module to remove a band of wet and/or dirty cotton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Western Steel Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Jimmy R. Stover
  • Patent number: 5154298
    Abstract: A system for mechanically sorting pickle chips with holes from those without holes. Pickle chips with holes are hooked on rotating hooks, separated out, gravity dropped off the hooks and conveyed to a location where they are processed into relish. The hooks face in direction opposite to their rotation and away from the chip infeed direction. The pickle chips without holes (the good chips) are accordingly not hooked and are sent to another location where they are packaged as pickle chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Vlasic Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Warner, Harvey J. Kramer
  • Patent number: 5123543
    Abstract: Apparatus for separating angel hair from bulk material includes a hollow drum which is partly immersed in the flow of bulk material and rotates in such a manner that the immersed part of the drum moves in opposite direction to the bulk material flow. The drum has an outer jacket which is provided with circumferentially spaced bores through which one end of spikes projects, with their other end being swingably mounted to a bearing member. The bearing member has a center axis which is offset to the axis of rotation of the drum so that the spikes project beyond the outer surface of the drum at their bulk material facing side while being retracted at the bulk material distant side of the drum. Thus, during a revolution of the drum, the spikes gradually move in and out of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Waeschle Maschinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventor: Christof Stimpfl
  • Patent number: 5121841
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating an uncontaminated portion of a seed cotton module from a water-contaminated face stratum are disclosed. The technique includes conveying a contaminated cotton module toward a housing having a plurality of rotating fiber release bodies mounted therein. The housing and the conveyor are arranged for relative movement so that only the uncontaminated portion of the module is fed into the fiber release bodies while the contaminated face stratum passes beneath the bodies. The uncontaminated cotton is collected and conveyed to a cotton gin and the contaminated cotton is conveyed to a disposal location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: Continental Conveyor & Equipment Company
    Inventors: Keith Harrington, Donald Rodgers
  • Patent number: 4874097
    Abstract: Good legumes or pistachio nuts are separated from those to be discarded by feeding the pistachios or legumes to a longitudinally inclined trough between a laterally inclined plate and a rotating cylinder, such cylinder having outwardly projecting edges along its exterior surface. On the opposite side of such cylinder is provided a second cylinder having a brush on its outer circumference, and the two cylinders are driven in opposite directions. Good legumes and pistachio nuts are merely tumbled within the trough by the first cylinder and are fed partly by gravity to a collector at the foot of the device. The unsatisfactory legumes and pistachios are picked up by the outwardly projecting edges of the first cylinder and flipped over where they are then brushed downwaardly off the first cylinder by the brush of the second cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Inventor: Nikos Argiriadis
  • Patent number: 4854454
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for segregating desired articles of predetermined dimensions from a jumbled flow of such articles and unwanted pieces longer than the predetermined dimensions. The apparatus includes structure, tilted relative to the horizontal, that restricts the jumbled flow to a fixed-flow space whereby the jumbled flow is caused to flow along a flow path. The apparatus comprises a three-dimensional array of rotatable pickup fingers substantially filling the fixed-flow space and extending therebeyond. The apparatus includes a biasing element that co-acts with the rotatable pickup fingers to retain an unwanted piece removed from the jumbled flow by the pickup fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry C. Dahlby
  • Patent number: 4763793
    Abstract: A sorting installation for separating a first type of articles from a second type of articles fed mixed to the sorting installation. The articles of the first type are relatively light and substantially two-dimensional, while the articles of the second type are relatively heavy and substantially three-dimensional. There is provided an article-supporting surface which receives the first and second type of articles in a generally mixed state and which has a length dimension and a width dimension perpendicular to the length dimension. The article-supporting surface is inclined to the horizontal in a direction parallel to the width dimension for causing primarily the second type of articles to move by gravity downwardly on the article-supporting surface transversely to the length dimension and laterally off the article-supporting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Bezner GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Stehle, Dieter Fuchs
  • Patent number: 4760925
    Abstract: A sorting installation for separating a first type of articles (relatively light and substantially two-dimensional) from a second type of articles (relatively heavy and substantially three-dimensional), includes a travelling conveyor belt having an article-supporting surface receiving the first and second type of articles in a generally mixed state. The article-supporting surface is arranged for travel in its length dimension and is inclined to the horizontal in its width dimension for causing primarily the second type of articles to move by gravity downwardly and laterally off the article-supporting surface. The article-supporting surface slopes upwardly as viewed in a direction of travel. There is further provided a vibrator connected to the belt conveyor for enhancing movement by gravity of the second type of articles on the article-supporting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1988
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Bezner GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Stehle, Dieter Fuchs
  • Patent number: 4752009
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for segregating desired parts of predetermined dimension from a jumbled flow of such parts and by-product runners. The apparatus includes structure that defines a path for restricting the jumbled flow to a fixed-flow space along a flow length. The apparatus comprises a three-dimensional array of rotatable pickup fingers substantially filling the fixed-flow space and extending therebeyond. The apparatus further includes a suitable device for continuously moving successive distal portions of the rotatable finger array out of and into the fixed-flow space. The rotatable fingers are spaced apart by distances greater than the predetermined dimensions of the desired parts but less than the longest dimension of the runners, for capturing the runners while allowing the desired parts to pass through the pick-finger array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1988
    Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry C. Dahlby
  • Patent number: 4699275
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating larger foreign bodies from a granular feed including a conveyor for moving a mixture of the larger foreign bodies and the granular feed, is provided. The apparatus comprises a wheel having an axis of rotation, a circumference and a plurality of outwardly extending resilient fingers, preferably projecting at a trailing angle from the circumference. The wheel is mounted so that its plane forms an angle with respect to the direction of travel of the conveyor. The wheel is positioned so that the conveyed mixture contacts and pushes the fingers causing the wheel to rotate and the fingers to rake the larger foreign bodies from the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Assignee: International Minerals & Chem. Corp.
