Broccoli bunching and cutting apparatus
US4480536A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 28, 1983 |
| Grant date | Nov 6, 1984 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 28, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65B13/022
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The broccoli bunching apparatus is wholly pneumatically operated. In response to a first operation on a manual pneumatic control switch, a rubber band is pneumatically expanded in front of a central opening in a housing. Broccoli stems can then be inserted through the rubber band and the opening. A second operation of the pneumatic control switch results in the rubber band retracting about the stems and simultaneously a knife blade within the housing cutting the stems. Also, an ejector is automatically operated after a given delay time to strip the cut broccoli stems from the rubber band expander so that the apparatus is ready for repeating the operation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.