# US 11,305,315 B2 · Vibratory classifier apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,315 B2 - Document ID: US11305315B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/126,495 - Filed: 2020-12-18 - Published: 2021-04-08 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-09 - Assignees: Superior Industries, Inc. - Applicants: Superior Industries, Inc. - Inventors: Cody Tufford - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305315B2 ## CPC - B07B 1/46: Constructional details of screens in general; Cleaning or heating of screens - B07B 1/42: Drive mechanisms, regulating or controlling devices, or balancing devices, specially adapted for screens - B07B 1/55: with fluid jets - B07B 2230/01: Wet separation - B07B: SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS BY SIEVING, SCREENING, SIFTING OR BY USING GAS CURRENTS; SEPARATING BY OTHER DRY METHODS APPLICABLE TO BULK MATERIAL, e.g. LOOSE ARTICLES FIT TO BE HANDLED LIKE BULK MATERIAL (wet separating processes, sorting by processes using fluent material in the same way as liquid B03; combinations of dry separating apparatus with wet separating apparatus B03B; using liquids B03B, B03D; sorting by magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges or vortex apparatus for carrying out physical processes B04; hand sorting, postal sorting, sorting by switching or other devices actuated in response to detection or measurement of some feature of articles or samples of material B07C) ## Abstract Vibratory classifier apparatus are provided, e.g., for classification of materials such as wet or dry aggregate materials. In some embodiments, a drive system of the vibratory classifier apparatus includes a housing that can optionally be modified to allow access to a belt or other components of the drive system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vibratory classifier comprising: a first sidewall defining a first plane; a second sidewall defining a second plane, said first plane separated from said second plane by a distance along a transverse direction; a vibratory mechanism supported at least partially on said first and second sidewalls, said vibratory mechanism configured to induce vibration of the classifier; at least a first screen disposed at least partially between said first sidewall and said second sidewall, wherein upon vibration of the classifier, material moves along said first screen in at least a longitudinal direction generally perpendicular to said transverse distance; a feed box disposed at least partially in an inlet region of the classifier, said inlet region disposed at least partially rearward of said first screen along said longitudinal direction, said feedbox comprising: a classifying surface having openings therethrough; and a lower surface disposed at an angle below horizontal, said lower surface being disposed at least partially beneath said classifying surface to receive undersize material that passes through said classifying surface, said lower surface being disposed to transfer said undersize material onto said first screen, wherein said lower surface is pivotable between an operating position and a maintenance position; wherein in said maintenance position an access opening is disposed between said lower surface and said classifying surface, wherein said access opening permits access to a rear portion of said first screen. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vibratory classifier of claim 1, wherein said feedbox further comprises: first and second transversely spaced feedbox walls, wherein said lower surface is pivotally coupled to each of said feedbox walls. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vibratory classifier of claim 2, wherein said feedbox further comprises: a link, wherein said link at least partially supports said lower surface in said maintenance position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vibratory classifier of claim 3, wherein said link comprises a slotted link. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The vibratory classifier of claim 3, wherein said link is disposed adjacent to one of said first and second feedbox walls. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vibratory classifier of claim 1, wherein said feedbox further comprises: a link, wherein said link at least partially supports said lower surface in said maintenance position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vibratory classifier of claim 1, further comprising: a second screen disposed above said first screen, said first screen at least partially supported by said first and second sidewalls. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vibratory classifier of claim 7, wherein said classifying surface is disposed adjacent to and rearwardly of said second screen. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The vibratory classifier of claim 7, wherein said classifying surface is disposed to transfer oversize material onto said second screen. ### Claim 10 A method of operating a material classifier, comprising: in an operational mode: receiving material onto a classifying surface of a feedbox; transferring a first material subset comprising oversize material passing over said classifying surface onto a first classifying screen adjacent to said feedbox; receiving a second material subset comprising undersize material passing through said classifying surface onto a lower surface disposed at least partially beneath said classifying surface; transferring said second material subset across said lower surface onto a second classifying screen adjacent to said feedbox; in a maintenance mode: pivoting said lower surface from an operating position downward into a maintenance position to create an access opening between said classifying surface and said lower surface; and accessing said second classifying screen via said access opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: selectively locking and unlocking said lower surface in said operating position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: by a link coupled to a sidewall of the feedbox, at least partially supporting said lower surface in said maintenance position.