Abstract:
The present invention provides a device for sorting items according to at least one predetermined criterion. The device includes at least one conveyor for transporting an item along at least a portion of the device, a measuring until positioned in proximity to the conveyor for receiving the items from the conveyor, and at least one separation gate along a length of the at least conveyor that can be selectively actuated based on at least one predetermined criteria measured by the measuring unit.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/255,840, entitled “Device for Selecting and Separating Objects,” filed on Oct. 28, 2009. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to a device for selecting and separating objects, and more specifically to a device for selecting and separating food items. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    In process, industrial, and other settings it is often necessary to sort items based on certain predetermined characteristics. Such characteristics may include size, conformity to a standard, color, or any other characteristic that can be readily determined by one sorting the items. Such work is often done manually, with workers observing items as they pass along a line or conveyor system, making judgments about those items, and then sorting the items or otherwise directing them to a desired location. 
         [0006]    In the food processing industry, meat items must often be sorted based on size, weight, or other characteristics. Much or all of this sorting process maybe performed manually, though portions of the process may be automated. For example, a conveyor system may be used to direct the meat items to a scale for weighing, after which manual sorting may be performed. Such systems generally occupy a lot of floor space as the meat items typically pass through the system lengthwise. 
         [0007]    What is needed is an automated system for measuring or otherwise identifying certain criteria of items, such as food items, and then automatically sorting the items based on those criteria, and which takes up as little floor space as possible. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention provides a device for sorting items according to at least one predetermined criterion. The device includes at least one conveyor for transporting an item along at least a portion of the device, a measuring unit positioned in proximity to the conveyor for receiving the items from the conveyor, and at least one separation gate along a length of the at least one conveyor that can be selectively actuated based on at least one predetermined criterion measured by the measuring unit. 
         [0009]    One aspect of the present invention provides that the measuring unit is a scale. 
         [0010]    Another aspect of the present invention provides that the measuring unit is an imaging device. 
         [0011]    Another aspect of the present invention provides that the predetermined characteristic is size. 
         [0012]    Another aspect of the present invention provides that the predetermined characteristic is weight. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a closeup side perspective view of a portion of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a closeup side perspective view of a portion of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a closeup perspective view of a separating gate and push rod of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a front/side elevational view of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    Turning now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like parts,  FIG. 1  depicts generally a device  10  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. Device  10  includes a frame  12 , a conveyor  14 , a scale  16 , and separating gates  18   a,    18   b,  and  18   c,  among other components that are identified and described below. While the device  10  shown in  FIG. 1  is adapted for weighing items moving along conveyor  14  and then separating them accordingly, it is contemplated that such a device could employ any suitable criterion, or multiple criteria, for separating items moving along conveyor  14 . Further, while the device  10  shown in  FIG. 1  is adapted for use in selecting and separating food items, such as meats, it is contemplated that a device may be constructed according to the principles of the present invention for selecting and separating any suitable objects. 
         [0021]    Frame  12  provides a rigid support for the other components of device  10 , and may be constructed from any suitable material. Floor space in a factory setting is typically quite valuable, and thus one advantage of the present device  10  is the shortened length of frame  12 , and therefore the entire device, as compared to devices currently used in the art. The configuration of the present invention allows food items such as, for example, loin cuts, to travel sideways along conveyor  14  rather than lengthways as typically found in existing devices. Conveyor  14  can be constructed from any suitable material, and it is contemplated that for devices  10  used in the food processing industry, regulations and other considerations for portions of device  10  that come into direct contact with food will be taken into account. Further for specialized food industries such as the organic food industry, other requirements may also come to bear on the selection of materials used to construct the various components of device  10  that contact food items. It is contemplated, however, that such materials are known to those of skill in the art and that it will be apparent, upon review of this disclosure, that such materials may be utilized in the construction of the present device  10 . 
