Patent ID: 6976591
Filing Date: 2005-12-20
Classification: B07B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus assembly for separating grades of food-stuff seeds from a food-stuff seed mixture of premium grade food-stuff seeds and unwanted inferior grade food-stuff seeds, and comprising: an endless belt conveyor subassembly having an endless belt component, and having a least-elevated end, a most-elevated end, longitudinally upward tilt from said least-elevated end to said most-elevated end, a least elevated longitudinal edge, a most-elevated longitudinal edge spaced apart from said least elevated longitudinal edge, and transversely downward tilt from said most-elevated longitudinal edge to said least-elevated longitudinal edge; a feed hopper supplying premium grade and inferior grade food-stuff seeds to said endless belt conveyor subassembly least-elevated end; a first food-stuff seed product discharge ramp positioned adjacent said endless belt conveyor subassembly most-elevated end; a second food-stuff seed product discharge ramp positioned adjacent said endless belt conveyor subassembly least elevated longitudinal edge; a longitudinal drive mechanism imparting longitudinal motion to said conveyor endless belt component in a direction from said endless belt conveyor subassembly least-elevated end to said endless belt conveyor subassembly most elevated end; and an orbital drive mechanism superimposing orbital motion upon the longitudinal motion of said endless belt conveyor subassembly endless belt component, whereby premium grade food-stuff seeds are directed to one of said food-stuff seed discharge ramps, and unwanted grade food-stuff seeds are directed to the other of said food-stuff seed product discharge ramps when said longitudinal and orbital drive mechanisms are activated.