Apparatus and methods for transferring fragile items at selectively variable flow rates
US12404108B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 3, 2024 |
| Grant date | Sep 2, 2025 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 30, 2044 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01F13/003
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus for vertical transfer of whole nuts from a first elevation to a second, lower elevation includes a run extending between an entrance and an exit, and having a plurality of alternatingly arranged conveying panels between the entrance and the exit. Each conveying panel is inclined to horizontal and has a variable effective conveying width. The apparatus further includes arcuate turn-arounds disposed between respective conveying panels to facilitate transferring the nuts from one conveying panel to the next lower conveying panel. The variable effective conveying width is selected based on a predetermined mass flow rate of nuts such that whole nuts move along the run in a continuous stream without tumbling, and wherein each nut is in contact with adjacent nuts in its respective layer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.