Article handling apparatus
US4353455A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 18, 1977 |
| Grant date | Oct 12, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 18, 1997 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G2207/42
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A potato handling apparatus includes a roller conveyor for receiving a continuous stream of irregularly sized potatoes with an aligning section at the upstream end of the conveyor which includes a series of two parallel flaps for turning and pushing the potatoes lengthwise into the valleys of the roller conveyor. To eliminate all but one potato from each valley, a singulating section is provided. The singulating section includes a rod longitudinally disposed adjacent one edge of the roller conveyor and a series of parallel overlapping sprocket-like discs which extend diagonally across the conveyor to a downstream position which is inwardly spaced from said edge of the conveyor. Each disc has cogs formed on the periphery thereof which perforate the valleys in succession to a depth which prevents the potatoes from being pinched between the discs and rollers. The discs sequentially push all but one of the potatoes in a respective valley over said edge of the conveyor, while the rod prevents single potatoes not acted upon by the discs from wandering over the outside edge of the conveyor. A resilient rotatable member is pivotally mounted above the passageway by the downstream disc to re…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.