    Inventor: David W. Holsonbake
  • Patent number: 4676380
    Abstract: An improved device and method for segregating molded parts and runners flowing from a molding operation is disclosed. The device includes a restricted flow space, an array of fingers filling the space and movable therein to capture and lift runners away from the space, and strippers removing the runners to a lateral position. Prefered embodiments include a cylindrical chute and a rotating array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry C. Dahlby
  • Patent number: 4574735
    Abstract: Apparatus for receiving and disposing of animal wastes and particularly the bodily wastes of cats, include an upper chamber adapted to hold a supply of preferably nonabsorbant litter material, a rake assembly for separating waste products from the litter material, a removable container for receiving the wastes and automatic control apparatus for energizing the rake and tumbling the container at an appropriate time after the departure of the animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1986
    Inventor: Donald G. Hohenstein
  • Patent number: 4494611
    Abstract: An improvement is presented in an apparatus for processing soil for planting wherein a separator are provided for initially separating rocks and other large objects from soil prior to crushing thereof, the separator comprising a plurality of respectively upwardly and downwardly directed pins which cooperate in the removal of said rocks and other large objects from the soil. Also provided is a vertical rotatable power driven shaft centrally located in said apparatus wherein a plurality of radially extending arms are fixed thereto and are rotatable with the shaft. Some of said separating pins are fixed to the arms and some cooperating separating pins are fixed to a disc plate also mounted about said power driven shaft. A rotating plurality of discs crush said soil to reduce large particles and destroy weed seeds, insects, and larvae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Inventor: Guillermo D. Alvarez
  • Patent number: 4484684
    Abstract: A parts separator for separating molded plastic parts from sprue-runner elements. The separator comprises a supporting frame, a hollow drum mounted for rotation about a first horizontal axis and constituting an outer separator element, and an inner separator element mounted within the drum for rotation about a second horizontal axis which is spaced from and parallel with the first axis. The drum has a plurality of apertures in its outer surface and the inner separator element includes a plurality of pins which extend through the apertures, so that rotation of the inner and outer separator elements about their respective axes causes the outer end of each pin to reciprocate within the aperture between an inner position wherein the end of the pin is flush with the outer surface of the drum to an outer position wherein the end of the pin extends substantially beyond the outer surface of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1984
    Inventor: Merritt D. Tetreault
  • Patent number: 4454030
    Abstract: There is disclosed in the present application an apparatus for sorting acceptable molded parts from material coming from a molding machine and requiring to be reprocessed or recycled. The present apparatus includes an auger formed with closely spaced flights in a receiving zone and more widely spaced flights in a transport zone in which scrap such as sprues, runners and defective molded parts are carried to a scrap discharge area. The acceptable articles, which have already been separated from the sprues and runners upon discharge from the mold, are of a size which allows them to pass between the closer flights of the receiving zone whereas the sprue and runner assemblies are carried by both the closer and more widely spaced flights to the scrap discharge area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1984
    Assignee: Nelmor Company, Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Young
  • Patent number: 4438851
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for the sorting out of plastic foil from a mixture of refuse previously divested of heavy materials such as stone, glass and iron. The mixture is conducted in a thin layer, using moderate feeding power, past pointed spines on a reel, by a broom or brush, so that components with high tensile strength remain hanging on the spines, while components with low tensile strength, such as paper, or components not impaled, such as leather, cardboard, wood and thick-walled plastic, are further conveyed by the broom or brush. One or more brush rollers, preferably armed with strips or brushes transverse to the direction of conveying, sweep the mixture of refuse across one or more spiked rollers studded with spines. Combing-off rollers may be used, rotating at higher velocity and in opposite direction to the spiked rollers, to loosen impaled foils from the spines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1984
    Inventor: Peter Voelskow
  • Patent number: 4265151
