Air cleaning machine and method
US5579920A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 15, 1995 |
| Grant date | Dec 3, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 15, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB07B9/02
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An air cleaning machine (2) separates a flowable product (28) into first and second components (60, 61) using an air leg (4) having upper and lower ends (6, 8). A vacuum source (10) is coupled to the upper end of the air leg to create a vacuum air flow (62) up through the air leg and into the vacuum chamber (12). The product, such as raisins, almonds or dates, is introduced into the air leg through a product entrance (42) and onto a downwardly sloping screen (44) by a product delivery unit (24). An air knife (50) directs a sharp stream of air (56) upwardly into the air leg and through the product as the product enters the air leg but before the product contacts the screen. The combination of the stream of air from the air knife and the vacuum air flow created by the vacuum source separates the first and second components of the product so that the first component moves upwardly through the air leg and into the vacuum chamber while the second component passes downwardly out through the lower end of the air leg.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.