US 4,784,057 A · Tandem drum cluster separator

Abstract

A cluster seprator for engaging and separating clusters of pod vegetables joined together by stem sections from a large quantity of individual pod vegetables, includes two tandem substantially horizontally spaced drums which each have a cylindrical surface such that the two drums form a restricted zone between the cylindrical surfaces. The drums are rottable in opposite directions so that the cylindrical surfaces move in the same direction at the restricted zone. On each drum are hooked rods which extend generally radially outwardly from the cylindrical surface so that a hook portion of each rod faces generally upwardly within the restricted zone. The hooked rods on each drum form an array of rods of selected density. The hooked rods pass juxtaposedly through the restricted zone at the combined densities of the arrays of both drums to optimize engagement of the clusters of pod vegetables falling through the restricted zone while permitting individual pod vegetables to fall freely between the rods. As the drums rotate, the hooked rods pass outwardly and away from the restricted zone at the respective single array density of each drum so that the clusters may be cut apart or otherwise processed more efficiently. A drive system is connected to the drums to rotate them.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A cluster separator for engaging and separating clusters of vegetable pods joined together by stem sections from a large quantity of individual vegetable pods, comprising:

(a) two substantially horizontally opposed surfaces which together define a restricted zone between the surfaces through which a quantity of vegetable pods may fall;
(b) a set of hooked rods mounted on each opposed surface and extending outwardly therefrom to form an array of rods thereon of selected density;
(c) means for moving the opposed surfaces to carry the two sets of hooked rods juxtaposedly through the restricted zone at the combined density of both arrays of rods to engage on the hooked rods vegetable pod clusters entrained with the falling vegetable pods while permitting individual pods to fall freely through the combined array of hooks, and then to carry each set of hooked rods separately away from the restricted zone to separate the engaged vegetable pod clusters from the individual vegetable pods prior to further processing.

A cluster separator for engaging and separating clusters of vegetable pods joined together by stem sections from a large quantity of such vegetable pods comprising:

(a) two substantially horizontally spaced tandem drums which each include a cylindrical portion with a cylindrical surface, the two drums together forming a restricted zone between their cylindrical surfaces and being mounted to a frame of the device and rotatable in opposite directions such that the cylindrical surfaces move in the same direction at the restricted zone;
(b) a set of hooked rods on each drum, each hooked rod including a rod portion and a hook portion and extending generally radially outwardly from one of the cylindrical surfaces so that the hook portion of each rod faces generally upwardly within the restricted zone, the hooked rods on each drum forming an array of rods of selected density such that as the drums rotate the sets of hooked rods pass juxtaposedly through the restricted zone at the combined density of the arrays of rods of both drums to optimize the engagement of the clusters by the rods as the vegetable pods fall through the restricted zone, the hooked rods passing outwardly and away from the restricted zone at the respective single array density of each drum so that the clusters are carried away from the zone at a lesser density than in the restricted zone;
and
(c) a drive system connected to the drums to rotate them.

1 more element

A tandem drum cluster separator for engaging and separating clusters of vegetables pods joined together by stem sections from a large quantity of individual vegetable pods, the device comprising:

(a) a frame;
(b) two tandem drums which each include a cylindrical portion with a cylindrical surface, the two drums being substantially horizontally spaced and forming a restricted zone between their cylindrical surfaces, the drums being mounted to the frame and rotatable in opposite directions such that the cylindrical surfaces move in the same direction at the restricted zone;
(c) a set of hooked rods on each drum, each hooked rod including a rod portion and a hook portion and extending generally radially outwardly from one of the cylindrical surfaces with the hook portion of each rod facing generally upwardly within the restricted zone, the hooked rods on each drum forming an array of selected density such that the sets of hooked rods pass juxtaposedly through the restricted zone at a combined density of the arrays of both drums to optimize the engagement of the clusters by the rods as the vegetable pods fall through the restricted zone, the hooked rods passing outwardly and away from the zone at the respective single array density of each drum so that the clusters are carried away from the zone at a lesser density than in the restricted zone;
(d) a drive system connected to the drums to rotate them;
(e) a feed assembly located above the restricted zone, the feed assembly having a discharge edge over which the vegetable pods fall into the restricted zone;
and
(f) means located below the restricted zone for receiving the vegetable pods which have fallen through the restricted zone for further processing.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tandem drum cluster separator

Life of this patent

Tandem drum cluster separator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22