US3647343A

US3647343A - Material compacting equipment

Info

Publication number: US3647343A
Application number: US875267A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald W Garnett
Original assignee: Mahogany Farms Inc; Olofsson Corp
Current assignee: Mahogany Farms Inc; Olofsson Corp
Priority date: 1969-11-10
Filing date: 1969-11-10
Publication date: 1972-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 1989-03-07

Abstract

A motor driven rotary compactor table carries a circumferential series of material-receiving pockets, each bottomed by an ejector cam-operated during the table rotation to eject a shaped and compacted product from its pocket. A compactor plate of the same diameter is journaled above the table on an axis at an acute angle to the table axis, and theoretically intersecting the latter at the table surface. The plate carries an annual series of compactor plungers equal in number and circumferential spacing to the table pockets; and the inclination and vertical relationship of table and plate to one another are such that the plungers enter into the respective table pockets at the apex of an acute angle theoretically defined by planes of the convergent, mutually facing plate and table surfaces. Thus, in compacting material in the pockets, the plungers also effect a cog and wheellike drive of the compactor plate.

Description

Garnett 1 Mar. 7,1972

[54] MATERIAL COMPACTING EQUIPMENT [72] Inventor: Donald W. Garnett, Grand Ledge, Mich.

[73] Assignee: The Olofsson Corporation, Lansing, Mich.

Mahogany Farms, Inc., Williamston, Mich.

[22] Filed: Nov. 10, 1969 [21] Appl.No.: 875,267

Primary Examiner-H. A. Kilby, .I r. Attorney-Whittemore, Hulbert and Belknap [5 7] ABSTRACT A motor driven rotary compactor table carries a circumferential series of material-receiving pockets, each bottomed by an ejector cam-operated during the table rotation to eject a shaped and compacted product from its pocket. A compactor plate of the same diameter is journaled above the table on an axis at an acute angle to the table axis, and theoretically intersecting the latter at the table surface. The plate carries an annual series of compactor plungers equal in number and circumferential spacing to the table pockets; and the inclination and vertical relationship of table and plate to one another are such that the plungers enter into the respective table pockets at the apex of an acute angle theoretically defined by planes of the convergent, mutually facing plate and table surfaces. Thus, in compacting material in the pockets, the plungers also effect a cog and wheellike drive of the compactor plate.

13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEUMAR' 1 I 12 3, e47, 343

SHEET 1 BF 4 INVENTOR 00/!6410 IV. GA/P/VZTT ATTOR NEYS PATENTEWR 7 1972 3, 647. 343

sum 2 OF 4 NVENTO MATERIAL COMPACTING EQUIPMENT CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS My copending application, Ser. No. 847,297, filed Aug. 4, 1969, illustrates and describes a method and apparatus for blending and portioning meat products, which products are fed to the present equipment for final compacting into desired sizes and shapes, with their weight, as determined volumetrically by the earlier equipment, augmented if necessary, by small makeup portions. However, the nature of the method and equipment of my copending application and the method and equipment herein'disclosed have no other structural and functional relationship to one another than in the above respect.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION-FIELD As appears from the above, the method and apparatus of the present invention were evolved for the purpose of shaping and compacting volumetrically weighed charges of meat, sometimes as augmented in weight, but more especially to simulate recognized shapes of meat product, such as a steak, filet, or the like. As thus reshaped, a less-than-highest-quality meat product, will find sale at a meat counter at a price very much lower than the price of a conventional meat cut of a better grade, but comparable to the latter, as to appearance, taste, texture, etc.

However, the method and apparatus as herein disclosed are of far wider utility and applicability than the limited usage just mentioned. That is, the equipment is well adapted to compact, shape and/or size many types of material, edible and otherwise. An instance that suggests itself is in the compression and simultaneous shaping of sintered metals, such as the spongelike oil-impregnated bronze material widely marketed under the designation Oilite. The sizing and shaping of blocks of cinder and other objects constituted by particulate material offers another possibility; pills are a further one, and still others will occur to those having particular requirements in mind in reference to a particle-constituted, shaped and solidly compacted product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention affords an extremely simple but very rugged and heavy-duty type of apparatus for the purposes and method referred to above. The only direct-driven component is a vertically joumaled, motor-reducer driven compacting table, plural moldlike compacting pockets of which individually receive product ejecting plungers. These parts are cam-reciprocated up, as an incident to the rotation of the table, to discharge the shaped products from pockets.

