Off-belt stabilizing system for light-weight articles
US6003681A · kind A · utility
20Cited by
7References
8Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 3, 1996 |
| Grant date | Dec 21, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 3, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB07C5/02
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A stabilizing system stabilizes light-weight articles carried on conveyors for automated bulk processing equipment. In a preferred embodiment, the light-weight articles, such as, for example, tobacco leaf products or wood chips, are moved and stabilized along a conveyor from a first infeed end to a second discharge end where they are projected in-air along a trajectory through an illumination station and sorting station. An enclosed off-belt housing is provided within which the light-weight articles are projected along a controlled trajectory to be processed by the optical inspection and sorting systems.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.