US3840937A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Separator mechanism with cutter sensor for ligature connected frankfurters
Assignee: LINKER MACHINES
•
Filing: 1972-09-25
•
Granted: 1974-10-15
•
Expires: 1992-09-25
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for separating a line of ligature connected frankfurters into individual frankfurters comprises a feeler for sensing a ligature and for operating, through a linkage, a knife which cuts the ligature. The linkage includes means for distinguishing between a connecting ligature and an irregularity in a frankfurter so that the knife is operated only when a ligature is at the cutting station and not to cut a frankfurter.
Inventors
- 👤 H Taylor
- 👤 R Berg
- 👤 O Bantel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 09:02
CPC Classifications
A; A22; A22C; A22C11/00; A22C11/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A separator mechanism for a ligature-connected line of frankfurters, sausages or the like comprising means for moving said line through a ligature sensing area and a separating area, said sensing area including a sensing device having a feeler for contacting the frankfurters, said moving means causing each ligature between successive frankfurters to be stretched in said separating area, a solenoid driven cutting mechanism, a linkage connecting said feeler to operate a switch controlling said solenoid, said linkage including a switch operating arm and, between the feeler and arm, a link shiftable between a first position to connect said feeler and arm whereby movement of said feeler causes operation of said switch and a second position in which said link disconnects said feeler and operating arm and means preventing movement of said link from said second to said first position until said feeler has moved to a greater extent than a predetermined minimum.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A separator mechanism for a ligature-connected line of frankfurters, sausages or the like comprising means for moving said line through a ligature sensing area and a separating area, said sensing area including a sensing device having a feeler for contacting the frankfurters, said moving means causing each ligature between successive frankfurters to be stretched in said separating area, a solenoid driven cutting mechanism, a linkage connecting said feeler to operate a switch controlling said solenoid, said linkage including a switch operating arm and, between the feeler and arm, a link shiftable between a first position to connect said feeler and arm whereby movement of said feeler causes operation of said switch and a second position in which said link disconnects said feeler and operating arm and means preventing movement of said link from said second to said first position until said feeler has moved to a greater extent than a predetermined minimum.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said link comprises a pawl pivoted to a shaft connected to said feeler, cam means operable to move said pawl to said second position upon downward movement of the feeler and after completion of a switch actuating operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein preventing means comprises a blocking surface on said switch operating arm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said switch operating arm has a toggle mechanism having two stable positions one of which establishes the switch operating position and the other establishes non-operating positions thereof, said cutting mechanism comprising a lever constituting means moving said toggle mechanism from said one position to said other position at the completion of a cutting operation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said switch comprises a microswitch, said operating arm includes a pivoted lever and has a switch operating projection, said projection, in the open position of said switch, contacting an operating element of the switch and movable away from said element to close the circuit to the solenoid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said feeler is connected to said linkage through a slidable button, and said linkage includes a lost motion mechanism.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 6 wherein said lost motion mechanism is adjustable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 7 wherein said lost motion mechanism comprises a shaft having said link pivoted at one end thereof and spaced from said switch operating arm whereby movement of said arm resulting from movement of said shaft is delayed until said link contacts the arm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 8 wherein said slidable button acts between a pivoted feeler and a follower said follower being connected to a journaled rod to which a connecting link is secured, said connecting link, at its other end being pivotally connected to a collar secured to said shaft and said shaft being longitudinally adjustable within said collar whereby the spacing between the end Of the shaft and the switch operating arm is adjustable to adjust the lost motion mechanism.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 in which said means for moving said line comprises a belt conveyor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 10 in which the speed of said conveyor is adjustable.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 10 in which the belt conveyor is driven through a belt and pulley mechanism.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 12 in which said belt and pulley mechanism includes variable pitch pulleys.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 13 in which one variable pitch pulley is varied by a hand wheel and another is spring biased to accommodate variations in said one pulley.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 10 in which said belt conveyor is mounted upon a subassembly frame which is removably mounted upon a main frame.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 10 in which said belt conveyor comprises a pair of generally parallel conveyor belts between adjacent courses of which a line path is defined.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 16 in which a container for sausages is disposed close to but offset from the ingoing end of said line path whereby a change in direction of the line from the container to the path is made.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 4 in which said arm comprises a pivoted lever one end of which cooperates with said pawl and the other end of which has a pair of flats said flats cooperating with a roller to constitute a toggle mechanism.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 18 wherein said roller is disposed upon a pivoted lever said lever including a switch contacting element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 19 in which said switch contacting element is adjustable.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 comprising hold down rolls in the cutting region, said hold down rolls being mounted on a removable subassembly to a main frame.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 21 in which said hold down rolls are pivotably mounted on said subassembly and are pivotable out of the cutting region for cleaning.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
136 words
A separator mechanism for a ligature connected line of frankfurters, sausages or the like, comprising a drive means for moving said frankfurter line substantially horizontally through a frankfurter separating area, a sensing device for sensing the location of each of said ligatures, said sensing device having a feeler arm for contacting underneath surfaces of each of said frankfurters, said drive means for the frankfurters causing each ligature between successive frankfurters to be stretched in said frankfurter separating area, a solenoid driven cutting mechanism, a switch element controlling said solenoid cutting mechanism and a linkage operable by said feeler arm to open and close said switch element, said linkage including a toggle lever having two stable positions in one of which said switch element is closed and in the other of which said switch element is opened.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
136 words
A separator mechanism for a ligature connected line of frankfurters, sausages or the like, comprising a drive means for moving said frankfurter line substantially horizontally through a frankfurter separating area, a sensing device for sensing the location of each of said ligatures, said sensing device having a feeler arm for contacting underneath surfaces of each of said frankfurters, said drive means for the frankfurters causing each ligature between successive frankfurters to be stretched in said frankfurter separating area, a solenoid driven cutting mechanism, a switch element controlling said solenoid cutting mechanism and a linkage operable by said feeler arm to open and close said switch element, said linkage including a toggle lever having two stable positions in one of which said switch element is closed and in the other of which said switch element is opened.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
A separator mechanism as claimed in claim 23 wherein said toggle lever is connectable to a link element of said linkage intermediate the toggle lever and said feeler arm, through the intermediary of a pawl element.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
54 words
A separator mechanism as claimed in claim 24 wherein said link element comprises a generally axially shiftable rod, said pawl element is pivotally secured to said rod adjacent said toggle lever, and is movable between a position to connect said rod and toggle lever and a position to disconnect said rod and toggle lever.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
65 words
A separate mechanism as claimed in claim 25 wherein said feeler arm comprises a pivotal lever connected to transmit its movement to an intermediate lever, said intermediate lever being connected to said rod, said rod being disposed substantially vertically and being movable up and down by said intermediate lever and resilient means biasing said feeler arm into engagement with the underneath surfaces of said frankfurters.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
A separator mechanism as claimed in claim 26 wherein said rEsilient means comprises a spring acting between said rod and a fixed element of said mechanism and urging said rod upwardly and said feeler arm into engagement with underneath surfaces of said frankfurters.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
61 words
A separator mechanism as claimed in claim 26 wherein said toggle lever comprises a blocking surface cooperating with said pawl and constituting means for preventing said pawl from connecting said rod and pawl until said rod makes a minimum upward movement relative to said toggle lever, said minimum upward movement being related to a minimum upward movement of said feeler arm.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
55 words
A separating mechanism as claimed in claim 26 wherein abutment means are provided adjacent said pawl and cooperating therewith to constitute means shifting said pawl to said position to disconnect said pawl from said toggle lever at the end of a downward movement of said rod and to engage said pawl with said blocking surface.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
39 words
A separating mechanism as claimed in claim 29 wherein said toggle lever comprises a first and second flat surfaces, said surfaces cooperating with a resiliently biased detent element, said surfaces defining said two stable positions of said toggle lever.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 30 wherein said toggle lever contacts a microswitch operating member.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
A separator mechanism as claimed in claim 31 wherein said microswitch member comprises a lever, said lever carrying said detent element.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
45 words
A separator mechanism as claimed in claim 23, wherein said cutting mechanism comprises a lever operated by said solenoid, said lever being connected upon the completion of a cutting operation to constitute means to move said toggle lever to the other of said stable positions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |