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:
Dec. 28, 2004
Filed:
Feb. 06, 2003
Johannes Cornelis J. Tas, Nootdorp, NL;
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for sorting flowers which includes a conveyor positioned in an endless conveyor chain having attached thereto, at predetermined intermediate distances, forks movable between at least two positions, a transport position and a hang-in position. The apparatus has at least a single detection station for determining at least a single corresponding characteristic of each flower, and a computer for recording the characteristic. In accordance with the characteristic, the apparatus delivers each flower at discharge stations. The apparatus further comprises at least a single hang-in buffer conveyor with an endless buffer transport element having buffer forks attached thereto, from which the flowers hanging therein are taken over by the forks, which the passing speed of the forks, N , and that of the buffer forks, N , meet N >N . In one form, the conveyor chain and the buffer transport element are driven, mutually coupled, with a control element. Advantageously, with this apparatus, flowers can be sorted fast in large quantities. In particular, even with manual hanging-in, a high filling capacity with a correspondingly high filling degree is obtained. In addition, such a buffer affords the possibility of hanging-in flowers from the site of cultivation, such as a glasshouse.