United S ta tes Pa tent [ 1 9 1

W il l ia m s
U O57409 22A 1 S 0
[ 1 1 ] Pa tent Num ber: 5, 740, 9 22
[ 45] D a te o f Pa tent: Ap r. 21 , 1 9 9 8
[ 54] S IZING S CREEN W ITH IND IVID UAL ROW
S PACING AD JUS TABILITY
[ 75] Inv ento r: S tep h en G. W il l ia m s . Bl a c k f o o t. Id.
[ 73 ] As s ig nee: M il es to ne Bl a c k f o o t, Inc . . Bl a c k f o o t.
Id.
[ 21 ] Ap p l . No . : 58 0, 6 28
[ 22] F il ed: D ec . 29 , 1 9 9 5
[ 51 ] Int. Cl . 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B07] ! 1 3 /05
[ 52] U. S . Cl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 /6 6 8 ; 209 /6 72
[ 58 ] F iel d o f S ea rc h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 /6 59 . 6 6 0.
209 /6 6 7. 6 6 8 . 6 6 9 . 6 71 . 6 72
[ 56 ] Ref erenc es Cited
U. S . PATENT D OCUM ENTS
3 , 721 , 3 45 3 /1 9 73 Bro wn et a ] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 /6 6 9
4, 1 48 , 3 9 8 4/1 9 79 M us tik k a 209 /6 6 8
4253 574 3 /1 9 8 1 Ro s s 209 /6 6 8
5, 06 0, 8 06 1 0/1 9 9 1 S a v a g e . 209 /6 72X
5, 48 0, 03 4 1 /1 9 9 6 Ko ba ya s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 /6 72X
F OREIGN PATENT D OCUM ENTS
1 3 8 2473 3 /1 9 8 8 U. S . S . R. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 /6 6 8
Prim a ry Ex a m iner- Tua n Ng uyen
Atto rney, Ag ent, o r F irm - M a l l iuc k ro dt & M a l l inc k ro dt
[ 57] ABS TRACT
S iz ing s c reen a p p a ra tus is p ro v ided with m ec h a nis m f o r
ena bl ing th e ex tent o f s p a c ing s . l o ng itudina l l y o f a n el o n
g a te s iz ing s c reen between tra ns v ers el y ex tending . indi
v idua l ro ws o f s p a c ing m em bers . to be a dj us ted indiv idua l l y.
Ea c h tra ns v ers el y ex tending ro w o f s iz ing m em bers is
m o unted o n a ro ta ta bl e s h a f t j o urna l ed a t its o p p o s ite ends
in th e l o wer end p o rtio ns o f a p a ir o f m o unting a rm s th a t a re
p iv o ted a t th eir up p er end p o rtio ns to o p p o s ite l o ng itudina l
s ide m em bers o f a s up p o rting f ra m e a nd h a ng do wnwa rdl y
f o r ba c k a nd f o rth s p a c e a dj us ting m o v em ent. Th e m o unting
a rm s o f th e p a ir a re p iv o ta l l y interc o nnec ted a dj a c ent th eir
l o wer ends with a n el o ng a te c o nnec tio n m em ber o f a n
o p era ting dev ic e th a t is m a nua l l y o r p o wer o p era ted. Th e
c o nnec tio n is m a de by p ref era bl y a p a ir o f ro ds a t o p p o s ite
s ides . res p ec tiv el y. o f th e s iz ing s c reen a nd h a v ing o ne s et o f
c o rres p o nding ends p iv o ta l l y a tta c h ed to th e res p ec tiv e
m o unting a rm s o f th e p a ir a nd th e s et o f o p p o s ite ends
? x edl y a tta c h ed to th e c o nnec tio n m em ber o f th e o p era ting
dev ic e in a l eng th a dj us ta bl e m a nner. a s by p ro v iding s uc h
o p p o s ite ends with s c rew th rea ding . p a s s ing th em th ro ug h
res p ec tiv e bra c k et m em bers o f a s eries o f s a m e th a t a re
irnm o v a bl y a ? x ed to th e c o nnec tio n m em ber. m a k ing th e
l eng th wis e a dj us tm ent by s c rewing a s et o f l o c k nuts a t
o p p o s ite s ides o f s uc h bra c k et m em bers . a nd tig h tening s uc h
l o c k nuts to l o c k th e a dj us tm ents in p l a c e.
4Cl a im s , 3 D ra wing S h eets
US . Pa tent Ap r. 21 , 1 9 9 8 S h eet 1 o f 3 5, 740, 9 22
. 0;
US . Pa tent Ap r. 21 , 1 9 9 8 S h eet 2o f 3 5, 740, 9 22
F IG. 2
US . Pa tent Ap r. 21 , 1 9 9 8 S h eet 3 o f 3 5, 740, 9 22
21
a t
8 = 8 = 8 n.
:2 a ! m u _ m 02
1
S IZING S CREEN W ITH IND IVID UAL ROW
S PACING AD JUS TABILITY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1 . F iel d
Th e inv entio n is in th e ? el d o f s iz ing s c reen eq uip m ent f o r
a g ric ul tura l p ro duc ts . s uc h a s p o ta to es . o nio ns . a p p l es . a nd
o th er s im il a r v eg eta bl es a nd f ruits in wh ic h m ul tip l e ro ws o f
s iz ing m em bers . th a t ex tend tra ns v ers el y o f th e l ine o f tra v el
o f a m a s s o f s uc h item s o f di? erent s iz es . a re s p a c ed a p a rt
in s eria l rel a tio ns h ip l o ng itudina l l y o f s uc h l ine o f tra v el .
2. S ta te o f th e Art
S c reening eq uip m ent o f th e typ e c o nc erned h a s been o n
th e m a rk et f o r s ev era l yea rs a nd h a s o p era ted q uite
s a tis f a c to ril y. ex c ep t f o r th e f a c t th a t ro w s p a c ing is no t
indiv idua l l y a dj us ta bl e. W h en a dj us tm ents a re m a de in ro w
s p a c ing s l o ng itudina l l y f ro m end- to - end o f th e s iz ing s c reen
dec k o f s uc h eq uip m ent. th e s p a c ing s o f a l l ro ws o ne f ro m
a no th er a re c h a ng ed to a n eq ua l ex tent s im ul ta neo us l y by a
s ing l e a dj us ting o p era tio n. S iz ing s c reen a p p a ra tus o f th is
typ e is s h o wn in Bro wn et a l . US . Pa t. No . 3 . 721 . 3 45o f
M a r. 20. 1 9 73 entitl ed M eth o d a nd M a c h ine f o r S el ec ting
Po ta to es o f Giv en S iz e f ro m M a s s ed Po ta to es o f Ra ndo m
S iz e" .
S UM M ARY OF THE INVENTION
Ap rinc ip a l o bj ec tiv e in th e m a k ing o f th e p res ent inv en
tio n wa s to p ro v ide f o r ? ne s c a l e a dj us ta bil ity o f indiv idua l
s p a c ing s . l o ng itudina l l y o f a s iz ing s c reen dec k . o f tra ns
v ers e ro ws o f s iz ing m em bers a nd to do s o in a p p a ra tus th a t
is s im p l e to a dj us t. Af urth er o bj ec tiv e wa s to p ro v ide
m ec h a nis m f o r th e p urp o s e th a t is ec o no m ic a l to p ro duc e
a nd eif ec tiv e in its o p era tio n.
In a c c o m p l is h ing th es e o bj ec tiv es . a p rinc ip a l f ea ture o f
th e inv entio n is th e p ro v iding o f indiv idua l a dj us tm ent
m ea ns f o r ea c h o f th e m ul tip l e ro ws to be a dj us ted. s uc h
m ea ns being tied in with m ea ns m o unting f o r ro ta tio n
o p p o s ite ends o f ea c h o f th e m ul tip l e ro ws o f s c reening
m em bers ( s uc h a s s ta r wh eel s o r th e s iz ing ro l l s o f th e
a f o reno ted p a tent) . s o s uc h ro ws wil l be m o v ed s im ul ta
neo us l y to a dj us ted p o s itio ns l o ng itudina l l y o f th e s iz ing
s c reen.
Th e p ref erred m o unting o f th e indiv idua l ro ws is tra ns
v ers el y o f th e dec k p iv o ta l l y to a nd between a p a ir o f a rm s
a t o p p o s ite s ides o f th e s iz ing s c reen. wh ic h a rm s h a ng f ro m
p iv o ta l a tta c h m ent to a s ta tio na ry f ra m e th a t ex tends l o ng i
tudina l l y o f th e s c reen dec k . o p p o s ite ends o f ea c h ro w being
ro ta ta bl y m o unted in l o wer end p o rtio ns o f th e h a ng ing a rm s
o f c o rres p o nding p a irs o f s uc h a rm s a t o p p o s ite s ides o f th e
s c reening dec k . res p ec tiv el y.
Th e p ref erred indiv idua l a dj us tm ent m ec h a nis m c o m
p ris es el o ng a te ro ds ex tending l o ng itudina l l y o f th e s c reen
ing dec k p ref era bl y a t o p p o s ite s ides th ereo f . res p ec tiv el y. a s
indiv idua l . el o ng a te. c o nnec ting m em bers a nd p iv o ta l l y c o n
nec ted a t o ne s et o f c o rres p o nding ends to o ne o f th e h a ng ing
a rm s o f th e p a ir a nd ex tending l o ng itudina l l y o f th e s c reen
ing dec k to a dj us ta bl e c o nnec tio n a t its o p p o s ite s et o f
c o rres p o nding ends with el o ng a te. up s ta nding s truc ture a nd
o p era ting m ea ns in c o m m o n f o r a l l o f th e ro ds . s uc h a s a n
el o ng a te. l ev er p iv o ted a t o ne end to a m a nua l l y o p era ted
turnbuc k l e o r p o wer m ea ns s uc h a s a h ydra ul ic p is to n a nd
c yl inder a rra ng em ent. Th e a dj us ta bl e c o nnec tio ns a re p ref
era bl y th rea ded ends f o r th e res p ec tiv e ro ds p a s s ing th ro ug h
c o rres p o nding bra c k et m em bers o f a s eries th a t a re f a s tened
to a nd a l o ng th e l ev er m em ber. s uc h th rea ded ends o f th e
1 5
20
25
3 5
45
50
55
6 5
2
res p ec tiv e ro ds being a dj us ta bl y a tta c h ed to th e c o rres p o nd
ing bra c k et m em bers by res p ec tiv e s ets o f l o c k nuts .
S p a c ing s between m utua l l y a dj o ining ro ws o f s c reening
m em bers a re indiv idua l l y a dj us ta bl e by c h a ng ing th e ef f ec
tiv e l eng th s o f th e ro ds c o ntro l l ing th e p o s itio ns o f s uc h
m utua l l y a dj o ining ro ws rel a tiv e to o ne a no th er. In th e
p ref erred f o rm indic a ted. th e c h a ng ing o f l eng th is a c c o m
p l is h ed by turning th e l o c k nuts o f ea c h s et in a p p ro p ria te
direc tio ns to ef f ec tiv el y s h o rten o r l eng th en th e p a rtic ul a r
ro d o r ro ds c o nc erned a nd to l o c k th e res ul ting a dj us tm ent.
Th is is s p o k en o f a s a ? ne tuning o p era tio n.
THE D RAW INGS
Th e bes t m o de p res entl y c o ntem p l a ted f o r c a rrying o ut
th e inv entio n in c o m m erc ia l p ra c tic e is s h o wn in th e a c c o m
p a nying dra wing s in wh ic h :
F IG. 1 is a l a rg el y s c h em a tic rep res enta tio n in s ide
el ev a tio n o f a c o m p l ete p o ta to h a rv es ting a nd s iz ing
m a c h ine em bo dying a p ref erred em bo dim ent o f th e s iz ing
s c reen a p p a ra tus o f th e inv entio n;
F IG. 2. a n enl a rg em ent o f th e s iz ing s c reen a p p a ra tus
p o rtio n o f th e m a c h ine o f F IG. 1 indic a ting its us e indep en
dentl y o f th e c o m p l ete m a c h ine;
F IG. 3 . a f ra g m enta ry v iew s h o wing th e rig h t- h a nd end
p o rtio n o f F IG. 2s l ig h tl y inc rea s ed in s iz e;
F IG. 4. a h o riz o nta l s ec tio n ta k en o n th e l ine 44o f F IG.
2. a l o ng itudina l c entra l s ec tio n o f th e a p p a ra tus h a v ing been
bro k en o ut f o r c o nv enienc e o f il l us tra tio n;
F IG. 5. a deta il v ertic a l s ec tio n ta k en o n th e l ine 5- 5o f
F IG. 4a nd dra wn to a l a rg er s c a l e;
F IG. 6 . a v iew o n s ide el ev a tio n o f th e deta il s h o wn in
F IG. 5; a nd
F IG. 7. a tra ns v ers e v ertic a l s ec tio n ta k en o n th e l ine 7- - 7
o f F IG. 2dra wn to a l a rg er s c a l e a nd s h o wn with a c entra l
p o rtio n bro k en o ut f o r c o nv enienc e o f il l us tra tio n.
D ETAILED D ES CRIPTION OF THE
ILLUS TRATED ENIBOD IM ENT
As il l us tra ted in F IG. 1 . th e s h o wing o f s iz ing s c reen
a p p a ra tus 1 0o f th e inv entio n indic a tes in g enera l h o w it c a n
be inc l uded a s p a rt o f a n o v era l l a g ic ul tura l m a c h ine f o r
tra v el th ro ug h a p o ta to ? el d to dig p o ta to es by a c o nv en
tio na l dig g er p o rtio n 1 1 o f th e m a c h ine. to p a s s th e dug
p o ta to es to a c o nv entio na l c l ea ning s c reen 1 2. to th en p a s s
th e c l ea ned p o ta to es to th e s iz ing s c reen a p p a ra tus 1 0o f th e
inv entio n f o r s ep a ra tio n o f unders iz e item s f ro m item s o f
des ired s iz e wh ic h a re reta ined o n th e dec k o f th e s iz ing
s c reen f o r ev entua l dis c h a rg e o nto a n ins p ec tio n ta bl e 1 3 .
Th e a p p a ra tus 1 0o f th e inv entio n a s s h o wn in F IGS . 2- 7
c o m p ris es a n el o ng a te s iz ing s c reen 1 4p ro v ided by a s eries
o f s p a c ed ro ws 1 5 o f s ide- by- s ide s iz ing m em bers 1 6
ex tending tra ns v ers el y o f th e a p p a ra tus to f o rm a s iz ing
s c reen dec k 1 4a , F IG. 4. th a t ex tends l o ng itudina l l y o f th e
a p p a ra tus f ro m a l o a ding end 1 4b o f s uc h s c reen to a
dis c h a rg e end 1 40th ereo f .
Al th o ug h th e s iz ing m em bers 1 6 o f ea c h ro w m a y ta k e a
v a riety o f f o rm s . s uc h a s th e s c a l l o p ed s c rew f o rm a tio ns o f
U. S . Pa t. No . 3 . 721 . 3 45. p ro v iding th erebetween with in
ea c h ro w 1 5. a nd with in th e s p a c ing s between m utua l l y
a dj a c ent ro ws 1 5. s iz ing o p ening s s uc h a s 1 7a nd 1 70, F IG.
4. f o r th e p a s s a g e th ereth ro ug h o f o f f - s iz ed p o ta to es ( o r
o th er item s being h a ndl ed by s uc h s iz ing a p p a ra tus ) . it is
p res entl y p ref erred to us e f o r ea c h ro w a s ide- by- s ide s eries
o f indiv idua l s ta r wh eel s a s th e s iz ing m em bers 1 6 . a s s h o wn
5, 740, 9 22
3
in F IG. 5. ? x edl y m o unted in c o m m o n o n th e interm edia te
p o rtio n 1 8 0( wh ic h is p o l yg o na l in tra ns v ers e s ec tio n) o f a
s h a f t 1 8 . F IG. 7. wh o s e o p p o s ite ends 1 8 b a re c yl indric a l
a nd a re ro ta ta bl y m o unted in a p a ir o f a rm s o r l o ng itudina l l y
m o v a bl e m em bers 1 9 . ( res p ec tiv el y. F IGS . 2. 3 . a nd 4. th a t
h a ng f ro m p iv o ta l a tta c h m ent. a s a t 1 9 a , to o p p o s ite l o ng i
tudina l s ide m em bers 20a , res p ec tiv el y. o f a s ta tio na ry f ra m e
20.
