US PATENT SUBCLASS 198 / 540
.~ Gravity discharge material holder is source of supply, discharging by gravity to power-driven section

Current as of: June, 1999
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198 /   HD   CONVEYORS: POWER-DRIVEN

523  DF  CONVEYOR SYSTEM HAVING A GRAVITY CONVEYOR SECTION {11}
540.~ Gravity discharge material holder is source of supply, discharging by gravity to power-driven section {6}
541  DF  .~.~> With at least one more gravity section therebetween {1}
543  DF  .~.~> With at least one more successive power-driven section {2}
546  DF  .~.~> Followed by at least one gravity section
547  DF  .~.~> Apron belt type of discharge-receiving, power-driven section
548  DF  .~.~> Screw type of discharge-receiving, power-driven section
549  DF  .~.~> Bucket type of discharge-receiving, power-driven section

DEFINITION

Classification: 198/540

(under subclass 523) Apparatus wherein the system comprises a gravity discharge material holder, which serves as a source of supply for the system, and a power-driven section downstream thereof. Additional conveyor sections, either gravity or power-driven, may be present downstream of the holder, either in one of the sequences specifically provided for in the subclasses indented hereunder, or in some other sequence.

(1) Note. Some systems which have a source of supply present a close case as to whether the source constitutes a "gravity discharge material holder" for this and the indented subclasses, or a "bin with a power-driven conveyor for discharging it" for subclasses 550.01+ below (see the explanatory material which appears in subclass 523).

If the material leaves the source in a vertically (or predominantly so) downward path solely by gravity, these subclasses (540+) are involved. If the material is moved from the source only by the operation of the power-driven section, subclasses 550.01+ are proper.

If the source is claimed as "overlying the conveyor", or the conveyor is claimed as being "below the source" - despite the absence of a showing of such a separation - gravity flow is presumed to exist.

The disclosure may be helpful in resolving borderline situations; for instance, a statement to the effect that "the material drops onto the power-driven section" is presumptive of the existence of gravity flow. If the situation remains doubtful, then the doubt should be resolved in favor of the existence of gravity flow for this and the indented subclasses.