US 12,012,295 B2
Apparatus and methods for transferring fragile items at selectively variable flow rates
Benjamin Decker Smith, Abbeville, AL (US); Lawrence Allen Povlacs, Dothan, AL (US); and Robert Samuel Phillips, Jr., Abbeville, AL (US)
Assigned to TriDelta Systems, LLC
Filed by TriDelta Systems, LLC, Abbeville, AL (US)
Filed on Dec. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/543,188.
Prior Publication US 2023/0174323 A1, Jun. 8, 2023
Int. Cl. B65G 11/08 (2006.01); B65G 11/20 (2006.01); B65G 47/12 (2006.01); B65G 49/05 (2006.01); G01F 1/30 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 49/05 (2013.01) [B65G 11/20 (2013.01); G01F 1/30 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0202 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for vertical transfer of whole nuts from a first elevation to a second, lower elevation, the apparatus comprising:
a run extending between an entrance and an exit, and including a plurality of alternatingly arranged conveying panels;
each conveying panel inclined at approximately 30 degrees to horizontal and having a variable effective conveying width; and
at least one arcuate turn-around disposed between respective conveying panels;
wherein the variable effective conveying width is selected based on a predetermined mass flow rate of nuts such that whole nuts move along the run in a continuous stream without tumbling, and wherein each nut is in contact with adjacent nuts in its respective layer.