US 12,404,108 B2
Apparatus and methods for transferring fragile items at selectively variable flow rates
Benjamin Decker Smith, Abbeville, AL (US); and Michael Pierce Woodall, Headland, AL (US)
Assigned to TriDelta Systems, LLC, Abbeville, AL (US)
Filed by TriDelta Systems, LLC, Abbeville, AL (US)
Filed on Jan. 3, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/403,301.
Application 18/403,301 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/543,188, filed on Dec. 6, 2021, granted, now 12,012,295.
Prior Publication US 2024/0140716 A1, May 2, 2024
Int. Cl. B65G 11/08 (2006.01); B65G 47/12 (2006.01); B65G 49/05 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 11/088 (2013.01) [B65G 49/05 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0202 (2013.01)] 5 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 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;
each conveying panel having an undulating cross-sectional shape along at least part of the panel length in a direction of the run, the undulating cross-sectional shape forming peaks and troughs that define at least one channel for transferring the continuous stream of nuts;
the at least one channel defining at least part of the variable effective conveying width.