The table and its pockets in turn serve as a source of power, in the manner of a cogwheel, to rotate a unitary type of circular compactor plate, which is very simply, ruggedly and inexpensively joumaled for rotation at a circumferential and lineal speed equaling that of the compactor table. That is, there is no need for any additional power transmitting means than the engagement of compactor members on the plate in the compactor mold cavities or pockets of the table, in the manner of cogs engaging and driven by a cogwheel.

To this end, mutually facing surfaces of the plate and table, both circular and equal in diameter, respectively rotate about vertical and acutely angled upright axes which theoretically intersect at the center of the table, the compacting plunger members of the plate entering into the compacting dielike or mold pockets of the table during a predetermined arcuate segment to the plate and table rotative travel. Fullest entry takes place at a point in a radial plane including the axes of the plate and table, which point represents the theoretical apex of convergence of the horizontal and inclined planes of the facing table and plate surfaces, respectively.

The equipment of the invention is also characterized by the extreme ease and simplicity of supervision thereof and attendance thereon. As the compacted and shaped products are discharged upwardly from the respective mold pockets by vertically acting ejectors mated in and bottoming the latter, the products are plow-swept off the surface of the pocket-carrying table, and may be disposed of further, as for packaging, by conveyor and other means, not herein shown. The only attendant necessary is an individual to place the previously volumetrically weighed charges, which in the case of meat charges are frozen so-called chubs (augmented as to weight or not), into the pockets. This can be done safely and efficiently by reason of the relatively slow speed of rotation of the pocket carrying table, the fact that the feeding of the charges to the pockets is at a radial zone of maximum spacing of the table and plate relative to one another, and the fact that the apparatus in addition has safety limit switch means at this zone to prevent any possibility of injury to the attendant arising from carelessness.

In the preparation of meat products the latter resemble high priced steaks and/or fillets, have comparable taste qualities, and maintain these qualities sealed therein as the result of pressure compacting and shaping the material, with no incidental loss of liquid content.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view generally depicting the apparatus of the invention, including a vertically joumaled pocket-carrying table, the latters motor drive unit, an inclined-axis rotary compactor plate, a product sweep-off plow and a control switch unit;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top view showing base and rotary compactor table structure of the equipment, being partially broken away and in horizontal section along line 22 of FIG. 3, as well as partially broken locally to show a portion of a worm and worm gear table drive arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a view, partially broken away, in radial and vertical section along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, certain ejector controlling cam provisions being indicated in a dotted line position other than the position at which they are actually located (as properly and accurately depicted in FIG. 2), certain wormtype drive means being also shown;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged scale view in vertical section along broken line 44 of FIG. 2, indicating in solid and dotted line theaction of a product ejector in discharg'ng a shaped and compacted object from acompactor pocket; and

FIG. 5 is a schematically shown diagram of the electrical equipment.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown best in FIGS. 1 and 3, the apparatus of the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, comprises a rugged, cabinetlike base 11 enclosing a massive heavy-duty speed reducer 12 powered by a 2 hp. electrical motor 13, which is disposed externally of but suitably supported on base 10. An output double pulley or sheave 14 on the shaft of motor 13 drives belts l5 trained about an adjustable idler l6 and a double sheave 17 secured to the input shaft 18 of reducer 12. These sheave means are appropriately journaled on base 11 by means not shown.

Reducer 12 includes a double worm and gear arrangement, including a worm l9 fixed on shaft 18 and meshing with a worm gear 20 on shaft 21, which shaft is suitably joumaled on the base at to shaft 18. Shaft 21 carries a worm 22 mating with a worm gear or wheel 23 of large diameter. The last named worm wheel is fixed to an upright drive shaft or spindle 24 of the machine 10; and a top extension end 25 of shaft 24 drives the rotary horizontal compactor table 26 of the apparatus l0. Appropriate heavy-duty bearing means (not shown) are provided to journal the drive shaft 24 on its vertical axis; and the motor speed reducer 12 transmits power through the double worm and gear arrangement to rotate the table 26 at a speed of, for example, 8 rpm. The bearing means for joumaling the shaft 24 are contained at least in part within a frustoconical housing member 28 projecting upwardly through an opening in a base superstructure platform 29; and the shaft drive extremity or extension 25 is at a sufficient elevation above this platform to accommodate the action of certain ejector provisions of table 26, to be described.

The compactor table 26 is circular in outline and, as best shown in FIG. 3, is characterized by a horizontally flat, circular center surface 30 of substantial area disposed concentric of the axis of drive shaft 24, the surface 30 being rimmed by the inclined circular land 31. The bottom area of table 26 is centrally recessed at 32 to receive a flanged, sleevelike adapter 33, which is upwardly bolted to the table. Adapter 33 concentrically carries a nested, downwardly extending hub bushing 34 to which the shaft extension 25 is keyed at 35.

As appears in FIG. 2, the inclined annular land surface 31 of compactor table 26 is recessed to provide a number of circumferentially spaced, charge shaping and compacting mold cavities or pockets, shown as being ten in number, the centers of which are equally spaced from one another at 36 angles. Of these pockets or cavities, half thereof, as specially designated 36, are in an outline generally simulating a steak or other type of meat cut; while the remaining five pockets, as specially designated 37, resemble the shape of a meat filet or other out. The

pockets

36, 37 alternate with one another about the periphery of the land 31, and are of substantial depth in the material of table 26. Each thereof is shaped at its radially inner wall surface to afford a clearance relief portion at 38, thus to accommodate the entry of the punchlike compactor forming members of the apparatus, to be described, into the

dielike pockets

36 and 37.

The bottom surface 40 of rotary compactor table 26 has a circumferential series of depending post elements 41 fixedly secured thereto, as by welding, each in a vertical radial plane through a pocket center; and each such post carries a small horizontal guide bracket 42. Each of the

shaping pockets

36, 37 is centrally apertured through the bottom thereof at 43; and each pocket is in effect bottomed by the flat, enlarged head 44 of an ejector plunger 45. These plungers are shaped in conformity with the outlines of the respective

several mold pockets

36, 37, and are received in the latter with a relatively free sliding fit. An elongated cylindrical stem 46 of each plunger 45 extends through the pocket bottom opening 43, being slidably guided in a guide opening of the guide bracket 42 for action in a back-and-forth manner at 90 to table land 31.

In order to enable the volumetric capacities of the compacting and shaping

pockets

36, 37 to be varied from time to time as desired, a replaceable spacer, washer-or shim 47 is placed in the pocket beneath the ejector head 44, which rests on the spacer in a fully retracted position (FIG. 3), a removal and substitution of spacers making possibility the desired pocket volume adjustability.

Each of the plunger stems 46 carries, beneath table 26, a radially inwardly extending cam follower dowel 48, which dowel is respectively engaged from beneath and from above by one of two segmental, vertically spaced

cams

49, 50. These are curved bars having the outline, in plan, of segments of a circle of approximately 75 arcuate extent, as shown in FIG. 2, overlapping one another a bit in the circumferential sense at adjacent ends thereof.

Cams

49, 50 are fixedly secured against the outer surface of an upright segmental mounting plate 52, which is fixedly sustained appropriately at its bottom, as by blocks 53 bolted to the top surface of base platform 29 (FIG. 4). The mounting plate is welded to the tops of the blocks, and the

cams

49, 50 are fixedly secured in turn to the outer side of the mount 52, as by a series of bolts 54.

As indicated above, FIG. 3 is distorted somewhat in its dotted line showing of the mount 52, positionwise, the true relationship of the latter and the

cams

49, 50 appearing in the plan view of FIG. 2, and as sectioned at 4-4 for FIG. 4. The

cam 49 acts beneath the dowels 48 to elevate the ejectors 45. The latter will normally descend by their own weight after circumferentially leaving the cam 49; however, the cam 50 insures their full descent in the event of any frictional tendency to stick. It may also be desirable to provide an additional stop segment on the mounting plate 52 onto which the ejector stems 46 may come to rest without unduly impacting the spacer shims 47 to their damage.

The ejector heads 44 are shaped to have a relatively close but substantially friction-free fit, as to shape, in the respective compactor pockets 36, 37; and it is evident that in the rotation of the compactor table 26 the earns 49, 50 will successively act on the follower dowels 48 on ejector plunger stems 46 to elevate the ejectors 45 from a retracted, solid line position, as appears at the right of FIG. 3, to an operative, elevated ejecting position appearing in dotted line, then a gradual downward return for another rotative cycle. The angular sequencing of this action will be hereinafter described by reference to FIG. 2.