Th e s iz ing m em bers 1 6 a re p ref era bl y s uc h a s to a dv a nc e
item s to be s iz ed a l o ng th e s iz ing dec k 1 4f ro m a h etero
g eneo us m a s s o f s a m e a t th e l o a ding end 1 4a o f th e dec k to
th e del iv ery end 1 4b o f th e dec k f o r th o s e item s no t
el im ina ted by dro p p ing th ro ug h th e v a rio us s iz ing o p ening s
1 7a nd 1 7a . Us e o f s ta r wh eel s h a s been f o und p a rtic ul a rl y
a dv a nta g eo us f ro m th is s ta ndp o int. As l ig h t do wnwa rd s l o p e
o f th e s iz ing dec k f ro m l o a ding to del iv ery end. a s indic a ted
in F IG. 2. is h el p f ul .
Al terna te ro ws 1 5. s ee F IG. 4. h a v e item - reta ining dis c s
1 6 a s ec ured to o p p o s ite ends . res p ec tiv el y. o f th eir s h a f ts 1 8 .
M ec h a nis m f o r ena bl ing th e ex tent o f th e indiv idua l
s p a c ing s . l o ng itudina l l y o f s iz ing s c reen 1 4. o f tra ns v ers e
ro ws 1 5o f s iz ing m em bers 1 6 f ro m o ne a no th er c o m p ris e.
f o r ea c h ro w. a p a ir o f el o ng a te ro ds 21 . F IGS . 2. 4. a nd 7.
a t o p p o s ite s ides . res p ec tiv el y. F IG. 4. o f th e s iz ing s c reen.
o ne s et o f ends o f th e ro ds o f th e p a ir being p iv o ta l l y
a tta c h ed. a s a t 22. to a rm s 1 9 a t a c o rres p o nding s ide o f th e
s iz ing s c reen 1 4a nd th e o p p o s ite s et o f ends being th rea ded.
a s a t 21 a , a nd ex tending th ro ug h c o rres p o nding bra c k ets 23 .
res p ec tiv el y. o f a s eries o f s a m e th a t a re a ? ix ed to a nd ex tend
a l o ng a c o rres p o nding el o ng a te. up s ta nding . s truc tura l m em
ber 24o f a p a ir o f s a m e th a t a re p iv o ta l l y a tta c h ed. a s a t 24a ,
to res p ec tiv e o p era ting dev ic es . h ere m a nua l l y o p era ted
turnbuc k l es 25. res p ec tiv el y. th a t a re p iv o ta l l y m o unted a s a t
25a , o n l o ng itudina l f ra m e m em bers 20a , res p ec tiv el y.
( Ho wev er. th e o p era ting dev ic es m a y be p o wered a s . f o r
ex a m p l e. by a h ydra ul ic p is to n a nd c yl inder a rra ng em ent) .
S truc tura l m em bers 24o f ea c h p a ir a re p iv o ta l l y m o unted
interm edia te th eir l eng th s . a s a t 24b, o n rea rwa rdl y ex tend
ing a rm s 20b, res p ec tiv el y. F IG. 2. o f res p ec tiv e f ra m e
m em bers 200a t o p p o s ite s ides o f th e s iz ing s c reen 1 4a s
l ev ers .
Co rres p o nding l eng th a dj us tm ents o f th e ro ds 21 o f th e
p a ired s eries a re m a de by turning . in a p p ro p ria te direc tio ns .
l o c k nuts 26 o f s ets o f s a m e th a t a re s c rewed o nto th e
th rea ded ends 21 a , res p ec tiv el y. o f th e ro ds 21 a t o p p o s ite
s ides o f th e c o rres p o nding bra c k ets 23 .
