Automatic silverware sorting construction

• US 3,956,109 A
• Filed: 10/24/1974
• Issued: 05/11/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avant Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avant Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Dietsche, Robert B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoffman, Drayton E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rolla, Joseph J.
• Application Number:
  US05/517,635
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 209/73, 209/75, 209/82, 209/85, 209/90, 209/97, 209/98, 209/99, 209/101
• US Class Current: 209/682
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/92 Vibratory feed conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/926 Silverware sorter

Abstract

An apparatus for sorting silverware including a hopper for collecting the silverware in bulk amounts and a vibrating bed for gradually discharging the silverwave and conveying it to a sorting stage for dividing the different types of silverware. The sorting stage includes a table defining a barrier against which the silverware is directed. Laterally extending openings are defined by the barrier, and these openings permit the passage of knives past the barrier means. Forks and spoons are held by the barrier means as they are moved over the table and are then dropped onto a structure which separates the forks and spoons. Receptacles are provided for collecting the different types of silverware.

Claims

1. In a sorting apparatus for silverware consisting of knives, forks and spoons including a conveyor bed, and means moving the silverware from one location to another over said bed, the improvement comprising barrier means disposed on said bed for engagement by the silverware, said barrier means comprising at least one member disposed substantially centrally on said bed and extending longtitudinally of said bed and having a pair of substantially vertically extending side walls on opposite sides of the barrier means, said bed sloping downwardly and inwardly toward said side walls whereby said silverware is caused to move against said side walls, said means for moving the silverware comprising vibrating means associated with said bed for moving said silverware along said bed and into engagement with said side walls, openings defined by each side wall of said barrier means said openings being dimensioned so that the knives are adapted to pass through the openings, the curvature of the spoons and forks imparting an effective width thereto and the dimensions of said opening being less than said effective width so that the spoons and forks will not pass through the openings, means for collecting knives passing through the bed comprising a channel disposed beneath said barrier means, said knives being directed through said openings into said channel, and further openings defined by said channel for the passage of knives beyond the channel, a second bed positioned beneath said first mentioned bed, said knives being collected on said second bed, and openings defined by said second bed for the passage of said knives through said second bed, and means for receiving knives passed through said second bed, and wherein said first mentioned bed extends over said second bed to a position beyond said openings in said second bed, at least one additional opening defined by said first bed dimensioned for the passage of forks and spoons therethrough, said forks and spoons being discharged through said additional opening from said first mentioned bed onto said second bed at a location beyond said openings in said second bed, at least one slot defined by said second bed dimensioned to allow the passage of said forks through the second bed, and means positioned beneath said second bed for collecting said forks.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said slot is also dimensioned for the passage of handles of spoons through the second bed with the bowls of said spoons operating to prevent the passage of said spoons through said second bed whereby said spoons are suspended on the second bed, means for moving the spoons along said slot, and an additional opening defined by said second bed as a continuation of said slot, said additional opening being dimensioned to permit the passage of said spoon bowls through said second bed, and means for collecting said spoons.

3. In a sorting apparatus for silverware consisting of knives, forks and spoons including a conveyor bed, and means moving the silverware from one location to another over said bed, the improvement comprising barrier means disposed on said bed for engagement by the silverware, said barrier means comprising at least one member disposed substantially centrally on said bed and extending longitudinally of said bed and having a pair of substantially vertically extending side walls on opposite sides of the barrier means, said bed sloping downwardly and inwardly toward said side walls whereby said silverware is caused to move against said side walls, said means for moving the silverware comprising vibrating means associated with said bed for moving said silverware along said bed and into engagement with said side walls, vertically extending openings defined by each side wall of said barrier means, said openings commencing at locations in the walls downstream of a forward location where said silverware is initially received, said barrier means thereby blocking movement of silverware from said forward location to the commencing locations of the openings whereby the silverware becomes longitudinally aligned with said walls before reaching said opeings, said openings being dimensioned so that the knives are adapted to pass through the openings, the curvature of the longitudinally aligned spoons and forks imparting an effective width thereto and the vertical dimensions of said openings being less than said effective width so that said walls continue blocking the spoons and forks, means for collecting knives passing through the bed comprising a channel disposed beneath said barrier means, said knives being directed through said openings into said channel, and further openings defined by said channel for the passage of knives beyond the channel and into collecting means for the knives, and separate means located beyond said openings for collecting said spoons and forks.