The base structure 29 has welded or otherwise appropriately secured rigidly thereto a rugged upright tubular column 55, which column extends vertically a substantial height; and a column extension 56 is welded to the top of column 55 along a mildly angled joint at 57. The angularity of

members

56 and 57 is an upwardly and radially inward obtuse one, and a vertical plane through their centers includes the axes of compactor table 26 and a compactor plate, presently described.

An arcuate adapter or saddle plate 58 is welded at 90 to the outer end of column extension 56, this adapter seating a rugged tubular bearing housing 59, which is rigidly secured to the adapter by bolts 60.

A compactor plate shaft 62 is rotatively joumaled coaxially within housing 59, as by upper and lower bearings 63, 64, being axiallysustained from above by a retainer nut 65 on the shaft. The latter carries a bottom adapter block 66 which is secured by bolts 67 in a central recess of the rotary compactor plate of the apparatus 10, the plate being generally designated 68. Like the rotary compactor table 26, the plate 68 has a central flat, circular surface 69 of substantial area peripherally bounded by a leveled land 70; and the land carries an annular, circumferentially spaced series of solid punchlike compactor elements or plungers. These depend at 90 to the land 70,.and are shaped to correspond with and nestingly fit into the respective shaping and compacting

pockets

36, 37 on table land 31. Thus, compactor members which fit into the steakshaped pockets 36 are designated 72, while those fitting into the filet-shaped pockets 37 are designated 73.

As an essential feature of the invention, the angularity of the compactor plate shaft 62, as joumaled at the end of the obtuse column extension 56, is such that (a) the axes of shaft 62 and table drive shaft 24 lie in a vertical plane diametral of both the plate 68 and the table 26; (b) the axes theoretically intersect at the midpoint of the top flat surface 30 of table 26; and (c) the vertical positioning of the table 26 and plate 68 relative to one another, and the angularity of the convergent planes of surfaces 30 and 69, are such that the peripheral land 70 of table 68 and the peripheral land 31 of table 30 come very closely adjacent one another just radially inwardly of the column 55, and are parallel.

A sweep-off plow of arcuate contour extends parallel to and slightly above the article compactor plate 26, being sup ported and positioned byan upright post 76 on platform 29 60 just forwardly in the direction of table rotation (clockwise as viewed in FIG. 2) of a point at which a shaped and compacted product P is upwardly discharged from one or the other set, of five each, of the molding pockets 36, 37 of the compactor cable 26. As thus discharged radially from the surface of the cable, the product P may be transferred, as by a conveyor, not shown, for instance, to suitable packaging equipment.

An electrical control switch unit, generally designated by the reference numeral 78, is also fixably mounted atop the machine base platform 29, this unit including a small box 79 within which a switch assembly, generally designated 80, (FIGS. 2 and 5) is disposed. An angularly displaceable limit switch actuator arm 81 extends radially inwardly from the switch unit 78 into the path of circumferential travel of the compacting pockets 36, 37, the arm 82 being operatively connected to a limit switch of the electrical circuit depicted in FIG. 5. Thus, in the unlikely event of an attendant's arm remaining unduly long and low in the loading zone of the apparatus, i.e., directly opposite the column 55, its impingement against the limit switch arm 82 will cause an imme;iate stoppage of the drive of the equipment, through circuit provisions illustrated in FIG. 5, and now described.

The electrical system 84 of FIG. 5 is electrically supplied with 220 volt, three phase current through a ganged master switch 85 appropriately fused at 86, from which the phase line conductors 87 extend. Leads 88 connect from those conductors through motor starter relay contacts 89' and suitable overload relays 90 to the terminals of the 2 h.p. prime mover motor 13 of the apparatus 10. A spring-set motor brake (otherwise not shown in FIG. 5) has its release solenoid 93 wired to two of the motor leads 88.

Positive and

negative conductors

95, 96 supply the primary winding of a control circuit transformer 97, the secondary of which supplies a control circuit 98 of the equipment, including supply and return leads 99, 100, and each equipped with a protective fuse 101.