         [0022]    Objects such as food items may be fed onto conveyor  14  in any suitable way, whether placed on conveyor  14  manually or directed onto conveyor  14  by an automated mechanism. Once an item, such as a meat loin, is placed on conveyor  14  it is carried along conveyor  14  toward scale  16 , where the item is weighed. The result of the weighing determines which of separating gates  18   a,    18   b,  or  18   c  will be engaged. As shown in the figures separating gates  18   a,    18   b,  and  18   c  each include a rod  26  attached thereto, the rod being attached also to a rotator  22 . When an item is weighed on scale  16 , one of separating gates  18   a,    18   b,  and  18   c  is engaged, as determined by the weight of the item, and rotator  22  rotates that gate such that it is positioned to be lowered to conveyor  14  and stop the progress of the food item along conveyor  14 . Once the gate has been rotated, an actuator  20  moves the gate into proper position along conveyor  14 . The food or other item traveling along conveyor  14  impacts the appropriate gate at the point at which the gate meets conveyor  14  and the food or other item is stopped. Push rod  32   a,    32   b,  or  32   c  then pushes the food or other item off of conveyor  14 . 
         [0023]    When the food item or other item contacts one of gates  18   a,    18   b,  or  18   c,  and is subsequently pushed off of conveyor  14  by push rod  32   a,    32   b,  or  32   c,  it travels along one of chutes  30   a,    30   b,  and  30   c  to a receptacle (not shown) or other desired area adapted to receive the food or other item. Push rods  32   a,    32   b,  and  32   c,  and chutes  30   a,    30   b,  and  30   c  are shown clearly in  FIG. 2 . Thus, a food or other item stopped by separating gate  18   a  is pushed by push rod  32   a  and travels along chute  30   a  to the item&#39;s next destination. Likewise, if the food or other item is stopped by gate  18   b,  it is pushed by push rod  32   b  and travels along chute  30   b,  and if the food or other item is stopped by gate  18   c  it is pushed by push rod  32   c  and travels along chute  30   c.  Items sharing similar characteristics, in this case weight as determined by scale  16 , are directed to the same gate, along the same chute, and ultimately to the same desired end point. In this way, items moving along conveyor  14  are sorted according to a predetermined characteristic. 
         [0024]    It is contemplated that certain food or other items traveling along conveyor  14  may fail to trigger any of gates  18   a,    18   b,  and  18   c.  This may occur, for example, when criteria set for engaging these gates is not met by the food or other item as measured by scale  16 . In such instances, the food or other item moves to the end of conveyor  14  and travels along exit chute  28  to a desired receptacle or other desired location (not shown). 
         [0025]    In the device  10  shown in the figures, operation of device  10  is controlled by a user via control panel  24 . It is contemplated that control of device  10  may occur in any suitable manner, and that device  10  may be controlled at the site of device  10 , as shown in the figures, or that device  10  may be controlled remotely. In instances wherein device  10  is controlled at the site of device  10  and control panel  24  is present, it is contemplated that a user may control any of the various features and variables of device  10 . Such features and variables include, but are not limited to, the speed of conveyor  14  and the criteria used to determine which of gates  18   a,    18   b,  and  18   c  will be engaged. Control panel  24  may be, for example, a touch screen associated with a computer system for controlling device  10 . 
         [0026]    While as shown and described above, device  10  includes a scale  16  for measuring food and other items moving along conveyor  14  for selection and separation, it is contemplated that criteria other than weight may be utilized for selection and separation of food and other items. For example, scale  16  may be replaced with an imaging device adapted to image a food or other item traveling along conveyor  14  and onto or over the imaging device. Once the food or other item is imaged, any of a variety of selection criteria based on the image may be used to determine which of gates  18   a,    18   b,  and  18   c  is actuated, or whether the item is allowed to continue along conveyor  14  to exit chute  28 . The criteria obtained via the imaging device and used in the selection and separation process may include, but are not limited to, shape, color, and size. With respect to food items, for example, the image obtained from and imaging device may be used, in part, to determine identity, freshness, or other characteristics of the food item that are capable of being determined visually. It is also contemplated that an image obtained as described above maybe compared electronically to a standard in order to determine whether or not the food or other item being imaged is desirable. 
         [0027]    Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: