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:
Feb. 17, 2004
Filed:
Oct. 29, 2001
Applicant:
Inventors:
Randy Baird, Bolivar, PA (US);
Arthur L. Dean, Indiana, PA (US);
Assignee:
FMC Technologies, Inc., Chicago, IL (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01B 5/20 ; B07C 5/04 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01B 5/20 ; B07C 5/04 ;
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for dimensionally sorting a group of received articles, like fruits and vegetables, and using the determined different sizes for differentiation during the subsequent processing and handling of the articles. Generally, the size and shape of each article is determined by the degree of deflection of one or more sensor heads located along a path the article is traversing. The determined size and shape is then used to direct the article during the subsequent processing and/or handling of the article.