Conductor 99 is connected to the terminal of a safety limit switch 102, the normally closed contactor of which is physically operated by arm 82 (FIGS. 1 and 2) to open the control circuit 98 in the event that the attendant inadvertently or carelessly leaves her arm too far clockwise of the direction of rotation of the product compacting table 26. The safety factor is obvious, considering the relatively slow linear rate of travel of the table 26. A pushbutton start switch 104 of the system or circuit 84 is adapted to be shunted through a normally open armature contact 89" of the motor starter relay 89 across the terminals of a start switch 104 of control circuit 98; and switch 104 is series-connected to a pushbutton stop switch 105 and a two-position safe-run switch 106, all of the switches 102, 104, I05, 106 being components of the switch assembly 80 mounted in control box 79. A terminal of switch 106 is connected through overload contacts 107 with a coil terminal of a motor starter relay 89 whose above-described contacts 89' are in the circuit of drive motor 92. Relay 89 is connected at its opposite terminal to the control circuits return conductor 100. The operation of the circuitry 98 of FIG. 5 will be apparent to those of ordinary electrical skill.

The operation of the machine is best depicted in FIG. 2, in reference to certain indicia of angular travel of the compactor table unit 26 (and corresponding angular travel of the compactor plate unit 68). The attendant places prefrozen charges of meat (for the instanced usage) into either the steak forming pockets 36 or the filet forming pockets 37, or both sets, as they emerge empty beneath the sweep-off plow 75. At this time the ejector heads 44 of the pockets are in a fully lowered position, resting on the spacer shims 47. As indicated above, should the operator accidentally or intentionally trip the limit switch arm 82 in performing her duty, the control circuit 98 of FIG. 5 is broken and the machine motor brakes to an immediate halt.

With the clockwise travel (FIG. 2) of table unit 26 and the corresponding movement of the compactor plate coordinated as described above in regard to the convergent angularity of their respective surface planes and their vertical spacing relative to one another, the male compactor members 72. 73 will commence to enter the respective compactor pockets 36, 37 as the pockets approach an apex zone or position on a radius of the table and plate through the center of the column 55. That radial position will, then, represent a point of maximum entry of the

plunger members

72, 73 into the

pockets

36, 37, for a maximum compression of the material to form the meat products P. Considering this as a base point, the products become progressively less compressed as their travel continues clockwise and the compactor plungers progressively depart from the pockets in the separating inclination of the compactor table and plate planes.

At a radial zone approximately 30 clockwise from the zero or base point (FIG. 2) the follower dowels 48 of the successive ejectors 45 come under the lifting effect of the inclined arcuate cam length 49; and as they continue under this influence the ejectors are progressively elevated through about 55 table travel to their full-up position. In this state, the plunger heads 44 are lifted from an intermediate, solid line position, as shown in FIG. 4, to a fully elevated position, indicated in dotted line, in which the top of the head 44 is a small fraction of an inch above the surface of the inclined circular table land 31. At this elevation, the rotatively traveling steak or filet product P comes into engagement with the fixed sweep-off plow 75, and is diverted by it radially ofi' the compactor table 26, whence it may be forwarded by a conveyor, chute or like means, (not shown) for further disposition.

Continued travel of table 26 brings the ejector 45 of the just-emptied

pocket

36 or 37 under the influence, at its follower dowel 48, of the second, ejector lowering cam 50, if indeed, as is usually the case, the ejector 45 has not dropped of its own weight onto its spacer shim 47, since the arcuate zone lifting portion of the elevating cam 49 has been passed. It happens that there is a terminal portion of elevator cam 49, of about 20 extent, at which the cam is horizontal, exerting no lifting effect on the ejector; and the lowering action by the other cam 50, if exerted at all, takes place after cam 49 has been passed, continuing through a final segment of arcuate travel of the follower dowel 48 under cam 50 amounting to about 45, leaving the ejectors 45 in fully lowered condition and the

pockets

36, 37 ready for loading in a new cycle.

Typically the steak products P will be 6 ounces each in weight and the filet products three and one-half ounces in weight; however the sizes'and weights, as well as the number of pieces treated in each rotative cycle, are naturally subject to wide variation. 7

