Classifying – separating – and assorting solids – Sorting special items – and certain methods and apparatus for... – Separating means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-19
2001-05-29
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3653)
Classifying, separating, and assorting solids
Sorting special items, and certain methods and apparatus for...
Separating means
C209S659000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237779
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for sorting utensils or silverware, such as spoons, forks and knives. More particularly, the present invention relates to a utensil sorting apparatus which continuously receives utensils, simultaneously sorts a plurality of the utensils, and simultaneously orients the utensils as they are sorted.
2. The Background Art
Large food preparation entities or eating establishments, such as restaurants, hotels, hospitals, cafeterias, etc., may serve hundreds to thousands of people per day or per meal. The large number of people served results in thousands of utensils or silverware which must be washed, sorted, and reoriented prior to reuse. These washing and sorting operations are typically performed by unskilled labor who collect the utensils, wash the utensils using either manual or large capacity washing machines, and then sort and orient the utensils. Because sorting the utensils requires the unskilled laborer to touch and handle the utensils, they must typically be rewashed to satisfy health and sanitation issues. One disadvantage with this system is the time and cost involved in unskilled labor manually sorting and orienting the utensils.
It is desirable to provide a system and/or apparatus for sorting and orienting utensils which is efficient and capable of rapidly sorting the utensils. It is also desirable that such a system or apparatus be accurate, simple, and sanitary.
A few different types of devices have been developed for sorting utensils. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,625,356 issued Dec. 7, 1979, to Jackson, discloses a device in which utensils pass through a chute with a twisted shape so that the utensils are caused to pivot about their lower end and swing outward towards a set of different height, gauged bars. The gauged bars are positioned at heights to allow shorter utensils to pass under the gauge bars while the higher gauge bars prevent longer utensils from passing underneath.
As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,389,790 issued Jun. 25, 1968 to Braunheim et al., discloses a device in which the utensils are disposed between partitions on the exterior of an angled drum. The drum rotates causing the utensils to rotate past a shield disposed about the lower portion of the drum. The shield is provided with three differently sized apertures for receiving three differently sized utensils as they are rotated past the apertures by the drum.
As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,545,613 issued Dec. 8, 1970, to Nystuen, discloses a device in which utensils are received between partitions on a conveyer belt. The conveyer belt moves the utensils past a plurality of different sized openings which are each sized to receive one of the utensils.
As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,389,711 issued Jun. 25, 1968, to Slayton, discloses a device with a plurality of open-ended pockets or tapered tubes which are rotated about a horizontal axis. The device has a first row of tapered tubes with an open bottom end sized to pass therethrough the narrowest utensils. As the tubes rotate about the horizontal axis, a utensil is disposed in each tube such that the narrowest utensil passes through the bottom of the tube while wider utensils will be trapped within the tube. As the tube rotates upwardly, it turns upside down such that wider utensils will fall out and be guided toward a next row of tapered tubes with wider openings.
One disadvantage with these types of devices is that they are designed to sort the utensils only one at a time. Thus, the utensils must be separated and fed into the devices one at a time, so that each utensil is disposed within a separate pocket or separate tube. In addition, the utensils are presented to a gauging opening one at a time.
Another disadvantage with these devices is that they only sort the utensils. Orientation of the utensils is performed as a separate step after sorting, if at all. Thus, after being sorted, some of the devices direct the utensils to other devices which are intended to orient the utensils in a common orientation.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to develop a method and/or apparatus for sorting a plurality of different utensils, which is simple, efficient, accurate, and sanitary. It would also be advantageous to develop such a method and/or apparatus which is capable of sorting a plurality of different utensils simultaneously. It would also be advantageous to develop such a method and/or apparatus which simultaneously sorts and orients the utensils.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and/or apparatus for sorting a plurality of different utensils which is simple, efficient, accurate, and sanitary.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a method and/or apparatus for sorting multiple utensils simultaneously.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method and/or apparatus which sorts and orients the utensils simultaneously.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the system includes a utensil sorting apparatus configured to simultaneously sort and/or orient a plurality of utensils. The plurality of utensils may include first utensils, such as spoons, second utensils, such as forks, and third utensils such as knives. The utensils preferably have different lengths.
The apparatus includes a first template having at least one first aperture sized to receive therethrough only the first utensils, or spoons. A first movable conveyor is movably disposed over the first template, and the at least one first aperture. The first conveyor sequentially moves the utensils through at least three locations. The first location is a receiving location to receive at least one of the first and second utensils. The second location is a sorting and orienting location to pass any first utensil through the aperture in the template, and to orient any first utensil passing through the aperture. The third location is a discharge location to discharge any second utensil.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the first conveyor has a plurality of partitions formed thereon defining a plurality of pockets therebetween configured to receive the utensils. Each pocket has an opening movable across the first template, and the at least one first aperture. A flange is disposed on and extends outwardly from the template adjacent a side of the first aperture and at an end of the partitions to further define the pocket between the flange, the partitions, and the template. The flange extends laterally the length of the first and second locations, but leaves open the third location, such that any second or third utensil contained in the pocket may exit the pocket in the third location.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a bar is disposed laterally across the first aperture in the template at a location configured to correspond to a midpoint of the first utensils, or spoon. Thus, the centers of gravity of the first utensils are disposed on either side of the bar as the first utensils are moved across the first aperture in the first template. Therefore, the first utensils tend to pass through the first aperture in the first template on a same side of the bar as the center of gravity, thus orienting the first utensils.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the at least one first aperture includes a plurality of first apertures in the first template configured to simultaneously sort a plurality of the first utensils, or spoons.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus has a first stage, comprising the first template and first conveyor, to separate the first utensils, or spoons. In addition the apparatus has a second stage, comprising a second template and a second conveyor, to separate the second utensils, or forks, from third utensils, or knives. The second template has at least one second aperture sized to receive therethrough the second utensils, o
Beauchaine Mark J
Thorpe North & Western L.L.P.
Walsh Donald P.
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