Apparatus for obtaining a random sample
OwnerGary O. Niemanninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for obtaining a sample of objects is provided. The objects are carried by a first conveyor belt and are sampled by striking a lower surface of the conveyor belt to cause some of the objects to be thrown upwardly over a barrier into a receptacle. The objects from the receptacle are carried by a second conveyor which has cleats for carrying objects to a detector one-by-one. The detector operates a deflecting plate to obtain a second sample for inspection. Objects which are not deflected by the plate are returned to the first conveyor belt, while those which are deflected enter a chute for collection. The apparatus for delivering an impact to the conveyor belt preferably comprises a bell crank which strikes the conveyor belt 4 in response to a hydraulic actuator.
Claims19
Apparatus for providing a random sample from a group of objects comprising conveyor means for transporting said group of objects along a first path, striking means for striking said conveyor at intervals programmed means to cause a first random sample of said objects to assume a second path displaced from said first path, and receiving means for intercepting said first sample of said objects thereby separating said first sample from said group.
Apparatus for obtaining a random sample of objects carried by a flexible conveyor in a first direction, comprising striking means for striking a lower surface of said conveyor at intervals programmed to cause a group of said objects to assume a second direction, and receptacle means intersecting said second direction and receiving at least some of said group to comprise said random sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.