Claims
- 1. In a sorting apparatus for silverware consisting of knives, forks and spoons including a conveyor bed, and means moving the silverware from one location to another over said bed, the improvement comprising barrier means disposed on said bed for engagement by the silverware, said barrier means comprising at least one member disposed substantially centrally on said bed and extending longtitudinally of said bed and having a pair of substantially vertically extending side walls on opposite sides of the barrier means, said bed sloping downwardly and inwardly toward said side walls whereby said silverware is caused to move against said side walls, said means for moving the silverware comprising vibrating means associated with said bed for moving said silverware along said bed and into engagement with said side walls, openings defined by each side wall of said barrier means said openings being dimensioned so that the knives are adapted to pass through the openings, the curvature of the spoons and forks imparting an effective width thereto and the dimensions of said opening being less than said effective width so that the spoons and forks will not pass through the openings, means for collecting knives passing through the bed comprising a channel disposed beneath said barrier means, said knives being directed through said openings into said channel, and further openings defined by said channel for the passage of knives beyond the channel, a second bed positioned beneath said first mentioned bed, said knives being collected on said second bed, and openings defined by said second bed for the passage of said knives through said second bed, and means for receiving knives passed through said second bed, and wherein said first mentioned bed extends over said second bed to a position beyond said openings in said second bed, at least one additional opening defined by said first bed dimensioned for the passage of forks and spoons therethrough, said forks and spoons being discharged through said additional opening from said first mentioned bed onto said second bed at a location beyond said openings in said second bed, at least one slot defined by said second bed dimensioned to allow the passage of said forks through the second bed, and means positioned beneath said second bed for collecting said forks.
- 2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said slot is also dimensioned for the passage of handles of spoons through the second bed with the bowls of said spoons operating to prevent the passage of said spoons through said second bed whereby said spoons are suspended on the second bed, means for moving the spoons along said slot, and an additional opening defined by said second bed as a continuation of said slot, said additional opening being dimensioned to permit the passage of said spoon bowls through said second bed, and means for collecting said spoons.
- 3. In a sorting apparatus for silverware consisting of knives, forks and spoons including a conveyor bed, and means moving the silverware from one location to another over said bed, the improvement comprising barrier means disposed on said bed for engagement by the silverware, said barrier means comprising at least one member disposed substantially centrally on said bed and extending longitudinally of said bed and having a pair of substantially vertically extending side walls on opposite sides of the barrier means, said bed sloping downwardly and inwardly toward said side walls whereby said silverware is caused to move against said side walls, said means for moving the silverware comprising vibrating means associated with said bed for moving said silverware along said bed and into engagement with said side walls, vertically extending openings defined by each side wall of said barrier means, said openings commencing at locations in the walls downstream of a forward location where said silverware is initially received, said barrier means thereby blocking movement of silverware from said forward location to the commencing locations of the openings whereby the silverware becomes longitudinally aligned with said walls before reaching said opeings, said openings being dimensioned so that the knives are adapted to pass through the openings, the curvature of the longitudinally aligned spoons and forks imparting an effective width thereto and the vertical dimensions of said openings being less than said effective width so that said walls continue blocking the spoons and forks, means for collecting knives passing through the bed comprising a channel disposed beneath said barrier means, said knives being directed through said openings into said channel, and further openings defined by said channel for the passage of knives beyond the channel and into collecting means for the knives, and separate means located beyond said openings for collecting said spoons and forks.
Parent Case Info
This invention relates to a construction for automatically feeding, transporting and sorting silverware. The invention will be described with reference to the handling and sorting of silverware in dishwashing operations, and it will be apparent that various features of the invention are applicable to different aspects of these and similar operations.
The apparatus of the invention is primarily concerned with the sorting and handling of silveware, and the invention is particularly applicable to institutions such as schools, restaurants and industrial cafeterias which handle large volumes of silverware to provide efficient service. In the case of many such operations, sorting of tableware is undertaken manually. Attempts have been made to develop structures which will accomplish automatic separation of knives, forks and spoons; however, only unduly expensive or inefficient automatic sorting systems have resulted.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,653,507 and 3,675,770, respectively, describe means for sorting silverware as an operation apart from the sorting of other items of tableware. As outlined in these patents, constructions developed for the sorting of general items of tableware are usually not satisfactory from the standpoint of sorting silverware.
As explained in U.S. Pat. No. 3,882,443, entitled "Silverware Feeder Construction", it has been found that mechanisms which work well under regulated conditions, often do not operate efficiently when peak conditions develop. This is of particular concern in silverware sorting constructions since there are inherently peak hours of activity in restaurants and the like and, therefore, efficient sorting during such peak hours is quite important.
The automatic sorting of silverware is desirable for other reasons. Pieces of silverware represent a proportionally higher number when the total amount of all tableware used in a particular institution is considered. Accordingly, efficient handling of the silverware is extremely important from the standpoint of minimizing labor costs and the expense of maintaining a large supply of silverware.
As pointed out in the aforementioned patents, it is also particularly necessary in the case of silverware sorting means to provide a reliable and efficient construction. Thus, silverware pieces are relatively small, and could lead to significant maintenance problems if any of these pieces become jammed. This can lead to lost operating time, and significant increases in expense for the owner of the sorting construction.
One of the problems which develops during peak load periods is the inability of various sorters to handle heavy loads of silverware. In many instances, it is necessary to feed silverware sorters in manually controlled lots since the sorters cannot function properly when fed large amounts of silverware in a relatively short period. The aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,882,443 provides means for overcoming this problem.
One other problem existing with respect to prior constructions is that knives, particularly the thin handle type normally used by large establishments, are difficult to handle. Such knives can at least occasionally pass through slots designed for forks and spoons whereby the knives are not properly sorted. Also prior designs occasionally result in spoons and forks entering openings designed for knives. This can necessitate more complicated sorting means which increases expense and inefficiency.
It is a general object of this invention to provide an improved silverware sorting apparatus.
It is a more particular object of this invention to provide an apparatus of the general type disclosed in said copending application, the apparatus particularly including improved means for separating knives from the balance of the silverware.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a sorter construction which includes improved beds and tables for supporting and moving silverware whereby the operation of the sorting apparatus can be carried out in a highly efficient manner.
US Referenced Citations (2)
| Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
|
3653507 |
Ettlinger et al. |
Apr 1972 |
|
|
3675770 |
Ettlinger et al. |
Jul 1972 |
|
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
| Number |
Date |
Country |
| 405,874 |
Feb 1934 |
UK |
Patent Grant
3956109
