Patent US3886951A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3886951A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trash separator
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-08-06
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Granted: 1975-06-03
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Expires: 1993-08-06
Abstract
Abstract A trash separator for a mobile article pickup machine which picks up rollable articles such as citrus fruit from a surface which varies in contour both longitudinally and laterally of the path of movement of the machine. A steeply inclined bar elevator lifts citrus fruit from the ground or supporting surface, and a weighted draper bears against the fruit and causes the fruit to roll and become partially cleaned as it is moved up the elevator. The weights prevent movement of the fruit down the elevator. The trash separator receives the fruit from the elevator and serves to separate the large trash, non-rollable fruit, and fine debris from the rollable marketable fruit.
Inventors
- 👤 Leon R Mcrobert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:52
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D51/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
394 words
A trash separator for rollable articles, comprising an upwardly driven, upwardly inclined bar conveyor having spaced rods thereon for supporting rollable articles, debris and defective articles which resist rolling; a stationary, flexible draper lying above, parallel to and adjacent to the upper run of said first conveyor in position to engage the upper surfaces of the articles to cause the articles to roll up said first conveyor and dislodge the fine debris clinging to the articles, with the fine debris being allowed to fall between the bars of said first conveyor to the ground below; means for anchoring one end of the draper to said first conveyor; force applying means bearing against said draper from above and being movable to allow the articles to roll upwardly therepast, while precluding movement of the articles in a generally downward direction; a second conveyor comprising an upwardly driven, upwardly inclined imperforate roughened belt conveyor having its upper run moving upwardly in a direction opposite to that of the direction of movement of said first conveyor with respect to the horizontal, and having the upper end of its upper run disposed in position immediately below the upper end of said first conveyor so as to receive the articles and remaining debris discharged from the upper end of said first conveyor, wherein the upper run of said second inclined conveyor carries the fine debris and defective, non-rollable articles over the upper end of said second conveyor for discharge therefrom, the inclination of said second inclined conveyor being sufficient to allow the rollable articles to roll down and off the lower end of said inclined conveyor, whereby said second inclined conveyor is so arranged that the debris and defective articles discharged from said second inclined conveyor fall under said first conveyor in the same general area where falls the fine debris dislodged by and through said first conveyor; a third conveyor comprising an upwardly driven, upwardly inclined conveyor having the lower end of its upper run disposed in position immediately below the lower end of said second inclined conveyor so as to receive the rollable articles discharged from said second inclined conveyor and having its upper run moving in the same direction as that of the upper run of said first conveyor with respect to the horizontal, wherein said third inclined conveyor carries the rollable articles to a collection point.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
394 words
A trash separator for rollable articles, comprising an upwardly driven, upwardly inclined bar conveyor having spaced rods thereon for supporting rollable articles, debris and defective articles which resist rolling; a stationary, flexible draper lying above, parallel to and adjacent to the upper run of said first conveyor in position to engage the upper surfaces of the articles to cause the articles to roll up said first conveyor and dislodge the fine debris clinging to the articles, with the fine debris being allowed to fall between the bars of said first conveyor to the ground below; means for anchoring one end of the draper to said first conveyor; force applying means bearing against said draper from above and being movable to allow the articles to roll upwardly therepast, while precluding movement of the articles in a generally downward direction; a second conveyor comprising an upwardly driven, upwardly inclined imperforate roughened belt conveyor having its upper run moving upwardly in a direction opposite to that of the direction of movement of said first conveyor with respect to the horizontal, and having the upper end of its upper run disposed in position immediately below the upper end of said first conveyor so as to receive the articles and remaining debris discharged from the upper end of said first conveyor, wherein the upper run of said second inclined conveyor carries the fine debris and defective, non-rollable articles over the upper end of said second conveyor for discharge therefrom, the inclination of said second inclined conveyor being sufficient to allow the rollable articles to roll down and off the lower end of said inclined conveyor, whereby said second inclined conveyor is so arranged that the debris and defective articles discharged from said second inclined conveyor fall under said first conveyor in the same general area where falls the fine debris dislodged by and through said first conveyor; a third conveyor comprising an upwardly driven, upwardly inclined conveyor having the lower end of its upper run disposed in position immediately below the lower end of said second inclined conveyor so as to receive the rollable articles discharged from said second inclined conveyor and having its upper run moving in the same direction as that of the upper run of said first conveyor with respect to the horizontal, wherein said third inclined conveyor carries the rollable articles to a collection point.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