F o r ro ta ting s h a f ts 1 8 o f th e ro ws 1 5o f s iz ing m em bers
1 6 th a t a re no n- ro ta ta bl y a ? ix ed to th e s h a f ts . a s eries o f
s p ro c k et wh eel s 27. F IGS . 2a nd 4. a re no n- ro ta ta bl y a ? ix ed
to a s et o f ends 1 8 b, F IGS . 4a nd 7. o f s h a f ts 1 8 a t o ne s ide
o f s iz ing s c reen 1 4a nd a re driv en by a s p ro c k et c h a in 28
f ro m a driv e s p ro c k et 29 a , F IG. 2o f a driv e m o to r 29 th a t
is m o unted o n a p l a tf o rm 20c ex tending f o rwa rdl y f ro m
f ra m e 20. idl er s p ro c k et wh eel s 3 0being s uita bl y m o unted
a s indic a ted
Ch a in k eep er wh eel s 3 1 . s ee es p ec ia l l y F IG. 7. p ref era bl y
m a de o f a ureth a ne p l a s tic . a re des ira bl y m o unted by s tub
s h a f ts 3 2f o r ea c h ro w 1 5. th e s tub s h a f ts being th em s el v es
ro ta ta bl y m o unted in th e l o wer end p o rtio ns o f h a ng ing a rm s
1 9 . res p ec tiv el y. Ea c h o f th e c h a in k eep er wh eel s 3 1 is
p ref era bl y m o unted o f f - c enter to ena bl e tig h tening o f driv e
c h a in 28 wh ere a nd wh en req uired.
Al th o ug h th e f o reg o ing m o unting a nd driv e a rra ng em ent
is c o nv enient a nd ef f ec tiv e. o th er a rra ng em ents m a y be
util iz ed dep ending up o n W h eth er th e s iz ing s c reen a p p a ra tus
o f th e inv entio n is ? tted into a n o v era l l m a c h ine. a s f o r
20
25
3 5
45
55
6 5
4
ex a m p l e th a t indic a ted in F IG. 1 . o r is us ed a l o ne. If us ed
a l o ne. th e f ra m e is des ira bl y p ro v ided with wh eel s f o r
m o bil ity in m o v ing it f ro m p l a c e to p l a c e. Th e item s to be
s iz ed m a y be f ed o nto th e l o a ding end o f th e s iz ing s c reen
f ro m a s uita bl e h o p p er.
W h erea s th is inv entio n is h ere il l us tra ted a nd des c ribed
with ref erenc e to a n em bo dim ent th ereo f p res entl y c o ntem
p l a ted a s th e bes t m o de o f c a rrying o ut s uc h inv entio n in
a c tua l p ra c tic e. it is to be unders to o d th a t v a rio us c h a ng es
m a y be m a de in a da p ting th e inv entio n to dif f erent em bo di
m ents with o ut dep a rting f ro m th e bro a der inv entiv e c o n
c ep ts dis c l o s ed h erein a nd c o m p reh ended by th e c l a im s th a t
f o l l o w.
I c l a im :
1 . S iz ing s c reen a p p a ra tus f o r a g ric ul tura l p ro duc e. c o m
p ris ing a n el o ng a te s iz ing s c reen h a v ing a s iz ing dec k
ex tending l o ng itudina l l y f ro m a l o a ding end th ereo f to a
? na l dis c h a rg e end th ereo f ; a s up p o rting f ra m e with in wh ic h
s a id s c reen is m o unted; s a id s c reen c o m p ris ing a l o ng itudi
na l s eries o f tra ns v ers e ro ws o f s iz ing m em bers th a t a re
m o unted s ide- by- s ide in th e res p ec tiv e ro ws o n s h a f t m ea ns
f o r ro ta tio n; l o ng itudina l l y m o v a bl e m em bers p iv o ta l l y
m o unted in s a id f ra m e a nd ro ta ta bl y rec eiv ing s a id s h a f t
m ea ns . res p ec tiv el y. f o r s up p o rting th e res p ec tiv e ro ws o f
s iz ing m em bers . s a id ro ws being s p a c ed a p a rt f ro m o ne
a no th er l o ng itudina l l y o f s a id s iz ing s c reen to de? ne res p ec
tiv e tra ns v ers e s eries o f s iz ing o p ening s f o r p a s s ing th ere
th ro ug h v a rio us s iz ed item s f ro m a m a s s o f a g ric ul tura l
p ro duc e th a t is l o a ded o n th e s c reen dec k a t th e l o a ding end
th ereo f a nd th a t tra v el s o n a nd a l o ng s a id dec k to wa rd th e
dis c h a rg e end th ereo f ; a nd m ec h a nis m f o r a dj us ting th e
ex tent o f th e res p ec tiv e s p a c ing s l o ng itudina l l y o f s a id dec k
between m utua l l y a dj o ining . indiv idua l ro ws rel a tiv e to o ne
a no th er. s a id m ec h a nis m c o m p ris ing l o ng itudina l l y m o v a bl e
s truc ture m o unted o n a nd a dj a c ent to o ne end o f s a id f ra m e.
