Apparatus for dispensing mollusks
First Claim
1. An apparatus for dispensing mollusks in a single file, comprising a hopper assembly including a hopper having a rigid stationary front wall formed with an outlet and movable rigid side and rigid rear walls and adapted to contain a quantity of mollusks, means including an inclined chute for dispensing mollusks in a single file, the chute having an upper end to which mollusks are supplied from the outlet of the hopper and a lower discharge end adapted to dispense the mollusks to a processing device, a prime mover, a crank having a variable throw and driven by the prime mover, and a connecting rod linking the crank to the underside of the chute.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A reservoir and chute cooperate to deliver mollusks such as clams, oysters, scallops and the like, oriented in a row to a conveyor forming a part of an apparatus for removing their shells. The reservoir in which an appropriate supply of mollusks is stored and from which they are delivered to the chute is provided with an elevator mechanism for maintaining the top of the supply above the upper end of the chute so that mollusks are supplied from the top of the supply to the chute in which they are advanced toward the lower discharge end by a combination of gravity and controlled vibration.
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Citations
9 Claims
- 1. An apparatus for dispensing mollusks in a single file, comprising a hopper assembly including a hopper having a rigid stationary front wall formed with an outlet and movable rigid side and rigid rear walls and adapted to contain a quantity of mollusks, means including an inclined chute for dispensing mollusks in a single file, the chute having an upper end to which mollusks are supplied from the outlet of the hopper and a lower discharge end adapted to dispense the mollusks to a processing device, a prime mover, a crank having a variable throw and driven by the prime mover, and a connecting rod linking the crank to the underside of the chute.
- 4. An apparatus for dispensing mollusks substantially continuously, comprising a hopper assembly including a hopper adapted to contain a quantity of mollusks and having a stationary rigid front wall and vertically movable rigid side walls, rigid rear walls and rigid bottom panels, means defining a stationary outlet for mollusks in the front wall of the hopper, an inclined chute having an upper end adjacent the outlet and a lower discharge end adapted to dispense the mollusks to a processing device and elevator means for raising the movable walls of the hopper gradually to position the top of the supply of mollusks in the hopper above the outlet to maintain a substantially continuous flow of mollusks into the chute, whereby mollusks are propelled by gravity from the top of the supply in the hopper, through the outlet and down the chute.
Specification