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:
Jun. 02, 1992
Filed:
Sep. 17, 1991
Clyde Weihe, Needham Heights, MA (US);
Other;
Abstract
Apparatus for receiving and sorting a plurality of pieces of flatware for delivery of the flatware to a holding or storage mechanism, the apparatus comprising a tube mechanism comprising a wall forming a tube having an open end for slidable delivery of the flatware pieces to a holding mechanism, the tube mechanism having a selected length, a selected internal volume and a slot extending lengthwise in the wall for receiving pieces of flatware lengthwise through the slot, the flatware pieces having a selected length and depth. The tube mechanism is pivotably mounted on a support structure at a selected point along the length of the tube mechanism such that the slot is disposed upwardly for receiving the pieces of flatware downwardly through the slot and into the internal volume of the tube mechanism. The tube mechanism is pivotably mounted on the support structure for pivoting between a stationary at-rest position and non-stationary positions such that the tube mechanism is disposed in a tilted orientation relative to horizontal when in the stationary at-rest position. The support structure includes a pivot stop for limiting the degree of the tilted orientation of the at-rest position. A stop mechanism is included for holding pieces of flatware received within the internal volume of the tube mechanism against sliding out of the tube mechanism when the tube is in the at-rest tilted orientation.