Method of and apparatus for sorting and bundling flowers
Patent 5157899 Issued on October 27, 1992. Estimated Expiration Date: 
March 28, 2011. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
March 28, 2011. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent References 3220154 3401796 3659709 Apparatus for bunching, trimming, and banding vegetables Conveyor and associated control system for sorting poultry carcasses Patent #: 4610361 InventorApplicationNo. 675597 filed on 03/28/1991US Classes:53/399, Banding53/435, Cutting53/513, Cutting53/588, Applied by rotation of band198/431, By depositing items successively from one conveyor onto group conveyor198/803.8, Gripper portion made of resilient material which is self biased into engaging position209/551, Item counter209/912ENDLESS FEED CONVEYOR WITH MEANS FOR HOLDING EACH ITEM INDIVIDUALLYExaminersPrimary: Olszewski, Robert P.Assistant: Wacyra, Edward M. Attorney, Agent or FirmForeign Patent References
International ClassB65B 013/02Foreign Application Priority Data1990-03-28 NLAbstractThe invention relates to a method of sorting and bundling flowers, comprising hanging the flowers separately in individual flower supporting members circulating in a first closed path; as they are traversing the path, designating the flowers as to at least one characteristic, such as stem length; depending on the designated characteristic, transferring the flowers to second flower supporting members circulating in a second path; grouping the flowers into groups of a limited number of flowers; and collecting and bundling a series of groups into a bunch. The individual flower supporting members are moved adjacent a transfer point from a transport position into a transfer position in a tract substantially perpendicular to the first path, while during transfer the second flower supporting members are held stationary and oriented in the direction of movement of the individual flower supporting members. The invention further relates to apparatus for applying this method.Field of SearchOperating mechanismItem counter Condition responsive means controls separating means Means (e.g., information storing device, timer, delaying relay, etc.) delaying actuation of separating means Electrical Electronic Sizing Separating means Specific compartment of receptacle brought into alignment with feed means by operator Items separated by tipping, rolling, or sliding off support under force of gravity FEEDER CONVEYOR HAVING OPPOSED GRIPPERS ENDLESS FEED CONVEYOR WITH MEANS FOR HOLDING EACH ITEM INDIVIDUALLY DRIVEN OR FLUID CONVEYOR MOVING ITEM FROM SEPARATING STATION ACCUMULATION RECEIVING SEPARATED ITEMS By depositing items successively from one conveyor onto group conveyor Comprising a load gripping element Element is only shifted with the load during discharge Gripper portion made of resilient material which is self biased into engaging position Banding Long slender articles (e.g., cigarettes) Single sensor for successively sensing each article of the group or subgroup (e.g., counter) By dimension of contents Cutting Strand, tube, or rodlike material (e.g., drinking straw) Applied by rotation of band Cutting | |
