Product sorter utilizing a constant percentile weight distribution
OwnerRichard D. Linville, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The birds to be processed in a poultry processing plant are individually weighed and subsequently sorted into respective weight categories of either over or under a calculated reference weight which varies with the weights of a number of the lastweighed birds in a base sample to maintain the numbers of birds being currently sorted into the two categories substantially equal.
Claims14
A method of processing a plurality of products which vary in weight with respect to one another, comprising the steps of
- weighing said products individually,
- comparing the weight of each weighed product with a split weight
- separating the lighter products having a weight less than said split weight from the heavier products,
- processing the lighter products separately from the heavier products,
- varying the split weight to maintain the numbers of said lighter and heavier products in a substantially constant predetermined ratio,
- said split weight being related to the number of previously weighed products which were lighter than said split weight, and the number of previously weighed products which were heavier than said split weight.
In a system for processing a plurality of products which vary in weight, comprising
- first and second processing lines for said products,
- means for weighing the products to be processed and for supplying to said first processing line only those products which weigh less than a split weight and for supplying to said second processing line only those products which weigh more than said split weight, and
- means responsive to the weights of said products and the relative numbers of previously weighed products which were lighter and heavier than said split weight for calculating said split weight to maintain the ratio of the number of products supplied to said first processing line to the number of products supplied to said second processing line substantially constant at all times.
In a system for processing a plurality of birds which vary in weight, comprising
- weighing means across which said birds individually travel for providing weight related output signals respectively representative of the weight of each bird traveling thereacross,
- sorting means disposed to intercept said birds after they have traveled across said weighing means for directing said birds to a selected one of a plurality of locations, and
- computer means responsive to said output signals for controlling said sorting means to maintain the numbers of birds supplied to said locations in a predetermined ratio with the heavier birds being directed to one of said locations and the lighter birds being directed to another of said locations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.