a s eries o f indiv idua l . el o ng a te. c o nnec ting m em bers ex tend
ing s ide- by- s ide l o ng itudina l l y o f s a id s c reen a nd c o nnec ted
a t o ne s et o f th eir c o rres p o nding ends . res p ec tiv el y. to s a id
l o ng itudina l l y m o v a bl e s truc ture a nd a t th e o p p o s ite s et o f
th eir c o rres p o nding ends to s a id l o ng itudina l l y m o v a bl e
m em bers . a nd m ea ns f o r m o v ing s a id l o ng itudina l l y m o v
a bl e s truc ture ba c k o r f o rth l o ng itudina l l y o f s a id s c reen f o r
s im ul ta neo us l y a dj us ting th e s p a c ing s between ro ws o f s a id
s iz ing m em bers ; a nd m ea ns f o r s el ec tiv el y s h o rtening o r
l eng th ening th e ef f ec tiv e l eng th s o f th e indiv idua l . el o ng a te.
c o nnec ting m em bers . res p ec tiv el y. to indiv idua l l y a dj us t th e
ex tent o f s p a c ing s between m utua l l y a dj o ining ro ws o f s a id
s iz ing m em bm s . s a id m ea ns c o m p ris ing c o a c tiv e. l eng th
a dj us ta bl e m ea ns interc o nnec ting s a id o ne s et o f ends .
res p ec tiv el y. with s a id l o ng itudina l l y m o v a bl e s truc ture.
2. Ap p a ra tus a c c o rding to c l a im 1 . in wh ic h th e s iz ing
m em bers a re s ta r wh eel s .
3 . S iz ing s c reen a p p a ra tus f o r a g ric ul tura l p ro duc e. c o m
p ris ing a n el o ng a te s iz ing s c reen h a v ing a s iz ing dec k
ex tending l o ng itudina l l y f ro m a l o a ding end th ereo f to a
? na l dis c h a rg e end th ereo f ; a s up p o rting f ra m e with in wh ic h
s a id s c reen is m o unted; s a id s c reen c o m p ris ing a l o ng itudi
na l s eries o f tra ns v ers e ro ws o f s iz ing m em bers th a t a re
m o unted s ide- by- s ide in th e res p ec tiv e ro ws o n s h a f t m ea ns
f o r ro ta tio n; l o ng itudina l l y m o v a bl e m em bers p iv o ta l l y
m o unted in s a id f ra m e a nd ro ta ta bl y rec eiv ing s a id s h a f t
m ea ns . res p ec tiv el y. f o r s up p o rting th e res p ec tiv e ro ws o f
s iz ing m em bers . s a id ro ws being s p a c ed a p a rt f ro m o ne
a no th er l o ng itudina l l y o f s a id s iz ing s c reen to de? ne res p ec
tiv e tra ns v ers e s eries o f s iz ing o p ening s f o r p a s s ing th ere
th ro ug h v a rio us s iz ed item s f ro m a m a s s o f a g ric ul tura l
p ro duc e th a t is l o a ded o n th e s c reen dec k a t th e l o a ding end
5, 740, 9 22
5
th ereo f a nd th a t tra v el s o n a nd a l o ng s a id dec k to wa rd th e
dis c h a rg e end th ereo f ; a nd m ec h a nis m f o r a dj us ting th e
ex tent o f th e res p ec tiv e s p a c ing s l o ng itudina l l y o f s a id dec k
between m utua l l y a dj o ining . indiv idua l ro ws rel a tiv e to o ne
a no th er. s a id m ec h a nis m c o m p ris ing l o ng itudina l l y m o v a bl e
s truc ture m o unted o n a nd a dj a c ent to o ne end o f s a id f ra m e.
a s eries o f indiv idua l . el o ng a te. c o nnec ting m em bers ex tend
ing s ide- by- s ide l o ng itudina l l y o f s a id s c reen a nd c o nnec ted
a t o ne s et o f th eir c o rres p o nding ends . res p ec tiv el y. to s a id
l o ng itudina l l y m o v a bl e s truc ture a nd a t th e o p p o s ite s et o f
th eir c o rres p o nding ends to s a id l o ng itudina l l y m o v a bl e
m em bers . a nd m ea ns f o r m o v ing s a id l o ng itudina l l y m o v
a bl e s truc ture ba c k o r f o rth l o ng itudina l l y o f s a id s c reen f o r
s im ul ta neo us l y a dj us ting th e s p a c ing s between ro ws o f s a id
s iz ing m em bers ; a nd m ea ns f o r s el ec tiv el y s h o rtening o r
l eng th ening th e ef f ec tiv e l eng th s o f th e indiv idua l . el o ng a te.