394 words
A trash separator for rollable articles, comprising an upwardly driven, upwardly inclined bar conveyor having spaced rods thereon for supporting rollable articles, debris and defective articles which resist rolling; a stationary, flexible draper lying above, parallel to and adjacent to the upper run of said first conveyor in position to engage the upper surfaces of the articles to cause the articles to roll up said first conveyor and dislodge the fine debris clinging to the articles, with the fine debris being allowed to fall between the bars of said first conveyor to the ground below; means for anchoring one end of the draper to said first conveyor; force applying means bearing against said draper from above and being movable to allow the articles to roll upwardly therepast, while precluding movement of the articles in a generally downward direction; a second conveyor comprising an upwardly driven, upwardly inclined imperforate roughened belt conveyor having its upper run moving upwardly in a direction opposite to that of the direction of movement of said first conveyor with respect to the horizontal, and having the upper end of its upper run disposed in position immediately below the upper end of said first conveyor so as to receive the articles and remaining debris discharged from the upper end of said first conveyor, wherein the upper run of said second inclined conveyor carries the fine debris and defective, non-rollable articles over the upper end of said second conveyor for discharge therefrom, the inclination of said second inclined conveyor being sufficient to allow the rollable articles to roll down and off the lower end of said inclined conveyor, whereby said second inclined conveyor is so arranged that the debris and defective articles discharged from said second inclined conveyor fall under said first conveyor in the same general area where falls the fine debris dislodged by and through said first conveyor; a third conveyor comprising an upwardly driven, upwardly inclined conveyor having the lower end of its upper run disposed in position immediately below the lower end of said second inclined conveyor so as to receive the rollable articles discharged from said second inclined conveyor and having its upper run moving in the same direction as that of the upper run of said first conveyor with respect to the horizontal, wherein said third inclined conveyor carries the rollable articles to a collection point.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
394 words
A trash separator for rollable articles, comprising an upwardly driven, upwardly inclined bar conveyor having spaced rods thereon for supporting rollable articles, debris and defective articles which resist rolling; a stationary, flexible draper lying above, parallel to and adjacent to the upper run of said first conveyor in position to engage the upper surfaces of the articles to cause the articles to roll up said first conveyor and dislodge the fine debris clinging to the articles, with the fine debris being allowed to fall between the bars of said first conveyor to the ground below; means for anchoring one end of the draper to said first conveyor; force applying means bearing against said draper from above and being movable to allow the articles to roll upwardly therepast, while precluding movement of the articles in a generally downward direction; a second conveyor comprising an upwardly driven, upwardly inclined imperforate roughened belt conveyor having its upper run moving upwardly in a direction opposite to that of the direction of movement of said first conveyor with respect to the horizontal, and having the upper end of its upper run disposed in position immediately below the upper end of said first conveyor so as to receive the articles and remaining debris discharged from the upper end of said first conveyor, wherein the upper run of said second inclined conveyor carries the fine debris and defective, non-rollable articles over the upper end of said second conveyor for discharge therefrom, the inclination of said second inclined conveyor being sufficient to allow the rollable articles to roll down and off the lower end of said inclined conveyor, whereby said second inclined conveyor is so arranged that the debris and defective articles discharged from said second inclined conveyor fall under said first conveyor in the same general area where falls the fine debris dislodged by and through said first conveyor; a third conveyor comprising an upwardly driven, upwardly inclined conveyor having the lower end of its upper run disposed in position immediately below the lower end of said second inclined conveyor so as to receive the rollable articles discharged from said second inclined conveyor and having its upper run moving in the same direction as that of the upper run of said first conveyor with respect to the horizontal, wherein said third inclined conveyor carries the rollable articles to a collection point.
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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) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |