A product sorting apparatus is operable to sort products by inducing an oscillating or rocking motion to a plurality of sorting trays in a vertically stacked arrangement. A subset of the products in a top-most tray selectively pass to successive sorting trays. Each of the sorting trays is configured
A product sorting apparatus is operable to sort products by inducing an oscillating or rocking motion to a plurality of sorting trays in a vertically stacked arrangement. A subset of the products in a top-most tray selectively pass to successive sorting trays. Each of the sorting trays is configured to receive and selectively transmit the selected products according to a separator or sorting panel that is disposed between an input and an output of a given tray. Each of the separator panels defines apertures that facilitate sorting of the products according to size and/or shape. The rocking or oscillating motion has an amplitude and a period according to an input from a drive mechanism, which may include a motor and drive link with a controller and/or a power switch. Optionally, a safety cage and one or more cutoff switches are provided for protecting the sorter and personnel.
대표청구항▼
1. A product sorter comprising: a frame;a drive mechanism coupled to said frame;a plurality of sorting trays, each of said sorting trays including a product separator and defining an open upper input region above said product separator and an open lower output region below said product separator, wh
1. A product sorter comprising: a frame;a drive mechanism coupled to said frame;a plurality of sorting trays, each of said sorting trays including a product separator and defining an open upper input region above said product separator and an open lower output region below said product separator, wherein said sorting trays are movably coupled to said frame in a vertically stacked arrangement and are operatively coupled to said drive mechanism;a first tray mount and a second tray mount, said first and second tray mounts pivotably coupled to said frame with said first tray mount positioned above said second tray mount, wherein a first of said sorting trays is releasably coupled to said first tray mount and a second of said sorting trays is releasably coupled to said second tray mount;a connecting link coupled to each of said first and second tray mounts and extending between said first and second sorting trays, wherein said connecting link is configured to synchronize oscillating movement of said first and second sorting trays;said product separator defining an opening that is sized and shaped to permit passage of at least one type of product in a group of products comprising multiple product types; andwherein said drive mechanism is operable to oscillate said sorting trays to thereby move the products along said product separators in response to actuation of said drive mechanism. 2. The product sorter of claim 1, wherein said drive mechanism comprises a motor and a drive link coupled between said motor and a first of said sorting trays. 3. The product sorter of claim 2, further comprising a controller operable to selectively energize and de-energize said motor, wherein said controller comprises a user interface configured to receive at least one input parameter from a user. 4. The product sorter of claim 3, wherein said controller comprises a timer and is operable to de-energize said motor after a predetermined amount of time. 5. The product sorter of claim 1, wherein said tray mounts are generally funnel-shaped and are configured to direct the products into said open upper input regions of said sorting trays. 6. The product sorter of claim 1, wherein said product separator of said first sorting tray comprises a concave-up sheet defining a plurality of said openings in spaced arrangement. 7. The product sorter of claim 6, wherein said product separator of said second sorting tray comprises a bottom central panel and at least one elevated panel that is both laterally offset and vertically offset from said bottom central panel to thereby define an elongate slot between an outboard edge of said bottom central panel and an inboard edge of said elevated panel. 8. The product sorter of claim 7, further comprising a third of said sorting trays having a product separator comprising a concave-up sheet defining a plurality of said openings in spaced arrangement, wherein said openings of said third sorting tray are smaller than said openings of said first sorting tray, and wherein said second sorting tray is positioned directly below said first sorting tray and directly above said third sorting tray. 9. The product sorter of claim 8, wherein said sorting trays are configured to pivot in a rocking manner in response to actuation of said drive mechanism, and wherein said sorting trays are vertically spaced apart from one another and are configured so that when said sorting trays are in a first position, said second sorting tray is entirely below said first sorting tray and said third sorting tray is entirely below said first and second sorting trays, and when said trays are in a second position that is pivoted away from said first position, at least a portion of said second tray is located above at least a portion of said first sorting tray and at least a portion of said third sorting tray is located above at least a portion of said second sorting tray. 10. The product sorter of claim 9, further comprising a third tray mount pivotably coupled to said frame, wherein said first tray mount is positioned above said second tray mount and said second tray mount is positioned above said third tray mount, wherein said third sorting tray is releasably coupled to said third tray mount. 11. The product sorter of claim 1, wherein said sorting trays are configured to pivot in a rocking manner in response to actuation of said drive mechanism. 12. The product sorter of claim 11, wherein said second sorting tray is positioned directly below said first sorting tray, and wherein said first and second sorting trays are configured so that when said trays are in a first position, said second sorting tray is entirely below said first sorting tray, and when said first and second sorting trays are in a second position that is pivoted away from said first position, at least a portion of said second sorting tray is located above at least a portion of said first sorting tray. 13. A product sorter comprising: a frame having a pair of spaced-apart uprights;a powered drive mechanism supported at said frame; anda plurality of open-top sorting trays in a substantially vertical arrangement in which said sorting trays are pivotably coupled to and span between said uprights, each of said sorting trays configured to dispense or receive products to or from at least one other of said sorting trays, wherein at least one of said sorting trays comprises a separator panel defining one or more openings configured to selectively transmit at least a subset of the products therethrough;wherein said separator panel of at least one of said sorting trays comprises a bottom central panel and at least one elevated panel that is both laterally offset and vertically offset from said bottom central panel to thereby define an elongate slot between an outboard edge of said bottom central panel and an inboard edge of said elevated panel. 14. The product sorter of claim 13, further comprising a connecting link coupled between a first of said sorting trays and a second of said sorting trays, wherein said connecting link is operable to synchronize oscillating movement of said first and second sorting trays. 15. The product sorter of claim 14, further comprising first and second tray mounts pivotably coupled to said frame with said first tray mount positioned above said second tray mount, wherein said first sorting tray is releasably coupled to said first tray mount and said second sorting tray is releasably coupled to said second tray mount, and said connecting link is coupled to each of said first and second tray mounts. 16. The product sorter of claim 15, wherein said sorting trays comprise respective upper portions configured to slidingly engage respective lower portions of said tray mounts. 17. The product sorter of claim 16, further comprising locking members operable to releasably lock said sorting trays to respective ones of said tray mounts upon full engagement of said sorting trays with said tray mounts. 18. The product sorter of claim 13, wherein said sorting trays comprise first and second sorting trays that are vertically spaced apart from one another and are configured so that when said sorting trays are in a first position, said second sorting tray is entirely below said first sorting tray, and when said sorting trays are in a second position that is pivoted away from said first position, at least a portion of said second tray is located above at least a portion of said first sorting tray. 19. A product sorter comprising: a frame having a pair of spaced-apart uprights;a powered drive mechanism supported at said frame;a plurality of open-top sorting trays in a substantially vertical arrangement in which said sorting trays are pivotably coupled to and span between said uprights, each of said sorting trays configured to dispense or receive products to or from at least one other of said sorting trays, wherein at least one of said sorting trays comprises a separator panel defining one or more openings configured to selectively transmit at least a subset of the products therethrough;wherein said sorting trays comprise first and second sorting trays that are vertically spaced apart from one another and are configured so that when said first and second sorting trays are in a first position, said second sorting tray is entirely below said first sorting tray, and when said trays are in a second position that is pivoted away from said first position, at least a portion of said second tray is located above at least a portion of said first sorting tray; anda controller configured to operate said powered drive mechanism in at least one operating mode, said controller having a user interface for receiving at least one input parameter from a user;wherein said powered drive mechanism is mechanically coupled to each of said sorting trays and is operable to oscillate said sorting trays in a rocking manner to thereby cause the products to slide along said separator panels. 20. The product sorter of claim 19, further comprising a plurality of tray mounts pivotably coupled to and spanning between said uprights, wherein said sorting trays are releasably coupled to respective ones of said tray mounts.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (5)
John Griebat ; Alan Koechner, Corn milling and separating device and method.
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