    Abstract: Two horizontally spaced parallel shafts (27,28) are rotatably mounted on a base plate (24) having an aperture (27a) therethrough. Each shaft has a plurality of rows of radially extending fingers (36). A casing (38,40) around the fingered portions of the shafts has an inlet throat (44) for receiving shopped strands (16). The shafts are operatively connected by a pair of gears (32,34), and a motor (30) connected to one of the shafts drives the shafts to move the fingers upwardly between the shafts for breaking up clumps of strands and carrying strands of a desired chopped length around the outer sides of the shafts for exit through the aperture. Excessively long strands become wrapped around one or the other of the shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1981
    Assignee: Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation
    Inventors: Grant F. Carruth, Fred S. Coffey, Ray M. Fulmer
  • Patent number: 4232506
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for mechanically removing tomatoes from their vines after the vines have been severed from their roots and lifted aboveground. The severed and lifted vines are fed in between a rotary shaker and stationary guides, for example, a rotary drum with radially outwardly projecting rods and arcuate guide rods around the drum. The vines are shaken by subjecting them to angular acceleration and deceleration while the vines are transported around an arcuate path. The tomatoes shaken from the vines are collected, and the stripped vines are dropped back on the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1980
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventor: Henry E. Studer
  • Patent number: 4225427
    Abstract: A sorting apparatus for a stock suspension obtained from waste paper, comprising a separation container having a free liquid surface for the separation of heavy weight particles and floating particles. Arranged after the separation container is a segregating or separator container for the separation of large surface particles floating in the stock suspension. The removal of the particles can be accomplished by rake devices provided with tines or prongs or the like. There also can be subsequently arranged removal devices containing coarse-mesh and fine-mesh sieves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1980
    Assignee: Escher Wyss GmbH
    Inventor: Hans Schnell
  • Patent number: 4219381
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating waste paper by pulping or defibering the paper in a stock pulper or slusher while infeeding water, wherein there are removed in succession, externally of the stock pulper, heavy weight particles, floatable substances and plastic foils. Thereafter, paper constituents which have incompletely defiberized are removed and further defibered in a special apparatus. The already defibered fibers are directly infed for further processing. The removal of the contaminants can be accomplished at a suspension density in the order of 1%, whereas the defibering or pulping of the waste paper in the stock pulper occurs at about 4%. The employed sorting apparatus is connected with the stock pulper, while dispensing with the use of a sieve or screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1980
    Assignee: Escher Wyss GmbH
    Inventor: Hans Schnell
  • Patent number: 4207986
    Abstract: Apparatus for separating composite waste materials composed chiefly of plastic film and paper including a conveyer for moving the composite material along a substantially horizontal path in a given direction and a reel device having a plurality of hooked members extending therefrom rotating to move the hooked members through the composite material at a portion of the horizontal path, with the hooked members moving in the same direction in which the composite material is moving while being passed therethrough. The hooked members of the reel device engage plastic film contained in the composite material to separate the plastic film therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Inventor: Manlio Cerroni
  • Patent number: 4208274
    Abstract: A rotary cylinder type separator comprises a slightly tiltable, horizontally installed rotary cylinder, a plurality of combs secured to the inside of the cylinder, in parallel and substantially axially of the cylinder, a feeder for introducing a mixture of grainy material and impurities into the cylinder at one end, an outlet formed at the other end of the cylinder for discharging the grainy material out of the cylinder, and a device for discharging the impurities larger in size than the grainy material and that have been scooped by the combs to a high level and have then fallen within the cylinder. The last-mentioned device is a fan for producing an air blast within the cylinder, or a combination of a stationary collection trough inserted axially through the cylinder for receiving the impurities that fall from the high level, and a screw conveyor mounted inside the trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Assignee: Satake Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Satake, Hiromichi Yanagihara, Takashi Horie
  • Patent number: RE32823
    Abstract: An improved device and method for segregating molded parts and runners flowing from a molding operation is disclosed. The device includes a restricted flow space, an array of fingers filling the space and movable therein to capture and lift runners away from the space, and strippers removing the runners to a lateral position. Preferred embodiments include a cylindrical chute and a rotating array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry C. Dahlby