c o nnec ting m em bers . res p ec tiv el y. to indiv idua l l y a dj us t th e
ex tent o f s p a c ing s between m utua l l y a dj o ining ro ws o f s a id
s iz ing m em bers . s a id m ea ns c o m p ris ing c o a c tiv e. l eng th
a dj us ta bl e m ea ns interc o nnec ting s a id o ne s et o f ends .
res p ec tiv el y. with s a id l o ng itudina l l y m o v a bl e s truc ture;
wh erein. th e indiv idua l . el o ng a te. c o nnec ting m em bers a re
ro ds h a v ing th e o ne s et o f ends th a t a re c o nnec ted to th e
l o ng itudina l l y m o v a bl e s truc ture th rea ded; a nd wh erein th e
m ea ns f o r s el ec tiv el y s h o rtening o r l eng th ening th e el f ec tiv e
l eng th s o f th e indiv idua l . el o ng a te. c o nnec tio n m em bers
inc l ude a c o rres p o nding s eries o f bra c k ets th a t a re a f ? x ed to
th e l o ng itudina l l y m o v a bl e s truc ture a nd th ro ug h wh ic h th e
th rea ded ends o f th e c o nnec ting m em bers a re p a s s ed. res p ec
1 5
20
25
6
tiv el y' , a nd s ets o f l o c k nuts th rea ded o nto s a id th rea ded
ends . res p ec tiv el y. f o r ef f ec ting th e des ired l eng th wis e
a dj us tm ents a nd f o r l o c k ing s a id a dj us tm ents in p l a c e.
4. Ap p a ra tus a c c o rding to c l a im 1 . in wh ic h th e l o ng itu
dina l l y m o v a bl e m em bers c o ns titute l o ng itudina l s eries o f
l o ng itudina l l y s p a c ed indiv idua l m em bers . ea c h s eries p iv
o ta l l y m o unted a t a n up p er end to a l o ng itudina l f ra m e
m em ber o f th e s up p o rting f ra m e a t a nd ex tending a l o ng a
l o ng itudina l s ide o f th e s iz ing s c reen. s a id l o ng itudina l l y
m o v a bl e m em bers h a ng ing do wn th eref ro m to p iv o ta l c o n
nec tio n with o p p o s ite ends . res p ec tiv el y. o f th e s h a f t o f a
c o rres p o nding ro w o f th e s iz ing m em bers ; th e l o ng itudina l l y
m o v a bl e s truc ture c o m p ris es a p a ir o f el o ng a te. up s ta nding .
s truc tura l m em bers a t o p p o s ite l o ng itudina l s ides .
res p ec tiv el y. a nd a t o ne end o f th e s iz ing s c reen a nd p iv o t
a l l y m o unted th erea t to s a id f ra m e a s l ev ers . res p ec tiv el y;
th e m ea ns f o r m o v ing th e l o ng itudina l l y m o v a bl e s truc ture
ba c k a nd f o rth c o m p ris e p a ired m o v ing dev ic es c o nnec ted to
s a id l ev ers . res p ec tiv el y; th e s eries o f indiv idua l . el o ng a te.
c o nnec ting m em bers c o m p ris e p a ired s eries a t a nd a l o ng
o p p o s ite l o ng itudina l s ides o f th e s iz ing s c reen. ea c h m em
ber o f wh ic h is a n el o ng a te ro d; th e c o a c tiv e. l eng th
a dj us ta bl e m ea ns c o m p ris e s eries o f bra c k ets ex tending
a l o ng wo rk a rm s . res p ec tiv el y. o f s a id l ev ers . a nd th ro ug h
wh ic h th e o ne s et o f ends o f th e c o rres p o nding s eries o f ro ds
ex tend. a nd m ea ns f o r l o c k ing th e s a id ro d ends in th eir
res p ec tiv e bra c k ets .