US PATENT SUBCLASS 83 / 102
.~ Including means to divert one portion of product from another

Current as of: June, 1999
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83 /   HD   CUTTING

78  DF  WITH PRODUCT HANDLING MEANS {9}
102.~ Including means to divert one portion of product from another {5}
102.1  DF  .~.~> By kerf entering guide
103  DF  .~.~> Remaining or re-inserted product portion from base material
104  DF  .~.~> Gravity type
105  DF  .~.~> Deflecting guide {1}
107  DF  .~.~> Diverging product movers

DEFINITION

Classification: 83/102

(under subclass 78) Device including means for accomplishing one of the following functions:

causing contiguous (either touching or adjacent) products which have been traveling along parallel paths to now travel in diverging directions; or preventing their paths from merging or overlapping;

(b) causing, or permitting, product pieces which have been proceeding seriatim along a common path to now follow respective discrete and individual paths;

(c) causing, or permitting, one or more product pieces to follow a path away from the zone of separation while restraining one or more pieces from proceeding away from the zone of separation (i.e., holding one piece back while another moves away);

(d) dividing a moving group of products into smaller groups (or units) traveling in the same direction of general path as that before division; or

(e) positively moving products from the zone of separation in different directions.

(1) Note. Such separation must be additional to that inherently accomplished by the tool(s) in the act of cutting. (2) Note. The removal (or facilitation of removal) of one product portion from the as-cut position, while leaving the portion from which it has been cut in the cutting zone to serve as work for a succeeding cut by the same tool, is not considered to be separation.

(3) Note. The separation signalized by this subclass is distinct from that brought about by means for moving a product from contacting engagement with a tool (such as stripping or ejecting means). So, the movement of product out of contact with a tool, even though it may involve a motion away from another product portion, is not considered a separation for the purpose of patent placement in this and

indented subclasses.

(4) Note. On the other hand, a product portion which has been subjected to the action of a stripper- or ejector-type means (as defined in subclass 111) is not considered (for the purpose of this classification) to be closely adjacent to other product portions from which the stripper or ejector has moved it apart, so that a further movement of the portions in different directions will not be deemed to be a separation. (A positive teaching that a stripper or ejector places a product portion in actual contact with another portion, however, will not be ignored). For patents claiming means to strip or eject a product portion and thereafter convey it away, see subclass 112.

(5) Note. The combination with cutting, of separation accomplished in response to a sensing of a physical characteristic of the pieces to be separated (such as quality separation), is provided for in subclass 79.

(6) Note. Merely allowing pieces to fall freely from a common height or place of departure is not considered to permit them to travel in substantially different directions. But diverting guides which cause certain of the so dropped pieces to travel in one path and others to follow a different path constitute separating means.

(7) Note. Since this subclass is specific to that of produce, (i.e., cut work) handling, which requires the operation of motion-affecting means additional to the work-feeding means, at least one of the separated product portions must be directed to its destination by means other than the work moving means.

(8) Note. Although separation inherent in a cutting operation (e.g., the removal of certain product pieces through a hollow cutter) is not sufficient to place here a patent disclosing such, a patent directed to product separating means carried by a cutter is proper for this and indented subclasses.

SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:

27, for a method of cutting including a step of product separation.

79+, for means to separate product portions responsive to detection of a product characteristic; and see (5) Note above.

89, for a cutter combined with means to divide a stack of pieces resulting from the cutting operation. 98+, for product separating means employing a fluid current.

101, for product separating means including a product-engaging brush.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS

198, Conveyors: Power-Driven,

348+, for a system of plural conveyors having selectable plural sources or destinations for the conveyed load, subclasses 418+ for a system of plural conveyors having means for establishing and moving a group of items, and subclasses 434+ for a system of plural conveyors having means for arranging or rearranging a stream, or streams, of items.

209, Classifying, Separating, and Assorting Solids, appropriate subclasses, for a product separating means, per se; and see (1) Note to

79, above.