The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 13, 1991
Filed:
Jun. 22, 1990
Timm L Adams, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Leon Levine, Plymouth, MN (US);
George R Anderson, Minneapolis, MN (US);
The Pillsbury Company, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for separating peas based upon differences in density. The apparatus includes a flow trough having a flow manifold. A pump takes water from a reservoir and delivers the water to the flow manifold. A flow nipple having a lip portion extending into the flow manifold and turning vanes within the flow manifold distribute the water to create a substantially laminar flow. Fixed and pivotable water deflectors at an inlet portion of the flow trough establish a linear, laminar flow of water along the flow trough. A hopper and conveyor combination deliver a stream of peas to an adjustable plate member positioned in the laminar flow of water in the flow trough. The peas carried by the laminar flow of water descend off of the plate member into a separating chamber where peas having a high density range settle into a first collecting chamber and peas with a low density range settle into a second collecting chamber. An adjustable separating vane separates the first and second collecting chambers and together with the plate member is adjusted to accommodate batches of peas having differing density characteristics.