Patent ID: 9669428
Date: 2017-06-06
CPC Classifications: B07B

Claim:
1. A product sorter comprising: a frame; a drive mechanism coupled to said frame; a plurality of sorting trays, each of said sorting trays including a product separator and defining an open upper input region above said product separator and an open lower output region below said product separator, wherein said sorting trays are movably coupled to said frame in a vertically stacked arrangement and are operatively coupled to said drive mechanism; a first tray mount and a second tray mount, said first and second tray mounts pivotably coupled to said frame with said first tray mount positioned above said second tray mount, wherein a first of said sorting trays is releasably coupled to said first tray mount and a second of said sorting trays is releasably coupled to said second tray mount; a connecting link coupled to each of said first and second tray mounts and extending between said first and second sorting trays, wherein said connecting link is configured to synchronize oscillating movement of said first and second sorting trays; said product separator defining an opening that is sized and shaped to permit passage of at least one type of product in a group of products comprising multiple product types; and wherein said drive mechanism is operable to oscillate said sorting trays to thereby move the products along said product separators in response to actuation of said drive mechanism.