The equipment is structurally very simple and inexpensively fabricated, by reason of the cogand cogwheel-type coupling of the table 26 and plate through their compacting means. Gearing, other than for necessary speed reduction from the prime mover, is eliminated. It is of a nature such as to be readily dismantled for the indispensable frequent and thorough scouring of its parts. The compacting force, in addition to shaping the charges as desired, has the effect of integrating possible makeup portions with the basic frozen portion, by an effect of regelation, with the result that the discharged product P is an entirely uniform and substantially homogeneous-one, pressure sealed about its side and edge surfaces to retain meat juices, and in a condition for efficient packaging, and transportation and maintenance in a refrigerated environment.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the type described comprising a pair of compactor or like units traveling predetermined flat planar paths, one of said units carrying a plurality of pockets spaced from one another in the direction of travel thereof and opening in a direction normal to the planar path thereof, the other unit having operating members extending normal to the planar path of said other unit, said members being engaged in a telescoped way in at least some of the pockets of said one unit during the travel as a driver in a manner such that said unit converges at an acute angle with the planar path of the other unit for said telescoped engagement of said members and pockets, the telescoped engagement of at least some of the respective members and pockets in travel transmitting drive effort from the driver to the other unit, said operating members acting on material in said pockets when in telescoped relation to the latter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said units are rotating ones having the respective rotative axes thereof disposed at an acute intersecting angle, said telescoped relation of members and pockets occurring at the apex of an angle defined by the respective rotary paths of the units and on the line of action of the members as telescoped in the pockets.

3. Apparatus of the type described comprising a pair of compactor or like units traveling predetermined flat planar paths which are at least in part in acutely inclined and intersecting planes, one of said units carrying a plurality of pockets spaced from one another in the direction of travel thereof and opening in a direction normal to the planar path thereof, the other unit having operating members extending normal to the planar path of said other unit, said members being engaged in a telescoped way in at least some of the pockets of said one unit during the travel thereof, said operating members acting on material in said pockets, when in telescoped relation to the latter, without movement of the members or pockets relative to the respective intersecting planes.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, and further comprising means to operate one of said units as a driver, said driver operating the other unit under force transmitted between the telescopingly engaged operating members and pockets.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, in which said units travel rotatively, and further comprising means to rotate one of said units as a driver, said driver rotatively operating the other unit under force transmitted between the telescopingly engaged operating members and pockets.

6. Apparatus of the type described comprising a rotary compactor or like table member carrying a plurality of pockets spaced circumferentially from one another and opening in a direction parallel to the rotative axis of said member, another rotary member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced operating elements extending parallel to the rotative axis of said other member, said members being rotatable about axes intersecting at an acute angle at a point substantially in the plane of rotation of one thereof, the respective pockets and elements of said members being circumferentially arranged and spaced in flat planes in a manner to be engaged in a telescoped way during the rotation thereof, means to rotate one of said units as a driver, the telescoped engagement of at least some of the respective elements and pockets in rotation transmitting drive force from the driver member to the other member, said operating elements acting on material in said pockets when in telescoped relation to the latter.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, in which said table member rotates horizontally and the axis of said other member is in a downward direction.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, in which said table member is formed about its border with an inclined land at an obtuse angle to the plane of rotation of the table member, said pockets being formed in said land and having walls substantially normal thereto.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, in which said table member is formed about its border with an inclined land at an obtuse angle to the plane of rotation of the table member, said pockets being formed in said land and having walls substan tially normal thereto. I

10. The apparatus of claim 9, in which said other rotary member is a plate also having an obtuse angled land about its border, on which land said operating elements are fixedly mounted to extend at substantially 11. The apparatus of claim 6, in which said pockets have material ejecting elements slidably movable therein, and cam means acting on said ejecting elements during rotation of the pocket-carrying member to eject treated material from the pockets.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, in which said pockets have material ejecting elements slidably movable therein, and cam means acting on said ejecting elements during rotation of the pocket-carrying member to eject treated material from the pockets.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, in which said pockets have material ejecting elements slidably movable therein, and camv means acting on said ejecting elements during rotation of the pocket-carrying member to eject treated material from the pockets.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERTEFIATE 0F fifiRRECTION Patent NO. 3, Dated March 7;

xnventorm Donald W. Garnett It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the caption at item [73] the expression "The Olofsson Corporation, Lansing, Mich has been stricken.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of August 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD MGFLMTCHERJRB ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 us. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 03s5-334

Claims

9. The apparatus of claim 7, in which said table member is formed about its border with an inclined land at an obtuse angle to the plane of rotation of the table member, said pockets being formed in said land and having walls substantially normal thereto.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, in which said other rotary member is a plate also having an obtuse angled land about its border, on which land said operating elements are fixedly mounted to extend at substantially 90*.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, in which said pockets have material ejecting elements slidably movable therein, and cam means acting on said ejecting elements during rotation of the pocket-carrying member to eject treated material from the pockets.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, in which said pockets have material ejecting elements slidably movable therein, and cam means acting on said ejecting elements during rotation of the pocket-carrying member to eject treated material from the pockets.